Four Evangelists Orthodox Church, Bel Air, Maryland

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Divine Liturgy

Weekly Update: Feast of the Transfiguration, Catechumens’ Class, and the 9th Sunday after Pentecost

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Glory to Jesus Christ!

The Feast of the Transfiguration
The Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord is celebrated on 6 August and is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church. Please join us on Tuesday, 5 August 2025, at 6pm as we celebrate Vespers for the Feast of the Transfiguration.

It is also an ancient tradition for the faithful to bring grapes and other fruit to be blessed on the Transfiguration.

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. — Gospel According to St. Mark 9.2–8

The Transfiguration of our Lord
 

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

 

Bible Study and Catechumens’ Classes
Mark your calendars! Wednesday, 6 August 2025, at 7pm will begin a new session of catechumen classes. Classes will alternate every other week with a new Bible Study class on the Gospel of St. John (starting on 13 August 2025 at 7pm).

 

Stuff the Bus and Charitable Pantry
Every year our parish gathers school supplies for students in need. This year we are accepting donations for the Stuff the Bus campaign, a donation drive to assist students locally here in Harford County. (See supply list below). We will collect items from now until September 7th, at which point they will be delivered to Harford schools. 

The St. Caritas (from the Latin for love) Pantry in our parking lot is continually used throughout the week. Thanks be to God! If you have canned goods or non-perishable items to donate, you can place them in the supply box in the restroom hallway. Thank you!

 

9th Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, 10 August 2025, is the 9th Sunday after Pentecost. On this day we commemorate the Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Lawrence of Rome (+258), among others.

St. Ambrose relates that when the Roman authorities demanded that St. Lawrence bring out and hand over the treasures of the church, he returned with the poor of the church. St. Lawrence was martyred for the Faith in 258 A.D. by being burned alive and is said to have remarked to his executioners, “turn me over. I’m done on this side.”

The readings for this Sunday are:

 

Parish Council Meeting
There will be a parish council meeting on Tuesday, 12 August 2025, at 7:30pm.

 

Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God
The Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God is celebrated on 15 August. This Feast is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church and concludes the two-week Dormition Fast.

Please join us on Thursday, 14 August 2025, at 6:00pm as we celebrate Vespers for the Feast of the Dormition.

 

Metropolitan Antony’s Visit
As a reminder, there will be a signup sheet in the kitchen for cleaning duties in preparation for Metropolitan Antony’s visit on Sunday, 24 August 2025. Thank you in advance for any help in this endeavor!

Please note that the date above is a correction to a previously announced date.

 

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

 

This Week and Looking Ahead

Weekly Update: Dormition Fast, 8th Sunday after Pentecost, and the Feast of the Transfiguration

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Glory to Jesus Christ!

Dormition Fast and the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord
From 1 August through 14 August the Orthodox Church keeps a two week fast known as the Dormition Fast. This fast —the final fast of the liturgical year— is in preparation for the Feast of the Dormition (Falling Asleep) of the Mother of God on 15 August, one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church.

See the article Why a Fast for Dormition? from the UOC of the USA website.

During this time falls the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord on 6 August (also one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church). Please join us on Tuesday, 5 August 2025, at 6pm as we celebrate the Transfiguration with the service of Vespers. It is also an ancient tradition for the faithful to bring grapes and other fruit to be blessed on the Transfiguration. As Fr. Thomas Hopko explains:

The summer celebration of the feast, however, has lent itself very well to the theme of transfiguration. The blessing of grapes, as well as other fruits and vegetables on this day is the most beautiful and adequate sign of the final transfiguration of all things in Christ. It signifies the ultimate flowering and fruitfulness of all creation in the paradise of God’s unending Kingdom of Life where all will he transformed by the glory of the Lord. (from Feast of the Transfiguration 2015, Saint Tikhon’s Monastery)

At the conclusion of the Fast, we will celebrate Vespers for the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos on Thursday, 14 August 2025 at 6pm.

Transfiguration of Our Lord
Transfiguration of Our Lord
 

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

 

Charitable Pantry
The St. Caritas (from the Latin for love) Pantry in our parking lot is continually used throughout the week. Thanks be to God! If you have canned goods or non-perishable items to donate, you can place them in the supply box in the restroom hallway. Thank you!

 

8th Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, 3 August 2025, is the 8th Sunday after Pentecost. On this day we commemorate the Holy Myrrhbearer and cousin of the Virgin Mary Salome (+1st c.) and Venerable Isaac the Ascetic of the Dalmatian Monastery at Constantinople (+383), among others.

The readings for this Sunday are:

 

Bible Study and Catechumen’s Classes
Mark your calendars! Wednesday, 6 August 2025, at 7pm will begin a new session of catechumen classes. Catechumen classes will alternate every other week with a new Bible Study class (starting on 13 August 2025 at 7pm).

 

Parish Council Meeting
There will be a parish council meeting on Tuesday, 12 August 2025, at 7:30pm.

 

Metropolitan Antony’s Visit
As a reminder, there will be a signup sheet in the kitchen for cleaning duties in preparation for Metropolitan Antony’s visit on Sunday, 17 August 2025. Thank you in advance for any help in this endeavor!

 

Frequently Asked Questions – Mid-Week Services
If you haven’t taken a look, please check out our growing list of Frequently Asked Questions on our website. We hope these will be of use to neighbors, potential visitors, new visitors, or anyone else who might have questions about our parish. If you have a question or suggestion, please send a note to 4ev.webmaster@gmail.com.

Someone recently asked, do you have mid-week services?

Great question. The short answer is yes. Following the liturgical calendar, a church could (and some do!) have services every day, including the Divine Liturgy. In our local setting, due to the constraints of employment and other factors, we will most often celebrate mid-week feast days with Vespers on the preceding evening. There are times, however, when we are able to meet during the day for mid-week services.

According to a liturgical reckoning of time, the day begins in the evening/sundown following the biblical account of creation and then is patterned on the Daily Offices (i.e., Liturgy of the Hours). Hence, Vespers is the first service of the day, then Compline, then the Midnight Office, etc.

For example, the Feast of the Transfiguration is on 6 August every year, but will be celebrated by us on the evening of 5 August (according to your wall calendar! … but 6 August according to liturgical time!).

 

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

Sunday of the Blind Man and the 6th Sunday of Pascha

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Christ is risen!

Prayers
In your prayers, please continue to remember our catechumens, expectant mothers (and fathers), the sick, 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

Sunday of the Blind Man (6th Sunday of Pascha)
This coming Sunday, 25 May 2025, is the Sunday of the Blind Man and the 6th Sunday of Pascha. Also commemorated on this day is the Third Finding of the Honorable Head of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptizer John (c. 850), among others.

The readings for this Sunday are:

  • 2 Corinthians 4.6–15 (Epistle, Forerunner)
  • Matthew 11.2–15 (Gospel, Forerunner)
  • Acts 16.16–34 (Epistle)
  • John 9.1–38 (Gospel)

I come to You, O Christ, / blind from birth in my spiritual eyes / and I call to You in repentance: / You are the most radiant light of those in darkness!
— Kontakion for the Sunday of the Blind Man

This Week at Four Evangelists Orthodox Church

Looking Ahead

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman and the 5th Sunday of Pascha

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Christ is risen!

This coming Sunday, 18 May 2025, is the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman and the 5th Sunday of Pascha.

The readings for this Sunday are:

The Samaritan Woman came to the well in faith; / she saw You, the Water of Wisdom, and drank abundantly / she inherited the Kingdom on High and is ever glorified!
— Troparion for the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

Samaritan woman (St. Photini) at the well

This week at Four Evangelists Orthodox Church:

Looking ahead: Forty days after Pascha we will celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord on 29 May 2025, followed by the Feast of Holy Pentecost ten days later on 08 June 2028.

Stay tuned for more information!