Calendar & Announcements

Congratulations to the Bartl family on the birth of their baby, Danilo Anthony! His namesaints are the Prophet Daniel and St. Anthony the Great.

Continue to pray for the people of Russia and Ukraine, for peace, for their salvation.

Please see Anastasia, Neil, or Yulia about donating directly to Ukraine. Anastasia has also created this Amazon Medical Wishlist for Ukraine. All supplies will be mailed to her home, and she will drive them to San Antonio to be put on the airlift to Ukraine.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/14G3152MQ9ZDR?ref_=wl_share
The International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) and Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOA) are working together to raise $1 million for immediate and long-term support of the Ukrainian people. Make your donation by visiting goarch.org/ukraine.

During Lent we are asking you to make offerings for those less fortunate than we are.

This week our theme is helping the sick. We are looking for ideas of how to help folks who are home bound or in care facilities. If you have ideas, please tell Fr. Mark.

For Palm Sunday and Holy Week (coming up next Sunday!), our theme is helping those in prison — perhaps we can take up a collection for Orthodox Prison Ministries. They do very worthy work.

If you missed the previous week's service projects, it's not too late to help. Here are the previous projects:

Donate food for the local Food Pantry. That's for helping the hungry.
Donate small water bottles for Rust Street Ministries. That's for helping the thirsty. Rust Street specifically requested the small water bottles instead of the regular size, because there is less waste.
We are hoping for more donations to give to the Crisis Pregnancy Center. That is for helping the stranger. Please be generous.
Let's all clean out our closets to find clothing to donate to Rust Street Ministries. That's for clothing the naked.

We've just finished our fifth week of Great Lent. Just one more week, and then it's Holy Week already!

From now until Pascha on April 24, the Church prescribes that we fast from meat, dairy, oil, and eggs. We also fast from beer, wine, etc,

Please talk with Fr. Mark about your fasting plans. It's a good idea to talk to your priest every year about this, because our nutritional needs change as we age, develop medical conditions, or go through things such as pregancies or surgeries. Fasting is supposed to help us, not harm us! So, talk to your priest to find out what plan will work best for you.

New in the bulletin: a Lenten recipe each week of Lent. Scroll down to the next section for this week's recipe, from Ana Mihail.

Thank you to Charis Worden for the idea of including recipes in the bulletin.

The next regular Parish Council meeting is planned for today, the second Sunday in April.

STEWARDSHIP

Please turn in your pledge cards. Pledge cards aren't a binding contract. They show what you think you can give to the church, as part of your love, care, and upkeep for it. If you have a change in circumstances (job loss, job change, etc.), just let the priest know what is going on and you will be released from your pledge. The church needs your support.

DONATIONS & VOLUNTEERING

Thank you to George Kuykendall for donating the additional bookcase for the lending library in the social hall. There is a heartwarming story behind it — ask him to tell you.
We need money for purchasing flowers and bay leaves for Holy Week. We use them for decorating the Tomb, for flower petals during the Lamentations service, and for flower petals and bay leaves for tossing at the Holy Saturday morning service.
We need people who can read in other languages to read a short Gospel passage on Pascha Sunday, at the 4 pm Agape Service. If you can read another language, please see Fr. Mark. We want to represent as many languages as possible, to show the universality of the Holy Gospel.
We need both donations and helpers to put together plastic eggs and candy for the children's Easter Egg hunt on Pascha Sunday, after the 4 pm Agape Service.
Update: We still need donors to help with the $5,000 or so that we need, in order to finish paying off the new HVAC system. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. Every bit helps, so please pitch in if you can.

ADDITIONAL WAYS YOU CAN HELP

We always need prosforo bakers. If you'd like to sign up, see Fr. Mark.
We need people to help bring food to coffee hour. If you don't want to sponsor the entire meal, you could team up with someone, or just volunteer to bring one dish. There is a sign-up sheet in the kitchen.
We are looking for volunteers to read the Epistle on Sundays. You could read aloud or chant it, whichever you prefer. If you don't know how to chant it, we can teach you. See Father or John Choate.

UPCOMING SPECIAL SERVICES

Wednesday, April 13, Presanctified Liturgy at 6 pm. NOTE: This will be the 6th of 6 Presanctified Liturgy we have during Great Lent.
Friday, April 15: There is no special service on the Church calendar for this day. This is because, even though there are 6 Presanctifieds during Lent, there are only 5 Akathist services. So, we will have a one-evening rest break before we start Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday, and Holy Week. During Holy Week, we have church every single day.

Saturday, April 16, is St. Lazarus Saturday. 9 am Orthros, 10 am Liturgy.
Sunday, April 17, is Palm Sunday and the start of Holy Week.

9 am Orthros, 10 am Liturgy
6 pm Bridegroom Matins

Monday, April 18, is Holy Monday. 6 pm Bridegroom Matins
Tuesday, April 19, is Holy Tuesday. 6 pm Bridegroom Matins
Wednesday, April 20, is Holy Wednesday. 6 pm Holy Unction
Thursday, April 21, is Holy Thursday.

9 am Liturgy (NOTE: No Orthros)
6 pm Twelve Passion Gospels

Friday, April 22, is Holy Friday.

9 am Royal Hours
4 pm Un-nailing of Christ from the Cross
6 pm Lamentations Service

Saturday, April 23, is Holy Saturday.

9 am Orthros, 10 am Liturgy with tossing of rose petals and bay leaves.
11:30 am Everyone is invited to attend the Baptism of Brandon Lovelady. May God grant him Many Years!
11:30 pm Resurrection Orthros, 12:00 midnight Resurrection Liturgy. Bring your Pascha baskets full of non-Lenten goodies, and stay to eat with each other after the service. Joyous Feast!

Sunday, April 24, is PASCHA! Glory to God for His Third-Day Resurrection!

NOTE: There will be no morning services, because we will have already celebrated the Resurrection services.
We will have the 4 pm Agape Vespers instead, followed by a community feast for all (bring your Pascha baskets again!) and an egg hunt for the children.

Invite friends to the Pascha service. They are intrigued by a midnight, candlelight Easter service. Share this beautiful experience with them.

Other Announcements:

Send your prayer requests to Fr. Mark. Also send your requests for visits to the sick and the hospitalized. These days, hospitals do not release patient information or call the priest, so you need to let Father know yourself.
NEW: If you know someone who needs meals because of illness, new baby, etc., please notify Presbytera for the Caring Meals Ministry. Likewise, if you would like to be placed on the list of people who prepare meals in times of need, please see Presbytera. Thank you to Charis Worden who has been leading this ministry, but has said she needs to take a break.
When you travel, find an Orthodox parish and go to church! They are easy to find online. Why should we visit other parishes when we go on vacation? Because God doesn't take a break from us, so we shouldn't take a break from Him!

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 good way to start every day.
Here are some Evening Prayers. "A day hemmed in prayer rarely comes unravelled."

Check out the rest of the bulletin online! See below for recipes, news from the world of Orthodoxy, online concerts and lecture series, and more.

SPECIAL OCCASIONS

Birthdays: Fr. Mark Lichtenstein

Anniversaries: none

Namedays: Charis Worden (St. Carissa on April 16)

Memorials: none

COFFEE HOUR

Please join us for Coffee Hour. Take the initiative to stay, meet, and talk with one another, so we can build strong bonds of friendship and community.

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

Lenten Recipes

European Lenten Bean Soup

by Ana Mihail

"Taco seasoning gives a picante taste to the soup. Dill brings in freshness to it. In European cuisine, fresh herbs are a must. We use fresh parsley, dill, and basil in most of the recipes."

2 Tbsp oil
1 large onion, diced
1 large red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 carrot, diced
1 tsp taco seasoning*
2 (15 oz.) cans of northern beans, drained and rinsed**
1 cup water***
Fresh dill
Salt

Ground black pepper

In a 6- or 8-qt pot, sauté the onion, red bell pepper, and carrot together in the oil until soft. Add taco seasoning and stir. Poor 1 cup water and the beans into the pot and let it boil for a few minutes. Add salt and ground black pepper after, to your taste. Finish by adding fresh chopped dill and serve.

You can substitute northern beans with any kind of beans, even green beans if you like.

*If you do not have taco seasoning on hand, substitute with paprika, garlic powder, and chili pepper powder.

**Editor's note: If using dried beans instead of canned, soak first in warm RO or purified water for 12 hours in a non-metal bowl. (Regular tap water will toughen the bean skins during cooking.) You will need twice as much water as beans. Once the beans are split and have little "tails" sprouting from them, they are ready to drain, rinse, and cook. This process will make the beans cause less gas and also help you feel more full and satisfied at the end of the meal. If you prefer using canned, then you might be glad to know that Eden Organic canned beans are soaked this way before they are canned. Again, they cause less gas and a feeling of being satisfied at the end of the meal.

Allow more cooking time for dried-and-soaked beans than for canned beans. However the dried-and-soaked beans will take less cooking time than dried beans that have not been soaked.

To receive a complete protein when serving beans, always serve some sort of grain with the meal: bread, biscuits, crackers, noodles, rice, barley, etc. Beans are legumes, and legumes + grains = complete amino acid profile.

***Editor's note: Using purified or RO water for cooking will prevent toughened bean and vegetable skins. Likewise, it is good to wait to add salt until the end of the cooking time, for the same reason.

Assembly of Bishops News

Appeal for Peace in Ukraine

https://www.assemblyofbishops.org/news/2022/appeal-for-peace-in-ukraine

Appeal for Peace in Ukraine

Archdiocese News

Directory of Christian Mental Health Professionals

Which care options in the Assembly of Bishops' Directory of Orthodox Christian Mental Health Professionals may be right for you? Visit assemblyofbishops.org/mentalhealth to learn more information and explore options.

https://www.goarch.org/-/directory-orthodox-christian-mental-health-professionals-2022

Upcoming Event: Saved by Beauty: Transforming the World Through Art

On April 12th at 7:00 pm, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America will co-host a dialogue between George Kordis, internationally acclaimed iconographer, Michael Ossorgin, Ph.D. of Fordham University, a Dostoyevsky scholar, and Peter Bouteneff, Ph.D., of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary at the Sheen Center for Thought and Culture.

https://www.goarch.org/-/saved-by-beauty

Byzantine Music Lenten Concert

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America invites you to attend a Byzantine Music Lenten Concert "The Book of Revelation" which will take place at the St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Tenafly, New Jersey.

https://www.goarch.org/-/byzantine-lenten-concert-2022-tenafly

SPEAKER SERIES: Orthodox Scholars Preach - Saint Mary of Egypt, April 10

Dr. Gayle E. Woloschak: Professor | Associate Dean | Researcher

https://www.goarch.org/-/speaker-series-orthodox-scholars-preach-sunday-of-st-mary-of-egypt-april-10

SPEAKER SERIES: Orthodox Scholars Preach - St. John Climacus, April 3

Dr. Patricia Fann Bouteneff: Founder of Axia Women | Independent Scholar | Non-Profit Leader

https://www.goarch.org/-/speaker-series-orthodox-scholars-preach-sunday-of-st-john-climacus-april-3

Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music: Summer Registration open now until April 25

The Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music is delighted to announce the expansion of its program with the addition of Summer Term 2022. Registration is open now until April 25th. Classes for the Summer Term begin the week of May 6 and end the week of July 18.

https://www.goarch.org/-/asbm-summer-registration-2022

Upcoming Event: The Social Ethos of the Orthodox Church - An Impetus for Ecumenical Collaboration

In a joint venture by Fordham University's Orthodox Christian Studies Center and Georgetown University's Office of the President and its Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, Ecumenical Officer of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Rev. Dr. Nicolas Kazarian, and Archdeacon of the Ecumenical Throne, Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis will join other notable speakers on a panel exploring the significance of the statement, “For the Life of the World: Toward a Social Ethos of the Orthodox Church,” focusing on Catholic-Orthodox relations and ecumenical and interfaith collaboration more widely.

https://www.goarch.org/-/the-social-ethos-of-the-church

The GOA Center for Family Care’s Fully Human Ministry presents “Family Feature Video: The Christy Family”

William Christy is an adjunct professor and tutor for college student athletes. He loves playing basketball, teaching Sunday school, and offering sermons. He is a young adult who just happens to have Cerebral Palsy.

https://www.goarch.org/-/family-care-disabilities-christy

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Ninth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."

Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 1st Tone. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14.

BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
The Reading is from Mark 10:32-45

At that time, Jesus took his twelve disciples, and he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 1st Tone

Although your tomb was sealed with a stone, O Savior, and your most pure body was guarded by the soldiers, you rose on the third day giving life to all the world. Therefore O giver of life, the powers of heaven praise you: Glory to your resurrection, O Christ. Glory to your kingdom. Glory to your saving wisdom. O only lover of mankind.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. Mary of Egypt in the 8th Tone

In thee the image was preserved with exactness, O Mother; for taking up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to overlook the flesh, for it passeth away, but to attend to the soul since it is immortal. Wherefore, O righteous Mary, thy spirit rejoiceth with the Angels.

Apolytikion Hymn of Our Parish: for the Dormition of the Theotokos, in the 1st Tone

In giving birth you remained a virgin.
And in your dormition, you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos.
For as the Mother of Life, you have yourself passed into life.
And by your prayers, you deliver our souls from death.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 2nd Tone

O unfailing protection of Christians, and our faithful advocate before the Creator: though we are sinners, do not ignore our entreaty; but in your goodness, grant your timely help to us who appeal to you in faith. Quickly make intercession; on our behalf make speedy supplication, O Theotokos, for you always protect those who honor you.

Saints and Feasts

April 10

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on April 1, where her life is recorded. Since the end of the holy Forty Days is drawing nigh, it has been appointed for this day also, so that if we think it hard to practice a little abstinence forty days, we might be roused by the heroism of her who fasted in the wilderness forty-seven years; and also that the great loving-kindness of God, and His readiness to receive the repentant, might be demonstrated in very deed.

April 10

150 and more Righteous Martyr Fathers of the Sacred Monastery of Pantocrator Daou Pentelis

April 10

Holy Father Theonas, Archbishop of Thessolonica

April 10

Terence and his Companions beheaded at Carthage

These Saints were from Africa, and they all contested during the reign of Decius, in 251. After many torments, they were beheaded at the command of Fortunatus the Governor.

April 10

Gregory V, the Holy Martyr and Patriarch of Constantinople

April 11

Pharmuthios the Anchorite

April 11

Guthlac the Hermit of Crowland

April 11

Heiromartyr Antipas, Bishop of Pergamum

Saint Antipas was a contemporary of the holy Apostles, by whom he was made Bishop of Pergamum. He contested during the reign of Domitian, when he was cast, as it is said, into a bronze bull that had been heated exceedingly. The Evangelist John writes of him in the Book of Revelation, and says (as it were from the mouth of Christ, Who says to the Angel [that is, the Bishop] of the Church of Pergamum): "I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is; and thou holdest fast My Name, and hast not denied My Faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful Martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth" (Rev. 2:13). The faithful pray to this Saint for ailments of the teeth.

April 11

6th Monday of Lent

April 12

Basil the Confessor, Bishop of Parium

This Saint lived during the time of the Iconoclasts, and because of his exceptional and virtuous life became Bishop of Parium. He suffered many hardships, afflictions, and persecutions from the heretics his whole life long, and finally reposed in peace.

April 12

Akakios of Kavsokalyvia

April 13

Martin the Confessor, Pope of Rome

Saint Martin was born in Tuscany. He had been the papal delegate at Constantinople; upon the death of Pope Theodore, Saint Martin was elected his successor. At this time the Emperor Constans II, also known as Constantine Pogonatus (reigned 641-668), was seeking support of his confession of faith called the Typos, which espoused the Monothelite heresy, that is, that there is only one will and energy in the Incarnate Son of God. But the newly-consecrated Pope not only did not accept the Typos, but convened the Lateran Council of 649 (attended by 105 of his bishops, and Saint Maximus the Confessor, who was then in Rome), which anathematized the Typos and the Monothelite heresy. Because of this Saint Martin was seized by an imperial force in 653 and brought to Constantinople, where he was charged with sending money to the Saracens and conspiring with them, and blaspheming against the most holy Mother of God. Though innocent of these accusations, he was exiled to Cherson on the Black Sea, where, after many sufferings and privations, he received the crown of his courageous confession in the year 655.

April 14

Aristarchus, Pudens, Trophimus the Apostles of the 70

Saint Aristarchus is mentioned in the Epistle to the Colossians (4:10), and also in the Epistle to Philemon (v. 24). By his ascetical manner of life, this Saint proved to be another Saint John the Baptist. He became Bishop of Apamea in Syria, and brought many to the Faith of Christ. Saints Pudens and Trophimus are mentioned in II Timothy 4:20-21. Also, Acts 21:29 mentions that Trophimus was from Ephesus. According to sources that Saint Dorotheus of Tyre (celebrated on June 5) found written in Latin in Rome, these Apostles were beheaded in Rome during the reign of Nero (54-68).

April 14

Ardalion the Actor and Martyr

April 15

Crescens the Martyr

This Martyr was from Myra of Lycia, born of an illustrious family. Of his own accord he went amidst the idolaters and admonished them to leave off their futile religion and worship the only true God, Who is worshipped by the Christians; for this he was arrested. When asked by the ruler what his name and lineage were, the Saint would answer only that he was a Christian; counseled to offer sacrifice to the idols, he refused. For this, he was hung up and beaten, was scraped, and then was cast into fire, in which he gave up his holy soul into the hands of God, though not even the hair of his head was harmed by the flames.

April 15

Leonidas, Bishop of Athens

April 15

The 9 Monk-martyrs of Corinth

April 16

Agape, Chionia, and Irene, the Holy Martyrs

When the Emperor Diocletian was at Aquileia, he learned that these Saints were Christians, and had them brought before him. Because they would not deny Christ, he had them imprisoned, and when he went into Macedonia, he committed them to Dulcitius the Prefect, who, however, lost his understanding and became incapable of doing them any harm. Diocletian then gave Count Sisinius charge over them. He had Saints Agape and Chionia burned; he ordered that Saint Irene be put in a brothel, but by the providence of God this was not accomplished, and she was shot with an arrow. These holy sisters suffered martyrdom in Thessalonica in the year 295.

April 16

Leonidas and Charissa, Nike, Galene, Kallida, Nounenchia, Vasilissa, and Theodora the Martyrs

April 16

Lazarus Saturday

Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary, the friends of the Lord Jesus, had given Him hospitality and served Him many times (Luke 10:38-4z; John 12:2-3). They were from Bethany, a village of Judea. This village is situated in the eastern parts by the foothills of the Mount of Olives, about two Roman miles from Jerusalem. When Lazarus - whose name is a Hellenized form of "Eleazar," which means "God has helped," became ill some days before the saving Passion, his sisters had this report taken to our Saviour, Who was then in Galilee. Nonetheless, He tarried yet two more days until Lazarus died; then He said to His disciples, "Let us go into Judea that I might awake My friend who sleepeth." By this, of course, He meant the deep sleep of death. On arriving at Bethany, He consoled the sisters of Lazarus, who was already four days dead. Jesus groaned in spirit and was troubled at the death of His beloved friend. He asked, "Where have ye laid his body?" and He wept over him. When He drew nigh to the tomb, He commanded that they remove the stone, and He lifted up His eyes, and giving thanks to God the Father, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." And he that had been dead four days came forth immediately, bound hand and foot with the grave clothes, and Jesus said to those standing there, "Loose him, and let him go." This is the supernatural wonder wrought by the Saviour that we celebrate on this day.

According to an ancient tradition, it is said that Lazarus was thirty years old when the Lord raised him; then he lived another thirty years on Cyprus and there reposed in the Lord. It is furthermore related that after he was raised from the dead, he never laughed till the end of his life, but that once only, when he saw someone stealing a clay vessel, he smiled and said, "Clay stealing clay." His grave is situated in the city of Kition, having the inscription: "Lazarus the four days dead and friend of Christ." In 890 his sacred relics were transferred to Constantinople by Emperor Leo the Wise, at which time undoubtedly the Emperor composed his stichera for Vespers, "Wishing to behold the tomb of Lazarus . . ."

April 17

Palm Sunday

On Sunday, five days before the Passover of the Law, the Lord came from Bethany to Jerusalem. Sending two of His disciples to bring Him a foal of an ass, He sat thereon and entered into the city. When the multitude there heard that Jesus was coming, they straightway took up the branches of palm trees in their hands, and went forth to meet Him. Others spread their garments on the ground, and yet others cut branches from the trees and strewed them in the way that Jesus was to pass; and all of them together, especially the children, went before and after Him, crying out: "Hosanna: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel" (John 12:13). This is the radiant and glorious festival of our Lord's entry into Jerusalem that we celebrate today.

The branches of the palm trees symbolize Christ's victory over the devil and death. The word Hosanna means "Save, I pray," or "Save, now." The foal of an ass, and Jesus' sitting thereon, and the fact that this animal was untamed and considered unclean according to the Law, signified the former uncleanness and wildness of the nations, and their subjection thereafter to the holy Law of the Gospel.

Wisdom of the Fathers

But let no man be troubled at the apostles being in such an imperfect state. For not yet was the cross accomplished, not yet the grace of the Spirit given. But if thou wouldest learn their virtue, notice them after these things, and thou wilt see them superior to every passion.

St. John Chrysostom