Saints and Feasts

March 08

Sunday of Orthodoxy

For more than one hundred years the Church of Christ was troubled by the persecution of the Iconoclasts of evil belief, beginning in the reign of Leo the Isaurian (717-741) and ending in the reign of Theophilus (829-842). After Theophilus's death, his widow the Empress Theodora (celebrated Feb. 11), together with the Patriarch Methodius (June 14), established Orthodoxy anew. This ever-memorable Queen venerated the icon of the Mother of God in the presence of the Patriarch Methodius and the other confessors and righteous men, and openly cried out these holy words: "If anyone does not offer relative worship to the holy icons, not adoring them as though they were gods, but venerating them out of love as images of the archetype, let him be anathema." Then with common prayer and fasting during the whole first week of the Forty-day Fast, she asked God's forgiveness for her husband. After this, on the first Sunday of the Fast, she and her son, Michael the Emperor, made a procession with all the clergy and people and restored the holy icons, and again adorned the Church of Christ with them. This is the holy deed that all we the Orthodox commemorate today, and we call this radiant and venerable day the Sunday of Orthodoxy, that is, the triumph of true doctrine over heresy.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal First Mode

Let us worship the Word who is unoriginate * with the Father and the Spirit, and from a Virgin was born * for our salvation, O believers, and let us sing His praise. * For in His goodness He was pleased * to ascend the Cross in the flesh, and to undergo death, * and to raise up those who had died, * by His glorious Resurrection.

Apolytikion for Sun. of Orthodoxy in the Second Mode

We worship Thine immaculate icon, O Good One, asking the forgiveness of our failings, O Christ our God; for of Thine own will Thou wast well-pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, that Thou mightest deliver from slavery to the enemy those whom Thou hadst fashioned. Wherefore, we cry to Thee thankfully: Thou didst fill all things with joy, O our Saviour, when Thou camest to save the world.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40.

Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets -- who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated -- of whom the world was not worthy -- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of Orthodoxy
The Reading is from John 1:43-51

At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

Wisdom of the Fathers

Moses... was himself saved by means of wood and water before the Law was given, when he was exposed to the Nile's currents, hidden away in an Ark (Exod. 2:3-10). And by means of wood and water he saved the people of Israel, revealing the Cross by the wood, Holy Baptism by water (Exod. 14:15-31). Paul, who had looked upon the mysteries, says openly, 'They were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud' (I Cor. 10:2). He also bears witness that, even before the events concerning the sea and his staff, Moses willingly endured Christ's Cross, 'Esteeming', he says, 'the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt' (Heb. 11:26). For the Cross is the reproach of Christ from the standpoint of foolish men. As Paul himself says of Christ, 'He endured the cross, despising the shame' (Heb. 12:2).

St. Gregory Palamas

Homilies Vol. 1, Homily Eleven para. 14; Saint Tikhon's Seminary Press pg. 123, 14th century

Peter, when after so many miracles and such high doctrine he confessed that, "Thou art the Son of God" (Matt. xvi. 16), is called "blessed," as having received the revelation from the Father;

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 21 on John 1, 1. B#58, pp. 72, 73, 4th Century

Ministry News

TODAY our Metropolis has designated Sunday, March 8, 2020, as focusing on the services provided by the Metropolis to those in need through the Metropolis Emergency Social Services Fund. As part of this compassionate and needed service, our St. Anna Philoptochos will be passing today’s second tray. Your caring and generosity is greatly appreciated.

TODAY Fellowship Hour is sponsored by Gerard Pelletier in honor of St. Joseph the Betrothed and the 5th anniversary of his Chrismation on March 8, 2015.

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ARCHDIOCESE DIRECTIVES ON CORONAVIRUS 07MAR2020

Dear St. Anna Family,

Our Archdiocese has just sent directives to all the parishes regarding the coronavirus. Please review and adhere to them (see below).

We are following these directives to the best of our ability to promote the safest environment possible. Following these directives, we recommend that all those who are ill or think that they "are coming down with something" simply stay home and recuperate. Online services from our neighboring parish of St. Barbara in Toms River can be viewed live at http://www.stbarbaranj.org/live-services.

Also, if you have recently traveled internationally, you are asked to self-quarantine for 14 days (the time span of incubation) before coming back to church.

Regarding services tomorrow, all youth are asked to bring their own icons from home for procession after the Liturgy (the annual Sunday of Orthodoxy commemoration). If a child does not have an icon, we will provide one.

As His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros noted in the encyclical:

" In addition, no one should be criticized for making the choice to refrain for a time from their participation in the traditional liturgical practices of our Holy Church. These measures do not change the traditions of the Church but are rather temporary precautions during this time of crisis. "

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Directives to be followed by the Clergy dealing with Covid-19 (Coronavirus), until further notice, based on the instructions of the US Center for Disease Control (CDC)

1) All parishes will provide stations in the Narthex and/or Nave for the Faithful to disinfect their hands as they enter the Church.

2) Signs will be posted at the entrance that recommend sick persons not attend the Services, but participate via television or the Internet (URL should be posted as well)

3) The clergy will not offer their hands to be reverenced and will refrain from touching the faithful either through handshakes or an embrace.

4) Signs will be posted recommending that honor be shown to Icons and the blessing cross by only bowing.

5) No books – Liturgical or Scriptural, will be kept in the pews. Parishioners will be instructed to bring their own books from home.

6) The Faithful will not receive the Antidoron from the Clergy, but on their own as they leave the church.

7) In the case of the use of flowers (Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross, Palm Sunday, Holy Friday), the Faithful will take them on their own as they leave the church. On Holy Wednesday (Holy Unction), each priest will anoint each Faithful using separate cotton-tipped swabs.

8) The Eucharist will be distributed as per usual.

9) In concelebrations, the clerical “Kiss of Peace” will be through bowing to one another. In parishes where the laity exchange the “Kiss of Peace,” they will avoid contact through bowing to one another.

10) After every service, all liturgical objects and surfaces to be thoroughly cleaned.

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Church Calendar:

Mondays, March 9, 23, 30, April 6: Great Compline, 5 pm (no service March 16)

Wednesdays, March 11, 18, April 1, 8: Presanctified Liturgy, 6 pm (no service March 25)

Thursdays, March 12, 19, 26, April 2, 9: Great Compline, 6 pm

Fridays, March 13, 20, 27, April 3, 10: Presanctified Liturgy, 8:30 am

Fridays, March 13, 20, 27, April 3, 10: Salutations Service, 7 pm

Sunday School Teachers Meeting: The Sunday School Teachers Meeting has been rescheduled to take place on Sunday, March 15 immediately following Sunday School.

St. Anna Oratorical Festival: Sunday, March 29. Topics: https://www.goarch.org/oratorical

St. Anna Scholarships: Application forms for the 2020 St. Anna Scholarships can be found on the Church web page.

Youth Safety Testing: If you had signed up earlier in the year to go through with the Armatus Safety Testing for your participation in Parish Youth Programs, and have not completed the online testing, please remember to do so. There are 3 tests that need to be completed:

Background Check
Youth Safety Quiz
Regulations Quiz.

All 3 above must be completed before you can receive a pass certificate. Please complete the testing, as the deadline is quickly approaching. Look for any emails fom Backgroundcheck@Praesidiuminc.com or contact Support@Praesideuminc.com, enter your ID and password already given to you, and complete the tests. It is not a large time commitment. Thank you.

Youth Safety Night at St. Anna’s, Friday, March 20, 8 to 10 pm (after Salutations Service) See flyer in e-bulletin. RSVP to Fr. A.

Lenten Marriage Retreat, Saturday, March 21 Holy Trinity Church in Westfield is hosting a Lenten Marriage Retreat on Saturday, March 21, 10 am to 4 pm. The featured speaker will be Rev. Fr. Timothy Pavlatos who holds a MDiv. from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and is a licensed and practicing Marriage and Family Therapist. This retreat is a wonderful way to deepen and strengthen a marriage, as it will help couples understand the profound teaching of marriage in the Orthodox Church. Couples who will be entering the sacrament of marriage after Pascha are invited as well. Interested couples can RSVP at HolyTrinity@Htgocnj.org or by calling the Westfield Church Office at 908.233.8533. See the flyer in the e-bulletin.

HOLY WEEK SERVICES

Saturday, April 11 Lazarus Saturday (& folding palms) – 9 am

Sunday April 12: Palm Sunday – 9 am

Bridegroom Service – 7 pm

Monday, April 13: Presanctified Liturgy – 9 am

Bridegroom Service – 7 pm

Tuesday, April 14: Presanctified Liturgy – 9 am

Bridegroom Service - 7 pm

Wednesday, April 15: Presanctified Liturgy – 9 am

Holy Unction Sacrament – 4 pm

Holy Unction Sacrament – 7 pm

Thursday, April 16: Holy Thursday Liturgy (St. Basil)– 9 am

Service of Holy Passion (12 Gospels)– 7 pm

Friday, April 17: Holy and Great Hours – 8:30 am

Apokathelosis – 3 pm

Lamentations Service – 7 pm

Saturday, April 18: Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil– 9 am

Resurrection Service – 11:15 pm

Sunday, April 19: Agape Vespers Service – 10:30 am

Bulletin Inserts

Youth Safety Night - March 20

St Anna hosting local Youth Safety Night. All Youth are welcome!

Lenten Marriage Retreat March 21

Lenten Marriage Retreat at Holy Trinity Westfield - March 21

Stewardship

Stewardship is the sharing of the talents and treasures that God has provided for us. An Orthodox Christian Steward is an active participant in the life of the Church. The parish encourages all who accept the Orthodox Faith to become practicing Stewards.

2020 Stewardship Status: We have 69 Pledges totaling $115,700 for an average of $1,667 and $47,952 received to date. We also have 8 families who have contributed $2,040 to date but have not submitted a stewardship card. It is important that all families complete a stewardship card to be considered a steward. Current Stewardship List and other stewardship information is posted in bulletin board by water cooler.

We need everyone’s participation to exceed this year’s stewardship pledge target of $175,000. If the remaining 117, 2019 stewards give at the same level as last year we could exceed our budget and reach a record high number of stewards.

If you have not already done so, pick up your 2020 Stewardship Cards today!

…Remember a rich man is not one who has much, but one who gives much

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