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Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen! St. Thomas Sunday Anti-Pascha April 21/May 4, 2008 Hieromartyr Januarius, Bishop of Benevento, and his companions: Martyrs Festus, Proclus, and Sosius, Deacons; Desiderius, Reader; and Eutychius and Acutius, Laymen, at Pozzuoli (305); Hieromartyr Theodore of Perge in Pamphylia, his mother Philippa, and Martyrs Dioscorus, Socrates and Dionysius (2nd c.); Uncovering of the relics (1999) of Venerable Theodore of Sanaxar (1791); Righteous Alexis, Priest of Bortsumany, Nizhni-Novgorod (1848); Hieromartyr John, Priest (1918); St. Nicholas confessor, priest (1933); Hieromartyr Alexis, Priest (1938); Martyrs Isaacius, Apollo, and Codratus of Nicomedia (303); Holy Hierarch Maximian, Patriarch of Constantinople (434). Today’s Scriptural Readings:
Saints Peter & Paul Chapel Welcome to our parish ! St. Thomas Sunday – May 4, 2008 On Sunday, May 4 (St. Thomas Sunday) beginning at 10:00 AM the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at Sts. Peter & Paul Chapel located at Cathedral Gardens in Elkridge, MD. Join us for a day of prayer, reflection, celebration, friendly socializing, rest and relaxation…and don’t forget about the great food and drink!!! Come and spend the whole day with us on this joyous feast !!! Liturgy will NOT be celebrated at Holy Trinity Church today – 05/04/08 We extend a very special welcome to the many guests attending our services and the grave blessings today. All of us – the clergy, monastics and parishioners – at Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church are very happy to welcome you to our parish community and warmly invite you to pray with us in the presence of God. May God touch you with His grace and fill your hearts with much spiritual joy. Christ is Risen ! Truly He is Risen ! Today’s Schedule 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy Sts. Peter & Paul Chapel – Outdoor Liturgy Paschal Procession & Blessing of Chapel. The chapel is open all day. 12:00 Noon All-Day Picnic Ray Zaitin Pavilion Grilled Meats, Salads, Desserts, Beverages & more for purchase. 1:00 PM Kids’ Activities Main Field (in front of chapel) Egg Hunt, Races, and other games with many prizes! 2:00 PM Blessing of Graves Holy Trinity Orthodox Cemetery Two Orthodox Priests will conduct the blessings simultaneously at different parts of the cemetery until approximately 3:30 PM. All Day On-Going Activities Throughout Cathedral Gardens & Evening: All-Day/Evening Picnic, pick up basketball, football and horseshoe games, children’s playground open all day, marshmallow toasting, camp fire, & more. 2008 Stewardship Drive – Submit your 2008 Pledge Please be generous as the Lord is generous to you. Our church cannot operate without your financial contributions. Orthodox internet-based radio ministry: www.ancientfaithradio.com Christ is Risen ! Truly He is Risen ! What a glorious time…! The many Divine Services we conducted during Holy Week and on Pascha were truly uplifting and inspiring. Thank you to everyone who played a part in the celebrations of these solemn and festive days – to our choir for the beautiful and heartfelt singing….to those who helped clean and get the church ready for each of the many services…to our altar servers who served with much solemnity and faith…to our Sunday School teachers, parents and students for reading in church…to those who decorated the church with such beautiful flowers…to everyone who donated for and helped prepare the delicious Paschal breakfast. Many of you contributed much time, energy and money to make this year’s Paschal celebrations so resplendent and joyous. Pascha is truly the “feast of feasts” – there is no greater celebration in the entire world. And because of all your efforts, our parish fittingly glorified the Risen Christ and showed our guests and each other our faith in the Resurrection and our love for God and His Holy Church. May God bless you with His peace and love, preserving you in good health and prosperity for many years. Ìíîãàÿ Ëåòà. Thank you very much! 1st Annual Bible Bowl at Holy Trinity Our church will host the First Annual Baltimore Orthodox Bible Bowl on Saturday, May 31, 2008. Youth from Baltimore-area Orthodox parishes are invited to form teams of 3-5 players to compete. Let us encourage our children to join their Sunday School’s team. We also need volunteers to make this inaugural year a success. For information on registration and/or volunteering, contact Paul or Ann Marie Havrilko: 410-796-7617 or Havrilko@comcast.net Archiglas in Concert – May 13, 2008 Our parish will host the internationally renowned choir from St. Petersburg, Russia – Archiglas – to give a concert of liturgical and folk a capella music in our church on Tuesday, May 13 at 7:00 PM. All the members of the choir are professional singers with several years of experience as soloists and choir conductors in the service of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as in the Philharmonic Society and Opera. A free-will offering is requested to benefit the ensemble. This is their only compensation. After the concert a light-fare pot-luck reception will be held in our church hall in honor of Archiglas. Don’t miss this event! Thank you We offer our sincere thanks to the St. Catherine Sisterhood for coordinating the transportation arrangements to St. Nicholas Cathedral in NYC yesterday for the joint Paschal celebrations of our Bishop Mercurius and Bishop Gabriel (ROCOR). What a very inspiring and historic day it was… More information on our trip will be posted in next week’s bulletin. Pictures will also be posted on our parish website. St. Alexander Nevsky Brotherhood – Movie Night On Friday, May 8th, beginning at 6:45 PM our parish Brotherhood will sponsor its monthly “Movie Night”. Church Cleaning Group #2 for week of May 5th This week (05/05 – 05/10) Group #2 is scheduled. For info call Paul Czerkovich 410-256-3216 Cathedraticum Offering Our box of offering envelopes has a variety of additional envelopes for special collections. One asks for donations for the Cathedraticum. The Cathedraticum is what each of our Patriarchal Parishes offers in support of our diocese and our St. Nicholas Cathedral in NYC. Each adult is asked to offer $30.00 to support our cathedral and bishop. The lives of men are subject to drastic changes. These changes are gradual at times; at others, lightning quick. But even those of us who enjoy long years of opulence and fame can find no consolation, no gladness, unless our heart is illumined by the steady light of peace. It is this peace that we must seek, it is for this peace that we should pray. The peace that our Lord gave to His disciples and to all those who really have faith in him. (John 20:21). St. Macarius of Optina, Russian Letters of Direction Please Remember in Your Prayers… Schema-Igumen Joachim; Archimandrite Athanasy; Archpriest George Christyakov; Novice Glykeria; Reader Joseph Lochte.; Jacob Plaskowitz; Charlotte-Liubov and Michael Stanka; Alexander and Bernadine Borawick; Elsie-Olga and Paul Czerkovich; Leonard and Maria Parr; Arthur-Stephen Lisowsky.; David and Selina-Sophia Eichelberger; Valentina Zernetkina; Andrew Lucas; Mimi-Veronica Arisumi; Stephanie Handley; Anthony Lopata; Olga Carr; Nadezhda Wallach; Dorothy-Nadezhda Herring; Marion Hubiak; Elaine LaPasha; Agnes Kunnenetz; Blanche-Julia Stolkovich; Tatiana Casey; Lydia Yurovsky; Tatiana O’Neill; Liudmilla; Matushka Natalia Kosik; Patricia; Arsen, Alla Stepanov, Mary Stepanov; Mary Elizabeth Jemali; Alexander; Maryann Black.; Ksenia McKenzie; Elena Maria Stevens; Lelik & Zhuzhuma Revazishvili; Victoria; Dionysius; Sviatoslav Shokorov; Anna Baicar; Sergei; Anna; Alexei; Paul Zhuk.; Nestor Samioglou. Council Meeting – Tuesday, May 20th – 7:00 PM in the Church Hall Important Phone Numbers Fr. John Vass, Pastor 410-997-0802 The Holy and Glorious Apostle Thomas - He was one of the twelve Great Apostles. Through his doubt of the Resurrection of the Lord Christ, a new confirmation was given of that wonderful and saving event, for the risen Lord appeared again to His disciples, to convince Thomas. The Lord said to Thomas: Reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side; and be not faithless, but believing', and Thomas cried: 'My Lord and my God! (John 20). After the descent of the Holy Spirit, when the apostles cast lots to see who would go where to preach the Gospel, it fell to Thomas to got to India. He was somewhat saddened at having to go so far away, but the Lord appeared to him and comforted him. In India, St Thomas converted many, both rich and poor, to the Christian faith, and founded a Church there, making priests and bishops. Prince Misdaeus, the husband of Tertiana, whose wife and son Iuzanes Thomas baptized, condemned the Apostle to death, and sent five soldiers who ran him through with their lances, and thus the holy Apostle Thomas gave his soul into the hands of his Christ. Before his death, he, with the other apostles, was miraculously borne to Jerusalem for the funeral of the most holy Mother of God. Arriving late, he grieved bitterly and, at his request, the tomb of the Most Pure was opened, but the body was not there; the Lord had taken His Mother to His heavenly home. Thus St Thomas first, by his unbelief, confirmed the faith in the Resurrection of the Lord and then, by his late arrival, revealed to us the wondrous glorification of the Mother of God. What is Radonitsa? "On this day, the Tuesday of St. Thomas week, according to the order instituted by our Holy Fathers, we call to remembrance, in Paschal joy, all those who have died from the beginning of the ages in faith and in the hope of resurrection and life eternal. "Having previously celebrated the radiant feast of Christ's glorious Resurrection, the faithful commemorate the dead today with the pious intent to share the great joy of this Pascha feast with those who have departed this life in the hope of their own resurrection. This is the same blessed joy with which the dead heard our Lord announce His victory over death when He descended into Hades, thus leading forth by the hand the righteous souls of the Old Covenant into Paradise. This is the same unhoped-for joy the Holy Myrrh bearing Women experienced when discovering the empty tomb and the undisturbed grave clothes. In addition, this is the same bright joy the Holy Apostles encountered in the Upper Room where Christ appeared though the doors were closed. In short, this feast is a kindred joy, to celebrate the luminous Resurrection with our Orthodox forefathers who have fallen asleep. "There is evidence of the commemoration of the dead today in the writings of the Church Fathers. St. John Chrysostom mentions the commemoration of the dead performed on Tuesday of St. Thomas week in his "Homily on the Cemetery and the Cross." "Today, the faithful departed are remembered in Divine Liturgies, 'koliva' is prepared and blessed in the churches in memory of those who have fallen asleep, and the Orthodox graves in cemeteries are blessed by the priests and visited by the faithful. On this day alms are given to the poor. Furthermore, it should be noted that due to the great spiritual joy this jubilant commemoration bears, it is called in the Slavonic tongue, 'Radonitsa,' or Day of Rejoicing." From the "Synaxarion of the Lenten Triodion and Penecostarion" Lack of Faith vs. God’s Providence Saint John (Maximovich) of Tobolsk None of our own attempts and efforts can save us without the help of God, but neither can God's help be beneficial to us without our own wish for it. No other subject was brought up by the Lord to His disciples so frequently as lack of faith. He warned everyone against lack of faith not only by His words, but also by the multitude of events which amazingly proved the power of faith and the powerlessness of mistrust or doubt in God's protection and salvation from danger. Lack of faith comes in different forms: some people have little faith in God because He does not punish His enemies; others doubt they would be able to entreat God to grant them their desires, especially when their conscience bothers them with the thought that God will not forgive them their sins; still others fear that God will deprive them of all earthly goods and subsistence. This triple manifestation of lack of faith estranges many people from God and immerses them in various forms of perdition. The source of our lack of faith is our excessive conceit, i.e. when we think more of ourselves than of God, rely more on our own powers than on God's help. What is the reason for God allowing the destruction of such a great number of people, who are injured or killed through sorcery? It is not surprising: lack of faith has become so widespread among the people that it merits punishment. Many do not look for other doctors except sorcerers (extrasensorists and similar kind), nor other pharmaceuticals except deviltry. God justly punishes us by the same means that we use to sin against Him. As our faith and hope in God increase, so increase His mercy and benevolence to us. But woe unto us, that there are so few of us who believe in God with all their heart! If we analyze human customs and habits, we will see that in all places and at all times lack of faith becomes prominent and widespread, which gives rise to empty and false fears. People often fear a shortage of food supplies; sometimes they fear that they will lack necessary items during an illness; at times they fall into despair over ever-growing rumors of war. All of this occurs because they have an erroneous and doubtful understanding of God's benevolence and His omnipotent strength: this is also the cause of our mind's poor and sad concern over temporal things, as opposed to a concern for achieving a blessed eternal life. God's Providence manifests itself with the greatest wisdom: not every transgression is normally punished straightaway; however, neither is it left totally unpunished. If God never punished vileness, many people would think that there is no Providence. On the other hand, if every transgression were immediately followed by punishment, it would then be thought that there is no reward or punishment after death. Therefore God, by punishing only some people, reveals His Providence; by not punishing others directly after their transgressions, He threatens them with punishment directly after death, in the next life, if they do not repent in this life. Everything is done by God with great wisdom and forethought. In a like manner, all the contradictory manifestations that we come across in our lives, are all wisely directed by God's Providence; all earthly misfortunes are transformed by God into a benefit and advantage for us; even sinful transgressions are tolerated in order to bring us to our senses, and to achieve our salvation through repentance. For to do good deeds and to tolerate heinous ones is characteristic exclusively of divine Providence, since God would never allow the existence of evil were He not as mighty and good as to produce good consequences from all evil deeds. God's Providence is concealed from us, unfathomable to us, but it comprises an all-encompassing order for ruling the world rationally and justly. We are usually quite observant of the external order of universal and particular events; however, the wondrous and wise Providence of God, which activates the cosmic mechanism and preserves and directs its activity, is hidden from us, and we cannot see it. It is for this reason that many people, seeing a contradiction from a human point of view in the well-being of bad persons and the tribulations of good ones, assert that God's Providence does not exist, but that everything occurs through man's will and reason, or through blind luck or misfortune. However, all these things are seen and understood quite differently by those who believe in the great wisdom of God and in His Providence, which directs everything to the good. If, seeing how God-fearing people are often humiliated and insulted, while heinous scoundrels prosper, we think that Providence is sleeping, this is because we are looking upon only one side of God's Providence, while the other side is hidden from us because of our narrow viewpoint, which is unable to extend itself to fully encompass God's destinies. Only in the second coming of Christ will we learn of God's just judgment of everyone and everything. The Artos In the Holy Orthodox Church, there is the custom for a single loaf of blessed bread (Artos in Greek), to lie before the Iconostasis throughout Bright Week in memory of the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ, before it is shared among the whole congregation. On the first day of Pascha, during the Holy and Divine Liturgy, after the Prayer Before the Ambo, the Artos is blessed by a special prayer and sprinkling with the Holy Water. Throughout Bright Week, at the end of the Holy and Divine Liturgy, the Artos is carried around the church in solemn procession. On the Saturday of Bright Week it is distributed as a blessing of the Arch-Pastor (that is to say Christ) to the congregation (sometimes after Sunday Holy and Divine Liturgy, on Saint Thomas Sunday). The significance of the Artos is that it serves to remind all Christians of the events connected with the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. While still living on earth, the Lord called Himself the Bread of Life, saying: I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst (John 6:35). After His Resurrection, more than once Jesus appeared to His disciples, ate before them, and blessed their own food. For example, as evening fell on the first day of His resurrection, He was recognized in Emmaus by two of His disciples as He blessed and broke bread (Luke 24:13-35). As Cyril, the Bishop of Turov, who lived during the 12th century in Russia, said in a sermon for the Sunday after Pascha: "Even as the Jews bore the unleavened bread upon their heads out of Egypt through the desert (Exodus 12:34), until they had crossed the Red Sea, after which they dedicated the bread to God, divided it amongst all their host, and having all eaten thereof, became … terrible to their enemies, even so do we, saved by our Resurrected Lord from the captivity of that Pharaoh of the mind, the Devil, bear the blessed bread – the Artos – from the day of the Resurrection of Christ and, finally, having dedicated this bread to God, we eat of it and preserve it to the health of body and soul." It is a custom among our people to this very day, to keep the Artos throughout the year and with due reverence and faith to eat of it in time of illness or distress. This is eaten, often together with a drink of Holy Water, which had been blessed at the Feast of the Theophany of Our Lord. April 23 / May 6 — The Holy and Great Martyr George - This renowned and glorious martyr was born in Cappadocia, the son of rich and God-fearing parents. His father suffered for Christ, after which his mother moved to Palestine. When George grew up, he went into the army, in which he rose, by the age of twenty, to the rank of tribune, and as such was in service under the Emperor Diocletian. When this Emperor began a terrible persecution of Christians, George came before him and boldly confessed that he was a Christian. The Emperor threw him into prison, and commanded that his feet be put in the stocks and a heavy weight placed on his chest. After that, he commanded that he be bound on a wheel, under which was a board with great nails protruding, and thus be turned. He then had him buried in a pit with only his head above the ground, and left there for three days and nights. Then, through some magician, he gave him deadly poison, but in the face of all these tortures, George prayed unceasingly to God, and God healed him instantly and saved him from death, to the great amazement of the people. When he also raised a dead man to life by his prayers, many embraced the Christian faith. Among these were the Emperor's wife, Alexandra, and the chief pagan priest, Athanasius, the governor Glycerius and Valerius, Donatus and Therinus. Finally, the Emperor commanded that George and the Empress Alexandra be beheaded. Blessed Alexandra died on the scaffold before being killed, and St George was beheaded. This happened in the year 303. The miracles that have been performed at his grave are without number. Also are his appearances in dreams to those who, thinking on him, have sought his help, from that time up to the present day. Consumed by love for Christ, it was not difficult for holy George to leave all for this love—his status, wealth and imperial favor, his friends and the whole world. For this love, the Lord rewarded him with a wreath of unfading glory in heaven and on earth, and with eternal life in His Kingdom. The Lord further endowed him with the power to help in need and distress all who honor him and call on his name.
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Ïðåñâÿòàÿ Òðîèöå, Áîæå Íàø, Ñëàâà Òåáå! |
