St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church 9201 South 1300 East, Sandy, UT 84094 385-313-9358 Cheese-fare Sunday Sunday, March 14, 2021 Orthros: 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy: 10:00 a.m. Reverend Protopresbyter Anthony Savas Reverend Father Elias Koucos, Retired Reverend Deacon Anatoli Kireiev stannagocutah.org [email protected] Epistle Reading: St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4 Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 4 Psalm 75 Pray and return to the Lord Your God Verse: In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand. Gospel Reading: The Gospel According to Matthew 6:14-21 The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Response to First Antiphon Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Saviour, save us. (4) (Liturgy Book page 25) Response to Second Antiphon Save us, O Son of God who were carried in the arms of Simeon the Just, save us who sing to you Alleluia. (4) (Liturgy Book pg. 196) Response to Third Antiphon By Your cross, O Lord, You destroyed death; to the thief You opened paradise. The myrrh-bearers’ sorrow You transformed into joy, and You sent Your apostles forth to proclaim that You had risen from the dead, Christ our God, bestowing on all the world Your great mercy. (Liturgy Book page 123) Entrance Hymn Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, who rose from the dead, save us sing to You: Alleluia. (p. 37) Resurrectional Apolytikion By Your cross, O Lord, You destroyed death; to the thief You opened paradise. The myrrh-bearers’ sorrow You transformed into joy, and You sent Your apostles forth to proclaim that You had risen from the dead, Christ our God, bestowing on all the world Your great mercy. (Liturgy Book page 123) Apolytikion of the Parish Church O God-minded Anna, you bore the pure Mother of God, the one who within her conceived the Conceiver of life itself. You were therefore transported to a place now in heaven. Joyful ones all reside there in the home of all gladness, asking for forgiveness for those who honor you, O blessed one. Kontakion O You who are the source of all wisdom and discernment, instructor of the ignorant and champion of the poor; strengthen my heart, O Master, and grant me understanding. O Word of the Father, bring words to my lips, that nothing would keep me from crying out to You: In Your compassion have mercy on me, for I have fallen. (Liturgy Book page 265) Trisagion Hymn Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3) (Liturgy Book page 39) Megalynarion (Hymn for the Theotokos) It is truly right to call you blessed O Theotokos, ever blessed, most pure and the mother, the mother of our God. More hon’rable than the cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim. In virginity you gave birth to God, to God the word. Truly the Theotokos, we magnify you, we magnify you. (Liturgy Book page 69) Communion Hymn Praise the Lord, praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him, praise Him in the highest (3). Alleluia (Liturgy Book page 83) Hymn after Communion We have seen the true light; we have received the heav’nly spirit; we have found the true faith, worshipping the undivided Trinity, the Trinity who has saved us. (Liturgy Book page 87) Dismissal Hymn Lord, grant long life to him who blesses us and sanctifies us. (Liturgy Book page 95) Orthodox Saints: For Saints of the Day, please visit the parish website at https://stannagocutah.org/?page_id=4529, or the parish Facebook page. Great Vespers of Forgiveness Sunday Evening on the Eve of the First Day of Great Lent – 7:00 pm Forgiveness Vespers marks the beginning of Great Lent. Following the Great Prokeimenon, the church lights dim as the clergy adorn themselves in their dark vestments for Great Lent, the liturgical cloths on the analogia and altar table are also exchanged for dark colors, and the choir begins to sing in distinctive lenten tones. Following the dismissal, the community celebrates the moving and beautiful rite of mutual forgiveness. After the dismissal at Vespers, the clergy and faithful ask for forgiveness of one another. The exchange may include one saying, "Forgive me, a sinner." The second person responds saying, "God forgives. Forgive me." Finally, the first person responds, "God forgives”, and they hug each other. This continues until all in the church have asked for forgiveness of every other person. Meanwhile the choir sings quietly the irmoi of the Paschal Canon. This is truly a beautiful and humbling service which allows the community to begin its Lenten journey together. Given that we are still in the reality of the pandemic, we will forego the hugging part – but we must still ask each other’s forgiveness. Great Compline Monday Evenings during Great Lent – Typically 7:00 pm (6:00 pm on March 22, 2021) Celebrated during Lent in parishes, this larger version of the Compline Service is named in Greek the “Apodipno Service” – which literally means “Directly After Dinner.” Monastics in their convents or monasteries will rise directly from their evening meal and immediately return to the church for these evening prayers. This service is one of quiet contemplation and discipline. Created to be read at the end of the day, it is reflective on the events of the preceding hours, and allows the participant to pray for protection from the snares and obstacles of the coming night. It is reflective of sins committed and hopeful in the healing forgiveness of Christ. It is most well known for its beautiful Lenten Hymns “For God is with Us” and “Lord of the Powers, be with Us”. There are many psalms that are read during the Great Compline. The chanting is soft and the lights are dimmed. It is a lovely contrast to the joyful celebrations of the Sunday Liturgy that would have been experienced the day before. Participation in this service is paramount to a fully appreciated Lenten Journey. Presanctified Divine Liturgy Tuesday Mornings for Seniors (9:00 am) &Wednesday Evenings during Great Lent – 7:00pm In harmony with the just mentioned penitential/hopeful character of Great Compline, the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts is a unique expression of the pastoral wisdom of the Byzantine liturgical tradition, the pearl of Lenten devotion. In the Byzantine times, the liturgy of the Presanctified was celebrated daily. In the spiritual struggle of Great Lent, the faithful needed more than ever the strengthening partaking of Holy Communion. Thus, by the celebration of the Presanctified the opportunity of receiving Holy Communion every day was given to the faithful. The wisdom of the holy fathers formulated the service of the Presanctified Gifts as a participation in the Eucharist but without the Anaphora -- a cheerful and triumphant act of offering the gifts to God -- establishing a Eucharist without thanksgiving and jubilation, a Eucharist that is rather a cry for help than a joyful acclamation: “O God set free our senses from deadly passions, let our eyes abstain from evil sights, our hearing from idle talk ... purify our lips as they sing your praises, let our hands produce only works that are pleasing to You...” (1st Prayer of the faithful of the Liturgy of the Presanctified). And this cry finds response and comfort in the self-giving love and grace of God. Holy Communion is finally given after the penitential and purifying course of prayers and hymns of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. Salutations and Akathist Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos Friday Evenings during Great Lent – 7:00 pm The Akathist Hymn is a profound, devotional poem, which sings the praises of the Holy Mother and Ever-Virgin Mary.