Great Lent is the time of preparation for the feast of the Resurrection of Christ. It is a time of renewed prayer, fasting, and repentance. In the Orthodox Church, Great Lent is not a season of morbidity and gloominess, however, it is a time to express sorrow for our sins. During the Lenten season, we should devote more time reading the Holy Bible and meditation. Foremost, our activity during this period should include attendance for all the many beautiful Lenten services worshipping with our family and friends.

The Sundays of Great Lent:

Feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy This is a historical feast commemorating the return of the icons to the churches in the year 843 after they had been banned for several decades. The heresy of iconoclasm was overcome.

St. Gregory Palamas It was St. Gregory (de.1359) who bore living witness that men can become divine through the grace of God in the Holy Spirit. St. Gregory clearly teaches that by cooperating with the God who makes all things possible, we can attain eternal life.

Veneration of the Cross The Kingdom of God comes only through the Cross and through suffering. The Cross stands in the midst of the church in the middle of the lenten season not merely to remind men of Christ’s redemption and to keep before them the goal of their efforts, but also to be venerated as that reality by which man must live to be saved. “He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:38)

St. John of the Ladder (Climacus) Abbot of St. Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai (6th century) and author of the work, The Ladder of Divine Ascent. In this work, St. John outlines the steps essential for attaining communion with God - steps which remind us that the way to the Kingdom constantly requires enormous effort for entrance into God’s Kingdom.

Saint Mary of Egypt A repentant harlot, Mary tells us, 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 Greek term for repentance, metanoia, denotes a change of mind, a reorientation, a change of heart. It involves a fundamental transformation of man’s outlook, of man's vision of the world and of himself, and a new way of loving others and God.  

A good example of metanoia in Scripture is the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, who became known as St. Paul. Saul was a Jew educated under the Rabbi Gamaliel and became very notorious as a great persecutor of Christians While journeying to Damascus, Saul had a profound spiritual experience that changed everything.  The spirit of Christ confronted Saul and he came to know the risen Savior he once persecuted after repentance and surrender.  Saul became known as St. Paul and wrote much of the New Testament, helped spread the gospel of Christ, and was a martyr for his faith.

In the Orthodox Church, this prayer is a spiritual cornerstone, especially during Lent. This short cherished prayer fills a narrative gap—articulating Manasseh’s repentance—and teaches us how to turn to God and know His divine love. The prayer’s plea for forgiveness (v. 13–14) echoes Orthodoxy’s view of God as “lover of mankind,” offering hope to all sinners. Add this prayer to your daily Lenten Prayers and celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ genuinely with a truly loving heart and a new blessed relationship with Jesus. 

Prayer of Manasseh

O Lord Almighty, God of our Fathers,Of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob And of their righteous posterity

Thou who hast made heaven and earth with all their order;

Who hast shackled the sea by Thy word of command,

who hast confined the deep and sealed it with Thy terrible and glorious name;

At whom all things shudder, and tremble before Thy power,

For Thy glorious splendor cannot be borne, and the wrath of Thy threat to sinners is irresistible;

yet immeasurable and unsearchable is Thy promised mercy,

For Thou art the Lord Most High, of great compassion, long-suffering,

and very merciful, and repentest over the evils of men.

Thou, O Lord, according to Thy great goodness

hast promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against Thee;

And in the multitude of Thy mercies thou hast appointed repentance for sinners,

That they may be saved. Therefore Thou, O Lord, God of the righteous,

hast not appointed repentance for the righteous, for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob,

who did not sin against Thee,

but Thou hast appointed repentance for me, who am a sinner.

For the sins I have committed are more in number than the sand of the sea;

My transgressions are multiplied, O Lord, they are multiplied!

I am unworthy to look up and see the height of heaven because of the multitude of my iniquities.

I am weighted down with many an iron fetter,

so that I am rejected because of my sins, and I have no relief;

For I have provoked Thy wrath and have done what is evil in Thy sight,

setting up abominations and multiplying offenses.

And now I bend the knee of my heart, beseeching Thee for Thy kindness.

I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned,

and I know my transgressions. I earnestly beseech Thee, forgive me,

O Lord, forgive me! Do not destroy me with my transgressions!

Do not be angry with me forever or lay up evil for me;

do not condemn me to the depths of the earth.

For Thou, O Lord, art the God of those who repent,

and in me Thou wilt manifest

Thy goodness; for, unworthy as I am, Thou wilt save me in Thy great mercy,

And I will praise Thee continually all the days of my life.

For all the host of heaven sings Thy praise,

and Thine is the glory for ever. Amen.

Memorial (Soul) Saturdays are on March 7 , March 14; March 21; May 30 and October 24.  Remembering departed relatives and others among the faithful who have fallen asleep in the Lord is an act of love that we should never neglect.  A Panikhida on each of these days will be served.   Make a list of those you want included in the services and leave the list in the Church Office or mail it to Father Maryan at the rectory.   Attend these services to experience the beauty and meaning of these days in the place where our relatives and friends worshipped before they were laid to pious rest.

Happy Birthday to all those celebrating in the month of March: Valentina Franko on March 2; Rosemarie Petro on March 2; Sonya Finno on March 3; Lydia Bzik on March 9; Amy Kovalycsik Talley on March 11; Scott Cahayla on March 13; Robert M. Czech on March 14; Nicholas Kovalycsik on March 20; Genevieve Bobenko on March 22 and Chris Bzik, March 28. May God grant each of you Many Years!

Helen Baron, our food basket coordinator, asks that you remember your neighbors who are unable to provide for their families in this difficult time and donate to our food basket. Helen thanks all of you who have been so generous in the past and may God bless you all.