1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

CONTENTS
CONTENTS
A Monthly Publication of
1240 Broadbridge Avenue, Stratford, CT 06615
Vol. 5. No. 39 - March 2015
GREAT LENT 2015
Contents
CONTENTS
Pastor’s Message.............................................................................................. Page 2
Life Passages ... Birthdays, Anniversaries....................................................... Page 3
St. John’s Stewards, Outreach, Ideas For Lenten Almsgiving…………………… Pages 3-4
Month in Review, Parish & Diocesan News & Events.................................. Page 5
Our Journey to Pascha 2015 & March Announcements................. ............... Pages 6-7
Coming Events................................................................................................. Page 8-12
Completing the Time of Our Life In Peace and Repentance........................... Pages 13-14
On Making Good Use of Great Lent……………………………………………………….. Pages 15-16
On Silence In Church………………………............................................................ Page 16
Lenten Recipes................................................................................................. Page 17
March Daily Scripture Readings...................................................................... Page 18
Prayer Corner: Prayer List.............................................................................. Page 19
March Calendar of Liturgical Services and Events.......................................... Page 20
Fr Peter’s Message
The Prophet
The Official Monthly Publication of
The Orthodox Greek Catholic Church
of Saint John the Baptist
1240 Broadbridge Avenue, Stratford, CT 06615
Parish Website: www.sjoc.org
Email: [email protected]
or the Great Fast.
Pastor: Very. Rev. Protopresbyter Peter Paproski
Phone & Fax: 203-375-2564 Cell: 203-260-0423
From a human standpoint, we might legitimately ask what
is so great about Lent? After all it is a time of deprivation
and negative. What is so great about giving up some of
the things we love so much: meat, dairy, sweets, and other
pleasures and entertainments? What is so great about
having to fit our busy weekday schedules attendance at the
Wednesday and Friday Presanctified Liturgy and Paraklis
Services? And what is so great about giving up more of
our already stretched budgets in giving alms to the poor?
Parish Council President: William Bilcheck, Jr.
203-421-3121 email: [email protected]
Divine Services
Vespers: Sat: 5:00 pm Eve of Feasts: 7:00 pm
Divine Liturgy Sunday & Week Day 9:00 am
Services of Intercession as Announced
Coffee Hour Fellowship Sundays 10:30 am
Church School Sundays: 10:45 am
For many the season of Lent might seem to be a dreaded
time, one that is sad, and heavy, focused on repentance,
and confession and discovering our own weakness and
sinfulness.
Parish Ministries Coordinators
Church School Coordinator: Pani Carol Paproski
As your priest, as your spiritual father, guide and
cheerleader, if you will, I want to assure you that this
type of thinking, although understandable, is not helpful,
and is not the vision the Church has for us. The Church
calls this season Great, because it gives us an opportunity
to experience great joy, great peace and the love of God.
The Church counsels us to bear the weapons of prayer,
fasting and almsgiving, so that we can overcome the
stranglehold of sin, temptation and darkness, that prevents
us from being fully human, and fully Christ-like.
Junior ACRY Youth Group: Hailey Meyernick
Outreach Coordinators
Community &
Soup Kitchen
Bereavement
Young Families
The Sick /Shut-ins
Mary Householder/
Eve Nucifora
Jean Lomme
Michelle Mihaly
M.Allis/E. Nucifora
Financial Investment
William Bilcheck, Jr
William Booth, Jr.
Thomas Decerbo
Matthew Mihaly
Orestes Mihaly
Property Maintenance/
Improvements
Thomas Decerbo
Frank Meyernick
Scholarship
Database Coordinator:
Eve Nucifora
Helen Guman
Christine LeClerc
Webmaster:
Michael Decerbo
SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR THE
APRIL ISSUE OF THE PROPHET
MARCH 21, 2015
Brothers and Sisters, Isn’t it
interesting that the Church uses the
adjective “Great” when it refers to
the fasting season in preparation for
the Feast of the Resurrection of our
Lord? As we know this season is
referred to as either Great Lent
During the first week of the fast, we had a visitor from
New York worship with us at the Presanctified Liturgy. At
the end of the service, she had a beautiful smile on her
face and a very calm and peaceful demeanor. She told me
that she enjoyed the service very much, because it was so
prayerful, and that it gave her much peace. She was
having a difficult day, and this service, changed her whole
attitude, and helped her feel closer to God.
This is my prayer for all of us as we journey together this
Lent, towards the radiant and joy filled day of the
Resurrection that we experience the peace of God that
passes all understanding and the grace and healing that
comes through our willingly taking part in the rigors of
the fasting season.
What is so Great about Lent? In truth, everything!
22
With Love and Prayers Always,
Fr. Peter
Life Passages – March 2015
Date
Name
Event
March 4
Alexis Volpe
Birthday
March 5
Stephen Musante
Birthday
March 6
Kayla Reeves
Birthday
March 6
Samantha Booth
Birthday
March 10
Marge Kerpchar
Birthday
March 12
Judith Wulinksy
Birthday
March 21
Marcia Leonetti
Birthday
March 21
Matthew Mihaly, Jr
Birthday
March 24
Timothy Paproski
Birthday
March 26
Orestes Mihaly, Jr.
Birthday
March 30
Ryan LeClerc
Birthday
March 30
Serge Mihaly, Jr.
Birthday
_____________________________________________________________________________
St John’s Stewards: Doing the Work of the Church
COFFEE HOUR
Date Host
3/01 Ivers
3/08 Lomme/Mihaly
3/15 O&K Mihaly
3/22 Pierce
3/29 Porter/LeClerc
4/05 Ryan/Lotufo
Date
3/01
3/08
3/15
3/22
3/29
4/5
CHURCH READING
Hours
Epistle
Pani Carol
Cantors
Holly
Serge Mihaly
Brett
Bill Bilcheck
Pani Carol
Matt Mihaly, Jr
Holly
Rob Mihaly
Brett
Cantors
CHURCH CLEANING
Date
Cleaner
3/2-3/14
Cleaning Service
3/16-3/28
Cleaning Service
3/30-4/11
Cleaning Service
4/13-4/25
Cleaning Service
4/27-5/9
Cleaning Service
SPONSOR A CLEANING OF THE CHURCH
Realizing that many parishioners either are not physically able or do not have the time to help clean the
Church, the parish council has found someone who is willing to perform a routine cleaning of the
Church for $30.00. We are now soliciting sponsorships from our parishioners who wish to assist with
the cleaning of the Church, but are not able to join the cleaning roster. You may offer a single cleaning
sponsorship of $30.00 or multiple cleaning sponsorships. At the present time, our current volunteers
are assigned to 4 cleaning sessions per year . With your sponsoring of one or more cleaning sessions,
you will lighten the load of the few parishioners who are left on the church cleaning list. If you are
interested in doing so, please place your donation in a donation envelope clearly marked with your name
and the amount, indicating it is a Cleaning Sponsorship and place it in the metal collection box. You
may also mail it to the Church. Thank you for your consideration of this request.
HELP NEEDED FOR EASTER BAKE SALE
Our Easter Bake Sale will be on Sat April 5, 2015.
If you can help make pagachi, peel potatos or even
help with set-up and clean-up at the pagachi
workshops, please See Pani Carol. Donations
towards pagachi ingredients, as well as donations
of ethnic baked goods, also will be appreciated.
EASTER BAKE SALE WORKSHOPS
Pagachi
Date
Time
Sat March 7th
9:00 am
Sat March 21
9:00 am
Pastry Rolls
Wed March 25
9:00 am
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Parish Outreach & Community Service
___________________________________________________________________________________
COMMUNITY SUPPER PROGRAM UPDATE
We are responsible for providing supper once a month on Wednesday Evening at Christ Episcopal Church from
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm and quarterly on Mondays at St. George Episcopal Church, Bpt.
If you are able to work at a supper, or if you are able to make a salad or dessert for a scheduled meal. please see
Mary Householder or Eve Nucifora. Arrangements can be made to pick up your donation item if you would be
unable to drop it off at the supper. If you would like to Sponsor a meal, a donation of $150.00 would cover an
entire meal.
PARISH COMMUNITY SUPPER SCHEDULE
Date:
3/09
Location
Christ Church, Stratford
FOOD FOR NEEDY
Our Food Drive for Sterling House is ongoing and their needs are especially crucial in this difficult
economy. Child-friendly food items are needed. Among the items needed are hot and cold cereals, juices,
pancake and waffle mixes, frozen breakfast foods, peanut butter, jelly, tuna fish, instant puddings, crackers,
snack foods, canned soups and fruits, powdered drink mixes, boxed and canned potatoes and macaroni and
cheese, as well as microwavable and single-serving meals. Now refrigerated items such as milk and eggs
are also accepted. Also: We need some basic items for a needy, mentally disabled person whom we
directly help to tide him over until the beginning of each month. Here are items our friend can use:
Creamy Peanut Butter and Crackers, Vanilla Wafer cookies, 2 Liter Bottle of Regular Pepsi, Paper
Towels, Shampoo, large bottle any brand, Folgers coffee. NO MORE RAVIOLI’S PLEASE Also gift
cards from Stop and Shop would be helpful so that we may purchase perishable food items such as bread,
milk, meat and other foods items that are needed.. If you can contribute any of these specific items, please
leave these items in Father Peter’s Office, not in the general food collection basket. Cash donations/gift
cards should be put in an envelope marked clearly for needy food purchase and placed in the collection
box on the candle desk. Thank You! “For I was Hungry and You Fed Me”
Ideas For Lenten Almsgiving
The bread you do not use is the bread of the hungry. The garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of
the person who is naked. The shoes you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot. The money you
keep locked away is the money of the poor. The acts of charity you do not perform are the injustices you
commit. St. Basil the Great 4th century
Here are a few practical ways you can give alms this Lent
1. The Lord’s Kitchen– Help by serving a meal or a make a donation of $150.00 = cost of an entire meal.
2. Support the Diocesan Youth Project which will benefit St. John The Compassionate Mission.
3. Donate to Orthodox Christian Mission Center – A collection jar is on the coffee hour table.
4. Support our ongoing non-perishable food drive for Sterling House Food Pantry.
5. Donate Gift Cards to Stop in Shop to the Parish to assist us in providing groceries to needy families.
4
February 2015: The Month In Review
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Parish Council Updates
The Parish Council has investigated the possibilities for obtaining internet service at the Church. We will be
discontinuing the present phone service and replacing it with a Magic Jack internet-based service which will
allow us to retain our present phone number and realize a substantial savings. This will be taken care of in the
next month.
As decided at the Annual parish meeting, the first monthly mailing of donation envelopes has gone out to all the
households in the parish. This will enable those unable to attend on any given Sunday to mail in their
contributions to the Church. (With the terrible weather these past few weeks and very limited attendance we can
easily see what a wise decision the parish made in instituting this new practice) The envelopes may also be
placed in the collection basket on Sunday. Should anyone wish not to receive the envelopes, they are kindly
asked to let the parish council know so they can be taken off the list. As a reminder the use of these envelopes
is STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. They are provided for your convenience and also as a reminder that in order to
meet our very tight operating budget we rely on the regular, weekly support of our faithful parishioners.
The parish council is also soliciting bids for lawn mowing services. Should any parishioner know of a reputable
lawncare service, it would be appreciated if they pass that information along to the Parish Council.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Church School Updates
With the inclement weather it has not been possible to hold classes during most of the month of February.
We pray that we will return to a more normal schedule in March. Parents are kindly asked to make every effort
to have their children present each week so that the missed material may be taught as well as the new material
originally scheduled for this month.
As a reminder, those children who have already made their first Confession should confess their sins on a
regular basis. To this end, we are encouraging them to do so on the first Sunday of the month, especially during
the Lenten Season
____________________________________________________________________________________
News From Across The Diocese
JOHNSTOWN, PA -- Through the generosity of numerous Sr. ACRY chapters and parishes throughout the
diocese, the National Sr. ACRY is pleased to announce that their first annual Diocesan Advent Mission Project
has been a huge success. To date, over $3700.00 has been collected to benefit Diocesan mission parishes. Funds
collected will be used to assist our Diocesan mission parishes that are in need of various liturgical articles and
supplies.
JOHSTOWN, PA— With the conclusion of the Study of the Gospel of St. John, a new session of the on-line
Orthodox Bible Study Class, hosted by St. Nicholas Orthodox Church of Warren, Ohio, will begin on Saturday
March 7, 2015. The new scripture study will focus on the Book of Revelation. The class is led by Very Rev.
Protopresbyter Kenneth Bachofsky, D. Min, Professor of Sacred Scripture at Christ the Saviour Seminary and
Pastor of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Warren, Ohio. The class takes place on Saturday evenings at 5:00
pm and is approximately 60 minutes in duration. Class videos are posted with 48 hours of the broadcast on the
home page of www.acrod.org for those not able to view the program live.
5
Great Lent began on February 23rd. During Lent, there are extra services scheduled and special religious
education programs offered. In addition, parishioners will be provided with special Lenten reading material.
We are once again celebrating the Wednesday Evening Pre-sanctified Liturgy followed by an adult education
class with the faithful of St John’s Church of Bridgeport, beginning the second week of Lent. This year we will
be discussing the meaning of Holy Week.
Church will start at 6:30 pm. Soup and bread will be served. I encourage everyone to come and participate in
this beautiful Lenten service and enjoy the spiritual fellowship of your fellow parishioners. We will alternate
location of the service between our two parishes. Please consult the weekly update bulletin for the exact
schedule.
We will also serve the Paraklis Service, a service of supplication in honor of the Most Holy Mother of God on
Friday Evenings during Great Lent (Except during the Third Week of Lent where a Deanery Presanctified
Liturgy will be held at St. John’s on Mill hill Avenue and the fifth week of Lent where the Paraklis will be on
Thurs Mar 26)
It is essential that we observe this Holy Season by praying more intensely, fasting, attending Lenten Services
and performing acts of charity.
Fasting Guidelines
The minimum fasting guidelines for Great Lent are as follows: a strict fast from Meat and Dairy Products is to
be observed on the First Day of Lent, Feb 23, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Meat is not to be eaten on
Wednesdays and Fridays, and during the entire Holy Week. Everyone is encouraged to observe the stricter
Lenten Fast that the time honored traditions of the Orthodox Church has passed down to us, that is fasting from
meat and dairy products during the entire Lenten Season. The elderly and infirm are not bound by the fast. A
minimum of a three hour fast is required before receiving Holy Communion at the evening Presanctified
Liturgies. The usual fast from midnight is to be observed prior to the Saturday and Sunday Divine Liturgies.
All Soul Saturdays
During the Lenten season, several Liturgies are set aside in remembrance of ALL SOULS who have
departed this life. Please plan on attending. Please check with Fr. Peter to see if he has the most up to date
listing of your departed family members. He will be happy to include the names of your loved ones in the
parish dyptics book.
Lenten Vespers Schedule
Sunday March 1
Sunday March 8
Sunday March 15
Sunday March 22
Sunday March 29
Sunday of Orthodoxy
St. Gregory Palamas
Cross Veneration Sunday
St. John Climacus
St. Mary of Egypt6
Holy Trinity Church, Bridgeport, CT
St George Church, Trumbull, CT
St Nicholas Church, Bridgeport, CT
St. Nicholas Church, Stratford, CT
Holy Unction, 3 Sts Church - Ansonia, CT
Church School Lenten Program
Involving our Youth in the Liturgical Life of the Church
As we did last year, beginning on Sunday March 8, during Lent, our Church School
children will sit together as a group during Liturgy and will take turns holding candles,
taking the collection, and reading the special Lenten psalm and prayer at the end of the
Liturgy.
Each Sunday School teacher will be given instructions to ask their students to pay
attention to something specific that takes place during Liturgy, or to something that is
found in the Church so that it can be briefly discussed at the beginning of Church
School.
Date
3/01
3/8
3/15
3/22
3/29
Holding Candles
Eves & Amy Class
Pani Carol’s Class
Eves &Amy’s Class
Pani Carol’s Class
Amy’s Class.
Collection
Pani Carol’s Class
Eve &Amy’s Class
Pani Carol’s Class
Eve’s & Amy’s Class
Pani Carol’s Class
Reading Prayer
Altarservers & Volunteers
Altarservers & Volunteers
Altarservers & Volunteers
Altarservers & Volunteers
Singing the Responses to Divine Liturgy
On Sunday’s during Lent, our Church School Children will be encouraged to sing along with the Cantors during
Divine Liturgy. On a Sunday TBA our parish Teens will lead the singing of the Plain Chant responses to the
Divine Liturgy. They will be joined in the choir loft by the members of Eve and Amy’s Church School classes
and their teachers.
PARISH WISH LIST
At a recent parish council meeting it was decided to post a parish wish list of items needed for the
parish which are not included in the annual budget that parishioners might wish to gift to the
Church. The following is an initial list conceived by the council:. Parishioners are of course
welcome to add any suggestions they might have.
1.
2.
3.
New Oven For Church Kitchen
Powerpoint projector ceiling mounting brackets and new screen and wiring for new power
outlet, and connectivity to computer.
New Set of White/Embroidered Vestments
Any parishioner interested in donating any of these items are kindly asked to see any
member of the Parish Council or Fr. Peter
7
Camp Nazareth Summer Camping Program
The New England Deanery Camping Week is
July 19-25, 2014
Camp Nazareth is very proud to offer its program at some of the lowest rates available in America today. We
encourage you to research this information, as you will find this fee to be extremely affordable in
comparison to other weeklong church camps. The fee for the child(ren) of a Diocesan Parishioner in good
standing for a one week session at camp is $295 per child. The fee for non-Diocesan children is $345 per
child. For a family sending more than 1 child (siblings only), a Discount of $25/child (after the first child) will
be given. The one-time $25 Ambassador's Discount is available if a camper invites 1 or more, non-diocesan
camper(s) who enroll for the first time as a result of their specific invitation.
$20 Early Bird Discount Per Child!!!!
(one-time only, not per week)
Register & pay by May 15, 2015!!!!
All forms listed below AND payment must be submitted by May 15 in order to qualify for
the Early Bird Discount.





Completed and signed Registration Application Form
Completed, signed and dated Health History and Examination Form (signed by BOTH the
parent/guardian and the appropriate licensed medical professional)
Completed and signed Media Consent Form signed by the parent/guardian
Completed and signed Dress Code Policy signed by the parent/guardian and the camper
Payment In-Full by check, money order, or credit card. Checks and Money Orders are to be made
payable to Camp Nazareth and sent to Camp Nazareth at 339 Pew Road, Mercer, PA 16137.
Also there is also a need for nurses during our Diocesan Camping weeks. A generous stipend
will be paid along with room and board and a free week of camping for a child of the nurses’
choosing. If interested, see Fr. Peter.
Please speak to and encourage your children to attend camp this year. There are some exciting
new amenities that are being added this year. See Fr. Peter For More Details!!!
Please note there are full Scholarships Available
Do not Let the Cost Keep Your Child From Attending!!!!
8
LENTEN SOUP SALE
Eve Nucifora will again be making delicious soups for sale each week. The
proceeds of the sale will go to support the Lenten Youth Project and other
charitable needs. Please take advantage of the opportunity to purchase
delicious soup and support a worthwhile cause at the same time!!!
9
Lets Take A Road-Trip To Phoenixville!!!
LENTEN RETREAT
IN PHOENIXVILLE
On Saturday, March 28,
2015, the Eastern
Regional Lenten Retreat
will take place at Holy
Ghost Orthodox Church
of Phoenixville, PA.
As this retreat is always
fantastic, Fr. Peter
would like to we travel
as a group to attend the
Retreat in Phoenixville.
Bishop Gregory will be
the keynote speaker for
the Adults, and
Protodeacon Gregory
Benc and Fr. William
George will work with
our youth.
We can either travel the
night before, or leave
early Saturday morning
and return the same day.
Those who are interested
in attending are asked to
contact Fr. Peter.
It is an excellent
opportunity to visit one
of our larger thriving
Diocesan Parishes.
Cost:
$20.00 Adults,
$7.00 Youth
PLEASE SERIOUSLY
CONSIDER
TAKING PART!
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Coming Events At St. John’s On Silver Lane
Sunday March 15
Pirohi & Halushki Dinner Starting at 4:00 pm
$10.00
RSVP To Carole Krochta by March 8th at
Parish Calendar Of Coming Events
Sat
March 28
Sat
April 4
Tues April 7
Sun April 12
Sun May 10
Fri June 5
Sun June 7
Sun June 21
Sun June 28- July 1
Sun July 12
Sun July 19-25
Lenten Retreat in Phoenixville, PA
Lazarus Saturday and Easter Bake Sale
Feast of Annunciation e
Pascha – The Feast of Feasts!
Mother’s Day Breakfast
Family Camp Weekend – Camp Nazareth
Family Day – Camp Nazareth
Father’s Day Breakfast
Diocesan Altarboy Retreat
Semi-Annual Meeting
New England Deanery Camp Week, Camp Nazareth
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12
Growing in the Orthodox Faith – Food For the Soul
Completing the Remaining Time of Our Life in Peace and Repentance
|
Great Lent has begun. Its first week is entirely dedicated to
repentance. Both the Great Canon and nearly all this week’s prayers
call upon the human soul to undertake the penitential struggle and
repent to the Omniscient God, Who is always ready to accept the
repentant sinner.
Repentance is twofold. One kind of repentance is that by which one
who has given himself over to sin and, until then, has lived a
completely un-Christian life should repent: far from God, without
God’s law, far from the Church, he was a slave to his passions. But
he has come to his senses; his conscience has spoken. Perhaps a
good book has brought him to recognize this: in any case, he wants
to repent. In this case, repentance is not simply a recognition of sins
with the request that the Lord forgive them; this repentance – as
implied by the very word in Greek, metanoia, which is translated as
“repentance” – involves a “conversion,” i.e., a turning around, a
decisive turn in another direction. In other words, a complete change
of life. As the great Elder Ambrose of Optina said, for such
repentance is needed neither years, nor months, but a moment.
Recall Mary of Egypt: she had
been plunged in the abyss of sin;
she was literally whirled about in
“the abyss of sin.” But she,
obeying some inner feeling, went
to the Holy Land, where she
wanted to venerate the sacred
Live-Giving Tree. She saw how
people approached it, but some
force evidently held her back.
This was the moment when the
grace of God touched her soul,
and she suddenly and
immediately understood all the
ugliness of her life and all the
horror of what she had
committed. One single moment,
and all was decided. She turned
to the Heavenly Queen, that she
might become her Helpmate in
repentance. And then, after this
good decision, she immediately venerated this great Holy Object unhindered and, inspired by God’s mercy, left
for the desert to undertake those extraordinary labors and struggles that turned her from a human into an
(Continued on Page 13)
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Completing the Remaining Time of Our Life in Peace and Repentance
(Continued From Page 12)
angel. For we know that when the great ascetic, St. Zosimas, saw her there, he was “filled with utter
astonishment,” as it says in the canon. He was filled with utter astonishment because he thought he was seeing
not a person, but an angel in the flesh: he saw how she crossed over the Jordan as on dry land; he saw how she
was lifted up into the air in prayer. Her repentance was already so complete, her spirit was already so enflamed
in aspiring towards God, that her very body, which had once so sinned, was so spiritualized and transfigured
that it followed the soul in ascent and rose up to God. This is what repentance is for someone who has seen that
he has not been living rightly. Then came her penitential labors, for they made her an earthly angel and a
heavenly person. But the moment of repentance was a decision accepted immediately, and the rest was its
fulfillment.
The Church prays for all: “That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance.” This
prayer was prayed by great God-pleasers when they were in church. This means that repentance, as contrition
and the battle with sin, should be an inseparable part of everyone’s life. Bishop Theophan the Recluse, that
great instructor of the spiritual life, said that every Christian’s breath coming out of his chest, so long as he
lives, should not simply by an exhalation of air from the lungs, but should be a penitential sigh. Man always
feels himself to be a prisoner to sin and calls upon God’s mercy in penitential prayer. This kind of repentance
should be one’s constant companion. It is for this that we pray: that all the time left to us, all the “remaining
time of our life,” be completed in peace and repentance, so that repentance would be inseparable from us. When
man thus bears repentance, he becomes increasingly aware of the greatness of God’s mercy and of his own
sinfulness.
One of the great ascetics, St. Sisoes the Great – someone who had raised the dead by his prayers – was dying.
The monks gathered at his grave, to his deathbed, and it turned out that they were not the only to have come.
The Elder’s face lit up, and he said: “Here they have come; they have come.” The others did not see, but his
eyes were already opened to the heavenly world; he saw how other righteous ones had come to greet him, the
righteous one. “Here have come the prophets; here have come the monastic saints; here have come the
Apostles,” he said. His face lit up even more, and he began to speak with someone quietly. Those who had
gathered asked him: “Abba, with whom are you speaking?” He said: “The angels have come to take me, but I
was asking that they leave me time for repentance.” Everyone knew that he was perfect, and said with
astonishment: “Abba, you have no need of repentance.” The humble Elder replied: “I truly do not know whether
I have even begun.” But after these humble words, in which the depth of his humility so shone forth, his face
shone like the sun, and he said: “Here the Lord is coming and saying: ‘Bring Me the vessel chosen from the
desert.’” With these words, his soul left his body like a flash of lightening and everyone, filled with awe,
quickly dispersed. This is how this humble ascetic looked upon the need for repentance.
May we always have this sincere prayer to God, beloved, that the Lord might help us during this “remaining
time of our life” – however long or short His Providence grants us to live – to live our life in “peace and
repentance.” Amen.
Metropolitan Philaret of Eastern American and New York (+1985)
Source: http://www.pravmir.com/completing-remaining-time-life-peace-repentance/#ixzz3StVCNOlQ
14
Making Good Use of Great Lent
by Fr. Peter G. Rizos
from The Word, April 1986
The Holy Fathers of the Church have determined that there are three
indispensable means of participating in Great Lent. They are fasting,
spiritual vigilance and prayer. These disciplines derive from God's word
and have through the centuries been the mainstay of Eastern Orthodox
spirituality or life in Christ.
When Jesus had fasted forty days and forty nights in the wilderness in
preparation for His saving ministry, we are told that the devil tempted Him
to change stones into loaves of bread. The Lord rebuked the tempter with
the words, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
word that proceeds from the mouth of God'"(Matthew 4:14; Deuteronomy
8:3). In this way Jesus succeeded where Adam had failed (Genesis 3:1-6).
His answer to Satan is a trenchant affirmation that to live our lives as
though God did not exist, that is, "by bread alone," is to live according to a
demonic lie.
The Lord's words and steadfast self-denial alert us to the particular lifestyle He expects of His followers,
expressed elsewhere: "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to
destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life,
and those who find it are few" (Matthew 7:13-14).
Genuine and informed fasting which subjects our flesh and its passions to the will of a humbled and contrite
spirit is perhaps the most effective means to grow in God's grace (see Romans 8:1-17). It opens our innermost
self to the promptings of the Holy Spirit Who yearns to make our soul His temple. It is this possibility for
growth in Christ-likeness through fasting that should fire our self-discipline according to the canons and rules of
the Church. Adherence to dietary prescriptions alone easily deteriorates as a negative perception of Lent which
does violence both to the intent and purpose of fasting. The point is to give up a measure of our dependence
upon the material world in order to experience personally our hunger for God.
Spiritual vigilance is an attitude of alertness and eager expectation both for the coming of the Lord and the
averting of worldly distractions which would divert our attention from Him. The Church as the Bride of Christ
constantly strives to awaken Her members to the immanence of the Second Coming of Her Bridegroom, as well
as the presentation of our soul before His judgment- seat upon our death. It is incredible how far our values
have strayed from this very basic perspective of life according to the Orthodox Christian Faith!
Our life on earth becomes meaningful only to the degree that we appreciate it as a preparation for the life-tocome. Lent is the best time to acquire sobriety, to make provision for reflection on the meaning of our existence,
to recognize and confess our sins. Seeking out periods of silence, constructive reading, and depth in our
interpersonal relationships are all of the essence of a vigilant life. All these things the world in its vanity and
hectic pace of daily living seeks to deny. Yet it is in the inner realm of the heart, the seat of all thoughts and
desires, that the life-and-death struggle for the salvation of our soul must ultimately be waged. The counterpart
of the pilgrimage to the Crucified and Risen Lord is the journey into our own inner depths where our soul meets
and rejoices in her Bridegroom and Savior. (Continued on Page 15)
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Making Good Use of Great Lent
(Continued From Page 14)
As physical training requires proper nourishment to keep up the vigor of the body, so too do spiritual exercises
need prayer to maintain the harmony of the soul. Prayer is not just another activity in addition to fasting and
vigilance, but rather the inner state which gives meaning and direction to all life in the spirit. One does not,
properly speaking, "say" his/her prayers. One rather becomes a prayer by means of concentrated effort, regular
practice and openness to the Holy Spirit.
Prayer is not merely an occasional call for divine intervention when human resources fail, nor the recourse of
the weak in body and spirit. It is rather the actualization of personhood to its highest level at which the members
of the Body of Christ become constantly renewed and empowered by the uncreated energies of the Holy Trinity.
Prayer may be expressed as petition, intercession, thanksgiving and doxology. Whatever its form or its content,
whether structured or spontaneous, prayer is the pulse-beat of life in Christ, without which the soul withers and
dies.
We pray best when our stomach is light and our mind is attuned to things of the spirit. We fast best when we
pray and guard jealously the purity of our inner sanctuary. We are vigilant best when our will is fortified with
fasting and prayer, and with the Body and Blood of our Savior. "Taste and see that the Lord is good!" the
Psalmist urges us strongly. There is no substitute for our personal experience of making good use of Great Lent.
Light, peace, and joy are there for the asking.
Quiet in Church
And when we come to the church, the first thing which we must realise, is that we are in the presence, and that
this presence can be perceived and lived with only in the deep silence of our souls.
Some people find it difficult to comply with my insistence
on quiet and silence in the church, not only during the
services, which should be obvious, but before and after.
And I think we must realize something which we forget so
often: that our being present before the face of God does
not begin at the moment when the priest pronounces the
first holy words of the service; this is the place of God, this
is His dwelling place; these, in terms of the Old Testament,
are the Gates of Heaven. And when we come to the church,
the first thing which we must realize, is that we are in the
presence, and that this presence can be perceived and lived
with only in the deep silence of our souls. Not only the
silence of words, but the silence of all powers of our being
in awe and adoration before God. It is only if we enter into the service from within this silence that the words of
prayer will reach us and blossom out into a new depth of contemplative silence, of serenity, and will have
power to transform and transfigure us. So, it is not (only) a matter of church discipline or of protecting other
people’s prayer against our own dissipation; it is a matter of entering ourselves into the mystery of this
presence, so that through the liturgy we may gradually be transformed and brought into that depth where one
meets God… - +Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh
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Lenten Recipes
Stuffed Bell Peppers
Preparation:
Ingredients:









1. Cut peppers in half and clean out.
2. Steam until tender-crisp.
3. Combine all remaining ingredients
except the tomato sauce and then
spoon into the peppers.
4. Pour the tomato sauce over them and
bake at 350° until heated through.
2 large bell peppers
1 can green chilies
1 cup cooked brown rice
1 can kidney beans
2 tablespoon chopped parsley
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 can tomato sauce
Cajun Red Beans and Rice
Ingredients











Preparation
2 cups dried red kidney beans, soaked
overnight
2 bay leaves
1½ cups onion, chopped
½ tsp. thyme
3 garlic cloves, minced
¾ cup fresh parsley, minced
1 cup green bell pepper, diced
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. red miso
4 cups cooked brown rice
Chopped scallions (to garnish)
 Rinse beans and drain well. Cook (with
bay leaves) in 5 cups of water for 50
minutes or until tender.
 Add onion, thyme, garlic, parsley, green
pepper, and salt to pot. Simmer over
medium low heat for 15 to 20 minutes.
 Add miso and simmer for another 5
minutes.
 Remove bay leaves.
 Serve over hot rice, garnished with
scallions.
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Daily Scripture
Readings
M
T.
W.
Th.
F.
S.
S
Isaiah 4:2-6,5:1-7;
Isaiah 5:7-16;
Isaiah 5:16-25
Isaiah 6:1-12
Isaiah 7:1-14
Hebrews 3:12-16
Hebrews 1:10-2:3
Prayer Before Reading Holy Scripture
O Master Who loves mankind, illuminate our hearts with the pure light of
Your divine knowledge and open the eyes of our mind to understand the
teachings of Your Gospel. Instill in us also the fear of Your blessed
commandments, that we may overcome all carnal desires, entering upon a
spiritual life and understanding and acting in all things according to Your
holy will. For You are the enlightenment of our souls and bodies, O Christ
God, and to You we give glory together with Your eternal Father and Your
all-holy, gracious and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen
WEEK OF MARCH 2, 2015
Genesis 3:21-4:7
Proverbs 3:34-4:22 Grt Martyr Theodore of Tyre
Genesis 4:8-15
Proverbs 5:1-15
St Leo The Pope of Rome
Genesis 4:16-26
Proverbs 5:15-6:3
The Apostle Archippus
Genesis 5:1-24
Proverbs 6:3-20
St Leo of Catania
Genesis 5:32-6:8
Proverbs 6:20-7:1
Ven Timothy of Symbola
Mark 1:35-44
Trans. Relics In Eugenius
Mark 2:1-12
St. Gregory Palamas
M. Isaiah 8:13-9:7
T. Isaiah 9:9-10:4
W. Isaiah 10:12-20
Th Isaiah 11:10-12:2
F. Isaiah 13:2-13
S. Hebrews 10:32-38
1Thess 4:13-17
S Hebrews 4:14-5:6
WEEK OF MARCH 9, 2015
Genesis 6:9-22
Proverbs 8:1-21
Genesis 7:1-5
Proverbs 8:32-9:11
Genesis 7:6-9
Proverbs 9:12-18
Genesis 7:11-8:3
Proverbs 10:1-22 .
Genesis 8:4-21
Proverbs10:31-11:12
Mark 2:14-17;1
John 5:24-30 S
Mark 8:34-9:1
M. Isaiah14:24-32
T. Isaiah 25:1-9
W. Isaiah 26:21-27:9
Th Isaiah 28:14-22
F. Isaiah2 9:13-23
S. Hebrews 6:9-12
S. 1Thess 4:13-17;
S. Hebrews 6:13-20
WEEK OF MARCH 16, 2015
Genesis 8:21-9:7
Proverbs 11:19-12:6
Genesis 9:8-17
Proverbs 12:8-22 St
Genesis 9:18-10:1
Proverbs12:23-13:9
Genesis 10:32-11:9 Proverbs13:20-14:6
Genesis12:1-7
Proverbs 14:15-26
Mark 7:31-37
John 5:24-30
Mark 9:17-31
M.
T.
W.
Th.
F.
S.
S.
WEEK OF MARCH 23, 2015
Genesis 13:12-18
Proverbs 14:27-15:4 Holy Martyr Quadratus
Genesis13:12-18
Proverbs 15:7-19
St Sophronius of Jerusalem
Genesis17:1-9
Proverbs15:20-16:9 Confessor Theophanes
Genesis 18:20-33
Proverbs 16:17-17:17 Transof Rel of St.Nicephorus
Genesis 22:1-18
Proverbs 17:17-18:5 St Benedict of Nursia
Mark 8:27-31
Holy Martyr Agapius
Mark 10:32-45
St Mary of Egypt
Isaiah 37:33-38:6;
Isaiah 40:18-31
Isaiah 41:4-14
Isaiah 42:5-16
Isaiah 45:11-17
Hebrews 9:24-28
Hebrews 9:11-14
18
1st & 2nd Find Head of St JB
St Tarasios of Constantinople
Ven. Porphyrius of Gaza
Ven. Confessor Procopius
Ven Confessor Basil
Ven Martyr Eudoxia
Cross Veneration
Holy Martyr Eutropius
Ven. Gerasius of Jordan
Ven. Confessor Theophanes
Ven. Benedict of Nursia
Ven. Martyr Agapius
Ven Martyr Sabinas Egypt
St. John of the Ladder
Prayer Corner
A Prayer For The Sick
O Christ, You alone are prompt to defend us; quickly visit
Your suffering servant (name). Through the prayers of the
Mother of God, deliver (him, her) from sickness and bitter
pain. Heal (him, her) so that (he, she) may sing to You and
always praise You for You alone love us.
Prayer List
Living Members of Parish Family And Friends
Protopresbyter Luke
Barbara (Reeves)
Shirley Sedlock
Fr. John (Duranko)
Pani Patricia (Duranko)
Florence (Gachi)
Garry & Barbara (Nichols) Richard (Kaschak)
Pearl (Nucifora)
Kassiani (Nickolakis)
Keith
Charles (Householder)
Audrey (Fatse)
Richard (Kaschak Jr)
Greg & Kim
Frank (Meyernick)
Lou (Gregory)
Katherine (Macura)
Serge (Mihaly)
Michael ( Banik)
Kelly (Friend of Eve)
Mary (Nichols)
Nina (Kuchma)
Esther (Johnson)
Joshua (Habansky)
Geoffrey & Jennifer
Roger (Vanhouten)
Zachary
Catie (Bradford)
Child Diana
Irene (Knapp)
Carol
Judy
Elsi (Lotufo)
Penny (Elsi’s daughter)
Propresbyter John (Gido)
Thomas (Ivers)
Kennedy Family
Karen (Ivers)
Christopher (Zinski)
Rachel (friend of Karen)
John (Cybul)
Gregory (Cybul)
Priest James (Gleason)
Marge (Allis)
Robert
Joseph (Loposky)
Randy & Janice
Caleb (Goneau)
Edward & Laurie
Shannon (Friend of Arlene)
Infant Jack
Nicholas (Papillo)
Cynthia (Dion)
Marion (Fallon)
Virginia (friend of Eve)
Alice (VanHouten)
Judy
Donna (Pierce)
Nicholas (Gachi)
June (Friend of Marcia L) Ernie (Friend of Marcia L) Stephen
Michael (Lomme)
Carolann
Betty
Sean
Daniel
Child Emma
Walter (Litzie)
Child Oliver
Amada & Will
Mildred (Fife)
Gregory (Sabak)
Joan (Julie’s Sister in Law)
Nina
Karolina
Victoria
Departed Members Of Our Parish Family And Friends
+Metropolitan Nicholas
Richard Porter
Gedeon Steinhaus
George Halzak
Mary Pataky
Irene Wargo
George Kraynak
John&Susan Bensko
A Prayer For The Departed
O God of spirits and of all flesh, Who has conquered death and destroyed Satan, and Who has granted life to Your
world; O Lord, rest the soul(s) of Your departed servant(s) [Name] in a serene, luxuriant and peaceful place where all
pain and sorrow and lamentation are absent; as a gracious God Who loves mankind, forgive all transgressions
committed by (him, her, them) by word or deed or thought, for there is no one who lives and does not sin; You alone
are without sin, Your truth is truth in eternity and Your Word is Truth. For You, O Christ our God, are the resurrection,
life and repose of Your departed servant(s) [Name], who (has, have) fallen asleep, and we give glory to You and Your
19
eternal Father, and Your Most-Holy, Gracious and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST ORTHODOX CHURCH
LITURGICAL SERVICES & EVENTS
MARCH 2015
1 9:00 am Liturgy
2
ChSchool/ Ivers
Coffee Hour
4 pm Vespers
Holy Trinity, Bpt
Church Cleaner:
Cleaning Service
8 9:00 am Liturgy
9
Panachida Rep.
Irene Wargo
Church School/
Lomme/Mihaly
Coffee Hour
4 pm Vespers – St
George, Trumbull
15 9 am Liturgy
Panachida – Met
Nicholas,SKerpchar
Ch School/ O/K
Mihaly Coffee Hr
4pm Vespers – St
Nicholas, Bpt
22 9 am Liturgy
23
3
4 11:00 am
Scripture Study
6:30 pm PreSanctified Liturgy
Adult Ed. –St
Johns – Mill Hill
5
10
11 11:00 am
12
4:00 pm
The Lord’s Kitchen
Christ Church,
Stratford
7:00 pm Moleben to
Saint Nectarios
7:30 pm Parish Council
Meeting
Scripture Study
6:30 pm PreSanctified Liturgy
Adult Ed – Our
Church
16
17
18 12 Noon
24
Panachida/G.Halzak
Church Schoo/
Pierce Coffee Hr
4 pm Vespers
St Nicholas, Stfd
30
Panachida J&S
Bensko/Ch School
Porter/LeClerc
Coffee Hr
4pm Unction Svc.
3 Saints, Ansonia
Church Cleaner:
Cleaning Service
25 11:00 am
Scripture Study
6:30 pm PreSanctified Liturgy
Adult Ed – Our
Church
31
20
7 All Souls
Sanctified Liturgy
Cambridge Manor
7:30 pm Paraklis
Service
9:00 am Liturgy
Repose Gideon
Steinhaus
9am Pagachi
Great Vespers &
Confession
13
14 All Souls
7:00 pm Deanery
Pre-Sanctified
Liturgy
St Johns Mill Hill
9:00 am Liturgy
Rep Mary Pataky
5:00 pm
Great Vespers &
Confession
20
21 All Souls
7:30 pm Paraklis
Service
9:00 am Liturgy
Kraynak/Nichols
Family
9 am Pagachi
5:00 pm Vespers
26
27
28
7:30 pm Paraklis
Service
Lenten Retreat
Phoenixville, PA
Lenten Retreat
Phoenixville, PA
19
6 Hour Service
6:30 pm PreSanctified Liturgy
Adult Ed- Mill Hill
Church Cleaner:
Cleaning Service
29 9 am Liturgy/
th
6 10:00 am Pre-