Sunday of the Saints of Serbia and North America
St. Nicholas Bulletin - July 04, 2021 - Second Sunday after Pentecost
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Christ is in our midst! Христос међу нама! Cristo esta entra nosotros! |
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Homily for the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost
from Fr. Antony Hughes
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Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen.
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Holiness is life lived in its fullness and all human beings who have a capacity for good share to some extent in holiness. Clement writes that everyone who “participates vigorously in life” shares in holiness. The ascetics and monastics do not have a monopoly on saintliness. There is holiness in all those who create beauty, in those who love deeply, in those who long and labor for justice, who seek for truth, who console and help their neighbors. Holiness is not determined by external standards of morals and ethics, but by a movement of the heart towards what is good.
Even the greatest of sinners has within them the capacity for sharing in holiness. That is why we must not judge anyone, even the sinner. The better way is to “throw a cloak over their sin” (as the monks of the desert insist) and find a way to nourish the seed of holiness in them. Jesus did this as much with the Woman caught in Adultery as with the Apostles who were fishing with their father in today’s Gospel. With the Woman he protected her from the self-righteous and prideful people who tried to stone her and then bid her adieu with these simple words, “Go and sin no more.” He did not read her a list of commandments to obey; He left her with a vocation and a path. With the Apostles He simply turned them from their daily scratching for survival to a deeper purpose: “Come and follow Me.” I have come to believe that the role of a good pastor is to look intently for the seed of holiness in everyone and find a way to nourish it.
St. Isaac of Syria has contributed to my understanding of this perhaps more than any other spiritual writer. Isaac tends to turn conventional wisdom on its head. Let me read to you a few of his surprising verses.
Love the sinner and do not despise them for their faults. Remember that you also partake in an earthly nature and do good to all. Let your manner always be courteous and respectful to all. For love does not know how to be angry or lose its temper or find fault with anyone out of passion.
Do not reprove anyone for any transgression, but in all things consider yourself responsible and the cause of sin.
Avoid laying down the law, as you would flee from an untamed lion. Do not join in this with the children of the Church or with outsiders.
Do not distinguish rich from poor and do not try to find out who is worthy and who is unworthy. Let all men stand before you as equal.
For Isaac of Syria there is one true sign that a person has attained purity and that is when she is able to recognize all people as good and sees no one as impure or profane. If we ourselves are good, then it is to the good in others we are attracted. If we, on the other hand, are evil ourselves, then nothing delights us more than pointing out the wickedness we find in others. The Fathers tell us that if the sin were not already in us, we would not see it in others. Good attracts good and evil attracts evil.
My spiritual father often exhorted me to move towards what is warm and light and shun what is cold and dark.
If holiness does indeed have a foothold in us, then what is left but to nourish the seed within? Whatever we find in ourselves that longs for good we must encourage; we must participate actively in the good we desire. Perhaps it is more important to search out and discover the good that is in us than to concentrate on uncovering the evil. Could this be the intention of the spiritual writers who call self-knowledge the greatest of the spiritual gifts like St. Isaac who writes, “To him who knows himself knowledge of all things is given. For knowing oneself is the fulfillment of the knowledge of all things”? Bishop KALLISTOS Ware once wrote that in the last judgment we will be more surprised by the good we have done than we will be with the evil we have done. Yet we seem to have got it all turned around, don’t we?
My dear ones, concentrate on all that is good, holy, pure, truthful and beautiful. Do not focus on the darkness whether it is within or without. Turn your eyes towards God and let your hearts become light.
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Commemorating All Saints of Serbia and North America, Martyr Julian of Tarsus in Cilicia, Hieromartyr Terence Bishop of Iconium, Saint Julius Presbyter of Novara and his brother Saint Julian the Deacon, Martyrs Archil II and Luarsab II Kings of Georgia, Venerable Anastasia of Serbia, New Martyr Niketas of Nisyros near Rhodes
RESURRECTIONAL TROPARION — TONE 1
When the stone had been sealed by the Jews, while the soldiers were guarding Your most pure body, You rose on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. The powers of heaven therefore cried to You, O Giver of Life: “Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Your Kingdom! Glory to Your dispensation, O Lover of mankind!”
SYNAXIS OF SERBIAN SAINTS TROPARION — TONE 4
O God-bearing fathers and hierarchs, we ask you, as our Serbian enlighteners, as true shepherds and patriarchs, as genuine guardians of apostolic tradition, as solid pillars, as teachers of Orthodoxy: Beseech Christ, the Master of All, to grant peace to the whole world and abundant mercy to our souls.
ALL SAINTS OF NORTH AMERICA TROPARION — TONE 8
As the bountiful harvest of Your sowing of salvation, the lands of North America offer to You, O Lord, all the saints who have shone in them. By their prayers keep the Church and our land in abiding peace through the Theotokos, O most Merciful One!
VENERABLE ANASTASIJA OF SERBIA—TONE 4
Abundant in virtue, and adorned with meekness and piety, you shone forth through the purity of your life; therefore, you were granted the grace to be the mother of our people’s Luminary. Thus, we cry aloud to you: “Rejoice, O venerable mother Anastasia!”
RESURRECTIONAL KONTAKION — TONE 1
As God, You rose from the tomb in glory, raising the world with Yourself. Human nature praises You as God, for death has vanished. Adam exults, O Master! Eve rejoices, for she is freed from bondage and cries to You: “You are the Giver of Resurrection to all, O Christ!”
ALL SAINTS OF NORTH AMERICA KONTAKION — TONE 3
Today the choir of Saints who were pleasing to God in the lands of North America now stands before us in the Church and invisibly prays to God for us. With them the Angels glorify Him, and all the Saints of the Church of Christ keep festival with them; and together they all pray for us to the Pre-eternal God.
HYMN TO THE MOTHER OF GOD KONTAKION — TONE 6
Steadfast Protectress of Christians and constant Advocate before the Creator; despise not the cry of us sinners, but come speedily to help those who call on You in faith. Hasten to hear our petition and to intercede for us, O Theotokos, for You always protect those who honor You!
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~Scripture Readings of the Day~ |
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READERS:
Matins: Lenny Tepsic Epistle: Dasha Gencturk
Matins Next Week: Lenny Tepsic Epistle Next Week: Marijana Rocknage
EPISTLE: Romans 2: 10-16
DEACON: Let us pay attention.
PRIEST: Peace be unto all!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Prokeimenon in the First Tone: Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us as we have set our hope on You!
CHOIR: Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us as we have set our hope on You!
READER: v: Rejoice in the Lord, O your righteous! Praise befits the just!
CHOIR: Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us as we have set our hope on You!
READER: Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us ...
CHOIR: … as we have set our hope on You!
DEACON: Wisdom!
READER: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Romans.
DEACON: Let us attend!
READER: Brethren, glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!
READER: And with your spirit! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: God gives vengeance unto me, and subdues people under me.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: He magnifies the salvation of the King and deals mercifully with David, His anointed, and his seed forever.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
АПОСТОЛ: Римљанима 2:10-16
Ђакон: Пазимо
Свештеник: Мир свима!
Читач: I Духу Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 1 Нека буде милост Твоја, Господе, на нама, као што се уздасмо у Тебе.
Хор: Нека буде милост Твоја, Господе, на нама, као што се уздасмо у Тебе.
Читач: Веселите се, праведници, пред Господом, праведнима доликује похвала.
Хор: Нека буде милост Твоја, Господе, на нама, као што се уздасмо у Тебе.
Читач: Нека буде милост Твоја, Господе,
Хор: на нама, као што се уздасмо у Тебе.
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач: Читање је од посланице Светог апостола Павла до Римљанима
Ђакон: Пазимо
Читач: Браћо, слава и част и мир свакоме који чини добро, а најприје Јудејцу и Јелину; Јер Бог не гледа ко је ко. Јер који без закона сагријешише, без закона ће и изгинути; а који под законом сагријешише, по закону ће се осудити. Јер нису праведни пред Богом они који слушају закон, него ће се оправдати они који испуњавају закон. Јер кад незнабошци немајући закона чине од природе што је по закону, они немајући закон сами су себи закон; Они доказују да је у срцима њиховим написано оно што је по закону, пошто свједочи савјест њихова, и пошто се мисли њихове међу собом оптужују или оправдавају, на дан када Бог узасуди тајне људске по јеванђељу мојему кроз Исуса Христа.
Свештеник: Мир свима Читачу!
Читач: I Духом Твоме! Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Бог ми даје освету и покорава људе испод мене.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Он увећава спасење Краља и милостиво се односи са Давидом, његовим помазаником и његовим сјеменом заувијек.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
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LITURGY GOSPEL:
Matthew 4: 18-23
And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
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ЈЕВАНЂЕЉЕ:
Матеј 4: 18-23
У вријеме оно, Исус идући покрај мора Галилејског видје два брата. Симона, званога Петар, и Андреја, брата његова, гдје бацају мрежу у море, јер бијаху рибари. И рече им: Хајдете за мном и учинићу вас ловцима људи. А они одмах оставише мреже и пођоше за њим. И отишавши одатле видје друга два брата, Јакова Зеведејева и Јована брата његова, у лађи са Зеведејем, оцем њиховим, гдје крпе мреже своје, и позва их. А они одмах оставише лађу и оца својега и пођоше за њим. И прохођаше Исус по свој Галилеји учећи по синагогама њиховим, и проповиједајући јеванђеље о Царству, и исцјељујући сваку болест и сваку немоћ у народу.
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~ The Week Ahead: Scriptures and Services ~ |
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July Birthdays
Edie Venesevich (July 6), Jovanka Shaffer (July 7), Christian Gunther (July 8), Sloane Ivey Semic (July 8), Cindy Semic (July 10), Kyle Barber (July 10), Faith Kingsbury (July 10), Duke Petrovich (July 11), Paula Werner (July 11), Bo Hudson Paddock (July 11), Melania Skinder (July 12), Andrea Gunther (July 13), Jazmin Cruz (July 13), Pam Healy (July 14), Jevgenija Radanovic (July 16), Lenny Tepsich Jr (July 16), Alana Tepsich (July 17), Igor Skinder (July 18), Milan Radanovic (July 22), Paul Kessler (July 30), Erik Barber (July 31), Jovan Grujic, Bojan Lazarevic
July Anniversaries
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SUMMER SERVICE SCHEDULE
As we will continue to have the doors of the Church open during services, Matins will begin at 8am followed by Divine Liturgy at 9am.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR FELLOWSHIP HOUR
We are asking for volunteers to make coffee and provide refreshments after liturgy during the month of July. Please sign up in the Lobby after Church, or contact the office during the week.
OCCGH GOLF TOURNAMENT (DEADLINE TO SIGN UP)
The last day to register for the 5th Annual OCCGH Golf Tournament is Wednesday, July 7. Tournament is Saturday, July 10 at Eagles Crossing Golf Course, Carlisle PA, 4-person scramble, $280 per team. Direct any questions to Carl Hisiro, 717-903-2711 or chisiro@verizon.net
DEADLINE IS APPROACHING FOR ENVELOPE ADDRESS CHANGE
If you are not receiving envelopes and wish to, receiving envelopes and no longer wish to, or you need to make an address change, please inform the office by July 18!
CLUB PICNIC ADVERTISING
Our Serbian-American Civic & Educational Club will be holding their Annual Picnic on July 25 AT SERB PARK!!! If you can help post fliers, please contact Daria Milletics. Establishments willing to display our fliers in the past have been Middletown Giant & Souders Mini Market, Smitty’s, Tony’s Pizza, ABC East Bowling Alley, Turkey Hill (Highspire & Oberlin), Schmidts, Highspire Post Office. If you can reach out to any of these establishments (and others), it would be greatly appreciated.
CLUB PICNIC VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Your church needs your help. Please consider volunteering your time for the Club’s Annual Picnic on Sunday, July 25, which will be held AT SERB PARK!!! No amount of time is too small. Please contact Paula Werner (717-433-4158) if you are able to work.
PASTRY DONATIONS NEEDED
We are also in need of Home Made Pastry donations for the Club’s Annual Picnic on Sunday, July 25. Please contact Paula Werner (717-433-4158) if you are able to donate.
CHURCH HALL USAGE
The Church Hall is once again available for parishioner use. Schedule your event with Daria Milletics or Fr. Chris to check for availability.
MOTHER’S CLUB KIOSK
Don’t forget to check out the new greeting cards available at the Mother’s Club Kiosk in the Lobby!
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July Charity
Monastery New Marcha
On July 26, Monastery Marcha celebrates its Slava, the Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel, so it is fitting that the monastery is our Charity Sunday recipient this month. It is the first monastery established for Serbian Orthodox nuns in the United States and was begun in 1975 by His Grace, the late Bishop Dr. Sava. Its inspiration was the original 17th century Monastery Marcha of Serbia, destroyed by war twice in the 20th century. From modest beginnings, Monastery Marcha has grown. In addition to the new monastery church erected in 2001, there is a residence and lodgings for visiting monastics. The weekly Divine Liturgy is celebrated by nearby clergy. Mother Anna, of blessed memory, was the first American-born Serbian Orthodox nun who took residence at Monastery Marcha, and we, at St. Nicholas Church, counted Mother Anna as our dear friend. We have been blessed to have had her visit with us. Monastery Marcha’s main income is derived from the sale of candles, prayer ropes and other religious articles. If you travel to the Cleveland, Ohio area, plan to visit Monastery Marcha in nearby Richfield. It is a beautiful and uplifting spiritual site and visitors are welcomed with great warmth and hospitality.
You can send an email to the Monastery at monasterymarcha@yahoo.com
Monastery Marcha, 5095 Broadview Road, Richfield, OH 44286, (330) 659-3809
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Synaxis of the Saints of North America |
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On the second Sunday after Pentecost, each local Orthodox Church commemorates all the saints, known and unknown, who have shone forth in its territory. Accordingly, the Orthodox Church in America remembers the saints of North America on this day. Saints of all times, and in every country are seen as the fulfillment of God’s promise to redeem fallen humanity. Their example encourages us to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily besets us” and to “run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). The saints of North America also teach us how we should live, and what we must expect to endure as Christians. Although it is a relatively young church, the Orthodox Church in America has produced saints in nearly all of the six major categories of saints: Apostles (and Equals of the Apostles); Martyrs (and Confessors); Prophets; Hierarchs; Monastic Saints; and the Righteous. Prophets, of course, lived in Old Testament times and predicted the coming of Christ.
The first Divine Liturgy in what is now American territory (northern latitude 58 degrees, 14 minutes, western longitude 141 degrees) was celebrated on July 20, 1741, the Feast of the Prophet Elias, aboard the ship Peter under the command of Vitus Bering. Hieromonk Hilarion Trusov and the priest Ignatius Kozirevsky served together on that occasion. Several years later, the Russian merchant Gregory I. Shelikov visited Valaam monastery, suggesting to the abbot that it would be desirable to send missionaries to Russian America. On September 24, 1794, after a journey of 7,327 miles (the longest missionary journey in Orthodox history) and 293 days, a group of monks from Valaam arrived on Kodiak Island in Alaska. The mission was headed by Archimandrite Joasaph, and included Hieromonks Juvenal, Macarius, and Athanasius, the Hierodeacons Nectarius and Stephen, and the monks Herman and Joasaph. Saint Herman of Alaska (December 13, August 9), the last surviving member of the mission, fell asleep in the Lord in 1837.
Throughout the Church’s history, the seeds of faith have always been watered by the blood of the martyrs. The Protomartyr Juvenal was killed near Lake Iliamna by natives in 1799, thus becoming the first Orthodox Christian to shed his blood for Christ in the New World. In 1816, Saint Peter the Aleut was put to death by Spanish missionaries in California when he refused to convert to Roman Catholicism. Missionary efforts continued in the nineteenth century, with outreach to the native peoples of Alaska.
Two of the most prominent laborers in Christ’s Vineyard were Saint Innocent Veniaminov (March 31 and October 6) and Saint Jacob Netsvetov (July 26), who translated Orthodox services and books into the native languages. Father Jacob Netsvetev died in Sitka in 1864 after a life of devoted service to the Church. Father John Veniaminov, after his wife’s death, received monastic tonsure with the name Innocent. He died in 1879 as the Metropolitan of Moscow. As the nineteenth century was drawing to a close, an event of enormous significance for the North American Church took place. On March 25, 1891, Bishop Vladimir went to Minneapolis to receive Saint Alexis Toth (May 7) and 361 of his parishioners into the Orthodox Church. This was the beginning of the return of many Uniates to Orthodoxy.
Saint Tikhon (Belavin), the future Patriarch of Moscow (April 7, October 9), came to America as bishop of the diocese of the Aleutians and Alaska in September 1898. As the only Orthodox bishop on the continent, Saint Tikhon traveled extensively throughout North America in order to minister to his widely scattered and diverse flock. He realized that the local church here could not be a permanent extension of the Russian Church. Therefore, he focused his efforts on giving the American Church a diocesan and parish structure which would help it mature and grow.
Saint Tikhon returned to Russia in 1907, and was elected as Patriarch of Moscow ten years later. He died in 1925, and for many years his exact burial place remained unknown. Saint Tikhon’s grave was discovered on February 22, 1992 in the smaller cathedral of Our Lady of the Don in the Don Monastery when a fire made renovation of the church necessary.
Saint Raphael of Brooklyn (February 27) was the first Orthodox bishop to be consecrated in North America. Archimandrite Raphael Hawaweeny was consecrated by Bishop Tikhon and Bishop Innocent (Pustynsky) at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in New York on March 13, 1904. As Bishop of Brooklyn, Saint Raphael was a trusted and capable assistant to Saint Tikhon in his archpastoral ministry. Saint Raphael reposed on February 27, 1915.
The first All American Council took place March 5-7, 1907 at Mayfield, PA, and the main topic was “How to expand the mission.” Guidelines and directions for missionary activity, and statutes for the administrative structure of parishes were also set forth.
In the twentieth century, in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, countless men, women, and children received the crown of martyrdom rather than renounce Christ. Saints John Kochurov (October 31) and Alexander Hotovitzky (December 4 and August 7) both served the Church in North America before going back to Russia. Saint John became the first clergyman to be martyred in Russia on October 31, 1917 in Saint Petersburg. Saint Alexander Hotovitzky, who served in America until 1914, was killed in 1937.
In addition to the saints listed above, we also honor those saints who are known only to God, and have not been recognized officially by the Church. As we contemplate the lives of these saints, let us remember that we are also called by God to a life of holiness.
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