St. Athanasius Orthodox Church • Nicholasville/Lexington Kentucky
As we feel the heat of summertime abate every late August, Orthodox Christians look forward to September 1, when we mark the new ecclesiastical year. In 2019, this new church year falls on a Sunday and we will sing together as a community: O Creator of the Universe, Thou didst appoint times by Thine …
The first half of August in the Orthodox Church (Aug. 1-14) is set aside as a special season of fasting and reflection. The two-week Dormition Fast precedes the Great Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, which we celebrate on August 15 every year. This season of fasting is punctuated not only …
As in most Orthodox parishes, summertime at St. Athanasius offers a more relaxed pace of church life, especially compared to the springtime (Lent and Pascha,) early fall (various feasts and “back to school,”) and wintertime (Nativity Fast, Christmas, and Epiphany.) Already this summer, …
Christ is Risen! Our St. Athanasius parish family is still celebrating the Pascha of our Lord (i.e., the Resurrection in light of Easter) up until the Ascension on June 6. You can explore beautiful and full photo galleries of Great Lent, the Archbishop’s Visit on Lazarus Saturday & Palm …
Having welcomed our Archbishop Alexander here for Lazarus Saturday & Palm Sunday–and celebrated the Baptisms and Chrismations of our catechumens–our parish community is now marking the awesome days of Holy Week that lead us from the Passion of Christ to his Glorious Resurrection! We …
Our Journey to Pascha 2019 We are now deep into Great Lent, the ancient 40-day season specially appointed for renewed spiritual focus in anticipation of Holy Week and Pascha (Easter.) During the Lenten season (known as also as The Great Fast or The 40-Days,) Orthodox Christians give great care not …
The Lenten Spring is upon us. In the Orthodox Church, Great Lent begins on Clean Monday (March 11 in 2019) and is immediately preceded by Forgiveness Sunday (March 10.) In ancient times, Great Lent was the season when the catechumens were prepared for Holy Baptism. Over the years, however, it became …
With the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, the complex of services preceding Christmas & following Epiphany draw to a close. Notable in the season that has past is the Nativity Fast, Christmas, the festal days between Christmas and Epiphany, Theopany, the Great Blessing of Waters, the blessing …
In the month of January, the Orthodox Church observes the Great Feast of Theophany, or Epiphany. One of the special features of Epiphany is the blessing of homes. Because our parishioners in America are often scattered across many counties (rather than residing in one village,) the season often …
Christmas on Dec. 25 gives way to the Great Feast of Epiphany–also known as Theophany–on Jan. 6. (Some Orthodox keep “Old Calendar Christmas” on Jan. 7… Read here for an explanation about why certain Orthodox keep Christmas and Epiphany on different days.) In addition …
