"Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.  Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain."     (From the Second Antiphon)

Angels from Heaven invisibly circle the life-bringing Cross in fear, and seeing it now brilliantly shedding light-bestowing grace upon the faithful, amazed they stand and cry to you such words as these: Rejoice, O Cross, guardian of the world; Rejoice, the glory of the Church; Rejoice, you that bountifully gush forth with healings; Rejoice, you that enlighten the ends of the earth; Rejoice, Wood fragrant with life, and treasury of wonders; Rejoice, fitly-joined, thrice-blessed, and bestower of graces; Rejoice, for you are the divine footstool; Rejoice, for you were ordained for the worship of all; Rejoice, bowl of nectar, full to the brim; Rejoice, torch of the radiance above; Rejoice, you through whom the creation is blessed; Rejoice, you through whom the Creator is worshipped; Rejoice, O Wood most blessed.

Memorial Saturday

Fourth Sunday of Lent is dedicated to St. John of the Ladder (Climacus), the author of the work, The Ladder of Divine Ascent. This book contains thirty homilies on virtue. Each homily deals with one virtue and they raise a man up as though by means of steps unto the height of Heaven.The abbot of St. Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai (6th century) stands as a witness to the violent effort needed for entrance into God’s Kingdom. (Matthew 10:12) The spiritual struggle of the Christian life is a real one. Saint John encourages the faithful in their efforts because, according to the Lord, only “he who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13) His book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is a guide, to those who seek salvation, on how to lay a sound foundation for his struggles to enter into the kingdom of God and how to aim for perfection. It is held in such high esteem that it is universally read in its entirety in monasteries during the Great Lent.

Fourth Sunday of Lent is dedicated to St. John of the Ladder (Climacus), the author of the work, The Ladder of Divine Ascent. This book contains thirty homilies on virtue. Each homily deals with one virtue and they raise a man up as though by means of steps unto the height of Heaven.The abbot of St. Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai (6th century) stands as a witness to the violent effort needed for entrance into God’s Kingdom. (Matthew 10:12) The spiritual struggle of the Christian life is a real one. Saint John encourages the faithful in their efforts because, according to the Lord, only “he who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13) His book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is a guide, to those who seek salvation, on how to lay a sound foundation for his struggles to enter into the kingdom of God and how to aim for perfection. It is held in such high esteem that it is universally read in its entirety in monasteries during the Great Lent.

Fourth Sunday of Lent is dedicated to St. John of the Ladder (Climacus), the author of the work, The Ladder of Divine Ascent. This book contains thirty homilies on virtue. Each homily deals with one virtue and they raise a man up as though by means of steps unto the height of Heaven.The abbot of St. Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai (6th century) stands as a witness to the violent effort needed for entrance into God’s Kingdom. (Matthew 10:12) The spiritual struggle of the Christian life is a real one. Saint John encourages the faithful in their efforts because, according to the Lord, only “he who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13) His book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is a guide, to those who seek salvation, on how to lay a sound foundation for his struggles to enter into the kingdom of God and how to aim for perfection. It is held in such high esteem that it is universally read in its entirety in monasteries during the Great Lent.

"O Lord and Master of my Life! Take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant. Yea, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou, unto ages of ages."   (The Prayer of St. Ephraim)

"All the angels were amazed at the great act of Thine incarnation; for they saw the Unapproachable God as a man approachable to all, abiding with us, and hearing from all: Alleluia!"       (Kontakion 9)

Saturday of the Akathist.

Parish Confessions - 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.  Please be here before 2:30 p.m.

The fifth Sunday recalls the memory of St. Mary of Egypt, the repentant harlot. Mary tells us, first of all, that no amount of sin and wickedness can keep a person from God if he truly repents. St. Mary recognized her sinfulness and sought to bring about an essential change in her life. She ran from her sinfulness and devoted the remainder of her life to placing God’s will above her own

The fifth Sunday recalls the memory of St. Mary of Egypt, the repentant harlot. Mary tells us, first of all, that no amount of sin and wickedness can keep a person from God if he truly repents. St. Mary recognized her sinfulness and sought to bring about an essential change in her life. She ran from her sinfulness and devoted the remainder of her life to placing God’s will above her own.

The meaning and the spirit of the Great Lent find their first and most important explression in worship.  Not only individuals but the whole Church acquires a penitential spirit, and the beautiful Lenten services more than anything else help us to deepen our spiritual vision, to reconsider our life in the light of the Orthodox teaching about man.  (Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann)

Father Thomas Hopko states that the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is one of the most beautiful and most meaningful liturgical services in the Orthodox Christian Church.  Tonight is the last chance to witness and participate in the beauty of the service this year. 

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." But when Jesus heard it He said, "This illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by means of it." Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, "Let us go into Judea again." ….. then He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awake him out of sleep." The disciples said to Him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead; Now when Jesus came, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met Him, while Mary sat in the house. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to Him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, He who is coming into the world." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled; and He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see." Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb; it was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard me. I knew that Thou hearest me always, but I have said this on account of the people standing by, that they may believe that Thou didst send me." When He had said this, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with bandages, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." (Excerpts from John 1:1-44, RSV) This miracle stunned nearby Jerusalem. As a result of this event, many came to see Lazarus, and many believed.

Lent comes to an end on Palm Friday. We now enter into the annual commemoration of Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection. It begins on the Saturday of Lazarus. The double feast of Lazarus’ Resurrection and the Entrance of the Lord to Jerusalem is described in liturgical tests as the “beginning of the Cross.” By raising Lazarus from the dead Christ confirmed the truth of general resurrection.

In the life of Jesus, the solemn entrance in the Holy City was the only visible triumph. Up to this day, He consistently rejected all attempts to glorify Him. But six days before the Passover, He not only accepted to be glorified, He Himself provoked and arranged this glorification. He made it clear that He wanted to be acclaimed and acknowledged as the Messiah, the King and the Redeemer of Israel. The purpose of the history of Israel was to announce and to prepare the Kingdom of God, the advent of the Messiah and now it is fulfilled. For the King enters His Holy City and in Him all prophecies, all expectations find their fulfillment. The Liturgy of Palm Sunday commemorates this event. With palm branches in our hands, we identify ourselves with the people of Jerusalem, together with them we greet the lowly King, singing Hosanna to Him. The branches in our hands signify our readiness and willingness to follow Him on this sacrificial way, our acceptance of sacrifice and self-denial as the only royal way to the Kingdom.

On Wednesday of Holy Week, we receive the Sacrament of Healing. The service on Holy Wednesday evening is the administration of the Sacrament of Holy Unction, the anointing with oil. As described by the Apostle James, the purpose of this Sacrament is the restoration of health and the remission of sins. It is through this Sacrament that the Holy Spirit comes into the believer’s life through the anointing with oil blessed during the service. This Sacrament is for the healing of both our physical and spiritual illnesses, for our body as well as our soul.

The Last Supper is the ultimate revelation of God’s redeeming love for mankind. Communion with the God-given world was to be communion with God Himself. During the Last Supper, Jesus restores communion with God by offering Himself as the true source of food for man because the life revealed in Him is the true life. Thursday morning, at Vesperal Divine Liturgy, we re-create the Last Supper and also prepare the Holy Eucharist to be kept in the tabernacle on the Altar Table for communion of sick and the infirm, as well as to have Christ’s abiding Sacramental Presence with us in our church building throughout the year.

On the evening of Holy Thursday, the faithful gather in the church to hear the account of our Lord’s Passion read from the twelve sections of the Gospel. We accompany Christ from the time of His last discourse with His disciples, to His burial in the tomb.

At this service the church symbolically buries Christ. The Holy Shroud (Plaschanitsja) is brought in procession from the sanctuary and placed in the representation of the Lord’s Grave or Tomb.

On the evening of Holy Friday, the Church sings the Matins (morning worship service) of Holy Saturday, and laments over the dead body of Christ. Along with the theme of sorrow is the fact that the death of Christ is the ultimate proof of His love for the will of God.

Holy Saturday brings to mind that a guard of soldiers are stationed at the tomb of Christ; the Lord’s body lies in the tomb covered by a large stone; and that His soul is with the saintly departed in hell, who receive their freedom and heavenly rest.

General Confession and Blessing of Baskets.    Please keep all foods in the vestibule for blessing.  Do not bring into the church.    

Nocturnes with the transfer of the Holy Shroud (Plaschanitsja) to the Holy Table followed by the Procession and Resurrection Matins at Midnight. 

Procession & Resurrection Matins at Midnight.     CHRIST IS RISEN!   INDEED HE IS RISEN!

CHRIST IS RISEN!    INDEED HE IS RISEN!

  CHRIST IS RISEN!   INDEED HE IS RISEN!     Divine Liturgy and Procession with Icons

CHRIST IS RISEN!   INDEED HE IS RISEN!