Restoration of Holy Sepulchre to be done in time for Holy Fire and Pascha

The burial slab within the Tomb was removed for the first time in 500 years.

With some joyous news for the beginning of the Orthodox Great Lenten podvig, head of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem Archimandrite Alexander (Elisov) has stated that the restoration work on the Edicule over the Holy Sepulchre, the Lord’s Tomb, will be completed in time for Pascha, reports RIA-Novosti.

St Elijah Hosts Lenten Vespers

With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Irinej, on Sunday, February 26th, the Church-School congregation of St Elijah in Warren, Ohio hosted faithful from numerous parishes across the Cleveland Deanery. 

The evening began with Lenten Vespers concelebrated by Rev. Presbyter Dragan Gornjic, Dean of the Cleveland Deanery and parish priest at Holy Trinity in Youngstown (Raccoon Rd); Very Rev. Protosingelos Sava (Medakovich) of New Marcha Monastery in Richfield; Very Rev. Vladimir Demshuk, host priest at St Elijah in Warren; Very Rev. Protopresbyter Milan Pajic of St Archangel Michael in Akron; Rev. Presbyter Aleksa Pavichevich of St George in North Canton; Rev. Bosko Stojanovich of Holy Trinity in Youngstown (Laird Ave); and Rev. Presbyter Vedran Grabic of St George in Hermitage, Pennsylvania.

St. Sava Celebration and Archpastoral Visit

It was a wonderful day to celebrate St. Sava Day at our church St. George in Clearwater, Florida (Sunday February 5, 2017).

We were blessed with our first visit of our new Eastern Diocese Bishop, His Grace Bishop Irinej. The Divine Liturgy was beautiful. The community enjoyed how eloquently His Grace spoke in both Serbian and English. A highlight of the day was when His Grace spoke with our children, asking them questions about St. Sava, after the Slava Kolac and Zito were blessed. The children did so well it put smiles on everyone's face, especially His Grace Bishop Irinej. After the liturgy everyone went to the building site of the new parish home which was blessed by His Grace. After the blessing of the parish home a delicious lunch was served by our Kolo sisters. A wonderful children's program followed.

Discipline of Fasting

Within this developed pattern of Great Lent, what precisely do the rules of fasting demand? Neither in ancient nor in modern times has there ever been exact uniformity, but most Orthodox authorities agree on the following rules:

(1) During the week between the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee and that of the Prodigal Son, there is general dispensation from all fasting. Meat and animal products may be eaten even on Wednesday and Friday.

The Sunday of Orthodoxy in Hamilton

Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete