On February 12, on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, feast of the Three Hierarchs (Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom), we had a nice celebration at St. George Church. Our Rector, Archpriest Igor Tarasov served the Divine Liturgy in our temple. After the readings from the Sacred Scripture he preached a homily.

Fr. Igor began with explaining the history of the celebrated feast of the Three great Hierarchs and teachers of the Church. He also pointed out that the holy Hierarchs whom we celebrate are known for many useful instructions to the faithful. And the Gospel parable of the Prodigal Son contains an instruction on repentance. That instruction is not from some Holy Father of the Church but from Jesus Christ Himself. The Lord told that parable, thus an instruction on how to repent comes from the primary Source, from God. The Lord’s parable gives us a perfect guidance on how to do the repentance. The Prodigal Son followed the steps that should be followed by us if we wish to repent. He first came to himself, realized his sinful state. Then he was truly sorry for his actions. After that he made a decision to return to his father’s house. He humbled himself and acknowledged that he sinned against heaven and before his father. He was ready to ask his father to make him one of his hired hands. Then he actually arose and returned; he confessed his guilt before his father.

The choir prayerfully performed hymns dedicated to the Three Hierarchs, as well as penitential hymns of the preparatory Sundays for Lent (including the Psalm 136, “By the rivers of Babylon”).

After the dismissal of the Liturgy the Rector made some announcements. He also greeted our Sacristan Andrew Malyshev on his past 60th birthday wishing him all God’s blessings and proclaiming traditional Polychronion on his behalf.