News

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

17 February 2025 at 07:01

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.

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}

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)

Weekly Happenings – House Blessings; Great Fast; Baptism; Panikhida; Prodigal Son

12 February 2025 at 09:00

Glory to Jesus Christ!

House blessings continue through the beginning of Great Lent. Please see Fr. Gregory to schedule a time if you would like to have your house blessed.

In preparation to enter into the Great Fast, please note that this week is fast free! The weekly Wednesday/Friday fast will resume next week, Meatfare week, and then no meat will be consumed in Cheesefare week, followed by the beginning of Lent. This gradual entrance into the Fast is very practical and beneficial, as opposed to a sudden deep-dive into the Fast!

While Orthodoxy has a defined tradition of fasting, it should be noted that there are exceptions to the rule (e.g., small children, the sick, the very old, pregnant and nursing mothers, travelers, etc.) and that practical pastoral wisdom might be called for (e.g., it might not be beneficial for someone who has never fasted to take on a strict fast) when fasting. Everyone’s situation in life is different.

If anyone has questions regarding the Orthodox practice of fasting, please see Fr. Gregory.

“True fasting is being a stranger to vice, controlling the tongue, abstaining from anger, distancing oneself from lust, evil speech, lying, perjury. The absence of these vices makes fasting true, and so shunning these vices makes fasting good.
_{— On Fasting and Feasts, St. Basil the Great}

Saturday Vespers, 15 February 2025, will begin at the normally scheduled time of 6pm. Please join us!

This coming Sunday, 16 February 2025, at 8:30am, the Hillman family will be baptized and received into the Orthodox Church. Please join us on this joyous occasion! And please continue to keep the Hillman’s in your daily prayers.

The Divine Liturgy will begin at approximately 9:30am.

Following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, we will pray a Panikhida (memorial service) for +David Mukai, on the 2 year anniversary of his passing. Memory eternal!

Sunday, 16 February 2025, is also the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, one of the pre-Lenten Sundays. The readings for the Divine Liturgy are:

1 Corinthians 6.12-20 (Epistle)
Luke 15.11-32 (Gospel)

I have recklessly forgotten Your glory, O Father; / and among sinners I have scattered the riches which You had given me. / Therefore, I cry to You like the Prodigal: / “I have sinned before You, O compassionate Father; / receive me a penitent and make me as one of Your hired servants.
_{— Kontakion for the Sunday of the Progigal Son}

Vespers Cancelled for Saturday, 8 February 2025

8 February 2025 at 16:15

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Due to the freezing rain, Vespers for this evening, Saturday, 8 February 2025, has been cancelled.

The Sunday morning Divine Liturgy should not be affected. If conditions worsen, a decision will be made by 7:30 Sunday morning and posted on our website.

February Men’s Brotherhood Group

8 February 2025 at 06:00

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Please join us at Mission BBQ on Saturday, 22 February 2025 (the eve of Meatfare Sunday), at 7:15pm, as the St. Basil Brotherhood will hold our monthly, informal get-together.

Better yet, join us for Vespers at 6pm and then join us for the brotherhood fellowship group!

All are welcome!

Inquirer’s Class, Souper Bowl, Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee

5 February 2025 at 11:00

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Fr. Gregory will continue our inquirer’s class today, Wednesday, 5 February, at 7:00pm at the church. If you are curious about the Orthodox faith and/or our parish, please join us. All are welcome!

Canned goods wanted! This coming Sunday is Souper Bowl Sunday! All donated can goods will go towards stocking the St. Caritas (Charity) Giving Pantry located in the rear of the church. The pantry continues to be utilized by our neighbors and will hopefully remain a blessing in the foreseeable future. All financial donations designated for Souper Bowl Sunday will be given to the St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Society, a charitable ministry of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church USA.

This coming Sunday, 9 February 2025, is the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, marking the beginning of our use of the Lenten Triodion (service book of the Orthodox Church that provides the texts for the divine services for the pre-Lenten weeks of preparation, Great Lent, and Holy Week¹).

Sunday is also the Leavetaking of the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord (celebrated last Sunday).

The readings for this Sunday are:

Hebrews 7:7-17 (Epistle, Leavetaking)
Luke 2:22-40 (Gospel, Leavetaking)
2 Timothy 3:10-15 (Epistle)
Luke 18:10-14 (Gospel)

Let us flee from the pride of the Pharisee! / And learn humility from the Publican’s tears! / Let us cry to our Savior, / have mercy on us, / only merciful One!
_{— Kontakion for the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee}

Feast of the Presentation of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ in the Temple

28 January 2025 at 06:30

Glory to Jesus Christ!

This coming Sunday, 02 February 2025, is the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ in the Temple. Following the Liturgy will be the prayers for the blessing of candles. If you have any candles that you would like to have blessed for home use, please bring them. (Read here about the connection between this Great Feast, light, candles, and groundhogs!)

This Sunday is also the Sunday of Zacchaeus, the first signpost that Lent is on the way and the Sunday preceding the start of the Lenten Triodion.

Please join us as we celebrate this Great Feast of the Church (and Zacchaeus Sunday).

Hail, Virgin Theotokos, full of grace; / for from you has shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, / giving light those in darkness. / Be glad, O righteous Elder; / for you received in your arms the Redeemer of our souls, / Who bestows upon us resurrection.
_{— Troparion for the Feast of the Meeting of our Lord}