Four Evangelists Orthodox Church, Bel Air, Maryland

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Great Feast

4EOC Weekly Update: Catechumen Class, Men’s Group, Leavetaking of the Feast of the Holy Cross, …

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Glory to Jesus Christ!

Catechumens’ Class
Catechumen/Inquirer class will continue on Wednesday, 17 September 2025, at 7pm. All are welcome!

Bible study will continue to alternate every other week with the Bible study. (Next Bible study on 24 September 2025 at 7pm).

 

Prayers
In your prayers please continue to remember our catechumens (Rob & Stacy and children, Michael, Nicholas, Michael, James, and Tom), new mothers and babies, the sick, the poor, travelers, those impacted by war and calamities, our country, 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

 

St. Basil Brotherhood
The Brotherhood of St. Basil the Great men’s group will meet at 2pm on Saturday, 20 September 2025, at the Davis home. Email or text Brian D. for more info!

Brotherhood of St. Basil the Great
 

Planning for Metropolitan Antony’s Visit
There will be a brief meeting during coffee hour on Sunday, 21 September 2025, to formalize details in preparation for Metropolitan Anyony’s visit on 05 October 2025. Items include luncheon details, table setup, parking, and other items.

 

15th Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, 07 September 2025, is the 15th Sunday after Pentecost and the Apodosis of the Feast of the Holy Cross. The readings for this Sunday are:

An Afterfeast is a period of celebration attached to one of the Great Feasts and several other feasts. The last day of an Afterfeast is called the Apodosis (lit. “giving-back”) of the Feast.

Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Exaltation of the Holy Cross
 

This Week and Looking Ahead

See the parish calendar for more services and events.

A Blessed Feast of the Annunciation

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Today is the beginning of our salvation * and the manifestation of the mystery which is from eternity. * The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin, * and Gabriel announces grace. * So with him let us also cry to the Mother of God: * Rejoice, thou who art full of grace! * The Lord is with thee.

— Troparion for the Feast of the Annunciation

Feast of the Annunciation
Annunciation of the Most Holy Mother of God

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

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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

Feast of the Meeting of Our Lord in the Temple
Icon by Philip Davydov

Vespers for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

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Glory to Jesus Christ!

Please join us on Friday. 13 September 2024, at 6pm, as we celebrate Vespers for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

The Feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-creating Cross (14 September) is a feast commemorating two events: (1) the finding of the True Cross by St. Helena in the year 326 and (2) the restoration of the True Cross to Jerusalem in 629 by the Byzantine emperor Heraclius, after its rescue from the Persians.

In the Orthodox tradition, 14 September is observed as a strict fast day.

O Lord, save Your people, * and bless Your inheritance. * Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians * over their adversaries. * And by virtue of Your Cross, * preserve Your habitation.
— Troparion for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Exaltation of the Holy Cross

A Blessed Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God

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Glory to Jesus Christ!

Your Nativity, O Virgin, * has proclaimed joy to the whole universe! * The Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, * has shone from you, O Theotokos! * By annulling the curse, * He bestowed a blessing. * By destroying death, He has granted us eternal Life.
— Troparion for the Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God

Today, 08 September, we commemorate the Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary. This day is celebrated by the Church as a day of universal joy as it is foundational to our redemption, rooted in the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This feast is one of the most ancient of the Marian feats and likely originated in Jerusalem or Syria, soon after spreading to all parts of the Christian world, both east and west. The Feast of the Nativity of Mary has a four day Afterfeast (similar to an octave on the western calendar), culminating on 12 September with the Leavetaking of the Feast.

Nativity of the Theotokos

A Blessed Feast of the Dormition – 15 August

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Glory to Jesus Christ!

A blessed Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God to all!

In giving birth you preserved your virginity, * in falling asleep you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos. * You were translated to life, O Mother of Life, * and by your prayers, you deliver our souls from death.
— Troparion for the Feast of the Dormition

THE DORMITION OF THE VIRGIN MARY, Crete, iconographer Andreas Ritzos (1421—1492)