Dear Friends,

Krisdos Haryav I Merelotz!

During this joyous Easter season each day a reading is appointed from the book of the Acts of the Apostles. This is the fifth book of the New Testament and was authored by St. Luke the Evangelist. The book narrates the spread of the saving news of the gospel from its roots in the Holy Land throughout Asia Minor and as far as Rome. The apostles could only accomplish this because they were empowered by the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The work of the Holy Spirit is so ever present in the book of Acts that it was at one time referred to as the “Acts of the Holy Spirit.”

Today during the Divine Liturgy we will witness the sacrament of Chrismation, which is the Church’s prayer for the Holy Spirit to empower the newly baptized. During this rite the priest anoints nine parts of the body with the precious Holy Muron, which is the traditional symbol of the Holy Spirit.

Please pray for the new chrismated Taleen Haleblian as she receives the Holy Spirit during this sacrament.

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With prayers.
Hayr Simeon
April 20, 2008