On Wednesday 14 February and Thursday 15 February we had services for the Great Feast of the Meeting of the Lord.  On this day we commemorate the presentation of the Lord in the Temple on the fortieth day after his birth and his acknowledgement by the Righteous Symeon and the Prophetess Anna.  All-night vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Wednesday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Thursday morning.  Following the readings of the Hours and immediately prior to the commencement of Divine Liturgy, the Order for the Blessing of Candles on the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord was served.  The Prayer before the Amvon was followed by a blessing of fruit – customary in many parishes of our Diocese on this day – and the dismissal was followed by a memorial litia for the ever-memorable Archbishop Paul (Pavlov), Ruling Bishop of our Diocese from 1980-1992, and for his Diocesan Secretary and friend, Archpriest Nicholas Grant.  Vladyka Paul reposed on this feast-day in 1995, and Father Nicholas reposed on the eve of the feast-day that same year.  Eternal memory!