Today proved to be an interesting day from several perspectives. The first is that a design for the grave monument of Vladika Varlaam has been approved. It is especially interesting because the actual hand blessing cross used by Vladika Varlaam is to be inset into the stone marker making the design both simple and meaningful.
The second point of interest is that we served the first Presanctified Liturgy this evening. There was a bit of confusion in the area of the litanies because the books used by the serving clergy did not quite match the books being used by those doing the chanting. Even so, most of the service went well and the chanting flowed smoothely.
Hopefully this will be an indication of the way the remainder of this lenten season will progress and the way that we relate to it as a beneficial period.