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 week I spent some time at the Archdiocesan Bi-Annual Convention in Chicago. In order for an organization, a church, or a family to function well there needs to be communication. Communication is essential for the health of our Archdiocese and this convention is part of how the nearly 300 parishes of the Archdiocese can be on the same page.
As important as it is for us to know what is going in our Archdiocese it is infinitely more important for us to know and understand—to be on the same page as—our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. How do we “get on the same page” as our Lord? Well, part of that is my responsibility as your priest. I will be judged based on how well I help you all to understand the Lord’s vision and purpose for your lives. Just read through Ezekiel chapter 34 if you want to know how and why I will be judged as your priest (Lord be merciful to me!)…so part of the responsibility lies on my shoulders…but not all of it.
Some of the responsibility lies on your shoulders as well. Do we read the Holy Scriptures regularly seeking to understand God’s revelation to us? Do we pray regularly asking God to guide us and show us His will and His vision for our lives? Do we do the work of removing the nonsense that clutters our hearts through confessing our sins and receiving spiritual guidance from a priest? All of these things help us understand the Lord’s vision for our lives. Take some time every day to align yourself with the Lord’s vision because complacency can easily steal in to our hearts and lead us to destruction (Prov 1.32) but thank God we have a God who says—whoever listens to Me will dwell safely, and be secure, without fear of evil. (Prov 1.33)
With Love in Christ,
Fr John
*The new windows and doors have been installed and they make a huge difference! Thank you to those who donated! We would like to replace the 5 windows in the hall but we need to raise $3500 first. Some have already stepped forward to help. If anyone is interested in helping with these please be in touch with Mo Barbera or Fr John.
Services and Events
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
Fr John assigned to Antiochian Village Camp in Pennsylvania July 27th-August 8th. Contact Fr Gregory Potter if needed (508) 468-5758
Sunday, August 3rd—Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy (Fr John back for Liturgy)
August 11-15th—St George Schenectady Theotokos Summer Camp. Sign up HERE
Click to view our Upcoming Schedule
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.
*Read the annual reports of our Archdiocesan Ministries including the Archdiocese Financial Report for the upcoming Bi-Annual Convention in Chicago.
*Our sister parish—St George Schenectady—will be hosting a summer day camp August 11th-15th. If you are interested in a fun, faith infused environment for your children sign up HERE.
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 27, 2025
THE SYNAXARION (Plain Reading)
On July 27 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we commemorate the holy and glorious Great-Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, and the martyred blind man whom Panteleimon healed.
Verses
The blood of thy head was mingled with milk, O Martyr,
For whose sake Christ once shed His Blood mingled with water.
The blade was Panteleimon’s lot on the twenty-seventh.
Panteleimon means “all merciful” in Greek. He was born in third-century Nicomedia of a Christian mother, Eubula, and a pagan father, Eustorgius. As a young man he studied medicine. The priest, Hermolaus, invited Panteleimon to be with him and taught him the Faith of Christ and baptized him. Panteleimon miraculously cured a blind man by the power of Christ whom the other doctors treated in vain. The blind man was later martyred and we also commemorate him today. Out of envy the doctors accused Panteleimon of being a Christian and he went before the Emperor Maximian to stand trial. Before the emperor, he freely declared that he was a Christian and he also healed a long-time paralytic. This miracle drew many pagans to the Faith of Christ. Sentenced to death, Panteleimon knelt for prayer. At that moment the executioner struck him on the neck with a sword, and it broke. The executioner was unable to execute him until the saint completed his prayer and until Panteleimon told him to behead him, which he then did. His relics possessed the ability to heal. Panteleimon is invoked in prayers at the time of the “Blessing of Waters” and in the blessing of the holy oils used in the “The Sacrament of Holy Unction,” together with Hermolaus and the other unmercenary saints and wonderworkers.
By the intercessions of Thy saints, O Christ God, have mercy upon us. Amen.
Parish Financial 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 7.20.25—$1212
Online Donations for Week of 7.20.25—$0
Falafel Fundraiser 3.30.25—$1054
Parish Halfi 4.25.25—$9087.95
Broadview Bank Balance as of end of June: $32,287.09: $23,991.63 (Operating Fund); $7,159.56 (Memorial Fund); $1,135.90 (Charity Fund)
Merrill Lynch Mutual Fund as of end of June: $396,661.41
Merrill Lynch Money Market Account as of end of June: $60,873.97
Total Giving for fiscal year to date (October 24–September 25)—$73,088.04
Families who have contributed for fiscal year to date (October 24–September 25)—71
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
47th saying of the 3rd Century (100 Sayings) on Love
There are many people in the world who are poor in spirit, but not in the way that they should be: there are many who mourn, but for some financial loss or the death of their children: many are gentle, but towards unclean passions: many hunger and thirst, but only to seize what does not belong to them and to profit from injustice: many are merciful, but towards their bodies and the things that serve the body: many are pure in heart, but for the sake of self-esteem; many are peacemakers, but by making the soul submit to the flesh: many are persecuted, but as wrongdoers: many are reviled, but for shameful sins. Only those are blessed who do or suffer these things for the sake of Christ and after His example. Why? Because theirs is the kingdom of heaven, and they shall see God (cf. Matt. 5:3-12). It is not because they do or suffer these things that they are blessed, for those of whom we have spoken above do the same; it is because they do them and suffer them for the sake of Christ and after His example.
