St. Innocent Orthodox Church Z 50th Anniversary:1967-2017 Z Patriarchal Parishes Z 23300 W. Chicago _ Redford, MI 48239 _ 313-538-1142 _ Fax: 313-538-8126 Church Website: www.stinnocentchurch.com _ E-Mail: [email protected] St. Innocent Monastic Community: 9452 Hazelton, Redford, MI 48239 _ 313-535-9080 PASTOR: Rt. Rev. Mitered Archpriest ROMAN STAR _ Cell: 313-319-0590 Dean, Central States Deanery, Patriarchal Parishes SEPTEMBER 24, 2017 ASSISTANT : Rev. DANEIL SHIRAK _ 313-295-3073 Rev. Dr. JOSHUA GENIG _ 630-936-6386 EPISTLE: 2nd Corinthians 6:1-10 (#181) DEACON: Dn. Michael Comerford, Attached GOSPEL: St. Luke 5:1-11 (#17) ATTACHED: Sister Ioanna Martyrs Juvenaly & Peter the Aleut TONE: 7 CHOIR DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Star Hatfield & Synaxis of Alaskan READERS: George Hanoian; William Davis

Z 16th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Z

_ 9:15am — HOURS & AKATHIST &/OR CANON; CONFESSIONS _ _ 10am — DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM _

COMMEMORATED TODAY: Holy New Martyrs of Alaska, Hieromonk Juvenaly (ca. 1796) and Peter the Aleut (1815). Holy Protomartyr and Equal-to-the-Apostles Thecla (1st c.). Ven. Silouan of Mt. Athos (1938). Ven. Nicander, , of Pskov (1581). Martyr Galacteon of Vologdá (1612). Ven. Coprius of Palestine (530). Ven. Abramii, Abbot of Mirozh (Pskov). St. Vladislav of Serbia (1230-39). Ven. Dorothy of Kashin.

FOR THE REPOSE OF: Estelle & Star; Anna & John Witkowski; Michael Sr. & Margaret Rusko; Mary, Andrew, Daniel, Michael & Lottie Yakuber; Ross & Margaret Falsetti; Helen, John & Carole Andrayko; Peter & Theresa Harvilla; Betty Martell; Frances, Todd & John Smoly; Peter Glover; Irene Adams; Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua deVyver, David Horka; Michael Rusko; Anna Lichagina, Yelena & Zinaïda Korniyevskaya; Joseph Nossal; Michelle Tucker; Todd Comerford, John Manier, Jr. MEMORY Archpriest Leonte (Fr. Leo) Copacia (40th-Day is Today, 9/24), founding pastor of St. Raphael’s Church ETERNAL! Archpriest Carlos Chacon (newly departed, August 24th), Patriarchal Parishes in Mexico Robert David Horka, whose anniversary of his repose is on Wednesday, 27 September, by Sister Ioanna

FOR THE HEALTH OF: Archimandrite Seraphim; Priest Daneil, Mat. Debra & Corrina Shirak; Priest Joshua, Mat. Abigail, Emma, Clare, Rose & Anna Genig; Deacon Michael, Mat. Mary Ellen & Julius Comerford; Matushka Mary Donahue; Reader Robert Latsko, Reader George & Betty Hanoian, William Basil Davis, Rose Nossal, Mary Glover, Nancy Cupp, Vasiliki Stamoulis, Gerald Martell, Azbehat, Donald Yakuber, Carl deVyver, Jo Anne Nicholas, Joan Rusko, Daria, Joseph Nossal, Ed Manier, Pat Harbut; Iskias Naizghi, Fr. Vasily Kuzmych ALSO FOR: Henry Joseph Hancock, who celebrates his Birthday on Saturday, 30 September Š MAY GOD GRANT THEM MANY YEARS! Š

SCHEDULE FOR THE COMING WEEK (regular Wednesday & Friday fasting) Monday 9/25 10am DIVINE LITURGY for the Feast of St. of Tuesday 9/26 7am DIVINE LITURGY for the Feast of the Apostle & Evangelist St. John the Theologian (Note early time) Saturday 9/30 4pm GREAT VESPERS & CONFESSIONS Sunday 10/1 17th Sunday After Pentecost & Protection (Pokrov) of the Theotokos 9:15am Hours & Akathist/Canon; Confessions 10am DIVINE LITURGY, followed by Coffee Hour

PROSPHORA FOR TODAY IS OFFERED BY: Deborah Hartz In Memory Eternal of: Parents, Paul & Bernadette; Infants Mark & Barbara; John & Elizabeth; Philip & Hilda; Edward & Irene; Caroline & Louis; Agnes & August; Charles & Stephen; Fr. Roman Braga; and all members of the Hartz, Zwilchir, Smith, Nied & Fisher families; and for the Health of: Mother Gabriella & all the sisters of HDM; Father Roman & Matushka Rose Marie; Elizabeth & Larry & family; Elaine; Sherri.

Z CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! Z HE IS NOW & ALWAYS SHALL BE! Z CANDLES FOR LAST SUNDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER YEARLY CHURCH VIGIL LAMPS: Royal Doors Lamp: In Memory of Husband, Joseph; Son, Kenneth; parents, Michael & Margaret Rusko, & John & Martha Nossal, by Rose Nossal Altar Candelabra: In Memory of Parents, Nicholas and Susan Yakuber, by son, Donald Yakuber Altar Candles (2): In Memory of Irene Adams, by Goddaughter, Rose Ann Everhardt Iconostasis Lamps: In Memory of departed family & friends; & Health of family & friends, by Fr. Protodeacon Daniel & Mat. Irene Sudol Candles on the Solea: In Memory of Peter & Theresa Harvilla, Norman & Monica Holst, & Ricky Ellis, by Jason & Debra Truskowski Table of Oblation Lamp: In Memory of Parents, Helen & John Andrayko, Sr. & sister, Carole Andrayko, by John Andrayko, Jr. - Lamps: Sts. Innocent, Tikhon & Herman: Health of Joseph/Sue; Robert/Diane; Pat/John; Joseph B., Jared, Jay; Rachelle/Aaron, Gabriel; Tricia, Lindsey; & In Memory of sisters, Anna, Margaret, Theresa & Irene; & brothers, John, Edwin & Michael by Rose Nossal Reliquary-Icon Lamps: Sts. Elizabeth & Raphael: Health of the Genig and the Just Families, by Fr. Joshua & Matushka Abigail Genig Reliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Seraphim & St. Alexis: In Memory of Ross & Margaret Falsetti, by daughters, Rose Ann Everhardt & Margie Martell Reliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Nestor & St. Gerontius: In Memory of Rusko Family: Grandparents, Anna, Alexandra, Mike, Margaret, John, Mary, George, Pauline, Pete, Irene, Andrew, Anna, Grandparents Nickolas & Anna Schulik, by Rose Nossal Reliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Hilarion & Sts. Alexandra & Martha: In Memory of Parents, Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua; Robert David H; // IN MEMORY OF (MEMORY ETERNAL!) //& Health of brother, Carl, by Sister Ioanna Joseph & Estelle Star, by son Father Roman and family Paul & Alexandra Yupco, Basil & Ellen Starinshak, by grandson, Father Roman and family John & Anna Witkowski, by daughter, Matushka Rose Marie and family Samuel & Mary Kupec, by granddaughter, Matushka Rose Marie and family Parents, Helen & John Andrayko, and sister, Carole Andrayko, by John Andrayko + + + My husband, Michael Rusko, by Joan Rusko My husband, Joe; my sisters, Margaret & Ross Falsetti, Anna & Mike Elaschat, Theresa & Pete Harvilla, Irene, & brothers, Michael, John & Edwin Rusko; niece, Rose Mary & Dean Hough; Joe’s brothers, Raymond & Walter Nossal, & sisters, Theresa, Florence & Helen Nossal, by Rose Nossal ++ + Pete & Theresa Harvilla, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay Truskowski + + + Jaimie Truskowski, by daughter Kay T. Parents, Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua; David H; Nina I; Marion P; Fr. Photius; Archm. Roman; Mo. Benedicta; Fr. Leo Copacia, by Sr. Ioanna John G. Petz, by Frances Roy + + + Child Lana, Shirley, Betty, Marsha, Paul, by Becky Jurczysz. + + + Grandfather Dmitro Shirak, by Fr. Daneil FOR THE HEALTH OF: (MANY YEARS!) Elizabeth & Lawrence, Caitlin & Zachary, by parents & grandparents, Father Roman & Matushka Rose Marie Gregory & Tamiko Star, by parents, Father Roman & Matushka Rose Marie Children, Grandchildren & Great-grandchildren; Monk Fr. Sdn. Tikhon (Dade); by Rose Nossal Father Roman & Matushka & family; Sister Ioanna; John Andrayko; Nancy; Mary G; Jo Anne N; Grandson Joey (in the Navy Reserves) & all people in the Armed Forces; & all St. Innocent Church parishioners, by Rose Nossal + + + Family & Friends, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay Brother, Greg & Donna; nephew, Gregory & Liz; & nephew, Alex, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay + + + Ed Manier, by Mary Ann Harvilla&Kay Archimandrites Nafanail, Gregory & Seraphim; Fr. Roman & Mat. Rose Marie; Fr. Lawrence B & fam; Fr. Laurence L & fam; Fr. Daneil & fam; Fr. Joshua & fam; Fr. Dcn. Michael & fam; Mat. Mary D; Carl; Monk Fr. Tikhon; Sdn Andrew; Rdr Robert; Robert M; David Samuel/Sky & Avi; JoAnne/Nick; Athanasius; John A; Ed/Tiffany; Kim/Mark & fam; Frances/Ken; Deborah H; Vasiliki; Rose; Billy/Fonda, by Sr. Ioanna Rose Nossal, by John Andrayko + + + John Andrayko (May God watch over him), by Rose Nossal Alice & Autumn & unborn-child, by grandmother, Frances Roy + + + Anastasia (Ana) & John (Jasiu), by mother, Frances Roy Leia, Mike, Reece & Wyatt Wilson; Bob/Joan Jurczyszyn; Toni /Richard Bussen; Pete, Krista, Jacob, Clair, Matt & Paul Stelmaszek; Damon Trestain, Levi Troyer, Briana Saylor, by Becky Jurczyszyn + + + Gregory Star (safe travel), by parents, Matushka Rose Marie & Fr. Roman

Jason, Marianna, Amilia, Liliana, Andrew, by Wess family + + + Galina, Oleg & Sophia Chernuhin, by Wess family

ANNOUNCEMENTS (1) CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEWEST CATECHUMEN, CHARLES (CHUCK) KLIMUSHYN. Two weeks ago, after Vespers on Saturday, September 9th, Chuck was received as a Catechumen. He continues to be studying in order to be received into Christ’s Holy Orthodox Church by the Rite of Reception and Sacrament of Chrismation. MAY GOD SAVE, PROTECT & PRESERVE HIM FOR MANY YEARS!!! (2) 50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY SLIDE-SHOW PHOTOS POSTED. Visit our website to view the slide-show of 70 photos and news- article of Fr. Roman & Mat. Rose Marie’s 50th Wedding Anniversary celebrations of: https://stinnocentchurch.com/50th_wedding_anniversary.html

(3) ANNUAL FALL BLANKET CAMPAIGN. We are known as the “blanket people,” because every year we donate so many blankets to help the poor right here in our own community, and in recent years we have been giving them to the Redford Interfaith Relief, where both Fr. Roman and Fr. Joshua are on the Board of Directors. The blankets are given out to the needy almost as fast as we can get them there. We have ordered 200 blankets from Wal-Mart, who are allowing us to buy them at the old price of $5, instead of the current price of $6. Please be as generous as possible. Give your donations to Mary Ann Harvilla. People outside the parish who read this bulletin are also welcome to send in donations. (4) OUR SPECIAL DAY: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28th, CELEBRATION OF OUR PARISH’S 50th ANNIVERSARY (Please make being here this day your highest priority.) The ANNIVERSARY BANQUET that follows the Liturgy costs only $20 per person, with children 12 and under, free. If you haven’t yet submitted your paid reservation, please contact Elizabeth IMMEDIATELY. 734-306-1486 (texting is good). (5) ANNUAL BENEFIT CHOIR CONCERT ON FRIDAY, OCT. 6th, 7:30 AT ST. LAZARUS. $20 Donation. Detroit Metropolitan Choir will again sing its annual concert, and the donations will benefit charity. Not to be missed.....One of the best Orthodox choirs in the country. (6) THE ORTHODOX CHURCH WEDDING of Marianna & Jason Wess will take place on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15th, immediately following Divine Liturgy, at approximately 11:30. A WEDDING RECEPTION will then take place during the coffee hour, right after the wedding. They cordially invite all parishioners to attend both their wedding and the reception that follows. Do come & rejoice with them. ST. SERGIUS OF RADONEZH (c.1314 - 1392) Feast Days: July 5th & September 25th Source: http://stinnocentchurch.com/lifeofstsergiusofradonezh.html St. Sergius of Radonezh is the patron of , father of northern Russian monasticism, and founder of the Holy (see our church website’s article, Sergiev Posad, http://stinnocentchurch.com/sergievposad.html). Few people have had such a profound influence on Russian life as St. Sergius and his monastery. He was a great mystic and ascetic, whose life spanned much of the 14th century, at the time that Russia was occupied by the Mongol Tartars. Even as a child the future saint was devoted to the Holy Trinity and sought the monastic life. After the repose of his parents, in 1334 the 20-year-old youth went into the deep forest, about 45 miles northeast of Moscow, to seek spiritual solitude as in a desert. He lived a very austere ascetic life, marked by extreme poverty, hard physical labor, and profound humility and simplicity. After a few years of solitude in the forest, disciples started to gather around him, and Russia was forever changed.

Through the labors of St. Sergius’ disciples, the northern forest wilderness blossomed with numerous , which were to play a very significant role in the subsequent life of Russia (and America). In St. Sergius’ great humility, he rejected all honors: only reluctantly did he accept as priest and appointment as abbot of his own monastery; and he flatly refused to accept the office of Metropolitan of Moscow. The many spiritual gifts granted to him include powerful and effective prayer, clairvoyance, spiritual direction, and numerous visions. He reposed in 1392.

St. Sergius’ church, monastery and life’s work were dedicated to the Holy Trinity (icon to the right). The Holy Trinity expresses the unity between the three Persons of the One God, and hence, also symbolizes the spiritual vision of the restoration of all things to their original unity, including Russia. St. Sergius recognized that the Russian Church and the Russian people were united, and that unification of Russian lands was required for their mutual well-being. Thus, with St. Sergius’ spiritual guidance and blessing, the Grand Prince of Moscow, St. Dimitri Donskoi, united the fragmented Russian principalities under Moscow’s leadership, and in 1380, defeated the Mongol Tartars. As a result, Moscow became the center of Russian life, and St. Sergius and his Holy Trinity Monastery have been looked to for guidance and support ever since.

St. Sergius’ original wooden Holy Trinity Church burnt down and was replaced in 1422 by a white stone church (photo to the left), for which St. (see our church website’s Saints' Lives article) did much of the iconographic work, including his most famous Holy Trinity icon (above right). This icon is an eloquent expression and testimony to St. Sergius’ spiritual vision of the beauty of salvation.

In the process of building the stone church, St. Sergius’ were uncovered, and it was discovered that after 30 years, his relics remained incorrupt. His relics were placed in a reliquary in his Holy Trinity Church on the right side of the solea, readily accessible for veneration (photo to the right). Ever since the discovery of his incorrupt relics, untold numbers of healings and other miracles have occurred. Every day, all day long, pilgrims come and venerate St. Sergius’ relics, and are profoundly touched by being in St. Sergius’ presence. By Sister Ioanna, St. Innocent of Alaska Monastic Community, Redford, Michigan The second icon from the top was written/painted in 1997 by the Master Iconographer, Fr. Theodore Jurewicz of Erie, Pennsylvania, and is part of the deisis in the sanctuary of St. Innocent Orthodox Church in Redford, MI. ST. SILOUAN OF MT. ATHOS (1866-1938) Feast Day: September 24th (today) St. Silouan is a modern-day saint who is quite different from many other saints, for he was neither scholar, priest nor bishop. His life-long spiritual warfare speaks to those today who are weary of their own struggles and tempted to despair. Especially when young, at times his darkness so engulfed him, that he felt lost and abandoned by God. On the worst day of all, when he felt he could bear it no longer, during Vespers he was granted an overwhelming vision of the living Christ, in which the Holy Spirit set his soul on fire. This vision was the young monk’s spiritual turning point. From then on, the abiding Presence of God was so intense, that eventually—after 30 years of spiritual warfare—it produced in him a profound humility and love for the whole of God’s creation. Father Silouan is an inspiration to those who feel discouraged that they are too far from St. Silouan of Mt. Athos, Nave wall, St. Innocent Orthodox Church, Redford, MI God to try to know Him, or believe they don’t have what (they think) are the “necessary” educational, intellectual, moral or spiritual gifts to become “spiritual Olympic champions.” We don’t know how many simple and humble saints like Father Silouan there have been, known only to God. God has blessed us to know of this saint, so that we can gain inspiration and hope in our own spiritual struggles, because one of his disciples, the Elder Sophrony, wrote a book about Schemamonk Father Silouan’s life, called Monk of Mt. Athos. He also collected St. Silouan’s own words, written on scraps of paper found in his cell after his repose, and published them as Wisdom from Mt. Athos. Unlike many other saints known to us, St. Silouan was not from the nobility, but was born into a simple Russian peasant family, and grew up in the rough world of hard manual labor that was the life of rural farmers in Russia. His father was illiterate, but was blessed with a simple piety that had a profound influence on Silouan as a boy. The future saint was big, strong and handsome, and as a teenager and young soldier, at times he was overcome by sexual temptations, and once nearly killed a man in a fight. He agonized for years in his inner battle between the robust energies of a young peasant boy, and the other side of him that wanted to be a simple and humble monk. Finally, he grew disgusted with the worldly pursuits of his companions, and set off for Mt. Athos, strengthened in his resolve by the encouragement and prayers of Father John of Kronstadt. The battles were just beginning. For 46 years he lived in the St. Icon of St. Silouan, nave wall, St. Innocent Orthodox Church, Panteleimon Monastery on the “Holy Mountain,” struggling to overcome the passions Redford, MI of his lower self, and to live the transfigured and resurrected life of love, prayer, simplicity, peace and humility, which is the calling of all Christians. The Patriarchate of Constantinople glorified/canonized the Russian Staretz, Schemamonk Silouan, who had lived in Greece on Mt. Athos for 46 years, in commemoration of the 1988 Millennium of Russian Christianity. By: Sister Ioanna, St. Innocent of Alaska Monastic Community, Redford, MI + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + TROPARION (Tone 8) The barren wilderness thou didst make fertile with the steams of thy tears; / And by deep sighing thou hast given fruit through thy struggles a hundredfold. / Accordingly, thou hast become a star for the universe, sparkling with miracles. // Therefore, O righteous Father Silouan, intercede with Christ God to save our souls. COLORADO PARISH CONVERTS COFFEE KIOSK INTO MOBILE CHAPEL

Moscow, June 2, 2017 — A thriving Colorado parish has found a way to introduce and make the Orthodox Church accessible to even more people, who might otherwise never have any contact with the ancient, Orthodox faith. Holy Theophany Church in Colorado Spring’s new mobile chapel made its public debut over Memorial Day weekend at the local street fair, reports the site of the OCA Diocese of the West. The story of the chapel began when parish rector Fr. Anthony Karbo spotted a mobile coffee kiosk for sale on the side of the highway. Its eight sides and construction from stone and timber with a copper roof reminded him of roadside chapels he had seen in Greece, and he began to envision a higher calling for the little kiosk. With the help of local artists from Greer Studios, the tiny coffee shop was transfigured into an Orthodox chapel on wheels. The idea “to be present at public gatherings where Orthodoxy might be an exotic mystery to most passersby” came to fruition at the “Territory Days” street fair, which saw many curious guests attracted by the glistening gold dome. Priests and parishioners were on hand to interact with the people and answer their questions. Children and adults alike entered the chapel, some lighting candles and even venerating the . There were also several display tables outside the chapel, with icons, censers and incense, and prayer ropes.

The new mobile chapel is reminiscent of another Orthodox mission on wheels. For many years, Fr. Michael Furry of St. Innocent of Alaska Church in Roanoke, VA, could be spotted driving his mobile Orthodox bookstore, cupola and all, which arose out of a 1969 Chevrolet van, formerly used to deliver potato chips. The Orthodox Church’s prayers “transport us to another understanding of life,” Fr. Michael said, in an interview with the Roanoke Times, and so his mobile bookstore and chapel also transported Orthodoxy to many souls thirsting for Truth. Fr. Anthony and the Holy Theophany parish and the Diocese of the West have similar hopes for the new chapel: “May she continue to shine a light for faith, reverence, and the fear of God for many years.” Source: http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/104004.htm THE WATERS OF MARAH By Archpriest Lawrence Farley September 20, 2017

North American popular culture, as brought into your home and heart by the North American media, is a very powerful force, and it seems that we too easily underestimate its transforming power. How else to explain the results of a poll undertaken by the Public Religion Research Institute regarding the popularity of the view that favors allowing gays and lesbians to legally marry, and opposing policies that would give business owners the right to refuse services to a same-sex wedding? The PRRI, a Washington, D.C.- based polling firm, polled 40,509 Americans in 2016 for its American Values Atlas. That the majority of Americans favoured gay marriage is not surprising (58% versus 32% who opposed it and 10% who had no opinion). More surprising is that of those surveyed a full 44% of American Muslims favoured gay marriage. Given Islam’s famously unenthusiastic view of homosexuality, this is a bit of a jaw-dropper. I do not know how long the Muslims polled by the PRRI had been in America. Were many of them new immigrants, fresh off the immigrational boat from Sudan and Libya? Or had they been in America for a long time, or perhaps even been born in America? I suspect the latter. But it seems clear that the longer one is exposed the proclamations of the North American media and the more one drinks from the deep wells of its popular culture through books, radio interviews, songs, magazine articles, movies, news programmes, and interactions at the school, workplace and on social media, the more one’s views will conform to these new modern norms. If even our Muslim neighbors end up jumping on the popular LGBT bandwagon, we can clearly see the power of our popular culture. As far as traditional Christianity is concerned, that cultural well has been poisoned. In our long trek to Kingdom through the desert that is this age, we have come to the waters of Marah.

You remember the waters of Marah. Israel had been liberated from Egypt and was trekking through the deserts of Sinai on their way the Promised Land. They were tired and thirsty, and after three days in the wilderness they came to a place they later called Marah, “and when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter; therefore it was named ‘Marah’” (Exodus 15:22f). In Hebrew “marah” means “bitter. And by “bitter” the text did not simply mean the water tasted sour or unpleasant, but rather that it was poisonous, undrinkable, and would make you sick if you drank it. (This is apparent by the later reference to “diseases” in v. 26.) It was a terrible and terrifying moment in their journey, for they soon faced certain death if drinkable water could not be found.

God provided the answer. “The Lord showed Moses a tree and he threw it into the waters and the waters became sweet”—i.e. drinkable. The tree changed the well from being a font of poison to being a font of life, and they could find life-giving water even in the desert. Christians meditating on the miracle have always been struck by the instrument which produced that life—a tree. It irresistibly reminded them of the tree of the Cross, and how the Cross could turn doom into deliverance, and transform death into life. That is why the story of the waters of Marah is read in church at the service of Great Vespers on the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross. Through the Cross we can journey through the world and not be poisoned by it.

We need to remember this as we journey through the desert that is the 21st century West. No one can live without culture, and after a short time we too grow thirsty. When then we open the pages of a magazine or turn on the daily news or settle in to watch a movie or read a book or otherwise interact with popular culture, we must remember that the well has been poisoned. That does not mean that there are not also good things in the cultural well. There was water in the well of Marah, after all. But there were also things in the good water that were not good, and it was these things which made it poisonous.

The answer, then as now, is the Cross. As Paul said, through the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ the world had been crucified to him and he to the world (Galatians 6:14). Through the Cross we count ourselves dead to the world and to its poisonous values. We do not belong to the world, but to God, and we refuse to make all the values of our secular culture our own. Our values come from the Church’s Holy Tradition, and whether or not these values coincide or overlap with the values of the world is a matter of ultimate indifference to us. In the Church casts the tree of the Cross into the waters of the world and transforms them. Through the Cross we can drink in the world and not die; we can pass through our secular culture and not be poisoned by it. But everything depends upon discernment. If we would pass safely through the desert, we must know when we come to the waters of Marah. Source: Pravmir.com