On Sunday, June 20, the great feast of Pentecost was celebrated in Holy Trinity Monastery with the usual solemnity. The day before, Pentecost Soul Saturday, Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the cemetery church of the Holy Dormition, upon conclusion of which a general panihida was served by His Grace Luke, Bishop of Syracuse, together with the monastery clergy.

In preparation for the feast, Holy Trinity Cathedral was decorated with green saplings and bouquets of flowers. At 3:30 PM, the Communion Rule was read, along with the reading of the Akathist to the Holy Trinity. At 7:00 PM, All-Night Vigil commenced, which included a litia and procession around the cathedral.

At 6:00 AM on Sunday morning, an early Divine Liturgy was served in the basement church of St. Job. The hierarchal Liturgy began after the meeting of Bishop Luke at 9:00 AM, with compunctious singing of the joint monastery-seminary choir under the direction of Deacon Nicholas Kotar. Unsure how many pilgrims might attend due to the recent reopening of the monastery, the brethren were pleased to see many past pilgrims, as well as many new faces from all over.

Many of the faithful received Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Great Vespers for Holy Spirit Day immediately followed Divine Liturgy. The three prayers to the Holy Spirit were read by Bishop Luke, Archimandrite Nektarios (Harding), and Archpriest Serge Kotar.

Immediately following the services, the monastery refectory welcomed the pilgrims with the traditional Pentecost meal of monastery borscht, buckwheat kasha, macaroni tuna-fish salad, monastery bread, and milk.

The following day, the Feast of the Holy Spirit, the monastery will celebrate its patronal feast. 

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