The first Sunday of the Great Lent is dedicated to the triumph of Orthodoxy. On this day, the Orthodox Church celebrates the restitution of icons that took place on the Seventh Ecumenical Synod. The date of the celebration of the Sunday of Orthodoxy was installed in 843, when the triumphant procession with icons took place from the Church of Blachernae to Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. The date of this event took place on 11th of March, first Sunday of the Great Lent, for this reason and by the decree of the synod that took place at that time, the first Sunday of Lent was called the Sunday of Orthodoxy.
The custom of celebrating the First Sunday of Orthodoxy was brought to North America with Orthodox Christians belonging to many jurisdictions. Moreover, it became a tradition, lasting to this day, for the Orthodox of all canonical jurisdictions to serve together for this triumphant Feast at the Pan-Orthodox Vespers.
His Grace Bishop Maxim, many orthodox priests from various jurisdictions, were invited by Fr. Steven Tsichlis and The St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church located in Irvine, to serve the Pan-Orthodox vespers. On this occasion, Bishop Maxim presided the vespers and presented a sermon in which he highlighted and connected the meaning of icons with the reading of the Gospel for the Feast of Orthodoxy that speaks of Nathaniel and his meeting with the Lord (John 1: 41-51). Bishop Maxim said that “In the Gospel, St John invites us not only to see Christ but also to have a pure heart, for with a pure heart we can truly see our Saviour. At the end of the dialogue Jesus promises Nathaniel that he will see greater things, and this is the Kingdom of God. In the 21st century, when we help other people come to Church, what will they see? It would be the icons. The icon, as St. John of Damascene describes, shows two things, that which is seen and that which is unseen. The indescribable God becomes describable in Christ who becomes Man. This is the mystery that icons bring to our minds, hearts, and eyes. The purity of heart will help us see that. The icon guides us to our neighbor. We celebrate icons, we kiss them, yet, during the service all around us are those who are created in the image of God. The icon reminds and guides us to the realization that in our neighbor we will see our celebration. The icons represent what we will be, the saints overcame their human nature and weaknesses, and elevated their lives living in Christ. The power of Christ is shown in weakness; thus, our proof is not in our demonstration of words but in icons, in saints. Everything in the Church points to the future, unlike photographs that point to the past, the icon reveals the future, by damaging your icon, you are damaging your future. By celebrating this feast, we do not only honor the past, but celebrate the present and the future.” Bishop Maxim concluded his sermon with prayers for all to gain a pure heart like Nathaniel and respect icons that teach us to worship God and respect our neighbor. Furthermore, he thanked His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco for his blessing to serve at the St. Paul Church, Fr. Steven and his Church members for organizing the Pan-Orthodox Vespers, and the present priests and the faithful who celebrated together with His Grace the triumph of Orthodoxy.
Following the Vesper service, the St. Paul community graciously invited all present to partake in prepared dinner and fellowship.
