The Philoptochos will match donations received, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000 to benefit the relief efforts in Ukraine until March 27, 2022. The raised funds will be given directly to the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC).

Please write your checks to the "Annunciation Philoptochos" and put Ukraine Relief in the memo line. The checks should be sent to The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, 24 W. Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21201, ATTN:Philoptochos. 

The address for the church is -- 528 N. Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, Maryland 21014.

Sunday of Orthodoxy Procession — (Sun, March 13)
Bring your icons and take part in the procession, commemorating the day that truth triumphed over falsehood! All ages. ↳ More Info

Youth Night with Bishop Apostolos — (Fri, March 25)
Join youth from the DC/Baltimore area for Vespers with Salutations to the Theotokos, and dinner/discussion with Bishop Apostolos of Medeia. All ages. ↳ Signup

Greek Independence Day Parade — (Sun, March 27)
March with our Cathedral to celebrate the 201st anniversary of Greek independence from Ottoman rule. Showcases ethnic, cultural, religious, and musical groups from the area. All ages. ↳ More Info

Oratorical Festival — (Fri, April 1)
Research a topic on our Faith and share it with our community. Our kids write numerous papers for school each year. Can we encourage them to do just one small presentation on our Faith? Grades 7-12. ↳ More Info

The Great Lenten season begins today.  Scripture, hymnology, and teachings of the church instruct us to enter this period with great joy.  It is a time of intense prayer, fasting, giving to those in need, and being silent.  It is also a time for additional services.  

During this season, you will be receiving daily emails called Spiritual Wisdom.  Each of them are short messages for reflection and inspiration.   Take some time and learn more about the church by going to the Archdiocesan website, www.goarch.org. There you will find a tremendous amount of information for this season.

Applications are now available - deadline for submission April 15, 2022.

Scholarships will be presented in Church, May 8, 2022.

For additional information, contact Deanna Sakellaris, Scholarship Chairperson, by phone at 410.591.6601 or by email at dsak702@verizon.com.

2022 Scholarship application.pdf

Join Father Dean and the devout faithful at the Four Evangelists Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Bel Air, MD, for a prayer service beginning at 7:00 PM on March 2, 2022.

The contact information for the parish is - 28 N. Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD 21014. Telephone: 410-588-5885.  You may also view their website, https://4evangelists.com

Greetings,

I pray this communication finds you to be well and in the best of health.

Over a year ago, a wonderful movie depicting the life of Saint Nektarios called "Man of God" was released at the Los Angeles Film Festival. A number of our parishioners were able to view the movie which was shown only online, at 10pm EST. It was absolutely wonderful and gave a tremendous amount of insight into this saints life.

The movie will be released for one day only in a number of theaters across the United States on March 21 for one day only. You will need to pre-purchase tickets for this through the website of the theaters.

Here is the link - https://www.imdb.com/showtimes/title/tt6060964/US/21210/2022-03-21?ref_=shci_tt

Most of the theaters are small, and it is not something to wait until the last minute. As of now, this movie is only available in this platform, it has not been released on any of the movie channels. It is a wonderful way to spend the evening with your fellow Orthodox Christians throughout the region, especially during the Lenten Season.

Again, I remind you, don't wait until the last minute, or just show up at the theater. We have no control over any of this and are merely sharing the information with you.

God bless,
Father Dean

Greetings,

Blessed feastday of Epiphany!

Tomorrow is the feastday of the Synaxis of Saint John the Baptist. Orthros begins at 9:00 AM, Divine Liturgy to follow.

With the impending snow storm that is predicted tomorrow, and in the event that Baltimore City or Baltimore County schools are 2 hours late or closed, we will not have services on Friday, January 7.

I invite you to learn more about this Saint. We have enjoyed the series, "Be the Bee," produced by Steven Christoforou and our Archdiocese. You may follow this link to learn more - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K3GI7lsteo

You may also view all of these videos by following this link - https://www.ancientfaith.com/browse/tag/steven+christoforou

To those celebrating the feastday of John the Baptist, Many blessed years to you and all.

Happy New Year,
Father Dean

"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 2022 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.

COVID19 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.  May we have a blessed 2022 and the years to come!

With blessings in Christ,
Father Dean