O Lord, who didst send down Thy Most Holy Spirit upon Thine apostles at the third hour:  Take Him not from us, O Good One, but renew Him in us who pray to Thee.  (Prayer from the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil.)

Epiphany – Baptism of Christ – “Today the grace of the Holy Spirit has descended on the waters in the likeness of a dove. Today has shone the sun that does not set, and the world is lighted by the light of the Lord. Today the moon shines with the world in its radiating beams. Today the shining stars adorn the universe with the splendor of their radiance. Today the clouds from heaven moisten mankind with showers of justice. Today the Uncreated accepts of His own will the laying on of hands by His own creation. Today the Prophet and Forerunner draws nigh to the Master, and halts with trembling when he witnesses the condescension of God towards us. Today the waters of the Jordan are changed to healing by the presence of the Lord. Today the whole universe is watered by mystical streams. Today the sins of mankind are blotted out by the waters of the Jordan. Today the darkness of the world vanishes with the appearance of our God. Today the whole creation is lighted from on high. Today is error annulled, and the coming of the Lord prepares for us a way of salvation Today the celestials celebrate with the terrestrials, and the terrestrials commune with the celestials. Today the assembly of noble and great voiced Orthodoxy rejoices. Today the Lord comes to baptism to elevate mankind above. Today the Unbowable bows to His servant to deliver us from slavery. Today we have bought the kingdom of heaven, for the kingdom of heaven has no end. (From the Theophany prayer of St. Sophronius)

Eve of the Theophany -  Strict Fast After Easter and Pentecost, Theophany is considered the third greatest feast of the Orthodox church, more so even than Christmas. It commemorates the baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. The Holy Trinity was revealed to the world. The Father spoke saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The Holy Spirit was seen in the form of a dove, hovering over the waters. And John the Baptist bore witness saying, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

Eve of the Theophany -  Strict Fast After Easter and Pentecost, Theophany is considered the third greatest feast of the Orthodox church, more so even than Christmas. It commemorates the baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. The Holy Trinity was revealed to the world. The Father spoke saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The Holy Spirit was seen in the form of a dove, hovering over the waters. And John the Baptist bore witness saying, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

Epiphany – Baptism of Christ – “Today the grace of the Holy Spirit has descended on the waters in the likeness of a dove. Today has shone the sun that does not set, and the world is lighted by the light of the Lord. Today the moon shines with the world in its radiating beams. Today the shining stars adorn the universe with the splendor of their radiance. Today the clouds from heaven moisten mankind with showers of justice. Today the Uncreated accepts of His own will the laying on of hands by His own creation. Today the Prophet and Forerunner draws nigh to the Master, and halts with trembling when he witnesses the condescension of God towards us. Today the waters of the Jordan are changed to healing by the presence of the Lord. Today the whole universe is watered by mystical streams. Today the sins of mankind are blotted out by the waters of the Jordan. Today the darkness of the world vanishes with the appearance of our God. Today the whole creation is lighted from on high. Today is error annulled, and the coming of the Lord prepares for us a way of salvation Today the celestials celebrate with the terrestrials, and the terrestrials commune with the celestials. Today the assembly of noble and great voiced Orthodoxy rejoices. Today the Lord comes to baptism to elevate mankind above. Today the Unbowable bows to His servant to deliver us from slavery. Today we have bought the kingdom of heaven, for the kingdom of heaven has no end. (From the Theophany prayer of St. Sophronius)

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with my whole heart;  I will tell of all Your wondrous things; I will be glad and rejoice in You;  I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.  (Psalm 9:1-3)

I will sing of Thy mercies, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Thy truth from generation to generation.  Thou hast said:  Mercy will be established forever, and my truth will be prepared in the heavens.  (Alleluia Verses - Tone 5)

The earth is the Lord's, and its fullness.  The world and all who dwell therein, for He founded it upon the seas and prepared it upon the rivers.  Who shall ascend to the mountain of the Lord?  Who shall stand in His holy place.  He who has innocent hands and a pure heart..... (lPsalm 23:1-4)

St. Mark, Archbishop of Ephesus - All-Laudable and most divine Mark, in thee the Church found a great zealot by thy confession of the holy and sacred Faith; for thou didst champion the doctrines which the Fathers taught and didst cast down darkness' boastful pride.  Wherefore pray thou to Christ God for them that honor thee, that we be granted the forgiveness of sins.  (Hymn of St. Mark, 3rd Tone)

January meeting of the board of trustees.

St. Gregory the Theologian -  By words of theology you unraveled the complex webs of the orators,  glorious Gregory,  and adorned the Church with the robe of Orthodoxy woven from on high.  Wearing it, she cries out with us, her children:  “Rejoice, O Father, supreme mind of theology.”  (Kontakion - Tone 3)

By Thy Cross, Thou didst destroy death!  To the thief;  Thou didst open Paradise!  For the myrrhbearers;  Thou didst change weeping into joy!  And Thou didst command Thy disciples, O Christ God, to proclaim that Thou art risen, granting the world greaty mercy!  (Troparion - Tone 7)

Having just closed the last box of my Christmas things and gently placing it in storage for the next Nativity Season, my thoughts already turn to Great Lent. Great Lent is the time of repentance, the time of our reconciliation with God. Repentance is the beginning, and also, the condition of a truly Christian life. Our Church has set apart seven weeks as a special time of repentance and calls each Orthodox Christian to a special spiritual effort. The Church calls us to deepen our religious conscience, to increase and strengthen the spiritual contents of our life, to follow her in her pilgrimage towards renewal and rededication to God. Although Great Lent starts on Monday, March 2, it is important to know that the pre-Lenten Sundays come with lessons to learn before that Monday. On Sunday, February 2, one of the important feast days of the year, “Feast of the Meeting of Christ in the Temple,” is shared with Zacchaeus Sunday. Zacchaeus Sunday teaches us about a short man full of desire to see Jesus and the struggle he expends to succeed in this effort. February 9 is dedicated to the Publican and the Pharisee. A parable that Jesus tells his listeners concerning humility. On Sunday, February 16, we hear the parable about the Prodigal Son. Jesus is very clear in explaining that God is a forgiving Father if you are sincerely repentant, humble and hopeful of His mercy. Sunday of the Last Judgment, also called Meatfare Sunday, tells us the importance of LOVE and uncalculated mercy toward others. It is also the last day for consumption of meat products until Pascha. The Great Lent begins on Monday, March 2 following Cheesefare Sunday, also called Forgiveness Sunday. On this Sunday we approach each other penitently and honestly forgive each other. Our journey to Pascha starts with forgiveness to our family members, our friends and everyone we know. This Monday the fast now includes all dairy products until Pascha. The Joy of Our Lord and Savior’s Resurrection is significantly enhanced by our participation in a deep spiritual renewal with God, and a return to His Church for confession, communion, and attendance to the many services. Now is the time to rediscover the hope that our Lord and Savior grants to us all and that is so lacking in the secular world that surrounds us.   Father has been blessing houses during January and is available to bless your home during February as well. Please call the rectory and make an appointment that is convenient for you.   Memory Eternal to our brother in Christ Frederick Otto Beckmann who fell asleep in the Lord on Thursday, January 9. Funeral was held on Monday, January 13, at Bizub -Quinlan Funeral Home. Memories of Fred are in the Photo Gallery. Our Condolences and sincere sympathy to his family. May his Memory be Eternal!   Many thanks to all who in any way participated in preparation, beautification and clean-up of the services and social events in our parish during this Nativity season. God grant you all Many Years!   The Passaic “O” Club had their second “Annual Cookie Fest” on Sunday, December 29, 2019. It was a successful and delicious event and recipes used for the cookies at this fest were incorporated in a small booklet that is for sale for $2. Pictures of the cookies are in the Photo Gallery.   We pray for all our fellow parishioners, and we pray especially for those who are incapable of being with us in church. Please keep in your prayers our brothers and sisters in Christ. God knows who they are: Genevieve, Barbara, Michael, Mary Ann, Dorothy, Barbara, Margaret, Kathleen, Dennis, Marian, Mary Ann, Helen, Anna, Maryann, Eva, and Patricia.   Happy Birthday to all those celebrating their birthday in February. Stacey Baron Anderson on February 2; Jeffrey Rahnefeld on February 8; Christopher Kary, February 10; Alissa Pecoraro, February 11; Chris Finno, February 14; Evgenia Kozienko Jimenez February 26. May God grant each of you Many Years!   In addition to our parish’s website, we strongly encourage you to keep abreast on the latest news and happenings about Orthodoxy from our diocese and the National Church. Please use links listed here to access any of the three sites: Diocese of NY and NJ: www.nynjoca.org and Orthodox Church in America: www.oca.org All these websites will provide you with articles and resources for the Holy Orthodox Church; they include the history of Orthodoxy, special services and blessings; spirituality; teaching of the Church; the form and characteristics of worship; the Sacrament of Confession; Holy Week meditation and study guide; fasting; and much more.

Synaxis Three Hierarchs  -  This common feast of these three teachers was instituted a little before the year 1100 because of a dispute and strife that arose among the notable and virtuous men of that time. Some of them preferred Basil, while others preferred Gregory, and yet others preferred John Chrysostom, quarreling among themselves over which of the three was the greatest. The three saints appeared to a monk, John Mauropus, who became Bishop of Euchaita, a city of Asia Minor and revealed to him that the glory they have at the throne of God is equal. They told the Bishop to compose a common service for both of them which he did.

St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, and St. John Chrysostom  -  “Let us who love their words gather together  and honor with hymns the three great torch-bearers of the triune Godhead: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom. These men have enlightened the world with the rays of their divine doctrines. They are sweetly-flowing rivers of wisdom  filling all creation with springs of heavenly knowledge.  Ceaselessly they intercede for us before the Holy Trinity!”   (Troparion — Tone 1)