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Peace, reconciliation, unity are themes of June 28 event at St. Dominic Church
An evening of sacred music and sacred readings featuring themes of peace and reconciliation June 28 St. Dominic Parish was capped by exhortations from leaders of San Francisco's Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox communities for their traditions to continue pursuit of mutual understanding and unity.
Following their remarks to a nearly full church, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Gerasimos and Archbishop George H. Niederauer lit in unison the final candle of a candelabra which had served as symbol of growing unity during the evening. Between choral offerings, pairs of youngsters — one Greek Orthodox, one Catholic — would walk to the altar area and each light a candle on either side of the candelabra.
Titled "Litany for Peace: An Ecumenical Evening of Sacred Readings and Music," the program featured three choral ensembles — the Solemn Choir of St. Dominic Church and the choirs of San Francisco's Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral and Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.
Quoting St. Augustine, Archbishop Niederauer noted the saint had instructed listeners to "sing, but keep going." The Archbishop said the words were an appropriate message for the St. Dominic gathering. "Our two communities should sing, but we should also keep going together" toward fuller unity, he said.
Metropolitan Gerasimos used "Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew" as metaphors for the relationship between the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches.
"In a very profound way our presence tonight in this magnificent sanctuary," he said, should serve as a reminder "of how two simple fishermen, brothers, responded to the call of Christ. The implications of their daring response enabled our two ancient and holy churches to enjoy an unprecedented 1,000 years of shared history and calls us to continue to pray for unity so that the Body of Christ may someday be one again."
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{Photo by Arne Folkedal}
Archbishop George H. Niederauer and Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Gerasimos jointly light the final candle on the candelabra which had served as a symbolic centerpiece during a June 28 "Litany for Peace: An Ecumenical Evening of Sacred Readings and Music" at St. Dominic Church in San Francisco. In their remarks to the nearly full church, both leaders expressed hopes that the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions would continue toward fuller unity. The evening featured the Solemn Choir of St. Dominic and the choirs of San Francisco's Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral and Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.
{Photo by Arne Folkedal}
Simon Berry directs the Solemn Choir of St. Dominic Parish June 28 during a "Litany for Peace: An Ecumenical Evening of Sacred Readings and Music" at the parish which also featured choirs from San Francisco' Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral and Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Between choral offerings, Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic officials read passages from Scripture and other sacred sources that focused on peace and reconciliation.
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