February 23rd, 2025
Always a Spiritual Focus, First
Dearest Parish Family Members,
This weekend, we are celebrating Meatfare Sunday, which is the last day that we can eat meat products, in preparation for helping us to enter the fasting period for Great Lent.
What I always appreciate about our Orthodox Faith and Church is that everything about our practices are wise and gentle. I’ve always loved that Chinese saying that says we don’t swat flies with a hammer. In a similar sense, we don’t enter Great Lent with any sudden impact of deprivation. In a similar, gentle way, before even Great Lent begins with Kathara Deftera (“Clean Monday”), we are gently led into Great Lent, first, by two Sundays before: we celebrate “Meatfare Sunday,” in which we experience the last day in which we can eat meat products. From that Monday moving forward, we gently build up our fasting. On the next Sunday, we celebrate “Cheesefare Sunday” by having the last day for us to consume dairy products. And the next day, we begin the fasting of Great Lent in earnest.
During that week, I will begin our first lecture on Great Lent, in a series of five Wednesdays (March 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th and April 2nd), sharing and building up our understandings of how Great Lent can help us in our lives. These lectures will take place every Wednesday during Great Lent, at our Church. All are welcome to attend and be enriched together. You are especially welcome to bring any questions you may have.
Also helpful is that this week, we are beginning our first of our three Psychosavvato (“Saturday of the Souls) Divine Liturgies, in which we all may commemorate our passed-away loved ones. You are all invited to submit your list of loved ones in Heaven, for us to commemorate their souls. Please bring them to church with you for commemoration during the services. Our “Saturday of the Souls Divine Liturgies” are being held on February 22nd, March 1st and March 8th.
Additionally, as a parish family, we are delighted to share that on Meatfare Sunday, we will also be offering a “Tsiknopemti” luncheon in our parish. All are invited and, if anyone can help donate anything, any funds will be used to help our 2025 Easter Services.
Let’s unite and make this Great Lent period the most spiritually-rewarding for each and every one. This is accomplished by being all together in presence and in strength.
Faithfully, Father Samaras
2nd Morning Gospel
Meatfare Sunday. On February 23rd, 2025, we commemorate the holy Hieromartyr Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna; our devout fathers John, Moses, Antiochos, and Antoninos; Saint Gorgonia, the sister of Saint Gregory the Theologian, died in peace; and the holy Martyr Clement; the holy Martyr Thea; our devout fathers Zebinas, Polychronios, Moses, and Damian; the devout Saint Damian, who lived as an ascetic near the holy Monastery of Esphigmenou on Mount Athos, died in peace in the year 1280. And today, we also remember the second and impartial coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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2024 PARISH COUNCIL
President - Theo Christ
Vice President – Yvonne Anastasiou
Secretary – Dina Mastoras
Parish Council Member - Evdokia Sofos
Parish Council Member - Dialecti Voudouris
Parish Council Member - Anastassios Mentis
Parish Council Member – Paula Refolo
Parish Council Member - Theodore Vougiouklakis
Parish Council Member - Mike Anastasiou