The community of Kimisis tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church in Brooklyn, New York welcomed Archbishop Elpidophoros of America on the evening of Tuesday, April 7, for the Orthros of Great and Holy Wednesday, the Third Bridegroom Service. Celebrating alongside Archbishop Elpidophoros was Proistamenos the V. Rev. Arch. Damaskinos V. Ganas.
In his homily, Archbishop Elpidophoros reflected on the striking contrast at the heart of the evening’s liturgy: the figure of Judas, a disciple who had walked with the Lord for three years and yet betrayed Him nonetheless, and the Sinful Woman of the Hymn of Kassiani, whose life had been lived in darkness, yet who perceived Christ’s divinity in her heart.
“The Chosen Disciple chooses his own fate,” Archbishop Elpidophoros said, “and the Sinful Woman’s action has the exact opposite effect of Judas’ perfidy.”
“She foreshadows revelation of the Resurrection, because, as Saint Kassiani tells us, she ‘takes upon herself the rank of a Myrrh-Bearer,’” Archbishop Elpidophoros continued. “For it was the Myrrh-bearers, led by Mary Magdalene, who first announced the Resurrection of the Lord to the Disciples. Thus, this Woman who anointed the Lord before His Passion, became a foreteller of His Arising.”
Photos by Orthodox Observer/Dimitrios Panagos
