SS. Cyril
& Methodius
Bulgarian Orthodox
Mission
_files/image002.jpg)
St.
patrick
enlightener
of ireland
(Commemorated,
March 17)
Today we commemorate:
St. John Climacus (‘of
the Ladder’)
Fourth Sunday of Great
Lent
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Our services are held at:
St. Luke Orthodox Church
6801 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101
His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH: Archdiocesan Bishop
The Very Reverend Timothy Perry: Priest-in-charge
Orthodox Church in America
Archdiocese of Washington
Sunday of St. John of the Ladder (St. John Climacus)
The Fourth Sunday of Lent is dedicated to
St John of the Ladder (Climacus), the author of the work, The Ladder of Divine Ascent. The abbot of St Catherine's Monastery
on Mount Sinai (6th century) stands as a witness to the violent effort needed
for entrance into God's Kingdom (Mt.10: 12). The spiritual struggle of the
Christian life is a real one, "not against flesh and blood, but against
... the rulers of the present darkness ... the hosts of wickedness in heavenly
places ..." (Eph 6:12). Saint John encourages the faithful in their efforts
for, according to the Lord, only "he who endures to the end will be
saved" (Mt.24:13).
†
May Their Memory Be
Eternal †
The
newly departed servants Georgi and Bojanka,
the
Patriarchs ALEXEI and PAVLE,
the
Archbishops GREGORY and JOB;
the
Priests Peter, Ishmael, Leo, Homer, Thomas, and Victor;
the
Matushki Mary, Platonida, Sophronia, and Barbara;
the
Readers Philemon, John, John, and Robert Michael; and
the
Servants of God Magdalena, Alexander, Sophia, Shafik, Michael, Steven, Christo,
Julia, Rada, Radka, Anna, Dale, Mary, Carmel, Thomas, Vasili, Mary Ellen,
Andrew, Irene, Stamatia, Peter, Steven, Olivera, George, Marianthe, Panaigioti,
Christophor, George, Stephen, &
Stefan.
Those
Who Are In Need of Prayer
The Priests Photius, Anthony, Milorad, Vadim,
and Joseph;
the Presbyteras Artemis, Marie, Miriam,
Juliana, Anne, & Alexandra;
the servants of God Alexandra, Jennifer,
Catherine, Albana, Mathew, Helen, Venko, Tanya, Vera, Kyriaki, Yekaterina,
Sasha, John, Carmeta, Charlie, Yonka, Helen, and Patricia.
Those who are traveling or are sick and
suffering and those who have asked us to pray for them, unworthy though we may
be, and
Those whose names we cannot remember
for the multitude of names.
Saints
Commemorated Today
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT — tone 7. St. John Climacus (of The Ladder). Ven. Benedict of Nursia (543). St. Theognostus,
Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia (1353). Rt. Blv. Great Prince Rostilav
(Michael), Prince of Kiev and Smolensk (1167). St. Euschemon the Confessor,
Bishop of Lampsacus (9th c.). The “FEODOROVSKAYA” Icon of the
Most-holy Theotokos.
Schedule of Services
Mar. 14 – 4th Sunday of Lent:
St. John of the Ladder - at SS Cyril & Methodius
Mar. 21 – 5th Sunday of Lent:
St. Mary of Egypt - at St. George Church
Mar. 27 – Lazarus Saturday – at St. Mark Church (on River Road,
Bethesda)
Mar. 28 – Palm Sunday: Begin Holy Week -
at SS Cyril & Methodius
Apr. 4 - VELIKDEN, PASCHA,
EASTER: Location to be announced.
2010 Parish Council: Members-elect
Today, the members elected to serve as this
year’s Parish Council will be blessed to take office after the Divine Liturgy
in the “Service of Installation.”
At the monthly
Parish Council meeting the group will elect officers from amongst
themselves. An elected member must be
“installed” before they may either vote or stand for office.
Evgeniy Anguelov Elena Murphy
Nadeya Baltiyska Larry Woods
Nadya Choparinoff Lazarina Petrova
George Kochev Yordanka
Lazanova (alternate)
April Parish Council Meeting
The next meeting
of the Parish Council will take place on April 8 from 7:00 to 9:00. The installed members of the Parish Council
will elect officers, hear reports from the Standing Real Estate Committee
(Elena Murphy and Larry Woods), and transact other business as
appropriate. Everyone is welcome to
attend though only Parish Council members may bring business to the floor, make
motions, or vote.
St. Patrick, Enlightener of Ireland
Saint Patrick, the Enlightener
of Ireland was born around 385, the son of Calpurnius, a Roman decurion (an
official responsible for collecting taxes). He lived in the village of Bannavem
Taberniae, which may have been located at the mouth of the Severn River in
Wales. The district was raided by pirates when Patrick was sixteen, and he was
one of those taken captive. He was brought to Ireland and sold as a slave, and
was put to work as a herder of swine on a mountain identified with Slemish in
Co. Antrim. During his period of slavery, Patrick acquired a proficiency in the
Irish language which was very useful to him in his later mission.
He
prayed during his solitude on the mountain, and lived this way for six years.
He had two visions. The first told him he would return to his home. The second
told him his ship was ready. Setting off on foot, Patrick walked two hundred
miles to the coast. There he succeeded in boarding a ship, and returned to his
parents in Britain.
Some
time later, he went to Gaul and studied for the priesthood at Auxerre under St
Germanus (July 31). Eventually, he was consecrated as a bishop, and was
entrusted with the mission to Ireland, succeeding St Palladius (July 7). After
about a year he went to Scotland, where he died in 432.
Patrick
had a dream in which an angel came to him bearing many letters. Selecting one
inscribed "The Voice of the Irish," he heard the Irish entreating him
to come back to them.
Although
St Patrick achieved remarkable results in spreading the Gospel, he was not the
first or only missionary in Ireland. He arrived around 432 (though this date is
disputed), about a year after St Palladius began his mission to Ireland. There
were also other missionaries who were active on the southeast coast, but it was
St Patrick who had the greatest influence and success in preaching the Gospel
of Christ. Therefore, he is known as "The Enlightener of Ireland."
His
autobiographical Confession tells of the many trials and disappointments he
endured. Patrick had once confided to a friend that he was troubled by a
certain sin he had committed before he was fifteen years old. The friend
assured him of God's mercy, and even supported Patrick's nomination as bishop.
Later, he turned against him and revealed what Patrick had told
him in an attempt to prevent his consecration. Many years later, Patrick still
grieved for his dear friend who had publicly shamed him.
St
Patrick founded many churches and monasteries across Ireland, but the
conversion of the Irish people was no easy task. There was much hostility, and
he was assaulted several times. He faced danger, and insults, and he was
reproached for being a foreigner and a former slave. There was also a very real
possibility that the pagans would try to kill him. Despite many obstacles, he
remained faithful to his calling, and he baptized many people into Christ.
The
saint's Epistle to Coroticus is also an authentic work. In it he denounces the
attack of Coroticus' men on one of his congregations. The Breastplate (Lorica)
is also attributed to St Patrick. In his writings, we can see St Patrick's
awareness that he had been called by God, as well as his determination and
modesty in undertaking his missionary work. He refers to himself as "a
sinner," "the most ignorant and of least account," and as
someone who was "despised by many." He ascribes his success to God,
rather than to his own talents: "I owe it to God's grace that through me
so many people should be born again to Him."
By
the time he established his episcopal See in Armargh in 444, St Patrick had
other bishops to assist him, many native priests and deacons, and he encouraged
the growth of monasticism.
St
Patrick is often depicted holding a shamrock, or with snakes fleeing from him.
He used the shamrock to illustrate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Its three
leaves growing out of a single stem helped him to explain the concept of one
God in three Persons. Many people now regard the story of St Patrick driving
all the snakes out of Ireland as having no historical basis.
St
Patrick died on March 17, 461 (some say 492). There are various accounts of his
last days, but they are mostly legendary. Muirchu says that no one knows the
place where St Patrick is buried. St Columba of Iona (June 9) says that the
Holy Spirit revealed to him that Patrick was buried at Saul, the site of his
first church. A granite slab was placed at his traditional grave site in
Downpatrick in 1899.