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Pastoral Letters

Pastoral Message October 20, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I pray you are all well on this lovely, autumn afternoon. Finally, the air is crispy, the mountain tops are dusty, and we are full steam ahead into one of the most beautiful times of the year. May this fall and winter be safe and wonderful for everyone!

As we approach the end of this month, I want to formally call our attention to a fast-approaching and most amazing event in the life of our young community. Though it has been mentioned in our Bulletin for the past several weeks, we’ve been somewhat publicly quiet about our hosting of the Metropolis of Denver Church Musicians Conference, to be held at St. Anna’s from October 31 – November 3, 2024. Well, now you know!!!

Our parish was only a few years old when we hosted the Metropolis Oratorical Festival. It was our opportunity even in rented space at St. Thomas More, to showcase the spirit, people, creativity and faith of our small (at the time) parish. Now we will enjoy the same blessing, to welcome Greek Orthodox singers, chanters, and accompanists from throughout Utah, Colorado, Texas, and Idaho.

Though the Conference will arrive on a Thursday to begin workshops and practices, we will be most blessed as a parish on Sunday, November 3rd with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Constantine of Denver, together with a combined choir of over 60 individuals. How glorious! How inspirational! How beautiful!

To be sure, members of our own choir have been working extremely hard organizing this event and participating in joint practices with singers from Holy Trinity and Prophet Elias. Our chairman, and choir director, Barbara Kalantzes has led a dynamic committee with the sole purpose of welcoming our Metropolis to our church, to our city, and into our hearts. Thank you, Koumbara Barb for all of your dedication and energy!

When you come to church on November 3, know that the seating arrangements will be slightly altered, as per usual. The south aisle will be closed, as the combined, Metropolis Choir will take up nearly all of the spaces on the extreme, south side of the sanctuary. We will install our additional seating in the other areas of the church, and the Orthros and Liturgy will be broadcasted into the fellowship hall. Though we tend to fill the church each Sunday, there will be special accommodations made, so we can fit our own, enthused worshippers, and our guests into our sacred space. I do encourage everyone to be with us, for what will prove to be a most inspired day. 

You are also welcome to join us for Paraklesis on that Friday evening at 6:00 pm, and Great Vespers at 6:00 pm on Saturday evening. All three members of the chanting group Eikona will be here, leading the chanting of these services, together with the Orthros on Sunday. 

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THE ORTHROS WILL BEGIN AT 8:00 AM ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD, FOLLOWED BY THE HIERARCHICAL DIVINE LITURGY AT AROUND 9:15 AM. 

This is to accommodate the travel schedule of our Metropolis Conference participants. 

Though the dinner events on Friday and Saturday evenings are for registered participants only, the Sunday Brunch is being hosted by our parish council in honor of His Eminence Metropolitan Constantine of Denver. All are invited to remain after services and break bread together. Though His Eminence was certainly with us in July for our Thyranoixia events, this is the first time he will be here as the hierarchical celebrant since his enthronement as our Metropolitan. We welcome him with enthusiasm and gratitude as our local bishop. Many Years to him! 

I am looking forward to our parish hosting this event. Many people throughout our Mountain West have heard about our parish and are curious to see what has been created here, to God’s glory. Let’s welcome them with open arms and anticipate the beauty of what this choir is going to sound like. We will all be richly blessed on that day. I remain,

With Much Love in XC.

Fr. Anthony Savas
Protopresbyter