THE MEANING OF THE GREAT FAST
We are starting the Great Fast very soon. We do this as our preparation
for Pascha, Easter, with all the joyful celebrations and
hope which Pascha presents to us. The following quotation is from
the beginning of the Lenten Triodion, for us all to consider in the
time before us. 'We waited, and at last our expectations were fulfilled', writes the Serbian Bishop Nikolai of Ochrid, describing the Easter service at Jerusalem. 'When
the Patriarch sang "Christ is risen", a heavy burden fell from our
souls. We felt as if we also had been raised from the dead. All
at once, from all around, the same cry resounded like the noise of many
waters. "Christ is risen" sang the Greeks, the Russians, the
Arabs, the Serbs, the Copts, the Armenians, the Ethiopians - one after
another, each in his own tongue, in his own melody. . .... . Coming out
from the service at dawn, we began to regard everything in the light of
the glory of Christ's Resurrection, and all appeared different from
what it had yesterday; everything seemed better, more expressive, more
glorious. Only in the light of the Resurrection does life receive
meaning.'
This sense of resurrection joy, so vividly described by Bishop Nikolai,
forms the foundation of all the worship of the Orthodox Church; it is
the one and only basis for our Christian life and hope. Yet, in
order for us to experience the full power of this Paschal rejoicing,
each of us needs to pass through a time of preparation. 'We waited,' says Bishop Nikolai, 'and at last our expectations were fulfilled.'
Without this waiting, without this expectant preparation, the deeper meaning of the Easter celebration will be lost. Metropolitan Kallistos, Lenten Triodion. Pg.13.
Sunday 7th February - Meatfare Sunday
We will have a parish feast on this day after the Holy Liturgy,
as it is the last day we should eat meat until Pascha. Please
remember to bring something suitably meaty for us to share with
everyone!
Sunday 21st February - Sunday of Orthodoxy
At the end of the Holy Liturgy we continue with The Service of the
Triumph of Orthodoxy. Please bring to church an icon from
your home, for you to hold during this service. On this day we
celebrate the end of the Iconoclast controversy, on the 11th March
843. This was a direct result of the faithful stand taken by the
ordinary people, often in exile, torture or even death, for the sake of
the truth. On that day the Icons were again brought into the
Churches, with great celebration.
Confessions
As part of our preparation for Pascha, we should make our
Confession. Father will be available to hear confessions by
arrangement, preferably prior to Palm Sunday.
Gift of the Stone Altar
The marble stone altar has been given to us as a very generous
anonymous gift. It was brought to Church before Christmas.
On Saturday 23rd, several of us gathered together, along with Karl, our
trusty building consultant. Gregory had hired the appropriate
lifting equipment, so we were able to move the stone to the Altar, very
carefully assemble it and put it into place. We all felt very
relieved when the work was finished! The weight of this is easily
in excess of 450kg. Now it is in full use. When we have
finally paid all the debts of the Church, it will be formally
consecrated along with the Church, by the Archbishop.
Service Details:
Sunday 10:30am Proskemidi & Preparation Prayers
Sunday 11:00am Divine Liturgy
Thursday 7.00pm Vespers (Esperinos) followed by Study Group
Address:
Orthodox Church of the Holy Apostles
403 Leyland Lane LEYLAND
PR25 1TA
