A new set of Priest Vestments were blessed prior to Divine Liturgy on March 17, 2019, and worn for the first time on the First Sunday of Lent. The red/burgundy set will be worn during both the Lenten and season at Advent at Holy Trinity. The previous set, like several other sets at HTOC, were thread bare and needed to be replaced.

The vestments are a memorial gift made by Norman & Judy Coppola, the son and daughter-in-law, of +Evelyn Reynolds, our beloved parishioner, who fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday, November 18, 2018, at age 98. Many of the current sets of vestments at Holy Trinity are very old and worn, so we are grateful to Norman & Judy for this act of kindness. This was the first set to be replaced, with a gold set being considered for the Summer.

“I am sure that a new set of vestments, to be worn by Father Marc at Holy Trinity, would please Mother a great deal,” Norman said. “Beauty and splendor is fitting for the divine temple, a sign of our efforts to participate in the divine glory and reflect it in every way we can. The day before Father Marc’s letter, Judith read in the Prologue (of Ochrid) the words of St. Marcian, a priest, who gave generously to church beautification. Asked why, he said, ‘If I had a daughter and was giving her in marriage to some nobleman, would I not expend much gold to adorn her as a worthy bride? Here, I am adorning the Church, the Bride of Christ.’ Marcian had great wealth, but it went to the poor and to the churches, while he himself lived austerely.”

“It has been many years, perhaps fifteen, maybe ever longer, since our church has had a new set of priest vestments,” HTOC pastor, Father Marc Vranes, said. “I will be humbled to wear these in memory of Evelyn, a woman of great humility and spiritual insight. I am certain I will be thinking and offering prayer for her when I wear this beautiful set of vestments.”

The new set of vestments was made by Khouria Krista West Vestments of Salem, Oregon. She indicated this particular set is one of her favorites, and is worn by her husband, Father Alban West, a priest in the Greek Orthodox Church. Krista has earned the reputation of making premium Orthodox vestments for over two decades now; her work is in great demand, as she uses high end materials and galloons. Her workmanship is exquisite as well.

Click:  Blessing of New Priestly Vestments to read more.