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Daily Meditations

The Fifth Thursday after Pascha: Consecration as Death and New Life

05/07/2015

By Rev. Deacon Drew Maxwell Consecration can be a reminder of our own baptisms and an encouragement to truly live our lives in the light of God’s Kingdom. The fact is, any consecration, whether it is a consecration of our church or the consecration of our persons, is an end and a beginning; a death and a birth. Our baptismal ceremony is a mystical recreation of Christ’s death and resurrection. In the font at baptism,

The Fourth Wednesday of Pascha, Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen! The Feast of Mid-Pentecost, the Pentecostarion and Churches Named after Holy Wisdom, or Hagia Sophia

05/06/2015

The fifty days following Pascha until the Feast of Pentecost are known as the period of the Pentecostarion in the Orthodox Church. At the mid-point between these great feasts of Pascha and Pentecost, on the twenty-fifth day which is always a Wedneday, is one of the most beloved feasts for the most devout Orthodox Christians known quit simply as Mid-Pentecost. Mid-Pentecost is to the Pentecostarion what the Third Sunday of Great Lent which honors the

The Fourth Tuesday after Pascha, Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen! The Feast Day of Great Martyr Irene of Thessalonica

05/05/2015

The holy Great Martyr Irene was born in the city of Magedon in Persia during the fourth century. She was the daughter of the pagan king Licinius, and her parents named her Penelope. Penelope was very beautiful, and her father kept her isolated in a high tower from the time she was six so that she would not be exposed to Christianity. He also placed thirteen young maidens in the tower with her. An old

The Fourth Monday of Pascha, Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen! Service of the Consecration of a Church (Part X)

05/04/2015

LIGHTING OF THE VIGIL LIGHT During the service the Bishop invites the faithful to come forward and to offer a few drops of oil in a Vigil Light. This they do as an offering to the Church. The Bishop will later light the Vigil Light and will place it on the Altar Table near the Artoforion. This light will be kept burning at all times and is symbolic of the never failing light of Christ

The Third Friday of Pascha, Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen! Service of the Consecration of a Church (Part IX)

05/01/2015

ANOINTING OF THE CHURCH The Bishop then anoints the four walls of the Church and the Holy Icons making the sign of the Cross on them with Holy Chrism. This act symbolizes the sanctification of all creation with the Grace of Christ. THE BISHOP: Glory to the Holy and Almighty and life-giving Trinity, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. CHOIR: Amen. DEACON: Again and again in peace, let us pray to the

The Third Thursday of Pascha, Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen! Service of the Consecration of a Church (Part VIII)

04/30/2015

THE VESTING OF THE ALTAR TABLE The Altar Table is now covered with the “Katasarkion”. This white linen cloth represents the Lord’s burial shroud. The Katasarkion is tied with a cord which represents the cord with which our Lord’s hands were tied as He stood before the High Priests. The Katasarkion will never be removed and will remain on the Altar for as long as the Church remains standing. As the Katasarkion is being placed

The Third Wednesday of Pascha, Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen! Service of the Consecration of a Church (Part VII)

04/29/2015

ANOINTING OF THE ALTAR TABLE The Bishop sprinkles Rosewater on the Altar Table as he recites: THE BISHOP: Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop and I shall be clean: Thou shalt wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. Rosewater is a sweet smelling fragrance which was used to anoint the Body of Christ for burial.

The Third Tuesday of Pascha, Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen! Service of the Consecration of a Church (Part VI)

04/28/2015

THE WASHING OF THE ALTAR TABLE Since the Altar Table represents the Tomb of Christ and His body lies therein. The Altar must undergo its own “Baptism” (washing) and “Chrismation” (anointing). Before washing and anointing the Altar Table the Bishop puts on a white linen garment called the Savanon. While the faithful kneel, the Bishop reads the prayer of Consecration. THE BISHOP: Blessed is our God always, now and ever and unto the ages of

The Third Monday of Pascha, Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen! Service of the Consecration of a Church (Part V)

04/27/2015

THE DIALOGUE FROM PSALM 24 – ENTRY INTO CHURCH The Bishop standing in front of the Doors of the Church, begins a short dialogue. The words of this conversation are taken from Psalm 24. This act represents Christ the King entering and taking over the Church building by defeating the power of the devil. The Bishop taps on the door with his staff and says: THE BISHOP: Open, Open the gates and let them remain

The Second Friday of Pascha, Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen! Service of the Consecration of a Church (Part IV)

04/24/2015

When the procession reaches the front doors of the Church, the Relics are again placed on the table, and readings from the Bible follow. SCRIPTURAL READINGS DEACON: Let us attend. READER: She shall be brought unto the King; the virgins that follow her shall be brought unto Thee. DEACON: Wisdom. READER: The Reading is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews (9:1-7). DEACON: Let us attend. READER: Now even the first covenant had

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