We will once again have Pot Luck dinners on Wednesdays after Presanctified Liturgy to break the fast.
Please bring your favorite Lenten Pot Luck meal to share with your fellow parishioners.
Sunday of Orthodoxy: Restoration of Icons
During the Liturgy, weather permitting, we will process around the church at the Little Entrance. You are encouraged to bring your icons from home, or you may use an icon from around the parish.
More information will be provided in next week's bulletin.
Prayers for the beginning of Great Lent
Let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
O God, Hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them that be afar off at sea, Who didst foretell these holy days of fasting in the Law, and the Prophets, and the Evangelists: Do Thou count all of us worthy to pass the course of the Fast in purity, to preserve the Faith undivided, and to keep Thy commandments all the days of our lives. Bid an Angel of peace to preserve our comings-in and goings-out for every good work, being obedient together and together pleasing Thee unto a perfect communion of Thy Most-pure Mysteries. And accept, O Master, the bending of the knees and the fasting of Thy servants, granting unto them, and unto all of us, spiritual blessing, in Christ Jesus, our Lord, with Whom Thou art blessed, together with Thy Most-holy, Good, and Lifegiving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
A second Prayer, unto them:
Blessed art Thou, O Lord Almighty, the God of our Fathers, of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, Who madest the heaven, the earth, the sea and all that is in them; Who hast appointed repentance to men for salvation, and overlookest their transgressions; Who didst accept the tears of Thy servant, the prophet David, and gavest him that repented, forgiveness of sins; Who didst accept the prayer of Manasseh, bound with iron fetters, who, with repentance, confessed unto Thee, and Thou forgavest his sins; Who didst save the Harlot who understood Thy mercy, for, having received the spies, she let them go in peace: Do Thou hearken now unto the supplication of me, Thine unworthy servant, and overlook all the iniquities of these Thy servants, who make haste unto Thee in repentance. And grant them heartfelt contrition who are in afflictions because of their sins, having angered Thee, their own Creator, Who art able to cleanse them of their sins. Grant unto them Thy grace, that being roused and strengthened by this, and remembering their own evil deeds, they may truly confess all of them, in the fear of Thee, to their own spiritual father, who has been established by Thee as judge. And through us may they call them to remembrance, as ones that are guilty, with a heart broken and humble, and to repent of them, that they may desire also complete forgiveness for them. And count them worthy of absolution for them, according to Thy loving kindness, through their spiritual father as Thy judge, according to Thy sure promise. For Thou hast said, “Whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Yea, O Master, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, accept Thy servants who are repenting for their sins, whether known and unknown, whether voluntary or involuntary, and who, according to Thy command, have set them before Thee in confession, and, mercifully accepting them, by Thy power and grace strengthen them, that they not turn back to sins and to evil and unacceptable deeds, into which they have fallen many times. Rather, raise them up and help them against the snares of the devil, and from all hostile snares, that without hindrance, they may serve Thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their lives. For Thou art our God, and Thou camest into the world, not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. And Thou hast commanded that the transgressions of them that have fallen into sins be forgiven even seventy times seven. And when the woman caught in adultery was led unto Thee by the Pharisees, to tempt Thee, Thou didst not judge her, but mercifully didst say, “Go, and from this time forth sin no more”; for according to Thy love for mankind, Thou didst not judge her, but had mercy. And likewise also as to the other harlot who wept, and with tears washed Thy feet and wiped them with her own hair, Thou wast merciful for the sake of Thine own mercy, so grant unto these, Thy servants unhindered and warm tears of true repentance. Make firm their minds and hearts, that they may know Thee the only true Son of God, Who tookest up the sins of the world. Accept them, as Thou didst accept Peter who denied Thee, and with repentance and bitter tears turned back again. Stretch forth Thy right hand and take them, as Thou didst take him that was drowning in the sea, and strengthen them against the devil who struggles against them. Cleanse their souls and bodies from every kind of filth. For Thou Thyself hast said, O Good Lord, that they that are healthy not ask for a physician, but only the sick. And Thou hast not come to save them that are saved already, but them that are perishing. Grant, therefore, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, that these Thy servants complete, without blemish, the beginning of this Holy Fast, and in it to fulfil Thy commandments, and to be diligent in prayers and to please Thee with good deeds all the days of their lives, that uncondemned and with a pure conscience they may be counted worthy to become partakers of Thy divine Body and lifegiving Blood which is poured out for the whole world for the remission of sins, and that they may defeat and put to shame the demons in their warfare. For Thou, O God, art the God of them that repent, and desirest not the death of a sinner, but that he turn from his way and live. For Thou, O Master, desirest not to utterly destroy the work of Thy hands, neither art Thou well-pleased at the destruction of mankind. But Thou desirest that all be saved, and come to the knowledge of truth. Therefore, now also, O Master, turn not away Thy face from these Thy servants, but grant unto them a true turning from sins unto Thee, and deliverance from all their evil deeds. And count all of us worthy to attain in peace to the performing of good deeds, and that we may bow down before Thy saving Passion and Thy holy Resurrection, and at the end of our life to receive eternal joy together with all that have been well-pleasing unto Thee, our God and our Savior. For Thou art a God of mercies and compassions, and love for mankind, and unto Thee do we send up glory, together with Thy Father Who is without beginning, and Thy Most-holy, Good, and Lifegiving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
