Archbishop of America: Let us realize for ourselves the presence of God in our hearts

On March 7, 2025, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America celebrated the first salutations to the Theotokos at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, with the Archimandrite Chrysostomos Gilbert, Archdiocesan Cathedral Dean.

Archbishop Elpidophoros also delivered a homily in which he reflected upon the Archangel’s words to the Theotokos, “Χαῖρε, δ’ ἧς ἡ χαρὰ ἐκλάμψι!,”

“Rejoice, you through whom joy will shine forth!” noting that the rhyming rhythm of the words transport us “into their presence – and you are one with the scene you are witnessing through the liturgical actions and hymnody. And this is our purpose – to enter into the stream of the awareness of God’s presence in this moment! Yesterday … is gone and tomorrow has not yet arrived. But with God, and through these services, we step into eternity – into the Eternal Now of God. When we hear the salutations of the Archangel, we enter that Divine Present Moment through our senses.”

Read the full homily below

Beloved and Dear Faithful,

Tonight, after the rigors and austerities of these very first days of the Holy Fast of the Forty Days, we arrive at an oasis in the desert, which we call the Salutations to the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. These Lenten Friday night services, which I am pleased to commence with the Cathedral Community this evening, are a wellspring of spiritual refreshment and a nourishing noetic meal of praise. (We shall have to wait a bit more for the hearty Lenten Meal that our Philoptochos offers afterward.)

For these Holy Services of the Salutations, which culminate on the Fifth Friday in the chanting of the entire Akathist Hymn in one setting, are granted unto us as an easy egress from the stringency of the weekday Fast to the more relaxed weekend Fast. And what is more, the magnificence of the poetry of Saint Romanos the Melodist – the Deacon of Constantinople and the composer of these verses – bring us joy and gladness, as we celebrate Virgin Theotokos. We sing to her:

Χαῖρε! Χαῖρε Νύμφη Ἀνύμφευτε!

“Rejoice! Rejoice Bride Unwedded!”

Through the twenty-four stanzas that we divide over the first four Fridays, we tell her stories – the story of her Annunciation by the Archangel Gabriel; the story of our Lord’s birth and the wonder of the Shepherds; the Visitation of the Magi and the Presentation in the Temple, and finally the Flight into Egypt under the protection of Joseph the Betrothed.

These are narratives of our salvation, and Saint Romanos the Melodist brings them to life with an exquisite poetical form which moves effortlessly through every stanza.

Tonight, my beloved Christians, gathered here together in this Cathedral before her Holy Icon, we hear words of unspeakable beauty put into the mouth of the Archangel, who cries out to the Theotokos with this simple, yet lovely, announcement:

Χαῖρε, δ’ ἧς ἡ χαρὰ ἐκλάμψι!

Rejoice, you through whom joy will shine forth!

If you listened carefully, the rhyming rhythm that takes hold of your spirit allows you to transcend thought, such that you are transported into their presence – and you are one with the scene you are witnessing through the liturgical actions and hymnody.

And this is our purpose – to enter into the stream of the awareness of God’s presence in this moment! Yesterday … is gone, and tomorrow has not yet arrived. But with God, and through these services, we step into eternity – into the Eternal Now of God. When we hear the salutations of the Archangel, we enter that Divine Present Moment through our senses.

The words of the Angel. The sight of the Virgin’s holy icon. The fragrance of the incense. Each of these sensations is designed to open our minds and hearts to God. Through these Salutation services, we partake of the blessedness of the Theotokos, who received God within her womb, and so we are called to receive God within our hearts.

It is not a mere accident that the Feast of the Annunciation – when God became Incarnate within the Holy Womb of the Virgin – usually falls within the Great Lent.

These Fridays offer us the refreshment that springs from a realization. Just as we are here, worshipping within this space – the χώρα of this Cathedral; so too, God is within us, elevating and illuminating our minds and hearts through the experience of this worship. But only if we are open to His presence, as was the Virgin who replied to the Archangel:

Ἰδοὺ ἡ δούλη Κυρίου· γένοιτό μοι κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου.

Behold, the servant of the Lord; be it unto me according to your word.¹

May we always know the Virgin’s openness to the greeting of the Archangel – Τό Χαῖρε – and realize for ourselves the presence of God in our hearts, that may we be blessed to complete the course of the Fast and arrive in joy at the glorious Pascha of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

1. Luke 1:38

Photo credit: Orthodox Observer/ Dimitrios Panagos.