Morning Prayer

The Feast of the Holy Sovereigns

Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma

The Feast of the Holy Sovereigns is a distinctive mark of Hawaiʻi’s Anglican/Episcopal heritage. Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma were instrumental in establishing the Anglican Church in the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1862; the king even translated the 1662 Book of Common Prayer into Hawaiian.

QUEEN LILIUOKALANI :

• At the 2024 meeting of the church’s legislature (the 81st General Convention), the church formally approved a “trial use” addition of Queen Liliʻuokalani to the calendar. The relevant resolution (A124) authorizes “trial use” of her commemoration, with propers to be edited into Lesser Feasts and Fasts. Archives of the Episcopal Church+1
• As a result, the 2024 edition of Lesser Feasts and Fasts includes Queen Liliʻuokalani among the updated set of commemorations. Episcopal News Service+1
• Local parishes and dioceses in Hawaiʻi are already treating her commemoration as an observance. For example, some churches have begun celebrating her feast (or a “birthday remembrance” or “commemoration”) on or near a date associated with her life (e.g. her coronation date (Jan. 29th, 1891) as per the proposal) rather than her death date.
• St. STEPHEN’S, WAHIAWA will offer commemoration Feast Day and Holy Eucharist on Sunday January 25th, 2026, and at Mauna Ala, Hawaii on the Queen’s Coronation date on January 29th 2026.
• The move to include Queen Liliʻuokalani reflects both her historical significance (last reigning monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom) and her Christian witness, which proponents argue makes her a fitting commemorated figure for the Episcopal Church.
• The addition of Liliʻuokalani is currently under “trial use,” which means it is provisionally included. The calendar (Lesser Feasts and Fasts) is authorized for optionally use by parishes. STANDING COMMISSION ON LITURGY AND MUSIC+2Archives of the Episcopal Church+2
• Until a future General Convention votes to make the commemoration a permanent fixture, it remains optional. The trial-use status does not guarantee that every parish will adopt it.
• The date proposed for her commemoration (in the trial use resolution) is the date of her coronation as queen, not necessarily her date of death. Archives of the Episcopal Church+1

MORNING PRAYERS – TAP HERE TO PRAY FOR THE ILL SICK AND WOUNDED, SPECIAL HEALING PRAYERS FOR DR. HAAHEO RECOVERY FROM A STROKE. PRAYERS FOR SERVICES AT PUUWAINA NATIONAL CEMETERY OF THE PACIFIC FOR BUCKY SHERMAN TODAY WITH FAMILY. PRAYERS FOR PEACE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE AND END TO ALL WARS AND VIOLENT CONFLICT. PRAYERS FIR LEAH JOHNSON IN THE LOSS OF HER MOTHER, AND HELEN HENDERSON FROM NORTH IRELAND WITH TRAVELING MERCIES AND BLESSING ON HER SPECIAL WORK AS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER IN NORTH IRELAND. TRAVELING MERCIES FIR SHERRY AND TERICA. MAHALO TO ALL THOSE WHO SERVED FOOD TO HUNGRY FAMILIES THIS WEEK.