Four Evangelists Orthodox Church, Bel Air, Maryland

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Weekly Update: 5th Sunday after Pentecost and the Commemoration of the Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils

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Glory to Jesus Christ!

Thank You to Fr. Charles
We are blessed and thankful to have had Fr. Charles Sanderson back with us for the Divine Liturgy this past Sunday while Fr. Gregory is on vacation. As many know, Fr. Charles served at Four Evangelists Orthodox Church as a deacon before being ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Archbishop Daniel on the Feast of the Nativity 2019.

Thank you!

Fr. Charles Sanderson — 06 July 2025
Fr. Charles Sanderson — 06 July 2025 (photo by Alex Krowzow)
 

Prayers
In your prayers please continue to remember our catechumens (Rob & Stacy, Michael, Nicholas, and Michael), 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

 

Choir Practice
Choir practice for Tuesday, 08 July 2025 at 6:30pm, will be at the Mukai home and not at the church. Please contact Peggy for details.

 

Fr. Gregory on Vacation
As a reminder, Fr Gregory will be on vacation for remainder of the week. Filling in on Sunday, 13 July 2025, will be Fr. Robert Holet.

Any changes to our services will be announced on our website calendar.

 

5th Sunday after Pentecost and the Commemoration of the Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils
Sunday, 13 July 2025, is the 5th Sunday after Pentecost. On this day we commemorate Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils.

The readings for this Sunday are:

 

You are most glorious, O Christ our God, / You have established the Fathers as lights upon the earth, / and through them, You have guided all of us to the true Faith! / O greatly compassionate one, glory to You.
— Troparion for Fathers of the First Six Councils

 

Planning Meeting for Metropolitan’s Visit
On Sunday, 20 July 2025, during coffee hour following the Divine Liturgy, we will have a meeting to plan for Metropolitan Antony’s visit on Sunday, 17 August 2025. Items to discuss include a parish cleaning date and meal coordination, among others.

 

Bible Study and Catechumen’s Classes
Bible study (Gospel of St. John or the Acts of the Apostles) and a new session of catechumen classes will be starting again soon. Classes will be at the church on Wednesdays on an alternating basis. Stay tuned for details!

 

This Week and Looking Ahead

Weekly Update: 4th Sunday after Pentecost

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Glory to Jesus Christ!

Chrismation of Tyra D. and Jimmy S.
Join us in officially welcoming Tyra D. and Jimmy S. to the Orthodox Church and to our parish. Many years!

Chrismation of Tyra D. and Jimmy S. — 29 June 2025, Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul
Chrismation of Tyra D. and Jimmy S. — 29 June 2025, Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul
 

Prayers
In your prayers please continue to remember our catechumens (Rob & Stacy, Michael, Nicholas, and Michael), new mothers and babies, the sick, the poor, travelers, 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

 

Choir Practice
Choir practice for Tuesday, 01 July 2025 at 6:30pm, will be at the Mukai home and not at the church. Please contact Peggy for details.

 

Fr. Gregory on Vacation
Fr Gregory will be on vacation for the next two weeks. Filling in will be Fr. Charles Sanderson (Sunday, 06 July 2025) and Fr. Robert Holet (Sunday, 13 July 2025).

Any changes to our services will be announced on our website calendar.

 

4th Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, 06 July 2025, is the 4th Sunday after Pentecost. On this day we commemorate the Martyr Lucy, and those with her, at Rome, Venerable Sisoes the Great, and others.

The readings for this Sunday are:

 

Bible Study and Catechumen’s Classes
Bible study (Gospel of St. John or the Acts of the Apostles) and a new session of catechumen classes will be starting again soon. Classes will be at the church on Wednesdays on an alternating basis. Stay tuned for details!

 

This Week and Looking Ahead

Weekly Update: 3rd Sunday after Pentecost and the Feast of the Holy Glorious and All-Praised Leaders of the Apostles, Peter and Paul

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Glory to Jesus Christ!

Baptism and Chrismation of Daniel B.
Join us in officially welcoming Daniel to the Orthodox Church and to our parish. Many years!

Baptism of Daniel B. — 22 June 2025 (Feast of All Saints of North America)

Prayers
In your prayers please continue to remember our catechumens (Tyra, Jimmy, Rob & Stacy, Michael, Nicholas, and Michael), new mothers, the sick, the poor, travelers, 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

Choir Practice
Choir practice for Tuesday, 24 June 2025 at 6:30pm, will be at the Mukai home and not at the church. Please contact Peggy for details.

Chrismation
Join us on Sunday, 29 June 2025 at 8:30am, for the chrismation of Tyra D. and Jimmy S. Please continue to pray for Tyra and Jimmy and all catechumens as they prepare to enter the Orthodox Church.

3rd Sunday after Pentecost and the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul
Sunday, 29 June 2025, is the 3rd Sunday after Pentecost and the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. On this day we remember the martyrdom of the apostles in Rome.

The readings for this Sunday are:

O foremost of the Apostles and teachers of the inhabited earth, / intercede with the Master of all / to grant peace to the world and great mercy to our souls.
— Troparion for the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul

Sts. Peter and Paul

This Week and Looking Ahead

Weekly Update: 2nd Sunday after Pentecost and the Synaxis of the Saints of North America

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Glory to Jesus Christ!

Prayers
In your prayers please continue to remember our catechumens, new mothers, the sick, the poor, 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

Choir Practice
Please note that the scheduled choir practice for this evening, Tuesday, 17 June 2025 at 6:30pm, is being held at the Mukai home and not at the church. Please contact Peggy for details.

Catechumen’s Class
This Wednesday, 18 June 2025 at 7:00pm, will be the last catechumen class of the current session. Dates and times for the next set of classes will be forthcoming.

Baptism and Chrismation
Join us on Sunday, 22 June 2025 at 8:30am, for the baptism and chrismation of Daniel B. Please continue to pray for Daniel and all catechumens as they prepare to enter the Orthodox Church.

Please note that the Divine Liturgy will start closer to 9:30am.

2nd Sunday after Pentecost
This coming Sunday, 22 June 2025, is the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost, as well as the Synaxis of the Saints of North America. On this day we remember all of the saints who have lived and labored on our continent. (Synaxis, from the Greek word meaning “gathering” or “assembly” and in this case the common commemoration of a number of saints in a single service)

The readings for this Sunday are:

As the bountiful harvest of Your sowing of salvation, / the lands of North America offer to You, O Lord, all the saints who have shone in them. / By their prayers keep the Church and our land in abiding peace / through the Theotokos, O most Merciful One.
— Troparion for the Synaxis of the Saints of North America

St. Olga of Alaska, first female Orthodox saint in North America (+1979, canonized 2023. Feast day 27 October)

Apostles Fast
The Apostles Fast is upon us. This fast, also commonly called the Fast of Sts. Peter and Paul, occurs from the second Monday after Pentecost until the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul on 29 June. It varies in length due to its dependency on the date of Pascha. By the 5th century, this fast was attested to in both the East and the West. St. Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome (+461), described the fast as a way of tempering the post-Paschal joy of the Spirit with watchfulness.

This Week and Looking Ahead

Weekly Update: 1st Sunday after Pentecost and All Saints’ Day

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Glory to Jesus Christ!

Prayers
Please continue to remember in your prayers our catechumens, expectant mothers, the sick, the poor, and those in need.

Give thanks also for the recent deliveries of two baby boys born to parents in our parish (Theodore –Caleb & Ruscha; Cooper –Rob & Stacy). Please keep the babies, their parents, and families in your prayers.

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

Sunday of All Saints and the 1st Sunday after Pentecost
This coming Sunday, 15 June 2025, is the Sunday of All Saints and the 1st Sunday after Pentecost. (Following the Pentecost, we start reckoning time as “… after Pentecost”, with the Great Feast day of the Holy Spirit as the time-marking reference point. This naming continues until the pre-Lenten season.)

This day is also All Saints’ Day on the Orthodox calendar. On this day we commemorate all of the Saints, all the Righteous, the Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Shepherds, Teachers, and Holy Monastics, both men and women alike, known and unknown, who have been added to the choirs of the Saints and shall be added, from the time of Adam until the end of the world, who have been perfected in piety and have glorified God by their holy lives.1

Sunday the 15th is also Father’s Day. A happy Father’s Day to all of our fathers —including grandfathers, uncles, and all the men who have played a fatherly role our lives.

The readings for this Sunday are:

Adorned in the blood of Your Martyrs throughout all the world, / as if clothed in purple and linen, / through them Your Church cries out to You, O Christ God: / “Bestow Your bounties upon Your people, / grant peace to Your habitation, and great mercy to our souls.”
— Troparion for the Synaxis of All Saints

All Saints

Trinity Week
As a reminder, this current week –Trinity Week, the week after Pentecost until the Saturday before All Saints Sunday– is fast free!

This Week and Looking Ahead