Dear Friends,

Since the feast of the holy Archangels and Angelic Hosts is celebrated in November, it has been a long-standing tradition in our Diocese to recognize during this month the important role of the choir in our worship of God.

In the context of the holy Badarak we come across various references, which call the faithful to join in with the angels (seraphim and cherubim) in glorifying God without ceasing. The choir’s role is to inspire the faithful in their offering of praise to our Lord and Savior. In the ideal scenario the congregation would boldly sing the liturgy together with the choir (at least the short responses). This a goal that we need to continually work toward.

In the spirit of this week of Thanksgiving from the depths of my heart I thank our dear choir members, both past and present, young and old. My prayer is that your God-pleasing and selfless offering of time and talent be rewarded you when we are all called to sing the eternal praises of our Father in heaven. Vartskernit gadar!

The following passage recently came to my attention. It is by a 20th century saint of the Russian Orthodox Church, John of Kronstadt and is an expression of the spiritual ecstasy that we are called to experience each time we celebrate the holy Badarak.

I am extinguished, I die spiritually, when I do not serve in church for several days; and I am enkindled, I am enlivened in soul and heart when I serve, forcing myself to pray – not formal, but real spiritual, sincere, ardent prayer. I love to pray in God’s church at the Holy Altar, for I am miraculously changed in the temple by God’s grace.

During prayers of repentance and compunction, the bonds of the passions fall away from my soul, and it becomes so easy for me. I die, as it were, to the world, and the world, with all its good things, dies to me. I live in God and for God, for the One God, and I am wholly penetrated by Him and become one with His. I become like a child, comforted on the knees of its mother. My heart is full of super-celestial and sweet peace, and my soul is filled with heavenly light. I see everything in radiance, I look at everything correctly; I feel harmony with and love for everyone, for enemies themselves, and I easily excuse and forgive them!

O, how blessed is the soul when it is with God! The Temple is truly an earthly paradise! What boldness it inspires toward the Lord and the Mother of God! What meekness, humility and peace! What impartiality toward the earthly! What a burning desire for heavenly, most pure, eternal delights! The tongue cannot speak of that blessedness that you taste, when God is in your heart!

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With prayers.
Hayr Simeon
November 30, 2008