First Week of Great Lent 2009

Первая Недѣля Великаго Поста въ Свято-Николаевскомъ и Свято-Георгiевскомъ Храмахъ

Начнемъ людiе непорочный постъ, иже есть душамъ спасенiе, поработаимъ Господеви со страхомъ!
-Стихира на стиховнѣ въ Чистый Вторникъ

8 марта 2009 г.
На первой недѣлѣ Святой Четыредесятницы въ Свято-Георгiевскомъ храмѣ отслужили полный циклъ великопостныхъ богослуженiй. Каждый вечеръ богомольцы наполнили храмъ для Великаго Повечерiя съ канономъ Св. Андрея Критскаго. По утрамъ, когда мужской хоръ молитвенно пѣлъ утреню, часы и вечерню, въ храмѣ чувствовался особый монастырскiй духъ. Въ среду утромъ настоятель возглавилъ первую Литургiю Преждеосвященныхъ Даровъ въ сослуженiи приходского духовенства. Знакомая духовная теплота согрѣла сердца вѣрующихъ, когда вновъ услышали какъ канонархъ пѣлъ „Да исправиться молитва моя“. Каждый день богомольцы получали духовную пищу черезь поученія святыхъ отцовъ и проповѣди о постѣ и покаянія.

Въ Чистый Четвергъ богомольцы собрались до восхода солнца чтобы отслужить полунощницу. Невозможно передать словами ту благодать, которую всѣ присутствующiе пережили, когда послѣ полунощницы солнце вышло къ словамъ: „Слава Тебѣ показавшему намъ свѣтъ“. Живя въ современномъ мiрѣ, у многихъ никогда не была возможность посѣтить полунощницу, но въ этомъ году Господь сподобилъ намъ ощутить монастырскiй духъ во время этой дивной службы. Вечеромъ, послѣ Великаго Повечерiя, настоятель освятилъ новые позолоченные подсвѣчники пожертвованныя семьей Селикъ въ память своихъ родителей, усопшихъ рабовъ Божіихъ Георгія и Елены (Селикъ) и Іоанна (Дмитріенко). Пропѣвъ вѣчную память, о. Сергій поблагодарилъ семью за пожертвованіе и призвалъ всѣхъ прихожанъ участвовать въ возрожденіи храма.

Въ Чистый Пятокъ, послѣ Преждеосвященной Литургiи былъ отслуженъ молебенъ Великомученику Ѳеодору Тѵрину и затѣмъ освященіе колива. По окончаніи литургіи въ казачьемъ корпусѣ была предложена братская трапеза, за которой читалось житіе св. Ѳеодора. Вечеромъ, послѣ утрени, о. Сергій освятилъ новый позолоченный семисвѣчникъ и напрестольные кресты, анонимно пожертвованные для Свято-Георгіевскаго храма.

Въ субботу вечеромъ, богомольцы наполнили Свято-Николаевскій храмъ на всенощное бдѣніе въ недѣлю православія. Въ своей проповѣди о. настоятель призвалъ всѣхъ къ искреннему покаянію и исповѣди. По окончаніи службы состоялась исповѣдь всего храма. Пока всѣ стояли на колѣняхъ, о. Сергій прочиталъ древнюю аѳонскую молитву, написанную старцами для исповѣди. Каждый человѣкъ почуствовалъ особую братскую любовь, когда вмѣстѣ стояли плечемъ къ плечу и каялись въ своихъ грѣхахъ. Затѣмъ богомольцы просили другъ у друга прощеніе и подходили къ исповѣди у священниковъ въ серединѣ храма.

Въ воскресенье, въ праздникъ Торжества Православія, Свято-Николаевскій Храмъ наполнили вѣрующіе для акаѳиста и Божественной Литургіи. Такъ много было причастниковъ, что духовенство причащали изъ двухъ чашъ. Въ своей проповѣди о. настоятель поздравилъ причастниковъ съ принятіемъ Святыхъ Христовыхъ Таинъ и призвалъ всѣхъ часто причащаться, особенно въ Великомъ посту. Какъ и души наши, такъ и погода потеплѣла къ концу недѣли послѣ большого снѣгопада. Возблагодаримъ Господа за Его великую милость, которую Oнъ ниспослалъ на насъ грѣшныхъ и сподобилъ насъ пройти поприще первой недѣли поста.

Нажмите здѣсь для посмотра фотографій первой недѣли Великаго поста въ Свято-Николаевскомъ и Свято-Георгіевскомъ храмахъ.

First Week of Great Lent at St. Nicholas and St. George's Churches

Let us begin the pure fast, O people, which is the salvation of our souls. Let us serve the lord with fear!
- Apostikha in Tone 3, Tuesday Matins, First Week of Lent

March 8, 2009
During the first week of Great Lent, the entire cycle of Lenten services was served in St. George’s Church. Every evening, the faithful filled the church for the Great Compline with the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. In the mornings, with the male choir prayerfully singing the matins, hours, and vespers, the monastic feeling in church was palpable. On Wednesday morning, the rector led the first Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, serving alongside the parish clergy. The familiar spiritual warmth warmed the hearts of the faithful, when they once again heard the canonarch as he sang, “Let my prayer be set forth.” Every day, the faithful received spiritual nourishment through the homilies of the Holy Fathers and sermons on Lent and repentance.

On Clean Thursday, the faithful gathered before the rising of the morning sun to serve the Midnight Office. Words cannot describe the grace felt by those present when, after the Midnight Office, the sun rose to the words, “Glory to Thee, Who hast shown us the Light!” For many living in the contemporary world, the opportunity to partake in the Midnight Office has never been available, but this year the Lord cleared our path to feel a true monastic spirit through this wonderful service. That evening, after the Great Compline, the rector blessed the newly gilded candle stands, donated by the Selick family in honor of their parents, the departed servants of God George and Helen (Selick) and Ivan (Dmitrienko). After singing “Memory Eternal,” Fr. Serge thanked the family for their donation and called upon all parishioners to take part in the restoration of the church.

On Clean Friday, after the Presanctified Liturgy, a moleben was served to the Great Martyr Theodore of Tyre, followed by the blessing of the kolyva. At the end of the Liturgy, a luncheon was held in the Cossack hall, during which was read the life of St. Theodore. In the evening, after matins, Fr. Serge blessed the newly gilded candelabra and altar crosses, donated anonymously for St. George’s Church.

Saturday evening, the faithful filled St. Nicholas Church for the All-Night Vigil on the Feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy. In his sermon, the rector called all to true repentance and holy confession. At the end of the service, confession of the entire church was held; while everyone knelt, Fr. Serge read the ancient Athonite prayer, written by the elders for holy confession. Standing shoulder to shoulder, everyone was overwhelmed by brotherly love and repentence. Following this, the faithful asked forgiveness of each other, and came one at a time to the priests for confession.

On Sunday, on the Feastday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, the faithful filled St. Nicholas Church for the singing of the akathist to the Mother of God and the Divine Liturgy. There were so many communicants that the clergy had to deliver Communion out of two chalices. In his sermon, the rector congratulated all those who had taken Holy Communion, and called upon everyone to commune regularly, especially during Great Lent. Just as with our souls, so it was with the weather, which warmed toward the end of the week after a heavy snowfall. Let us thank the Lord for His great mercy, which He sent down upon us sinners, enabling us to walk the spiritual path of the first week of Lent.

Click here for photos from the first week of Great Lent in St. Nicholas and St. George’s churches.