On Saturday the 16th of March 2024 the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in English by parish priest Fr Petros Georgiou, at the church of St Barnabas. Following the eucharistic synaxis, a gracious pre-lenten reception was offered by the women’s charitable committee, ‘Pantanasa,’ in the hall, while Dn Gregory Florides delivered a homily on the theme of ‘Holy and Great Lent.’ Dn Gregory, by quoting from Sunday’s Gospel reading as well as hymns from Lenten Vespers, expanded on the role of forgiveness and reconciliation, as the prerequisite and the beginning of one’s lenten struggle.
His talk highlighted the prominent and unique ascetic tradition within the Orthodox Church, the practice of struggling against the self in order to make way for the light of Christ to pour into our sometimes darkened being, to transform the self into a radiant image and reflection of God’s love. After explaining the liturgical changes which take place as we commence the lenten period, Dn Gregory concluded his talk by commenting on the beautiful prayer of St Ephraim the Syrian:
O Lord and Master of my life, take from me a spirit of despondency, sloth, love of money, and idle talk. But give to me, your servant, a spirit of sober-mindedness, humility, patience, and love. Yes, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brother, since you are blessed to the ages.
Our following Divine Liturgy in English will be celebrated at St Barnabas on Sunday 31st March 2024 at 11:15.
