St. Andrew Fool-For-Christ Orthodox Parish

04/22/2026

04/22/2026

Radonitsa tonight

04/05/2026

Blessed Palm Sunday!

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Palm Sunday (also called the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem) is one of the Twelve Great Feasts. It commemorates Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey (a symbol of peace rather than a war horse), just days before His Passion. Crowds greeted Him with palm branches, spread their garments on the road, and shouted “Hosanna!” (meaning “Save us!” or “Save now!”), hailing Him as the Messiah and King of Israel. 

The procession with blessed branches reenacts and makes present this biblical event (described in all four Gospels: Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–44, John 12:12–19).

It symbolizes:

• Triumph and victory — Palm branches (or willow branches in some regions where palms are unavailable) represent joy, victory over death, and the people’s recognition of Jesus as King. In ancient times, palms symbolized triumph; Orthodox tradition also links them to resurrection themes.

• Christ’s voluntary path to the Cross — The same crowds who welcomed Him with palms would soon cry “Crucify Him!” The procession highlights the irony and depth of Christ’s kingship: a humble, peaceful entry that leads directly to His suffering and redemptive death for humanity’s salvation, followed by His glorious Resurrection.

• The faithful’s participation — By holding and waving branches while singing hymns (such as “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”), worshippers actively greet Christ as their own King and Lord, affirming faith in Him as the promised Messiah. It is both a celebration of His arrival and a solemn reminder that this “triumph” foreshadows the Passion. 

04/04/2026

This morning we celebrated Lazarus Saturday with Divine Liturgy, followed by a small meal and ending with a busy work party. Thank you everyone

03/13/2026

New grass seed planted! Please avoid fenced off area 🌱

03/09/2026

New catechumens today

03/01/2026

The Sunday of Orthodoxy, observed on the first Sunday of Great Lent in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, commemorates the restoration of holy icons to churches in 843 AD, marking the end of the Byzantine Iconoclasm, which was a period of controversy and persecution over the veneration of religious images.  

This feast celebrates the “Triumph of Orthodoxy” over heresy, affirming the Orthodox belief that icons are not idols but windows to the divine, worthy of honor but not worship.  

The procession held during this day reenacts the historical event that established the feast. Following the death of the iconoclast Emperor Theophilos, his widow, Empress Theodora (acting as regent for their young son Michael III), along with Patriarch Methodios, convened a synod in Constantinople that officially restored the veneration of icons. 

On March 11, 843 (which fell on the first Sunday of Lent that year) a grand triumphal procession carried icons from the Church of the Theotokos in Blachernae to Hagia Sophia, symbolizing the victory of Orthodox doctrine.   

The synod decreed that this anniversary be perpetually observed annually on the first Sunday of Lent with such commemorations. 

In contemporary Orthodox practice, the procession typically occurs after Matins (Orthros) or the Divine Liturgy, where clergy and faithful carry icons around the church or to a designated spot.   It serves as a liturgical expression of faith, reinforcing the theological significance of icons while invoking prayers for the Church, civil authorities, and the departed.  This ritual is common in cathedrals, monasteries, and parishes worldwide, emphasizing communal participation in the ongoing defense of Orthodox tradition.

03/01/2026

Glorious Sunday of Orthodoxy!

02/02/2026

2026 Parish Council

10/20/2025

Still basking in the joy of our patronal feast and visit by Archbishop Maxim ❤️