Chaplain's Corner
FATHER GEORGE ADAMAKIS
Parish Priest
Blessing of the Waters
We had the honour on the 4th of February 2020, His Grace Bishop Ezekiel of Dervis, along with the Reverend Fathers presiding the service of the blessing of the waters for our students, teachers and staff of Oakleigh Grammar, to be blessed for the new academic year. His Grace reminded all of us the importance of our Orthodox Christian faith, and all being created in the image and likeness of God. Also His Grace Bishop Ezekiel greeted our students and conveyed the blessings and prayers of our Eminence Archbishop Makarios, to have an enlightening and successful year. May we all have a blessed New Year!
Confession
The next following weeks we will be having confessions for our Junior School 2 and 4 March (Grade 4-5), Middle School & Senior School 11,16,18 March.
Pre-Sanctified Liturgies Dates
Thursday 5th March - Junior School
Wednesday 11th March - Middle School & Senior School
Byzantine Music Choir and Classes
We would like to extend our Byzantine Music Choir to all year levels at lunchtimes on Monday at 1:00-1:30pm in Room 111.
Byzantine Music School of Australia
The Byzantine Music School of Australia is the initiative of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, who appointed Melbourne as the School's Head Office. On the 25th of February we had the opening night which commenced at Oakleigh Grammar. It was a very successful evening. We had over 30 students attending the course, and many are encouraged to enrol.
The courses are offered to men and women over the age of 16. Two campuses will open in Melbourne this year. The first campus is at Saint John's College in Preston every Monday at 7pm, and the second campus at Oakleigh Grammar, held every Tuesday at 5:30pm and 7:00pm.
Anyone interested in enrolling or finding out more information can contact the School via email: info@byzantinemusicschool.com.au
A Journey Through Great Lent
There is more to Lent than fasting, and there is more to fasting than food. This principle lies at the heart of the Lenten Triodion, the main hymnbook of Orthodox Lent. For the Orthodox Church, Lent is without doubt the richest and most distinctive season of the ecclesiastical year. The Lenten services, the spiritual lessons of the Triodion, and the biblical readings for the season invite us to simplify our lives, and to immerse ourselves in the “bright sadness “of repentance.
Orthodox Lent begins on Clean Monday, the 2nd of March, seven weeks before Pascha (Easter), when Orthodox Christians celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection. But before Lent begins, it is announced in advance. This preparation for Lent is made above all through the Lenten Triodion, which makes its appearance in the liturgical life of the Church three weeks prior Lent, on the Sunday of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee. The Triodion remains a regular feature of the Church’s liturgical life until the end of Holy Week.
“Let us hurry to be cleansed through fasting from the stain of our faults and through mercy and compassion for the poor to enter the bridal chamber of Christ the Bridegroom, who grants us His great mercy” (Hymn Cheesefare week).
Written for the devout Christian, the Triodion is full of warnings against pride and hypocrisy - the ultimate spiritual sins to which religious folk are so susceptible. It hymns and the readings teach us about humility, forgiveness, charity, love, not to be judgmental and finally repentance. It teaches us the true nature and purpose of fasting and of Lent itself. So fast from sin not only food! Fasting nourishes our mind our soul and body. We need to take good care all aspects. Caring for our health should be seen as a spiritual act. It is both soul and body that work together to achieve our life purpose. The Orthodox tradition embodies a purification process that has been down to us through ages. Asceticism translated from Greek means “exercise” or “training”; the ascetical practices that have been passed down to us include: love, humility, prayer, silence, fasting, and self-control. These disciplines are a means to an end - the end being that we become fully united and restored to God. These ancient practices are still available to us. They are tools that aid us in completing our purpose on earth.
May you all have a blessed Great Lent! ΚΑΛΗ ΣΑΡΑΚΟΣΤΗ! Kali Sarakosti!
Prayer During Great Lent
Our students and staff will be saying this following prayer of St. Ephraim (373 AD) during 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.
