On Sunday, August 1st, St. George recognized the Feast of Procession of the Honorable Wood of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord.  Given the current COVID pandemic, and the coincidence that August 1st fell on a Sunday this year, St. George recognized this feast after Divine Liturgy with a procession with the Cross around the perimeter of the church, and a short prayer service in the center of the church asking the Lord to bless our community, and asking for our continued good health.

"The origin of this Feast is explained in the Greek Horologion of 1897: 'Because of the illnesses which occur during the month of August, it was customary at Constantinople to carry the Precious Wood of the Cross in procession throughout the city for its sanctification, and to deliver it from sickness.' "On the eve (July 31), the Cross was removed from the imperial treasury and placed it upon the Holy Table of the Great Church of Hagia Sophia (which is dedicated to Christ, the Wisdom of God). From August 1st until the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, there was a procession throughout the entire the city, and then the Cross was placed where all the people could venerate it."