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—Marie Barbera, Secretary—Daniel Palmer, Vice Chair—Justin Rezek
Beloved,
Tomorrow—along with St Lucia—we remember St Herman of Alaska who died in the early 19th century. He lived as a hermit in Alaska for many years watering the soil of America with his holy life—the evidence of which can still be experienced to this day when one visits Alaska with its many churches. It is a wonderful and amazing thing that we have Saints in the Church but not only that we have Saints but that we have Saints that have lived and struggled here on American soil.
This life that we live as Christians not only sanctifies our bodies but also sanctifies the physical place that we live in. This reality helps to bring home the fact that our lives as Christians are so impactful. A holy life lived for God makes a claim in a place and declares that a place belongs to the Triune God of heaven and earth.
Sometimes in the lives of the Saints we see that they choose to live in what we would call a "haunted" place (yes, there are such things). This choice is not arbitrary but an intentional choice that God's holy ones make—it is a declaration of war on the evil ones who dwell there. The process of casting out the demonic powers that dwell in those places is what we call the "Christian life" or "a life in Christ"—a life of prayer, asceticism and almsgiving. I'm not saying that we should all move to these types of haunted places but I am saying that we ought to be aware that our presence as Christians in a place affects that place.
So the next time you feel board with what you feel like is the mundane life that you lead—do not be deceived—the seemingly quiet Christian life is one of the greatest works that a person can do to affect the world and claim it for Christ our God.
With love in Christ,
Fr John
Read more about St Herman HERE
Services and Events
Sunday, December 14th—8:45am—M. Office, Orthros and Divine Liturgy followed by Parish Council Meeting (St Lucia celebration with Lucia Bride(s) to follow Liturgy)
Monday, December 15th—8:15am—Coffee with the Fathers at Alias Coffee (75 N Pearl St Albany). Join us as we work through Hymns on Paradise by St Ephrem the Syrian
Monday, December 15th—12pm—6th Hour and Paraklesis of the Theotokos
Wednesday, December 17th—8am—1st Hour and Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, December 17th—6pm—Holy Unction Service followed by a meal and fellowship. The service is open to the greater Orthodox Community of Albany and we will have some other priests present to help do the service. This service is typically done on the Wednesday of Holy Week or Great Week but it can be done at any time. We will be doing this service at least once during the major fasting periods of Nativity and Dormition as a way to enter more deeply into the fast and connect the fasting that we do with the healing that comes along with the repentance and confession that we do during the major fasts of the Church. As a note—Holy Unction is a Sacrament or Mystery of the Church and—like communion—is only available to baptized and chrismated Orthodox Christians.
Friday, December 19th—8am—Orthros
Friday, December 19th—3pm—Bible Study @ Melody Holman's
Sunday, December 21st—8:45am—M. Office, Orthros and Divine Liturgy (Christmas Pageant/Concert to follow Liturgy)
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28TH—POTLUCK AFTER DIVINE LITURGY—BRING A NON-FASTING DISH FOR US TO SHARE TOGETHER
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 have collected a lot already—THANK YOU! We are still taking clothes donations and passing them along to the Albany City Rescue Mission down the street from us. Contribute if you are able.
*It is time for our 2025 Christmas Card. Our Christmas card is a fundraiser for our community. Fill out a form which can be found in the hall and return it to Ranya Palmer or Fr John.
*The Order of St Ignatius is an Archdiocese organization that helps support many activities and causes throughout our Archdiocese. Becoming a member is a wonderful way to support our Archdiocese and the work it does. Consider joining and becoming involved. There is information in the hall or you can speak to Fr John.
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—Marital Relations
*Sayidna Saba also gave a talk recently titled—On Converts to Orthodoxy—you can watch it HERE
*Bring your children to our Sunday Education 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 Ephrem 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.
*Look HERE for some Nativity resources for your family.
*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." December 13th is the next date—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, Dn Basil, Leila, Helen, Lew, Marsha, Mary, Anastasia, Hassib, Callie, Shannon, Jennifer, Samantha, Fayez, Lydia, Joel and Naomi and our catechumens: Joseph, Christa, 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:
Fr Gregory DesMarais, Fr Alvian, Fr John, Will, Camile, Raymond, Charles, Iryna, Dorothy, 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:
*Curtain for Holy Doors ($850)churchembroidery.net
*Curtains for Deacons Doors ($1500 each) churchembroidery.net
*Epitaphios of Panaghia ($1800) churchembroidery.net
*Three Mount-Athos style Chandeliers for the nave (the space where the people stand during the service)
Sunday, December 14th, 2025
THE SYNAXARION
On December 14 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we commemorate the Martyrs Thyrsos, Leukios and Kallinikos of Apollonia; and the Martyrs Philemon, Apollonios, Hypatios and Arrianos of Alexandria.
On this day we celebrate the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers (Ancestors) of our Lord Jesus.
Verses
Receive joy, O Forefathers which lived aforetime,
As now ye behold at hand Christ the Messiah.
Be glad, O Abraham, for thou art shown to be the forefather of Christ.
We remember all the holy Patriarchs of the Old Testament who prefigured or foretold Christ: Adam the first Father, Enoch, Melchizedek, Abraham, the friend of God, Isaac, the fruit of the Promise, Jacob and the twelve patriarchs. We then commemorate those who lived under the Law: Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Samuel, David, and the Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel; the twelve minor prophets; Elijah, Elisha, Zachariah, and John the Baptist; and finally the Virgin Mary, the intermediary between mankind and her divine Son. Indeed, the Lord Jesus did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to redeem humanity which bemoaned the weight of evil since Adam; to realize the promise made to Abraham; to change the Law of Fear into the Law of Love; and to give Resurrection and Life to mankind. This feast prepares us for the Nativity of Jesus Christ, placing before us the anticipation and hope for His coming among us.
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 12.7.25—$1355
Online Donations for Week of 12.7.25—$238
Broadview Bank Balance as of end of October: $33,579.59: $25,276.42 (Operating Fund); $7161.98 (Memorial Fund); $886.26 (Charity Fund)
Merrill Lynch Mutual Fund as of end of November 30, 2025: $420,159.45
Merrill Lynch Money Market Account as of end of November 30, 2025: $39,461.56
Total Giving for fiscal year to date (October 25–September 26)—$25,284
Families who have contributed for fiscal year to date (October 25–September 26)—48
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)—4
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 thre Fathers
Doxasticon (Hymn of Glory) of the Forefathers in Tone 7
Come, with faith let us all celebrate the annual memory of the Fathers before the Law, even Abraham and those with him. Let us honor, as is meet, the tribe of Judah. With Daniel, let us acclaim as a figure of the Trinity the Children in Babylon, who quenched the flame in the furnace. Cleaving steadfastly to the predictions of the Prophets, let us cry out with a great voice together with Isaiah: Behold, a Virgin shall be with child, and she shall bear a Son, Emmanuel; which being interpreted is: God is with us.
