This stichera hymn sung last night really grabbed my attention. So vivid, it brings a bit of excitement to my heart as we know it to be a foretaste of what is to come. We have completed the forty days that profit our souls.Let us sing: “Rejoice, city of Bethany, home of Lazarus!Rejoice, Mary and… Continue reading A Foretaste
This week marks the very middle of the fast. Last Sunday was the very center. As we head into the end of the fast may we find strength and encouragement from this hymn... This hymn is actually sung this coming Monday, the perfect time for a boost of encouragement to keep going. Today we sing… Continue reading Middle of the Fast
As we walk our way through lent I thought I'd share with you one of my favorite prayers said specifically during Great Lent. It really is the perfect reflection of what our journey through lent is about. To change me. To work on me and my own salvation. I find this prayer to sum up… Continue reading Prayer of St. Ephraim
As we continue the joyful celebration of the Fast, we cry aloud: Keep us all in peace, O Lord, deliver us from every snare of the enemy, and in Thy surpassing love count us worthy to venerate with fear Thy precious Cross, through which Thou grantest to the inhabited earth Thy mercy, O Thou Who… Continue reading Wednesday of the Third Week
This Great Lent I bought a book to read during this 40 day journey. It is an older book republished by Ancient Faith Publishing called Pilgrimage to Pascha. It is a devotional with a meditation on each day as well as "Font of Wisdom", sharing quotes from saints. On this day, Tuesday of the Second… Continue reading Pilgrimage to Pascha-
As we end this first week of Great Lent I wanted to share with you one of my very favorite hymns we sing each night, Monday through Friday, during the Canon of St. Andrew. It is the Kontakion sung after the 6th Ode of the Canon. https://youtu.be/uqdJ1QJ3dxA This is my daughter and one other member… Continue reading My Soul, My Soul Arise
What a joy! I am so happy for lent to start for so many reasons but the best is shared in a post from March 14, 2019. I read this post every year because it is such an awesome reminder to why we go through this Lenten period of time before we celebrate Pascha, the… Continue reading Great Lent Begins
My daughter is our choir director and has been putting together reader's services for parishioners to print out and use at home. She has been working on these for Holy Week and Pascha and beginning today is allowing me to share them for our family and friends everywhere. I know many people will follow services… Continue reading Printable Reader’s Services
I was blessed beyond measure to join my daughter and our priest to serve the full Canon of St. Andrew Wednesday evening. This was bittersweet. It felt so good to be there in the place I have missed so much but it was empty.These days have been so difficult. And the reality closing in that… Continue reading A Special Message
In my last post I shared my husbands thoughts on the very real potential of us not gathering for Holy Week and Pascha. Earlier this week I wrote an article for our Church newsletter that what titled, as this post is titled, "What about Pascha?" in where I share my thoughts and our hopes on… Continue reading What about Pascha?
Kindler of Joy! 