A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY
|
|
|
| Volume 6 Number 15 - Tuesday, April 13th, 2004 |
A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY |
|
• Search Engine
The 2003 Angel Fund Appeal • OCN Website
• The Video - "A New Era Begins"
|
The Orthodox Christian News Service |
|
|
In Troubled Times, Holy Week Provides Spiritual Respite By Zoe Tsine NEW YORK. – In the recent days Greek Orthodox Churches around the United States have been receiving hundreds of thousands of parishioners this Holy Week to commemorate the Trial, Passion and Resurrection of the Christ. Once again this year, the Greek community is turning to Orthodox traditions and teachings to reflect on the meaning of Christ’s suffering, in the midst of ongoing war and political and social instability around the world. “A lot of people are searching for peace and salvation in these difficult times,” Metropolitan Methodios of Boston told the National Herald. “I believe that today, America is growing further and further away from God and people feel the need to return to the Church,” he added. The Metropolitan will be completing his Holy Week schedule with the Sunday morning Agape service at the St. Spyridon Cathedral, in Worcester, Massachusetts. “We are standing by our traditions,” said Fr. Paul C. Palesty of Saint Nicholas Shrine Church in Flushing, New York. With 2,000 families, Saint Nicholas has the largest single Greek Orthodox parish membership in the United States. “Every year on Pascha Night at least 10,000 parishioners gather outside the Church but I don’t see any fear in the people,” added the pastor. “Whatever is happening around the world is one more cause to devote ourselves in prayer that the resurrection will shine in the hearts of all people for peace and justice.” Fr. Palesty told The National Herald that on Good Thursday, St. Nicholas would have the honor of welcoming Archbishop Demetrios to preside over the Church’s Passion Service. The Archbishop’s busy Holy Week schedule will end with the Holy Saturday, Anastasis and Easter Sunday Agape services at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in New York City. Both the Metropolitan and Fr. Palesty referred to the latest turmoil in Kosovo and Iraq as a sign of the need to return to the Church for consolation. The two men agreed that the Greek Orthodox Church’s celebrations of the Holy Week are unique in relating the message of the Gospels. “The Orthodox Church involves in the most beautiful way all the senses of the faithful in the worship of God,” Fr. Palesty told the Herald. “In everything you see, smell and hear in our church, from the hymnology to the incense, you can feel the depth of our dogma and our teachings. There is so much poetry and expressiveness in our hymns and acts of reverence,” he added. Fr. Palesty also referred to Mel Gibson’s blockbuster movie, “The Passion of the Christ,” and the effect it has had in the past weeks on many Christian believers. “I understand that a lot of people have been moved by the film, but I think that the Greek Church offers a better opportunity to reflect on the passion of the Christ in a more beautiful, liturgical way. It puts everything into perspective. Our emphasis is the resurrection not the passion. Without the resurrection the passion of the Christ cannot be understood." "No other Church recounts the last days of Christ as the Greek Orthodox Church does," agreed Metropolitan Methodios. "No other Church has the majesty, expression and hymnology of our services. It brings the person to a crescendo. The hymns are so beautiful and didactic, that if one pays attention, he doesn’t have to go see any film. He can live it during the Holy Week at the Church. We don’t leave the life of Christ with the passion. We celebrate most especially the resurrection." Fr. Palesty noted as one of his favorites the crucifixion hymn that sings, "Today hung upon the tree he, who created the Heavens and the Earth." "I learned to chant these hymns in the original Greek when I was a little boy," said Metropolitan Methodios referring to the Greek Orthodox liturgy’s inclusion of the English language. "It doesn’t matter what language you chant in as long as you exercise a deep self-examination," he added. St. Nicholas’ Agape service on Easter Sunday morning will traditionally proclaim the Gospels in different languages including Romanian and Arabic. Fr. Palesty said that a good 150 families participate in St. Nicholas’ preparations for the services and events of the Holy Week, from cleaning up the facilities to setting up the vaya on Palm Sunday and arranging the flowers on the epitaph. "They are investing themselves and their time with the life of the parish," said the priest. "Showing your love for the Church and its work is something that stays with you throughout your life." Fr. Palesty still recalls that as a child he often attended the church’s Holy Week services outside the building, which at the time could only accommodate 200 parishioners. Things have changed drastically since then. St. Nicholas is planning to accommodate its increasing membership by breaking ground on a brand new 30,000 square foot, four-level facility, this coming June. The new building will house among other functions, a new fellowship hall, a new gymnasium and 16 new classrooms for the Church’s three schools. He said that on Good Tuesday the Church’s Greek orthodox Youth Association was also planning on hosting its annual lent diner, in a show of gratitude to their teachers, coaches and many advisors. Metropolitan Methodios told the Herald he presses upon priests the need to relate an even more hopeful, new and interesting message to young people in what he called a time of confusion and apathy.
"Everywhere you turn you see confusion and death.
It is so difficult to try and live you faith in
such a world. But the Truth of God does not
change," he said. "The Church is in transition as
it always is and always should be. It should adapt
and relate its message to the new generation." |
|
Home • Archives • Search • Submissions • Support Us |
||
|
Orthodox News, PO BOX 6954 |
