Pascha:

The Great Fifty Days: After 40 days of fasting and penance we are now in the Great Fifty Days (Pentecost) of the celebration of our Lord’s Resurrection. This 50-day celebration culminates in the Feast of the Decent of the Holy Spirit.
During the period of Pentecost there is no kneeling during any Liturgical Services. The time of penance and fasting – the Great Fast – is over. As a jubilant symbol of the Resurrection of Christ we stand throughout the Divine Services to the extent that we are able. Further, we also stand whenever “Christ is risen / Christos voskrese” is sung. If you are unable to stand for longer periods of time, please feel free to be seated, but please do not kneel during the celebration of Our Lord’s Resurrection.
Fasting: With the completion of Bright Week we now return to the usual penitential practices: Fridays are days of abstinence from meat or an equivalent penance.

Orientale Lumen XVIII: The 18th annual Orientale Lumen Conference will be held June 23rd–June 26th at the Washington Retreat House. The theme of this year’s Conference will the theological, sacramental, and canonical similarities and differences of marriage between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, pastoral issues for mixed marriages, divorce, and annulment, and the married priesthood. For additional information visit olconference.com.

Let us remember in prayer the soul of +Helen Schwartz, a former parishioner during the founding years of the parish, who died on April 23rd. Funeral Services were held at St. John Church in Scranton, PA. May her soul rest with the saints and may her memory be eternal, for Christ is risen!