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,
A zealous man never achieves peace of mind; but he who is a stranger to peace is a stranger to joy. If, as it is said, peace of mind is perfect health, and zeal is opposed to peace, then the man who has wrong zeal is sick with a grievous disease. Though you presume, O man, to send forth your zeal against the maladies of other men, you have expelled the health of your own soul; be assiduous, rather, in laboring for you owns soul's health. If you wish to heal the infirm, know that the sick are in greater need of loving care than of rebuke.
These words from St Isaac the Syrian—who is one of the Saints we commemorate this Sunday—are piercing in their applicability to our lives. I think each of us can confirm that when we possess inner peace—that is, that we are at peace: with ourselves, with others and with God—that these moments are some of the sweetest of our lives. Any yet...how often we fall prey to the traps of the enemy who ensnares us in the cares of this world and we are pulled away from this peace to discord, depression and anger.
My beloved, as difficult as it is, remember that our purpose is to become ones who give love and give mercy like the One whom we worship. Our Christ—our sweetest Jesus—is the one who sets the example for us. If He—the Creator, the Redeemer, the King—is one who is among us as servant, as merciful, as one who forgives—what can we do but follow His example? Love and mercy are the only things that will heal the world, that will bring sight to the blind, strength the lame, life to those who are in the tombs. O our Christ help us and strengthen us to take these words of Saint Isaac to heart for the healing of the sick—ourselves, first among those who are sick and in need of the great Physician.
With love in Christ,
Fr John
Services and Events
Saturday, September 27th—5pm—Join some folks for some board games before vespers 9th Hour and Great Vespers w/Bible Study to follow (Psalms)
Sunday, September 28th—8:45am—Midnight Office and Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy
Monday, September 29th—8:15am—Coffee with the Fathers join us at Alias Coffee as on Pearl St in Albany as we work through Hymns on Paradise by St Ephrem the Syrian
Monday, September 29th—12pm—6th Hour and Paraklesis of the Theotokos
Wednesday, October 1st—8am—1st Hour and Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, October 1st—6pm—Compline and Paraklesis of St George
Friday, October 3rd—8am—3rd Hour and Orthros
Friday, October 3rd—3pm—Bible Study at Melody Holman's (Judith)
Saturday, October 4th—5pm—9th Hour and Great Vespers w/Bible Study to follow (Psalms)
Sunday, October 5th—8:45am—M. Office, Orthros and Divine Liturgy—PARISH COUNCIL
COMING UP
Sunday, November 2nd—8:45am—M. Office, Orthros and Divine Liturgy—FESTIVAL OF NATIONS
Sunday, November 9th—8:45am—M. Office, Orthros and Divine Liturgy—ALL PARISH MEETING
Click to view our Upcoming Schedule
Did You Know...that Christ is Risen!...and...
*We will be making a trip to St Dumitru Monastery in Middletown, NY the weekend of October 10th and 11th. Let me know if you are interested in coming.
*We are having a clothes drive for those in need. We will be taking clothes donations and passing them along to the Albany City Rescue Mission down the street from us. Contribute if you are able.
*The Archdiocese is looking for a Director of Training and Development for Youth Ministry. Check out the job posting HERE.
*Our Diocesan Fall Retreat will be in Montreal October 24th-26th with guest speaker Fr Michael Gillis. Learn more HERE.
*Our Nativity Retreat this year will be November 15th and 16th with Fr Anthony Gilbert who is a PHD in Literature. He will be looking at St Gregory the Theologian's Oration 38—On the Nativity of Christ. More details to come but mark your calendars.
Eduction at St George
But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 2 Pet 3.1
*Read Metropolitan SABA's weekly teaching—Speak the Truth with Love
*Sunday Education for kids ages 10 and up has started. Bring you children as they work through the Curriculum from the Archdiocese A People Set Apart—The Book of Exodus
*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 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 YouTube channel with Orthodox kids songs.
*You can view the WORD magazine online. Click HERE.
*Metropolitan SABA has an Instagram account to connect with youth and young adults—@AskSayidna.
*Click HERE and HERE for lives of the Saints.
*Check out our LEARN page for some great sites, podcasts and resources on the Faith.
*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." Dates for the fall are October 25th, November 22nd and December 13th—mark your calendars.
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, William, Chris, Noah, Sophia 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, Chris, Scott, Charles, Iryna, 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, September 28, 2025
THE SYNAXARION
On September 28 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we commemorate our righteous father Chariton the Confessor and Abbot of Palestine.
Verses
Having trampled down the delight of things earthly, Chariton enjoyeth the graces of Heaven.
On the twenty-eighth, Chariton died in deep old age.
When a harsh persecution of Christians broke out under the Emperor Aurelian, Chariton was immediately brought to trial before the governor. The judge ordered him to worship false gods, to which Chariton refused. Then the governor ordered that Chariton be so beaten and tortured that his whole body became covered with wounds until it was like one great wound. After the evil death of Aurelian, Chariton was released from torture and imprisonment. He withdrew to the wilderness of Pharan, where he founded a community and gathered a group of monks together. Chariton founded two more monasteries and died at a great age on September 28, 350. The practice of tonsuring monks is attributed to Chariton.
On this day, we also commemorate the Prophet Baruch; and Venerable Neophytos and Auxentios of Cyprus. 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 $132,000—Our estimated budget for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ST GEORGE!
Giving for Week of 9.21.25—$
Online Donations for Week of 9.21.25—$0
Falafel Fundraiser 3.30.25—$1054
Parish Halfi 4.25.25—$9087.95
Parish BBQ 9.21.25—$1400
Broadview Bank Balance as of end of August: $43,6059.62: $35,023.23 (Operating Fund); $7160.78 (Memorial Fund); $1,136.10 (Charity Fund)
Merrill Lynch Mutual Fund as of end of August 31st, 2025: $402,398.04
Merrill Lynch Money Market Account as of end of August 31st, 2025: $36,912.86
Total Giving for fiscal year to date (October 24–September 25)—$86,338.29
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 and receive a piece of blessed bread from the altar servers.
A Word From the Fathers
St Maximus the Confessor
87th saying of the 3rd Century (100 Sayings) on Love
Humility consists in constant prayer combined with tears and suffering. For this ceaseless calling upon God for help prevents us from foolishly growing confident in our own strength and wisdom, and from putting ourselves above others. These are dangerous diseases of the passion of pride.
