{"id":10048,"date":"2021-04-13T07:41:14","date_gmt":"2021-04-13T11:41:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=10048"},"modified":"2021-04-13T07:41:14","modified_gmt":"2021-04-13T11:41:14","slug":"st-peter-news-april-13-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-news-april-13-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter News April 13, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fifth Sunday of Great Lent
\nSt. Mary of Egypt<\/h2>\n

Venerable John, disciple of Gregory of Decapolis; Venerable Euthymios and
\nAthanasios of Aegina; Cosmas the Confessor, Bishop of Chalcedon<\/h4>\n
\"St.
St. Mary of Egypt<\/em><\/div>\n

Who was St. Mary of Egypt?<\/h4>\n

Our holy mother Mary was born in Egypt. She had left her parents at the age of twelve to go to Alexandria, where she spent the next seventeen years in debauchery and the greatest profligacy. Living on charity and linen-weaving, she nevertheless offered her body to any man, not being forced to it by dire necessity as were so many poor women, but as though she were consumed by the fire of a desire that nothing was able to appease.<\/p>\n

One day, seeing a crowd of Lybians and Egyptians moving towards the port, she followed them and set sail with them for Jerusalem, offering her body to pay her fare. When they arrived in the Holy City, she followed the crowd that was thronging towards the Church of the Resurrection, it being the day of the Exaltation of the Cross. But, when she reached the threshold of the church, an invisible force prevented her entering in spite of repeated efforts on her part, although the other pilgrims were able to go in without hindrance.<\/p>\n

Left alone in a corner of the narthex, she began to realize that it was the impurity of her life that was preventing her approaching the holy Wood. She burst into tears and smote her breast and, seeing an icon of the Mother of God, made this prayer to her: “O Sovereign Lady, who didst bear God in the flesh, I know that I should not dare to look upon thine icon, thou who are pure in soul and body, because, debauched as I am, I must fill thee with disgust. But, as the God born of thee became man in order to call sinners to repentance, come to my aid! Allow me to go into the church and prostrate before His Cross. And, as soon as I have seen the Cross, I promise that I will renounce the world and all pleasures, and follow the path of salvation that thou willest to show me.”<\/p>\n

She felt herself suddenly freed from the power that had held her and was able to enter the church. There she fervently venerated the Holy Cross and then, returning to the icon of the Mother of God, declared herself ready to follow the path that the Virgin would show her. A voice replied to her from on high: “If you cross the Jordan, you will find rest.”<\/p>\n

Read more on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

St. Basil Liturgy During Lent<\/h2>\n
\n\"St.\n<\/div>\n

On the Sundays of Lent we worship with the Liturgy of St. Basil instead of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. What is the difference between the two? The Liturgy of St Basil is a bit longer because the priests prayers are longer, say 10 minutes or so.<\/p>\n

The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (what we do on a regular Sunday) is derived from the Liturgy of St. Basil.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Learn About Lent<\/h2>\n
\n
\n\"Learn<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

Check out the rich resources about Lent and Holy Week on the Antiochian website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Services this Week<\/h2>\n