Sunday, March 29, 2026

Commemoration of our Righteous Mother Mary of Egypt

Fifth Sunday of Great Lent

COMMEMORATION OF ST. MARY OF EGYPT:

The facts of the life of St. Mary of Egypt are vague and clouded by time and separation, but the

spirit of her story is a clear call to repentance and devotion. According to tradition, Mary was

from Alexandria, where she was an actress and courtesan, living a life of sin and infamy. When

spiritual intervention forbade her entry to Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, she spent the night in

penitent prayer. The following morning, she was able to enter, whereupon she venerated the cross

and immediately removed herself to the life of a penitent and solitary in the Palestinian desert. She remained in isolation for forty-seven years, aided only by monks of the region and God’s

grace. Only at her death was she found and given communion by the priest Zosimus. On this last

Sunday of Lent, as we prepare for Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and the Great Feast of the eighth and eternal day, we call to mind this holy woman, her fear of the all-powerful God, her recognition of her sin, her repentance, her humility, her faith, and her unwavering intent to seek righteousness and the courts of her King.

Hebrews (9:11-14) Brethren, Christ having appeared a High Priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; neither through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having found eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of bulls and goats and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Mark (10:32-45) At that time, Jesus took His twelve Disciples, and began to tell them what was to happen to Him, saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles. And they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit upon Him, and kill Him; and after three days He will rise.” And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Him, and said to Him, “Teacher, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire” And Jesus said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And they said to Him, “Grant us to sit, one at Thy right hand and one at Thy left, in Thy glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized. But to sit at My right hand or at My left is not Mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to Him and said to them, “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be servant of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Troparion of the Resurrection: While the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. For which cause the heavenly powers cried aloud unto Thee, O giver of life. Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ, glory to Thy kingdom, glory to Thy providence, O Thou Who alone art the lover of mankind.

Troparion for St. Mary of Egypt: Through thee, the divine likeness was securely preserved, O mother Mary; for thou didst carry the cross and follow Christ. By example and precept thou didst teach us to ignore the body, because it is perishable, and to attend to the concerns of the undying soul. Therefore, doth thy soul rejoice with the angels.

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.

Ordinary Kontakion: O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant, O despise not the suppliant voices of those who have sinned; but be thou quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplication, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

Calendar

Sunday, March 29, 2026 (Commemoration of our Righteous Mother Mary of Egypt)

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Monday, March 30, 2026

Fr Herman Off

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

No Services

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

5:30 PM – Teen Meeting

6:30 PM – Pre-sanctified Liturgy

8:30 PM – Soup Supper

Thursday, April 2, 2026

11:00 AM – Men’s Lunch

Friday, April 3, 2026

6:30 PM – Small Compline with the Canon of St. Lazarus

Saturday, April 4, 2026:

6:00 PM – Great Vespers

Sunday, April 5, 2026 (Palm Sunday: Entrance of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem)

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

12:00 PM – Fish Fry

6:30 PM – Bridegroom Matins

Special Announcements

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

The Eucharist Bread was provided by the Karams on Tuesday evening for the Annunciation of the Thrfor the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

March 29 Brock Miller/D. Root

April 4 (Sat p.m.) R. Root Lasseter/Lavric/Pacurari

Lazarus Saturday

April 5 Pacurari Lockhart/Karam/Snell/Rodriguez

Fish Fry

April 9 (Thurs a.m.) Lasseter Rodriguez

Great and Holy Thursday

April 11 (Sat a.m.) Milnor Allgood/Rodriguez/Kumar

Great and Holy Saturday

April 11 (Sat p.m.) YAF Meadows/Brock/Pigott/I. Jones/

PASCHA K. Jones/Stewart

April 19 Kumar Baker/Jimmy Jones

April 26 Baker Dansereau/ Alaeetawi

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 29 Athena Zouboukos Heb 9:11-14 290

April 4 (Sat a.m.) Ian Jones Heb 12:28-13:8 291

April 5 Grady Fisher Phil 4:4-9 294

April 9 (Thurs a.m.) Reader Bill Baker I Cor 11:23-32 295

April 11 (Sat a.m.) Reader Chad Miller Rom 6:3-11 300

April 11 (Sat p.m.) Brandon Strain Acts 1:1-8 25

April 19 Doru Pacurari Acts 5:12-20 32

April 26 Ian Jones Acts 6:1-7 38

Palm Sunday is next Sunday, April 5th. We will have a Fish Fry catered by Sal and Phil’s. As has been in previous years, the fee for the plates is $10 per adult, and $6 per child 12 and under. Please sign your name on the sheet on the table in the foyer if you plan on participating so that we can have an idea of how many will attend.

As friendly reminder that we will celebrate Agape Vespers April 12 @ 4:00 p.m. followed by the Agape meal at St. Peter’s. We will not be celebrating this year with the other Orthodox churches in our area…If you wish and are able, please consider a donation to help with the cost of the meal.

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 March 28. We are asking for volunteers to help provide lunch. Please see Mary Marth Ellis for questions. We hope to see all our parish ladies there!

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. There is a per-parish allotted amount provided by the Order, so please let Fr. Herman know as soon as possible.

Greeter Ministry: If you are still interested, in joining the Greeter ministry please place your name on the sign-up sheet on the table in the foyer. We ask that only baptized/chrismated Orthodox members of the parish become members of this ministry. Please see Andrew Spiehler for questions.

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

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.

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

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. The next luncheon will be at

Miguel’s Restaurante on April 28th.

* 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.

* Palm Sunday, April 5th. We will have a Fish Fry following Divine Liturgy.

* Pascha: Services start at 10:30 on Sat evening, April 11.

* Agape Vespers will be on Sunday, April 12 starting at 4:00 p.m. followed by a catered meal.

* Stewpot on May 2, and November 7

Fasting Discipline for March/April

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

NO FASTING from April 12th through May 21.

Major Commemorations for March

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

April 4 – Lazarus Saturday

April 5 – Palm Sunday

April 5-11 – Holy Week

April 12 – PASCHA

April 13-18 – Bright Week

Quote: “When pride retreats from a man, humility begins to dwell in him, and the more pride is diminished, so much more does humility grow. The one gives way to the other as to its opposite. Darkness departs and light appears. Pride is darkness, but humility is light.”

— St. Tikhon of Zadonsk eaven

Sunday, April 5, 2026 (Palm Sunday: Entrance of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem)

Scripture: Phil 4:4-9; John 12:1-18

Epistle Reader: Grady Fisher

Prosphora: Pacurari

Coffee Hour: Lockhart/Karam/Snell/Rodriguez

Fish Fry