God is One: Trinity in three persons.

The first person of the Trinity, God the Father, is the ‘fountain’ of the Godhead, the source, cause, or principle of origin for the other two persons. He is the bond of unity between the three: there is one God because there is one Father. “The union is the Father from whom and to whom the order of the persons runs its course.” (St. Gregory Nazianzus)

The other two persons are each defined in terms of their relationship to the Father: the Son is ‘begotten’ by the Father, the Spirit ‘proceeds’ from the Father.

According to the Greek Fathers of the fourth century, whom the Orthodox Church follows to this day, the Father is the sole source and ground of unity in the Godhead. To make the Son a source as well as the Father, or in combination with Him, is to risk confusing the distinctive characteristics of the three persons.

The second person of the Holy Trinity is the Son of God, his ‘Word’ or ‘Logos’. To speak in this way of God as Son and Father is at once to imply a movement of mutual love, such as we indicated earlier. It is to imply that from all eternity God himself, a Son, in filial obedience and love renders back to God the Father the being which the Father by paternal self-giving eternally generates in him. It is in and through the Son that the Father is revealed to us: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no one comes to the Father, except through me.” (John 14:6)

He it is who was born on earth as man, from the Virgin Mary in the city of Bethlehem. But as Word or Logos of God he is also at work before the Incarnation. He is the principle of order and purpose the permeates all things, drawing them to unity in God, and so making the universe a ‘cosmos’, a harmonious and integrated whole. The Creator-Logos has imparted to each created thing ins own indwelling logos or inner principle, which makes that thing to be distinctively itself, and which at the same time draws and directs that thing towards God. Our human task as craftsmen or manufacturers is to discern this logos dwelling in each thing and to render it manifest; we seek not to dominate but to cooperate.

The third person is the Holy Spirit, the ‘wind’ or ‘breath’ of God. While appreciating the inadequacy of neat classifications, we may say that the Sprit is God within us, the Son is God with us, and the Father God above or beyond us. Just as the Son shows us the Father, so it is the Spirit who shows us the Son, making him present to us. Yet, the relationship is mutual. The Spirit makes the Son present to us, but it is the Son who sends us the Spirit. (We note that there is a distinction between the ‘eternal procession’ of the Spirit and his ‘temporal mission.’ The Spirit is sent into the world, within time, by the Son; but as regards his origin within the eternal life of the Trinity, the Spirit proceeds from the Father alone.)

Characterizing each of the three persons, Synesius of Cyrene writes:

Hail Father, source of the Son,

Son, the Father’s image;

Father, the ground where the Son stands,

Son, the Father's seal;

Father, the power of the Son,

Son, the Father’s beauty;

All pure Spirit, bond between the Father and the Son.

Send, O Christ, the Spirit, send the Father to my soul;

Steep my dry heart in this dew, The best of all thy gifts.

From The Orthodox Way, by Kallistos Ware

The Salutations to the Theotokos will be sung on the first five Fridays during Great Lent at 7:00 p.m. It is a service of praise to the Blessed Mother of God. The first of the Salutations is this Friday evening.

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

The Feast of the Annunciation is on Tuesday, March 25th.

Orthros, 8:45 a.m.  Divine Liturgy, 9:30 a.m.

We are also invited to the Great Vespers at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral on 7220 Granby St, Norfolk, to celebrate their Patronal Feast Day. The service begins at 6:30 p.m. Reception to follow.

Presanctified Liturgy will be celebrated on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. throughout Great Lent. 

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.

Annual GOYA Lenten retreat for the state of Virginia from March 28-30, 2025. All youth from 7th-12th grade are invited to join us for a weekend of fun and fellowship at Camp Piankatank in Middlesex, VA. I have seen very many young people come back from this retreat with a new sense of closeness to God and enthusiasm for their faith. Register at this link. See flyer for more details and feel free to contact Fr. Thomas Manuel ([email protected]) with any questions.

 

Scholarship assistance is available. Speak with Fr. Milton for details.

Fr. Gianulis will lead a 6-week catechism class from March 6 - April 10, every Thursday during Great Lent in the Vlahakis Educational Center from 7 - 8 p.m. This class is required for all inquirers who wish to be baptized or chrismated in the Orthodox Christian Faith. It is not too late to join in now.

Please join us for a special event on the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross, March 23rd. The Philoptochos has arranged for a special viewing of the acclaimed film, Sacred Alaska (Trikirion Films) in the Paparis Hall. Coffee Fellowship and Reception will be sponsored by Philoptochos followed by the film. (see the flyer below)

Our first Fish Fry will be Friday March 7th from 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.

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

Athanasia Jouvanis

Jim Kokolis

Maria Kokolis

Nancy Marakos

Chris Marker

John and Connie Pavlides