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  6:00pm
                                      Wednesday Akathist       6:30pm
                                      Friday Small Compline    6:30pm



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 Holy Fathers, Tone 8:  Most glorified art Thou, O Christ our God, * Who hast established our holy fathers as luminous stars upon the earth, * and through them didst guide us all to the true Faith. * O Most merciful One, glory be to Thee.

Sunday Kontakion, Tone 3: Thou didst arise today from the tomb, O Merciful One, * and didst lead us out of the gates of death.* Today Adam danceth and Eve rejoiceth; * and together with them both the Prophets and the Patriarchs * unceasingly praise the divine might of Thine authority.
 
Kontakion of the Holy Fathers, Tone 6: The Son Who shined forth from the Father ineffably was born, * twofold of nature, of a woman. * Knowing Him, we deny not the image of His form; * but depicting it piously, we revere it faithfully. * And for this cause, the Church, in that it holdeth the true faith, * doth kiss the icon of Christ’s incarnation.

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: Galatians 1:11-19; Hebrews 13:7-16
Gospel: Luke 7:11-16; John 17:1-13

Commemoration of the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
This Council was held in 787 in Nicaea, in the reign of the devout Empress Irene and her son Constantine, and in the time of Patriarch Tarasius. This Council finally upheld the veneration of icons, expounding it from Holy Scripture, the witness of the holy fathers and the examples of miracles in connection with the holy icons. Among other examples cited, the Cypriot bishop, Constantine, brought forward this one: A herdsman from the city of Constantia, driving his flock out to pasture one day, saw an icon of the Mother of God adorned with flowers by the devout. 'Why give so much honour to a rock?', said the herdsman, obviously brought up in iconoclasm, and threw his iron stave at the icon, damaging the right eye of the Mother of God. As soon as he had left that spot, he stumbled over the same stave and put out his own right eye. Returning blinded to the city, he cried out tearfully that it was a punishment from the Mother of God.
This Council also decided that the relics of the martyrs be placed in the antimins.* Three hundred and sixty-seven fathers took part in the Council. May the Lord have mercy on us and save us by their prayers.

Parish News
+ Last Sunday in Rochester, Metropolitan Hilarion elevated Reader Timothy Hawkins to the rank of subdeacon and elevated Deacon Andrei Strapko to protodeacon. Please sign the congratulatory cards for them.

+ Thank you to everyone who helped with hosting the Canisius College Russian Culture class last Sunday. Dr. Wenner and the students were grateful for the hospitality and had a wonderful experience.

+Thank you to everyone who contributed to the gift that the Eastern Diocese will be presenting to our ruling bishop, Metropolitan Hilarion, on his nameday, November 3.

+ Many thanks also to everyone who helped make cabbage rolls last Tuesday for the Bazaar. We may schedule another day for this, so please watch for an announcement.

+ Reader Peter Semanchuk is now recuperating from his broken knee at the St. Francis Home, 147 Reist St., Williamsville, Rm. 205. Phone 633-5400.

+ This Saturday 3:00pm-4:00pm we will have a “Fall Fun Festival” for all the children. This is to encourage everyone not to participate in trick-or-treating and other Halloween customs which have their roots in paganism. The children may wear costumes, but please, no ghosts or witches.

+ We are planning to have our parish’s Thanksgiving Akathist and dinner next Sunday, November 1. Please let Fr. Peter and/or Tania Kawa know whether you would prefer to have it right after Divine Liturgy or come back that evening.

+ At the Eastern Diocese Clergy Conference in Atlanta, Metropolitan Hilarion awarded Fr. Peter the right to wear the purple kamilavka. Father and Matushka wish to thank all of you for your prayers for our travels.

+ This Wednesday’s Akathist will be for St. John of Kronstadt whose commemoration day is next Sunday.

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.

Confessions are heard at every evening service.