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On Sunday, December 7, 2008, the feast of St. Catherine the Great Martyr, Archimandrite Zacchaeus, Dean of the church dedicated in her holy name, celebrated the Divine Liturgy to celebrate the parish Patronal feast day together with clergy from the Russian Orthodox Church, the Polish Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of the Czech lands and Slovakia.
During the festal Divine Liturgy special prayers were offered for the repose of the soul of the newly departed Most Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, ALEKSY. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the festal troparion, kontakion and magnification were sung to St. Catherine in addition to the reading of a prayer asking for her heavenly intercessions before the Throne of God. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archimandrite Zacchaeus addressed the faithful gathered with very emotional words about the life of the newly departed Patriarch and his extremely positive role in the renewal of Orthodox Christian life in modern Russia as well as making the voice of the Russian Orthodox Church heard throughout the entire world. After Father Zacchaeus’ words, Priest Daniel Lugovoi, parish cleric and former subdeacon to His Holiness, Patriarch ALEKSY read the Patriarchal Address to the community that His Holiness signed just two days before his unexpected repose.
Next, the clergy, led by Archimandrite Zacchaeus concelebrated a panikhida (Memorial Service) in the Church Slavonic, English, Polish and Czech languages for the newly departed and ever memorable Most Holy Patriarch ALEKSY on the third day of his repose. Following the panikhida, Archimandrite Zacchaeus once again addressed the congregations with words of gratitude for their prayers for a great man of the Church, the newly departed Patriarch ALEKSY and also introduced the guests which were praying at St. Catherine the Great Martyr Church for the services. These guests included: the Ambassadors of the United States of America; Serbia; Bulgaria; Poland; Belgium; and Colombia; the Moscow Representative of the Church of the Czech lands and Slovakia, Archpriest Aleksy Yushenko; visiting Chaplain of the Polish Orthodox Church, Archpriest Michael Dudich; Representatives of the State Duma of Russia; Representatives of the Administration of the President of Russia; and others.
Following the service, Archimandrite Zacchaeus, Representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Moscow Patriarchate and Mr. John Beyrle, Ambassador of the United States of America to the Russian Federation departed together to Christ the Savior Cathedral to pay their respects and offer prayers before the body of the newly departed Patriarch ALEKSY.
Photogallery: The Patronal Feast of St Catherine the Great Martyr Church - the Moscow Representation of the Orthodox Church in America -2008.
The Patronal Feast of St Catherine the Great Martyr Church 2008 |
