Archdiocese of Washington

His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH

The Very Reverend Archpriest Timothy Perry

The Reverend Deacon Chterion Zaprionov

Pilgrims from North America, Russia Celebrate

40th Anniversary of Saint Herman’s Glorification on Spruce Island

KODIAK, AK [OCA] -- On Monday, August 9, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, presided at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in Saints Sergius and Herman of Valaam Chapel on Spruce Island, which marks the original burial site of Saint Herman of Alaska.

It was at this very site that Saint Herman was glorified exactly 40 years earlier. One of eight missionaries who arrived in Kodiak from Russia in 1794, Saint Herman was widely known and long remembered for the sanctity of his life, his monastic witness, and his defense of the local population, who at that time had faced severe difficulties at the hands of traders in the region.

Concelebrating with Metropolitan Jonah were His Eminence, Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, and His Grace, Bishop Maxim of Western America of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

The hierarchs and clergy were accompanied by hundreds of pilgrims from across North America, who traveled to Spruce Island by boat. A group of pilgrims from Russia, led by Archbishop Justinian and Archimandrite Zacchaeus, OCA Representative to the Moscow Patriarchate and Dean of the OCA’s Representation Church of the Great Martyr Catherine, Moscow, also were present, thereby testifying to the universal reverence accorded Saint Herman as "the North Star of Christ’s Holy Church."

Pilgrims enjoyed a "banquet on the beach" before returning by boat to Kodiak, where they engaged in fellowship at a festival in Sargent Park.

One day earlier, on Sunday, August 8, His Grace, Bishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West, Temporary Administrator of the Diocese of Alaska, joined Metropolitan Jonah, Archbishop Justinian, and Bishop Maxim in concelebrating the Divine Liturgy in Kodiak’s Holy Resurrection Cathedral, in which the relics of Saint Herman repose.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Jonah, presented the Order of Saint Innocent to the Russian First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council, Alexander Porfirevich Torshin, in recognition of his outstanding educational efforts. Mr. Torshin was among the pilgrims from Russia who participated in the pilgrimage.

The traditional Saint Yakov Tea followed the Liturgy at the Kodiak Harbor Convention Center.

On Sunday evening, Metropolitan Jonah and the visiting hierarchs celebrated the All-Night Vigil in Holy Resurrection Cathedral, with Bishop Benjamin presiding at the Litiya and Archbishop Justinian presiding at the Matins Polyeleos.

The faithful from North America and Russia enjoyed and were very grateful for the kind hospitality displayed by the faithful of Holy Resurrection Cathedral and the community of Saint Herman’s Orthodox Theological Seminary.

A wealth of resources on Saint Herman of Alaska, including a complete account of his life, liturgical services, icons, photographs from his glorification in 1970, etc. may be found on the OCA web site at www.oca.org/FS.NA-Saint.asp?SID=4&Saint=Herman.

An informative article on canonization in Orthodox Christian Tradition, originally written at the time of Saint Herman’s glorification, may be found on the OCA web site at www.oca.org/FS.NA-Document.asp?SID=4&ID=82.

Upcoming Service Schedule:

Services at St. George Church begin at 12:15 PM

Services at SS Cyril & Methodius Mission begin at 2:00 PM

September 26 – St. John the Theologian, at SS Cyril & Methodius Mission

October 3 – Pokrov, St. George Bulgarian Church, Potomoc, MD

October 10 – St. Tikhon of Moscow, at SS Cyril & Methodius Mission

October 17 – Fathers of the 7^th Ecumenical Council, St. George, Potomoc, MD

October 24 – St. Demetrius the Myrrhbearer, at SS Cyril & Methodius Mission

October 31 – SS Cosmas and Damian, Unmercenaries, at St. George, Potomoc, MD

Saints Commemorated Today

18^th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST — Tone 1 (1^st of Luke). Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian (2^nd c.). Ven. Ephraim, Abbot of Perekóp, Wonderworker of Novgorod (1492).

† May Their Memory Be Eternal †

The newly departed servant Ruby;

the Priests Peter, Ishmael, Michael, Leo, Homer, Thomas, Victor, and Milorad;

the Matushki Mary, Platonida, Sophronia, and Barbara;

the Readers Philemon, John, John, and Robert Michael; and

the Servants of God Timothy, Maria, Megan, Bojanka, Magdalena, Alexander, Sophia, Shafik, Christo, Julia, Rada, Radka, Anna, Dale, Olivera, Marianthe, Panaigioti, & George.

Those Who Are In Need of Prayer

The Priests Photius, Anthony, Vadim, and Joseph;

the Presbyteras Artemis, Marie, Miriam, Juliana, & Anne;

the servants of God, Douglas, Alexandra, Victor, Erin, Catherine, Kyriaki, John, Carmeta, Jane, Oliver, Charlie, and Patricia;

Those who are traveling or are sick and suffering and those who have asked us to pray for them, unworthy though we may be.

Metropolitan Jonah Issues Update on OCA

Sexual Misconduct Policies, Expects Full Parish Compliance

SYOSSET, NY [OCA] -- In a letter addressed to parish rectors and parish councils dated August 4, 2010, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, emphasized the importance of being "attentive in regard to issues surrounding the possibility of sexual misconduct in the Church.

"This is the concern and responsibility of everyone," Metropolitan Jonah wrote in reference to his expectation that every parish will soon provide evidence of compliance with the existing "Policies, Standards and Procedures. "Given your respective duties in the life of the parish and in light of potential legal liabilities, rectors and parish council members especially need to encourage each other to be proactive and attentive to these matters."

Accompanying Metropolitan Jonah's letter is an instructive memo, "Sexual Misconduct in the Church," by Protodeacon Peter Danilchick, a member of the Sexual Misconduct Policy Advisory Committee.

Parish Council Meeting

The September Parish Council Meeting will take place today following the Divine Liturgy. For a copy of the draft agenda please see Fr. Timothy. Agendas are distributed by email prior to the meeting. If you would like to be a part of the distribution, please provide your email address to Fr. Timothy – your address will not be made publicly available.

Everyone is invited to attend the meetings and listen or discuss the issues, however, only the elected Parish Council members may cast a vote.

The October Parish Council Meeting will take place on Sunday, October 24.

Administration of the Sacraments

The parish priest, responsible to the diocesan bishop and answerable to God, is the sole administrator of the sacraments in the Orthodox parish.

The preparation for receipt of any sacrament whether the receipt of the Eucharist at the Divine Liturgy, marriage, baptism, or any other is preceded by a period of preparation and sober contemplation. In the case of reception to adults into the Church, a period of study, careful thought, and instruction is involved.

Fr. Timothy is to be contacted well in advance of planning for any sacrament outside of the receipt of the Eucharist by Orthodox Christians.

revtperry@hotmail.com