Newsletter March 7, 2026

The Orthodox Liturgy: Its Theology and Spirituality, Part Two

In the Liturgy, the Church ascends to heaven. Therefore, when she returns to the world after this ascent, she returns reflecting the light, joy, and peace of the Kingdom. She becomes a witness to the Kingdom in the midst of an anxious and troubled world.

For this reason, Orthodox liturgical texts address God first. They recall and make present the saving work (economy) that God accomplished for humanity and for our salvation. For example, Orthodox services conclude in a similar form: “O Christ our true God, who… for our salvation…” During the Paschal season we say: “who rose from the dead for our salvation.” At Christmas: “who was born of the Virgin in a cave for our salvation.” At Theophany: “who was baptized by John in the Jordan for our salvation.” At the Transfiguration: “who was transfigured on Mount Tabor before His holy disciples for our salvation.” At Pentecost: “who sent down the All-Holy Spirit upon His holy disciples for our salvation.” And so on throughout the year.

Salvation—accomplished by Christ in His incarnation, death, and resurrection—is central to the Liturgy. It is the foundation and purpose of Christian life. The goal of the Christian is salvation. He or she is a Christian who seeks salvation first, and then is a physician, an engineer, a merchant or an employee.

Read the entire article: https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2746

Denver area Lenten Sunday evening pan-Orthodox Vespers will be held again this year. All services begin at 5:00 P.M.

Sunday of Orthodoxy (March 1): Assumption Cathedral, Denver
St. Gregory Palamas (March 8): Transfiguration Cathedral, Denver
Sunday of Cross (March 15): St. Elias, Arvada
St. John of the Ladder (March 22): St. Catherine, Greenwood Village
St. Mary of Egypt (March 29): Ss. Peter & Paul, Boulder

(These are also listed on the parish calendar, with map pins and addresses)

We will celebrate the baptism of Natalie G. on Sunday March 8 at 1:00 PM (following fellowship). Everyone is invited!

Please remember that our full calendar continues to be available at our parish web site. Here is a link:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Calendar/calendar.php

Full schedule:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Prosphora/Docs/prosphora sched 2026 web.pdf

Full schedule:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Altar/Docs/epistle readers for 2026.pdf

Epistle: ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE HEBREWS 1:10-14; 2:1-3

IN THE BEGINNING, Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end.” But to what angel has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?” Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation? Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him.

Gospel: MARK 2:1-12

At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven, ‘ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins”-he said to the paralytic-“I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.” And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!

The Scandal of the Icon

Fr. Zechariah Lynch

For Orthodox Christians, what does it mean to properly venerate an icon?

Are there necessary physical actions of Orthodox when venerating an icon?

Can a person simply venerate it in his heart and forego outward physical greetings?

Many people are already familiar with the theological teaching behind the use of icons, as proclaimed especially in the writings of Ss. John of Damascus and Theodore the Studite. A little while ago, I began seeking to find if there is a proclaimed teaching and tradition of praxis, the question of how we properly and physically manifest the theology of icons. For, I mused, surely there is a “right praxis” in the veneration of icons, as there is a “right theology.” Is the practice of venerating an icon negotiable, or is it nonnegotiable together with the theology?

Read the entire article: https://substack.com/home/post/p-189404453