April 7 is the day on which the Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, the main feast of the Suprasl Monastery. This year, this feast fell on the Third Sunday of Great Lent, called the Week of the Cross ( Christ-Praise ) when, in the middle of the period of Great Lent, we solemnly lift up the saving Cross of Christ.
The festive celebrations began the day before with the All-Night Vigil, which was led by His Eminence Philaret, Metropolitan of Lviv and Galicia (Ukrainian Orthodox Church) and His Eminence Andrzej, Bishop of Suprasl, assisted by the Fathers of the Monastery and visiting clergy.
The Vigil was presided over by His Eminence Philaret, Metropolitan of Lviv and Galicia (Ukrainian Orthodox Church) and His Eminence Andrzej, Bishop of Suprasl, assisted by the Fathers of the Monastery and visiting clergy.
On the feast day, a small water consecration was celebrated in the morning, and later - at nine o'clock - a solemn Divine Liturgy presided over by the hierarchs: Metropolitan Filaret of Lviv and Galicia, Archbishop of Bialystok and Gdansk. Jakub, Archbishop Grzegorz of Bielsk and Bishop Andrzej of Suprasl.
Abbot of the monastery.
After reading the Gospel pericope, Metropolitan Filaret addressed the faithful with a word of instruction. In his sermon, the Holy Father gave a theological analysis of the feast, emphasizing the unique role of the Theotokos, who became the new Eve, through whose humility and complete surrender to God the world came to be salvation for the world, brought through our Savior Jesus Christ.
After the liturgy, Archbishop Iacoub, on behalf of St. Mary Magdalene, awarded Archimandrite Job the Order of St. Mary Magdalene, 3rd Degree, for his efforts in providing spiritual care to the Brotherhood of the Three Saints. Archbishop Iacoub, concluding the Metropolitan's sermon, shared the statement of a theologian that God made Himself powerless by giving man free will. He also emphasized the unique synergy of cooperation, the will of Our Lady, full of devotion to God and humility, and the grace of God, which resulted in the birth of our Savior.
Archbishop Jakub also recalled that exactly 40 years ago the cornerstone laying ceremony for the reconstruction of the Annunciation Church, completely demolished in 1944, took place.
The next speaker was Archbishop Grzegorz of Bielsk, who conveyed greetings from His Beatitude Sava, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland, who unfortunately could not come today in person. He also emphasized the unique role of the Suprasl monastery, which spiritually guides not only the Suprasl parishioners, but also the pilgrims who come here, helping them to find the way to salvation.
Bishop Andrzej, the vicar of the monastery, thanked God, the Mother of God and the visiting hierarchs, The priests and pilgrims, as well as all those who worked hard to prepare this wonderful feast. With beautiful words, Vladyka Andrzej also recalled the unique role of Our Lady in our monastery, which was built especially for Her and of which She is the Sovereign.
In conclusion, Metropolitan Filaret spoke about the difficult situation in which both the Ukrainian Church and its diocese found themselves, from which all the churches were taken away. He thanked everyone for the joint prayer and help that the Polish Orthodox Church provides to the refugees from Ukraine. He also addressed his compatriots, strengthening them in their faith and urging them to pray for peace and unity in their homeland.
The festive celebrations began the day before with the All-Night Vigil, which was led by His Eminence Philaret, Metropolitan of Lviv and Galicia (Ukrainian Orthodox Church) and His Eminence Andrzej, Bishop of Suprasl, assisted by the Fathers of the Monastery and visiting clergy.
The Vigil was presided over by His Eminence Philaret, Metropolitan of Lviv and Galicia (Ukrainian Orthodox Church) and His Eminence Andrzej, Bishop of Suprasl, assisted by the Fathers of the Monastery and visiting clergy.
On the feast day, a small water consecration was celebrated in the morning, and later - at nine o'clock - a solemn Divine Liturgy presided over by the hierarchs: Metropolitan Filaret of Lviv and Galicia, Archbishop of Bialystok and Gdansk. Jakub, Archbishop Grzegorz of Bielsk and Bishop Andrzej of Suprasl.
Abbot of the monastery.
After reading the Gospel pericope, Metropolitan Filaret addressed the faithful with a word of instruction. In his sermon, the Holy Father gave a theological analysis of the feast, emphasizing the unique role of the Theotokos, who became the new Eve, through whose humility and complete surrender to God the world came to be salvation for the world, brought through our Savior Jesus Christ.
After the liturgy, Archbishop Iacoub, on behalf of St. Mary Magdalene, awarded Archimandrite Job the Order of St. Mary Magdalene, 3rd Degree, for his efforts in providing spiritual care to the Brotherhood of the Three Saints. Archbishop Iacoub, concluding the Metropolitan's sermon, shared the statement of a theologian that God made Himself powerless by giving man free will. He also emphasized the unique synergy of cooperation, the will of Our Lady, full of devotion to God and humility, and the grace of God, which resulted in the birth of our Savior.
Archbishop Jakub also recalled that exactly 40 years ago the cornerstone laying ceremony for the reconstruction of the Annunciation Church, completely demolished in 1944, took place.
The next speaker was Archbishop Grzegorz of Bielsk, who conveyed greetings from His Beatitude Sava, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland, who unfortunately could not come today in person. He also emphasized the unique role of the Suprasl monastery, which spiritually guides not only the Suprasl parishioners, but also the pilgrims who come here, helping them to find the way to salvation.
Bishop Andrzej, the vicar of the monastery, thanked God, the Mother of God and the visiting hierarchs, The priests and pilgrims, as well as all those who worked hard to prepare this wonderful feast. With beautiful words, Vladyka Andrzej also recalled the unique role of Our Lady in our monastery, which was built especially for Her and of which She is the Sovereign.
In conclusion, Metropolitan Filaret spoke about the difficult situation in which both the Ukrainian Church and its diocese found themselves, from which all the churches were taken away. He thanked everyone for the joint prayer and help that the Polish Orthodox Church provides to the refugees from Ukraine. He also addressed his compatriots, strengthening them in their faith and urging them to pray for peace and unity in their homeland.
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