First week of Great Lent and Sunday of Orthodoxy

Beginning on March 18, 2024 Lenten services were held all week at Nativity of Saint John the Baptist Church. From Monday - Thursday, the clergy and parishioners gathered to take part in Great Compline with the reading of the four parts of the Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete and on Friday night, the first Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts was served. After Saturday Vespers and Sunday Liturgy for the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the first Sunday of Great lent, the clergy and the Sunday School students and teachers took part in a procession around the inside and part of the outside of the church building. The Sunday School children carried icons of their patronal saints. During the procession, the litany from the "rite of Orthodoxy" was intoned and concluded with a prayer of health for all Orthodox Christians. The service concluded with a sermon from the rector, Father Mark Rashkov, during which we underscored the importance of the role of icons in the Orthodox faith.