The Bishop is coming!!!! The Bishop is coming!!!!
Normally when the Bishop comes to visit a parish...it is a great event....the parish would prepare for weeks to organize everything get every one to take responsibility to greet the bishop. AS the bishop pulled at the end of the street....a group of people would greet him with the church flags and banners...and lots of children carrying baskets of flowers and throwing flower petals on the ground as the bishop walked to the church. Outside the church the presidents of the uprava and kolo would hold a tray with bread and salt on it....and they would have a small speech to welcome the bishop on behalf od the parish. The priest would hold a tray with a cross on it....the bishop would pick up the cross and bless the priest and everyone standing around him....then the procession into the church would happen while the choir sang Dostoyno jest.
These traditions have been around for hundreds of years and they are so beautiful. The Bishop is the successor to the Holy Apostles and has the same powers as the original 12 Apostles that Jesus had. It was the first apostles who layed their hands on individuals making them the first bishops of the church. Today, once a candidate is elected by the synod of bishops....it takes at least 3 bishops to consecrate/ordain a bishop....because they are transferring the power of the Holy Apostles to that chosen man. But to ordain a priest or deacon it takes only 1 bishop. Only because they are not transferring the full apostolic power to the priest....but only the ability to perform 6 out of the 7 Holy Mysteries/Sacraments of the church....the 7th one,,,the ordination of the priest is reserved solely to the bishops. The priest is the bishop's representative in the church and serves the local parish at the bishop's pleasure/orders. If the parish chooses to break canon law the bishop has the legal and canonical authority to remove the priest and the Holy Antimins from the Holy Altar from the church....which then means the church is no longer a church, and therefore loses its status.So there is much authority which is in the hands of our bishops and its why we give much respect to our bishops and priests...and we always kiss their right hand. It is their right hands that blesses us.....it is their right hands that holds the Body of Christ.
This Sunday, July 19th we will have the honor to greet our Bishop, His Grace, MITROPHAN. So it is important for us to try and be in church on time to receive his ARCHPASTORAL BLESSING. OUR CHILDREN need to be here to witness and participate in having the bishop here. Our children should come forward and receive HOLY COMMUNION and get the blessing of their bishop! Isn't it our goal in life to stay healthy, to attain to the life that is best for our family and ourselves....THE CHURCH is the one place where we can gather the strength to face life...to face the week...we come to church to sort of "get a booster shot" for life....keep us healthy, both spiritually and physically. So our church is a place to pray and seek God's Grace....the Cherubic hymn we sing....THE IZE...says that we should leave all earthly cares outside the building...."lay aside all earthly cares....so that we can welcome the King on High" who is JESUS!! Come sing with the choir, when we recite the VIROJU....say it together....don't fear....just talk with God in our prayers.SO....THE BISHOP IS COMING!!! THE BISHOP IS COMING!!!Be here St Simeon Serbian Orthodox Church Holy Liturgy starts at 10 am...come early, light your candles and pray with us God Bless you!
Please pray for me!Sub Deacon Panayioti
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Normally when the Bishop comes to visit a parish...it is a great event....the parish would prepare for weeks to organize everything get every one to take responsibility to greet the bishop. AS the bishop pulled at the end of the street....a group of people would greet him with the church flags and banners...and lots of children carrying baskets of flowers and throwing flower petals on the ground as the bishop walked to the church. Outside the church the presidents of the uprava and kolo would hold a tray with bread and salt on it....and they would have a small speech to welcome the bishop on behalf od the parish. The priest would hold a tray with a cross on it....the bishop would pick up the cross and bless the priest and everyone standing around him....then the procession into the church would happen while the choir sang Dostoyno jest.
These traditions have been around for hundreds of years and they are so beautiful. The Bishop is the successor to the Holy Apostles and has the same powers as the original 12 Apostles that Jesus had. It was the first apostles who layed their hands on individuals making them the first bishops of the church. Today, once a candidate is elected by the synod of bishops....it takes at least 3 bishops to consecrate/ordain a bishop....because they are transferring the power of the Holy Apostles to that chosen man. But to ordain a priest or deacon it takes only 1 bishop. Only because they are not transferring the full apostolic power to the priest....but only the ability to perform 6 out of the 7 Holy Mysteries/Sacraments of the church....the 7th one,,,the ordination of the priest is reserved solely to the bishops. The priest is the bishop's representative in the church and serves the local parish at the bishop's pleasure/orders. If the parish chooses to break canon law the bishop has the legal and canonical authority to remove the priest and the Holy Antimins from the Holy Altar from the church....which then means the church is no longer a church, and therefore loses its status.So there is much authority which is in the hands of our bishops and its why we give much respect to our bishops and priests...and we always kiss their right hand. It is their right hands that blesses us.....it is their right hands that holds the Body of Christ.
This Sunday, July 19th we will have the honor to greet our Bishop, His Grace, MITROPHAN. So it is important for us to try and be in church on time to receive his ARCHPASTORAL BLESSING. OUR CHILDREN need to be here to witness and participate in having the bishop here. Our children should come forward and receive HOLY COMMUNION and get the blessing of their bishop! Isn't it our goal in life to stay healthy, to attain to the life that is best for our family and ourselves....THE CHURCH is the one place where we can gather the strength to face life...to face the week...we come to church to sort of "get a booster shot" for life....keep us healthy, both spiritually and physically. So our church is a place to pray and seek God's Grace....the Cherubic hymn we sing....THE IZE...says that we should leave all earthly cares outside the building...."lay aside all earthly cares....so that we can welcome the King on High" who is JESUS!! Come sing with the choir, when we recite the VIROJU....say it together....don't fear....just talk with God in our prayers.SO....THE BISHOP IS COMING!!! THE BISHOP IS COMING!!!Be here St Simeon Serbian Orthodox Church Holy Liturgy starts at 10 am...come early, light your candles and pray with us God Bless you!
Please pray for me!Sub Deacon Panayioti
> Donate for Building Fund
> Library
> YOUR Donation - "$1/day"
