The Orthodox Messenger

Vol. VI, No. 8 – Sunday, February 25, 2007

Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox Church - Presentation of Christ at the Temple

The Hellenic Orthodox Mission of Hernando County, Florida–“A Pan-Orthodox Christian Community”

Ecumenical Patriarchate + Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America + Metropolis of Atlanta

 Website: http://orthodoxhernandocountyfl.org     

FROM PATRIARCH BARTHOMEW’S LETTER FOR GREAT LENT

 "The time has come which is the beginning of spiritual struggles."
Beloved brothers and children in the Lord,
   It is with these words that the Sacred Hymnographer reminds us of our obligation to intensify our spiritual struggles for the benefit of our spiritual training and progress during this period of Holy and Great Lent.
   The true nature of our spiritual struggle consists in aiming for the love of God as the object of our quest and desire;  but at the same time also in aiming for the respective deprivation and abandonment of other lawful goods and desires so that our entire existence, soul and mind, can focus on our primary target.  Therefore, fasting, which is one of the most important ascetic practices of Great Lent, does not express rejection of the blessed food, but on the contrary, voluntary deprivation of the repose that these foods offer to our body.  The goal is two-fold: on the one hand for the soul to disengage from the exclusive interest in the "I", and on the other hand for the body to become obedient and well-trained to the governing mind, namely to become an organ and not the sovereign of the human person.
   The goal of spiritual struggle is the expression of our desire to meet the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom everything is recapitulated, and through whom everything is derived.  The Word of God preaches most clearly that without Him we cannot do anything.

   Therefore, we Christians devote ourselves to the love of Christ, and we give up many other kinds of love and devotion that are of secondary importance so that we will become worthy of His presence in the house of our souls.  When this is achieved, with God’s grace, then peace, joy, and perfect love will have settled permanently in our very existence.
   The spiritual struggle should be practiced with joy and its main goal should be to introduce our heart into the love and joy of God, through which every sorrow and vindictiveness is expelled from us.  In its place we will then have the great peace of God that will radiate all around us.
   May we all pass through the arena of Great Lent with spiritual struggles, so that we will be able to enjoy in all its fullness the joy of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, Whose Grace and rich Mercy be with all of you.
                                                                                      + Bartholomew of Constantinople
                                                                        Ecumenical Patriarch

Service Hours: Sundays and Feast Days: Orthros at 9:30 a.m.; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.

Evening Services as Announced

1st  SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT: THE SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY

The Restoration of the Holy Icons at the 7th Ecumenical Council – 787 AD

GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNS

Dismissal Hymn of the Sunday of Orthodoxy

   (Sung in Greek before the Entrance by the Leader) ("Tin achranton ikona sou").

Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection – 4th  Tone

   (Sing in English after the Entrance) “When the tidings . . .”). Hymnal, 84-85.

Dismissal Hymn of the Sunday of Orthodoxy

   (Read) We venerate your immaculate image / O good Lord, / entreating for forgiveness / of our offences, / O Christ our God. / By Your own choice / you were well-pleased to ascend the Cross / in the flesh, / to deliver those whom you had fashioned / from their slavery to the foe. / Therefore with thanksgiving / we cry to you: / You have filled all things with joy, / O our Savior, / by coming to save the world.

Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation of Christ (Sing from sheet in the pew).

Return to p. 28 of the Hymnal, for the Epistle Reading

EPISTLE – Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40 (Sunday of Orthodoxy) + brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets -- who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated -- of whom the world was not worthy -- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

GOSPEL – John 1:44-52 (Sunday of Orthdoxy)   + At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."