ST. ELIA’S NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2019 СЛАВА ІСУСУ ХРИСТУ! CONTACTS СЛАВА НАВІКИ! UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ST. ELIA GLORY BE TO JESUS CHRIST! 11833 – 66 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5B 1J2 GLORY FOREVER! Office:780-471-2288 / Kitchen: 780-479-8824 Kitchen Contact: Donna Marianych 587-784-7082 SUNDAY WORSHIP HOURS: WEBSITES 9:30 am Confessions St. Elia: www.uocc-stelia.ca 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada: www.uocc.ca Western Eparchy: www.uocc-we.ca UPCOMING EVENTS CLERGY PRIEST: Very Rev. Mitred Archpriest Fr. Georg Podtepa St. Elias 2018 AGM Meeting: Home: 780-477-2583 / Cell: 780-984-6290 Sunday, December 1st, 2019 COUNCIL Mission Outreach committee invites you to midmonth fellowship November 10 President: Alex Werstiuk 780-462-6468 after Divine Liturgy 1st Vice-President: Tammy Ewanec 780-474-4867 2nd Vice-President: Betty Corlett 780-932-9727 Annual Holodomor Commemoration Secretary: Sub Dcn. Evan Panchuk 780-203-3439 Saturday, Nov 23, 2019 12:15 PM Assistant Secretary: Helen Hayduk 780-476-1115 At the Legislature Building Treasurer: Walter Marcenuik 780-463-9646 10800 97 Ave NW, Edmonton Assistant Treasurer: Mary Ann Tymchuk 780-479-7972 There will be a commemoration of the Hospodar: Al Hayduk 780-476-1115 Holodomor Day Act , a candle lighting with Directors: Bill Ewanec 780-474-4867 representatives of the Alberta Government, Dan Kobasiuk 780-473-4081 the Ukrainian Canadian Community and a Orest Macyk 780-417-5294 Survivor of the Holodomor. Andrii Sumaruk 587-338-8777 Club Trident President: Ivan Sawchuk 780-988-5862 UWAC President: Donna Marianych 587-784-7082 Mission Outreach: Myrna Kostash 780-433-0710 NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION * If you know any Church memebers who can’t attend a service but want to receive our monthly Sunday Bulletin and Newsletter Contacts: newsletter to their home, please let me know. Myrna Kostash 780-433-0710 Barbara Panchuk ([email protected]) Barbara Panchuk 780-710-5052 NOVEMBER FEAST AND SAINTS’ DAYS NOVEMBER 2: DEMETRIUS SOUL SATURDAY Saturday of Souls (or Soul Saturday) is a day set aside for the commemoration of the dead within the liturgical year of the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic Churches. Saturday is a traditional day of prayer for the dead, because Christ lay dead in the Tomb on Saturday. There are several Soul Saturdays throughout the year: • The Saturday of Meatfare Week (the second Saturday before Great Lent) • The second Saturday of Great Lent • The third Saturday of Great Lent • The fourth Saturday of Great Lent • Radonitsa (Monday or Tuesday after St. Thomas Sunday, i.e. Second Sunday of Easter) • The Saturday before Pentecost • Demetrius Saturday (the Saturday before the feast of Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki, i.e. 2 November). These days are devoted to prayer for departed relatives and others among the faithful who would not be commemorated specifically as saints. The Divine Services on these days have special hymns added to them to commemorate the departed. (This is especially to benefit those who have no one on earth to pray for them). NOVEMBER 8: Feast of Holy and Glorious Great Martyr Saint Demetrius, The Myrrh-Streamer The holy, glorious and right-victorious Great-martyr [Velykyi Muchenyk] Demetrius of Thessaloniki the Myrrh-streamer (also Demetrios) is one of the most popular saints in the Orthodox world. He was martyred around the year 306 in Thessalonica, and his cult rapidly grew during the Middle Ages, when he was regarded as the first recognized patron and protector of the city, militarily as well as spiritually. Extreme popularity for Saint Demetrios is first attested in the sixth century. It grew because of his miraculous interventions in defense of the city during the many sieges it endured during the early Middle Ages, particularly by Slavic tribesmen who overran the old provinces of Hellas and Macedonia during the sixth through eighth centuries. His cult was centered around the basilica that bears his name in Thessaloniki, which contained a ciborium a canopy-like structure which acted as a cenotaph, since his relics had not been found. Later his relics were found and confirmed through their miraculous outpouring of myrrh -- hence the saint’s epithet of “Myrrh-streamer.” 3 He is depicted in earlier images in civilian aristocratic garb of the late Roman Empire, and in later iconography as a Byzantine soldier. Because of his military protection he is often paired with St. George of Cappadocia, another great military saint. They are usually depicted on horseback, with St. Demetrios spearing a man (perhaps one of the pagan Slavs whose assaults he warded off from his city), while St. George spears a dragon. The saints are both youthful and unbearded, but can be distinguished by certain characteristics, including hair style and the colors of their garments and horses. NOVEMBER 21: Synaxis of Holy Archangel Michael, Leader of the Heavenly Hosts According to the Holy Scriptures, the angels, human beings, and all nature were created by God. With the words, “In the beginning God created Heaven and earth” (Gen. 1:1), we have the first indication that God created the spiritual world. Here, in contrast to earth, a substantial world, this world of spirits is called Heaven. The angels were already present during the creation of the starry skies, which is evidenced by the words of God spoken to Job, “When the stars were created, all My angels sang praises to Me” (Job 38:7). http://orthochristian.com/65888.html The Angelic Ranks are divided into three Hierarchies: highest, middle, and lowest. In the Highest Hierarchy are included the three Ranks: the Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. Closest of all to the Most Holy Trinity stand the six-winged Seraphim (Flaming, and Fiery) They blaze with love for God and impel others to it. After the Seraphim there stand before the Lord the many-eyed Cherubim (Gen 3:24). Their name means: outpouring of wisdom, enlightenment, since through them -- radiating with the light of Divine-knowledge and understanding of the mysteries of God, there is sent down wisdom and enlightenment for true Divine-knowledge. http://orthochristian. com/65892.html NOVEMBER 26: ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM St. John Chrysostom, (born 347 AD Antioch, Syria—died September 14, 407, Comana, Helenopontus);), early Church Father, biblical interpreter, and archbishop of Constantinople. The zeal and clarity of his preaching, which appealed especially to the common people, his denunciation of abuse of authority in the Church and in the Roman Empire of the time earned him the Greek surname meaning “golden-mouthed.” His tenure as archbishop was stormy, and he died in exile. His relics were brought back to Constantinople about 438, and he was later declared a doctor (teacher) of the church. The most frequently used of the three Eucharistic services of the Eastern Orthodox Church is called the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, but this is only an attribution. The Prayer of St. John Chrysostom in The Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England is taken from this liturgy, www.britannica. com/biography/Saint-John-Chrysostom MESSAGE FROM PARISH PRESIDENT As the president of St. Elias Church I would like to express my appreciation towards all the members for their continued support and dedication. The hospodars and altar servers continue to help keep the Church in good working order. The members of the ladies and mens organizations UWAC and TYC continue to support the Church and help with their time and efforts to keep our doors open. Our gatherings to make perogies are continuing. Thanks to everyone who is able to come help. If you would like to lend a hand please contact me. A select few of us from the church board were able to attend the recent Western Eparchy Assembly (Oct. 25-27). Thank you to everyone on the Church board for your attention to detail and helpful involvement in our meetings. Welcome to all new members of St. Elias. We hope you feel at home with us. President, Alex Werstiuk Message from the Mission Outreach Committee MISSION OUTREACH FELLOWSHIP NOVEMBER 10 Your Mission Outreach committee invites you to midmonth fellowship November 10, the Sunday before Remembrance Day. After a memorial service, Fr. Georg will come down and give the blessing. There will also be an update regarding the outreach to Highlands School. On September 23 we received this email from the principal, Maureen Matthews: Thank you very much for reaching out. Highlands would love to continue the very generous partnership with the Mission Outreach Committee at St Elias Ukrainian Orthodox Church. When I previously spoke with staff they voiced their overwhelming appreciation of the perogy donation to our students/lunch program and I know if such a donation could be repeated it would be greatly appreciated. As we are an Arts Core school any venture that would bring an “arts” perspective or activity into our school/to our students would also be valuable. I believe Myrna spoke about Ukrainian egg decorating as one such option, but we would certainly be open to other forms of Ukrainian art - perhaps a guest artist/instructor to lead an activity with an Art class. 5 NEW WHITE VESTMENTS FOR FATHER Dear members of St. Elias! The Church board has humbly decided to reach out to you and ask for a gift of love donation towards Fr. Georg’s new white vestments. Anything you are willing to give will be appreciated and put towards the cost of these new vestments. Please contact Mary Ann Tymchuk regarding your donation. On behalf of the board we thank you for your response and generosity. NOV 8 Upcoming& news and events at our sister parishes and in the Ukrainian Community DEC 20 Sunday, November 3, 2019 60th Anniversary of St.