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.

                         Saturday Vigil                  5:00pm
                         Sunday Divine Liturgy     9:30am
                         Sunday Bible Study         after coffee hour
                         Monday Inquirers Class   5:30pm
                         Wednesday Akathist        6:30pm
                         Friday Small Compline     6:30pm
This regular schedule will resume after Pascha. Please refer to the monthly calendar.


Sunday Troparion, Tone 3: Let the heavens be glad; let earthly things rejoice; * for the Lord hath wrought might with his arm. * He hath trampled down death by death; * the firstborn of the dead hath He become. * From the belly of Hades hath he delivered us * and hath granted to the world great mercy.

Troparion of the Meeting of the Lord, Tone 1:  Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, O Virgin Theotokos, * for from thee hath risen the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, * enlightening those in darkness. * Rejoice, thou also, O righteous Elder, * as thou receivest in thine arms the Redeemer of our souls, * Who also granteth unto us the Resurrection.
 

Kontakion for Forgiveness Sunday, Tone 6: O Thou guide unto wisdom, bestower of prudence, instructor of the foolish and defender of the poor: Establish and grant understanding unto my heart, O Master. Grant me speech, O Word of the Father; for behold, I shall not keep my lips from crying unto Thee: O Merciful One, have mercy on me who have fallen.

Kontakion of the Meeting of the Lord, Tone 1:  Thou Who didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb by Thy birth, * and didst bless Symeon’s hands as was meet, * by anticipation didst even now save us, O Christ God. * But grant peace in the midst of wars unto Thy commonwealth, * and strengthen Orthodox Christians * whom Thou hast loved, O only Lover of mankind.

Today’s Readings
Epistle: Romans 13:11b-14:4; Hebrews 7:7-17
Gospel: Matthew 6:14-21; Luke 2:22-40

Parish News

 Congratulations to Andrea Sullivan, who was elected parish council secretary, and Sonia Marinaccio, who was elected as a lay member to the parish council! Thank you to everyone who attended last Sunday’s annual parish meeting.

 Today marks the 40th day since the repose of our departed sister in Christ, Leonilla (Lillian) Williams. Thank you to everyone who attended the pannychida on Friday.

 Matushka Maria Naumenko was in a car accident last Monday. She was taken to the hospital where they did a CAT scan and then released her. The next day she began suffering from numbness, tingling and feeling like fainting. Please remember her in your prayers.

 The Blessing of Candles will be performed at the end of Divine Liturgy today, and then we will immediately by Vespers and the Rite of Forgiveness.

 Today is the last day we are taking up a special offering for Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville. This is the only seminary in our Russian Church Abroad. Please give generously.

 Great Lent begins tomorrow. Let us refrain not only from meat and dairy, but from all vain entertainment. Make every effort to attend the Lenten services this week, and try to attend at least one Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts during the Fast. Remember to read the daily readings from Genesis, Proverbs and Isaiah.

 Please remember that we are serving Great Compline this week with the Great Canon of Repentance of St. Andrew of Crete, Monday-Thursday evenings at 6:30pm. On Wednesday we will serve Matins at 8:00am following by the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts at 10:00am.

 The Vigil (Compline and Matins) for our Parish Feast begins at 6:30pm on Friday, and Divine Liturgy at 9:00am Saturday. Fr. Gregory Naumenko will serve the Great Blessing of the Waters at 8:00am. Fr. Seraphim Wing will also be coming from Pennsylvania.

 The students of Orthodox Christian Fellowship, our ministry at the University at Buffalo, will be visiting our parish next Sunday.

 The Council of Orthodox Churches on the Niagara Frontier is sponsoring the Annual Lenten Lecture Series with Vespers service preformed by the Pan-Orthodox Choir.

 On Saturday, February 27, Bishop Daniel of the Ukrainian Church USA will be serving Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Annunciation, followed by a talk. Singers are needed for the Liturgy, so please let Fr. Peter know whether you are able to help with singing that morning.

 Please remember in your prayers those traveling: Galina Bahanovich, Reader George Hammond and Valentina Jaffri.

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 to (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.


Confessions are heard at every evening service.