Orthodoxy in America
Church Reopening
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With great delight, we announce that our church received blessing from His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon to enter next phase of the church re-opening. We are allowed to have up to 20 people during services. We are especially glad that this decision is made right before the Holy Pentecost. We look forward to seeing more people in church and celebrating Devine Liturgy together. The following safety precautions will be observed 1) Sign-in Sheet – the date and type of service and a list of persons attending (including children over the age of 5) will kept on file in the parish office for each time the church is opened for services. Each household shall provide a telephone number to facilitate contact tracing if necessary. 2) Those coming to church should take their temperature at home that day. Those with a temperature of 100.4 or above should not enter. We have a no contact infrared thermometer available at church to use before entering for those who did not have a thermometer at home. 3) Choir – we have a designated area for the choir which can accommodate 5 stands keeping social distance rules. 4) Collection plate – a box for offerings was placed by the doors of the church. 5) Candles shall not be handled by worshippers. Instead, we have an appointed person that lights candles for those present in the church to prevent contamination. 6) Those who are symptomatic or ill will not be allowed to attend. 7) If it is discovered someone who is ill with the coronavirus has been in church, services may not be held in the church for at least two weeks. 8) Those who are compromised with regard to their health or elderly will be encouraged to stay home. 9) The church is cleaned and disinfected before and after each service by designated cleaning people. We are using hospital grade Cavicide and 70% alcohol based disinfectants. We have hand sanitizers, Clorox Wipes, gloves and masks available for anyone who needs. They are visibly displayed at the entrance of the church, by the candle desk and on a table in the middle of the church. 10) A sign with all the rules and disclosures, as well as release of all claims, was posted on the Church doors and visibly through the church entrance hallway. Only those persons who have the permission of the rector to be present may enter. |
THE GLORIOUS RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. PASCHA
Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!
Христос воскресе! Воистину воскресе!
"Enter you all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward, both the first, and likewise the second. You rich and poor together, hold high festival. You sober and you heedless, honor the day. Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast. The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away."
Sermon of St. John Chrysostom
Here are pictures of our Pashal celebrations from previous years. May they bring you warm memories and add joy to the feast.
Pashal Message from Our Metropolitan TikhonTo the Venerable Clergy, Monastics, and Faithful of the Orthodox Church in America,
Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!
Today we celebrate the feast of feasts, the radiant joyful feast of the Lord’s Resurrection. He became a man likeus,andwascrucified,suffered,andwasburiedforus.Andtoday,afterthreedaysinthetomb,He rises from the dead, offering us all the promise of Resurrection unto eternal life.
Our life in the Resurrection begins even now. Although we still live in the flesh, we should not live according to the flesh, onlythinkingofourownbodilyneedsanddesires.JesusChrist’sResurrectioncalls us, regardless of our situation in life, to live spiritually mature lives even now. The essence of such a spiritual life is to lay down one’s life for others, inimitationofChristwhodiedforthebenefitofall.This is the callingofthenewlifethatChrist’sResurrectiongivesus:“sothatasChristwasraisedfromthedead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).”
To the Venerable Clergy, Monastics, and Faithful of the Orthodox Church in America,
Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!
Today we celebrate the feast of feasts, the radiant joyful feast of the Lord’s Resurrection. He became a man likeus,andwascrucified,suffered,andwasburiedforus.Andtoday,afterthreedaysinthetomb,He rises from the dead, offering us all the promise of Resurrection unto eternal life.
Our life in the Resurrection begins even now. Although we still live in the flesh, we should not live according to the flesh, onlythinkingofourownbodilyneedsanddesires.JesusChrist’sResurrectioncalls us, regardless of our situation in life, to live spiritually mature lives even now. The essence of such a spiritual life is to lay down one’s life for others, inimitationofChristwhodiedforthebenefitofall.This is the callingofthenewlifethatChrist’sResurrectiongivesus:“sothatasChristwasraisedfromthedead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).”
Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!
+Tikhon Archbishop of Washington Metropolitan of All America and Canada
Palm Sunday and Holy Week
When Jesus entered Jerusalem after raising Lazarus from the dead, the whole city exploded in joy and anticipation.The multitudes greated Him with palms and covered the road with their garments crying “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11:9-10). And what did they mean by “the coming kingdom of our father David?” They meant the death of Rome, free Jerusalem, and Messianic kingdom. This is not, however, the kingdom that was actually coming. Messiah didn't come to kill Romans. He would be killed by the Romans to save the whole world.
On Palm Sunday, we begin the celebration of Holy Week—a 10-day long procession to the Cross, to the tomb, and to the Resurrection. And as we get ready, our Lord extends the same invitation to us as He extended to James and John. He first says to each of us, “are you able and willing to drink the cup that I drink from? Are you able to walk with me through Holy Week? Are you willing to be by my side, and to carry my Cross with me?” It is our privilege and responsibility to accompany Christ to Golgotha to the extent that our lives make that possible, especially by our participation in the services that guide us to Golgotha and beyond—to the empty tomb.
Despite of quarantine, we can still do that thanks to many live-streamed services offered by OCA and many other orthodox monasteries and churches:
http://www.orthodoxmonasteryellwoodcity.org/chapel
https://www.youtube.com/user/StJohnDC (these services are mostly in Slavonic)
Please notice: no pussywillows will be available this Sunday. Fr. Vladimir will bless pussywillows on and keep them in cool place to be distributed after quarantine is over.
Helpful resources
It's very important for us to keep praying in this difficult times. In fact, we should use this opportunity to pray more than we usually do as we have more time home. Please find live streams of services. Due to fast changing situation, some churches may be closing. We hope that at least some will still work.
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http://www.orthodoxmonasteryellwoodcity.org/chapel https://www.youtube.com/user/StJohnDC https://www.stjohnsmayfield.org/announcements/ https://www.acrod.org/organizations/cathedral/live/liveviewer https://myocn.net/holy-virgin-protection-cathedral/ https://www.stnicholasstratford.org/
Radio https://www.pravoslavnoeradio.com/
Gospel readings of the day with commentaries in Russian
OCA Church School offers online classes for the following sections: grades 3-5; grades 6-8; grades 9-12. Classes start on March 25 at 12:30pm Pacific Time, click on this link to be taken to the on-line Zoom classroom. Registration is not necessary. https://zoom.us/j/3596453184
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PRAYER IN TIME OF DEVASTATING EPIDEMIC AND DEATHBEARING PESTILENCE
0 Lord, our God, look down from Thy Holy Heaven on the supplication ofus, Thy sinful and unworthy servants, who have angered Thy graciousness by our transgressions, and have provoked Thy deep compas-sion, and enter not into judgment with Thy servants. But do Thou turn aside Thy fearsome anger that justly has seized us, appease the destructive threatening, avert Thy terrible sword that, although invisible, is cutting us grievously, and spare Thy poor and needy servants. Enclose not with death the souls of us who have fallen down in repentance with broken hearts and tears before Thee, our kindhearted, condescending and accommodating God.
114 For Thine it is to show mercy and to save, 0 our God, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages
МОЛИТВА ВО ВРЕМЯ ГУБИТЕЛЬНОГО ПОВЕТРИЯ И СМЕРТОНОСНОЙ ЗАРАЗЫ
Господи Боже наш, призри с высоты святыя Твоея на молитву нас грешных и недостойных рабов Твоих, беззаконьми нашими Твою благость прогневавших, и милосердие Твое раздраживших, и не вниди в суд с рабами Твоими, но отврати страшный гнев Твой праведно на нас движимый, утоли губительное прещение, устави грозный Твой меч, невидимо безвременно секущий нас, и пощади нищих и убогих рабов Твоих, и не затвори в смерти души наша, в покаянии сокрушенным сердцем и со слезами к Тебе, Милосердому, Благоуветливому, и Благопременительному Богу нашему припадающих. Твое бо есть еже миловати и спасати ны, Боже наш, и Тебе славу возсылаем, Отцу и Сыну и Святому Духу, ныне, и присно, и во веки веков. Аминь.
Schedule of services this week
Tues., Dec. 31 Vespers at 5PM New Years Eve
Wed., Jan. 1 Cicumcision of The Lord Divine Liturgy at 10 AM….New Years Day
Sat., Jan. 4 Vespers 6PM followed by General Confession
Sun., Jan. 5, Divine Liturgy at 10 AM
Sun., Jan., 5 Great Vespers 5PM Theophany; The Blessing of Water
Mon. Jan., 6 Theophany; Divine Liturgy at 10AM. The Blessing of Water
Please remember to bring a container for the Holy Water.
Holy Theophany
On January 6th, Orthodox Christians gather together for the Feast of Theophany. This feast is the third most important feast day in the Orthodox Church (after Pascha and Pentecost). Yes, it’s even more important than Christmas! On this day, we commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by St. John the Forerunner. Another name for the feast is Theophany, for it is shown—it is revealed at Jesus Christ’s baptism—that He is the Son of God. Indeed, the Holy Trinity is revealed at His baptism, for the Father says, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased,” and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him in the form of a dove.
Nativity Of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
Let's joyously celebrate coming of our Lord together
Dec. 24 at 5 PM Christmas Eve, Nativity Eve Vigil Services followed by the Holy Supper. Traditional Lenten food will be served. Stay with us, join our family in Christ.
Tue., Dec. 25, 10 AM Divine Liturgy, Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ followed by special brunch and Christmas concert.
Sing along with our church choir. Program includes traditional Christmas hymns, spirituals, and carols from all over the world along with modern festive songs.
Bring families and friends, everybody is welcomer!
Visit of His Beatitude Tikhon
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On November 10th we are blessed and privileged to have his beatitude Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of all America and Canada and Locum Tenens of our diocese visit St. Mary’s Holy Assumption Orthodox Church in Stamford, for the first time. Our Thanksgiving dinner will coincide with this event. I am informing and inviting all of our parishioners, their families and friends to come and celebrate this momentous occasion with us. The fullness of liturgy can only be experienced when a deacon, priest and bishop serve together. This is a rare opportunity to witness and partake of this beautiful service. Let us fill our church to the brim and welcome the Metropolitan with honor and a strong presence. I look forward to seeing all of you there.
Your Pastor,
Father Vladimir Horoszczak
Annual Thanksgiving Dinner
Turkey dinner will be hosted on Sunday, Nov. 10, after divine Liturgy. Tickets will be available at the door. Adults $15 and children 10 years and over $10.
Join us to celebrate end of the fall season, share the meal with us or take out home-made delicious food.
Our famous freshly baked nut rolls will be on sale.
Raffle drawing will be held after the dinner. Raffle tickets are still available.
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