Great Lent

This Sunday we celebrate the Great Feast of Palm Sunday, the Triumphal Entrance of Christ into the city of Jerusalem. Christ enters the city as King with the people holding in their hands Palm branches fit for a true King of old, but this is the Christ who comes triumphantly and comes voluntarily to die.

This Sunday we commemorate the Sunday dedicated to St. Mary of Egypt, a harlot who became a Saint of the Church.

Today we commemorate the 4th Sunday of Great Lent dedicated to the memory of St. John of the Ladder (Climacus). Primarily, the theme of this Sunday is that of faithfulness which is expressed in the many hymns prescribed for this day. “Let us not labor for the sake of food and drink but through prayer and fasting, let us attain to Christ like virtues”.

This Sunday, the Third Sunday of Great Lent, we commemorate the saving Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ. On this day we celebrate the Veneration of the precious and life-giving Cross, the Cross which is placed before us in the center of the Church for refreshment and inspiration, but most of all encouragement to continue the long and difficult path of Great Lent.

On Saturday March 19, 2022 His Eminence, Archbishop Mark began His Archpastoral visit to St. Herman of Alaska Church Glen Mills, PA, with the Great Vespers service followed by a Lenten Dinner in the Church Memorial Hall. On Sunday, March 20, 2022 His Eminence celebrated the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great assisted by the Pastor, Archpriest John Perich, attached clergy and deacons as well numerous Sub-deacons and altar servers.

Today is the second Sunday of Great Lent dedicated to the memory of the 14th century Theologian, St. Gregory Palamas, who eventually became the Archbishop of Thessalonica.

Today is the first Sunday of Great Lent, referred to as the Sunday of Orthodoxy. The Gospel for this Sunday is from St. John chapter 1 verses 43-51 in which Nathaniel upon recognizing who Jesus was answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel” (John 1:49).

The Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is the longest Canon of the Orthodox Church, prescribed during the first week of Great Lent. It is a dialog between St. Andrew and his soul, written for his own personal meditation.

This Sunday we commemorate Forgiveness Sunday sometimes referred to as Cheesefare Sunday. This is the last of the preparatory Sundays before the beginning of Great Lent, which begins on Monday March 7, 2022.

The final Sunday before the Resurrection celebrates the Triumphal Entry of Christ into the city of Jerusalem and signifies the end of our Lenten journey and the beginning of Holy Week.