CALENDAR & NEWS
Let us not give up the habit of meeting together...
Hebrews 10:25 · Good News Translation
February 2026 at HTOC
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever! Join our church family this month for worship, fellowship, and spiritual growth.
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Annual Checkup Time!
February this year leads us to Great Lent (February 23 through April 11), a season of preparation for Pascha (April 12), when we’ll celebrate Christ Jesus, risen from death.
Think of it as a spiritual annual checkup, in which we reexamine the health of our relationship with God and make adjustments in our lives to improve it.
Theologian Alexander Schmemann dubbed Great Lent a school of repentance — a word that rings negative for many, associating it as they do with guilt and shame.
But the Bible’s original languages cast repentance in quite the opposite light. Its Hebrew equivalent, teshuva, means “turnaround” (as in away from sin and back to God, away from death and back to life). And its Greek parallel, metanoia, means “change of thinking” (along with the motives, priorities, and behaviors fueled by it).
Repentance, then, is far from negative: it’s a positively liberating force! It means we’re not doomed to being stuck in a rut — we can change direction. It means we need not be held hostage by “stinkin’ thinkin’” — we can change our minds and thus our lives.
So let us approach Great Lent as a season of liberation freeing us from whatever weighs us down from a healthier relationship with God!
Mark Your Calendar!
Sunday, February 1 • 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy
First Sunday of the Triodion
Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee
Monday, February 2
Meeting of Christ Jesus in the Temple
Sunday, February 8 • 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy and Blessing of Candles
Second Sunday of the Triodion
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Sunday Observance of Meeting of Christ
Saturday, February 14 • 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy and Memorial Service
All Souls Saturday
Sunday, February 15 • 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy
Third Sunday of the Triodion
Sunday of the Last Judgment
Sunday, February 22 • 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy and Forgiveness Vespers
Fourth Sunday of the Triodion
Forgiveness Sunday
Monday, February 23
Clean Monday · Start of Great Lent
Triodion
On Sunday, February 1 this year, the Church switches its hymnal to the Triodion — the songbook and worship handbook of Pre-Lent (heralded by Zacchaeus Sunday last week), Great Lent, and Holy Week. Its name comes from the Greek words treis odes — “three songs” — because at weekday Matins (sung morning prayer) in church throughout Lent, the canon (a long poetic hymn in Matins) is reduced from its usual nine “songs” (sections inspired by songs in the Bible) to three, to leave more time for chanting more psalms as a Lenten observance.
Milestones
“Rejoice with those who rejoice” (Romans 12:15). Best wishes to our kinfolk in Christ celebrating special milestones this month! Birthdays: Kevin Terzak (February 11), Bill Boich (February 21) and Harold Orloff (February 23). God grant you many years!
News and Notes
Help Ukraine! Ukraine continues to bear the brunt of unprovoked Russian warfare at a cost of innocent lives, brutal destruction, and human heartbreak. Please relieve the horror by giving humanitarian aid online at International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) Ukraine Response.
Pitch In!
Church doesn’t happen on its own. It happens when all of us pool our time, talent, and treasure together and put them at God’s disposal to do his will as followers of Jesus. In a word, that’s stewardship. Want to lend a helping hand? See our parish priest, Father Alexis Woytek, to find out what needs doing. Want to become a supporting member? See our parish treasurer, Mrs. Lydia Pinkowski, to find out how. Thanks for pitching in to make your church happen!
Reach Out!
The Church doesn’t exist for itself. God calls it to reach out and share his love with the world that it lives in. Our parish charity bin is one way that we do such outreach, by collecting nonperishable food that our friends at People Helping People in Hernando County share with locals in need. To download a grocery list from our website, click here. Thanks for reaching out and helping others through your church’s charity!
Safe and Sound
COVID is no longer a global pandemic, but coronavirus still crops up now and then, here and there. Please keep alert and take sensible precautions while our church remains open.
If you feel ill, please stay home, follow doctor’s orders, and take good care of yourself. Let us know if you want us to pray for you. We look forward to seeing you again once you get well!
Please respect personal space and give each other courteous leeway, and please feel free to wear a face mask if your health requires it or you just feel safer doing so.
Thanks for your consideration, which is simply part of doing what Christ Jesus told us to do: “Love others as much as you love yourself” (Mark 12:31).