Dear Parish Family!
“Today is the beginning of our salvation,
and the unfolding of the eternal mystery;
the Son of God becomes the Virgin’s Son,
and Gabriel brings the good tidings of grace.
With him let us also cry to the Mother of God:
Rejoice, O Full of grace!
The Lord is with you.”
(Festal Tropar)
A blessed Feast of Annunciation – Благовіщення (“Good Announcing”) - morning to you! Good news is always welcome, but especially so, and much needed, these days.
The Feast of Annunciation is a major Feast of our Church. To understand it simply, just consider that today, March 25, is exactly 9 months before December 25 – Christmas, the Nativity of Christ. In 9 months, our Lord will be born as a babe in Bethlehem, but today, he begins life in the womb of his mother, Mary. Discuss this with your children as you pray with them this day.
As for us here at St. Elias, although the church is closed to the public, I will be in church, taking the Service of the Day as prescribed in our Typikon. Assisting me will be Protodeacon David, and Reader Ilya. Social distancing will be observed.
For your information, since the Feast falls during the period of Great Lent, it differs from the usual Order. It is a “Vesperal Divine Liturgy”, beginning with Vespers, its texts and readings, and then transitioning at the Trisagion (“Holy God”) into the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. It is our practice on such occasions to have the priest sing in Ukrainian, the deacon, in English. In all, this Liturgy will last until almost 1 p.m. If you can, set up your home altar, light the candles, and pray with us.
Through the wonder of social media all sorts of advice and resources are available to you to help you get through the present crisis. Those that have come through my office which seem especially pertinent for our community, I have sent on to you, and will continue to do so. For today, however, the above festal announcement will suffice.
I do miss you. Seeing you from the altar for all these years, it is easy for me to “see you” as if still here….
Father Roman, priest
PS- yesterday we sent out a mailing of resources you can use to pray at
home (+ with your family) on this feast day. These are also posted on our website- click here.