METROPOLIS OF BOSTON:THE SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY PAN-ORTHODOX VESPERS AND PRAYER FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE

 

Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston

His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios Celebrates the Sunday of Orthodoxy Pan-Orthodox Vespers and Prayer for Peace in Ukraine at St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Jamaica Plain, MA

On Sunday, March 13th, 2022, the first Sunday of Great Lent – Sunday of Orthodoxy, His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios presided at the Pan-Orthodox Vesper Service joined by 22 Orthodox Clergy of the Greater Boston area at St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Jamaica Plain, with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Antony of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.

The church was filled with the faithful from various Orthodox Churches to offer intercessory prayers for the people of Ukraine.

Below are excerpts from His Eminence’s address:  

“We gather this evening to celebrate the Sunday of Orthodoxy.  To celebrate the triumph of true and proven doctrine over error and heresy that threatened the foundations of the Church countless times.

We celebrate the victory of Orthodox thought purified and tempered in the crucible of history. 

We celebrate the restoration of the Holy Icons as a wholly unique feature of Orthodox piety and faith.  We do not, however, gather in   order to engage in an emotional salute to history.   Our Orthodox Faith is not a relic of ages past, but a challenge to us to witness its truth in our own times.

What we celebrate is not a display of archaeological tokens, but a living and life-giving force in the lives of believing men and women. 

The victory of the Church in the 9th century lies in the belief in the eternal power of Orthodoxy to restore the Icon of God which is imprinted in every human being.  It lies in the reality that the icon of God lived, and lives in the hearts of the faithful.  It lies in the fact that Orthodox spirituality survived and continues to survive all the influences and movements that have been set against it throughout Christian history.  If there is any meaning in commemoration, it is the value of remembering that faith always lives in hostile surroundings.  It is always behind enemy lines, continually engaged in struggle.

Orthodoxy is not an empty, triumphalistic slogan, nor a procession of beautiful icons, nor simply a Church of colorful observances and rituals as it is unfortunately considered by many.

Orthodoxy is the Church of Christ. Betrayed. Condemned. Crucified, but always Resurrected throughout the centuries. 

Is Orthodoxy not betrayed, condemned and crucified in our times?  I am afraid we have little reason to be triumphant about Orthodoxy these days as we witness Orthodox killing fellow Orthodox… As we have Patriarchs who are not in communion with one another…

Three weeks ago, Russia launched an unjust and violent invasion into Ukraine.  We gather tonight to pray for all those lives afflicted by this brutal assault.  The implications of this humanitarian tragedy are being felt throughout Ukraine, indeed throughout the world. 

We are witnessing an immense tragedy of human suffering. We especially mourn the deaths of innocent children. 

Tonight, we offer prayers for all the Ukrainian People- those of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and those of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the Moscow Patriarchate.  We pray for our brethren in the Ukrainian Catholic and the Ukrainian Jewish communities, for those belonging to a religion, and for those without a religion. Indeed, for all those who find themselves in the dire circumstances of war.

As we watch the news on television, we are inspired by the incredible courage of the Ukrainian people who are facing terrible adversity with valor.  We are inspired by the bravery of the thousands of Russian brethren who are risking their freedom--- and perhaps even their lives--- as they protest this unprovoked, barbaric attack.

 We pray that the Lord will hear our prayers and will not abandon his beloved children of Ukraine.”

 

More photos can be viewed by clicking on this link: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzFJ1e