Academic Lectures from the recent “Byzantine Monasticism: Past and Present" 

“Byzantine Monasticism: Past and Present" 

This series, sponsored by The Institute for the Study of Eastern Christianity at Catholic University of America, provided a variety of lectures on Monasticism, both past and present. Lectures discussed the earliest forms of monasticism, liturgical influence of monasticism, monasticism and technology, and monasticism in a modern age and the use of technology. Lecturers included PhD students, distinguished scholars, monastic scholars, and even Bishops in the Orthodox Church. 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzMFpudCpFCladKk1OEMBgPyboEGWMNzq

We thank St. Anna parishioner, Jessica Rentz, who is currently in the midst of her doctoral studies at the Catholic University of America for sharing this information with us. 

Resources for the Sunday Divine Liturgy

In preparation for the Divine Liturgy, you are encouraged to download the following:

The first link is for the ePub version, which can be read using the Apple Books app on iPhones and iPads, readily available on the Apple App Store. It contains, the Apolytikion of Saint Anna, the Nicene Creed, the Prayers Before Communion, the Stewardship Prayer. There are also ePub reader apps available on the Google Play Store for those with Android devices.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xvob1k13f890kq4/Common%20Prayers.epub?dl=0

The second links are for the pdf versions, of the aforementioned prayers, as well as the Orthros Psalms, as well as the Doxology and Liturgy, which is especially formatted for reading on smartphones and tablets.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3g46lvck5axwnex/Common%20Prayers.pdf?dl=0

OrthrosPsalmsV1.0.pdf https://www.dropbox.com/s/6eailvkdgr4kvu3/Orthros.Psalms.1.0.pdf?dl=0

DoxologyLiturgyV1.0.pdf https://www.dropbox.com/s/70avkiei39fro1z/DoxologyLiturgy.1.0.pdf?dl=0

Important Message from His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos Regarding COVID-19

Important Message from His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos Regarding COVID-19

Beloved Faithful of the Metropolis of San Francisco,

Christ, Who is the source of our Life, our Hope and our Consolation, has never abandoned His Church. Persecutions, theological upheavals, wars, and times of illnesses or diseases have never separated us from Him. The Church will always be a beacon of every good gift unto humanity and all creation. Christ is and will ever remain the good Physician of our souls and bodies. 

The appearance of the COVID-19 virus on the world stage has presented a great challenge for our civil authorities and medical experts. We are responding appropriately to the ever-changing information about this virus and efforts to contain its spread in order to save lives. We are constantly reviewing the guidelines promulgated by local health departments. 

Until further notice, the following directives are in place effective immediately in addition to what has already been offered to us by the Archdiocese on March 6, 2020:

·        All programs (GOYA, JOY, HOPE, Young Adults, Church School, Greek School, Senior Citizens, Bible Studies, Sports Leagues, Greek Folk Dance, etc.), are to be cancelled.

·        Fellowship and Coffee Hours are to be cancelled.

·        Memorial services will still be celebrated, but Koliva will be distributed in the Narthex in pre-filled cups or plastic bags following the service for the faithful as they leave.

·        The passing of trays should be discontinued. Instead, a place to accept offerings will be provided in the Narthex.  

·        All non-liturgical gatherings at the church are to be cancelled.

·        Any churches that host other groups for gatherings of any sort should cancel those activities.

·        Parishes with more than one priest may offer more than one liturgy to increase social distancing of the faithful.

·        All directives from the local authorities that impact church services including liturgical assemblies must be followed -  most especially social distancing and hand washing.

·        Each priest is to use his discretion depending upon his particular locality in conjunction with the information provided by authorities.

I found this message from Fr. Maximos Constas, Interim Dean of Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology, to be particularly meaningful, “This is a time to be cautious, careful, and to follow the advice of responsible and informed individuals. Together with these, the best defense and protection of our health is to have faith in God, placing ourselves under His care and protection. Our faith and God’s providence and love are the best defense against every threat and every illness, both physical and spiritual. ‘Look to the signs of the times,’ as St. Ignatius of Antioch says, ‘but then look to the One who is beyond time’ (Letter to Polycarp 3).” 

We must continue to be prayerful and faithful, and trust that the Lord will deliver our world from this disease. Please offer the attached prayer service, individually and collectively, that all those who are suffering are granted healing, and that the Lord will enlighten the medical professionals as they seek to control the spread of COVID-19.

As we journey through Great and Holy Lent amidst these challenging times, let us walk with faith, strengthened by the Lord’s mighty hand and illumined by His Grace and Peace.

With Love in Christ,

+Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco

Mitigating the spread of COVID-19

News concerning the spread of COVID-19 continues to fill our inboxes, to dominate our media, and to occupy our conversations, but our response as Orthodox Christians though remains ever the same: while we heed the advice of our health care providers, (who help us to mitigate the risks to our families and our greater communities), we do not succumb to fear. Rather, we remain always: ever hopeful, grace-filled, loving and faithful, based upon the teachings, beliefs, and practices of our great Orthodox Christian faith.  

Resiliency is in our Christian DNA.  Christ, who is our Life, our Hope and our Consolation, has never abandoned His Church. Not during its many persecutions, nor theological upheavals, nor during times of illnesses or diseases.  The Martyrs, as well holy men and women in each and every generation, have testified to this truth in their lives, to us, as will do so as well to the faithful who are yet to come.  The Church will always be a beacon of every good gift unto humanity and all of creation, a creation mind you, which is always in need of grace and redemption.  To put this into plain language: Christ is and will ever remain the good Physician, the Church is His hospital, the Sacraments are His Medicine, and we the faithful, are both His appointed care providers, as well as being His patients too. 

With this in mind; having received directives from local health care providers, both in and outside our parish, as well as from fellow clergy throughout the region, we will be implementing the following procedures:  

1.     We will continue to pray services.

2.     In order to reduce the risk of exposure, while continuing to provide the Sacraments as well, we will be shifting to two Liturgies on Sunday for the time being.  Orthros will begin at 7:45AM, followed by the first liturgy.  A second Liturgy will begin at 10:30AM (memorial services will be prayed at the close of this Liturgy).  

3.     At the close of every service, will we ask for intercessory healing through prayers offered to our Lord, the Theotokos and the Saints. 

4.     We will continue to take appropriate steps to ensure the wellbeing of our parishioners by:

a.     Regularly disinfecting all surfaces (including icons), doors, chairs, etc.… before and after services. 

b.     Removing some seats from the church to create more personal space during worship.

c.     Asking that you only bow in front of the icons to express your love of the Lord, the Theotokos and the Saints. 

d.     Providing hand sanitizer in key spots around the church.

e.     Administering the Holy Eucharist in the usual and sacred manner.

f.      Not passing the offering tray at the end of service. Instead, there will be baskets in the Narthex after services so that you can continue to support our ministries.

g.     Suspending the serving of snacks and food in the fellowship hall. 

h.     Suspending ALL studies and meetings at the Parish to limit the spread of the virus. 

5.     If you are the elderly or at risk (due to a compromised immune system) or are sick or symptomatic, we encourage you to stay at home and to consider streaming services instead: http://www.goholycross.org/Broadcast/  or http://www.goannunciation.org/live-services

6.     If you are not able to attend services, and would like a pastoral visit, please contact us at the Church Office or via email. 

Additionally, no one should be or feel criticized for making the choice to refrain for a time from their participation in the liturgical life of the Church. May these precautionary measures and our prayerful responses be blessed during this crisis. We should strengthen one another, as the Apostle Paul says: For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with Him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (I Thessalonians 5:9-11) [-Archbishop Elpidophoros]

Prayers in times of illness (please include in your daily disciplines)

A Prayer For Doctors, Nurses, and First Responders

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Lover of Mankind, Physician of our souls and bodies, who did bear the pain of our infirmities, and by whose wounds we are healed; Who gave sight to the man born blind; Who straightened the woman who was bent over for 18 years; Who gave speech and sight to the mute demoniac; Who not only forgave the paralytic his sins, but healed him to walk; Who restored the withered hand of a troubled man; Who stopped the flow of blood of her who bled for 12 years; Who raised Jairus’ daughter to life; And brought the 4-day-dead Lazarus to life; And who heals every infirmity under the sun:

Do now, O Lord, grant Thy grace to all those who have labored and studied hour upon hour, to go into all the world, and also to heal by the talent You have given to each of them. Strengthen them, by Your strength, to fear no evil or disease. Enlighten them to do no evil by the works of their hands, and preserve them and those they serve in peace, for You are our God, and we know no other, and to You we ascribe glory together with Your Father who is from everlasting, and Your most Holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

A Prayer For Those who are Ailing

O Lord Almighty, healer of our souls and bodies, Who puts down and raises up, Who chastises and heals also; now, in Your great mercy, visit our brothers and sisters who are sick. Stretch forth Your hand that is full of healing and health, and raise them up, and cure them of their illness. Put away from them the spirit of disease and of every malady, pain and fever to which they are bound. And if they have sins and transgressions, grant to them remission and forgiveness, for You love humankind. Yes, O Lord my God, have pity on Your creation, through the compassions of Your only-begotten Son, together with Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, with whom You art blessed, both now and ever, and to ages of ages.

Prayer to the Theotokos for Healing

Where bitter sorrows overcome us, there will Patience and Rest be revealed. Where the torment of despair dwells in the soul, there will shine the ineffable Light of Divinity! Console the fainthearted, strengthen the weak, bestow softening and enlightenment upon embittered hearts. Heal Your ailing people, O All-merciful Queen! Bless the minds and hands of our physicians, that they might serve as instruments of the All-powerful Physician, Christ our Saviour. We pray before Your Icon, that You might truly live with us, O Sovereign Lady! Stretch out Your hands, filled with healing and cures, O Joy of the sorrowful, Consolation in afflictions, that having speedily received miraculous help, we may glorify the Life-creating and Undivided Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, unto the ages of ages. Amen.

A story of faith on the leper island of Spinalonga

A photo of Hrysanthos Katsoulogiannakis, the leper priest

A photo of Hrysanthos Katsoulogiannakis, the leper priest

The tiny island of Spinalonga located in the Gulf of Elounda in north-eastern Crete was the last leper colony in all of Europe from 1903-1957. At it’s peak, the colony was comprised of nearly 400 inhabitants. It was recorded that the lepers who lived on Spinalonga island were angry at God, the reason being that their ailment was a huge, unbearable ordeal. It was an isolating and tragic life as they were unable to leave the colony, although it was possible for their families to visit.

A priest from Ierapetra town in Crete had dared to visit them once, to perform a Liturgy together with the colony's new settlers. The church in which he invited the lepers to gather was falling into ruin. Sadly, not a single soul turned up for the first Liturgy in the humble church.

The lepers listened to the chanting, stubbornly remaining inside their cells, sometimes drowning it out with their groans and sometimes with their curses. But the priest went there again. During that second visit, one of the patients bravely showed himself at the doorstep of the church, with the following statement: "Priest, I will sit through your Liturgy, but only under one condition. At the end, you will give me Communion. And if your God is as almighty as you say, you will afterwards conclude the Liturgy (by partaking of what was left in the same Chalice) and not be afraid of my leprosy".

The priest nodded compliantly. These words were overheard from the neighboring cells and various individuals began to gather near the side of the church, where there was a small gap in the crumbling wall that offered them a limited view of the inner sanctum. The lepers remained in waiting until the end of the Liturgy and watched the priest, in tears and kneeling before the Sacred Table of Offering, as he concluded the ritual.

A month went by. The lepers waited for him. They were convinced that this time he would come as a patient and not as a priest. And yet, the priest returned, healthy and rosy-cheeked, and with his morale invigorated began to ring the church bell of the old chapel.

From that time on, and for at least ten years, Spinalonga island had a priest of its own, this priest. The lepers restored the church by themselves, and along with the church, they restored their faith. They took Holy Communion regularly and they would always secretly observe their priest during the conclusion of the Liturgy, to make sure that the "miracle of Spinalonga" was repeated, over and over again.

In 1957, with the discovery of antibiotics and the cure for leprosy, the leprosarium was shut down and the island was deserted. Only the priest remained on the island, until 1962, offering memorial services for the lepers, until 5 years after their death.

A more through account of the story (in Greek) is posted at: https://www.romfea.gr/prosopa/1721-enas-theostaltos-agios-sto-nisi-ton-kataramenon