Chaplain's Corner
Father George Adamakis
Parish Priest
Great Lent
We have entered in the period of Great Lent.
Clean Monday (Greek: Καθαρή Δευτέρα), also known as Pure Monday, last week the 7th March is the first day of the Orthodox Christian Great Lent. It is a movable feast that occurs at the beginning of the 7th week before Pascha.
The common term for this day, "Clean Monday", refers to the leaving behind of sinful attitudes and non-fasting foods.
Liturgically, Clean Monday—and thus Great Lent itself—begins on the preceding (Sunday) night,[1] at a special service called Forgiveness Vespers, which culminates with the Ceremony of Mutual Forgiveness, at which all present will bow down before one another and ask forgiveness. In this way, the faithful begin Great Lent with a clean conscience, with forgiveness, and with renewed Christian love.
In this period we do a different prayer which our students are doing. Parents students staff members are encouraged to do this prayer morning and evening. The prayer is St Ephraim Prayer.
Prayer of St Ephraim
Recited in Great Lent
Lord and Master of my life,
give me not a spirit of idleness, meddling,
love of power and idle talk.
But grant me, your servant,
a spirit of soberness, humility, patience and
love.
Yes, Lord and King,
grant me to see my own faults, and not condemn my brother;
for blessed are you, to the ages of ages. Amen.
Next Friday 25th March it will be the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary and it is a double celebration. The Annunciation of the Virgin Mary and the Independence Day of Greece, the Greek Nation sought grace and strength to pursue freedom, beginning their struggle for independence on the Feast of the Annunciation in 1821. There will be students from our school attending the service for the Doxology and also a selection of Students of Byzantine Choir to chant for the celebration of the day.What is the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary? Six months after John the Forerunner's conception, the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth, a town of Galilee, unto Mary the Virgin, who had come forth from the Temple a mature maiden (see Nov. 21). According to the tradition handed down by the Fathers, she had been betrothed to Joseph for four months. On coming to Joseph's house, the Archangel declared: "Rejoice, thou Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." After some consideration, and turmoil of soul, and fear because of this greeting, the Virgin, when she had finally obtained full assurance concerning God's unsearchable condescension and the ineffable dispensation that was to take place through her, and believing that all things are possible to the Most High, answered in humility: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." And at this, the Holy Spirit came upon her, and the power of the Most High overshadowed her all-blameless womb, and the Son and Word of God, Who existed before the ages, was conceived past speech and understanding, and became flesh in her immaculate body (Luke 1:26-38).Bearing in her womb the Uncontainable One, the Blessed Virgin went with haste from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea, where Zacharias had his dwelling; for she desired to find Elizabeth her kinswoman and rejoice together with her, because, as she had learned from the Archangel, Elizabeth had conceived in her old age. Furthermore, she wished to tell her of the great things that the Mighty One had been well-pleased to bring to pass in her, and she greeted Elizabeth and drew nigh to her. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, she felt her six-month-old babe, Saint John the Baptist, prophesied of the dawning of the spiritual Sun. Immediately, the aged Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and recognized her as the Mother of her Lord, and with a great voice blessed her and the Fruit that she held within herself. The Virgin also, moved by a supernatural rejoicing in the spirit, glorified her God and Savior, saying: "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour," and the rest, as the divine Luke hath recorded (1:39-55)
Apolytikion
Fourth Mode
Today marks the crowning of our salvation and the revelation of the mystery before all ages. For the Son of God becomes the son of the Virgin, and Gabriel proclaims the grace. Wherefore, we also cry out with him, "Hail, O full of grace, the Lord is with you."
Clips about Great Lent
Fasting
What we believe about icons? Sunday of Orthodoxy
Wishing you all a spiritual fruitful journey through Great Lent. May you have a blessed Great Lent! Καλη Σαρακοστή! Kali