The Orthodox Church of St. Matthew

05/31/2026

Blessed Feast Day!

In the Old Testament Pentecost was the feast which occurred fifty days after Passover. As the passover feast celebrated the exodus of the Israelites from the slavery of Egypt, so Pentecost celebrated God’s gift of the ten commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai.

In the new covenant of the Messiah, the passover event takes on its new meaning as the celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection, the “exodus” of men from this sinful world to the Kingdom of God. And in the New Testament as well, the pentecostal feast is fulfilled and made new by the coming of the “new law,” the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ.

When the day of Pentecost had come they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed as resting upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit . . . (Acts 2.1–4).

The Holy Spirit that Christ had promised to his disciples came on the day of Pentecost (Jn 14.26, 15.26; Lk 24.49; Acts 1.5). The apostles received “the power from on high,” and they began to preach and bear witness to Jesus as the risen Christ, the King and the Lord. This moment has traditionally been called the birthday of the Church.

In the liturgical services of the feast of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit is celebrated together with the full revelation of the divine Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The fullness of the Godhead is manifested with the Spirit’s coming to man, and the Church hymns celebrate this manifestation as the final act of God’s self-disclosure and self-donation to the world of His creation. For this reason Pentecost Sunday is also called Trinity Day in the Orthodox tradition. Often on this day the icon of the Holy Trinity—particularly that of the three angelic figures who appeared to Abraham, the forefather of the Christian faith—is placed in the center of the church. This icon is used with the traditional pentecostal icon which shows the tongues of fire hovering over Mary and the Twelve Apostles, the original prototype of the Church, who are themselves sitting in unity surrounding a symbolic image of “cosmos,” the world.

On Pentecost we have the final fulfillment of the mission of Jesus Christ and the first beginning of the messianic age of the Kingdom of God mystically present in this world in the Church of the Messiah. For this reason the fiftieth day stands as the beginning of the era which is beyond the limitations of this world, fifty being that number which stands for eternal and heavenly fulfillment in Jewish and Christian mystical piety: seven times seven, plus one.

Thus, Pentecost is called an apocalyptic day, which means the day of final revelation. It is also called an eschatological day, which means the day of the final and perfect end (in Greek eschaton means the end). For when the Messiah comes and the Lord’s Day is at hand, the “last days” are inaugurated in which “God declares: . . . I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.”; This is the ancient prophecy to which the Apostle Peter refers in the first sermon of the Christian Church which was preached on the first Sunday of Pentecost (Acts 2: 1 7; Joel 2: 28–32).

Once again it must be noted that the feast of Pentecost is not simply the celebration of an event which took place centuries ago. It is the celebration of what must happen and does happen to us in the Church today. We all have died and risen with the Messiah-King, and we all have received his Most Holy Spirit. We are the “temples of the Holy Spirit.” God’s Spirit dwells in us (Rom 8; 1 Cor 2–3, 12; 2 Cor 3; Gal 5; Eph 2–3). We, by our own membership in the Church, have received “the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit” in the sacrament of chrismation. Pentecost has happened to us.

The Divine Liturgy of Pentecost recalls our baptism into Christ with the verse from Galatians again replacing the Thrice-Holy Hymn. Special verses from the psalms also replace the usual antiphonal psalms of the liturgy. The epistle and gospel readings tell of the Spirit’s coming to men. The kontakion sings of the reversal of Babel as God unites the nations into the unity of his Spirit. The troparion proclaims the gathering of the whole universe into God’s net through the work of the inspired apostles. The hymns “O Heavenly King” and “We have seen the True Light” are sung for the first time since Easter, calling the Holy Spirit to “come and abide in us,” and proclaiming that “we have received the heavenly Spirit.” The church building is decorated with flowers and the green leaves of the summer to show that God’s divine Breath comes to renew all creation as the “life-creating Spirit.” In Hebrew the word for Spirit, breath and wind is the same word, ruah.

Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, who hast revealed the fishermen as most wise by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit: through them Thou didst draw the world into Thy net. O Lover of Man, Glory to Thee (Troparion).

When the Most High came down and confused the tongues, he divided the nations. But when he distributed the tongues of fire, he called all to unity. Therefore, with one voice, we glorify the All-Holy Spirit! (Kontakion).

The Great Vespers of Pentecost evening features three long prayers at which the faithful kneel for the first time since Easter. The Monday after Pentecost is the feast of the Holy Spirit in the Orthodox Church, and the Sunday after Pentecost is the feast of All Saints. This is the logical liturgical sequence since the coming of the Holy Spirit is fulfilled in men by their becoming saints, and this is the very purpose of the creation and salvation of the world. “Thus says the Lord: Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I your God am holy” (Lev 11.44–45, 1 Pet 1.15–16).

Music downloads: https://www.oca.org/liturgics/music-downloads/holy-pentecost

Read sermon: https://www.oca.org/fs/sermons/pentecost-the-descent-of-the-holy-spirit

05/25/2026

On Memorial Day, please remember in your prayers military members Killed in Action or Missing in Action. We pray and remember departed service members who were family and friends of our parish. Memory Eternal!

Today we remember the men and women who offered their lives in service to our nation, carrying in their hearts a love that reflects the words of Christ: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Their sacrifice stands as a witness to courage, duty, and devotion that cannot be forgotten. We honor not only their memory, but also the families who continue to bear the weight of their absence.

We also look to our young people, who inherit the freedom secured by those who came before them. May they grow with gratitude, wisdom, and a sense of responsibility worthy of such a legacy. May they learn that true strength is found not in power alone, but in self‑giving love and service to others.

As we reflect today, may the Lord grant rest to the fallen, peace to the living, and guidance to the generations rising in their place. May their memory be eternal.

05/24/2026

The First Ecumenical Council reminds us that our faith is not accidental or vague, but boldly proclaimed and carefully guarded by the saints who came before us. It was at Nicaea that the Church affirmed who Christ truly is—fully God, fully man—and handed us the Nicene Creed or Confession of Faith that still shapes our worship today.

For our young people, this matters because it shows that Orthodoxy is not a trend or a feeling, but a living truth worth building your whole life upon. The Fathers of Nicaea stood firm in a world full of confusion, just as we are called to stand firm now. Their courage invites us to know our faith deeply, to ask real questions, and to grow into the fullness of who God created us to be.

As we leave the Divine Liturgy today, let us carry their example into our week with conviction and joy. Let us choose to live our faith openly, pray intentionally, and stay connected to the life of the Church. May the spirit of Nicaea strengthen us to be faithful witnesses in our homes, our schools, and our communities. Today, take one step, whether small or big, to grow closer to Christ and His Church.

05/21/2026

Jesus did not live with His disciples after His resurrection as He had before His death. Filled with the glory of His divinity, He appeared at different times and places to His people, assuring them that it was He, truly alive in His risen and glorified body.

To them He presented Himself alive after His passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the Kingdom of God (Acts 1.3).

It should be noted that the time span of forty days is used many times in the Bible and signifies a temporal period of completeness and sufficiency (Gen 7.17; Ex 16.35, 24.18; Judg 3.11; 1 Sam 17.16; 1 Kg 19.8; Jon 3.4; Mt 4.2).

On the fortieth day after His passover, Jesus ascended into heaven to be glorified on the right hand of God (Acts 1.9–11; Mk 16.19; Lk 24.51). The ascension of Christ is His final physical departure from this world after the resurrection. It is the formal completion of His mission in this world as the Messianic Saviour. It is His glorious return to the Father Who had sent Him into the world to accomplish the work that He had given him to do (Jn 17.4–5).
. . and lifting His hands He blessed them. While blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy (Lk 24.51–52).

The Church’s celebration of the ascension, as all such festal celebrations, is not merely the remembrance of an event in Christ’s life. Indeed, the ascension itself is not to be understood as though it were simply the supernatural event of a man floating up and away into the skies. The holy scripture stresses Christ’s physical departure and His glorification with God the Father, together with the great joy which His disciples had as they received the promise of the Holy Spirit Who was to come to assure the Lord’s presence with them, enabling them to be His witnesses to the ends of earth (Lk 24.48–53; Acts 1.8–11; Mt 28.20; Mk 16.16–14).

In the Church the believers in Christ celebrate these very same realities with the conviction that it is for them and for all men that Christ’s departure from this world has taken place. The Lord leaves in order to be glorified with God the Father and to glorify us with himself. He goes in order to “prepare a place” for and to take us also into the blessedness of God’s presence. He goes to open the way for all flesh into the “heavenly sanctuary . . . the Holy Place not made by hands” (see Hebrews 8–10). He goes in order send the Holy Spirit, Who proceeds from the Father to bear witness to Him and His gospel in the world, making Him powerfully present in the lives of disciples.

The liturgical hymns of the feast of the Ascension sing of all of these things. The antiphonal verses of the Divine Liturgy are taken from Psalms 47, 48, and 49. The troparion of the feast which is sung at the small entrance is also used as the post-communion hymn.

Thou hast ascended in glory O Christ our God, granting joy to Thy disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Through the blessing they were assured that Thou art the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world! (Troparion).

When Thou didst fulfill the dispensation for our sake, and didst unite earth to heaven, Thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, not being parted from those who love Thee, but remaining with them and crying: I am with you and no one will be against you! (Kontakion).

Read sermon: https://www.oca.org/fs/sermons/sermon-on-the-ascension-of-the-lord

Music downloads: https://www.oca.org/liturgics/music-downloads/ascension-of-our-lord

05/10/2026

On this Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, we’re reminded that Christ meets each of us exactly where we are, offering living water to hearts that are searching. Her story speaks powerfully to young people today, showing that faith often begins with a simple moment of honesty and a willingness to be seen. In a world that pulls us in a thousand directions, her encounter with Christ invites us to slow down and listen for the voice that truly knows us. It’s a reminder that transformation doesn’t require perfection—only openness.

On this Mother’s Day, we also honor the women who, like the Samaritan Woman, courageously carry truth into their communities and families. Their love, prayers, and quiet strength help shape the spiritual lives of the next generation. May today inspire all young people to seek the living water that gives purpose, identity, and hope. May the faith of our mothers, both biological and spiritual, continue to guide us toward Christ.

As we leave the Divine Liturgy today, let us leave behind whatever keeps us from Christ. Greet one another with joy, speak kindly, and let your faith be visible in the way you treat every person you meet. Honor the mothers and mother‑figures in your life with gratitude, gentleness, and love. And as you step back into the world, remember that you, too, are called to share the living water you have received today.

05/07/2026

Christ is Risen!

St. Basil tells us, “The one who trusts God stands unshaken, even when the whole world trembles,” and the life of Job shows us exactly what that looks like. Job lost almost everything, yet he never lost his footing because his trust was rooted in God, not in circumstances. That’s the kind of strength young people long for today—not fake confidence, but a foundation that doesn’t collapse when life gets overwhelming.

The Church commemorates Job today to remind us that faith can lift us higher than the chaos around us. When we trust God, we’re not stuck in the valley of fear or confusion; we’re raised to the mountaintop where the air is clearer and the view is wider. From that height, the things that once shook us don’t seem so powerful anymore. Job teaches us that the mountain‑top isn’t a place of escape, but a place of perspective. And St. Basil reminds us that trust is what gets us there—trust that keeps us steady, trust that keeps us standing, trust that keeps us unshaken. That’s the kind of faith that can carry us through anything.

05/06/2026

The Children’s Choir did such a wonderful job singing “The Angel Cried.” Well done! Thank you to all involved-it was greatly enjoyed.

05/06/2026

The Children’s Choir from Sunday’s Divine Liturgy.

05/03/2026

More about yesterday’s visit: St. Tikhon's Mission Choir is a choral group from St. Tikhon's Seminary, dedicated to God through the Church's primary evangelistic and teaching tool: Her Liturgical worship; the Mission Choir strives to bring life, invigoration, and inspiration to the parishes which are visited throughout the year.

05/03/2026

We were blessed to have the St. Tikhon’s Mission Choir singing the responses for yesterday’s Vespers service.