Saint Anne Orthodox Church

According to tradition, in Orthodox churches, prayer ought to be accompanied by the light of candles or of oil lamps. The lighting of candles in the Orthodox Church, points to the light of Christ, and to our striving for perfection in Him. A burning candle can symbolize an offering, the offering of our whole being, which should be burning for Christ, leaving behind spiritual light and heat. Building on this understanding, the lighting of candles can become the expression of our faith in God.

As we concluded in last week’s lesson, the call to salvation, sanctification and life is the central message of the Scriptures and of our whole life in Christ. Knowing the direction in which we are called and the purpose of Christian life, we need to draw closer to the fulfillment of the divine call, to understand the practical steps we need to take in order to experience change in our lives and real growth in our spirituality.

Traditionally, when we enter or leave the church, we express our respect for the Lord, His Mother, and our patron, St. Anne, as well as the saint or saints that we may be commemorating that day by venerating their icons.

One of the main characteristics of Orthodox Spirituality, very often ignored or misunderstood, is the call to sanctification.

Always remember that Church is the House of God, a house of worship and prayer. Out of respect for our Lord Jesus Christ, for His Holy Mother, for the Holy Orthodox Church and Orthodox Tradition, for those who worship and pray in this sacred space, modest attire and proper behavior are mandatory at all times.

by Hieromonk Calinic (Berger)

• How can we understand why Christ died the way He did?
• What is the meaning then of Good Friday?
• Are Christians today honoring this one day as they should?

Many of us have seen the Myrrh-streaming Iveron icon of the Birthgiver of God during its visits to Southern California. Here is some information about this icon: