St. Gregory the Great Orthodox Church

A Western Rite Congregation of the Antiochian Archdiocese near Washington, DC

The Feast of the Epiphany

On this day, we celebrate the Epiphany – the Theophany, the showing, the manifestation – the revelation of God to man. In the icon of the Nativity of Christ, we see the shepherds coming from the fields and the wise men, the Magi, coming from the East to worship the Christ Child. In these two […]

St. Symeon the Stylite

(Feast Day ~ January 5) In the history of Judaism and Christianity, God has sometimes accomplished his purpose through the strange behavior of his saints. The Old Testament prophets risked condemnation and ridicule (and sometimes death) to bring the message of repentance to the people through their strange behavior. The article on the prophets in […]

Epiphany

We will celebrate the eve of Epiphany on Monday, 5 January. We will offer the Epiphany Blessing of Water at 6:30pm, followed by the Sung Mass at 7.

A Homily for Christmas Eve

St. Ireneaus of Lyon was a student of St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, who was himself a student of St. John the beloved disciple. St. Irenaeus writing in the 2nd century tells us plainly that God became what we are that we might become what he is. This is the real meaning of Christmas. This […]

St. John of Kronstadt, Priest & Confessor

Feast Day ~ December 21 Those of us who live and work in the Washington DC area know what it is to have busy schedules – to work 10 and 12 hour days and commute 2 and 3 hours, to work week-ends and holidays and give up any hope of seeing family or enjoying “free” […]

Advent & Christmas

We will sing Vespers each day at 6pm from 12/16 though the 24th.  On Christmas Eve we will offer the First Mass of Christmas at 9pm. On Christmas Day the Sung Mass will be offered at 10am.

December newsletter

Collection of canned and packaged food for the Food for Hungry People program of the Archdiocese will be through Advent and Christmas and end at the beginning of Epiphany. Your generosity will benefit the poor through the Manna Food Bank. The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated on Monday, December 8, with […]

30 Day Memorial

On Wednesday, 10 December, we will offer the Requiem Mass for the 30th day for Lauren Marie Housley. Vespers will be at 6:40pm and the Mass will follow around 7.

A Sermon for the First Sunday of Advent

I’m afraid that I have nearly reached the point of changing the radio station when I hear a Christmas Carol and cringing when I hear Christmas hymns while shopping at the hardware store. It seems that I have reached this point earlier than normal this year, but then the Christmas decorations have been in the […]