Orientale Lumen XVIII: The 18th annual Orientale Lumen Conference will beheld next week, 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.
Plenary speakers include Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia, Patriarchate of Constantinople; Archimandrite Robert Taft, S.J., Pontifical Oriental Institute (Retired); Archpriest Peter Galadza, the Sheptytsky Institute (Ottawa, Ontario); Rev. Patrick Viscuso, Greek Orthodox Church of America; Rev. John Beal, the Catholic University of America; Sister Vassa Larin, University of Vienna; and Rev. Ron Robertson, CSP (Moderator), U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. For additional information visit www.olconference.com.

Food for the Needy: Please keep in mind that food collections are not limited to the holiday seasons. Donations of non-perishable food items are needed year round to assist our neighbors in need.

Sunday of all Saints: The Churches of the Byzantine Tradition, both Catholic and Orthodox, commemorate all saints collectively on the First Sunday after Pentecost, All Saints’ Sunday. The feast of All Saints achieved great prominence in the ninth century, in the reign of the Byzantine Emperor, Leo VI “the Wise” (886–911). His wife, the Empress Theophano (commemorated on 16th December) lived a devout and pious life. Following her death in 893, her husband built a church, intending to dedicate it to her. When he was forbidden to do so, he decided to dedicate it to “All Saints,” so that if his wife were in fact one of the righteous, she would also be honored whenever the feast was celebrated. According to tradition, it was Leo who expanded the feast from a commemoration of All Martyrs to a general commemoration of All Saints, whether martyrs or not. This Sunday formally marks the close of the Paschal season. Particular scriptural readings and hymns from the Pentecostarion are added to the ordinary Sunday propers to commemorate all the saints – both known and unknown.
In some places, the Second Sunday following Pentecost Sunday is set aside as a commemoration of all locally venerated saints, such as “All Saints of North America,” “All Saints of Russia,” “All Saints of Mount Athos,” etc.
In addition to the Sundays mentioned above, Saturdays throughout the year are days dedicated to the memory of all saints and all the faithful departed and special hymns for these themes are prescribed from the Octoechos (Book of Eight Tones).

The Apostles Fast: In the Byzantine Tradition we observe 4 fast periods throughout the year – 2 major fasts and 2 lesser fasts. The Great Fast (Lent) is certainly the most prominent and its title indicates its importance. The other major fast period is the “Philip’s Fast” (Filipovka) which is the 40 days preceding Christmas (November 14th to December 24th). The Dormition fast runs from August 1st to August 14th in preparation for the Feast of the Dormition of the Holy Mother of God. With sunset this evening we will enter into what is know as the Apostles Fast (Petrovka Post’, literally the Fast of Peter) in preparation for the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul on June 29th. Both the Great Fast and Philip’s Fast are precisely 40 days long and the Dormition Fast is always 14 days long. What makes the Apostles Fast unique is that it is of variable duration. It is based upon the Paschal cycle and it begins on the evening of All Saints Sunday – the First Sunday after Pentecost. The earliest possible date for the beginning of the Apostles Fast is May 18th and the latest date is June 22nd. Traditional fasting practices called for Strict Fast (from meat and dairy products) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and a lesser fast on the remaining days. While the degree to which we observe this fast today is voluntary, we should practice Simple Abstinence (from meat) on all Fridays and perhaps extend the abstinence to Wednesdays during the fast period.