The Protection of the Theotokos Orthodox Church
in Shizuoka
The Holy Autonomous Orthodox Church in Japan
2026年度静岡ハリストス正教会 信徒総会開催（7/19）
活動報告、活動予定、会計報告、予算案などが話されました。
2026年度の静岡教会の活動目標
「さらに体験を深め学び次世代に繋ぐ」
7/11~12
全国公会 開催
東京復活大聖堂にて、府主教座下はじめ全国の神品教役者、各教会執事長などの代議員が会し、各教会教勢・動静・会計報告などが話されました。
府主教座下からは「教会は交わるということが大切で、教会内外問わず、人と人が交流する場としてほしい」とのお話がありました。
6/28
東京大主教教区
教区会議開催
静岡教会から、司祭、執事長、執事の3名が参加しました。
セラフィム府主教座下は、「子供たちを教会に参祷させること、またその努力の重要性について協調されました。
Episcopal Visitation
On16-17 of May, our Metropolitan, His Eminence Seraphim visited parishes both in Hamamatsu and in Shizuoka.
Resurrection Festival
Festival of festivals, celebration of celebrations
4/12
At Shizuoka Church
We celebrated the Great Feast of the Resurrection of the Lord.
On April 19th, we celebrated the Great Feast of the Resurrection of the Lord at Hamamatsu Chapel(postponed).
The Birth of the Virgin Mary (September 20th & 21st) (Postponed)
Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (September 27th, 28th) (Postponed)
We celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary. The salvation of humanity begins here and leads to the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Around 326 AD, Helena, mother of Roman Emperor Constantine I (the Great), made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and celebrated the discovery of the cross on which the Lord was crucified.
The Birth of the Theotokos
The blessing of the five rice cakes the night before
This commemorates the miracle of Jesus feeding 5,000 people with five loaves of bread, but historically, it is a remnant of a time when the bread of a baker was blessed at this point during evening prayers in a certain monastery.
The Epiphany of the Cross
Offering of the Cross on the Eve
From the Holy of Holies (iconostasis/the wall of icons at the front, at the back), the priest raises the cross above his head and presents it to the sanctuary (nave/where the faithful are).
The Birth of the Theotokos
The beginning of the Divine Liturgy
The priest raising his hands high above his head is a gesture of prayer for the arrival of the Holy Spirit.
The Epiphany of the Cross
Prostration before the cross
The priest sings the Hymn of the Cross three times and bows down, and then the faithful also sing it three times and bow down.
The Birth of the Theotokos
Divine Liturgy
Reading the Gospels
We will read the prescribed Gospels, followed by a sermon.
The Epiphany of the Cross
A cross is placed in the center of the church.
We received a floral offering from a parishioner, and we used it to create a stand for the cross.
THE FEASTS OF TRANSFIGURATION
AND
THE DORMITION
Celebrated Festal Divine Liturgies:
Transfiguration of the Lord on 17 August (2 days in advance the Calendar)
Dormition of the Theotokos on 24 August (4 days in advance the Calendar)
The Feast of Transfiguration celebrates the appearance of Jesus Christ in a radiant white light on Mount Tabor.
His transformation is commemorated in this feast.
On this day, with connection to the Lord's Transfiguration, fruits and vegetables that have grown and ripened (transformed!) are blessed.
The Feast of the Dormition commemorates the falling asleep (Dormition) of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary).
Both feast are important in the Orthodox liturgical year cycle.
It is counted among the 12 Major Feasts.
The Feast of Transfiguration:
The beginning of the Divine Liturgy
The Feast of Transfiguration:
Gospel Reading
The Feast of Transfiguration:
Fruits brought by parishioners
The priest blessed these with holy water.
The Feast of Dormition:
The beginning of the Divine Liturgy
The color that symbolizes the Virgin Mary is blue.
Thus the flowers brought to the temple also have blue in them.
The Feast of Dormition
Priest censed people during the Divine Liturgy
All human being s are created as an image and likeness of God . Therefore, people are censed too.
The Feast of Dormition
Sermon
After the reading of the Scriptures in the Liturgy of the Word (first half of the Divine Liturgy), the priest gave sermon of the day.
Before the meeting
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All set! Who do you think you'll see today?
Communication Salon
"Attakai"
"Attakai" started from June,2025.
A calm and gentle time for the conversation and the discussion
If you would like to attend the online meeting
Please let us know via the inquiry form or email. The inquiry form can be found by clicking "Learn more" below!
After the meeting
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Today was fun with lots of topics!
The 2025 Annual Parish Meetings were held
The Divine Liturgy at Shizuoka Church on the day of Annual Parish Meeting
Annual Parish Meeting of Shizuoka Parish
Last year's activities and budget were discussed. This year's goal will be to "make more people to know of Shizuoka Orthodox Church."
The Divine Liturgy at Hamamatsu Mission on the day of Annual Parish Meeting
Hamamatsu Mission Annual Parish Meeting
Faithful reviewed last year's activities and discussed plans for this year. Faithful also discussed the budget and financial statements.
Tokyo Archdiocesan Annual Meeting & All Japan Council were held
On Sunday, June 29th, the Tokyo Archdiocesan Meeting was held at the Holy Resurrection Cathedral (Nicolai Do) in Tokyo.
At the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy on that day, a joint choir of volunteers from parishes in the Archdiocese of Tokyo was formed in the north side of the nave.
The Joint choir and the Cathedral choir sung in antiphonal form during the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy.
On July 12th and 13th (Saturday and Sunday), the All Japan Council was held at the Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Tokyo, where clergy and lay-delegations from all over Japan gathered.
Tokyo Archdiocesan Meeting (June 29th)
All Japan Council (July 12~13th)
Tokyo Archdiocesan Meeting, Divine Liturgy
The Great Entrance (Offering of the bread and wine)
Tokyo Archdiocesan Meeting
Communion of the Faithful during Divine Liturgy
All Japan Council, the Great Entrance of Divine Liturgy
Subdeacon Gordius Matsui
Ordained to Holy Deaconate
6/1 Ascension 6/8 Pentecost
Pentecost
Celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit from heaven upon the disciples 50 days after the resurrection of Christ.
Vigil, eve of the Pentecost
Artoklasia - Blessing of the Five Loaves
Pentecostal Divine Liturgy
The beginning of the Divine Liturgy
Vesper of Pentecost
kneeling prayer
The Feast of Ascension
Celebrates Christ's ascension into heaven 40 days after his resurrection
Ascension Vespers
Artoklasia, Blessing of the Five Loaves
Ascension Divine Liturgy
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, when the priest transfers the Chalice with Eucharist from the altar to the oblation table, he remembers the Ascension of Christ and prayed, "Now and always and forever."
Believers praying during the Ascension Liturgy
From the second floor balcony
We celebrated Pascha/Easter
April 20, 2025
During the 40 days of the Great Lent and Holy Week, we will practice self-restraint in mind and body.
and
Pascha/Easter has finally arrived and we are celebrating with joy
Easter is the "Feast of Festivals" and "Feast of Celebrations" for Orthodox Christians
April 13th marks the Lord's entry into Jerusalem.
We celebrated the Palm Sunday Divine Liturgy.
Remembering the people who celebrated the Lord's entry into Jerusalem with palm branches in their hands, we also pray with palm branches in our hands on Palm Sunday.
This year, the priest blessed Areca palm and carnations with Holy Water during the Vigil.
We celebrated the Resurrection of the Lord with many believers.
From the second floor balcony
Eggs and sweets brought by parishioners
The event included 50 Easter eggs prepared in advance by volunteer members of the congregation, as well as eggs and sweets packed into baskets that everyone had put together with their own creativity.
After the prayer, the priest bless these with sprinkled Holy Water.
March 23, 2025
Third Sunday of Lent, Veneration of the Cross
On this Sunday in the middle of Lent, we bowed down before the Cross, which symbolizes Eternal Life.
A time for the Confession
The confession is heard after the priest reads a prayer.
Each one confesses his/her sins to God
Veneration to the Holy and Precious Cross
After the Divine Liturgy, we bowed before the Holy Cross, the symbol of life.
Holy Cross
Holy Cross decorated with flowers
March 3, 2025
Lenten services have begun
The lamps and the cover cloths of the church have been changed to black and blue.
The First Week of the Great Lent
The canon of the St Andrew of Crete: "Have mercy on us O God, have mercy on us," is repeatedly recited.
During the Great Lent, we pray the Prayer of St Ephrem, asking us to look at our own sins and be given a heart of humility and love.
March 2, 2025: Great Lent has begun again this year.
The Great Lent is a period of abstinence and preparation for the joyful celebration of Pascha/Easter.
After the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, March 2, 2025
During the Penance Vespers, the priest prayed wearing black vestments, which symbolized sorrow and suffering.
At the end of the Forgiveness Vespers, the priest asked the congregation for forgiveness of his sins, and then the priest and all those who attended the vesper asked for forgiveness of each other's sins.
From March 3rd until Pascha/Easter on April 20th, the Shizuoka Orthodox Church will hold the Lenten Services. Please see the schedule for details.
February 16, 2025
Feast of the Meeting of the Lord (postponed),
We celebrated the Feast of St. Nicholas the Equal to the Apostle and the Sunday of Prodigal Son.
The Feast of the Meeting to the Lord is one of the Twelve Great Feasts in the Orthodox Church calendar. The joy of the Prophet Simeon, who had been waiting for the Lord, at being able to meet the infant Jesus is sung in hymns.
The icon on the left side of the Royal Gate is from the Meeting of the Lord.
On the right is an icon of St. Nicholas the Apostle, with his relic inlaid in the lower left.
February 16, 2025
Feast of the Meeting of the Lord (postponed), the Feast of St. Nicholas of Japan, and the Sunday of the Prodigal Son.
The Feast of Assumption is one of the twelve great feasts in the Orthodox Church calendar. The joy of the elder Simeon, who had been waiting for the Lord, at being able to meet the infant Jesus is sung in hymns.
The icon on the left side of the Royal Gate is from the Reception Festival.
On the right is an icon of St. Nicholas the Apostle, with his incorruptible body inlaid in the lower left.
