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,
Blessed Feast!
Today is the great feast of the Dormition—the falling asleep of our most holy Lady the Theotokos. Our Lady’s feasts are some of my favorite feasts in the Church. Over the years as I have tried to grow in my faith I have become closer and closer to her. I see how she intercedes for me and how when I ask her to help me with something, she does. I see how she guides my thinking and I see how she cares for her Son’s Church.
This feast of her falling asleep is a feast that reminds each of us that if we choose to make ourselves the dwelling place of God—like she did—then we will dwell in Him and with Him in life everlasting when we open the door of death and pass into the next life. How do we become the dwelling place of God? We follow the example of our Lady who, when faced with the decision to either accept or reject the Lord coming to her and asking her permission to dwell in her, chose to accept Him.
In every moment of our lives our Lord comes to us and asks us—do you choose to accept Me in this situation, in this circumstance? When we reply, “yes” over and over again in these different circumstances then that choice becomes hardened like a stone. Each “yes” of ours is a stone in building the temple of the Lord in our hearts so that eventually our whole body becomes that temple with all unnecessary and useless chaff being tossed aside. It is this temple then that is received by our sweetest Jesus when we walk through the door of death, the same image we see of our Lord holding the soul—the temple—of Mary in the icon of her Dormition. Let each of us continue to say “yes” to our Lord and so build the temple of God.
Blessed Feast to each of you!
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, August 16th—Youth Day beginning at Christ the Savior in Ballston Spa for their feast day Liturgy @ 9:10am followed by an afternoon of fun—join us
Sunday, August 17th—9am—Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy
August 17—August 29th Fr John out of town. Contact Fr Gregory Potter (508-468-5758) or Fr Manny Mantzouris (518-573-1884) in case of emergency
Sunday, August 24th—9am—Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy (Fr Christopher McCoy serving Liturgy)
Sunday, August 31st—9am—Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy
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
Coffee with the Father's begins again 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 to learn some about the Feast of the Dormition
Click HERE for a great YouTube channel with Orthodox kids songs.
Did You Know...that Christ is Risen!...and...
*Metropolitan SABA 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." For the next one—September 13th—we will be doing a "teaching Liturgy" where I will stop and explain to the kids what is happening at the different parts of the Divine Liturgy—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
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, Schuyler, Raphael and Kelly, Fayez, Kent, Rose 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, August 17, 2025
THE SYNAXARION (Plain Reading)
On August 17 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we continue to celebrate the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, and we commemorate the holy Hieromartyr Myron the Presbyter of Kyzikos.
Verses
What care I for the severing of my head, saith Myron,
In compare of the very precious crown soon to crown me?
On the seventeenth, a keen sword cut Myron down.
Myron was a priest in the town of Achaia of wealthy and prominent origin and by nature was kind and meek, both a lover of God and of man. During the reign of Emperor Decius and, on the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, pagans charged into the church, dragged Myron out from the service and subjected him to torture. While in the fire, an angel appeared to Myron and encouraged him. After that, torturers began to cut his skin in strips. The martyr grabbed one strip of his skin and, with it, struck the torturer—the judge—on the face. The judge Antipater, as though possessed, took a sword and killed himself. Finally, torturers took Myron to the city of Kyzikos and there slew him with the sword in 250, and he entered into the Heavenly Kingdom.
On this day, we also commemorate the righteous siblings Eutychios, Eutychian, and Kassiane of Crete.
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 8.10.25—$895
Online Donations for Week of 8.10.25—$0
Falafel Fundraiser 3.30.25—$1054
Parish Halfi 4.25.25—$9087.95
Broadview Bank Balance as of end of July: $50,064.57: $41,614.54 (Operating Fund); $7,160.17 (Memorial Fund); $1,136 (Charity Fund)
Merrill Lynch Mutual Fund as of end of August 4th, 2025: $402,551
Merrill Lynch Money Market Account as of end of August 4th, 2025: $31,213
Total Giving for fiscal year to date (October 24–September 25)—$80,927.29
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)—3
Families who have contributed over $1,000 for fiscal year to date (October 24–September 25)—28
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
51st saying of the 3rd Century (100 Sayings) on Love
If we persistently devote ourselves to God and keep a careful watch on the soul's passible aspect, we are no longer driven headlong by the provocations of our thoughts. On the contrary, as we acquire a more exact understanding of their causes and cut them off, we become more discerning. In this way the following words come to apply to us: 'My eye also sees my enemies, and my ear shall hear the wicked that rise up against me' (Ps. 92:11. LXX).
