Let us set out with joy upon the season of the fast… and with prayers and tears let us seek our Lord and savior.
Feast of the Annunciation of the Mother of God
The glorious Feast of the Annunciation of the Mother of God is celebrated on March 25. It was because of Mary’s yes to the Angel Gabriel that Christ was able to come among us in the flesh and lead us from the desert of “sin” to the Crucifixion and Resurrection. On this feast, we celebrate the Incarnation – the conception in Mary’s womb at the announcement of the angel and the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit.
Like the Gospel narrative of the Evangelist Luke (1:26-38), the Church’s Divine Services and the Icon of the Annunciation is permeated with a deep inner joy. It is the joy of the Old Testament promise being fulfilled through the Incarnation – the coming in the flesh – of the Redeemer of the world: Today is the beginning of our salvation and the revelation of an Eternal Mystery: the Son of God becomes the Son of a Virgin and Gabriel announces the Good News of this grace. Therefore, let us join him crying out to the Mother of God: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you. [Read more…]
St. Theodore and the Boiled Wheat
On Saturday of the first week of Great Lent, we remember the miracle of St Theodore and the boiled wheat. Fifty years after the death of St Theodore, the emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363), wanting to commit an outrage upon the Christians, commanded the city-commander of Constantinople during the first week of Great Lent to sprinkle all the food provisions in the marketplaces with the blood offered to idols. St. Theodore appeared in a dream to Archbishop Eudoxius, ordering him to inform all the Christians that no one should buy anything at the marketplaces, but rather eat cooked wheat with honey (kolyva). [Read more…]
Great Lent – A Time of Renewal
On Monday, February 19, we begin the holy season of Great Lent. It is a very valuable season of the Church Year and the appointed time for our spiritual renewal. In truth, it is a Gift from God.
Great Lent is an excellent time to put aside all those things that make us displeasing to ourselves, to others and to God. Someone once suggested an item called a spiritual wastebasket.
The wastebasket is a very valuable piece of equipment. A generous use of this item is important for efficiency in an office or a home or wherever needed. Possibly, a wise and generous use of a spiritual wastebasket could also be the secret for spiritual efficiency & blessedness. Many of our lives are encumbered with things that should go into this type of wastebasket. [Read more…]
Sunday of Orthodoxy & Greater Akron Area Lenten Mission Vespers Schedule
SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY
Our Greater Akron Community will gather together on Sunday evening, February 25, 2018, at 5:00 pm, for Vespers of the Sunday of Orthodoxy at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Our speaker is Father Ian Pac Urar, Rector of Presentation of Our Lord Orthodox Church, Fairlawn, Ohio. A dinner presentation will be given by Dr. Orwa Nasser on Christianity in the Holy Land: Building Churches in Palestine. [Read more…]
Pray Your Way Through the Psalms This Lent!
It’s almost that time again! This Lent, join the St. Elia Prayer Group as we once again unite to pray the Psalms together throughout the fast, which for Orthodox Christians begins this year on February 19. You do not need to be a member of St. Elia Akron to join. All you need is a Bible and a little bit of time to set aside each day.
The prayer group also offers the opportunity for us to pray for one another, for our parish, and for any special intentions any of us may have. [Read more…]
Feast of the Meeting and Presentation of Our Lord
Forty days after Christ was born, He was presented to God in the Jerusalem Temple according to the Mosaic Law. At this time as well, His mother underwent the ritual purification and offered the sacrifices as prescribed in the Law. The, forty days after Christmas, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation called the MEETING (or Presentation or Reception) of the Lord.
The meeting of Christ by the Elder Simeon and the prophetess Anna (Luke 2:22-36) is the main event of the Feast of Christ’s presentation in the Temple. It was “revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26), [Read more…]
Schedule of Christmas Services
ST. ELIA PARISH
SCHEDULE OF DIVINE SERVICES
CHRISTMAS HOLY WEEK
The Feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is preceded by a Holy Week.
Tuesday, December 19 – 6:00 pm
Vespers of the Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ
Wednesday, December 20 – 6 00 pm
Vespers of the Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ; Christmas Concert to Follow
Thursday, December 21 – 6:00 pm
Vespers of the Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ
Friday, December 22 – 6:00 pm
Royal Hours of the Nativity of Christ
Annual Holy Friday Grave Watch Vigil
Holy Friday is one of the most solemn days within the life of the Orthodox Church. On this day, we witness our Lord willingly give His life for our sake. We watch our Lord’s crucifixion by the hands of those He came to save.
An ancient tradition in the Orthodox Church is the Holy Vigil at the Tomb of Christ also referred to as Grave Watch. After our Lord died on the Cross, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took the body of Jesus, bound it in linen cloths with spices and buried it in a new tomb. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sat opposite the tomb watching as their Lord was buried. The Church has joined with these two women in keeping watch over Jesus’ tomb. The Holy Vigil is our opportunity to help keep watch over our Lord’s body as He descends into Hell to loosen the bonds of death. What better way to understand the death and resurrection of Jesus than to participate in the Vigil by His tomb? [Read more…]
Christmas Week Schedule of Services
The Feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is preceded by a Holy Week of services celebrated every night leading up to the feast. Join us to prepare for the birth of our Savior!
Monday, Dec. 19, 6 p.m.: Vespers of the Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ
Tuesday, Dec. 20, 6 p.m.: Vespers of the Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ
Wednesday, Dec. 21, 6 p.m.: Vespers of the Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ
Thursday, Dec. 22, 6 p.m.: Vespers of the Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ
Friday, Dec. 23, 6 p.m.: Royal Hours of the Nativity of Christ
Saturday, Dec. 24, 5 p.m.: Vigil of Christmas
Sunday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.: Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, Feast of the Nativity
Monday, Dec. 26, 9 a.m.: Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Second Day of the Feast of the Nativity, the Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos
Tuesday, Dec. 27, 9 a.m.: Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Third Day of the Feast of the Nativity, Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen
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