"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

Beloved Parishioners of the Annunciation Cathedral,

I pray this finds you to be well and in the best of health. Some wonderful and inspiring news was just conveyed to me today.

A family at our Cathedral has offered to match every 2022 Stewarship Donation received now until December 24, 2021, up to a total of $80,000.

Stewardship cards have been mailed to your homes. You may bring the cards back to the Cathedral on Sunday, or you may make your pledge online (click on the donate button in the upper right corner of the page).

Our extreme gratitude to this anonymous donor for offering this matching challenge!

Let’s rise to the occasion, support our Cathedral, and double the impact of this gift.

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

Veterans Day is a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served. For one day, we stand united in respect for you, our veterans.

This holiday started as a day to reflect upon the heroism of those who died in our country's service and was originally called Armistice Day. It fell on Nov. 11 because that is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I.  President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially established Veterans Day in the United States. He called upon all citizens to “pay appropriate homage to the veterans of all its wars who have contributed so much to the preservation of this nation and solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom.”

We celebrate and honor America’s Veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

When first celebrated as Armistice Day, the day marked the end of World War I, formally recognized on the “11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month” in 1918.
Today we continue to celebrate the day as Veterans Day, still recognizing the original tie with November 11. That means Veterans Day is on the same day every year -- November 11 -- regardless of on which day of the week it falls.

Our Cathedral has had a number of troops that have served our country with valiance, zeal, and sacrifice. Because of their sacrifice, we can enjoy the freedoms that many of us take for granted. Please take a moment to honor and recognize those who serve today and did so in the past. And if you have a family member or friend who is serving or has served, please say thank you to them and remember them in your prayers. Without them, we would not be able to call our nation “the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

God bless our troops and God bless America!
Father Dean

Greetings,

One of the wonderful opportunities is to offer Nativity Greetings to the entire parish through the Community Christmas Card. In an effort to streamline this process of collecting names and submitting the suggested donation of $25, you may follow this link to submit your entry.

Secondly, the donation of poinsettias are a wonderful way to honor or memorialize a loved one.  The suggested donation is $25 per plant.  You may follow this link to submit your entry.

God bless,
Father Dean

Greetings, dear faithful of the Annunciation Cathedral,

Tomorrow, our Cathedral will observe the feastday of Panaghia Mytirdiotissa.  It is a celebration for everyone, but it is a major holiday from our faithful from the island of Kytheria.  A replica of the icon is in our Cathedral, from left to right, it is the second icon.  Follow this link to learn more about the feastday -

https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2021/09/the-veneration-of-panagia-myrtidiotissa.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+Mystagogy+(MYSTAGOGY)

If you wish to light a candle to be placed in front of that icon, go to our website, www.annunciationbaltimore.org.

Join us for Divine Services, Orthros begins at 8:00 AM, Liturgy at 9:30 AM.  A procession of the icon and an artoclasia (blessing of the five loaves of bread) will be prayed between Orthros and the Liturgy (around 8:45 AM).

May the Theotokos guide and protect each of us!

Father Dean

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Friends of Saint Nicholas will officially commence the 20th Anniversary remembrance of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, with a memorial service and the inaugural lighting of the Saint Nicholas National Shrine on Friday, September 10, 2021 at 7:45 EST.

This service marks the first time the Church and National Shrine have participated in the annual commemorations.

His Eminence, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America will conduct the service and preside over the first lighting of the re-built church, the only house of worship destroyed on 9/11.

Designed by the world-renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, the National Shrine, with its signature glow sitting atop Liberty Park and overlooking the Memorial Pools and the 9/11 Museum, will welcome all people of all walks of faith, to remembrance and contemplation.

Event will be live streamed at www.StNicholasWTC.org and on the Saint Nicholas Facebook page.

This Sunday is our summer Pascha with the commemoration of the Dormition of the Theotokos.  Learn more about the feast by going to www.goarch.org.

Orthros for this Sunday begins at 7:30 AM, (Artoclasias) blessing of the Loaves, and the Divine Liturgy at 9:00 AM. Plan on joining us for services. As a reminder, Baltimore City has imposed and enforced the mask mandate for inside gatherings.

Following the Liturgy, a food truck will be outside for you to support called Plating Grace.  Father Leo, along with a number of others, assist in this ministry that benefits so many.  A special menu was created, and you are invited to enjoy, along with supporting this valuable ministry for our City.    

If you are unable to attend, log onto www.annunciationbaltimore.org for the live-stream.  You may also light candles that will be placed at the icon of the Dormition.

Below are a number of opportunities for our young people to be registered for a number of ministries that will begin.  Simply click on the button to register.

May the Theotokos intercede for all of us!

Father Dean

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.