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,

St Dumitru Staniloae—in speaking about the experience of God—says that even the events of our lives can be for us an experience of the living God. 

Having returned from our three week pilgrimage to Jordan and Lebanon these words of St Dumitru echo in my heart—the events of our lives can be for us an experience of God. This pilgrimage was filled with visits to holy sites—the Jordan River, Mt Nebo, the Cedar Forrest, Harrissa, many monasteries; visits with many esteemed people including our beloved Patriarch John, several metropolitans, abbots, abbesses, monks, nuns and faithful lay people; beautiful hospitality which we received everywhere we went; the blooming of new relationships (not the least of which with our beloved Metropolitan Saba) and the deepening of old ones. All of these great blessings proved to be like a steady rain on a heart that I did not know was parched.

The words of the savior “come and see” (Jn 1.39) also come to my heart. Of course I would love for everyone to “go and see” the physical places that I saw but what I experienced was not a call to leave Albany, NY and go live in Lebanon or Jordan but rather a call to deepen my faith through exposure to the deep faith and love of others. 

Sayedna Saba has often spoken of “the Spirit of Antioch” and after this trip I have come to understand that the “the Spirit of Antioch” is just another way to say that the Faith of the Apostles and the love of God can be found in the ancient see of Antioch. Most of my brothers who were with me on this trip do not have ethnicity tied to the Middle East and yet we were treated like brothers immediately. We do not have “natural” family ties but we feel and felt a joyful-sorrow along with our family who saw the new martyrs of Syria crowned with great glory. This mutual love—first received and then given—can be nothing other than the love of God, whose love washes over all, like the rays of Sun cover the whole earth. Being embraced by this love—most fully expressed and experienced in the celebration of the three Divine Liturgies we participated in (one in Jordan and two in Lebanon)—showed me that the unity we share around the chalice which expresses our Orthodox Faith, is deeper than an ocean that divides us and more steeped in reality than the blood that runs in our veins. 

I am exceedingly grateful for the opportunity that the Lord has afforded me to make this pilgrimage. It is my prayer that I can remember the experience of a faith so deeply rooted that the rocks cry out in praise of He who has come to save us and continue to put down roots that will grow stronger as they are watered by the Grace of God.

With Love in Christ,

Fr John

*You can read Sayidna Saba's Pastoral Letter and help support the families of the victims of the bombing at St Elias Church in Damascus, Syria HERE.

*Read the annual reports of our Archdiocesan Ministries including the Archdiocese Financial Report for the upcoming Bi-Annual Convention in Chicago. 

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 article is titled: On the Interpretation of the Scriptures Part IV

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 for a great article on advice for mothers and HERE to see how the women of the Church serve as keepers of Tradition.

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