Saint Andrew the First-Called Orthodox Church

6th Week after Pentecost (St. Paisios of the Holy Mountain)

- Saturday 7/11, 4pm: Great Vespers + Catechism
- Sunday 7/12, 10am: Divine Liturgy (Hours at 9:40am)
- Saturday 7/18, 4pm: Great Vespers + Confession
- Sunday 7/19, 10am: Divine Liturgy (Hours at 9:40am)

+ + +

Some people tell me that they are scandalized because they see many things wrong in the Church. I tell them that if you ask a fly, “Are there any flowers in this area?” it will say, “I don’t know about flowers, but over there in that heap of rubbish you can find all the filth you want.” And it will go on to list all the unclean things it has been to.

Now, if you ask a honeybee, “Have you seen any unclean things in this area?” it will reply, “Unclean things? No, I have not seen any; the place here is full of the most fragrant flowers.” And it will go on to name all the flowers of the garden or the meadow.

You see, the fly only knows where the unclean things are, while the honeybee knows where the beautiful iris or hyacinth is.

As I have come to understand, some people resemble the honeybee and some resemble the fly. Those who resemble the fly seek to find evil in every circumstance and are preoccupied with it; they see no good anywhere. But those who resemble the honeybee only see the good in everything they see. The foolish person thinks foolishly and takes everything in the wrong way, whereas the person who has good thoughts, no matter what he sees, no matter what you tell him, maintains a positive and good thought.

- St. Paisios of Mt. Athos (+1994), “Good and Evil Thoughts,” Spiritual Counsels III: Spiritual Struggle

5th Week of Pascha: Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

- Saturday 5/9, 4pm: Great Vespers + Catechism
- Sunday 5/10, 10am: Divine Liturgy (Sunday of the Samaritan Woman)
- Saturday 5/16, 4pm: Great Vespers + Confession
- Sunday 5/17, 10am: Divine Liturgy (Sunday of the Blind Man)
- Wednesday 5/20, 6pm: Vesperal Liturgy (The Ascension of our Lord)

[Catechism and confession will alternate every other Saturday after Vespers.]

--

Jesus met the Samaritan woman by Jacob’s well.
He wraps the earth in clouds,
yet He asks for water from her.
Oh, the wonder!
He Who rides on the cherubim speaks with an adulterous woman.
He Who suspended the earth on the waters asks for a drink.
He Who causes the lakes and springs to overflow is weary with thirst.
Truly He desires to set the woman free from the Enemy’s snares,
drowning her sins in the waters of life,//
for He alone is the compassionate Lover of man.

(from the Pentecostarion, for the Samaritan Woman)