THE DORMITION FAST
The last two weeks of August are the Dormition Fast. It's short, but it's a lot like Great Lent--stricter fasting, and many more services.
There are two great feasts, the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 18 and 19) and the Dormition ("falling-asleep") of the Theotokos (August 27 and 28). For both feasts we will celebrate Great Vespers and Litya the night before and the Divine Liturgy on the feastday itself.
And, this year, every week night except when there's Great Vespers, we will be serving Paraklesis. This is a traditional Byzantine service of supplication to the Theotokos, similar to the Moloeben in the Slavic practice.
Please mark your calendars so you can come and pray as many of the services during the fast as possible.
As with Great Lent, if you come to church only on Sunday you will miss the profound meaning and beauty of this season of the church year.
ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES BEGINNING IN AUGUST
Starting on August 5, every Tuesday we will re-offer the Intro to Orthodoxy video and discussion group. If you haven't taken advantage of this lively and informative series, please join us--you don't know what you don't know!
Starting on August 7, every Thursday, we will be studying "The Seven Mysteries of the Lord's Prayer," by St Makarios of Corinth, a late 18th-century Greek bishop. It's less than 70 pages, but don't be deceived; there may be more to the Lord's Prayer than meets the eye.
Please let Subdeacon Paul know if you're interested in the book study so he can make sure to have enough copies on hand in time.
Both groups will meet at the Farleys' home at 6:30 PM, with a hard (-ish) stop at 8 PM.
Great Lent 2025
Holy Theophany 2025
