WEBVTT 00:00:04.940 --> 00:00:06.540 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and 00:00:06.540 --> 00:00:13.939 of the Holy Spirit. Our church, this blessed 00:00:13.939 --> 00:00:20.100 place, was built in 1995 through 96. We began 00:00:20.100 --> 00:00:23.039 the project a little bit earlier with discussions 00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:26.760 about maybe enlarging the protection church. 00:00:27.399 --> 00:00:29.559 What would that cost? What would that look like? 00:00:29.620 --> 00:00:35.100 We quickly dropped that idea. For the cost, we 00:00:35.100 --> 00:00:39.159 couldn't possibly enlarge it enough. We started 00:00:39.159 --> 00:00:42.659 off the model without a dome, and then we moved 00:00:42.659 --> 00:00:48.200 to a dome, and the church began construction. 00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:53.579 It was an ascetic labor. It was a difficult project. 00:00:54.439 --> 00:00:58.079 Not because of the construction, but because 00:00:58.079 --> 00:01:01.979 of the way the devil wants to divide people. 00:01:02.829 --> 00:01:07.129 The way the devil wants to create opportunities 00:01:07.129 --> 00:01:14.150 for division. But Father Michael, as you all 00:01:14.150 --> 00:01:19.849 know, was a master of unity. And the church remained 00:01:19.849 --> 00:01:25.049 united. And this church was built. And it leaked. 00:01:25.150 --> 00:01:28.170 It leaked a lot. Every corner of the building. 00:01:28.450 --> 00:01:31.250 Literally every corner of the building. The dome 00:01:31.250 --> 00:01:34.439 itself. When it rained, middle of the night, 00:01:34.500 --> 00:01:36.840 I ran out here in my pajamas and put buckets 00:01:36.840 --> 00:01:41.079 around the perimeter of the dome and corners. 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:46.180 That was ascetic too, but I needed that kind 00:01:46.180 --> 00:01:48.439 of asceticism to get up in the middle of the 00:01:48.439 --> 00:01:53.599 night and not curse, but pray. The church was 00:01:53.599 --> 00:02:04.239 consecrated finally on June 28, 2001. In a five 00:02:04.239 --> 00:02:11.400 -hour, incredible, beautiful, transcendent ceremony 00:02:11.400 --> 00:02:14.860 of the consecration, a procession to the small 00:02:14.860 --> 00:02:17.900 church of the relics of St. Elizabeth, the new 00:02:17.900 --> 00:02:21.020 martyr, the prayer duchess, her cell attendant, 00:02:21.259 --> 00:02:24.500 St. Barbara, and a higher beacon, Anastasia, 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:28.379 a new martyr from Kiev. Everyone went to the 00:02:28.379 --> 00:02:30.560 church, the little church. We brought the relics 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:33.740 in here, and they were installed. under the altar 00:02:33.740 --> 00:02:36.800 in a special case that is built into the bottom 00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:41.659 of the altar. The church was literally consecrated 00:02:41.659 --> 00:02:44.240 with holy chrism, all the walls, and blessed 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:47.780 with holy water. There were two choirs. Alice 00:02:47.780 --> 00:02:50.120 and Anne came up from Felton with their choir, 00:02:50.219 --> 00:02:52.400 and our choir, Tom, was singing in the choir. 00:02:52.539 --> 00:02:55.680 I remember at the time, Macrina Lewis was choir 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:59.460 director and did an incredible, incredible job. 00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:04.330 We had 20 priests. attended by maybe 300 people. 00:03:05.330 --> 00:03:08.490 Esther Carr arranged a beautiful banquet under 00:03:08.490 --> 00:03:11.669 a tent in the front parking lot. Bishop Ticon, 00:03:11.930 --> 00:03:15.270 now retired, living in Los Angeles, was the main 00:03:15.270 --> 00:03:18.990 celebrant. With him was the then Chancellor of 00:03:18.990 --> 00:03:23.789 the OCA, Father Bob Kondratik, Deacon Sevalud 00:03:23.789 --> 00:03:29.620 from Washington, and Someone said to me after 00:03:29.620 --> 00:03:31.800 the service, it was long, it was long because 00:03:31.800 --> 00:03:35.419 there was only one chalice for 300 people. Someone 00:03:35.419 --> 00:03:37.300 said to me after the service, Father, I've never 00:03:37.300 --> 00:03:40.520 seen you looking so happy and so joyous. And 00:03:40.520 --> 00:03:43.500 I thought, well, I must, I'm tired, I'm totally 00:03:43.500 --> 00:03:46.039 exhausted, but there must be, it must be the 00:03:46.039 --> 00:03:48.879 holiness of this whole thing. There's more to 00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:50.960 all that, and there's a story about all that 00:03:50.960 --> 00:03:54.020 that we can talk about sometime. But now, my 00:03:54.020 --> 00:03:57.300 second thoughts are this, to offer God thanks. 00:03:58.120 --> 00:04:03.120 for this place, and to remember with thanksgiving 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:07.800 those who founded this holy place, those who 00:04:07.800 --> 00:04:11.759 contributed to it, those that have gone to their 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:15.979 rest, who we remember at every liturgy and every 00:04:15.979 --> 00:04:19.139 service as the founders of this holy temple. 00:04:19.959 --> 00:04:22.800 We remember with gratitude those who labored 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:27.829 and sacrificed for it to be built. for it to 00:04:27.829 --> 00:04:31.310 be adorned, for it to be cleaned, for it to be 00:04:31.310 --> 00:04:34.829 repaired, and so on. For those that have gone 00:04:34.829 --> 00:04:39.350 before, may their memory be eternal. Without 00:04:39.350 --> 00:04:44.029 them, this would not exist. For those that are 00:04:44.029 --> 00:04:47.589 still here, those of you that are watching on 00:04:47.589 --> 00:04:50.750 Facebook Live, those of you, the few that are 00:04:50.750 --> 00:04:55.470 here in the temple now, be inspired by their 00:04:55.470 --> 00:05:01.360 example. Carry forward. Don't let anything drop. 00:05:02.259 --> 00:05:04.680 You know, the church consecration is also called 00:05:04.680 --> 00:05:09.100 a renewal. It's called the renewal of a church. 00:05:09.980 --> 00:05:13.259 What is consecrated and what specifically is 00:05:13.259 --> 00:05:16.660 renewed and it's called that is because it's 00:05:16.660 --> 00:05:20.060 dedicated to God are those materials, this wood, 00:05:20.259 --> 00:05:25.060 this concrete, the brick, the mortar, so that 00:05:25.060 --> 00:05:29.569 those things which God gave us sand and trees 00:05:29.569 --> 00:05:37.110 and rocks, have a certain trajectory in their 00:05:37.110 --> 00:05:41.930 creation that they would be renewed, not just 00:05:41.930 --> 00:05:43.829 something in the ground, in the forest, at the 00:05:43.829 --> 00:05:46.850 beach, but they would be brought together and 00:05:46.850 --> 00:05:52.029 established for the glory of God. They became 00:05:52.029 --> 00:05:56.889 their true purpose. Not all rocks and all trees 00:05:56.889 --> 00:06:02.050 and all sand and so forth are for that. But the 00:06:02.050 --> 00:06:05.509 ones that go into this building, they're renewed 00:06:05.509 --> 00:06:08.370 because they become something different. They 00:06:08.370 --> 00:06:12.370 become witnesses of God's magnificence and beauty 00:06:12.370 --> 00:06:16.250 and holiness and witnesses of his incarnation. 00:06:16.790 --> 00:06:19.790 That's why you heard those two readings, the 00:06:19.790 --> 00:06:22.490 Epistle to the Romans. We have such a high priest. 00:06:23.129 --> 00:06:26.250 says St. Paul, who knows our infirmities. He 00:06:26.250 --> 00:06:30.410 is like us. And Jesus himself says, St. Peter, 00:06:30.550 --> 00:06:34.850 who do men say that I am? All this witnesses 00:06:34.850 --> 00:06:39.230 to that. What does St. John of Damascus say there? 00:06:39.689 --> 00:06:45.329 I worship the creator of matter, who became matter 00:06:45.329 --> 00:06:51.110 for my sake. This is all creation. And now it 00:06:51.110 --> 00:06:55.350 is imbued with God's holiness. God's uncreated 00:06:55.350 --> 00:06:59.670 grace were poured onto it. It's like a baptism. 00:06:59.790 --> 00:07:02.790 And in fact, the altar table was put together, 00:07:02.870 --> 00:07:06.529 it was washed, and it was vested, and it was 00:07:06.529 --> 00:07:10.430 chrismated. The bishop during the service says 00:07:10.430 --> 00:07:14.490 this, one of many long prayers, as the choir 00:07:14.490 --> 00:07:18.959 sing in psalm verses. O Lord, I love the beauty 00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:22.079 of thy house, for example. The bishop prays, 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:25.579 send down thine all -holy and adorable and almighty 00:07:25.579 --> 00:07:29.300 spirit and sanctify this temple and this altar. 00:07:29.860 --> 00:07:33.959 Fill it with the light everlasting. Elect it 00:07:33.959 --> 00:07:36.560 for thy dwelling place. Make it the abode of 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:39.839 thy glory. Adorn it with thy divine and supernal 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:44.199 gifts. Appoint it for a haven of the tempest 00:07:44.199 --> 00:07:47.959 -tossed, for healing passions. for a refuge of 00:07:47.959 --> 00:07:52.240 the weak, for an expelling of evil spirits. Let 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:55.699 thine eyes be opened upon this temple day and 00:07:55.699 --> 00:07:58.420 night, and let thy ears be heedful of the prayer 00:07:58.420 --> 00:08:01.560 of all those who shall enter therein in thy fear 00:08:01.560 --> 00:08:05.600 and in piety, and shall call upon thine all -honorable 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:08.600 and adorable name, and whatsoever they ask of 00:08:08.600 --> 00:08:11.920 thee, thou wilt hear it in heaven above, and 00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:15.839 wilt show mercy and be gracious unto them. He 00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:20.769 prays this. and much, much more. But it's essential 00:08:20.769 --> 00:08:27.290 to remember, first of all, that God has built 00:08:27.290 --> 00:08:33.129 himself a house. Remember the sermon that the 00:08:33.129 --> 00:08:38.370 proto -martyr Stephen preaches. God has built 00:08:38.370 --> 00:08:41.370 himself a house which is first and foremost the 00:08:41.370 --> 00:08:47.379 people he has called. Ecclesia. The ecclesia, 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:50.740 the church, those who have been called out, who 00:08:50.740 --> 00:08:56.919 make offerings, who give the liturgy. God has 00:08:56.919 --> 00:09:03.179 called us out so that we can reflect, we can 00:09:03.179 --> 00:09:09.419 live, we can manifest his love and holiness in 00:09:09.419 --> 00:09:15.169 this broken and divided world. This temple is 00:09:15.169 --> 00:09:19.169 to be a reflection of that. The church is in 00:09:19.169 --> 00:09:23.250 here. You have the altar of your heart, the dwelling 00:09:23.250 --> 00:09:27.450 place of God enthroned there. The church is a 00:09:27.450 --> 00:09:30.090 reflection of all that. This building is a reflection 00:09:30.090 --> 00:09:33.649 of what is to be within us. Because remember 00:09:33.649 --> 00:09:36.690 what God said, what house will you build me? 00:09:38.450 --> 00:09:41.769 Or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my 00:09:41.769 --> 00:09:45.440 hand made all these things? God does not dwell 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:52.720 in places built by man. But you and we all have 00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:57.059 been redeemed. We have been saved, not by the 00:09:57.059 --> 00:10:02.500 hand of man, but by God. Many of the churches 00:10:02.500 --> 00:10:08.440 that I saw in the Holy Land and Istanbul, as 00:10:08.440 --> 00:10:12.639 you know, were either in ruins or they were mosques. 00:10:13.929 --> 00:10:16.690 This tells me that God can withdraw his protection 00:10:16.690 --> 00:10:21.309 from his people if his people squander their 00:10:21.309 --> 00:10:25.190 gifts and do not live according to the faith. 00:10:26.230 --> 00:10:29.309 Do not live for the kingdom, but live for their 00:10:29.309 --> 00:10:33.190 own glory. So let us be careful, brothers and 00:10:33.190 --> 00:10:39.590 sisters, how we live. When you look at the dome, 00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:43.840 Remember that the Lord is enthroned in your heart. 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:46.100 When you look at the dome, remember that Christ 00:10:46.100 --> 00:10:51.860 Jesus became man for our sake. And the evangelists 00:10:51.860 --> 00:10:54.559 are not there yet, but they will be, God willing. 00:10:54.820 --> 00:10:58.120 They witnessed to that incarnation. Who do you 00:10:58.120 --> 00:11:02.559 say that I am? And these chandeliers are like, 00:11:02.620 --> 00:11:06.820 says one writer, like the wedding crown of the 00:11:06.820 --> 00:11:10.240 marriage feast of the Lamb to which we have been 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:15.259 invited. and we're participating. When you see 00:11:15.259 --> 00:11:18.019 the icon of the nativity, for example, there, 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:24.519 don't just look at it. Say, am I reborn in Christ? 00:11:25.019 --> 00:11:28.980 Am I a daughter or a son of the new creation 00:11:28.980 --> 00:11:32.679 through baptism? Do I sing glory to God in the 00:11:32.679 --> 00:11:35.600 heights, or do I sit like Joseph there, not sure 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:39.519 of what's happening? This anniversary of the 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:45.080 consecration, offers us every year the opportunity 00:11:45.080 --> 00:11:49.759 to receive what has been given, to review that, 00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:53.799 if we have received it in fact, like the talents 00:11:53.799 --> 00:11:57.320 in the gospel story, and increase those talents. 00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:01.659 Increase the gift, the deposit of grace, as we 00:12:01.659 --> 00:12:06.440 say at the baptism. Caring for this place. Caring 00:12:06.440 --> 00:12:09.340 for one another with humility and gratitude. 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:15.120 and witnessing to what we have been given so 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:19.299 that others may be saved too. To our Lord, who 00:12:19.299 --> 00:12:24.240 has so graciously bestowed wonderful gifts of 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:27.700 this temple to us, be glory and honor now and 00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:28.820 ever to ages and ages.