Welcome

We welcome all visitors to our Divine Liturgy and services. While Holy Communion may only be received by prepared Orthodox Christians, our non-Orthodox guests are welcome to participate in our prayers and hymns and to join us in venerating the Cross and and receiving blessed bread at the conclusion of the Liturgy. Please sign our guest book and join us for refreshments and fellowship after the services.

Feel free to ask questions before or after the services. Any member of our Council or Congregation are glad to assist you. Literature about the Orthodox faith and this parish can be found in the narthex (back of the Church).

Members of our Parish Council are:

Deborah Bray - Secretary

Natalie Kucharski - Treasurer

Glenn PenkoffLidbeck - Member at Large

Demetra Tolis - Member at Large

Phyllis Sturtevant - President

Sophia Brubaker - Vice President

Announcements

On Wednesday, September 30th, at 6pm, we will have the blessing of Icons (postponed from last week). Bring your family Icons in for blessing.

On Saturday, October 3rd, beginning at 3pm, we are having a indoor parish cleanup in preparation for the visit of His Eminence, Archbishop Nikon. Please plan on helping.

Sunday, Oct 4th will be the baptism of Roderick Seurattan. The exorcisms will begin at 9:15 - promptly. Please be on time to help celebration the reception of Roderick into the Kingdom of Christ.

Throughout the week of October 5th, we commemorate two saints of North America; Saint Innocent and Saint Tikhon. We will be observing the Glorification of St Innocent with the reciting of the Akathist on Monday, Oct 5th at 6pm. We will be observing the Glorification of St. Tikhon with the reciting of the Akathist on Friday, Oct 9th at 8:30am.

Now that the excitement and success of the tag sale is behind us, it is time to redirect our focus on the visit of our Archbishop Nikon to the parish of St. Alexis; OCTOBER 10-11 2015. Fr. Steven will provide us with all the Liturgical details. There will be a simple dinner after vespers on Saturday October 10. The plan is for: meatballs, sausage, pasta dishes, salad bread and dessert. A sign up sheet will be available at the candle desk this week. After Liturgy on Sunday October 11 there will be a ham dinner coordinated by the Fellowship Committee. There is a sign up sheet for donations. With his visit, His Eminence will bring with him relics of St. Elizabeth and St. Innocent. These relics will be presented for veneration throughout the Archbishop’s visit. We will be blessed to have the relics of St. Innocent remain with the parish.

The parish council has determined the need to establish two new committees: a Red House committee and a 25th Anniversary committee. The 25th Anniversary committee will be primarily responsible for investigating and planning events related to the celebration of this parish milestone. The Red House committee will be responsible for investigating the house’s historical significance, possible grant opportunities and make recommendations to the parish as to uses for the house. The mandates of both these committees will be further clarified and established by the participants and the council. If you are interested in participating, please see a member of the parish council.

Parish Calendar

Parish Calendar

September 13 to September 21, 2015

Sunday, September 13

Sunday before Holy Cross

9:30AM Divine Liturgy

12:00PM Parish Picnic - Cancelled

12:45PM Vespers

Monday, September 14

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross

Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Isaac Freeman - B

8:30AM Akathist for the Life-Giving Cross

Tuesday, September 15

Nikitas the Great Martyr

8:30AM Daily Matins

Wednesday, September 16

Melissa Josefiak

Organizing and Pricing of Tag Sale Items

Euphemia the Great Martyr

4:30PM Open Doors

6:00PM Daily Vespers

Thursday, September 17

Sophia & her three daughters: Faith, Hope, and Love

Luba Martins - N

8:30AM Akathist to Sophia and her daughters

Friday, September 18

Tag Sale Setup

Eumenius the Wonderworker, Bishop of Gortynia

Saturday, September 19

Saturday after Holy Cross

9:00AM Tag Sale

2:00PM Tag Sale Cleanup

4:00PM Great Vespers

Sunday, September 20

100th Anniversary Of Holy Resurrection Church

Sunday after Holy Cross

9:30AM Divine Liturgy

3:00PM [CT Deanery] Clergy Family Picnic

Monday, September 21

Apodosis of the Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross

Luft - A

Prayers, Intersessions and Commemorations

Robert, Joseph, Christine, Raymond, Olga, Daria, Daria, Dori, John, Evelyn, Alla, June, Nina, Joan, John, Alex, Alan, Nadia, Glenn, Kathryn, Ivan, Elena & Jevon and Jocean, Kyra, Roderick, Albert, Barbara, Irene, John, Jennifer, Nicholas, Isabel, Elizabeth, John, Jordan, Michael, Lee, Eva, Neil, Gina, Joey, Michael, Madelyn,Sofie, Katrina, Olena,Valeriy, Dionysia, and Nona.

Memory Eternal for Richard Anselmo and Nadine Faro.

We commemorate:

Martyrs Callistratus and his company (49 Martyrs—ca. 304). Ven. Savvatii (Sabbatius), Wonderworker of Solovétsky Monastery (1435). Apostles Mark, Aristarchus, and Zenas, of the Seventy (1st c.). Martyr Epicharis of Rome (3rd c.). Ven. Ignatius, Abbot in Asia Minor (963-975).

Many Years! to Phyllis Sturtevant on the occasion of her birthday, and to Susan and Lloyd Davis and Alex and Luba Martins on the occasion of their anniversary.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 6th Tone

Angelic powers were above Thy tomb, and they that guarded Thee became as dead. And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine immaculate Body. Thou hast despoiled Hades and wast not tried thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. O Thou Who didst arise from the dead, Lord, glory be to Thee.

Apolytikion for Forefeast of the Exaltation in the 2nd Tone

We offer Thee in mediation the life-giving Cross which, of Thy goodness, Thou hast given unto us, the unworthy, O Lord. Save Thy hierarchs and Thy flock, and grant Thou peace through the Theotokos, O only friend of man.

Apolytikion for Temple of the Resurrection in the 4th Tone

Thou hast shown the earthly beauty of the holy tabernacle of Thy glory to be like unto the splendour of the heavenly firmament, O Lord. Strengthen it for ever and ever, and accept our prayers which we unceasingly offer therein unto Thee, through the Theotokos, O Thou Who art the Life and Resurrection of all.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Tone

The Church is shown to be a many-lighted heaven that doth shine a guiding light upon all them that do believe; wherein while standing we cry aloud: Do Thou Thyself now establish this house, O Lord.

Saints and Feasts

September 13

Forefeast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross

September 13

The Consecration of the Church of the Holy Resurrection (Holy Sepulchre)

The church that is honoured far above all others is that of the Holy Resurrection, which Saint Constantine the Great constructed at the place of Golgotha, where our Saviour was crucified and buried. For a long time this place had been purposely buried beneath the earth by the Jews and heathen; furthermore, during the reign of Hadrian (117-138), a temple dedicated to Aphrodite was built over the site so that this sacred place might be even further desecrated and fall into utter oblivion. It was here that the Cross was hidden. However, at the command of the pious Emperor Constantine, excavations were made and the tokens of the saving Passion were found. It was here, then, that the very great and magnificent temple named in honour of Christ God's Resurrection-the Anastasis-was built under the supervision of the blessed Helen, while Dracilian was Eparch of Palestine and Macarius was Archbishop of Jerusalem. It was the latter, also, who exalted the venerable Cross and performed the consecration of this temple in the year 336.

September 13

Cornelius the Centurion & Martyr

Saint Cornelius was a Roman by race, a pagan by religion, a centurion in rank, an inhabitant of Caesarea of Palestine, a man pious and God-fearing who gave many alms to the people and prayed continually unto God. In accordance with an angelic vision granted to him, he sent to Joppa that they might bring the Apostle Peter. Saint Peter catechized him in the Faith of Christ and baptized all his household (Acts, ch.10). This became the beginning and the first fruits of the calling of the nations. It is said that, after this, he became a bishop, as some say, of Caesarea; but others say of Scepsis, which is not far from Troas; and that he died as a martyr.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18

BRETHREN, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Gospel Reading

Sunday before Holy Cross
The Reading is from John 3:13-17

The Lord said, "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."

Wisdom of the Fathers

For since Nicodemus had said, "We know that Thou art a teacher come from God," on this very point He sets him right, all but saying, "Think Me not a teacher in such manner as were the many of the prophets who were of earth, for I have come from heaven (but) now. None of the prophets hath ascended up thither, but I dwell there."

St. John Chrysostom