Words from the Saints -- March 6, 2025

"Let us fast an acceptable and very pleasing fast to the Lord. True fast is the estrangement from evil, temperance of tongue, abstinence from anger, separation from desires, slander, falsehood, and lying. Abstaining from these is true fasting." --St. Basil the Great

"Like the apple of Thine eye preserve me, O Lord God; defend me and beneath Thy wings shelter me from temptations." --St. Ephraim the Syrain

"Without contrition of the heart, it is altogether impossible to rid ourselves of evil. Now the heart is made contrite by threefold self-control: in sleep, in food and in bodily relaxation. For excess of these three things leads to self-indulgence; and this in turn makes us accept evil thoughts, and is opposed to prayer and to appropriate work." --St. Mark the Ascetic

"The devil loves and always rejoices over the ungoverned; those who are not subject to one who has power, under God, to help them and to give them a hand." --St. Dorotheos of Gaza

"There is one antidote for evil passions: the purification of our souls which takes place through the mystery of godliness. The chief act of faith in this mystery is to look to Him who suffered the passion for us. The cross is the passion, so that whoever looks to it? is not harmed by the poison of desire. To look to the cross means to render one's whole life dead and crucified to the world." --St. Gregory of Nyssa

3rd and 6th Hours on March 6, 2025

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

Today is the First Thursday of Great Lent.

The prescribed readings are: Isaiah 2:11-22 (6th Hour); Genesis 2:4-19 (Vespers); Proverbs 3:1-18 (Vespers).

*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be on Monday, March 10, at 8:00am (Eastern). ***

3rd and 6th Hours on March 4, 2025

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

Today is the First Tuesday of Great Lent.

The prescribed readings are: Isaiah 1:19-2:3 (6th Hour); Genesis 1:14-23 (Vespers); Proverbs 1:20-33 (Vespers)

*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be on Thursday, March 6, at 8:00am (Eastern). ***

3rd and 6th Hours on March 3, 2025

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

Today is the First Monday of Great Lent.

The prescribed readings are: Isaiah 1:1-20 (6th Hour); Genesis 1:1-13 (Vespers); Proverbs 1:1-20 (Vespers)

*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be tomorrow, March 4, at 8:00am (Eastern). ***

Penitential Stanzas (Tone 3)

We offer You our evening hymn, O Christ, with incense and spiritual song. Have mercy on us, O Savior!

Save me, Lord my God: You are the Salvation of all! The storm of my passions troubles me; the yoke of my sins weighs me down! Stretch out Your hand to help me; lead me to the light of repentance, for You alone are the Compassionate Lover of Mankind!

Lord, gather my scattered mind and cleanse my barren heart. Grant me repentance as You gave to Peter, groans as You gave the publican and tears as the harlot, so that I may cry to You with a loud voice: save me, O God, as You alone are tender-hearted and the Lover of Mankind!

Often when I stand to sing the hymns, I am found to be committing sins! With my tongue I am singing praises, but with my soul, I am considering inappropriate things! But correct both through repentance, Christ God, and save me!

Prayer List for the Week of March 2, 2025

For healing: Abbot Tryphon, Fr. Daniel, Fr. Emilian, Fr. Gregory, Fr. Joseph, Fr. Theodore, Hierodeacon Gorazd, Fr. Deacon Jorge, Matushka Katherine, Matushka Myra, Monk Meletios, Subdeacon Nicholas, Justin, Steven, Marian, Patricia, Mark, Nikolai, Anastasia, Alice, Kathleen, Denise, Denise, Pamela, Marianne, Ryan, Joanne, Emily, Charles, Hank, Mary Jane, Mary Jo, Clara, Margaret, Susan, Randall, Danielle, Nicholas, Kathleen, Walter, Andrew, Natalie, Arthur, Nicole, Rene, Jennifer, Michael, Marc, Paul, Michael, Daniel, Gerald, Madeline, Marcella, Darina, Jay, George, Carol, Andrew, Jodi, Ilarion, Rita, Elena, William, Andrew, Nestor, Richard, Anna, Tikhon, Michelle, Daria, Mary, Mark, Alexis, Nathan, Ann, Herman, Lillian, Victoria, Michael, Marihiam, Alexandra, Norma, Heather, Kathleen, Daria, Vera, Ella, Ava, Petros, Dionisia, Labrini, Michelle, Christopher, Joan, Jeff, Daniela, Stephen, Tomas, Kim, Christine, Shirley, Ola

For God’s protection: all who are missing

For God’s protection: all captives; all persecuted Christians throughout the world

For God’s protection: all those in the military; all emergency medical workers, firefighters and police officers

For God’s mercy and peace: those who are in hospice care

For God’s mercy, direction and protection: those who are unemployed, poor, hungry and/or homeless

*** We pray for: those who love us; those who hate us; those who have no one to pray for them; those who have asked us to pray for them, even though we are unworthy. ***

Departed: Archbishop Anastasios, Stephan, Maria, Donald, David

Readings for the Week of March 2, 2025

3/2: Romans 13:11-14:4; Matthew 6:14-21

3/3: Isaiah 1:1-20; Genesis 1:1-13; Proverbs 1:1-20

3/4: Isaiah 1:19-2:3; Genesis 1:14-23; Proverbs 1:20-33

3/5: Isaiah 2:3-11; Genesis 1:24-2:3; Proverbs 2:1-22

3/6: Isaiah 2:11-22; Genesis 2:4-19; Proverbs 3:1-18

3/7: Isaiah 3:1-14; Genesis 2:20-3:20; Proverbs 3:19-34

3/8: Hebrews 1:1-12; 2 Timothy 2:1-10; Mark 2:23-3:5; John 15:17-16:2

Vespers on February 28, 2025

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

Today is Friday of Cheese Fare Week. On March 1, the Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy and Righteous Martyr Eudokia the Samaritan.

The prescribed reading for Vespers is Zechariah 8:19-23.

*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be on Monday, March 3, at 8:00am (Eastern). ***

Words from the Saints -- February 27, 2025

"'Like a tree planted by streams of water,' [Psalm 1:3] the soul is irrigated by the Holy Scriptures and acquires vigour, produces tasty fruit, namely, true faith, and is beautified with a thousand green leaves, namely, actions that please God." --St. John of Damascus

"Blessed the one who has cleansed himself of every stain of sins, so that with boldness he may receive into his own house the King of glory, our Lord Jesus Christ." --St. Ephraim the Syrian

"If we were to receive the entire universe as a gift, that gift would be less than the Grace of God." --St. Nikolai Velimirovich

"A good conscience is found through prayer, and pure prayer through the conscience. Each by nature needs the other." --St. Mark the Ascetic

Typica on February 27, 2025

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

On February 27, the Orthodox Church commemorates Our Venerable Father Procopius of Decapolis, and Our Holy Father-Among-The-Saints, Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn.

The prescribed readings are Jude 1:11-25 and Luke 23:2-34, 44-56.

*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be tomorrow, February 28, at 8:00am (Eastern). ***

Vespers on February 26, 2025

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

Today is Wednesday of Cheese Fare Week. On February 27, the Orthodox Church commemorates Our Venerable Father Procopius of Decapolis, and Our Holy Father-Among-The-Saints, Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn.

The prescribed reading for Vespers is Joel 3:12-21.

..*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be tomorrow, February 27, at 8:00am (Eastern). ***

Typica on February 25, 2025

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

On February 25, the Orthodox Church commemorates Our Father among the Saints Tarasius, Archbishop of Constantinople.

The prescribed readings are Jude 1:1-10 and Luke 22:39-42, 45-23:1.

*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be tomorrow, February 26, at 6:30pm (Eastern). ***

Typica on February 24, 2025

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

On February 24, the Orthodox Church commemorates the First and Second Findings of the Honorable Head of St. John the Baptist.

The prescribed readings are 3 John 1:1-15 and Luke 19:29-40; 22:7-39.

*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be tomorrow, February 25, at 8:00am (Eastern). ***

Prayer List for the Week of February 23, 2025

For healing: Abbot Tryphon, Fr. Daniel, Fr. Emilian, Fr. Gregory, Fr. Joseph, Fr. Theodore, Hierodeacon Gorazd, Fr. Deacon Jorge, Matushka Katherine, Matushka Myra, Monk Meletios, Subdeacon Nicholas, Justin, Steven, Marian, Patricia, Mark, Nikolai, Anastasia, Alice, Kathleen, Denise, Denise, Pamela, Marianne, Ryan, Joanne, Emily, Charles, Hank, Mary Jane, Mary Jo, Clara, Margaret, Susan, Randall, Danielle, Nicholas, Kathleen, Walter, Andrew, Natalie, Arthur, Nicole, Rene, Jennifer, Michael, Marc, Paul, Michael, Daniel, Gerald, Madeline, Marcella, Darina, Jay, George, Carol, Andrew, Jodi, Ilarion, Rita, Elena, William, Andrew, Nestor, Richard, Anna, Tikhon, Michelle, Daria, Mary, Mark, Alexis, Nathan, Ann, Herman, Lillian, Victoria, Michael, Marihiam, Alexandra, Norma, Heather, Kathleen, Daria, Vera, Ella, Ava, Petros, Dionisia, Labrini, Michelle, Christopher, Joan, Jeff, Stephen, Tomas, Kim, Christine, Shirley, Ola

For God’s protection: all who are missing

For God’s protection: all captives; all persecuted Christians throughout the world

For God’s protection: all those in the military; all emergency medical workers, firefighters and police officers

For God’s mercy and peace: those who are in hospice care

For God’s mercy, direction and protection: those who are unemployed, poor, hungry and/or homeless

*** We pray for: those who love us; those who hate us; those who have no one to pray for them; those who have asked us to pray for them, even though we are unworthy. ***

Departed: Archbishop Anastasios, Rick, Owen, Stephan, Maria, Donald, Floarea, Daniela, Emily

Readings for the Week of February 23, 2025

2/23: 1 Corinthians 8:8-9:2; Matthew 25:31-46

2/24: 3 John 1:1-15; Luke 19:29-40; 22:7-39

2/25: Jude 1:1-10; Luke 22:39-42, 45-23:1

2/26: Joel 2:12-26; Joel 3:12-21

2/27: Jude 1:11-25; Luke 23:2-34, 44-56

2/28: Zechariah 8:7-17; Zechariah 8:19-23

3/1: Romans 14:19-23; 16:25-27; Galatians 5:22-6:2; Matthew 6:1-13; 11:27-30

Words from the Saints -- February 20, 2025

"No cloud is formed without a breath of wind; and no passion is born without a thought." --St. Mark the Ascetic

"Of course, it would be easier to get to paradise with a full stomach, all snuggled up in a soft feather-bed, but what is required is to carry one’s cross along the way, for the kingdom of God is not attained by enduring one or two troubles, but many!" --St. Anthony of Optina

"There are three things which produce love of material wealth: self-indulgence, self-esteem and lack of faith. Lack of faith is more dangerous than the other two." --St. Maximos the Confessor

"The memory of insults is the residue of anger. It keeps sins alive, hates justice, ruins virtue, poisons the heart, rots the mind, defeats concentration, paralyzes prayer, puts love at a distance, and is a nail driven into the soul. If anyone has appeased his anger, he has already suppressed the memory of insults, while as long as the mother is alive the son persists. In order to appease the anger, love is necessary." --St. John Climacus

"May God teach every one of us to strive for His truth, and for the good of the Holy Church, rather than something for our own sake." --St. Tikhon of Moscow

Typica on February 20, 2025

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

On February 20, the Orthodox Church commemorates Our Father among the Saints Leo, Bishop of Catania.

The prescribed readings are 1 John 4:20-5:21 and Mark 15:1-15.

*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be on Monday, February 24, at 8:00am (Eastern). ***

Vespers on February 19, 2025

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

On February 20, the Orthodox Church commemorates Our Father among the Saints Leo, Bishop of Catania.

..*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be tomorrow, February 20, at 8:00am (Eastern). ***

Typica on February 17, 2025

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

On February 17, the Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy Great Martyr Theodore the Tyro (the Recruit).

The prescribed readings are 1 John 2:18-3:10 and Mark 11:1-11.

*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be on Wednesday, February 19, at 6:30pm (Eastern). ***

Prayer List for the Week of February 16, 2025

For healing: Abbot Tryphon, Fr. Daniel, Fr. Emilian, Fr. Gregory, Fr. Joseph, Fr. Theodore, Hierodeacon Gorazd, Fr. Deacon Jorge, Matushka Katherine, Matushka Myra, Monk Meletios, Subdeacon Nicholas, Justin, Steven, Marian, Patricia, Mark, Nikolai, Anastasia, Alice, Kathleen, Denise, Denise, Pamela, Marianne, Ryan, Joanne, Emily, Charles, Hank, Mary Jane, Mary Jo, Clara, Margaret, Susan, Randall, Danielle, Nicholas, Kathleen, Walter, Andrew, Natalie, Arthur, Nicole, Rene, Jennifer, Michael, Marc, Paul, Michael, Daniel, Gerald, Madeline, Marcella, Darina, Jay, George, Carol, Andrew, Jodi, Ilarion, Rita, Elena, William, Andrew, Nestor, Richard, Anna, Tikhon, Michelle, Daria, Mary, Mark, Alexis, Nathan, Ann, Herman, Lillian, Victoria, Michael, Marihiam, Alexandra, Norma, Heather, Kathleen, Daria, Vera, Ella, Ava, Petros, Dionisia, Labrini, Michelle, Christopher, Joan, Jeff, Daniela, Stephen, Tomas, Kim, Christine, Shirley, Ola

For God’s protection: all who are missing

For God’s protection: all captives; all persecuted Christians throughout the world

For God’s protection: all those in the military; all emergency medical workers, firefighters and police officers

For God’s mercy and peace: those who are in hospice care

For God’s mercy, direction and protection: those who are unemployed, poor, hungry and/or homeless

*** We pray for: those who love us; those who hate us; those who have no one to pray for them; those who have asked us to pray for them, even though we are unworthy. ***

Departed: Archbishop Anastasios, Elias, Stamatina, Rick, Owen, Michelle, Deborah, Stephan, Maria, Donald