Nenita Chiou: Melodies of hope and faith from children's voices in the Prayer of the Virgin Marytranslated

On the evening of Wednesday, August 12, in the Holy Church of the Entrances of the Theotokos of Nenets, the Holy Invocation to the Most Holy Theotokos was performed, amid the overwhelming spiritual climate of the Fifteenth of August. Children from the Catechetical Schools of Nenets, Katarraktou and Vounou sang with emotion and childlike purity the Akolouthia, flooding the church with voices of hope and faith.

The Mass was officiated by the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Chios, Psara and Oinoussa, Mr. Markos, who spoke fatherly to the children, encouraging them to continue with faith and willingness on their journey closer to Christ and the Church.

In his sermon, the venerable Hierarch likened the spiritual life to the earth that becomes bright and warm when it gazes at the sun, stressing that we too must always have our face focused on Christ. As he mentioned, Our Lady is the ultimate example, as every incident of her life, as reflected in the Gospel Readings of the Prayers, was inextricably linked to her Son.

His Eminence concluded his speech by wishing everyone a meaningful-spiritual, and not secular, August Fifteenth...