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,
This Sunday, after the Liturgy I will bless our vehicles. This tradition is done on the feast of St Elias every year. Watch this short video for more. I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday.
With Love in Christ,
Fr John
*You can read Sayidna Saba's Pastoral Letter and help support the families of the victims of the bombing at St Elias Church in Damascus, Syria HERE.
*Read the annual reports of our Archdiocesan Ministries including the Archdiocese Financial Report for the upcoming Bi-Annual Convention in Chicago.
Services and Events
Friday, July 18th—8am—Orthros
Friday, July 18th—3pm—Bible Study @ Melody Holman's (join us as we study the book of Judith)
Saturday, July 19th—5pm—Great Vespers followed by Bible Study (join us a we study the book of Psalms)
Sunday, July 20th—Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy and Blessing of Vehicles (this is blessing is traditionally done of the feast of St Elias—July 20th) Parish Council Meeting to follow
Friday, July 25th—8am—Orthros
Saturday, July 26th—5pm—Great Vespers followed by Bible Study (join us as we study the book of Psalms)
Sunday, July 27th—Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy
Eduction at St George
But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 2 Pet 3.1
Please Read Metropolitan SABA's weekly reflection HERE. This week's article is titled: On the Interpretation of the Scriptures Part IV
Coffee with the Father's on hiatus until September 1st. 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 Wednesday evenings and 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 article on advice for mothers and HERE to see how the women of the Church serve as keepers of Tradition.
Did You Know...that Christ is Risen!...and...
*Metropolitan SABA now has an Instagram account to connect with youth and young adults—@AskSayidna.
*We plan to have a "Youth Day" at the Church once a month which will include 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." Here are the dates for the next two: August 16th and September 13th—mark your calendars.
*You can view the WORD magazine online. Click HERE.
*The new windows and doors have been installed and they make a huge difference! Thank you to those who donated! We are considering replacing the windows in the hall. If anyone is interested in helping with these please be in touch with Mo Barbera or Fr John.
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, Schuyler, Raphael and Kelly, Elise, Fayez and our catechumens: 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, Ruth, Dolores, Agnes, Ed, Bassir, 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) Pick your Saint!—https://legacyicons.com/saint-paisios-of-athos-icon-s184/
*Curtain for Holy Doors ($850) https://www.churchembroidery.net/product-page/holy-door-curtains-katapetasma
*Curtains for Deacons Doors ($1500 each) churchembroidery.net (custom order)
*Epitaphios of Panaghia ($1800) https://www.churchembroidery.net/product-page/fully-embroidered-orthodox-epitaphios-shroud-of-the-most-holy-theotokos-3
*Two Mosaic’s for outside ($5000 each—is my best guess) (Theotokos and St George)
*Chandelier for above Altar ($500) https://nioras.com/product/church-chandelier-frames-with-orthodox-icons-13-electric-lights/
*Three Mount-Athos style Chandeliers for the nave (the space where the people stand during the service)
Sunday, July 20, 2025
THE SYNAXARION (Plain Reading)
On July 20 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we commemorate the fiery ascent as it were into the Heaven of the holy and glorious Elias (Elijah) the Thesbite.
Elias was born in the town of Tishba for which he was called the Thesbite. When Elias was born, his father Savah saw an angel of God hovering around the child, wrapping the child in fire and giving him a flame to eat. This foreshadowed Elias’s fiery character and his God-given fiery power. Elias confronted the Israelite King Ahab and his evil wife Jezebel. They worshipped idols and were turning the people away from serving the One and Living God. Jezebel, a Syrian, persuaded her husband to erect a temple to the Syrian god Baal. Through great miracles Elias displayed the power and authority of God: he closed up the heavens, so that there was not any rain for three years and six months; he lowered a fire from heaven and burned the sacrifice to his God which the pagan priests of Baal were unable to do; he accurately prophesied to Ahab that the dogs will lick up his blood and to Jezebel that the dogs will consume her flesh. Before his death Elias took Elisseus (Elisha) and designated him as his successor in the prophetic calling. Elias was taken up into the heavens in a fiery chariot by flaming horses. He appeared on Mount Tabor to our Lord Jesus Christ with Moses on the Transfiguration. Before the end of the world Elias will appear again to put an end to the power of the anti-Christ (Revelation, Chapter 11).
On this day, we also commemorate Righteous Iliya Chavchavadze [ee-LEE-yah chav-chah-VAD-zay] of Georgia. By the intercessions of Thy Saints, O Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Parish Giving Summary—Fiscal Year 2024/25
Help us Reach our Goal of $132,000—Our estimated budget for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ST GEORGE!
Giving for Week of 7.13.25—$625
Online Donations for Week of 7.13.25—$0
Falafel Fundraiser 3.30.25—$1054
Parish Halfi 4.25.25—$9087.95
Total Giving for fiscal year to date (October 24–September 25)—$71,826
Families who have contributed for fiscal year to date (October 24–September 25)—72
Families who have contributed over $5,000 for fiscal year to date (October 24–September 25)—2
Families who have contributed over $1,000 for fiscal year to date (October 24–September 25)—17
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 with the chalice held over their head and receive a piece of blessed bread from the altar servers.
A Word From the Fathers
St Maximus the Confessor
46th saying of the 3rd Century (100 Sayings) on Love
God, full beyond all fullness, brought creatures into being not because He had need of anything, but so that they might participate in Him in proportion to their capacity and that He Himself might rejoice in His works (cf Ps. 104:31), through seeing them joyful and ever filled to overflowing with His inexhaustible gifts.
