Denver Pan-Orthodox Vespers 2025
5th Sunday of Lent – St. Mary of Egypt | Littleton, CO | April 6th, 2025
After 8-10 years out of the ‘Orthodox-Denver Limelight’, St Herman Parish hosted the 5th and last Pan Orthodox Vespers, with the support of St. Tikhon Mission. Vespers was led by 10 priests, 4 Deacons and a combined St. Herman Parish & St. Tikhon Mission Choir. It was quite a surprise to all of us that while the norm for these Pan-Orthodox Vespers is a dwindling attendance week to week, St Herman was filled to beyond capacity. Estimates were upwards of 250 total in attendance.
Great thanks to all the parishioners who pitched in to offer a full feast, a true potluck – both the variety of dishes served, and the quantity was a big treat. We had teams to assist with parking, welcoming, ushering, hosting & serving in the dining room, busing to keep things orderly, and a crew manning the new commercial dishwasher… it all made for a palpable ‘buzz’ of happy, smiling people. And it was evident that many came to visit St Herman for the first time, and see what worship & fellowship is like – they got a full dose of the joyful worship, our beautiful temple environment, and a gathering filled with the warmth of fellowship.
The highlight of the evening for several of us were the impromptu expressions of gratitude from people from the wide diversity of parishes. One person summed up the sense of the evening as one of “beautiful music, the reading the Holy Gospel, and a sermon given on the Gospel lesson”. We really appreciated the active participation of all present and worshipping.
The result for the faithful and seekers alike who attended, is to begin these days of Holy Week with a firmer commitment to step into the grace of gathering together in worship of the Trinity.
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