Consecration Of Our Church

Saturday, June 12, 2010 marks a momentous day for the members of St. Gregorios Orthodox Church of India, San Francisco; the day our new Church building will be consecrated by H. G. Alexios Mar Eusebius, the new Metropolitan of the Diocese of South-West America, on H.G’s first visit to Bay Area after being enthroned in May 2010. We have planned a grand reception to the Metropolitan along with the Consulate General/ Ambassador Mrs. Sushmita Thomas, Union City authorities and local Church leaders.

Highlights of the Consecration and Reception program are available here

Consecration of a Church building is a solemn dedication of that building for use as a Church. Once a building has been blessed and consecrated as a Church, it may not be used again for a secular purpose, and it is set apart for exclusive use as a temple of worship. Consecration of the Church means consecration of the Church building as well as the people gathered in the Church.

Consecration of the worship place has its roots in the Old Testament. It is directly connected to those rites found in the O. T. celebrated by Moses and Solomon. God became accessible to the people of Israel through the Temple that became the site where God concretely interacted with His people. They found it necessary to dedicate such a space for worship and ultimate communion with God. Likewise, Christians consecrate their Church for worship to the glory of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The center of Christian life for Orthodox Christians is the Holy Church and the related worships in the Church.

This is a joyful and long-awaited moment in the history of our Parish and in the life of our new Diocese, in general. Such an event rarely takes place in our Church life, it occurs only when a new Church building is dedicated for sacred use.

This moment is made possible by the tireless and committed hard work of a creative body of members that includes the Consecration Committee as well as the Managing Committee. Prayers and support of all our Parish members give a boost to their efforts. Thus, the big event is coming closer. To make it a blessed experience, your prayerful cooperation is humbly solicited. May God bless us all.

Fr. Joseph Kalapurayil