e knew not whether we “Wwere in heaven or earth… We only know that God dwells there among men, and their service is fairer than the ceremonies of St. Sophia Orthodox Church other nations. a Parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia The ” 195 Joseph Street, Victoria, British Columbia Canada V8S 3H6 Orthodox email: [email protected] website: www.saintsophia.ca Church Services are in English ith these words, envoys sent from Russia by Prince Vladimir in the Saturday Wyear 987 recorded their impression of Constantinople’s awesome Orthodox Cathedral, Vigil – 6 p.m. – Всенощное бдение Hagia Sophia. They had been sent to search for the true religion. Within a year of their report, Sunday Prince Vladimir and the Russian people were Hours – 10 a.m. – Часы baptized in Christ by Orthodox missionaries. Today, as in Prince Vladimir’s time, the Orthodox Divine Liturgy – 10:30 a.m. – Божественная Литургия Church – fully aware that man is a union of body Vespers – 5 p.m. – Вечерня and soul – uses all the beauty of creation to move her faithful children to prayer and worship: icons, Archpriest John Adams beautiful singing, sweet-smelling incense, and Deacon Gordian Bruce majestic services. The Greek word ‘Orthodoxia’ means ‘correct praise’ or ‘correct teaching’ and in the Orthodox worship the praise and teaching are closely interwoven. Jesus Christ founded His Church through the Apostles. By the grace received from God at Pentecost, the Apostles established the Church throughout the world. In Greece, Russia, and elsewhere, the True Apostolic Church continues to flourish, preserving the Faith of Christ pure and unchanged.) MMaayy 22001166 SSeerrvviicceess Bright Saturday May 7- Vigil 6pm Thomas Sunday May 8- Liturgy 10:30am Artos dispersed after service Father John blessing the Orthodox graves at Royal Oak and Ross Bay Cemeteries for Radonitsa, after Liturgy, with parish picnic following /weather permitting Saturday May 14- Vigil 6pm Sunday May 15- Liturgy 10:30am Sunday Evening Vespers- 5pm Saturday May 21- Vigil 6pm Sunday May 22- Liturgy 10:30am Sunday Evening Vespers- 5pm Tuesday May 24- Vigil 6pm for Mid-Pentecost Wednesday May 25- Liturgy 10:30am; Mid-Pentecost Saturday May 28- Vigil 6pm Sunday May 29- Liturgy 10:30am Sunday Evening Vespers- 5pm May Parish Saint’s Days Congratulations to matushka Alexandra, Shura M, Irena, Iouri, Isidora, Marcos D, Marcus S, Rodney- Mark, James B, James P, Christopher, and Kiff. May God grant you all many, many, years! Church Cleaners Thank you month of May Church Cleaners, especially with the extra services during, Holy Week and Pascha. May God reward your continuous, diligent, and loving efforts! Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday The Lord's descent into the underworld 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 flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear. He has gone to search for our first 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 first 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 crucified 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 firmly 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 an ancient homily for Holy Saturday -http://www.orthodox.net/pascha/holy-saturday-homily.html Christ’s Descent into Hades This icon is frequently referred to as the Anastasis or Resurrection Icon. Christ’s cape/robe is flowing upward, this symbolizes his radical descent into Hades to save all who have died. The golden bars by His feet are the gates of Hades, which he has broken and torn apart. At Pascha, a tradition includes the cracking our blessed Pascha eggs together. This represents the how Christ shattered the gates of Hades. There are keys floating in the abyss below, which symbolizes that he has entered and conquered both death and Hades. You may also note the skeletal figure who is chained up: that is Death. He has been bound and killed by Christ (all throughout Pascha we sing “Christ has trampled down death by death”). The two figures whom Christ has grasped and is pulling on are Adam and Eve, symbolizing that his victory redeems all mankind, even back to the beginning. This resurrection scene is taking place in the past, present, and future. To his left, we see three Old Testament saints: Kings David and Solomon, two of his ancestors according to his fleshly nature. We also see, closest to him John the Baptizer, who was his forerunner in both life and death. On the right, we have the New Testament, including the apostles who are alive. The purpose is to show that Christ’s redemption transcends time and space. This is an act that happened in the past, is happening right now, and will happen in the future. Christ is always in the state of redeeming and setting us free. The blue shape around Christ is called the Mandorla (which is Italian for almond, which describes its shape). The Mandorla is the uncreated, eternal light of Christ. In the writings of the Eastern Orthodox mystics, God is often prayerfully experienced as light. This is not simply a pretty bright light. It is the same light which filled the apostles with wonder when they witnessed His Transfiguration. It is the light which Christ Himself described as the power of the Kingdom of God (Mark 9:1 Matt 16:28 Luke 9:27). It is the light that filled the once perpetual darkness of Hades when Christ descended and brought life into the realm of death. It is also the light that is seen when one purifies their heart and mind (Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.) Those who seek God will find that the more they know Him, the less they comprehend Him. To know God, to experience Him, is to walk in the darkness of His light, to enter into the mystery of His presence. - From St. Sophia Youth Choir Education Let us Be Radiant Christ Is Risen This joyful exclamation fills the whole world. It fills and renews it, for Christ the Lord has conquered all the powers of evil - henceforth the "new creation" reigns. The depths of hell are destroyed.