Four Evangelists Orthodox Church, Bel Air, Maryland

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Recent News

House Blessings

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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

Please note the following dates available for House Blessings. As always, please check with Fr. Gregory beforehand for availability or alternative dates/times.

07 February – 7:30pm or 8:30pm
09 February – 7:30pm or 8:30pm
14 February – 7:30pm or 8:30pm
16 February – 7:30pm or 8:30pm
21 February – 7:30pm or 8:30pm
23 February – 7:30pm or 8:30pm

House blessings are a beautiful occasion to sanctify our homes and bring Christ more intimately into our lives! | see here for more information about house blessings.

Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee

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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever! 

This coming Sunday, 05 February 2023, is the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, as well as the Afterfeast of the Meeting of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple.

The Epistle and Gospel readings for Sunday are: 

⁜ Timothy 3:10-15
⁜ Luke 18:10-14

On this day we are brought to mind our own need of humility and repentance, aspiring to be like the Publican in St. Luke’s Gospel. | Learn more about the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee. 

In preparation for the intense focus on our repentance, the week following this Sunday is fast free. As a reminder, the fasting seasons that the Church provides are for our benefit as we seek Christ more deeply and not for our stumbling, bragging rights, diet, etc. Better to abstain from anger while eating a burger than to strictly fast and judge your neighbor, to paraphrase St. Basil the Great. Please see Fr. Gregory if you have any questions about fasting during Great Lent.

Finally, this day also begins the use of the Lenten Triodion, the liturgical book that informs our services during the season of Great Lent. The hymns we sing from the Triodion are some of the most enriching and beneficial you will hear. Let us attend!

Publican and the Pharisee
Flickr image Publican and the Pharisee by Nick Thompson

Zacchaeus Sunday

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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

Tomorrow, 29 January 2023, is Zacchaeus Sunday. This means that Great Lent is on the horizon. It’s not here yet, but we’re passing the first signpost! See here for more on Zacchaeus Sunday.

The readings for this Sunday are 1 Timothy 4:9-15 (Epistle) and Luke 19:1-10 (Gospel).

Also commemorated on this day is St. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch. While not his primary feast day (20 December), today commemorates the translation of his relics from Rome -the place of his martyrdom and where his relics later came to reside- to Antioch, where he was bishop of the growing church.

Elena Cherkasova, Christ and Zacchaeus , c. 2000, ink and paper

Annual Parish Meeting

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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

Calling all members and regular attendees! Please join us during coffee hour after the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, 29 January 2023, as we will hold our annual parish meeting.

Please come and be an active voice in the future of our church as we chart the course for the new year. We hope to see you!

Feast of the Meeting of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Temple

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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

On 02 February, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of the Meeting of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Temple. One of the twelve Great Feasts on the liturgical calendar, this day commemorates the presentation of Jesus by Mary and Joseph to the Temple on the fortieth day after His birth, being received into the arms of the righteous Simeon. (Gospel of St. Luke 2:22-38)

Please join us on Wednesday, 01 February 2023, at 6pm, as we celebrate the service of Vespers for the Feast.

Also on this day, due to its association with light (cf. Luke 2:32), it is customary to bless candles that will be used for the following year. If you have candles that you would like to be blessed, please bring them with you to church.

Icon of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple by iconographer Philip Davydov

Calling All Painters!

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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

Calling all painters! We need your help! If you would like to help out with painting the interior of the church, please join us on Saturday, 04 February 2023, at 9:00am. No skills required and all supplies provided!

A special thank you to Dr. Jim L. for spearheading this and other building related projects.