A Trip to the Kaliva of Fr. Cherubim »
Posted on July 28, 2010 in 2005 Pilgrimage to the Skete of St. Anna, Mount Athos - 0 COMMENTS
The Gifting of the Holy Relic of Saint Anna
by Rev Fr Chris Flesoras
Liturgy was attended by a small number of us in the Kyriakon on account of the vigil being kept at the chapel of the Three Hierarchs. In all there were no more than ten of us. All were familiar faces except for the celebrant and an elderly monk who joined us, Fr. Gabriel who is attached the chapel of Saint George at the Skete.
When Fr. Gabriel entered southern section of the Church where we stood shortly after the doxology, Fr. Cheroubim greeted him and asked his blessing. Each of us followed his lead and greeted the aged monk. Fr. Cheroubim then gave up his place of honor, giving it instead to Fr. Seraphim, as he was a most respected and revered monk of the Skete.
To our great pleasure, Fr. Gabriel assisted with the chanting. Although well into his eighties and his voice characteristically aged, he advanced through every hymn most beautifully. With such chanting echoing through the Church, we agreed with Fr. Cheroubim who, with a smile, noted that these monks as well as those of the Little Skete of Saint Anna, located within walking distance of our Skete were some of the most gifted chanters on the Holy Mount. Most of the monasteries follow a very simple chant, while the monks of these sketes follow a much more elaborate and ornate music, hence the extreme beauty.
At the conclusion of services we retired to the formal salon. Here we enjoyed a bit of brandy, Greek coffee, and a chocolate covered piece of baklava (Angie, make a note for next year’s festival. It was delicious)! Father Cheroubim, Father Gabriel, the celebrant whose name escapes me, and the three of us shared in a cordial conversation. We concluded by 6:30AM and went back to our rooms for a bit of sleep.
By 10AM we were up and ready for the day. We again met Fr. Cheroubim at the Church. With his blessings, I photographed most of the iconography of the Kyriakon. Then to our surprise and great pleasure, Fr. Cheroubim brought out various relics for us to venerate, including a piece of the Holy Cross!
With a smile, Fr. Cheroubim then suggested that now was a fitting time to formally gift us the holy relic of Saint Anna. As Father Theophilos chanted the Apolytikion of Saint Anna, Fr. Cheroubim went into the Sanctuary and appeared with a small box in his hands. He then asked me to come forward to venerate and then receive the holy relic.
Now, as I held the relic for the first time, Fr. Cheroubim explained that this quarter size piece from the skull of Saint Anna is a myrrh-bearing relic. For this reason a most sweet-smelling fragrance emanates from the relic itself! And, the cotton upon which the relic rests, it has even become a bit discolored on account of the myrrh!
Standing in awe, we again listened to the history of this relic, which was personally gifted to Fr. Cheroubim for his service as Dikaios of the Skete from the Monastery of Kykkos in Cyprus. It was overwhelming to think that this was the last time that this relic would be venerated at the Skete. Our relic would travel through Greece to Athens, into San Francisco via Germany, to various sister parishes, and then to the Church of the Annunciation in Sacramento where it would await the formal gifting to our parish by our soon-to-be elected Metropolitan of San Francisco.
Prior to our departure from the Church, Fr. Cheroubim led me into the Sanctuary to show me where our relic had been kept. Opposite the Altar Table, on the Eastern Wall of the Sanctuary is a large locked cabinet. It is within this case that the foot of Saint Anna is kept along with countless other holy relics, the true treasures of the Skete.
Father Cheroubim unlocked the cabinet with some twenty or so sterling silver cases found therein, each possessing holy relics. With a smile, he asked which one would I like to venerate. I would pick a case, venerate the relics, take a picture and then choose another! Saint Haralambos, St. Marina, St Paraskevi, martyrs, fathers of the Church…it was incredible to say the least! All the while, with a gentle smile and an enthusiastic voice he would ask, “Would you like me to get another case? You may not have this opportunity again. Only the Dikaios of the Skete has the key.”
After a short while, we concluded our time in the Church and proceeded to lunch as it was about noon. Our meal, prepared by Dimitri and Petros, was a delicious pan-fried fish with trachana (a unique rolled Greek pasta that is cut into little squares), feta, bread, a bit of wine and an orange. Sitting with our familiar group we shared a bit more about our family in America and learned a bit more about our hosts.
Dimitri travels to the Skete of Saint Anna from Kavala Greece for two weeks of the month…
