Concerning the Dormition of the Theotokos, this is what the Church has received from ancient times from the tradition of the Fathers. When the time drew nigh that our Savior was well-pleased to take His Mother to Himself, He declared unto her through an Angel that three days hence, He would translate her from this temporal life to eternity and bliss. On hearing this, she went up with haste to the Mount of Olives, where she prayed continuously. Giving thanks to God, she returned to her house and prepared whatever was necessary for her burial. While these things were taking place, clouds caught up the Apostles from the ends of the earth, where each one happened to be preaching, and brought them at once to the house of the Mother of God, who informed them of the cause of their sudden gathering. As a mother, she consoled them in their affliction as was meet, and then raised her hands to Heaven and prayed for the peace of the world. She blessed the Apostles, and, reclining upon her bed with seemliness, gave up her all-holy spirit into the hands of her Son and God.With reverence and many lights, and chanting burial hymns, the Apostles took up that God-receiving body and brought it to the sepulchre, while the Angels from Heaven chanted with them, and sent forth her who is higher than the Cherubim. But one Jew, moved by malice, audaciously stretched forth his hand upon the bed and immediately received from divine judgment the wages of his audacity. Those daring hands were severed by an invisible blow. But when he repented and asked forgiveness, his hands were restored. When they had reached the place called Gethsemane, they buried there with honor the all-immaculate body of the Theotokos, which was the source of Life. But on the third day after the burial, when they were eating together, and raised up the artos (bread) in Jesus' Name, as was their custom, the Theotokos appeared in the air, saying "Rejoice" to them. From this they learned concerning the bodily translation of the Theotokos into the Heavens.

Our Glendi is approaching fast (August 27-29).  Volunteers are greatly needed in order to provide the best service to our guests.  Please see Anthony Orologas or Andrew Rosko  to volunteer.  

Also Father Tom is in need of helpers to man the bookstore.  The bookstore will be located on the stage in the social hall.  Please see Father if you are able to volunteer.  Thank you!

Our Glendi is approaching, and bakers, rollers, baggers, and cuppers are needed. he date for making Baklava is August 21 which will begin at 10 a.m. Help is also need for setting up the Pastry booth. The set-up date is August 26 at 10 a.m. The rolling and bagging of our koulourakia is our biggest challenge. The more hands the better! Please come to help and enjoy the fellowship!

On Saturday, August 28 at 11:30 a one year Memorial will be chanted for Pauline Sarantopoulos in the Church sanctuary.  Also remebered will be Kosta Sarantopoulos (3 years) and Kay (Kyriaki) Sarantopoulos (42 years.). May their memories be eternal!

𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙩𝙨 & 𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨 !

We are putting up a 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐊 display at the Canfield Fair !
The “Greek Presence” in our Mahoning Valley will be seen in the International Building.

We need volunteers to man the Greek booth for a short time at the Canfield Fair. You will be able to park really close to the fair and will be given a ticket to enter in appreciation of your help. Dates of the fair: September 1–6. Please contact +presv. Vasiliki or +Fr. Tom for more information and to sign up. Thank you !

The Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery is hosting this miracle working Icon. 

"We would like to welcome you to come and venerate the wonder-working Icon of the Myrrh-Streaming Iveron Icon of the Mother of God of Hawaii.  The Icon is miraculous and the anointing of Her myrrh has been a source of solace for many faithful."

Visitation times are:

Tuesday, August 24^th:     5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, August 25^th:     8:00 a.m. - Noon

To learn more about The Panagia Iveron, please visit this web site:

https://www.ohiia.org

We are pleased and excited to welcome back our children to our Sunday Church program.  Classes will begin on Sunday, September 19 following church holy communion. We have an exciting  program planned and we hope all of our children will return.  

A kick off picnic will also take place on Sunday, September 19 at Boardman Park from the conclusion of church and church school until 4 PM. We have reserved the Ex-Serviceman pavilion at Boardman Park.   We will provide food and refreshments. We hope to see you all there

We are pleased to announce that Mrs. Maria Pontikos Chames will be organizing our youth groups.  We will have an organizational meeting and activities at our youth picnic at Boardman Park on Sunday, September 19. This will be at the Ex-Servicemen pavilion. We are calling all parents to come for this brief but extremely important meeting as we re-organize her youth programs. Please make every attempt to come, bring your children for our lunch and activities. Our meeting will take place approximately 12 noon. Thank you 

*St John Commandarie communion wine ($175)

We want to thank all who have sent in contribtions to be a sponsor for our GLENDI!  It takes everyone's support to make this great event a huge success.  Your contribtions whether physically, spiritually, or monetarily are greatly appreciated.  And it is not too late to contribute.  Please see a parish council member or Father Tom for details.  Thank you again!!

We are happy to announce that electronic donations are now being accepted on our stjohnboardman.com website. On the lower part of the page, you will notice a donate button. You are now able to make your stewardship payments on the site via paypal. May God bless our Saint John parish.

In the past few months when some have been limited in their ability to physically attend Church on Sundays, we want to thank especially those who have continued to offer their offerings, pledges and donations to our St John Church.  There are a couple of ways to continue contributing to the Church.  The first way is by bringing or mailing your contribution to the Church.  The other way is by donating through our website - stjohnboardman.com.  On the lower left hand corner of the home page there is a yellow "donate" tab.  You can donate through PayPal using this method.  

Lastly, we encourage everyone to reach out to our members of our Church family to let them know that they are being thought of and prayed for, and, most of all LOVED!  Now that the restrictions have been lifted, we encourage everyone to come back HOME – back to your Church – Saint John the Forerunner.  Thank you and may God bless you and our Saint John family!!

Please see the attached letter from our Metropolitan Savas.

May 19, 2021

Holy Hieromartyr Patrick, Bishop of Proussa

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.” (John 20:19-20)

Χριστός Ανέστη!  Christ is Risen!

Following his glorious Resurrection from the dead, Christ appeared multiple times to his disciples, who repeatedly had a difficult time understanding what they experienced in him.  He came to them bearing the marks of his suffering, but they had been transformed from life-destroying to life-giving.  Only with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost did they begin to understand what his Passion meant and had accomplished, and how his self-sacrifice was necessary for the life of the world. 

The past year has seen much suffering, frustration, confusion, anger, and pain.  Some of us have lost loved ones; some of us were radically diminished by the illness; some of us lost our jobs; many of us missed major life milestones; and all of us have been affected by the restrictions on communal gatherings.  But we've also done much to practice our life-affirming commitment to, in the words of the Holy Apostle Paul, "bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal 6:2).  Our first responders and medical workers have ministered wholeheartedly and heroically.  And, by God's grace, our own sacrifices have enabled us to minimize the deleterious effects of the pandemic among us.

In recent weeks, the reduction in the rate of spread resulting from our masking and distancing, and especially from the availability of safe and effective vaccines and the hard work done by those in the medical and public health communities, has brought us to a point where resumption of activity in our previously accustomed way is possible.  This is reflected in the updated guidelines of the CDC and the adjusted policy guidelines of the boards of health of the respective states within our Metropolis.

Therefore, in accordance with the new recommendations of the CDC, and in step with the policies as they have been promulgated by the respective States,

1. The requirement to wear masks and observe physical distancing within our worship space and at Church events and meetings is lifted for those who have been vaccinated.  As we cannot (and will not) be asking people to demonstrate their vaccinated status for entry into the Church, we must operate on the honor system, trusting that people will be responsible when entering our parishes and participating in parish events.  We implore those who are not vaccinated to remain masked and observe distancing in enclosed public spaces (Churches, halls, etc.) per the current CDC guidelines, and we continue to encourage everyone to consult with their physician regarding receiving vaccination.

2. Just as we implored Christian behavior in the implementation of the policy, we do so now for those who choose to continue to mask and observe distancing within the Churches.  Those who are not vaccinated yet, who are immunocompromised or who cannot be vaccinated but wish to attend in-person services, should be respected and welcomed.

3. All parish communities must provide adequate space for those who need to continue to be masked and observe physical distancing. 

4. If any pandemic-related restrictions remain in your county or state regarding non-worship activities, those restrictions must be observed.

We ask you to continue to pray fervently for those who are affected by the coronavirus: those who have fallen asleep in the Lord, the sick, medical workers, and unemployed.  Each of our parishes will include those who have died during the pandemic – victims, medical workers, and first responders – in their Memorial Day weekend remembrances.

We must also commit to not merely "go back to the way things were," but to move forward with a more healthy approach to our life as Christian Church communities.  Our year of suffering has left us with scars to be healed, but we also rediscovered essential parts of our praxis as a Church community, and like the Apostles we must see in the scars the sacrifice which was necessary for our salvation.  During the pandemic, many communities and families focused on the following priorities which should now be even further developed in the months and years to come:

• Attention to the poor, hungry, homeless, jobless, and needy in our communities. 
• Outreach to the widowed, shut-in, ill, and otherwise socially isolated persons. 
• Attention to prayer & scripture reading in the home. 
• Reliance on voluntary donations (Stewardship) to the parish, instead of fundraisers (festivals and catering). 

Let us strive to be authentic ministers of peace to a wounded world, embodying the Grace of the Holy Spirit and our experience of the pandemic to witness to the life-giving power of Christ's Resurrection.

With Archpastoral blessings and love in the Risen Lord,

+ SAVAS

Metropolitan of Pittsburgh

WELCOME TO ALL – We want to welcome everyone to our St. John Parish.  All visitors are asked to kindly sign our guest book.  Although everyone is welcome to worship with us, please note that only Orthodox Christians that are properly prepared may receive Holy Communion. HOLY COMMUNION - One of the most sacred acts an Orthodox Christian participates in is the reception of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist at the Divine Liturgy, to receive Holy Communion, one must be prepared through; FASTING; On Wednesday and Friday (Consuming nothing after 12:00 AM on Sunday. PRAYER; Asking for forgiveness of one’s sins and by making frequent use of HOLY CONFESSION.  If one is guilty of serious sin, (A violation of the Lord’s 10 Commandments) one must receive Holy Confession before receiving Holy Communion. ATTENDANCE - We encourage everyone to be on time.  The Divine Liturgy is an all-encompassing the church preparing for Holy Communion also requires us to be present before the epistle and the gospel reading.  

HOSPITALIZATION – Please notify Father or the Church office of any hospitalization, nursing home admissions, or illnesses so that Father can visit and offer the Holy Sacraments to your loved ones.  We do not want to ever deprive anyone support and consolation during an illness. If you desire this information kept confidential, please advise us and strict confidence will be maintained. Please keep in mind that according to Federal Law, hospitals are not allowed to give our personal information such as religious affiliating.  Hospitals will notify the priest or church only if the patient requests the facility to do so.  STEWARDSHIP - An Orthodox Christian Steward is an active participant in the life of the Church. The parish encourages all who accept the Orthodox Faith to become practicing Stewards. Each year the Steward is expected to carefully review his or her personal circumstances and make a commitment of time, talent, and treasure to support the Parish and her Ministries, which in turn support the National Ministries of our Archdiocese, Metropolis, and institutions.  Have you pledged to your Church? Pledge cards have been sent out. Please turn them in so we can continue in the work of the church. Think Stewardship!

We have received our 2021 Church calendars and are awaiting to find homes.  You may pick yours up from the Narthex desk.  May God bless us all as we near the end of this pandemic and what has turned out to be a very unusual 2020-2021 year.

Our secretary and office manager is Joanne Martin. Our new office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 am - 2 pm. Joanne has been a long time friend to Saint John the Forerunner and has bookkeeping experience. She is an asset to our Church family. We are thankful that Joanne is with us!