Concelebrated Divine Liturgy of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the U.S.A

12 June 2010, Teaneck, New Jersey. The Annual Concelebrated Divine Liturgy of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the USA took place in St. Mark’s Syriac Orthodox Cathedral, Teaneck, New Jersey On June 12th, 2010. The Liturgy was celebrated this year according to the ancient rites of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church, presided by H.E. Archbishop Abuna Zecharias, Primate of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church Archdiocese of North- Eastern U.S.A. Participating in the Divine Liturgy also were the following Hierarchs: His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Orthodox Church in America, His Eminence Archbishop Mor Titus Yeldho of the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America, His Eminence Archbishop Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim of the Syrian Orthodox Church for the Eastern USA. Present also were the Ethiopian Orthodox Archbishop of Trinidad, His Eminence Abuna Thaddaius and the retired Armenian Archbishop, His Eminence Yeghishe Gizirian. His Eminence His Grace Bishop David of the Coptic Orthodox Church was unable to participate due to his travel overseas. The Liturgy was served by several priests and deacons from the sister Oriental Orthodox Churches. A big crowd of parishioners from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church showed up with their choir and their traditional drums.
All the clergy walked in a procession to the church, amid clapping and chanting of the parishioners. Everybody enjoyed their chanting and music, which started them into worship. There was a great joy in the Church, especially after receiving Communion, which spread the feeling of oneness among the congregation. The Liturgy lasted over three hours. It was concluded by some warm thanksgiving words given by Archbishop Karim, in which he thanked His Eminence Zecharias and his clergy for agreeing to conduct the liturgy and for choosing our Cathedral for the celebration assuring them that they are always welcome. His Eminence also thanked the Hierarchs, the clergy and the parishioners for their presence and participation in this year’s Concelebrated Holy Liturgy.
After the conclusion of the celebration of the Holy Eucharist all participants were invited to a delicious Lenten Lunch provided by our sister Ethiopian Church