ST. MARY ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH A PARISH OF THE ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF NORTH AMERICA 905 SOUTH MAIN ST. S WILKES-BARRE PA 18702 PARISH OFFICE (570) 824-5016 S PARISH HALL (570) 824 – 1674 RECTORY 570-287-2049 S PARISH EMAIL - [email protected] ARCHDIOCESE WEB PAGE S www.antiochian .org S PARISH WEB PAGE S www.stmaryorthodox.com S

Clergy His Eminence Metropolitan , Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America His Grace THOMAS, Auxiliary Bishop of Charleston, Oakland & the Mid-Atlantic Very Rev. Fr. George Alberts, Pastor Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Hester, Pastor Emeritus Subdeacon William Obeid + Subdeacon N.D. Namey + Subdeacon John Jr. Subdeacon/Seminarian David Rayahin + Seminarian Mark Makarios

WELCOME to the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. We are the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Christian Church whose roots trace directly back to the first century Antioch, the city in which the disciples of Jesus Christ were first called (Acts 11:26). The Orthodox Church is the oldest and second-largest Christian group in the world. We are called by God, our Creator, to worship and follow Him and to proclaim to the world His message of love, peace and salvation. God loves all mankind and desires that all human beings should believe in Him, know Him, abide in Him, and receive eternal life from Him. To accomplish this God Himself came into the world as a man in Jesus Christ --- becoming man that we might become like God. The Parishioners of St. Mary Parish welcome you and are pleased that you have decided to worship Almighty God with our Parish family today. We encourage you to learn about our Orthodox faith and our Parish if you are not yet Orthodox. Although the non-Orthodox may not receive Holy Communion, which may only be given to the Orthodox faithful, we invite you to come forward at the close of the Liturgy to receive a blessing from the Priest and blessed bread. Please also come downstairs to the Parish Hall join us for our fellowship hour.

Our Patronal Feast is the DORMITION (FALLING-ASLEEP) OF THE , which is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church and is celebrated each year on August 15. The Theotokos, the Virgin Mary, was “blessed amongst women,” and she was chosen “to bear the Savior of our souls.” Orthodox Christians consider her to be the Queen of all the and angels. Knowing she is eternally present at the throne of God interceding for mankind, we pray for her love, guidance, and protection.

SCHEDULE OF PARISH LIFE AT ST. MARY Note + All Services Can Be Watched Through the Parish Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StMaryAO/

THE APOSTLES FAST CONTINUES Tuesday June 23 - Father George at the Church from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Thursday June 25 - Father George at the Church from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Saturday June 27 - Confessions at 4:30 pm and Great Vespers at 5:00 pm Sunday June 28 - Matins at 9:00 am & Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am Please note you can watch these services even if not on Facebook … you need only copy and paste the link (that is in blue above) into the search bar in your internet browser (like Yahoo or Google, etc). Please continue to check your emails as Father George will continue to update us through periodic email and please share information with Parishioners who do not have or use email …. May God bless you all and keep you and your family members safe and in good health.

COMMEMORATIONS ✠ Today -- Holy Bread and Bulletin offered/sponsored in loving memory of Sandra & “Zeke” Abraham by Kathy Adonizio and family ✠ June 28 -- Holy Bread & Bulletin offered/sponsored by Jack, Reba and Jackie Witko in Loving Memory of Infant Jillian Witko ✠ July 12 -- Holy Bread & Bulletin offered/sponsored by Nancy and Jim Hunter and Family in Loving Memory of Marla Hunter

FOOD FOR THOUGHT … We do not suffer because there is too much godliness in the world, but because there is too much evil. We must overcome the evil around us with godliness, speaking the truth in love. -- His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH Divine Liturgy Variables on Sunday, June 21, 2020 Second Sunday after Pentecost & Second Sunday of Matthew Martyr Julian of Tarsus; Martyr Aphrodisius of Cilicia; New-martyr Nikita of Nisyros near Rhodes

RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE ONE While the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. For which cause the heavenly powers cried aloud unto Thee, O giver of life. Glory to Thy Resurrection O Christ, glory to Thy kingdom, glory to Thy providence, O Thou Who alone art the lover of mankind.

APOLYTIKION OF THE DORMITION In giving birth thou didst keep thy virginity and thy repose thou didst not forsake the world O Theotokos, for thou art the mother of life and thou didst pass over into life. And through thine intercessions from death thou dost redeem our souls.

ORDINARY KONTAKION IN TONE TWO O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant, O despise not the suppliant voices of those who have sinned; but be thou quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplication, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

q THE EPISTLE r Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous. The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans. (2:10-16) Brethren, glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. All who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law. For it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the Law who will be justified. When Gentiles who have not the Law do by nature what the Law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the Law. They show that what the Law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. q THE GOSPEL r The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (4:18-23) At that time, as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. And going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. And He went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.

THE SYNAXARION On June 21 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we commemorate the holy Martyr Julian of Tarsus. Bearing Julian as goods worthy of Heaven, The sack into the midst of the sea doth plummet. On the twenty-first, Julian in a sack was sacrificed. Of a noble senatorial family, Julian was only 18 years old when he was taken to trial for the Faith. But Julian was already educated and resolute in Christian faith and devotion. The imperial governor took him from city to city for a whole year, torturing him all the while and attempting to persuade him to renounce Christ. The governor seized Julian’s mother and sent her to urge her son to renounce Christ. She spent three days in prison with him, giving him precisely the opposite advice, teaching him to go to his death with courage and gratitude to God. His torturers then sewed Julian into a sack of sand with scorpions and snakes and threw him into the sea, and his mother also died under torture. The waves carried Julian’s body onto the shore, and the faithful took it to , where they buried it in 290. His relics were later taken to Antioch. On this day, we also commemorate the Martyr Aphrodisius of Cilicia; and New-martyr Nikita of Nisyros near Rhodes. By their intercessions, O Christ God, have mercy upon us. Amen.

The Apostles Fast From the second Monday after Pentecost until the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul on June 29, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Apostles' Fast. This year, the fast commences on Monday, June 15, 2020. First-enthroned of the apostles, teachers of the universe: Entreat the Master of all to grant peace to the world, and to our souls great mercy! +Troparion, Tone 4 Parish News ✠ We are happy to confirm our County has moved to the Green Designation and we are now permitted to have 25% of our seating capacity occupied for services. This amounts to approximately 55 people. We invite everyone back to the Church with the use of face masks, hand sanitizer and social distancing. We marked the pews to reflect this social distancing and we have marked the floor as well so that we can maintain the proper distancing while lining up for Holy Communion. We want to remind you, also, that when you come to receive Holy Communion you should tilt your head back and open your mouth wide to allow me to drop the Holy Communion into your mouth.

✠ Our Church, as most other churches, has lost a considerable amount of revenue during the past few months. We want to remind you that your contributions can be made online on our website using your credit card. You are also welcome to mail in your donation, bring it with you to Church on Sunday, or drop it off at the office when Father George is at the Church on Tuesdays and Thursday between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, or even drop it in the mailbox marked "Church" on the porch of the rectory.

✠ We are excited to announce the decision to begin our Thursday Spaghetti Dinners in “Take-Out” form beginning on Thursday, June 25th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. People can place their orders in the vestibule of the Church Hall, return to their cars and drive to the Kitchen door to pick them up. Please let your family members and friends know about this.

✠ We continue with our Live-Streaming of the Church Services. Our Parish Council has voted to purchase the equipment to continue to do this. With this equipment we will also be able to live stream retreats, bible studies, workshops or any other event held at the church or church hall such as weddings, baptisms, funerals, etc.

✠ As you know, we were all saddened at the passing into eternal life of our former Pastor, the V. Rev. Fr. John Winfrey. There is a GoFundMe set up to benefit his family members and our Parish Council will be making a donation on behalf of our Parish to this fund. We will also be taking a collection from our parishioners to add to this donation. If you would like to make a contribution, please earmark your checks for that purpose – that is to say make your checks payable to the Church but note “Father John Memorial” on the Memo line … .

✠ As you can see, our Parish has continued to be active during this shutdown period. We thank everyone for their cooperation, understanding, support and help in all that is being done. May God bless you all and keep you safe and in good health during this time of crisis and always.

✠ THE APOSTLES FAST continues and lasts through Sunday, June 28th (the day before the commemoration of Ss Peter and Paul). During this Fast we observe the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, dairy, fish, wine, and olive oil) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with katalysis for fish, wine and olive oil on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. ✠ By now all should be aware of the events that have unfolded in the past few weeks and continue to unfold today. Some of you may have wondered what the Orthodox Church is doing or saying about racism. Father has forwarded an email with links to the statements by the Assembly of Orthodox as well as links to the statements made by the various Orthodox jurisdictions. Please call Father George if you do not have email access and we can make arrangements to get the information to you in another format. ✠ We are invited to participate in a conference that is being designed to enhance our parish life as Orthodox Christians.

Beginning on Wednesday evening, June 24, the topic will be: Baptizing All Nations in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There will be a considerable emphasis especially on evangelizing our urban areas. The black-American clergy of the Antiochian Diocese of Oakland, Charleston and the Mid-Atlantic -- Fr. Paul Abernathy (St. Moses the Black Mission, Pittsburgh), Fr. Martin Johnson (St. Anthony Church, Butler, PA), Dcn. Joseph Clark (St. George Church, Upper Darby, PA), and Dcn. John Grisham (St. Basil Church, Hampton, VA) -- will be joined by Archimandrite Maximos Nnachette of Nigeria to offer the evening's presentation. For more information, please email Fr. Paul Abernathy at: [email protected]

On Thursday evening, June 25, Archpriest Joshua Makoul (St. George Cathedral, Pittsburgh) will lead a session targeting teenagers. For information on this, contact Fr. Joshua at: [email protected]

On Friday evening, June 26, Dr. James Rossetti will be offering a presentation to help us to deal spiritually and physically with the pandemic. For information on this, contact Dr. James at: [email protected]

On Saturday, June 27, Archpriest Donald Shadid will be making a presentation targeting the ministry of Orthodox Christian women. For information on this session, contact Fr. Donald at: [email protected]

✠ The times for these sessions, as well as the login information, will be determined by the lead presenters.

✠ Father George will be at the Church on Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for those who would like to come to receive the Sacrament of Confession and/or Holy Communion or just to light a candle, say a prayer or talk. Please remember to use the Office Door and to wear a mask if you come. If you want to receive Holy Communion you need to let Father George know in advance so that he may prepare the Sacrament.

✠ We congratulate our 2020 graduates Sam, Nicola and Chloe and Sydney … If anyone is aware of any other graduates, please call Father George ….