CHICAGO, IL [DOM Communications] – “Christ is born!” was heard throughout the cathedral on the 24 and 25 of December as His Eminence Archbishop Paul, and the faithful of his diocesan cathedral, Holy Trinity Cathedral, gathered to remember the Lord’s Nativity.
On Thursday evening, His Eminence lead the appointed Great Compline and Matins services. During the Matins service, the appointed gospel reading from the Evangelist Matthew recalling the events of the birth of Jesus Christ. Following this good news, the faithful were anointed with the blessed oil for their continued strength. At the conclusion of the evening service, His Eminence offered a few teachings on the feast and encouraged those gathered to enjoy and embrace this feast.
The following day, the great feast of the Incarnation of our Lord, Jesus Christ, Archbishop Paul entered his cathedral with the ringing of the bells and was greeted by Cathedral Dean, Priest Alexander Koranda and Protodeacon Thomas Keith. After the reciting of his entrance prayers and vesting, His Eminence gave the blessing for the Divine Liturgy to begin. The festal antiphons appointed for the Nativity were sung by the choir and prior to the blessing of the entrance, Fr. Alexander was awarded the Kamilafka. Archbishop Paul congratulated Fr. Alexander on receiving this priestly award and thanked him for his work at the diocesan cathedral and as the communications director for the diocese.
His Eminence offered a homily on the Lord Incarnation reminding the faithful that this feast is a calling to be with God and to have Him be present in our life’s. He emphasized that it is not sufficient to only follow the rules of the Church, but it was necessary to have Christ in our heart at all times.
The Divine Liturgy resumed, and the Holy Gifts were offered. At the conclusion of the service, His Eminence congratulated those gathered for the feast. Fr. Alexander offered greetings and congratulatory remarks on behalf of the cathedral in commemoration of Archbishop Paul’s sixth year anniversary of consecration to the episcopacy, which would take place only two days later. Christmas Carols were joyfully sung after the reading of the Thanksgiving Prayers.
