On Forgiveness Sunday, His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos presided over the Contrition Vespers at the Holy Resurrection Church in Brookville, NY, on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. The Society of Byzantine Cantors of the Archdiocesan District beautifully chanted the hymns of this Divine Service. At the invitation of Proistamenos Fr. Panteleimon Papadopoulos, His Grace was also the keynote speaker at their FOS Young Adult Lenten Retreat and discussed the stages of prayer as he was taught from Saints and Holy Fathers.

 

As His Eminence announced last week, each Sunday evening during the holy Lenten period, Contrition Vesper services will be celebrated in parishes throughout the Archdiocesan District. Faithful are encouraged to attend these uplifting services to assist them in focusing on the virtues of the Lenten period – prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.