Religions are not all the same. They do not all worship the same “God.” This observation ought to be obvious to anyone who takes religious believers at their word when they describe their beliefs. Yet at the same time, we can recognize that there is truth in all religions and philosophies. St. Justin Martyr, in the second century, called this the spermatikos logos, the “Logos in seed form.” The Logos, or “Word,” is Jesus Christ (John 1:1–16), and St. Justin believed that all belief sys- tems had within them the seeds of His revelation. Because all human THE ARCHANGEL beings are created according to the image of God, Jesus Christ, they are not capable of being wrong all the time. When I discuss the differ- ences between Orthodoxy and other religions I often prefer to refer to St. Michael Orthodox Church those other faiths as “incomplete” rather than “false.” Yes, they usually have false elements, but it is better to focus primarily on what is true St. Clair, Pennsylvania and show how that leads to Orthodoxy, the fullness of God’s revelation to mankind. This recognition of the truth in other religions is what has led to the traditional Orthodox approach to the reception of converts. Some are baptized and chrismated (confirmed), some are only chrismated, while some are received only by profession of faith and confession, all based on the similarity to Orthodoxy of the baptism and faith of the group in question. This variety in practice is attested to as early as the fourth century by St. Basil the Great, who goes on at some length in a letter to one Amphilochius about how different kinds of heterodox believers are to be received into the Church. This partial recognition of the Christiani- ty of some non-Orthodox believers has been written into the canons of the Church and has become more or less standard in church history, but it comes into play mainly when people seek to join the Church.

—Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy May 13, 2018 Sunday of The Blind Man + Please Remember St. Michael Orthodox Church in your Will +

Rev. Fr. Jeff L. Zias: 570-429-0670 Happy Mothers’ Day Joseph T. Yarashus: 570-691-4143

(Parish Council President) Epistle: Acts 16:16-34 The Gospel of St. John 9:1-38

The American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.A ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE OF CONSTANTINOPLE 8 our brothers and sisters. It is a small reflection of Christ’s Ascension, the event of God receiving into Himself the nature of one of His creatures. Christ returned to the “right hand of the Father” in the full humanity of His incarnation, making it possible for the saints too to live now with Him. We must not lose hope that salvation is possible for us. Though we have not yet reached Heaven, the saints are the signs that point the way. They confirm that people like us can enter into the presence of God. That no matter how corrupt our actions in the past or however hidden the image of God may seem in us, the Holy Spirit is the fire that can make us more beau- tiful than we dare to imagine.

—Father Spyridon Bailey, The Ancient Path

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, Jr., John Laurie, Margaret Umbenhen, Irene Fessler, Helen Sidella, Mike Sidella, Marge Premich, Helen, Linda & Ed Udut, Joan Bickleman, Lori & A Mothers’ Day Prayer Jenny Roshannon, Andy & Regina Hertz, Joanne Strenkowski, Helen Pogera, Helen, Jake, Jaclyn & John Mogish, Nancy & John, Helen Udit, John Fessler, George, Marge Homa, Tri- O Lord our God, look down with merciful eyes on our humble and earnest sha Bootsma, Roxanne, Sabrina & Jonathan Spontak, Michael, Tanya, Tanner, Macy, Madi- petition which we fervently offer to You today in behalf of all our mothers. son, Robert Dembinsky, Leanne, Mike, Mother Maria, Marsha &Coralia Chwastiak, Jason Shower your heavenly graces on them. Grant that they may always behold Perez, Martin & John Gursky, June & Carolyn Paulin, Marlene & Scott Rowe, Alice Angst, the joy of their children and their children’s children. Fill them with the ma- Marian Katchur, Anna Meinhold, Charlie Ross, Rodney & Sandy Vargo, Richard Enders, ternal love that our most holy Lady, Birth-giver of God and ever-Virgin Mary Gabriel McKay, Francis Plasha, Brad Dembinsky, Ed Leininger, Blazena Rodava, Catherine showed to your only-begotten Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Grant Bardzak, Eleanor Ryan, Paneda, Bindi, Beth Mendenhall, Audrey Zias, Donna Hatalowich, that all of our mothers may ever be an image of our heavenly Mother, the Matushka Sophie Daniels, Marge Minchoff, Leah Arters, Shonda, Gabrielle McKay, Nancy M., Baby Ilya, Joyce Haberle, Zachary & Zoe, Roy, David, Lou Lubrea, Lonia Stramova, most pure Virgin Mary. We pray to You, O heavenly Master on this Moth- Ethel Schappell, Jared, Amanda, Bernie Liptock, Ken DePauli, Renee Austerberry, Doro- ers’ Day to graciously hear us and have mercy. thy Welker, Matilda, Rose Conville, Joanne Vince, Barbara Rogens, Rada Family, Lukacova Family, Lipa Family, Gloria Shadle, Michael & Colleen Mochnoc, Vera & Paul Mumbauer, Our Deepest Sympathies go out to the Laurie Family on the loss of Sam Heaton, Charlie &Mary Ann, Ted Krisa, Bob Llewellyn, Minnie Miller, Vera Poleck, Edward Lindenmuth, David & Paula Christensen, David Musket, David Vinc, Nicholas +Michael Laurie, Sr. Michael peacefully entered into Eternal Rest Friday Hammer, Michael Sutzko, Elaine, Kathy Charney, Eleanor Bezos, Victoria Parker, Pat & morning, May 11, at the Rosewood Nursing Home in Schuylkill Haven. Bernie Myro, Bowman Family, George Kania, Patricia Kania, Charlie Palina, Jr., Gerald Viewing will be held Wednesday morning at The Bruce Hart Funeral Mogish, Ann Vacula, Megan Butcher, Dawn Walsh, Andy Premich, Alec McGovern, Home (8:30-9:45 a.m.). Funeral Service will be at St. Michaels, 10:30 a.m. Roseann Heckman, John Flaim, Millie & Ken Potts, Bill Boshby, Mary Ann Lubinsky, Mal- May His Memory be Eternal—Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen! lery 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, Chris Corby, Daniel Grigas, Eileen Chernisky, The McClintock Family, Patti Razzis ...

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2 7 eternal life was made possible. Combined with this belief was the normal way people expressed their love for one another. In everyday life one of the ways Christians did this was to pray for those in need. People would and still do seek out their Christian friends and family and ask them for their prayers. Would the saints who had gone to be with God love us any less? Of course not, the Church concluded, in fact they would be capable of loving us more now that they are freed from all earthly binds. If it was natural to seek their ST. MICHAEL’S LITURGICAL CALENDAR prayers on earth, it is just as natural to seek their prayers in Heaven. Only May 13, SUNDAY MOTHERS’ DAY! The Blind Man with the emergence of Protestantism in the sixteenth century were there 9:00 a.m. Resurrection Matins ever Christians who did not pray to the saints. The error lay in the under- 9:45 a.m. Paschal Hours/Confessions standing of two Greek words: latreia and proskynesis. Latreia is the absolute 10:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom worship that is due to God alone, and which if given to anyone or anything  Mothers’ Day Banquet! else is an act of idolatry. But proskynesis is the veneration or honoring of May 15, Tuesday +John Holobetz those holy people (or indeed objects such as icons) through which God 9:00 a.m. Memorial Liturgy, offered by Mary Holobetz and Family makes Himself known to us. It is a further example of how millions of Chris- May 16, Wednesday (Leave of Pascha) tian people are being denied the fullness of what it is to belong to God’s 10:30 a.m. Funeral Service, newly departed +Michael Laurie, Sr. Church. 6:00 p.m. Great Vespers with Litija The Orthodox faith values the role the saints play in our lives very highly. May 17, Thursday ASCENSION OF THE LORD We turn to them for help like friends; we thank God for their prayers and 9:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom nearness. Our experience of life itself is woven into the reality of the Church  Parish Council Meeting, 7:00 p.m. in Heaven, the Communion of Saints, within which we pass through this brief May 19, Saturday 6:00 p.m. Vespers (Tone-6) time here on earth. Saint Luke tells us that the saints are near “for all live un- May 20, SUNDAY Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council

to Him”, they are those who have completed their earthly pilgrimage and 9:00 a.m. Orthodox Education Classes gone home. This is where we differ from the saints. We have not yet com- 9:30 a.m. Hours of Prayer/Confessions pleted our journey, we still struggle to reach our goal, and so though we are 10:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

One Church on earth and in Heaven, we have not yet “completed the race”. May 22, Tuesday +June (Dudish) & Philip John Hrabar (A couple This leads us to an important role that the saints perform. They are part of committed to life-long Orthodox involvement) our salvation. Just as we each here have a responsibility to play our parts in 9:00 a.m. Memorial Liturgy, offered by Lois Hrabar Liberman one another’s salvation the saints fulfil their role in praying and sustaining us May 24, Thursday SS. CYRIL & METHODIUS through God’s power. The Body of Christ does not lose members when the 9:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom saints enter Heaven; they remain functioning parts of the Church, but in May 26, Saturday 6:00 p.m. Vespers (Tone-7) greater power. 9:00 a.m. All Souls’ Liturgy and Blessing of Graves (Cemetery Chapel) Their victory is a blessing for us and the whole world. Every saint who en- May 27, SUNDAY PENTECOST SUNDAY

ters the glory of God takes the humanity we share in, that raw material of 9:00 a.m. Confessions FAST FREE WEEK! sainthood. The mystery of our union is God’s mercy at work, in that we who 9:30 a.m. Hours of Prayer are so worldly and far from holiness may be drawn closer to God along with 10:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

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June 02, Saturday 6:00 p.m. Vespers (Tone-8) June 03, SUNDAY All Saints

9:00 a.m. Orthodox Education Classes

The Saints Sainthood is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. All Christian virtue and holiness is the work of the Holy Spirit; which is why the Church celebrates the feast of Cleave to the saints, for they who cleave to them shall be made holy. All Saints on the Sunday after Pentecost. Sainthood is what all Christians are - Saint Clement called to. This statement should encourage us to strive more for what God

All saints are our elder brothers in the House of the heavenly Father, who desires of us. But too often when we compare ourselves with the great spir- have departed from earth to Heaven, and they are always with us in God, itual heroes of the Church, the teachers and ascetics, the martyrs whose and they constantly teach us and guide us to eternal life. Call upon them as blood has been shed in such terrible ways, we find ourselves lacking. It is on- living with you under a single roof. ly right that we recognize how far we fall short of the example they have set - Saint John of Kronstadt – the moment we start believing we are saints we are victims of the devil’s manipulation. Blessed is he who plants in his soul good plants that is, the virtues and The saints are a reflection of God’s glory, they shine His light into the cre- the lives of the saints. ated order, an order they themselves are as much a part of as you and I. This - Saint Ephraim the Syrian is important for us to hold on to. The saints are ordinary people who have To admire the labors of the saints is good, to emulate them wins salvation. practiced the Christian life and have been blessed by God to achieve such - Saint John Climacus holiness.

A person is touched more profoundly and benefits more by reading one An image commonly used is that of the potter who shapes his clay. Our beautiful life of a saint than by discourses and philosophies. humanity is the raw material from which a saint is made. Just as the pot is - Agapios Landos of Athos formed from an ugly, disfigured lump of clay, shaped and fired in the kiln to make something beautiful, so too God takes sinful people and shapes them Eastern Orthodoxy elevates people by means of the examples of the lives to His will. The pot is still the original clay; it has not become some other sub- of the saints, and by means of holiness. stance. Similarly the saints do not cast off their humanity; in fact the oppo- - Nicholas Berdyoev site is true. So long as we are enslaved by our passions it is we who remain Just as painters in working from models constantly gaze at their exemplar alien to our created nature. The saints are the living sign of what humanity and thus strive to transfer the expression of the original to their own artist- should be. Holiness is not the escape from ourselves but the discovery of ry, so too he who is anxious to make himself perfect in all kinds of virtue God’s image within us. So when we look at the saints we see holiness, we see must gaze upon the lives of the saints and must make their excellence his the greater vision of God’s image too often submerged beneath our sinful- own by imitation. ness. Acknowledging our weakness, we may see in the ugly, disfigured secret - Saint Basil the Great places of ourselves the raw material in need of the Holy Spirit. The saints ac- For the Christian there is no teaching that is more efficacious than reading quire such a depth of holiness that in some cases their physical bodies do not the life of a saint, especially of one that has lived in his own time. corrupt after their physical death. - Photios Kontoglou The saints have always been venerated by the Church. From the first gen-

How many martyrs have we had recently, and have even now. It shows eration of Christians we know that communities would meet at the tombs of how many saints are still living. At the end of times there will be no martyrs martyrs in order to celebrate Holy Communion. The practice of petitioning because apostasy will be so vile. The martyrs are our advocates before God. the saints flowed from two strands of thought. First, as the Church saw the -Elder Michael of Valaam Apostles martyred it was unthinkable that they could be anywhere except in the presence of God. Jesus Christ overcame death, the sting was blunted and

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