St.THE Elizabeth Orthodox ST. ELIZABETHWoodstock, GA NEWSMay 2, 2021

The St. ElizabethChrist News is Risen!Christ is Risen! Indeed Indeed He is Risen! He is Risen! 1 St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church Woodstock, GA May 2, 2021

Reverend Father Matthew Dutko Pastor/Administrator St. Elizabeth Orthodox Mission Church Father Steven Hanes 2265 E. Cherokee Drive Woodstock, GA 30188 Phone: 404-268-6359 Email: [email protected] A parish of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese Ecumenical of Constantinople Ruling Hierarch: His Eminence Metropolitan Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! Welcome to St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church! Thank you for being here to celebrate the Great Day of the Resurrection of our Lord, The Great Feast of the Resurrection of Our God, and Savior Christ on this most joyous Lord, God & Savior Jesus Christ morning! If you have never been to an Orthodox Church Epistle: Acts 1:1-8 Gospel: John 1:1-17 before, you are about to participate in the . The Divine Liturgy is celebrated every Sunday of the All of the special hymns for today’s Festal year. Liturgy means the work of the people. That means Divine Liturgy for the Resurrection of our Lord, that we all have special and holy work to do this God, and Saviour Jesus Christ can be found morning, and that all of your prayers are necessary! We starting on page 193 hope you will stay and join us as we continue the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection all throughout the St. Thomas Sunday - April 26th, 2020 day. Please feel free to ask Fr. Matthew any questions 2nd Paschal Sunday you might have! May the joy, hope, and salvation found Epistle: Acts 5: 12-20 Gospel: John 20:19-31 in Christ’s Resurrection be with you always and may St. Thomas Sunday Tropar and Kondak—Blue Book God grant you many happy and blessed years, pg 199. Everything else for the Paschal season can Christ is Risen!! be found on pages 193-196

The St. Elizabeth News Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! 2 St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church Woodstock, GA May 2, 2021 Yesterday I was crucifed with Him; today I am glorifed with Him. Yesterday I died with Him; today I am made alive with Him. Yesterday I was buried with Him; today I am raised up with Him. Let us offer to Him Who suffered and rose again for us … ourselves, the possession most precious to God and most proper. Let us become like Christ, since Christ became like us. Let us become Divine for His sake, since for us He became Man. St. Gregory the Theologian- “ Orations”

"...Now since you are celebrating the holy Pascha, you should know, brethren, Two Week Schedule what the Pascha is. Pascha means the crossing-over, and so the Festival is called Sunday 5/2 10 am- Divine Liturgy: The Great Day of by this name. For it was on this day that the Resurrection of our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ the Children of Israel crossed over out of 2 pm- Paschal Vespers Egypt, and the Son of God crossed over Monday 5/3 10 am- Divine Liturgy: Bright Monday & from this world to His Father. What gain The Feast of St. George is it to celebrate unless you imitate Him Whom you worship; that is, unless you Tuesday 5/4 9 am- Divine Liturgy: Bright Tuesday cross over from Egypt, that is, from Wednesday 5/5 6 pm- Paschal Vespers the darkness of evildoing to the light Friday 5/7 9 am- Resurrection Matins of virtue, from the love of this world Saturday 5/8- 4 pm- Great Vespers to the love of your heavenly home?" Sunday 5/9 10 am- Divine Liturgy St. Ambrose of Milan - "The Sunday Wednesday 5/12 6 pm- Moleben to the Mother of God of the Resurrection" Saturday 5/2 4 pm- Great Vespers Sunday 5/3 10 am- Divine Liturgy Wednesday 5/6 6 pm- Vespers & Adult Class Friday 5/8 9 am- Divine Liturgy Saturday 5/9 4 pm- Great Vespers Sunday 5/10 10 am- Divine Liturgy

The St. Elizabeth News Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! 3 St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church Woodstock, GA May 2, 2021 of our Lord’s Resurrection “Search & Find!” Do you see Christ’s robes? Notice how they look like they are fowing upward in the wind? This symbolizes how Christ descends into Hades to free those held captive by the sting of death.

Can you fnd these golden bars? Christ stands victoriously on top of these bard because they are the gates of death that He shatters and tears apart, opening the doors of paradise.

Can you fnd the almond shape that’s surrounding Christ? It’s called a Mandorla. The Mandorla becomes progressively darker as it moves toward its center, which is Christ. Those who seek God fnd that the more they know Him, the less they comprehend Who He is. To know God, to experience Him, is Do you see these three fgures to to walk in the darkness of His light, to the left of Christ? These people enter into the mystery of His presence. vary from icon to icon, but they are prominent Old Testament Can you fnd this fgure bound in chains fgures. Abel is the shepherd underneath the shattered gates of Hades? holding the staff & Moses is next This fgure represents death or the devil to him. himself who has been bound in chains and conquered by Christ. This is why we sing Can you fnd any keys? The keys “Christ is risen from the dead trampling symbolize that Christ has unlocked down death by death.” The power of the the gates of Hades and conquered devil and death have been destroyed sin and death. through the life-giving death of our Savior.

Do you see Christ reaching his hands out to Do you see these three fgures to the these two fgures? Christ is pulling Adam right of Christ? Here we fnd King and Eve, our frst parents from their tombs. David & Solomon, Christ’s ancestors This shows us that Christ’s victory redeems in the fesh along with John the all mankind, even back to the beginning. It Baptist who announced Christ’s also foreshadows the general resurrection of coming to those on earth in his life, the body before the Final Judgment. and to those in Hades after his death. The St. Elizabeth News Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! 4

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Paschal Greeting From Fr. Matthew, Pani Kathryn, Lazarus, Baby Isaiah

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

Dear Parish Family & Friends,

It is with abounding joy that Pani, Lazarus, baby Isaiah, and I greet you all once again with the triumphant proclamation of “Christ is Risen!”. Pascha is the passing over from death to life, from darkness to light. How good it is to bask in the life-giving warmth and light of our resurrected Lord. My ancestors called this day the Velik Den or the Great Day. How great it truly is to celebrate this Feast together again as brothers and sisters in Christ in God’s House.

In the joys of the Resurrection, we send our prayers and love to our Hierarch and Shepherd, His Eminence Metropolitan Gregory, to all the and people of our God protected Diocese, to His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios, His Grace Bishop Sevastianos, and all the Orthodox clergy and people in the greater Atlanta area, to Deacon Steven, Michelle, & James Hanes, to our parish family members who are sick in their homes and in the hospitals, to those who are away visiting family and to those who are with us here visiting family, to the entire parish community, and to all those gathered here with us today on the Great Day of Christ’s Resurrection. We greet all of you in the hope, joy, and love given to us this day, saying, Christ is Risen!

Last year the dark cloud of the coronavirus loomed over us. The Divine Services were closed to the public and we had just laid to rest one our beloved founders & builders, Boris Melnikoff+, with a funeral service that was not open to the public for our community to grieve together with Evelyn & her family. Fear, darkness, and death seemed to be the focus for the whole world. When we trust God and make Christ the focus, the focus becomes hope, joy, peace, light, and life; this is what the Resurrection of Christ is all about.

This year for our parish family, the focus of life was thrust upon us in the midst of . In 2021, as Christ went to His Cross, He blessed us with the gift of new life 6 weeks earlier than expected in baby Isaiah. Surely a baby being born prematurely and requiring surgery in the frst day of his life can be overwhelming. Trusting God in all seasons and speaking to Him in prayer are such important elements of the Christian life. We all need to trust in the Lord more and we all need to speak to our loving God more. A regular Holy Week provides us with an opportunity to do just that. And certainly, this year, with the unexpected gift of little Isaiah, we were all given an amazing opportunity to speak to God in prayer, trust in His will, and grow our relationship with Christ.

I am so very appreciative of the love, prayers, & thoughtfulness provided by all of you. And although I personally appreciate them, as your priest, I am equally overjoyed that this experience has allowed so many of you to grow in Christ through prayer, trust, and faith. For all these reasons, the joys of receiving the gift of life given to us by Christ this year are extra sweet. Hold tight to them in the years ahead.

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Paschal Greeting From Fr. Matthew, Pani Kathryn, Lazarus, Baby Isaiah

Today as we celebrate the Paschal Liturgy, we joyfully proclaim “Christ is Risen from the dead trampling down death by death and to those in the tombs bestowing life” as we receive His most precious Body and life-giving Blood. Remember this joy when the sun is shining and the winds are blowing. God is with us and today we experience a taste of Paradise. What a blessing!

Thank you, to every single one of you. Thank you for all your devotion to Christ and His Church throughout the Lenten and Holy Week season. Thank you for your prayers for Isaiah, Pani, and my family. Thank you to the Deacon and to those who serve at the Altar, to those who sing and those who read the Epistle. Thank you to all those who continuously work to make St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church refect the beauty of God’s Kingdom by cleaning and beautifying the Church in any way. Thank you to all the children, who bring joy to us all; and to all the parents who continuously bring their children to the feet of Christ in His Church. Thank you to all those who take pictures at the Church. Thank you to everyone who provided for the Paschal fowers and all the beautiful fowers throughout the year that refect the beauty of our God and for all the time scarifed in arranging them for the glory of God. Thank you to all those who serve or have served on the Parish Council or have served the Church in any way (that’s all of you!), for the glory of God and His Church. Thank you for all of your kind acts and tremendous outpouring of love, always...and especially this past week. Most of all, thank you all for your presence, love, and of course for your prayers for our parish family. Thank you all for being here today to joyously proclaim with one voice, Christ is risen! When the troubled seas of life come crashing into you, know that you have a home here and St. Elizabeth’s; in times of rejoicing as well as in times of sorrow may Christ our God Risen from the dead ever guide you to the safety of His harbor.

Trust in God follow Him to the Cross, and receive the gift of eternal life that He prepares for those who know Him. May God be with you always. Christ is Risen!!!

With much love in our Risen Lord,

Fr. Matthew Dutko

The St. Elizabeth News Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! 9 St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church Woodstock, GA May 2, 2021 Prayerful Easter Flowers In Blessed Repose grant eternal rest o Lord, to the souls of God’s departed servants, in the place where the souls of the righteous dwell, where there is no pain, sorrow, or lamentation, but life everlasting! In Memory of: Frank+, Mary+, Anastasia+, Tamara+, George+, Theodora+, Violet+, baby George+, Boris Melnikoff+, John Haddad+, Helen & Lewis Knuth+, Robert+, Patricia+, Fr. William+, Mary+, George Page+, Anna+, Beth Johnson+, James Wasserman+, Lorraine Solinko+, Robert Stirk+,Fred & Helen Mileshko+, Anna Blannar+, Peter & Wanda Blanar+ Charles Salome+, Jeanne McAuliff+, Ernie+, Eddie+, Maria+, Carl+, Mark+, Barry+, Christine+, Helen+, Fr. Hazuda+, Fr. William, Fr. Paul+, Fr. Baranek, Yvonne Sajem+, John Sajem+, Metropolitan Nicholas+, Fr. Stephen & Pani Mary Dutko+, George & Margret+, Steve+ & Catherine+, Pani Blaschak+, Pani Patsy, Betty+, Barb+ & Harry+, Dean+, Betty Wall+ & May the Lord God Remember in His Kingdom all of our departed loved ones! Lord of Powers be with us, for in times of distress we have no other help but You! For the Health of: Metropolitan Gregory, Evelyn, & the Melnikoff Family, Angel Pineda, Athanasia Page, George Page, Cora, Rick, Jeff, Charlie, Nicole, Lilia, Risa, Brandon, Joanna & James, Marilyn, Erica, Gary, Victor, Violet, Deacon Steven, Michelle, James, & Madeline, Deacon Andy, Davina & their Family, Fr. Matthew, Pani Kathryn, Lazarus, & the Dutko & Szapka families, David, John & Michele, Rob, Faye, Deacon Lazarus, Robert & Cindy, Ashley, CJ, Jaiden, Amelie Rose, Huxley, Alistair, Daniel, Alexander, Hudson, John, Leo, Fr. Scott & for all the members of The St. Elizabeth Parish Family & all of our loved ones!

The St. Elizabeth News Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! 10 St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church Woodstock, GA May 2, 2021 The Lord Descends into Hades….

An Ancient Homily from by St. Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus Something strange is happening - there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the fesh and He has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the fesh and Hell trembles with fear. He has gone to search for our frst parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, He has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, He who is both God and the Son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the Cross, the weapon that had won Him the victory. At the sight of Him Adam, the frst man He had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone, “My Lord be with you all.” Christ answered him, “And with your spirit.” He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying, “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light. “I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by My own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in Hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the Life of the dead. Rise up, work of My hands, you who were created in My image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in Me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated. “For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucifed in a garden. “See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. See there the marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your warped nature in My image. On My back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your back. See My hands, nailed frmly to a tree, for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree. “I slept on the Cross and a sword pierced My side for you who slept in Paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in Hell. The sword that pierced Me has sheathed the sword that was turned against you. “Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly Paradise. I will not restore you to that Paradise, but I will enthrone you in Heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am Life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The Bridal Chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The Kingdom of Heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity. “ -From the Synaxarion of the Lenten Triondion and , Fr. David and Mother Gabriela, eds., HDM Press, Rives Junction, MI, 1999 pp. The St. Elizabeth News Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! 11 St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church Woodstock, GA May 2, 2021 The Memory of Something Good…

Nearly 25 years ago, a group of Orthodox Christians, many of whom are still with us at St. Elizabeth’s today, gathered together to celebrate the frst Divine Liturgy in the history of St. Elizabeth Orthodox Mission. On a January day over twenty years ago, Fr. John Zyboyovski celebrated that frst Liturgy for our parish family. At the Paschal Divine Liturgy that very same that was used at our frst Liturgy will be used. Paschal blessings to all of the former pastors & their families, to the founders, builders, and benefactors of this church, and to all our departed parish family members, may their memory be eternal, Christ is risen!

“You must know that there is nothing higher and stronger and more wholesome and good for life in the future than some good memory...if one has only one good memory left in one's heart, even that may sometime be the means of saving us.“ -Dostoyevsky - The Brothers Karmazov

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The St. Elizabeth News Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! 13 St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church Woodstock, GA May 2, 2021 St. Elizabeth’s Parish Family Prayer List For the Health of: Evelyn & the Melnikoff Family, Pani Betty Jean Baranek, Fr. James Gleason, The Paccio Family, Kara, Johanna, James, Anna, Basil, David, Dianna, Denise, Alex, Jason, Athanasia, Ethel, Kathy, Lester, Sally, Jack, Tyler, Maria, Page Family, Blanar Family, Emma Rae, Floyd Family, Zachary, George, Robin, Michael, Dean, Margaret, Metropolitan Gregory and his family, Rick, James, David Family, Fr. Scott, Joseph, Maria Starcova, Janis, David & Paulette Novak, Suzette, Bob, David. Michelle, Stephen, James, Brian Paul, Kathy, Mike, Debbie, Ken, The Hayes and Boucher families, John, Peyton & the Gully Family, John, Alexandra, Benjamin, John, The Hazuda Family, Pani Amy George and the George Family, Eddie, Mary, Cathy, Drew, Pani Connie & Family, Marilyn & family, Mark, Fr. John Zboyovski & family, Kasi, Judy, George, Scarlett, Athena, Jay, Tim, George, Chris, Joy, Fr. Dcn. Stephen, Michelle, James, Rachel, Kate, Fr. Blaschak & Family, Larry, Alexandra, Tammy, Trahan & Skiba Family, Michelle, Ashley, The Hood Family, Fr. Jonathon, Rachel, Anna, Steve, Mary Kay. Mileshko Family, The Franklin Family, Caroline, Jon, Milton, Bob, Beatrice, Alexandra & Elizabeth, Jerry, Burt, Sandy, Stephanie, Caroline, Mariana, George , Xenia, Pani Kathy, Mary , Tommy, Stephen, Emilia, Alisha, & Aaron Zak, George, James, Joanna & the Puziculiks Family, Jenny, Mike & Family, Rodney, George, Phillip, George, Audri, Irinia, Elizabeth, Joanna, Fr. Dcn. Andy, Davina, & Family, Stan, Fr.Dcn. Charlie & Sally Ellis Fr. Ken, Justin, Charlie, Herbert and Mary Schleining, Fr. Tony Jospeh & Family, Spencer, Julie, Baby Maverick, James & Joanna, Anna, Fr. Larry & Pani Linda, Sherry, Steff, Galina & Family, Fr. Jim & Pani Kathy Dutko, Rick, Katlain, Elenor, Mark, Robert & Cindy, Melissa, Ben, Anthony, Rachel, Christine, Cora, Rick, Michelle, Tim, Robert, Tripp, Rachel & Family, Ashley & Family, The Kelemecz Family, Leonard, Leo, & the Olaru Family, Joanna Price, Isaiah For the Departed: Patricia+, James+, Stephen+, Anna+, Charles+, Robert+, Loraine+. Helen+, Lewis+, Jeane+, Vera+, George+, George+, Ernie+, Eddie+, Maria+, Carl+, Mark+, Barry+, Jospeh+, Phillip+, Jenny+, Peter+, Bryan+, Rebecca+, Fr. Paul+, Maria+, Fr. Hazuda+, George Smisko+, Helen Spanovich+, Bob+, Alma+, Bo+, Saddie+, Fr. William George+, Violet+, Fr. Kozar+, Benjamin+, John Haddad+, Fred & Helen Mileshko+, Anna+, Natalie+, Lilly+, Christine+, Anna+, Tamara+, Anastasia+, Yvonne+, John+, Betty+, Ada+, Peter+ & Wanda+, George+, Jerry+, Barb+ & Harry+, Beth+, Louise+, Nikolay+, Boris Melnikoff+, Pani Patsy, David+, Fr. Michael+, Natalie+, Helen+, Ted+, Tom+, Mike+, Madeline+, Tim+, Fr. John Baranek, Reader Stephen+, Dean+ Through the prayers of the Birthgiver of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, St. Elizabeth, The Holy Fathers & Mothers, and all the Saints, may our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ have mercy on us and save us!

Holy Saint Elizabeth Pray for us! Eternal Memory!

Keep Your Parish Family in Your Prayers! Christ is Risen!

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