Jesus Christ taught us to love and serve all people, regardless of their ethnicity or nationality. To understand that, we need to look no further than to the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Every time we celebrate the Divine Liturgy, it is offered "on behalf of all, and for all." As Orthodox Christians we stand against racism and bigotry. All human beings share one common identity as children of God.

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatian 3:28)

Weekly Services

Tuesdays at 8:30a - Daily Matins
Wednesdays at 6:00p - Daily Vespers (The Church is open at 4:30p for "Open Doors" - confession, meditation and reflection).
Thursday at 8:30a - Daily Matins
Saturday at 5:30p - Great Vespers
Sunday at 9:30a - Divine Liturgy

Members of our Parish Council are:
Susan Hayes - Council President
Susan Egan - Council Treasurer
Greg Jankura - Member at Large
Glenn PenkoffLedbeck - Council Secretary
James Pepitone - Council Vice President
Vincent Melesko - Member at Large

• Emergency Sick Calls can be made at any time. Please call Fr Steven at (860) 866-5802, when a family member is admitted to the hospital.
• Anointing in Sickness: The Sacrament of Unction is available in Church, the hospital, or your home, for anyone who is sick and suffering, however severe. 
• Marriages and Baptisms require early planning, scheduling and selections of sponsors (crown bearers or godparents). See Father before booking dates and reception halls!
• Funerals are celebrated for practicing Orthodox Christians. Please see Father for details. The Church opposes cremation; we cannot celebrate funerals for cremations.

October 28 is Steward Sunday: Sharing our Treasures “For the Life of the World!”
SYOSSET, NY [OCA]

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Sunday, October 28, 2018 has been designated as Steward Sunday, during which parishes across North America will be taking special collections to support the Orthodox Church in America’s ongoing ministries. Online donations also will be accepted with gratitude.

“Stewardship is not just a matter for parish and diocesan action… it’s personal,” explains His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon. “Stewardship is really at the heart of our life and existence as Orthodox Christians. In our own personal lives, in our parish communities, and in our families, we are constantly and sacrificially offering our small gifts, so that we may receive the great gift that God gives to us.”

Become a Steward by making a secure on-line contribution today!

“I invite all of you to join me and the members of the Holy Synod in offering our small and humble gift to God so that God may bless us with the great work that we all do together as the Church,” Metropolitan Tikhon continues. “We work through our parish ministries, through our diocesan work, and also through the work of our departments, as they assist our missions to grow, as they help our youth to gather and share their faith, and to support all the departments and all of us in the Orthodox Church in America.”

For example, your gifts will help fund

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the Department of Evangelization, which has granted more than one million dollars over the past decade to fledgling mission parishes across North America through its Church Planting Grant program;
the Department of Liturgical Music and Translations, which trains new choir directors through online training courses and continuously expands its over 6,500 pages of liturgical music and texts so essential to parish choirs here and around the globe;
the Department of Christian Education, which develops and makes available a variety of educational resources for all ages on its ever-expanding website;
the Department of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry, which offers a wealth of resources for home, camp, parish and campus use;
the Department of Christian Service and Humanitarian Aid, which continues to expand its voluminous collection of parish ministry resources; and
the Church’s other departments, offices, and related agencies.
These are just a few examples of the fruitful ministries that will benefit—and expand—tremendously through your generosity and commitment as Stewards of the Orthodox Church in America.

In the spirit of the theme of the 19th All-American Council, please join the ranks of those who already have made the commitment to expand the mission of the Orthodox Church in America by giving generously—“for the life of the world” and for its salvation—on Steward Sunday, October 28!

St. Demetrius (Dimitri), Metropolitan of Rostov

Saint Demetrius, Metropolitan of Rostov (in the world Daniel Savvich Tuptalo), was born in December 1651 in the locale of Makarovo, not far from Kiev. He was born into a pious family and grew up a deeply believing Christian. In 1662, soon after his parents resettled to Kiev, Daniel was sent to the Kiev-Mogilyansk college, where the gifts and remarkable abilities of the youth were first discovered. He successfully learned the Greek and Latin languages and the entire series of classical sciences. On July 9,1668 Daniel accepted monastic tonsure with the name Demetrius, in honor of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica. Prior to the spring of 1675 he progressed through the monastic obediences at Kiev’s Kirillov monastery, where he began his literary and preaching activity. 

The Archbishop of Chernigov Lazar (Baranovich) ordained Demetrius as hieromonk on May 23, 1675. For several years Hieromonk Demetrius lived as an ascetic and preached the Word of God at various monasteries and churches in the Ukraine, Lithuania and Belarus. It was while he was Igumen of the Maximov monastery,and later the Baturinsk Nikol’sk monastery, in 1684 he was summoned to the Kiev Caves Lavra. The Superior of the Lavra, Archimandrite Barlaam (Yasinsky), knowing the high spiritual disposition of his former disciple, his education, his proclivity for scientific work, and also his undoubted literary talent, entrusted the hieromonk Demetrius with organizing the MENAION, the Lives of the Saints for the whole year. 

From this time, all the rest of Saint Demetrius’s life was devoted to the fulfilling of this ascetic work, grandiose in its scope. The work demanded an enormous exertion of strength, since it necessitated the gathering and analyzing of a multitude of various sources and to expound them in a fluent language, worthy of the lofty subject of exposition and at the same time accessible to all believers. Divine assistance did not abandon the saint for his twenty year labor.

According to the testimony of Saint Demetrius himself, his soul was filled with impressions of the saints, which strengthened him both in spirit and body, and they encouraged faith in the felicitous completion of his noble task. At this time, the venerable Demetrius was head of several monasteries (in succession). 

The works of the ascetic brought him to the attention of Patriarch Adrian. In 1701, by decree of Tsar Peter I, Archimandrite Demetrius was summoned to Moscow, where on March 23 at the Dormition cathedral of the Kremlin he was consecrated as Metropolitan of the Siberian city of Tobolsk. But after a certain while, because of the importance of his scientific work and the frailty of his health, the saint received a new appointment to Rostov-Yaroslavl, and on March 1, 1702 assumed his duties as Metropolitan of Rostov. 

Just as before, he continued to be concerned about the strengthening of the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church, weakened by the “Old Believers” schism. 

From his inspired works and preachings many generations of Russian theologians drew spiritual strength for creativity and prayer. He remains an example of a saintly, ascetic, non-covetous life for all Orthodox Christians. Upon his death on October 28, 1709, it was discovered that he had few possessions, except for books and manuscripts. 

The glorification of Saint Demetrius, Metropolitan of Rostov, took place on April 22, 1757. He is also remembered on September 21, the day of the uncovering of his holy relics.

William, Sophia, Robert, Ann, Evelyn, Nina, John, Alex, Luke, Kathryn, Anastasia, Malcolm, Veronica, Darlyne, Irene, Nancy, Elena, Jevon, the new born Stella Anna, Ivan and Joscean.

And for... Sofie, Katrina, Olena, Valeriy, Olga, Tatiana, Dimitri, Alexander and Maxim.

All of our College Students: Alex, Kaitlyn, Jack, Sam, Connor, Nadia, Isaac and Matthew.

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Many Years! to:

Joyous Feast to all those who take St Anastasia as their patron.

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Pray for: All those confined to hospitals, nursing homes, and their own homes due to illness; for all those who serve in the armed forces; widows, orphans, prisoners, victims of violence, and refugees;

All those suffering chronic illness, financial hardship, loneliness, addictions, abuse, abandonment and despair; those who are homeless, those who are institutionalize, those who have no one to pray for them;

All Orthodox seminarians & families; all Orthodox monks and nuns, and all those considering monastic life; all Orthodox missionaries and their families.

All those who have perished due to hatred and intolerance and all those departed this life in the hope of the Resurrection.

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Today we commemorate:

Repose of Ven. Job, Abbot and Wonderworker of Pochaev (1651). Martyrs Terence and Neonila, and their children: Sarbelus, Photus, Theodulus, Hierax, Nitus, Bele, and Eunice. Ven. Stephen of St. Sabbas’ Monastery, Hymnographer (9th c.). Repose of St. Arsenius, Archbishop of Serbia (1266). Greatmartyr Paraskeva of Iconomium (3rd c.). St. Dimitry, Metropolitan of Rostov (1709). Ven. Nestor, not the Chronicler, of the Kiev Caves (Far Caves—14th c.). Martyrs Africanus, Terence, Maximus, Pompeius, and 36 others, of Carthage (3rd c.). Hieromartyr Cyriacus, Patriarch of Jerusalem (363). Ven. John the Chozebite (6th c.). St. Neophytus, Bishop of Urbinsk in Georgia (7th c.). Ven. Athanasius the Younger, Patriarch of Constantinople (14th c.). 

Tone 5  Troparion  (Resurrection)

Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word,
co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,
born for our salvation from the Virgin;
for He willed to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh,
to endure death,
and to raise the dead//
by His glorious Resurrection.

Tone 8  Troparion  (Venerable Stephen)

Champion of Orthodoxy, teacher of purity and of true worship,
enlightener of the universe and the adornment of hierarchs:
all-wise Father Stephen, your teachings have gleamed with light upon all things.//
Intercede before Christ God to save our souls!   

Tone 5 Kontakion  (Resurrection)

You descended into hell, O my Savior,
shattering its gates as Almighty,
resurrecting the dead as Creator,
and destroying the sting of death.
You have delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Man,//
and we cry to You: “O Lord, save us!”

Tone 4 Kontakion  (Venerable Stephen)

You planted a garden of the virtues, most glorious one,
and watered it with the streams of your tears.
Since you have received the tree of life, O Stephen,
save your flock from corruption by your prayers!
Deliver from all evil,
all of those who fervently honor you, O wise one,
for we have acquired you as a great intercessor through faith
and love!

Life After Demons and Pigs: Homily for the Sixth Sunday of Luke in the Orthodox Church

Luke 8: 27-39
It’s probably human nature to think about moving on to a new place from time to time. The prospect of starting over, putting our old problems behind us, and having new and exciting opportunities often appeals to us. Sometimes we just get restless and long for something new.
That’s how the man in today’s gospel lesson felt. Jesus Christ had cast many demons out of him and had delivered him from a terrible existence. The wretched man had been naked, living in a cemetery, with no family or friends. Everyone was afraid of him, for even chains and shackles could not control him when the demons took over. After the Lord set him free, the man understandably wanted to leave town, to follow the One who had delivered him. But Christ did not want him to do that. Instead, he was to return to his own house and tell what great things God had done him. So that is what he did; he proclaimed throughout the whole city how the Lord had blessed him and had given him his life back.
We surely cannot blame this poor fellow for wanting to move on. He must have been known in the country of the Gadarenes as that crazy man whom everybody feared. That is apparent from people’s reaction to the sight of him when he is finally clothed and in his right mind. They were afraid and probably wondered what would happen next. They even asked the Lord to depart because of it. Perhaps this was some kind of trick. Maybe he would become violent again at any moment. The man knew that this was how people viewed him and was probably ashamed, as any of us would be in his situation. So he wanted to put his hometown behind him and not look back. He wanted simply to be with Jesus Christ, who was probably the only person who had shown him compassion and friendship in many years.
But that was not Christ’s plan. He knew that the Gadarenes did not understand the Gospel. He knew that they were so disturbed by the amazing changes in the man’s life that they could not hear the word of the Lord. So it was time for the Savior to leave, but the man who had been possessed by demons was to stay. For eventually, people would see that the positive changes in this man were permanent. Over time, they would get to know him and accept him. And his new life would be living proof of Christ’s salvation. He would be living evidence that God’s blessing and healing have come even to demon-possessed Gentiles of whom everyone was terrified. He would be a living sign that the mercy of Christ extends to all and can heal even the worst wounds and diseases of our souls.
To this day, some are called to be itinerate evangelists, to travel from here to there proclaiming the Gospel; some are called to be physicians, nurses, teachers, or development workers in far-away lands. But most of us are not. Most of us are called, like the man in today’s lesson, to stay right where we are, among those who know us well—for good or for bad—to work out our salvation together with them. Our challenge is to accept with humility the family, the church community, the job, the school, the friends, the neighborhood, the blessings and the challenges, that God in His providence has allowed us to face. No, He is never the author of evil, but He calls us to put up with one another’s weaknesses and life’s disappointments with patience, perseverance, and forgiveness. If we think that the grass is always greener somewhere else, we will never learn that we are members of a Body, that we are not isolated individuals, but members of one another in Christ. Whether in church, family, work, school, or friendships, it is by bearing with one another that we work through our difficulties and learn to stop thinking simply in terms of our own desires, but in terms of what is best for others with whom we share a common life.
Staying put is often good, not only for our communities and relationships, but for ourselves. The man who had been demon-possessed could have left his town and put that sad part of his life behind him. It would have been easier for him to forget his painful past by moving on. But perhaps we kid ourselves when we think that it is best to put the dark moments of our lives completely out of mind. They are reminders of our weakness and of the truth that that we do not save ourselves, that we are always dependent upon the Lord’s mercy and blessing in our lives. We are never self-sufficient as Christians, and our journey is not one of perfect success. No, we should not obsess on our weaknesses, failures, and pains; it is rarely helpful to dwell upon them. We should be grateful and joyful about God’s blessings in our lives. But we should also acknowledge what our past sins reveal about us: our spiritual sickness and brokenness, and the fact that we can easily fall back into the pit of our own corruption. When we remember who we were, and where we are tempted to return, we are reminded to stay focused, to be on guard, and to be all the more thankful that the Lord has raised us up from our low estate. It was true for the Gadarene demoniac, and it is true for all of us who have put on the new life in Christ. When we remember what it was like to wallow in the mire of our passions like pigs in mud, we will glorify with humility the One who set us free.
Another reason for staying home was the impact that this man’s example would have on his friends and neighbors. For there is no more powerful evidence of the truth of the Gospel, there is no stronger witness of Christ’s salvation, than a life transformed. That poor man was so overwhelmed by evil that he had lost his identity as a person. When the Lord asked him his name, the man replied, “Legion,” because he was filled with so many demons. And, as we have seen, he acted like someone controlled by the forces of evil. But after Christ delivered him, the man returned to a normal human life, clothed and in his right mind.
If he had left town, no one whom he met would have known about his past unless he had mentioned it. And even if he told them about it, the story would not be nearly as significant for them as it would be for the people in his hometown. It is one thing to hear about someone’s transformation, but quite another to see it with your own eyes. And it was only by staying home that this man was able to become a uniquely powerful icon of what Jesus Christ can do to heal and fulfill even the most miserable human being.
Of course, we have not been running around demon-possessed, naked, and out of our minds in cemeteries. But we have all at times give into our temptations and allowed our passions to overtake us. Though we may have repented and found God’s forgiveness, we can still be ashamed to encounter people or situations that remind us of our failings. Out of pride, we do not want to be reminded of how we acted and how we may be tempted to act again. Granted, we should not put ourselves in situations of great temptation when we can avoid it. But we also should not hide our light under a bushel; we should not allow pride to keep us from showing others to what the Lord has done for us. Like the Gadarene demoniac, we should return to our house, our home, our neighborhood, our classroom, our workplace, our friendships, and become a living example of what Jesus Christ can do in the lives of sinners.
Some may be skeptical of the changes in us or even afraid and ask us to leave, as they did to Christ Himself. Regardless of that, we should simply focus on living with joy, gratitude, and humility the new life that the Lord has given us. That is how we will proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God even as we remain in our familiar settings, giving thanks for the great things that Christ has done for us. And then others will know that the Lord’s mercy, blessing, and healing are for people just like you and me, right where we are, no matter how painful the past has been. As St. Seraphim of Sarov taught, “Acquire the Spirit of peace and thousands around you will be saved.”
Posted by Fr. Philip LeMasters at 2:53 PM