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The Hierarchical
Divine Liturgy will be celebrated
by His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios,
of Boston assisted by the Clergy of
the twelve Orthodox parishes in Central
Massachusetts.
On Sunday, March
12, 2006, The Council of Eastern Orthodox
Churches (CEOC) will celebrate the
Sunday of Orthodoxy at Saint Spyridon
Cathedral, Worcester, MA, His Eminence
Metropolitan Methodios, of Boston,
will be the chief celebrant assisted
by the priests of the twelve Eastern
Orthodox Churches of Central MA.
Over 250 million
Orthodox Christians worldwide, including
some six million in North America,
entered the season of Great and Holy
Lent on Monday, March 6. Lent marks
the beginning of the period of prayer
and fasting that precedes the celebration
of Easter, the most sacred and holy
day of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
All Eastern Orthodox Christians will
observe Easter on April 23, 2006.
Sunday of Orthodoxy
The historical significance
of the Sunday of Orthodoxy dates to
787 A.D. when the Fathers of the Seventh
Ecumenical Council of Nicaea decreed
the restoration of the icons as a
means for the spiritual growth and
formation of the Christian ethos and
character in the likeness and image
of God and His Saints. In 843 A.D.
when the veneration of icons was finally
restored by Empress Theodora, the
icons returned to the churches. The
first Sunday of Lent was designated
as a day for thanksgiving and doxology
and commemorated as the “Victory
of Orthodoxy.” It came to be
known as the "Sunday of Orthodoxy",
calling the faithful to a rededication
to the Orthodox Christian Faith, as
received from the Apostles. Following
the Divine Liturgy, the clergy lead
the faithful in the Procession of
Icons and the recitation of The Declaration
of Faith.
This year as in
the past 50-years on the Sunday of
Orthodoxy, the Council of Eastern
Orthodox Churches (CEOC) is bringing
together the twelve parishes and their
spiritual leaders, which make up this
Council, to celebrate the Divine Liturgy.
Walter Haddad, President of the CEOC
states, “In today’s world
of high speed internet, instant messaging
and cell phone communication, taking
time out for all Orthodox Christians
to celebrate together our Orthodox
Christian faith at Orthodox Sunday,
reminds us that listening to the voice
of God in our daily life is the most
important thing before us.”
This auspicious
event on Sunday represents the continuity
and unity of all Eastern Orthodox
Christians. The following are the
member churches that represent the
CEOC:
MEMBER CHURCHES AND
CLERGY
V. Rev. Fr. Dean
Paleologos
Rev. Fr. Gregory Christakos
St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral
of Worcester
V. Rev. Fr. Michael
Abdelahad
Rev. Fr. Ephraim Peters
Rev. Deacon Seraphim Solof
St. George Orthodox Cathderal of Worcester
V. Rev. Fr. Spero
Page, Emeritus
Rev. Fr. Dennis Nagi
St. Mary’s Assumption Albanian
Orthodox Church of Worcester
V. Rev. Fr. Nicholas
Apostola
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church of Shrewsbury
Rev. Fr. Peter Michael
Preble
St. Michael Romanian Orthodox Church
of Southbridge
St. George Greek
Orthodox Church of Southbridge
Rev. Fr. John Daly
St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church
of Southbridge
Rev. Fr. Soterios
C. Alexopoulos
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
of Clinton
Rev. Fr. Luke A.
Veronis
Ss. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox
Church of Webster
Rev. Fr. Andreas
Markopoulos
Ss. Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church
of Marlboro
Rev. Fr. Harry G.
Providakis
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
of Fitchburg
Rev. Fr. Robert
Dick
Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church
of Maynard The Divine Liturgy starts
at 9:30A.M., culminating with the
Procession of Icons by Altar Boys
and Sunday School children, and a
luncheon at the Cotsidas Auditorium
directly after the service.
For more information
about Sunday of Orthodoxy service
call Saint Spyridon Cathedral at 508.791.7326,
www.spyridoncathedral.org, press coverage,
interviews, photos contact: Christina
Andrianopoulos
Communications Director 917.734.9804
508.791.7326 CAEntInc@aol.com
More about
the Sunday of Orthodoxy can be found
at
http://www.goarch.org/en/special/lent/sunday_of_orthodoxy/learn/
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