SPRING CLEAN UP
Following Lazarus Saturday Liturgy, parishioners assembled to work on giving the church a facelift for Spring. Wood was polished, windows washed, lightbulbs were changed, in short everyone pitched in to do what was necessary.
Steve was our main window person.
Fr. Paul and the altar servers clean the altar and sacristy.
Several of the ladies work on preparing the palms and pussy willows for Palm Sunday.
Thanks to all who gave on their time and labors to help get our church ready for Pascha.
LAZARUS SATURDAY
On Lazarus Saturday Liturgy is held. It is on this day that we hold First Confession for those children who are of age.
Here the gospel concerning the resurrection of Lazarus is read.
Great lent officially ends on Lazarus Saturday. The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is celebrated to commemorate the raising of Lazarus. Notice that Fr. Paul is wearing gold vestments. This change in color denotes the resurrectional nature of this service as a prelude to Holy Week. Because of it resurrectional character the hymn as many as have been baptized into Christ is sung. Historically this was a baptismal liturgy.
ANNUNCIATION LITURGY
The Feast of the Annunciation breaks into the Lenten cycle because it is one of the 12 major feast days of the church and is part of the Nativity cycle. March 25th is nine months before Christmas. It commemorates the angel Gabriel visiting the virgin Mary and announcing to her that she was about to become pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
Since it is a feast day the fasting rules are lifted slightly. For Greek Americans this is a special day because this is the day that Greece became independent from the Ottoman Turkish empire in 1821 – 1827.
The Annunciation falls during Lent, but it is always celebrated with great joy. The Liturgy of St. Basil or St. John Chrysostom is served, even on the weekdays of Lent. It is one of the two days of Great Lent on which the fast is relaxed and fish is permitted (Palm Sunday is the other).
PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY AT ST. LUKE ORTHODOX CHURCH
The final joint Pre-sanctified Liturgy for this lent was held at St. Luke Parish.
Protinica Michelle Jannakos leads the choir.
Scene from the Liturgy.
Scene from the Liturgy.
Fr. Vasyl gave the spiritual lesson.
Fr. Paul welcomes all the visiting clergy.
Group photo of the clergy.
Fr. Paul blesses the meal.
Thanks to all who worked so hard at the various parishes to make these Pan Orthodox Pre-sanctified services such a success.
ST. ELIZABETH THE NEW MARTYR ORTHODOX CHURCH HOSTS MISSION DEANERY VESPERS
St. Elizabeth the New Martyr Orthodox Church hosted the mission Deanery Vespers this week.
The choir did a wonderful job.
Protinica Michelle Jannakos gave an interesting talk on missions.
Fr. Bass blessed the lenten meal.
The food was great and the fellowship was also. Thanks to St. Elizabeth Parish for an uplifting evening.
PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY AT STS. PETER AND PAUL ORTHODOX CHURCH – BURR RIDGE
This week Pre-sanctified Liturgy was held at Sts. Peter And Paul Orthodox Church in Burr Ridge. His Grace Bishop Paul was in attendance.
Scene from the Liturgy.
Scene from the Liturgy.
Father Paul gives the homily.
Scene from the Liturgy.
Scene from the Liturgy.
Group photo of the clergy.
Father Herman gives the blessing.
Thank you to those who worked so hard to prepare this wonderful meal for all.
ST. LUKES HOSTS MISSION DEANERY VESPERS
This Sunday Evening St. Luke Parish hosted the Mission Deanery Vesper Service.
His Grace Bishop Paul recognizes Fr. Paul as Rector of St. Lukes.
The homily was on missions.
His Grace greeted parishioners following the service.
Bishop Paul gives the blessing.
A delicious meal and fellowship for all.
SUNDAY OF THE CROSS
The third Sunday of Lent is the half way point of Great Lent. On this Sunday a flower decorated cross is displayed in the center of the sanctuary during the Liturgy.
At the point in the Liturgy when normally “Holy God” is sung it is replaced with “Before Your Cross we bow down and worship You.” During this hymn three prostrations are made. They signify our devotion to God and that we have accepted His cross. It is also given as a help to fight off the attacks of the Devil who during Lent wants us to fail in our fast and it helps us to keep our heart pointed toward the Cross and Christ’s victory over death at Pascha.
At the end of Liturgy, parishioners venerate the cross.
PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY AT STS. PETER AND PAUL ORTHODOX CHURCH – PALOS PARK
This week we visited Sts. Peter And Paul Orthodox Church in Palos Park for joint Presanctified Liturgy.
Scene from the service.
Scene from the service.
Fr. Danial gave the homily and encouraged us to be like the angels as we fast.
Group photo of the clergy.
Blessing of the lenter meal.
Thanks to our hosts for the wonderful food and fellowship.
PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY AT ST. MARY ORTHODOX CHURCH – PALOS HEIGHTS
This week St. Mary’s Orthodox Church hosted the Presanctified Liturgy.
Father Herman gave the sermon.
Group photo of clergy.
Fr. Howard blesses the lenten meal.
Our thanks to our brothers and sisters of St. Mary’s for being such wonderful hosts.