March 2, 2025

Tone 3

Cheesefare Sunday (Forgiveness Sunday)

The Expulsion of Adam from Paradise

Sunday of Cheesefare: Expulsion of Adam from Paradise

Commemorated on March 2

(OCA) As we begin the Great Fast, the Church reminds us of Adam’s expulsion from Paradise. God commanded Adam to fast (Gen. 2:16), but he did not obey. Because of their disobedience, Adam and Eve were cast out of Eden and lost the life of blessedness, knowledge of God, and communion with Him, for which they were created. Both they and their descendents became heirs of death and corruption.

Let us consider the benefits of fasting, the consequences of disobedience, and recall our fallen state. Today we are invited to cleanse ourselves of evil through fasting and obedience to God. Our fasting should not be a negative thing, a mere abstention from certain foods. It is an opportunity to free ourselves from the sinful desires and urges of our fallen nature, and to nourish our souls with prayer, repentance, to participate in church services, and partake of the life-giving Mysteries of Christ.

At Forgiveness Vespers we sing: “Let us begin the time of fasting in light, preparing ourselves for spiritual efforts. Let us purify our soul, let us purify our body. As we abstain from food, let us abstain from all passion and enjoy the virtues of the spirit....”

Glory to Jesus Christ!

This Sunday is Cheesefare (March 2), the last day we eat dairy products. It is also Forgiveness Sunday. We will celebrate Forgiveness Vespers & the Rite of Mutual Forgiveness immediately after Liturgy.

Inquirers/Catechumen classes will read chapter 3: "The One God: Father and Creator," in Catechism: A Short Guide to Orthodox Christianity by Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev). If someone you know (or you!) is interested in learning more about the Gospel, the faith of the Church, and what it means to be a disciple of Christ, this is the class.

In Christ,

Fr Gregory

This Week at Ss Cyril & Methodius

Wednesday, February 26

• 11:00 AM- 3:00 PM: Office Hours/Confessions

Thursday, February 27

• 1:00 PM-5:00 PM: Office Hours 
• 6:00 PM OCF Meeting

Saturday, March 1

• 3:00 PM: Inquirers/Catechumen Class
• 5:00 PM: Great Vespers
• 6:00 PM: Confessions

Sunday, March 2 (Forgiveness Sunday)

• 9:00 AM: Hours
• 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy
• 10:45 AM: Forgiveness Vespers & Rite of Mutual Forgiveness

Looking Ahead to Next Week

Monday, March 3

• 5:00 PM: Confessions
• 6:00 PM: Compline & Great Canon

Tuesday, March 4

• 5:00 PM: Confessions
• 6:00 PM: Compline & Great Canon

Wednesday, March 5

• 1:00 PM-5:00 PM: Office Hours/Confessions
• 6:00 PM: Pre-Sanctified Liturgy

Thursday, March 6

• 1:00 PM-5:00 PM: Office Hours/Confession
• 6:00 PM: Compline & Great Canon

Friday, March 7

• Noon: Akathist to the Passion of Christ

Saturday, March 8

• 3:00 PM: Inquirers/Catechumen Class
• 5:00 PM: Great Vespers
• 6:00 PM: Confessions

Sunday, March 9 (Sunday of Orthodoxy)

• 9:00 AM: Hours
• 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy
• 5:00 PM: Sunday of Orthodox Vespers (Assumption Greek Orthodox Church)

Hymns After the Small Entrance

Tone 3 Troparion (Resurrection)

Let the heavens rejoice! Let the earth be glad! For the Lord has shown strength with His arm. He has trampled down death by death. He has become the first born of the dead. He has delivered us from the depths of hell, and has granted to the world//great mercy.

Tone 4 Troparion (Sts. Cyril & Methodius)

Divinely-wise Cyril and Methodius, / equals-to-the-apostles and teachers of the Slavs, / entreat the Master of all / to strengthen all nations in Orthodoxy and unity of mind, / to grant peace to the world and to save our souls.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

Tone 3 Kontakion (Sts. Cyril & Methodius)

Let us honor the sacred pair, who translated divine scripture / pouring forth a fountain of divine knowledge from which we still draw today. / Now as you stand before the throne of the Most-high / we call you blessed, Cyril and Methodius, / as you fervently pray for our souls.

now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Tone 6 Kontakion (from the Lenten Triodion)

O Master, Teacher of wisdom, Bestower of virtue, Who teachest the thoughtless and protectest the poor, strengthen and enlighten my heart! O Word of the Father, let me not restrain my mouth from crying to Thee: “Have mercy on me, a transgressor,//O merciful Lord!”

Epistle: Romans 13:11-14:4

Brethren, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

Gospel: Matthew 6:14-21

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

By the age of 25, about 60% of those baptized as infants will no longer consider themselves members of the Orthodox Church. A parish on a university campus is an important witness not only to the surrounding community but also to high school age and younger parishioner. Establishing a parish on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison helps remind young people that graduating high school doesn't mean "graduating" from the Church. Please consider joining those who have committed their time, treasure and talent in establishing an Orthodox community on the Isthmus.

Please help us reach your children and grandchildren with the Gospel of Jesus Christ by clicking the gofundme link.