On December 4 (NS), the Church celebrates the great feast of the Entry, or Entrance, of the Mother of God Into the Temple.  This is a feast very much beloved by monastics.  At the age of three, the holy little child is taken to the temple in Jerusalem, to become prepared to be the Mother of our Lord.  She spent her time there in prayer, fasting, and in conversation with the heavenly hosts.  In this way, her life in the inter-sanctum, or the Holy of Holies, was a forerunner of the monastic life.

On this day, our abbot, His Grace Bishop Luke, served in our parish in Syracuse, it being his cathedra and its patronal feast.   Despite the small number of parishioners, the pontifical service was conducted according to the Church typicon, and later the sisterhood offered their traditionally delicious meal.  Despite his advanced age, Archpriest Nicholas Tkachow continues to serve his spiritual children.

            Meanwhile, in the monastery, His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, came to the monastery to serve on this feast, as is his usual custom.  During the divine liturgy, he ordained Subdeacon Viatcheslav Purdik to the deaconate.  Fr. Viatcheslav will be serving in the newly formed parish of the Church Abroad in Calgary, Alberta.  May the Lord assist him in his new obedience to the Holy Church.