HG Mar Eusebius celebrates Feet Washing at St. Gregorios Orthodox Church Houston
Friday, 02 April 2010 03:53
Houston: On the eve of the feast of unleavened bread, our Lord shared the Passover meal with His twelve disciples in the city. He blessed the bread and the wine, and gave us the Mystery of the Divine Eucharist. On the same night He washed the feet of the disciples. By performing this lowly act of service, Jesus "showed them the full extent of his love" (St. John 13:1). In commemoration of this event in the life of Christ, His Grace Mar Eusebius conducted Feet Washing Service on Thursday, April 1st at St. Gregorios Orthodox church, Houston. This was also His Grace's first opportunity to conduct this ritual after becoming the metropolitan of the Diocese of South-West America. In Malankara Orthodox tradition, this service is performed only by a bishop.
Malankara Orthodox church observes all of the services as a dramatic presentation and hence feet washing ritual is no exception. His Grace washed the feet of twelve persons, both priests and the lay people. This service was most ceremoniously done in the midst of the reading of the Scripture (Evengelion). Evengelion reading is interrupted during important moments and is delivered dramatically. Most highlighted of these is the moment when Jesus approaches Simon Peter to wash his feet. Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with me." Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." (John 13:8-10). This episode was dramatically represented when His Grace washed the feet of a senior priest.
Please click each thumbnail to view enlarged picture
Mar Eusebius, during his message, reiterated the inherent message of this ritual - to learn humility by doing good for others, by doing acts of service or kindness for our brethren. His Grace opinioned that to revitalize it is worthwhile to clean oneself before any meal. His Grace cited an example of two contradictory persons who were reenergized after the clean. Judas, reenergized after the clean betrayed Jesus. John, the most favorite and the youngest of all disciples, reenergized after the clean stayed with Jesus and followed Him till Calvary.
Rev. Fr. Bijesh Philip, St. Thomas Orthodox seminary Nagpur, also spoke on the occasion. In his speech, Achen emphasized on Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Achen, challenged the audience to set aside our egos, superior complex and our ill feelings towards our brethren and follow the ways of Christ. Just as Jesus humbled Himself before the disciples by washing their feet and serving them, we ought to humble ourselves before others.
This occasion was also blessed by the presence of several priests, deacon and faithful from all the Indian orthodox churches in and around Houston. Rev. Fr. P.M. Cheriyan, Vicar of St. Gregorios Orthodox Church Houston, welcomed the visiting priests and guests.
Pictures of the Feet Washing are posted on our gallery under the section Feet Washing Ceremony.