St Michael Theotokos John the Baptist http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i4w8HAOmbVk/S8AQmKpiK8I/AAAAAAAAAeA/-tRfIpbHoA8/s320/Christ-Pancrotator.jpg

St Michael's

OrthodoxCross Church

Dunedin

 

Saturday, April 11, 2009

The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday)

Scripture readings

  • Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:4-9


  • Gospel: The Reading is from the Gospel: John 12:1-18

Saints and feasts


  • Basil the Confessor, Bishop of Parios
  • Anthoussa the Righteous of Constantinople

The living

  • June
  • Luba
  • Olga
  • Kathleen
  • Sheryl
  • Archpriest Ilyan

The Departed we Commemorated today

  • Nancy
  • Seraphine

Holy Week Services at St Michael's

The Schedule of Holy week services can be found in detail here: Holy Week Services at St Michael's

The Great Feast of the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem


Palm Sunday or the Triumphal Entry marks the end of the Great Lent and the beginning of Holy Week falling on the Sunday immediately preceding Pascha.

This feast recalls our Lords entry into Jerusalem on a donkey and the joyful reaction of the crowds to this event.

But we also remember the sadness to come as we prepare ourselves for Holy week which will culminate in Our Lord's Crucifiction on Good Friday.

The Churches are decorated with branches Palms or similar trees if Palms are not available.

Fish is permitted on the day, the second relaxation of the Fast which will last until Pascha since the beginning of Lent since this is a joyful day.

The events surrounding Christs Triumphal entry into Jerusalem are recounted in all four gospels


Matthew 21:1-11
Mark 11:1-11
Luke 19:28-44 and
John 12:12-19

12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.

16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. 18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.

19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

Troparion (Tone 1)
By raising Lazarus from the dead before Your passion, You did confirm the universal Resurrection, O Christ God! Like the children with the palms of victory, We cry out to You, O Vanquisher of death; Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord!

Troparion (Tone 4)
When we were buried with You in Baptism, O Christ God, We were made worthy of eternal life by Your Resurrection! Now we praise You and sing: Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord!
Kontakion (Tone 6)
Sitting on Your throne in heaven, Carried on a foal on earth, O Christ God! Accept the praise of angels and the songs of children who sing: Blessed is He that comes to recall Adam!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Sunday of St Mary The Righteous of Egypt

Scripture readings

Saints and feasts


  • The Holy Martyrs Claudius, Diodorus, Victor, Victorinus, Pappius, Necephorus and Serapion

  • St Ethelburga, the Abbess of Kent

  • St Mark The Anchorite of Athens

  • St Theodora of Thessalonika

The living

  • June
  • Luba
  • Olga
  • Kathleen
  • Sheryl
  • Archpriest Ilyan

The Departed we Commemorated today

  • George
  • Sadie
  • Kristen-Elizabeth