Saint Mary’s Orthodox Church June 14th, 2020

The Herald W e are aware that

the Governor has approved the opening of Churches at 25% capacity. Just as before, we await the orders of the Metropolitan to open up to such a degree, but we eagerly anticipate that day when we can gather together again!

Requests for Attendance A s has been stated before, until we are open in a larger

capacity, please continue to reach out to Father Nathaniel if you would like to attend a weekday service. We would love to see you and to pray with you!

Spiritual Education Info W e are hoping to resume Spiritual Education classes on an

in-person basis in the Church Hall. However, if there is no interest in doing this, we will remain solely online. Please note: if we resume meetings in person, we will also continue to broadcast online for those who do not wish to come in person. Please respond to Father Nathaniel by email, call, or text to give him your thoughts!

Vičnaja Pamjat! Our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and

friends of Catherine Marincel, who passed away this past week. May her memory be eternal! Vičnaja Pamjat!

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Scripture Readings

Epistle: Hebrews 11: 33 - 12 : 2

Gospel: Matthew 10:32 - 33, 37 - 38; 19: 27 - 30

Music

1st Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday of All Saints

Special Tone - Pages 240 - 242

Upcoming Services:

6/14: Divine Liturgy 10 AM

6/15: Apostle’s Fast Begins

6/17: Theotokos Moleben 6 PM; Spiritual Education 7 PM

6/20: Great Vespers 4 PM

6/21: Divine Liturgy 10 AM; Panachida for Michael Kremitski requested by Anthony Fiacco.

6/24: Spiritual Education 7 PM

6/27: Great Vespers 4 PM

6/28: Divine Liturgy 10 AM

The Bells of St. Mary’sotecnathaniel@gmail.com | Father Nathaniel Choma | 1(330) 402-0352

Saint Mary’s Orthodox Church June 14th, 2020

Saints of the Day Martyr Justin the Philosopher and those with him at Rome (166)

Born in 103, he was a philosopher from the Samaritan town of Shechem in Palestine, who had devoted his life to the search

for truth, trying many philosophical schools and sources of human wisdom: the Stoics, the Peripatetics, the Pythagoreans and finally the Platonists. One day an old man (whose name and origin are unknown) appeared to him and spoke to him of the Prophets and Apostles who had learned of God not by their own wisdom, but by revelation of God Himself. He read the scriptures and was convinced of the truth of the Faith, but he would not be baptised or call himself a Christian until he had tested all the pagans' arguments against Christianity. To this end he traveled to Rome, where he engaged in debate at philosophical gatherings, impressing all with his wisdom. In Rome he also witnessed the martyrdom of Sts Ptolemy and Lucian; this moved him to write an Apologia for the Christian faith and the Christian people, which he gave to the Emperor Antoninus and the Senate. They were so moved by this document that the Emperor ordered that persecution of Christians should cease. For the remainder of his life, Justin devoted all his skills to the proclamation of the Gospel and the defense of Christians. To the end of his life, wherever he preached Christ, he always wore his philosopher's garb. In addition to his Apologia, he wrote a number of other learned defenses of the faith. Eventually he was imprisoned following the false accusations of Crescens, a jealous Cynic philosopher. He died (one source says by beheading, another by poison) in Rome in 167 under the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, successor to Antoninus.

Our Holy Father Agapitus of the Kiev Caves (1095)

A natural doctor, he was a disciple of St Antony of Kiev. He healed people by prayer and the prescribing of cabbage,

which they made into a sort of bread. Prince Vladimir Monomachus was healed in this way, and this made Agapitus famed on all sides. The Prince's doctor, an Armenian, hearing of this, began to spread slander about him. When Agapitus became ill, the Armenian came and, looking at him, said that he would die in three days and that, if he did not do so, then he, the Armenian, would become a monk. Agapitus told him that it had been

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Many Blessings!

Greetings are extended saying happy anniversary to Mark & Donna Swackhammer and happy birthday to Randy Weeks! Mnohija L’ita! God grant you all many more!

Hearts of Love

The Hearts of Love are donated by Julie Allen in loving memory of Helen Macko on her birthday, and by by Father Nathaniel with blessings for our newly-departed Catherine Marincel. Vičnaja Pamjat!

Saint Mary’s Orthodox Church June 14th, 2020revealed to him by God that he would die, not in three days but in three months. And so it came to pass. After Agapitus's death, the Armenian went to the abbot of the Monastery of the Caves and asked him to make him a monk. He explained that Agapitus had appeared to him from the other world and reminded him of his promise. And so the one-time envier became a humble monk, by the providence of God whose care it is that all men be saved. St Agapitus entered into rest in about 1095." (Prologue)

The Light of the Resurrection

Many have asked about the tradition and importance regarding the Light of the

Resurrection. This Light, brought from a candle on the altar in the Church on Saturday night of Holy Week and used to light the candles of the faithful, serves important theological purposes in the life of the Orthodox.

First and foremost, this light represents Christ, who Himself said “I am the Light of the world.” As we proceed forth from the darkness of Christ’s death, we see the Light, His Light, shining from the tomb and are brought into the light of Pascha. We carry this light in procession from the darkness of the Church, until we return into the Church, adorned and lit, symbolizing the empty tomb and the bride of Christ (The Church), being dressed for her Bridegroom to arrive.

We bring the Light of the Resurrection home with us for the same reason we have our homes blessed on Theophany: to keep the Feast alive in our little Churches: out homes. This Light also reminds us of the victory of Christ over death and the promise of life eternal to those who live and die with Christ in baptism.

This is why it remains so important to our Faith and our lives to not just receive and hold the Light of the Resurrection in Church on Saturday, but to bring it home and keep it alight as long as we are able. May the Light of the Resurrection illumine your homes and your lives whenever you are able to receive it from Church!

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Remember to bring God home!

A s a quick reminder to all of those who will be returning to Church in the coming weeks

and months, there are pussy willows and the Light of Pascha available for you to light in Church and bring back to your home. As always, there is also Holy Water available. Please remember to take these things to fill your home with the grace and blessings of God!

Thank you! A big thank you to all of those who helped to

set up, break down, sing, and attended the Pentecost Liturgy last week at our cemetery! It was a blessing to have such beautiful weather and to see everyone face-to-face. May God continue to bless us with wonderful chances to gather together in the coming weeks and months.