Българска
Православна
Мисия
Свети
Свети Кирил и
Методи,
Равноапостоли
и Учители на
Славяните
Saints Cyril & Methodius
Bulgarian Orthodox
Mission
Forgiveness
Sunday
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Our services are held
at:
St. Luke Orthodox Church
6801 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101
We are a parish of
the
Orthodox Church in America
Diocese of Washington and New York
Forgiveness Sunday
The Expulsion of
Adam from Paradise
As we begin the Great Fast, the Church reminds us of Adam's expulsion
from Paradise. God commanded Adam to fast (Gen. 2:16), but he did not obey.
Because of their disobedience, Adam and Eve were cast out of Eden and lost the
life of blessedness, knowledge of God, and communion with Him, for which they
were created. Both they and their descendents became heirs of death and
corruption.
Let us consider the benefits of
fasting, the consequences of disobedience, and recall our fallen state. Today
we are invited to cleanse ourselves of evil through fasting and obedience to
God. Our fasting should not be a negative thing, a mere abstention from certain
foods. It is an opportunity to free ourselves from the sinful desires and urges
of our fallen nature, and to nourish our souls with prayer, repentance, to
participate in church services, and partake of the life-giving Mysteries of
Christ.
At Forgiveness Vespers we sing:
"Let us begin the time of fasting in light, preparing ourselves for
spiritual efforts. Let us purify our soul, let us purify our body. As we
abstain from food, let us abstain from all passion and enjoy the virtues of the
spiritÉ."Christ, have put on Christ" (Gal 3:27).
The Holy Fathers have appointed the commemoration
of Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight here, on the eve of the holy
Forty-day Fast, demonstrating to us not by simple words, but by actual deeds,
how beneficial fasting is for man, and how harmful and destructive are
insatiety and the transgressing of the divine commandments. For the first
commandment that God gave to man was that of fasting, which the first-fashioned
received but did not keep; and not only did they not become gods, as they had
imagined, but they lost even that blessed life which they had, and they fell
into corruption and death, and transmitted these and innumerable other evils to
all of mankind.
The
God-bearing Fathers set these things before us today, that by bringing to mind
what we have fallen from, and what we have suffered because of the insatiety
and disobedience of the first-fashioned, we might be diligent to return again
to that ancient bliss and glory by means of fasting and obedience to all the divine
commands.
Taking
occasion from today's Gospel (Matt. 6:14-21) to begin the Fast unencumbered by
enmity, we also ask forgiveness this day, first from God, then from one another
and all creation.
May Their Memory Be Eternal
The
Archbishop GREGORY;
the
Archimandrite Innocent;
the
Priests Peter, Homer, Ishmael, Elary, Leo, and Victor;
the
Presbyteras Mary, Elizabeth, Sophronia, Barbara, and Platonida;
the
Reader Robert Michael;
the
servants of God, George, Anna, Elena, Olivera, Helen, Christo, Radka, Dale, Philemon,
Carmel, Thomas, Thomas & Marion, Andrew & Irene, Stamatia & Peter,
Panigyoti & Marianthi, Ginka, Elvetizio & Eva, Vasili, Mary Ellen,
George, Christophor, Rada, Julia, and Mary.
(If you wish to add a name to this list, please
contact Fr. Timothy)
Those Who Are In Need of
Prayer
Priests
Photius, Anthony, Mileta, Milorad, and Joseph;
Presbyteras
Artemis, Marie, Miriam, & Alexandra;
The
servants of God, Jose, Kasia, Catherine, Mathew, Elisabeth, Stella, Helen, Venko,
Tanya, Petya, Charlie, Vera, Magdalena, Bojanka, Albana, Yekaterina, Sasha,
John, Carmeta, Charlie, and Patricia.
(If
you wish to add a name to this list, please contact Fr. Timothy)
Saints
Commemorated today
SUNDAY OF CHEESEFARE — Tone 4. Forgiveness Sunday. Expulsion
of Adam from Paradise. Martyr Eudoxia
of Heliopolis (ca. 160-170). Ven. Martyrii (Martyrius) of ZelenŽtsk
(Pskov—1603). Martyrs Nestor and Tribimius (3rd c.). Martyr
Antonina of Nic¾a in Bithynia (3rd-4th c.). Martyrs
Marcellus and Anthony. Virgin Domnina of Syria (ca. 450- 460). Ven. Agapius of
Vatopedi (Mt. Athos).
