The Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy is celebrated on the first Sunday of Great Lent. It is the celebration of the victory of the iconodules over the iconoclasts by the decision of the Seventh Ecumenical Council. Therefore, the service is to commemorate the restoration of icons for use in services and our private devotional life. The faithful will be processing with their icons in church.

A 2^nd Stewardship Sunday - March 8^th

Are you an official member of Saint Andrew Church? Do you know how the church uses the contributions we pledge every year? As members, we all should know how the church uses the contributions we make and affords you the right to participate in the General Assemblies, where you can find out those answers, as well as understanding the current and future plans for the church. For 2020, the Stewardship Committee has mailed out Pledge Cards. We understand that submitting your pledge card in November may not be uppermost in your mind with the holiday season and other responsibilities taking priority. With that in mind, we will be celebrating a Second Stewardship Sunday on March 8^th. If you have not yet submitted your 2020 pledge, we ask that you do that and bring or mail your pledge to church. We need everyone’s participation to fulfill our obligations. Lastly, thank you to all those who have fulfilled their 2019 pledge, and to those who have already made their 2020 Commitment. We couldn’t do what we do without you and are grateful to God for your continued love and support.

Stewardship update 3/2/20: 155 families made their 2020 Pledge, totaling $179,363

Coffee Hour: is hosted by PTA| Bagels donated by ALFA BAGELS

Caregiver Workshop – Sunday, March 8^th in Room 102

Our guest speaker will be Michele Smith who will discuss hospice care. If you have any questions about what hospice care is, how it works, and what conditions qualify for hospice, please join us. There are many misconceptions about hospice; we'll clear them up.

Council of Ministries Meeting (rescheduled date is 3/17/20)

Tuesday 3/17/2020 @7:30pm: Leaders of Saint Andrew are invited for a Leaders’ Meeting in the Library Rm 203 (important topic to be discussed). Please contact the church office with your RSVP or the name of the person who will be representing your ministry.

House Blessings - Agiasmo

Fr. John Theodosion has begun the House Blessings in our community. St. Andrew Parishioners will be notified of his pending visit. Please look for a “Post Card” indicating date and time. We will also be announcing in the weekly bulletin the towns that Fr. John will be visiting. If you do not receive a Post Card when your town is listed, please contact the office ASAP and make arrangements for «Agiasmo» in your home. (post card may have been lost in the mail).

Assistive Listening available: Don't miss a single sound: Please use our Listening Device which was generously donated by one of our parishioners to be used during our Services. Ask Parish Council at the narthex to assist you

Sunday Coffee Hour Hosts

Mar: 3/8 PTA*, 3/16 DOP*, 3/22 GOYA*, 3/29 Bakaliko*

Apr: 4/5 Philoptochos*, 4/12 All Organizations participate for the Palm Sun Luncheon*, 4/19 Pascha no coffee Hr , 4/26 GOYA

*Lenten refreshments/deserts during Great Lent please

BAGELS for Sunday Coffee hour are donated by ALFA BAGELS located on Route 10 in Randolph, NJ. We thank them for their generosity and continued support.

If you have not already made your commitment to Saint Andrew church, we ask that you prayerfully consider your blessings and submit your2020 pledge today.

Online Giving System – WeShare click on link and follow instructions https://standrewgonj.churchgiving.com/ our website/ or call the office

social media

We’d like to be able to better communicate with everyone on social media where appropriate.

Please Like Us / Follow Us on our church Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Religious-Organization/St-Andrew-Greek-Orthodox-Church-Randolph-NJ-758987230951158/

Daily Calendar

Coffee Hour Hosts: 3/8 PTA*, 3/15 DOP*, 3/22 GOYA*, 3/29 Bakaliko* 4/5 Philoptochos*, 4/12 Palm Sunday All Ministries *Lenten foods during coffee hour please

MON 3/9

6:30PM Office of the Great Compline, also on 3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30, 4/6

7:45pm Pre-Marriage Counseling sessions also on 3/16 and 3/23

TUE 3/10

7-9 pm HES /Adult Greek Language Class

WED 3/11

10a-2p Knitting Group Meets in Social Hall

6:30pm Pan Orthodox Pre-Sanctified Gifts Liturgy : Parishioners of Holy Trinity and Sts Peter & Paul will celebrate Liturgy
at St. Andrew followed by a Lenten meal in social hall

THU 3/12

4:30 HAS CLASSES | 6:30 Greek Dance | 7pm GOYA Greek Dance

FRI 3/13

10am Little Angels Play Group in Room 103

10:30am Great Lenten Study also on 3/20, 3/27, 4/3

6:30pm Salutations, also on 3/20, 3/27, 4/3 Akathist

7:45pm Great Lenten Study also on 3/13, 3/20, 3/27, 4/3

SAT 3/14

Religious Education Seminar in Westfield NJ at 9am

SUN 3/15

8:45m Sunday of St Gregory of Palamas

12:30PM Religious Education Staff Meeting in Room 203

3/16 Mondays 6:30PM Office of the Great Compline, also on 3/23, 3/30, 4/6

3/16 @7:45pm Pre-Marriage Counseling sessions also on 3/23

3/17 @11:30 Agape Lunch w Guest Speaker Dr. Many Christakos

3/17 @7:30pm Council of Ministries Meeting (Rescheduled)

3/18 Wednesdays @6:30PM Pre-Sanctified Gifts Liturgy, also on 4/1, 4/8

3/19 @7:30pm Stewardship Meeting in Fr. John’s Office note date change

3/20 Fridays @ 6:30pm Salutations, also on 3/27, 4/3 Akathist

3/20 GOYA Retreat at Saint Andrew

3/21 HOPE/JOY Roller Skating

3/22 @8:45am Sunday of Holy Cross

3/22 GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY Greek School Program (HAS)

3/25 @8am Orthros & Liturgy Annunciation of the Theotokos

3/26 @6:30PM GOYA Meeting

3/28 Faith Kitchen: PHILOPTOCHOS

3/29 @8:45am Sunday of St. John Climacus

3/29 GID Parade Fifth Ave from 64th to 79th St NYC Bus leaves at 12:15pm

Coffee Hour Hosts April: 4/5 Philoptochos*, 4/12 All Ministries*, 4/19 PASCHA, 4/26 GOYA *Lenten foods during coffee hour please

4/5 @8:45am Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

4/11 SATURDAY OF LAZARUS – Sat Of Laz Activities

4/12 - (PALM SUNDAY) NO CLASSES- Orthros & Divine Liturgy @8:45am | Palm Sunday Lunch

4/12 The Service of the Nymphios @7pm

4/13 -4/18 HOLY WEEK SERVICES -

4/16 NO HAS Classes .

4/19 PASCHA – NO REL ED CLASSES - FAMILY WORSHIP 4/25 Faith Kitchen: DOP/AHEPA

4/21 @11:30am AGAPE Luncheon

4/25 Faith Kitchen: DOP/AHEPA

4/26 @1:30pm Baptism

4/27 @7:30pm Parish Council Meeting

4/28 @7pm Philoptochos Meeting

Coffee Hour Hosts May: 5/3 Philoptochos, 5/10 Need Host/Sponsor for Mother’s Day, 5/17 DOP, 5/24 Bakaliko, 5/31 PTA

5/2 @11am Baptism

5/2 @3pm Umina_Kritharis Wedding

5/3 @1pm PTA Elections

5/8 @6pm Philoptochos Annual Tricky Tray

Fr. John's Message

Holy and Great Lent 2020

The Very Reverend and Reverend Clergy Esteemed Members of the Metropolitan Council, Esteemed Members of the Parish Councils, Philoptochos Sisterhood, Faculty and Students of the Catechetical and Greek Afternoon Schools, Directors and Participants of all Youth Organizations, and all devout Orthodox Christians of the Communities of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey

“Wash me with my tears, O Savior, for I have been soiled by many sins. Therefore I fall down before You, I have sinned, have mercy on me, O God!” (Sunday Triodion Vesperal Hymn)

My Beloved in the Lord,

We stand at the very threshold of Holy and Great Lent; a time of reflection, repentance, prayer, and a return to God who constantly and mercifully embraces us even in our numerous faults. The period of Holy and Great Lent is not meant to emphasize self-deprivation, but it is meant to give us greater spiritual clarity so that we may come to better recognize ourselves. It can be very easy to think of this period as nothing more than a checklist of things to not do. Do not eat meat, do not eat dairy products, and abstain from that which the canons of the Church tell us to during this period of Lent. To approach Great Lent in this manner, however, would be nothing short of mistaken and even pharisaical. Yes, the Church teaches us that we should not eat meat, dairy, fish, oil, and wine, during a majority of this fasting period, but we must ask ourselves, why does the Church prescribe this? The Church asks us to fast, but fasting is not just about food. It is not limited to what we eat or do not eat. It is about our thoughts, our words, our actions, our inner disposition, and our entire mindset.

By understanding fasting in this broader sense, the Church intends for us to be more reflective and prayerful during the Lenten period and to focus our attention on the greater themes of Great Lent – repentance and prayer. Being repentant is not easy. It requires us to admit that we are occasionally wrong which is difficult for anyone to admit since it requires humility. Furthermore, repentance requires that we seek forgiveness from both those whom we have hurt and from God. We must be willing to ask both God and neighbor for forgiveness otherwise we are not really repenting. In addition to this, fasting gives us a renewed spirit of prayer which helps us to pray more during Holy and Great Lent. This type of prayer includes participating more in the Divine Services in your parish as well as increasing your personal prayer on an individual level.

This broader sense of fasting is never done in and of itself, but it is always done with something particular in mind. This is because there is no fast without a feast and likewise there is no feast without a fast. The Church is asking us to engage in this particular fast because we are preparing ourselves both as individuals and as members of a community for the greatest event of all – the Resurrection of our Lord, which in turn, is our resurrection as well. In order to prepare ourselves properly for Pascha, we must endure to fast adequately. This means we have to ask forgiveness of our neighbors and when someone asks for our forgiveness, we must be willing to receive them with love. Simultaneously, our prayer life should increase so that we can develop a greater relationship with God who sheds His mercy freely upon us for our own mistakes. Furthermore, and for those who are physically able, we are called to prepare ourselves physically by abstaining from certain foods so that we can humble ourselves. Finally, we should more closely watch our words and our actions ensuring that what we say and what we do is in accordance with the Gospel of Christ.

My beloved in the Lord, everyone is at a different place spiritually. Some have been following the fasts and engaging in a spiritually uplifting life in the Church since their youth while others have done very few of these things. No matter where you are in your spiritual lives, I challenge you to do a little more and to seek God more fervently than before according to your spiritual maturity. As we hear the Apostle Paul say to the Corinthians regarding spiritual nourishment, “I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it” (1 Cor. 3:2). Let us strive to enrich our spiritual lives so that we may be ready to receive solid spiritual nourishment. Praying that God blesses each of you with a spiritually edifying Lenten Season so that we may experience Christ’s Resurrection on the third day, I remain

With Paternal Love and Blessings,

† E V A N G E L O S Metropolitan of New Jersey

News - Flyers - Registrations - Other

Saturday of Souls

ORTHROS @8AM & DIVINE LITURGY @9:15AM | FEBRUARY 22, 29 & MARCH 7 | Submit +Names of Loved ones for blessed repose

Great Lent Study

Fridays at 10:30am & 7:45pm | ON: 3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 3/27, 4/3

ocmc

Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) Religious Education students will receive their OCMC Mission Boxes. We are teaching our students to help others during this Lenten period. We will collect all OCMC boxes the Sunday after Pascha.

lenten services

MONDAYS @6:30PM +OFFICE OF THE GREAT COMPLINE | WEDNESDAYS at 6:30PM +PRE-SANCTIFIED GIFTS LITURGY | FRIDAYS @ 630PM +SALUTATIONS

Pledge Form 2020

2ND STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY ON MARCH 8TH | If you have not already made your commitment to Saint Andrew church, we ask that you prayerfully consider your blessings and submit your2020 pledge today. We need everyone’s participation to fulfill our obligations.

PARADE

March 29 Sunday is the Greek Independence Day Parade | Fifth Ave from 64th to 79th St NYC | Saint Andrew will be organizing a bus to go to NYC to take part in the Parade. Look for more information soon..

Philoptochos

Scholarship Applications and all supporting documents must be postmarked on or before May 15, 2020. The Scholarship winners will be announced on June 7, 2020.

Religious Education

10 Reasons to bring your child to Sunday School

Emergency List

don't wait! prepare today!

Prayer List

If you would like us to remember you or your loved one in our prayers, please contact the office. 973-584-0388

Names will be kept on this list for approximately 3 months. Please resubmit Names if needed. Fr. John will pray for the Names above during the Proskomide “Offering of gifts” during the first part of the Divine Liturgy when our priest prepares the mystical gifts of bread and wine. Please keep these names in your prayers as well.

Thomas, Vasilios, Evanthia, Ramon, Athanasios, Angeliki, Christian, Olga, Efthimia, Demitra, Antonia, Aikaterini, John, Stavroula, Anna Christina, Manny, Mary, George, Susan, Dimitrios, Peter, Michael, Ryan, Ioannis, Monica, Katerina, Tasia, Rose, Christina,Andrew, Andrew, Margaret, Eleni, Paraskevi, Panagotis, Maria, Caroline, Demetrios, Konstantinos, Susan, Afrodite, Cassandra, Aristea, Konstantinos, George, Mary, Holly, Gary, Roye, Cristos, Panagiota, Anna, Panagiotis, John, Nicos, Hannah, Christos, Theoseva, George, Genevieve, Christine, Anna, Louis, Marilyn, Suriana, Antonios, John, Maria, Dimitry Elias, Evangelia, George, Kyriaki, John, Rose, Evmorfia, Fr. Konstantine, Fr. Demetri, Prz Spyridoula, Eugenia, Constantinos, Eftychia, Kyzoula, Lukas, Zoe, Spyridoula, Maria, Eugenia, Alexa, Eleni, Vasiliki, Rosemary, Corinne, Sophia, Anastasia, Pamela, Brian, Brandon, Irene, Eleutherios, Panayioti, William, Kyriaki

Prayer for a Sick Person:

Heavenly Father, physician of our souls and bodies, who have sent Your only-begotten Son and our Lord Jesus Christ to heal every sickness and infirmity, visit and heal (me) Your servant from all physical and spiritual ailments through the grace of Your Christ. Grant (me) patience in this sickness, strength of body and spirit, and recovery of health. Lord, You have taught us through Your word to pray for each other that we may be healed. I pray that You heal (me) as Your servant and grant (me) the gift of complete health. For You are the source of healing and to You I give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Fourth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:1-12

On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered in to the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.

Fourth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 24:1-12

Καὶ τὸ μὲν σάββατον ἡσύχασαν κατὰ τὴν ἐντολήν, Τῇ δὲ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων ὄρθρου βαθέος ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμα φέρουσαι ἃ ἡτοίμασαν ἀρώματα, καί τινες σὺν αὐταῖς. εὗρον δὲ τὸν λίθον ἀποκεκυλισμένον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου, καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι οὐχ εὗρον τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Κυρίου ᾿Ιησοῦ. καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ διαπορεῖσθαι αὐτὰς περὶ τούτου καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνδρες δύο ἐπέστησαν αὐταῖς ἐν ἐσθήσεσιν ἀστραπτούσαις. ἐμφόβων δὲ γενομένων αὐτῶν καὶ κλινουσῶν τὸ πρόσωπον εἰς τὴν γῆν εἶπον πρὸς αὐτάς· τί ζητεῖτε τὸν ζῶντα μετὰ τῶν νεκρῶν; οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε, ἀλλ᾿ ἠγέρθη· μνήσθητε ὡς ἐλάλησεν ὑμῖν ἔτι ὢν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ, λέγων ὅτι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθῆναι εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ σταυρωθῆναι, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστῆναι. καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν τῶν ῥημάτων αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὑποστρέψασαι ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου ἀπήγγειλαν ταῦτα πάντα τοῖς ἕνδεκα καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς λοιποῖς. ἦσαν δὲ ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ Μαρία καὶ ᾿Ιωάννα καὶ Μαρία ᾿Ιακώβου καὶ οἱ λοιπαὶ σὺν αὐταῖς, αἳ ἔλεγον πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ταῦτα. καὶ ἐφάνησαν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ λῆρος τὰ ῥήματα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἠπίστουν αὐταῖς. ὁ δὲ Πέτρος ἀναστὰς ἔδραμεν ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ παρακύψας βλέπει τὰ ὀθόνια κείμενα μόνα, καὶ ἀπῆλθε πρὸς ἑαυτόν, θαυμάζων τὸ γεγονός.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4.

Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.

Προκείμενον. Plagal Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 75.11,1.
Εὔξασθε καὶ ἀπόδοτε Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν.
Στίχ. Γνωστὸς ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ ὁ Θεός, ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ μέγα τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς ῾Ρωμαίους 13:11-14, 14:1-4.

Ἀδελφοί, νῦν ἐγγύτερον ἡμῶν ἡ σωτηρία ἢ ὅτε ἐπιστεύσαμεν. Ἡ νὺξ προέκοψεν, ἡ δὲ ἡμέρα ἤγγικεν· ἀποθώμεθα οὖν τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους, καί ἐνδυσώμεθα τὰ ὅπλα τοῦ φωτός. Ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ, εὐσχημόνως περιπατήσωμεν, μὴ κώμοις καὶ μέθαις, μὴ κοίταις καὶ ἀσελγείαις, μὴ ἔριδι καὶ ζήλῳ. Ἀλλʼ ἐνδύσασθε τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, καὶ τῆς σαρκὸς πρόνοιαν μὴ ποιεῖσθε, εἰς ἐπιθυμίας. Τὸν δὲ ἀσθενοῦντα τῇ πίστει προσλαμβάνεσθε, μὴ εἰς διακρίσεις διαλογισμῶν. Ὃς μὲν πιστεύει φαγεῖν πάντα, ὁ δὲ ἀσθενῶν λάχανα ἐσθίει. Ὁ ἐσθίων τὸν μὴ ἐσθίοντα μὴ ἐξουθενείτω, καὶ ὁ μὴ ἐσθίων τὸν ἐσθίοντα μὴ κρινέτω· ὁ θεὸς γὰρ αὐτὸν προσελάβετο. Σὺ τίς εἶ ὁ κρίνων ἀλλότριον οἰκέτην; Τῷ ἰδίῳ κυρίῳ στήκει ἢ πίπτει. Σταθήσεται δέ· δυνατὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς στῆσαι αὐτόν.

Gospel Reading

Forgiveness Sunday
The Reading is from Matthew 6:14-21

The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Forgiveness Sunday
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 6:14-21

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· ᾿Εὰν γὰρ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, ἀφήσει καὶ ὑμῖν ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, οὐδὲ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ἀφήσει τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν. ῞Οταν δὲ νηστεύητε, μὴ γίνεσθε ὥσπερ οἱ ὑποκριταὶ σκυθρωποί· ἀφανίζουσι γὰρ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ὅπως φανῶσι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύοντες· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἀπέχουσι τὸν μισθὸν αὐτῶν. σὺ δὲ νηστεύων ἄλειψαί σου τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν σου νίψαι,ὅπως μὴ φανῇς τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύων, ἀλλὰ τῷ πατρί σου τῷ ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ, καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ ἀποδώσει σοι ἐν τῷ φανερῷ. Μὴ θησαυρίζετε ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅπου σὴς καὶ βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται διορύσσουσι καὶ κλέπτουσι· θησαυρίζετε δὲ ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐν οὐρανῷ, ὅπου οὔτε σὴς οὔτε βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται οὐ διορύσσουσιν οὐδὲ κλέπτουσιν· ὅπου γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θησαυρὸς ὑμῶν, ἐκεῖ ἔσται καὶ ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν.

Saints and Feasts

March 01

Forgiveness Sunday

The Holy Fathers have appointed the commemoration of Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight here, on the eve of the holy Forty-day Fast, demonstrating to us not by simple words, but by actual deeds, how beneficial fasting is for man, and how harmful and destructive are insatiety and the transgressing of the divine commandments. For the first commandment that God gave to man was that of fasting, which the first-fashioned received but did not keep; and not only did they not become gods, as they had imagined, but they lost even that blessed life which they had, and they fell into corruption and death, and transmitted these and innumerable other evils to all of mankind. The God-bearing Fathers set these things before us today, that by bringing to mind what we have fallen from, and what we have suffered because of the insatiety and disobedience of the first-fashioned, we might be diligent to return again to that ancient bliss and glory by means of fasting and obedience to all the divine commands. Taking occasion from today's Gospel (Matt. 6:14-21) to begin the Fast unencumbered by enmity, we also ask forgiveness this day, first from God, then from one another and all creation.

March 01

The Holy Righteous Martyr Eudocia the Samaritan

This Saint, who was from Heliopolis of Phoenicia (Baalbek in present-day Lebanon), was an idolater and led a licentious life. Being beautiful beyond telling, she had many lovers, and had acquired great riches. Yet brought to repentance by a monk named Germanus, and baptized by Bishop Theodotus, she distributed to the poor all her ill-gotten gains, and entered a convent, giving herself up completely to the life of asceticism. Her former lovers, enraged at her conversion, her refusal to return to her old ways, and the withering away of her beauty through the severe mortifications she practiced, betrayed her as a Christian to Vincent the Governor, and she was beheaded, according to some, under Trajan, who reigned from 98 to 117, according to others, under Hadrian, who reigned from 117 to 138.

March 01

David the Archbishop

March 07

First Saturday of Lent: The Commemoration of the Miracle of Kollyva wrought by Saint Theodore the Tyro

Julian the Apostate, knowing that the Christians purify themselves by fasting most of all during the first week of the Fast -- which is why we call it Clean Week -- planned to defile them especially at that time. Therefore he secretly commanded that during those days the markets be filled with foods that had been defiled with the blood of animals offered in sacrifice to idols. But by divine command the Martyr Theodore (see Feb. 17) appeared during sleep to Eudoxius, then Archbishop of Constantinople. The Saint revealed to him the tyrant's plan, then told him to call the faithful together immediately on Monday morning and prevent them from purchasing those foods, but rather to make kollyva to supply their needs. The bishop asked what kollyva might be, and the Saint answered, "Kollyva is what we call boiled wheat in Euchaita." Thus, the purpose of the Apostate was brought to nought, and the pious people who were preserved undefiled for the whole of Clean Week, rendered thanks to the Martyr on this Saturday, and celebrated his commemoration with kollyva. These things took place in 362. Wherefore, the Church keeps this commemoration each year to the glory of God and the honour of the Martyr.

March 08

Sunday of Orthodoxy

For more than one hundred years the Church of Christ was troubled by the persecution of the Iconoclasts of evil belief, beginning in the reign of Leo the Isaurian (717-741) and ending in the reign of Theophilus (829-842). After Theophilus's death, his widow the Empress Theodora (celebrated Feb. 11), together with the Patriarch Methodius (June 14), established Orthodoxy anew. This ever-memorable Queen venerated the icon of the Mother of God in the presence of the Patriarch Methodius and the other confessors and righteous men, and openly cried out these holy words: "If anyone does not offer relative worship to the holy icons, not adoring them as though they were gods, but venerating them out of love as images of the archetype, let him be anathema." Then with common prayer and fasting during the whole first week of the Forty-day Fast, she asked God's forgiveness for her husband. After this, on the first Sunday of the Fast, she and her son, Michael the Emperor, made a procession with all the clergy and people and restored the holy icons, and again adorned the Church of Christ with them. This is the holy deed that all we the Orthodox commemorate today, and we call this radiant and venerable day the Sunday of Orthodoxy, that is, the triumph of true doctrine over heresy.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to the world.

Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον· Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Second Mode

O Master, Prudence, Guide of Wisdom, Instruction to the foolish and Defender of the poor, strengthen my heart and grant it discernment. Give me words, Word of the Father, for behold, I shall not keep my lips from crying out to You, "O Merciful One, have mercy on me who has fallen."

Τῆς σοφίας ὁδηγέ, φρονήσεως χορηγέ, τῶν ἀφρόνων παιδευτά, καὶ πτωχῶν ὑπερασπιστά, στήριξον, συνέτισον τὴν καρδίαν μου Δέσποτα. Σὺ δίδου μοι λόγον, ὁ τοῦ Πατρός Λόγος· ἰδοὺ γὰρ τὰ χείλη μου, οὐ μὴ κωλύσω ἐν τῷ κράζειν σοι· Ἐλεῆμον, ἐλέησόν με τὸν παραπεσόντα.

Wisdom of the Fathers

Henceforward then we must be free from our listlessness; "for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."[*] You see how he puts the Resurrection now close by them. For as the time advances, he means, the season of our present life is wasting away, and that of the life to come waxes nearer. If then thou be prepared, and hast done all whatsoever He hath commanded, the day is salvation to thee...Yes, for the day is calling us to battle-array, and to the fight. Yet fear not at hearing of array and arms. For in the case of the visible suit of armor, to put it on is a heavy and abhorred task. But here it is desirable, and worth being prayed for. For it is of Light the arms are! Hence they will set thee forth brighter than the sunbeam, and giving out a great glistening, and they place thee in security: for they are arms, and glittering do they make thee: for arms of light are they!...It is the deadly kind of passions then that he is for extinguishing, lust, namely, and anger. Wherefore it is not themselves only, but even the sources of them that he removes. For there is nothing that so kindles lust, and inflames wrath, as drunkenness, and sitting long at the wine...

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 25 on Romans 13, 4th Century

Here it were well to sigh aloud, and to wail bitterly: for not only do we imitate the hypocrites, but we have even surpassed them.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 20 on Matthew 6, 4th Century

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