READINGS FOR THE FIRST THURSDAY OF GREAT LENT

We present here a short educational offering for both children and adults on the upcoming Sunday's principle Gospel reading so that all can better prepare for the Divine Services. Parents are asked to review the children’s portion with their children. It is very important for us to attend the Divine Services on Sundays and whenever else we are able, but in addition it is our spiritual responsibility to educate ourselves and our families in the faith. It is our hope that this mid-week offering will be an aid in this regard. Please contact Fr. Gregory with questions or suggestions.

For Various Ages: from the Antiochian Archdiocese

Lectures begin this Sunday during our weekly parish meal and will be held each Sunday of Great Lent. All are welcome!

READINGS FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF GREAT LENT

We are often asked about Lenten recipes. One can't really make it through any fasting period on only peanut butter and jelly. We present here some recipes that you may find helpful to diversify your diet during lent. Remember: anything that is vegan fits the fast, and since vegan diets have become popular lately, you can search for these on the Internet. We can't comment on the quality of the recipes you'll find when you make such a search, but the recipes below are GOOD!

LENTEN RECIPES FOR YOUR GREAT LENTEN TABLE

READINGS FOR TUESDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF GREAT LENT

FIVE LINES FOR EVERY ST. VLADIMIRIAN TO READ FOR THIS WEEK!

Please find important and helpful on-line resources for Great Lent at the links below.

ENGLISH ~ РУССКИЙ

It is good for us to increase our spiritual reading and prayer during Great Lent. It is especially good to take a small break from work if possible, to pray, reflect, and remind ourselves that even as we live in the world we do not want to be consumed by the world. Each day of the first week we will post a link at noon as a spiritual break from the waves of the world - and to remind ourselves that we are working in an especially focused way now to draw nearer to our Lord.

READINGS FOR MONDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF GREAT LENT

We congratulate all our parish family on the beginning of the Holy and Great Lent! This is a special time of year for all of us when we put away the cares of this world to the greatest extent possible and in a much more focused way examine our consciences, forgive each other, and seek forgiveness from our merciful Lord. Yesterday the Holy Church commemorated the casting out of Adam from Paradise. In today's Divine Services the first scripture reading is the beginning of Genesis – today is a new beginning for us all. May God grant us all a spiritually fruitful lent as we prepare ourselves for the feast of feasts – the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Please find here the prayer of St. Ephraim. This prayer is said at every weekday Divine Service of Great Lent and it is common practice to include this prayer in our daily home prayers as well:

PRAYER OF ST. EPHRAIM ENGLISH + РУССКИЙ