George, Bishop of Mytilene
The righteous George struggled in behalf of the holy icons, and reposed in peace about the year 821.
Orthros - Sunday 8:50 am
Divine Liturgy- Sunday 10:00 am
The righteous George struggled in behalf of the holy icons, and reposed in peace about the year 821.
With the help of God, we have almost reached the middle of the course of the Fast, where our strength has been worn down through abstinence, and the full difficulty of the labour set before us becomes apparent. Therefore our holy Mother, the Church of Christ, now brings to our help the all-holy Cross, the joy of the world, the strength of the faithful, the staff of the just, and the hope of sinners, so that by venerating it reverently, we might receive strength and grace to complete the divine struggle of the Fast.
Born in 1865 in the region of Pskov, our Father among the Saints Tikhon was tonsured a monk in 1891 and ordained to the priesthood in the same year. In 1897 he was consecrated Bishop of Lublin, and a year later appointed Bishop of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, with his see extending to all of North America from 1900 onwards. He did much to unite the Orthodox Christians of a great many ethnic backgrounds in North America, so that there was indeed one flock under one shepherd. In 1907 he was made Archbishop of Yaroslavl and Rostov, and in 1913, Archbishop of Lithuania.
In 1917, when he was Metropolitan of Moscow, he was elected to be the first Patriarch of Russia in over 200 years, in times that could not have been more difficult. After the Revolution of 1917, the persecution of the Russian Church by the atheist government grew more bold and more fierce with every year. By nature a meek and peace-loving man, Tikhon sought to determine, while giving only to God that which is God's, what could be given to Caesar to preserve peace and avoid the shedding of blood. At his departure on the feast of the Annunciation in 1925, Saint Tikhon made the sign of the Cross thrice, pronouncing the words, "Glory to Thee, O God!" Because of the many unspeakable sufferings he endures as Patriarch, he is honoured as a Confessor.
Note: St. Tikhon's repose was on the Feast of the Annunciation according to the Old Calendar (March 25), but on the New Calendar his repose falls on April 7.
The holy Martyr Calliopius was from Perga in Pamphylia, brought up in piety by his godly mother Theocleia. When the persecution of Maximian broke out, Saint Calliopius presented himself of his own accord before the Governor Maximus in Pompeiopolis of Galatia. After he had suffered many torments, his mother visited him in prison and encouraged him in his martyrdom. After this, his thrice-blessed mother, upon learning that he was to be crucified on Holy and Great Thursday, bribed the tyrants to defer it one day, that he might imitate the Lord's Crucifixion on the same day that He suffered it. The holy Martyr Calliopius received the crown of martyrdom on Holy and Great Friday in the year 304, being crucified upside down.
Eleventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:14-25
At that time, Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. And he said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me." Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
Prokeimenon. Plagal 2nd Tone. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6.
BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."
Sunday of the Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1
The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."
In giving birth, you remained a virgin, and in your dormition, you did not forsake this world, O Theotokos. For as the Mother of Life, you have yourself passed into life. And by your prayers deliver our souls from death.
My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
When most think about what “church” is, it is either a destination for which one goes to for worship, or it is the gathering of the faithful for purposes of prayer, or both. For those that are more greatly connected, it is a community of like believers, hopefully in communion with one another in a uniform code of ethics, conduct and beliefs. It is a gathering of like believers in faith.
Although all of the above is true, it is truly a cursory understanding of what “church” is. It is a surface understanding that distills what “church” is supposed to be down to its simplest level. When in fact, “church” is a family, and families are complexed and nuanced—each person of the family having a unique relationship with every other member; each offering different talents and understandings to the whole.
You and I, and all of those who are in good standing in the Orthodox Church are brothers and sisters. We most often add “in Christ,” but this is merely to differentiate from those that are of blood relations. We are “brothers and sisters” created in the image of our Father and united in thoughts, beliefs, purpose and, most importantly, love.—or at least we should be. The “church” therefore is no longer a destination or merely a gathering place for the like minded, but our family’s generational home! By this, “church” is no longer a place or event, but we become the “Church.”
In a few short weeks, we will be gathering for Great and Holy Week. We will come together as our Father, Creator, Savior and Lord is tortured and put to death in the flesh with only one purpose, to enter into the realm of death so that we don’t ever have to. He “tramples down death by death” so that we may have life! He then resurrects to give us the “good news” (the meaning of Gospel) so that we may believe and receive this gift that none of us have earned or deserve. We should be there with Him, as we are the benefactors of this divine condescension, humility and grace.
All He asks is to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength; and, to love each other as we love ourselves. In other words, be the “Church.”
A Blessed Great and Holy Lent to all of you as we prepare for His Passion, Crucifixion and Resurrection!
In Christ,
Fr. Jon
"Red Lobster"
12 Noon on Tuesday, April 16
Come and enjoy great fellowship with others you have flexibility during the daytime hours
RSVP to Nancy Anas at
(502) 645-2307 by 4-14-24
Palm Sunday Luncheon - April 28th
Adults $10—Children 7-12 are $5 (Children under 6 are free)
Sponsored by the Philoptochos
Are you already Kroger shopper?
Your current shopping could be benefitting the Assumption!
Kroger Community Rewards® makes fund-raising easy...all you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Plus Card!
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TO USE THE KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM:
· Go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com and register your Kroger Plus Card (if you are already registered, click “Sign In” instead of “Create an Account.”)
· Sign up for a Kroger Rewards Account by entering zip code, clicking on favorite store, entering your email address and creating a password, agreeing to the terms and conditions
· You will then get a message to check your email inbox and click on the link within the body of the email.
· Click on My Account and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step.
· Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and input your Kroger Plus card number. If you use your phone number at the register instead of a card, call 800-576-4377, select option 4 to get your Kroger Plus card number.
· Update or confirm your information.
· Enter “Assumption” or our NPO number of AT066 and select us from the list and click on confirm.
· If enrollment is complete, you will see Assumption’s name on the right side of your information page.
· That’s it!!! Use your registered Kroger Plus card or phone number at the register and our parish benefits!!!
By registering online, coupons can be electronically attached to your Plus Card. Not only do you help the Church, but you save money. Talk to everyone you know about registering to benefit our parish!!!
Philoptochos’ Charity for April: Supplies Over Seas (SOS)
SOS collects medical surplus and redistributes them to underserved or in-crisis clinics, hospitals, homeless shelters, displacement camps, and animal rescues. SOS, by supplying repurposed medical supplies and equipment, has delivered health and hope to over 1 million people, from Ghana to Ukraine, Ethiopia and Cuba to Eastern Kentucky. Since 1983, SOS has saved more than 4 million pounds of medical equipment and supplies from landfills!
Please search your home for items once used by a family member for an illness or an injury, but now just taking space in your closets.
Needed and acceptable items include:
Not accepted: medications and nutrition supplements
St. Bernadette Diaper Bank Ministry
Thank you to all that donated to this ministry. We collected 627 diapers and 900 wipes. They are grateful for our support.
The next Philoptochos meeting will be on Sunday April 14 after church.
8:50AM Orthros
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
11:30AM St. John Chrysostom Parish Oratorical Festival
4:00PM Book Club
6:00PM Great Compline
6:00PM Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
7:00PM Orthodox Bible Study
6:00PM 4th Salutations to the Theotokos
8:50AM Orthros
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
11:30AM Philoptochos Meeting
6:00PM Great Compline
12:00PM Lunch Bunch
6:00PM Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
7:00PM Orthodox Bible Study
6:00PM Akathist Hymn
10:30AM Daughters of Penelope Meeting
8:50AM Orthros
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
12:00PM Parish Council Meeting