The second aspect of Christ's one, indivisible act of salvation of man and his world is the accomplishment of man's reconciliation with God the Father through the forgiveness of sins. This is the redemption and atonement strictly speaking, the release from sins, and the punishment due to sins; the being made "at one" with God.

We welcome and encourage everyone, including our own members, to learn and to grow in knowledge and in Christ. Knowledge of the Faith is extremely necessary and important for all the members of the Church. However, along with knowledge is the practice of our Orthodox Christian faith, Orthopraxia.

Our beloved parish of Saint Andrew will be celebrating two great events,  the Feast-Day of the Annunciation and the Greek Independence Day on Sunday, March 26th immediately following the Divine Liturgy. The celebration is hosted by the St. Andrew Ladies Philoptochos Society Chapter under the chairmanship of Mary Jo Tirikos.

Christ is the incarnate Logos/Word of God. He is the Teacher and Master sent by God to the world. He is the embodiment of God Himself in human form. He is "the image of the invisible God" (Col. 1:15). In Him "the fullness of Divinity dwells bodily" (Col. 2:9). The person who sees Jesus sees God the Father (St. John 14:9). He is the "reflection of the glory of God and the express image of His person" (Heb. 1:3). He is the "Light of the world" Who "enlightens every man...coming into the world" (St. John 8:12, 1:9). To be saved by Jesus Christ is first of all to be enlightened by Him; to see Him as the Light, and to see all things in the light of Him. It is to know Him as "the Truth" (St. John 14:6); and to know the truth of Him.

Although Jesus did not sin and did not have to suffer and die, He voluntarily took upon Himself the sins of the world and voluntarily gave Himself up to suffering and death for the sake of salvation. This was His task as the Messiah-Savior:

THE HYMNS FROM THE SUNDAY OF THE VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
Third Kathisma. Eighth Tone

Upon tasting the fruit of the tree in the Paradise of Old, I was stripped naked, and death was brought in by the enemy. But now the tree of the Cross has been set upon the earth. It clothes people with life and the whole world has been filled with joy. As we behold the Cross venerated, O People, let us all cry out in faith and with one voice, "His house is full of glory."