sign in sign up
<<
Home , Entrance (liturgical), Octoechos

The Herald Saint Nicholas 2053 North Road, NE Warren, OH 44483 Church Phone: (330) 372-6240 Rectory Phone: (330) 372-9778 Pastor: The Very Rev. Protopresbyter Kenneth M. Bachofsky, D. Min. Email: [email protected]—Parish Web Page: www.stnicholaswarren.org Volume 36 February 10, 2019 Number 6 : The Sunset Service

Vespers is an important service of the Or- worship. The result of this attitude among the thodox Church, and one with which too many of Orthodox is that many of uor people simply do our people are unacquainted. not acknowledge the existence of any service There are three basic forms of vespers: other than the Divine . Another side of small, daily, and great. Small vespers is done only this same problem is the popular view of Satur- in monasteries before a vigil service. Daily vespers day as a “day off,” a day to “take it easy” and is the normal evening service of the Church. It is enjoy oneself. Saturday night in particular is not monastic in origin or character, but is, like the considered the night to go out and socialize, to morning service of Matins, one of the church’s go to movies, dances, sports events, and other main liturgical services. Vespers and Matins form types of entertainment. Although these things the two “poles” around which the rest of the are not wrong in themselves, they are nothing Church’s daily cycle of services is arranged. In more than forms of temporary amusement and practice, most parishes do not celebrate daily ves- recreation. But the Church, on that some Satur- pers and Matins. A third form of vespers is Great day night, is offering us “re-creation:” the op- Vespers. It is celebrated in all Churches on the eves portunity to rediscover Christ as the true source of Sundays and great feasts, and is sometimes com- and content of our lives, and to re-establish our- bined with matins to selves in Him: and the form a vigil. Great Ves- experience of the pers is composed of the hope, joy, love, peace, same basic elements as and energy that comes daily vespers, although from worshiping the some of the material is Lord and living in rearranged, and more with Him hymns related to the and with each other. A feast are added. In last reason for the gen- keeping with its festal eral neglect of vespers character, most is the lack of Eucharis- and hymns are sung tic participation of during Great Vespers, many Orthodox. We whereas in daily ves- mentioned above that pers they are chanted Great vespers helps to by the reader. prepare us for the lit- From the begin- urgy and begins our ning, the Orthodox vigil for the Eucharist. Church followed the Jewish system of counting But, tragically, the Liturgy is no longer widely days from sunset to sunset (instead of from mid- understood as an ascent to the Kingdom of night to midnight, as we do). In this system, the Heaven, whose goal is the eating and drinking new day begins at sunset, so the transition from of the Bonquet of Immortality. Since, therefore, one liturgical day to the next occurs during the eve- the majority of the people will not be taking ning service. This is why all the stichiri we sing at communion, no preparation is undertaken, and vespers on Saturday night are devoted to Christ’s there is nothing to keep vigil about. resurrection. We are nolt merely preparing for Sun- The Themes day; in the Church, it already is . Thus, For those who are not yet attending ves- Great vespers commences the celebration of Sun- pers, and for those who are, we will give a short day and feastdays; and because this celebration review and explanation of the plan of this ser- will reach its peak and goal in the morning liturgy, vice. The order of service is built around four Great vespers begins our vigil (or “watch”) for the basic themes: creation, the fall of man into sin, coming of the Lord in the Eucharist, and helps to salvation, and the Kingdom of Heaven. These prepare us for this event. themes are the four major stages of the history Unfortunately, the majority of the faithful of our salvation: the world and man were cre- does not attend vespers. One reason for this is the ated good; but man sinned and separated him- attitude, instilled in us by American society, that self from God; then Christ came to save us from Sunday morning is the only appropriate time for sin and death, and when He comes again, He will take us into His Kingdom! Each theme is with You...O Israel, hope in the Lord, for with expressed by different psalms and hymns, and the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plente- they succeed one another in this order during the ous redemption, and He shall redeem Israel course of the service. It must be mentioned at form all his iniquities!” Usually at eight or ten this point that there was a certain tendency in the verses from the end of this psalm, “stichiri,” or Russian musical tradition to rather arbitrarily short hymns, begin to be inserted between the select and set to music only a few verses of some psalm verses. These stichiri are devoted to the of the vespers psalms, instead of arranging the feast we are already beginning to celebrate. entire psalm. (In fact, this happened to the 5) The Entrance/”O gladsome Light.” psalms in almost every one of the Church’s ser- The theme of salvation comes to prominence vices). This has led to a “standard” parish prac- with the entrance of the celebrant into the sanctu- tice that eliminates large sections of certain key ary and the to the high place behind psalms. The reduction of these psalms to only a the , which accompanies the singing “O few verses is most unfortunate.; Not only does it Gladsome Light.” This is one of the most ancient empty the individual psalms of their meaning, it Christian hymns known, possibly dating from as also obscures the logic behind the order of ser- early as the second century A.D. At this point in vice by making it almost impossible to recognize the service, since it was sundown, the lamps in each theme and to follow the progression from the Church were lit, and this hymn was sung to one theme to the next. Fortunately, there is now Christ, the “Light of the World!” And the a movement underway in some communities in “Never-Setting Sun,” Who will be with us our Church to restore the psalms in their entirety through the darkness of the coming night! to vespers (and other services too), and some 6) The Prokeimenon. This is a psalm new musical settings now exist for this. which normally introduces a reading form the The Structure Scriptures. Its text and tone change daily. AT 1) Psalm 104. Vespers begins with the Great vespers for a feast, these readings, called theme of creation. As we are beginning the new “paramia” remain. There are usually three read- day, we are reminded of the first day of creation: ings from the Old Testament images (or “Types) “And God said, ’Let there be light;’ and there of the people or events of the feast. Although no was light. And God saw that the light was good; reading are presently called for a Sunday, the and God separated the light from the darkness. prokeimenon is still sung. God called the light Day, and the darkness He 7) Vouchsafe. The prayer “Vouchsafe, O called Night. And there was evening and there Lord…” has its roots in the “Song of the Three was morning, one day.” (Genesis 1:3-5). In Young Men” recorded in the Book of Daniel, psalm 104 we praise the goodness, beauty, order and asks that we be preserved “this night with- and diversity of His creation, and His continual out sin.” “Vouchsafe” is also the “official” tran- care for it: “How manifold are Your works, O sition point from one Liturgical day to the next Lord! In wisdom have you made them all!” during the service. It should be sung, rather than 2) The Great Litany. This is the great in- chanted, at Great vespers. tercessory prayer of the Church, and is con- 8) The Apostica. This is another combi- cerned with the general welfare of the Church, nation of a psalm and hymns, alternating verses the people, and the country, asking for the of the psalm with stichiri, on the same pattern as “peace from on high.” “Lord I call…” 3) The First . (“Blessed is the 9) St. Simeon’s Prayer/ through man…”) The Book of Psalms is divided into “Our Father.” “Lord, now let Your servant de- twenty sections called “kathismi.” All twenty part in peace…” This is the prayer that the right- kathismi are read in the Church throughout the eous elder Simeon sang when, after a lifetime of course of the week, and the cycle begins at Sat- waiting, he finally saw Christ and recognized urday evening vespers with the first kathisma. Him as the Messiah. Simeon saw: Christ only as The entire first kathisma is eight psalms, but in an infant in the temple, yet he could say, “...my current practice it has been reduced to sic verses. eyes have seen Your Salvation!...” We Chris- 4) “Lord I call…” (Psalm 141-2,130) tians have seen the whole drama of our Salvation This is the core of vespers, and it coincides with - The Cross, the Resurrection, the Ascension— the offering up of the evening incense: “Let my accomplished; we have been baptized into prayer arise in Your sight as incense, and let Christ, and we know that in the Church, “The the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacri- Kingdom of Heaven is in our midst.” We have fice.” We have moved from the theme of crea- now come to the theme of the Kingdom. This tion into that of the Fall. Man separated himself section ends with the “Our Father,” and with from God by sin, and now he finds himself far the fervent hope that His Kingdom will come. away from his Creator: “Give heed to my cry, This hope will be fully realized when Christ for I am brought very low!...Out of the depths I comes again, but our prayer is already answered have cried to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my “in anticipation” when we eat and drink at His voice!” From this lowest point there is a gradual Table, in His Kingdom, at the ! movement towards hope in the mercy of God: 10) The . This troparion is the “If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O theme song of the feast, and sets the tone for our Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness celebration. On Sundays, there are eight Wednesday, February 27th 4:00 p.m. The (“” or “Eight Tones”) different Service to the with prayers troparia to the Resurrection, one for each musi- for the sick and anointing of the faithful. cal tone. We encourage all Orthodox Christians to rediscover the service of vespers, and to experi- Happy Birthday! ence its richness! - By: Barbara Sevansky - Nina Christley…………………….

Our Worship Schedule

Sunday, Feb- ruary 10th 9:30 a.m. The Reading of the Third Hour. 10:00 a.m. The Sun- day of Zac- cheus, Tone Trisagion Service 4, (Page 90). The Hiero- There will be a Memorial Service offered martyr Hara- this morning, at the conclusion of the Divine Lit- lambos, Vir- urgy. This Trisagion is offered for the repose of gin Martyrs: the souls of +Gus Tsimpinos, on the anniversary E n n a t h a , of his repose and the newly departed, Valentina & Paula are commemorated. +Eleftherios Karakatsanis in ovservance of the —I Timothy 4:9-15 40th day of his repose. All are invited to attend —Luke 19:1-10 to lend their voices to ours. The blessed Koliva can be shared in the Fellowship Hall after the Wednesday, February 13th 4:00 p.m. The service. Akathist Service to the Theotokos with prayers With the Saints, O Lord, grant rest to for the sick and anointing of the Myro of the Your departed servants: +Gus Tsimpinos and faithful! +Eleftherios, where there is no pain, sorrow nor mourning but only Life-Everlasting! Eternal be Saturday, February 16th 4:00 p.m. The Evening their Memories!!! Vesper Service followed by Bible Study Class.

Sunday, February 17th 9:30 a.m. The Reading Home Blessing of the Third Hour. 10:00 a.m. The Lenten : Sunday T h e of the Publican & Pharisee, Tone 5 (Pages 93 T h e o p h a n y &175). The Great Martyr Theodore of Tyro, Home Bless- Venerable Roman of Ternov and Relics of Me- ing season is nas of Alexandria are commemorated. now coming Epistle—2 Timothy 3:10-15 to an end. If Gospel—Luke 18:10-14 Father Ken has not yet Wednesday, February 20th 4:00 p.m. The c o n t a c t e d Akathist Service to the Theotokos with prayers you, you are assured it is by accident. The best for the sick and anointing of the faithful! way to proceed now is to give Father Ken a call so that a day and time for your Home Blessing Saturday, February 23rd 4:00 p.m. The Evening can be scheduled. It is always his intention to Vesper Service followed by Bible Study Class. bring the Blessings of the Jordan River to each home of our faithful parishioners! Sunday, February 24th 9:30 a.m. The Reading Father Ken would like to express his sin- of the Third Hour. cere thanks to everyone for their hospitality, pa- 10:00 a.m. The Lenten Triodion: Sunday tience and generosity! It has been a very pleasant of the Prodigal Son, Tone 6 (Pages 96 & 175). Theophany season because of your cooperation. The 1st & 2nd Discovery of the Head of St. John May the Blessings of the Lord, from the Jordan the Baptist, and St. Erasimus is commemorated. River be with all of you in peace, good health, Epistle—1 Corinthians 6:12-20 joy and salvation, this year and many more to Gospel—Luke 15:11-32 come!!! take outs was $2,768.55 dollars. The weekly ex- Samaritan Outreach penses came to $812.43. This gave us a net profit of $1,956.12 for the week. What a great blessing this is The next event on for us! the schedule for our St. The cabbage has already been taken care of Nicholas Samaritan Out- already. Now Kitchen Crew workers will be needed reach will be a Free Din- on Tuesday morning for rolling the Holupki and in ner! This has been sched- the evening for cooking/mashing the potatoes. uled for Tuesday, Febru- Wednesday crew members will pinch and cook the ary 26, 2019 at the Perohi and of course, Thursday is the heating of the American Legion Hall in food, serving the dinners, as well as packing the take Windham, Ohio. We are -outs. now soliciting your stew- Your stewardship of time and talent will be ardship of time and talent greatly appreciated this week, and until the conclu- for this ministry of our sion of this season. May the Lord bless you abun- parish. We need help set- dantly for your time, talent and enthusiastic dedica- ting up, cooking and cleaning after the meal. If tion to this fund raiser of our parish! you are able to assist us in any of these responsi- bilities please either contact: Father Ken, Sis Albers or Jeff Yenchochik during the Sunday cof- Lenten Retreats fee socials. So far, the menu for this dinner will be: Informa- Beef and Noodles, Vegetables, Potatoes, Dessert tion concerning and a Beverage. The food will be cooked in the the upcoming Church kitchen on Tuesday afternoon. The food Diocesan Lenten will be transported to the hall that Tuesday and Retreats has been dinner will be served from 5:00 until 6:00 p.m. released by the Take out dinners will be packed after everyone has Diocesan Chan- been served their meal. cery. The central You are asked to aid us in this ministry of region, which feeding those in need in some of the parts of our includes our area that have the least ability to receive needed Y o u n g s t o w n aid! We offer this ministry to the Glory of the Lord , Lenten and in honor of our beloved Patron, St. Nicholas of Retreat has been Myra, Patron of those in need! scheduled for Saturday, April 6, There will be a 2019. It will be held at St. Nicholas Church, 903 Ann short meeting of our St. Street in Homestead, Pennsylvania. It will be held Nicholas Book Club from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. after the Divine Liturgy. The adult/teen Lenten Theme is: “Focusing We ask that everyone On the Ladder of Divine Ascent and Our Spiritual interested in joining us Journey: One Step At a Time” with the speaker be- please stay in the front ing Metropolitan Gregory. The children’s Lenten two pews for the meet- Theme is “Windows to Heaven— of Divine As- ing. We will not pick cent & The Feasts of the Lord” by Father David Ur- out the new book to ban. read, especially during There will be a Free Will Offering collected , which is the at registration that will include a continental Break- perfect time to devote to fast and light Lenten Lunch. Information Packs with spiritual reflection. the schedule and additional information are available If anyone is interested in learning more of on the table in the Parish Atrium. Those wishing to their Orthodox Christian Faith and how to better attend are to kindly inform Father Ken. We will try implement it in their lives, consider join us for this to have a car pool for transportation to the retreat. meeting and the St. Nick’s Book Club! The more that we have the greater insights we can share!

Our Church Kitchen

Our Internationally Renowned Perohi & Holupki Dinners were served, in our Fellowship Hall this week! We are forever grateful to the Lord, for His blessings, our valued customers and especially our dedicated Kitchen Crew! This is Our Gifts to the Lord! always the key to our success in this fund raiser of our parish! One of the many acts of worship conducted at The income from the sale of dinners and each Sunday Divine Liturgy, is performed in our TESTgenerous PAGE donations 5 TEXT made during the Church Offer- In conjunction with this “Kick-Off” week- ing! This is an excellent way of expressing our end will be the Annual Camp Nazareth Family love, devotion to the Lord, as well as our thanks- Camp! For one low price the entire family can stay giving, for the many blessings received from His at the camp this weekend! This will be held from Hands! May 31st until June 2nd. This year’s theme is: We would like to share with you the Church “Being in a Believing Family” There are examples Offerings from last Sunday’s Church Offering: of families that kept believing even when it was Regular Offering $1,150.00/ Candle Offering difficult. Come and learn about them and help your $81.00/ Church Dues $600.00/ Donation 460.00/ family believe and rejoice in God! Total Church Offerings = $1,891.00. Register online at CAMPNAZA- The financial officers of our parish issued a RETH.ORG/ email: CAMPNAZA- plea for parishioners to contribute their $75.00 dol- [email protected]/ or call: (724) 662-4840. lar, per adult, head stipend last month. This is one The Third Item: Applications for various of the financial requirements required for each positions on the Camp Nazareth Summer Staff are adult of our parish. The other financial requirement now being accepted. Staff positions such as, coun- is the weekly offerings. We would like to thank selors, head counselor, kitchen workers, janitorial, those who have paid this obligation thus enabling etc. If anyone from our parish 18 years of age and our parish to submit our financial obligations to the older are interested please contact Father Stephen Diocese in a timely manner. by email or phone. These applications should get to If you have not yet paid your Annual him by March 15th so that interviews for potential “Dues” Stipen, please check your records and take staff members can be scheduled. care of this responsibility as soon as possible. Your And Finally, The Youngstown Deanery kind cooperation is greatly appreciated! Camping Session has been scheduled for July 28th May our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, until August 3rd! Online registration will begin on magnify your gracious gifts 100 fold, for the con- March 1st! This is for all of our youth from 8 to 18 tinuing salvic work being done here at our beloved years of age! St. Nicholas Church and the extension of His Heav- Parents, get ready to sign up your children! enly Kingdom!!! The camping fee for 2019 will be: Diocesan Mem- ber $320.00 and Non Diocesan Member $370.00. Camp Nazareth News There are Full Summer Camping Scholarships available through our Church School and other N o w sponsors. If you need a scholarship, please contact that we are Father Ken. facing some Take advantage of the “Early Bird Special” w i n t e r by registering your child and paying by May 15, w e a t h e r 2019 and receive a discount, per child, (one time what better only, not per week)! Registrations received after way to get June 15th will incur an additional $20.00 late fee! over the “ w i n t e r blues” than thinking about activities for the sum- Scholarships Available mer! We want to inform our parishioners about some important activities that have been planned Applications for two scholarships adminis- for Camp Nazareth! tered by the Department of Philanthropy of the First of all: the Second Annual Diocesan Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America are now Senior Retreat that has been scheduled for May 13- available to students from Orthodox Churches af- 16, 2019 at Camp Nazareth! The theme of this ex- filiated with the Assembly of . The Malta citing conference is: “How’s Your ’Eyesight’?” Scholarship is for undergraduate studies, and the Keeping Your Focus on God as a Senior”! Paleologos Scholarship is awarded for graduate This is geared to seniors’ needs and inter- work of a non-theological nature. ests 55+ and will offer something for everyone. The Each of these scholarships was established event promises laughter, joy and relaxation, along through generous gifts from dedicated Greek Or- with fun activities and delicious meals! The sched- thodox Christians who wanted to provide financial ule will include Church services, social hours, assistance towards the education of young people meals, presentation, free-time, evening entertain- from the Orthodox Christian community. ment, and more! Place this on your calendar and Applications can be downloaded from the sign up at acrod.org or call the camp at 1(724) 662- website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese fo 4840. Info packs are on the table in the Atrium! America at: www.goarch.org/-/scholarships. For Secondly, The annual “Kick-Off” to the more information, please email: scholar- 2019 Camping Season is the celebration of Family [email protected], or call: (212) 774-0283. The Day! This has been scheduled for Sunday, June 2, deadline for submitting an application for these 2019 beginning to the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy scholarships is May 3, 2019! beginning at 10:00 a.m. that morning. Following This information is also posted on the bulle- the services there will be a delicious meal in the tin boards of our parish complex. Please consult Main Dining Hall of the Main Lodge, along with this for additional information. other activities during the afternoon!