Saints Cyril & Methodius

Equals to the Apostles & Teachers of the Slavs

Bulgarian Orthodox Mission

(Parish name day: May 11)

Orthodox Church in America

Archdiocese of Washington

Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee

(Second Sunday in Preparation of Great Lent)

(Great Lent begins on March 7)

Sunday, February 13, 2011

The Mission’s services are being hosted through the gracious support of:

Fr. John Vitko and the parishioners of St. Luke Orthodox Church

6801 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101

Special thanks to the Reverend Deacon Chterion Zaprionov of St. George Bulgarian Orthodox Church for his support of the divine services and parish activities.

Saints Commemorated Today

SUNDAY OF THE PUBLICAN AND THE PHARISEE. Tone 5. [Beginning of the Lenten Triodion]. Ven. Martinian of Cæsarea in Palestine (5^th c.). Ven. Stephen (in monasticism Simeon), the Myrrhgusher, Prince of Serbia (1199). Ss. Zoë and Photinia (Svetlana, Fatima)—(5^th c.). St. Eulogius, Archbishop of Alexandria (607-608).

† May Their Memory Be Eternal †

the Bishops Nestor, Gregory and Job;

the Priests Peter, Ishmael, Michael, Leo, Homer, Thomas, Victor, and Milorad;

the Matushki Mary, Platonida, Sophronia, and Barbara;

the Readers Philemon, John, John, and Robert Michael; and

the Servants of God, Ruby, Timothy, Megan, Bojanka, Magdalena, Alexander, Sophia, Shafik, Christo, Julia, Rada, Radka, Anna, Dale, Olivera, Marianthe & Panaigioti, and George.

Those Who Are In Need of Prayer

The Priests Photius, Anthony, Vadim, Thomas, Paul, and Joseph;

the Presbyteras Vanya, Artemis, Marie, Miriam, Mica, Helen, Juliana, & Anne;

the servants of God, Flora, Karen, Stella, Marios & Sophia, Douglas, Alexandra, Victor, Erin, Catherine & Wayne, Kyriaki, Helen, John & Carmeta, Jane, Denny, Ivan, Oliver, Marion, Ellen, Dimitrie & Rachael, Joshua & Katherine, Charlie & Karen, Chariessa & Nicholas, and David & Patricia.

Schedule of Services

February 13 – Publican & Pharisee, @ Saints Cyril & Methodius

February 20 – Prodigal Son, @ St. George, Potomac, MD

February 27 – Last Judgment, @ Saints Cyril & Methodius

March 6 – Forgiveness Sunday, @ St. George (Great Lent begins tomorrow)

March 13 – Sunday of Orthodoxy, @ Saints Cyril & Methodius

March 20 – St. Gregory Palamas, @ St. George

March 27 – Veneration of the Cross, @ Saints Cyril & Methodius

April 3 – St. John Climacus, @ St. George

April 10 – St. Mary of Egypt,@ Saints Cyril & Methodius

April 16 – Lazarus Saturday, @ St. Mark Church, Bethesda, MD

April 17 – PALM SUNDAY,@ Saints Cyril & Methodius

April 20 – Vespers and Anointing of Holy Wednesday, @ St. Mark Church

April 21 – Holy Thursday, 12 Passion Gospels, @ St. Mark Church

April 22 – Holy Friday, Vespers, @ St. Mark Church

April 23 – Holy Saturday, Divine Liturgy, @ St. Mark Church

April 23 – Holy Saturday, Nocturns, @ TBA

April 24 – VELIKDEN/ PASCHA / EASTER, @ TBA

April 31 – St. Thomas Sunday, @ TBA

The Publican & The Pharisee

The Pharisees were an ancient and outstanding sect among the Jews known for their diligent observance of the outward matters of the Law. Although, according to the word of our Lord, they "did all their works to be seen of men" (Matt. 23:5), and were hypocrites (ibid. 23: 13, 14, 15, etc.), because of the apparent holiness of their lives they were thought by all to be righteous, and separate from others, which is what the name Pharisee means. On the other hand, Publicans, collectors of the royal taxes, committed many injustices and extortions for filthy lucre's sake, and all held them to be sinners and unjust. It was therefore according to common opinion that the Lord Jesus in His parable signified a virtuous person by a Pharisee, and a sinner by a Publican, to teach His disciples the harm of pride and the profit of humble-mindedness.

Since the chief weapon for virtue is humility, and the greatest hindrance to it is pride, the divine Fathers have set these three weeks before the Forty-day Fast as a preparation for the spiritual struggles of virtue. This present week they have called Harbinger, since it declares that the Fast is approaching; and they set humility as the foundation for all our spiritual labors by appointing that the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee be read today, even before the Fast begins, to teach, through the vaunting of the Pharisee, that the foul smoke of self-esteem and the stench of boasting drives away the grace of the Spirit, strips man of all his virtue, and casts him into the pits of Hades; and, through the repentance and contrite prayer of the Publican, that humility confers upon the sinner forgiveness of all his wicked deeds and raises him up to the greatest heights.

All foods are allowed the week that follows this Sunday.

Reception of the Eucharist

By hearing the gospel and doing it we unite ourselves to God. Orthodox Christians who are doing so, each as unworthy as we may be, join as equals around the table of the Lord and may receive from the Common Cup.