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,

October is one of my favorite times of the year. There are visits to apply orchards and pumpkin patches, the changing of the leaves and...playoff baseball. I am a baseball fan all year round but the playoffs are very exciting to watch. I know there are many of you that are happy that the Yankees have advanced in the playoffs—we will see how things go for them as the month goes on.

One of the reasons that playoff baseball is so amazing for me to watch is the focus on doing everything possible to "win a pitch." In non-baseball language that could be translated to something like, "staying in the moment." If a player does not maintain focus for every pitch and play it could mean defeat for his team at the most important time of the year. Everyone on the team is working for the same goal—pushing in the same direction—and that is to win a World Series. But, if you don't win more pitches than the other team, you probably won't win the World Series. To add to this equation there is the fact that everyone is extremely tired, sore and beat up after playing 162 games over the last several months. 

In many ways it is the same for us as Christians. Our goal is to try to be in the present moment the best we can—to choose Christ in every moment—and our choosing of Christ does not just affect us but all those around us. We can add that often it is very difficult for us to choose Christ because we are worn out, tired and without strength. Be that as it may, we know that we are pressing forward toward the prize in the words of St Paul, and this prize is the kingdom of heaven—union with Christ. This prize though—unlike the World Series—is not fleeting but everlasting, not given to someone new every year but retained and celebrated for eternity, not a reward set aside for only the best but a Grace available to all who are willing to take hold of it. 

Remember, that our choosing of Christ affects everyone around us and more and that the more we choose Him the more we become ones who would choose to choose Him for eternity. 

With love in Christ,

Fr John 

Services and Events  

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

Sunday, October 6th—10am—Divine Liturgy for Feast of St Innocent @ our sister Parish St Innocent in Oneonta, NY (305 Main St—St James Episcopal Church)

Wednesday, October 8th—8am—1st Hour and Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, October 8th—6pm—Paraklesis of St George

Friday, October 10th—8am—3rd Hour and Orthros

Friday, October 10th—2pm—Pilgrimage to Dumitru Monastery Middletown, NY

Saturday, October 11th—5pm—9th Hour and Great Vespers w/Bible Study to follow (Psalms)

Sunday, October 13th—8:45am—M. Office, Orthros and Divine Liturgy

COMING UP

Saturday, October 25th—3pm—YOUTH DAY

Sunday, October 26th—8:45am—M. Office, Orthros and Divine Liturgy followed by memorial for Raymond Jefferson

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

Saturday, November 15th—10am–6pm—NATIVITY RETREAT W/FR ANTHONY GILBERT ($20 admittance)

Click to view our Upcoming Schedule

Did You Know...that Christ is Risen!...and...

*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 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. Mark your calendars.

*We are looking for a group of volunteers to help Albany City Rescue Mission to sort clothes on Monday, October 20th. See Fr John or Melody Holman for details. 

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 teachingIn the Orthodox Conscience

*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. Check out the Archdiocese Education page HERE.

*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.

*Once a month we have a "Youth Day" at the Church which includes 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, October 5, 2025

THE SYNAXARION

On October 5 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we commemorate the Martyr Charitina of Amisos.

Verses

That for which she prayed, the loosing of the body, Charitina receiveth, behold, by praying.

On the fifth Charitina entered the city of God.

Orphaned young, Charitina was adopted by an eminent Christian man called Claudius, who brought her up as his own daughter. Charitina studied the law of God, day and night, and vowed to live in perpetual virginity as a true bride of Christ. The governor Dometius wanted to kill Charitina because she led many to the Lord. A judge ordered that her hair be cut off and live coals put on her head, but the maiden was preserved by God’s power. She was bound to a wheel which began to turn, but an angel of God stopped the wheel and Charitina remained unharmed. Then the wicked judge sent some dissolute youths to take her virginity. Fearing this attack, Charitina knelt in prayer to God to receive her soul before that could happen. At that moment, her soul soared to the immortal Kingdom of Christ in 290.

On this day, we also commemorate Venerable John, bishop of Euchaïta; and Venerable Eudokimos of Vatopedi monastery on Athos. 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 9.28.25—$

Online Donations for Week of 9.28.25—$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)—$89,755.29

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

Click here to Give

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 

22nd saying of the 4th Century (100 Sayings) on Love

Has a brother been the occasion of some trial for you and has your resentment led you to hatred? Do not let yourself be overcome by this hatred, but conquer it with love. You will succeed in this by praying to God sincerely for your brother and by accepting his apology: or else by conciliating him with an apology yourself, by regarding yourself as responsible for the trial and by patiently waiting until the cloud has passed.