St. George Russian Or thodox Church
Russian Or thodox Church Outside Russia
Twelve Great Feasts:
The Meeting of the Lord
According to the law of Moses, all
Hebrew parents must bring their first
born son on the fortieth day after birth
to the Temple to be consecrated to
God. It was the custom to bring a
sacrifice in thanksgiving to God. The
law was established in remembrance
of the exodus of the Hebrews from
Egypt - freedom from slavery, when
the first-born Hebrews were spared
from death.
In fulfillment of this law, the
Mother of God with Joseph brought
the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jeru-
salem, and for their sacrifice brought
two fledgling doves.
At this time in Jerusalem, there
lived an old man by the name of
Simeon. He was a righteous, pious
man, and he awaited the coming of
the Messiah. It was foretold to him by
the Holy Spirit that he would not die
until he had seen Christ the Lord.
Simeon waited for the fulfillment of
the promise of God for a long time.
According to tradition he lived about
300 years. Then, one day, by the in-
spiration of the Holy Spirit, he went
to the Temple. When Mary with Jo-
seph brought the infant Jesus, Simeon
met the Child, took Him in his arms
and glorifying God Said, "Now
lettest Thou Thy servant depart
in peace, O Master, according to
Thy word, for mine eyes have
seen Thy salvation, which Thou
hast prepared before the face of
all people, a light of revelation
for the Gentiles, and the glory of
Thy people Israel."
Simeon called the newborn Lord,
"a light to enlighten the Gen-
tiles," that is, all the tribes and na-
tions, and "the glory of Thy peo-
ple" that is, "Israel." There are two
Israel, the Old Testament and the
New Testament one. In the Old Tes-
tament is was the chosen Hebrew
people or Israelites, and in the New
Testament - it is the whole Orthodox
Christian world.
Joseph and the Mother of God
marveled at the words of Simeon.
Simeon blessed them, and turning to
the Mother of God, he prophesied to
Her about the Child, "Behold, this
Child is set for the fall and rising again
of many in Israel; yea, a sword shall
pass through Thy own soul, also."
That meant that She Herself would
endure profound grief over Her Son,
when He would suffer.
There was in the Temple the pi-
ous widow Anna, a prophetess, eighty-
four years a widow, who served God
with fasting and prayers night and day.
Continued on page 2
CHURCH NEWSLETTER VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2
FEBRUARY 2010
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USSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
www.stgeorgeroc.org
IMPORTANT DATES TO
REMEMBER:
FEBRUARY 3, 10, & 24
Catechism classes:
Will be held every Wednesday
from 7-8 pm after the Akathist
FEBRUARY 6 & 7
Meatfare Sunday:
6:00 pm
Vigil
10:00 am Divine Liturgy
BLINI at Swaim Park
FEBRUARY 12
A Russian Winter's Night:
See Page 4 for more information
FEBRUARY 13 & 14
The Meeting of the Lord and
Forgiveness Sunday:
6:00 pm
Vigil
10:00 am Divine Liturgy
Forgiveness Vespers following
FEBRUARY 15 - 18
First Week of Great Lent:
6:30 pm
Great Canon of
St. Andrew
FEBRUARY 19
First Friday in Great Lent:
9:00 am
Presanctified Liturgy
FEBRUARY 22
Scrapbooking:
See Page 4 for more information
A LOOK AHEAD:
APRIL 4
PASCHA
Congratulations
On Saturday, January 23, Alexy,
son of Pavel and Victoria Chzhen was
baptized into the Church. His
Godparents are Christopher Pinkerton
and Maria Prokosheva. Many Years to
all of them!
On January 4th, Fr. Pavel, Mat.
Bethany and Dimitri welcomed into
the world Anna Pavlovna Akmolin.
She was baptized on Saturday, January
31st. Her Godparents are Deacon
Jeremiah and Mat. Margaret Davis
from Wayne, WV.
May God strengthen these two
little ones as they grow in the church.
Continued from page 1
She recognized the Saviour and com-
ing in that instant, glorified the Lord
and spoke of Him to all those in Jeru-
salem who awaited the coming to
earth of Christ the Saviour.
When they had performed all
things according to the Law of the
Lord, the Mother of God with the
Child and Joseph returned home.
This event, in which Saints
Simeon and Anna met in the Temple
the infant Child, presented by the
Mother of God and Joseph, and glo-
rified Him, is called the Feast of the
Meeting of the Lord, and is celebrated
in the Holy Orthodox Church as one
of the great feast days on February
2nd/15th.
The righteous Simeon is called
the God-receiver, that is, he who re-
ceived in his hands God the Saviour.
~From The Law of God
Note: Due to Pascha being early this
year, the feast of the Meeting of the
Lord should fall on the first day of
Great Lent. Therefore, the feast is
transferred to the day before, which is
Forgiveness Sunday.
Great Lent
Great Lent is the most important
and most ancient of the fasts which
extend over more than one day. It
reminds us of the forty-day fast of the
Saviour in the wilderness, and pre-
pares us for Passion Week and for the
joyous Feast of Feasts, the radiant Res-
urrection of Christ.
The Holy and Great Fast is a time
for special prayer and repentance dur-
ing which each of us should beseech
the Lord for forgiveness of sins
through Confession and preparation
for Communion, and then worthily
partake of the Holy Mysteries of
Christ in accordance with the com-
mandment of Christ.
During the Old Testament period
the Lord commanded the sons of Is-
rael to give each year a tithe (one
tenth) of all that they possessed, and
when they did so they received blessing
in all their affairs.
In like manner the Holy Fathers
established for our benefit that a tenth
of the year, the period of Great Lent,
be consecrated to God, so that we
might be blessed in all our affairs and
each year purify ourselves of our sins
which we have committed during the
course of the year.
Great Lent then serves as the
God-ordained tenth of the year, for it
equals approximately thirty-six days,
excluding Sundays, during which we
separate ourselves for a time from the
distractions of life and all its possible
enjoyments, and dedicate ourselves
primarily to the service of God unto
the salvation of our souls.
Great Lent is preceded by three
preparatory Sundays. The first pre-
paratory Sunday of Great Lent is
termed the "Sunday of the Publican
and Pharisee." The second prepara-
tory Sunday of Great Lent is termed
the "Sunday of the Prodigal Son."
The third preparatory Sunday of
Great Lent is called "Meatfare Sun-
day," because after this Sunday, of
non-fasting foods, one is allowed to eat
cheese, milk, butter, and eggs, but no
meat or poultry. This Sunday is also
termed "The Sunday of the Last
Judgement," as the Gospel passage
concerning the Dread Judgement is
read, describing the final reward or
punishment awaiting us, and thereby
awakening the sinner to repentance.
In the hymns on Cheesefare Sunday,
the fall of Adam and Eve is recalled,
which resulted from lack of self-control
and fasting, with their salvific fruits.
The last Sunday before Great
Lent is termed "Cheesefare Sunday,"
because it is the last day on which one
can eat cheese, butter and eggs. Dur-
ing the Liturgy we hear the Gospel
Continued on page 3
CHURCH NEWSLETTER VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2
FEBRUARY 2010
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USSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
www.stgeorgeroc.org
Rejoice, hou who art u l of grace,
O Virgin heookos, for rom hee hah
risen he Sun of Righeousness,
Christ our God, enlighening hose in
darkness. Rejoice, hou also,
O righeous Elder, as hou receivest in
hine arms heRedeemer of our souls,
Who also graneh uno us he
Resurrecion.
~Troparion of he Meeing of he Lord
The Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian
O Lord and Master of my life, a
spirit of idleness, despondency, ambi-
tion, and idle talking give me not.
But rather a spirit of chastity,
humble-mindedness, patience, and
love bestow upon me Thy servant.
Yea, O Lord King, grant me to
see my failings and not condemn my
brother; for blessed art Thou unto the
ages of ages. Amen.
Continued from page 2
reading concerning the forgiveness of
our fellow man for his offenses against
us, without which we cannot receive
the forgiveness of our sins from the
Heavenly Father. In accordance with
this Gospel reading, Christians have
the pious custom on this day of forgiv-
ing each other their sins, both known
and unknown, and those who have a
quarrel with someone undertake every
effort to be reconciled. Therefore this
Sunday is also termed "Forgiveness
Sunday."
The general characteristics of the
divine services during Great Lent con-
sist of prolonged services of a less ex-
ultant character. There is less chant-
ing, longer readings from the Psalter
and additional prayers, which dispose
the soul towards repentance. At every
service full prostrations are done dur-
ing the penitential prayer of St.
Ephraim the Syrian, "O Lord and
Master of my life..."
During Great Lent each Sunday is
dedicated to the commemoration of a
special event or person which call the
sinful soul to repentance and hope in
the mercy of God.
~From The Law of God
The Sundays of Great
Lent, Their Significance
and Basic Rubrics
The first week of Great Lent is
distinguished by its special strictness
and its lengthy services. On the first
four days (Monday, Tuesday, Wednes-
day and Thursday) the canon of St.
Andrew of Crete is read at Great
Compline with the refrain between
each verse, "Have mercy on me, O
God, have mercy on me."
On Friday of the first week, at the
Liturgy after the Prayer before the
Ambo, the blessing of "koliva" (a mix-
ture of boiled wheat with honey) takes
place in memory of the holy Great
Martyr St. Theodore Tyro, who
granted supernatural help to Chris-
tians to help them keep the fast. In
362 A.D., the Byzantine Emperor, Jul-
ian the Apostate, ordered that the
blood of sacrifices offered to idols be
secretly sprinkled on the provisions for
the city of Constantinople. The Great
Martyr St. Theodore, who was burned
alive in 306 for his confession of the
Christian faith, appeared in a dream to
the bishop of Constantinople, Eu-
doxius, and exposed the secret plot of
Julian. He ordered him not to buy
food for the entire week at the city
market, and to instruct his flock to live
on koliva.
On the first Sunday of Great Lent
the "Trimph of Orthodoxy" is cele-
brated, which was established by the
Empress Theodora in 842 A.D. in
memory of the restoration of the ven-
eration of the holy icons. At the con-
clusion of the Liturgy a Service of
Intercession ("Moleben") is held in the
center of the church before icons of
the Saviour and the Theotokos, asking
that the Lord confirm Orthodox
Christians in the faith and bring back
to the path of truth all those who apos-
tatized from the Church. The deacon
reads the Creed solemnly and pro-
nounces the anathemas, proclaiming
that all those who have presumed to
distort the true Orthodox Christian
Faith are separated from the Church.
He then intones "Eternal Memory"
for all the reposed defenders of the
Orthodox Faith, and finally, "Many
Years," for all those who are living.
This service is customarily done in the
presence of a bishop.
On the second Sunday of Great
Lent the memory of St. Gregory Pa-
lamas is celebrated. A bishop of Thes-
salonica who lived in the fourteenth
century, he continued the battle
against Western, Latin distortions of
the Christian faith by teaching the
importance of the deifying power of
the uncreated Grace of God and pre-
serving the true balance between im-
manence and transcendence with the
doctrine of the relationship between
the "essence" and "energies" of God.
In accordance with the Orthodox
Faith he taught that the ascetic en-
deavor of fasting and prayer, particu-
larly the practice of the Jesus Prayer
according to the teachings of the hesy-
chastic Fathers, prepares one to receive
the grace-filled light of the Lord,
which is like that which shone on Mt.
Tabor at the Lord's Transfiguration.
In other words, if God wills, according
to one's striving, one can partake of
divine blessedness while still on this
sinful earth. Thus the second Sunday
of Great Lent has been set aside to
commemorate this great Church Fa-
ther, who made explicit the teaching
which reveals the power of prayer and
fasting.
On the third Sunday of Great
Lent, during the All-night Vigil after
the Great Doxology, the Holy Cross is
brought forth from the Altar and
placed in the center of the church for
the veneration of the faithful. During
the prostrations made before the Cross
(which often contains a portion of the
True Cross) the church chants, "Before
Thy Cross, we bow down, O Master,
and Thy holy Resurrection we glorify."
This hymn is also chanted at the Lit-
urgy instead of the Trisagion. The
Church has placed this event in the
middle of Great Lent in order that the
recollection of the suffering and death
of the Lord might inspire and
strengthen those fasting for the re-
mainder of the ascetic struggle of the
fast. The Holy Cross remains out for
veneration throughout the week until
Friday, when, after the hours and be-
fore the beginning of the Presanctified
Liturgy, it is returned to the Altar.
Thus the third Sunday and fourth
week of Great Lent are termed those
of the "Adoration of the Holy Cross."
~From The Law of God
CHURCH NEWSLETTER VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2
FEBRUARY 2010
S
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G
EORGE
R
USSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
www.stgeorgeroc.org
Parish Upcoming
Events...
BLINI:
This year's Blini feast will be held at
the Swaim Park after Divine Liturgy.
Suggested donation will be $10 per
adult and $5 per child.
Scrapbooking:
Inviting all scrapbookers to bring
your pictures and supplies for a fun
afternoon at the church on Monday,
February 22nd from 1:30-4:30 pm.
Catechism classes: These classes are
for all who are interested. They will
be every Wednesday from 7-8 pm.
Treasurer's report
December 1 January 29, 2009
Donations:
$ 1,836.50
Building Fund:
$106,333
Candles:
$ 2,754.50
Prosfora:
$ 506.75
Bookstore:
$ 399
Pledges:
$ 18,180
Member Dues:
$ 3,890
Total Income:
$133,899.75
Altar Supplies:
$ 190
Bookstore:
$ 408
Utilities:
$ 771
Clergy:
$ 7,263
Insurance:
$ 1,521
Candles:
$ 865
Total Expenses:
$ 11,018
Net Income:
$122,881.75
In this last month, we have received
a donation of $100,000, as well as a do-
nation of $5,000. These are, obviously,
significant gifts, making our dream of a
new church much more viable. May they
inspire similar generosity in others!
Our parish donated $427 to the
relief efforts in Haiti. Let us continue to
pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ
there.
I have not yet updated member dues
after the parish voted to raise the amount
to $25 per adult per month. I hope to do
that soon. I also intend to have tax letters
completed by the end of the month.
I do not have at hand information
on building expenses in the past two
months. Please see Marianna with any
questions regarding those.
God be with you,
~Keith (Nikifor) Hartzler, Treasurer
CHURCH NEWSLETTER VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2
FEBRUARY 2010
S
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G
EORGE
R
USSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
www.stgeorgeroc.org
Any changes or additions
to the newsletter
Give to Fr. Pavel or
Mat. Bethany by February 20,
2010
St. George Russian
Orthodox Church
(513) 791-6540
www.stgeorgeroc.org
M o r e v o l u n t e e r s a r e
needed to prepare food for
the meals following Liturgy
o n S u n d a y m o r n i n g s.
Please contact Matushka
Barbara if interested. The
more people on the list the
less often you have to
cook!
Sunday Lunch Schedule
February 7
BLINI
February 14
POTLUCK/FEAST
February 21
Kaminsky/Sander (Fast)
February 28 Boyar/Kravtsov (Fast)
Do we forgive our neighbors
their trespasses? God also
forgives us in His mercy. Do we
refuse to forgive? God, too, will
refuse to forgive us. As we treat
our neighbors, so also does
God treat us. The forgiveness,
t h e n , o f y o u r s i n s o r
unforgiveness, and hence also
your salvation or destruction,
depend on you yourself, man.
For without forgiveness of sins
there is no salvation. You can
see for yourself how terrible it is.
~St. Tikhon of Zadonsk