Saints Cyril & Methodius
Bulgarian Orthodox Mission
(web address: www.bocdc.org)
Meeting
at St. Luke Orthodox Church
6801
Georgetown Pike,
McLean, VA 22101
Today is the
Afterfeast of the
Entrance of the Holy Theotokos Into the Temple
Sunday, November 22, 2009
His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH
The Very Reverend Timothy Perry
Orthodox Church in America
Diocese of Washington
Righteous Michael the Soldier, of Bulgaria (866)
Saint Michael the Soldier
of Bulgaria, was among the first of the Bulgarians to become Christian, and
lived in the city of Potuka during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Michael
III (855-867). While still an infant, he was known as a "saintly
child." From his youth he led a blameless life, possessed the fear of God,
fasted, generously distributed alms to the poor, visited the sick, and was meek
and humble.
At twenty-four years of age St Michael was made commander of a troop of
soldiers. At that time, the Turks were warring against Christians, and St
Michael inspired his troops by his bravery in battle. When the allies of the
Bulgarians, the Greeks, fled from the field of battle, he fell to the ground
and prayed with tears for the deliverance of the Christians. Then he led his
own soldiers against the enemy. Rushing into the center of the enemy formation,
he put them into disarray, and remained unharmed himself.
Returning homeward after a battle, he rescued the inhabitants of a
certain city in the Raipha wilderness from a huge beast which emerged from a
lake and attacked children. People came to see this brave soldier when they
heard that he had slain the beast they once worshiped as a god. He preached the
Gospel to them, and turned them from demon worship and human sacrifice.
Soon after he returned home, St Michael surrendered his soul to the
Lord, Whom he had loved since his youth. He wrought many miracles after death,
healing those who came to him with faith.
The transfer of the relics of the saint from Potuka to Trnovo occurred
in the year 1206, and at the beginning of the nineteenth century, they were
transferred to Wallachia.
Funeral Service of His Holiness, Patriarch Pavle of Serbia
BELGRADE, SERBIA [www.st-catherine.ru]
-- On
Thursday, November 19, 2009, with the blessing of His Beatitude, Metropolitan
Jonah, His Grace, Bishop Irenee of Quebec City and Auxiliary to His Eminence,
Archbishop Seraphim of Canada, together with Archimandrite Zacchaeus,
Representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Moscow Patriarchate,
participated in the Divine Liturgy and Funeral Service for His Holiness,
Patriarch Pavle of Serbia, officially representing the Orthodox Church in
America at the event.
The day began with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at
7:30 a.m., led by His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of
Constantinople, together with His Eminence, Metropolitan Amphilochije of
Montenegro and the Coastlands and Locum Tenens of the Serbian Orthodox Church;
His Beatitude, Archbishop Daniel of Bucharest, Metropolitan of Muntenia and
Dobrudgea, Locum Tenens of the throne of Caesarea of Cappadocia, Patriarch of
Romania; His Beatitude, Anastasios, Archbishop of Tirana, Durres, and All
Albania; and His Beatitude, Metropolitan Christopher, Primate of the Church of
the Czech lands and Slovakia. Also concelebrating were the official
representatives of all 15 Autocephalous Orthodox Churches at Belgrade's
Archangel Michael Cathedral, across from the Patriarchate's official Chancery.
The repose of Patriarch
Pavle of Serbia
After the conclusion of the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy,
Patriarch Bartholomew, together with the other Primates of the Local
Autocephalous Orthodox Churches and the concelebrating hierarchs and clergy,
processed to the Memorial Church of Saint Sava of Serbia, where the funeral
service was celebrated in the open air before the church's main entrance. In
attendance at the funeral was the President of Serbia, Boris Tadic, who offered
words at an appropriate time, following sermons by Patriarch Bartholomew and
Metropolitan Amphilochije on the life and legacy of the newly departed and ever
memorable Serbian Patriarch. Also in attendance were other members of the
Serbian government, foreign ambassadors and official representatives of
numerous sovereign nations, inter-faith religious leaders, and over one million
Serbian Orthodox faithful.
Bishop Irenee of Quebec City and Archimandrite Zacchaeus
participated in the memorial meal following the funeral, attended by the
concelebrating Patriarchs, hierarchs and clergy. There, they conveyed
condolences to the Serbian Orthodox Church, through their hierarchs, on behalf
of Metropolitan Jonah, the Holy Synod of Bishops, and the clergy, monastics,
and faithful of the Orthodox Church in America.
Earlier in the week, Metropolitan
Jonah concelebrated a Memorial Litiya for Patrairch Pavle with His Eminence,
Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outsie of
Russia, at Saint Sergius of Radonezh Chapel at the OCA Chancery.
May Patriarch Pavle's memory be eternal!
Saints
Commemorated Today
24th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST — Tone
7 (9th Sunday of Luke). Afterfeast of the Entry Into the Temple. Apostles of the Seventy Philemon and Archippus,
Martyr Apphia, wife of Philemon and Equal-to-the-Apostles, and Onesimus,
disciple of St. Paul (1st c.). Martyrdom of St. Michael, Prince of
Tver’ (1318). Rt. Blv. Yaropolk, in Baptism Peter, Prince of Vladimir in Volyn’
(1086). Martyrs Cecilia, Valerian, Tiburtius, and Maximus, at Rome (ca. 230).
Martyr Procopius the Reader, at Cæsarea in Palestine (303). Martyr Menignus at
Parium (250). St. Agabbas of Syria (5th c.). Righteous Michael the
Soldier, of Bulgaria (866). Ven. Callistus Xanthopoulos (Mt. Athos—1363).
Schedule of Divine Liturgies at
SS Cyril & Methodius and at St. George
Bulgarian Church
Nov. 22 - Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple; Righteous
Michael of Bulgaria
Dec. 6 - St. Nicholas the
Wonderworker (ca. 345)
Dec. 13 – Services held at Holy Resurrection Church –
St. George Church)
Dec. 20 - Forefeast of the
Nativity of Christ
† May Their Memory Be Eternal †
The newly departed servant Patriarch PAVLE; the Archbishop
GREGORY; the Priests Peter, Ishmael, Leo, Homer, Victor, and Thomas; the Matushki
Mary, Platonida, and Barbara; the Readers John, Philemon, John, and Robert
Michael; and the servants of God Alexander, Sophia, Shafik, Michael, Steven,
Christo, Radka, Anna, Dale, Mary, Carmel, Thomas, Vasili, Mary Ellen, Andrew,
Irene, Stamatia, Peter, Steven, Olivera, George, Marianthe, Panaigioti,
Christophor, George, Rada, Stephen, & Julia.
Those Who Are In Need of
Prayer
Priests Milorad, Photius, Anthony, and Joseph; Presbyteras
Marie, Miriam, Artemis, & Marie; Alexandra, Magdelena, Matthew, Oliver, Zell,
Charlie, Theresa, Catherine, Bojanka, Emilia,
Georgi (Joro), and Anna
2009 Annual Parish Meeting
The Annual Parish Meeting will be held, according to
our Bylaws, following the last Sunday’s Divine Liturgy in January. The meeting will therefore be held on
Sunday, January 31. Members in good
standing will be able to vote.