The Church`s Liturgical New Year

St. Sophia Orthodox Church
a Parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
195 Joseph Street,
Victoria, British Columbia
Canada V8S 3H6
email: [email protected]
website: www.saintsophia.ca
Services are in English
Saturday
Vigil – 6 p.m. – Всенощное бдение
Sunday
Hours – 10 a.m. – Часы
Divine Liturgy – 10:30 a.m. – Божественная Литургия
Vespers – 5 p.m. – Вечерня
Archpriest John Adams
Deacon Gordian Bruce
September 2016
S e r v i ce s
Saturday September 3- Vigil for our Parish Feast Day -6pm
(Translated to) Sunday September 4- Parish Feast Day: The Icon Not Made
by Hands; Liturgy-10:30am

Molieben for the Blessing of the Children before School (and those who give
instruction)
Saturday September 10- Vigil 6pm
Sunday September 11- Liturgy 10:30am

Sunday Evening Vespers- 5pm
Saturday September 17- Vigil 6pm
Sunday September 18- Liturgy 10:30am

Sunday Evening Vespers- 5pm
Tuesday September 20- Vigil- Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, 6pm
Wednesday September 21- Liturgy- Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos
10:30am
Saturday September 24- Vigil 6pm
Sunday September 25- Liturgy 10:30am

Sunday Evening Vespers- 5pm
Monday September 26- Vigil- Exaltation of the Precious Cross, 6pm
Tuesday September 27- Liturgy Exaltation of the Precious Cross 10:30am

Sunday Evening Vespers- 5pm
Saturday October 1- Vigil 6pm, Archbishop Gabriel present
Sunday October 2- Hierarchal Liturgy 10:15am, Archbishop
Gabriel (more information to be announced later)
Month of September Saint’s Days
Congratulations to Deacon Gordian, Samuel, Natalia W, Natalia Z, Zacharias S, Anna M, Anna B, Anna P,
Vera, Sophie S, Sofya S, Sophie L, Faith A, Esperanza L, and Lubov! May God grant you all many, many,
years!
.
Church Cleaners Thank you to the month of August Church Cleaners and Gardeners. With the
continuing hot weather situation, the dry church gardens were extra thirsty. May God reward your
diligent and loving efforts!
The Church’s Liturgical New Year
The entire Liturgical Church Year is a treasury of spiritual wisdom and blessings. In September, there are
two Great Feasts, the Nativity of the Theotokos and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. There are also
other holy days during this month. One is the "Beginning of the Church New Year" on September 1/14.
The first day of the Church's Liturgical New Year is also called the Beginning of the Indiction. It occurs in
September for both Scriptural and historical reasons. The Scriptural reason is that God, through Moses,
ordained the Old Testament Church to celebrate the New Year at the time of the harvest in "the seventh
month," that is, in September. The historical reason is the Roman-Byzantine Emperors and the Eastern
Patriarchs of the New Testament Church also decreed the New Year should be in September.
According to Holy Tradition, Christ entered the synagogue on September 1/14 to announce His mission
to mankind (Luke 4:16-22). He was given the book of the Prophet Isaiah to read. He opened it and
proclaimed, “The spirit of the Lord is upon me; because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the
poor; He has sent me to proclaim release to captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at
liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord...” Isaiah 61:1-2
Tradition says the Hebrews entered the Promised Land in September. The Holy Scriptures (Lev. 23:24-25
and Num. 29:1-2) confirm the people of Israel celebrating the feast of the Blowing of Trumpets on this
day, with the offering of hymns and thanksgiving. The Church also keeps festival this day, asking God for
temperate weather, seasonable rains, and the abundance of the fruits of the earth.
The spiritual significance of the Liturgical New Year reminds us time is precious. Each day and each
service is a gift.
Do we remember Divine Liturgy begins Saturday evening with Vespers and continues until sunset
Sunday? How do we plan our holidays? Holiday comes from the old English word Holy Day. Are Church
holy days the first thing we put in our monthly planners, or the last thing?
Let us seriously re-examine our priorities and let us offer unto the Lord, a New Year… in which we put
Him first. - Anonymous Source
The Nativity of the Theotokos
Church’s veneration of Mary has always been rooted in her obedience to God, her willing choice to
accept a humanly impossible calling. The Orthodox Church has always emphasized Mary’s connection to
humanity and delighted in her as the best, purest, most sublime fruition of human history and of man’s
quest for God, for ultimate meaning, for ultimate content of human life.
If in Western Christianity veneration of Mary was centered upon her perpetual virginity, the heart of
Orthodox Christian East’s devotion, contemplation, and joyful delight has always been her Motherhood,
her flesh and blood connection to Jesus Christ. The East rejoices that the human role in the divine plan is
pivotal. The Son of God comes to earth, appears in order to redeem the world, He becomes human to
incorporate man into His divine vocation, but humanity takes part in this. If it is understood that Christ’s
“co-nature” with us is as a human being and not some phantom or bodiless apparition, that He is one of
us and forever united to us through His and forever united to us through His humanity, then devotion to
Mary also becomes understandable, for she is the one who gave Him His human nature, His flesh and
blood. She is the one through whom Christ can always call Himself “The Son of Man.”
Son of God, Son of Man… God descending and becoming man so that man could become divine, could
become partaker of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), or as the teachers of Church expressed it, “deified.”
Precisely here, in this extraordinary revelation of man’s authentic nature and calling, is the source that
gratitude and tenderness which cherishes Mary as our link to Christ and, in Him, to God. And nowhere is
this reflected more clearly that in the Nativity of the Mother of God.
Nothing about this event is mentioned anywhere in the Holy Scriptures. But why should there be? Is
there anything remarkable, anything especially unique about the normal birth of a child, a birth like any
other? The Church began to commemorate the event with a special feast…because, on the contrary, the
very fact that it is routine discloses something fresh and radiant about everything we call routine and
ordinary, it gives new depth to the unremarkable details of human life…And with each birth the world is
itself in some sense created anew and given as a gift to this new human being to be his life, his path, his
creation.
This feast therefore is first a general celebration of Man’s birth, and we no longer remember the
anguish, as the Gospel says, “for joy that a human being is born into the world” (Jn. 16:21). Secondly, we
now know whose particular birth, whose coming we celebrate: Mary’s. We know the uniqueness, the
beauty, the grace of precisely this child, her destiny, her meaning for us and for the whole world. And
thirdly, we celebrate all who prepared the way for Mary, who contributed to her inheritance of grace
and beauty…And therefore the Feast of her Nativity is also a celebration of human history, a celebration
of faith in man, a celebration of man.
…The Church celebrates with such joy and faith this birth of a little girl in whom are concentrated all the
goodness, spiritual beauty, harmony and perfection that are elements of genuine human nature. Thus,
in celebrating Mary’s birth we find ourselves already on the road to Bethlehem, moving toward the
joyful mystery of Mary as the Mother to God. -Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann
Sermon on the Nativity of the Mother of God
…The birth of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is a source of joy and consolation. In
the person of the Mother of God, God gave as a gift to the world a Being before whom so many people
would bow down and offer so many prayers, before whom rivers of human tears would flow. The
Mother of God so fully and vividly expressed herself concerning herself with the words of the hymn: My
soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour (Lk. 1:46-47). Her whole life
lies in this: Her soul magnifies the Lord for the wisdom of creation, for love and goodness. And this
regardless of the sorrows and suffering that filled her heart at the foot of the Cross.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. In this lies her constant state of being. She has seen
human weakness and vice. She sees them also now, and as a mother, her heart is wounded. But despite
this, she remains on the heights of contemplation of heavenly sanctity, and her spirit ever rejoices in
God her Saviour, Who gave Himself as a sacrifice for the redemption of mankind. In this deep
understanding of our spirit with the joy of being God’s Birth-giver lies the source of the Theotokos’
influence on the hearts of the faithful and those who pray to her. Truly, so many people who in faith
have recourse to her maternal aid receive help and consolation.
According to the example of the Mother of God, a Christian should always magnify God and rejoice in
Him. In this joy there can be no place for sorrow, depression, or despair, for feelings of loneliness or
alienation. The Lord loves everyone, and his Most Pure Mother intercedes for all without ceasing.
How often in life do we experience a thirst for purity, renewal, and joy? And how often does our
unworthiness, our sins obscure the light of joy and Divine brightness? On the day of the Birth of our Lady
Theotokos we turn to her, and we ask the Most Pure and Blameless One to help us be victorious over sin
and all impurity, so that with a pure heart we might glorify God and rejoice in Him. Whoever runs to her
with faith and hope will not leave empty and unheard, for to her is given the grace to pray for us and
help us. Amen. - Kievsky Mitropolity http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/73767.htm
The Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross
of the Lord Commemorated September 14/27
The pagan Roman emperors tried to completely eradicate from human memory the holy places where
our Lord Jesus Christ suffered and was resurrected for mankind. The Emperor Hadrian (117-138) gave
orders to cover over the ground of Golgotha and the Sepulcher of the Lord, and to build a temple of the
pagan goddess Venus and a statue of Jupiter.
Pagans gathered at this place and offered sacrifice to idols there. Eventually after 300 years, by Divine
Providence, the great Christian sacred remains, the Sepulcher of the Lord and the Life-Creating Cross
were again discovered and opened for veneration. This took place under the Emperor Constantine the
Great (306-337) after his victory in the year 312 over Maxentius, ruler of the Western part of the Roman
Empire, and over Licinius, ruler of its Eastern part. In the year 323 Constantine became the sole ruler of
the vast Roman Empire.
In 313 Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, by which the Christian religion was legalized and the
persecutions against Christians in the Western half of the empire were stopped. The ruler Licinius,
although he had signed the Edict of Milan to oblige Constantine, still fanatically continued the
persecutions against Christians. Only after his conclusive defeat did the 313 Edict of toleration extend
also to the Eastern part of the empire.
The Holy Equal of the Apostles Emperor Constantine, having gained victory over his enemies in three
wars with God’s assistance, had seen in the heavens the Sign of the Cross, and written beneath: “By this
you shall conquer.”
Ardently desiring to find the Cross on which our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, St. Constantine sent his
mother, the pious Empress Helena to Jerusalem, providing her with a letter to St. Macarius, Patriarch of
Jerusalem.
Although the holy empress Helena was elderly, she set about completing the task with enthusiasm. The
empress gave orders to destroy the pagan temple and the statues in Jerusalem. Searching for the LifeCreating Cross, she made inquiry of Christians and Jews, but for a long time her search remained
unsuccessful.
Finally, they directed her to a certain elderly Hebrew by the name of Jude who stated that the Cross was
buried where the temple of Venus stood. They demolished the pagan temple and, after praying, they
began to excavate the ground. Soon the Tomb of the Lord was uncovered. Not far from it were three
crosses, a board with the inscription ordered by Pilate, and four nails which had pierced the Lord’s Body.
On the spot where the Cross was discovered, St. Helena had found a hitherto unknown flower of rare
beauty and fragrance, which has been named "Vasiliko," or Basil, meaning the flower of royalty. Note
that the word "Vasiliko" means "of the King," since the word "Basileus" in Greek means "King"; so, the
plant Vasiliko, Basil, is tied to the Precious Cross of the King of Glory, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Underneath the Basil, the Cross of Christ was found, but with it were the other two crosses, those used
to crucify the two thieves on either side of Christ. The sign with the inscription, "Jesus of Nazareth, the
King of the Jews", also lay among the three crosses. In order to determine which one was the true cross,
a sick woman was told to kiss each of the three crosses. The woman kissed the first cross with no result.
She kissed the second cross and again nothing happened. However, when the ailing woman kissed the
True Cross, she was immediately made well.
It so happened that a funeral procession was passing that way, and so the body of the dead man was
placed on each of the crosses, and when it was placed on the True Cross, the dead man came to lifethus the name the “Life-Giving” Cross, which gives life not only to that man, but to each person who
believes in the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross and His all-glorious three day Resurrection.
Christians came in a huge throng to venerate the Holy Cross, beseeching Jerusalem’s Patriarch Macarius
to elevate the Cross, so that even those far off might reverently contemplate it. Then the Patriarch and
other spiritual leaders raised up the Holy Cross, and the people, saying “Lord have mercy,” reverently
prostrated before the Venerable Wood. This solemn event occurred in the year 326.
During the discovery of the Life-Creating Cross another miracle took place: a grievously sick woman,
beneath the shadow of the Holy Cross, was healed instantly. The elderly Hebrew Jude, who helped show
the location of the Cross, and other Jews which were there and saw the miracles believed in Christ and
accepted Holy Baptism. Jude received the name Cyriacus and afterwards he was later consecrated
Bishop of Jerusalem. During the reign of Julian the Apostate (361-363) he accepted a martyr’s death for
Christ (see October 28).
The holy empress Helena journeyed to the holy places connected with the earthly life of the Saviour,
building more than 80 churches, at Bethlehem the birthplace of Christ, and on the Mount of Olives
where the Lord ascended to Heaven, and at Gethsemane where the Saviour prayed before His sufferings
and where the Mother of God was buried after her death. St. Helen took part of the Life-Creating Wood
and nails with her to Constantinople.
The holy emperor Constantine gave orders to build at Jerusalem a majestic and spacious church in honor
of the Resurrection of Christ, also including under its roof the Life-Giving Tomb of the Lord and
Golgotha.
The temple was constructed in about ten years. The church was consecrated on September 13/26, in
335. On the following day, September 14/27, the festal celebration of the Exaltation of the Venerable
and Life-Creating Cross was established. This church is the oldest church in Christendom, and still used
to this day. -https://orthodoxwiki.org/Elevation_of_the_Holy_Cross; -https://oca.org/saints/lives/2000/09/14/102610-theuniversal-exaltation-of-the-precious-and-life-giving-cross
The Cross
We were created by God in His image and likeness, and our hearts are restless until this likeness is
achieved. We are lonely, deeply lonely; if we try to live our life without Christ … it is unnatural!
We cannot be content with false imitations of the peace that only Christ can give. We were created to
be with Christ, to be united with Him through theosis, and no matter how we may try to avoid it, our
hearts are not content and should not be content with anything less. Deep in our hearts we know the
truth, buried underneath piles of garbage and filth and lies, the truth shines, no matter how dim, it is
there in every human being created by God.
It is precisely through Christ and His Cross that our life has meaning and purpose. Through the Cross and
only through the Cross can we find peace and salvation. There is no other way…The Church directs us to
bring out the Cross with great solemnity as a consolation for the faithful and as a promise of the
Resurrection to come.
You see the Cross of Christ is really a symbol of victory… If there is no Cross then there is no
Resurrection. The Church shows us the precious and life-giving Cross. We sing hymns and bow down
before the Precious Cross, the trophy of victory. The Church shows us the great mystery of our salvation,
through suffering and death comes life, eternal life. The paradox of the Cross is absolutely essential for
our Christian Faith.
…What we are presented with today here in our little church is not the comfortable modern version of
Christianity but the authentic, saving Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the way of the Cross. We join
Orthodox Christians all over the world bowing down before the Cross, we accept it and embrace it.
But this cross that we honour today, if we truly embrace it, is in reality our own cross, whatever that
may be for each one of us. It could be heart disease, cancer, old age, mental illness, physical handicaps
or simply being misunderstood by those around us.
So what you see today here in the center of our church is the Precious Cross of Christ but also on a
personal level it is the cross that He has prepared for you before all time …
Embrace it, truly embrace it, bow down before it, and carry it, without complaints, without sorrow,
without regrets, knowing that Our Saviour Himself has designed it just for you.
What a grace-filled opportunity we are being given, to carry our cross and walk in the footsteps of
Christ. We are being given the opportunity to become His disciples, for He said, you cannot be my
disciple unless you deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me. -Hermitage of the Holy Cross
-http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/92296.htm
Please Pray for Me…
When you ask your priest for his prayers regarding a difficult personal situation either for yourself or
someone close to you… please… as a courtesy, remember to update him on the progress or outcome.
Otherwise a situation may be resolved, but your priest is still praying for the past situation, as well as for
the others he is also praying for.
Take Your Medicine!
The Lord created doctors and medicine. You must not refuse treatment. –St. Nikon
God's grace is as evident in the healing power of medicine and its practitioners as it is in miraculous
cures. - St. Basil the Great
We have all gone to the doctor for some sickness or ailment and after we are diagnosed, we are given a
prescription to take. (Editor’s note: Whether your prescription is either short term or long term, for
diabetes, mental illness, heart medication, a 12-step program, etc., it is important to take it and do italong with an active life in the church) This medicine is critical to our successful recovery, our successful
healing…
And just like a prescription you are charged to take, the Holy Prescription given to us by our Lord must
be taken in whole. No part can be removed without compromising the effectiveness of the entire
treatment. The sacraments and services of the church are the course of treatment given to us by God to
combat the re- emergence of Sin in our lives, and to lead us to a place of perfect healing and cleansing.
…Christ's Holy Church is a Hospital. More appropriately, it is like an emergency room, filled with hurting,
dying people. We all come here to be healed and saved. But just like an emergency room the Church can
be noisy and messy. Saint John Chrysostom famously coined the phrase “The Church is a hospital.” …Like
an emergency room, the church is where miracles happen and people are saved. That is why we go to
the hospital when we are sick, and that is why we come to Christ's Holy Church. To be healed.
…Only together can we hope to overcome Sin, Death and the Devil. Only together can we climb the
ladder to heaven. Only together can we find healing and salvation. Our ascent and our healing continue
today, as we come together as one body to celebrate The Lord's Supper.
... When you break your leg, you go to the doctor and they put it in a cast, and they send you home with
a pair of crutches. You are given these crutches because until your leg is healed, you cannot stand on
your own. If you tried you would fall, and hurt yourself even worse… These things are done to help with
your healing, since your body cannot do it properly on its own…
We cannot hope to stand in this world of sin without the help of God, and He has chosen, in His wisdom,
to give us crutches, so that we may stand while we are being healed, being made whole. And knowing
our own weakness, He has given us each other, so that we might lean on each other when times are the
worst. Here in this place, we lift each other up.
Our God is a glorious God of healing and Miracles. He is the Great Physician who heals soul, body and
spirit. Let us today begin again our course of healing with a renewed commitment… In the name of the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen. -Chris J. Davis -http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/61774.htm
The Orthodox Christian at the Doctor’s
Among the saints were doctors, or otherwise involved in the medical profession St. Paul, in his epistle to
the Colossians, refers to the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke as the beloved physician (4:14). The GreatMartyr and Healer Panteleimon was likewise trained in medicine. He is perhaps the most renowned of
that company of saints called 'unmercenaries.’ These are saints who freely donated their services, often
healing spiritual as well as physical maladies. The unmercenaries have their own service in the General
Menaion. In icons, they are traditionally depicted holding a box or vial in one hand and a spoon in the
other In the company of unmercenaries we find three pairs of brothers named Cosmas and Damian, two
pairs named Cyrus and John - and the holy women doctors and sisters, Zenais and Philonilla.
Illness and bodily suffering have important spiritual implications. When afflicted with illness, the
Christian must turn to prayer and the healing sacraments of the Church. There are a few practical
aspects an Orthodox Christian needs to bear in mind during interactions with modem medical care and
its practitioners. I use the word physician in its original definition -"person skilled in the art of healing"to include all the doctors, nurses, therapists, and others who are now so quaintly referred to as "health
care providers."
Christians can accept the practice of medicine and the good that it has to offer in healing illnesses
alleviate suffering, and comforting the sick. However, as any human endeavor, if the medical art is
applied without true spiritual discernment it can lead to excess and evil. Our earthly physicians, for the
most part, are trained in a materialistic approach to care for the body and consider it improper to
discuss religious beliefs, prayer, or spiritual issues with patients. Potentially even more dangerous are
those who reflect philosophies or beliefs antithetical to Christian practices. It is very important not to
overestimate the knowledge, authority and "powers" of an earthly physician.
The patient must take an active role in preserving his health (stewardship of the Holy Temple of the
Lord), in praying to God for maintenance or restoration of health, and in struggling with the spiritual
illnesses which often exhibit themselves in physical illness, or are exacerbated by them. The patient thus
has the responsibility to understand and to use discernment regarding the evaluations and treatments
his physicians recommend…
Keep in mind that the true physician of our souls and bodies is Christ. To help keep the prescriptions of
the earthly physician compatible with those of our Heavenly Father, I suggest:
Let your physician know your beliefs. You need not give detailed explanations or religious discussions
but be straightforward and unembarrassed. Many physicians appreciate knowing your thoughts in
advance.... Tell your physician you want your family and priest to be involved with praying for you. It is
important for your physician to know that you fast. (Fasting is very healthy for the body, but as the
foods we eat do affect the body, fasting may necessitate changes in some medications (and dosage).
Discuss medication dosage schedules with your physician (and priest) so you can participate in fasting
and the Sacraments as properly as possible.
Do not be afraid to ask your physician questions… Be honest with your physician about accepting or
rejecting his advice regarding treatment. Be honest if you are using any other type of remedy. Herbal
and "alternative" remedies may interact with medications and treatments…
Carefully consider the implications of advice regarding therapies, especially ones with a spiritual
dimension. The physician has earthly authority and may not have considered (or agree with) Christian
understanding of what he advises. There are strong elements of paganism and other non-Orthodox
forms of spiritual treatment in many forms of popular psychology, "self-help," and other meditation
techniques. Be careful accepting advice on "relaxation'' therapy, bio-feedback and many forms of
psychotherapy, especially hypnosis and "regression therapy."
Some harmless relaxation techniques do teach patients how to become aware of, and to decrease, the
racing heart, rapid breathing and other "fight-or-flight" nervous system responses that can worsen
anxiety, pain, and overall health. These can be very helpful.
Unfortunately, many therapists suggest images that include pagan beliefs, or reliance on the "inner"
strength of a person's own body. If learning to use a relaxation technique, make sure it does not ask you
to "empty your mind" or "visualize" scenes with carnal pleasures, but instead, fill your mind with prayer
and hope in the strength of the Lord to help you. Repeating a "mantra" is not appropriate; instead
repeat the Jesus prayer, read an Akathist, pray. Turn to prayer, Holy Scripture, read the Fathers, and
discuss any suggested treatments you are unsure of with your priest.
When faced with hospitalization, remember that we can accept the technological expertise available in
hospital, but always keep in mind that prayer is the most needed medicine.
Your parish priest should know as soon as possible about admission to the hospital, planned operations
and tests. One should not complain of every cough or sniffle, but the Christian does not wait to be on
the death-bed before turning to prayer. Those who are ill can benefit much from commemoration at the
Proskomedia, at Liturgy and from the other healing Sacraments of the Church.
Never be embarrassed to express your faith and worship: make the sign of the Cross, wear a Cross, have
icons in your room, have Molieben services in the hospital room, and so on. In preparation for surgery
you may be asked to remove all jewelry including your Cross. Because of the electrical equipment used
during surgery, you may not wear metal chains or Crosses in the operating room, but should request to
be allowed to wear a wooden Cross on a string.
Politely but firmly refuse sacraments offered by non-Orthodox. The modern view of religion is very
humanistic and ecumenist. Many hospitals offer "interfaith worship services" and visitation by nonOrthodox chaplains with offer of participation in their sacraments. Ask that your medical records state
that you are Orthodox and that you will be served by your priest.
Reject … any procedures which involve the occult or which are contrary to the teachings of the Orthodox
Church… Trust in God. Pray that His will be done. A specific healing or miracle may not be beneficial (for
your salvation), so it is above all important not to despair from illness, but be strengthened thereby.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. (Ps. 118)
-Dr. Peter Bushunow, M.D.
The author is a doctor of oncology, and member of Holy Protection Orthodox Church in Rochester New
York. -http://www.roca.org/OA/147-148/147x.htm
Rejoice and Be Glad!
Baptisms August 13th
On this date, our parish grew by three souls! Congratulations to Gregory W. and infant daughter
Metrodora, (Sponsors Peter H., Matushka Alexandra; Theodore and Sophie, respectively); and Emilia S.
(Sponsors are Lucas and Joanna). May thou behold the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life
and God grant you all, many years!
2016 Feast of the Transfiguration: Friday, August 19th
After Divine Liturgy, and according to the Feast Day tradition, Father John blessed the parishioners’ fruit
baskets. Then, regardless of it being the hottest day of the year, as per our local tradition, we all hiked
up Moss Rocks… our own little Mt. Tabor! At the summit, we sang the tropar and kontakion for the
Transfiguration, Father John read from the Gospels, and proceeded to bless the four corners of the city
of Victoria. After descending to the church ‘base camp’, we shared a potluck picnic lunch in the
refreshingly cool trapeza.
Parish Russian Library Books
«Молитвы о детях», Православная мультимедийная студия
Феофания, 2011, 1 диск, мп3; время звучания 3ч. 30 мин.
«Молитва матери со дна моря достанет!, - гласит народная
мудрость. По родительским молитвам Господь чудесным
образом дарует детей бездетным родителям, оберегает и
вразумляет детей, направляет их ко спасению, сохраняет их от
невзгод и опасностей. Читаетдиакон СергийКерко.
This mp3 CD contains 92 prayers and akathists read by Deacon
Sergyi Kerko for all occasions concerning children.
Parish English Library Books
This Holy Man: Impressions of
Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh
by Gillian Crow
Metropolitan Anthony (Bloom) of Sourozh was one of the most
respected churchmen, spiritual writers, and broad-casters on the world
stage, inside and outside of the Orthodox Christian communion. In this
comprehensive examination of Metropolitan Anthony's life and work,
Gillian Crow presents a compelling portrait of a complex human being:
a charismatic, warm person aglow with the joy of his faith, and a
person who fought hard against the demons of shyness, insecurity, and
depression. This sympathetic yet honest portrayal is essential reading
for all those touched by Metropolitan Anthony's writing, who wish to discover more about his inner life.
Archbishop Gabriel is Coming Soon!
On Saturday October 1- Vigil 6pm, Archbishop Gabriel will be present
On Sunday October 2- Hierarchal Liturgy 10:15am, with Archbishop Gabriel
Sunday October 2- Parish meal with Vladika Gabriel will follow after Divine Liturgy.
There will be a planned meal put on by the Sisterhood. In the next two weeks a menu will be posted at
church, and people may sign up for what is needed on Sunday October 2nd meal. The trapeza will need
to be set up, vegetarian dishes to be made and brought, and clean up, after the meal. Thank you.
Junior and Senior Youth Choir
Rehearsal Schedule for Eve of Nativity Service and Yolka Play: “The Very Busy Stable.” For Ages 4-17
Lunch is provided by the church, for the youth only. All parents please return later and pick up your
children, at 2pm.
Out of courtesy, please confirm if your youth will be attending.
The format will differ from previous past rehearsals. We begin immediately after each Divine Liturgy.
All youth are to report directly to the trapeza, please.
Junior/Senior Youth Choir Dates:
Sunday October 23
Sundays November 6 and 20
Sundays December 4 and 11
Sunday January 1
Nativity Yolka is Sunday January 8
Pearls of Wisdom
Do not be confused because dark thoughts often trouble you, for dark thoughts, like autumn
clouds, come one after another and darken everything. But then they pass and the sky remains
clear and pleasant. And so our thoughts wander, they wander around the wide world, but the
mind remains planted in its place, and then it is quiet, and the soul becomes joyful. But our
mind, from wandering here and there, becomes accustomed to the brief but often repeated
prayer of Jesus, which may God grant you the habit of saying, and then your days will be bright.
-St Anthony of Optina
If we remember our own sins, we shall never store up the sins of others. - St. John Chrysostom
On Feast days the enemy tries to cause unpleasantness, sorrow. This one is struck, that one is insulted;
he tries to everyone something for the feast day. And the more attentive and strict you are with
yourself, the more the enemy arms himself, and tries to treat you with something, especially on feast
days. One must expect and be prepared for everything. But the Lord is merciful on feast days, He also
distributes gifts. And you can receive something, but you notice it forty years later, perhaps. Then you
realize what kind of gift the Lord sent you on that feast day. –St. Barsanuphius
Except out of extreme necessity one must never work on a feast day. You should honour and value a
feast day. This day should be consecrated to God: you should go to church, pray at home, and read the
Holy Scriptures and the works of the holy fathers, and do good deeds. –St. Nikon
If 'precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints' (Ps. 116:15), and 'the memory of the just is
praised' (Prov. 10:7 LXX), how much more fitting is it for us to celebrate with highest honours the
memory of the ever-virgin Mother of God, the Holy of Holies, through whom the saints receive their
hallowing? That is exactly what we are doing today by commemorating her holy passing away, through
which,, having been made a little lower than the angels (cf. Ps. 8:5), she rose incomparably higher than
the Angels, Archangels, and all the heavenly powers above them, because of her nearness to the God of
all, and the marvels written of old which were accomplished in her. -St. Gregory Palamas
We must begin with thanksgiving for everything. The beginning of joy is to be content with your
situation. -St. Ambrose
'Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied' (Mt. 5:6). It is
nothing bodily, nothing earthly, that this hunger, this thirst seeks for: but it desires to be satiated with
the good food of righteousness, and wants to be admitted to all the deepest mysteries, and be filled
with the Lord Himself. Happy the mind that craves this food and is eager for such drink: which it
certainly would not seek for if it had never tasted of its sweetness. But hearing the Prophet's spirit
saying to him: 'taste and see that the Lord is sweet' (Ps. 34:8); it has received some portion of sweetness
from on high, and blazed out into love of the purest pleasure, so that spurning all things temporal, it is
seized with the utmost eagerness for eating and drinking righteousness, and grasps the truth of that first
commandment which says: 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your mind,
and with all your strength' (Mk. 12:30): since to love God is nothing else but to love righteousness.
-St. Leo the Great
Do not forget prayer, it is the life of the soul. -St. Nikon
It is important to remember that the Church, as defined by the Church Fathers, is not a religious
institution, but is a living organism that is the Hospital for the Soul. Therefore, the frequent use of the
“tools” given to the Church, are of the utmost importance for our spiritual progress. Weekly confession,
as well as the weekly reception of Holy Communion, fortify us spiritually, enabling us to live “in the
world” without being “of the world”. Because the Orthodox Church is “wholistic” our living out this Faith
should not be confined to Sunday morning. If we were a pianist who made our living accompanying an
orchestra, we wouldn’t think of going through a week without daily practice. The conductor of the
orchestra wouldn’t put up with an unrehearsed pianist…If we expect to have a relationship with God we
have to prioritize our spiritual life. An occasional Liturgy does not suffice if we expect to grow in Faith
and Wisdom. -Abbot Tryphon
Practical Tips
How to Bring Babies to Communion
While we take toddlers to communion upright, babies are a little different.
A baby should be on its back, with the head cradled in the mother's right arm.
She must also hold the baby's hands so it cannot grab anything. This makes it easy for the priest to put
the spoon in the child's mouth.
If the child's head is on your right arm the spoon in the priest's right hand will go there easily.
If the baby is lying down they will naturally swallow as the holy blood of Christ goes to the back of their
throat - babies don't always remember to swallow and we don't want drooling.
Links
St. Sophia Orthodox Church, Victoria BC
http://saintsophia.ca/
Official site of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/indexeng.htm
Official site of the Montreal and Canadian Diocese
http://mcdiocese.com/en/
The Rudder: Streaming Orthodox Christian sacred music 24/7
http://www.myocn.com/rudder/
The Silver Prince: By Alexey Tolstoy; Translated by Nikita S. Galitzine
http://bookstore.trafford.com/Products/SKU-000167307/The-Silver-Prince.aspx
St. Sophia Parish’s FREE Lenten Cookbook Recipes “Come and Dine”
http://comeanddinerecipe.blogspot.ca/
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Vancouver BC
http://russianorthodoxchurch.ca/en/
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Vancouver BC
http://www.stnicolaschurch.ca/home_eng.html
Pravoslavie.Ru
http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/
Morning Offering by Abbot Tryphon
http://blogs.ancientfaith.com/morningoffering/
Holy Trinity Monastery Jordanville, New York
http://www.jordanville.org/
Western America Diocese Official Site
http://www.wadiocese.org/en/
The Children's Word
http://myocn.net/orthodox-christian-news/orthodox-christian-childrens-newsletter/
Orthodox Tours
http://orthodoxtours.com/our-tours.html
“W
e knew not whether we
were in heaven or earth…
We only know that God dwells
there among men, and their
service is fairer than
the ceremonies of
The
”
other nations.
Orthodox
Church
W
ith these words, envoys sent from
Russia by Prince Vladimir in the
year 987 recorded their impression of
Constantinople’s awesome Orthodox Cathedral,
Hagia Sophia. They had been sent to search for
the true religion. Within a year of their report,
Prince Vladimir and the Russian people were
baptized in Christ by Orthodox missionaries.
Today, as in Prince Vladimir’s time, the Orthodox
Church – fully aware that man is a union of body
and soul – uses all the beauty of creation to move
her faithful children to prayer and worship: icons,
beautiful singing, sweet-smelling incense, and
majestic services.
The Greek word ‘Orthodoxia’ means ‘correct
praise’ or ‘correct teaching’ and in the Orthodox
worship the praise and teaching are closely
interwoven.
Jesus Christ founded His Church through the
Apostles. By the grace received from God at
Pentecost, the Apostles established the Church
throughout the world. In Greece, Russia, and
elsewhere, the True Apostolic Church continues
to flourish, preserving the Faith of Christ pure
and unchanged.
)
“Christ the Power of God,
and the Wisdom of God”
– First Corinthians
Troparion in the Second Tone
We bow down before Thine all pure image, O Good One,
asking forgiveness of our transgressions, O Christ God; for
Thou wast well pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh of
Thine own will, that Thou mightest save what Thou hadst
created from slavery to the enemy. Wherefore, we cry out to
Thee in thanksgiving: Thou hast filled all things with joy,
O our Saviour, Who hast come to save the world.
Kontakion in the Second Tone
O uncircumscribable Word of the Father, knowing the
victorious image, uninscribed and divinely wrought, of Thine
ineffable and divine dispensation towards man, of Thy true
incarnation, we honour it with veneration.