ROAMIN'
CATHOLIC
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ROAMIN' CATHOLIC
October 2005
HOLY ANGELS BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH, SERRA MESA
Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church sits as "a city set on a hill" overlooking Mission Valley northeast of the crossroads of I-8 and 805. Its prominence has led to the community of Serra Mesa designating the hill as "Angel Heights." Founded as a mission of the Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic Church in 1958, the congregation worshipped at the Carmelite Chapel in Normal Heights until their church was built in 1978. An exterior renovation project is underway; when completed the temple will display white stucco walls, arctic blue roof, and five golden "onion domes," each crowned with a golden three-bar cross.
The church's iconography inspires awe. Parishioner and world-class iconographer Mila Mina covered the interior walls and ceiling with icons depicting Christ the Almighty, the Mother of God, apostles, saints, angels, scenes from the Old and New Testaments, and Feasts of the Church Year.
I came for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This feast commemorates two events: first, the discovery of Our Lord's cross in 326 by Saint Helen, mother of Emperor Constantine the Great. It was certified as the true cross when Saint Macarius, then Bishop of Jerusalem, touched it to a dying woman and it immediately restored her to perfect health. He thereupon elevated the Cross in each direction, blessing the whole world with it. Second, after the Persians had captured the Cross in 614, Emperor Heraclius recovered it and returned it to Jerusalem in 628. Normally this feast is celebrated on September 14; this year due to a clergy retreat it was transferred to Sunday, September 18.
The service began with the conclusion of Festal Matins. The cantor intoned the Great Doxology, known in the West as the Gloria in Excelsis and the third part of the Te Deum. Meanwhile, Father Robert Pipta, wearing a red epitrachelion (equivalent to the Latin stole), and phelonion (cape-like equivalent to the Latin chasuble), censed the altar, the whole church and the people. Accompanied by six acolytes wearing red brocade sticharia (outer vestments), Father Robert circumambulated the altar three times, pausing at each side to cense the Crucifixion icon laid upon it. After the censing, Father, preceded by the acolytes, processed with the Icon around the whole church as we sang the Trisagion: "Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal have mercy on us."
Arriving before the tetrapod at the head of the nave, Father reverently placed the Icon within a wreath of twisted branches resembling the Crown of Thorns. Father Robert censed around the Cross three times, preceded by the acolytes, while each time we sang: "Save your people, O Lord, and bless your inheritance; grant victory to your Church over evil; and protect your people by your Cross."
Imitating Saint Macarius who raised the Cross on high and blessed the four corners of the earth, Father Robert raised the cross icon on high and, in each direction, offered a petition for the faithful of the Church. We responded to each, singing "Lord, have mercy" 24 times; 120 times in all. Then, making a deep bow he intoned: "We bow to your Cross, O Lord, and we praise your holy resurrection." We repeated this hymn twice, also with deep bows. After Father and each acolyte had venerated the icon with three bows and a kiss, they entered the sanctuary, Father through the holy doors and the acolytes through the north and south doors of the iconostas.
Then Father began the Divine Liturgy, making the sign of the cross with the gold-cased gospel book and chanting, "Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever." And we all sang "Amen." (In the Byzantine Rite, as in the traditional Latin Rite, the priest offers the Liturgy facing east, toward the altar and tabernacle).
A layman read the epistle from the center of the church, facing the altar; a composite from I Corinthians 1 and Galatians 2, proclaiming the Cross as the power and wisdom of God for salvation, by which we live in union with Christ. Then Father Robert, flanked by acolytes, chanted the Gospel: the Passion according to Saint John.
Father Robert's sermon was divided into three parts. First, he noted that it was the parish's catechetical Sunday; the beginning of a new year of Eastern Christian Formation classes. He stressed that these classes are supplemental to the primary Christian formation in the home and at the Liturgy. Next he gave a reflection on the saving power of the Cross. He explained the symbolism of the Slavic three-bar cross: "The bar above the main crosspiece is the inscription, which in our tradition usually reads 'The King of Glory.' The slanting bar below, pointing up to the right and down to the left, represents the good thief who confessed Christ and was promised paradise, and the other who reviled Jesus and went to hell."
Finally Father reviewed when and how to make the Sign of the Cross in the Byzantine tradition -- with thumb and first two fingers joined to symbolize the Trinity and the other two fingers folded in the palm, symbolizing the two natures in Christ -- tracing the Cross from forehead to navel, and from right to left shoulder. He concluded with an appeal to embrace the Cross, which will exalt us to glory.