We have now arrived at the eve of the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent. More of Lent is behind us than in front of us. I trust that we have reflected a great deal on our prayer life and on fasting. So, let us begin with the questions: Do we pray? Do we really pray? Do we fast? Do we understand fasting?

Prayer is both personal and corporate. In other words, we should keep a private prayer life—morning and evening—and we should also gather together in Church with the community of believers, the Body of Christ, to pray together. One really cannot exist without the other. Tertullian said, “one Christian is no Christian.” In other words, we are not made to be isolated in our prayer life. We are a Church mystically united in the sacraments and thus to one another and to Christ.

We also fast. Jesus fasted. The disciples fasted. The Church fasts. It is our Tradition and it is useful and effective for spiritual growth. Fasting is "the Mother of chastity and prudence; the accuser of sin and advocate of repentance, the life worthy of angels and the salvation of humans." (The Lenten Triodion)

Metropolitan Maximos of blessed memory wrote about fasting and modern man: “Fasting in our days has become one of the most neglected spiritual values. Because of misunderstandings regarding the nature of fasting, because of confused and reversed priorities in its use, many of today’s Orthodox Christians fast very little, or disregard fasting altogether.”

Bishop Kallistos Ware said, “Fasting is the advocate of repentance. Adam and Eve disobeyed God; they refused to fast from the forbidden fruit. They became slaves of their own desires. But through fasting, through obedience to the rules of the Church regarding the use of spiritual and material goods, we may return to the life in Paradise, of communion with God. Thus, fasting is a means of salvation, this salvation being a life we live in accordance with the Divine Will, in communion with God.”

So, let us finish our Great Lenten journey rededicated to prayer and fasting. Let us return to Paradise.

As we near the end of Great Lent, note that there are only two of the Salutations to the Theotokos (Οι Χαιρετισμοί) yet to be sung. This Friday and the final, the Akathistos Hymn next Friday -- 7:00 p.m. 

If you are working in the Fish Fry, you may "come as you are."

This Wednesday, April 2nd at 6:00 p.m.  

A Lenten Pot Luck dinner and fellowship will follow in the parish hall. Please come to the service and, if you are able, and bring a lenten plate to share. Everyone will be welcome to the supper even if you were unable to bring a plate to share. Come, fellowship first with the Lord's gift of His Body and Blood, and then with His community of believers.

Lazarus Saturday — April 12. Orthros, 9 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 10 a.m.

                              Palm folding to follow

Palm Sunday — April 13     Orthros, 9 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 10 a.m.

                       NO Sunday evening Bridegroom service. 

April 14, Holy Monday -- Orthros of the Bridegroom, 6 p.m.

April 15, Holy Tuesday -- Orthros of the Bridegroom, 6 p.m.

April 16, Holy Wednesday -- The Sacrament of Holy Unction, 6 p.m.

April 17, Holy Thursday

     Divine Liturgy of St. Basil - Institution of the Last Supper, 9 a.m.

     Orthros of the Passion (12 Gospels), 6 p.m.

April 18, Good Friday  

     Great Vespers (Descent from the Cross) 3 p.m.

     Lamentation Service, 6 p.m.

April 19, Great Saturday

     Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, 9 a.m.

     "Midnight" Resurrection Service, 10:30 p.m.

      Paschal Proclamation, 11 p.m. followed by

     Orthros and the Divine Liturgy.  

April 20,  Pascha (Easter Sunday) -- Agape Vespers, 11 a.m.

12 Απριλίου, Σάββατο του Λαζάρου. Ο Όρθρος, 9 πμ. Θεία Λειτουργία, 10 πμ.

13 Απριλίου, Κυριακὴ τῶν Βαΐων.

     Ο Όρθρος, 9 πμ.     Θεία Λειτουργία, 10 πμ.

14 Απριλίου, Μεγάλη Δευτέρα -- Ο Όρθρος του Νυμφίου, 6 μμ.

15 Απριλίου, Μεγάλη Τρίτη --  Ο Όρθρος του Νυμφίου, 6 μμ.

16 Απριλίου, Μεγάλη Τετάρτη -- Μέγα Ευχέλαιον, 6 μμ.

17 Απριλίου, Μεγάλη Πέμπτη

     Η Θεία Λειτουργία του Αγ. Βασιλείου (Ο Μυστικός Δείπνος), 9 πμ      

     Ο Όρθρος του Πάθος Χριστού (τα 12 Ευαγγέλια), 6 μμ.

18 Απριλίου, Μεγαλη Παρασκευή

      Ο Μέγας Εσπερινός (Αποκαθήλωσης), 3 μμ.

      Ο Επιτάφιος Θρήνος, 6 μμ.

19 Απριλίου, Μέγα Σάββατο

      Η Θεία Λειτουργία του Αγ. Βασιλείου (Πρώτη Ανάσταση), 9 πμ.

      Ο Όρθρος, 10:30 μμ.

Η Ανάστασis,  11 μμ.  Θεία Λειτουργία, 12:00 πμ.

20 Απριλίου, Κυριακή του Πάσχα -- Ο Μέγας Εσπερινός της Αγάπης, 11 πμ.   

This Sunday, a Trisaghion will be sung for Neke Sesny. The memorial service is being held in Statan Island with the family, but her nephew, Apostolos Metsopoulos, is here in Williamburg as a student and wishes to be connected with his family in prayer.

May her memory be eternal.

Plan to attend following the Divine Liturgy for a complete salmon meal and beverage. Deadline for ticket purchase is April 6th. Sponsored by the Philoptochos. Please see the flyer and reservation form below.

As we approach Holy Week and Pascha, please consider making a contribution to our flower fund. Monies will be used for epitaphio (sebulchre) and Easter Lillies and whatever other floral decorations might be needed. Thanking you in advance, Fr. Milton

As we approach Holy Week, attendance will be more than usual for St. Demetrios as well as for Incarnation. Therefore, it would be extremely helpful for families to ride together in one vehicle. Arriving early will also be helpful. We regret this inconvenience, however, it is the only way both congregations will be able to fit in the parking lot.

4:00pm to 6:30 pm and every Friday throughout Great Lent. The last one will be April 11th. Drive thru or eat in. The cost is $16.00 per dinner, an 8 oz filet of fried flounder, french fries, coleslaw, and dessert. There is no better deal and the proceeds will go to the roof repair fund. Volunteers to help cook and serve are always welcome!

As we begin our Lenten journey, the bookstore has a good selection of publications to help feed our hearts and minds in our journey to Pascha. Please stop by to see what is available and we can also custom order books.

The 2025 Stewardship Pledge Cards are now available in the anteroom at church. Filling out the card helps us update our records and will be crucial in securing financing when needed from lenders. It is also and most importantly, our Christian responsibility to be stewards of God's House. Thank you.

If you left an icon to be blessed in the altar, please note that it is now ready for pickup. All the icons in the altar have been there well over the 40 days.

Updates on Orthodox Church news items can be found on our Facebook page. We thank Presbytera for monitoring and administering the page.

Also, check out our St. Demetrios website.

Beverly Daikos

Peter Daikos

Demetria Emmanouil

Sonny Halioris -- Sentera Williamsburg Rehab

Athanasia Jouvanis

Jim Kokolis

Maria Kokolis

Nancy Marakos

Chris Marker

John and Connie Pavlides