On New Year’s Day 2023 the faithful gathered together at Saint Nicholas Punchbowl to celebrate the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ and to pray for the beginning of the new year, as well as to celebrate the patron Saint of our Chief Shepherd, His Eminence Metropolitan Basilios, Saint Basil the Great.
The clergy of various parishes gathered together, as well as many of the faithful of our Archdiocese to celebrate the first Divine Liturgy of the year. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, there was a blessing prayer for the year ahead and for the whole world. Following the blessing, H.E Metropolitan Basilios has acknowledged the 30 years of service (Diakonia) of Rev. Deacon Mark Issa.
All those present were invited to the hall for the celebratory cutting of the Vasilopita, a traditional cake cut on New Year’s Day, which has a hidden coin in it. The cakes were cut and distributed by His Eminence, and three lucky ones found a coin in their piece! We pray for a blessed year ahead for them and all of our community.
May the year ahead be filled with blessings of peace, joy and love, and for many years master.
