St. Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church of Atwater, CA

Annual Parish Feast on Sunday November 8th.

Byzanfest Online Orthodox Christian Film Festival is now showing! Streaming the very best Orthodox inspired short-films from around the global on YouTube. Below is the Youtube link. Enjoy!

ByzanFest is only a couple of days away! Visit ByzanFest.com for more info.

ByzanFest is the world's only web film festival totally dedicated to Orthodox Christian short-films. The aim is to screen the very best Orthodox stories and share them with the world. The screenings will be held online from October 23 to November 7 (Australian Eastern Standard Time). For more information, visit the official ByzanFest website. Below is also the official trailer for ByzanFest. https://www.byzanfest.com/

Sunday August 02 - 10:00am Divine Liturgy with our new Iconostasis Don't forget the Dormition Fast begins today August 1st and continues until August 14th

His Eminence Archbishop BENJAMIN has permitted our community to reopen. Felt so good to be back to church again! Glory to God for all things!

Beautiful video!

There is much advice to the faithful on how to pray and worship during these times when, in many places, churches are closed to the faithful, even if services are being held; and in many churches, there are not even services behind the locked doors. Let us pray that God will shorten the days that the pestilence is upon us. Read more https://orthochristian.com/130080.html

Still a work in progress, but our new iconostasis is finally up! Glory to God! Over the next couple of months, more icons will be added as well as the royal doors. Here are a few pictures. More pictures will be posted as the work progresses.

Here is a short little animation called Father Gabriel's Prayer. In these difficult times, let prayer constantly flow from our hearts and our lips. Like Father Gabriel shows, prayer can be said in the mornings or evenings, while we eat, work or while we're sitting somewhere quietly.

The Annunciation of our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary Commemorated March 25 The Feast of the Annunciation is one of the earliest Christian feasts, and was already being celebrated in the fourth century. T here is a painting of the Annunciation in the catacomb of Priscilla in Rome dating from the second century. The Council of Toledo in 656 mentions the Feast, and the Council in Trullo in 692 says that the Annunciation was celebrated during Great Lent....Continue reading

Here is a link to one of our website prayer pages with text and audio prayers. https://www.orthodoxmerced.org/prayers1 A Prayer in Time of Need ... Almighty God, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, come to my help and deliver me from this difficulty that besets me. I believe Lord, that all trials of life are under Your care and that all things work for the good of those who love You. Take away from me fear, anxiety and distress. Help me to face and endure my difficulty with faith, courage and wisdom. Grant that this trial may bring me closer to You for You are my rock and refuge, my comfort and hope, my delight and joy. I trust in Your love and compassion. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Amen

St Gregory Palamas 2nd Sunday of Great Lent Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica, was born in the year 1296 in Constantinople. Saint Gregory’s father became a prominent dignitiary at the court of Andronicus II Paleologos (1282-1328), but he soon died, and Andronicus himself took part in the raising and education of the fatherless boy. Endowed with fine abilities and great diligence, Gregory mastered all the subjects which then comprised the full course of medieva...l higher education. The emperor hoped that the youth would devote himself to government work. But Gregory, barely twenty years old, withdrew to Mount Athos in the year 1316 (other sources say 1318) and became a novice in the Vatopedi monastery under the guidance of the monastic Elder Saint Nicodemus of Vatopedi (July 11). Read More https://www.oca.org//12-2nd-sunday-of-great-lent-st-gregor