Greetings, beloved parishioners and faithful of the Annunciation Cathedral. I pray this finds you to be well and in the best of health during this Lenten season. The second Sunday of the Great and Holy Fast is dedicated to Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessaloniki, the Wonderworker. We are blessed to have a relic of Saint Gregory that will be offered to you to venerate. To learn more about the saint, follow this link - https://www.goarch.org/sunday-stgregorypalamas. We are extremely grateful to EVERYONE that have been following the guidelines during the pandemic. Baltimore City is allowing capacity at 50% in all places of worship. That will allow us to double the size that have been attending already. Not at any time have we not been using the Cathedral or the two chapels for prayer and the Liturgical life of this parish has not stopped. For all who attended have commented on how well the Cathedral has responded very carefully in spacing out pews and all precautions that have been taken.
You are encouraged and welcome to register for services this Sunday, March 28, 2021 by following this link - https://forms.gle/h7QLYP8uxvL4TUxn6. This is collected only, in accordance with the guidelines, for contact tracing. Orthros begins at 7:30 AM, the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great at 9:00 AM. Services for this evening, the Compline and the second stanza of the Akathyst will be prayed beginning at 6:00 pm in the Cathedral. Again, you will need to register by following this link - https://forms.gle/7cnNnnzdZaoHUBEu5. Next Sunday, April 4, 2021 is the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross. A portion of the Holy Cross will be present during the Divine Liturgy for you to venerate. This was gifted to Father Dean from His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem. A copy of the Sunday Bulletin is enclosed, along with information for the upcoming Lenten Retreat, Easter Lilly Donations, and the upcoming "hybrid" festival. God bless, Father Dean
Philoptochos 2021 Scholarships are now available here and in the church Office. Applications are due May 24, 2021. For additional information contact Deanna Sakellaris.
"Grant us seasonable weather and fruitful seasons; send gentle showers upon the earth so that it may bear fruit; bless the crown of the year of Your goodness." (Saint Basil the Great).
Beloved Parishioners and Friends of the Annunciation Cathedral, With much anticipation the year 2021 is upon us today. It is a time in which we begin to make resolutions, committing an opportunity to make changes in our lives. Today is that new beginning. and whatever we resolve, let’s all make that change in our lives to intensify our prayer life. Beginning our day, pausing throughout the day, and ending the day with prayer creates a different atmosphere in our life. COVID-19 has prevented so much, and we hear the same words that we want back our “sense of normalcy.” It is today that in our spiritual journey we realize there is nothing abnormal at all, but rather things take place in our own coming closer to Christ. The life of the Church continues. There were not any services missed, the continuation of all things proceeded— maybe not in the same way we knew as “normal”, but in a way that continued to serving our Lord. Church is home, and it is very important we remember that. There are things we have missed over these last few months. The holidays were different, and we make every effort to stay connected with one another. God-willing, we return and have that opportunity to greet one another with more than an elbow tap or a wave. Through that simple action of keeping your church in your prayers, we remember all of our faithful and those surrounding us. Saint Basil the Great, whom we commemorate today, offers a simple prayer during the Divine Liturgy: “Reunite those separated.” May continue to share in the joy of the love of Christ. Let us resolve today to grow stronger spiritually and come closer to Him. On behalf of myself, Trevor, the Parish Council, and all ministries of the Cathedral, I thank you for your constant outpouring of love and care during these last months. May we have a blessed 2021 and the years to come! With blessings in Christ, Father Dean
Greetings in our Lord, The Nativity Season is upon us. It is a time of prayer, reflection, in the anticipation of receiving the new-born Christ in Bethlehem. I invite you to be part of the sacred services of our church. December 24, 2020 7:30 AM Orthros for the Nativity 8:30 AM Great and Royal Hours for the Nativity 10:00AM Great Vesperal Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great* 7:30 PM Orthros for the Nativity 8:30 PM Divine Liturgy for the Nativity of our Lord* In accordance with contact tracing, you will need to register for the services. Kindly follow this link to register – https://forms.gle/afXhi4vdD59XKkGHA God bless, Father Dean
Greetings in the Name of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, “When God is thanked, He gives us still further blessings, while we, by receiving His gifts, love Him all the more and through this love attain that divine wisdom whose beginning is the fear of God” (Prov. 1:7). As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day, let us be more mindful of the things for which we are thankful. I humbly ask that you pray for peace in the world and in particular, for the military personnel serving our country here and abroad; pray for our civil authorities that they may govern in wisdom and truth; pray for those suffering under such adverse conditions; pray for those suffering in the Name of Christ; pray for your families and friends. I would also like to remind you to pray for departed relatives and friends. Give thanks to God for the love and memories you treasure in your heart. Living in this great nation we recognize that although this holiday commemorates an important historical day, it is a reminder that we not take things for granted. The pilgrims understood this as they, having endured great struggles, gave thanks. We, too often, overlook the day to day blessings we receive from God and in doing this, become neglectful in giving Him due thanks. Is there anything worse than one who is ungrateful? The Church Fathers encourage us to be attentive to the blessings in our life and to give thanks to God for all things. We sometimes take for granted and overlook the many blessing we enjoy as a Parish. The tremendous support and participation of the stewards of our Parish is truly admirable and has enabled us to succeed in all our endeavors. Together, we comprise the Body of Christ and many parishioners sacrifice their Time, Talents and Treasure to build up our Church. Times become difficult, but through everything, the Love for Christ continues to guide us in all things. During these times where we are limited in what we can do, we are called to do even more. We bow our heads in prayer and rejoice in all conditions. While now we are limited in what we can do during this day, we are unlimited in how we thank God. While our tables may not be surrounded by all of our loved ones, we are surrounded by the love of Christ. May God give us strength in everything we do. I rejoice in the Lord for each of you. Please know that I pray for you each and every day and I thank all of you that have been so willing to express your faith in cooperation with me, your parish priest. I thank God for the challenges, in knowing that it is only Christ who is guiding us. I thank God for all things. As you gather for your Thanksgiving Day celebration, I pray that it be a day of transformation, a day of change, so that each of us may become thankful to God, to His Church, to our family and friends for all we have in our lives. ...I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens... (President Abraham Lincoln). May this Thanksgiving Day and each day of your lives be filled with the peace that comes from being thankful to God for everything you experience by living your Christian Orthodox Faith. With blessings, Father Dean
Greetings in our Lord - I pray this finds you well.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople issued a communique today regarding three items and His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos.
You may follow this link for the entire message - https://www.goarch.org/-/ecumenical-patriarchate-communiqu--october-2020
Beginning today, His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew appointed as Patriarchal Vicar, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America as locum tenens, which means he now holds the place of our hierarch.
As additional developments are released, you will be notified.
In Christ, Father Dean
Greetings, As we continue with following guidelines for contact tracing, you are kindly asked to register for services this Sunday, September 27, 2020. We also have services on Wed., Sept 23 (Conception of the John the Baptist), Fri., Sept. 25 and Sat., Sept 26 (Dormition of St. John the Evangelist). To register for these services, go to www.annunciationbaltimore/calendar and click on the day for the link. In accordance with Baltimore City regarding COVID limitations, the Cathedral is at 50% capacity, which would be at 400 people. Today, September 20 was the first time using the adapted format for Sunday school. The packet for Sunday school is attached in this mailing. For more information, contact Trevor. We sincerely thank those who have been joining us for services and look forward to seeing you. God bless, Father Dean
Greetings in our Lord, I pray this finds you to be in the best of health. With great joy, the local authorities have allowed capacity to reach 50% in the Cathedral and Cemetery Chapel. We must continue to follow guidelines such as wearing face masks covering our nose and mouth, along with physical distancing.
God bless, Father Dean
24W Preston St, Baltimore, MD (410) 727-1831
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