The Presentation of Our Lord
 and Savior Jesus Christ into the Temple
(February 2nd)

 
     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 ChurchThe Orthodox Church has kept this tradition of the Churching of the mother and newborn child on the fortieth day.




February 5, 2012
Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee
Sunday after the Presentation of our Lord

  • Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 1
  • Troparion of  the Presentation, Tone1
  • Troparion of St. Michael, Tone 4
  • Kontakion of  the Presentation , Tone 1
Thou O Christ God, who by Thy Birth, didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb, and as is meet, didst bless Simeon’s arms, and didst also come to save us; preserve Thy fold in wars, and confirm them whom Thou didst love, for Thou alone art the Lover of mankind



Epistle: II Timothy: 3:10-15
Gospel: Luke 18: 10-14

 Pharisee and Publican
Gospel: Luke 18: 10-14 


     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 (Theme)

     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.


February 12, 2012
Sunday of the Prodigal Son

  • Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 2
  • Troparion of St. Meletios, Tone 4
  • Troparion of St. Michael, Tone 4
  • Kontakion of the Prodigal  Son, Tone 3

Epistle: I Cor. 6:12-20
Gospel: Luke 15: 11-32


The Prodigal Son
 Gospel: Luke 15:11-32

    
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”.

The prodigal Son (Theme)
 
     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 19, 2012
Sunday of Meat Fare

  • Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 3
  • Troparion of St. Michael, Tone 4
  • Kontakion of the Meat Fare, Tone 1

Epistle: I Cor. 8:8 to 9:2
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

 Meat Fare Sunday
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46


      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 (Theme)
     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 Savior 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, February 26, 2012
Sunday of Cheese Fare

  • Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 4
  • Troparion of St Michael, Tone 4
  • Kontakion of the Cheese Fare Sunday, Tone 6
O Thou who guidest to wisdom and givest understanding and intelligence, the Instructor of the ignorant and Helper of the poor, strengthen my heart granting it understanding, O Master. Give me word, o Word of the Father; for behold I shall not refrain my lips from crying to Thee, O merciful One, have mercy upon me who am fallen.

Epistle: Roman 13:11 to 14:4   
Gospel: Matthew 6:14-21

Cheese Fare Sunday
Gospel: Matthew: 6:14-21 

 
     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 Lent before we can practice it. Keep in mind that each Sunday has its particular Gospel lesson which is dedicated to some fundamental aspect of Repentance.
    
Monday February 27th 
the Holy and Great Lenten Journey begins

Sunday, March 4, 2012
First Sunday of Lent
Sunday of Orthodoxy

  • Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 5
  • Troparion of the First Sunday in Lent, Tone 2
O Christ our God, begging forgiveness of our sins, we venerate your pure image, O Good One. Of Your own will You condescended to ascend upon the Cross in the flesh and delivered those you created from the bondage of the enemy. Wherefore, thankfully we cry out: When You came to save the world You filled all things with joy, O our Savior.
  • Troparion of St. Michael, Tone 4
Kontakion for the Sundays in Lent, Tone 8
To thee the Champion Leader, we thy flow dedicate, A vista victory and the Thanksgivings, as one's rescued of the sufferings, O Theotokos; but as thou one, one with might which is invincible, from all dangers that can be due thou delivers us, that we may cry to thee, rejoiced thou Bride unwedded.

Epistle: Hebrews 11: 24-26, 32-40
Gospel: John 1:43-51

Great Lent
(Forty Days of Fasting)
     Great Lent is the time for self-examination, a time for prayer and almsgiving, a time for repentance and a time of abstinence from certain types of food.

Prayer of St. Ephrem 

O Lord and Master of my life!
Take from me the spirit laziness,
meddling, ambition and vain talk.
But give me a spirit of prudence,
humility, patience, and love.
Yes Lord and King grant me
To see my own sins and faults
And not judge my brother.
For you are blessed
forever and ever. Amen.

      Why this short prayer of St. Ephrem is important during the entire Lenten Worship?
      Because it enumerates in unique way all the negative and positive elements of repentance and constitutes a “check list” for our individual Lenten effort.

Sunday, March 11, 2012
Second Sunday of Lent
Commemoration of St. Gregory Palamas, Bishop of Thessalonica

  • Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 6
  • Troparion of St. Gregory, Tone 8
O Gregory, the miracle worker, light of Orthodoxy, support and teacher of the church, Holiness of monastic, invincible defender of Theologians, the Pride of Thessalonica and preacher of grace. Intercede forever that our souls be saved.

  • Troparion of St. Michael, Tone 4
  • Kontakion for the Sundays in Lent, Tone 8
To thee the Champion Leader, we thy flow dedicate, A vista victory and the Thanksgivings, as one's rescued of the sufferings, O Theotokos; but as thou one, one with might which is invincible, from all dangers that can be due thou delivers us, that we may cry to thee, rejoiced thou Bride unwedded.

Epistle: Hebrews 1:10-2:3
Gospel: Mark 2:1-12

Sunday, March 18, 2012
Third Sunday of Lent
The Adoration of the Holy Cross

  • Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 7
  • Troparion of the Holy Cross, Tone 1
O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance, granting our believing kings victory over the barbarians, and by the power of Cross preserving thy common wealth.

  • Troparion of St. Michael, Tone 4
  • Kontakion for the Sundays in Lent, Tone 8
To thee the Champion Leader, we thy flow dedicate, A vista victory and the Thanksgivings, as one's rescued of the sufferings, O Theotokos; but as thou one, one with might which is invincible, from all dangers that can be due thou delivers us, that we may cry to thee, rejoiced thou Bride unwedded.

Epistle: Hebrews 4:14-5:6
Gospel: Mark 8: 34 to end; 9:1

Mid-Lent: The Veneration of the Cross


    Now we are in Mid-Lent, our physical and spiritual effort begins to be felt; we need help and encouragement. We are now at the top of the hill and we’ve reached the half way point as we descend to the bottom of the hill and into the valley of Holy Week and the Passion Week of our Lord. At Mid-Lent, we receive our spiritual energy and revitalizing ourselves to continue our pilgrimage to Holy Week and Holy Pascha. Jesus said: “If anybody would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34).

Sunday, March 25, 2012
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Commemoration of St. John the Ladder
And Feast of the Annunciation of the Holy Theotokos

  • Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 8
  • Troparion of St. John, Tone 8
With the Rivers of your tears, you have made fertile the barren desert. Through sighs of sorrow from deep within you, your labors have borne fruit of hundred- fold. By your miracles you have become a light, shining upon the world. O John, our Holy Father, intercedes to Christ our God to save our souls.

  • Troparion of the Annunciation , Tone 4
  • Troparion of St. Michael, Tone 4
  • Kontakion  of the Annunciation, Tone 8

Epistle: Hebrews 2:11-18
Gospel: Luke: 1:24-38

Fourth Sunday of Great Lent
The Ladder of Divine Ascent


     St. John Climacus wrote the book bearing the name "The Ladder of Divine Ascent". It talks about our journey to Heaven involving steps. The 30 steps represent the Great Lent. The icon shows how difficult is to climb to Heaven. It shows monks on the ladder, the demons are trying to pull them off, the mouth of Hades are swallowing up those who have fallen off, the angels are lamenting over those, who have fallen, and people on the earth are praying for those on the ladder. Also, the icon depicts Christ at the top of the ladder, waiting for our entrance to His holy Kingdom. St. John Climacus is at the top of the ladder and the one with white robe behind St. John is probably the Archbishop Antonios. Every step that we make during Great Lent is our own sacrifice that we give to God, thus when we do this it becomes our own ladder to Heaven like as St John Climacus.


Sunday, April 1, 2012
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Commemoration of St. Mary of Egypt

  • Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 1
  • Troparion of St. Mary, Tone 8
Through thee, the divine likeness was securely preserved, O righteous Mother Mary; for thou didst carry the cross and followed Christ. By example and precept, thou didst teach us to ignore the body, because it is perishable, and to attain to the concerns of the undying soul. Therefore, doth thy soul rejoice with the angels.

  • Troparion of St. Michael, Tone 4
  • Kontakion for the Sundays of Lent, Tone 8
To thee the Champion Leader, we thy flow dedicate, A vista victory and the Thanksgivings, as one's rescued of the sufferings, O Theotokos; but as thou one, one with might which is invincible, from all dangers that can be due thou delivers us, that we may cry to thee, rejoiced thou Bride unwedded.


Epistle: Hebrews 9:11-14
Gospel: Mark 10: 32-45


Commemoration of St Mary of Egypt



     Mary the Egyptian lived in Alexandria as a prostitute. At the age of 29, out of curiosity she joined a group of pilgrims bound for the Holy Land. While sailing with the pilgrims on the ship, Mary did not cease from sinning. On getting to Jerusalem, she joined the pilgrims who were heading for the church of Christ's Resurrection. People were entering the church in a large throng, but Mary was stopped at the entrance by an invisible hand and could not enter it by any efforts. Here she understood that the Lord was not permitting her to enter into the holy place because of her impurity. Feeling of profound repentance, she began to entreat God to forgive her sins, promising to correct her life. The Theotokos icon told her to go to Jordan, where she would find rest. She begged the Theotokos to plead for her before God. Mary poured out abundant tears at the Lord's Tomb and went out of the church a completely different person.
     In the Jordanian Desert, she lived the rest of her life in repentance, complete solitude, fasting and prayer. A monk named Zosima (Zosimus) met her and heard her story. He brought her Holy Communion. She asked him to return the next year. When he returned, he found her dead, with instructions for her burial written in the sand next to her. The Elder Zosima, who lived in the Jordanian monastery of the prophet John the Forerunner, was struck by her holiness during her life. He saw her once during prayer as if raised up above the earth, and another time walking over the river Jordan, as if on dry land. Thus, from a great sinner, Venerable Mary became, with God's help, a very great saint and left such a striking example of repentance.





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