bright friday

Leave a comment April 17, 2015 nourishinggrace

I know you to be a radiant and holy temple of the Master of all, O Maiden, and a Spring whence sprang forth Christ, the Water of immortality, wherefrom we are given to drink.

Third ode of the Canon to the Mother of God

Bright Week Friday

“The Most Holy Mother of God prays for us ceaselessly. She is always visiting us. Whenever we turn to her in our heart, she is there. After the Lord, she is the greatest protection for mankind. How many churches there are in the world that are dedicated to the Most Holy Mother of God! How many healing springs where people are cured of their ailments have sprung up in places where the Most Holy Theotokos appeared and blessed those springs to heal both the sick and the healthy! She is constantly, by our side, and all too often we forget her.”

+ Elder Thaddeus

Lemon Pasta with Tuna and Capers

1 Comment April 17, 2015 nourishinggrace

Rethinking tuna casserole over here… When I grew up, there was this tuna casserole dish that most mom’s in our neighborhood made. It usually had spirally noodles, canned tuna, mayonnaise and topped with bread crumbs that got really crispy when it baked in the oven. To be honest, I didn’t really like it – mostly because canned tuna doesn’t really taste that good when it has been cooked in an oven for 45 minutes and it always was dry.

This lemon tuna pasta is a modern twist on an old weeknight staple. All that is cooked is the pasta. The rest you just add to the bowl and toss. Try it, I hope you like it. This is also a great weeknight meal for those nights when you have very little time to spare. Serve it with a large salad, and this is a healthy dinner.

My normal journey through the grocery store involves mostly the outer edges of the market. That is where the perishable products are displayed, and I try as often as possible (most nights) to feed my family foods that are alive… because we are alive! Those are nourishing and contain more nutrients. With that in mind, there are some processed products that we buy, and so whenever applicable I will share the brand. You’ll note in all cases that the ingredient list is short and contains ingredients that are pronounceable and also ingredients that you know what they are.

The tuna in this dish is really yummy, it is moist and the capers add this little zing to the already lemon zesty pasta.

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Lemon Pasta with Tuna and Capers

Ingredients:

1 package Trader Joe’s Lemon Parappadale Pasta

1 can tuna packed in olive oil

2 tablespoons capers

extra olive oil to drizzle

salt and pepper to taste

1. Prepare pasta according to directions. You need not use the lemon pasta, but it gives it a nice kick and goes really well with the capers (which are my hubby’s favorite!). Trader Joe’s also has a plain parppardelle also or you can use spirally noodles. Just look at the ingredients. Make sure it is short and simple.

2. Open tuna and add tuna and oil into can (do not drain). Separate the tuna with a fork. Add capers.

3. When pasta is done cooking, strain and add to bowl. Toss. Add more olive oil, several tablespoons. Salt and Pepper to taste.

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Enjoy!

bright thursday

Leave a comment April 16, 2015 nourishinggrace

“This is the day of Resurrection; Let us be radiant in the festival! Let us embrace one another; Let us call brothers, even those who hate us, And forgive all things in the resurrection. And therefore let us proclaim: Christ is risen from the dead, By death He has trampled upon death, and to those in the tombs He is bestowing Life!”

Paschal Hymn

Let God Arise

This hymn is chanted on Pascha but also during Bright Week, and it is a remembrance of the beginning of the Fast – when we celebrated Forgiveness Vespers – calling to remembrance the essence of the Fast – to love God above all and love our neighbor as ourselves.

Basking in the jubilation of the Resurrection, the faithful greet one another with “Christ is Risen!” before even saying hello.

Truly this is the most joyous time of our year!

bright wednesday

Leave a comment April 15, 2015 nourishinggrace

For with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is plenteous redemption.

Psalm 130:7

On this Bright Wednesday, may our hearts rejoice and delight

in the radiant joy and abundant fullness of the Resurrection.

cool refreshing Bulgarian cucumber soup

Leave a comment April 15, 2015 nourishinggrace

After forty days of fasting from meat, it might be disappointing to see a vegetarian recipe, but this soup is soooo delicious. We have a really wonderful friend from Bulgaria who brought this over for Pascha. This is a great no cook soup – perfect for a warm sunny day. The cucumbers and dill make it light and fresh, but then the walnuts add a richness to an already delicious soup.

One note – this recipe is made from a homemade yogurt, which has a soupier consistency, but really rich flavor. If you buy store bought then stay away from greek yogurt, because it has had all the whey strained out – which is why it is so thick. Look for Seven Stars plain yogurt and make sure you buy full fat…. harder to find, but better for you.

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Bulgarian Cucumber Soup

Ingredients

1 large fresh cucumber, shredded through a large holed grater
2 small garlic cloves, minced
½ cup fresh dill, finely chopped
2½ cups plain yogurt
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
approximately ⅓ cup water
2 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped

Directions

Place all ingredients (except water) into large bowl and stir well to incorporate. Add water until you get desired consistency… like a thin pea soup.

Serve chilled.

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bright tuesday

Leave a comment April 14, 2015 nourishinggrace

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”

(2 Corinthians 5: 17)

The Light of Christ illumines – the Royal Doors of our Churches stand fully open.

There is no fasting.

And this joy of the Resurrection we extol until Pentecost!

bright monday

Leave a comment April 14, 2015 nourishinggrace

Now all things have been filled with light, both heaven and earth and those beneath the earth; so let all creation sing of Christ’s rising, by which it is established.

Canon of Pascha

troparion – third ode

The joyous overflowing Feast of Pascha has poured over into Bright Week.

It is a time for keeping Pascha!

Christ is Risen! Truly He is risen!

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

Leave a comment April 11, 2015 nourishinggrace

Christ is risen from the dead! Trampling down death by death and on those in the tombs bestowing life!

Paschal Troparion

The Catechetical Sermon of St. John Chrysostom is read throughout all Orthodox Churches, in the whole world, during Matins of Pascha.

If any man be devout and love God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast. If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord. If any have labored long in fasting, let him now receive his recompense. If any have wrought from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If any have come at the third hour, let him with thankfulness keep the feast. If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall in nowise be deprived thereof. If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing. If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; for the Lord, who is jealous of his honor, will accept the last even as the first; he gives rest unto him who comes at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who has wrought from the first hour.

And he shows mercy upon the last, and cares for the first; and to the one he gives, and upon the other he bestows gifts. And he both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honors the acts and praises the offering. Wherefore, enter you all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward, both the first, and likewise the second. You rich and poor together, hold high festival. You sober and you heedless, honor the day. Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast. The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away.

Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness. let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon has shown forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Savior’s death has set us free. He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it. By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive. He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry: Hell, said he, was embittered, when it encountered Thee in the lower regions. It was embittered, for it was abolished. It was embittered, for it was mocked. It was embittered, for it was slain. It was embittered, for it was overthrown. It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains. It took a body, and met God face to face. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.

O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory? Christ is risen, and you are overthrown. Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and life reigns. Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave. For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.

originally posted at http://oca.org/fs/sermons/the-paschal-sermon