June 26
Appearance of the Icon of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos of Tikhvin
According to one tradition, this icon was painted by Saint Luke the Evangelist. It was formerly situated in the famous Church of Blachernae in Constantinople. In 1383, it appeared upon the waters of Lake Ladoga, whence it travelled miraculously through the air to the city of Tikhvin; there, it remained by the River Tikhvinka, and a monastery was built to shelter the icon. In 1613-14 this monastery miraculously withstood the many attacks of the Swedish invaders. In the early twentieth century it was brought to America and was returned to Russia in 2004. The holy icon is renowned for a great many miracles wrought through it by the all-holy Mother of God, especially for the healing of children.
Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Today, my friends, we address the Holy Spirit most directly in our hymns and spiritual songs:
Σῶσον ἡμᾶς, Παράκλητε ἀγαθέ, ψάλλοντάς σοι· Ἀλληλούϊα.
Save us, O Good Paraclete, who chant to You, Alleluia!
When we call the Holy Spirit, “Paraclete,” we call the Spirit by the same name that our Lord Jesus Christ used, when He told His disciples that we would ask His Father to send “another Παράκλητος” to be with them forever.[1]
This Father’s Day, I ask for our entire Archdiocese to remember the “fathers” of our communities across the nation — that is, our very own clergy, who serve everyone so selflessly. This is our second year of recognizing the parish clergy of the Church on this special occasion. And the fact that it coincides with the feast of All Saints gives it even greater force, as we ourselves are all “called to be saints” as well (Romans 1:7).
Dear Father Costas and esteemed Trustees,
Friends and supporters of Saint Basil Academy,
Let us pray to the Lord:
Heavenly Father, we give thanks to You for Your loving-kindness and special grace for those reared and taught here at Saint Basil Academy.
Bless us and all who live, serve, teach and minister in this sacred institution of our Church, as we gather to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates. Grant that our graduates may always advance “from glory to glory” in accordance with Your Divine Plan for their lives.
Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
Today is the Sunday of the Holy Fathers, the Lord’s Day that bridges the Feasts of Ascension and Pentecost.
But today, we have the added joy of celebrating with the presence of Noble Brothers – the Presidential Guard of Greece. They have traveled across the ocean to join us in our march up Fifth Avenue, and to mark our pride and glory in the Independence of Greece.
Yesterday, June 8, marked the start of the fifth Halki Summit conference in Constantinople. This year’s theme is “Sustaining the Future of the Planet Together: the Prophetic Ministry of Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew,” and is sponsored in part by generous grants from Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the CR Florence Foundation.