Sep 13/26 2009
Saturday before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Mike has reminded us that TODAY is the one year anniversary of our closing on the land upon which our new temple is being built.
This just so happens to be the day we commemorate “The Commemoration of the Renewal of the Temple of the Resurrection of Christ at Jerusalem”.
Years ago, we would sing the Kontakion for this feast at the end of Vigil. I learned this from another parish, and I think it is a local usage among some Greeks. I am thinking of reviving the custom. This Kontakion is certainly apropos for any temple, especially when we are building:
The Church is shown to be a many-lighted heaven
that doth shine a guiding light upon all them that do believe;
wherein while standing we cry aloud:
Do Thou Thyself now establish this house, O Lord.
(Kontakion, Tone 4)
Here is a Homily on the Dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, by St Dimitri of Rostov.
After many months in the “valley in the shadow of death” (in the halls of the McKinney building commission), we have been making good progress on the building.
The walls are more than half done. Here are some photos from Thursday evening, when we served a small blessing of the waters and blessed the temple construction.
SE view (the door is facing East) with a little worshipper.
The Western window will be in the narthex, and the windows set higher in the sanctuary. The most Eastern window will be in the altar.
Looking through the front door into the sanctuary. I am serving a small blessing of the waters.
I am standing about where the iconostasis will be.
The Front door and porch, with our deaconess.
This is our church, there is no steeple, and when you look through the door, you see one people.
Priest Seraphim Holland 2009. St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, McKinney, Texas
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God bless you & all your godly effort!
Sunrise prior to its full shining.
Nadia looks great at the background of the building in its rise.
In Christ,
Natalia