We have now begun to celebrate the feast which depicts the name of our monastery, and its location here in mountains of Northern California. We are celebrating Vespers with a small and deeply meaningful ceremony, which is embedded into Vespers, it is called Artoklasia meaning the breaking of bread, it represents the feeding of the five thousand by Jesus Christ. The participant receives a piece of bread, which the priest breaks (see text below), and then he dunks it in wine, thus representing the feeding of the five thousand by the five tiny loaves on the tetrapod altar, NOT to be confused with Holy Communion! (...we are often asked..) This beautiful, ancient Rite is seldom celebrated in our modern times anymore, but Fr.Boniface saw to it that this rich and meaningful tradition is kept at all major feasts. O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who didst bless the five loaves and didst therewith feed the five thousand: Do Thou, the same Lord, bless these loaves, wheat, wine and oil; and multiply them in this holy habitation, and in all the world; and sanctify all the faithful who shall partake of them. For it is Thou, O Christ our God, Who dost bless and sanctify all things; and unto Thee we ascribe glory: with the Father Who hath no beginning, and Thine all-holy, good, and life-crating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. (Artoklasia Prayer) With that, we welcome the patronal feast of our monastery, the glorification of our Lord on Mount Tabor, as you may have guessed by now. We will also celebrate a rich ad beautiful Matins early tomorrow morning, followed by the Divine Liturgy, and here are some samples of the text for those who cannot join us, or are unable to attend any church due to work schedules, schools etc. That way you can join us in prayer and spirit! O Lord, today on Mount Tabor, You have manifested the glory of Your divinity to Your chosen disciples, Peter, James, and John; they saw Your clothing radiant as light and Your face more brilliant than the sun. Unable to bear Your overwhelming radiance or look upon You, they fell to the ground and heard a voice bearing witness from heaven: “This is My beloved Son who came into the world to save His people.” Troparion In Tone 7 You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* showing Your glory to Your disciples as much as they could bear.* Make Your eternal light shine* also on us who are sinners,* through the prayers of the Mother of God** O Giver of Light, glory to You! (thrice) Let us all be transfigured by our Lord, and be faithful to Him, as he stands before us humans in His splendor and glory, the kind that can only come from Heaven itself. Glory to Jesus Christ, Glory forever!!!
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 02:15:21 +0000
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