The Presbyters' Council of Central Indiana Orthodox Christian Churches, clergy and faithful gathered together for Pan-Orthodox vespers of the Sunday of Triumph of Orthodoxy.
Where: Holy Trinity Orthodox Church - 3500 W 106th St, Carmel, IN 46032
When: Sunday, March 5 at 5 PM
The Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy is celebrated on the first Sunday of Great Lent. It is the celebration of the victory of the iconodules over the iconoclasts by the decision of the Seventh Ecumenical Council. Therefore, the service is to commemorate the restoration of icons for use in services and private devotional life of Christians.
Services often include the clergy or the faithful triumphantly processing around the church, holding icons of their patron or parish saints. In areas where multiple jurisdictions exist (such as the United States), Pan-Orthodox Vespers are also usually celebrated in the evening.
The theme of the day is victory of the True Faith. "This is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith" +1 John 5:4.
Also, the icons of the saints bear witness that man, "created in the image and likeness of God" +Gen 1:26, becomes holy and godlike through the purification of himself as God's living image.
The connection of the victory over iconoclasm is truly historical -- the first Triumph of Orthodoxy took place on this particular Sunday.
“He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of His nature.” +Hebrews 1:3:
“He who has seen Me has seen the Father” +John 14:9.
Hymns of Triumph of Orthodoxy
Troparion (Tone 2) [1]
We venerate Your most pure image, O Good One,and ask forgiveness of our transgressions, O Christ God.
Of Your own will You were pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh
to deliver Your creatures from bondage to the enemy.
Therefore with thanksgiving we cry aloud to You:
You have filled all with joy, O our Savior,
by coming to save the world.
Kontakion (Tone 8) [2]
No one could describe the Word of the Father;but when He took flesh from you, O Theotokos, He accepted to be described,
and restored the fallen image to its former beauty.
We confess and proclaim our salvation in word and images.
THE SYNODICON: THE AFFIRMATION OF THE ORTHODOX FAITH
As the Prophets beheld, as the Apostles have taught, as the Church has received,
As the Teachers have dogmatized,
As the universe has agreed, as Grace has shown forth,
As Truth has revealed,
As falsehood has been dissolved,
As Wisdom has presented,
As Christ has awarded: thus we declare, thus we assert, thus we preach Christ our true God,
and honor His Saints in words, in writings, in thoughts, in sacrifices, in churches, in Holy Icons;
on the one hand worshiping and reverencing Christ as God and Lord;
and on the other hand honoring as true servants of the same Lord of all,
and accordingly offering them veneration.
This is the Faith of the Apostles;
This is the Faith of the Fathers;
This is the Faith of the Orthodox;
This is the Faith which has established the universe!