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,
Delusion is something that I think we can all agree is not a good thing. If someone is deluded they are not connected to reality and have for any number of reasons moved from thinking and behaving properly to thinking and behaving foolishly.
The scripture passage we hear this Sunday is the parable of the 10,000 talents. A man owes a literally un-payable sum to his Master and he begs for time so that he can pay. In other words, the man is delusional to think that he can pay this sum. The Master—seeing his servant implore him, even though the servant is in delusion—forgives the man the entire debt. Later, the man after being forgiven, refuses to forgive a fellow servant a tiny sum and is delivered to torturers until he pay the un-payable debt.
Clearly, delusion is not good! Unfortunately, to the extent that we are all sinners (Rom 3.23), each of us is in delusion. Sin puts blinders over our eyes that keep us from seeing reality to such an extent that even an encounter with “the Master”—in the parable this is our Lord Jesus—is not enough to keep us from delusion. What can we do to be delivered from our own delusion? Well our Lord gives us the answer in the words that He begins His ministry with—repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mt 4.17). Each of us must always be seeking to repent—not focused on what others are doing wrong or how others have wronged us but rather asking God to help us see reality through removing the sin our lives. And the reality is that each of us are personally responsible for the problems, struggles, difficulties and trials in our lives…its not others—it is me…
Now, perhaps you will say—Father, this can’t be true, how am I responsible in this way—for all things? Well, the fact is that we worship a God who took this kind of responsibility that I am talking about—He became man and died on the cross as one completely innocent but taking responsibility for all pain, all sin, all suffering. Obviously, none of us is completely innocent but even if we were, we would still need to follow the example of our Master. So it turns out that until I repent completely—with all my heart, acknowledging my role in the fallenness around me, judging no one, condemning no one—there can be no healing for me or anyone around me.
How can this be? The answer is multi-dimensional but part of it is that repentance helps “incarnate Christ” in a certain way. It brings our sweetest Lord Jesus into the world in my own person—my own flesh—and it is this personal incarnation of Christ—a sequel to the 1st incarnation of our Lord—that allows for the healing of me, the people around me and the world around me.
A final question might be—what does repentance look like? Well, repentance begins with confession but continues with the breath of prayer, the baptism and cleansing of our heart and mind through the reading of the psalms, the nourishment of fasting and the love language of keeping the commandments. Without this kind of repentance we too will be thrown into the eternal prison—a prion constructed with the stones of bitterness and self-justification but with this kind of repentance we will be forgiven every debt, present Christ to those we love and so participate in the redemption of all. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mt 4.17).
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
Sunday, August 24th—9am—Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy (Fr Christopher McCoy serving Liturgy)
Sunday, August 31st—9am—Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy
Monday, September 1st—8am—Coffee w/the Fathers (Join us as we continue to work through Hymns on Paradise by St Ephrem the Syrian)
Wednesday, September 3rd—8am—Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, September 3rd—6pm—Paraklesis of St George
Friday, September 5th—8am—Orthros
Saturday, September 6th—5pm—Great Vespers followed by Bible Study (join us as we work through The Psalms)
Sunday, September 7th—9am—Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy Memorial for Wahib Barbera to follow 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.
*Registration is now live for the fall semester for the Antiochian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Online Music School. Now in its second year, the school offers Byzantine and Choral music education for new and experienced Orthodox church musicians. It also offers special classes for clergy about intoning exclamations and the gospel, and chanting hymns for Sundays and feasts; as well as on the Typicon and how to organize divine services.
*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, Justin, Anne, George, Nektaria, Matushka Margaret 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, Fr Steven, 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 24, 2025
THE SYNAXARION (Plain Reading)
On August 24 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we commemorate the holy Martyr Eutyches, disciple of John the Theologian and Paul the Apostle.
Verses
Prosperously hast thou prospered, prosperity’s namesake;
With God as thy portion, O Eutyches, hast thou prospered.
On the twenty-fourth, a stone hid Eutyches.
Though not numbered among the Seventy Apostles, Eutyches is also called an apostle because he was a disciple of the great apostles and he displayed true apostolic zeal in his evangelical service. Consecrated a missionary bishop, Eutyches traveled much, having an angel as his companion. In prison, he received heavenly bread from an angel. When his body was scraped with a serrated iron rod, blood flowed from him with unusual fragrant myrrh. Eutyches was thrown into a fire and before wild beasts and finally beheaded with a sword in Sebastopol, where he had been born. He now resides with the Apostles in the Heavenly Kingdom.
On this day, we also commemorate the New Hieromartyr Cosmas Aitolos, equal-to-the-Apostles and evangelizer of southern Albania.
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 $132,000—Our estimated budget for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ST GEORGE!
Giving for Week of 8.17.25—$--
Online Donations for Week of 8.17.25—$88
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)—$81,015.29
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
54th and 55th saying of the 3rd Century (100 Sayings) on Love
One should not be startled or astonished because God the Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son (cf John 5:22). The Son teaches us, 'Do not judge, so that you may not be judged' (Matt. 7:1); 'Do not condemn, so that you may not be condemned' (Luke 6:37). St Paul likewise says, 'Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes' (1 Cor. 4:5); and 'By judging another you condemn yourself (Rom. 2: 1). But men have given up weeping for their own sins and have taken judgment away from the Son. They themselves judge and condemn one another as if they were sinless. 'Heaven was amazed at this' (Jer. 2:12. LXX) and earth shuddered, but men in their obduracy are not ashamed.
He who busies himself with the sins of others, or judges his brother on suspicion, has not yet even begun to repent or to examine himself so as to discover his own sins, which are truly heavier than a great lump of lead; nor does he know why a man becomes heavy-hearted when he loves vanity and chases after falsehood (cf Ps. 4:1). That is why, like a fool who walks in darkness, he no longer attends to his own sins but lets his imagination dwell on the sins of others, whether these sins are real or merely the products of his own suspicious mind.
