St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church

Sunday
February 6, 2011
17th Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday after the Presentation of Our Lord into the Temple

• Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 4
• Troparion of the Presentation, Tone 1
• Troparion of St. Michael, Tone 4
• Kontakion of the Presentation, Tone 1

Epistle: II Cor. 6:16 to end, 7:1
Gospel: Matthew: 15:21-28

The Presentation of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into the Temple

The presentation or the meeting of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is commemorated on February 2nd.
Simeon was a just man who had been awaiting the salvation of God for a long time. According to tradition, he was translating the passage in the Scriptures where Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah was to be born of a Virgin. Simeon wanted to change the word “Virgin” to “Young woman” but an angel stopped his hand and foretold him that he would not see death before seeing the Messiah born of the Virgin.
According to the Law of Moses, every first born male was to be presented into the temple to be devoted to God on the fortieth day after birth, so the Mother of God brought the Newborn Jesus into the temple. Simeon was guided by the Holy Spirit; he took the Child into his aged arms and he blessed God by saying: “Lord, now lettest Thou servant depart in peace, according to Thy word…” (Luke 2:25-32).
The Orthodox Church has kept this tradition of the Churching of the mother and newborn child on the fortieth day.

Sunday
February 13, 2011
Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee

• Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 5
• Troparion of St. Martinian, Tone 8
• Troprion of St. Michael, Tone 4
• Kontakion of the Pharisee and the Publican, Tone 4

Epistle: II Timothy 3: 10-15
Gospel: Luke 18: 10-14 (Pharisee and Publican)

The Publican and the Pharisee went up into the temple to pray, the Pharisee said: “I am not as other men are unjust, adulterers, or even as the publican. I fast twice in the week and I give tithes of all I possess.” The publican was standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but he beat his breast and said: “God be merciful to me sinner.”
Jesus affirms that it was the publican who went down to his house justified rather then the Pharisee and He states:” For everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted”.

Sunday of publican and Pharisee

The first Sunday prior to the beginning of Great Lent is the Sunday of Publican and the Pharisee.
The Theme of this parable is repentance. Before entering Great Lent in humility and repentance, we can achieve a deeper communion with God as we receive His forgiveness and His blessing by guiding us to richer spiritual life.

Did you know?

The Orthodox Church considered the week that follows the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee as a non-fasting week. All foods are allowed on everyday of the week, as well as Wednesday and Friday. This exemption from fasting is offered to us as a way of representing that Great Lent is forthcoming.

Sunday
February 20, 2011
Sunday of the Prodigal Son

• Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 6
• Troparion of St. Leo, Tone 4
• Troparion of St. Michael, Tone 4
• Kontakion of the Prodigal Son, Tone 3

Epistle: І Cor. 6:12-20
Gospel: Luke 15:11-32 (Prodigal Son)

There was a man who had two sons. One day the younger asks his father to give him his share of property. The Father gave him half of his money. In a little while, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country, and there had spent all his money. He was forced to work for a farmer feeding his pigs. A severe famine came, but he had nothing and fell into a great need. One day he came to himself and said: “How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger”. I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him: “I have sinned against heaven, and am no more worthy to be called thy son, make me as on of thy hired servants”. Then he arose and came to his father who had compassion on him. Rapidly, the father ran to embrace and kiss his youngest son. He asked his servants to bring forth the best robe to put it on him and he asked them too to put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet.
Now, the older son becomes angry and he told his father that he was faithful to him for many years and yet the father never gave him the opportunity for such feasting. The father said to him:” You are always with me and all that I have is yours. It was meet that we should make merry and be glad for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found”.

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

The second Sunday prior to the beginning of Great Lent is the Sunday of the Prodigal Son.
The Theme of this parable is repentance which offers hope to those who have fallen into great hopelessness over their sins thinking that there is no forgiveness. God is love and we are blessed for his greatest compassion.

Sunday
February 27, 2011
Sunday of Meat Fare

• Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 7
• Troparion of St. Michael, Tone 4
• Kontakion of the Meat Fare Sunday, Tone 1

Epistle: І Cor. 8:8-9:2
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46 (Meat Fare Sunday)

When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one form another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the word; For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee a hungered, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these of my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels”: For I was hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or a thirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, verily I say unto you, “Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And “these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Sunday of Meat-Fare

The third Sunday prior to the beginning of Great Lent is the Sunday of Meat Fare or Last Judgment.
The Theme of the parable is Love. When Christ comes to judge us, what will be the principle of His last judgment? The answer is Love.

Did you know?

On the Eve of the Sunday of Meat-Fare, the church commemorated all who have fallen asleep in the hope of Resurrection and it is called “Saturday of Souls”. It is a great day for prayers for our loved and departed members.

During his ministry, the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ preached about love, so Christianity became the religion of love. We are always steeped in our daily sins that we can break this love easily, and the only way to return to God is “love” because God is love.
Jesus gave us a new commandment that we shall love one another, also, he said to his disciples:” By this shall all know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
By praying for the dead, we ask God to remember them because we love them.

Sunday
March 6, 2011
Sunday of Cheese Fare

• Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 8
• Troparion of St Michael, Tone 4
• Kontakion of Cheese Fare Sunday, Tone 6

Epistle: Romans 13:11-14:4
Gospel: Matthew 6:14-21 (Cheese Fare Sunday)

The Gospel reading of this Sunday gives advice on fasting. When you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. (Matthew 6:16-18).

Sunday of Cheese Fare
or Sunday of forgiveness

The last Sunday prior to the beginning of Great Lent is the Sunday of Cheese Fare.
Now we enter the period of the fast forgiving one another so that God will forgive us.
The Orthodox Church wants us to prepare and invite us to reflect and consider the significance of the Lent before we can practice it. Keep in mind that each Sunday has his particular Gospel lesson which is dedicated to some fundamental aspect of Repentance.