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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.
In this first Pre-Sanctified of our Holy Fast, we embrace contrition and repentance for our lives, and indeed, for the life of our world. This is a deeply sad moment for our worldwide Church – a time when brother fights against brother and sister goes to war against sister
Over the past two weeks, the world has watched as Russia launched an unjust and violent invasion into Ukraine. During these turbulent times, we earnestly pray for those whose lives are affected by this brutal assault. The implications of the current humanitarian tragedy are being felt throughout Ukraine, in its neighboring countries, and around the world.
This week's Speaker Series features Rev. Fr. Radu Bordeianu, who preaches about the Sunday of Orthodoxy. Watch this 10-minute video: https://youtu.be/xzfr4tu4Piw
This week, find insights about the upcoming Gospel reading where Apostle John talks about Christ calling Philip and Nathanael to become His disciples. How does Christ’s invitation to discipleship apply to us today?
This Holy and Sacred Gospel edition contains all the readings needed for Holy Week Services, from Saturday of Lazarus through Agape Vespers.
The 2022 Directory of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is now available online at www.goarch.org/directory. The Directory can also be downloaded from the website as a pdf and used as a digital book on tablets, smart phones and other digital reading devices.
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America announces that the 46th Biennial Clergy Laity Congress will convene in New York City from July 3-7, 2022, with the theme “Legacy, Renewal, Unity” honoring the Centennial of the Archdiocese which is being celebrated in 2022. During the Clergy Laity Congress, on July 4th, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros will consecrate Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center.
The Office of Greek Education in cooperation with The Center for Lifelong Learning at Democritus University of Thrace will once again offer the program entitled: Education and certification in the teaching of Greek as a heritage language for educators in the diaspora, from March 1 to December 30, 2022.
The Office of Ionian Village announces the dates for its Summer 2022 programs. Ionian Village is the international camping ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America with campgrounds located in Peloponnesus, Greece.
Orthodox Marketplace of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America launched a new store on Wednesday September 7, 2021. The new platform (still at www.orthodoxmarketplace.com ) has many updated features from the previous platform, improving the user interface and enhancing the marketing capabilities of the store.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has acquired certain assets of the respected AGES Initiatives organization, which has provided digital music for Byzantine Chant utilizing both Byzantine and Western notations and translations of liturgical texts for Orthodox churches around the world since 2012. In that time, AGES Initiatives has developed a full suite of digital texts designed to facilitate the study of Byzantine chant in a variety of languages for those at church, at home, or in the classroom.