Saint Aidan Orthodox Church

Sunday of Cheesefare: Expulsion of Adam from Paradise...Forgiveness Sunday
2021-03-14
The following was copied from oca.org.
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 were created. Both they and their descendants became heirs of death and corruption.
Let us consider the benefits of fasting, the consequences of disobedience, and recall our fallen state. Today we are invited to cleanse ourselves of evil through fasting and obedience to God. Our fasting should not be a negative thing, a mere abstention from certain foods. It is an opportunity to free ourselves from the sinful desires and urges of our fallen nature, and to nourish our souls with prayer, repentance, to participate in church services, and partake of the life-giving Mysteries of Christ.
At Forgiveness Vespers we sing: “Let us begin the time of fasting in light, preparing ourselves for spiritual efforts. Let us purify our soul, let us purify our body. As we abstain from food, let us abstain from all passion and enjoy the virtues of the spirit….”

All is Well Book Study on Zoom
2021-03-11 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Edmonton)
We are welcoming Dr. Al Rossi, author of All is Well, to our book study tonight. All are welcome. Contact Fr. Andrew if you are interested.

Sunday of Meatfare of the Last Judgment
2021-03-07
The following was copied from oca.org.

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 He is a good and loving God. Although He does not desire the death of a sinner, He also expects us to turn from our wickedness and live (Ezek. 33:11). This same idea is expressed in the prayer read by the priest after the penitent has confessed his or her sins (Slavic practice).
The time for repentance and forgiveness is now, in the present life. At the Second Coming, Christ will appear as the righteous Judge, “Who will render to every man according to his deeds” (Rom. 2:6). Then the time for entreating God’s mercy and forgiveness will have passed.
As Father Alexander Schmemann reminds us in his book GREAT LENT (Ch. 1:4), sin is the absence of love, it is separation and isolation. When Christ comes to judge the world, His criterion for judgment will be love. Christian love entails seeing Christ in other people, our family, our friends, and everyone else we may encounter in our lives. We shall be judged on whether we have loved, or not loved, our neighbor. We show Christian love when we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit those who are sick or in prison. If we did such things for the least of Christ’s brethren, then we also did them for Christ (Mt.25:40). If we did not do such things for the least of the brethren, neither did we do them for Christ (Mt.25:45).
Today is the last day for eating meat and meat products until Pascha, though eggs and dairy products are permitted every day during the coming week. This limited fasting prepares us gradually for the more intense fasting of Great Lent.

Sunday of the Prodigal Son
2021-02-28 08:00 - 17:00
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 to God.
We are given every assurance by the Master that our heavenly Father will receive us with joy and gladness.
We must only “arise and go,” confessing our self-inflicted and sinful separation from that “home” where we truly belong.
(Luke 15:11-24) (taken from oca.org)

Zoom Book Sudy-Churchianity vs Christianity
2021-02-25 19:30 - 21:00
We have been studying the 9 talks of Metropolitan Anthony.
The study is expected to be completed this evening.

Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee
2021-02-21 08:00 - 17:00
Today is the beginning of the Lenten Triodion.
Variables will be provided for those who wish to read the Typika at home.
We may be serving a Divine Liturgy if Public Health Orders allow.

Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee who scrupulously observed the requirements of religion: he prayed, fasted, and contributed money to the Temple. These are very good things, and should be imitated by anyone who loves God. We who may not fulfill these requirements as well as the Pharisee did should not feel entitled to criticize him for being faithful. His sin was in looking down on the Publican and feeling justified because of his external religious observances.The second man was a Publican, a tax-collector who was despised by the people. He, however, displayed humility, and this humility justified him before God (Luke 18:14).The lesson to be learned is that we possess neither the Pharisee’s religious piety, nor the Publican’s repentance, through which we can be saved. We are called to see ourselves as we really are in the light of Christ’s teaching, asking Him to be merciful to us, deliver us from sin, and to lead us on the path of salvation. (taken from oca.org)

Zoom book study- Churchianity vs Christianity
2021-02-18 19:30 - 21:00
We are studying the 9 talks of Metropolitan Anthony.
We are challenged to move beyond mere “churchianity” to a true and living faith.
Please contact Fr. Andrew if you are interested in joining.

Zaccheus Sunday
2021-02-14 10:00 - 11:30
Zaccheus Sunday is our signal that the Lenten Triodion will begin next Sunday.
We will also commemorate Ven. Auxentius of Bithynia.
We provide variables for the Typika service.

Zoom Book Study-Churchianity vs Christianity
2021-02-11 19:30 - 21:00
We are studying the 9 talks given by Metropolitan Anthony.

Afterfeast of the Meeting of our Lord in the Temple
2021-02-07 10:00 - 11:30
We also commemorate St. Parthenius, who was Bishop of Lampsacus.
He was a native of the city of Melitoupolis (in northwestern Asia Minor), where his father Christopher served as deacon. The youth did not receive adequate schooling, but he learned the Holy Scripture by attending church services. He had a good heart, and distributed to the poor the money he earned working as a fisherman….
You can read his story at www.oca.org.
Variables for the Typika are available.

Readers Vespers to be read at home if desired.
2021-02-06 17:30 - 18:30
Tone 2
The Readers Vespers and the variables are provided for those who wish to do the service.

Zoom Book Study- Churchianity vs Christianity
2021-02-04 19:30 - 21:00
We are studying the nine talks of Metropolitan Anthony. He challenges us to move beyond mere “churchianity” to a true and living faith. Please contact Fr. Andrew if you are interested in joining.

Meeting of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ in the Temple
2021-02-02 00:00 - 23:59 | St. Aidan Orthodox Church, Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada
Today the Church commemorates an important event in the earthly life of our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 2:22-40). Forty days after His birth the God-Infant was taken to the Jerusalem Temple…read the rest of the article at: oca.org.

Readers Vespers of the Feast
2021-02-01 18:30 - 19:00
We are encouraged to do Readers vespers are to be served at home.

Sunday Typika
2021-01-31 00:00 - 23:59 | St. Aidan Orthodox Church, Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada
Today we commemorate the Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries Cyrus and John.
You can read about them in the Saints section of oca.org

Typika to be served at home

Readers Vespers
2021-01-30 00:00 - 23:59 | St. Aidan Orthodox Church, Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada
Tone 1
Readers vespers to be served at home.

Great Vespers-if permitted
2021-01-29 08:00 - 17:00
Tone 2

Sunday Typika
2021-01-24 10:00 - 11:30 | St. Aidan Orthodox Church, Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada
Typika to be served at home.

Readers Vespers
2021-01-23 17:30 - 18:30 | St. Aidan Orthodox Church, Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada
Tone 8
Readers Vespers to be served at home.

Sunday Typika
2021-01-17 10:00 - 11:30 | St. Aidan Orthodox Church, Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada
Today we commemorate Venerable and Godbearing Fr. Anthony the Great.
You can read about Him on the OCA website: OCA.org
Typika to be served at home.

Readers Vespers
2021-01-16 17:30 - 18:30 | St. Aidan Orthodox Church, Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada
Tone 7
Readers Vespers to be served at home.

Sunday after Theophany, St. Gregory of Nyssa
2021-01-10 00:00 - 23:59 | St. Aidan Orthodox Church, Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada

Readers Vespers
2021-01-09 00:00 - 23:59 | St. Aidan Orthodox Church, Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada
Tone 6 Readers Vespers to be served at home.

The Feast of the Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ
2021-01-06 10:30 - 12:30
With the Feast! Today Christ is baptized in the Jordan and all the waters of creation are renewed!

Sunday before Theophany
2021-01-03 00:00 - 23:59
We look forward to the baptism of Christ.

New Years Day
2021-01-01 00:00 - 23:59
Circumcision of our Lord Jesus Christ.
St. Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia
Please note we do not kneel in our prayers from the Nativity of Christ until Jan 4, 2021
