Holy Trinity held a Community Meal this morning after the celebration of Divine Liturgy. Although 'Maslenitsa', a sort of folk holiday, is typically celebrated on Cheesefare Sunday (March 17), Holy Trinity celebrated Meatfare Sunday (March 10) with a meal of pierogis, kielbasa, and black bread. Meatfare Sunday signifies the final time before Pascha that meat by-products are eaten by those Orthodox Christians who pariticpate in a strict fast, whereby all meat and eggs products are not consumed.
 
Maslenitsa has its origins in both pagan and Christian traditions. In Slavic mythology, Maslenitsa is a celebration of the imminent end of the winter.  On the Christian side, Maslentisa is the last week before the onset of Great Lent. During the week of Maslenitsa, meat is already forbidden to Orthodox Chritians.
 
A special thanks to Reader Steven Bradford, Joe Hutnik, and Nick Sinchuk who organized today's meal. It was a festive time in our community.
 
In attendance for Divine Liturgy and the Community Meal was Mr George Zlotnick who celebrated his 89th birthday on March 9. George was born in 1924.