Easter was celebrated with great spiritual uplift
Sunday, April 19, 2009 ;)
The Great Feast of Resurrection of the Christ - Easter was celebrated at the parish on the 19th of April as almost everywhere else in the orthodox world. Despite the temporary problems with premise, the celebration went with great spiritual uplift. It was helped a lot by the small group of parishioners who had crafted a wonderful new icon screen for the parish together with the altar and the Holy table.
Prior to the beginning of the service the new icon screen was blessed. Parishioners made confession. Acts of Apostles were read before the Holy Sindon, then the midnight service took place and the Holy Sindon was brought to the Altar, where it was placed on the new Holy Table.
The choir sang very brightly, with the glimmering oil lamps, icons on the incon stands with burning candles in front of them one could almost forget that it was happening in a non-orthodox country. The sacred procession went along the perimeter inside the premise.
It was traditionally crowdy at the celebration, some people did not speak Russian at all, but still came along to celebrate Easter together with us. After the Liturgy Easter eggs and cakes were blessed followed by breaking of the fast.
Christ is risen!