Joint Presantified Liturgy Help At Sts. Peter and Paul in Burr Ridge
This week Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Burr Ridge hosted the joint Presantified Liturgy. His Grace
Bishop Paul was in attendance.
Scene from the Liturgy.
Fr. Mousa Haddad of St. Mary’s Church in Palos Heights gave the homily.
His Grace Bishop Paul addresses the congregation.
Group photo of the clergy.
A lenten dinner was served. Our thanks to Sts. Peter and Paul Parish for hosting this service.
Akathist Service
In some Orthodox Churches of the Russian Tradition the Presanctified Liturgy
is celebrated both on Wednesday and Friday. Churches of the Greek
Tradition celebrate the Akathist (salutations) to the Virgin Mary on Friday. An Akathist
Hymn is a liturgical prayer of praise written about Christ, a certain saint or a need
such as thanksgiving. The Akathist Hymn to the Virgin Mary portrays her as a compassionate
mother who cares for us through her prayers. During Lent this is necessary because of the spiritual battle
which we have undertaken.
Sunday Of Orthodoxy
On the first Sunday of Lent, Orthodox Christians celebrate the official declaration of the 7th
Ecumenical Council 787AD that the veneration of Icons is not the worship of images as the 2nd commandment describes. To
celebrate the event, the children of St. Luke held a procession of Icons while the choir sang the hymn of the event. The
children gather with their icons.
Scene from the service.
The procession proceeds around the church.
At the conclusion of the procession the proclamation of Orthodoxy was recited.
Proclamation of Orthodoxy:
As the Prophets beheld, as the Apostles have taught, as the Church has received, as the Teachers have
dogmatized, as the Universe has agreed, as grace has shown forth, as Truth has revealed, as Falsehood has been dissolved,
as Wisdom has presented, as Christ awarded; Thus we declare, thus we assert, thus we preach Christ Our True God, and honor
His Saints in words, in writings, in thoughts, in sacrifices, in Churches, in Holy Icons; On the one hand worshipping and
reverencing Christ as God and Lord, and on the other, honoring the Saints as true servants of the same Lord of All, and
offering them proper veneration.
This is the Faith of the Apostles,
This is the Faith of the Fathers,
This is the Faith of the Orthodox,
This is the Faith which has established the Universe.
Garden Center Visit For March
Fr. Paul began our visit with the story of Solomon. Solomon, son of David, built the temple of the Lord
in Jerusalem. When it was finished, Solomon, priests and tribal leaders, brought the Ark of the Covenant to the temple,
where it was placed carefully in the inner sanctuary.
When Jesus arrived in Jericho, a chief tax collector named Zacchaeus, was eager to see Him. Because
Zacchaeus was short in stature, in order to see Jesus, he climbed a sycamore tree. Jesus told him to come down and take
Him to his house. Some thought Jesus shouldn’t go with a sinner, but Jesus welcomes all who come to Him.
Our prayer service became complete with everyone receiving a blessing.
Sweet snacks and conversation about April’s visit ended our visit.
Food For The Soul Visits The Shish Kabob House
This month our Food For The Soul Ministry visited The Shish Kabob House in Orland Park.
Group photo.
Our meal began with salads, pita bread, and lentil soup.
Beef Kabob with rice and grilled vegetables was one of many different main courses. Thanks again to
Matt for setting up our outing and to all who attended for the fellowship we shared.