Orthodox Sunday – March 17, 2019

“Spiritual Joy”

            The first Sunday of Great Lent is known as “Triumph of Orthodoxy” and is celebrated every year.  A different local Orthodox Church hosts the celebration each year.  Our beloved Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was Sacramento’s host this year.  For those who attended it was a glorious, joyful event.  For those who were unable to attend, you truly missed an opportunity to be in the presence of a most unique individual – His Grace Bishop Neofitos (Kong’ai) of The Diocese of Nyeri and Mount Kenya in Africa.  

      Yes, you read that correctly, from half a world away, an individual who is preserving the Orthodox Faith and expanding the reach of the Orthodox Church graced the doors of our Church and was in our midst.  His Diocese was established in 2015 by the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All-Africa.  His Grace Bishop Neofitos Kong’ai was unanimously elected as the first Bishop of the Diocese.  The Diocese spans some 50,250 square miles and is comprised of 60 parishes that are served by 53 priests.

      There are many reasons why this man is unique.  In the 3 short years he has been enthroned, some of his accomplishments are:  he has renovated 10 churches; built 11 semi-permanent churches; built 2 permanent churches; provided motorcycles to 53 clergy (to be able to visit and minister to those in need far from their churches); built and opened the Diocese Centre in 2018; built a hall to accommodate 100 people; and sponsored many students from primary, secondary and tertiary education levels.  However, the MOST AMAZING on-going accomplishment is HE FEEDS 100 CHILDREN EACH DAY and they call him ‘their papa’.

     As we all gathered for the evening service, we were not aware that we would be enthralled by the Vesper service.  We could feel the love of God in our midst during the entire evening.  We were ‘enchanted’ by our Chanters: (one of them from our own midst – Dusan Radosavljevic) and Nate and Nick Baba (sons of Fr. Paul Baba of the Antiochian Church of the Virgin Mary in West Sacramento).  They offered the Chanting in Greek as well as English.

      The voices of our Choir were inspiring and masterfully prayerful under the direction of Gorjana Zekic.  When their voices lifted in prayer for the most beautiful hymn “Kto Bog”, “God Is With Us”, the effect was powerful!   One could feel the Holy Spirit as well as the Heavenly Hosts in our midst.

    The POWER of the Trisagion prayers  as we ALL JOINED TOGETHER AS ONE VOICE OF ORTHODOX FROM ALL CHURCHES was simply magnificent!

    The final “Prayer of The Declaration of Faith” read in the resounding voices of His Grace and ALL the Priests who were present will not soon be forgotten.

   The culmination of the Service was the humbly offered and beautiful Sermon given by Bishop Neofitos.  He spoke slowly and with firm conviction.  He radiated love.  As Subdeacon Deacon Stephen Whitcomb (Antiochian Church of St. Athanasius) noted, “His Grace has the same gift of ‘Spiritual Joy’ that has been attributed to St. Innocent of Alaska.  One could feel his acceptance of Unification of all of us throughout the room in our Orthodox Faith.” He spoke of the feeding of the children over which he watches.  He spoke of the hardships his Diocese has.  He spoke of the necessity of the different Orthodox Churches in the world in accepting each other.  As he looked at all of us, he spoke of the Unity we all share in Christ. He spoke with love in his voice.  6 year old Olivia sat in the first row pew during the service.  Her impression offered through the eyes of a child…  “ He had REALLY, REALLY nice eyes.  I liked him.”   So did we all.

     At the conclusion of the Service, His Grace, Bp. Neofitos as well as many of the Priests lined up in the front of the Church holding Icons in their arms.  The pews slowly emptied of parishioners.  As we each waited our turn to venerate the row of Icons lovingly held by the Clergy, there were hugs all around as people were greeting each other.  This is the only time each year that we are able to greet our Brothers and Sisters from the other Orthodox Churches in our community in one place!  Yes, we can visit each other’s food festivals or the ‘Christmas Around the World’ yearly event.  However, to have the opportunity to join with ALL the other Orthodox in order to PRAY with each other and offer Thanks to God with each other, this is our only opportunity!     God’s LOVE was felt this evening.

Participating Clergy:

His Grace Bishop Neofitos, The Diocese of Nyeri and Mount Kenya, Africa
Fr. Dane Popovic;   Fr. William Weir – Serbian Church of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Fr. Christopher Flesoras – Greek Church of St. Anna – Roseville
Fr. Constantine Pappademos – Greek Church of St. Anna – Elk Grove
Fr. Seraphim Ivey – Greek Church of St. Anna – Roseville
Fr. Stephen Howell – Antiochian Church of St. Athanasius – South Sacramento
Fr. Paul Baba – Antiochian Church of Virgin Mary – West Sacramento
Fr. Thomas Renfree – American Church of Elevation of The Holy Cross – Sacramento
Fr. Andrew Jacobs – American Church of Elevation of The Holy Cross – Sacramento

   A final word:  The culmination to a celebration is the food to be shared.  It was done deliciously by Miroslav Milovanovich and the Sisters of Our Church.  May God Bless Each of them for their donation of time and effort to feed all of us as well as our Guests.

    Go forth with ‘Spiritual Joy’ and share the Orthodox Faith with others.

Protinica Mary Anne