As is known, Pentecost is the feast of the monastery. On the forefeast, Trinity Saturday, the Diviine Liturgy was served in the monastery cemetery. At the end of the Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Luke, together with the monastery clergy, served a general pannikhida, commemorating all those buried in the cemetery as well as all other reposed, whose names are prayed for in the monastery.
In the evening, the All-Night Vigil was solemnly served with a litya at the end of the Great Vespers part of the service, with a procession around the church, stopping at all sides for the petitions. Vladyka also served the polyleos during matins.
On Sunday itself, our abbot, His Grace Bishop Luke, was greeted “with glory,” that is, the clergy processed to the main entrance of the monastery to greet our bishop and then process to the cathedral, chanting the troparion of the feast.
During the hours, Vladyka tonsured the newly tonsured Monk Constantine, first to be a reader, then a subdeacon of the Church. Fr. Constantine is being prepared to be an Orthodox missionary in his native Jamaica.
At the end of Liturgy, the 9th Hour was read, whereupon Great Vespers was served, commencing with the chanting of “O Heavenly King.” Bouquets of fresh flowers were handed out to the clergy by Vladyka.
During this service, three special prayers are read to the Holy Trinity. The clergy and all of the faithful are on their knees during these prayers, the first time since Holy Thursday, when kneeling in church is allowed.
At the end of the vespers service, all were invited to the traditional Pentecost meal of the monastery
The actual patronal feast of the monastery is Holy Spirit Day, the 2nd day of the feast. For this we had the grace of the presence and service of our First Hierarch, Metropolitan Nicholas. He presided at the Divine Liturgy on this feast and also on the 3rd day of Holy Trinity, together with our abbot, Bishop Luke. On Holy Spirit Day, there was a large gathering of the faithful in attendance.
After the consecration of the Holy Gifts, His Grace Bishop Luke ordained Subdeacon Monk Constantine to the hierodeaconate. May the Lord come to Fr. Constantine’s aid in his new obedience to the Holy Church.
At the end of the liturgy, a moleben with prayers to the Holy Trinity was served. Later, all were invited to the monastery luncheon, which was followed by a reception outside, during which the faithful could socialize with our hierarchs and the clergy and each other.
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