Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Indiana Consecrated by Abp. Elpidophoros
Ceremony marks milestone of faith and renewal for Fort Wayne parish.
FORT WAYNE, IN — His Eminence Abp. Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America presided over the consecration of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Fort Wayne on Oct. 24–25, joined by His Eminence Met. Nicholas of Detroit.
According to reporting from the Orthodox Observer, the Archbishop was welcomed at Fort Wayne International Airport by Met. Nicholas, Holy Trinity Proistamenos Fr. Cosmin Sicoe and Presvytera Grigoreta Sicoe, along with parish leaders and community representatives.
During the Great Vespers of Consecration on Friday evening, the parish received Holy Relics of martyred saints from Chora on the island of Samothrace. On Saturday morning, the relics were sealed within the Holy Table during the Divine Liturgy.
The two-day celebration concluded with a festive banquet, as clergy and parishioners gathered in thanksgiving for this historic moment in the life of the Fort Wayne parish.
In his homily on Sunday, Fr. Cosmin — who was elevated to the rank of protopresbyter after Vespers on Friday — drew parallels between the morning's Gospel reading from Luke 8:26-39 (the Gadarene demoniac), the Feast of St. Demetrios which was celebrated that day, and the consecration of the church.
"The beautiful consecration hymn says: 'Come back to yourself, O man, become new instead of old, and celebrate the rededication of your soul. While there is still time, let your entire life be renewed. All things have passed away — behold, all things have become new. Make this good change and let it be the fruit of the feast. This is how a person is renewed and rededicated — this is the way to honor consecration day.' What a beautiful and meaningful hymn for us."
If we are struggling with demons, we are to ask the Lord to cast them away and bring us back, Fr. Cosmin said. If by the grace of God, we are already living a decent, Christian life, we are to be like St. Demetrios and take our faith to the next level.
"Our Lord Jesus Christ did not come into this world to create good, moral people. There's nothing wrong about that, but He came to reveal to us the way of the Cross. He came to reveal to us that we are to become martyrs — to lay down our life for God."
This consecration marks not just a renewal of the church, Fr. Cosmin said, but a renewal of every parishioner's life.
Previously, UOJ reported that Pat. Bartholomew of Constantinople and Pat. Daniel of Romania consecrated the iconography of Romania's National Cathedral.
