St. Alexis of Wilkes-Barre Orthodox Church

Address: PO Box 134, 108 E Main St, Clinton, CT 06413-0134 Phone: 860-664-9434 Web: http://www.stalexischurch.org Email: [email protected] Fr Steven Hosking Rector Phone: 860-866-5802 (Message) Email: [email protected]

Services Schedule Please see our online calendar for dates and times of Feast Day services.

Bulletin for Sunday, May 12, 2019

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, Welcome male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatian 3:28) Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! Weekly Services Tuesdays at 8:30a - Daily Matins Jesus Christ taught us to Wednesdays at 6:00p - Daily Vespers (The love and serve all Church is open at 4:30p for "Open Doors" - people, regardless of confession, meditation and reflection). their ethnicity or Thursday at 8:30a - Daily Matins nationality. To Saturday at 5:30p - Great Vespers understand that, we Sunday at 9:30a - Divine Liturgy need to look no further than to the Parable of Members of our Parish Council are: the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Every Greg Jankura - Council President time we celebrate the Divine Liturgy, it is Kuziak - Council Vice President offered "on behalf of all, and for all." As Natalie Kucharski - Council Treasurer Orthodox Christians we stand against racism Glenn PenkoffLidbeck - Council Secretary and bigotry. All human beings share one Kyle Hollis - Member at Large common identity as children of God. Roderick Seurattan - Member at Large Pastoral Care - General Information I am looking for new topics for our next book/bible study. If you have a topic that you Emergency Sick Calls can be made at are interested in exploring, please let me any time. Please call Fr Steven at (860) know. 866-5802, when a family member is admitted to the hospital. Anointing in Sickness: The Sacrament and Feasts of Unction is available in Church, the hospital, or your home, for anyone who May 12 is sick and suffering, however severe. Marriages and Baptisms require early Sunday of the planning, scheduling and selections of sponsors (crown bearers or Myrrh-Bearing godparents). See Father before booking Women dates and reception halls! About the beginning of Funerals are celebrated for practicing His thirty-second year, Orthodox Christians. Please see Father when the Lord Jesus was for details. The Church opposes going throughout Galilee, cremation; we cannot celebrate preaching and working miracles, many women funerals for cremations. who had received of His beneficence left their own homeland and from then on followed after Him. They ministered unto Him out of their own possessions, even until His crucifixion and Announcements entombment; and afterwards, neither losing Christ is Risen! faith in Him after His death, nor fearing the wrath of the Jewish rulers, they came to the If anyone has pictures from Holy Week and sepulchre, bearing the myrrh-oils they had Pascha or the Feast of St Alexis, that they prepared to annoint His body. It is because of would like to share for our website, Facebook the myrrh-oils, that these God-loving women and Instagram accounts, I would appreciate if brought to the tomb of Jesus that they are you would make them available to me. As called the Myrrh-bearers. Of those whose always, if you do not want your picture to names are known are the following: first of appear on any social media postings for the all, the most holy Virgin Mary, who in parish, you have simply to let me know. Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40 is called "the mother of James and Joses" (these are the ___ sons of by a previous marriage, and she was therefore their step-mother); (celebrated July 22); Mary, the wife of Clopas; Joanna, wife of Chouza, a steward of Herod Antipas; Salome, the May 12 mother of the sons of Zebedee, Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus; and Susanna. Epiphanius, As for the names of the rest of them, the evangelists have kept silence (Matt 27:55-56; of Cyprus 28:1-10. Mark 15:40-41. Luke 8:1-3; 23:55- Epiphanius was born 24:11, 22-24. John 19:25; 20:11-18. Acts 1:14). about 310 in Besanduc, a Together with them we celebrate also the village of Palestine, of secret disciples of the Saviour, Joseph and Jewish parents who were Nicodemus. Of these, Nicodemus was poor and tillers of the soil. probably a Jerusalemite, a prominent leader In his youth he came to among the Jews and of the order of the faith in Christ and was baptized with his Pharisees, learned in the Law and instructed sister, after which he distributed all he had to in the Holy Scriptures. He had believed in the poor and became a , being a younger Christ when, at the beginning of our Saviour's contemporary of Saint the Great (see preaching of salvation, he came to Him by Oct. 21), whom he knew. He also visited the night. Furthermore, he brought some one renowned of to learn their ways. hundred pounds of myrrh-oils and an aromatic Because the fame of his virtue had spread, mixture of aloes and spices out of reverence many in Egypt desired to make him a bishop; and love for the divine Teacher (John 19:39). when he learned of this, he fled, returning to Joseph, who was from the city of Arimathea, Palestine. But after a time he learned that the was a wealthy and noble man, and one of the there also intended to consecrate him counsellors who were in Jerusalem. He went to a widowed bishopric, and he fled to Cyprus. boldly unto Pilate and asked for the body of In Paphos he met Saint Hilarion, who told him Jesus, and together with Nicodemus he gave to go to Constantia, a city of Cyprus also called Him burial. Since time did not permit the Salamis. Epiphanius answered that he preparation of another tomb, he placed the preferred to take ship for Gaza, which, despite Lord's body in his own tomb which was hewn Saint Hilarion's admonitions, he did. But a out of rock, as the Evangelist says (Matt. contrary wind brought the ship to Constantia 27:60). where, by the providence of God, Epiphanius fell into the hands of bishops who had come together to elect a successor to the newly- departed Bishop of Constantia, and the venerable Epiphanius was at last constrained to be consecrated, about the year 367. He was fluent in Hebrew, Egyptian, Syriac, Greek, and Latin, and because of this he was called "Five- tongued." He had the gift of working miracles, and was held in such reverence by Wednesday, May 15 all, that although he was a known enemy of Pachomius the Great heresy, he was well nigh the only eminent 4:30PM Open Doors bishop that the Arians did not dare to drive 6:00PM Evening Prayers into exile when the Emperor Valens persecuted the Orthodox about the year 371. Thursday, May 16 Having tended his flock in a manner pleasing Alan Hayes to God, and guarded it undefiled from every Theodore the Sanctified heresy, he reposed about the year 403, having 8:30AM Daily Matins lived for ninety-three years. Among his sacred writings, the one that is held in special esteem Friday, May 17 is the Panarion (from the Latin Panarium, that The Holy Apostles Andronicus and Junia is, "Bread-box,") containing the proofs of the Saturday, May 18 truth of the Faith, and an examination of eighty heresies. Holy Martyrs: Peter, Dionysius, Andrew, Paul, Christina, Heraclius, Paulinus and Benedimus Parish Calendar Frankie Ruperto 5:00PM Great Vespers Service and Events 7:00PM Parish Dinner Sunday, May 19 May 12 to May 20, 2019 Sunday of the Paralytic Sunday, May 12 Evangelism and Outreach Ministry meeting 9:15AM Reading of the 3rd Hour Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women 9:30AM Divine Liturgy Fellowship and Stewardship Ministry Luba Martins Monday, May 20 Elisha Liam Watson Evelyn Leake 9:15AM Reading of the 3rd Hour The Holy Martyr Thalleleus 9:30AM Divine Liturgy Monday, May 13 Prayers, Intersessions and The Holy Martyr Glyceria Commemorations 6:30PM Council Meeting Tuesday, May 14 Isidore the Martyr of Chios Katerina Hoehnebart 8:30AM Daily Matins William, Sophia, Robert, All Orthodox seminarians & families; all Ann, Evelyn, Nina, John, Orthodox monks and , and all those Alex, Vincent, Luke, considering monastic life; all Orthodox Kathryn, Anastasia, missionaries and their families. Malcolm, Veronica, Darlyne, Irene, Nancy, All those who have perished due to hatred and Elena, Jevon, Stella intolerance and all those departed this life in Anna, Ivan and Joscean. the hope of the Resurrection.

And for... Sofie, Katrina, ___ Olena, Valeriy, Olga, Tatiana, Dimitri, Today we commemorate: Alexander and Maxim. Myrrhbearing Women. St. Epiphanius, Bishop All of our College Students: Alex, Kaitlyn, Jack, of Cyprus (403). St. Germanus (Herman), Sam, Connor, Nadia, and Matthew. of Constantinople (740). ___ Glorification of Hieromartyr Germogén (Hermogenes), Patriarch of Moscow and All Many Years! to Luba Martins, Katerina Russia (1913). Ven. Dionisii, of Hoehnebart, and Alan Hayes on the occasion St. Sergius’ (1633). St. Sabinus, of their birthdays. And to all Mothers, Grand- Archbishop of Cyprus, and St. Polybius, Bishop mothers and God-mothers. in Cyprus (5th c.). Martyr John of Vlachia (Romania—1662). Memory Eternal! to all Mothers, Grand- mothers and God-mothers.

___ Hymns of the Day Pray for: All those confined to hospitals, nursing homes, and their own homes due to Priest: “Blessed is the Kingdom … “ illness; for all those who serve in the armed Choir: “Amen.” forces; widows, orphans, prisoners, victims of Priest: “Christ is risen from the dead …” (2 ½ violence, and refugees; times) Choir: “and upon those in the tombs All those suffering chronic illness, financial bestowing life!” hardship, loneliness, addictions, abuse, abandonment and despair; those who are (The Divine Liturgy is begun in this manner homeless, those who are institutionalize, those until the Leavetaking of Pascha.) who have no one to pray for them;

Tone 2 Troparion (Resurrection)

Wh en You descended to death, O Life Immortal, You commanded the Myrrhbearers to rejoice, You destroyed hell with the splendor of Your O Christ God. Godhead. By Your Resurrection, You stopped the And when from the depths You raised the lamentation of Eve, the first mother. dead, You commanded them to preach to Your all the powers of heaven cried out:// Apostles:// “O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You!” “The Savior is risen from the tomb!”

now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Tone 2 Troparion (from the Pentecostarion) Tone 8 Kontakion(Pascha)

The noble Joseph, You descended into the tomb, O Immortal, when he had taken down Your most pure Body You destroyed the power of death. from the Tree, In victory You arose, O Christ God, wrapped it in fine linen and anointed it with proclaiming: “Rejoice!” to the Myrrhbearing spices, Women,// and placed it in a new tomb. granting peace to Your Apostles, and But You rose on the third day, O Lord,// bestowing Resurrection on the fallen. granting the world great mercy.

Tone 2 Troparion (from the Pentecostarion) Gospel and Epistle Readings The Angel came to the Myrrhbearing Women Epistle Reading at the tomb and said: “Myrrh is fitting for the dead; Prokeimenon. 2nd Tone. Psalm 117.14,18. but Christ has shown Himself a stranger to The Lord is my strength and my song. corruption! Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely. So proclaim: ‘The Lord is risen,// granting the world great mercy.’” The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7.

In those days, when the disciples were Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to increasing in number, the Hellenists the Holy Spirit; murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily Tone 2 Kontakion(from the Pentecostarion) distribution. And the twelve summoned the which had been hewn out of the rock; and he body of the disciples and said, "it is not right rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. that we should give up preaching the word of Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick Joses saw where he was laid. out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom And when the sabbath was past, Mary we may appoint to this duty. But we will Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry and Salome, bought spices, so that they might of the word." And what they said pleased the go and anoint him. And very early on the first whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a day of the week they went to the tomb when man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and the sun had risen. And they were saying to one Philip, and Prochoros, and Nicanor, and another, "Who will roll away the stone for us Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaos, a from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands was very large. And entering the tomb, they upon them. And the word of God increased; saw a young man sitting on the right side, and the number of the disciples multiplied dressed in a white robe; and they were greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be priests were obedient to the faith. amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his Gospel Reading disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women you." And they went out and fled from the The Reading is from Mark 15:43-47; 16:1- tomb; for trembling and astonishment had 8 come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Wisdom of the Fathers Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked They [the women] had followed Him him whether he was already dead. And when ministering to Him, and were present even he learned from the centurion that he was unto the time of the dangers. Wherefore also dead, he granted the body to Joseph. And he they saw all; how He cried, how He gave up bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, the ghost, how the rocks were rent, and all wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him the rest. in a tomb St. John Chrysostom the same strong and passionate love. The Holy Homily 88 on Matthew 27, 4th Century Church has glorified them precisely for this steadfast faith in and love of our Lord and Savior, Sweet Jesus Christ. Let us talk about And these [the women] first see Jesus; and the the calling of the woman as taught by Holy sex that was most condemned, this first enjoys Scripture. the sight of the blessings, this most shows its courage. And when the disciples had fled, Nobody would dispute the great influence that these were present. women have on human deeds, both good and evil. We know from the Bible that it is through the first woman that sin has entered this St. John Chrysostom innocent world. It is also through the woman that the Redeemer came to the world to renew and restore humanity. Indeed, the God- Homily 88 on Matthew 27, 4th Century inspired author of the Book of Psalms speaks of the two ways that can be taken by the humankind. One is that of wisdom and Reflection devotion, while the other one is that of folly and vice. God was not pleased to grant the THE MYRRH-BEARING woman the power to subjugate others by force WOMEN : SACRIFICIAL or coercion. But He has given her the LOVE influence to overwhelm the strong in such a Archimandrite Kirill way that they do not feel it, submitting (Pavlov) without feeling their freedom restricted in any way. That is why the woman’s influence on people’s fates and morals is so great. This The third week after influence will prove beneficial if the woman’s Easter is called the life conforms to its original calling. Week of the Myrrh- bearing Women. The Holy Church praises and What is then the calling of the woman? They glorifies these holy women for their devotion say sometimes that men and women have one and love of Jesus Christ, as they did not spare and the same calling to glorify God by their themselves at a moment of severe danger and good deeds. This is true, but the woman has a suffering. At a time when every of special calling. Let us turn to Holy Scripture. Christ deserted Him, they stood at the Cross We read on the first page of the Book of to see His crucifixion and to lay His body down Genesis: “Let us make man in our image, after in the grave. our likeness” (Gen.1:26). Further on it says The Lord came to the earth out of love for the this about the specific calling of the woman: fallen humanity in order to save it. The pure “It is not good that the man should be alone; I hearts of the myrrh-bearing women could feel shall make him a the holiness of the Savior and his love of people and responded to him with help meet for him” (Gen. 2:18). And this was God downgraded her position, saying: “Thy not said about a married woman, as Eve was desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall not only the first wife to the first husband, but rule over thee” (Gen. 3:16). Since then she also the first creature of female sex. Indeed, it became fully subjected to her husband, and was not good that the man should have been struggle began between good and evil in the alone. God endowed the first man with every very foundation of social life which is the blessing. He put him in Eden, but the man was family. lacking a help capable of thinking, talking and loving. He had no one to share his joy, Sin destroyed human everyday life and thoughts and feelings, because all creatures breached the balance in relationships between around him were below him, while the Divine husband and wife. Instead of humbly Being Who had had created him was far above accepting the punishment inflicted upon him him. Adam, therefore, did not feel the perfect by God’s judgment, the husband tried to load bliss. So God created a wife, a help, for the his wife with all his work and concerns, while first man. She was that other “ego” which the preserving for himself the right to dominate first man was seeking. The wife as a God- and dictate. This is how the wife, the given helpmate was to make the man’s bliss helpmate, became first a worker and then a perfect by her concern and love. Thus, the slave. In an attempt to deliver herself from her calling of the woman lies in love. Being the husband’s despotism, but having no strength help to her husband, she is his equal. She can to do so, the wife resorted to cunning and give him the help he needs only if she is his craftiness. Thus the ages-old struggle began equal. between despot and slave.

Has the woman’s calling changed after the The merciful God, seeing the balance in Fall, after sin has shaken all nature and relationships between husband and wife brought great changes into the world of destroyed, found a way to restore it. He morality? Satan tempted the woman because promised already to the first people to appear he knew that the woman was weaker than after the Fall that the Redeemer would be man. Then Satan used her as a tool to tempt born Who would stop the devil and deliver the her husband, aware that the wife had great wife from slavery. And the time came when influence on her husband. The satanic this promise came true. The Most Holy Virgin calculation was very shrewd and achieved its Mary, by the power of her love and goal. The Devil led the man astray through his humbleness, conceived God and gave Him wife. The wife used the God-given pure and birth to become the Savior Who has renewed kind influence for evil and thus destroyed it. and redeemed humanity and has delivered the She requited Adam with sin and death for the wife from slavery. life she had received from him. It is for this As you can see, the Most Holy Virgin Mary that God punished her with severe pain acquired this freedom by the power of her without which the human race cannot love and humbleness. She is the example for multiply. women to follow. It was love and humbleness that brought her freedom. not permit a woman to teach" (1 Tim. 2:12). The woman’s freedom was gained not by Though it may seem humiliating for a woman, rebellion against her husband, but by it is not in the least so. St. Paul pointed to that humbleness and love. Having accomplished activity which should contribute to the such a great task as giving birth to the Savior woman's greatness, and modesty and of the world, the Virgin Mary remained largely humbleness are the best way to achieve it. He unknown. She was not seen even among the writes further on that a wife should help bring apostles, though the apostle revered her. This her husband to salvation. By her love and is an example of true humbleness for us. concern she should promote his well-being, not so much temporal as eternal. She should Love and humbleness so perfectly manifested help him in the task of salvation, so that she by the Mother of God are essential in herself may be saved. Christian marriage prescribing the wife to love her husband. Just as the Church loves Thus a woman is called to be a help to her Christ, so the wife is called to love her husband. Her calling is love. If you look deep husband, not out of a slave's fear, but with in a woman's inner world, you will see the loving abeyance, as the Church obeys Christ. words "bashfulness and modesty" inscribed by the Creator in her heart. The very happiness The holy apostles sometimes pointed to the and honour of a woman lie in this modest and vices that crept in relations between spouses dependent position. If she looses these after the Fall. Thus St. Paul warns husbands qualities, she looses her image. Thus, against despotism, saying: "Husbands, love according to the word of God, the nature of a your wives" (Eth. 5:25). St. Paul writes, trying woman lies in modesty and humbleness, and to prevent wives from seeking to dominate her calling is love. their husbands: "But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ; and the There are two types of love. One is the joyful head of the woman is the man; and the head feeling of a person who is loved with a of Christ is God" (1 Cor. 11:3), and adds: "The sacrificial love, while the other is the man is the image and glory of God; but the happiness of a person who himself or herself woman is the glory of the man" (1 Cor. 11:7). loves with a sacrificial love. Loved by others, a For it was not man who was created for woman is happy, but this love is inconstant woman, but woman for man. Seeking to free and changeable. To love her neighbours and to woman from craftiness and coquetry rooted in sacrifice herself for the love of them - this is her desire to dominate man, the apostle the essence of a woman and the perfect law of writes: "I also want women to dress modestly, her existence. Of course, egoism, which marks with decency and propriety, not with braided all humanity, is inherent in the woman as well, hair or gold or pearls..., but with good deeds." but we are speaking here about pure love as it Then he gives a direct instruction: "I do ought to be. Taken without the tumours of sin brought by the Fall, the love with which the Creator endowed the woman is what to intrigue, slyness and coquetry. The makes her courageous and capable of great woman's heart so richly endowed with gifts of deeds for all her weakness and gentleness. God's grace becomes sinful and graceless. Holy Scripture, while praising the woman's Look how patient a woman is in her good good qualities, also points to her viciousness. works, how insatiable her love is. The love of a On its pages you can meet bad, senseless, mother has always been revered as a model of fallen and thoughtless women who did much this gentle and holy love. The mother's love damage to people of God. has been glorified by writers and poets in all times and in all nations. The woman's heart, ardent and jealous, good and evil, strong and weak as it is at the same We are often asked whether men and women time, needs to be guided to a good goal. The are equal in their abilities. They are equal and good seeds planted by God in it need to be at the same time unequal. Women's abilities grown in the right way. But who can heal and are intended for one goal, while men's for teach the woman's heart? Nobody can reform another. A woman has her own field of activity and renew it but the Son of God Who became in which her abilities are, of course, flesh in order to restore human nature so that incomparably higher than those of a man. It is we may be saved. Only from Him the woman her home and family. This is the field where a can receive the strength to accomplish her woman reveals all the power of her soul. This predestination in this life. is where she is a full master, though her influence here is often inconspicuous. Her When Christ the Savior preached on earth, power is manifested not in oppression or rude nobody sympathized with Him as much as force, but in captivating gentleness. It is in the women. Just as a woman's heart is attracted to family that her efficiency and her mysterious Him, so His heart is attracted to hers, because art to penetrate a man's heart is manifested. the Son of God, by His very nature, is love. He The ability to care, to share, to respond, to performed His feat on earth as a humble show tact and to encourage tied and grieving servant for all. The woman, therefore, who is souls - this is the mainspring used by women also called to love will find in our Savior the for domestic control. One Who is intimately akin to her in her modest and humble service. If Christian faith The abilities that the woman received from is precious to the human soul, it is especially God, however, cannot be revealed in all their precious to the woman's soul. A woman cannot fullness. She is capable of fulfilling her calling, be a true woman if she does not accept the but at the same time she is incapable of it. She Gospel as a real Christian whose place is by is capable because she does seek to the side of the humble and loving Savior. In accomplish her predestination and incapable this lies her greatness, her holiness and her because of sin that chokes and sometimes salvation. Amen. corrupts the good seeds that God planted in her heart. Instead of being active, she becomes fussy, resorting JUNE 1

REDEEMING THE PRESENT & FUTURE

St Alexis Orthodox Church 10am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm

A talk, by the author, Dr Nicole Roccas, on her book that explores the inter- connections between time, despondency, Christ and the present moment. Followed by a talk that applies St. Paul’s command to “redeem the time” to our anxiety toward the future. Time for Q&A will be available after each presentation.

[email protected] 108 E MAIN ST. CLINTON, CT