Sunday, March 1, 2026

First Sunday of Great Lent (Sunday of Orthodoxy)

THE SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY:

On the first Sunday of Great Lent, we celebrate the feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy. This is

an historical feast commemorating the restoration of the icons, which had been banned for several

decades, to their rightful liturgical use in the year 843 A.D.

The major emphasis of this feast is the victory of the true faith, the victory which always

ultimately triumphs. Having completed the first week of our Lenten efforts, we are reminded that

Christ, the perfect image of God the Father, calls us to personal victory by restoring within

Ourselves “the image and likeness of God” in which we were first created (Genesis 1:26).

The icons of Our Lord, the Theotokos, and all the saints are images of true humanity, signs of

what our eternal calling and vocation really is. They tell us that we are all called to be living icons

and imitators of Christ, bearing the likeness of God as gracious vessels of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews (11:24-26, 32-40) Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the recompense of reward. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Sampson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and all the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, and turned to flight armies of the aliens. Women received their dead by resurrection, and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, being destitute, afflicted, tormented (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a witness through their faith, did not receive the promise, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

John (1:43-51) At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found Him of Whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Nathanael said to Jesus, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God! Thou art the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”

Troparion of the Resurrection: Let us believers praise and worship the Word; coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation. For, He took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh to suffer death; and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.

Troparion of the First Sunday of Great Lent: Thy pure image do we venerate, O good One, asking forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God; for by Thine own will Thou didst ascend the Cross in Thy body, to save Thy creatures from the bondage of the enemy. Wherefore, with thankfulness we cry aloud to thee: Thou hast verily filled all with joy, since Thou didst come, O our Savior, to save the world.

Troparion of the Chains of St. Peter: O Holy Apostle, Peter, thou dost preside over the Apostles by the precious chains which thou didst bear. We venerate them with faith and beseech thee that by thine intercessions we be granted the great mercy.

Kontakion for Sundays of Great Lent (and Akathist Saturday): To thee, the Champion Leader, do I offer thanks of victory, O Theotokos, thou who hast delivered me from terror; but as thou that hast that power invincible, O Theotokos, thou alone can set me free: from all forms of danger free me and deliver me, that I may cry unto thee: Hail, O Bride without Bridegroom.

Calendar

Sunday, March 1, 2026 (Sunday of Orthodoxy)

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Monday, March 2, 2026

Fr. Herman off

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

No Services

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

5:23 PM – Teen Meeting

6:30 PM – Pre-Sanctified Liturgy

8:30 PM – Soup Supper

Thursday, March 5, 2026

No Services

11:00 AM – Men’s Lunch

Friday, March 6, 2026

6:30 PM – Akathist

Saturday, March 7, 2026:

6:00 PM – Great Vespers

Sunday, March 8, 2026 (Second Sunday of Great Lent)

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Special Announcements

The Eucharist Bread was provided by the Joneses for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

March 1 Jones Pigott/Ian Jones

March 8 Meadows Ken Jones/Stewart

POTLUCK

March 15 Davis Meadows/Brock

March 22 D. Root Dansereau/Alaeetawi

March 24 (Tues PM) Karam Ellis/Zouboukos

Annunciation

March 29 Brock Miller/D. Root

Schedule for Epistle Readers – Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of Epistles) located on the chanters’ stand at the front of the nave. Please be sure to use book when you read.

Reader Reading Page#

March 1 Gabrielle Jones Heb 11:24-26,36-40 281

March 8 Sophie Dansereau Heb 1:10-2:3 283

March 15 Katie Miller Heb 4:14-5:6 285

March 22 Kh. Sharon Meadows Heb 6:13-20 287

March 24 Mary Martha Ellis Heb 2:11-18 376

March 29 Athena Zouboukos Heb 9:11-14 290

Please remember the following in your prayers: Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Jay and Joanna Davis; Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver and their family; Jack and Jill Weatherly; Dn.Terry Algood and their family; Fr. John and Kh. Janet Henderson and their family

DOMSE 2026 Parish Life Conference, June 10-13, 2026: Registration is now open. Please refer to the email sent by Fr. Herman. You may also go online to www.DOMSE.org to register.

The Diocesan Women’s Retreat is February 28. We are asking for volunteers to help provide lunch. Please see Mary Marth Ellis for questions.

Registration for Camp St. Thekla has opened. Many of you have already registered your child(ren). If you have not done so, please see Fr. Herman or go to www.DOMSE.org for this purpose. Important: If you would like to participate in the scholarships provided by the Order of St. Ignatius, please let Fr. Herman know directly by March 15. There is a per-parish allotted amount provided by the Order.

Lenten Ladies Talk with Fr. Herman will be Saturday, March 14 at 10:30am. Please mark your calendars to attend this time of teaching and fellowship

The New Quarterly Schedule will be out next month. If you are interested in volunteering as reader, to help with Coffee Hour or would like to make the Eucharist Bread, please add your name to the sign-up sheet on the foyer table. Also, if you would like to learn how to make the Prosphora, (Eucharist Bread) Brandon Strain and Grady Fisher have graciously volunteered to do a lesson. Time and Date for that will be announced.

Please make sure to check and subscribe to the Google calendar for all updated services and events at the parish

Please remember that we still need your tithes and offerings which may be placed in the tray that is passed during Divine Liturgy, in the tithe box at the back of the nave or be mailed to: St. Peter Orthodox Church, P.O. Box 2084, Madison, MS 39130-2084

Potluck Meals: Everyone who attends the potluck meals during the month is encouraged to bring a dish to share with everyone. This is to ensure that there is enough food for all to partake. Over the past several months we have been running out of food before everyone has an opportunity to go through the line. This also applies to the Festal Liturgies that may be served during the week and the Soup Suppers after Presanctified Liturgies during Lent. Parents, please accompany your children through the line. Thank you all for your help with this.

As a friendly reminder, in regards to coffee hour, the church will provide beef sticks, cheese cubes, crackers, cookies, and orange juice. For sponsors of baptisms/chrismations a reception may be held after the service and may have whatever food the sponsors would like to provide in celebration of this occasion. If you wish to bring a snack for your children, please be responsible for the clean up of those items. Coffee hour is not meant to be a meal, but a means to break the fast with a snack and visit with each other. Also, as a friendly reminder, please make sure kids are not getting ice in the kitchen without adult supervision.

Calendar Items

* The men of the parish meet for lunch at 11:00 a.m. on the first Thursday of the month. The next

lunch is scheduled for March 5 at 11:00 a.m.

* The men will also meet for breakfast once a month.

* The Ladies meet for dining on the last Tuesday of the month. Times will vary.

* The Ladies meet at the church at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month to pray the

Akathist. Alternating on behalf of our children and our sick.

* The Ladies of St Peter will meet every third Sunday during Coffee Hour.

* The next Church Workday is on Saturday, March 21 at 8:30 a.m.

* We will have Orthros and Divine Liturgy on Tuesday, March 24th for the Annunciation.

* The Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete with the Life of St Mary of Egypt will be read on

Wednesday, March 25th.

* Stewpot on May 2, and November 7

Fasting Discipline for February/March

Great Lent begins the following week on February 23 and runs through April 11. Please see the Fasting Calendar for daily abstinences.

Major Commemorations for February/March

March 1 – 1st Sunday of Lent; Sunday of Orthodoxy

March 9 – 40 Martyrs of Sebaste

March 8 – 2nd Sunday of Great Lent; Commemoration of St. Gregory Palamas

March 15 – 3rd Sunday of Great Lent; Adoration of the Holy Cross

March 22 – 4th Sunday of Great Lent; Commemoration of St. John Climacus

March 25 – Feast of Annunciation

March 26 – Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel

March 29 – 5th Sunday of Great Lent; Commemoration of St. Mary of Egypt

Quote: But now when God is seen in the flesh conversing with men, I make an image of the God whom I see. I do not worship matter; I worship the Creator of matter who became matter for my sake, who willed to take His abode in matter; who worked out my salvation through matter. Never will I cease honoring the matter which wrought my salvation! I venerate it, though not as God.

“On the Divine Images”, St. John of Damascus

Worship: Sunday, March 8, 2026 (Sunday of Orthodoxy)

Scripture: Heb1:10-2:3; Mark 2:1-12

Epistle Reader: Sophie Dansereau

Prosphora: Meadows

Coffee Hour: Ken Jones/Stewart

Potluck