Sunday, June 13, 2021 + The Sunday between the Feasts of Ascension and

Saints Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Christian Church A Parish of the Diocese of New England of the Orthodox Church in America

Fr. John Hopko, Pastor  Protodeacon Paul Nimchek

860.582.3631  email: [email protected] www.terryvilleorthodoxchurch.org  www.facebook.com/TerryvilleOrthodoxChurch

Sunday, June 13, 2021 The Sunday between the Feasts of Ascension and Pentecost After- of Our Lord Annual Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council 7th SUNDAY OF PASCHA — Tone 6. Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council. Afterfeast of Ascension. Aquilina of Byblos in Syria (293). St. Triphyllius, of Leucosia (Nicosia), Cyprus (ca. 370). Ven. Andronicus (1395), disciple of Ven. Sergius of Rádonezh, and Ven. Savva (Sabbas), Abbots, of Moscow (15th c.). Martyr Antonina of Nicæa (3rd-4th c.). St. Anna and her son, St. John, of Constantinople (9th c.). 10,000 . The Finding of the Holy Relics of Nicholas the of Lesbos (1960). Transfer of the relics of Saint Paraskevḗ the New (1641).

Schedule and Notes about Services and Events, Upcoming  Waterbury Parish Cemetery Annual Blessing, this Sunday, June 13, 12:30 PM: We will bless the graves in the Waterbury Cemetery, Stillson Road, Waterbury, on this Sunday afternoon, June 13, 12:30 PM. We will begin with a Memorial Service, and then bless all the graves.  Wednesday morning , June 16, 8:00 AM: Wednesday Morning Prayers Service (a simplified order of Matins for local parish usage), beginning at 8:00 AM.  We will NOT have Bible Study on Thursday evening, June 17. (Bible Study (online, via ZOOM) will return on Thursday evening, June 24.  Saturday evening Vigil, June 19, 6:30 PM: Saturday evening Vigil (Great Vespers, with the Reading of the Matins ), beginning at 6:30 PM. This will be a Festal Vigil, commemorating the Great Feast of Holy Pentecost.  Sunday morning , June 20, 9:15 AM, followed immediately by the Pentecost Kneeling Prayers: The weekly Sunday morning Lord’s Day celebration of the Divine Liturgy, beginning at 9:15 AM. The Great Feast of Holy Pentecost. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, we will read the Pentecost Kneeling Prayers.  Wednesday morning Matins, June 23, 8:00 AM: Wednesday Morning Prayers Service (a simplified order of Matins for local parish usage), beginning at 8:00 AM.  Thursday morning, June 24, 8:00 AM: The Feast of the Birth of Saint . We will mark this feast day with a Prayer Service asking the intercessions of Saint John the Baptist. The service will begin at 8:00 AM.  Saturday evening Vigil, June 26, 6:30 PM: Saturday evening Vigil (Great Vespers, with the Reading of the ), beginning at 6:30 PM.  Sunday morning Divine Liturgy, June 27, 9:15 AM: The weekly Sunday morning Lord’s Day celebration of the Divine Liturgy, beginning at 9:15 AM. All Day. The First Sunday after Pentecost. child George—9-year-old son of a Kenyan Orthodox ; quite unwell PARISH PRAYER LIST Bill M.—has experienced some health issues lately, please keep in prayer We pray for all victims of disease, disaster, difficulty, Paula—friend of Jim L.; struggling with cancer and senseless violence throughout the world, especially Dimitri—brother of Carolyn P.; health issues Maryna B.—dealing with some health issues in this time of pestilence and civil unrest. Thomas—Patty N.’s nephew; battling cancer + THOSE WHO HAVE DEPARTED THIS LIFE: Memory Eternal! Wayne—Donna O.’s father Sarah—a young woman for whom we have been asked to pray (D.B.) First of all, we pray for all the thousands of victims of COVID-19. Memory Eternal! Richard—a man struggling with cancer, for whom we have been asked to pray Newly Departed Maria O.—dialysis three times a week William—prayed for at the request of the Nimcheks d. 5/28/2021 George K.—our fellow parishioner; facing a variety of health challenges George—prayed for at the request of Marilou P. d. 6/3/2021 Lorraine—friend of Joan M.; cancerous blood disease Anniversaries of Repose – Memory Eternal! Joseph—friend of Jeanne M.; in need of prayers Rose Shavstruck 6/13/1955 Joan—dear and close friend of Carolyn P.; recovering from serious back surgery Eva Habrukovich 6/14/1974 Elaine H.—recovering from hip replacement surgery; our fellow parishioner Adam Omelchik 6/15/1951 Dianna—Jennifer W.’s mother; suffering some health problems Anna Sobestanovich 6/16/2006 Thomas—fighting cancer; father of a friend of the Parish Maria Sarafin 6/17/1947 Yvonne K.—a person we have been asked to pray for; multiple myeloma Anna Biscoe 6/18/1994 Jayne—our fellow parishioner; recent knee joint replacement surgery Archimandrite Anthony Repella 6/18/1957 James B.—husband of a Waterbury parishioner; very unwell recently Michael Baritsky 6/19/1947 Matushka Ann S.—recently suffered fall, was hospitalized, now back home Ellen Senetcen 6/19/1971 Shut-ins and those resident in long-term Care Facilities THOSE IN NEED OF GOD’S MERCY AND HELP Alex—John D.’s brother; suffering permanent effects of stroke Dolores—Bob M.’s mother; resident in long-term eldercare First of all, we pray for all those suffering due to the present pestilence which is COVID-19, and those working to alleviate their suffering. Expectant Mothers Sarah and the child being born of her—at request of Jayne G. Persons captive and suffering for the Faith Nicole and the child to be born of her—at the request of Bob M. Metropolitan Paul and Archbishop John—hostages in Syria Travelers, Those Soon to be Traveling, and Those Apart from Us Those who are sick and suffering All those who are traveling, soon to be traveling, or apart from us Michael K.—former pastor of our parish; reoccurrence of illness David and Lucy C. Fyodor (Frank) G.—suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Dolores T.—permanent colon malfunction following colon cancer treatment Those from among us serving on active duty in the Armed Forces Fr. James P., Chaplain (MAJ)—deployed with the CT ARNG child Drew—grandson of friends of the Nimcheks; ongoing treatment for eye cancer Darlyne—facing health challenges; daughter of Bob and Vera Martin Joel O.—U.S. Navy; hospital corpsman (“medic”) Donna—Ann S.’s niece, Deb W.’s cousin; kidney disease Joseph B.—a Terryville neighbor; U.S. Marine Corps Joshua P.—husband of a niece of Fr. John’s; U.S. Army officer and pilot Dayrl—Ann S.’s niece, Deb W.’s cousin; kidney disease nd JoAnn—acquaintance of Jeanne Moore; ovarian cancer Alexander—relative of Carolyn P.; 82 Airborne Division soldier MaryEllen—Louine K.’s daughter-in-law; suffering with Huntington’s Disease Derek—relative of Carolyn P.; U.S. Army soldier Yelena “Lenna” M.—overcoming, by God’s grace, serious health challenges Ian H.—Fr. David K.’s son-in-law; overseas deployment, U.S. Army Katie and Aubrey—a mother and daughter for whom we have been asked to pray Anniversaries of Marriage Tanya B.—suffering long-term and lingering effects of brain hemorrhage Fr. John & Macrina Hopko 6/17 Mary Lynn—friend of Donna O.; battling breast cancer Birthdays Barbara—friend of Patty N.; unwell and in need of prayerful support Jacob Janco 6/15 Dorothy F.—Waterbury parishioner; still recovering from a serious surgery Luda Saltourides 6/16 Rosie D.—ongoing health issues John Osuch 6/19 Michael “Mike” L.—ongoing health issues

News and Notes Fr. John out of the office on June 17 and June 21: Fr. John will be out of the office, all day long, on Thursday, June 17, and on Monday, June 21. NO Bible Study this week. Bible Study will return on Thursday evening, June 24, at 7:00 PM, online, via ZOOM. LOOKING AHEAD: Thursday morning, June 24, The Feast of the Birth of Saint John the Baptist. We will mark this feast day with a Prayer Service asking the intercessions of Saint John the Baptist. The Prayer Service will begin at 8:00 AM, on Thursday morning, June 24. How to Support our Parish, financially: Donations to the Parish may be submitted via checks made out to and mailed to Saints Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Church, 34 Fairview Avenue, Terryville, CT 06786-6329. Also, a PayPal Donation “button” (https://www.terryvilleorthodoxchurch.org/donatenow) is located on our parish website to make online donations possible. Our parish is registered as a charity with PayPal, so we have slightly lower fees connected to the use of that means of receiving donations. For us, PayPal’s fees are 2.2%, plus $0.30 per transaction. (So, for example, a donation of $100.00 given via PayPal will realize us actual income of $97.50.) From the Desk of the Pastor – Lessening our COVID-19 Restrictions Feast of the Ascension, June 10, 2021 Dear Members and Friends of Saints Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Church, Terryville, CT: Christ is in our midst! Happy Feast! Thankfully, the prevalence of COVID-19 has continued to diminish in our local community. (We pray, fervently, for those around the world, who are not so blessed. May God provide for us ways to serve those suffering people and lessen their distress!) Thus, the Parish Council, acting within the parameters set by our bishop, His Beatitude Metropolitan TIKHON, and by the civil authorities, have made the following adjustments to our present public health safety protocols here at Church, when we have services and activities taking place indoors: 1. Masks (facial personal protective equipment) are no longer required for the fully vaccinated. Those who are not fully vaccinated, and anyone else who feels safer wearing a mask, are strongly encouraged to continue wearing masks. (Indeed, in his latest guidance, Governor Lamont has said that those who are not fully vaccinated “must wear masks” indoors.) 2. We are no longer requiring pre-registration for services, not even Sunday morning services. (Please come to Church!) However, we will be asking everyone who attends services to “sign in,” so that, if necessary, we have an attendance record of who was present on any given occasion. 3. We will no longer be performing health screening (temperature checks, etc.). We do ask, however, that if you feel even a little bit sick or unwell that you do not come to Church. Only come to Church if you feel fine and healthy, and are free of any symptoms indicative of infection with a communicable illness. 4. We continue to encourage effective social distancing at Church. In Church, stay close to the members of your household and maintain a healthy distance from all others. We do not think it likely that over the summer we will have any issues with overcrowding. There should be plenty of space at Church for all of us to spread out safely. 5. Those who chose to venerate (kiss) the holy that are placed for accessible are free to do so. We will clean the icons (that is, the glass covering them) before and after every gathering at Church. 6. We will be distributing Holy Communion in the time-honored and traditional manner, exactly as we did so before the beginning of the present public health crisis. So, instead of the cloth-draped stand that we have been using, the traditional, red-colored, Communion Cloth will be held under the chins of those receiving Holy Communion by the customary two attendants. Those two attendants will be chosen and assigned by me, the pastor. Also, if, as is the custom of some Orthodox Christians, you wish to kiss the bottom edge of the Holy after receiving Holy Communion, you may do so. Please, indicate your desire to kiss the Chalice by pursing your lips and then leaning slightly forward in the direction of the Chalice, and I will lift the Chalice so that you may venerate its base. 7. (While we are on the matter of venerating the holy objects, I would implore those who wear lipstick or lip gloss, please, to fully and thoroughly blot their lips before doing so. It is distressing and unpleasant to see the residue of such cosmetics left behind on holy objects that have been kissed.) 8. We shall be reintroducing choral singing to our services, not all at once, but in ways that seem amenable. This process will be managed by me, in cooperation with our choir leaders and singers. That being said, one small blessing of the time we have been enduring is that we have developed some cantors who are capable of singing the responses to the liturgical services on their own, singly, confidently and competently. This is a truly welcome development, and strengthens our parish’s liturgical life in a way that is fully compatible with our rich Orthodox Christian tradition of liturgical worship. 9. Finally, we will be looking for ways to begin gathering safely for activities other than liturgical worship, such as business meetings, educational events, and social activities. We note that outdoor gatherings are one option we are considering.

As always, if you have any comments, questions or concerns about any of the above (or any other pertinent matter), I can be contacted by email at [email protected] or by voice or text at cellphone number 860-944-3486. Thank you. With love in Christ, Fr. John H. Archpriest John Hopko, Pastor Readings from Holy Scripture Scripture Readings for the Sunday between the Feasts of Ascension and Pentecost, on which we commemorate the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council

The Reading from the Acts of the Holy Apostles (Acts 20:16-18, 28-36)

At that time, Paul had decided to sail past disciples after them. Therefore be alert, Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend remembering that for three years I did not time in Asia; for he was hastening to be at cease night or day to admonish every one , if possible, on the day of with tears. And now I commend you to God Pentecost. And from Miletus he sent to and to the word of his grace, which is able Ephesus and called to him the elders of the to build you up and to give you the church. And when they came to him, he said inheritance among all those who are to them: "You yourselves know how I lived sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold among you all the time from the first day or apparel. You yourselves know that these that I set foot in Asia, Take heed to hands ministered to my necessities, and to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the those who were with me. In all things I have Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care shown you that by so toiling one must help for the church of God which he obtained the weak, remembering the words of the with the blood of his own Son. I know that Lord Jesus, how he said, 'It is more blessed after my departure fierce wolves will come to give than to receive.'" And when he had in among you, not sparing the flock; and spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with from among your own selves will arise men them all. speaking perverse things, to draw away the

The Reading from the Gospel according to St. John (Jn 17:1-13)

At that time, Jesus lifted up his eyes to thou gavest me, and they have received heaven and said, "Father, the hour has them and know in truth that I came from come; glorify thy Son that the Son may thee; and they have believed that thou didst glorify thee, since thou hast given him send me. I am praying for them; I am not power over all flesh, to give eternal life to praying for the world but for those whom all whom thou hast given him. And this is thou hast given me, for they are thine; all eternal life, that they know thee the only mine are thine, and thine are mine, and I am true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast glorified in them. And now I am no more in sent. I glorified thee on earth, having the world, but they are in the world, and I accomplished the work which thou gavest am coming to thee. Holy Father, keep them me to do; and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy name, which thou hast given me, that in thy own presence with the glory which I they may be one, even as we are one. While had with thee before the world was made. "I I was with them, I kept them in thy name, have manifested thy name to the men whom which thou hast given me; I have guarded thou gavest me out of the world; thine they them, and none of them is lost but the son were, and thou gavest them to me, and they of perdition, that the scripture might be have kept thy word. Now they know that fulfilled. But now I am coming to thee; and everything that thou hast given me is from these things I speak in the world, that they thee; for I have given them the words which may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.