On September 8, 2021, the Romanian community from Norfolk, VA, celebrated its patronal feast, the Nativity of the Mother of God.
The festivities began as early as the evening of September 7, when Rev. Fr. Ștefan Drăgoi, the parish priest of the Mission concelebrated with Rev. Fr. Ionel Satnoianu, the parish priest of Saint Callinicus of Cernica Romanian Orthodox Mission from Fredericksburg, VA, the service of Vespers united with the Litya. The church was adorned with new vestments for the celebration, and after the service, all the faithful were invited to a dinner full with traditional food.
Although the Divine Liturgy had been celebrated on the day of the feast, on September 8, the feast was again celebrated with the entire community on Sunday, September 12. The day began with the Matins service, followed by the solemn Divine Liturgy, where the founders and benefactors of the Norfolk Mission, alive and asleep, were commemorated, alongside the current members of the Parish Council. During the Divine Liturgy, prayers were also lifted up on behalf of children, students and pupils, who have begun the new school year and who came in large numbers in order to commune and receive God’s blessing for progress in wisdom, knowledge and all the good deeds.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, in his word of teaching, Father Ștefan Drăgoi stressed the importance of the veneration of the Mother of God who has great entreaty to her Son, knowing the troubles, the pains and our shortcomings, and interceding for their easing, as she did at the wedding of Cana Galilee. The Mother of God can wipe away from us the bitter tears, can spiritually lift us up, can fill our hearts with faith, hope, love, and joy if we put our trust and hope in her motherly mercy.
The festivities ended with the brotherly agape meal prepared with much skill by the ladies from our community.
Rev. Fr. Ștefan Drăgoi
