The Gospel reading relates to the theme of apostleship, the theme of the Church’s 
mission in the world. Christ delivers not only to the Apostles, but to each and every one 
of us a clear message. As Saint John Chrysostom remarks, “He is not here addressing his 
original disciples only but every one of us who follows after his disciples in accord with 
their witness to him.” Christ asks that we love Him beyond all else, even beyond, to Saint
hood. This is why this Gospel reading is closely connected to the Feast of All Saints. On 
the Sunday of All Saints, the Church commemorates all the men and women who have 
attained saintliness, whether known or unknown. As the faithful throughout the world 
continue to grow in their faith, celebrating All Saints is necessarily an open-ended affair, 
including contemporary and future Saints.
 Sometimes, we might feel like the Saints are distant from us. We perceive them 
to be our Holy Church’s Hall of fame of the greatest Christians who ever lived, forgetting 
that they too were Christians like us who grew to love God. Believe it or not, many of our 
beloved Saints were some of the greatest sinners at some point in their lives. We can think 
of the first Saint, the Thief on the Cross (also known as the Good Thief). Although he spent 
his life leading a life of crime, at the hour of his death, he confessed his sins on the cross. 
He prayed, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” The Lord told him, “To
day, you will be with me in Paradise.” Let us reflect on the mercy of God in this exchange 
on the Cross. The Thief asked for a life of crime to be forgiven at the end of his life, and 
the Lord assured him that he would enter Paradise with Him in the Holy Resurrection. 
Truly, as King David says in the Psalms, “God is wonderful among his Saints!” God is truly 
wonderful to His Saints, and to us, the saints of God’s Church on earth. We only need to 
simply turn to God and ask Him from our hearts to remember us in His Kingdom.
 This Good Thief reminds us that the Saints are not those who lived perfect lives; 
they were sinners just like all of us. The Saints had their faults, just like you and me, but the 
Saints are those who acknowledge and love the Lord Jesus Christ, ask for His mercy, and 
receive His grace. They lived in a constant state of repentance, that is, learning to follow 
in the steps of our Lord and leave behind all things that keep us from being close to Him.
 What makes our Saints holy is their ability to demonstrate that the Gospel is not 
merely a theoretical concept but a living practice. The essence of the Gospel, encompass
ing love for God, all human beings, and His creation, can be tangibly lived by individuals 
during their earthly existence. The Gospel can guide us towards holiness and salvation 
through the Grace of God, our spiritual endeavors, and acts of love. The lives of the 
Saints, characterized by a life of dedication, repentance, and boundless love, serve as 
spiritual beacons for us.
 Likewise, we can not only become saints, but we are called to become saints. No 
matter our past, no matter what we have done, the Physician Jesus Christ is waiting for us 
to heal us and lift us up with Him, just like the Good Thief. Saints are those who renounce 
their old lives, take up their crosses, and follow our Lord Jesus Christ, finding joy in our 
2
Savior, who waits with open arms for each of us to return to Him. 
The Saints exemplify what you and I can become if we are open and willing for the Lord 
to come into our hearts and heal what is broken. The Saints are our role models; we are 
called to imitate them, as they imitated Christ. They show us that we do not have to be 
perfect since only Christ is perfect, and we do not have to be resigned to lives of discon
tent. The Peace of God, Jesus Christ, can fill us with His peace and make us saints if we 
follow Him, regardless of our shortcomings.
 On the Feast of All Saints, we celebrate our own God-given potential to be per
fected in glorifying God with our thoughts, words, and deeds. It is possible. All the Saints 
are examples of people who achieved sainthood through trials and tribulations, exercised 
patience and humility, and practiced selfless love in service to others. They were not born 
saints. They were not without sin; they were not perfect. They were, however, through 
love and repentance, able to reach sainthood. Now, they stand ready to intercede for us 
before God in favor of our own salvation. They intercede on our behalf while we contin
ue engaging in our struggle toward holiness. Let us pray to the Lord for guidance and 
strength as we attempt to reach the choir of the Saints, where God Himself patiently and 
lovingly waits for each of us.

We welcome you to worship with us on Sunday and whenever the Divine Liturgy is celebrated. Matins begins at 9:00 am and the Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am.

Click here for Google Map & Specific Driving Directions »

DIRECTIONS TO THE DORMITION CHURCH FROM THE NORTH:

1. Proceed south on Interstate 81 South heading toward Winchester
2. Take exit 317 for VA-37/ US-11 toward US-522 N/ US-50 W/ Winchester/ Stephenson (0.3 mi)
3. Turn right at US-11 S/ VA-37 S/ Martinsburg Pike, Continue to follow VA-37 S (3.8 mi)
4. Take the ramp to US-50 E/ Northwestern Pike (0.2 mi)
5. Turn left at US-50 E/ Northwestern Pike, Continue to follow US-50 E (0.6 mi )
6. Turn left at Omps Dr, Continue to entrance of the Church`s parking lot (100 ft)
7. Turn left into the Church`s parking lot.

DIRECTIONS TO THE DORMITION CHURCH FROM THE SOUTH:

1. Proceed north on Interstate 81North heading toward Winchester
2. Take exit 310 for VA-37 toward US-11/VA-642/ Winchester/ Kernstown/ US-50/ US-522/ Berkely Spgs/ Romney (0.2 mi)
3. Turn left at VA-37 N (5.2 mi)
4. Take the US-50 ramp to Winchester/ Romney (0.3 mi)
5. Turn right at US-50 E/ Amherst St (0.5 mi)
6. Turn left at Omps Dr, Continue to entrance of the Church`s parking lot (100 ft)
7. Turn left into the Church`s parking lot.