Dear brothers and sisters,
This is weekly newsletter #33 of the St Ignatius Parish in Belfast.
Contents of this Newsletter:
- This Week in the Life of the Church
- A Pastoral Word: Tears of Repentance
- News and Announcements: Reader’s Service at the Church this coming Sunday
This Week in the Life of the Church
Two important occasions take place this week in the life of the Church.
Firstly, this coming Saturday is the universal commemoration of the departed, commonly known as the Saturday of Souls. In most churches, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated on that day, followed by the Memorial (Trisagion) prayers for the departed.
It is fitting that the Divine Liturgy is served on this day, because the Church is the Body of Christ — one in heaven and one on earth. At every Divine Liturgy we remember the departed Orthodox Christians, for in Christ’s Resurrection, which we celebrate in the Liturgy, death no longer has the final word. As Saint Paul says: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:54–55).
When we partake of the Body and Blood of Christ, we are united not only with those present in the church, but also with our Orthodox brothers and sisters who have gone before us. They stand in the presence of God, while we still journey on earth, yet we belong to the same Body.
At the same time, we do not presume that all are in a place of blessedness. For this reason, the Church urges us to pray earnestly for God’s mercy upon all the departed. Only Orthodox Christians may be commemorated in the Divine Liturgy. However, nothing prevents us from remembering any departed person in our personal prayers at home.
On Saturday, you may stand before your icon corner, light a candle or oil lamp if you have one, burn incense if possible, and pray for any departed person you wish:
“Remember, O Lord, Lover of mankind, Thy departed servants N. (names), and grant them rest and mercy.”
You may also say the Apolytikion and Kontakion for the departed, which are provided in the Hymns section below.
Secondly, this coming Sunday – Sunday of the Last Judment is the final Sunday before Great Lent when we eat meat. Hence its other name “Meatfare Sunday”.
There will be Reader’s service at the church on that Sunday, at 11:00 am, so try your best to be in church.
In the afternoon or evening, though, also make sure you have a nice meat meal that day. It will be in particularly nice to try and gather with your family or friends, if possible, so you can share the joy together supporting each other and thanking God for the abundance of the food he gives us.
Saints and Feasts of the Week
*The saints named here accompany the days of the week as living witnesses of Christ. Only the principal saint or feast of each day is listed here, in keeping with the liturgical order of the Church.
- Sunday, 8th of February – Sunday of the Prodigal Son
- Monday, 9th of February – Holy Martyr Nicephoros of Antioch
- Tuesday, 10th of February – Hieromartyr Haralambos, Bishop of Magnesia in Thessaly, and those with him
- Wednesday, 11th of February – Hieromartyr Blaise, bishop of Sebaste
- Thursday, 12th of February – St. Meletius, archbishop of Antioch
- Friday, 13th of February – The Holy Apostles & Martyrs Aquila and Priscilla
- Saturday, 14th of February – Saturday of Souls
- Sunday, 15th of February: Sunday of the Last Judgement (Meatfare Sunday)
Hymns of the Week
*The hymns listed here are those that shape the prayer of the Church for the week, following the liturgical order and hierarchy. They are offered as an aid to prayer and may be used, as each is able, in personal prayer or a simple prayer rule at home.
RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE TWO
When Thou didst submit Thyself unto death, O Thou deathless and immortal One, then Thou didst destroy hades with Thy Godly power. And when Thou didst raise the dead from beneath the earth, all the powers of Heaven did cry aloud unto Thee: O Christ, Thou giver of life, glory to Thee.
APOLYTIKION OF THE SATURDAY OF SOULS IN TONE EIGHT
O Thou Who by the depth of Thy wisdom dost provide all things out of love for man, and grantest unto all that which is profitable, O only Creator: Grant rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy servants; for in Thee have they placed their hope, O our Creator and Fashioner and God.
KONTAKION FOR THE DEPARTED IN TONE EIGHT
With the saints give rest, O Christ, to the souls of Thy servants, where there is neither sickness, nor sorrow, nor sighing, but life everlasting.
KONTAKION OF THE SUNDAY OF THE LAST JUDGMENT
When Thou comest, O God, to earth with glory, and all creatures tremble before Thee, and the river of fire floweth before the Altar, and the books are opened and sins revealed, deliver me then from that unquenchable fire, and make me worthy to stand at Thy right hand, O righteous Judge.
Sunday Epistle and Gospel
*The Epistle and Gospel of the Sunday that begins the current liturgical week
- Epistle: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
- Gospel: Luke 15:11-32
The Sunday and daily Scripture readings may be read online via the Archdiocesan website: https://www.antiochian-orthodox.com/calendar
A Pastoral Word
Last Sunday was the second of the preparatory Sundays before Great Lent. In it we heard the parable of the Prodigal Son, through which the Church instructs us about repentance and gives us courage by revealing the mercy of God (Luke 15:11–32).
Sometimes it takes a deep fall, like that of the prodigal son, to realise that separation from God is unbearable. You may eat, drink, celebrate, waste money, yet none of this brings true peace or lasting joy. The prodigal son ended up feeding the swine, and he longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything (Luke 15:15–16).
This reminds me of a verse from the Canon of Repentance: “Like a swine lying in the mud, so do I serve sin.” The image is strong, even uncomfortable, but it is honest.
There is only one way out, to turn back to God and walk towards Him. The prodigal son said, “I will arise and go to my father” (Luke 15:18), and he prepared his confession: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15:18–19).
There are days when we cannot find more words than these. And that is enough.
Go into your icon corner. Stand or kneel quietly. Look at your life with honesty, and say the words of the publican from the first preparatory Sunday: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Say simply, “I have sinned, Lord. Forgive me.” Bring to mind the sins you remember and ask God to restore you and make you pure again. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
There is nothing shameful about recognising our faults. There is nothing shameful about tears over our sins. These are tears of repentance and tears of healing. As Saint Paul reminds us, “Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Saint Paisios of Mount Athos says, “It takes years of repentance to erase a mistake from people’s memory, but for God, a single tear is enough.”
May God give us the courage to face our sins, to turn away from them, and to bring Him honest repentance. He will accept it, just as the Father accepted the prodigal son, who “was still a great way off” when his father saw him and had compassion and ran and embraced him (Luke 15:20). He restores us to the dignity for which He created us.
News and Announcements:
- Readers Service in Church on Sunday, 15th of February, 11:00 am – Please join us at the church for the monthly Readers service of Hours and Typika (without priest) on Sunday, 15th of February. Come to pray together, to hear the Word of God and to have fellowship afterwards. Address: Cullen Memorial Hall, Methodist Complex, 381 Donegall Road, Belfast, BT12 6GR
- Online Faith & Fellowship – Meetings take place every Wednesday at 7:00 PM, unless announced otherwise. Join us at 19:00 this Wednesday, 11th of February, for the next meeting: https://ucl.zoom.us/j/93643306643 We will pray Little Compline and then continue with the third conversation in the series of talks on the Divine Liturgy. All are warmly invited!
- Next Weekend of Services with the priest: Friday 27th of February – Sunday 1st of March. Please mark your calendars for the next weekend of services with the priest, from Friday 27th of February to Sunday 1st of March. This will be the first weekend of Great Lent. Alongside the regular Saturday and Sunday services, we will also celebrate the First Part of the Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos on Friday, 27th of February at 7:00 PM.
- Prosphora making workshop 27th of 28th of February – We would like to train more members of the parish in making Prosphora, the bread of offering used in the Divine Liturgy, which is offered to God and consecrated as the Body of Christ. Fr Dmitry will hold an in-person Prosphora-making workshop in our church in Belfast, either on Friday 27th of February (evening) or Saturday 28th of February (morning). Please contact Fr Dmitry to register your interest on 07479 630020. The final date and time will be confirmed based on the availability of those who register.
- House Blessings Continue 27th February – 1st March – During Fr Dmitry’s next visit to Belfast, he will continue the blessing of homes, following the tradition of the Church after the Feast of Theophany. If your home was not blessed last weekend and you would like to arrange a visit between 27th of February and 1st of March, please contact Fr Dmitry to schedule a suitable time.
- Parish Library is now open – I remind you that that our parish library is now open! The library offers a growing collection of Orthodox books on various subjects for both adults and children, which you are welcome to borrow and read. You can browse the catalogue online, check the borrowing terms, and even place an order for a book at: saintignatiusbelfast.org/library. Our librarians, Michael and Porphyrius, will be glad to assist you and can be contacted at library@saintignatiusbelfast.org.
