Liturgical Propers

The biography of this wonderful saint was written by St. Sophronius, the Patriarch of Jerusalem. Once, during the Honorable Fast [Lenten Season], a certain priest-monk (Heiromonk), the Elder Zosimus, withdrew into the wilderness beyond the Jordan, a twenty-day trek....

When the All-Holy Virgin completed the fourteenth year after her birth and was entering her fifteenth year, after having spent eleven years of living and serving in the Temple of Jerusalem, the priests informed her that, according to the Law, she could not remain in...

Not only the Third Sunday of Great Lent, but the week that follows, are devoted to welcoming the Precious Cross of Christ. This adoration of the Cross does not have a penitential character, but rather the opposite: “through the Cross joy has come to the whole world.”...

The Second Sunday of Lent is kept as a feast of Saint Gregory Palamas, the Archbishop of Thessaloniki in the fourteenth century. Like the restoration of the holy icons, this memorial of Saint Gregory has to do with historical events, but also relates to our...

The First Sunday of Great Lent is kept as the anniversary of the restoration of the Holy Icons to veneration and honour after the final defeat of the iconoclast heresy. The Seventh Ecumenical Council in the year 787 condemned the iconoclast heresy, but the final...

One message of this Jubilee Year of Mercy is that we can be assured God loves us. Perhaps the greatest proof of this is the gift of his body and blood in the Eucharist. Pope Francis said, “the Eucharist is Jesus, who gives himself entirely to us.” Isn’t this the core...

GREAT VESPERS At Psalm 140 In Tone 8 If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered. Blessed Forerunner John, your head shone from the ground with rays brighter than the sun. It enlightens the faithful. We have it has...

From earliest times, our ancestors have recognized and been awestruck by God’s love for us and his mercy in creating and sustaining us. The Book of Proverbs revels in the idea that the creator “found delight in the human race." [PRV 8:31] And the Psalmist sings a song...

GREAT VESPERS At Psalm 140 In Tone 1 Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name. Behold, we celebrate today the Feast of Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit, the fulfilment of the promise and the realization of hope. How wonderful and...

The prophet Elijah sought God in windstorm and earthquake and fire. But he heard God only as a “still, small voice.” [1 Kings 19:12] In Psalm 46, we are advised to, “Be still, and know that I am God.” But after more than a week of prayer in the upper room, the...

GREAT VESPERS If it is the custom, after the initial Amen, all kneel and sing in Tone 6: Heavenly King, Advocate, Spirit of Truth,* who are everywhere present and fill all things,* Treasury of Blessings, Bestower of Life,* come, and dwell within us;* cleanse us of all...

VESPERS At Psalm 140 In Tone 4 Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice! Your disciples saw You ascend above the heavens to take Your seat at the Father’s right hand. You were never separated from Him, boundless Son! Keeping Your promise, You...

GREAT VESPERS At Psalm 140 In Tone 4 Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice! You suffered as a Man, Christ our God; You rose on the third day, despoiling death, raising with Yourself all those held fast in corruption. You ascended to the...

GREAT VESPERS At Psalm 140 In Tone 6 Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name. The Lord ascended into heaven to send the Comforter into this world. The heavens prepared His throne and the clouds were His ladder; the angels marvelled at the...

All I Ask At the Last Supper, Jesus gave us what could be called his final, “death bed” request. It sums up the entire sense of his incarnation, teaching, passion, death and resurrection in these few words: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should...

Because We Were Lost The relationship we have with Jesus is wonderfully described in calling him the “Good Shepherd.” Jesus guards, guides, protects and watches over us, just as a human shepherd cares for his flock. The image of Christ bearing a lamb on his shoulders...

The early Celts used to say that heaven and earth are only three feet apart, and that in the “thin places” the distance is even smaller. Today, we sometimes stand mute, gazing upon the Milky Way glowing in the night sky or waves dashing themselves upon rocky coasts or...

Saturday May 7, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Chancery office of the Edmonton Eparchy (9645—108 Ave.) If you currently work with children or youth in your parish or would like to begin working with them, join us to listen to Colm Leyne as he presents on “Building the...