Relics of Righteous Anna, Mother of the Theotokos, Visit Holy Cross Monastery
On the weekend of September 4, a portion of the hand of the Holy Righteous Anna from Mount Athos visited Holy Cross Monastery. With the blessing of Elder Cherouvim Apostolou of the Theophileon Kellion, Skete of St. Anna on Mount Athos, the Holy Relic had been visiting several parishes in America, but only on the west coast. The three-day stay at Holy Cross marked the first and only stop in the eastern United States for public veneration.
On Friday afternoon, the Holy Relic was greeted by Abbot Gabriel and vested clergy with incense and the festive pealing of bells. Brought into the church, Vespers for the Leave-taking of Dormition was then served. Following a short break for trapeza, the holy relic returned to the church for public veneration.
That evening, Abbot Gabriel and monastery clergy served a moleben with akathist to Ss. Joachim and Anna, joined by many area and regional clergy who either co-served or stood and prayed during the service. Hundreds of faithful participated in singing the akathist, and “Rejoice, O Holy and Righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna” reverberated throughout the church. Public veneration continued afterwards until the conclusion of the evening.
On Saturday morning, the Holy Relic was present from the beginning of Matins and Divine Liturgy – at which many of the faithful received Holy Communion – until noontime, when it was taken all over the monastery to bless the buildings and monastic cells before returning to the church. Many of the faithful continued to come throughout the day to venerate the holy relic, and it remained in church until the conclusion of Vigil that evening.
On Sunday morning, more newly arrived faithful joined the brotherhood and local parishioners for Divine Liturgy and trapeza. The holy relic then remained in the church into the afternoon, being venerated and prayed before up until the moment of its departure. It was with joyful sadness that the brotherhood bade farewell, sending up a humble offering of hymnody, incense, and bells in gratitude for this visitation by the mother of the Mother of God.
O Holy Righteous Anna, pray to God for us!
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