On the first Sunday of Advent, December 01, 2019, Bishop Irinej of Eastern America celebrated the Holy and Divine Hierarchical Liturgy, assisted by Protopresbyter Aleksa Micich, and Protodeacons Milosh Zdralic and Jovan Anicic, for the St. Sava Cathedral community in New York City. The Cathedral Choir, under the skilful direction of Dr Milos Raickovic, rendered inspiring responses to the Liturgy.
As the Cathedral Church is in the process of being rebuilt, following the devastating fire of Paschal Sunday, 2016, the parish community has been welcome in different Orthodox churches throughout Manhattan. However, the St. Eleftherios Greek Orthodox Church, gratefully, has been their home and mainstay.
On this particular Sunday, the Bishop offered a bi-lingual homily to a large number of faithful gathered, on the prescribed Gospel concerning the raising of Jairus’ daughter and the healing of the woman with the issue of blood.
The Bishop emphasized the point, shared in common by both events, through the mystery of touch, which facilitates healing and restoration. For us as Orthodox Christians, all Divine Mysteries of the Church are affected by touch, which leaves its indelible mark on our souls.
At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Bishop Irinej administered the oath of office to three new members of the Board of Trustees: Zoran Milovic, Lidija Nikolic and Radmila Knezevic. Together with the other members of the Board, they will endeavor to assist the Bishop in facilitating the restoration of the community, i.e., the Living Church, while endeavoring on the resurrection of the Cathedral Church.
Thereafter, the Bishop explained, in great detail, the rebuilding process during this present ‘secure & enclosure’ phase, which entails the completion of the roof and floor, together with the mounting of windows and doors. Following the same, all necessary steps will be taken to accommodate occupancy for the celebration of the Divine Services, from time to time, until such time that the magnificent Cathedral is restored to its splendor and God’s glory.
Source: Serbian Orthodox Church
