Welcome

Coronavirus crisis

Services will be celebrated with only the minimum required number of people in attendance.

(no one else should attend in person)

Corona Virus Prayer

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O God Almighty, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all creation visible and invisible, in thine ineffable goodness, look down upon us, thy people gathered in thy Holy Name. Be our helper and defender in this day of affliction. Thou knowest our weakness. Thou hearest our cry in repentance and contrition of heart. O Lord who lovest mankind, deliver us from the impending threat of the Corona Virus. Send thine angel to watch over us and protect us. Grant health and recovery to those suffering from this virus. Guide the hands of physicians and preserve those who are healthy. Enable us to continue to serve our suffering brothers and sisters in peace that together we may glorify thy most honorable and majestic name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Amen.

 Links:

• UPDATED GUIDELINES FROM OUR ARCHBISHOP MICHAEL
• Holy Synod issues Statement on Coronavirus outbreak
• Archpastoral Letter Regarding the Coronavirus Pandemic
• DIOCESAN GUIDELINES CONCERNING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Icon of the Annunciation to the Theotokos

Icon of the Annunciation to the Theotokos

This Icon of the Annunciation to the Theotokos, is found on the Iconostas of our church, in the row of great feasts.  

Annunciation is  on March 25th.

This icon depicts the Archangel Gabriel and the Theotokos as the Angel of God appeared to the Virgin Mary to announce the birth of Christ. ^{(Luke 1:26-37)}. St. Nicholas Cabasilas says, "The Incarnation was not only the work of the Father, of His Power and His Spirit: it was also the work of the will and the faith of the Virgin." In the words of another holy hierarch, "All creation held its breath, wondering what her answer would be." The Virgin was taken by surprise and was quite afraid, but answered simply, "Behold the handmaiden of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."

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Feast of the Annunciation

Feast of the Annunciation

^{from The Orthodox Faith,  by Fr. Thomas Hopko}

The feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary comes nine months before Christmas on the twenty-fifth of March. It is the celebration of the announcing of the birth of Christ to the Virgin Mary as recorded in the Gospel of Saint Luke.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." And Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no husband?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible." And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her ^{(Lk 1:26-38)}.

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Paschal Basket Raffle

The Paschal basket and children’s basket raffles, scheduled for April 5^th and April 12^th, have been postponed until it is safe for the entire congregation to meet again. Raffle ticket entries into the children’s basket will be based on children’s attendance at Sunday School for the school year. Questions about either raffle can be addressed to Maribeth Romanofsky.

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Great Lent - Its Meaning For Orthodox Christians

GREAT LENT Its Meaning For Orthodox Christians

^{by THE RT. REV. ALEXANDER SCHMEMANN (1970)}

GREAT LENT The Time of Repentance

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About the Patron of our Parish

(the Icon of the Mother of God "the Joy of All the Sorrowful"  is Commemorated on July 23, October 24, and November 19)

About the Patron of our Parish

^{By Helen Creticos Theodoropoulos}

Deep within the heart of the Church, in the place where sorrow and joy meet and where our bitter tears are kissed away by a mother's love, we encounter the Most Holy Mother of God. The Church in its devotion to the Ever-Virgin Mary has always known that she is a mystery and a gift given to us by God. The Theotokos is a mystery that can be experienced and encountered, and yet never explained or described in words of logic and science, and she is a gift that brings radiant joy and comfort in the midst of darkness and need. Through the centuries the Church has expressed its love for her through countless hymns, has praised her in its most exquisite poetry and song, and has portrayed her in its most beautiful and beloved icons. No other saint is the subject of so much devotion, and no other saint has so many miracles attributed him or her.

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