BROOKLYN – The Divine Liturgy for the Resurrection of Lazarus was held at the Kimisis tis Theotokou Church in Brooklyn on Saturday morning, April 24.

The presiding priest of the community, V. Rev. Archimandrite Damaskinos Ganas, told The National Herald that the Saturday of Lazarus as one of the greatest feasts of the Orthodox Church, a day of victory of life over death.

Fr. Ganas said that “from today, we begin the Holy and Great Week with the Resurrection of Lazarus, a great event that had never happened before in the known world.”

He continued, “Christ brought Lazarus back to life, showing that He is God and the source of our life. From Palm Sunday with the entry of Christ into Jerusalem begins the enthusiasm of the people which, of course, will not last long because, as we will hear in the beautiful Gospels of Holy Thursday, those who welcomed him with applause and honors later said, ‘crucify him, crucify him.’”

V. Rev. Archimandrite Damaskinos Ganas, presiding priest of the Kimisis tis Theotokou Church in Brooklyn. Photo: TNH/ Michalis Kakias

“We all are obliged during Holy Week to follow Christ spiritually, to walk with Him in Jerusalem, to suffer with Him, to alleviate our suffering and sins, to crucify our old selves, to renew our souls spiritually and to enter into the Holy Resurrection which will lead us to eternal life,” Fr. Ganas said. “I wish all the parishioners and all the Orthodox Christians a blessed Easter and Kali Anastasi.”

Parish Council President Konstantinos Mallas expressed his joy that this year the churches will be open for Easter, even with a limited number of attendees, and wished the Greek community health, peace, personal and family happiness, tranquility, and prosperity.

Dimitris Mallas lights a candle at Kimisis tis Theotokou Church in Brooklyn. Photo: TNH/ Michalis Kakias

Irene Sideratos, a member of the parish since 1955, wished this year to be the last Easter without crowded churches. She said, “I consider the Kimisis Church as my second home. I have been coming here since I was 9 years old. I serve her unceasingly and I will love her as long as I live. All these years, I have seen our parish grow, holding Hellenism upright and producing good people and good Christians and I am sure that it will continue its blessed work for many more years.”

Dimitris Mallas wished all the best for Easter and the Resurrection of the Lord to bring redemption to the souls of people and to free the world from the terrible coronavirus pandemic.

Alex and Irene Sideratos, longtime parishioners at Kimisis tis Theotokou Church in Brooklyn. Photo: TNH/ Michalis Kakias

Alex Sideratos sent warm wishes to the Greek community and thanked The National Herald, the newspaper which, as he said, he has been reading continuously since 1969, for its support and promotion of the church.