Archbishop Elpidophoros Celebrates 50th Anniversary of St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church in Palatine, Illinois
After the celebration of Great Vespers at St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church in Palatine, Illinois the previous night, Saturday, November 9, 2024 began with Orthros and the Divine Liturgy in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the historic parish, “the first in our Sacred Archdiocese to bear the name of the Glory and Joy of Aegina, and be named for Saint Nectarios the Wonderworker and Hierarch.”
In his homily at the service, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America reflected on the meaning of the Jubilee, or 50th year, and encouraged the parish to view their golden anniversary as a “starting point:”
“You, my beloved people, you are the jewels of the Church. You each have different facets. Some are larger; some are smaller; some are more polished than others. But all of you shine with the Spirit of God. All of you are of inestimable value, for you are each the unique image of God. In the next fifty years, let us see how this marvelous Community can promote every person’s distinctiveness, their special qualities that bring to the fullness of the Church even more light and radiance.”
Following the liturgy, a reception was held, providing an opportunity for fellowship and community engagement as attendees gathered to share in the joy of the day’s events. The evening concluded with a gala at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel, a splendid affair showcasing the community’s achievements and fostering a spirit of camaraderie and celebration. During his gala remarks, His Eminence congratulated the parishioners on their 50th anniversary, which he called “a ‘pentecostal’ moment.” Reflecting on the dual meanings conveyed in the term ‘pentecost’ in the liturgical life of the Church, His Eminence noted that in
“the Old Covenant, we read in the Book of Exodus that this is the date when, fifty days after passing through the Red Sea, Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai. Under the New Covenant, we read in the Book of Acts that on this day, fifty days after Pascha, the Disciples received the Holy Spirit. In the former instance, the newly liberated Hebrews received the moral and ethical code that would define them as People of God. In the latter, the Disciples received the ‘promise of the Father,’ the fullness of the Holy Spirit.”
Photo: Lex Alexander.
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