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1020 Regent St
(Lower Level)
Madison, WI 53715
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Click above to send names of those to be commemorated at Liturgy. |
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Sunday, April 2, 2023
Tone 1
Fifth Sunday of Great Lent
St. Mary of Egypt |
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5th Sunday of Great Lent
St Mary of Egypt
(OCA) Saint Zosimas (April 4) was a monk at a certain Palestinian monastery on the outskirts of Caesarea. Having dwelt at the monastery since his childhood, he lived there in asceticism until he reached the age of fifty-three. Then he was disturbed by the thought that he had attained perfection, and needed no one to instruct him. “Is there a monk anywhere who can show me some form of asceticism that I have not attained? Is there anyone who has surpassed me in spiritual sobriety and deeds?”
Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Zosimas, you have struggled valiantly, as far as this is in the power of man. However, there is no one who is righteous (Rom 3:10). So that you may know how many other ways lead to salvation, leave your native land, like Abraham from the house of his father (Gen 12:1), and go to the monastery by the Jordan.”
Abba Zosimas immediately left the monastery, and following the angel, he went to the Jordan monastery and settled in it.
Here he met Elders who were adept in contemplation, and also in their struggles. Never did anyone utter an idle word. Instead, they sang constantly, and prayed all night long. Abba Zosimas began to imitate the spiritual activity of the holy monks.
Thus much time passed, and the holy Forty Day Fast approached. There was a certain custom at the monastery, which was why God had led Saint Zosimas there. On the First Sunday of Great Lent the igumen served the Divine Liturgy, everyone received the All-Pure Body and Blood of Christ. Afterwards, they went to the trapeza for a small repast, and then assembled once more in church.
The monks prayed and made prostrations, asking forgiveness one of another. Then they made a prostration before the igumen and asked his blessing for the struggle that lay before them. During the Psalm “The Lord is my Light and my Savior, whom shall I fear? The Lord is defender of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps 26/27:1), they opened the monastery gate and went off into the wilderness.
Each took with him as much food as he needed, and went into the desert. When their food ran out, they ate roots and desert plants. The monks crossed the Jordan and scattered in various directions, so that no one might see how another fasted or how they spent their time.
The monks returned to the monastery on Palm Sunday, each having his own conscience as a witness of his ascetic struggles. It was a rule of the monastery that no one asked how anyone else had toiled in the desert.
Abba Zosimas, according to the custom of the monastery, went deep into the desert hoping to find someone living there who could benefit him.
He walked into the wilderness for twenty days and then, when he sang the Psalms of the Sixth Hour and made the usual prayers. Suddenly, to the right of the hill where he stood, he saw a human form. He was afraid, thinking that it might be a demonic apparition. Then he guarded himself with the Sign of the Cross, which removed his fear. He turned to the right and saw a form walking southward. The body was black from the blazing sunlight, and the faded short hair was white like a sheep’s fleece. Abba Zosimas rejoiced, since he had not seen any living thing for many days.
The desert-dweller saw Zosimas approaching, and attempted to flee from him. Abba Zosimas, forgetting his age and fatigue, quickened his pace. When he was close enough to be heard, he called out, “Why do you flee from me, a sinful old man? Wait for me, for the love of God.”
The stranger said to him, “Forgive me, Abba Zosimas, but I cannot turn and show my face to you. I am a woman, and as you see, I am naked. If you would grant the request of a sinful woman, throw me your cloak so I might cover my body, and then I can ask for your blessing.”
Read the rest here. |
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Glory to Jesus Christ!
If you haven't done so already, please make an appointment to come to confession before Pascha.
Speaking of Pascha, next Saturday, April 8 is Lazarus Saturday. We'll have Liturgy that morning and Vespers and blessing of Palms that afternoon. April 9 is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week!
Holy Service schedule is below. If you are interested in reading the Gospel for Agape Vesper, please let me know as soon as you can. If you'd like to practice the reading is from John 20:19-25:
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."
Ancient Faith Radio has an audio recording of the text
l33 anguages: English, Afrikaans, Arabic, Armenian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Church Slavonic, Esperanto, Filipino, Finnish, French, Gaelic, German, Greek, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Korean, Macedonian, Mandarin Chinese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Q'eqchi', Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Ukrainian, Vulgate Latin. You can find the recording here.
In Christ,
Fr Gregory |
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Women's Monastery Trip
Hello ladies,
There is a change of plan regarding our visit to the monastery of St. John Chrysostom at Kenosha! Our sisters at St. Ignatius will not be able to join on the 6th because their bishop is coming to visit and there is also a wedding of one of the parish members at that weekend. For that reason we have decided to move the date of the trip one week after, on Saturday May 13. I hope this does not bring any inconvenience to your plans. As far as I have checked, most women who signed up for the 6th can also come on the 13th.
The plan of the trip is the following: we will meet at the Assumption church at 8:30 am on Saturday May 13, and estimate to arrive in Kenosha around 11 am. We will first visit the church and venerate the relics they have, and then will have a talk with abess Melanie (maybe fr Lukas too). Lunch will be offered by the monastery afterwards and then we will have the time to do some shopping from the store of the monastery. There are a variety of religious books in English and Greek, many icons, incense etc . There is also fresh food that we can buy, tyropita, spanakopita, koulourakia, honey and plenty of other delicacies. All food has been made from organic plants from their gardens, eggs and yogurt has been made from their animals etc The plan is to leave from the monastery around 2:30 pm.
One option is travelling by bus and we need to know the number of the people coming in order to get an offer. We will be responsible for our bus fare. However there is a great possibility that this will not work out (very busy season, there wasn't any availability for the 6th from Badger bus company), so we might go by car as we always did before, meaning that we need drivers. I will keep you informed as long as we have the final number of participants.
Looking forward to this pilgrimage trip.
Take care!
Peli |
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This Week at Ss Cyril & Methodius
Monday, March 27
Wednesday, March 29
- 3:45-5:45 PM Office Hours/Confessions
- 6:00 PM: Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts
Thursday, March 30
- 1:00-3:00 PM Office Hours/Confessions
Friday, March 31
- 7:00 AM: Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts
Saturday, April 1
- 3:30 PM: Inquirers' Class
- 4:30 PM: Confessions
- 5:00 PM: Vespers
- 6:00 PM: Confessions
Sunday, April 2 (Sunday of St Mary of Egypt)
- 9:00 AM: Hours/Pre-Communion Prayers
- 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy
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Looking Ahead
Monday, April 3
Wednesday, April 5
- 3:45-5:45 PM Office Hours/Confessions
- 6:00 PM: Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts
Thursday, April 6
- 1:00-3:00 PM Office Hours/Confessions
Friday, April 7
- 7:00 AM: Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts
Saturday, April 8 Lazarus Saturday
- 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy
- 4:30 PM: Confessions
- 5:00 PM: Vespers & Blessing of Palms
- 6:00 PM: Confessions
Sunday, April 9 (Palm Sunday)
- 9:00 AM: Hours/Pre-Communion Prayers
- 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy
- 6:00 PM Bridegroom Matins
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Holy Week 2023
Saturday, April 8 Lazarus Saturday
- 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy
- 4:30 PM: Confessions
- 5:00 PM: Vespers & Blessing of Palms
- 6:00 PM: Confessions
Sunday, April 9 (Palm Sunday)
- 9:00 AM: Hours/Pre-Communion Prayers
- 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy
- 6:00 PM Bridegroom Matins
Monday, April 10
- 6:00 PM: Bridegroom Matins
Tuesday, April 11
- 6:00 PM: Bridegroom Matins
Wednesday, April 12
Thursday, April 13
- 9:30 AM: Vesperal Liturgy of St Basil
- 6:00 PM: Twelve Passion Gospels
Friday, April 14
- 9:00 AM: Royal Hours
- 3:00 PM: Vespers of the Disposition
- 6:00 PM: Lamentation Service
Saturday, April 15 Holy Saturday
- 9:30 AM: Vesperal Liturgy of St Basil
- 10:00 PM: Resurrection Service
- 1:00 AM: Blessing of Baskets & Paschal Meal
Sunday, April 9 (Holy Pascha)
- 1:00 PM: Agape Vespers & Potluck
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Hymns After the Small Entrance
Tone 1 Troparion (Resurrection)
When the stone had been sealed by the Jews,
while the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure body,
Thou didst rise on the third day, O Savior,
granting life to the world.
The powers of heaven therefore cried to Thee, O Giver of Life:
“Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ!
Glory to Thy Kingdom!//
Glory to Thy dispensation, O Thou Who lovest mankind!”
Tone 4 Troparion (Ss Cyril and 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 8 Troparion (St. Mary of Egypt)
The image of God was truly preserved in thee, O Mother,
for thou didst take up the Cross and follow Christ.
By so doing, thou taughtest us to disregard the flesh for it passes away;
but to care instead for the soul, for it is immortal.//
Therefore thy spirit, O holy Mother Mary, rejoices with the angels.
Tone 3 Kontakion (Ss Cyril and 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.
Tone 1 Kontakion (Resurrection)
As God, Thou didst rise from the tomb in glory,
raising the world with Thyself.
Human nature praises Thee as God, for death has vanished.
Adam exults, O Master!
Eve rejoices, for she is freed from bondage and cries to Thee://
“Thou art the Giver of Resurrection to all, O Christ!”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
Tone 3 Kontakion (St. Mary of Egypt)
Having been a sinful woman,
thou becamest through repentance a bride of Christ.
Having attained angelic life,
thou didst defeat demons with the weapon of the Cross.//
Therefore, O most glorious Mary, thou art a bride of the Kingdom.
now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Tone 6 Theotokion
O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant, O despise not the suppliant voices of those who have sinned; but be thou quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplication, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
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Sunday Readings
Epistle: Hebrews 9:11-14/Galatians 3:23-29
Brethren, Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Gospel: Mark 10:32-45/Luke 7:36-50
Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”
But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
They said to Him, “We are able.”
So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”
And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”
And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
So he said, “Teacher, say it.”
“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”
Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”
And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
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(Instead of “It is truly meet…,” we sing:)
The 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!
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest!
The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance! He shall not fear evil
tidings!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
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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. Help us reach your children and grandchildren with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. |
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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. Help us reach your children and grandchildren with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. |
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