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2nd Sunday of Lent: Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

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Glory to Jesus Christ!

This coming Sunday, 16 March 2025, is the 2nd Sunday of Great Lent and the Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas.

Often called the “second triumph of Orthodoxy”, the Church remembers St. Gregory on this day because of his clear explanation and defense of the Orthodox Faith. St. Gregory taught that we cannot experience God through education, philosophy, intellectual discussion and debates. God is a person with whom we are to be in a relationship, not a topic to be discussed or facts to memorize. He taught that God desires us to know Him, to experience Him, to share His life, to become one with Him.1

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

The readings for this Sunday are:

  • Hebrews 7.26–8.2 (Epistle – St. Gregory Palamas)
  • John 10.9–16 (Gospel – St. Gregory Palamas)
  • Hebrews 1.10–2.3 (Epistle)
  • Mark 2.1–12 (Gospel)

Upcoming services during Great Lent:

Access our full Lent, Passion Week, and Pascha calendar here.

Come out on Sunday, 16 March 2025, at 3pm, to hear a concert to support peace in Ukraine, featuring our own Dr. Andrew Nowakowski.

St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 1200 E. Churchville Rd., Bel Air, Maryland 21014

Admission is FREE. Details below.

A Concert for Peace

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Glory to Jesus Christ!

Come out on Sunday, 16 March 2025, at 3pm, to hear a concert to support peace in Ukraine, featuring our own Dr. Andrew Nowakowski.

St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 1200 E. Churchville Rd., Bel Air, Maryland 21014

Admission is FREE. Details below.

A Concert for Peace

1st Sunday of Lent: Sunday of Orthodoxy

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Glory to Jesus Christ!

This coming Sunday, 09 March 2025, is the 1st Sunday of Great Lent and the Sunday of Orthodoxy. All are invited to bring an icon from home or to use one available in the church for the Rite of Orthodoxy following the Divine Liturgy.

What is the Sunday of Orthodoxy and the Rite of Orthodoxy?

You might have heard this day also referred to as the “Triumph of Orthodoxy”. Any Sunday of… or Triumph of… language should never be understood in a prideful, triumphant manner. The day also does not understand the word Orthodoxy in a modern sense of denomination or jurisdiction or group over and against another group. That would anachronistically limit the term. Orthodoxy here is understood in a much fuller sense, the “faith that has established the universe”.

The day commemorates the restoration of icons in 843 under the Empress Theodora and reflects the great significance which icons possess for the Orthodox Church. They are not optional devotional extras, but an integral part of Orthodox faith and devotion. The “triumph of Orthodoxy” over the iconoclasts involved important issues (and still important issues!) such as the character of Christ’s human nature, the Christian attitude towards matter, and the true meaning of Christian redemption. Icons are a necessary consequence of the Incarnation of the Word (John 1.14), Jesus Christ.1

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a brief service is conducted in commemoration of the affirmations of the Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787 and the restoration of the use of icons in 843. Orthodox faithful carry icons in procession, while the clergy offer petitions for the people, civil authorities, and those who have reposed in the faith. Following is a recitation of excerpts from the Affirmation of Faith of the Seventh Ecumenical Council and the singing of the Great Prokeimenon.2

Sunday of Orthodoxy procession with icons — 27 March 2019
Sunday of Orthodoxy procession with icons — 27 March 2019

The readings for this Sunday are:

  • Hebrews 12.1-10 (Epistle – 40 Martyrs of Sebaste)
  • Matthew 20.1-16 (Gospel – 40 Martyrs of Sebaste)
  • Hebrews 11.24-26, 32-12.2 (Epistle)
  • John 1.43-51 (Gospel)

Upcoming services during Great Lent:

  • Vespers for the First Sunday in Lent on Saturday, 08 March, at 6 PM
  • Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great on Sunday, 09 March, at 9 AM 
  • Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts on Wednesday, 12 March, at 6 PM

Access our full Lent, Passion Week, and Pascha calendar here.

Calendar of Services for Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha — 2025

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“Come, O ye people, and today let us accept the grace of the Fast as a gift from God and as a time for repentance, in which we may find mercy with the Savior”
— Matins of Monday in the First Week of Lent

Crucifixion of our Lord — Basilica of St. Mark, Venice, Italy

1st WEEK OF LENT

Monday, 03 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete

Tuesday, 04 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete

Wednesday, 05 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Saturday, 08 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Vespers for the First Sunday in Lent

Sunday, 09 March, at 9 AM ᛭ Sunday of Orthodoxy ᛭ Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great with procession with icons and the Rite of Orthodoxy

2nd WEEK OF LENT

Wednesday, 12 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Saturday, 15 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Vespers for the Second Sunday in Lent

Sunday, 16 March, at 9 AM ᛭ Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas ᛭ Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

3rd WEEK OF LENT

Wednesday, 19 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Saturday, 22 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Vespers for the Third Sunday in Lent

Sunday, 23 March, at 9 AM ᛭ Sunday of the Holy Cross ᛭ Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

4th WEEK OF LENT

Monday, 24 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Feast of the Annunciation ᛭ Vespers for the Feast of the Annunciation

The Feast of the Annunciation is Tuesday, 25 March.

Wednesday, 26 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Saturday, 29 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Vespers for the Fourth Sunday in Lent

Sunday, 30 March, at 9 AM ᛭ Sunday of St. John of the Ladder ᛭ Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

5th WEEK OF LENT

Wednesday, 02 April, at 6 PM ᛭ Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Thursday, 03 April, at 6 PM ᛭ Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete

Saturday, 05 April, at 6 PM ᛭ Vespers for the Fifth Sunday in Lent

Sunday, 06 April, at 9 AM ᛭ Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt ᛭ Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

6th WEEK OF LENT

Wednesday, 09 April, at 6 PM ᛭ Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Lent ends on the evening of Friday of the 6th week. Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday are somewhat days of transition between Lent and Holy Week, Palm Sunday also being one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church. Holy Week begins on the evening of Palm Sunday.

Saturday, 12 April, at 6 PM ᛭ Vespers for the Feast of the Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday)

Sunday, 13 April, at 9 AM ᛭ Feast of the Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) ᛭ Festal Divine Liturgy with the Blessing of Palms

HOLY WEEK

Wednesday, 16 April, at 6 PM ᛭ Great and Holy Wednesday ᛭ Office of Holy Unction

Thursday, 17 April, at 6 PM ᛭ Great and Holy Thursday ᛭ Matins of Great and Holy Friday (Twelve Passion Gospels)

Friday, 18 April, at 2 PM ᛭ Great and Holy Friday ᛭ Vespers of the Cross

Friday, 18 April, at 7 PM ᛭ Great and Holy Friday ᛭ Matins of Great and Holy Saturday (Jerusalem Matins) with Procession

Saturday, 19 April, at 10 AM ᛭ Great and Holy Saturday ᛭ Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

Saturday, 19 April, at 11:30 PM ᛭ Great and Holy Saturday ᛭ Midnight Office

The Midnight Office is the last service in the Lenten Triodion. While the Midnight Office is part of the Paschal vigil, at its conclusion we fully enter in the joy of Pascha.

GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA (EASTER)

Sunday, 20 April, at 12 AM ᛭ Great and Holy Pascha ᛭ Paschal Matins, Paschal Hours, Paschal Divine Liturgy, Blessing of Baskets, and Agape Feast*

*All are invited to bring a basket to be blessed at the conclusion of the Paschal liturgy before we break the Great Fast together. Traditional basket examples can be found here and here, but are by no means necessary. More importantly, come!

Harrowing of Hades - Chora
The Harrowing of Hades — Chora Church, Istanbul (Constantinople), Turkey

Forgiveness Sunday (Cheesefare Sunday) and the Beginning of Lent

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Glory to Jesus Christ!

This coming Sunday, 02 March 2025, is Forgiveness Sunday, the last day before we enter the season of Lent. This day is also known as Cheesefare Sunday, as it is the last day we consume dairy items before we break the Fast together after the Paschal liturgy. (Please see Fr. Gregory with any questions regarding the Great Fast).

After the Liturgy on Sunday, we will serve a portion of Forgiveness Vespers, culminating with the Rite of Forgiveness.

The Rite of Forgiveness is a beautiful opportunity for each of us, recognizing our own sinfulness and need for repentance, to ask and receive forgiveness from each other. It is truly our gateway to Lent. As we ask and receive forgiveness from each other, the choir will begin to sing Paschal hymns in anticipation of the Resurrection of our Lord, which we will celebrate on the Feast of all Feasts, Pascha (Easter).

Please join us next week for the first of our Lenten services, beginning with the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete:

  • Monday, 03 March at 6 PM – Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
  • Tuesday, 04 March at 6 PM – Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
  • Wednesday, 05 March at 6 PM – Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

A full calendar of services for Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha will be posted soon.

The readings for Forgiveness Sunday (also the Sunday remembering the Expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden) are:

  • Romans 13.11-14.4 (Epistle)
  • Matthew 6.14-21 (Gospel)
Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise
Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise

Weekly Happenings for Meatfare Week – Baptism; Parish Council Mtg; Inquirer’s Class; Brotherhood Night; Meatfare

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Glory to Jesus Christ!

Congratulations to the Hillman family, who were baptized and received into the Orthodox Church on Sunday, 16 February 2025, before the Divine Liturgy! It was a joyous morning! Please continue to keep the Hillman’s in your prayers, as well as all of our church family.

Hillman family

Please note that there will be a parish council meeting on Tuesday, 18 February 2025, at 7pm, at the church.

On Wednesday, 19 February 2025, at 7pm, Fr. Gregory will continue our Inquirer’s Class for those interested in learning more about the Orthodox faith and/or our parish. Have a question? Please join us! A cancellation due to a possible inclement weather forecast will be posted on our website.

On Saturday, 22 February 2025, following Vespers, the St. Basil’s Brotherhood will meet at Mission BBQ in Bel Air to enjoy some fellowship and food as we wind down Meatfare week. Vespers begins at 6pm and the Brotherhood meeting should begin at approximately 7:15pm.

Please join us. All are welcome!

Sunday, 23 February 2025, is the Sunday of the Last Judgement, the third of the pre-Lenten Sundays. This Sunday is also the conclusion of Meatfare week and the last day to consume meat for those following the Fast.

The readings for the Divine Liturgy are:

1 Corinthians 8.8–9.2 (Epistle)
Matthew 25.31–46 (Gospel)

When You, O God, shall come to earth with glory, / all things shall tremble / and the river of fire shall flow before Your judgment seat; / the books shall be opened and the hidden things disclosed! / Then deliver me from the unquenchable fire, / and make me worthy to stand at Your right hand, Most Righteous Judge!
— Kontakion for the Sunday of the Last Judgement

Last Judgement
Icon of the Last Judgment from the house for pilgrims of the St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv, 17th c. (Source: National Art Museum of Ukraine)