Centennial Year Church Services
August 15, 2005 - The Feast of the Dormition of the Most-Holy Theotokos was observed at SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church for the one hundredth year with Great Vespers with Litiya on the Eve of the Feast and with Divine Liturgy with the Blessing of Flowers and Herbs on the Feast Day itself. Below are scenes from the Divine Liturgy with the Blessing of Flowers and Herbs, accompanied by the Epistle and Gospel readings for the day.
You may click on the photo above left to view an enlargement.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
This block of four photos (the two immediately above and the two immediately below) shows scenes of our Church before the start of the Divine Liturgy. Above left is the icon mural on the eastern wall of our Church which depicts the story of Jesus, Mary, and Martha, as recounted in the Gospel reading for this day (please see Gospel text below).
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11).
Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."
This block of four photos (the two immediately above and the two immediately below) shows scenes from the Divine Liturgy. Clockwise from top left are the Little Entrance, the reading of the Holy Gospel, the Great Entrance, and the delivering of the homily for the day by Rev. David Garretson, Rector of SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church.
But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her." As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!" But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" (Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28)
The choir is an integral part of any Orthodox service and so it is at SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in South River. Above left, choir member and church missionary Gregory Sprogis reads The Hours before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy proper. Above right, Mr. Sprogis reads the Epistle reading appointed for the day (please refer to text above). A small choir consisting of Walter Swenticky, Joan Pisuk (photo below left) and Choirmaster Basil Kozak and Robert Pisuk (photo below right) sang the responses to the Divine Liturgy. Choirmasters pull double duty - they lead the singers by example with their own voices praising God.
In the photo above right, parishioners partake of Holy Communion. Below left and right, Rev. Garretson reads the Prayer Before the Ambo as the Divine Liturgy draws to its conclusion. Behind him are the herbs and flowers which are about to be blessed according to the tradition of the Feast Day. The photos which follow show some of the flowers and the blessing of the flowers with Holy Water.
You may click on the photo above right to view an enlarged image.
Above left is an icon of the Most-Holy Theotokos with her Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Above right is the Festal Icon on the Center Tetrapod. Below, Mrs. Robert Kornafel - wearing a floral dress - prepares to depart for home at the conclusion of the service with the roses that she had brought for blessing.
Copyright © 2005, Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, South River, NJ
