Diocese Policy on Agape Meals after Divine Liturgies
“… And breaking bread from house to house, the ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart.” Acts 2:46 We ask all the parish churches of the Diocese of Los Angeles to hold fast the Biblical-Patristic Tradition of Agape Meals after Divine Liturgies. We encourage every parish church to invite her beloved children, after the Divine Liturgy, to share together with gladness and simplicity of heart a simple Agape Meal without sale and purchase – …
Diocese Clarifies Rite of Adam and Watos Verses of Cymbals on Saturday Evening
On December 11, 2008, His Grace Bishop Serapion clarified a liturgical rubrics question in a meeting with the clergy of the Diocese. The question presented was: In the Vespers Raising of Incense on Saturday evening, is it proper to chant the Adam (Amoini Marenousht) or Watos (Tenousht) Verses of the Cymbals? His Grace clarified that the rites of the Raising of Incense on Saturday evening follow the occasion/event of Sunday, the next day. For this – …
Understanding Addicition (Part 1)
Addiction is a widespread, chronic condition that may have very serious emotional, physical, social, financial, and legal implications. It afflicts the life of the addict in all its aspects, leading to a wide range of consequences, and frequently ends up with loss of functioning or even death. Such consequences often extend to include the addict’s family as well as the whole community. Every year, millions of lives and billions of dollars are lost all over – …
Papal Letter for the Feast of the Nativity 2009
My brethren and children in the lands of immigration, clergy and laity. Peace to you from the Lord and grace, with my greetings to you during the Glorious Feast of Nativity. Wishing you in these occasions a new holy life that is better than what it was in the previous year. I wish to say to you that the birth of Christ was an annunciation of salvation, as the angel said to the shepherds “I – …
Festal Letter for the Feast of the Nativity 2009
My Beloved, the Blessed Children of the Holy Church, It is my pleasure to wish all of you a blessed and joyous Feast of the Nativity. We rejoice on this blessed feast day, because of Immanuel our God. Let us reflect together on this joyous prophecy said by Isaiah the Prophet, “See, the virgin will conceive and bear a son, and you will call his name Immanuel. He will eat curds and honey. Before knowing – …
On the Nativity
The Word of God searches for the work of truth. And so it is for a man to speak, to hear, and to do. For this reason one hears what is said, so that he might complete the work of obedience. On this day the Lord was born, the life and the salvation of men. Today is born Him who reconciles divinity to humanity and humanity to divinity. Today all creation leaps for joy. Those from – …