Beginning of Great Lent and the Celebration of the Sunday of Orthodoxy

Sunday, March 1, 2026 | Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM

With gratitude to God, our parish family is preparing to enter the sacred season of Great Lent—a blessed time of prayer, repentance, renewal, and a deeper commitment to Christ. As we begin this holy journey, we invite all of our faithful to gather for the celebration of the First Sunday of Lent — the Sunday of Orthodoxy.

This historic and victorious feast celebrates the restoration of the holy icons in the Church in 843 A.D. and affirms the fullness of the Orthodox Faith. The Sunday of Orthodoxy reminds us that the truth of the Incarnation is not just an abstract idea, but a living reality: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14) Because Christ truly became man, He can be depicted in holy icons, and through them, we are lifted to the heavenly reality they reveal.

Children’s Participation in the Divine Liturgy

The Divine Liturgy will start at 10:00 AM, and all of our Church School children are expected to participate prayerfully and joyfully. Our students will sing and recite parts of the Divine Liturgy, offering their voices and hearts to God. Their participation is not just symbolic—it is a living expression of their growth in faith and their place within the worshipping body of Christ.

We ask parents to ensure their children are present and prepared so that, together, we may glorify God “with one mouth and one heart.”

Icon Procession (Lityia)

Following the Divine Liturgy, we will hold the traditional Procession (Lityia) with Holy Icons inside the church. All children and faithful are encouraged to bring an icon from home to take part in this solemn and joyful witness to our Orthodox Faith.

As we journey together, we declare that Christ is truly incarnate and that His saints remain alive in Him. The icon procession serves as a powerful reminder that we do not go through Lent alone—we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.

Lenten Lunch & Supporting a Sacred Cause

After the services, everyone is warmly invited to join us for a Lenten Luncheon at the Halls of St. George, graciously sponsored by our church choir members, Bishop Stefan Lastavica.

We are especially pleased to share that all proceeds from the luncheon will support the ongoing renovation project of the St. Mardarije Spiritual and Cultural Center in Libertyville. This important center functions as a space for spiritual growth, cultural preservation, and community gathering for generations to come. Your participation and support will directly help strengthen this vital ministry of our Church.

As we start Great Lent together, may this sacred season be a time for all of us to sincerely repent, renew our prayers, increase charity, and grow deeper in love for Christ and His Holy Church.

We look forward to coming together as one parish family on Sunday, March 1st, to proclaim:

“This is the Faith of the Apostles, this is the Faith of the Fathers, this is the Faith of the Orthodox, this Faith has established the Universe!”