The Feast of Our Lady Queen of Los Angeles

THE FEAST OF OUR LADY QUEEN OF LOS ANGELES

Bright Saturday

May 7, 2016

Hierarchal Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM

Pan-Orthodox celebration

Join us for the Feast of Our Lady Queen of Angels

On the Saturday of Bright Week, May 7 2016, at the St. Steven’s Cathedral in Alhambra, Los Angeles, the Feast of Our Lady Queen of the Angels (Los Angeles) will be celebrated for the second time.

As we read from the Synaxarion of the feast: On this day, the Saturday of Bright Week, we celebrate the Synaxis of our All-holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, the Queen of all and Sovereign Lady of the Angels, protectress and unfailing intercessor of our holy diocese of Los Angeles. The special liturgical service (Akolouthia) for this Feast-day was composed on the Holy Mountain of Athos by Athanasios, Hieromonk of Simonopetra Monastery, Hymnographer of the Holy Great Church of Christ.

The celebration of the Feast-day will begin on Friday evening with the Vesper service and continued the next morning with Matins, which incorporates the beautiful Paschal and Feast-day hymns sang for the second time in our Cathedral by the youth of California (“Forum”).

The Feast celebration will continue with the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy officiated by the Orthodox Hierarch of the West Coast with the concelebrating priests of the local Western American Diocese and other Orthodox Jurisdictions of the West.  

We invite all the faithful for this prayerful visitation and express our hope that this Feast-day of all Orthodox Christians in Los Angeles will grow in the hearts of the faithful in the course of time.    

Following the Divine Liturgy there will be a luncheon, graciously prepared by Cathedral priests, and an afternoon of fellowship.

The AKOLOUTHIA (liturgical service) of our Sovereign Lady the Mother of God Queen of the Angels (Los Angeles).

Composed on the Holy Mountain of Athos by Athanasios, hieromonk of Simonopetra, Hymnographer of the Holy Great Church of Christ, at the pious request of the Most Reverend Bishop of Western America Maxim 2013.

From the official name of Los Angeles first given in 1781.

This byzantine styled composition begins from the perspective of the Pacific Ocean, therefore closest to us are waves of the ocean sprinkled with white sailboats and dolphins. Just beyond the water, a landscape emerges, weaving downtown skyscrapers, mountains, highways and illuminated cathedrals. These recognizable cathedrals and churches include the Orthodox churches in Los Angeles. Colors abound in palms, vineyards and orange trees representing Los Angeles’ agricultural heritage. Centered in their midst, the Most Holy Theotokos, Protectress of the City rises to dominate the composition, just as the Theotokos, the Intercessor of Constantinople or Mount Athos. She is seen vertically on her Throne surrounded by Angels. The hierarchs and priests represented are in prayerful plea together with the faithful, while children of all backgrounds encircle joyfully, dancing with flowers in their hands.