The feast of Holy Apostle Andrew, the ‘first-called’ of Christ’s Apostles, and the patronal feast of our parish, was celebrated on the Friday and Saturday of Thanksgiving Weekend in a truly beautiful and prayerful manner.
Joined by our archpastor His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, as well as Archimandrite Maximos and clergy and faithful from the Monastery of St. Dionysios the Areopagite, Fr. John and the faithful of our parish came together to commemorate St. Andrew’s feast in its liturgical fullness – taken together, it was perhaps the most spiritually edifying and profound celebration of our patronal feast that we have been blessed with in many years.
Adding to the splendor of the feast, His Eminence led the clergy and faithful in the blessing and dedication of our parish’s newly-refurbished and installed cupola. Vladyka got into a personnel lift which hoisted him vertically 35 feet into the air, where he was able to see the cupola eye-to-eye and sanctify it with Holy Water. (Many others noted they weren’t sure they’d be able to undertake such a feat!)
Following the Liturgy Fr. John expressed his deep appreciation to all who joined this celebration with their prayers and labors, making it a shining moment in the community’s life together; especially to Andrew Kostadis, Alexander Lahun, Nello Ion Lulea, and Nilus for their work on refurbishing the cupola, to Peggy and Gabriella for preparing a beautiful agape, to all the donors to the cupola project, to the entire parish for their patience throughout the refurbishment process, and to all those venerable faithful who wished to join together to keep holy the memory of Holy Apostle Andrew.