40 Days Liturgy Easter – Pentecost 2022

By March 24, 2022News

MESSAGE FROM THE ABBOT

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

We are now into the third year of the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges have been many. Doctors and scientists have taken many measures to study the virus and provide whatever they can to try and protect us from its many insidious forms. This is what they specialise in and we leave these challenges in their hands. At the same time we entrust our own protection to our Lady Theotokos and try to do whatever is practical to protect ourselves and others. Unfortunately, many of us approach the problem of the Pandemic naively. We lose precious time in endless discussions, often with raised voices and with authority…. we give the impression that we are experts on all things coronavirus. We irresponsibly take positions for or against vaccination. Is it time perhaps, as faithful members of the Church, that we turn our attention to what God wants to tell us with Covid-19

Your response to our invitation to join us in the Christmas 40 days liturgy and to simultaneously pray the Jesus Prayer for 40 days was overwhelming. Now we invite you to participate in the 2021 Easter-Pentecost 40 days liturgy and again to simultaneously pray the Jesus Prayer for 40 days. Let us all pray as a group for all people: prayer for everyone and everything. It is our duty as Orthodox Christians to pray for our fellow persons.

Our joint main prayer request and desire is: that the Almighty Lord look with benevolence upon all of us, especially, our brothers and sisters who are being tested all over the world and are suffering under the enigmatic, unruly and insidious COVID-19.

The pandemic is an invitation from God to all the people of the world for repentance. God’s desire is that we put in order our spiritual life. That we return to His fatherly embrace. That we take refuge in His mercy and compassion and seek his fatherly affection and forgiveness. Let us prepare for this personal change with humility, zeal, diligence and reflection. Let us quickly seek our spiritual father for confession. The period of Great Lent is a period of repentance and spiritual renewal: this is what God seeks from us. Let us make our spiritual compass the well-known prayer of St Ephraim the Syrian:

“Lord and Master of my life, give me not a spirit of idleness, meddling, love of power and idle talk.
But Grant me, your servant, a spirit of soberness, humility, patience and love.
Yes, Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults, and not condemn my brother; for blessed are you, to the ages of ages. Amen.”

A wonderful and helpful insight into this prayer is the recent book published by His Eminence our Archbishop Makarios of Australia, available in Greek and English, ‘Lord and Master of my life…’. Which we strongly recommend for all to read.

With many blessings for a positive response to God’s invitation.

Archim. Eusebios Pantanassiotis
ABBOT
and the brothers in Christ with me

IN RELATION TO THE EASTER – PENTECOST 40 DAYS LITURGY

We deeply thank you for your participation in the 40 Days Liturgy. Words cannot express our gratitude for your willing and practical support. This especially moves us and inspires us. May God bless you…. ONE HUNDREDFOLD.

The Easter – Pentecost 40 Days Liturgy begins on the Saturday of Renewal Week. That is, the Saturday before Thomas Sunday, 30 April 2022.

As previously mentioned we put only the names of our close relatives and those who may have a special need for our prayer… e.g. Maria, husband and children, etc.

You can submit the names of your loved ones and any accompanying donation on our website at: https://online.pantanassamonastery. org/Public/40L.aspx.
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GOOD NEWS
As you know, Covid-19 has created many challenges and delays for our construction project. Tradespeople are not readily available, and the cost of materials has increased astronomically. However, we are pleased to inform you that construction for the first phase has re-commenced. If all goes ‘according to plan’, we hope to move into the new buildings after Pascha 2022.

Pantanassa Monastery

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