Suffolk News-Herald

The acolytes of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Tynes Street attended the inaugural Convocation IV Acolyte Festival at Trinity Episcopal Church, 500 Court St. in Portsmouth, recently.

The purpose of the festival was to involve the acolytes in a ceremony presenting &uot;Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple: Candlemas.&uot;

The celebration of Candlemas observes two events: the presentation of the Christ child in the temple and the purification of the Virgin Mary.

The word acolyte means companion or one who helps. Acolytes are willing servants from within the congregation who have been trained to assist the Priest. They enhance the worship services by lighting and extinguishing the sanctuary candles and by leading the procession into and out of the church. While the acolytes are typically children or adolescents, adults may serve also.