Sunday, March 8, 2026

Second Sunday of Great Lent

(Commemoration of Gregory Palamas)

COMMEMORATION OF ST. GREGORY PALAMAS:

St. Gregory Palamas (c. 1296-1359) – St. Gregory was a Greek monk and theologian and the

chief exponent of Hesychasm. He was ordained a priest in the year 1326 and became Bishop of

Thessalonica in 1347. The political conditions made it impossible for him to take possession of

the see until 1350. He died on November 14, 1359, which is his feast day. He was canonized in

1368. St. Gregory stressed the biblical notion of man as a single and united whole, body and soul

together. In virtue of this, he argued that the physical exercises used by the Hesychasts in prayer,

as well as their claim to see the Divine Light with their bodily eyes, could be defended as

legitimate. He distinguished between the essence and the energies of God: God’s essence remains

unknowable, but his uncreated energies, which are God Himself, permeate all things and can be

directly experienced by man in the form of deifying grace.

In the earlier period, there was on this day a commemoration of the Great Martyr Polycarp of

Smyrna (c. 155). St. Gregory replaced St. Polycarp on the Second Sunday of Lent in the

fourteenth century.

Hebrews (1:10-2:3) Thou, “O Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Thy hands; they will perish; but Thou remainest; and they will all grow old like a garment, and like a mantle Thou wilt roll them up, and they shall be changed; but Thou art the same, and Thy years will not fail.” But to which of the angels did He say at any time, “Sit on My right hand, until I make thine enemies a footstool for thy feet?” Are they not all spirits for liturgical ministry, sent forth to minister for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Therefore, we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest at any time we drift away from them. For if the word spoken through angels was confirmed, and every transgression and disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation, which having at first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard?

Mark (2:1-12) At that time, when Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that He was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and He was preaching the Word to them. And they came, bringing to Jesus a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now, some of the scribes were sitting there, reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in His spirit that they thus reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your pallet and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – He said to the paralytic – “I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.” And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all. So that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Troparion of the Resurrection: When Mary stood at Thy grave, looking for Thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above Thy revered tomb; and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led Hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world, O Thou, Who art risen from the dead, O Lord, glory to Thee.

Troparion for St. Gregory Palamas: O Star of Orthodoxy, support of the Church and its teacher, O comeliness of ascetics, and incontestable champion of those who speak in theology, Gregory the wonder-worker, the pride of Thessalonica and preacher of grace, implore thou constantly for the salvation of our souls.

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 in the Great Lent: 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 8, 2026 (Second Sunday of Great Lent)

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

12:00 PM – Potluck

Monday, March 9, 2026

No Services

5:45 YAF Book Study

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

No Services

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

5:20 PM – Catechesis

6:30 PM – Pre-Sanctified Liturgy

8:30 PM – Soup Supper

Thursday, March 12, 2026

No Services

Friday, March 13, 2026

6:30 PM – Akathist

Saturday, March 14, 2026:

10:00 AM – Ladies meet for Akathist

4:45 PM – Catechesis

6:00 PM – Great Vespers

Sunday, March 15, 2026 (Third Sunday of Great Lent; Veneration of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross)

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Special Announcements

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

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

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

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

March 22 Mary Martha Ellis Heb 6:13-20 287

March 24 Kh. Sharon Meadows 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.

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 Diocesan Women’s Retreat is March 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, so please let Fr. Herman know as soon as possible.

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 men will also meet for breakfast once a month. Time and dates TBA.

* 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.

* Stewpot on May 2, and November 7

Fasting Discipline for March

Great Lent and runs through April 11. Please see the Fasting Calendar for daily abstinences.

Major Commemorations for February/March

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: “Adam chose the treason of the serpent, the originator of evil, in preference to God’s commandment and counsel, and broke the decreed fast. Instead of eternal life he received death and instead of the place of unsullied joy he received this sinful place full of passions and misfortunes, or rather, he was sentenced to Hades and nether darkness. Our nature would have stayed in the infernal regions below the lurking places of the serpent who initially beguiled it, had not Christ come. He started off by fasting and in the end abolished the serpent’s tyranny, set us free and brought us back to life.”

— St. Gregory Palamas, The Homilies Vol. II

Worship: Sunday, March 15, 2026 (Third Sunday of Great Lent; Veneration of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross)

Scripture: Heb 4:14-5:6; Mark 8:34-9:1

Epistle Reader: Katie Miller

Prosphora: Davis

Coffee Hour: Meadows/Brock