Confessions are heard at every evening service.

We are a parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, and all are welcome to worship with us! Our services are in English. Please join us at our coffee hour downstairs after the service.


Sunday Troparion, Tone 7: Thou didst destroy death by Thy Cross, * Thou didst open Paradise to the Thief. * Thou didst change the lamentation of the Myrrh-bearers, * and Thou didst command Thine Apostles * to proclaim that Thou didst arise, O Christ God, * and grantest to the world great mercy.

Troparion of the Prophet Elijah, Tone 4:  The incarnate angel, the summit of the prophets, * the forerunner of the coming of Christ, * Elijah the glorious from on high did send down grace to Elisha, * he driveth away diseases and cleanseth lepers. * Wherefore, he poureth forth healings upon them that honor him.
 
Sunday Kontakion, Tone 7: No longer will the dominion of death be able to keep men captive; * for Christ hath descended, demolishing and destroying the powers thereof. * Hades is bound; * the Prophets rejoice with one voice, saying: * A Savior hath come for them that have faith. * Come forth, ye faithful for the Resurrection.

Kontakion of the Prophet Elijah, Tone 2:  O renowned Elijah, prophet and seer of the mighty works of God, * who by thy word didst check the torrential rain-clouds: * pray for us to the only Lover of mankind.

Kontakion of the Theotokos, Tone 6: O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, * mediation unto the creator most constant, * O despise not the suppliant voices of those who have sinned, * but be thou quick, O good one, to come unto our aid * who in faith cry unto thee; hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, * thou who dost ever protect, * O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

Today’s Readings
Epistle: I Corinthians 1:10-18; James 5:10-20
Gospel: Matthew 14:14-22; Luke 4:22-30

Parish News

- Today is Elijah Venticinque’s name day. Many years!

- Today, by decree of the Synod of Bishops, we are taking up a special offering for the renovation of the St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson NJ.

- Reader George Hammond has been awarded a $10,000 scholarship from George Lambros toward his seminary studies. Congratulations! Glory to God!

- Lillian will be moving into the Milton house on Tuesday. Many thanks to everyone who has been helping her get the house fixed up and ready!

- Larissa Samotowka had an angiogram last Wednesday. The procedure itself went well, but she will need to have two stents put in. Please remember her in your prayers.

- Fr. Peter will leave for Jordanville tomorrow and return either Wednesday or Thursday. There will be no service on Wednesday. Please call Fr. Rastko Trbuhovich at St. Stephen Serbian Church (823-2846) in case of emergency.

- Today is the last day of the Mediterranean Festival at St. George Antiochian Church in Lewiston, (1073 Saunders Settlement Rd.)

- The Bible study will meet today after coffee hour. All are welcome!

A man who saw God, a wonderworker and a zealot for faith in God, Elias was of the tribe of Aaron, from the city of Tishba, whence he was known as 'the Tishbite'. When Elias was born, his father Sabah saw angels of God around the child, swaddling it with fire and feeding it with flames. This was a foreshadowing of Elias's fiery character and his God-given fiery powers. He spent his whole youth in prayer and meditation, withdrawing often to the desert to ponder and pray in tranquillity. At that time, the Jewish Kingdom was divided into two unequal parts: the Kingdom of Judah consisted only of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, with its capital at Jerusalem, while the Kingdom of Israel consisted of the other ten tribes, with its capital at Samaria. The former kingdom was ruled by the descendants of Solomon, and the latter by the descendants of Jeroboam, a servant of Solomon's. The prophet Elias came into the greatest conflict with the Israelite king, Ahab, and his evil wife Jezebel, for they worshipped idols and turned the people from the service of the one, living God. On top of this, Jezebel, being a Syrian, persuaded her husband to build a temple to the Syrian god, Baal, and appointed many priests to the service of this false god. Elias performed many miracles by the power of God: he closed the heavens, that no rain should fall for three years and six months; called down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice to his God, while the priests of Baal were unable to do this; brought rain from the heavens at his prayers; miraculously multiplied corn and oil in the widow's house at Zarephath, and restored her dead son to life; prophesied to Ahab that the dogs would lick up his blood, and to Jezebel that the dogs would devour her - which came to pass; and performed many other miracles and foretold many events. He talked with God on Horeb, and heard His voice in the calm after the great wind. At the time of his death, he took Elisha and appointed him his heir as a prophet; he parted the Jordan with his mantle and was finally borne to heaven in a fiery chariot drawn by fiery horses. He appeared together with Moses, to our Lord Jesus Christ on Tabor.

If you are visiting today:

- There are service books underneath the candle stand that you may borrow and follow along in. If you get lost, ask your neighbor to help you find the page.

- As you can see, we stand for most of the service. If you are not accustomed to this, please feel free to sit if you feel the need. No one will mind! You should still stand during the Scripture readings and when the priest comes through.

- In the Orthodox tradition, women cover their heads in church, and extra scarves can be borrowed from the candle stand at the entrance.

- You will see people making the sign of the cross and bowing. Feel free to follow suit or not, however you are comfortable. Again, no one will mind either way.

- Feel free to venerate (kiss) the icons and purchase a candle to light. Commemoration slips for Orthodox, living and reposed may be placed on the tray by the candle stand. Please write down how many prosphora you would like (suggested donation: $1/ea.)

- At the end of the service, you may come forward to venerate the hand-cross if you wish.

-At our parish we do not pass a collection plate. Gifts are voluntary and can be left at the candle stand.

- Anyone who wishes to receive Holy Communion must be an Orthodox Christian and make their Confession beforehand. Please speak with Fr. Peter for more information.