s we quickly approach the remembrance of our Lord s everenduring Passion and Glorious

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1 APRIL 2017 A s we quickly approach the remembrance of our Lord s everenduring Passion and Glorious Resurrection, we reflect on how short we have come to living the life that our Lord calls us to live. Thank God that doesn t stop Him from pouring forth His abundant grace and mercy. In his letter to the Romans, the great A p o s t l e S t. Pa u l w r i t e s, B u t G o d demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Had He waited upon humanity to get their act together, we would still be waiting for a savior. But GOD took the initiative and made the first move. The Exapostilarion for Holy Friday Orthros (sung Thursday night) reminds us how our Lord in a single moment offered the repentant thief paradise while they both hung on their crosses awaiting their last breath. The Wise Thief is known to the Church as St. Dismas. While there is not Biblical account of Christ and Dismas meeting before, pious Tradition tells us that when Christ was an infant and the holy family fled before Herod s sword to Egypt, robbers leapt out on the road with the intention of stealing something. The righteous Joseph was leading the donkey, on which were some belongings and on which the Theotokos was riding with her Son at her breast. The robbers seized the donkey to lead it away. At that moment, one of the robbers approached the Mother of God to see what she was holding. The robber, seeing the Christ-child, was astonished at His unusual beauty and said in his astonishment: If God were to take upon Himself the flesh of man, He would not be more beautiful than this Child! This robber then ordered his companions to take nothing from these travelers. Filled with gratitude toward this generous robber, the Most-Holy Virgin said to him: Know that this Child will repay you with a good reward because you protected Him today. Upon his own cross, St. Dismas knew his end was near. He cried Remember me O Lord when You come into Your Kingdom. With these simple words, the compassion of the Master was bestowed and his reward was given. Unlike the thief, we do not know the hour of our departure from this world, so we must constantly repent and use every breath and action to receive the grace that has been given. St. George Orthodox Christian Church 5311 Mercer Street Houston, TX (713)

2 Holy Week Services Explained Page 2 Holy Week in the Orthodox Church Palm Sunday (The Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem): Our Lord enters Jerusalem and is proclaimed king - but in an earthly sense, as many people of His time were seeking a political Messiah. Our Lord is King, of course, but of a different type - the eternal King prophesied by Zechariah the Prophet. We use palms on this day to show that we too accept Jesus as the true King and Messiah of the Jews, Who we are willing to follow - even to the cross. Holy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: The first thing that must be said about these services, and most of the other services of Holy Week, is that they are "sung" in anticipation. Each service is rotated ahead twelve hours. The evening service, therefore, is actually the service of the next morning, while the morning services of Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday are actually the services of the coming evening. Understanding that, let's turn to the Services of Holy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (celebrated Palm Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evening). The services of these days are known as the Bridegroom or Nymphios Orthros Services. At the first service of Palm Sunday evening, the priest carries the icon of Christ the Bridegroom in procession, and we sing the "Hymn of the Bridegroom." We behold Christ as the Bridegroom of the Church, bearing the marks of His suffering, yet preparing a marriage Feast for us in God's Kingdom. Each of these Bridegroom Orthros services has a particular theme. On Holy Monday, the Blessed Joseph, the son of Jacob the Patriarch, is commemorated. Joseph is often seen as a Type of Christ. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, thrown into a pit, and sold into slavery by them. In the same way, our Lord was rejected, betrayed by His own, and sold into the slavery of death. The Gospel reading for the day is about the barren fig tree, which Christ cursed and withered because it bore no fruit. The fig tree is a parable of those who have heard God's word, but who fail to bear the fruit of obedience. Originally the withering of the fig tree was a testimony against those Jews who rejected God's word and His Messiah. However, it is also a warning to all people, in all times, of the importance of not only hearing the God's word, but putting it into action. The Parable of the Ten Virgins is read on Holy Tuesday. It tells the story of the five virgins who filled their lamps in preparation for receiving the Bridegroom while the other five allowed their lamps to go out, and hence were shut out of the marriage feast. This parable is a warning that we must always be prepared to receive our Lord when He comes again. The theme of the day is reinforced by the Exapostilarion hymn we sing: "I see Thy Bridal Chamber adorned, O my Savior, but have no wedding garment that I may enter. O Giver of Light, enlighten the vesture of my soul, and save me." The theme of Holy Wednesday is repentance and forgiveness. We remember the sinful woman who anointed our Lord in anticipation of His death. Her repentance and love of Christ is the theme of the wonderful "Hymn of Kassiane" which is chanted on this night, reminding us one more time, before "it is too late," that we too may be forgiven if we repent. Holy Unction: The Mystery or Sacrament of Holy Unction is celebrated on Holy Wednesday evening. This service can be celebrated any time during the year, especially when one is ill. However, because of our need for forgiveness and spiritual healing, we offer this service during Holy Week for the

3 Holy Week Services Explained (cont.) remission of our sins. We should prepare for this service in a prayerful way, as we do for Holy Communion. Great and Holy Thursday: On Holy Thursday we turn to the last events of our Lord and His Passion. Thursday morning begins with a Vesperal Divine Liturgy commemorating the Mystical Supper. As previously mentioned, this is actually Holy Thursday evening's service celebrated in the morning in anticipation. Everyone who is able should make an effort to receive Holy Communion at this service as it was at the Mystical Supper that our Lord instituted the Holy Eucharist. At this Liturgy a second Host is consecrated and kept in the Tabernacle. It is from this Host that Holy Communion is distributed to the shut-ins and the sick throughout the coming year. Thursday evening actually begins the services of Great and Holy Friday. The service of the Twelve Passion Gospels commemorates the solemn time of our Lord's Crucifixion. After the reading of the fifth Gospel, the holy cross is carried around the church in procession, and Christ's body is nailed to the cross in the center of the church. Great and Holy Friday: This is a day of strict fast. As little as possible should be eaten on this day. It is the only day in the entire year that no Divine Liturgy of any kind can be celebrated. In the morning we celebrate the Royal Hours. These solemn hours are observed as we read the various accounts and hymns concerning the crucifixion. In the afternoon we celebrate the Vesper service of the taking down of Christ's body from the cross. During the Gospel reading, our Lord's body is taken off the cross and wrapped in a new, white linen sheet. This act commemorates the removal of Christ's body from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:38-42). Later in the service, the Epitaphios, or winding-sheet, with Christ's body on it is carried in procession and placed in the recently decorated tomb. In the evening the Lamentations Orthros service is sung. This service begins in a solemn manner, but by the end of the service we are already anticipating the Resurrection of our Lord. Remember again, that the Holy Friday evening Orthros is actually the first service of Holy Saturday, the day in which we commemorate our Lord's body resting in the tomb while His all-pure soul descends into Hades to free the faithful of the Old Covenant. Great and Holy Saturday: This day is a day of hope and waiting. In the morning we celebrate a Vesperal Divine Liturgy which commemorates Christ's victory over death. Bright vestments are worn as we anticipate Christ's Resurrection. Laurel leaves are strewn throughout the church during the service, because in the ancient world laurel leaves were a sign of victory. As the leaves are strewn, the choir chants "Arise O God and Judge the earth, for to Thee belong all the nations." The Old Testament story of Jonah in the belly of the whale is read at this service because Jonah is seen in the Church as a Type of Christ. As Jonah was three days in the belly of the great fish, and was then safely deposited back onto land, so our Lord was three days in the tomb before His glorious Resurrection. The Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Holy Saturday concludes the services of Holy Week, and brings us to the eve of Great and Holy Pascha. Page 3

4 St. George Lenten Retreat With Fr. Mark McNary L E N T E N R E T R E A T with Father Mark McNary On March 4, 2017, our family of St. George was blessed to have Fr. Mark McNary, Pastor of St. Peter's Orthodox Church in Fort Worth, TX join us for our Lenten Retreat entitled, Great Lent and Our Approachable God. His words of wisdom and inspiration encouraged us as we began our Lenten journey to Pascha. As in the Parable of the Sower in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 8, Fr. Mark asked us to examine where we plant our seed of faith ---scattered along the road which becomes trampled, on rocks that quickly wither, among thorns that choke the seed or in good fertile soil that bears much fruit. Fr. McNary also stated there are three hindrances that prevent our seed from taking root and flourishing: satanic activity, temptations of the flesh to love anything more than God and the worries/anxieties of life. To weather the storms that occur in our lives we were advised to fully experience God in our lives and Great Lent affords us the opportunity to deepen our faith and draw closer to Him. God has gifted us with the season of Lent to bring us into contact with Him and to realize we can't do anything alone but everything through Him. Fasting is a bodily experience that disciplines us: what we need isn't food but God. Prayer keeps us close to God and offers continual communication with Him. Through repentance we overcome our sins and sin no more. Repentance is to return to our true self of what God intended us to be His greatest creation that lives in harmony with Him. By confession and absolution we receive forgiveness of sins release from the shame of our sins. Almsgiving provides us with opportunities to go beyond ourselves to help those in need. Fr. Mark said since the Fall of Man God is Lord the Deliverer. He rescues us from danger, carries us to a place of safety and delivers us from anything that harms us. Many Biblical examples were given on how God delivered His chosen people. In the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, the word deliver is used multiple times. God is also Lord of Compassion and examples were given to show Jesus' deep compassion for others. He was God but also human and his body physically ached from the condition of mankind. He felt deep sorrow for the downfall of man. Each time He performed miracles of healing, raising the dead, etc., He was undoing what had been done by people. God seeks to redeem, heal and restore man. Many of us have a distorted view of God due to our painful experiences, weight of shame from our sins and our lukewarm faith. However, God is an Approachable God and longs for a deeper, closer relationship with each of us. He desires us to move towards Him to approach Him. To approach God we need to: stop pretending stop hiding from God as Adam and Eve did after they ate the forbidden fruit, acknowledge what God already knows He knows our offenses, stop separating ourselves from God and finally go before the Throne of God the Throne of Grace offering mercy and healing. The words of Fr. Mark fortified our resolve to continue and complete our journey to Pascha with renewed vigor and commitment. Let us be diligent in sowing our seed of faith in the rich fertile soil of our souls, nourished by the Word of God, blossoming bountiful fruit in our hearts and lives. We thank the Spiritual Involvement Ministry and the Ladies Altar Society for providing us this most informative and prayerful day. Page 4 Our Approachable God

5 Generations/College Retreat/Monastery Trip/Lazarus Saturday The college students of DOWAMA gathered in Kaufman, TX March 31for a Lenten Spiritual Retreat and discussion on "Our Orthodox Identity" led by Fr. Symeon. Baptisms March 4 Emma Clair Rendon daughter of Daniel & Victoria Rendon funerals March 28 Yacoub Salim Nassar March 29 LaSeema Skaff Malerelis The Seniors and the Ladies Altar Society took a Lenten trip to St. Paraskevi March 9. Page 5

6 In Defense Of Christians Movie Showing Page 6

7 Bishop BASIL 25th Anniversary Luncheon Page 7

8 St. George Orthodox Christian Church 5311 Mercer Street Houston, TX (713) CHURCH STAFF Pastor V. Rev. Fr. James Shadid Associate Pastor Rev. Fr. Symeon Kees Pastor Emeritus V. Rev. Fr. Joseph Shahda Youth Director George Katrib Secretary Octavia Odom