Church Services

The Weekend May 29-31, 2004 Was Both a Holy Day Weekend and a Holiday Weekend. Although Both the Holy Day Pentecost and the Secular Holiday Memorial Day are Variable in Date, Both Occurred Coincidentally This Year on the Same Weekend. Memorial Day, Also Known as "Decoration Day", Is a National Holiday With Its Origins in the Civil War. Although Technically It Is a Day to Remember Those Killed in the Service of Their Country, Our Church Also Remembers Those Who Served Our Country in the Armed Forces and Who Reposed at Some Time After Their Service.








The New Testament Pentecost Is a Holy Day of Three Days' Observance, as Are Most Major Holy Days (eg., Pascha and Christmas) in the Orthodox Church. On the Day Before Pentecost is Observed Soul (or Ancestral) Saturday, One of Six Such Dates Throughout the Year for the Remembrance of Those Orthodox Souls Departed This Life Before Us. The Day After Pentecost Is Dedicated to the All-Holy Spirit, and Therefore It Is Known as Spirit Day. On the Day of the New Testament Pentecost, Mary the Mother of God and the Disciples Had Gathered in Jerusalem to Celebrate the Old Testament Pentecost Which Marked the Giving of the Law From God to Moses on Mount Sinai. This Day Was Ten Days After Jesus Had Ascended to Heaven and Fifty Days After His Resurrection. Before His Ascension, Jesus Had Promised That He Would Not Leave His Disciples Alone in the World But Would Send the Holy Spirit to Comfort Them. This Had Been Prophesied by the Prophet Joel. The Holy Spirit Descended Upon Mother Mary and the Apostles That Day and the Apostles Became Full of the Ability Not Only to Speak But to Understand Many Tongues (Languages) Which Was of Utmost Importance to Spreading the Word of God. The New Testament Pentecost is Thus the "Birthdate" of the Orthodox Church.


As the Photos Above and Below Illustrate, the Exterior and Interior of the Church Are Adorned With Tree Branches and Vigils, Priest's Vestments, and Table Covers Are Green in Honor of the Vivifying Power of the Life-Creating Spirit.

The Divine Liturgy is Served in the Customary Fashion With the Very Reverend Sergius Kuharsky, Our Former Rector, Concelebrating the Service With Our Current Pastor, Reverend David Garretson. One Exception in the Service is the Singing of "As Many As Have Been Baptized Into Christ, Have Put On Christ" in Place of "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal Have Mercy On Us". Although This Substitution Occurs During the Divine Liturgy of Several Major Holy Days, in This Instance, the Substitution Is to Recall the Fact That Many Believers Were Baptized on the First Pentecost After the Descent of the Holy Spirit.

Immediately After the Conclusion of the Liturgy, the Vespers of Pentecost With Kneeling Prayers is Celebrated. Only Two Attitudes Are Acceptable in the Orthodox Church - Standing and Kneeling (Sitting is a Concession to Advanced Years And/Or Infirmity). During the Fifty Day Period Following Pascha, No Kneeling is Permitted in Deference to the Magnitude and Joy of Christ's Resurrection. However, at This Service, the Entire Congregation Once Again Kneels While Three Prayers of St. Basil the Great Are Read by the Clergy.

In the Prayers, We Confess Our Sins Before God, and We Implore Mercy. We Ask Also That We Might Be Granted the Divine Spirit by Jesus Christ. Finally, We Pray for Our Deceased Fathers and Brethren, That the Lord Might Grant Them Repose in a Place of Light and Refreshment.

Below, One Sees the Nave of the Church and the Sanctuary After the Completion of Services.

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