On January 28, on the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee, we had a liturgical celebration at St. George Church. In the absence of the Rector, the Divine Liturgy was served by Priest Mark Rashkov, a cleric of St. Nicholas Cathedral.

Following the Gospel reading Fr. Mark preached a homily on that Scripture lesson containing a parable about two men who came to the Temple to pray (Lk. 18, 10-14). A public sinner whom was the Publican had been justified in the eyes of God yet a superficially just Pharisee was not because of their inner attitude and the content of their prayer. The parable teaches not to exalt oneself but to be humble.

This time our Choir Director, Olga Roussanow was not able to come to the church because of her illness, but our singers managed well to sing a beautiful Liturgy.