Today we celebrate the triumph of Orthodoxy and with it the triumph of the ability to come to know Christ as “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 their 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. Indeed, this and only this is what it means to be “in communion”: we share that same fullness of faith and life in Christ God that those do who came before us. There are threats to the Orthodox Faith in every age, every generation. Thank God, 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, that others after us may come to know the one, true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
In Christ’s love, Fr. Robert+
This week at Holy Archangels:
- v Monday, March 25, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy for the Annunciation, St. Martin’s
- v Wednesday, March 27, 6:30, Presanctified Liturgy Lenten Potluck Dinner following and Fr. Robert’s teaching on the LORD’S PRAYER, “Our Father Who art in heaven…,” St. John’s Boathouse.
- v Saturday, March 30, 6 p.m.,Great Vespers with Matins Gospel. Confession following.
- v Sunday, March 31, 9:30 a.m. Hours 10 am Divine Liturgy followed by Trapeza
Looking Ahead: Save the Dates!
- v Saturday, April 6, Soul Saturday Liturgy, 10 a.m. St. Martin’s. If you plan to attend, please send your commemorations to Fr. Robert by Friday, April 5.
Prayer Requests:
- Pray for God’s ongoing financial provision for our Mission.
- Please pray for our Mission that we may find a Choir Director and that we may continue to grow in spirit and in numbers as a living witness of God’s love, healing, power, and glory.
- Healing for Fr. George Johnson, Benedict, Marina, Colette, Mary, Carol, Katherine, Carey, Hannah, Luke, Caroline, Elizabeth, baby Carrie, Fr. Robert’s parents, James and Charlene.
- For the newly illumined servant of God, Emiliane.
- Thanksgiving for a successful surgery for Mary Ann.
- Repose for the soul of Carrie Elizabeth.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 1
When the stone had been sealed by the Jews,
while the soldiers were guarding Your most pure body,
You rose on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world.
The powers of heaven therefore cried to You, O Giver of Life:
“Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ! // Glory to Your Kingdom!//
Glory to Your dispensation, O Lover of mankind!”
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 (Forefeast) Tone 4
Today is the prelude of joy for the universe.
Let us anticipate the feast and celebrate with exultation:
“Gabriel is on his way to announce the glad tidings to the Virgin;
he is ready to cry out in fear and wonder://
‘Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!’”
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 (Forefeast) Tone 8
You are the beginning of salvation for all of us on earth, O Virgin Mother of God.
For the great Archangel Gabriel, God’s minister, was sent from heaven to
stand before you to bring you joy.
Therefore, we all cry to you: “Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!”
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.
