ΙΕΡΟΝ ΣΑΡΑΝΤΑΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΟΝ ΤΩΝ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΩΝ
The Holy Forty Liturgies During the Nativity Fast
Beloved Christians,
May God bless you and your families. As we enter the Nativity Fast, we undertake a spiritual journey toward the mystery of God’s love: the Word of God taking on our human nature and being born as Emmanuel, God with us.
A soul-profiting act of love during this season is to have our living and reposed relatives and friends commemorated at the Divine Liturgy. Though few can attend each day, the grace of the Liturgy benefits those whose names are offered in prayer.
The St. John Damascene Orthodox Educational Initiative will again offer the Holy Forty Liturgies, celebrated by Fr. John Somers. I encourage you to enter the names of your loved ones in the fields provided on the second page of the Donation Form seen here, so that they may be commemorated during the Forty Liturgies. Any alms accompanying these names will support the Initiative’s Scholarship Fund.
A group of generous donors has pledged to match contributions to the St. John OEI Scholarship Fund dollar for dollar during the current academic year. Alms received in connection with the 40 Liturgies are also earmarked for the Scholarship Fund and are eligible for these matching gifts.
We are especially grateful to exercise stewardship over the Holy Ascension Monastery property in Bearsville. Through the Initiative’s educational work, we hope to honor the legacy of those who first lived and prayed here, so that this property, once dedicated to monastic life, may continue to serve God-pleasing purposes, now for the benefit of Orthodox families and young people.
The Apostle James teaches that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). In offering alms joined to prayerful commemoration, we return the good things entrusted to us in gratitude for the perfect gift of God’s grace.
May the Lord grant you a blessed and soul-profiting Nativity Fast, through the prayers of St. John Damascene and all the saints.
In Christ’s love,
Metropolitan Moses
Hierarchical Overseer
Two ways to donate:
1. Mail your check and lists of names for commemoration to St. John Damascene OEI. Click here for address.
2. Complete the Donation Form below, and type your names in the spaces provided on the second screen (or send names by email or regular mail).