Today we celebrate the triumph of Orthodoxy and with it the consistent proclamation of the truth of who Christ is: “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6) that He is revealed to be, first through the creation, second through the prophets, and third and especially, by virtue of His Incarnation. With the victory of the “right-believing” (Orthodox) Christians, came the defeat of all those heretics and heresies that twisted the truth that Jesus Christ is, and therefore, threatened the healing and salvation of the human race. There is nothing arbitrary in Holy Tradition, the faith “once received” by the Saints. An Orthodox Christian today believes the same as one in the first century because our faith is about coming to know and grow in communion with God the Holy Trinity through His Christ and by the Holy Spirit, as He has revealed Himself and entrusted that truth of our salvation to the Apostles and their successors. Indeed, this and only this is what it means to be “in communion” (koinonia): we share that same fullness of faith and life in Christ God that those did who came before us. There are threats to the Orthodox Faith in every age, every generation, including our own. We glorify God this day that those who have come before us have preserved the truth for us, that we, in turn, may come to know Him who is that Truth. It’s incumbent on us, likewise, to live and proclaim the same Faith—in its fullness—that others after us may come to know the one, true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and so, likewise find healing from passions and salvation.
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS:
- TODAY: Procession with the holy icons at end of Divine Liturgy; Sunday School, Trapeza
- Wed, March 4, 7 p.m., PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY, St. Martin’s
- Sat, March 7, 6:00 p.m., Great Vespers Confession offered following the service.
- Sun, March 8, 9:30 Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy. Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
Looking Ahead: Mark your Calendars!
- Fri, March 13-Sat., March 21, Fr. Robert, Psa. Krissy leading OCF Realbreak Romania for National OCF (Orthodox Christian Fellowship). Fr. Mark Koczak is serving and on call for emergencies: 302-547-4952.
- Sat-Sun., March 28-29, LENTEN RETREAT with His Beatitude, Metropolitan TIKHON, entitled, “The Ascetic Disciplines of the Orthodox Life: Baptizing the Culture in an Age of Disbelief.” Please register and see printable flyer online at our website!
We welcome into the Catechumenate Gregory, Marissa, Charles, Margaret, Edward Witcher! We now have 9 people in the catechumenate, journeying to holy illumination. Please keep all of our catechumens in your fervent prayers!
February Financial Report: Holy Archangels received a total of $3,209 in offerings in February. $2333 was pledged. Glory to God for this faithful response! Thank God for His provision and your faithful offerings, which insures that our Mission can continue and grow! The Holy Archangels Mission Council
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers…”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission and ACM (Annapolis College Ministry);
- Newly-departed Robert and Stephen
- Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Priest John, Dcn. Basil, Rdr. John, Benedict, James, Daniel, Seraphim, Ed, Bede, Wanda, George, Daniel, Maria and family, Kristen, the Church in Georgia & Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our persecuted Orthodox brethren in Iraq & Syria, a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, those suffering from Ebola and a speedy end to the disease.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 5
Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word,
co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born for our salvation from the Virgin;
for He willed to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh,
to endure death, // and to raise the dead//by His glorious Resurrection.
Troparion (Sunday of Orthodoxy) Tone 2
We venerate Your most pure image, O Good One;
and ask forgiveness of our transgressions, O Christ our God.
Of Your good will You were pleased to ascend the cross in the flesh
and deliver Your creatures from bondage to the Enemy.
Therefore with thankfulness we cry aloud to You:
“You have filled all with joy, O our Savior,//for You alone have come to save the world.”
Troparion (Holy Archangels) Tone 4
Commanders of the heavenly hosts, // we who are unworthy beseech you:
by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory,
and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you://
“Deliver us from all harm, for you are the Commanders of the Powers on high!”
Kontakion (from the Lenten Triodion) Tone 8
No one could describe the Word of the Father;
but when He took flesh from you, O Theotokos, He accepted to be described,
and restored the fallen image to its former state by uniting it to divine beauty.//
We confess and proclaim our salvation in words and images.
Kontakion (Holy Archangels) Tone 2
Commanders of God’s armies // and ministers of the divine glory,
princes of the bodiless Angels // and guides of mankind;
ask for what is good for us, and for great mercy,// Supreme Commanders of the Bodiless Hosts.
