Four Evangelists Orthodox Church, Bel Air, Maryland

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Weekly Update: Catechumens’ Class, Blessing of Backpacks, and the 11th Sunday after Pentecost

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Glory to Jesus Christ!

Blessing of Backpacks and Parish Potluck Luncheon
Calling all students and teachers! Bring your backpack or school bag to church on 24 August 2025 for our annual Blessing of the Backpacks. The blessing will follow the Divine Liturgy and be a fitting way to begin the new academic year.

Also on 24 August 2025, we will proceed to hold our chili potluck during coffee hour. Feel free to bring chili or a side to share (Not required! More importantly, stay and enjoy food and fellowship!)

See below regarding Metropolitan Antony’s scheduled visit.

 

Prayers
In your prayers please continue to remember our catechumens (Rob & Stacy and children, Michael, Nicholas, Michael, and James), new mothers and babies, the sick, the poor, travelers, those impacted by war and calamities, and those in need.

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,…” — 1st Epistle of St. Timothy 2.1

 

Catechumens’ Classes
Catechumen/Inquirer class will continue this week on Wednesday, 20 August 2025, at 7pm. All are welcome!

Bible study will continue to alternate every other week with the catechumen class. (Next Bible study class 27 August 2025 at 7pm).

 

Metropolitan Antony’s Visit
As announced last Sunday during the announcements, Metropolitan Antony’s visit to our parish scheduled for Sunday, 24 August 2025, has been postponed. A new date will be officially announced once confirmed.

Thank you for your understanding and please continue to keep Vladyka Antony in your prayers as he recovers from his recent heart-related procedure.

 

11th Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, 24 August 2025, is the 11th Sunday after Pentecost. The readings for this Sunday are:

1 Corinthians 9.2-12 (Epistle):
[2] If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. [3] This is my defense to those who would examine me. [4] Do we not have the right to our food and drink? [5] Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? [6] Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? [7] Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? [8] Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law say the same? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? [10] Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share in the crop. [11] If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? [12] If others share this rightful claim upon you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. (Revised Standard Version)

Matthew 18.23-35 (Gospel):
[23] “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.[24] When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; [25] and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. [26] So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, `Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ [27] And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. [28] But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, `Pay what you owe.’ [29] So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ [30] He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. [31] When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. [32] Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; [33] and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ [34] And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. [35] So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” (Revised Standard Version)

 

Did You Know?
Did you know that the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, as well as a few other feasts, are followed by an Afterfeast? An Afterfeast is a period of celebration attached to one of the Great Feasts. The last day of an Afterfeast is called the Apodosis (ancient Greek for “leave-taking”, lit. “giving-back”) of the Feast. On the Apodosis, most of the hymns that were chanted on the first day of the Feast are repeated. The Afterfeast is somewhat analogous to the octave on the Roman-Latin ecclesiastical calendar.

For example, the Feast of the Dormition, which we just celebrated, has an eight day Afterfeast. The Apodosis of the feast is on 23 August.

 

Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive
As a reminder, we will collect school supply items for the Harford County Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive from now until September 7th, at which point they will be delivered to Harford schools. Donations can be deposited in the bins located in the restroom hallway.

 

This Week and Looking Ahead