14 July 2019 года

Paraklesis (Panagia) Service to the Mother of God

After the Liturgy today, the Paraklesis to the Mother of God was served in accordance with the monastery Typikon’s Sunday rule. Beginning from the first centuries, the Christians used to call the Mother of God as “Panagia” (Gr. – “all-holy”).

The sisters walk out of the church in pairs for their midday meal at the refectory. The priest walks out last carrying a special tray called the Panagiar holding the large prosphora bread. This bread symbolizes the Queen of Heaven with a part removed during the Proskomedia in the name of the Most Holy Mother of God.

The procession to the refectory was followed by bell-ringing and singing of various festive troparions. During the meal, the Panagia bread stayed in front of the icon of today’s feast. At the end of the meal, the priest raised the bread before the icons glorifying the Holy Trinity and, saying a prayer to the Most Holy Mother of God, sliced and distributed it among the sisters.

 This service is meant to illumine and enlighten the meal with the presence of the Lord Himself and the Most Holy Mother of God. It also offers an opportunity to unite the repast and the just-completed liturgy together into one service with the former delivering grace over to the latter.