February 2025

We begin the month of February with the Great Feast called the Meeting of the Lord on Sunday the 2nd where there will also be a blessing of candles.

As we look at this month of February we can see that Zacchaeus Sunday is also February 2nd and then there is a fast-free week from the 9th to the 16th, which means there is no fast on Wednesday, the 12th, and Friday, the 14th. With Zacchaeus Sunday and the fast-free week in February, this tells us that the Great Fast is not far off, and it begins March 2nd. Zacchaeus Sunday is a warning that the fast will soon begin but it is also a reminder that we should already be planning on how we go through the fast: what spiritual books we will read; how we will fast; what services we will attend; and will we add additional prayers. We should understand that the Great Fast is a time that we work on our souls; it is like a boot camp for our spiritual development and this should lead to a transformation in our life.

As Orthodox Christians, we are extremely blessed to be a part of a Church that cares and worries about our souls. The church gives us all the tools we need to better our lives in Christ if we make use of them. These tools may seem rigid or harsh but they are there to help us work on ourselves spiritually. Even something as simple as making the sign of the cross on ourselves properly will have great spiritual benefit.

Many people outside of Orthodox Christianity may say something about it, usually negative, but there is great power in crossing yourself properly. When we make the sign of the cross we can invoke the Holy Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, or we can just call on Christ in the Jesus Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner! Just crossing yourself and saying one of the prayers is terrifying to the enemies of Christ and can save us from the evil snares of the demons.

As we go through the month of February, let us keep in our mind that we are coming to the Great Fast and then Pascha. May we all be sure to cross ourselves with all humility, praying and asking our Lord to help us in all that we need to work out our salvation.

+Fr. Mikel Bock

Sat Feb 22nd 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy 5pm Vespers
Sun Feb 23rd 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy
Feb 24 - March 2nd, fasting from meat only, everything else is allowed
March 3rd begins the Great Fast
Weds Feb 26th 6pm Bible Study/Class
Sat Mar 1st 5pm Vespers
Sun Mar 2nd 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy/ Forgiveness Vespers
Mon Mar 3rd 6pm Great Compline/Great Canon of St Andrew
Tues Mar 4th 6pm Great Compline/Great Canon of St Andrew
Weds Mar 5th 540pm 9th Hour/Presanctified Liturgy
Thurs Mar 6th 6pm Great Compline/Great Canon of St Andrew
Fri Mar 7th 840pm 9th Hour/Presanctified Liturgy
Sat Mar 8th 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy 330pm Class 5pm Vespers
Sun Mar 9th 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy w/Icon Procession
Weds Mar 12th 540pm 9th Hour/Presanctified Liturgy
Fri Mar 14th 840am 9th Hour/Presanctified Liturgy
Sat Mar 15th 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy 330pm Class 5pm Vespers
Sun Mar 16th 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy
Tues Mar 18th 6pm Class
Weds Mar 19th 540pm 9th Hour/Presanctified Liturgy
Fri Mar 21st 840am 9th Hour/Presanctified Liturgy
Sat Mar 22nd 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy 330 pm Class 5pm Vespers
Sun Mar 23rd 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy
Mon Mar 24th 6pm Vespers
Tues Mar 25th 840am 9th Hour/Vesperal Divine Liturgy
Weds Mar 26th 540pm 9th Hour/Presanctified Liturgy
Fri Mar 28th 840am 9th Hour/Presanctified Liturgy
Sat Mar 29th 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy 330pm Class 5pm Vespers
Sun Mar 30th 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy
Mon Mar31st 540pm 9th Hour/Presanctified Liturgy
Tues Apr 1st 6pm Class
Weds Apr 2nd 540pm 9th Hour/Presanctified Liturgy
Fri Apr 4th 840am 9th Hour/Presanctified Liturgy