Great Lent

The main theme of this Sunday from the gospel of St. Mark 10:32-45 is that of greatness, not as we would normally think but rather in the light of the Christian faith.  The gospel lesson recounts Jesus’ words to the disciples, as they were going to Jerusalem about His coming passion and about what true greatness is.

I greet you on this the 4th Sunday of Great Lent dedicated to the memory of St. John of the Ladder, who lived in the late 6th century and the early 7th century. St. John was tonsured a monk at the Monastery of St. Catherine located at the foot of Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments from Almighty God.

This Sunday April 4, 2021 we Orthodox Christians celebrate the Veneration of the Cross. The Cross is presented to us today for refreshment and support, for remembrance of the passion of Our Lord and most of all for encouragement to continue our journey to the precious and holy Pascha of Our Lord.

This the Second Sunday of Great Lent, is dedicated to the memory of the 14th century Saint, Gregory of Palamas.  He initially started out in his life as a young scholar, monastic and eventually Archbishop of Thessaloniki, serving as a shining example to his contemporaries.

This Sunday, the first Sunday of Great Lent is called the Sunday of Orthodoxy, or the Triumph of Orthodoxy.  This Sunday is an impressive reminder of the centrality of Christ in the Orthodox Church.  It is a spiritual feast during which we Orthodox Christians reaffirm our confession of faith in Jesus Christ and His saving work.  It is the day in which we lift up Christ in praise and glorification.

This Sunday March 14, 2021 is Cheesefare Sunday, the Sunday of Forgiveness.  The gospel for this the last of the preparatory Sunday’s before Great Lent is from Matthew 6:14-21. Forgiveness is the central theme of this Sunday for let us recall the words of the Apostle Peter, “turn to God, so that He will forgive your sins!” (Acts 3:19).

Behold, the Bridegroom comes at midnight, and blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching; and again, unworthy is the servant whom He shall find heedless.  Beware, therefore, O…