St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Shrine Church

09/09/2026

St. Joachim, the son of Barpathir, was of the tribe of Judah, and was a descendant of King David, to whom God had revealed that the Savior of the world would be born from his seed.

St. Anna was the daughter of Matthan the priest, who was of the tribe of Levi. St. Anna’s family came from Bethlehem.

The couple lived at Nazareth in Galilee. They were childless into their old age and all their life they grieved over this. They had to endure derision and scorn, since at that time childlessness was considered a disgrace. They never grumbled, but fervently prayed to God, humbly trusting in Him.

Once, during a great feast, the gifts which Joachim took to Jerusalem as an offering to God were not accepted by the priest Reuben, who considered that a childless man was not worthy to offer sacrifice to God. This pained the old man very much, and he, regarding himself the most sinful of people, decided not to return home, but to settle in solitude in a desolate place.

When St. Anna learned what humiliation her husband had endured, she sorrowfully entreated God with prayer and fasting to grant her a child. In his desolate solitude the righteous Joachim also asked God for this. The prayer of the saintly couple was heard. An angel told them that a daughter would be born to them, Who would be blessed above all other women. He also told them that She would remain a virgin, would be dedicated to the Lord and live in the Temple, and would give birth to the Savior. Obeying the instructions of the heavenly messenger, Sts. Joachim and Anna met at the Golden Gate in Jerusalem. Then, as God promised, a daughter was born to them and they named her Mary.

St. Joachim died a few years later at the age of 80, after his daughter went to live in the Temple. St. Anna died at the age of 70, two years after her husband.

Sts. Joachim and Anna are often invoked by couples trying to have children.

May we have their blessing!

09/08/2026

GIVE YOUR CHILDREN THE GIFT OF FAITH! ✝️
Our children are growing every day so let’s help them grow in Christ, too.
Sunday School is more than a class; it is a place where our children learn about our Orthodox faith, build friendships, and grow in their love for God and His Church.
Parents, please make Sunday School a priority for your children. Give them the gift of knowing their faith, loving their Church, and growing together as a community.
Register your children today and help them build a foundation of faith that will last a lifetime!

REGISTER HERE: https://onrealm.org/SaintParaskevi/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=MjEyZmE3YTMtMjhjMy00YzY5LTk2MWYtYjRhODAwZDllOGEw

09/08/2026

Please Note: There will be no Bible Study for the next two weeks.

We are pleased to announce the beginning of our Orthodox Spirituality Class on Tuesday, September 22. We warmly invite everyone to join us as we begin this new and enriching journey together.

All are welcome!

The Way of a Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues His Way https://a.co/d/0iGIAQbQ

The Philokalia, Volume 4
https://a.co/d/05sqjQ7y

09/08/2026

Please note that our church parking lot will NOT be available this Saturday, September 12, as we will be setting up the Festival tents.

We kindly ask everyone to park across the street in the Plaza parking lot.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we prepare for our Festival! We look forward to seeing everyone there!

09/08/2026

09/08/2026

The Nativity of the Most Holy Virgin Mary - Commemorated on September 8

Within the context of the Old and the New Testaments, the Most Blessed Virgin Mary was born on this radiant day, having been chosen before the ages by Divine Providence to bring about the Mystery of the Incarnation of the Word of God. She is revealed as the Mother of the Savior of the World, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

She was born in the city of Galilee, Nazareth. Her parents were Joachim of the tribe of the Prophet-King David, and Anna from the tribe of the First Priest Aaron. The couple was without child, since Anna was barren. Having reached old age, Joachim and Anna had strong faith that everything was possible with God. Joachim and Anna vowed to dedicate the child which the Lord might give them to the service of God in the Temple.

Childlessness was considered as a Divine punishment for sin, and Joachim and Anna had to endure abuse from their own countrymen. On one of the feast days at the Temple, the elderly Joachim brought his sacrifice to offer to God, but the High Priest would not accept it, considering him to be unworthy since he was childless. In deep grief, Joachim went into the wilderness, and there he prayed with tears to the Lord for a child. Anna wept bitterly when she learned what had happened at the Temple.

Never once did she complain against the Lord, but rather she prayed to ask God’s mercy on her family. The Lord fulfilled her petitions when the pious couple had attained extreme old age and prepared themselves by virtuous life for a sublime calling to be the parents of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, the future Mother of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Archangel Gabriel brought Joachim and Anna the joyous message that their prayers were heard by God, and of them would be born a most blessed daughter, Mary, through Whom would come the Salvation of all the World.

The Most Holy Virgin Mary surpassed in purity and virtue not only all mankind, but also the angels. She was manifest as the living Temple of God, so the Church sings in its festal hymns: “the East Gate... bringing Christ into the world for the salvation of our souls” (2nd Stikhera on “Lord, I Have Cried”, Tone 6).

The Nativity of the Theotokos marks the change when the great promises of God for salvation from slavery to the devil were about to be fulfilled. This event brought to earth the grace of the Kingdom of God, a Kingdom of Truth, piety, virtue and everlasting life. The Theotokos is revealed to all of us by grace as a merciful Intercessor and Mother, to Whom we have recourse with filial devotion.

Troparion (In Tone 4)
Your Nativity, O Virgin, Has proclaimed joy to the whole universe! The Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, Has shone from You, O Theotokos! By annulling the curse, He bestowed a blessing. By destroying death, He has granted us eternal Life.
Kontakion (In Tone 4)

By Your Nativity, O Most Pure Virgin, Joachim and Anna are freed from barrenness; Adam and Eve, from the corruption of death. And we, your people, freed from the guilt of sin, celebrate and sing to you: The barren woman gives birth to the Theotokos, the nourisher of our life!