Category Archives: Church Life

Benefiting the heart and soul of the parishioner.

Publican and Pharisee

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Sunday of The Pubican and Pharisee

 

The Sunday after the Sunday of Zacchaeus is devoted to the Publican and the Pharisee. At Vespers the night before, the Triodion (the liturgical book used in the services of Great Lent) begins.

Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee who scrupulously observed the requirements of religion: he prayed, fasted, and contributed money to the Temple. These are very good things, and should be imitated by anyone who loves God. We who may not fulfill these requirements as well as the Pharisee did should not feel entitled to criticize him for being faithful. His sin was in looking down on the Publican and feeling justified because of his external religious observances.

The second man was a Publican, a tax-collector who was despised by the people. He, however, displayed humility, and this humility justified him before God (Luke 18:14).

The lesson to be learned is that we possess neither the Pharisee’s religious piety, nor the Publican’s repentance, through which we can be saved. We are called to see ourselves as we really are in the light of Christ’s teaching, asking Him to be merciful to us, deliver us from sin, and to lead us on the path of salvation.

Two weeks before the beginning of the Fast, as part of our preparation for Great Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha, the Church prescribes the reading of Saint Mark’s Gospel. From Monday to Friday the focus is on the end times, and the Savior’s death and burial.

February 2-The Feast of the Meeting of the Lord

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The Meeting of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Temple

 

At this time the righteous Elder Simeon (February 3) was living in Jerusalem. It had been revealed to him that he would not die until he beheld the promised Messiah. By divine inspiration, Saint Simeon went to the Temple at the very moment when the Most Holy Theotokos and Saint Joseph had brought the Child Jesus to fulfill the Law.

Saint Simeon received the divine Child in his arms,1 and giving thanks to God, he spoke the words repeated by the Church each evening at Vespers: “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel” (Luke 2:29-32). Saint Simeon said to the Most Holy Virgin: “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against. Yea, a sword shall pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35).

At the Temple was an 84-year-old widow, Saint Anna the Prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel (February 3), “who did not leave the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day.” She arrived just when Saint Simeon met the Divine Child. She also gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those who were looking for redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). In the icon of the Feast she holds a scroll which reads: “This Child has established Heaven and earth.”

Before Christ was born, the righteous men and women lived by faith in the promised Messiah, and awaited His coming. The Righteous Simeon and the Prophetess Anna, the last righteous persons of the Old Testament, were deemed worthy to meet Him in the Temple.

The Feast of the Meeting of the Lord is among the most ancient feasts of the Christian Church. We have sermons by the holy bishops Methodios of Patara (+ 312), Cyril of Jerusalem (+ 360), Gregory the Theologian (+ 389), Amphilokhios of Iconium (+ 394), Gregory of Nyssa (+ 400), and John Chrysostom (+ 407). Despite its early origin, this Feast was not celebrated so splendidly until the VI century.

In 528, during the reign of Justinian, an earthquake killed many people in Antioch. Other misfortunes followed this one. In 541 a terrible plague broke out in Constantinople, carrying off several thousand people each day. During this time of widespread suffering, a solemn prayer service (Litia) for deliverence from evils was celebrated on the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, and the plague ceased. Giving thanks to God, the Church established a more solemn celebration of this Feast.

Church hymnographers have adorned this Feast with their hymns: Saint Andrew of Crete in the VII century; Saint Cosmas Bishop of Maium, Saint John of Damascus, and Saint Germanus Patriarch of Constantinople in the VIII century; and Saint Joseph, Archbishop of Thessaloniki in the IX century.

Today we also commemorate the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos known as “the Softening of Evil Hearts” or “Simeon’s Prophecy.” The Mother of God is depicted without her Child, and seven swords piercing her breast: three from the left side, three from the right, and one from below.

A similar Icon, “Of the Seven Swords” (August 13) shows three swords on the left side and four from the right. The “Softening of Evil Hearts” Is also commemorated on August 13.

The Icon “Simeon’s Prophecy” symbolizes the fulfillment of the prophecy of the righteous Elder Simeon: “a sword shall pierce through your own soul” (Luke 2:35).

In Constantinople, the Emperors would celebrate the Feast Day at the Blakhernae church during the All-Night Vigil. This custom continued until the Fall of the Byzantine Empire.

Parish Leadership

Of course, the Head of the Church is Jesus Christ. The Church is His Body.

Under Him we have a hierarchical leadership.

Our parish is a part of The Orthodox Church in America (OCA).

The Primate of the OCA, Metropolitan Tikhon, is the leader of the Holy Synod of Bishops who govern and oversee the entire OCA.

The Most Blessed Tikhon (Mollard) – Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada

Our local diocese, The Diocese of The South, is headed by Archbishop Alexander.

The Most Reverend Alexander (Golitzin) – Archbishop of Dallas, the South and the Bulgarian Diocese

Archbishop Alexander is assisted by Bishop Gerasim.

The Right Reverend Gerasim (Eliel) – Bishop of Fort Worth. Auxiliary to the Diocese of the South

Our holy parish is headed by Father Stephen.

Father Stephen (Lourie)

Father Stephen (Lourie) was a New England protestant in his formative years and wandered away from Christianity in his high school years.

After committing his life to Christ in 1976, and after college and seminary he began a journey that culminated in bringing his family into the Orthodox Church in 1991 at Eagle River, Alaska.

In 1994 after completing further studies at The Antiochian House of Studies, he was ordained deacon by Bishop Basil of Wichita at St. John The Evangelist Orthodox Cathedral in Eagle River, Alaska.

In 1996 he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Metropolitan Joseph of The Antiochian Archdiocese of North America. He served there as an assistant priest until 2004 when he was transferred to St. George Orthodox Church in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

In 2013 he became the pastor of Holy Spirit Orthodox Church in Venice, Florida

Father Stephen and his wife, Matushka Nancy, have been married for 41 years. They have four children and seven grandchildren.

Matushka Nancy and Father Stephen

Also helping is retired priest, Father Brendan (Doughterty), and his wife Matushka Mary.

Another tremendous help to Father Stephen is Deacon Jim.

Deacon Jim (Atty)

Deacon Jim (Atty) has been part of the parish of Holy Spirit Orthodox Church since 2017. He completed the three-year St. Stephen’s course at the Antiochian Village from 2012-2014. He was ordained in September 2016 by His Grace Bishop Anthony, also Fathers Fred Shaheen, Elias Koury, Germogen Tucker, and Deacon Edmund Abodeely.

Deacon Jim enjoys serving the church and reading the history of our Orthodox faith and the lives of the Saints. He loves to visit with parishioners and to help our youth move forward in their spiritual life.

Deacon Jim’s favorite passage from the Bible is when Jesus is on the cross, and the thief asks for forgiveness. Jesus tells the thief, “Today you will be with me in my kingdom.” Deacon Jim hopes everyone will remember that no matter when, Jesus is always waiting for you.

Deacon Jim and his beloved wife Gwen live in Venice for 6 months of the year. When he is not serving the parish, he enjoys playing golf, exercising, collecting coins, and spending time with his two children and four granddaughters.

The Parish Council assists Father Stephen and the other clergy. The 2022 Parish Council members are: Reader Kyriakos (Trevor) Greer, and Bob Telep, Stephanie Waghorn, Alice Hawrilenko, Reader George Jacobs, and Robert Robinson.