1 The Prophet IN THIS ISSUE: Rector’s Report pp. 1-2 Memory Eternal pg. 2 monthly newsletter of Many Years pg. 2 Parish Prayer List pg. 3 St. John the Baptist October Commemorations pp. 3-11 “Thoughts about Parish Life” pp. 11-12 Orthodox Church by Apr. Victor Potapov Orthodox Church in America “A Hymn to the Lesser Good” pp. 12-14 by Abp. John (Shahovskoy) Archdiocese of Pittsburgh “Not a Single Individual Will Be Saved” pp. 14-15 601 Boone Avenue, Canonsburg, PA 15317 by Apr. Stephen Freeman 724-745-8216 – www.frunner.org – Upcoming Events (Oct.-Dec.) pp. 15-18 https://www.facebook.com/frunneroca/ Ministry Schedules pp. 18 Attachments pg. 18 October, AD 2019 RECTOR’S REPORT: Glory to Jesus Christ! Slava Isusu Christu! Dear faithful parishioners, friends, and family of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church: it is my great pleasure to be here with you, and to greet you as your acting rector. I hope to be a part of your jour- ney into the Kingdom of Heaven for many years to come! My singular prayer is that we will grow in our love for one another, and most especially for our Lord Jesus Christ. My first month as the acting rector here has been a real blessing, if only because I haven’t had to be much of a rector at all: if we look at the literal meaning of the word, it comes from the Latin ‘rec- tus’, meaning ‘straight’, and so the rector is the per- son appointed by the bishop to, in his absence, keeps the parish aright and on the straight and nar- row path to the Kingdom. Thankfully, not much straightening out has been required at all, for I fol- low a truly great pastor and leader in Fr. Joe. In- stead, it has been my joy to get to focus more than anything on performing my pastoral duties as your Protection of the Mother of God (Oct. 1) acting rector: offering up the divine sacrifice of the Eucharist and other sacraments as your priest, guiding us all along the Christian path as pastor, and offering a word here and there as preacher and Acting Rector, Fr. John Joseph Kotalik teacher. 425-503-2891 – [email protected] Along these lines, I cannot forget let it go unmen- tioned how humbled I am by your interest in 2 learning more about the Orthodox Faith: our Stud- for breakfast on Thursday mornings at 9:00 AM, at ies in Orthodoxy talks have averaged around 20 Shelley’s Pike Inn in Houston, for at least the next faithful parishioners each Wednesday evening. If few weeks. Please RSVP by the morning of, so that you haven’t yet come, please don’t hesitate to join, I can give the café a decent count. This will con- and the content could easily be enjoyed by our tinue through for the next few weeks, at least. teens and young adults as well! May we continue to grow in love for one another We first spoke about what it means to be an Ortho- and for our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us all strive to dox Christian, and how it means to worship and es- find opportunities to show that love for one an- teem God in the correct manner, for what we be- other, and to pray for each other, so that we can lieve about God will determine how we worship ever grow closer – both the veterans of our parish Him and live our lives as His servants. and those who are new – and thereby be strength- ened as we journey to the heavenly Kingdom of Now, for the past few weeks, we have been focus- our Lord Jesus Christ. ing on the Divine Liturgy, which is comprised of the Liturgy of Preparation (Proskomedia), the Lit- In Christ, with thanks and love, urgy of the Word (or Catechumens), and the Lit- Fr. John Joseph Kotalik IV urgy of the Eucharist (or Faithful). Acting Rector In particular, we drew attention to the fact that the names we commemorate at the Proskomedia, rep- MEMORY ETERNAL: resented by the small particle of bread taken out for (Вѣчная память) each name, are symbolically united with the Body of Christ, and submerged in His Blood which We continue our 40 days of prayer for: washes away our sins, after the Communion of the Abp. Nikon (9/1) Julia Kochanski (9/8) Faithful. A as testament that we took that to heart, Rd. Michael Povich (9/13) the next Sunday we had a run on commemoration We commemorate the anniversaries of: slips, with the candle desk running out! Michael Gabowsky (10/1/2000) Paul Telep (10/4/1990) We also spoke about how a ‘liturgy’, in its pre- Anna Zsidisian (10/4/1996) Christian meaning, was a public work done on be- Joseph Chobany (10/10/2002) half of the people, usually be a rich benefactor Margaret Udodow (10/20/1993) would offer the materials and would hire the work- Charles Lenart (10/20/2008) men needed to complete the project. The Divine Michael Furman (10/21/2000) Liturgy is thus a divine work done on behalf of the Nicholas Dano (10/22/2011) people: God is the greatest Benefactor, who offers Mary Uchal (10/25/1981) us His Son in and through the Divine Liturgy, with Hermine Feyche (10/26/1996) the priests and faithful being the faithful servants Stephen Zubenko (10/26/1999) of the Benefactor, each doing our part in this great- Andrew Chopak (10/28/1990) Thomas Chopak (10/28/2009) est of divine gifts. Julia Holovach (10/19/2007) Furthermore, we spoke about how the Divine Lit- urgy – together with all the Great Sacraments of the MANY YEARS: Church – bring us into the Kingdom of Heaven, which is made present in our midst through the Di- (Многая и благая лѣта) vine Liturgy. Namedays: Rick (Romanus) Pierce (10/1) Speaking of the Divine Liturgy, serving it here with Luke Ruffing (10/18) you all has been the greatest pleasure of them all. Luke Phillis (10/18) What a blessing it has been! Abigail Joelle Strennen (10/19) I hope that we can get to know each other more Eric (James) Bell (10/23) deeply, and to that end I invite you all to join me Alfred Davis (10/26) 3 Birthdays: THIS MONTH’S COMMEMORATIONS: Steven Schenken (10/2) Apr. Joseph Oleynik (10/4) Juliana Oleynik (10/4) Michael Pazuchanics (10/6) Oct. 1st, The Protection of the Theotokos: We Daniel Cario (10/6) John Petronka (10/11) begin the month of October by commemorating the Isabella Petronka (10/15) Daniel Yarosh (10/16) miraculous appearance of the Mother of God in the John Migyanko III (10/17) Kyra Schenken (10/23) Blachernae Church of Our Lady in Constantinople, Katie Udodow (10/24) Jane Shamitko (10/29) where her robe, veil, and belt/sash were preserved. Samuel Simko (10/29) On Sunday, Oct. 1, the faithful of the city gathered Anniversaries: to beg her protection against a large Russian inva- Stephen & Julie Simko (10/4/97) sion of the city (this was when the Russians were Bob & Kyra Schenken (10/8/89) still pagan). In the middle of the All-Night Vigil, Greg & Jane Shamitko (10/14/72) St. Andrew, the Fool-for-Christ and Slav by birth, John & Lisanne Migyanko (10/20/91) beheld St. Mary praying for the besieged city, “re- Paula & Joseph Phillis (10/21/89) splendent with heavenly light and surrounded by Christopher & Wendy Petronka (10/21/95) an assembly of the Saints: St. John the Baptist and Jerry & Lorrie Strennen (10/29/95) the holy Apostle John the Theologian accompanied If you or a loved one are missing, please let the Queen of Heaven. On bended knees the Most Fr. John know so that he can correct our records! Holy Virgin tearfully prayed for Christians for a long time. Then, coming near the Bishop’s Throne, she continued her prayer. After completing her PARISH PRAYER LIST: prayer she took her veil and spread it over the peo- We pray for the health and salvation of ALL our ple praying in church, protecting them from ene- parish family members, but especially for: mies both visible and invisible. The Most Holy Met. Theodosius (Lazor) Lady Theotokos was resplendent with heavenly Apr. Paul (Lazor) glory, and the protecting veil in her hands gleamed Apr. John (Reeves) ‘more than the rays of the sun.’ St. Andrew gazed Apr. Stephen & Mat. Emily (Shuga) trembling at the miraculous vision and he asked his Apr. Gregory (Hatrak) disciple, the blessed Epiphanius standing beside Dn. Gregory (Jewett) him, ‘Do you see, brother, the Holy Theotokos, Dn. Mark & Mat. Kelly Elizabeth (Oleynik) praying for all the world?’ Epiphanius answered, ‘I Mat. Alexandra (Safchuk) do see, holy Father, and I am in awe.’ The Ever- John (Boschuk) Darcie (Burkholder) Blessed Mother of God implored the Lord Jesus Elaine (Gwen Bushko) Christ to accept the prayers of all the people calling Eleanor (Comstock) on His Most Holy Name, and to respond speedily John (Petronka) to her intercession, ‘O Heavenly King, accept all Anastasia (Rudolph) those who pray to Thee and who call upon my John (Rusinko) name for help. Do not let them go away from my Carol (Sweda) icon unheard.’ (taken from www.oca.org/fs). Over Dennis (Sweda) time, this became one of the principle feasts of the Justin & Alexis, and the child to be born of her Russian Church, and known by the name of (DeArmitt) ‘Pokrov’, which means both ‘protection’ and ‘veil’: Joseph & Katherine and the child to be born of her (Helinski) it is celebrated like one of the Twelve Great Feasts.