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Holy Week is the foremost liturgical treasure of the Orthodox Church, in which we are called to become part of the sacred drama of Christ’s death and resurrection!

We are invited to share his sufferings, to help carry the Cross, to witness His crucifixion, to die with Him, to follow Him in His burial, and to be lifted up to a life of newness filled with the Holy Spirit!

For the supreme gift we receive at this time is the incarnate love of God, “who did not spare his own Son, but rather gave Him up for us all”. (Roman’s 8:39)

On these coming days we remember the beauty of past Holy Week services in our beloved Church, where priest, choir and faithful together accompanied Jesus in His last days!

If God is for us, who can be against us?…Who, then can separate us from the love of Christ? As your pastor, I am certain that nothing can separate us from His love: neither death nor life,neither Angel’s nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present (afflictions we are experiencing), nor the future. There is absolutely nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus, Our Lord. (Roman’s 8:31-39)

Yes we lament our inability to participate physically in the services, but yet our faith is so strong that we through our hearts and in our souls we are, experiencing them maybe to the greatest extent we have ever been able to do. For Christ knows are exceedingly great love for Him and our burning desire to be with Him through His suffering.

Imagine for a moment if someone we loved so much was enduring this terrible plague alone in a hospital in isolation, do we not believe that our love for that person would transcend through any barrier because of our prayers! Of course! The same with our love for Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer!

As children of God we unceasingly offer our sincere prayers for those we love and for all the many suffering in this world. Let us with faith and love continue our journey these next few days towards the precious Pascha.

With love in Christ,
Father John

April 28, 2019

Pascha 2019