Today is Holy Tuesday and the Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos

Apolytikion:

"Today marks the crowning of our salvation and the revelation of the mystery before all ages. For the Son of God becomes the son of the Virgin, and Gabriel proclaims the grace. Wherefore, we also cry out with him, "Hail, O full of grace, the Lord is with you.""

(found here, with an explanation of the Feast)

Annunciation ~ 2014

Mr. Husband and I were at church 

Monday morning for the Feast of the Annunciation.

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The night before I was with one of the church's young ones

and tell this child how the Annunciation had to come first...

how the Virgin Mary saying YES to God

is how CHRISTMAS came to us.... 

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Our church, like many Orthodox churches,

has a basket of Christian kids books for 

kids to read and our basket includes many that are on

Christmas and Christ's birth...

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The child I was talking to picked some of these

and it was quite something, how all of them

actually started with the Annunciation,

with the Archangel Gabriel coming to the Virgin Mary

to tell her of how she can be overshadowed by God

and given birth to Christ...

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I told many of the children that day that in 9 months,

Christmas will come,

just like it takes, normally, 9 months for a baby to be born...

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Many woman and children were in church,

it was really beautiful.

The homily was in part about the Theotokos and how she 

made a peaceful loving home for her Holy Family...

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The vision of this home, of always being a place of prayer,

of peace, harmony and love,

stayed with me and I really hope that with

Holy Theotokos' help,

that I can make a home that gives unity and harmony,

love, peace, centred on Christ... 

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It was a beautiful and busy day...

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Mr. Husband went from there back towards home and

had the inspection of our future home...

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We went out for dinner for fish afterwards 

and then back to our soon-to-not-be-our home...

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We are not going to do anything in 

terms of packing until 

after Pascha 

but then, it will all ensue very quickly... 

A beautiful Annunciation and Lazarus Saturday

It is almost here!!
Holy Week!!!
The Best Week of the Year.

There was a chrismation at my
church today.
I took lots of pictures with my camera.
I am pleased with how many of them
turned out.
I can get a better focus by
manually focusing
and I am really pleased.
As a rule I don't post pictures of people on my
blogs so you'll have to trust me on this one.

Today was also Annunciation.
I did not eat fish,
but will tomorrow.
My church has a bigger church meal
with fish, wine and oil.
I am experimenting with a new
lenten chocolate cake.
I hope it turns out,
or the kids
(okay and adults :))
will be disappointed!
*
Tomorrow is the newly illumined's
first communion.
This is such a joy to behold.

Feast of the Annunciation

This morning I went to liturgy.

Then lunch with church friends.

Then buying the salmon and wine for the meal.

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Between cleaning house and preparing,

I was running behind...

A friend came early and helped a lot.

I find I cannot put on a meal for 7 or 8 people without help.

Boiled potatoes with dill added at the meal

Salad with avocado, mushrooms, tomato and a dressing with

garlic, olive oil and balsamic vinegar

Salmon baked in foil packets with onion and lemon.

Fruit - dark grapes, blue berries and star fruit.

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Vegan chocolate cake for dessert.

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Lemon wedges in water

a white and a red wine.

Star fruit looks so decorative!

Salmon on plates.

The Becel margarine in the plastic container makes me laugh;

a bit incongruous.

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It was so wonderful to have such a festive meal

in the midst of Lent and for

such a beautiful feast.

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Lovely conversation about church, liturgical music,

Father's sermon from today's liturgy,

families and laughter.

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Tomorrow I have to do some serious job searching things.

Thankfully two friends stayed and helped me

with all the dishes.

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We prayed briefly for our friend who is flying home

to be with her Father who is ill.

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God help us.

Most Holy Theotokos save us!