Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.” (Mark 9:17-31)

Protection of the Holy Virgin Mary Church is an Orthodox Christian Church the members of which collectively and personally strive to "work out their salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12) The Orthodox Christian Church by the grace of the Holy Spirit is that bulwark of God against which the "gates of hell" (St. Matthew 16:18) could not and will not overcome by virtue of our Lord Jesus Christ rising from the dead. The Orthodox Christian Church believes and practices all that which our Lord Jesus Christ taught His disciples and Apostles and which they taught the Church. (St. Matthew 28:20, Ephesians 2:20) Weekly services include Great Vespers, Saturday at 5:30 pm and Divine Liturgy, Sunday at 10:00 am. As the only Orthodox Church in the Clarksville/Fort Campbell area, Protection of the Holy Virgin Mary has dedicated herself to serve all Orthodox faithful in the area and to reach out to those seeking the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ. As the Lord's vineyard in Clarksville, we also seek to be leaven in the greater community, extending our Lord’s compassion and mercy to all we meet. Please join our growing community or visit us if you are in the area.

Whether you attend an Orthodox Church regularly or are anticipating a visit, observing the content of the section on Church Etiquette below will insure a meaningful participation and or visit.

Adult Education - Following our fellowship meal. I encourage all adults to participate. It is rare indeed to have someone of the educational caliber as Daniel Cantey, Ph.D., to provide sound, Orthodox instruction in such a small parish. If you are not staying for adult education, you are truly missing an opportunity to grow spiritually.

Confession - The rule in this parish has always been participation in the Sacrament of Confession no less than once a month for those who receive the Holy Eucharist no less than once a month. If you receive the Holy Eucharist less than once a month, then Holy Confession must precede each reception of the Holy Eucharist. The Church directs us in this way in response to the observation and exhortation of St. Paul when he writes, "So, then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup. For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep. If we were properly judging ourselves, we would not be judged, but when we are judged bythe Lord, we are disciplined, so that we may not be condemned with the world." (I Cor 11:27-32)

Children and Confession - Children as well must participate in Holy Confession as part of their preparation to receive the Holy Eucharist. I understand each child is unique and develops morally at their own pace. If your child is between age 7 - 10, and has not yet been instructed in how to make confession, discuss the matter with me (Fr. Peter).