14/04/2020
We remember the sinful woman who anointed Christ, in anticipation of His death.Her repentance and love for Christ are the theme of the Hymn of Cassiane, chanted this night.
14/04/2020
We remember the sinful woman who anointed Christ, in anticipation of His death.Her repentance and love for Christ are the theme of the Hymn of Cassiane, chanted this night.
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14/04/2020
In this ancient and inspired service, we receive Holy Communion which was consecrated at the Divine Liturgy on the previous Sunday.
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HOLY WEEK BEGINS
Part 1
Part 2
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12/04/2020
Christ, the Bridegroom (Ο ΝΥΜΦΙΟΣ); the blessed Joseph; the Barren Fig Tree.
In reading the Gospels, we often note the all-too-human responses of the disciples to Jesus and to the situations in which they find themselves. For example, they failed to understand His parables (Luke 8:9); they lost faith in His power, as when they were caught in the storm on the lake (Luke 8:24); they often failed to grasp that He indeed was the Messiah (Luke 9:18-20). Particularly during the events of Holy Week we see clearly the human weaknesses of the Apostles. At the Last Supper they argued over who among them is to be regarded as the greatest (Luke 22:24). When Jesus asked them to keep prayerful watch with Him in Gethsemane, they fell asleep twice (Luke22:40-46)1 When the soldiers arrested Jesus, Peter struck out in fear and anger, while Jesus responded in divine love to those who
sought to hurt Him and healed the ear which Peter severed from the slave (Luke 22:50-51). Finally, Saint Peter denied his Lord three times in fear for his life and safety.
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~ Words of the Church Fathers ~
Many indeed are the wondrous happenings of that time: God hanging from a Cross, the sun made dark, and again flaming out; for it was fitting that creation should mourn with its Creator. The Temple veil rent, blood and water flowing from His side: the one as from a man, the other as from What was above man; the earth was shaken, the rocks shattered because of the Rock; the dead risen to bear witness of the final and universal resurrection of the dead. The happenings at the Sepulchre, and after the Sepulchre, who can fittingly recount them?
Yet not one of them can be compared to the miracle of my salvation. A few drops of Blood renew the whole world, and do for all men what the rennet does for milk: joining us and binding us together.
St Gregory the Theologian
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12/04/2020
Jesus enters Jerusalem as King and the people lay palm branches along the road to greet Him. We receive palm branches on this day to acknowledge that we accept Jesus as our King.
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11/04/2020
Lazarus was raised from the dead by our Lord. The Church names this day the “Saturday of Lazarus” in remembrance of the resurrection of Lazarus and its promise of universal resurrection for all men.
5th Sunday of Lent, 5/04/2020
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Fifth Sunday of Lent, St Mary of Egypt Mark 10: 32-45
Whenever we experience guilt and shame because of something we have done wrong, we need to ask ourselves a question. Do we feel that way because we are sorrowful that we have disobeyed God or because we cannot stand being less than perfect in our own eyes or those of others?
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