Saint Andrew's Orthodox Church

Services for the Nativity of Christ

Prepare, O Bethlehem, for Eden has been opened to all! Adorn yourself, O Ephratha, for the tree of life blossoms forth from the Virgin in the cave! Her womb is a spiritual paradise planted with the Divine Fruit: If we eat of it, we shall live forever and not die like Adam. Christ comes to restore the image which He made in the beginning!

– Troparion of the Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ

Archbishop Michael to visit for the Feast of Saint Andrew

On the evening of Friday November 29, and into Saturday November 30, the feast of Saint Andrew the “First-Called” Apostle, our parish will welcome our archpastor, His Eminence, Archbishop Michael of New York for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, on the occasion of our patronal feast.

The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

We will celebrate this feast on its eve, Wednesday November 20, with a Vesperal Liturgy at 7:00 PM.

According to Tradition, the righteous Joachim and Anna, the parents of the Virgin Mary, vowed to dedicate their child to God. When the girl was three years old, her parents brought her to the Temple at Jerusalem holding candles and singing Psalms.

The Dormition of the Mother of God

O Apostles from all the ends of the earth, who have gathered here in Gethsemane, bury my body, and Thou, my Son and God, receive my spirit! – Exapostilarion of the feast

The Transfiguration of Christ

This week, we will celebrate the Great Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ upon Mount Tabor. The feast is August 6; we will serve a Vesperal Liturgy on Monday evening, August 5, at 7:00 PM, followed by the traditional blessing of fruit.

The blessing of fruit is a pious custom which finds its roots in the desire of the faithful to bless the first-fruits of the harvest, which become ready around the time of the feast. There is a poetic connection between the harvest and the Feast, as we see the tilled earth transfigured in the beauty of the fruit which comes forth from it, just as we see the beautiful fruit of our spiritual labors emerge in our lives. Below is an article written by Fr. John about the feast, from a past edition of The Cupola.