This post was originally published on this site
It is with much joy that I join all of you here tonight, as we draw near to the conclusion of the first week of Holy and Great Lent. As in years past, we will continue our annual tradition of fellowship following this Service of the First Salutations to the Theotokos with a Lenten dinner in the newly renovated Chiotes Family Cathedral Hall — together with a very special guest, of course. But before we depart the sanctuary, I would like to call your attention to the following line from the First Stanza of the Akathist, which we chanted to our Panagia this evening:
