Divine Liturgy – Afterfeast of the Meeting of the Lord

St. Aidan Orthodox Church Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada

On this first day of the Afterfeast of the Meeting of the Lord, the Church commemorates the righteous Simeon and Anna the prophetess. The following words are ascribed to Christ in Ode 9 of the Canon: “I am not held by the Elder; it is I Who hold him, for he asks Me for forgiveness.”

Divine Liturgy

St. Aidan Orthodox Church Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada

Today we commemorate the Hieromartyr Blaise (Blasius), Bishop of Sebaste, was known for his righteous and devout life. Unanimously chosen by the people, he was consecrated Bishop of Sebaste. This occurred during the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Licinius (307-324), fierce persecutors of Christians. Saint Blaise encouraged his flock, visited the imprisoned, Read more...

Divine Liturgy Sunday of Zacchaus

St. Aidan Orthodox Church Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada

The paschal season of the Church is preceded by the season of Great Lent, which is also preceded by its own liturgical preparation. The first sign of the approach of Great Lent comes five Sundays before its beginning. On this Sunday the Gospel reading is about Zacchaeus the tax-collector. It tells how Christ brought salvation Read more...

Divine Liturgy Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee

St. Aidan Orthodox Church Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada

The Sunday after the Sunday of Zacchaeus is devoted to the Publican and the Pharisee. At Vespers the night before, the Triodion (the liturgical book used in the services of Great Lent) begins... to read more, click :  https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/02/25/2-sunday-of-the-publican-and-the-pharisee-embeginning-of-the-lente

Divine Liturgy-Sunday of the Prodigal Son

St. Aidan Orthodox Church Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada

The Sunday after the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee is the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. This parable of God’s forgiveness calls us to “come to ourselves” as did the prodigal son, to see ourselves as being “in a far country” far from the Father’s house, and to make the journey of return Read more...

Divine Liturgy-Sunday of Meatfare of the Last Judgment

St. Aidan Orthodox Church Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada

Today’s Gospel reading is Matthew 25:31-46, the parable of the Last Judgment. It reminds us that while trusting in Christ’s love and mercy, we must not forget His righteous judgment when He comes again in glory. If our hearts remain hardened and unrepentant, we should not expect the Lord to overlook our transgressions simply because Read more...

Meat Fast Week

This week we refrain from eating meat.

Divine Liturgy-Sunday of Cheesefare: Expulsion of Adam from Paradise

St. Aidan Orthodox Church Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada

As we begin the Great Fast, the Church reminds us of Adam’s expulsion from Paradise. God commanded Adam to fast (Gen. 2:16), but he did not obey. Because of their disobedience, Adam and Eve were cast out of Eden and lost the life of blessedness, knowledge of God, and communion with Him, for which they Read more...

Divine Liturgy-1st Sunday of Great Lent: Sunday of Orthodoxy

St. Aidan Orthodox Church Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada

The first Sunday of Great Lent is called the Sunday of Orthodoxy because it commemorates the restoration of the Holy Icons and the triumph of the Orthodox Faith against the terrible heresy of the Iconoclasts, i.e. those heretics who refused to honour the Holy Icons. For more than a hundred years the Church was disturbed Read more...

Divine Liturgy-The Annunciation of our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary

St. Aidan Orthodox Church Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada

The Feast of the Annunciation is one of the earliest Christian feasts, and was already being celebrated in the fourth century. There is a painting of the Annunciation in the catacomb of Priscilla in Rome dating from the second century. The Council of Toledo in 656 mentions the Feast, and the Council in Trullo in Read more...