Ñåðäå÷íî â³òàºìî íàøèõ ãîñòåé, ÿê³ ìîëèëèñü ñüîãîäí³ ç íàìè. Áóäåìî ðàä³ áà÷èòè Âàñ ó íàñòóïíó íåä³ëþ. Íåõàé Âàñ îáåð³ãຠÃîñïîäü

Sun. March 16, 2007, 8:20 - 8:50 am. Reading of the Hours/Confession.

9:00 am. Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great. St. Piama, virgin. Righteous Zeno and Zoilus. Tone 1. Prayer for travelers. 10:45-11:30 am. Sunday School. 2:30 pm. Rehearsal at Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church. 4:00 pm. Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers at Sts. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Endicott, 210 Hill Avenue.

Mon. March 17 - 6:00 pm. Bible Study. Ven. Gerasimos of the Jordan. Isaiah 4:2-6, 5:1-7. Genesis 3:21-4:7. Proverbs 3:34-4:22. Fast Day.

Tue. March 18 - Martyr Eulogius of Palestine. Isaiah 5:7-16. Genesis 4:8-15. Proverbs 5:1-15. Fast Day.

Wed. March 19 - 7:00 pm. Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. The 42 Martyrs of Amoria. Isaiah 5:16-25. Genesis 4:16-26. Proverbs 5:15-6:3. Fast Day

Thu. March 20 - St. Emilian of Rome. St. Ephraim, patriarch of Antioch. Isaiah 6:1-12. Genesis 5:1-24. Proverbs 6:3-20. Fast Day

Fri. March 21 - 7:00 pm. Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. Apostle Hermans of the Seventy. Isaiah 7:1-14. Genesis 5:32-6:8. Proverbs 6:20-7:1. Fast Day.

Sat. March 22 - 10:00 am. General Panahida. Second Saturday of Great Lent, commemoration of the Dead. The Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. 4:30 pm Great Vespers /Confession. Hebrew 3:12-16. Mark 1:35- 44. Fast Day.

Sun. March 23 - 8:20 - 8:50 am. Reading of the Hours/Confession. 9:00 am. Divine Liturgy. Tone 1. Liturgy of St. Basil. Commemoration of St. Gregory Palamas. Prayer for travelers. 10:45 -11:30 am. Sunday School. Fast Day. ***************************************************************

Priest: Let us be attentive! Peace be with you all!

Reader: And with your spirit!

Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: The Prokimen in tone 1. Let Thy mercy, o Lord, be upon us / as we have set our hope on Thee.

Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, o ye Righteous! Praise befit’s the just!

Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: The reading from the letter of Apostle Paul to Hebrews: Priest: Let us be attentive.

Reader: Brothers, by faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthan, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions, quenched the violence of time, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mocking and scourging, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented - of whom the word was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Priest: Peace be with you reader.

Reader: And with your spirit. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Verse: God gives vengeance unto me, and subdues people under me!

Verse: He magnifies the salvation of the king, and deals mercifully with Christ, with David and his seed for ever.

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Happy Birthday: March 16 Michael Tylko, 16 Gary Dobransky, 16 James Kaspryk, 21 Mary Gormish, 22 Taras Moroz.

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Thank you all who worked and baked for yesterday’s bake sale!!!

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“The honor rendered to the icon ascends to the Prototype” St. Basil the Great. March 16, 2008 The Feast of the Sunday of Orthodoxy

To all the Clergy and the Laity of the Holy Orthodox Churches in the Americas Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We, the Hierarchs of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, greet you with one voice and with one heart on this great and grace-filled Feast of the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the first Sunday of our yearly sojourn to the Holy Pascha. We stand together with you, who are the living icons of God, holding in our hands the icons whose very existence confirms that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the Only-Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (St. John 1:14).

We celebrate this day as a day of victory, as a day of triumph for the Orthodox Faith of Christ and restoration of the Sacred Icons to the Churches of the Faithful Christian People. Over eleven hundred years have passed since the generations of those Orthodox Christians who surrendered their liberties and their lives to save images composed of wood and paint. The controversy known as Iconoclasm, a period of 150 convulsive years, was truly a proving-ground for our Orthodox Faith. Against those who treated the Sacred Icons as idols, the Church of Christ emerged victorious.

As we affirm in the Synodikon of Orthodoxy, the Church has never worshipped idols. Such an accusation would be absurd, especially in view of the injunction of St. John, the Beloved Disciple: "Little children, guard yourselves against the idols." (I John 5:21). Rather, it has always been understood, as St. Basil the Great states so eloquently: "The honor rendered to the icon ascends to the Prototype." Thus the icons become points of entry to the Divine Presence – windows and doors opening onto Heaven itself. The honor, love and veneration that we render, is not rendered to the material elements from which the icon is composed. By the grace and power of God, they ascend to the prototype, the one who is represented. And inasmuch as every Saint of the Church reflects, as it were, the light of Christ Himself, the Prototype of every icon is Christ Himself, Who is " the Icon of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature" (Colossians 1:15). Or to put it more simply, every icon is an icon of Christ, the real and momentous presence of God in our Midst, the God Who is with us, Emmanuel (cf. St. Matthew 1:23).

+Archbishop DEMETRIOS, Chairman Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. +Metropolitan PHILIP, Vice Chairman Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. +Metropolitan CHRISTOPHER, Secretary Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada. +Metropolitan NICHOLAS of Amissos, Treasurer American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese in the USA. +Metropolitan HERMAN Orthodox Church in America

+Archbishop NICOLAE Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada. +Metropolitan JOSEPH Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church.

+Metropolitan CONSTANTINE Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.

+Bishop ILIA of Philomelion Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America.

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During this period of Holy and Great Lent, our Church calls us to repentance. Doubtless, as contemporary man hears this invitation to repentance, he does not feel comfortable, because he has accustomed himself to a certain way of life, and does not wish to question his own rectitude. Calling one’s own rectitude into question produces feelings of insecurity, because the ideological structure within which you have sure and certain refuge is clearly risked.

However, a deeper examination of the issue compels us to accept that people’s convictions do not conform to objective reality, on the basis of reasonable judgment. Rather, they create a justification that is pleasing to self, namely: "excuses in sins" (Psalm 140:4). When a person justifies his or her actions and self-vindicates on the basis of erroneous values, significant harm happens, because inevitably, the moment comes when the truth emerges, and we find ourselves without excuse. Moreover, there may be no more time to adjust our convictions: that is, to repent of our sinful deeds and erroneous beliefs, through which we have tried to justify our behavior.

Now as Christians, we are used to both hearing about and practicing repentance, and we do not feel a conflict with our Church’s call to repentance. However, there is a need for us to make a deliberate and conscious effort to realize that a complete repentance has two objectives.

The first objective is threefold: a renunciation of our sins, a decision to cease and desist from sinful deeds and habits, and a decision to make amends for the consequences of our sins. For example, the publican Zaccheus, who sincerely repented during his encounter with Christ, demonstrated his repentance in a practical way by repaying fourfold the very people from whom he had unjustly seized wealth.

The second objective of repentance is that we should change our mentality. We should replace our understandings with other higher and loftier ones; or in the words of the Psalmist: to "ascend in our hearts" (Psalm 83:6). This second objective needs to be pursued especially by those who are unconvinced by their consciousness about specific sins. For example, our understanding of love surely falls short of perfection; likewise our understanding of humility. For when we compare our own spiritual state to the perfection of God, a perfection we are called to imitate, surely we will see our shortcomings and realize the endless road we must traverse in order to find ourselves in the path of those who are like unto God.

As we examine the quality of our inner peace, we ascertain that we fall short of the peace of Christ "which surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). Pondering the level to which we trust our lives to God’s Providence, we sadly realize that we are often seized by anxiety and uncertainty about the future, as if we were either of little faith or even without faith. In general, upon examination of the purity of our conscience, we realize that we fall short of understanding correctly the many feelings we harbor within ourselves that are detrimental to our purity, often mistaking them as healthy. Thus, a new and more complete enlightenment of our conscience is needed through the teachings of the Fathers and of the Gospel, so that we will be in a better position to think critically about ourselves and our shortcomings, in line with the judgment of God. Since no one can claim to judge himself perfectly, by the same token no one can claim that he has no need of a renewed mind, a more enlightened mind, a transformation of mind, a correction of mind and mentality, i.e. a need of repentance.

The call of our Orthodox Church to repentance is not merely a call to self-reproach. Self-reproach can be useful, as are deep contrition and tears of repentance; but they are not of themselves sufficient. We need to experience the joy emanating from the forgiveness granted to us by God, the sense of deliverance from the burdens of the bondage of sin, and the sense of God’s love for us. Our repentance does not deprive us from the joy of life, making us indignant when we hear a sermon calling us to repentance. Repentance means cleansing and enlightenment of our minds, more ardent love for Christ and His creation, freedom and joy through the newness of life into which we continually enter through our constant repentance.

The one who constantly repents, ever progresses, ever rejoices through new ascents, finds constant satisfaction in deeper understandings of all things. Through the transformation of mentality and understanding, the one who repents better understands the whole world, becomes wiser, more judicious, more discreet, nobler and a true friend of Christ. Therefore, the preaching of repentance should be favorably received by wise persons who are able to appreciate any improvement that comes from the renewal of the human person through repentance.

Therefore, brothers and sisters and beloved children in the Lord, let us accept the invitation of our Church to repentance as we have set forth above. Let us who have fallen short through sin cleanse ourselves from sin through confession. Let us constantly examine our own presuppositions, so our judgments and thoughts may be godly and pure, just and true.

Finally, we paternally pray that all of you may enjoy the every assistance and help of the Lord on your road to repentance and throughout your renewed life in Christ.

+ BARTHOLOMEW of Constantinople The fervent intercessor for you all before God. Holy and Great Lent 2008

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“Come to me, all you that labor and are burdened: I will give you rest… Learn from me: I am gentle and humble of heart;… my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Mt. 10:28-30)

Thus, the Lord Christ calls us to come to Him and find rest from the daily pressures of our times. We have, nevertheless, to accept the fact of the yoke - the cross which we must pick up to follow him. The burden need not be beyond our strength, for He is gentle and, in His humbleness of heart, He asks us no more than we can bear, but what we give must be given wholeheartedly, with nothing held back.

Life is full of contradictions; the positive and the negative are close to each other; pain and consolation, sorrow and joy, strive and peace. Rest can only be enjoyed after exertion. The way to resurrection is the way of the Cross and the grave.

To understand the wonder of the resurrection as full as we can, we first must accept not only the teaching and suffering of our Lord, but also His death. The first fact of the resurrection was an empty tomb in which a lifeless body had lain. The Word who had created all and given life to all accepted death at the hands of His creation - a greater humility than this cannot be conceived of. Yet, it was from that grave that eternal life issued forth; death was overcome by death so that all humanity could inherit eternal life.

Christ said: “a grain of wheat must fall into the ground and die, or else it remains nothing more than a grain of wheat; but if it dies it yields rich fruits” (John 12:24) Every seed brings forth according to its kind. In Christ, the seed is life, thus only life could resurrect.

Every Sunday is a Paschal (Resurrection) Feast. The Holy Eucharist is not only a reminder of the Lord’s death, but the starting point of our redemption, for God is with us even unto the end of the world.

Jesus Christ continually calls us: “See where I stand at the door knocking; if anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him…” (Rev. 3:20) But we must open, we must leave off what we are doing and run to the door; knowing fully well of our unworthiness to have Him beneath our ‘roof’ we still dare to do so because of His love for us. “That love resides, not in our showing any love for God, but in His showing love for us first.” (1 John 4:10)

Not for our beauty or our goodness, but because we are His creatures whom He formed with His own hands, into whom He blew the Spirit of life.

We can answer His call only in utter humility, in fulfilling the law of love of God and our neighbor. In our love for God we cannot abandon our brother, for he, like me, has the same Redeemer. How can I love myself more than God who lowered Himself for me? I can but serve where He called me. “Merely to stand on the steps of God’s house is better than living with the wicked” (Isaiah 84:10)

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2008 Great Lent Pysanky Classes: Sundays, March 16 - 2:30 pm. Sundays March 23, 30. April 6, 13, 20 at 3:00 pm.

2008 Great Lent Iconography Classes from 12 noon - 1:00 pm. on Sundays March 16, 23, 30. April 6, 13, 20 Following Coffee Hour Iconography classes with Pani Nataliya at the church rectory. All those who are interested in taking iconography classes, please see Pani for further information.

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Ukrainian Dance rehearsals: Sundays March 16, 23, 30. April 6, 13, 20 from 1:15 - 2:30 pm. The plan for the rest of the season will be decided in April.

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Patron ads for the convention yearbook are $5.00 and can be given to Julie

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If you would like to buy Orthodox Study Bibles please see Pam Scannell.

If we do not get more of a request in the Bibles then we will not be able to order another case.

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Ukrainian Orthodox Church Camping Programs. Diocesan Church School Camp: June 21 - July 5,Children age 9-13. Teenage Conference 50^th Anniversary Year, July 6 -19, Teenagers Ages 13-18. Mommy & Me/Daddy & Me Camp August 4-8, Children 4-8 and Parents. Staff members needed for all encampments. Consecration Celebration of All Saints Camp Chapel June 22.

For applications please see Father or Pam Scannell

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Pray for the sick: The Lord said: “Do unto others as you would want them do unto you.” So if we will be sick, we will ask help from God, we will ask priests and people to pray for us. In order for the Lord to listen to us when we are sick, we need to pray for those who are sick. O Lord our God, Who by Your Word alone healed all diseases; Who cured the Mother-in-law of Apostle Peter; Who chastises with pity and heals according to Your goodness; Who are able to put aside every malady and infirmity: Do You the same Lord, now relieve Your servants: Fr. Michael Michalopolos, John Buchma, Mary Tarcha, Paul Chebiniak, John Glowa, John Tylko, Evelyn Kanazawich, Robert Kocak, Audrey Klym, Michael Hovancik, Kevin Terpak, Mildred Charnetsky, Mary & Walter Gulachok, Mary Gormish, Olga Gooley, Mary Ford, John and Mary Mihalko, Margaret Klish, Marlyn Klish, Cypryan Klish II, Sophia Malowicky, Genevieve Sadowitz, Michael Sr. Duby, Anne and Karen Girnis, Julie Sadowitz, Catherine Dobransky, Pelahia Kit, Stephania Moroz, Mildred Bogdan, Wasyl Krawecki, Meghan Scannell, Olga Drost, Marion Kaspryk, Nicholas Corba, and cure them of the sicknesses which grieves them; lift them up from their beds of pain, sending down upon them Your mercy; and if it be Your will, give to them health and a complete recovery. For You are the Physician of our souls and bodies, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit now and ever and unto ages of ages Amen.

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Please let Father know who is in need of visiting, prayers or receiving of sacraments. Visits can be any time. At an emergency you can call Father on his cell phone 245-9988.

Dear brothers and sisters for those who do not attend confession (repentance) and Holy Communion, please participate in these sacraments. This is for your own salvation, for the remission of sins and life everlasting.

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Future Event. Please mark your calendars

Mon. March 17 - 7:00 pm. Parish Counsel meeting.

Sat. March 22 - Sts. Peter and Paul Easter Bake sale from 9:00 -12 noon Endicott, 210 Hill Avenue. Please call for orders 754-6908

Mon. March 24 - 6:00 pm. Bible Study.

Wed. March 26 - 7:00 pm. Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.

Fri. March 28 - 7:00 pm. Liturgy of the Presenctified Gifts.

Sat. March 29 - 10:00 am. General Panahida. Memorial Saturday.

Mon. March 31 - 6:00 pm. Bible Study.

Thu. April 3 - 7 pm. Sr. UOL meeting.

Tue. April 15 - 5:00 pm. Volunteers to Sarah Jane’s Soup Kitchen, to help people of need in our area Audrey and Eugene Klym, Scott Shirk. If you would like to be added to the list of volunteers please call Beth Harendza 321-3685

April 27 - Celebration of the Sacrament of First Confession on Easter Sunday.

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JULY 30 - AUGUST 3, 2008. 61 ANNUAL UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX

LEAGUE CONVENTION AT ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN JOHNSON CITY, NY. “THE LIGHT OF CHRIST ILLUMINES ALL” COME AND ENJOY SPIRITUAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES.

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Please give Father any information or announcements that you would like to publish in the Sunday’s bulletin, before Friday of that week. This way all parishioners will know about St. John’s events. Thank you.

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