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


Sunday Troparion, Tone 2: When Thou didst descend unto death, O Life Immortal, * then didst Thou slay Hades with the lightning of Thy Divinity. * And when Thou didst also raise the dead out of the nethermost depths, * all the hosts of the heavens cried out: * O Life-giver, Christ our God, glory be to Thee!

Troparion of the Cross, Tone 1: O Lord, save Thy people *
and bless Thine inheritance. * Grant Thou victory unto Orthodox Christians * over their enemies, * and by the power of Thy Cross *
do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.

Troparion of St. Theodore Stratelates, Tone 4: By true strategy, O trophy-bearer * thou wast an illustrious general of the Heavenly King, O Theodore. * For thou didst wisely arm thyself with the weapons of faith, * and didst utterly annihilate the hordes of demons, * and didst prove a victorious athlete, * wherefore with faith * we ever call thee blessed.

Troparion of St. Theodore the Tyro, Tone 2: Great are the triumphs of faith! * The holy martyr Theodore rejoiced in a fountain of flame as in refreshing water. * For having been made a whole burnt offering by fire, * he was offered as a sweetbread to the Trinity, * By his prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.

Troparion of St. Eustathius and Family, Tone 4: In their sufferings, O Lord, * Thy martyrs received imperishable crowns from Thee, our God; * for, possessed of Thy might, * they set at nought the tyrants and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. * By their supplications save Thou our souls.

Sunday Kontakion, Tone 2:  Thou didst rise from the tomb, O omnipotent Savior, * and Hades was terrified on beholding the wonder; * and the dead arose, * and creation at the sight thereof rejoiceth with Thee. * And Adam also is joyful, * and the world, O my Savior, * praiseth Thee for ever.

Kontakion of St. Theodore Stratelates, Tone 2: Armed with faith and courage of soul, * and having taken in thy hand the Word of God as a spear, * thou didst conquer the enemy, * O glory of martyrs, Theodore. * With them cease not to intercede with Christ God for us all.

Kontakion of St. Theodore the Tyro, Tone 8: Having received the faith of Christ in thy heart as an inner shield, * thou didst overcome all the opposing forces, O great champion, * and thou hast been crowned with a heavenly crown, O Theodore, * for thou art eternally invincible.

Kontakion of St. Eustathius and Family, Tone 2: Manifestly emulating the sufferings of Christ, * and having drained His cup with fervor, O Eustathius, * thou wast a partaker and fellow heir of glory, * receiving divine remission from on high from the God of all Himself.

Kontakion of the Cross, Tone 4:  O Thou Who wast lifted up willingly on the Cross, * bestow Thy mercies upon the new community named after Thee, O Christ God; * gladden with Thy power the Orthodox Christians, * granting them victory over enemies; * may they have as Thy help the weapon of peace, the invincible trophy.

Today’s Readings
Epistle: Galatians 2:16-20; Ephesians 6:10-17
Gospel: Mark 8:34-9:1; Luke 21:12-19


Parish News

 Last Thursday was the nameday of Nadezhda Ziablova, Sonia Marinaccio and Sophia (Emmie) Hammond, and this Tuesday is Phocas (David) Damiano’s nameday. Many years!

 Next Sunday Robert and Samuel Kuchuk will be baptized into Christ. Glory to God! We will serve a special baptismal Liturgy, that is, the baptism will take place during the Hours and Divine Liturgy, so services will begin at the regular time.

 Fr. Peter is traveling to Sea Cliff NY tomorrow and returning Wednesday night. The Synodal Commissions of ROCOR and the OCA will be meeting together for the first time to work on overcoming the obstacles to brotherly communion between our Churches. In case of emergency please call Fr. Rastko Trbuhovich at 823-2846.

 Our regular schedule with the Bible study, Akathist and Small Compline will resume the week of October 17.

 We will be starting an 8-week series “Introduction to Orthodoxy” on either Thursdays or Fridays, starting the week of October 17. Please let Fr. Peter know of anyone who might be interested.

 A class of fifteen students will be visiting Divine Liturgy on October 24. Let us make them welcome!

 Pendleton Center United Methodist Church in North Tonawanda would like someone from our parish to speak to their 3rd-6th graders some Sunday in November about how Christmas is celebrated in the Orthodox tradition. This is a wonderful, God-given opportunity to share our Faith. Please see Fr. Peter if you are interested.

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.