the Liturgy for every Sunday of the Great Fast is that of St. Basil the Great. This liturgy begins on page 101 of our pew books, and contains the older, more penitential prayers suited for the Lenten Season. Confessions are heard before every Sunday Liturgy and every Friday Presanctified Liturgy. Please make your canonically required confession during the Lenten Season, but preferably before Wednesday of Holy Week. There are six weeks in the fast—don’t wait till the last minute. Confession should be occurring on a semi-regular basis, anyway. To those few people who habitually contact Fr. Elijah and want to go to confession on Good Friday or Holy Saturday, pay attention: the answer is no—you have time, get it done before then!
our parish practice is to serve the Divine Liturgy o f the Presanctified Gifts at 6 pm on every Friday of the Great Lent. Remember this is a Liturgy, so if you are planning on attending and receiving communion, there is an expectation that you fast from at least 12 noon through Liturgy. Exceptions are permissible for those taking necessary medications. The Presanctified Liturgy (or Liturgy of St. Gregory) begins on page 181 of our pew books, and is prescribed for the Lenten Season because there are no “regular” liturgies during the week. The gifts must be set aside on Sunday because this season calls us to a Eucharistic Fast during the week. If you attend, prepare by fasting. If you have not fasted, then you may still attend, but do not receive communion.
if you are looking for a devotional practice for this fasting season, consider reading the scripture passages for the day listed on the annual church calendar. If you want to do more, consider reading one Psalm, one chapter from the Old Testament, One Epistle reading, and one reading from the Gospels, daily. This is a manageable approach to the scriptures and can be very edifying if practiced consistently!
it seems to be the burden of Orthodoxy to constantly remind the world that we are not like them. Fish Fries, Macaroni & Cheese, Fish Burgers, and Tuna Subs are not fasting food according to the Orthodox guidelines. Please keep that in mind when it comes to food preparation
begins on Sunday, 8 March 2026. Please remember to set your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed on Saturday evening, 7 March.
this year, we will donate the contents of our “poor box” to the scholarship fund at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. This includes the contents from every Sunday, and from every Friday. Also, we will put a collection box in the foyer for cat and kitten supplies for a local foster/adoption agency, the Johnstown Animal Welfare Society. Please consider a small contribution to both projects! Thank you, and may God bless you!