NEW YORK, NY – [Photo: GANP/ Dimitrios Panagos]
The “Holy Light” once again illuminated 74th Street outside the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Manhattan shortly before midnight on Holy Saturday, April 11, as the candles of the faithful glowed brightly while they awaited with uplifted hearts the triumphant proclamation of the Lord’s Resurrection.
Greek Orthodox communities across America joined hundreds of millions of Orthodox Christians worldwide in filling churches on Sunday, April 12, to celebrate the radiant joy of Pascha.
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over the Resurrection service at the Archdiocesan Cathedral in NYC and then concelebrated the Resurrection Divine Liturgy with the Cathedral’s Dean, Archimandrite Chrysostomos Gilbert, Archdeacon Dionysios Papiris, and Deacon Ieremias Mandoras.
“Christ is Risen!” the Archbishop proclaimed, and the faithful, among them visitors from other states and from Greece, responded in unison, “Truly He is Risen!” They, quickly, joined their voices in chanting with the Cathedral’s Protopsaltis Eleutherios Chasanidis, Lambadarios Ioannis Paterakis, and the Cathedral Choir under the direction of Kostas Tsourakis.
Addressing the congregation, the Archbishop invited everyone to marvel at how a single flame can illuminate the entire world with faith, hope, and love.
“Look how your candles illuminate the night! From one flame, you have all been set ablaze. From one Lord and Savior, every human being is renewed. From one burning candle, the world can be set alight with faith, with hope, and with love. Look into each other’s faces and behold the shining lamps of God’s creation. Look into each other’s eyes and see the light of God within your neighbors—the Light that never wanes, the Sun that never sets, the Radiance that outshines the moon and every star. This is our inheritance tonight. This is the gift of God’s gracious love”, the Archbishop stated.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence offered his heartfelt wishes for a blessed Pascha and distributed red eggs to the faithful who remained until the end to hear the Catechetical Homily of St. John Chrysostom.
