Choir:

Parish Council for 2011

Ms. Zora Popova, President

Ms. Nadiya Baltiska, Vice President

Ms. Elena Murphy, Treasurer

Mr. Tzanko Stanchev, Secretary

Ms. Lena Lenkova, Member

Ms. Lazarina Petrova, Member

Mr. Evgeniy Anguelov, Member

Ms. Nadya Choparinoff, Alternate Member

Candle Lighting During the Liturgy

Praying before the iconostasis icons and lighting candles during the services may be done at most any time during the divine liturgy. However, at the time of the sermon, candle lighting is to be paused.

16^th All-America Council of the OCA

The 16th All-American Council will be held October 31 through November 4, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bellevue, Washington. Election of our official delegate will take place on August 14 at the Parish Council meeting. The delegate must be a regular member of the parish.

The official Agenda of the Council may be found on “oca.org”.

August Parish Council Meeting

The August regular Parish Council meeting will take place after the Divine Liturgy on August 28. The divine liturgy begins at 1:30. The meeting is open to the public and non-members may discuss the issues, but only members of the Parish Council may cast a vote. The meeting includes a discussion with Fr. Gregory Safchuk, Chancellor of the Archdiocese on our “priest search’ efforts.

Major Feasts of the Orthodox Church

September 8 The Nativity of Mary the Theotokos

September 14 The Exaltation of the Cross

November 21 The Presentation of the Theotokos to the Temple

December 25 The Nativity of Christ

January 6 The Epiphany: The Baptism of Christ

February 2 The Meeting of Christ in the Temple

March 25 The Annunciation

August 6 The Transfiguration of Christ

August 15 The Dormition of Christ

The Feast of Feasts

Date varies by year Pascha

Date depends on Pascha Ascension

40 days after Pascha Pentecost

The Dormition (Falling Asleep) of the Theotokos

Concerning the Dormition of the Theotokos, this is what the Church has received from ancient times from the tradition of the Fathers. When the time drew nigh that our Savior was well-pleased to take His Mother to Himself, He declared unto her through an Angel that three days hence, He would translate her from this temporal life to eternity and bliss. On hearing this, she went up with haste to the Mount of Olives, where she prayed continuously. Giving thanks to God, she returned to her house and prepared whatever was necessary for her burial. While these things were taking place, clouds caught up the Apostles from the ends of the earth, where each one happened to be preaching, and brought them at once to the house of the Mother of God, who informed them of the cause of their sudden gathering. As a mother, she consoled them in their affliction as was meet, and then raised her hands to Heaven and prayed for the peace of the world. She blessed the Apostles, and, reclining upon her bed with seemliness, gave up her all-holy spirit into the hands of her Son and God.

With reverence and many lights, and chanting burial hymns, the Apostles took up that God-receiving body and brought it to the sepulchre, while the Angels from Heaven chanted with them, and sent forth her who is higher than the Cherubim. But one Jew, moved by malice, audaciously stretched forth his hand upon the bed and immediately received from divine judgment the wages of his audacity. Those daring hands were severed by an invisible blow. But when he repented and asked forgiveness, his hands were restored.

When they had reached the place called Gethsemane, they buried there with honor the all-immaculate body of the Theotokos, which was the source of Life. But on the third day after the burial, when they were eating together, and raised up the artos (bread) in Jesus' Name, as was their custom, the Theotokos appeared in the air, saying "Rejoice" to them. From this they learned concerning the bodily translation of the Theotokos into the Heavens.

These things has the Church received from the traditions of the Fathers, who have composed many hymns out of reverence, to the glory of the Mother of our God (see Oct. 3 and 4).

The Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America

The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America includes over 200 churches and missions throughout the United States and Canada. We are in full communion with our brothers and sisters in various other Orthodox Christian jurisdictions, such as the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Orthodox Church in America, and are all affiliated through SCOBA (the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the Americas.

Together we work to nurture the Orthodox Christians of this land--whether immigrants or native-born, cradle Orthodox, or converts--and to bring America to the ancient Orthodox Christian Faith.

† May Their Memory Be Eternal †

The Bishops Nestor, Gregory, Job, and Nicholas;

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, Ivan, Dhimitra, Bistra, Gerard, Ruby, Timothy, Megan, Bojanka, Magdalena, Alexander, Sophia, Shafik, Julia, Rada, Radka, Anna, Dale, Olivera, Marianthe & Panaigioti, Krustio, and George.

Those Who Are In Need of Prayer

The Priests Photius, Anthony, Vadim, Thomas, Paul, and Joseph;

the Presbyteras, Artemis, Marie, Miriam, Mica, Helen, Rose, Juliana, & Anne;

the newborn child Andrew;

the servants of God, Annie, Paulie, Flora, Karen, Stella, Victor, Erin, Kyriaki, Helen, Paulina, Jane, Denny, Oliver, Marion, Ellen, Marios & Sophia, Alexandra & Joseph, Catherine & Wayne, John & Carmeta, John & Carol, Dimitrie & Rachael, Charlie & Karen, Chariessa & Nicholas, and David & Patricia.

Schedule of Services

Aug 14 – SS Cyril & Methodius, 1:30; Forefeast of Dormition of the Theotokos

Aug 21 – St. Mark Church, 9:30; Afterfeast of the Dormition of the Theotokos

Aug 28 – SS Cyril & Methodius, 1:30; Righteous Anna the Prophetess

Sept. 4 – at St. Mark Church, 9:30; Prophet Moses

Sept. 11 – SS Cyril & Methodius, 1:30; Sunday before Elev. of the Cross