On Monday, August 15, the community of St. Andrew’s gathered together for the Great Feast of the Holy Dormition – the celebration of the repose, and translation to everlasting-life, of the Mother of God.
This year, despite the difficulties faced by work days and summer camp schedules, Fr. John encouraged the faithful to keep the feast, and indeed 30 of us gathered together for the Festal Divine Liturgy, after which we celebrated the blessing of new flowers and herbs (traditionally in full blossom at this time of year and blessed on this feast). Afterward, we broke bread with a beautiful festive agape meal overseen by Andrea Filak.
This year’s celebration was made all the more beautiful and enriching thanks to the completion of a full set of new blue vestments and altar cloths; a color which is traditionally associated with the Theotokos and her feasts, and which were used for the first time during this celebration. The parish greatly appreciates the generosity of the donors who established this project in memory of their loved ones. We hope that all were spiritually nourished by the fullness of this celebration, and that in the years to come, we will always mark this Great Feast with zeal and love for the Mother of God.