Great Lent and the Paschal Cycle

Great Lent

St. George's Annual Pre-Lenten "Retreat " was held this year in February and was presented by the OCA Monastic Community of St. Michael the Archangel Skete of Cañones, New Mexico. Actually a One Day In-House Seminar held at the Church, it was a well attended affair for Adults and Children alike. It was a wonderful, soul-enriching weekend for all of us at St. George's!	Group Picture of those who attended the weekend's retreat.
Servers & Presenters after the Divine Liturgy served on the Sunday Morning during the weekend retreat.

Retreat Presenters, (L) Brother John and (R) Father Andrew of St. Michael's Skete in New Mexico.	Pencil drawing done of Fr. Andrew's wonderful presentation, rendered by our young artists.

**Sundays of Preparation**
The Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee	The Sunday of the Prodigal Son
The Sunday of the Last Judgment	Forgiveness Sunday

The First Sunday of Great Lent,
The Triumph of Orthodoxy

This special Sunday Divine Liturgy, which is the first Sunday of the Orthodox Great Lenten period, commemorates the decisions of the 7th Ecumenical Council held in Nicea in the year 787. During this council, which was held after a period of grave misunderstanding and great persecutions, the use and veneration of holy icons was once again restored to the Church and the firm theology for their use was clearly expounded.
	At the end of the Divine Liturgy, Orthodox Churches around the world celebrate restoration of the holy icons by following the Cross of Christ, singing, and walking in triumphant procession around the Church - each of the Faithful carrying an icon brought from homes or found in the Parish.

**The Lenten Season**
The Second Sunday, St. Gregory of Palamas	The Third Sunday, Veneration of the Cross
The Fourth Sunday, St. John Climacus	The Fifth Sunday, St. Mary of Egypt.

Palm Sunday

Michael holds the Cross of Christ, which leads the Parish Procession….	Followed by Antoinette, who carries the icon of the Feast of the "Entry Into Jerusalem"…	Followed closely by the members of the Choir…

All bearing blessed Palms, singing the Troparian of the Feast…	Father Antonio, with blessing Cross and Palm, leads the Faithful…	Who also process with palms around the Church, singing…

And who cry out, like the Children of old, "Hosanna in the highest!"…	"Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord…"	As the entire Parish encircles the Church, singing together…

Peter rings the Church Bells, joyfully amplifying our prayer and song.	Bright, young faces at Sunday Church School after Divine Liturgy.	Joe teaching the older youth to make Crosses from the Blessed Palms…

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