The Bells 06:28:20

Saint Mary’s Orthodox Church June 28th , 2020 The Bells of St. Mary’s

[email protected] | Father Nathaniel Choma | 1(330) 402-0352

The Herald Scripture Readings t is our second week Iwith the Church open! Epistle: Romans 5: 1 - 10 Please remember that open Church hours are Tues, Gospel: Matthew 4: 18 - 23 Thurs, & Sat from 5-6:30 Music PM. The Eucharist is also available to all for an hour 3rd Sunday after Pentecost after Liturgy as well as by delivery to your home for Tone of the week: Tone 2 - those not yet attending. Pages 99 - 102 Upcoming Services: Out of Town Notice 6/28: Divine Liturgy 10 AM his is the ﬁrst notice that Father and Pani will be out of town on vacation from Sunday, July 12th to Saturday, July 7/1: Moleben to St. Nectarios T 18th. During this week, there will be no services. You can reach 6 PM; Spiritual Education 7 Father Nathaniel any time by phone, text, or email. For PM emergencies, please contact Fr. Jim Dutko at (607) 725-3672. 7/4: Great Vespers 4 PM 7/5: Divine Liturgy 10 AM Sacred Sites Tour Video 7/8: Spiritual Education 7 PM he Sacred Sites tour that we were to take part in this year T has been cancelled and moved to a virtual setting. We have 7/11: Great Vespers 4 PM been asked to provide a 2-3 minute video tour. If anyone has ideas 7/12: Divine Liturgy 10 AM or highlights for the video, or wants to help with said video, please contact Fr. Nathaniel. 7/19: Divine Liturgy 10 AM 7/22: Moleben to the Book Club Theotokos 6 PM; Spiritual Education 7 PM here are already takers for the book club that will be T starting soon. If you have any desire to join us, please 7/25: Great Vespers 4 PM contact Fr. Nathaniel ASAP so that he can order books for everyone and we can begin reading together!

1 Saint Mary’s Orthodox Church June 28th , 2020 Saints of the Day Holy Prophet Amos (8th c. BC)

e was an unlearned shepherd from the village of Tekoa in H Zabulon, near Bethlehem. His prophecies, made during the reign of King Uzziah, make up the Old Testament book which bears his name. He is ranked third among the "minor prophets" of the Old Testament.

Holy Martyr Vitus, with Modestus and Crescentia (303) Many Blessings! t Vitus was born in Sicily of eminent pagan parents. Modestus Best wishes are extended to S was his tutor and Crescentia his governess. St Vitus was Nick Magura, Jack Hiller, and baptised early and, when only twelve years old, began to live an Julie Marra on their birthdays intensive ascetic life. Angels appeared to him, instructing him and this week! We also congratulate encouraging him in his labours, and he was himself as radiant and Kevin & Jennifer Novotny on handsome as an angel of God. A judge who beat him had the ﬂesh their anniversary this week! May of his arm wither away, but Vitus healed it by his prayers. His God grant you all many more! father was blinded when he saw twelve angels in his room 'with Mnohija L’ita! eyes like stars and faces like lightning', but Vitus restored his sight by his prayers. When his father sought to kill him, an angel appeared to him and took him to Lucania on the bank of the river Silaris, together with Modestus and Crescentia. St Vitus performed many miracles there for the sick and insane. He went to Rome at the summons of the Emperor Diocletian and drove out an evil spirit from his son. Far from rewarding him, the Emperor tortured him cruelly when he would not bow down before mute idols, but the Lord delivered him from torture and returned him to Lucania by His invisible arm, and there he and Modestus and Crescentia entered into rest in the Lord. St Vitus' relics are preserved in Prague." (Prologue)

In the West, St Vitus' aid is often invoked for the cure of many ailments, especially insanity and demonic possession. For this reason his name is given to St Vitus' dance, an acute neurological illness that produces uncontrollable movements in the face and limbs, usually occurring in children.

Blessed Augustine, bishop of Hippo (430), and his mother Monica (387)

fter seeking truth among many religious schools, including the Manicheans, Augustine was turned A to faith in Christ through the cousel and fervent prayers of his mother St Monica. The story of his early life and conversion is beautifully told in his Confessions. He lived for seventy-six years, the last thirty- ﬁve as bishop of Hippo in north Africa. He died in a barbarian attack on that city.

In recent years, a few Orthodox writers have tried to deny that Augustine is a Saint of the Orthodox church (mostly due to some theological errors in his writings which have been unduly promoted in the Latin church). These claims are false: from the time of his canonization, he has been commemorated as a Saint.

2 Saint Mary’s Orthodox Church June 28th , 2020

Holy Martyr Lazar, Prince of Serbia (1389)

e was one of the greatest men of Serbia who ruled the kingdom after king Dušan. Upon the death H of King Uroš, Lazar was crowned King of Serbia by Patriarch Ephraim. He sent a delegation to Constantinople, including a monk called Isaiah, to plead for the removing of the anathema from the Serbian people. He went to war on several occasions against the Turkish Pasha, ﬁnally clashing with the Turkish king, Amurât, at Kosovo on June 15, 1389, being slain there. His body was taken to Ravanica near Cupria, a foundation of his, and buried there, but was later taken to New Ravanica in Srem. During the Second World War, in 1942, it was taken to Belgrade and placed in the Cathedral, where it is preserved to this day and oﬀers comfort and healing to all who turn to him in prayer. He restored Hilandar and Gornjak, built Ravanica and the Lazarica in Kruševac and was the founder of St Panteleimon, the Russian monastery on the Holy Mountain, as well as numerous other churches and monasteries." (Prologue)

Notes on the Liturgy On the Apostle’s Fast e as a parish did well last week in By: Archpriest Ayman Kfouf adjusting to the new ways of proceeding W The Apostles fast has emerged since the very early during Liturgy. Here are a few reminders from last days of Christianity. It is honored and preserved in week, as well as some adjustments so that we can the Church as a part of our Holy Tradition. Like keep things operating smoothly. all Fasts in the Orthodox Church, the Holy ❖ Please remember to have and wear a face mask Apostles’ Fast aims to help us put on the “armor of when entering the Church and when moving light” to against the attacks of the enemy that may within the Church. When seated, you may befall during our spiritual journey to become remove them so long as you are 6 feet away or united with God through His grace. No better more from other families. words may express the importance of fasting in our life like the words of St. Abba Isaac the Syrian ❖When coming forward for Holy Communion, who says, “… since fasting is a weapon established please be patient and stay in your pew. We by God …the human race knew no victory before cannot pack into the center aisle and still fasting, and the devil was never defeated by our maintain social distancing. One family group nature as it is: but this weapon has indeed should proceed forward at a time. deprived the devil of strength from the outset… ❖Please consider joining us in singing the Liturgy. As soon as the devil sees someone possessed of This job does not rest on the shoulders of the this weapon (fasting), fear straightway falls on this choir anymore. We are all one choir together as adversary and tormentor of ours, who remembers a Church family. and thinks of his defeat by the Saviour in the wilderness; his strength is at once destroyed and ❖When entering Church, please sanitize your the sight of the weapon given us by our Supreme hands and leave oﬀerings in the baskets. This Leader burns him up. A man armed with the minimizes our contact. weapon of fasting is always aﬁre with zeal. He who remains therein, keeps his mind steadfast and ❖When lighting candles, please give each other ready to meet and repel all violent passions.” distance as is necessary.