Words from the Saints -- April 6, 2023

"He who drives out self-love, the mother of the passions, will with God's help easily rid himself of the rest, such as anger, irritation, rancor and so on. But he who is dominated by self-love is overpowered by the other passions, even against his will. Self-love is the passion of attachment to the body." --St. Maximos the Confessor

“Let us not then be ashamed to confess the Crucified. Be the Cross our seal made with boldness by our fingers on our brow, and on everything; over the bread we eat, and the cups we drink; in our comings in, and goings out; before our sleep, when we lie down and when we rise up; when we are in the way, and when we are still. Great is that preservative; it is without price, for the sake of the poor; without toil, for the sick; since also its grace is from God. It is the Sign of the faithful, and the dread of devils: for He ‘triumphed over them in it, having made a show of them openly’ [Colossians 2:15]; for when they see the Cross they are reminded of the Crucified; they are afraid of Him, who bruised the heads of the dragon. Despise not the Seal, because of the freeness of the gift; but for this the rather honor your Benefactor.” --St. Cyril of Jerusalem

"Do not claim to have acquired virtue unless you have suffered affliction, for without affliction virtue has not been tested." --St. Mark the Ascetic

Lenten Hours on April 5, 2023

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

Today is the Sixth Wednesday of Great Lent.

The prescribed readings are Isaiah 58:1-11 (6th Hour), Genesis 43:26-31; 45:1-16 (Vespers) and Proverbs 21:23-22:4 (Vespers).

*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be tomorrow, April 6, at 7pm (Eastern). ***

Akathist to St. Panteleimon (4/4/23)

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be tomorrow, April 5, at 8am (Eastern). ***

Lenten Hours on April 3, 2023

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

Today is the Sixth Monday of Great Lent.

The prescribed readings are Isaiah 48:17-49:4 (6th Hour), Genesis 27:1-41 (Vespers) and Proverbs 19:16-25 (Vespers).

*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be tomorrow, April 4, at 7pm (Eastern). ***

Penitential Stanzas (Tone 1)

Savior, I have fallen into a great abyss because of my sins, and my transgressions weigh me down. Stretch out Your hand to me as You did to Peter, Lord. Save me, O God, and have mercy on me.

My thoughts and deeds condemn me, Savior. Give me the thought of turning back, that i may cry out to You: Save me, O God, and have mercy on me!

Another world awaits you, my soul: A Judge will soon reveal your secret and terrible thoughts and deeds! Do not linger, then, among the things that are here. Anticipate the judgment and cry out to the Judge: Be merciful to me, O God, and save me!

Do not reject me at the testing, My Savior, though I am held fast by the laziness of sin. Arouse my thoughts to repentance; make me a proven worker of Your vineyard: Grant me the wages of the eleventh hour and great mercy!

Prayer List for the Week of April 2, 2023

For healing: Fr. Andrew, Fr. Daniel, Fr. Emilian, Fr. Gregory, Matushka Katherine, Matushka Myra, Pani Matka Mary Margaret, Monk Meletios, Justin, Steven, Marian, Patricia, Mark, Nikolai, Anastasia, Alice, Kathleen, Denise, Denise, Pamela, Robert, Peter, Eric, Marianne, Ryan, Joanne, Marianne, Emily, Charles, Hank, Nicholas, Katrina, Mary Jane, Nicholas, Alicia, Mary Jo, Clara, Barbara, Margaret, Susan, Randall, Michael, Danielle, Nicholas, Tricia, Patty, Darlene, George, Paul, Darina, Robert, Kathleen, Walter, Diana, George, Natalie, Arthur, Nicole, Patricia, Rene, Jennifer, Dorina, Elena, Papoulas, Despina, Constantine, Eleftheria, Marihiam, Agape, Lachlan, Papoulas, Paul, Nicholas, Constantine, Nectarios, Eleftheria, Agape, Vasiliki, Anna, Mirsina, Emmanuel, Marihiam, Jason, Michael, Donald, Marc, Alexandra, Eliza, Kathleen, Gary, Robbin, Kathy, Robert, Roy, Paul, Natalie, Anna, Anita, Mary, Margaret, Valerie

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

For God’s protection: all those in the military

For God’s protection: 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: Fr. Srbliub, Matushka Barbara, John, Tacijana, George, Lillian, Mitica, Jonel, Diane, Lawrence

Readings for the Week of April 2, 2023

4/2: Galatians 3:23-29; Hebrews 9:11-14; Mark 10:32-45; Luke 7:36-50

4/3: Isaiah 48:17-49:4; Genesis 27:1-41; Proverbs 19:16-25

4/4: Isaiah 49:6-10; Genesis 31:3-16; Proverbs 21:3-21

4/5: Isaiah 58:1-11; Genesis 43:26-31; 45:1-16; Proverbs 21:23-22:4

4/6: Isaiah 65:8-16; Genesis 46:1-7; Proverbs 23:15-24:5

4/7: Isaiah 66:10-24; Genesis 49:33-50:26; Proverbs 31:8-31

4/8: Hebrews 12:28-13:8; John 11:1-45

Vespers for March 31, 2023

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

Today is the Fifth Thursday of Great Lent. On March 31, the Orthodox Church commemorates St. Innocent, Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to America.

The prescribed readings for Vespers are Genesis 18:20-33 and Proverbs 16:17-17:17.

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

Words from the Saints -- March 30, 2023

"We must, therefore, guard thus against evil desires, because death hath his station near the entrance of pleasure." --St. Benedict of Nursia

"The Publican would not lift up so much as his eyes towards heaven (Luke 18:10-14). Why not? The eyes are the mirror of the soul. The soul’s sins can be read in the eyes. Do you not see every day that, when a man sins, his eyes are lowered before men. How can the eyes of a sinner not be lowered before God the all-Seeing. Lo, every sin committed before men is committed before God, and there is no sin on earth that does not affect God. A true man of prayer is aware of this and is filled, along with humility, with shame before God. This is why it says: he would not lift up so much as his eyes towards heaven." --St. Nikolai Velimirovich

Lenten Hours on March 29, 2023

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

Today is the Fifth Wednesday of Great Lent.

The prescribed readings are Isaiah 41:4-14 (6th Hour), Genesis 17:1-9 (Vespers) and Proverbs 15:20-16:9 (Vespers).

*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be tomorrow, March 30, at 7pm (Eastern). ***

Akathist to St. Panteleimon (3/28/23)

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be tomorrow, March 29, at 8am (Eastern). ***

Lenten Hours on March 27, 2023

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

Today is the Fifth Monday of Great Lent.

The prescribed readings are Isaiah 37:33-38:6 (6th Hour), Genesis 13:12-18 (Vespers) and Proverbs 14:27-15:4 (Vespers)

*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be tomorrow, March 28, at 7pm (Eastern). ***

Penitential Stanzas (Tone 8)

King and Master, the angels praise You without ceasing, and I fall before You crying out like the Tax-Collector: God be merciful to me and save me (Luke 18:13)!

My soul, because you are immortal, be not overwhelmed by the waves of this life. But return to sobriety and cry out to Your Benefactor: God be merciful to me and save me!

Grant me tears, O God, as You once gave them to the woman who had sinned, and count me worthy to wash Your feet which have delivered me from the path of error. As sweet-smelling ointment, let me offer You a pure life created in me through repentance. And may I also hear the words which I long to hear: Your faith have saved you, go in peace (Luke 7:37-50).

When I call to mind the many evils I have done, and I think about the fearsome day of judgement. I am seized with trembling and I flee to You for refuge, the God Who loves mankind. I beseech You Who alone are free from sin to turn not away from me. But before the end comes grant compunction to my humbled soul and save me.

Prayer List for the Week of March 26, 2023

For healing: Fr. Andrew, Fr. Daniel, Fr. Emilian, Fr. Gregory, Matushka Katherine, Matushka Myra, Pani Matka Mary Margaret, Monk Meletios, Justin, Steven, Marian, Patricia, Mark, Nikolai, Anastasia, Alice, Kathleen, Denise, Denise, Pamela, Robert, Peter, Eric, Marianne, Ryan, Joanne, Marianne, Emily, Charles, Hank, Nicholas, Katrina, Mary Jane, Nicholas, Alicia, Mary Jo, Clara, Barbara, Margaret, Susan, Randall, Michael, Danielle, Nicholas, Tricia, Patty, Darlene, George, Paul, Darina, Robert, Kathleen, Walter, Diana, George, Natalie, Arthur, Nicole, Patricia, Rene, Jennifer, Dorina, Elena, Papoulas, Despina, Constantine, Eleftheria, Marihiam, Agape, Lachlan, Papoulas, Paul, Nicholas, Constantine, Nectarios, Eleftheria, Agape, Vasiliki, Anna, Mirsina, Emmanuel, Marihiam, Jason, Michael, Donald, Marc, Alexandra, Eliza, Kathleen, Gary, Robbin, Kathy, Robert, Roy, Paul, Natalie, Anna, Anita

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

For God’s protection: all those in the military

For God’s protection: 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: Fr. Daniel, Fr. John, Fr. Srbliub, Matushka Barbara, John, Tacijana, George, Eleanor, Lillian, Mitica, Jonel, Diane

Readings for the Week of March 26, 2023

3/26: Ephesians 5:9-19; Hebrews 6:13-20; Matthew 4:25-5:12; Mark 9:17-31

3/27: Isaiah 37:33-38:6; Genesis 13:12-18; Proverbs 14:27-15:4

3/28: Isaiah 40:18-31; Genesis 15:1-15; Proverbs 15:7-19

3/29: Isaiah 41:4-14; Genesis 17:1-9;

Proverbs 15:20-16:9

3/30: Isaiah 42:5-16; Genesis 18:20-33; Proverbs 16:17-17:17

3/31: Isaiah 45:11-17; Genesis 22:1-18; Proverbs 17:17-18:5

4/1: Hebrews 9:1-7, 24-28; Mark 8:27-31; Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28

Lenten Hours on March 24, 2023

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

Todday is the Fourth Friday of Great Lent.

The prescribed readings are Isaiah 29:13-23 (6th Hour), Genesis 12:1-7 (Vespers) and Proverbs 14:15-26 (Vespers).

*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be on Monday, March 27, at 8am (Eastern). ***

Vespers for March 24, 2023

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

Today is the Fourth Thursday of Great Lent. On March 24, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Prefeast of the Annunciation.

The prescribed readings for Vespers are Genesis 10:32-11:9 and Proverbs 13:20-14:6.

*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be tomorrow, March 24, at 8am (Eastern). ***

Words from the Saints -- March 23, 2023

"We have one sword, the Jesus Prayer. It is said 'strike the unseen enemies with the sword, for there is no more powerful weapon, either in heaven or on earth.'" --St. Barsanuphius

"Every day you provide your bodies with good to keep them from failing. In the same way your good works should be the daily nourishment of your hearts. Your bodies are fed with food and your spirits with good works. You aren't to deny your soul, which is going to live forever, what you grant to your body, which is going to die." --St. Gregory the Great, Pope of Rome

"You, O Christ our Savior, have become for me the path of life which leads to the Father. There is but one path, and it is my joy, and at the end of it is the heavenly kingdom." --St. Ephraim the Syrian

Lenten Hours on March 22, 2023

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

Today is the Fourth Wednesday of Great Lent.

The prescribed readings are Isaiah 26:21-27:9 (6th Hour), Genesis 9:18-29 (Vespers) and Proverbs 12:23-13:9 (Vespers).

*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be tomorrow, March 23, at 7pm (Eastern). ***

Lenten Hours on March 21, 2023

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

Today is the Fourth Tuesday of Great Lent.

The prescribed readings are Isaiah 25:1-9 (6th Hour), Genesis 9:8-17 (Vespers) and Proverbs 12:8-22 (Vespers).

*** Our next live broadcast on Facebook will be tomorrow, March 22, at 8am (Eastern). ***