August 2010 Newsletter
Liturgical Notes
On August 14(Aug1 OS) the Church celebrates the Procession of the Holy Cross. This feast day commemorates simultaneous victories of the Russians and the Greeks over their enemies in separate battle areas. These victories were achieved by both armies carrying crosses before them into battles. These crosses emitted a heavenly light as they were carried into battle.
August 19(Aug 6 OS) is the commemoration of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord took Peter, James, and John with Him to the top of Mount Tabor. “And He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light” (Matt 17:2). The transfiguration is a Theophany-a manifestation of God, especially of the divinity of Christ, through a display of His uncreated, divine energy. Not only was His divinity revealed but also His Sonship in the Father for God the Father spoke, “This is My beloved Son” (Matt 17:5). Moses and the prophet Elijah appeared at this event representing the Law of the Old Testament and the Old Testament prophets who foretold of the Messiah's coming.
On August 28 (Aug 15 OS) the Church celebrates the repose of the Mother of God. This day was foretold to the Virgin Mary by the Archangel Gabriel and she requested that she might be able to see the Apostles before her death. The Lord answered her request by miraculously bringing the Apostles to her bedside from around the world. Many miraculous events surrounded this blessed event and are recorded in the tradition of the church. These last two feast days, the Transfiguration and the Dormition of the Mother of God, are two of the twelve major feast days of the liturgical year.
On August 14 (Aug1 OS) the church also begins the two week fasting period before the feast of the Dormition. The fasting rules of this fast are the same as Great Lent and these fasting periods are sometimes called “small Lent”.
Parish Notes
The tabernacle which holds the presanctified Mysteries has arrived and has been installed on the altar. The new archangel icons for the deacon doors have been ordered. There may be a six month wait for completion of these icons. The next major project is the installation of some type of fencing to enclose the cemetery grounds. The cemetery committee is working on this project.
The summer youth camp in July was again a great success. A special thanks to Janet Gawrieh, Carmen Montero, and Athanasia Vasakis for their planning, support, and management for the camp. The sacrifice of their time and talents made the camp successful.
William Brendel, his wife, Maria, and her mother, Lubov, will be moving to Pennsylvania this month. Dennis and Tatiana Stone will, with God's blessing, complete their move to Florida soon. It is always sad to see part of our parish family leave but we pray that God will bless the establishment of their new homes and that they may prosper spiritually and physically in the future.
Several of our members and family and friends have special days this month:
Elias Gawrieh Aug 2 Namesday
YeliseyYemchenko Aug 2 Namesday
Fran Presley Aug 4 Namesday
Anna Bennett Aug 7 Namesday
Marina deFligue Aug 15 Birthday
George Gawrieh Aug 21 Birthday
Tatiana Stone Aug 25 Birthday
God grant them many years!
From the fathers
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (I Peter 1:7)
Brethren, our faith is tried more often than a reed is rocked by the winds. Trials are like the winds: they will uproot a weak faith, but a strong faith will be strengthened even more. Trials are also like the flame in which straw is burned and gold is purified.
Man's theorizings and suppositions also try our faith. These are often very strong and bitter winds, but we can overcome them—if we are willing to cling to the words of God, and if, in opposition to these theorizings, we are able to properly emphasize the teachings of the Faith of Christ.
Our faith is further tried by fear and shame: fear of men who persecute the Faith, and shame toward men who arrogantly despise the Faith, These also are strong winds, which we must resist if we wish to remain alive. How will we resist them? By the fear of God, which should always be greater in our soul than the fear of men, and by shame before the apostles, saints and martyrs, who were not ashamed of their faith before the emperors, princes and sages of this world.
Our faith is further tried by suffering and misery. This is the fire in which our faith is either burned like straw or tempered like pure gold. Our faith will survive these trials if we remember Christ crucified on the Cross for us , and the many thousands of martyrs for the Faith, who by endurance conquered all, emerging from the flames like gold, and continuing to shine down through the centuries among the angels and among men.
Our faith is also tried by death—the death of our relatives and friends, and the death of men in general This is the bitter fire in which the faith of many has been burned. Is death the end of everything? It is not—believe me! It is the beginning of everything, of a new and just life. Believe in the Resurrection of Christ, believe in the life beyond the grave, and believe in the General Resurrection and the Dread Judgment.
O good Lord, strengthen the faith in us and have mercy on us. To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen. From the Prologue of Ohrid, homily for July 2.
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