On July 17th, 2023, a group of altar boys from the Xewkija parish of St John the Baptist, on the sister island of Gozo, visited ‘Our Lady of Damascus’. They were accompanied by the parish priest Rev. Archpriest Daniel Xerri, Rev. Fr John Meilaq and Rev. Fr Matthew Bajada. This was the first visit of the Gozitan altar boys to a Byzantine church. They were received by parish priest, Papàs Martin Zammit and subdeacon Mr Dennis Mifsud. After a brief introduction to the history of the Greek Catholic church in Malta and the Byzantine rite, the Gozitan guests had the opportunity to ask questions about the differences characterizing the Byzantine from the Latin rite. They also admired the various icons adorning the church, foremost of which are the icon of Our Lady of Damascus and the icon of the Eleimonitria, both brought to Malta from Rhodes in 1530.
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The Saint of the day 21 October† St Hilarion the Great of Palestine (371)audio.ancientfaith.com/sotd/10_21_hilarion_pc.mp3He was born in Palestine to pagan parents who sent him to Alexandria to be educated. There he learned of the Christian faith and was baptized. Hearing of the fame of St Anthony the Great, he met the great "Father of monks," and determined to devote himself to the ascetical life.For the rest of his life he travelled from place to place, engaging in the most austere life of solitude, prayer and fasting. But wherever he went, his holiness shone like a beacon, and he became known to the people, who flocked to him for counsel, nurture and healing. He would then flee to another place and begin again. His travels took him to Egypt, Libya, Sicily, and finally Cyprus, where he reposed at a great age.As he lay on his deathbed, he cried out 'Go forth, O my soul. What do you fear? Go forth! Why are you disquieted within me? You have served Jesus Christ for almost seventy years and do you fear death?' Speaking these words, he died.Troparion — Tone 8By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / Our Father Hilarion pray to Christ God to save our souls!Kontakion — Tone 3(Podoben: “Today the Virgin...”)Today we gather to praise you with hymns, / O unfading light of the Spiritual Sun; / for you illumined those in the darkness of ignorance, / leading all to the heights of God, as they cried: / “Rejoice, Father Hilarion, rampart of ascetics.” ... See MoreSee LessThe Saint of the day 20 October (1)† Holy Great Martyr Artemius (362)audio.ancientfaith.com/sotd/10_20_artemius_pc.mp3He came from a noble family, and was appointed military Governor of Alexandria and Egypt by the Emperor Constantine the Great. Some years later, the Emperor Julian the Apostate strove to restore pagan idolatry as the official religion of the Empire. He also entered into a war with Persia, and established Antioch as his headquarters for pursuing the war.In Alexandria, Artemius received an order to come to Antioch with the military forces under his command. Artemius reported to the apostate Emperor just in time to see him ordering the cruel execution of two pious Christians, Eugenius and Macarius. Fearlessly, St Artemius immediately denounced the Emperor, telling him to his face that his anti-Christian policy was of demonic origin. The enraged Emperor instantly had Artemius stripped of all official rank and thrown into prison.The following day, he had Artemius brought before him and promised him high Imperial office if he would only renounce Christ and worship the idols. When Artemius forcefully refused to do this, he was publicly tortured to death. A pious noblewoman secretly recovered the Saint's relics and took them to Constantinople, where they were venerated and wrought many miracles for several centuries.Troparion of Great Martyr ArtemiusFourth ToneThy Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received the prize of the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.Kontakion of Great Martyr ArtemiusSecond ToneLet us now gather and worthily acclaim with hymns the pious and crowned Martyr Artemius, the greatest among Martyrs and richest bestower of miracles, who raised the trophies of victory over the enemy; for he intercedeth with the Lord for us all. ... See MoreSee LessMass Schedule
Monday-Saturday Divine Liturgy at 7:30 a.m. Saturday Vespers at 6.30 p.m. Sunday Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.
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"When they are not near a Roman Catholic Church, Roman Catholics are permitted to receive the Holy Communion in Orthodox Churches; and the same is also extended to Orthodox when they are not near an Orthodox Church." (From the book The Thyateira Confession p. 69, written by His Eminence Athenagoras Kokkinakis, Orthodox Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain, published by The Faith Press, in 1975, with the blessing and authorisation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.)
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"Επιτρέπεται εξ απόψεως Ρωμαιοκαθολικής να μεταλαμβάνουν εν καιρώ ανάγκης οι Ρωμαιοκαθολικοί εις Ορθοδόξους Εκκλησίας και οι Ορθόδοξοι εν καιρώ ανάγκης να μεταλαμβάνουν εις Ρωμαιοκαθολικάς Εκκλησίας." (Από το βιβλίο The Thyateira Confession σελ. 209, υπό του Σεβασμιοτάτου Αρχιεπισκόπου Θυατείρων και Μεγάλης Βρεττανίας Αθηναγόρου Κοκκινάκη - εκδόσεις The Faith Press - 1975, με την ευλογία και εγκρίση του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου Κωνσταντινουπόλεως.)
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The Saint of the day 21 October† St Hilarion the Great of Palestine (371)audio.ancientfaith.com/sotd/10_21_hilarion_pc.mp3He was born in Palestine to pagan parents who sent him to Alexandria to be educated. There he learned of the Christian faith and was baptized. Hearing of the fame of St Anthony the Great, he met the great "Father of monks," and determined to devote himself to the ascetical life.For the rest of his life he travelled from place to place, engaging in the most austere life of solitude, prayer and fasting. But wherever he went, his holiness shone like a beacon, and he became known to the people, who flocked to him for counsel, nurture and healing. He would then flee to another place and begin again. His travels took him to Egypt, Libya, Sicily, and finally Cyprus, where he reposed at a great age.As he lay on his deathbed, he cried out 'Go forth, O my soul. What do you fear? Go forth! Why are you disquieted within me? You have served Jesus Christ for almost seventy years and do you fear death?' Speaking these words, he died.Troparion — Tone 8By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / Our Father Hilarion pray to Christ God to save our souls!Kontakion — Tone 3(Podoben: “Today the Virgin...”)Today we gather to praise you with hymns, / O unfading light of the Spiritual Sun; / for you illumined those in the darkness of ignorance, / leading all to the heights of God, as they cried: / “Rejoice, Father Hilarion, rampart of ascetics.” ... See MoreSee LessThe Saint of the day 20 October (1)† Holy Great Martyr Artemius (362)audio.ancientfaith.com/sotd/10_20_artemius_pc.mp3He came from a noble family, and was appointed military Governor of Alexandria and Egypt by the Emperor Constantine the Great. Some years later, the Emperor Julian the Apostate strove to restore pagan idolatry as the official religion of the Empire. He also entered into a war with Persia, and established Antioch as his headquarters for pursuing the war.In Alexandria, Artemius received an order to come to Antioch with the military forces under his command. Artemius reported to the apostate Emperor just in time to see him ordering the cruel execution of two pious Christians, Eugenius and Macarius. Fearlessly, St Artemius immediately denounced the Emperor, telling him to his face that his anti-Christian policy was of demonic origin. The enraged Emperor instantly had Artemius stripped of all official rank and thrown into prison.The following day, he had Artemius brought before him and promised him high Imperial office if he would only renounce Christ and worship the idols. When Artemius forcefully refused to do this, he was publicly tortured to death. A pious noblewoman secretly recovered the Saint's relics and took them to Constantinople, where they were venerated and wrought many miracles for several centuries.Troparion of Great Martyr ArtemiusFourth ToneThy Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received the prize of the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.Kontakion of Great Martyr ArtemiusSecond ToneLet us now gather and worthily acclaim with hymns the pious and crowned Martyr Artemius, the greatest among Martyrs and richest bestower of miracles, who raised the trophies of victory over the enemy; for he intercedeth with the Lord for us all. ... See MoreSee LessGreek Catholic Churches
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