George C. Cantor

IMO dear father, George,.

Memory Eternal!

(6/29/2010)

In Acts 9:40, the Holy Apostle Peter, faced the

dead child, Tabitha, when everyone saw her dead

and lifeless and he rose her from the dead. This

miracle reminds me that, nowadays, we see people

“paralyzed” with fear. I honestly believe it is time

for us to rise and change our self-induced condition

of fear. For this, I propose to a moment of

self-examination.

Let us ask ourselves what does the pandemic

mean to us from the perspective of our faith. I

personally perceive a number of provocations that

the pandemic poses before us. First, let us ask

ourselves: Are we the first Christians ever to face

such a threat? Certainly not! Other generations have

faced: persecution, famines, droughts, epidemics and

wars even more lethal than Covid-19. If this is so, let

us never lose sight that we are all mortal. If God

wants us to go, even if we hide ourselves beside

masks, sanitize our hands or stay in seclusion. But

God is our loving Father and He wants us to trust

Him and come to know ourselves better.

When it all started, we lamented that we cannot

go to church. Now the church is open, but we are

afraid to go, because our faith has become weaker

than our induced fears. The Lord wants us not to

fear, to be bold, be of good cheer and to have

courage. We rely on Him, for we know that “He is

with us” and “that without Him we cannot

accomplish anything”. So, it is time to begin

working on our inhibitions. Let us unleash the power

of our faith through prayer and reliance on God. Are

we relying more man, rather than God? There are

many traps hidden behind our social fear. We are

lonely; misanthropic; untrusting; even unloving when

our faith gets weak.

Our faith was and is strong because the Lord is

Conqueror of all illness and death. So, if facing this

pandemic is a matter of faith, let us accept the reality

around us and deal with it accordingly. Viruses will

always surround us. We need them to help us

constantly update our immunity. Therefore, let us not

allow fear to control us, but repudiate it by faith! It is

faith, not fear, “that moves mountains!” The remedy

for passivity is action! Let us not be just listeners of

the Word, but “doers of the Word” of God!

Jesus Himself healed the lepers and saved them.

The Church received the power to heal “all kind of

illnesses and disease”, because she is filled with “the

power from on high”. God Himself - Father, Son and

the Holy Spirit - is on our side, He is our shelter and

protection! While we observe all the medical

recommendations, let us free ourselves from

unnecessary fear. Its paralyzing effect can be more

detrimental to our wellbeing than Covid-19 itself. Our

soul is starved to be blessed, nurtured, faith-driven and

empowered. People need people. When we lose our

social dimension, we may become like the salt that lost

its savor and it becomes useless. We may be now

almost like Tabitha, whom Peter rose from the dead.

We also need to be revived in our faith. Toward this

end, I say to all of you: In the name of Jesus Christ,

“arise!”

Fr. Remus Grama

VOLUME 62 June 28th, 2020 NO. 26

St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Cathedral A parish of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America

Weekly Bulletin

3256 Warren Road Cleveland, Ohio 44111

Phone: (216) 941-5550 Office - Fax: (216) 941-3068

E-mail: st.mary.cathedral@sbcglobal.net - www.smroc.org The Most Reverend Archbishop Nathaniel

The Right Rev. Vicar Andrei, Bishop of Cleveland

Very Rev. Dr. Remus Grama, Dean

Rev. Deacon Nick Neagoe

SPIRITUAL CALENDAR: 3rd Sunday after Pentecost

8:30 Matins (Utrenia); Tone 2, Mat. Gos. 3. 9:30 am Divine Liturgy (Sfânta Liturghie) Epistle: Romans 5:1-10. Gospel: Matthew 6:22-33 (Worries of life).

THE CALENDAR IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE! POT INTERVENI

SCHIMBĂRI ÎN CALENDAR!

On Friday, JULY 3rd, in

observance of

INDEPENDENCE DAY.

The office will resume its

hours on July 6th at 9 am.

ALTAR BREAD - PRESCURE

Ovidiu & Geta Grama ÎM tatălui, Vasile și a tuturor celor

adormiți în Domnul din familie. D-zeu să-i ierte!

Simona Cismas ÎM tatălui meu Ioan și a tuturor celor decedaţi

din familie.

May God rest them in peace! Dumnezeu să-i odihnească!

Lavinia Cozmin-Morris for the good health of brother, Horia.

7 DAY VIGIL LIGHTS – NARTHEX

Ana Popa ÎM soțului meu Traian Popa.

Cornelia Bicescu IMO my husband Ovidiu Bicescu.

Simona Cismas ÎM tatălui meu Ioan și a tuturor celor decedaţi

din familie.

Afrodita, Irina, Magdalena & Sophia IM părinților Victor şi

Paula Constantinidis.

Cristina Hemsoth & family IMO parents & grandparents, Grigore

& Greta Butoi.

Ovidiu & Geta Grama ÎM tatălui, Vasile și a tuturor celor

adormiți în Domnul din familie. D-zeu să-i ierte!

Gloria Haak in loving memory of my dear Al. Always in my

heart.

Antoniu Iliaș IMO Magdalena Iliaș & Lucia Dobrin.

Dumitru & Paraschiva Vasu-Family IMO all family members

fallen asleep in the Lord! Always in our hearts. Memory Eternal!

May God rest them in peace! Dumnezeu să-i odihnească!

Simona Cismașiu pentru sănătatea familiei.

Lavinia Cozmin-Morris for the good health of family and

brother, Horia.

Mihaela Hetruc for the speedy recovery of Ana Popa, Angela

Voiculescu & George Mohan.

Jonel & Ana Roșu pentru sănătatea familiei noastre și ajutor în

toate de la Dumnezeu.

Vasile Leluțiu pentru sănătatea familiei.

Dumitru & Paraschiva Vasu-Family, in honor of mother &

grandmother, Leonora Vasu on her birthday. God grant her many

more blessed and healthy years. La Mulți Ani!

Dumitru & Paraschiva Vasu-Family for the good health of our

family, God’s blessings and special intentions.

Nursing Home

Radu Petrescu ................................................................................................. Greenbrier Angela Netcu ............................................................................................. Eliza Jennings Ana Popa ...................................................................... O’Neil Healthcare, Lakewood Assisted Living

Victoria A. Morin ........................................................ Greenfield at Oak Ridge, TN Ruth Lazăr ............................................................................................ Royalton Woods Carlotta Miclău ................................................................................. Brighton Gardens

Hospitalized

George Mohan ..................................... Cleveland Clinic Main Campus Hospital

THIS WEEK:

SUN., June 28th: 8:30 am Matins, 9:30 am Divine Liturgy. (Worries

of life) (F,W,O)

MO., June 29th: (+) Holy Apostles Peter & Paul - 9 am Divine

Liturgy; 6 pm Sunday School Teachers Meeting, 6:30 pm Festival

Kitchen & Advertising Departments Meeting

FRI., July 3rd: Observing Independence Day - Office Closed

SAT., July 4th : NO Vespers & Confessions.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

NEXT WEEK:

SUN., July 5th: 8:30 am Matins, 9:30 am Divine Liturgy.

SAT., July 11th : 11 am Baptism Emilia Nicole Walters; NO Vespers

& Confessions.

UPCOMING SPIRITUAL

June 29 - (+) Holy Apostles Peter & Paul

(Sfinții Apostoli Petru & Pavel)

9 am Divine Liturgy / Sf. Liturghie

July 2 - (+) Sf. Stefan the Great of Moldavia

(Sf. Ștefan cel Mare)

July 12 - (+) Veneration of the Holy Icon of the

Mother of God Prodromitsa of Mount Athos

(Cinstirea Sfintei Icoane a Maicii

Domnului Prodromița de la Muntele Athos)

9 am Divine Liturgy / Sf. Liturghie

July 20 - (+) Glorious Prophet Elijah (Elias) the

Tishbite/ (+) Sf. Și Slăvitul Prooroc Ilie

Tezviteanul

9 am Divine Liturgy / Sf. Liturghie

July 27 - (+) Great-martyr and healer Panteleimon /

(+) Sf. Mare-Mucenic și Tămăduitor

CONDOLENCES

LIVIA DOBRIN, wife of Nicolae Dobrin, a

former member of our parish, who moved to

Arizona and then Romania, fell asleep in the

Lord at the age of 70.

May God rest her in peace and condolences to the

mourning family! Dumnezeu să o ierte!

2020 Bulletin Sponsors

Available Dates:

July: 12; August: 2, 16, 23, 30;

September: 27; October: 18, 25;

November: 15, 29.

To sponsor it, please contact our

parish office. We thank all who have supported and spon-

sored our bulletins over the years.

Thank you!

IMPORTANT PARISH

CONTACTS

Parish President:

Viorel Oancea

(440) 915-9642

Ladies Auxiliary

President:

Aura Petre

(440) 503-0829

Custodian:

Marian Ciuta

(216) 513-5535

Financial Secretary:

Simona Sarsama

(216) 533-4636

Hall Rental:

Italian Creations Church Office

(216) 226-2282 (216) 941-5550

THANK YOU!

…FOR WEEKLY GIVING

MANY THANKS TO OUR PARISHIONERS WHO

UNDERSTAND OUR PLIGHT AND SEND THEIR

WEEKLY DONATIONS ON A REGULAR BASIS!

…FOR FESTIVAL SUPPORT

WE ALSO THANK ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO SENT

DONATIONS TO SUPPORT OUR STRUGGLES TO

PREPARE A DRIVE THRU FESTIVAL!

...TO BANK LOAN SPONSORS

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO

ACCEPTED TO PAY A MONTHLY LOAN TO THE

BANK FOR $1500. WE STILL NEED NINE DONORS

TO SECURE THE PAYMENT FOR THE ENTIRE

YEAR. WILL YOU BE AMONG THOSE WHO HELP?

GET WELL, YOUR

EMINENCE!

We received the news that

Archbishop Nathaniel recently had

a successful knee surgery. His

Eminence is now in recovery,

receiving therapy.

Let us pray for His speedy

recovery!

NATIONAL A.R.F.O.R.A. VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

June 27, 2020 1:00 PM EDT (10:00 AM PDT)

Access: https://

us02web.zoom.us/j/87052576204

FAREWELL

Greg Sotak and his wife Laura, a talented

artistic photographer who immortalized many of

our events in the last decade, will move to

Alabama. We thank them for their support and

wish them an easy adjustment.

Mike and Camelia Ross announced us that they

are moving to Arizona. Camelia is known

especially for her talent to prepare the Fish

Dinners. They will be missed.

WOMEN OF FAITH TO MEET THIS

WEEKEND

The Holy Bible is filled with beautiful characters of

women of Faith. Likewise, in our parishes and Romanian

Orthodox Episcopate of America, we are blessed to have

women with strong faith, who from the inception of our

parishes and the Episcopate imitated the example of their

faith heroes and serve the Lord. In 1938, A.R.F.O.R.A.,

Asociația Reuniunilor Femeilor Româno-Americane came

into being.

In our diocese, every parish has an auxiliary Ladies’

organization that helps supporting the mission of the

parish. This weekend, the delegates from every parish of

the Episcopate were supposed to meet in Cleveland. Sadly,

due to Covid-19, they will be unable to meet in person, but

they will be meeting in a virtual meeting, on Zoom.

We invite the young and less young to take interest in the

life of the Church. If you are interested to participate,

please find the information in the box above this article.

We wish ARFORA a successful meeting! We also wish to

thank Mrs. Mihaela Hetruc and Miss Dorina Riscutta, who

worked very hard sending letters and editing the ad book

published for the event.

At the same time, we invite all our ladies to become

members of the Ladies Auxiliary of Saint Mary Cathedral!

Ladies Auxiliary DUES are $25 for members

age 18 to 64 years old, or $15 for 65+.

NO VESPERS IN JULY

During the month of July there will be no vespers on

Saturday evenings. We will resume Vespers on August

1st. For confessions, please, call our office to schedule an

appointment with Father.

THE HOLY APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL

Monday, June 29

9:00 AM Divine Liturgy (Live-stream)

The church is open, with social distance observed.

-----

40 years ago, on this Feast, Father Remus Grama was

ordained to the Diaconate in the metropolitan Cathedral

of Sibiu.

Happy Anniversary,

Father and Preoteasa Remus Grama!

Tropar, Tone 4.

Preeminent Apostles and teachers of the universe,

intercede with the Master of all, to grant peace to the

whole world, and great mercy to our souls.

THE REAL TEST

Life’s difficulties build Christian character. Saint Paul, who

suffered much for the sake of the Gospel, advises us to

“glory in tribulations.” (Rom. 5,3). He explains that:

“tribulation produces perseverance and perseverance

character; and character, hope” (Rom. 5,4).

Since the tribulation of Covid-19 began, we noticed what a

good test this was for our faithful. Some ran away, others

became more giving and generous; some became apathetic,

others learned to pray with more fervor. God sees

everyone’s effort and He alone will know who among us

passes this real test of salvation.

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS

& PARENTS MEETING

JUNE 29

6 pm @ CHURCH

Agenda:

1. Brainstorming how next school year will

look like.

2. Establishing the distribution of the classes

Father Grama is inviting to this meeting all teachers

from this year and other parents who would like to join

the teaching team.

$100.00

Psa Elena Grama In Honor of Rev. Fr. Remus Grama’s Ordination

to diaconate 40 years ago!!

George & Nancy Ittu

Ed Vendel

Liviu & Aurica Grama

Nick & Maria Muntean In Loving Memory of both of our parents

Ioan & Maria Grama

Simona Sarsamă

In Loving Memory of Father George Sarsama

Constantin & Doina Drăgănoiu In Loving Memory of both of our parents

$50.00

Marius & Felicia Milea

TOTAL: $850.00

ST. MARY ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL

IN HONOR/IN MEMORY OF PARENTS DINNERLESS DINNER DONATIONS

June 2020