Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Mt 11.28
His Eminence Metropolitan SABA Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America His Grace Bishop Alexander
Pastor: Fr John Vazquez| fatherjohnvazquez@gmail.com | stgeorgealbany.org | 1 St George's Pl Albany
Office Hours: Mon/Fri 10am-5pm/Confessions: After weekly services or by appointment
Parish Council Leadership: Chair—Michella Rizk, Treasurer—Ranya Palmer, Secretary—Daniel Palmer, Vice Chair—Linda Grady
Beloved,
Cultivating a fire and love for Christ in our hearts is the most important thing we can do in our lives. How do we do this important work? Part of the answer has to do with time. Tomorrow is one of our monthly "Youth Days," one of the purposes of which is to kindle a flame for Christ. The responsibility to raise our children in the Church is an important one given to us as Christians but, it is not only those who are of a "young age" who are to be "raised" in the Church.
Each of us is called to—like a child—continue to seek Christ and grow in Him. In fact, it is our understanding that we will never stop growing in our relationship and knowledge of God through our life in the Church. St Paul, tells us that, just like a growing child, at first as Christians we are fed with "milk"—that is, the basic and simple mysteries of the faith—but that eventually we are called to partake of "meat"—those deeper mysteries of the faith (1 Cor 3.2). So we see that our life as Christians is a progression from lower to higher, from simple to rich, from shallow to deep. This growth in Christ that is expected for us as Christians causes us to reflect from time to time...has my faith grown, deepened and ascended higher or am I at the same level of understanding as I was when I was a child in Christ?
If you are satisfied with where you are, thinking that you have grown and progressed, it is a sign to you that you have not gotten very far in the spiritual life...
What should our response be then? Well, in a certain way this is trick question because instead of analyzing our growth we instead turn our focus to spending time with the Lord and making Him a part of our lives as much as we can. Through this singular focus there will be natural growth—not that we can measure through some kind of test of knowledge—but rather growth known and seen by Christ.
The more time we spend with the Lord, the better chance there is that the flame of love will be kindled in our hearts for Him and that He who is a consuming fire (Heb 12.29) and Love itself (1 John 4.8) will set our heart ablaze with love for Him.
With love in Christ,
Fr John
Services and Events
Friday, October 24th—8am—3rd Hour and Orthros
Saturday, October 25th—3pm—YOUTH DAY
Saturday, October 25th—5pm—9th Hour and Great Vespers w/Bible Study to follow (Psalms)
Sunday, October 26th—8:45am—M. Office, Orthros and Divine Liturgy followed by memorial for Raymond Jefferson followed by a Parish Breakfast
Monday, October 27th—8:15am—Coffee with the Fathers join us at Alias Coffee as on Pearl St in Albany as we work through Hymns on Paradise by St Ephrem the Syrian
Monday, October 27th—12pm—6th Hour and Parkalesis of the Theotokos
Wednesday, October 29nd—8am—1st Hour and Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, October 29nd—6pm—Paraklesis of St George
Friday, October 31st—8am—3rd Hour and Orthros
Saturday, November 1st—5pm—9th Hour and Great Vespers w/Bible Study to follow (Psalms)
Sunday, November 2nd—8:45am—M. Office, Orthros and Divine Liturgy—FESTIVAL OF NATIONS
COMING UP
Sunday, November 9th—8:45am—M. Office, Orthros and Divine Liturgy—ALL PARISH MEETING
Saturday, November 15th—10am–6pm—NATIVITY RETREAT W/FR ANTHONY GILBERT ($20 admittance)
Click to view our Upcoming Schedule
Did You Know...that Christ is Risen!...and...
*We are having a clothes drive for those in need. We will be taking clothes donations and passing them along to the Albany City Rescue Mission down the street from us. Contribute if you are able.
*The Archdiocese is looking for a Director of Training and Development for Youth Ministry. Check out the job posting HERE.
*Our Nativity Retreat this year will be November 15th with Fr Anthony Gilbert who is a PHD in Literature. He will be looking at St Gregory the Theologian's Oration 38—On the Nativity of Christ. Mark your calendars.
*We are looking for a group of volunteers to help Albany City Rescue Mission to sort clothes on THIS EVENT IS BEING RESCHEDULED. See Fr John or Melody Holman for details.
Eduction at St George
But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 2 Pet 3.1
*Read Metropolitan SABA's weekly teaching—A Bishop's Scribbles
*Sunday Education for kids ages 10 and up has started. Bring your children as they work through the Curriculum from the Archdiocese A People Set Apart—The Book of Exodus. Check out the Archdiocese Education page HERE.
*Get some caffeine for the soul with Coffee with the Fathers. Join us at ALIAS COFFEE on N. Pearl St in Albany as we study Hymns on Paradise by St Ephraim the Syrian.
*Study the Scriptures with us—Bible Study Saturday evenings at 6pm after vespers. We also are doing localized bible studies in peoples homes on Friday afternoons and evenings—in an attempt to provide an opportunity for as many people as possible to attend. Check the CALENDAR for locations.
*Click HERE for a great YouTube channel with Orthodox kids songs.
*You can view the WORD magazine online. Click HERE.
*Metropolitan SABA has an Instagram account to connect with youth and young adults—@AskSayidna.
*Click HERE and HERE for lives of the Saints.
*Check out our LEARN page for some great sites, podcasts and resources on the Faith.
*Once a month we have a "Youth Day" at the Church which includes kids of all ages. The purpose of these days is to offer education, fellowship, wholesome fun and a chance for the kids to "ask Abouna." Dates for the fall are October 25th, November 22nd and December 13th—mark your calendars.
Parish Prayer List
"Remember Me O Lord When You Come Into Your Kingdom." Lk 23.42
Please include in your daily prayers the following. Contact me to have someone added to the list. These are the names that will be remembered during the Divine Liturgy.
Living:
Bishop Alexander, Fr Gregory Potter, Fr Joseph, Fr Andrew, Fr Pat, Fr Meletios, Fr Terrance, Fr Michael, Dn Jorge, Dn Horia, Leila, Helen, Lew, Marsha, Mary, Anastasia, Hassib, Callie, Shannon, Jennifer, Samantha, Fayez and our catechumens: Jared, Max, Ryan, Kathryn and Henry. All those traveling, those suffering from illness, violence and want in this country and throughout the world and especially those in Ukraine, Russia, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and the middle east
Departed:
The Newly Departed Fr George, Fr Gregory DesMarais, Fr Alvian, Fr John, Will, Camile, Raymond, Charles, Iryna, The New Martyrs of Syria those who have lost their lives and who have no one to pray for them, those who have passed in the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
"Beauty Will Save the World"
My favorite author—Fyodor Dostoyevsky—has a quote, "Beauty will save the world!" What in the world could this mean?! Well, this could be quite a big discussion but I think part of the answer is that as human beings we delight in what is beautiful and not only take delight in but find healing when we encounter something beautiful. Beauty is such a big part of our worship as Orthodox Christians. Orthodox worship engages our senses with beautiful smells, sights and sounds and this matters because God's creation is good and beauty helps us to understand this reality.
Have you ever wondered what you could do to help beautify our church. Here are some ideas:
*15-20 Icons (16”x24” $400 per icon) legacyicons.com
*Curtain for Holy Doors ($850)churchembroidery.net
*Curtains for Deacons Doors ($1500 each) churchembroidery.net
*Epitaphios of Panaghia ($1800) churchembroidery.net
*Chandelier for above Altar ($500) nioras.com
*Three Mount-Athos style Chandeliers for the nave (the space where the people stand during the service)
Sunday, October 26, 2025
THE SYNAXARION
On October 26 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we commemorate the holy, glorious, and right-victorious Great-Martyr Demetrios, the Wonderworker and Myrrh-Streaming.
Verses
Spears have pierced Demetrios, O Christ my Savior,
Who emulated Thy pierced side in Thy Passion.
On the twenty-sixth spears did away Demetrios.
His father was the military commander of Salonica, and, when he died, the Emperor Maximian made Demetrios commander in his place. In doing this, the Emperor, an opponent of Christ, particularly recommended him to persecute and exterminate the Christians in Salonica. Demetrios not only disobeyed the Emperor, but he openly confessed and preached Christ the Lord in the city. The enraged Emperor cast him into prison. Knowing what awaited him, Demetrios gave his goods to his faithful servant, Lupus, to give to the poor, and went off to prison, glad that suffering for Christ was to be his lot. After several days, the Emperor sent soldiers to the prison to kill Demetrios. They came upon the saint at prayer, and ran him through with their spears. Christians secretly took his body and gave it burial, and there flowed from it myrrh by which many of the sick were healed. Demetrios entered the heavenly mansions in 306.
On this day, we remember the great and terrible earthquake in Constantinople in 740. This was a terrifying and long-lasting disaster in the time of Leo the Isaurian, the first of the iconoclast emperors. The people realized that this was God’s punishment for their sins, and entreated the most holy Mother of God and St. Demetrios with great penitence, until God had mercy and ended the earthquake.
On this day, we commemorate the Venerable-martyr Joasaph of Dionysiou monastery on Athos. By the intercessions of Thy Saints, O Christ God, have mercy upon us. Amen.
Parish Financial Summary—Fiscal Year 2025/26
Help us Reach our Goal of $135,000—Our estimated budget for the 2025-26 Fiscal Year
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ST GEORGE!
Giving for Week of 10.19.25—$
Online Donations for Week of 10.19.25—$0
Broadview Bank Balance as of end of August: $43,6059.62: $35,023.23 (Operating Fund); $7160.78 (Memorial Fund); $1,136.10 (Charity Fund)
Merrill Lynch Mutual Fund as of end of October 7, 2025: $412,476
Merrill Lynch Money Market Account as of end of October 7, 2025: $38,660
Total Giving for fiscal year to date (October 25–September 26)—$2625
Families who have contributed for fiscal year to date (October 25–September 26)—0
Families who have contributed over $5,000 for fiscal year to date (October 25–September 26)—0
Families who have contributed over $1,000 for fiscal year to date (October 25–September 26)—0
A Note to our Visitors
WELCOME!
We are blessed by your presence! Join us for fellowship after. Please note, in the Orthodox Church only baptized and chrismated Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared with confession, fasting (no food from the night before until communion), prayer and forgiveness can partake of the Holy Eucharist. All others may come forward for a blessing and receive a piece of blessed bread from the altar servers.
A Word From the Fathers
St Maximus the Confessor
55th saying of the 4th Century (100 Sayings) on Love
He who loves Christ is bound to imitate Him to the best of his ability. Christ, for example, was always conferring blessings on people: He was long-suffering when they were ungrateful and blasphemed Him: and when they beat Him and put Him to death. He endured it, imputing no evil at all to anyone. These are the three acts which manifest love for one's neighbor. If he is incapable of them, the person who says that he loves Christ or has attained the kingdom deceives himself. For 'not everyone who says to Me: 'Lord, Lord' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that does the will of My Father' (Matt. 7:21); and again, 'He who loves Me will keep My commandments' (cf John 14:15, 23).
