On February 7th, the day of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, Vladika Peter celebrated his nameday.  This Sunday also stood out with special events for our parish family in several other ways.  For his work and service to the church, Fr. Andrei was granted a decorated cross and for his serving multiple Liturgies throughout the weekdays, Fr. Valery was granted a kamilavka.  On this day during the Divine Liturgy, the Gospel parable of the Last Judgment was read.  This is the next to last of the preparatory Sundays before the beginning of Great Lent and is called "meatfare" as from this point on we no longer partake of meat products until Pascha.  Providing the lead-in to shrovetide or "maslenitsa" week, a wonderful lunch was prepared by the Sisterhood which was replete with many bliny!