Special Announcements

Please note the following additions to the Lenten calendar:
 

Thursday, March 14, 6pm

Reader's Great Compline with the Canon of Saint Andrew

Fridays, 6pm

Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God

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The Calendar of Events has been updated with all currently scheduled services through PASCHA, Sunday, April 28.  Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.  Please mark your calendars now.

 

 

Daily Lenten Scripture Readings from the books of Genesis, Proverbs, and Isaiah will appear in the "Latest News Feeds" to the right.

The Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian

O Lord and Master of my life!
Take from me the spirit of sloth, meddling, lust of power and idle talk.
But give, rather, the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant.
Yea, O Lord and King!
Grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brother;
For Thou art blessed unto ages of ages.  Amen.

Of all the Lenten hymns and prayers, one short prayer can be termed the Lenten prayer.  Tradition ascribes it to one of the great teachers of spiritual life -- St. Ephrem the Syrian.

The First Sunday of Lent - Sunday Of Orthodoxy

From the "Synaxarion of the Lenten Triodion and Pentecostarion", HDM Press.

Saints Peter and Paul Bulletin, March 16, 2003

On this day, the first Sunday of Great Lent, we celebrate the restoration of the holy and venerable icons by the ever-memorable rulers of Constantinople, the Emperor Michael and his mother, the Empress Theodora, during the patriarchate of St. Methodius the Confessor.

It was with God’s permission that when St. Germanos (comm. May 12) had taken up the rudder of the Church, Leo the Isaurian (717-41) seized the scepter of the empire after having been a mule driver and manual laborer.  The Patriarch was summoned immediately to hear the Emperor say, “In my opinion, Bishop, the holy images [icons] are no different from idols; therefore, I command that they be removed from among us as soon as possible.  If it should be the case that they are the true forms of the saints, however, then at least see that they be hung up high so that we, who are stained by sin, may not soil them with our kisses.”

The Lenten Season

Fr. Joseph Longofono, Lent, 2013, Ss. Peter and Paul, Topeka, KS.

Once again, we continue our journey through Great Lent, on the Road to the heavenly gates of the Kingdom, in the Feast of Feasts: PASCHA! It is a journey that only you can take for yourself, for the reward you receive is based solely on the effort you put into it. Therefore, we encourage you to make the following a part of your daily and weekly experience as we continue through this Lenten season:

  1. DAILY PRAYER: Please remember your morning and evening prayers, including prayers for our bishops, our clergy and their families, your Parish Council and all parishioners, the sick and suffering, those who hate us and those who love us, those who are kind to us and minister to us, and all those in need of God’s mercy, and especially St. Ephraim’s Prayer.

  2. THE WORD OF GOD: When you come to pray, take 10 minutes and read the Word of the Lord. You can start with a few chapters each day from the Psalms, the Proverbs, the Book of Job, or the Gospel according to St. Luke. But whatever it is, READ IT, and ask questions on those areas you find difficult.

  3. THE WEEKDAY SERVICES: GOD’S GIFT OF LIFE TO YOU! 

- Presanctified Liturgy, Wednesday evening at 5:30 pm, a uniquely peaceful time of prayers, followed by a potluck Lenten meal in the church basement.

- Akathist (Madayeh) Service, Friday evening at 6:00pm, a prayer service of supplication to the Virgin Mary.

- Ninth Hour and Great Vespers, Saturday evening, 5:45 pm, in preparation for:

- Orthros and Divine Liturgy, Sunday morning 9:00 am

- Holy Week Services (Please see Weekly Bulletins and Web Site Calendar Page for the lastest information) 

The Sacrament of Confession

Written by Fr. Michael Shanbour.

 

1. What is the Sacrament of Confession?

Confession is part of the process of "repentance" -- which is the essence of the Christian life.
Repentance is a change of heart usually with corresponding changes of behavior or attitude.

Let Us Joyfully Begin Our Salvation

Let us joyfully begin the all-hallowed season of abstinence; and let us shine with the bright radiance of the holy commandments of Chist our God, with the brightness of love and the splendour of prayer, with the purity of holiness and the strength of good courage.  So, clothed in raiment of light, let us hasten to the Holy Resurrection on the third day, that shines upon the world with the glory of eternal life ...

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Come, O you people, and today let us accept the Grace of the Fast as a gift from God and as a time for repentance, in which we may find mercy with the Savior.  The time for combat is at hand and has begun already; let all of us set forth eagerly upon the course of the Fast, offering our virtues as gifts to the Lord.

By Theodore.  Lenten Triodion.  Matins for Monday of the First Week of Lent.  B#16, p. 190.

Discover Orthodox Christianity

 Each link below will take you to a series of articles pertaining to the selected topic.  These are authored by various people .  This series is hosted on the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese website.
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