Alexy II Sends Easter Greetings to Pontiff

Posted on by Fr. Peter
VATICAN CITY, MARCH 23, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia sent Easter greetings to Benedict XVI, which highlighted the optimism and joy implicit in the message of Christianity.

Vatican Radio reported that in the message Alexy II addresses “with his entire soul greetings of joy, health, divine benediction for a Holy Easter” to the Pope.

The contemporary world, the message continues, “places us before many difficulties and challenges. In many countries and regions bloody conflicts continue, hostility between peoples becomes more grave, attempts to drive Christian values from life and society continue.”

“But if the reality that surrounds us is complex, Christians are called to defeat skepticism and all the disgraces and difficulties, taking inspiration from the joy of Easter and the words of Christ.”
The Itar-Tass agency reports Alexy II also addressed messages to the principal exponents of the Protestant confessions. Orthodox Easter in Russia is celebrated, according to the Julian calendar, on April 27.

Round Up

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Yesterday was a rather busy day here in Village. It began with a funeral for a long time parishioner. This was a difficult one. About 3 months ago I did a funeral for the same family and this one took a toll on them. After the funeral, as is the custom here, we went to a local restaurant for the mercy meal. After I was back in the office preparing for Liturgy today.

We had Vespers as usual but a half hour early to give me enough time to leave here and go celebrate the Easter Vigil with a friend of mine. I know it is not Orthodox Easter yet, but it was nice to worship and not have to worry about the heat or my sermon or anything but worship it was a great experience but I got home way to late. So in bed after midnight and then up at 6am for Liturgy today. After liturgy and coffee hour I am off to the rents house to have dinner with the family and to spend a few days in rest. I did this last week and I was able to get a lot of reading done so it was well worth the journey. But I will have to cut it short as I have a funeral for a fellow fire chaplain on Tuesday.

As I write this from my office here in the Village the sun is streaming through the window but it is only 25 degrees out there. I know March is almost over and April is right around the corner but I cannot wait for the warm weather to get here. It is nice to be able to go out and feel the rays of the sun and it also means the lake house will be open soon. That brings to mind all the work that will take to open. Oh man I am tired already.

To my Western Christian readers Christ is Risen! To my Orthodox readers, hang in there it will be our turn soon. Just think, tomorrow we can get the Easter candy on Sale!

Saturday of Souls

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I should have posted this two weeks ago but it slipped my mind. In some Churches each Saturday during Lent is celebrated as a Saturday of Souls. Here is some information from the Greek Archdiocese website concerning this celebration.

Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
Only Creator who out of the depths of wisdom lovingly govern all things and upon all bestow what is accordingly best for them, give rest to the souls of Your servants, for they have placed their hope in You, our Author and Maker and God.

Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
Give rest, O Christ, among the Saints to the souls of Your servants, where there is no pain, no sorrow, no grieving, but life everlasting.

Reading:
Through the Apostolic Constitutions (Book VIII, ch. 42), the Church of Christ has received the custom to make commemorations for the departed on the third, ninth, and fortieth days after their repose. Since many throughout the ages, because of an untimely death in a faraway place, or other adverse circumstances, have died without being deemed worthy of the appointed memorial services, the divine Fathers, being so moved in their love for man, have decreed that a common memorial be made this day for all pious Orthodox Christians who have reposed from all ages past, so that those who did not have particular memorial services may be included in this common one for all. Also, the Church of Christ teaches us that alms should be given to the poor by the departed one’s kinsmen as a memorial for him.

Besides this, since we make commemoration tomorrow of the Second Coming of Christ, and since the reposed have neither been judged, nor have received their complete recompense (Acts 17:31; II Peter 2:9; Heb. 11:39-40), the Church rightly commemorates the souls today, and trusting in the boundless mercy of God, she prays Him to have mercy on sinners. Furthermore, since the commemoration is for all the reposed together, it reminds each of us of his own death, and arouses us to repentance.

Morning Prayer

Posted on by Fr. Peter

Thanks to Thee ever, O gentle Christ,
That Thou hast raised me freely from the black
And from the darkness of last night
To the kindly light of this day.

Praise unto Thee, O God of all creatures,
According to each life Thou hast poured on me,
My desire my word, my sense, me repute,
My thought, my deed, my way, my fame.

Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations, Collected in the Highlands and Island of Scotlad. By Alexander Carmichael

Comments

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Due to some recent unkind comments I will now be moderating comments on this blog. The offending comments have been deleted. I ask in charity that you post comments. Being unkind towards other of differing opinions is not Christian and will not be tolerated.

Iraq Five Years Latter

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Tonight will mark the fifth anniversary of the United States invasion of Iraq. Regardless of how you feel politically about the situation, please pray for those who have given their lives on both sides and be thankful for their honorable service. Let us also pray that it will end soon.

Stichera for Presanctified Liturgy Tonight

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Keeping a spiritual fast, O brethren, let us speak no lies with out tongue nor give our brothers and sisters cause for scandal. But through repentance, let us make the lamp of our soul burn brightly, and let us cry with tears to Christ: “Forgive us our trespasses in Your love for all.”

Episcopal Row

Posted on by Fr. Peter
As a rule I do not comment on inter-jurisdicitonal arguments on this blog and I defiantly do not comment on things in other churches, however I am going to break my policy on this one.

For those of you who do not follow all things Episcopal/Anglican, the House of Bishops met this past week in Texas and it was revealed at this time that Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire is not invited to the Lambeth Conference this year. Lambeth is the once every 10 year gathering of all the Episcopal/Anglican bishops in the world. It seems that some bishops object to +Gene and his lifestyle. If you do not remember he is the bishops that is living in a open relationship with another man. Now I will say this, I don’t necessarily agree with his lifestyle but he was canonically elected, consecrated and rules a diocese. I am sorry but just because you disagree with someone stand on issues does not mean they should not be invited. It seems that small minded people in the Anglican world are running the table here.

At the meeting in Texas when it was announced they told this bishop of the church that he could not pray and meet with them but that he was invited to set up a boot in the exhibition area of the meeting, like he is on display of some kind. I find this repugnant that the church would treat one of her bishops this way. Regardless of how you feel about +Gene personally you have to feel his pain in this situation. I for one feel very bad for him and for the Church in New Hampshire. I hope that wisdom prevails here and he is in fact invited to the meeting.

In charity please pray for +Gene and the Episcopal Church in New Hampshire.

UPDATE: I was giving some thought to this posting and I have come to a slightly different conclusion. Although I do not agree with the lifestyle choice of the bishop, it is his lifestyle and not mine. I am not in any position to judge him or anyone for that matter that is not my job that is for the Lord alone to do. Sometimes I think this world would be a much better place if everyone just worries about how they are living their lives and not how others do!

Nasty comments are not welcome and will be deleted!

Sunday of Orthodoxy ~ 1st Sunday of Great Lent

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Tone
The stone had been secured with a seal by the Judeans, * and a guard of soldiers was watching Your immaculate body. * You rose on the third day, O Lord * and Savior, grant­ing life unto the world. * For this reason were the powers of heaven crying out to You, O Life-giver: * Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ; * glory to Your eternal rule; * glory to Your dispensation, only One who loves mankind.

Resurrectional Kontakion in the First Tone
You arose from the sepulcher in glory as God, and with yourself resurrected the world. And mortal nature extolled You as God, and death was obliterated, and Adam is dancing, O Master; and Eve, now redeemed from the bonds, rejoices crying out: O Christ, You are He who grants resurrection to all.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: “Hail, unwedded bride!”

Reading:
For more than one hundred years the Church of Christ was troubled by the persecution of the Iconoclasts of evil belief, beginning in the reign of Leo the Isaurian (717-741) and ending in the reign of Theophilus (829-842). After Theophilus’s death, his widow the Empress Theodora (celebrated Feb. 11), together with the Patriarch Methodius (June 14), established Orthodoxy anew. This ever-memorable Queen venerated the icon of the Mother of God in the presence of the Patriarch Methodius and the other confessors and righteous men, and openly cried out these holy words: “If anyone does not offer relative worship to the holy icons, not adoring them as though they were gods, but venerating them out of love as images of the archetype, let him be anathema.” Then with common prayer and fasting during the whole first week of the Forty-day Fast, she asked God’s forgiveness for her husband. After this, on the first Sunday of the Fast, she and her son, Michael the Emperor, made a procession with all the clergy and people and restored the holy icons, and again adorned the Church of Christ with them. This is the holy deed that all we the Orthodox commemorate today, and we call this radiant and venerable day the Sunday of Orthodoxy, that is, the triumph of true doctrine over heresy.

From www.goarch.org

Catch Up

Posted on by Fr. Peter
It has been a while since I wrote anything here so I thought I would jot a few words down before Liturgy this morning. I have been sick for about a month and I think I am finally coming out of it. My voice has returned and I am starting to feel better. I think part of it is because the weather is getting better here in New England as well. Yesterday Onchu and I spent sometime outside, it was wonderful. I was also able to get the rectory cleaned and do some laundry. I am taking the next few days off and going to my parents house, they are still in Florida until Wednesday, so I will have the place to myself. I like to get away every once in a while to read and write and get ahead on some homilies for the coming weeks. Although I usually end up laying on the sofa and watch TV. This time I am going to try and get something done.

What has been going on around here? Friday we had our Annual Ham Party and we did not have a great crowd. I am not sure what to do about this event. However those who came had a good time. We also served Corned Beef and Cabbage, prepared by your host, and everyone said they liked it. Maybe they were just saying that who knows, but there was not much left over. Yesterday, as I noted above was a good day and Vespers last night brought in more people than we have had in the past. It is nice to have more than three people at vespers. Today I get sort of a day off. Sunday of Orthodoxy here in Worcester County is a big deal. All 12 Orthodox Churches gather together in once place, with one of our Bishops, for a combined Liturgy. I have mixed feelings about this Liturgy. Most of my parishioners will not attend so they will not attend Church on this important first Sunday of Lent. So what to do? Anyway His Grace Bishop Nikon of the OCA and a very good friend of mine, will preside. I understand he is a little under the weather as well and will not serve the Liturgy. So there will be more priests than you can shake a stick at, and big procession at the end with all the Icons. Its fun, holy, peaceful, and I don’t have to preach!

This week will start off slow then get busy. Like I said I am off for a few days but a working break. On Tuesday I have a Chaplains meeting at Harvard University and Wednesday one of my spiritual children will be here to see me. Wednesday night is Presanctified Liturgy here at St. Michael’s and the rest will have to wait for another post.

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