October
1, 2007
Metropolitan Gerasimos (R) venerates the relics of Saints Joachim and Anna at the Catholic Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, along with Bishop William Weigand of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento.
A journey that began 12 centuries ago has come to a joyous and peaceful conclusion, as the relics of Saints Joachim and Anna, the Holy Ancestors of God, made their way to their new home at the parish of Saint Anna in Roseville, CA the weekend of September 8 - 9, 2007. The journey of these relics can be traced back to the 9th century when Charlemagne brought them to the Provence region in France from Jerusalem. From there, they traveled to Cologne, Germany where they have most recently been under the watchful care of Cardinal Joachim Meisner, until 1997 when he gifted a portion of these relics to the Theophileon Brotherhood of the Skete of Saint Anna on Mount Athos, Greece. The final steps of this journey occurred in early August 2007 when a small delegation from the Saint Anna Church, led by parish priest Rev. Christopher Flesoras, traveled to Thessalonica and Mount Athos to receive these relics and to celebrate the Feast of the Dormition of Saint Anna at the Skete. The formal gifting took place prior to the Feast in the tenth century Byzantine Church of Panagia Chalkeon in Thessalonica, from Very Reverend Cherubim Apostolou of the Skete of Saint Anna.
Prior to traveling to receive the relics, Rev. Flesoras established communication with Bishop William Weigand of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento to discuss plans for a joint Orthodox-Catholic event celebrating the impending arrival of the relics. Through the assistance of Bishop Weigand and his staff, a Service of Vespers and Thanksgiving on the Occasion of the Reception of the Holy Relics of Joachim and Anna was prayed on September 8 at the Catholic Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Sacramento, California, officiated by Bishop Weigand. Over 1,000 Orthodox and Catholic faithful attended this service. This was the first opportunity for public veneration of these relics since being brought from Mount Athos to the United States. At the close of the service, Metropolitan Gerasimos offered a response to Bishop Weigand stating that people "need the transformative power of Holy Relics outside of the Sanctuary, in the midst of the people, which makes the Saints, the sanctified, in this case, Joachim and Anna, accessible to the people for veneration as we seek their holy intercessions before the Throne of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."
On Sunday, September 9, the faithful at the Saint Anna parish celebrated a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, followed by a procession with the Holy Relics. Following the service, these relics along with another Holy Relic of Saint Anna which was received by the parish in 2005 were venerated by nearly 500 people. That same evening, Orthodox and Catholic clergy and faithful came together once again to pray the Supplication (Paraklesis) Service to Saints Joachim and Anna. With yet again hundreds of people in attendance, the opportunity to venerate the relics of the Holy Ancestors of God was met with much piety and enthusiasm from the faithful of East and West. At the conclusion of this service, Metropolitan Gerasimos reminded the faithful "how important it is to pray to the Saints of our Church to seek their intervention on our behalf." He continued on to say, "The holy and sacred relics that have now found their way here to this church of St. Anna, should serve as a constant reminder to each one of us as we strive to live saintly lives in this secular world."
What is especially significant about Joachim and Anna is the example they set as a couple, devoted to God, and devoted to having a family to glorify God. As part of Metropolitan Gerasimos' vision to establish a Family Wellness Center in the Metropolis of San Francisco, what better place to serve as a center for prayer than a parish which has in its possession the relics of Saints Joachim and Anna! Thus, Metropolitan Gerasimos has now designated the parish as a "Shrine" dedicated to the Sanctity of Marriage and Family. Metropolitan Gerasimos prayed these words with the congregation during the Dedication service, "Strengthen, preserve and sanctify us in Your peace, the estate of marriage, and the nurturing of children through the dedication of this Shrine, which shall seek the intercessions of Saints Joachim and Anna, spiritually and physically ever present in her midst." The relics of the Holy Ancestors of God will be brought forth on the first of every month as the Supplication Service to Saints Joachim and Anna is prayed, as well as on their respective Feasts, and Feasts of the Theotokos.
The Family Wellness Center is a program-based ministry which has received initial funding from the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund. This Family Wellness Center will include special classes, retreats and seminars held throughout the Metropolis which address topics such as: grief and bereavement, substance abuse, marriage enrichment for clergy and laity, and programs for people of all ages and at all stages in life, and all within the context of our Orthodox theology and faith.
Saint
Anna Shrine in Roseville is the only known Orthodox Church in the
United States to be blessed with authenticated relics of Saints
Joachim and Anna. Furthermore, this is the only parish in the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese to be dedicated to and seeking the intercessions
of Saint Anna, the mother of the Theotokos. For more information on
the Shrine and to venerate the Holy Relics, please visit
www.gosaintanna.org,
or contact Rev. Christopher Flesoras at 916-772-9372. For more
information on the Family Wellness Center, contact Executive Director
Kristen Bruskas at 602-525-1617.
The reliquary containing the Holy Relics of Saints Joachim and Anna.
His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos speaks to the faithful of the Saint Anna parish following Divine Liturgy, with parish priest Rev. Christopher Flesoras standing at his side.
4th Thursday after Pascha
