{"id":5584,"date":"2016-11-16T11:28:57","date_gmt":"2016-11-16T16:28:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=5584"},"modified":"2016-11-16T11:28:57","modified_gmt":"2016-11-16T16:28:57","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-november-16-2016-forefeast-of-the-theotokos-christmas-fast-supporting-nami-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-november-16-2016-forefeast-of-the-theotokos-christmas-fast-supporting-nami-more\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter November 16, 2016 — Forefeast of the Theotokos, Christmas Fast, Supporting NAMI…more"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nNinth Sunday of Luke Sunday
\nForefeast of the Entrance of the Theotokos<\/h2>\n
\"Entrance
Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple, also called The Presentation, is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, celebrated on November 21. Among those Orthodox Christians who use the "Old" (Julian) calendar as their Church calendar, the date of this feast corresponds to December 4 in the secular calendar.<\/p>\n

According to Tradition, the Theotokos was taken – presented – by her parents Joachim and Anna into the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem as a young girl, where she lived and served as a Temple virgin until her betrothal to St. Joseph. One of the earliest sources of this tradition is the non-canonical Protoevangelion of James, also called the Infancy Gospel of James.<\/p>\n

Mary was solemnly received by the temple community which was headed by the priest Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist. She was led to the holy place to become herself the "holy of holies" of God, the living sanctuary and temple of the Divine child who was to be born in her. The Church also sees this feast as a feast which marks the end of the physical temple in Jerusalem as the dwelling place of God.<\/p>\n

Source: Orthodoxwiki<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Divine Liturgy Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple – Monday, November 21, 6:30pm<\/h2>\n

Liturgy begins at 6:30pm for this important feast day.<\/p>\n

\nWe've Entered the Christmas Fasting Period<\/h2>\n

The Christmas fasting period runs from November 15 to December 24. Guidelines for proper fasting during the Christmas fast can be found on the Antiochian Archdiocese website<\/a>. Look at the schedule, conform to the fast as you are able, and if you have questions consult Fr. Hans.<\/p>\n

Fasting is important but sometimes circumstances require adjustments to the directions. We are not bound to directions (fasting is voluntary) but we should not use our liberty as an excuse for slackness or negligence either.<\/p>\n

Why fast? It helps us focus on Christ more in our interior lives. As we learn to master our interior life, our exterior life changes for the better too. We fast faithfully and in secret, not judging others, and not holding ourselves up as an example.<\/p>\n

From the Antiochian Archdiocese Website:<\/em><\/p>\n

The Purpose of Fasting<\/strong><\/p>\n

The purpose of fasting is to focus on the things that are above, the Kingdom of God. It is a means of putting on virtue in reality, here and now. Through it we are freed from dependence on worldly things.<\/p>\n