On the second Sunday after Easter, also called Thomas’ Sunday, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the parish of the “Nativity of the Lord” of Munich, dedicated to the children who participated in the project entitled the First Confession, as well as to the teenagers 13-14 years old who made the first Confession of faith.
The children and young people of the parish have participated since September 2015, in courses taught in this regard, coordinated by teacher Camelia Stoica, under the direct supervision of parish priest Alexandru Nan.
During the Divine Liturgy, the children and young people dressed in beautiful national costumes recited together the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer (in Romanian and German) and sang two religious chants. Confessed the previous time on Wednesday, during the Holy Week, all the 16 children and young participants in the project received the Holy Communion.
Parish priest Alexandru Nan delivered a sermon in which he spoke about Apostle Thomas who was not present, by divine will, at the first appearance of the Risen Christ in front of His Apostles, but who was worthy of that eight days later, to assure him and us too, as the dismissal of the day says: “The One who came to His Saints disciples and Apostles through the locked doors for assuring Thomas and us for our salvation”. Then, Rev. Fr. Alexandru spoke about Thomas’ short but deep confession of faith who recognised through the words My Lord and my God the divinity of the Risen Christ, and then referred to the confession of the children and young people present.
Several thanksgiving and petition prayers were said during the Divine Liturgy for the children and young people present and for their strengthening in faith. At the end of the celebration each child and young person participating received on behalf of the parish the two small books entitled Filocalia for children and young people published at Cristimpuri publishing house.
The festivity ended with a meal.
