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Pascha! The term originally meant “Passover,” and thus represents Christ’s victory over sin and death. It is also called the “Resurrection of Christ,” and is named “Easter” in the West. Pascha is the “Feasts of Feasts” in the Ortho- dox Church. In fact, every Sunday is referred to as a “Little Pascha,” com- memorating the Resurrection of Christ from the grave destroying forever the chains of death, bondage to sin, and the very real power of evil in our lives. Pascha, ac-cording to the regulations of the Council of Nicea (325 A.D.), must THE be celebrated on the first Sunday after the Full Moon following the vernal equinox, and may not coincide with the Jewish Passover. St. Orthodox Church Note: Western Christians usually have a different date for celebrating Pascha because they no longer follow this ancient formula of the early Church. St. Clair, Pennsylvania

“He suffered for the sake of those who suffer … but He rose from the dead. I am the Christ; I have destroyed death … I am your forgiveness, I am the Lamb that was immolated for you. I am your ransom, your life, your resurrection” (St. ).

“God who first established this feast for us allows us to celebrate it each year. He who gave up His Son for our salvation, from the same motive gives us this feast … allowing us to pray together and to offer common thanksgiving … He gathers to this feast those who are far apart” (St. Athanasius).

In the , Pascha begins on Easter Sunday at Mat- ins which is normally celebrated at midnight and continues for forty days through the ninth on the day before the Holy Ascension of our Lord.

“Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and to those in the tombs bestowing life!” April 08, 2018 + Please Remember St. Michael Orthodox Church in your Will +

Rev. Fr. Jeff L. Zias: 570-429-0670

Joseph T. Yarashus: 570-691-4143

(Parish Council President) Christ is Risen!

Website: www.stmichaelorthodox.org Epistle: Acts 1:1-8 The Gospel of St. :1-17

The American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.A ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE OF CONSTANTINOPLE 12 St. Michael’s Prayer List

Ed & Violet Pogera, Mary Zuk, Paul Thomas, Sr., Mike & Michelle Mistishen, Robert Cauley, Olga Lutza, Jean, Paul & Gregory Semanco, Denise & Jody Spayd, George Hatalowich, Sr., Verna Prock, Michael Laurie, Sr. & Jr., John Laurie, Margaret Um- benhen, Irene Fessler, Helen Sidella, Mike Sidella, Marge Premich, Helen, Linda & Ed Udut, Joan Bickleman, Lori & Jenny Roshannon, Andy & Regina Hertz, Joanne Strenkowski, Helen Pogera, Helen, Jake, Jaclyn & John Mogish, Nancy & John, Helen Udit, John Fessler, George, Marge Homa, Trisha Bootsma, Roxanne, Sabrina & Jonathan Spontak, Michael, Tanya, Tanner, Macy, Madison, Robert Dembinsky, Leanne, Mike, Mother Maria, Marsha &Coralia Chwastiak, Jason Perez, Martin & John Gursky, June & Carolyn Paulin, Marlene & Scott Rowe, Alice Angst, Marian Katchur, Anna Meinhold, Charlie Ross, Rodney & Sandy Vargo, Richard Enders, McKay, Francis Plasha, Brad Dembinsky, Ed Leininger, Blazena Rodava, Catherine Bardzak, Eleanor Ryan, Paneda, Bindi, Beth Mendenhall, Audrey Zias, Donna Hatalowich, Matushka Sophie Daniels, Marge Minchoff, Leah Arters, Shonda, Gabrielle McKay, Nancy M., Baby Ilya, Joyce Haberle, Zachary & Zoe, Roy, , Lou Lubrea, Lonia Stramova, Ethel Schappell, Jared, Amanda, Bernie Liptock, Ken DePauli, Renee Austerberry, Dorothy Welker, Matilda, Rose Conville, Joanne Vince, Barbara Rogens, Rada Family, Lukacova Family, Lipa Family, Gloria Shadle, Michael & Colleen Mochnoc, Vera & Paul Mumbauer, Sam Heaton, Charlie &Mary Ann, Ted Krisa, Bob Llewellyn, Minnie Miller, Vera Poleck, Edward Lin- denmuth, David & Paula Christensen, David Musket, David Vinc, Nicholas Ham- mer, Michael Sutzko, Elaine, Kathy Charney, Eleanor Bezos, Victoria Parker, Pat & Bernie Myro, Bowman Family, George Kania, Patricia Kania, Charlie Palina, Jr., Gerald Mogish, Ann Vacula, Megan Butcher, Dawn Walsh, Andy Premich, Alec McGovern, Roseann Heckman, John Flaim, Millie & Ken Potts, Bill Boshby, Mary Ann Lubinsky, Mallery Ebert, Mark Bennyhoff, Angie Lewis, Whitacre family, Gail Neiswender, Bob Scherr, Stanley Leganza, Tina Walz, Diana De Pauli, Savannah and the child to be born of her, Christopher Corby, Grigas...

O Lord our God, Who by word alone did heal all diseases, Who did cure the kins- woman of Peter, you Who chastise with pity and heal according to Your goodness; Orthodox — Who are able to put aside every malady and infirmity, do You Yourself, the same Lord, grant aid to these Your servants and cure them of every sickness of which The Church that Christ Built! they are grieved; lift them up from their bed of pain, and send down upon them Your great mercy, and if it be Your Will, give them health and a complete recovery; for You are the Physician of our souls and bodies, and to You do we send up Glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the

ages of ages. Amen.

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2 11 humble to neglect the perishing. It is cowardly. If you don’t have a missionary spirit, it’s because you don’t care that peo- ple are dying in their sins. You're literally willing to let that happen and not do anything about it. So, yes, that angers me. Why? Because it’s a betrayal of what the Church is in her very essence. We may not all be called to be sent across the planet or out on the lec- ture circuit, etc. But we are indeed all sent. We have to be actively looking April 08, SUNDAY PASCHA of the Lord! EASTER SUNDAY! for ways to bring Jesus to people, not just wait for them to come asking. 10:00 a.m. The Paschal Divine Liturgy of St. Yes, we're all imperfect. Of course we’re imperfect. It's one thing to realize April 09, Bright Monday (Procession and Reading of Gospel) that one is not doing one's as a missionary, but it’s another to deny the 10:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom job altogether. FAST FREE WEEK! April 14, Saturday 6:00 p.m. (Tone-1)

The Church’s foundation is the apostle and prophets. If we're not apos- April 15, SUNDAY Apostle Thomas tolic and prophetic, we may want to check if we're not actually in the Church. —Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick 9:00 a.m. Resurrection Matins 9:45 a.m. Paschal /Confessions

10:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom WHAT MUST WE DO?

People today are searching for the truth, searching for Christ, searching for April 21, Saturday 6:00 p.m. Vespers (Tone-2) Orthodoxy; we who are already Orthodox are in a position to help give it to April 22, SUNDAY Myrrh-Bearing Women them. 9:00 a.m. Resurrection Matins

The time is very late. One doesn’t have to be a prophet to recognize our times 9:45 a.m. Paschal Hours/Confessions 10:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom as being apocalyptic. The economic and political life of even the most stable civi- lized countries are in a very precarious state. Weapons exist which could destroy April 28, Saturday 6:00 p.m. Vespers (Tone-3) April 29, SUNDAY The Paralytic mankind. The cancer of unbelief has eaten so deeply into contemporary mankind that everyday life becomes dangerous. 9:00 a.m. Resurrection Matins

Everything in this life passes away—only God remains, only He is worth strug- 9:45 a.m. Paschal Hours/Confessions gling towards. We have a choice, either to follow the way of this world, of the soci- 10:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom ety that surrounds us, and thereby find ourselves outside of God, or to choose the May 05, Saturday 6:00 p.m. Vespers (Tone-4) way of life, to chose God Who calls us and for Whom our heart is searching. Let us 9:00 a.m. All Souls’ Liturgy (Rescheduled from March 3) take the way of St. Herman and put into our hearts the deep resolve: “From this May 06, SUNDAY Samaritan Woman

day, from this hour, from this minute, let us love God above all.” 9:00 a.m. Resurrection Matins —Fr. Seraphim Rose 9:45 a.m. Paschal Hours/Confessions

10:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Diocesan Website: http://www.acrod.org May 12, Saturday 6:00 p.m. Vespers (Tone-5) Camp Nazareth: http://ww.campnazareth.org May 13, SUNDAY MOTHERS’ DAY! The Blind Man

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acroddiocese 9:00 a.m. Resurrection Matins Twitter: https://twitter.com/acrodnews 9:45 a.m. Paschal Hours/Confessions You Tube: https://youtube.com/acroddiocese 10:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

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A Paschal Life As Archbishop Anastasios of Albania has famously said, just as it would be In the Paschal Season we are naturally joyful, filled with praise and thanksgiv- unthinkable to have a Church without liturgical services, it is equally unthink- ing because of Christ's Resurrection. Sorrows and difficulties do not disap- able to have a Church without mission. pear, of course, but they are dwarfed as we “behold Christ the Sun of Right- The “great holiness magnet” theory (just work on your own salvation and eousness” and “hasten to the light with joyful steps” (Ode 5, Paschal Canon). wait and see if someone happens to notice) sounds great on paper not be- The truth is that we are meant to bask in this light and “sing a song of victo- cause it is the teaching or practice of the but because we are cowards ry” (Ode 1) not only at Pascha but all through the year. The life of St. Sera- and don’t actually care about the salvation of others. Any mission strategy phim expresses this very clearly: each one who came to him he called “my that precludes the actions of Jesus and the apostles themselves is no mis- joy,” extending the greeting “Christ is Risen” no matter what the season. This sionary strategy at all. Christians aren't passive gurus who draw flocks of is the way we are meant to live; this is the very reason we are created. St. disciples to themselves by virtue of their reputations. (Indeed, the saints flee tells us: from such reputation.) They are precisely missionaries. Do we have hermits? Of course. But they are the extreme rarity, even When God...brought creatures into existence, it was done not to fulfil any among monastics. It makes zero sense to hold them up as a paradigm of need, but so that His creature should be happy to share His likeness, and so that He Himself might rejoice in the joy of His creatures as they are ever evangelism. Why not the apostles? Really—why not the apostles? The filled to overflowing with His inexhaustible gifts. (Third Century on Love, #46). Church is built upon them as the foundation, not on the hermits. It is said that you can’t give what you don’t have. Fair enough. But what Ancient Israel do you have? You are a baptized Orthodox Christian, a bearer of the royal God’s people in every age have been conscious of a calling to a life of priesthood of Jesus Christ, an apostolic member of the Body of Christ. You praise and thanksgiving. In Old Testament times, when the Messiah and the already have that. Resurrection were known only through prophecy, the burnt offerings were You do not have to be ordained to holy orders. You are already equipped made with “rejoicing and singing” (2 Chr. 23:18). Elaborate arrangements for mission work. You don’t have to be some advanced ascetic to engage in were made for musicians (1 Chr. 25) and “those who led in praise” (2 Chr. it. Did the Samaritan Woman have to have some special calling and ad- 23:13). Feasts and celebrations lasted for many days. “Praise the Lord! Oh, vanced ascetical achievement before she went back home and told them give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever!” (Ps. about the Messiah? No. Did Philip for telling Nathaniel? Did Andrew for tell- 106:1) was the perpetual refrain from generation to generation. There is even ing Peter? One could go on and on. a startling instance when Jehoshaphat led the people into battle and emerged Yes, get training if needed for a specific context. But don’t wait. victorious against overwhelming odds with only this refrain, praise, worship The point is that we love because He first loved us. If you can’t give that and song as weapons! (2 Chr. 20) to people, then you are saying that God hasn’t loved you. And that, of The Early Christians course, is nonsense. St. Clement of gives us a similar picture of the early Christians: You cannot give what you don’t have—okay. But you have Jesus Christ. If It is not in a specific place, nor in a privileged temple, nor on certain celebra- you’re not going to give Him to people, you are saying that you don’t have tions or chosen days, but in every instant of life, in all places that the perfect Him. Christian proclaims his thanksgiving. Going through life as in a celebration, We are sent. We are not called to sit. We are sent. We should all be ac- certain that God is always everywhere, we sing while we work, we travel to tively looking for ways to connect people to Jesus Christ. My anger at this the singing of , we conduct ourselves in everything as citizens of heav- issue is at the Church-hamstringing argument that would turn us into qui- en (quoted in A. & R. Goettmann, The Spiritual Wisdom and Practices of Early Chris- tianity, Inner Life Publications, 1996, p.36). etists, cloaked in the false mantle of piety and humility. It is not pious or

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Our Own Generation Are All Orthodox Christians Supposed to Evangelize? Every day the service of Matins draws to a close with the Praises (Ps. 148- I do no believe in the salvation of anyone who does not believe in the 150), summoning us to this divine way of life. Everyday these Praises are fol- salvation of others. lowed shortly thereafter by the solemn, joyful proclamation (repeated twice —St. John Chrysostom during Great Lent!): “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing the praises

Forgive my frankness, but any argument that basically means that the of Thy name, O most High, to proclaim Thy loving-kindness in the morning Church (or even most of it) is done with mission is, frankly, cowardly gar- and Thy faithfulness by night” ( Ps. 92:1-2). What can we say about ourselves bage. It’s one that’s been made for a long time, of course, but “Am I my in this respect? How do we in our generation respond to this invitation to brother’s keeper?” is not the argument of someone we should be imitating. “hasten to the light with joyful steps”? A contemporary Orthodox author gives the all too often true and sad an- We are our brothers' keepers. swer and at the same time offers us some very sound advice: I can’t stand it when apostolic is reduced to a badge of authenticity ra- ther than seen for what it is—a command to go forth. The alarm clock goes off in the morning and we already begin to Good news is news—that means going and talking, not simply waiting grumble. Let us immediately turn it around and say: “Blessed are You, around for people to show up. Any method of Church life that basically en- O Lord, for this new day that you give me!” We risk a glance out the courages people to treat the Gospel as a private possession is fundamental- window, and face a minor catastrophe: it’s raining! And the usual ly treasonous to the Kingdom. melancholy seizes us. Is that our only alternative? Try then to repeat: Yes, I am indeed kind of mad about the fact that we don’t imitate our “Alleluia! I say thank you to You, Creator of heaven and earth, for this saints very much in this regard. weather which You make… Alleluia! Alleluia!: and repeat it until there It may be that not all of us are called to be apostles, but we are indeed is not a trace left of moodiness. It is through the tiny details of each all called to be apostolic—or we are not in the Church. We may just as eas- day that we must exercise ourselves: a hurtful statement, a bother- ily say that not all of us are called to be one or holy or catholic—which of some fly, a barking dog, a stone we step on, a lamp burning out, a car course is nonsense. breaking down… It is here where we patiently create new attitudes, Why is it that of the many commands Jesus gave to His apostles, it is this where old reflexes are remolded by praise. Little by little, “blessed are one alone—the very last one—that is so often singled out as “just for the You, O Lord!” will rise up; spontaneously on our lips in relation to - apostles,” when there is of course no indication from the text that this par- rything. We must tirelessly exercise ourselves, always beginning ticular command was supposed to be exclusive to them? And do we have again. This is a true battle, especially when things do not go as we would like (Goettmann, p. 37-388). one [Church] Father saying that this command was exclusive to them? One? This attitude to which we are called, this participation in the life ofGod We are all sent—any kind of “mission” that doesn’t involve being sent Himself, has nothing to do with feeling or circumstances. Rather, it is an act isn’t mission at all. That is what the word means. And so does “apostolic,” of the will that transforms our entire existence—whatever may actually be happening. by the way. We are sent. Evangelism isn’t reducible to knocking on doors or being active in Ortho- David demonstrated such a decision for us when he said: “I will bless the dox media, etc. The point is that we are all sent. None of us is not sent. Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Ps. 34:1). “This We are the Church—the apostolic Church, the Church with a mission, the jubilation of consciousness is the whole Way,” Fr. Goettmann assures us, “a Church whose purpose is to encompass all of mankind in the love of the highway which goes straight to the heart of human beings and to the heart Trinity. of God… This is...our vocation” (ibid. p. 30).

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Why Praise and Thanksgiving? f anyone is devout and a lover of God, let him enjoy this beau- By this freely assumed “jubilation,” by our determination to “bless the tiful and radiant festival. If anyone is a wise servant, let him, rejoicing, enter Lord at all times” we recognize His sovereignty and surrender to it, thereby I into the joy of his Lord. If anyone has wearied himself in fasting, let him now becoming as clay in His hands. We refuse to be taken in by outward appear- receive his recompense. If anyone has labored from the first hour, let him today ances or ruled by passing circumstances, but plunge instead into the depths receive his just reward. If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving, let of all things to seek the Divine presence. We acknowledge that everything is him keep the feast. If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgiv- ings; for he shall suffer no loss. If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let him a gift from God and that “the content of this present moment is filed with draw near without hesitation. If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let the best that He wants to give [us], whatever [our] ego may think of it”. By him not fear on account of his delay. For the Master is gracious and receives the our praise we also invoke His presence in a mysterious and powerful man- last, even as the first; he gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as ner—for, as the Prophet David says, God inhabits the praises of His people to him who has labored from the first. He has mercy upon the last and cares for (Ps. 22:3). In this way, our whole life becomes Paschal—”we hasten to the the first; to the one he gives, and to the other he is gracious. He both honors the light with joyful steps” all throughout the year; the resurrected Christ comes work and praises the intention. to dwell in our hearts which have been purified by incessant praise; and a Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of our Lord, and, whether first or last, re- wondrous messianic promise of (42:16) finds its true fulfillment as ceive your reward. O rich and poor, one with another, dance for joy! O you ascetics darkness is transformed into light before us. and you negligent, celebrate the day! You that have fasted and you that have dis-

Conclusion regarded the fast, rejoice today! The table is rich-laden; feast royally, all of you! The calf is fatted; let no one go forth hungry! St. John Chrysostom, that eloquent fourth century preacher of Ortho- Let all partake of the feast of . Let all receive the riches of goodness. doxy, summarizes the practice of praise and thanksgiving in this way: Let no one lament his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Since we know all these things, let us… school ourselves to one thing only, Let no one mourn his transgressions, for pardon has dawned from the grave. Let no that we may bear all things with courage… It is for us to give thanks: that is one fear death, for the Savior's death has set us free. the duty of trustfulness. And if we do this, every good thing will follow. He that was taken by death has annihilated it! He descended into Hades and took That they may follow, that we may become more trusting, that we may Hades captive! He embittered it when it tasted his flesh! And anticipating this Isai- come to shine above, let us accept whatever be laid upon us; giving thanks ah exclaimed, "Hades was embittered when it encountered thee in the lower re- always to Him Who knows better than we know, what is good for us, and gions." It was embittered, for it was abolished! It was embittered, for it was Who loves us more than our own parent love us. mocked! It was embittered, for it was purged! It was embittered, for it was de-

spoiled! It was embittered, for it was bound in chains! And let these thoughts be at all times as it were a melody in our hearts… It took a body and, face to face, met God! It took earth and encountered heaven! It and give praise unto God, Who arranges all things within all things for our took what it saw but crumbled before what it had not seen!

benefit. Thus shall we overcome all dangers and come to our imperishable crown, to which may we all alike attain, by the grace and mercy of Our Lord "O death, where is thy sting? O Hades, where is thy victory?" Jesus Christ, to Whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be glory and Christ is risen, and you are overthrown! empire and honor, now and for ever a ever, Amen. (Sunday Sermons of the Christ is risen, and the are fallen! Christ is risen, and the rejoice! Great Fathers, H. Regnery Co,. 1964, volume 1, p. 88). Christ is risen, and life reigns! Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in a tomb! “LIFE TRANSFIGURED” For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the First-fruits A Journal of Orthodox

of them that slept. Volume 50 #1 Pascha 2018 To him be glory and might unto ages of ages. Amen.

Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration, Ellwood City, Pennsylvania —Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom

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