March 30, 2025

Tone 7

Fourth Sunday of Great Lent

St. John Climacus (of the Ladder)

Fourth Sunday of Great Lent:

St. John Climacus

Commemorated on March 30

(OCA) The Fourth Sunday of Lent is dedicated to Saint John Klimakos, the author of The Ladder of Divine Ascent. In this book the Igoumen of Saint Katherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai bears witness to the great effort which is required for entry into God’s Kingdom (Matthew 10:12). The spiritual struggle of the Christian life is difficult since it is “not against flesh and blood, but against ... the rulers of the present darkness ... the hosts of wickedness in heavenly places ...” (Ephesians 6:12). Saint John encourages the faithful in their efforts for, as the Lord has said, only “he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13).

Saint John was born around the year 525, the son of devout and wealthy parents. He received a very good education, but at the age of sixteen, he forsook the world and went to Mount Sinai, subjecting himself to the spiritual guidance of Elder Martyrios. When he was nineteen years of age,1 his Elder reposed. Then Saint John entered the arena of hesychasm, visiting the monastic communities of Skḗtē and Tabénnisē in Egypt. For another forty years, he lived in a cell at Thora in the Sinai Desert, which was a two hour (5 mile) walk from the Monastery of Saint Katherine.

Aflame with indescribable longing for God, he ate everything that was permitted by the monastic Rule, but only in very small quantities, and not unto satiety. By so doing, he overcame the vice of pride; and by eating just a little food, he humbled the stomach, which always wants more. He raised his body from death and paralysis by the remembrance of death, and he overcame the tyranny of anger with the sword of obedience.

Who can describe the fountain of his tears, which is now to be seen in very few individuals? He slept only as much as was necessary to prevent his mind from being distracted. Before going to sleep he prayed a great deal, and he also wrote books. This was how he subdued despondency. His entire life was spent in unceasing prayer, and incomparable love for God.

After writing The Ladder at the request of Igoumen John of Raithu Monastery, and leading a God-pleasing life, Saint John fell asleep in the Lord when he was about seventy-five years old (ca. 603). He is also commemorated on March 30.

The inscription on his icon is from Step 7:2. It reads: "Compunction is a perennial trial of the conscience, which brings about the cooling of the fire of the heart through mental confession. And confession is a forgetfulness of nature, since someone because of this forgot to eat his bread."2

1 This was his monastic age. He was, in fact, thirty-five years old.
2 Psalm 101:5 (Septuagint) "Him that speaks privily against his neighbor, him have I driven from me; he that is proud in look and insatiable in heart - with him I have not eaten."

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Tuesday, March 25 is the Feast of the Annunciation. Vespers are Monday (3/24) at 6:00 PM and Divine  Liturgy is Tuesday (3/25) at 7:00 AM.

The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is this Wednesday at 6 p.m. If you are planning on receiving holy communion, please fast after lunch.

Akathist to the Passion of Christ will be sung, on Friday at Noon.

There will be no Inquirers/Catechumen class this week.

In Christ,

Fr Gregory

Second Petition: Asking for Virtues to Replace Our Sins

"But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant."

Once we ask God to remove negative passions, we must replace them with virtues.

1. Chastity – Purity in Mind, Body, and Soul

Chastity is often thought of as sexual purity, but it is much more - it is purity of heart, mind, and soul. It means being fully devoted to God and resisting sinful distractions.

Practical Steps to Grow in Chastity:

• Guard your heart and mind - be mindful of what you watch, listen to, and read.
• Practice self-discipline in all areas, not just sexuality.
• Focus on Christ as your greatest treasure - the pure in heart will see God (Matthew 5:8).

A chaste heart is free to love God without distractions.

2. Humility – Seeing Ourselves Truthfully

Humility is knowing who we are before God—nothing without Him, but everything in His love.

Practical Steps to Grow in Humility:

• Accept correction and criticism without defensiveness.
• Give credit to God for your talents and achievements.
• Serve others without seeking recognition.

Christ humbled Himself unto death—when we are humble, we reflect His image.

3. Patience – Trusting in God’s Timing

Patience means accepting trials without losing faith, knowing that God is working all things for good.

Practical Steps to Grow in Patience:

• When suffering, remember: This is temporary, but God’s love is eternal.
• Pray for those who test your patience.
• Trust in God’s plan, even when you don’t understand.

Patience brings peace, even in suffering.

4. Love – The Highest Virtue

Love is the core of Christianity. Christ told us that the greatest commandment is to love God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39).

Practical Steps to Grow in Love:

• Love even when it is difficult - forgive and be kind.
• Put others before yourself.
• See Christ in every person.

Love conquers all and brings us closest to God.

To be continued...

This Week at Ss Cyril & Methodius

Monday, March 24

• 6:00 PM: Vespers (Annunciation)

Tuesday, March 25

• 7:00 AM: Divine Liturgy (Annunciation)

Wednesday, March 26

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

Thursday, March 27

• 1:00 PM-5:00 PM: Office Hours/Confession [canceled]

Friday, March 28

• Noon: Akathist to the Passion of Christ

Saturday, March 29

• 3:00 PM: Inquirers/Catechumen Class [canceled]
• 4:00 PM: Confessions
• 5:00 PM: Great Vespers
• 6:00 PM: Confessions

Sunday, March 30 (Sunday of St. John Climacus)

• 9:00 AM: Hours
• 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy

Looking Ahead

Wednesday, April 3

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

Thursday, April 3

• 1:00 PM-5:00 PM: Office Hours/Confession 
• 6:00 PM: OCF Meeting (Assumption GOC visit)

Friday, April 4

• Noon: Akathist to the Passion of Christ

Saturday, April 5

• 3:00 PM: Inquirers/Catechumen Class
• 4:00 PM: Confessions
• 5:00 PM: Great Vespers
• 6:00 PM: Confessions

Sunday, April 6 (Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt)

• 9:00 AM: Hours
• 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy

Hymns After the Small Entrance

Tone 7 Troparion (Resurrection)

By Thy Cross Thou didst destroy death. To the thief Thou didst open Paradise.For the Myrrhbearers Thou didst change weeping into joy, and Thou didst command Thy disciples, O Christ God, to proclaim that Thou art risen,//granting 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.

Tone 1 Troparion (St. John Climacus)

O dweller of the wilderness and angel in the body, thou wast a wonderworker, O our God-bearing Father John. Thou didst receive heavenly gifts through fasting, vigil, and prayer, healing the sick and the souls of those drawn to thee by faith. Glory to Him Who gave thee strength! Glory to Him Who granted thee a ^crown!//Glory to Him Who grants healing to all!

Tone 7 Kontakion (Resurrection)

The dominion of death can no longer hold men captive, for Christ descended, shattering and destroying its powers.Hell is bound, while the Prophets rejoice and cry: “The Savior has come to those in faith;//enter, you faithful, into the Resurrection!” 

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 4 Kontakion (St. John Climacus)

The Lord truly set thee on the heights of abstinence, to be a guiding star, showing the way to the universe,//O our father and teacher John.

Epistle: Hebrews 6:13-20

BRETHREN, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Gospel: Mark 9:17-31

At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and saying: "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

(Instead of “It is truly meet…,” we sing the following)

Hymn to the Theotokos

All of creation rejoices in thee, O Full of Grace:

the assembly of angels and the race of men.

O sanctified temple and spiritual paradise,

the glory of virgins,

from whom God was incarnate and became a Child:

our God before the ages.

He made thy body into a throne,

and thy womb He made more spacious than the heavens.

All of creation rejoices in thee, O Full of Grace.//

Glory to thee!

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.

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