The Shepherd, January 2006
Epistle of the Synod of Bishops, 3
During the years of persecution of the Church in Russia, the churches that withstood temptations and remained faithful to St Tikhon, the Patriarch of All Russia and Confessor, assumed the practice of singing the irmos of the third song of the canon of the Meeting of Our Lord after the dismissal: “O Lord, Thou confirmation of those who trust in Thee, make firm the Church which Thou hast acquired with Thy precious blood.”
This custom was adopted by several priests of our Church Abroad after World War II, and recognised as fully appropriate by Metropolitan Anastassy of blessed memory. In full agreement with this, we call upon those who desire to introduce the singing of this irmos after the dismissal.
Dear brothers and sisters! The Most-Blessed Virgin enters the Temple and calls us to join her! Let us follow her example. We greet you with all our hearts on this Advent. During the days remaining before the Nativity of Christ, when the Lord expressed His greatest love for mankind, let us build and strengthen peace amongst ourselves, the peace praised by the angels over Bethlehem, for Christ “came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh… Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Eph. 2:17, 19).
+ Metropolitan Lavr, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad
+ Archbishop Mark of Berlin & Germany
+ Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney, Australia & New Zealand
+ Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco & Western America
+ Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan
+ Bishop Michael of Boston
24th November / 8th December, 2005
Apodosis of the Entrance into the Temple of the Theotokos
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