FEB 15: CONFESSION – 08:30 – 08:55 AM; DIVINE LITURGY – 09:00 AM; PARISH MEETING – 10:15 AM; PARISH POTLUCK AFTER DIVINE LITURGY – Please bring cheesiest dish to share; DIVINE LITURGY – 11:00 AM; VESPERS OF FORGIVENESS – 11:30 AM.
NOTE: The parish building committee is excited to embark together with you on the process of producing site plans for our future building project. Today there will be a meeting to discuss our first major design decision: should we focus our design iterations on two one-storey buildings or one two-storey building?Please review the attached packet carefully before attending the meeting. Attachment here: parish-meeting-20260215 (002)
Copies will be available at the meeting for your convenience. Opportunity will be provided for questions and feedback at the meeting. If you cannot attend the meeting, please return the survey in the packet to nathaniel@mccallum.life
The Gospel for this Sunday is Matthew 6: 14-21, which provides excellent instructions for the beginning of the Great Fast. Let us understand what the purpose of the Great Fast is and understand how we can learn to forgive completely. The reading puts us in the right mindset for the fast. We are to learn to become like Christ. If we know this, the Great Fast is not a somber time, but a time of joy, expectation and change.
Please see Father Vasyl’s Homily for Sunday of Cheese-Fare in today’s Bulletin under the Weekly Bulletin Tab above.
THE GREATEST GIFT YOU CAN OFFER YOURSELF (Sunday of Cheesefare) Deacon Magnus (2024): The Greatest Gift You Can Offer Yourself
PROPERS: 02-15-26_Sunday_Cheesefare_DL
Vespers of Forgiveness: Lenten_Sunday_Afternoon_Vespers
Vespers: PF4_Sunday_Cheesefare_Vespers_pod
Vesper Propers Supplement: 02-16-26_Cheesefare_Sunday_evening_Vespers_saints
Streaming via Facebook Live. https://www.facebook.com/saintscyrilandmethodius/
Parishes live-streaming in the Diocese can be found here: https://www.eparchyofpassaic.com/directory
Reading from the “Journey Through the Great Fast” – Sunday of Cheese-Fare: SundayofCheeseFare
Reading for Sunday of Cheese-Fare: PRELentenReadingSundayofCheesefare
Countdown to Great Lent 2027 (ByziKids – for those with children):
GOD WITH US ONLINE CATECHETICAL RESOURCES – SUNDAY OF CHEESE-FARE (from February 19, 2023): https://godwithusonline.org/reflections/the-sunday-of-cheese-fare-ruthenian/
“Preparation for the Great Fast
As noted over the last four weeks, the season of the Great Fast is preceded by liturgical preparation. We are now at the last Sunday before its beginning, during which we prepare ourselves for abstinence, prayer, and repentance. We are again reminded of our need for a “Lenten springime”, and of the spiritual pitfalls that can divert us from our goal of communion with God. This last Sunday before the Great Fast, is the Sunday of Forgiveness or Sunday of Cheesefare, which we learn how to become more like Christ. At the Divine Liturgy, our Lord’s words in the Gospel speak of forgiveness: “If you forgive men their trespasses, then your heavenly Father will forgive you.” For this reason, the day is also called Forgiveness Sunday. We are reminded of our need for God’s forgiveness and to guide our hearts, minds, and spiritual efforts in return.” From the Metropolitan Cantor Institute, Byzantine Eparchy of Pittsburgh – https://mci.archpitt.org/liturgy/Great_Fast.html
(Please see tab or post about directives for fasting.)
FORGIVENESS SUNDAY VESPERS PROPERS:
The service of Forgiveness Vespers on this day is especially solemn and occurs in the afternoon, and is followed by a ceremony of mutual forgiveness between priest and people. The focus is placed on the exile of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, which shows us how we can fall into sin and be separated from God. The Vespers directs us on the path of repentance and helps us to acknowledge our need for forgiveness from God as well as seeking forgiveness from our fellow parishioners and other community members. This is the first time that the Lenten prayer of St. Ephraim accompanied by prostrations is read. At the end of the service, all approach the priest and one another asking for mutual forgiveness.
PRAYER OF ST. EPHRAEM
O Lord and Master of my life, keep from me the spirit of indifference and discouragement, lust of power, and idle chatter. (Prostration)
Instead, grant to me, your servant, the spirit of wholeness of being, humble-mindedness, patience and love. (Prostration)
O Lord and King, grant me the grace to be aware of my sins and not to judge my brother; for You are blessed, now and ever and forever. Amen. (Prostration)
