Resources & Articles

Imitating the Saints
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On All Saints Day, the Church does not celebrate all those who were baptized, particularly the faithful who are still living. For the Church does not use the word “saint” lightly. Therefore, she does not refer to any or every Christian as a “saint.” Rather, the word “saint” is reserved for those who have led exemplary lives of holiness. And as a mark of their holiness, these men and women would not see themselves as saints. Rather, they would see themselves as unworthy of this honor. It is not a... Read more...
Holy Week Explained
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NOTE: This article is reprinted from "Holy Week in the Western Tradition" at The Orthodox West, a new website explaining Orthodox life and practice according to the ancient Western tradition. Holy Week in the Western Tradition: A Brief Synopsis Holy Week consists of two parts: the first four days, beginning with Palm Sunday; and the Triduum Sacrum (“holy three days”), which celebrate with particular solemnity Our Lord’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. During the first half, the words of St Thomas should fill our hearts and minds: “Let us also go, that we... Read more...
Holy Week Schedule
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Metropolitan Visit to Bless Icons
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The Most Reverend Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui), Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, will visit St Michael Orthodox Christian Church on Sunday, 27 August. In addition to presiding at the Liturgy, His Eminence will bless the newly installed icons, painted by Brother Lazarus (Joseph) Brown of Our Lady and St Laurence Monastery in Canon City, Colorado. It has been nearly 27 years since St Michael’s Church was blessed with the visit of a Metropolitan Archbishop. That occurred on September 9, 1990, when Metropolitan... Read more...
Lent at St Michael's Church
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Lent 2017 Lent begins on Wednesday, March 1. It is a season of instruction in the Christian Faith which centers primarily in the great mystery of Our Lord’s Suffering, Death and Resurrection and climaxes in the triduum sacrum (“holy three days”) of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Holy Lent, should be observed with worship in church. Mass will begin at 7 p.m., and will be preceded by “The Imposition Of Ashes.” As the ashes are applied, these words will be said:... Read more...
Bless This Home
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The blessing of a home is an ancient Christian practice that helps us remember that our Christian life of faith and love is lived not only in Church on Sundays but also in the home daily. The Orthodox tradition (Western and Eastern) is to bless homes in the days and weeks after Epiphany. The connection to Epiphany is important. At the first Epiphany, the Magi entered the home of the Holy Family to present their gifts. Blessing the home opens our eyes to see that Christ already lives in our... Read more...
Joining the Magi
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Let us take to heart that the Light of the World, the Light to lighten the Gentiles, the Light and glory of the Lord, the One who is the Light of all men—let us marvel in godly wonder that He was found by Magi who followed a bright shining star through darkness. For darkness covered the earth—and not just the earth; for the souls of the Lord’s own people were shrouded in darkness; Herod was governed by dark desires; and thick darkness covered hearts and minds of the chief priests and... Read more...
The Best Thing about Christmas
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To understand what Christmas is really about, let’s imagine something. Imagine that Adam and Eve had never sinned. Imagine that nothing bad ever happened. Imagine that no one fell for temptations. Imagine there is no evil. Imagine there are no wars, no disasters, no tragedies. Imagine that there is no death. But subtracting all the bad does not yet add up to the best. Making all the negativity disappear does not mean that goodness appears. Because life is not about avoiding sin, and living the best you can. Life is... Read more...
Christ Mass at St Michael's
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Christ Mass Eve 24 December, Saturday Vigil of Christ Mass, 10 a.m. 1st Vespers of the Nativity, 6 p.m. Lessons & Carols, 10 p.m. Christ Mass at Midnight, 11 p.m. Christ Mass Day 25 December, Sunday Nativity Lauds, 9:15 a.m. Christ Mass Day, 10 a.m. Octave of Christ Mass 1 January, Sunday Octave Lauds, 9:15 a.m. Octave Mass, 10 a.m. Day X of Christ Mass 3 January, Tuesday Lauds, 7:30 a.m. Mass, 8 a.m. Epiphany of Our Lord 5 January, Thursday 1st Vespers of Epiphany, 6 p.m. Blessing of Waters,... Read more...
Advent Retreat
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The Society of St Benedict, a ministry of St Michael's Church, will hold its annual Advent Retreat on Saturday, December 10. Download Retreat Flyer The meditations for this year's retreat will be offered by the Very Reverend Edward Hughes, Pastor of St George Orthodox Church in Lawrence, Mass., and Vicar General for the Western Rite Vicariate. The retreat will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m. It will include praying select offices from the Benedictine Breviary, Mass, and quiet time for reading, prayer, confession and reflection. During the course of... Read more...
No One Should Suffer Alone
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One of the challenges of being American is that we have been marinated in the pungent spices of individualism. We sing that we can go our own way. We declare that we will do it our way. We value making our own choices. We talk about taking ownership. We won’t believe the verdict of a jury until we’ve seen the evidence for ourselves and made up our own mind. This way of talking and thinking and feeling is so ingrained, that to challenge it sounds repugnant and offensive. And so,... Read more...
Elections & Christ the King
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It is felicitous that every year we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King on the last Sunday in October. For commonly, at this time every two years, national elections are in our minds, on our lips, and in our prayers. And those elections may produce in many us either hope or trepidation for the future of our nation. The purpose of this feast, however, is to remind that we are sojourners on earth, and that our true citizenship is in heaven; that we are partakers, with the Saints, in... Read more...