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 we celebrated the great feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord. This feast is so beautiful. It reveals to us in part the plan that our Lord has for each of us—Transfiguration. Our purpose as Christians is transfiguration through union with God. As I have said many times this union with God is the definition of salvation for us as Orthodox Christians. If this is our purpose and ultimate end it is important for us to know how this union happens.
We have the answer to this question in the midst of story that we hear recorded in the gospels. We hear that Moses and Elias appeared on the mountain at this event and conversed with our sweetest Lord Jesus. Their appearance is not unimportant. The appearance of Moses tells us that our transfiguration in and through Christ begins with following the commandments. Moses—who represents the Law—shows us that it is through following God's Law that we begin to see, that we prepare ourselves to see and receive God's light. We could say that following God's commandments forms and then strengthens our spiritual eye.
Once this spiritual eye is formed and strengthened we can then begin to see or receive God's word in a deeper and more acute way. This receiving of God's word and light is represented through the presence of the prophet Elias at the Transfiguration. A prophet is one who receives God's word and understands God's mysteries in a deeper way.
We see then, that in keeping the commandments we are then able to receive God's word and light and that it is this process which leads to our Transfiguration in Christ—an experience that is beyond description and truly and experience of God.
Glory to our God who loves us so deeply as to share Himself with us.
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 9th—5pm—Great Vespers followed by Bible Study on the Book of the Psalms (join us)
Sunday, August 10th—9am—Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy meeting with Merrill Lynch to follow Liturgy
Monday, August 11th—6pm—Paraklesis of the Theotokos
Wednesday, August 13th—8am—Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, August 13th—6pm—Paraklesis of the Theotokos
Thursday, August 14th—6pm—Great Vespers w/Litia and Artoklasia for the great feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
Friday, August 15th—8am—Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy for the great feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
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 (Fr Christopher McCoy serving Liturgy on August 24th) Contact Fr Gregory Potter (508-468-5758) or Fr Manny Mantzouris (518-573-1884) in case of emergency
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 is his address at the general assembly of the Archdiocesan Convention
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 to learn some about the Feast of the Dormition
Did You Know...that Christ is Risen!...and...
*We will meet the representatives of Merrill Lynch on August 10th after Liturgy to discuss our investments. This meeting happens every 6 months and is a chance for people to have their voice heard and for us to continue to have Merrill manage our funds.
*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." 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, 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 10, 2025
THE SYNAXARION (Plain Reading)
On August 10 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we continue to celebrate the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we commemorate the Martyr and Archdeacon Laurence of Rome, Hieromartyr Sixtus, bishop of Rome and those with them.
Verses
Laurels be to Laurence, the sea-bass of Jesus, who was broiled to a turn on a fiery griddle.
For Him that worked six days and rested the seventh,
Thou didst willingly suffer the sword, O Sixtus.
On the tenth, they roasted Laurence like a fish.
Emperor Decius was determined to destroy Christianity and Sixtus was quickly brought to trial with two of his deacons. Sixtus told Laurence that he would die for Christ soon thereafter; as soon as they had beheaded Sixtus and his deacons, Laurence was apprehended. Beforehand, Laurence had placed all of his affairs and the affairs of the church in order. Immediately before his martyrdom, Laurence safeguarded the church valuables and healed four people. Laurence did not want to deny Christ and advised Emperor Decius to reject his false gods. Decius refused, and Laurence was beaten, and then placed on a gridiron over a fire. Roasting in the fire, Laurence thanked God and mocked the emperor for his paganism. Laurence gave up his pure and heroic soul to God on August 10, 258. On this day, we also commemorate the Venerable Laurence of Kaluga, the Fool for Christ’s sake.
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 8.3.25—$954
Online Donations for Week of 8.3.25—$88
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)—$75,020.29
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)—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
50th saying of the 3rd Century (100 Sayings) on Love
Through genuine love for God we can drive out the passions. Love for God is this: to choose Him rather than the world, and the soul rather than the flesh, by despising the things of this world and by devoting ourselves constantly to Him through self-control, love, prayer, psalmody and so on.
