With great joy, our parish celebrated the marriage of our Subdeacon Nilus, son of Fr. John, to Gabriella, in a service concelebrated by Archbishop Michael and Fr. John.
Following the Sunday Divine Liturgy, the groom’s family offered a festive agape. After celebrating over joyful stories and good food, Nilus toasted the guests, thanking them for participating in this sacrament, and for everything they had tought him about what it means to be a Christian throughout his life.
The church filled as the guests awaited for the arrival of the bride. The choir, under the direction of Reader Lasha, sang an English translation of the Georgian wedding hymn “You Are a Vineyard”. The archbishop’s deacon, Father Stephan, intoned the litanies, to which the choir responded in English, Greek, and Italian.
At the conclusion of the service, all greeted the bride and groom, and then showered them with flowers and enjoyed a prosecco toast on the porch of the church.
“The day was filled with remarkable brightness, joy, and profundity. It reminded me of all the best of St. Andrew’s past, present and future. The warmth of everyone’s love, and the depth of everyone’s prayer, was truly humbling. Gabriella and I are indebted to you all. Thank you for joining your prayers with ours and for leading us into this Holy Mystery.” –Nilus