Pastor: Fr John Vazquez | (518) 462-0579 |
fatherjohnvazquez@gmail.com

Beloved,

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

When someone asks you what you believe, or what your Church believes, or who is God—what is your response? I admit that sometimes questions from others that seem like a challenge can put us on our heels and leave us grasping for answers but for us in the Orthodox Church it does not need to be this way because we have all those answers laid out for us already in what is known as the Nicene Creed, or the Nicene/Constantinopolitan Creed, or simply the Creed. The “Nicene” and the “Constantinopolitan” come from the names of the two cities (Nicea and Constantinople) where the first two ecumenical councils of the Church were held—one in 325 and the second in 381—where this Creed of our Orthodox Church was composed by the Fathers of the Church. 

Over the next weeks (and probably months), I will be going through the Creed and expounding on it in these newsletters and in the weekly teachings we do each Sunday after the Divine Liturgy. 

The Creed is our faith, and it is essential for us to know our faith in order for it to be real and alive in us. Make the Creed part of your daily prayers and this will be a big help to you.

Our Creed—goes like this:

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all worlds: Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made, of one essence with the Father by Whom all things were made. Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And on the third day rose again according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father. And He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead, Whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spake by the Prophets. And I believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

This short statement of Faith is the essence of what we believe as Orthodox Christians and further, this statement of Faith is non-negotiable. In other words, if we don’t believe every part of this statement we cannot call ourselves Orthodox Christians; if we don’t believe every part of this statement we exclude ourselves from the worship the Church that has confessed this Faith for over 2000 years; if we don’t believe every part of this statement then we cannot approach the chalice to partake of communion. 

In Ephesians 4.4–6 St Paul says: There is…one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all. In other words, this one faith that expresses what has been revealed to us by God is what we are baptized into and it is this unity of faith that we participate in and proclaim when we worship God and then partake of the Holy Eucharist. All of this is intimately connected. St Basil the Great says it like this: As we were baptized, so we profess our belief. As we profess our belief so also we offer praise (worship). As then baptism has been given us by the Savior, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, so, in accordance with our baptism, we make the confession of the creed, and our doxology (worship) in accordance with our creed. 

One could say then, that if we deviate from the Creed we deviate from Christ but also that if we hold fast to the Creed we hold fast to our Lord Jesus Christ. Hold fast to the Creed beloved and so keep Christ in your heart.

With love in our risen Lord,

Fr John

Services and Events

Friday, May 24th—9am—Paraklesis Service of St George

Saturday, May 25th—10am–6pm—Teen Retreat @ St George and Thatcher State Park Great Vespers @ 4PM followed by Bible Study

Sunday, May 26th—9am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy 

Tuesday, May 28th—8am—Coffee with the Fathers

Wednesday, May 29th—8am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy for Mid-Pentecost

Friday, May 31st—9am—Paraklesis Service of St George

Saturday, June 1st—1pm–8am—Parish Council Retreat @ St George Great Vespers @ 5PM

Sunday, June 2nd—9am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy memorial for Rita Rizk with meal to follow

Church Calendar

Education

But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 2 Pet 3.18

Read Metropolitan Saba's weekly teaching on the Fullness of Life HERE

Get some caffeine for the soul with Coffee with the Fathers on Tuesday mornings at 8am at Uncommon Grounds—1235 Western Ave. We are discussing Hymns on Paradise by St Ephraim the Syrian. 

Study the Scriptures with us—Bible Study Saturday evenings at 6pm after vespers. We are working through the Gospel of Matthew.

Click HERE for some resources for learning about our Faith

Click HERE for a great article on advice for mothers. 

Click HERE for some resources for learning about Holy Pascha!

Our Archdiocese is hosting a conference on Christian Education June 6–9. This is a great opportunity to learn about education from an Orthodox Christian lens. The speakers will be outstanding and the opportunity to network, learn and grow with other educators will be wonderful. If you are interested in registering for the event click HERE

Internships for young adults, June and/or July: Men ages 18-35 can apply now to live and work at The Monastery of Our Lady and St. Laurence in Colorado, even if they're not considering a monastic vocation. Starting this Friday, young men and women can apply for internships that will teach servant leadership in Alaska, Puerto Rico and Texas for the 2024-25 school year.

Orthodox Young Professionals Conference, July 25-28: In Anaheim, Calif., attendees will have opportunities for spiritual growth, and build future friendships and lasting memories. Be one of the first fifty people to register and earn a discount! (Please also share the attached flier.)

 

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

*We will be having a parish softball game on Father's Day June 16th. Come enjoy a meal and some fun together as a community. 

*The Parish Life Conference is in Montreal this summer (July 4–7). Find out more here: www.antiochianevents.com/ottawa

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 Andrew, Fr Pat, Fr Joseph, Fr Chrysostom, Fr Peter and Matushka Sophia,  Dn Jorge, Dn Horia,The Shahin Family, The Ruff Family, Will, Yaccoub,  Diane, Leila, Helen, Lucy, Camile, Marsha, Rana, Caroline, Jessica, Irenei, Frederick, Cathie, Ugyen, Tshering, Tenzin, Mary, Georgette, Presbytera Marina, Hassib, Alex, Raymond, Andrew, George, Elizabeth, Elena Marie

All those suffering from illness, violence and want in this country and throughout the world and especially those in Ukraine Gaza and the middle east

Departed:

Fr Gregory DesMarais, Fr Alvian, Jeninne (5.16), Ken (5.16), those who have lost their lives and who have no one to pray for them, those who have passed in the conflict in Ukraine and the middle east.

Why do we pray for the dead?

Divine Liturgy Variables for Sunday, May 26, 2024; Tone 3 / Eothinon 5 

Fourth Sunday of Pascha—Sunday of the Paralytic

The Priest begins Divine Liturgy with “Blessed is the Kingdom” and the choir responds “Amen.” Bearing the Paschal Candle, the Priest then leads the singing of the Paschal Apolytikion and censes the west side of the Altar Table.

Priest: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death; and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

The Choir then sings this twice, and the Liturgy continues with the Great Litany.

THE FIRST ANTIPHON

Verse: Shout with joy to God, all the earth; sing to His Name, give glory to His praises.

Refrain: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.

Verse: Say to God: How awesome are Thy works; let all the earth worship Thee, and sing to Thee. Let it sing a song to Thy Name, O Most High. (Refrain)

Glory… Both now… (Refrain)

THE SECOND ANTIPHON

Verse: May God have mercy upon us, and bless us, and may He cause His face to shine upon us, and have mercy upon us.

Refrain: Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead; who sing to Thee. Alleluia.

Verse: That Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy salvation among all nations; let the people give thanks to Thee, O God, let all the people give thanks to Thee. (Refrain)

Verse: May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear Him. (Refrain)

Glory… Both now… O, only begotten Son and Word of God…

THE THIRD ANTIPHON

Verse: Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him flee from before His face.

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death; and upon those in the tombs, bestowing life!

Verse: As smoke vanishes, so let them vanish, as wax melts before the fire. (Refrain)

Verse: So let sinners perish before the face of God, and let the righteous be glad. (Refrain)

Verse: This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Refrain)

THE EISODIKON (ENTRANCE HYMN) OF PASCHA

In the gathering places bless ye God the Lord, from the springs of Israel. Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead, who sing to Thee: Alleluia.

Now sing these hymns in the following order.

RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE THREE

Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord hath done a mighty act with His own arm. He hath trampled down death by death, and become the first-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depths of Hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.

Now sing the apolytikion of the patron saint or feast of the temple.

The KONTAKION of pascha in Tone EIGHT

Though Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal One, yet didst Thou destroy the power of     Hades, and didst arise as victor, O Christ God, calling to the myrrh-bearing women, Rejoice, and giving peace unto Thine Apostles, O Thou Who dost grant resurrection to the fallen.

THE EPISTLE

O chant unto our God, chant ye. Clap your hands, all ye nations.

The Reading from the Acts of the Holy Apostles. (9:32-42)

In those days, as Peter went throughout all regions, he came down also to the saints who dwelt at Lydda. There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who was bedridden for eight years and paralyzed. And Peter said to him: “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; arise and make your bed.” And immediately he arose. And all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned back to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha (which means Gazelle). She was full of good works and of charitable deeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they placed her in an upper chamber.  Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him: “Come to us without delay!” So Peter arose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him into the upper chamber. All the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and other garments which Tabitha made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body, he said: “Tabitha, arise!” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and raised her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

THE GOSPEL

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (5:1-15)

At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first, after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for 38 years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your pallet, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet.” But he answered them, “The man who healed me said to me, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk’?” Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befalls you.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus Who had healed him.

MEGALYNARION FOR PARALYTIC SUNDAY IN TONE ONE

The angel spake to her that is full of grace, saying, O pure Virgin, rejoice; and I say also, Rejoice; for thy Son is risen from the tomb on the third day.

We believers in unison bless thee, O Virgin, crying: Rejoice, O gate of the Lord. Rejoice, O living city. Rejoice, O thou from whom didst rise upon us from the dead the Light of Resurrection, He Who was born of thee.

KOINONIKON (COMMUNION HYMN) OF PASCHA IN TONE EIGHT

Receive ye the body of Christ; taste ye the Fountain of immortality.

Instead of “We have seen the true light,” sing “Christ is Risen” once.

THE DISMISSAL

Priest: May He Who rose from the dead, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-immaculate and all-blameless holy Mother; by the might of the Precious and Life-giving Cross; by the protection of the honorable Bodiless Powers of Heaven; at the supplication of the honorable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable apostles; of our father among the saints, John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople, whose Divine Liturgy we have now celebrated; of the holy, glorious and right-victorious Martyrs; of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers; of Saint N., the patron and protector of this holy community; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna, and of all the saints: have mercy on us and save us, forasmuch as He is good and loveth mankind.

Priest:  Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs… 

People: …bestowing life!

Parish Giving Summary—Fiscal Year 2023/24

Help us Meet our Goal of $120,000 for the Year

Sunday Giving for week of May 19th—$1054

Online Giving for week of May 19th—$0

Total Giving for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—$65,113

Families who have contributed for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—67

Families who have contributed over $5,000 for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—3

Families who have contributed over $1,000 for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—15

Check out our parish financial report by clicking HERE.

*You can set up a recurring monthly donation to the Church by clicking HERE 

Give to St. George

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 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.

From a Father of the Church

St Ambrose of Milan on the Sunday of the Paralytic

Whoever went down into the water first was healed of all his sickness. What does ‘first’ mean? Was it a priority of time or of dignity? It carries both meanings. The one to go down first in the order of time was healed first: that is, the Jews rather than the gentiles. The one to go down first in the order of dignity was healed first: that is, he who had the fear of God, zeal for righteousness, the grace of charity, the love of chastity. But in those days only one was saved. In those days, he alone was cured who went down first; and this was in figure. How much greater is the grace of the Church in which all those who go down into the water are saved. https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2017/05/the-paralytic-at-pool-and-mystery-of.html

Why should I care about the church fathers?