St. Mary the Virgin, Our Lady of Walsingham, Orthodox Church - ROCOR

11/21/2021

The one-year anniversary of Abbot David's repose is near. Memory Eternal. May God remember him in His Kingdom.

12/01/2020

With heavy heart but anchored in the belief of the Resurrection, we have just learned of the repose of the Very Reverend Archpriest Bernard Andracchio, Rector of Christ the King Orthodox Church, Tullytown, PA. May the Great Shepherd of our Souls, our Lord Jesus Christ receive him in his everlasting kingdom.

COLLECT.
GRANT, we beseech thee, O Lord: that like as thou didst cause thy servant, the priest Bernard, to enjoy the office of priest in thy holy Church after the order of thine Apostles; so he may evermore be joined to the company of thy Saints in heaven. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

REST eternal grant unto him, O Lord: and let light perpetual shine upon him. (2 Esdras 2.)

08/07/2020

Of your Christian charity, please pray for our dear friend and primary care doctor of many years, Sid..., and his wife, Sandy—who are both ill. The doctor is in hospital and in very serious condition.

Lord, show thy mercy and grant thy healing unction.

05/05/2020

The Skete now has an eBay online store for books and devotional items-- Walsingham Books and Gifts: https://www.ebay.com/str/walsinghambooksandgifts

04/19/2020

Christ is risen! Indeed, He is risen!

The Holy Fire appeared in the edicule (the small chapel built over the burial place of Christ) after the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, entered there to patiently pray and wait.

04/19/2020

Easter Sunday—Holy Pascha, the Resurrection of the Lord—Feast of Feasts.
Solemn Feast 1st Class with Privileged Octave 1st Class (I). (White, Festal). Station at St. Mary Major.

INTROIT. Resurrexi. Ps. 138.
I AM RISEN, and I am with you always, alleluia: † Ps. 138. Thou hast made me and hast laid thy hand upon me, alleluia: * Thy knowledge is too wonderful for me; | it is too hard, I cannot attain unto it, alleluia, alleluia. Ps. ibid. O Lord, thou hast examined me, and known me: * thou hast known my down-sitting, and mine up-rising.

COLLECT PRAYER.
O GOD, who on this day hast through thine only-begotten Son overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life: as, by thy preventing grace, thou dost breathe good desires unto our hearts; so also, by thy gracious help, bring them to good effect. Through the same Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, unto all ages of ages. ℟. Amen.

GRADUAL. Ps. 117-b.
This is the day which the Lord hath made: * let us rejoice and be glad therein. ℣. O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: * for his mercy endureth for ever.

ALLELUIA.
Alleluia, Alleluia, alleluia. ℣. 1 Cor. 5. Christ our Passover: * is sacrificed for us.

SEQUENCE HYMN.
Victim. Paschali laudes.
CHRISTIANS to the Paschal Victim
Offer your thankful praises!
2 A Lamb the sheep redeemeth:
Christ, who only is sinless,
Reconcileth sinners to the Father.
3 Death and life have contended
In that combat stupendous:
The Prince of Life, who died, reigns
immortal.
4 Speak, Mary, declaring
What thou sawest journeying.
5 “The Tomb of Christ, who is living:
The glory of Jesu’s Resurrection:
6 Bright Angels attesting,
The shroud and napkin resting.
7 Yea, Christ my hope is arisen:
To Galilee he goes before you.”
8 Happy they who hear the witness,
Mary’s word believing,
Above the tales of Jewry deceiving.
9 Christ indeed from death is risen,
Our new life obtaining.
Have mercy, Victor King, ever reigning!
Amen. Alleluia.

OFFERTORY. Ps. 75. The earth trembled in fear, and was still, * when God arose to judgment, alleluia.

SECRET PRAYER.
RECEIVE, we beseech thee, O Lord, the prayers and oblations of thy people: that this beginning of thy Paschal Mysteries may, by thine operation, be unto us a wholesome medicine unto everlasting life. Through Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, unto all ages of ages. ℟. Amen.

COMMUNION. 1 Cor. 5.
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us, alleluia: * therefore let us keep the feast | with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, | alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

POSTCOMMUNION PRAYER.
POUR forth upon us, O Lord, the Spirit of thy charity: that as thou hast now fulfilled us with this Paschal Sacrament, so we may by thy mercy be enabled to dwell together in unity and concord. Through Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the Unity of the same Holy Spirit, God, unto all ages of ages. ℟. Amen.

℣. Christ is risen!
℟. Indeed, he is risen!

04/19/2020

PASCHAL SERMON. Of St. John Chrysostom.

THE Catechetical Sermon of our Father
among the Saints, John Chrysostom, Archbishop
of Constantinople, on the Holy and
Light-bearing Day of the Holy and Saving
Resurrection of Christ our God.

IF any be pious and a lover of God, let
him partake of this good and radiant
festival. If any be a wise servant, let him
rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord. If
any have wearied himself in fasting, let him
now partake of his recompense. If any have
wrought from the first hour, let him receive
today his rightful due. If any have come after
the third hour, let him feast with thanksgiving.
If any have arrived at the sixth hour,
let him have no misgivings, for he shall in
no wise suffer loss. If any have delayed until
the ninth hour, let him draw near, not wavering.
If any have arrived only at the eleventh
hour, let him not fear for his tardiness.
FOR the Master, who loves his honour,
accepts the last even as the first. He gives
rest to the one who came at the eleventh
hour, as to the one who wrought from the
first. And He has mercy on the one that delays,
and he cares for the first. To the one
He gives, and on the other He bestows
gifts. He both accepts the works, and welcomes
the intention; He honours the acts,
and raises the purpose.
ENTER ye all, therefore, into the joy of
our Lord; ye first and ye second, partake of
the reward. Ye rich and ye poor, dance your
joy together. Ye that abstain and ye slothful,
honour the day. Ye that have fasted, and ye
that have not fasted, be glad today.
THE table is laden; do ye all fare sumptuously.
The calf is fatted; let none go away
hungered. Partake ye all of the banquet of
faith. Partake ye all of the riches of loving-
kindness.
LET none lament his neediness, for the
common kingdom has been revealed. Let
none grieve for his offences, for pardon has
shone forth from the grave. Let none fear
death, for the Saviour’s death has set us free.
He that was held by it has quenched it. He
that descended into hell has despoiled hell.
HE embittered it, which had tasted of
his flesh, and Isaiah, anticipating this says,
“Hell was embittered, when it met thee below.”
IT was embittered, [People: Embittered!]
for it was overthrown.
IT was embittered, [People: Embittered!]
for it was deceived.
IT was embittered, [People: Embittered!]
for it was slain.
IT was embittered, [People: Embittered!]
for it was cast down.
IT was embittered, [People: Embittered!]
for it was fettered.
IT took a body and encountered God. It
took earth and met heaven. It took what it
saw and fell upon what it saw not.
WHERE is thy sting, O Death? O Hell,
where is thy victory?
CHRIST is risen, [People: Indeed, he is
risen!] and thou art overthrown.
CHRIST is risen, [People: Indeed, he is
risen!] and the demons are fallen.
CHRIST is risen, [People: Indeed, he is
risen!] and the angels rejoice.
CHRIST is risen, [People: Indeed, he is
risen!] and life prevails, and there is none
dead in the tomb.
FOR Christ in arising from the dead is
become the first-fruits of those that have
fallen asleep. To Him be glory and might
unto ages of ages. Amen.
℣. Christ is risen!
℟. Indeed, he is risen!

04/17/2020

http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/eng2020/20200415_enmhpaschalepisle.html?fbclid=IwAR04qNJ2OSSgK7HOaiO020h6yBn9uDxNdJ4vOgDuzfrzLshAJVekFxaey_M

04/17/2020

What makes a good Pascha, Easter?

04/08/2020

Quotes from Sacred Scripture—Against Fear & Anxiety
And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. (Deut. 31:8)
Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. (Isa. 35:4)
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (Jn. 14:27)
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:9)
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Mt. 6:34)
But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. Fear not: for I am with thee. (Isa. 43:1, 5a)
I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4)
Casting all your care upon him [God]; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. Psalm 56:3-4)
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. (Isa. 41:10, 13)
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. (1 Cor. 16:13)
For he [God] hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (Heb. 13:5b-6)
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Tim. 1:7)
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Phil. 4:6)

04/05/2020

The LORD saith:
If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
2 Chronicles 7:13-15 (King James Version)

04/05/2020

I was struck in my heart this morning hearing this Lesson from the words of Prophet Jeremiah, for these words seemed to speak to our sinful generation today.

Jeremiah said: “The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying…, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings…, Trust ye not in lying words…. For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; if ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever. Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name….” (Cf. Jeremiah 7:1-11)

Are we blindly trusting lying words?
Are we making any attempt to amend our ways and our doings?
Are we showing justice toward our neighbor? our brethren?
Have we oppressed the stranger? the migrant? the orphaned children? the elderly widow?
Have we shed innocent blood, have we murdered the precious unborn babes in the womb?
Have we set up material things and other men as gods?
Have we sworn or promoted falsehoods?
Have we put our trust in false gods?

God did not curse us with the deadly disease with which we are currently being ravaged, but could it be that by allowing this modern day plague, He is calling us to real repentance, calling us to forsake all evil acts including those given by Prophet Jeremiah and countless more of this self-centered, selfish generation?

Dear God, we have erred and strayed far from Thee. We are heartily sorry and repent of our evil ways. Beseeching Thine infinite mercy, loving Father, forgive us and save us from eternal damnation! In Thee, Thee alone, do we trust for Thou art our only Hope.