Author Archives: Orthodox Parish of St Cuthbert (OPOSC)

Rector of the Orthodox Parish of Saint Cuthbert, Chesterfield and Sheffield; known as ‘Father Edwin’

Journey to Pascha 2019 | Issue 10 (Palm Sunday and Holy Week)

21 April, 2019 – 3:30 pm

Christ’s Apostles struggle to stay awake on the evening before Jesus’ arrest.

The tenth issue of Journey to Pascha can be downloaded below:

Journey to Pascha X (Palm Sunday & Holy Week)

Any questions, or to be added to a mailing list to receive electronic issues directly to your email every Sunday, please contact Deacon Jonathan (zgjmc@hotmail.com)

 

Readings for this Sunday: Philippians 4:4-9 (Epistle); John 12:1-18 (Gospel)

 

“Passing from one divine Feast to another,

From palms and branches let us now make haste, ye faithful,

To the solemn and saving celebration of Christ’s Passion.

Let us behold Him undergo voluntary suffering for our sake,

And let us sing to Him with thankfulness a fitting hymn:

Fountain of tender mercy and haven of salvation,

O Lord, glory to Thee!”

 

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Journey to Pascha 2019 | Issue 9 (Sunday of St Mary of Egypt)

14 April, 2019 – 4:43 pm

St Mary of Egypt and St Zosimus

The ninth issue of Journey to Pascha can be downloaded below:

Journey to Pascha IX (Sunday of Mary of Egypt)

This Sunday is dedicated to the St Mary of Egypt. Her feast day is the 1st of April, which means it falls within Lent and so we remember her on the fifth Sunday of Lent as well. Her life is a perfect icon of repentance and can be read online here.

Any questions, or to be added to a mailing list to receive electronic issues directly to your email every Sunday, please contact Deacon Jonathan (zgjmc@hotmail.com)

 

Readings for this Sunday: Galatians 3:23-29 (Epistle, for St Mary); Luke 7:36-50 (Gospel, for St Mary)

The Epistle and Gospel readings for the fifth Sunday, as used before St Mary was commemorated on this day, are: Hebrews 9:11-14 and Mark 10:32-45.

 

“As we eagerly begin, O faithful, the sixth week of the Fast,

Let us sing a hymn of preparation for the Feast of Palms,

To the Lord who comes with glory to Jerusalem in the power of the Godhead, that He may slay death.

So with reverence let us prepare the branches of virtues, as emblems of victory;

And let us cry Hosanna! to the Creator of all.”

 

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Journey to Pascha 2019 | Issue 8 (Sunday of St John of the Ladder)

7 April, 2019 – 5:42 pm

St John ‘Climacus’ of Sinai (author of “The Ladder of Divine Ascent”)

The eighth issue of Journey to Pascha can be downloaded below:

Journey to Pascha VIII (Sunday of St John Climacus)

This Sunday is dedicated to the St. John Climacus (i.e. of the Ladder). His feast day is the 30th March, which means it falls within Lent and so we remember him on this Sunday of Lent as well. He is named after his famous work “The Ladder of Divine Ascent”, which can be read online here. It is a remarkable spiritual work that, although written for monks, is useful for all Christians who want to make progress in life.

Before St John was born, the fourth Sunday of Lent was dedicated to the Parable of the Good Samaritan, which has an additional, Lenten, interpretation in the Orthodox Church. Read more about the Parable of the Good Samaritan here.

Icon showing Christ as the Good Samaritan, and humankind as the ‘man who fell among thieves’

Any questions, or to be added to a mailing list to receive electronic issues directly to your email every Sunday, please contact Deacon Jonathan (zgjmc@hotmail.com)

 

Readings for this Sunday: Hebrews 6:13-20 (Epistle); Mark 9:17-31 (Gospel)

 

“Having passed beyond the middle point in this holy season of the Fast,

With joy let us go forward to the part that still remains,

Anointing our souls with the oil of alms-giving.

So that we may be counted worthy to venerate the Divine Passion of Christ our God,

And to attain his dread and holy Resurrection.” 

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Journey to Pascha 2019 | Issue 7 (Sunday of Holy Cross)

31 March, 2019 – 3:42 pm

Christian pilgrims attend Good Friday procession in Jerusalem

The seventh issue of Journey to Pascha can be downloaded below:

Journey to Pascha VII (Sunday of Holy Cross)

This Sunday is dedicated to the the Holy Cross and marks the mid-point of Lent. The Deadly Passion discussed this week is Sorrow.

Any questions, or to be added to a mailing list to receive electronic issues directly to your email every Sunday, please contact Deacon Jonathan (zgjmc@hotmail.com)

 

Readings for Forgiveness Sunday: Hebrews 4:14-5:6 (Epistle); Mark 8:34-9:1 (Gospel)

 

“O Lord all-merciful,

In the multitude of Thy mercies blot out the multitude of my sins,

And count me worthy with a pure soul to behold and kiss Thy cross during the present week of abstinence,

For Thou lovest mankind” 

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Journey to Pascha 2019 | Issue 6 (Sunday of Gregory Palamas)

24 March, 2019 – 6:06 pm

The sixth issue of Journey to Pascha can be downloaded below:

Journey to Pascha VI (Sunday of Gregory Palamas)

This Sunday is dedicated to the St Gregory Palamas who defended the practice of hesychasm (i.e. stillness or watchfulness) as a means to truly know God in this life. It is very much appropriate to celebrate Gregory’s memory during Lent, as the Lenten journey is very much about developing a deep and true communion with Jesus Christ our God. It is also a compliment to last Sunday because just as we celebrated the Church’s victory over the earliest heresies, this Sunday celebrates some of the more modern heresies the Church has had to contend with.

Any questions, or to be added to a mailing list to receive electronic issues directly to your email every Sunday, please contact Deacon Jonathan (zgjmc@hotmail.com)

 

Readings for Forgiveness Sunday: Hebrews 1:10-2:3 (Epistle); Mark 2:1-12 (Gospel)

 

“As we start upon the third week of the Fast, let us glorify the Holy Trinity,

And joyfully pass through the time that remains.

Causing passions of the flesh to wither from our souls,

Let us gather divine flowers, weaving garlands for the queen of days [i.e. Pascha],

That with crowns upon our heads we may sing in praise of Christ the Victor” 

 

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Journey to Pascha 2019 | Issue 5 (Triumph of Orthodoxy)

17 March, 2019 – 6:11 pm

The Restoration of Icons (Triumph of Orthodoxy) in 843 A.D.

The fifth issue of Journey to Pascha can be downloaded below:

 Journey to Pascha 2019 no. 4 (Forgiveness Sunday)

This Sunday is dedicated to the Restoration of Holy Icons and the Church’s victory over other heresies and divisions it has had to endure in the first millenium. It is therefore also called the Triumph of Orthodox or the Sunday of Orthodoxy.

Any questions, or to be added to a mailing list to receive electronic issues directly to your email every Sunday, please contact Deacon Jonathan (zgjmc@hotmail.com)

 

Readings for Forgiveness Sunday: Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-12:2 (Epistle); John 1:43-51 (Gospel)

 

Let us set out with joy upon the second week of the Fast; and like Elijah the Tishbite let us fashion for ourselves, from day to day, O brethren, a fiery chariot for the four great virtues:

Let us exalt our minds through freedom of passions;

Let us arm our flesh with purity and our hands with acts of compassion;

Let us make our feet beautiful with the preaching of the Gospel;

And let us put the enemy to flight and gain the victory.

 

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Journey to Pascha 2019 | Issue 4 (Forgiveness Sunday)

10 March, 2019 – 6:43 pm

Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise

The fourth issue of Journey to Pascha can be downloaded below:

 Journey to Pascha 2019 no. 4 (Forgiveness Sunday)

This Sunday is dedicated to the Expulsion of Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden, the beginning of their, and our, exile from God; it is also the beginning of our journey back to God, the eve of the beginning of Lent. It is therefore also known as Forgiveness Sunday.

Any questions, or to be added to a mailing list to receive electronic issues directly to your email every Sunday, please contact Deacon Jonathan (zgjmc@hotmail.com)

 

Readings for Forgiveness Sunday: Romans 13:11-14:4 (Epistle); Matthew 6:14-21 (Gospel)

 

Let us set out with joy upon the season of the Fast, and prepare ourselves for spiritual combat.

Let us purify our soul and cleanse our flesh; as we fast from food, let us also abstain from every passion.

Rejoicing in the virtues of the Spirit may we persevere with love, and so be counted worthy to see the solemn Passion of Christ our God,

And with great spiritual gladness to behold His holy Passover.

 

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Journey to Pascha 2019 | Issue 3 (The Last Judgement)

3 March, 2019 – 2:22 pm

Detail from the Last Judgement Icon (all people brought before the Judgement seat)

The third issue of Journey to Pascha, on the theme of the Last Judgement, death and the dealing with passion of gluttony, can be downloaded below:

 Journey to Pascha 2019 no. 3 (Last Judgement)

Any questions, or to be added to a mailing list to receive electronic issues directly to your email every Sunday, please contact Deacon Jonathan (zgjmc@hotmail.com)

 

Readings for the Last Judgement: 1 Corinthians 8:8-9:2 (Epistle); Matthew 25:31-46 (Gospel)

 

When You, O God, shall come to earth with glory, all things shall tremble

and the river of fire shall flow before Your judgment seat;

the books shall be opened and the hidden things disclosed!

Then deliver me from the unquenchable fire,

and make me worthy to stand at Your right hand, righteous Judge! 

 

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Journey to Pascha 2019 | Issue 2 (Prodigal Son)

24 February, 2019 – 4:03 pm

The parable of the Prodigal Son

The second issue of Journey to Pascha, on the theme of the Prodigal Son, can be downloaded below:

Journey to Pascha 2019 no. 2 (Prodigal Son)

Any questions, or to be added to a mailing list to receive electronic issues directly to your email every Sunday, please contact Deacon Jonathan (zgjmc@hotmail.com)

 

Readings for the Prodigal Son: 2 Corinthians 4: 6-15 (Epistle); Luke 15: 11-32 (Gospel)

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Journey to Pascha 2019 | Issue 1 (Publican and the Pharisee)

17 February, 2019 – 8:16 pm
Icon of repentance

Jesus calls Zacchaeus (left) and the Samaritan woman Photini (right)

Sunday the 17th February 2019 is the beginning of the Lenten Triodion – the period that leads up to, and includes, Lent, Holy Week, and Holy Saturday, the day before Pascha.

Last year, on each Sunday of Lent, the Parish of St Cuthbert published short booklets on the various theme(s) of the Great Fast called “Journey to Pascha”. This year, we are doing the same, with some extra issues before Lent begins, dealing with the “preparation for the preparation”.

The first issue, on the theme of Repentance generally, and the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee in particular, can be downloaded below:

 

Journey to Pascha 2019 no. 1 (Publican and the Pharisee)

 

Any questions, or to be added to a mailing list to receive electronic issues directly to your email every Sunday, please contact Deacon Jonathan (zgjmc@hotmail.com)

 

Readings for the Publican and the Pharisee: 2 Timothy 3: 10-15 (Epistle); Luke 18: 9-14 (Gospel)

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