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In
October
1951,
the
A.R.O.Y.
National
Board
instituted
the
tradition
of
A.R.O.Y.
Sunday
which
began
on
the
Sunday
of
the
Triumph
of
Orthodoxy,
the
First
Sunday
in
Great
Lent,
1952.
Later
that
year,
they
went
on
to
incorporate
a
second
A.R.O.Y.
Sunday
to
be
held
during
Christmas
Lent.
After
Saint
Nicholas
was
chosen
as
the
Patron
Saint
of
A.R.O.Y.,
the
Pre-Christmas
observance
was
established
as
the
Sunday
nearest
the
celebration
of
the
Feast
of
Saint
Nicholas. |
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Each
year
on
the
Sunday
closest
to
the
Feast
of
our
Patron
Saint
Nicholas
(December
6)
and
the
first
Sunday
of
Great
Lent
(Sunday
of
the
Triumph
of
Orthodoxy),
National
A.R.O.Y.
encourages
all
its
chapters
to
initiate
religious
activities,
including
member
participation
in
the
Sacraments
of
Confession
and
Holy
Communion.
Chapters
should participate in such activities throughout
the
year,
but
the
A.R.O.Y.
as
a
whole
felt
it
important
especially
at
these
times
for
us,
the
young
people
of
the
Church,
to
focus
on
our
spiritual
growth.
In
this
way
we
honor
Saint
Nicholas,
known
universally
for
his
love
of
children
and
young
people,
and
also
show
our
unity
on
a
day
when
the
Church
commemorates
the
triumph
of
the
Church
over
division
and
teachings
contrary
to
the
True
Faith.
Among
the
activities
chapters
undertake
during
these
weekends
include:
-
Spiritual
retreat
(overnight
or
daytime) [click
here]
-
Working
at
a
local
soup
kitchen,
food
pantry,
homeless
shelter,
etc.
-
Organizing
a
food
drive
for
the
needy
-
Visiting
a
monastery
-
Participating
in
the
religious
services
(acting
as
greeters,
reading
the
epistle,
assisting
the
ushers,
etc.)
-
Hosting
a
luncheon
or
coffee
hour
and
donating
the
profit
to
a
charitable
cause
We
encourage
all
chapters
to
make
a
strong
effort
to
do
what
they
can
to
join
with
their
fellow
A.R.O.Y.
members
across
the
continent
as
we
strive
to
live-up
to
our
motto
of
"Dedicated
to
Orthodoxy
through
Faith,
Knowledge
and
Good
Works." |
