This week the Chapel is celebrating the feast day of the parish’s patron saint, John Cassian, the Roman. St. John Cassian was a native of Gaul, from the city of Marseille (in modern-day southern France). He travelled the length of the Roman world, and learned great spiritual wisdom from the fathers of the Egyptian desert in Sketis as well as from the fathers dwelling on Mount Sinai. Returning home to his native Gaul after many years of travel and spiritual learning, he authored what is the first collection of teachings of the desert fathers, known as The Conferences. He was an outspoken critic of the heretical patriarch Nestorius of Constantinople, and offered brotherly correction to his fellow laborer in the West, St. Augustine of Hippo. This great saint, the instructor of monks and converser with the angels, went to his repose in the Lord peacefully in the year 435 AD.

In honor of his feast, the parish will be celebrating the following services:
-On Tuesday 3/12 @ 6 PM, the Vigil service (consisting of Great Vespers, Matins, and the First Hour prayers).
-On Wednesday 3/13 @ 9 AM, The Third and Sixth Hour prayers followed immediately by the Divine Liturgy.

A potluck meal will be served after the Divine Liturgy; the meal will be in conformity with the fasting rules of the Church for Cheese Week, so no meat will be permitted.

Following our celebratory common meal, those who can are asked to stay and help clean up the chapel and get things ready for the start of Great Lent on Sunday evening.