On this holy day when we celebrate the Annunciation of the Mother of God, Fr. John Parker reflects on the evangelistic meaning of the feast.

Fr. John shares an update from the Department of Evangelization with the 18th All-American Council of the Orthodox Church in America, July 2015.

Today, on what has unfortunately become a merely “secular” festival, we recover a deeper Valentine’s message by considering what our faith has to say about romance and true love. We look at the life of the third century St. Valentine, and consider Hebrews 13:4, Genesis 1 and 2, Ephesians 5; and the book of Tobit (especially 8:4-8).

Today we read Galatians 2:16-20 and Mark 8:34-9:1 in the light of King David’s humiliation in 1 Samuel (Kingdoms) 21 and Psalm 33/34. Coming to terms with our fear of shame, our possible embarrassment concerning the faith, and the shame that Jesus our Lord bore helps us to take up our own crosses, and so share in Christ’s glory.

This week, in the middle of the season of Luke’s gospel, and looking forward to Luke’s feast-day, we consider the many uses that Luke makes of the Old Testament Scriptures, and his careful attention to what “is written” there so that we may better know the LORD. His intimate knowledge of the Old Testament is an indication of its importance, and how we should aspire to know and understand it better.

Edith Humphrey begins a new series on the eight resurrectional (dismissal) hymns to the Theotokos, beginning with the one in tone three appointed for this week. Help is found in interpreting the mysteries of this hymn from the prophet Jeremiah, from the early chapters of Genesis, and from Isaiah’s vision of the heavenly throne-room.

"The Parable of the Merciless Servant from The Parables of Christ by Spiritual Fragrance Publishing (2012)

"Healing of the Centurion's Servant," from Feasts of Christ and the Theotokos and Miracles of the Lord by Spiritual Fragrance Publishing (2012)

"Saint Matthew the Evangelist and Apostle," from The Four Evangelists by Spiritual Fragrance Publishing (2012)

"Saint Mark the Evangelist," from The Four Evangelists by Spiritual Fragrance Publishing (2012)

"Saint Luke the Evangelist," from The Four Evangelists by Spiritual Fragrance Publishing (2012)

"Saint John the Theologian and Evangelist," from The Four Evangelists by Spiritual Fragrance Publishing (2012)

"Saint Sunniva," from Women of Faith, written by Calee M. Lee, illustrated by Lisa Graves (Xist Publishing, 2015)

"Saint Basil the Great," by Vasilia Tussing, age 11, winner of the 10-year anniversary children's story competition.

Vanessa The Wonderworker, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks, Chapter One. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Two, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Three, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon.

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Four, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Five, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Six, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Seven, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Eight, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Nine, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Ten, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Eleven, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Twelve, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Thirteen, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Fourteen, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Fifteen, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Sixteen, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Seventeen, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Eighteen, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Nineteen, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Twenty, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Twenty One, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. https://www.amazon.com/Vanessa-Wonder-worker-Every-Tuesday-Club/dp/1543059902/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords;=vanessa+the+wonderworker+paperback&qid;=1613417512&sr;=8-4">Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Twenty Two, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Twenty Three, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Twenty Four, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Twenty Five, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Twenty Six, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Twenty Eight, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Twenty Seven, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

Vanessa The Wonderworker, Chapter Twenty Nine and CONCLUSION, written and illustrated by Grace Brooks. Available on Amazon

40. Book 1: The Story of Mary the Mother of God by Dorrie Papademetriou (St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2000) Book 2: Vassilopita: St. Basil and the Story of the New Year's Cake, by Anna Marini (Akritas Publications, 2000)

108. Noah and the Ark of Salvation from the Old Testament Stories for Children series by Mother Melania (Conciliar Press Ministries, 2009)

132. Meet the Evangelists: Christina Book Series by Maria Khoury (CDK Publications, 2009)

135. The Story of St. Sava, Part 1 (The Publishing House of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, 2001).

136. The Story of St. Sava, Part 2 (The Publishing House of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, 2001)

137. The Story of St. Sava, Part 3 (The Publishing House of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, 2001).

138. The Story of St. Sava, Part 4/Conclusion (The Publishing House of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, 2001).