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Consecration of Sts. Cyril and Methodios Church - Sat Aug 16, 2003
The Consecration Of a Church Is One Of the Most Beautiful and Meaningful Rituals in Orthodoxy. The Service Is Much Like That of A Baptism, With the Church Being "Baptised" With Holy Water and Its Walls Annointed With Holy Chrism. The Blessing of the Altar Table Also Takes Place and Is SImilarily Washed, Annointed WIth Chrism, and Relics Are Placed in Each of its Four Corners Which Are Sealed WIth Wax Mastic. It Is Then Clothed With a White "Baptismal" Garment Known As the Katasarkion and Finally Dressed With RIchly Adorned, Brocaded Altar Linens. The Posted Photos Show Scenes From Today's Consecration of the Church And The Grand Banquet Held at The VFW Hall in Nearby Hermitage, PA.
Diocesan Pilgrims Line Up in Procession Prior to Start of Saturday's Consecration of SS. Cyril and Methodios Orthodox Church.
Diocesan Youth Were Given a Place of Honor in the Procession.
Bishops and Clergy Commence the Consecration Service in the Church Narthex/Porch.
"O Holy Martyrs.." The Clergy and Faithful Process Around the Church Three Times While Singing the Hymn to the Martyrs Which Is Usually Sung at Weddings and Ordinations.
Clergy Cantors Join the Assembled Bishops in the Singing of the Responses to the Consecration Service
"Who is the King of Glory?" Metropolitan Nicholas Inquires Prior to Entering the Church.
Metropolitan Nicholas Annoints the Four Walls of the Church With Holy Chrism
Metropolitan Nicholas Annoints the Local and Festal Tier Icons With Holy Chrism.
Metropolitan Nicholas Presents All Participating Hierarchs With Wooden Blessing Crosses
Metropolitan Nicholas Greets Bishop Demetrios of Xanthos, Ecumenical Officer of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Who Represented His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios Who Was Unable to Attend.
A View of the Newly Consecrated Altar Table.
Architect Joseph Paramucha Thanked All Who Assisted in the Construction Progress
His Eminence, Archbishop Anthony of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A., Spoke on Behalf of the Assembled Bishops on the Spiritual Significance of the Church's Consecration During the Grand Banquet.
Metropolitan Nicholas Offers Concluding Remarks at the End of the Grand Banquet.