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St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church Serving the Orthodox Christian Community of Greater Cleveland St. Plato the Great Martyr of Ancyra
St. George
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church
Serving the Orthodox Christian Community
of Greater Cleveland
St. Plato the Great Martyr of Ancyra
St. George
Antiochian
Orthodox Church
WELCOME
The mission of St. George
Antiochian Orthodox Church
is to serve God and the community
by commitment to the Gospel’s
command to grow in the knowledge
of Jesus Christ through faith,
hope, and love. It is a parish of the
Self –Ruled Antiochian Orthodox
Christian Archdiocese of North
America.
The Orthodox Church follows the
faith and practice of the apostles
and disciples of Christ handed
down by the ancient Christian
fathers and twenty centuries of
Church tradition. Genuine Christian
life nurtures and stimulates our
spiritual and moral development.
The liturgical life of the Orthodox
Church has been developing over
the last 2000 years. By taking part
in the mysteries of Christ’s life,
death and resurrection at the
liturgical services, the community
members are drawn to repentance
and the gradual change of their
inner selves.
To join the community of St.
George or to find out more
information, please fill out the
Guest Book in the Narthex. We
hope this day will be spiritually
rewarding for you. Fr John will be
happy to answer any questions.
Join us in the hall after Liturgy for
our Coffee Hour and Fellowship.
V. Rev Father John Ojaimi, PastorOffice: (216) 781-9020 Fax: (216) 781-9545
Cellular: (440) 665-6724
Archdeacon Yarid Sahley
Subdeacons Sam Elias & George Simon
www.stgeorgecleveland.com
Pastor’s E-Mail: [email protected]
Parish E-Mail: [email protected]
Sunday November 18, 2012Tone 7/ Eothinon 2
Twenty-Fourth Sunday after
Pentecost & Ninth Sunday of Luke
Holy Martyr Plato of Ancyra
Martyr Romanos of Antioch; Martyrs
Zacchaeus the deacon and Alphaeos the
reader of Caesarea in Palestine
Welcome Bishop Anthony
The Midwest is blessed
to have you as its
Bishop.
Many, many years.
“Faith is obedience to God’s word
regardless of whether the
consequences are good or bad”
Altar Bread is offered in Beloved Memory of Lester and Joyce Nader by Mouna
Nader and family.
Altar Bread is offered in Beloved Memory of Aminita Emil Nader (Florida) by Samira
Mina and family.
Altar Bread is offered in Beloved Memory of Hani, Youssef, Violette, Elias & Mounir
Nader by Souad Nader.
Candles are offered for the Health, Safety & Spiritual Welfare of:
Shane Haddad, Alexis & Mike by Hal & Louise Bouhasin
Family & friends by Hal & Louise Bouhasin; George & Joie Haddad
Lucy Aboid, Selma Sharpe, Eddie Haddad & Olga Coury by Joe, Barb & Fred Aboid & Family
Edward Haddad, Jr. by Evelyn Haddad
Akel S. Akel by Akel Akel
Jimmy Faro by Leo & Lila Koury
Candles are offered in Beloved Memory of:
Salim Caraboolad by Greg, Lauren Caraboolad & Family
Alice & George Lakis by Michelle Lakis
Wadia Ameen by his wife Mary & family
Edward Fadel by his wife Rita and Family
Edward Haddad by his wife Evelyn
Leo & Christine George by their family
Prayers for the Health & Spiritual Welfare of:Olivia Abdallah, Houda Abdelkarim,
Melissa Aboid, Mary Assad, Evelyn Baldassari, Naissef & Rita Courey, Shirly Courey, Olga
Courey, Ann Deeb, Emilie Easa, James Eassey, Helena Elias, Sarah Elias, Vera Elias, Dani
Fadel, Minerva Gantose, Peter George, Elias Ghazal, Odeh Hanna, Pauline Hanna, Samia
Harb, Corrine Khouri, Hanadi Khouri, Helen Lambert, Joyce Nader, Kaukab Nader, Virginia
Nader, Jennie Sadallah, Christopher Fadel-Samuel, George Sarkes, Selma Sharpe, Alvera
Shiekh, Christine Simon, Linda Simon, Asma Zaboura. Rudy Zaboura.
Sign up and take your turn in offering a Coffee Hour. Lots
of dates for 2012 are open. Pick a birthday, memorial,
anniversary, or just a day that no one has sponsored.
UPCOMING DIVINE SERVICES
Tuesday November 20, 2012 Evening Divine Liturgy, Entrance of the Theotokos @ 6:00 pm
Sunday, November 25, 2012 Matins @ 9:30 am, Hierarchal Liturgy @ 10:30 am
Confessions will be heard on Sunday Mornings before Liturgy starts or by appointment.
Divine Liturgy Variables Sunday November 18, 2012Tone 7/ Eothinon 2; Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost & Ninth Sunday of Luke
Holy Martyr Plato of Ancyra
Martyr Romanos of Antioch; Martyrs Zacchaeus the deacon and Alphaeos the reader of Caesarea
in Palestine
RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE SEVEN
Thou didst shatter death by Thy Cross, Thou didst open paradise to the thief; Thou didst
turn the sadness of the ointment-bearing women into joy. And didst bid Thine Apostles pro-
claim a warning, that Thou hast risen O Christ, granting to the world the Great Mercy.
THE EISODIKON (ENTRANCE HYMN)
Come, let us worship, and fall down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from
the dead; who sing to Thee. Alleluia.
RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE SEVEN
Thou didst shatter death by Thy Cross, Thou didst open paradise to the thief; Thou didst
turn the sadness of the ointment-bearing women into joy. And didst bid Thine Apostles pro-
claim a warning, that Thou hast risen O Christ, granting to the world the Great Mercy.
APOLYTIKION OF ST. PLATO IN TONE FOUR
Thy Martyr, Plato, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the
crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since he possessed Thy
strength, he cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons’ strengthless presump-
tion. O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.
TROPARION OF ST. GEORGE TONE 4
As deliver of captives and defender of the poor, healer of the infirm, champion of kings,
victorious Great martyr George, intercede with Christ our God, for our souls’ salvation..
KONTAKION OF ENTRANCE OF THE THEOTOKOS IN TONE FOUR
The all-pure temple of the Savior, the most precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the treasure
-house of the glory of God, today enters the Temple of the Lord, bringing with her the grace
which is in the divine Spirit: whom also the angels of God do celebrate in song; for she is the
heavenly tabernacle.
The Trisagion
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever and unto ages
of ages. Amen
Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us.
Dynamis! (With Strength)
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us
THE EPISTLE
(For the Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost)
The Lord will give strength to His people.
Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of God, ascribe to the Lord honor and glory.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians. (2:14-22)
Brethren, Christ is our peace, Who has made us both one, and has broken down the
dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and ordinances,
that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might
reconcile us both to God in one body through the Cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an
end. And He came and preached peace to you, who were far off, and peace to those who
were near; for through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are
no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members
of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Je-
sus Himself being the cornerstone, in Whom the whole structure is joined together and
grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in Whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of
God in the Spirit.
THE GOSPEL
(For the Ninth Sunday of Luke)
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (12:16-21)
The Lord spoke this parable: “The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he
thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I
will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain
and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years;
take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is re-
quired of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is he who lays up
treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” As He said this, Jesus called out, “He who
has ears to hear, let him hear.”
الرسالةیاج المتوسط مبطال بجسده .أي العداوة 15المسیح ھو سالمنا، الذي جعل االثنین واحدا، ونقض حائط الس
ویصالح االثنین 16ناموس الوصایا في فرائض، لكي یخلق االثنین في نفسھ إنسانا واحدا جدیدا، صانعا سالما،لیب، قاتال العداوة بھ ألن بھ لنا 18.فجاء وبشركم بسالم، أنتم البعیدین والقریبین 17.في جسد واحد مع هللا بالص
یسین وأھل بیت هللا، 19.كلینا قدوما في روح واحد إلى اآلب فلستم إذا بعد غرباء ونزال، بل رعیة مع القداویة، 20 سل واألنبیاء، ویسوع المسیح نفسھ حجر الز با معا، ینمو 21مبنیین على أساس الر الذي فیھ كل البناء مرك
ب Ρϭήϟ�ϲϓ˶�˶Ϳ˶�Ύ˱Ϩ˴Ϝ˸δϣ˴�ˬΎ˱όϣ˴�˴ϥϮϴ˶Ϩ˸Β˴ϣ�Ύ˱π˶�22.ھیكال مقدسا في الر ϳ˸˴�˸Ϣ˵Θ˸ϧ˴�˶Ϫϴ˶ϓ�ϱ ά˶ϟ.إالنجیل
ماذا أعمل، ألن لیس لي موضع :ففكر في نفسھ قائال 17إنسان غني أخصبت كورتھ، «:وضرب لھم مثال قائال 16وأقول 19أھدم مخازني وأبني أعظم، وأجمع ھناك جمیع غالتي وخیراتي، :أعمل ھذا:وقال 18أجمع فیھ أثماري؟
“With fear of God, faith And love draw near”.
Come to Church, Jesus loves you, we love you we
are waiting for you.
!استریحي وكلي واشربي وافرحي.یا نفس لك خیرات كثیرة، موضوعة لسنین كثیرة :لنفسي 20 :فقال لھ هللا ھذه اللیلة تطلب نفسك منك، فھذه التي أعددتھا لمن تكون؟ !یاغبي 21 �˶Ϳ˶�Ύ˷˱ϴ˶Ϩ˴Ϗ�˴Ϯϫ˵�˴β ϴ˴˸ϟ˴ϭ�˶Ϫ˶δϔ˴˸Ϩ˶ϟ�˵ΰϨ˶˸Ϝ˴ϳ�ϱ ά˶ϟ�˴ά˴Ϝϫ.«
Megalynnarion
It is truly meet to call thee Blessed, Lady Theotokos; Lady ever greatly blessed, and most
perfect in innocence, and the Mother of our God. Lady more precious than the Cherubim and
more glorious beyond all measure than the Seraphim. That without corruption gavest birth
to God the Word, and art truly Theotokos. We magnify thee.
KOINONIKON (COMMUNION HYMN) OF SAINT JOHN’S LITURGY
Post-Communion
We have seen the true Light! We have received the heavenly spirit! We have found the true
faith! Worshipping the undivided Trinity, who has saved us.
THE DISMISSAL
Bishop Anthony: May He Who rose from the dead, Christ our true God, through the in-
tercessions of His all-immaculate and all-blameless holy Mother; by the might of the Pre-
cious and Life-giving Cross; by the protection of the honorable Bodiless Powers of Heaven;
at the supplication of the honorable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; of the
holy, glorious and all-laudable apostles; of our father among the saints, John Chrysostom,
archbishop of Constantinople, whose Divine Liturgy we have now celebrated; of the holy, glo-
rious and right-victorious Martyrs; of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers; of Saint N.,
the patron and protector of this holy community; of the holy, glorious and right-victorious
Martyr Plato of Ancyra; Martyr Romanos of Antioch; Martyrs Zacchaeus the deacon and Al-
phaeos the reader of Caesarea in Palestine, whose memory we celebrate today, and of all the
saints: have mercy on us and save us, forasmuch as He is good and loveth mankind.
Priest: Through the prayers of our holy Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon
us and save us.
Choir: Amen.Welcome Bishop Anthony
We are so blessed today at St. George to have
you in our midst as our Father and Shepherd,
Many, many Years.
B
Bible Study
Join us at Church MondayNovember 19, 2012 @ 6:30 pm to
pray and study together the words ofGod.
PROPER CHURCH ETIQUETTE
There are certain times during the Divine Liturgy when one should refrain from
entering the Church out of respect for God and the worship of His people. They are:
During the Trisagion Hymn — During the Epistle and Gospel readings
During the Cherubic Hymn and Great Entrance - During the Creed
During The Anaphora—(“Let us stand aright” through “Especially our all-holy Lady.”)
During Holy Communion one should remain standing throughout the distribution of the
gifts. If you have already received Holy Communion, please avail yourself of the
“Prayers of Thanksgiving” which begin on Page 128 of the red prayer book while you wait
for everyone else to receive.
The St. George Choir
would like to ask all the pa-
rishioners and friends who
would like their names listed
as sponsors for our 2012
Christmas Card project to fill
out their form and send it
back to Church as soon as pos-
sible.
Thank you.
St. Plato the Great Martyr of AncyraCommemorated on November 18 (icon taken "The Holy Martyr Platon, brother of theholy Martyr Antiochus the Physician (July 16), was born at the city of Ancyra inGalatia. While still a youth he left home and went through the cities, preaching theWord of God to pagans, amazing his audience with the persuasiveness and beauty ofhis speech, and his profound knowledge of Greek learning.
Because of his preaching he was arrested and brought for trial to the temple of Zeusbefore the governor Agrippinus. At first, the judge attempted to persuade the saint toturn away from Christ by flattery. He assured the youth that he might be on a par ofintellect with the greatest of the philosophers Plato, if only he worshipped also thepagan gods. To this St Platon answered, that the wisdom of the philosopher, althoughgreat, was but ephemeral and limited, whereas the true, eternal and unboundedwisdom comprised the Gospel teachings. Then the judge promised to give him hisbeautiful niece for his wife if he would deny Christ. He also threatened him withtorture and death if he refused.[When the governor counseled him to avoid death and save his life by worshiping theidols, Plato said: ``There are two deaths, the one temporal and the other eternal; soalso are there two lives, one of short duration and the other without end.'' ThenAgrippinus subjected him to even harsher tortures. Among other tortures, red-hotcannon balls were set on the saint's naked body; then they cut strips from his skin.``Torture me more harshly,'' the martyr cried out to the torturers, so that yourinhumanity and my endurance may be seen more clearly. The patience of thegovernor was exhausted, and he gave orders to mercilessly beat the martyr, and thensend him off to prison.When they led St Platon off to prison, he turned to the people gathered about thetemple, and he called on them not to forsake the Christian Faith. Seven days laterthey again led the Martyr Platon for trial before Agrippinus in the temple of Zeus,where they had the implements of torture already prepared:boiling cauldrons, red-hot iron and sharp hooks. The judgeoffered the martyr a choice: either to offer sacrifice to thepagan gods, or to feel the effects of these implements oftorture on his body. Again the saint steadfastly refused toworship idols, and after his tortures they threw him in prisonfor eighteen more days without bread or water.When the guards were amazed that Plato was able to live inhunger for so long, he told them: ``You are satisfied bymeat, but I, by holy prayers. Wine gladdens you, but Christthe True Vine gladdens me.''But seeing that this did not shake the martyr, they offeredhim his life and freedom if he would only say, "Great is thegod Apollo." The martyr refused to deny Chirst or to sacrificeto the idols. Therefore, Agrippinus ordered the holy Martyr Platon to be beheaded."
A NATIONAL THANKSGIVING.....By-George Washington,
First President of USA (1789-1797)
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providenceof Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits,and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas bothHouses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "torecommend to the people of the United States a day of publicthanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the manyand signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunitypeaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness": Now, there-fore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devotedby the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is theBeneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then allunite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care andprotection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signaland manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course andconclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which wehave since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have enabled doestablish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly thenational one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we areblessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in gen-eral, for the great and various favors which He has been please to confer upon us. Andalso that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to thegreat Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other trans-gressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our severaland relative duties properly and punctually; to render our national government a blessingto all the people by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws,discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns andnations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with goodgovernments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of truereligion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, togrant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand, at the city of New York,The 3rd day of October, AD 1789George Washington…First President of USA (1789-1797)
BLESSED NAME'S DAY
PHILIP,the most devout, the most reverend, chosen byGod, Metropolitan of the God-Saved city of NewYork of all North America, our Father and Chief
Shepherd, may God grant him many years!
The V. Rev. Fr. John Ojaimi and the faithful of SaintGeorge in Cleveland, extend their prayers and love to
His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIPon the occasion of his Holy Name's Day(St. Philip the Apostle, November 14).
May God grant him many years as our Chief Shepherd.
Feast of the Entrance into The Temple ofOur Most HolyLady The Theotokos
The Feast of the Entrance intothe Temple of Our Most Holy-
Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on November
21 each year. The Feast commemorates when as a young
child, the Virgin Mary entered the Temple in Jerusalem.
INTRODUCTION
The birth and early life of the Virgin Mary is not recorded in the Gos-
pels or other books of the New Testament, however this information
can be found in a work dating from the second century known
as the Book of James or Protevangelion.
When Mary was three years old, Joachim and Anna decided that the time had come to fulfill their
promise and to offer her to the Lord. Joachim gathered the young girls of the neighborhood to
form an escort, and he made them go in front of Mary, carrying torches. Captivated
by the torches, the young child followed joyfully to the Temple, not once looking back at her
parents nor weeping as she was parted from them.
The holy Virgin ran toward the Temple, overtaking her attendant maidens and threw
herself into the arms of the High Priest Zacharias, who was waiting for her
at the gate of the Temple with the elders. Zacharias blessed her saying, "It is in you that He has
glorified your name in every generation. It is in you that He will reveal the Redemption that He has
prepared for His people in the last days."
Then, Zacharias brought the child into the Holy of Holies—a place where onlythe High Priest was
permitted to enter once a year on the Day of Atonement. He placed her on the steps of the altar,
and the grace of the Lord descended upon her. She arose and expressed her joy in a dance as
wonder seized all who saw this happen.
The Virgin Mary dwelt in the Temple for nine years until, reaching an age for marriage, she was
taken from the Temple by the priests and elders and entrusted to Joseph as the guardian of her
virginity.
The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple signifies her total dedication to God and her
readiness for her future vocation as the Mother of the incarnate Lord. This is a
feast of anticipation. As honor is shown to Mary, the faithful are called to look forward
to the Incarnation of Christ, celebrated in a little more than a month by the Feast of the Nativity on
December 25.
ICON OF THE FEAST
The icon of the feast tells the story of Mary's entry into the Temple. The High Priest, Zacharias
(1), is in his priestly robes standing on the step of theTemple. His arms are outstretched, ready to
greet and receive the Virgin. Mary is shown as a small child, standing before Zacharias with her
arms reaching up to him (2)
In some icons the young maidens (3) who served as her escort are depicted standing behind her.
Also, we see her parents, Joachim and Anna (4),offering their child to God and His divine service.
In the upper center portion of the icon, the Virgin is seated on the steps ofthe Holy of Holies. An
angel is there, attending to the one chosen by God to bring the Savior into the world.
ORTHODOX CELEBRTION OF THE FEAST OF THE ENTRANCE OFTHE THEOTOKOS
The Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos is celebrated with the Divine Liturgy of Saint John
Chrysostom which is conducted on the morning of theFeast and preceded by a Matins (Orthros)
service. A Great Vespers is conducted on the evening before the day of the Feast. Scripture read-
ings forthe Feast are the following: At Vespers: Exodus 40:1-5, 9-10, 16, 34-35; I Kings 7:51, 8:1,
3-4, 6-7, 9-11; Ezekiel 43:27—44:4. At the Matins: Luke 1:39-49, 56. At the Divine Lit-
urgy: Hebrews 9:1-7; Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28.
1. The High Priest, Zacha-rias receives the Theotokosat the steps of the Temple
2. The Theotokos as a smallchild being received by the HighPriest, Zacharias
3. Young maidens gatheredby Joachim to form an escortfor the Theotokos
4. Joachim and Anna,parents of the Theotokos
5. An Angel of the Lord attendsto the Theotokos in the Holy of Holies
The Purpose of Fasting
Nativity Fast begins this year on November 15th, 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. We
fast faithfully and in secret, not judging others, and not holding ourselves up as an
example.
Fasting in itself is not a means of pleasing God. Fasting is not a punishment for our
sins. Nor is fasting a means of suffering and pain to be undertaken as some kind of
atonement. Christ already redeemed us on His Cross. Salvation is a gift from God that
is not bought by our hunger or thirst.
We fast to be delivered from carnal passions so that God’s gift of Salvation may bear
fruit in us.
We fast and turn our eyes toward God in His Holy Church. Fasting and prayer go
together.
Fasting is not irrelevant. Fasting is not obsolete, and it is not something for someone
else. Fasting is from God, for us, right here and right now.
Most of all, we should not devour each other. We ask God to “set a watch and keep the
door of our lips.”
Do Not Fast
between December 25 and January 5 (even on Wednesdays and Fridays);
if you are pregnant or nursing a newborn;
during serious illness;
without prayer;
without alms-giving;
according to your own will without guidance from your spiritual father.
Christmas GivingWhile you Start preparing your Christmas lists please help us to give aChristmas gift to those in need. With your donnations we hope to providegifts to at least 30 between families and individuals. We will be collectinggift cards during fast to be distributed the week of December 15th. Noamount is too small or too large! The best cards would be from Wal-Mart or Marc’s so thefamilies can purchase Christmas meals, clothes and maybe toys for the children. Please putyour cards in an envelope with your name on it and either drop it in the Church collection orat the office, your donations are tax deductable and will be shown on your statements.
God bless you all, thank you.
The Advent Wreath
The Advent wreath is part of a long-standing
Christian tradition. There is evidence of
pre-Christian peoples using wreathes with lit
candles during the cold and dark December
days as a sign of hope in the future warm and
extended-sunlight days of Spring.
Early Christians adapted this tradition and
used Advent wreathes as part of their spiritual preparation for Christmas.
After all, Christ is “the Light that came into the world” to dispel the darkness
of sin and to radiate the truth and love of God (cf. John 3:19-21).
The symbolism of the Advent wreath is beautiful. The wreath is made of
various evergreens, signifying continuous life. Even these evergreens have a
traditional meaning which can be adapted to our faith: The laurel signifies
victory over persecution and suffering; pine, holly, and yew, immortality; and
cedar, strength and healing. Holly also has a special Christian symbolism: The
prickly leaves and red berries remind us of the crown of thorns. The circle of
the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God,
the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found in Christ. Any pine
cones, nuts, or seedpods used to decorate the wreath also symbolize life and
resurrection. All together, the wreath of evergreens depicts the immortality
of our soul and the new, everlasting life promised to us through Christ, the
eternal Word of the Father, who entered our world becoming true man and
who was victorious over sin and death through His own passion, death, and
resurrection.
The candles represent the weeks of Advent. The successive lighting of the
candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first
coming into the world and the anticipation of His second coming to judge the
living and the dead.
Today’s Green Candle symbolizes Faith – the faith we have in God to fulfill His
promise and send us a Messiah – His Son.
The light signifies Christ, the Light of the world, who comes to us on the
longest darkest night of the year.
1st weekFAITH (Green Candle or bow)Advent is beginning
and one candle we light;The color is green
and the flame is so bright.We think about faith
in God's promise now done;He promised to send us
his one and only son.(Isaiah 9:2,6-7; 40:3-5; 52:7)
2nd weekHOPE (Blue Candle or bow)Advent continues
with week number two;Our candle means hope
and the color is blue:Hope in God's wisdom -
hope in God's love -Hope that Christ will come,bringing joy from above.(Luke 1:5-31)
3rd weekLOVE (Gold or Yellow Candle or bow)Christmas is closer,
the candles are three.Christ is coming
and he sets us free:Freedom from sin -
free as a dove.First we had Faith,
then Hope, now Love.(Luke 1:26-38)
4th weekPEACE (White Candle or bow)Shortly before
Jesus' blessed birthThe Angels told shepherds,
"Peace on Earth."Our white candle means peace,
peace from on high,The peace that God gives;
his peace will not die.(Luke 2:1-18)
5th weekREPENTANCE (Purple Candle or bow)The color is purple
on this fifth of Advent;It is time to examine
ourselves and repent:Repent of our sins
that keep us awayFrom God's message of love
brought on Christmas Day.(Mark 1:1-8, 14-15)
6th weekHOLY COMMUNION (Red Candle or bow)Christmas is near;
the day is a soon one.Our candle is red
and we ponder Communion.In Bethlehem God is with us;
he is called Emanuel,And he's with us each Sunday
in the chalice as well.(John 1:1-18, 6:52-58)
The Orthodox Advent Wreath
What is Orthodoxy?
First of all, Orthodoxy is right faith in God; it is that mighty powerwhich makes each truly believing Orthodox Christian unwavering on therighteous and pious path of his life. To be Orthodox means to knowcorrectly with the mind, to believe correctly with the heart, and toconfess correctly with the lips all that God Himself has revealed to usabout Himself, about the world and man, and about the tasks and aimsof our life in the teaching on the attaining of our spiritual union with Himand our eternal salvation. Without such right faith, according to theword of the Apostle Paul, it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6).
Orthodoxy is not only right faith and a right confession of the funda-mental truths and dogmas of the Church of Christ, but also a right andvirtuous life, founded on an unshakable law: the fulfilling of God’scommandments, the permeating of the heart with humility, meeknessand love for one’s neighbor, the rendering of help to the needy andunfortunate, and the serving of one’s church. The Apostle Jamesteaches: “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). The Lord JesusChrist Himself, the future Judge of the whole world, promises to “rewardevery man according to his works” (Matt. 16:27). The Apostle Paultestifies that “every man shall receive his own reward according to hisown labor” (1Cor. 3:8). Here is the Orthodox point of view. Rightfaith must be expressed in deeds, and deeds must serve as a manifesta-tion of faith. One must be closely united with the other indissolubly, likesoul and body. This only, then, is the Orthodox, the correct way leadingus to God.
Orthodoxy is not only right faith and a life according to faith, but alsocorrect service to God. Our Lord Jesus Christ expressed the essence ofthe right worship of God in these brief but profound words: “God isSpirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit andtruth” (John 4:24). Only the inspired divine service of the Holy OrthodoxChurch, which is permeated by prayer, has realized this sacred worshipof God in truth. Moreover, Orthodoxy is strict proportionality andcorrectness in the manifestations of all the powers of soul and body. InOrthodoxy, a proper place is allotted to everything: to the intellect, tothe wants and needs of the heart, to the manifestations of man’s freewill, to labor and prayer, to abstinence and watchfulness, in a word, toeverything of which man’s life consists.
