Melkite Ladies League

Saint Charbel Makhlouf
1828-1898
Feast day: July 24

Saint Charbel, born in a small village in Lebanon, to a poor religious family, entered the Maronite Monastery of St. Maroun, (A Lebanese Maronite order) at 23 and was ordained a priest in1859. He served there for 16 years, then retired to the hermitage of Sts. Peter and Paul. Charbel lived a severe ascetic life of prayer, mortification, and self-denial and had a remarkable devotion to the Eucharist. He had a massive stroke while saying Mass on Christmas Eve and died 7 days later. For 45 days a bright light surrounded his tomb. The monks exhumed his body and it was found incorrupt. For approximately 62 years a viscous liquid came from his body. Many miracles are attributed to his intercession.

Saint Christina the Astonishing
1150-1224
Feast Day: July 24
Patronage: Those who suffer from mental disorders, health care workers for the mentally ill, Millers

Saint Christina the Astonishing was orphaned as a teenager and became a shepherdess. She died when she had a massive seizure and during her funeral, Christina rose and levitated to the roof of the church. Jesus gave her a choice to go to heaven or do penance for those in purgatory. She voluntarily consented to do extreme penances, that were witnessed by many including Cardinal Jacque de Vitry. She entered a Dominican monastery where she died at 74 of natural causes.

July 22

Mary Magdalene[a] (sometimes called Mary of Magdala, or simply the Magdalene or the Madeleine) was a woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to his crucifixion and resurrection.[1] She is mentioned by name twelve times in the canonical gospels, more than most of the apostles and more than any other woman in the gospels, other than Jesus's family. Mary's epithet Magdalene may be a toponymic surname, meaning that she came from the town of Magdala, a fishing town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee in Roman Judea.

Feast Day of Mary Magdalene, July 22 the Holy Myrrh-bearer and Equal to the Apostles. Happy & Blessed feast day to all.

Blessed Feast of St. Elijah

“An angel in the flesh and the cornerstone of the prophets, the second forerunner of the coming of Christ, glorious Elijah sent grace from on high to Elisha, to dispel diseases and to cleanse lepers. Therefore, he pours forth healings on those who honor him.”

Saint Daniel the Prophet
5th century BC
Feast Day: July 21
Patronage: Courage, Fortitude, and Strength

Daniel, meaning “God is my Judge”, is one of the four Great Prophets in the Old Testament and the writer of the book of scripture that bears his name, the Book of Daniel. He is from the royal family of David and is known for his wisdom, intelligence, faithfulness to God, and interpreting of dreams. Daniel was taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar to serve in his court and his successors. After Daniel interpreted the King's dream correctly he became a government official. His wisdom saved Suzanna from corrupt Jewish elders, and his adherence to God’s law sent him to the lion's den where he was miraculously unhurt. Daniel was killed by Haman a wicked prime minister of Ahasuerus. Daniel’s life is a synopsis of the Jewish Babylonian Captivity.

Happy & Blessed Feast Day to all especially to all who bear his name in any form 🙏

Saint Elijah
900 BC
Feast Day: July 20
Patronage: Carmelites, Air Forces, civil aeronautics, Romanian Air Force

Saint Elijah or Elias is considered one of the greatest Old Testament prophets who lived in Israel during the reign of King Ahab. His life and mission are chronicled in the Book of Kings with many victories and miracles. He is considered the Father of the Carmelites and the order traces its origin to him. During his ministry, he went up to Mount Carmel in Palestine to live and pray. One day while speaking with his successor Elisha on the hills of Moab they were separated when Elijah was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot. He later appeared with Moses at the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor.

Happy Feast Day to all especially the ones named after this Saint 🙏

July 19
Saint of the day

St Macrina, sister of St Basil the Great and St Gregory of Nyssa (380)

She was sought as a bride by many because of her exceptional beauty and wisdom as well as her noble birth. She was betrothed at a young age, and when her betrothed died, she refused to consider any more suitors, saying that since her betrothed was alive in Christ, it was not right for her to turn to another. Instead she turned to a life of virginity, ascetic struggle and prayer. She greatly influenced her younger brothers, turning them from worldly things to monastic life. She established a monastery and, with her mother Emilia, became a nun. She reposed in peace in 379.

Her brother St Gregory of Nyssa held her in special honor. He was present at her death and gave a moving oration at her funeral. He describes how, in her last moments, she prayed thus to God: 'Thou, O Lord, givest rest to our bodies in the sleep of death for a little time, then Thou wilt waken them again with the Last Trumpet. Forgive me, and grant that, when my soul is parted from my body, it may be presented before Thee stainless and without sin, and that it may be as incense before Thee.' Then she made the sign of the Cross on her brow, eyes, face and heart, and died. St Gregory's work on the resurrection of the dead (available in English as On the Soul and Resurrection) is cast in the form of a dialogue between himself and his sister Macrina in which he is the earnest but ignorant student and she the wise and patient teacher. So do the Saints honor the Saints.

July 17
Saint of the day

Great-martyr Marina (Margaret) of Antioch in Pisidia (270)

Marina was born in Antioch of Pisidia to pagan parents; her father was a pagan priest. When she was about twelve years old her mother died, and she was given into the care of a woman who told her of the Gospel of Christ. She was immediately filled with love for Christ and consecrated her life to His service. Her father, hearing of this, was furious and disowned her. When she was fifteen years old, she was brought before the governor Olymbrius, who first desired to marry her and, when she refused, ordered her to make sacrifice to the idols.

She refused and proclaimed herself a Christian. For this she was harshly tortured, imprisoned, and finally beheaded. While she was in prison she was tormented by demons, but drove them away by her prayers. For this reason she is especially invoked for deliverance from demonic possession. One of her hands is preserved at Vatopedi Monastery on the Holy Mountain, and some of her relics are preserved at an Albanian Monastery dedicated to her.

🔹🔹🔹SAVE THE DATE 🔹🔹🔹
St. Anne’s Cathedral Annual Festival on dates: Friday thru Sunday September 20 - 22

Participate in your Church’s fundraising efforts by buying Festival Raffle tickets.
Call the Church Office at 818-761-2024

Your Church thanks you for your continued support !

Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Feast day: July 16
Patron saint of Chile

Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land during the late 12th and early to mid 13th centuries. They built a chapel in the midst of their hermitages which they dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and celebrated a special Mass and Office in her honor. In 1726 it became a celebration of the universal Church under the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Celebrating Saint Anne’s Feast Day our cathedral Patroness.

Sunday, July 28, 2024
We will have a Combined Divine Liturgy at 11:30 am followed by a celebration in the Cathedral Hall.

Everyone is invited to celebrate with us the Feast of our beloved Cathedral.

July 13
Saint of the day
St Sarah of Egypt

During St. Sarah's sixty years living as a hermit near the Nile, she fought with many demons tempting her to indulge in fornication.

She lived a very ascetic life. Many visited her in the desert and sought her advice. She is reported to have said "It is good to give alms for men's sake. Even if it is only done to please men, through it one can begin to seek to please God."

Amma Sarah is one of the few women to be included in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers.

July 13
† Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel

On this day all the many visitations and miracles of the holy Archangel, recorded in Holy Scripture and ever since, are commemorated.

This feast duplicates the Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel that is celebrated on March 26, the day after Annunciation; it is thought that it was added to the calendar here some time in the ninth century, so that it could be celebrated more festively outside of Great Lent.

Happy & Blessed Feast Day to all especially to all who bear his name in any form 🙏

Saint Veronica
Died: 1st C.

Feast Day: July 12
Patronage: Laundry workers, Photographers

Saint Veronica offered her veil to Jesus to wipe his face on his way to Calvary and Christ left his image miraculously imprinted on it. This beautiful act of charity is commemorated at the sixth station of the way of the cross. Veronica’s veil is one of the Vatican’s most treasured relics. St. Peter’s Basilica displays the veil each year on the 5th Sunday of Lent, Passion Sunday.

Let's Have Fun Together at the St. Anne Social Club Annual Picnic!

LOCATION
Lake Balboa Park
6300 Balboa Blvd, Encino, CA
PAVILION #1

DATE AND TIME
July 13, 2024, 9:00am to 7:00pm

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Social Club will offer hamburgers, hot dogs, soft drinks, games & activities.

We ask each family bring either an appetizer or a dessert plate good for 10 people to share.

For your comfort, BYOC… bring your own foldable chairs or picnic blankets.

Follow the map shown below to reach our picnic spot -PAVILION #1

Saint Amelia
741-772
Feast Day: July 10

Patronage: arm and shoulder pain, fevers, bruises, fishermen, farmers, and Ghent, Belgium

Saint Amelia was born into a religious family in the now Belgium-Luxembourg area. She was preparing to enter the Benedictine Abbey at Munsterbilsen when Charles, son of King Pepin became enamored with her beauty and virtue. He pursued her for several years and at one point broke her arm in a struggle in which it was miraculously healed. Charles then resigned himself to her religious calling. Many miracles are attributed to her before and after her death.

Church Office Closed

Please note that the Church office will be closed on Thursday, July 4th and Friday July 5th, in observance of Independence Day.

We wish everyone a safe and happy 4th of July weekend!

June 29

June 29 feast of the Holy, Glorious and All-praised Leaders of the Apostles, Saint Peter & Paul
On June 29 of every year, the Eastern Church celebrates the Feast Day of Saint Peter & Paul after a preparation period called the Apostles Fast.
Historically, the reason why the Church combined the Feast Day of the two apostles into one was that they both martyred in Rome and it is said on the same day during Nero’s persecution in approximately 68 AD.
Theologically, the Holy Apostles Peter & Paul are often depicted together holding a Church since they are considered “pillars” of the church for their teachings and the fact that they established numerous Churches.

Happy and Blessed Feast Day to all especially to all who bear their name in any form 🙏

June 27

Our venerable father Sampson the Hospitaler at Constantinople, priest, a shelterer of the poor, who it is said built a hospital at the encouragement of the emperor Justinian, whom he had cured of a sickness. (530)

The holy Joanna the Myrrhbearer. Wife to Chuza, the steward of King Herod (Lk.8:3), she buried the head of Saint John the Baptist on the Mount of Olives. She was present at both the Passion and the Resurrection of Christ.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Feast day: June 27

Patroness of the Republic of Haiti and Almoradi, Spain

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, also known as Our Lady of Perpetual Succour and Our Mother of Perpetual Help is the title given to a 15th-century icon that originated in the Keras Kardiotissas Monastery and has been in Rome since 1499. Due to the promotion of the image by the Redemptorist Priests since 1865 many reproductions have been made and venerated.

Here is a list of the meaning of some of the elements of the icon:

• Mary’s eyes, filled with compassion and love, are directed toward us.

• Our Lady is clothed in the colors of virgins (red) and of mothers (blue). These are also royal colors.

• The star on Mary’s veil reminds us that she is the dawn announcing the coming of Christ.

• The Christ Child grasps his mother’s hand as though he is frightened by what he sees.

• In His hurry to reach his mother, Jesus has almost lost one of his sandals. He became human, like us, in all things but sin.

• On Our Lady’s left and right, we see the reasons for the child’s fear. On the right is the Archangel Gabriel, holding a cross and four nails. On the left is the Archangel Michael, holding a lance and a gall-sop of Christ’s Passion. This vision of the instruments of the crucifixion has driven the young Jesus to his mother’s protective embrace.

June 28

Synaxis of the Icon of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos "Of the Three Hands"

Saint John of Damascus (December 4), the great defender of Orthodoxy against the iconoclasts, was falsely accused of plotting against the Caliph of Damascus through the intrigues of the iconoclast Emperor Leo the Isaurian (reigned 717-741).

The Caliph ordered St John's hand to be cut off for his suspected treachery. The saint asked for the severed hand, and passed the night praying fervently for the aid before an icon of the most holy Theotokos.

Waking in the morning, he found his hand miraculously restored, with only a scar around the wrist where it had been completely severed. In thanksgiving, St John had a silver hand mounted on the icon. When he became a monk in the monastery of St Sabbas in the Holy Land, he took the icon with him.

It remained there until it was given to St Sabbas (Sava) of Serbia (January 14), who brought it to Serbia. Later it was miraculously taken to the Hilandar Monastery on the Holy Mountain (carried, according to legend, from Serbia to Mt Athos by an unguided donkey), where it may now be found.

June 25
Saint of the day
Virgin-Martyr Febronia of Nisibis (310)

Though the daughter of a Roman senator and a great beauty, she fled the world and entered a monastery in Mesopotamia. (So great was her beauty that the abbess had her stand behind a screen while reading to her monastic sisters.)

At that time the Emperor Diocletian sent a certain Selenus, along with his nephew Lysimachus, on a mission to find and destroy Christians in the East. Though Selenus was a fierce persecutor of the Christians, Lysimachus felt sympathy for them and secretly protected them whenever he could.

Selenus and his party came to Nisibis, where Febronia's virtue and holiness had already become well-known, though she was still only twenty years old. Selenus summoned her and made every effort to convince her to renounce her faith. When she stood firm, she was first viciously dismembered then beheaded.

Lysimachus gathered her relics and took them to the monastery for burial. At the monastery he, together with many soldiers, were baptized. The holy Febronia's relics worked many healings, and she herself appeared to the other nuns on the anniversary of her repose, standing in her usual place among her sisters. Her relics were translated to Constantinople in 363.