Calendar & Announcements

Announcements for March 21, 2021

Today we are collecting canned food for the hungry. Each week during lent, we will be trying to help in the ways Jesus taught us in Matthew 25:31-46. The six categories he gave us are Hungry, Thirsty, Stranger, Naked, Sick, and in Prison. This week, we're helping the hungry. Next Sunday we will be collecting your donations to give to the IOCC, to help them put in a well in some community that needs one in this way we can help serve the thirsty. If you're not familiar with the IOCC, check out their website, which is iocc.org. The initials stand for International Orthodox Christian Charities, and this worthy organization has earned recognition for being efficient, effective and very credible among those they serve, by greatnonprofits.org, charitynavigator.org, and other charity-review organizations.

Today is also Sunday of Orthodoxy, which is always the first Sunday of Lent. On this day we celebrate the return of icons to the church in the year 843 A.D. You can find out more about this important occasion by looking up "Feast of Orthodoxy" online. So, after liturgy today, we will have a procession of icons. Everyone will be able to participate in this joyous ceremony that we hold each year. If you didn't bring an icon with you (which is something we traditionally do on this day), then we have icons available for you to hold, or you can look one up on your phone.

Next week is St. Gregory Palamas Sunday, so bring a prayer rope to church.
The following week is Sunday of the Holy Cross, so be sure to wear or bring a cross to church that day. Also bring sprigs of basil if you have them, to help decorate the processional cross.

Important: Everyone needs to read Encyclical #29 from Met. Isaiah, entitled "Regarding Suicides and Cremation." (This is the third and final announcement. Make sure you look up the encyclical online and read it. It's very important.)

Many thanks to Dr. Tony Bartl for leading our Wednesday Night discussion group these last several weeks, on the very concerning topic of how to be a Christian during these troubling times. We will wait until after Lent is over to start our next discussion group, so stay tuned for more information about the topic and leader.

We have two opportunities this Tuesday for interesting webinars, to help us with our lenten journey. They are at the same time, but check to see if any are recorded for watching later. (See below in the online announcements for links.)

Usually on Wednesdays during Lent, we have Presanctified Liturgy. However, this Wednesday is a special occasion: it is the eve of one of the Church's greatest feasts, the Feast of the Annunciation. So, we will have Festal Great Vespers for the Annunciation, instead of Pre-Sanctified liturgy. It will be at 6 p.m. as usual.

The next day, Thursday, March 25, we will have Orthros and Liturgy for the Feast of Annunciation, at 9 and 10 a.m. (As an interesting side-note, it's easy to remember the date of this feast every year, because it always comes exactly 9 months before Christmas!) This March 25th feast celebrates the day that the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was to become the Mother of God. (See here for a video explanation).

It's a busy church week, because don't forget to come on Friday too for the second Akathist service. That starts at 6pm, just like most other evening services do here.

For a complete calendar of the upcoming Journey to Pascha, see the "Calendar & Worship Services" page on the parish website.

Important note: If you plan to receive communion on Pascha, you should make a confession during the Lenten period. Please contact Fr. Mark to arrange an appointment.

Calendar:

Today: Feast of Orthodoxy Procession will be held immediately after Divine Liturgy.
Eve of the Annunciation service at 6pm this Wednesday, March 24.
Presanctified Liturgies will be held at 6pm on Wednesdays in Lent: March 31, April 7, 14, 21.
Akathist hymns will be sung at 6pm on the first 5 Fridays of Lent (not the 6th Friday). We have four left: March 26, April 2, 9, 16.
A 40-day memorial will be held for Liliia Zharova, mother of Yana Crusberg, following Liturgy on Sunday, April 4.
Pascha is Sunday, May 2.

Plan to attend Liturgy for Lazarus Saturday, April 24, at 9am. Palm Sunday is the following day, April 25, which is also St. Mark's day.
See the website's "Schedule" page for the typical Holy Week Schedule.

Special Occasions This Week

Birthdays: Cia Alexander, Juliet Garcia
Anniversaries: none this week
Namedays: none this week
Memorials: none this week

Saints for the Week: We have many saints with interesting write-ups in this week's bulletin. Be sure to check out the rest of this bulletin, online on the church's website, OrthodoxSanAngelo.org.

Other Announcements:

Tuesday, March 23, 6-7:30pm Central Time:
One of the five saints who have lived and taught at St Tikhon’s Orthodox Seminary is St. Nikolai Velimirovich. He was the rector of the Seminary and passed from this life in his room on campus in 1956. He is the author of great spiritual treasures such as the Prologue from Ochrid, Prayers by the Lake, vast collections of sermons, and prayers such as "A Prayer for One's Enemies”. St Nikolai became known as the Serbian Chrysostom. We are invited to meet St Nikolai through the words and accounts shared with us by His Grace, the Right Reverend Irinej, Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America. His Grace wrote his Masters Thesis on St Nikolai, and has given numerous papers and lectures on our beloved St Nikolai. Tune in at www.youtube.stots.edu, or www.facebook.com/sttikhons, Tuesday, March 23, 6-830pm Central Time.
Also on Tuesday, March 23rd from 6-7:30pm Central Time: A "can't miss" opportunity begins on March 23 with the launch of a new lecture series titled "Cultivating the Fundamentals of the Christian Life". We are blessed to kick off our series with Fr. Stephen Freeman - an outstanding Orthodox priest, writer, blogger, speaker, and educator - who will present "The Mystery of the Sabbath - Keeping it Holy." One of the aims of Fr. Stephen's talk will be to equip us with practical tools on how to cultivate a love within our parishes for The Lord's Day and the worship life of the Orthodox Church.

Please pass this information along to interested friends and relatives. As a Zoom platform, the event is open to all who desire to grow in their faith.

Registration here: tinyurl.com/KeepingItHoly

Questions/more info: GOMoPRelEd@gmail.com

We need more chanters and readers. If you are interested in chanting or reading for the Church — or in learning how — please see Fr. Mark.
Calling all bakers! We need more people to bake prosforo, which is the fresh altar bread. Taking time to knead and bake it while praying is a special act that you can do for God, a gift you can make for Him. The ingredients are simple and inexpensive. Please contact Fr. Mark if you'd like to get the recipe or learn how to make it. Also, if you need a seal, Fr. Mark has one to loan to a prospective baker until they can purchase their own.
Send your prayer requests to Fr. Mark.
Reminder: Whenever we cannot attend church services, we should still find a way to worship God. You can pray these Morning Prayers during that time. The morning prayers are also good way to start every day. Here are some Evening Prayers for you too. "A day hemmed in prayer rarely comes unravelled."

As always, see the parish website for any changes and updates.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Eighth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:11-18

At that time, Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that He had said these things to her.

Epistle Reading

Sunday of Orthodoxy
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40

Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets -- who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated -- of whom the world was not worthy -- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of Orthodoxy
The Reading is from John 1:43-51

At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 8th Tone

From on high you descended, O merciful Lord. You accepted the cross and three days in the tomb to free us from the bondage of sin, O our life and resurrection. Glory to you, O Lord.

Apolytikion for Sun. of Orthodoxy in the 2nd Tone

Before your most pure image we bow down, O Good One, entreating you to forgive our sins, Christ our God, for you willingly ascended the cross in the flesh to deliver from the enemy those whom you had made. For this we thank you and we cry to you, O Savior: By coming to save the world you have filled all things with joy.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 8th Tone

Victorious Lady, mighty champion, defending us, we, your servants, now inscribe to you this hymn of thanks, for you rescued us from suff'ring and tribulation. Theotokos, with your power that can never fail, keep us safe from ev'ry danger our whole life long, that we may cry to you: Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.

Saints and Feasts

March 21

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.

March 21

Philemon and Domninos

March 21

James the Confessor

This Saint took up the monastic life from his youth in the Monastery of Studium, where he became a disciple of Saint Theodore the Studite. Later he became bishop and suffered many afflictions and torments at the hands of the Iconoclasts. Saint Theodore composed a homily in honour of this Saint James (PG 99, 1353-1356).

March 21

Thomas I, Patriarch of Constantinople

March 22

Euthemios the New Martyr

March 22

Basil the Holy Martyr of Ancyra

Saint Basil strove in martyrdom during the short reign of Julian the Apostate, from 361-363. The Saint was denounced as a Christian to Saturninus, Governor of Ancyra, who, when Basil would not deny Christ, had him hanged from a post and scraped on his sides, then beaten, and cast into prison. A few days later, when Julian himself came through Ancyra, the Saint was brought before him and was asked to deny Christ, Whom he rather confessed the more. Julian then had strips cut in his flesh, so that they were left hanging from his body in front and in back. The valiant Martyr tore one of these strips off of his body and cast it into Julian's face. At this Julian commanded that iron spits be heated fiery hot; Saint Basil's belly, his back, and all his joints were pierced with them, and he received the crown of martyrdom.

March 22

2nd Monday of Lent

March 23

The Holy Righteous Martyr Nicon and His 199 Disciples

Saint Nicon was from Neapolis (Naples) in Italy. His father was an idolater and his mother a Christian. At first he was a soldier, but later he went to the East, where he was baptized and in time became a bishop. After some years, he returned to the West and came to Sicily, where he and many of his disciples were put to death by beheading because they would not worship the idols.

March 24

Forefeast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos

March 24

Our Holy Father Theonas, Archbishop of Thessolonica

March 25

Annunciation of the Theotokos

Six months after John the Forerunner's conception, the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth, a town of Galilee, unto Mary the Virgin, who had come forth from the Temple a mature maiden (see Nov. 21). According to the tradition handed down by the Fathers, she had been betrothed to Joseph four months. On coming to Joseph's house, the Archangel declared: "Rejoice, thou Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." After some consideration, and turmoil of soul, and fear because of this greeting, the Virgin, when she had finally obtained full assurance concerning God's unsearchable condescension and the ineffable dispensation that was to take place through her, and believing that all things are possible to the Most High, answered in humility: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." And at this, the Holy Spirit came upon her, and the power of the Most High overshadowed her all-blameless womb, and the Son and Word of God, Who existed before the ages, was conceived past speech and understanding, and became flesh in her immaculate body (Luke 1:26-38).

Bearing in her womb the Uncontainable One, the blessed Virgin went with haste from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea, where Zacharias had his dwelling; for she desired to find Elizabeth her kinswoman and rejoice together with her, because, as she had learned from the Archangel, Elizabeth had conceived in her old age. Furthermore, she wished to tell her of the great things that the Mighty One had been well-pleased to bring to pass in her, and she greeted Elizabeth and drew nigh to her. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, she felt her six-month-old babe, Saint John the Baptist, prophesied of the dawning of the spiritual Sun. Immediately, the aged Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and recognized her as the Mother of her Lord, and with a great voice blessed her and the Fruit that she held within herself. The Virgin also, moved by a supernatural rejoicing in the spirit, glorified her God and Savior, saying: "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour," and the rest, as the divine Luke hath recorded (1:39-55)

March 26

Synaxis in honor of the Archangel Gabriel

This festive Synaxis is celebrated to the glory of the Archangel Gabriel, since he ministered to the marvelous mystery of God's incarnate dispensation.

March 27

Second Saturday of Lent

March 27

The Holy Matrona of Thessalonica

This martyr was the servant of a certain Jewish woman named Pantilla, the wife of the Governor of Thessalonica. When Matrona refused to follow her mistress into the synagogue Pantilla beat her so severly that she died in a few days, and thus received the crown of her confession.

March 28

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

This divine Father, who was from Asia Minor, was from childhood reared in the royal court of Constantinople, where he was instructed in both religious and secular wisdom. Later, while still a youth, he left the imperial court and struggled in asceticism on Mount Athos, and in the Skete at Beroea. He spent some time in Thessalonica being treated for an illness that came from his harsh manner of life. He was present in Constantinople at the Council that was convened in 1341 against Barlaam of Calabria, and at the Council of 1347 against Acindynus, who was of like mind with Barlaam; Barlaam and Acindynus claimed that the grace of God is created. At both these Councils, the Saint contended courageously for the true dogmas of the Church of Christ, teaching in particular that divine grace is not created, but is the uncreated energies of God which are poured forth throughout creation: otherwise it would be impossible, if grace were created, for man to have genuine communion with the uncreated God. In 1347 he was appointed Metropolitan of Thessalonica. He tended his flock in an apostolic manner for some twelve years, and wrote many books and treatises on the most exalted doctrines of our Faith; and having lived for a total of sixty-three years, he reposed in the Lord in 1359.

His holy relics are kept in the Cathedral of Thessalonica. A full service was composed for his feast day by the Patriarch Philotheus in 1368, when it was established that his feast be celebrated on this day. Since works without right faith avail nothing, we set Orthodoxy of faith as the foundation of all that we accomplish during the Fast, by celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy the Sunday before, and the great defender of the teachings of the holy Fathers today.

Wisdom of the Fathers

Peter, when after so many miracles and such high doctrine he confessed that, "Thou art the Son of God" (Matt. xvi. 16), is called "blessed," as having received the revelation from the Father;

St. John Chrysostom