Bulletin June 22, 2014

Solemn Holyday: This week we will observe the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist – a Solemn Holyday. Please note that the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Monday evening (the vigil of the feast) at 7:30 PM.

Eastern Christian Formation: ECF classes have concluded for this year and I wish to thank the teachers who have invested their time and energy into preparing for the classes and teaching the youth of the parish. May God bless them for their service.

Orientale Lumen XVIII: The 18th annual Orientale Lumen Conference is being held at the Washington Retreat Center in Washington, DC this week (June 23rd–26th). The theme of this year’s Conference is 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.
Church leaders, lay persons, monastics, clergy and students are all welcome and invited to participate. For additional information refer to www.olconference.com.

Giant Gift Cards: Giant gift cards are available for sale following the Divine Liturgy. Our parish receives 5% of the face value of the certificates at no additional cost to the purchaser.

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. We are in the midst of 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.

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