Scripture Readings - Bright week ( Heworo) Days

Christ is Risen !, Indeed He is Risen !! 

Heworo Days - Bright Week (Heworo) is a unique time in our liturgical calendar where the joy of the Resurrection is so abundant that it overflows into every day of the week. To emphasize this "new life," the Church assigns a specific Liturgical Tone to each day, moving sequentially through the tones, as well as Scripture Readings for each day . The structure reminds us that the Resurrection is not just a one-day event, but a reality that reorders our entire sense of time. Ideally,  Holy Qurbana is celebrated on every one of these days.   Pray we use and apply these

Heworo Monday

Evening: St. Luke 24:13-35 , Morning St. Matthew 28:11-20

Holy Qurbana

Old Testament Readings:

Genesis 41: 41-46 , Numbers 7:84-89 

I Kings 18:36-40 , Judges 8:13-21 

Jeremiah 1:4-12, Isaiah 40:9-15

New Testament Readings

1 Peter 2:19-25 , Romans 6:12-23

St. Luke 24:13-35  

Heworo Tuesday 

Evening : St Mark 15:37-16:8, Morning St. Mark 16:9-18 

Holy Qurbana

Old Testament Readings

Exodus 14:26-31 , Joshua 6:9-16

Wisdom of Solomon 1:1-8. Isaiah 63:8-14

New Testament Readings 

Acts 13:26-39 , Ephesians 6:10-24 

St. Matthew 28:11-20 

Heworo Wednesday 

Evening: St. Luke 23:46-24:12 ,Morning St. Luke 24:12-24 

Holy Qurbana

Old Testament Readings

Exodus 40:1-16 , Joshua 2:1-6 

Hosea 8:1-8, Isaiah 65:1-7 

New Testament Readings

Acts 4:8-21 , Hebrews 3:1-13 

St. Luke 24:1-12 

Heworo Thursday

Evening: St. John 19:30-20:2 , Morning St. John 20:3-18 

Holy Qurbana

Old Testament Readings 

Exodus 34:4-12 , I Kings 20:28-30 

Micah 4:1-7 , Zachariah 8:4-9 

Isiah 37:8-17 

New Testament Readings 

1 John 4:19-5:15 , Hebrews 11:3-6 

St. John 20:11-18 

Heworo Friday

Evening: St. John 20:18-23 , Morning : St. Matthew 27:50-61 

Holy Qurbana

Old Testament Readings 

Deuteronomy 16:1-8 , Joshua 8:30-33

Proverbs 9:1-11 , Joel 3:16-21 

Isaiah 26:1-8 

New Testament Readings

1 Peter 3:17-22 , Hebrews 11:32-40,

St. Matthew 28:1-10 

Heworo Saturday 

Evening: St. Luke 24:25-34 , Morning St. Mathew 27:62-28:20 

Old Testament Readings 

Joshua 1: 5-9 , I Kings 17:17-22

II Kings 23:21-25 , Isaiah 44: 23-28

New Testament Readings

Acts 26: 19-25 , Philippians 2:1-11

St. Matthew 28:11-20

This was from Me by St Seraphim of Viritsa

 This was from Me by St Seraphim of Viritsa . “This was from me” is a famous letter written by saint Seraphim of Viritsa that he sent to his spiritual child, a bishop who was in a Soviet prison at that time; this homily “This was from me” is written as a consolation and counsel to the bishop to let him know that God the Creator addresses to the soul of man.

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Things that concern you concern the apple of my eye. You are precious in my eyes and I love you; for this reason, it is a special joy for Me to train you. When temptations and the opponent come upon you like a river, I want you to know that,This was from Me.

I want you to know that your weakness has need of My strength, and your safety lies in allowing Me to protect you. I want you to know that when you are in difficult conditions, among people who do not understand you, and cast you away,This was from Me.

I am your God, the circumstances of your life are in My hands; you did not end up in your position by chance; it is precisely the position I have appointed for you. Weren’t you asking Me to teach you humility? And there – I placed you precisely in the atmosphere, the school where they teach this lesson. Your atmosphere, and those who live around you, are merely performing My will. Do you have financial difficulties and just barely make it? Know that, This was from Me.

I want you to know that I dispose of your money, so take refuge in Me and know that you are dependant upon Me. I want you to know that My storehouses are inexhaustible, and I am faithful in My promises. Let it never happen that they tell you in your need, “Do not believe in your Lord and God.” Have you ever spent the night in affliction? Are you separated from your relatives, the people you love? I allowed it to affect you so you turn to Me, and in Me to find consolation and comfort. Did your friend or someone to whom you opened your heart, deceive you? This was from Me.

I allowed this frustration to touch you so that you may learn that your best friend is the Lord. I want you to bring everything to Me and tell Me everything. Did someone slander you? Leave it to Me; be attached to Me, in Me your refuge so that you can hide from the contradiction of the nations. I will make your righteousness shine like light and your life like midday noon. Your plans were destroyed? Your soul yielded and you are exhausted? This was from Me.

You made plans and have your own aims; you brought them to Me to bless them. But I want you to leave it to Me, to direct and guide the circumstances of your life by the hand, because you are the orphan, not the protagonist. Unexpected failures found you and despair overcame your heart, know That this was from Me.

Because with this tiredness and anxiety I am testing how strong your faith is in My promises and your boldness in prayer for your relatives. Why, is it not you who entrusted their cares to my providential love? Is it not you who now leave them to the protection of my All Pure Mother? Serious illness found you, which may be healed or may be incurable, and nailed you to your bed. This was from Me. 

Because I want you to know Me more deeply, through physical illness, and to not murmur against this trial I have sent you. And do not try to understand My plans for the salvation of people’s souls in various ways, but unmurmuringly and humbly bow your head  before My goodness. You were dreaming to do something distinct and special for Me and, instead of doing it, you fell into a bed of pain. This was from Me.

Because then you were sunk in your own works and plans and I wouldn’t have been able to draw your thoughts to Me. But I want to teach you the most deep thoughts and My lessons, so that you may serve Me. I want to teach you to sense that you are nothing without Me. Some of my best sons are they, who are cut off from active life, to learn to use the weapon of ceaseless prayer. You were called unexpectedly to undertake a difficult and responsible position, supported in Me.

I entrust these difficulties to you, and for this reason the Lord your God will bless all your works, in all of your paths. In everything your Lord will be your guide and teacher. On this day in your hands, My child, I gave this vessel with the divine myrrh, for you to use freely. Remember always that every difficulty that you will come across, every offensive word, every slander and criticism, every obstacle to your works, which could cause frustration and disappointment, every revelation of your weakness and incabability, will be anointed with this oil, This was from Me.

Know and remember always, no matter where you are, That whatsoever stings, will be dulled as soon as you learn in all things, to look at Me.

Everything was sent to you by Me, for the perfection of your soul.All these things were from Me.
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From Life-Miracles-Prophecies of Saint Sraphim of Viritsa pp143-147, Translated by Fr. Nicholas Palis, Orthodox Kypseli Publications, 2005, Thessaloniki, Greece Shared from ICONANDLIGHT web page

March 24, 2026

Historical Roots St. Mary's Orthodox Church Calgary (March 3, 2026)

It is the yearning of every immigrant, who moves  to a new country to continue their faith and traditions in their new homeland.  Malankara Orthodox Christians began immigration to Canada as early as the 1960s and 70s and settled down in different provinces. A good number of them settled in Edmonton, Calgary and other parts of Alberta. In the 80s, the Malankara Orthodox Christians in Edmonton, the capital city of Alberta, were able to establish a church in the name of the first canonized saint of Malankara Orthodox Church, St. Gregorios of Parumala.

The Calgary community, inspired by the establishment of the parish in Edmonton, organized more frequent prayer meetings at their homes in our tradition as time permitted. These spiritual gatherings progressed to occasional Holy Qurbana led by Clergy from Edmonton and other parishes in North America.  

This arrangement continued till 2000 when the Diocesan Bishop H.G Makarios, at the request of the community, directed the Edmonton Parish priest Rev. Fr. Lazarus to begin work towards establishing a dedicated congregation in Calgary.

On St. Thomas Day, December 21st 2002 the Calgary congregation was blessed to be elevated to a full-fledged parish in the name of St. Mary by the Diocesan Metropolitan.  The occasion was graced by the presence of Clergy and laity from Edmonton and other local congregation including Ethiopian and Orthodox Church in America (OCA) The Parish continued to have monthly Holy Qurbana led by Fr. Lazarus and followed by Fr. Philipose Philipose from Edmonton.  It officially came under the Southwest Diocese of North America in 2009 during the reorganization of Malankara Orthodox Dioceses. The parish which started off with about 10 families has now more than 100 families attending the Church, with more and more immigrants having moved to Calgary in the past few years.

The continual growth over the last decade warranted the need for a dedicated priest to nourish the life of the Parish. The Diocesan Bishop H.G Alexios Mar Eusebius appointed Fr. Binny M. Kuruvilla as  full-time resident priest from August 15, 2010 to fulfill this role. The presence of a resident Vicar helped to have frequent regular Holy Qurbana and services ,n time , October 2019 South West Diocesan Bishop H.G  Zacharias Mar Aprem appointed Fr. George Varughese (Shabu Achen) as vicar of the Parish. 

The Church is moving towards yet another milestone this year as a Parish under the newly formed Canadian Diocese and God willing on May 30, 2026, to a permanent place of worship.  On this day of recollecting the second memory of Lazarus Rambachan our founding priest, It seem fitting to ponder a bit on the past and  post for any who may not be familiar with the historical roots of the parish . Let us continue to hold  prayers for each of us and Christ mercy guide as as individuals, as Parish and Church under the Catholicate firmly rooted in Calgary as an Orthodox Christian community accessible to all , all languages , all cultures for whom Christ became Incarnate. 

In Christ, 
George Varghese
March 3, 2026