{"id":27011,"date":"2025-03-31T19:37:08","date_gmt":"2025-03-31T19:37:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=27011"},"modified":"2025-03-31T19:37:08","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T19:37:08","slug":"st-peter-news-april-1-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-news-april-1-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"St Peter News April 1, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil<\/h2>\n

Eutychios, patriarch of Constantinople; Venerable Platonida of Nisibis in Syria<\/h4>\n
\"St.<\/p>\n

St. Mary of Egypt<\/em><\/p>\n<\/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

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Fr. Thomas Hopko on “St Mary of Egypt”<\/h2>\n
\"Fr.<\/div>\n

On the fifth Sunday of Lent, we commemorate St. Mary of Egypt. By her example, we are reminded of the extraordinary power of repentance and God’s mercy, by which even the greatest sinner may be transformed and sanctified.<\/p>\n

Fr. Thomas starts with a review of the Gospel reading of Mark for the Fourth Sunday of Lent and transitions to the 5th Sunday explaining how reigning with our Lord is dependent on suffering with Him.<\/p>\n

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St. Mary of Egypt<\/h4>\n

Fr. Thomas contrasts the story of the fallen, then raised Mary of Alexandria with that of another Mary– the Theotokos.<\/p>\n

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Listen here:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Click<\/a><\/div>\n

The Fifth Week of Great Lent<\/h4>\n

Fr. Thomas gives an overview of the services for the 5th week of Great Lent and their final emphasis on penitence and repentance.<\/p>\n

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Listen here:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Click<\/a><\/div>\n
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Services and Events This Week<\/h2>\n