Fifth Sunday of Lent: St Mary of Egypt

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from Hebrews 9:11-14
  


• Gospel: The Reading is from Mark 10:32-45

Today we remember Righteous Mother Mary of Egypt who stands before us as a model for repentance.

Her feast is celebrated on the 1^st of April but we commemorate her today as our minds turn to our own repentance for our failings as we move toward Pascha.

Another Saint commemorated today is St Martin the Confessor, a Pope of Rome who suffered great indignities for staying true to the faith in the face of imperial opposition to him.

Fr Ilyan's return to us

Earlier this week it looked as though Fr Ilyan would need to undergo further surgery and might possibly have to remain in hospital for several weeks more, probably being there for Pascha.

A corner has been turned and the great news is that he returned home last night.

If he is able he intends to celebrate the Divine Liturgy today.

He has been sorely missed and we are thrilled to have him back and that he will be able to celebrate Pascha with us.

He still needs to recuperate and should be encouraged to take it slowly but I suspect he will continue in the manner he always has, working too hard even in times of great trial.

Those in need of our prayers

• The Archpriest Ilyan


• Olga Barbara


• June Sim

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Nancy


• Seraphine

Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

Fourth Sunday of Lent: Father John Climacus

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from Hebrews 6:13-20
  


• Gospel: The Reading is from Hebrews Mark 9:17-31

On the fourth Sunday in lent we commemorate St John Climacus, St John of the Ladder.

His actual Feast Day is on March the 30^th. However since this almost always falls in Lent, on the 4^th Sunday in Lent we commemorate him in the Divine Liturgy. He set a great example of Christian asceticism from which we can learn especially as we progress through Lent towards Pascha.

Services today

Fr Ilyan remains in hospital and will unable to celebrate the Divine Liturgy today.

The service of Sunday Orthros will be held at 10:30 at St Michaels.

Those in need of our prayers

As previously mentioned Father Ilyan is still in hospital recovering from his surgery.

Olga Barbara remains in St Andrews rest home.

June Sim was also briefly hospitalized this week and is now recovering at home.

Please remember them all in your prayers.

The Departed we Commemorated today

Kristin
Assid
Seraphine
Nicholas
Maria

Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

Father Ilyan update

I was able to visit Fr Ilyan on Tuesday night.

Unfortunately he has developed a chest infection and was breathing with the help of oxygen. hopefully this will clear soon.

He remains cheerful in his adversity and is receiving support from many quarters. The hospital chaplaincy is worth particular mention, please remember their street appeal on the 11^th of this month (Friday week).

Matushka Mary E-mailed last night.

Father is progressing well, looking better tonight.

He is still fighting a lung infection and remains on a fluid diet.

He managed to eat most of his soup tonight so that is progress!

Please keep up the Prayers, especially that he can be well for Easter.

Matushka Mary.

Please pray for Fr Ilyan, that he may recover quickly and soon be returned to us.

Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

Grant's move to Invercargill

All parishioners of St Michael's will be familiar with Grant.

He was baptized in St Michael's and has been a core member of the Church serving at Divine Liturgy every Sunday and Feast Day for the past three years or so.

Grant is moving to Invercargill today to take up a new job, a wonderful new opportunity for him has presented itself down there.

But he will be sorely missed by us all, as will his banana cake - something he bought every Sunday to hand out at the end of the Liturgy and to be enjoyed with coffee.

Grant will still be associated with our Church and Parish - and will be serving for Fr Ilyan when he celebrates the Divine Liturgy in Invercargill.

I am sure we all wish him the best of luck in his new job.

Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

Third Sunday of Lent: Veneration of the cross

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from Paul's letter to the Hebrews 4:14-5:6
  
• Gospel: The Reading is from the Gospel according to St Mark 8:34-9:1
  

As we reach the halfway point of Great Lent our eyes turn to the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

It is laid out in the Church surrounded by flowers and above the Cross and Icon of Christ representing His glory.

We sing the hymn "We venerate Your Cross, O Christ, and Your holy Resurrection we glorify".

Our preparation as we move toward Pascha continues.

Fr Ilyan

Fr Ilyan's surgery seems to have gone well. He is out of bed and though in pain appears to be healing well.

It is hoped he will be discharged from hospital 3-5 days.

Please remember him in your thoughts and prayers.

Reminder: Due to Fr Ilyan's illness, there will be no Liturgy this morning.

Fr Andrei will be conducting Typika and the Veneration of the Cross.

Interfaith meeting at St Margaret's College
The University Chaplaincy organized an interfaith meeting last Friday evening to introduce students new to Dunedin the places of worship our city provides. Many faith groups were represented including us, through Fr Andrei.

Fr Andrei met with several Orthodox students in the course of the evening. He intends to maintain contact with them and meet with other students who share our faith that we may serve their needs.

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Archpriest Alexey
• Priest Milavoi
• Antonious
• Saied
• Elias
• Maria
• Natalia

Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

Fr Ilyan's surgery is tomorrow

Just a reminder Father Ilyan is due to undergo surgery tomorrow.

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.


Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

New Archdiocese website

The Archdiocese has a new website.

Antiochian Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand

Metropolitan Archbishop Paul's Welcoming statement for the new site Welcoming statement for the new site

Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand

Second Sunday of Lent

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from: Hebrews 1:10-14,2:1-3
  


• Gospel: The Reading is from: Mark 2:1-12, John 10:9-16

For our Western Brethren in Christ today is Easter Sunday.

It is the second Sunday of Lent for us, however, and is also known as the Sunday of Gregory Palamas (1296-1359), Archbishop of Thessalonica, whose feast is commemorated on November the 14th, the day of his repose.

We attach his name to today because of his defence of Orthodoxy in the 14th Century, particularly an issue regarding knowing God as a matter of reason rather than personal Faith.

His victory over those who would treat Christianity as a matter of philosophy rather than that of Faith and is sometimes called the second triumph of Orthodoxy.



Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

Those in need of our Prayers

Father Ilyan will be undergoing surgery on Thursday this week.

Fr George of the Auckland Mission is also in hospital.

Olga Barbara

Please remember them in your prayers

The Departed we commemorated today

• Metropolitan Laurus


• Archpriest Alexey


• Ankitsa


• Alexander

Fr George Bosauder

We have just heard that the Reverend Father George Bosauder of the Auckland Mission of St George is ill and in hospital.

Please keep him in your thoughts and Prayers.


Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

Metropolitan Laurus, Memory Eternal

Metropolitan Laurus (1928-2008)

His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, reposed on the Sunday of Orthodoxy at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York.

Tagged:Orthodoxy, Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

Sunday of Orthodoxy

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from Hebrews 11:24-26,32-40
  


• Gospel: The Reading is from John 1:43-51
  

Today is the first Sunday of Lent, also commemorated as the "Triumph of Orthodoxy."

This recalls the Seventh Ecumenical council's restoration of the Icons in 843 and marks the victory of those who held with Orthodoxy over the modernists of that era, the iconoclasts.

Of course the iconoclasts have never truly vanished. They are still with us. One of the areas they are active today is in the modification and revision of Holy Scripture.

We have the Jesus Seminar, for example, who have taken it upon themselves to review the Gospels and decide whether the words of Our Lord recorded in them are were actually his or later additions by some unknown author.

Using their arcane procedures they have concluded the Gospel according to St John is almost entirely a later fabrication.

And are you surprised to learn that you could, if you so wish, purchase a Gay and Lesbian study Bible?

So although today we celebrate the Triumph of Orthodoxy, in reality it is under attack as it ever was.

No liturgy Sunday 30^th of March

As previously reported Father Ilyan will be undergoing surgery on the 27^th of March and will be in hospital for about a week.

This means that he will be unable to celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Sunday the 30^th.

The service of Typika will be conducted by Father Andrei.

We have been very fortunate that Father Ilyan has managed to celebrate the Divine Liturgy virtually every week despite undergoing an extensive regime of chemotherapy over the past months, sometimes doing so when quite unwell.

Please remember him in your prayers.

Dunedin Hospital's Chaplaincy Service Street Appeal
This will be held on Friday April 11^th 2008
See the appeals section on the sidebar for details.

If you can assist as a collector or a coordinator, both urgently needed, please contact

Amanda Guy
Chaplaincy Administrator/Fundraiser

Phone 474 0999 ext 8130
or Email her at amanda.guy@healthotago.co.nz

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Peter
• Grigori
• Parasceva
• Athena
• Fanka
• Alexandros
  

Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

Father Ilyan's surgery dates

Father Ilyan's surgeon has booked him in for surgery on the 27^th of March.

His pre-admission takes place on the 19^th of March.

He is expected to remain in hospital for about a week after his surgery.

Please remember him in your thoughts and prayers.

Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

Cheesefare Sunday

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 12:1-10


• Gospel: The Reading is from Matthew 6:14-21

Today is Cheesefare Sunday, the day before the fast of Great Lent begins. On this day we also recall Adams fall from grace.

It is also called Forgiveness Sunday as we prepare ourselves for Lent and for the greatest of all the Church Feasts, Pascha.

Here is a homily on Cheesefare Sunday from St. Tikhon

Today is called "Forgiveness Sunday." It received this name from the pious Orthodox Christian custom at Vespers of asking each other's forgiveness for discourtesy and disrespect. We do so, since in the forthcoming fast we will approach the sacrament of Penance and ask the Lord to forgive our sins, which forgiveness will be granted us only if we ourselves forgive each other. "If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."(Matt. 6. 14, 15)

Yet it is said to be extremely difficult to forgive discourtesy and to forget disrespect. Perhaps our selfish nature finds it truly difficult to forgive disrespect, even though in the words of the Holy Fathers it is easier to forgive than to seek revenge. (St. Tikhon of Zadonsk after St. John Chrysostom) Yet everything in us that is good is not accomplished easily, but with difficulty, compulsion and effort. "The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."(Matt. 11. 12) For this reason we should not be discouraged at the difficulty of this pious act, but should rather seek the means to its fulfillment. The Holy Church offers many means towards this end, and of them we will dwell on the one which most corresponds to the forthcoming season of repentance.

"Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother." The source of forgiving our neighbors, of not judging them, is included in seeing (acknowledging) our sins. "Imagine," says a great pastor, who knows the heart of man, Father John of Kronstadt, "picture the multitude of your sins and imagine how tolerant of them is the Master of your life, while you are unwilling to forgive your neighbor even the smallest offense. Moan and bewail your foolishness, and that obstruction within you will vanish like smoke, you will think more clearly, your heart will grow calm, and through this you will learn goodness, as if not you yourself had heard the reproaches and indignities, but some other person entirely, or a shadow of yourself." (Lessons on a Life of Grace, p. 149) He who admits his sinfulness, who through experience knows the weakness of human nature and its inclination toward evil, will forgive his neighbor the more swiftly, dismissing transgressions and refraining from a haughty judgment of others' sins. Let us remember that even the scribes and Pharisees who brought the woman caught in adultery to Christ were forced to depart, when their conscience spoke out, accusing them of their own sins. (John 8. 9)

Unfortunately, brethren, we do not like to acknowledge our transgressions. It would seem natural and easy for a person to know his own self, his own soul and his shortcomings. This, however, is actually not so. We are ready to attend to anything but a deeper understanding of ourselves, an investigation of our sins. We examine various things with curiosity, we attentively study friends and strangers, but when faced with solitude without extraneous preoccupation even for a short while, we immediately become bored and attempt to seek amusement. For example, do we spend much time examining our own conscience even before confession? Perhaps a few minutes, and once a year at that. Casting a cursory glance at our soul, correcting some of its more glaring faults, we immediately cover it over with the veil of oblivion until next year, until our next uncomfortable exercise in boredom.

Yet we love to observe the sins of others. Not considering the beam in our own eye, we take notice of the mote in our brother's eye. (Matt. 7. 3) Speaking idly to our neighbor's detriment, mocking and criticizing him are not even often considered sins but rather an innocent and amusing pastime. As if our own sins were so few! As if we had been appointed to judge others! "There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy" ? God. (James 4. 12) "Who art thou to judge another's servant? It is before his own master that he stands or falls." (Rom. 14. 4) "Thou hast no excuse, O man, whoever thou art who judgest. For wherein thou judgest another, thou dost condemn thyself. For thou who judgest dost the same things thyself." (Rom. 2. 1) "Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; put yourselves to the test." (2 Cor. 13. 5) The pious ascetics provide a good example of this. They turned their minds to themselves, meditated on their own sins and avoided judging their neighbors at all costs.

One pious starets, noticing that his brother had committed a sin, sighed and said, "Woe is me! As he sinned today, so will I tomorrow." And the following is a story about another ascetic, Abba Moisei. A monk committed a sin. The brethren, who had assembled to decide his case, sent for Abba Moisei, but the humble starets refused to attend the council. When the rector sent for him a second time, he appeared, but in quite a striking manner. He had taken an old basket, filled it with sand and was carrying it on his back. "What does this mean?" asked the monks, catching sight of him. "See how many sins I bear behind me?" answered Moisei, pointing to the heap of sand. "I don't see them, yet I have come to pass judgment upon another."

So therefore, brethren, following the example of the ascetics, upon observing others' sins, we should consider our own sins, regard our own transgressions and not judge our brother. And should we hold anything against him, let us pardon and forgive him, that our merciful Lord may forgive us also.

Olga Barbara

June Sim writes

It is sad to report that Olga Barbara is now in St Andrew's Home having damaged her leg in a fall.

As most of you know Olga and her sister, Zita Ramsay, have worshiped in regularly in St Michael's all their lives. It was their forebears who built Saint Michael's, the oldest purpose built Orthodox Church in Australasia.

Please keep them in your thoughts and Prayers.

Committee Meeting

A committee meeting was held after Divine liturgy this morning. The main topics of discussion was ongoing the issue of church maintenance and who will represent our Parish at the conference of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia & New Zealand.

Father Ilyan was too unwell to attend last year and there is a distinct possibility that his surgery will coincide with this conference. There are funds to send one person this year and with this in mind it was decided that Father Andrei will represent us.

If Father Ilyan is well enough to go, as we all hope and pray that he will be, then funding will have to be obtained to send him as well.

If Parishioners and friends of the Parish could all set aside a few dollars each week from now until May then then funding for Father Ilyan's travel will resolve itself and the ideal situation of having both Father Ilyan and Father Andrei represent us will be achieved.

Lectionary and Calendars

Father Ilyan writes

I still have 4 Calendar/Lectionary books for 2008 , if anyone wants them , plus one more Archdiocesan wall Calendar .

Contact Father Ilyan for your copy if you haven't got one already

The Departed we commemorated today

• Semion


• Nushka


• Maria


• Christophoros


• Vera

Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand