On the fourth Wednesday after the night of the Resurrection of the Lord, the feast of Mid-Pentecost is celebrated according to Orthodox liturgical tradition. As the name suggests, it also marks the midpoint between Easter and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. The feast was founded on the liturgical Gospel pericope planned for this day according to John (7:14-30). It refers to Christ's arrival in the middle of the Feast of Tabernacles at the temple in Jerusalem, where a polemic between Jesus and the scribes took place. Its main motive was the mission of God the Father and the depth of wisdom coming from the mouth of the Son of God. This is one of the few days in the Orthodox year when the half of a certain period has such a unique character.
Mid-Pentecost was one of the most important feasts of the famous Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople. The Warsaw Orthodox Church of St. Sophia the Wisdom of God, as its spiritual successor, has been celebrating this day with exceptional solemnity since the very beginning of its existence.
This year it fell on May 29. On the eve of the day, the All-Night Vigil was held. The consecration of water took place on Wednesday morning. Before the beginning of St. Thomas Bursche, a chorister who has been actively involved in the organization of the parish life of the faithful since the first moments, performed during the liturgy. functioning of the Ursynov church.
The Holy Liturgy was led by His Eminence Metropolitan Savva, the main initiator of the construction of the first Orthodox church in the capital of our homeland for more than a hundred years. The Saint was assisted by His Excellency Archbishop Grzegorz of Bielsk together with the clergy of the Warsaw district and other Polish cities. Archimandrites Isaiah and Teofil from the Serbian Patriarchate also took part in this year's celebrations. The solemn and deeply spiritual character of the celebration was ensured by the singing of the choir. St. Roman Melodos under the direction of Bohdan Kuzmyuk.
After the reading of the Gospel pericope, Archbishop Grzegorz delivered a sermon. The preacher said, among other things: In this blessed time when we constantly praise the Risen Son of God, Mother Church is also now preparing us for the coming of the Comforter. He does this through, among other things: the Sundays of the Easter season and the Gospel readings. Looking into each of them, it is impossible not to notice that the way to find the grace of the Third Person of the Holy Trinity leads through deep faith and repentance that purifies our hearts .
Metropolitan Savva also delivered an archpastoral address on this day. His Eminence noted that one of the theological messages of the celebrated event is the following reminding man that he was created by God so that mankind could become a participant in the Kingdom of Heaven and constantly glorify his Lord.
The hierarch also emphasized that the modern world is plagued by evil from all sides. To overcome it, every Christian is obliged to share the Easter joy of the Resurrection with those around him. This, in turn, fills us with the Gospel hope of the Savior's final victory over Satan. This is why Orthodoxy does not allow the concept of wisdom and doubt in matters of faith, while calling us to humbly kneel before the omnipotence of Christ risen from the dead.
Referring to the 100th anniversary of autocephaly celebrated this year by our local Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Savva emphasized that the parish feast of the Cathedral of St. Sophia in the capital fits perfectly with these celebrations. The Temple of Divine Wisdom in Warsaw is a gift from God. A few years ago could anyone think that in the center of Europe will be built an Orthodox church, which will be an exact copy of the Byzantine miracle of Christian art? God's ways are inscrutable. Thanks be to God for His mercies.
The local parish priest Fr. Mgr. Adam Semenyuk expressed his gratitude to His Eminence for his leadership in the common prayer, for the fatherly care and advice at all stages of the construction of the temple, as well as to all those who came to the Christmas celebrations.
The celebrations in the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in the capital ended with joyful singing of Easter hymns around the icon of the Mid-Pentecost, located in the center of the temple.
Mid-Pentecost was one of the most important feasts of the famous Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople. The Warsaw Orthodox Church of St. Sophia the Wisdom of God, as its spiritual successor, has been celebrating this day with exceptional solemnity since the very beginning of its existence.
This year it fell on May 29. On the eve of the day, the All-Night Vigil was held. The consecration of water took place on Wednesday morning. Before the beginning of St. Thomas Bursche, a chorister who has been actively involved in the organization of the parish life of the faithful since the first moments, performed during the liturgy. functioning of the Ursynov church.
The Holy Liturgy was led by His Eminence Metropolitan Savva, the main initiator of the construction of the first Orthodox church in the capital of our homeland for more than a hundred years. The Saint was assisted by His Excellency Archbishop Grzegorz of Bielsk together with the clergy of the Warsaw district and other Polish cities. Archimandrites Isaiah and Teofil from the Serbian Patriarchate also took part in this year's celebrations. The solemn and deeply spiritual character of the celebration was ensured by the singing of the choir. St. Roman Melodos under the direction of Bohdan Kuzmyuk.
After the reading of the Gospel pericope, Archbishop Grzegorz delivered a sermon. The preacher said, among other things: In this blessed time when we constantly praise the Risen Son of God, Mother Church is also now preparing us for the coming of the Comforter. He does this through, among other things: the Sundays of the Easter season and the Gospel readings. Looking into each of them, it is impossible not to notice that the way to find the grace of the Third Person of the Holy Trinity leads through deep faith and repentance that purifies our hearts .
Metropolitan Savva also delivered an archpastoral address on this day. His Eminence noted that one of the theological messages of the celebrated event is the following reminding man that he was created by God so that mankind could become a participant in the Kingdom of Heaven and constantly glorify his Lord.
The hierarch also emphasized that the modern world is plagued by evil from all sides. To overcome it, every Christian is obliged to share the Easter joy of the Resurrection with those around him. This, in turn, fills us with the Gospel hope of the Savior's final victory over Satan. This is why Orthodoxy does not allow the concept of wisdom and doubt in matters of faith, while calling us to humbly kneel before the omnipotence of Christ risen from the dead.
Referring to the 100th anniversary of autocephaly celebrated this year by our local Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Savva emphasized that the parish feast of the Cathedral of St. Sophia in the capital fits perfectly with these celebrations. The Temple of Divine Wisdom in Warsaw is a gift from God. A few years ago could anyone think that in the center of Europe will be built an Orthodox church, which will be an exact copy of the Byzantine miracle of Christian art? God's ways are inscrutable. Thanks be to God for His mercies.
The local parish priest Fr. Mgr. Adam Semenyuk expressed his gratitude to His Eminence for his leadership in the common prayer, for the fatherly care and advice at all stages of the construction of the temple, as well as to all those who came to the Christmas celebrations.
The celebrations in the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in the capital ended with joyful singing of Easter hymns around the icon of the Mid-Pentecost, located in the center of the temple.
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