FIRST SUNDAY OF GREAT FAST: SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY Honoring the Holy Icons

We commemorate the triumph of our orthodox Catholic faith over the errors of the iconoclasts (image destroyers). This commemoration may seem out of place for the first Sunday of Great Fast. But when we think of it, it is very appropriate. The iconoclasts were against the creation and veneration of icons of Christ and the Saints. The iconoclasts sought to remove and destroy the icons in churches and in homes. Many persons (iconodules, venerators of icons) were put to death or tortured because of they defended the use of icons. After the Church overcame the efforts of the iconoclasts, the Patriarch of Constantinople called for the restoration of holy icons in the churches and in the homes of the faithful. Just as the iconoclasts destroyed the holy icons, so the devil, and we, by sin have destroyed the image (icon) of God within us. During Great Fast we seek in a special way to cooperate with the grace of God in restoring His blessed image and likeness within us. In this way we can be icons of the invisible God, displaying His love, goodness, and compassion through the way we live our lives.

BLESSING OF ICONS

If you have an icon or cross/crucifix that you wish to have blessed, bring it on the Sunday of Orthodoxy. After Divine Liturgy we will have the blessing of icons and a procession around the church.