On Sunday, March 5th the community of Christ the Saviour celebrated the first Sunday of Great Lent (the Triumph of Orthodoxy) in thanksgiving to God for His many blessings. At the Liturgy we enrolled five catechumens, celebrated a procession commemorating the restoration of the holy icons, and with the blessing of Archbishop Mark administered the oath of office to our newly elected parish council. Glory to God for all things!

This is the Faith of the Apostles.
This is the Faith of the Fathers.
This is the Faith of the Orthodox.

This is the Faith which has established the Universe. 

On Saturday, March 4 the community of Christ the Saviour was blessed to host the clergy and faithful of the Orthodox Council of Churches of South Central PA (OCCSCP) to celebrate the Vespers for the Triumph of Orthodoxy. Our guest homilist was His Eminence Archbishop Mark of the Diocese of Philadelphia and Eastern PA (OCA), who shared an intimate testimony of the Triumph of Orthodoxy in his life, and encouraged us to engage our faith as a whole person, in loving response to the Living God who became Incarnate and gave Himself for us. At the conclusion of the Vespers Shelley Brooks, the Director of the Bethesda Women and Children Mission spoke about their ministry, and the partnership that has been cultivated between it and our local Orthodox community over the past many years. Finally, we were treated to a Lenten meal prepared by the faithful of our parish. Glory to God for all things!

On Sunday, January 22nd the Orthodox parishes of Greater Harrisburg gathered at City Island Park for the 14th Annual Pan-Orthodox Great Blessing of the Susquehanna, in which we ask the Lord to bless the waters, and to heal us and our community!

Participating were clergy and faithful from the following parishes:

• Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church (OCA) in Harrisburg
• Holy Apostles Orthodox Church (OCA) in Mechanicsburg
• Holy Resurrection of Christ Orthodox Church (SER) in Lebanon
• Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral (GOA) in Camp Hill
• St. Nicholas Orthodox Church (SER) in Oberlin

Following the River Blessing, the clergy and faithful gathered at Holy Trinity Cathedral for a delicious luncheon and wonderful fellowship. Glory to God for all things!

On Saturday, Jan 21 the Strategic Planning Team (SPT) at Christ the Saviour gathered for their final planning retreat. It was a blessing to welcome back our engaging, energetic, and eminently qualified facilitator Bill Marianes of Stewardship Calling and Orthodox Ministry Services. In the coming months the Implementation Team will begin building their plan and inviting more of our parishioners to engage. The three main areas of focus are:

1. Education and Liturgical Engagement 
2. Stewardship (Time, Talent, and Treasure)
3. Community Outreach and Evangelism 

We are so grateful for the collective wisdom and sacrificial effort of our SPT! Many years!

On Thursday, January 5th the community of Christ the Saviour celebrated the Compline and the Great Blessing of Water for Theophany. Glory to God for His glorious Appearance, and His rich gifts!

(Kontakion) Today Thou hast shown forth to the world, O Lord, and the light of Thy countenance has been marked on us. Knowing Thee, we sing Thy praises. Thou hast come and revealed Thyself, O unapproachable Light.

On Sunday, January 1st the community of Christ the Saviour rejoiced in the commemoration of the Circumcision of Christ (8th day of Christmas), St. Basil the Great, and our Civil New Year. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy an abundance Vasilopita (St. Basil's bread) were offered by parishioners in honor of the saint and with petitions for the upcoming New Year. Glory to God for all things!