Monthly News Letter

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The Voice of GraceThe monthly newsletter of Saint Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church

November 2017 Vol. 2, No. 11

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Monthly News Letter



We, St Mary's Orthodox Christian Church, invite you to join in Christwith us. We provide the Greater Baltimore area with fellowship,

service, worship and community. Come and see!

RELECTIONS ON THE INCARNATION

The third article of the Nicene Creed proclaims the profound truth and mystery ofthe Incarnation, the divine event that the Church celebrates as The Feast of theNativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Christmas).The article instructs us inthe Church’s unshakable witness that the eternal Son of God was made man by theHoly Spirit and received His human nature from the All-Holy, Ever-Virgin Mary.Within the Virgin Mary’s womb, as the term Theotokos (God-Bearer) implies, wasnot only an infant child, but also Eternal God.

The Lord’s act of receiving a human body and soul enabled, along with the other actsof the divine economy (The Passion, Resurrection, etc.), the redemption of humanityfrom the sin, death and corruption that resulted from the Fall. A number of the earlyChurch Fathers believed that the fact of the Incarnation alone served humanity’ssalvation because through it mankind’s fellowship and likeness to God were able tobe restored.



The English word “Incarnation” is derived from the Latin word which means “tobecome flesh”. The assumption of flesh, that is, the assumption of the fullness ofhuman nature by the Eternal Word of God is reflected in the complete name given tothe celebration of Christmas by the Church: The Nativity According to the Flesh ofOur Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.

How wondrous, how amazing, how incomprehensible that God should become man!It is this great mystery that we attempt to comprehend as we in the Spirit gaze at thetraditional Orthodox icon on the Nativity.

By Sdn Vasili Polous

St. Mary's during October

JOY Group Bowling Event

St. Mary's Junior Orthodox Youth Club relaunched in the month of

October. The JOY group's first event was a bowling night at the AMF

Lanes in Timonium, MD, on Saturday, October 14. It was a fun time

by all accounts. For more information about our parish's chapter of

the Junior Orthodox Youth club, please see Hayat Jabbour or Yousef

Jabaji.





photos courtesy of Hayat Jabbour

Annual Weber's Cider Mill & Farm Trip

At this point, it's practically a fall tradition! Following Divine

Liturgy on Sunday, October 15 St. Mary's Sunday school classes and

Teen SOYO group went to Weber's Farm to enjoy fall activities such

as hayrides and a straw maze. Weber's Farm is the oldest

continuously run cider mill in Maryland, and is known for its

fresh, fall produce including apples and pumpkins. The annual trip

to Weber's is always a highlight on our parish's fall calendar.



photos courtesy of Mary Rizkallah

Patriarch John Visits United States

His Beatitude JOHN X, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East visited

the United Sates from October 21-31, making stops in both

Washington DC and New York City. According to the Archdiocese’s

website, the purpose of the Patriarch’s visit was to meet leaders

from the current US Administration, and international diplomats to

promote a peaceful solution to the six-year-old Syrian crisis.

It was His Beatitude JOHN’s objective to draw attention to the

broad, regional humanitarian crisis, as well as to discuss the

future of Christians in Syria and the Middle East. To that end, the

Patriarch attended the “In Defense of Christianity” summit as an

honored guest. His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH was one of the

featured speakers at this summit, while the keynote address was

given by US Vice President Mike Pence.

During his time in Washington, His Beatitude JOHN presided over

Hierarchical Vespers at Sts. Peter & Paul in Potomac, MD on

Saturday, October 21, and Divine Liturgy on Sunday, October 22. St.

Mary’s Byzantine Choir was graciously invited to chant the evening

vespers service at Sts. Peter & Paul. Following the Vespers

service, the choir held a recital for His Beatitude and the



service, the choir held a recital for His Beatitude and the

Antiochian delegation. Our choir at St Mary's is one of the few

choirs in the country that chant in the Byzantine tradition, and

they represented our parish well throughout the Vespers service and

recital.

While in New York, Patriarch JOHN celebrated Hierarchical Divine

Liturgy at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Brooklyn

on Sunday, October 29.

To learn more about HB John X's visit to the US, click

here: http://antiochian.org/his-beatitude-patriarch-john-visit-

united-states-october-2017

To learn more about the tradition of Byzantine chant, click

here: http://www.hchc.edu/allcreationtrembled/news/what-is-the-

byzantine-chant

http://antiochian.org/his-beatitude-patriarch-john-visit-united-states-october-2017

http://www.hchc.edu/allcreationtrembled/news/what-is-the-byzantine-chant





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEgoMo0WFWE&feature=youtu.be



photos and video courtesy of Roy Abdo, Rana Sabea Callas, Eptissam Meghairouni, Nate

Szelistowski, and The Archdiocese of North America's photo archive

Community

On the afternoon of Sunday, October 15, His Grace Bishop ATHANASIOS

of Kisumu, Kenya blessed Saint Mary’s with a visit. His Grace was



of Kisumu, Kenya blessed Saint Mary’s with a visit. His Grace was

in the Baltimore area visiting The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the

Annunciation, and because of the proximity of our parish to where

he was staying, he requested a tour of our parish campus with Fr.

Damaskinos. At the time of His Grace’s visit, St. Mary’s Byzantine

Choir was wrapping-up a practice session, and met him in the church

by chanting. He responded in the same manner, chanting ‘More

Honorable’ in Swahili.

For video of Bishop Athanasios chanting, click here:

https://www.facebook.com/nativityofthetheotokos/videos/203568447670

8306/

Photo courtesy of Fr. Dean Moralis

https://www.facebook.com/nativityofthetheotokos/videos/2035684476708306/



Please remember in your personal prayers the servants of God:

Marline Azar, Najat Azar, Hiam Khoury, Shawki Malek, Sbd. Vasili andMarie Polous, Samir Rizkallah, Gail and Robert Salit, George Karkar.

That God will grant them health and a quick and smooth recovery. Always remember to pray for all those who are suffering from illness and war all over

the world.

News

Patriarchate/Archdiocese:

Memory Eternal: With hope in the Resurrection, but with some

sorrow, none-the-less, we bring you the news of the falling asleep

of His Grace Bishop ANTOUN, on October 5. His Grace was born Antoun

Yssa Khouri in 1931, and ordained as a Deacon in 1951. For many

decades he served the Church faithfully in the Old Country, Brazil,

and the United States, before retiring this past July. As His

Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH points out, “He was sincerely loved by

all – young and old – and he will be greatly missed.”

May his memory be eternal!

Metropolitan JOSEPH’s letter: http://www.antiochian.org/memory-

http://www.antiochian.org/memory-eternal-his-grace-bishop-antoun



Metropolitan JOSEPH’s letter: http://www.antiochian.org/memory-

eternal-his-grace-bishop-antoun

Bishop ANTOUN--A Lifetime of

Service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

time_continue=4&v=aOcVZBh0VSc

His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH, in light of the historic

wildfires that have ravaged Northern California, asks the clergy

and the faithful of the Antiochian Archdiocese to keep those

effected by the wildfire in prayer. His Eminence has been in close

communication with the priests of parishes in affected regions,

promising, “On behalf of all of my brother hierarchs, our clergy,

and laity, I offer our prayers and support to those who are being

impacted. We will be with you.”

To read the full story, or find out how you can help those in need,

visit the Archdiocese website:

http://www.antiochian.org/metropolitan-joseph-requests-prayers-

those-impacted-california-fires

St. Mary's Parish:

Save the Date: Tuesday, November 7, @ 6:00 PM, Great Vespers

followed by Divine Liturgy for the Synaxis of the Archangels.

Reminder: The Nativity Fast starts November 15. Advent is almost

here!

On Wednesdays During the Fast we are doing the Service of the

Nativity Evenings instead of the Paraklesis.

Save the Date: Saturday, November 18, Saint Mary's is hosting the

Pan-Orthodox Christian Nativity Retreat. Father Paul Abernathy of

St. Moses the Black Mission in Pittsburgh, PA will be the guest

speaker. Registration cost is $25 per person,and the event runs

from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For more information, see ad flyer below.

http://www.antiochian.org/memory-eternal-his-grace-bishop-antoun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=aOcVZBh0VSc

http://www.antiochian.org/metropolitan-joseph-requests-prayers-those-impacted-california-fires



from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For more information, see ad flyer below.

Save the Date: Thursday, November 23 is Thanksgiving! To mark the

holiday, and reflect on all that we have to be thankful for, the

St.Mary's parish will be hosting it's second annual Thanksgiving

dinner. The event will start at 5:00 PM with an Akathist of

Thanksgiving in the church, followed by a traditional Thanksgiving

dinner in the hall. The cost for adults is $25, children under

thirteen is $10, and for children under 5 is free. To register,

please see Eptissam Meghairouni.

Reminder: In the month of November, there will be no regularly

scheduled Family Night due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Save the Date: Saturday Dec.2: St. Barbara Festival for Kids. After

Vespers Kids are invited to the Parish Hall for a program with

activities and learning about St. Barbara story. Kids are to be

Dressed with Church appropriate customs.

Save the Date:Saturday December 9 is St. Mary's Cookie Walk and

Christmas Bazaar. For more information, see ad flyer below. If you

are interested in volunteering or donating homemade cookies for the

event, please see Jane Farha or Melissa Manzelmann.

Save the Date:Our Parish Christmas Concert will be on Friday

December 15th at 7:00 PM. Our Sunday school kids, Ladies Society

members, Youth Choir and Church choir are performing Christmas

Carols and Christmas Hymns. Join us and SPREAD THE WORLD, it is

going to be an amazing night.

Save the Date: Dec 22nd, Friday, is our Annual Talents Show. Please

if you or your kids has a talent to be presented Contact or see

Andrew Markopoulos and Peter Karabatis.





Featured Reading



The Advent season is an important time of preparation, but it’s easy to bedistracted by the hustle and bustle of holiday parties, family gatherings,and Christmas shopping. In his book Meditations for Advent: Preparing forChrist’s Birth, author Vassilios Papavassiliou gives readers an opportunityto step back, take a breath, and reflect on the deeper significance of theIncarnation.

Meditations for Advent is available through the Ancient Faith Store:http://store.ancientfaith.com/meditations-for-advent/

Ebook: http://store.ancientfaith.com/meditations-for-advent/

The Voice of Grace Editorial Staff

Executive Publishing Officer: Fr. Damaskinos Issa

Managing Editor: Nate Szelistowski

Contributor/Editorial Adviser: Sdn. Vasili Polous

Proofreader: Miriam Szelistowski

Multimedia content contributed by:

http://store.ancientfaith.com/meditations-for-advent/

http://store.ancientfaith.com/meditations-for-advent/



Multimedia content contributed by:

Roy Abdo, Rana Sabea Callas, Hayat Jabbour, Eptissam Meghairouni, Fr. Dean Moralis, Mary Rizkallah, Nate

Szelistowski

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Monthly News Letter