Feb 20, 2015 3 min read

In Eastern Orthodox churches, the first Sunday of the great Lenten fast is called “Orthodoxy Sunday,” and this year, it will be observed on March 1.

Throughout the United States, and especially in the MonValley, it is tradition for Orthodox Christians of all jurisdictions to come together and proclaim the unity of the faith of the apostles – the faith that has been maintained in the Orthodox church for more than 2,000 years.

It is becoming a common practice that the procession of the icons is conducted as part of a Pan-Orthodox Vespers Service, which is held Saturday evening before the Sunday of Orthodoxy.

The observance is important for Orthodox Christians because at the start of the eighth century in the Orthodox church, there began a catastrophe that continued for more than 100 years.

A persecution arose against the Holy Icons and those who venerated them. The Holy Vessels used in the celebration of divine services were trampled under foot because the saints were depicted on them.

Everywhere, Holy Icons were removed, taken from the temples and cast into rivers or burned. Defenders of the veneration of icons were subjected to all kinds of persecution, even capital punishment. At that time, many bishops, priests and others were tortured for venerating the Holy Icons. They were sent to prisons and tortured.

In the year 842 in Constantinope 842, Emperor Theophilus and his wife, Empress Theodora, ended the persecution and unrest.

At her command on the first Sunday of the great fast, the Patriarch Methodius, in a solemn procession accompanied by Orthodox faithful, entered the cathedral church and offered a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the restoration of the veneration of icons.

The Sunday of Orthodoxy service will be conducted at St. Michael Antiochian Orthodox Church in Monessen at 6 p.m. Feb. 28. On March 1, each Orthodox church will repeat the procession of the icons in their respective churches.

Participating Mon Valley churches are Holy Resurrection of Belle Vernon, Holy Trinity Russian of Charleroi, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Monongahela, St. Ellien Antiochian of Brownsville, St.George Serbian of Carmichaels, St. John the Divine of Monessen, St. Michael Antiochian of Monessen, St. Nicholas Russian of Donora, St. Nicholas Ukranian of Monessen, St. Nicholas Carpatho-Russian of Monongahela and Jacobs Creek and St. Spyridon Greek of Monessen.

The combined choirs from the churches, under the direction of George Essey, will offer responses for the service.

In addition to the Sunday of Orthodoxy service, the joint lenten Presanctified Liturgy will be conducted at 6 p.m. Wednesdays as follows:

• March 4 – St. Nicholas of Monongahela;

• March 11 – St. Nicholas of Monessen;

• March 18 – Nativity of the BVM of Monongahela;

• April 1 – Holy Resurrection of Belle Vernon.