St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

At long last, we are here. Tomorrow begins the transition to Holy Week and Pascha. For weeks you have been seeing the Holy Week Schedule and I pray you have prepared yourselves and allocated the proper time to experience together, the most spiritually significant week of our lives. Please keep in mind a couple thoughts beyond what has been announced. 

Beginning with the Orthros Service of Palm Sunday, we welcome as our guest chanter, Mr. Robert Shand. Rob is a native to Salt Lake City and grew up in the local Greek Orthodox Community. He, his wife, Jenny and their son, Charles will be welcomed additions to our Holy Week and Pascha experience. He is a graduate of our Holy Cross Seminary and an accomplished and formally trained psalti. Together with our own Spirit-filled and church musicians, I look forward to celebrating these divine services unto the glory of God, and for the inspiration of His people. 

Secondly, as we begin the actual commemoration of Holy Week, with the First Bridegroom Service on the Evening of Palm Sunday, please remember that we will have His Eminence Metropolitan Constantine with us. Also visiting for the first time, Dn. Alexios Demos, the deacon to the Metropolitan and the Metropolis of Denver Director of Ministries. It would be fantastic to have as many people as possible to welcome them and to receive the blessings of His Eminence to begin our Holy Week journey together. 

Thirdly, please remember to have your children participating in our annual Youth Holy Friday Retreat. All children from kindergarten to Twelfth Grade are welcome and encouraged to attend. The Retreat begins at 11:30 and ends after Vespers. Kids will be ready to be picked up at around 4:15 pm.

Fourthly, the Divine Liturgy on Holy Saturday Morning is very much thought of as a youth event of sorts. I invite all children to be with us as they joyfully ring bells and see the flower petals fly as we commemorate Christ’s descent into Hades, freeing those held captive from the time of Adam and Eve. What a celebration!

Lastly, please remember that we break bread together on the early morning of Pascha following the Paschal Divine Liturgy. A full lamb dinner (or chicken if you don’t do lamb) will be waiting for us. Break the Fast surrounded by your closest friends and family, at St. Anna’s!

God bless you and be strengthened in these salvific days. I remain,

With Much Love in Christ Who Triumphantly Arrives in Jerusalem on the Colt of a Donkey, 

Fr. Anthony Savas
Protopresbyter

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Tomorrow is the final weekend before we head into a most significant transition with a full head of steam. Next Saturday is the Saturday of Lazarus. The combined observance of the Raising of Lazarus and Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem is the pivot point from Great Lent into Holy Week. For the many of you who are experiencing these commemorations and liturgical celebrations for the first time, or are still new to them, I envy you. The wide-eyed and open-hearted spirit with which you will approach this season is an inspiration to us all. The Passion and Resurrection of Christ is in full display in all the dignity, reverence, awe, poetic expression, and respect They so completely deserve. You are in for the spiritual ride of your lives!

The services of Holy Week and Pascha are filled with the dogma, theology, teachings and truths of holy Orthodox Church. The Church from the beginning. The Church that was there. The Church that continues. The Church that is His precious Body. 

To those of us who have been accustomed to these days, please, approach them with the childhood innocence of your youth. Each year is a new celebration, a new observance, a new reality. To be sure, these Holidays happen every year, but we mourn the crucified Christ and celebrate the Resurrected Christ every year as if it is happening now, for the first time. The language indicates the present, not simply referencing us to the past. 

This coming week, there are no weekday evening services. You have been diligent these past five weeks in participating in the Great Compline Services, Presanctified Liturgies, and Salutations Services, as well as Saturday Evening Great Vespers. I encourage you to take this needed rest from an intensified liturgical schedule and gear up for an energized Holy Week experience. Come to as many services as possible. His Eminence Metropolitan Constantine will be with us for the first Bridegroom Service next Palm Sunday Evening. The Sacrament of Holy Oil will be administered twice on Holy Wednesday, and for sure, please, PLEASE, make sure that your children, from kindergarten through 12th Grade are with us for the Holy Friday Retreat. There is no reason for them not to be with us on that most sacred, solemn, sad, and auspicious day. 

I have attached the Holy Week and Pascha Schedule, as well as having it included within the Weekly Bulletin. Please reference it and plan accordingly.

Lastly, please remember that we will, once again be breaking bread and breaking the fast together with our annual Anastasi Dinner following the Paschal Divine Liturgy in the early morning hours of April 20th. There are many things that will take place in the coming and immedate days. They are all to God’s glory. They are all to our spiritual benefit. Enjoy.

With Much Love in Christ,

Fr. Anthony Savas
Protopresbyter

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Tomorrow evening, the tone, demeanor, and texture of Orthodox Christian worship makes a quantum leap as we make the transition into Great and Holy Lent at the Great Vespers of Forgiveness Service at 7:00 pm. Monday, March 3rd, or Clean Monday is the first day of the Fast. From that day to the Saturday of Lazarus on April 12th, we will enter into a period of fasting, prayer, and repentance.

The parish calendar is overflowing with liturgical services, retreats, symposium settings, potluck dinners and supportive fellowship engagements. Please read the calendar closely to avail yourselves of every opportunity for spiritual growth and connection to these sacred days. These days lead to Christ. They point to Him. They witness Him. The are filled with Him.

We will take these steps together. We will enjoy the support of one another and lean on the encouragement of our brothers and sisters in Christ. This will be the first Lenten experience for many people in our St. Anna Community. I pray that we can all be supportive and inspired teachers of our most sacred traditions. 

I have found a lovely explanation of our Lenten Journey on the Blog “Orthodox Christian Tools.” Please enjoy this concise and complete explanation. I wish you a blessed beginning of your journey. 

So… off we go!

Great Lent is more than just a period of fasting—it’s a transformative spiritual journey that prepares Christians for the most significant celebration of the year: Holy Pascha, commonly known as Easter. This 40-day season is a time of deep reflection, repentance, and renewal, inviting us to reconnect with God and prepare our hearts to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In this blog, we’ll explore the rich traditions and practices of Great Lent, from its purpose and structure to its profound spiritual lessons. Whether you’re new to Lent or a seasoned observer, this guide will help you understand its beauty and significance.

What is Great Lent?

Great Lent is the 40-day period of spiritual preparation leading up to Holy Pascha (Easter). It is the central part of the Triodion season, a ten-week period that includes:

• Three Pre-Lenten Weeks: A time to prepare our hearts.
• Six Weeks of Lent: A period of fasting, prayer, and repentance.
• Holy Week: The final week leading up to Easter, commemorating Christ’s Passion and Resurrection.

The main theme of the Triodion is repentance—a call to return to God, our loving Father. This season is a spiritual journey, a chance to walk with our Savior, Jesus Christ, and prepare to meet Him risen on Easter Sunday.

The Heart of Great Lent: Prayer and Fasting

Great Lent is centered on two key practices: prayer and fasting. These are not just rituals but tools to help us grow closer to God.

The Purpose of Fasting

Fasting is more than abstaining from food—it’s a spiritual discipline that reminds us of Jesus’ teaching: “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). By limiting our physical needs, we learn to depend more fully on God, who provides for both our bodies and souls.

Fasting also symbolizes our desire to turn away from sin. Just as Adam and Eve’s first sin involved eating from the forbidden tree, our fasting reminds us to abstain from sinful behaviors and focus on spiritual growth.

The Benefits of Fasting

• Deeper Prayer: Fasting lightens our spirit, making it easier to focus on prayer and meditation.
• Compassion for Others: By experiencing hunger, we grow in empathy for those who are poor and hungry.
• Self-Control: Fasting teaches us to control our desires, words, and actions, aligning them with God’s will.

As Saint John Chrysostom taught, fasting from food is important, but fasting from sin is even more critical. This means guarding our thoughts, words, and actions, ensuring they reflect God’s love and grace.

The Prelenten Weeks: Preparing Our Hearts

Before Great Lent begins, the Church provides four Sundays of preparation, each with a unique theme:

1. The Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee: This Sunday focuses on humility. The parable of the Publican and the Pharisee (Luke 18:10-14) reminds us that pride has no place in fasting or prayer. Interestingly, the week following this Sunday is fast-free, emphasizing that true repentance comes from a humble heart.
2. The Sunday of the Prodigal Son: This Sunday highlights repentance. Like the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), we are called to recognize our distance from God and make the decision to return to Him.
3. Meatfare Sunday (Sunday of the Last Judgment): This Sunday challenges us to live with love and compassion. The Gospel reading (Matthew 25:31-46) reminds us that how we treat others—especially the poor and vulnerable—is how we treat Christ Himself. It’s also the last day to eat meat before Easter for those observing the Lenten Fast.
4. Cheesefare Sunday (Sunday of Forgiveness): The final Sunday before Lent begins, this day emphasizes forgiveness. The Gospel reading (Matthew 6:14-21) reminds us that our fasting must be sincere, not for show. It’s also the last day to consume dairy before the Fast begins.
   (THIS IS WHERE WE ARE TODAY!)

The Lenten Fast: Rules and Practices

The rules of the Lenten Fast were established by Orthodox monasteries centuries ago and are designed to guide us in self-denial and spiritual growth. Here’s a breakdown of the general practices:

• Weekdays: Meat, dairy, fish, oil, and wine are avoided.
• Weekends: Olive oil and wine are permitted.
• Special Feast Days: Fish, oil, and wine are allowed on certain days, such as the Annunciation (March 25) and Palm Sunday.

The first week of Lent and Holy Week are particularly strict, with some Orthodox Christians observing a total fast on certain days. However, the Church encourages moderation and understanding, recognizing that health, work, and life circumstances may affect how individuals observe the Fast.

Holy Week: The Culmination of the Journey

Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter, is a time of intense reflection and fasting. Each day is marked by special services and readings that recount the final days of Christ’s earthly life.

• Holy Thursday: Wine is allowed in remembrance of the Last Supper.
• Good Friday: A strict fast is observed, commemorating Christ’s crucifixion.
• Holy Saturday: The only Saturday in the year when oil is not permitted.

Easter and Beyond: The Joy of Resurrection

The Lenten Fast concludes with the joyous proclamation, “Christ is risen!” at the Easter midnight service. The following week, known as Bright Week, is a time of celebration with no fasting. For the next 40 days, the Church continues to celebrate the Paschal season, a period of thanksgiving and joy that fulfills the spiritual journey of Lent.

A Prayer for Lent

Throughout Great Lent, the Prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian is recited daily, serving as a powerful reminder of the season’s purpose:

“O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, faintheartedness, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Your servant. Yes, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brother, for You are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.”

Final Thoughts

Great Lent is more than a tradition—it’s an invitation to draw closer to God, to shed the distractions of the world, and to focus on what truly matters. Whether through fasting, prayer, or acts of kindness, this season offers us a chance to reset our spiritual compass and embrace the love and grace of our Heavenly Father.

As we embark on this journey, let’s remember that the goal isn’t perfection but progress. Each small step we take brings us closer to the joy of Easter and the promise of new life in Christ.

With Much Love in Christ,

Fr. Anthony Savas
Protopresbyter