Parish Announcements

Holy Week message from Father Anthony: “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem”

April 27, 2021 By The Deacon

Dear and faithful Orthodox Christians,

We have entered together into the sacred time of Holy Week, and begin to hear the Scripture readings and hymns of the holy Passion of Our Saviour. In the Matins of Holy Monday we chanted, “Our Saviour said to His Apostles along the way, ‘behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be delivered up, as it is written concerning Him.’ Come therefore, with minds purified, let us go with Him.”

Throughout Great Lent, having prepared ourselves through fasting, confession, almsgiving, prayers, and good works, we stand as the ten Virgins in the parable, watching intently for the Bridegroom who comes in the middle of the night. And so, each night of this week, let us keep Vigil in our homes, in our Churches, and in our hearts, patiently attending with prayer the coming of Our Lord. Let us keep watch, guarding ourselves, and together go up with Christ to Jerusalem commemorating His saving Passion, sacrifice upon the Cross, and holy Burial. That we may be found to be faithful servants, and that He may open to us the doors to enter the mystical Wedding Feast.

I would ask each of us to pray for one another, and for our beloved Metropolitan Andrew, that together we may experience a soul profiting Holy Week, receive enlightenment through the hearing of the Scriptures, and share together in the light of His holy Resurrection from the dead.

Metropolitan Andrew sends his love and episcopal blessing to all of us that we have a blessed Holy Week.

With prayers, in Christ,
Father Anthony

Spiritual Pearl: The Life-Giving Cross

April 5, 2021 By The Deacon

“…Every action, therefore, and performance of miracles by Christ are most great and divine and marvelous: but the most marvelous of all is His precious Cross. For no other thing has subdued death, expiated the sin of the first parent, despoiled Hades, bestowed the resurrection, granted the power to us of contemning the present and even death itself, prepared the return to our former blessedness, opened the gates of Paradise, given our nature a seat at the right hand of God, and made us the children and heirs of God, save the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. For by the Cross all things have been made right.”

St. John of Damascus

Spiritual Pearl: On Pride and Humility

March 29, 2021 By The Deacon

“Pride is yoked with callous behaviour, as humility is with compassion.”

St. Gregory Palamas

Spiritual Pearl: On Orthodox Icons and Triumph of Orthodoxy

March 22, 2021 By The Deacon

“Churches are adorned with icons. Icons are not simply pictures of certain people or events. An icon is a symbol of the invisible. It depicts not only the outward, visible countenance of the Lord and His saints, but also their inner likeness, their sanctity.”

St. John Maximovitch of San Francisco

Spiritual Pearl: On Fighting the Good Fight

March 15, 2021 By The Deacon

“Brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. For this cause take up the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the good tidings of peace; above all, take up the shield of faith, whereby ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”