On November 21/December 4, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple. This feast has been known since ancient times, and its principal meaning is the preparation of the child Mary to become the future Mother of the Divine Infant Jesus Christ.

"A child in the flesh, though perfect in soul, the Holy Ark entereth the House of God, to be nurtured with grace divine," proclaims the sixth ode of the canon.

On the eve of the feast, the All-Night Vigil was served at Our Lady of Pochaev Church in North Port, FL. This evening service was led by Hieromonk Arkadii (Polishchuk) and Deacon Alexander Kharitoniuk. During the litia, the choir glorified our Lady, the cause of the feast:

"Come, all ye faithful, let us praise her who alone is immaculate, who was proclaimed by the prophets and is led into the temple: her who before time began was called to be a mother…"

The full order of the service – Vespers, Litia, and Matins – revealed the theme of the feast: the Entry of the child Mary into the Holy of Holies, her life at the Temple, and her preparation for her great mission – to become the Most Holy Birthgiver of God.

Divine Liturgy on the feast day itself was celebrated by parish rector Archimandrite Stefan (Khilchuk), Hierodeacon Paisius (Alexeevets), and Fr. Alexander. Fr. Arkadii heard confessions and sang on the kliros.

The choir, under the direction of choirmaster Valeria Surovaya, beautifully and melodically complemented the Liturgy; especially touching and solemn were Kravtsov’s Cherubic Hymn and "A Mercy of Peace."

In his sermon at the end of Liturgy, Fr. Stefan greeted all with the feast day and wished each of them patience and spiritual wisdom in their personal growth in the knowledge of God and His holy will.

There was no meal after the service, but parishioners remained to prepare a spot for the arrival of the container: that very day, at 12:00 PM, a container arrived from Ukraine, containing an iconostasis, icons, candles, and domes for the church.

The brethren sincerely thank all who worked and helped unload the container.

The rector thanked everyone and noted that the Most Holy Theotokos takes special care for her habitation, for it is on her feast days that the Lord performs important actions in the life of the church.