Pontifical Liturgy is Celebrated - 05/04/14
His Grace Bishop Jerome arrived at 9:15 AM to our Parish on a bright Sunday morning. His Grace was greeted by Archpriests George Larin, Ilia Gorsky, Protodeacon Dimitri Temidis and Holy Virgin Protection Orthodox Church parishioners. During the service, Altar server Ivan Lopuchin was awarded the right to wear the orarion. His Grace officiated the Divine Liturgy on this day in our Parish for this is the Patron Saints of the Parish Sisterhood.
His Grace's sermon centered on the Gospel Reading of this day: Mark 15:43-16:8, the commemoration of the Myrrh Bearing women and Joseph of Arimathea. His Grace ended his sermon by underscoring the Gospel's final verse, Mark 16:8 " So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid." His Grace elaborated this phrase that then and now we find ourselves afraid to prophesy our faith and belief in the resurrected Lord. We need to overcome the fear of what people will say of us if we visibly show that we are Orthodox Christians. We instead do say many things which are just the opposite of what we should say and do - such as gossip, speak ill of people, pass judgement.
The Feast Day continued with the clergy, visitors and parishioners in the Church Hall where the Sisterhood of the Parish invited all to take part in a sumptuous Trapeza.
I have attached photos taken that day.