Please see our online calendar for dates and times of Feast Day services.
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)
Members of our Parish Council are:
Greg Jankura - Vice President
Susan Davis- Council Member at Large
Carolyn Neiss - President
Marlene Melesko - Council Member at Large
Susan Egan - Treasurer
Dn Timothy Skuby - Secretary
Pastoral Care - General Information
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.
Parish Clean-up
Saturday, Sept 16th, is our annual clean-up. As you have not doubt heard by now, we have had some flooding, so the more people who attend to the cleaning, the faster it will all be done. Particular attention needs to be paid to the kitchen, the bathroom and downstairs in the classrooms and the social area infront of them.
Annual Diocesan Assembly
The Assembly this year will be held in New Haven on Oct 27th and 28th. The meeting on Friday will be the Assembly itself. Our delegate is Sophia Brubaker. On Saturday, the 28th, there will be a special Assembly for the possible election of the diocesan hierarch. I have appointed Dn Timothy as delegate to this assembly. Sophia is interested in only attending the Friday Assembly, so it makes since to have Deacon attend the second assembly as he would be in attendence already.
If you would like to be an observer of one or both of the sessions, please see me (Fr Steven) as soon as possible as there are special forms to be completed.
Stewardship Form
Located on the candle desk (as well as attached to the ebulletin) you will find the 2024 Stewardship form (part 1). Please complete this form and return it to Fr Steven before out Annual Meeting in November.
Prayer at the receiving of Pledges
We give thanks, O Lord, for all the bounties you have provided us, the faithful of St Innocent Orthodox Church, and that, having yourself endowed us with the gift of the Holy Spirit, a share in the communion of the saints and the promise of the inheritance of the Kingdom to come, you also have led your people to pledge offerings to your Church from what you yourself have abundantly given to us. We pray that you would bless those who have offered these pledges of support, granting them mercy, life, peace, health, and furtherance in everything good for their salvation. Bless now these pledges of support that we offer before your holy altar, your own of your own offered to you again. Multiply them as your Son our Savior Jesus Christ multiplied the five loaves and two fish to feed the five-thousand. Accept them as a pledge of our cooperation in the saving work of your Church throughout the world, so that the Church may never be put to confusion but would ever trust in your provision and faithfulness. For you are a merciful God who loves mankind, and to you we send up glory, Father without beginning, with your only-begotten Son, and your most- holy, good and living-giving Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
On September 23rd at 4pm in Southbury, CT at Christ the Savior Parish Fr. Mark Roosien will be giving a talk for our youth highlighting the life of St. Maria of Paris. After the talk we will have a time for questions and then at 6pm we will begin Vespers.
Please help get the word out to the youth ( and their parents) of your parishes and our diocese. God bless you all, and may we all live in the joy of this beautiful feast!
Please email or call me with any questions, and share this email!
Thank you!
In Christ,
Fr. Moses Locke
Rector, Christ the Savior, Southbury, CT
NE/OCA Youth Director -- 603-832-6791
Fundraiser for an AED. We have currently raised just over $700 toward the purchase of an AED. Thank you. Each device costs $850, having two would ensure that we have one for each floor of parish.
https://inaheartbeat.networkforgood.com/projects/197916-st-alexis-orthodox-church-aed-campaign
Many Years! to Katie Jankura and Melissa Josefiak on the occasion of their birthdays.
Please pray for Evelyn Leake, Melissa Josefiak and Victor Hoehnebart who are in need of God's mercy and healing; and for Kelley Hosking-Billings.
Please let Fr. Steven know via email if you have more names for which to pray.
Departed: Bishop Tikhon, Nicholi, Monica, Gena, Gregory
Clergy and their families: Mat. Clara, Mat. Evelyn, Mat. Ann, Mat. Amanda
Catechumen: Robert, Abbie, Matthew, Joseph, Mary
Individuals and Families: Susan, Peter, Luba, Daniel, Danya, Suzanne, Gail Galina Evelyn, Rosemary, John, Kelley, Lucille, Kenneth, Karen, Oleg, Lucia, Victor, Melissa, Christine, Sebastian, Olga
Birthdays and Name’s Days this Month:Kathryn Jankura, Melissa Josefiak, Phyllis Sturtevant
Anniversaries this Month: Susan and Llyod Davis
Expecting and Newborn: Stella
Traveling: Fr Steven
Sick and those in distress: Barbara
Afterfeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos. Sunday before Elevation. Martyrs Menodora, Metrodora, and Nymphodora, at Nicomedia (305-311). Ven. Paul the Obedient, of the Kiev Caves (Far Caves—13th-14th c.). Bl. Prince Andrew, in monasticism Joasaph, of Kubensk (Vologda—1453). Holy Apostles of the 70 Apelles, Luke (Loukios), and Clement (1st c.). Martyr Barypsabas in Dalmatia (2nd c.). Rt. Blv. Pulcheria, the Empress of the Greeks (453). Ss. Peter and Paul, Bishops of Nicaea (9th c.).
Sunday before Holy Cross
+Deborah Bray
9:30AM Divine Liturgy
Theodora of Alexandria
8:30AM Akathist to Venerable Silouan
Apodosis of the Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary
Kathryn Jankura - B
8:30AM Daily Matins
🍇 Forefeast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross
6:00PM Vigil of the Cross
☦️ The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross
8:30AM Divine Liturgy
12:00PM Valley Shore Clergy Gathering
☦️ Nikitas the Great Martyr
Melissa Josefiak
Saturday after Holy Cross
9:00AM Annual Fall Cleanup
5:30PM Great Vespers
Sunday after Holy Cross
9:30AM Divine Liturgy
Eumenius the Wonderworker, Bishop of Gortynia
These Martyrs, sisters according to the flesh, were from Bithynia. They lived in virginity on a mountain near the Pythian hot springs of Bithynia, devoting themselves to asceticism and prayer. Betrayed to the local governor, Fronto, they were subjected to frightful tortures, and so gave up their holy souls into the hands of God. They contested for the Faith during the reign of Maximian, in the year 304.
This saint lived in the fifth century. Out of remorse for the adultery that she committed with another man, she fled from her husband's house, renamed herself Theodore, clothed herself as a man, and pretending to be a eunuch, entered a monastery of men. Her identity as a woman was discovered only after her death.
Saint Cornelius was a Roman by race, a pagan by religion, a centurion in rank, an inhabitant of Caesarea of Palestine, a man pious and God-fearing who gave many alms to the people and prayed continually unto God. In accordance with an angelic vision granted to him, he sent to Joppa that they might bring the Apostle Peter. Saint Peter catechized him in the Faith of Christ and baptized all his household (Acts, ch.10). This became the beginning and the first fruits of the calling of the nations. It is said that, after this, he became a bishop, as some say, of Caesarea; but others say of Scepsis, which is not far from Troas; and that he died as a martyr.
Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place.
Rest from labour. A Fast is observed today, whatever day of the week it may be.
This Saint was of high birth among the Goths beyond the Danube River. He was taken by Athanaric, pagan ruler of the Goths, and after being tortured, was burned to death for his confession of Christ. According to some, this took place during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great; according to others, under the Emperor Gratian.
Saint Euphemia was from Chalcedon and lived in virginity. According to some, she suffered martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian, in 303; according to others, in 307. Her sacred relics are preserved in the Patriarchate in Constantinople.
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 4 Troparion (Feast)
Your nativity, O Virgin,
has proclaimed joy to the whole universe!
The Sun of righteousness, Christ our God,
has shone from you, O Theotokos.
By annulling the curse,
He bestowed a blessing.//
By destroying death, He has granted us eternal life.
Tone 1 Troparion (Martyrs)
Let all who rejoice at their triumph honor those three virgin martyrs,
who are united to God as^ sisters
and who pour forth fair streams of grace:
Menodora, Metrodora, and Nymphodora,
who were in all things ^courageous;//
they ever pray to the Trinity for us.
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 (Martyrs)
Invincible in your struggles for the Holy Trinity,
and through your love for each other as sisters,
you defeated the foe of the spiritual life,
and with the five virgins, entered victoriously into the heavenly mansions //
where you ever rejoice with the angels in the presence of the King of all!
Tone 4 Kontakion (Feast)
By your nativity, O most pure Virgin,
Joachim and Anna are freed from barrenness,
Adam and Eve — from the corruption of death.
And we, your people, freed from the guilt of sin, celebrate and sing to you://
“The barren woman gives birth to the Theotokos, the nourisher of our Life.”
Tone 6 Prokeimenon (Sunday Before)
O Lord, save Your people, / and bless Your inheritance! (Ps. 27:9a)
V. To You, O Lord, will I call. O my God, be not silent to me! (Ps. 27:1a)
Tone 3 Prokeimenon (Song of the Theotokos)
My soul magnifies the Lord, / and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. (Lk. 1:46-47)
(Instead of “It is truly meet…,” we sing:)
Tone 8
Magnify, O my soul, the most glorious birth of the Mother of God!
Virginity is foreign to mothers;
childbearing is strange for virgins.
But in you, O Theotokos, both were accomplished.//
Therefore all we nations of the earth unceasingly magnify you.
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest! (Ps. 148:1)
I will receive the cup of salvation and call on the Name of the Lord. (Ps. 115:4)
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh
Sermon on The Cross
September 28, 1986
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
We have been keeping these days the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. There is a passage in the Gospel in which the Lord says to us, "No one has greater love than he who gives his life for his neighbour". And these words resolve the antinomy between the horror of the Cross and the glory of it, between death and the Resurrection. There is nothing more glorious, more awe-inspiring and wonderful than to love and to be loved. And to be loved of God with all the life, with all the death of the Only-Begotten Son, and to love one another at the cost of all our life and, if necessary, of our death is both tragedy but mainly victory. In the Canon of the Liturgy we say, "Holy, most holy art Thou and Thine Only-Begotten Son and Thy Holy Spirit! Holy and most holy art Thou because Thou hast so loved Thy world that Thou hast given Thine Only-Begotten Son that those who will believe in Him do not perish but have life eternal, Who hath come and hath fulfilled all that was appointed for our sakes, and in the night when He was betrayed — no! — when He gave Himself up, He took bread, and brake it and gave it to His disciples ..."
This is the divine love. At times one can give one's own life more easily than offer unto death the person whom one loves beyond all; and this is what God, our Father has done. But it does not make less the sacrifice of Him who is sent unto death for the salvation of one person or of the whole world.
And so when we think of the Cross we must think of this strangely inter-twined mystery of tragedy and of victory. The Cross, an instrument of infamous death, of punitive death to which criminals were doomed, because Christ's death was that of an innocent, and because this death was a gift of self in an act of love — becomes victory.
This is why Saint Paul could say, "It is no longer I, it is Christ Who lives in me." Divine love filled him to the brim and therefore there was no room for any other thought or feeling, any other approach to anyone apart from love, a love that gave itself unreservedly, love sacrificial, love crucified, but love exulting in the joy of life.
And when we are told in to-day's Gospel, Turn away from yourself, take up your Cross, Follow Me' (St Mark VIII: 34) — we are not called to something dark and frightening; we are told by God: Open yourself to love! Do not remain a prisoner of your own self-centredness. Do not be, in the words of Theophane the Recluse, like a shaving of wood which is rolled around its own emptiness. Open yourself up! Look — there is so much to love, there are so many to love! There is such an infinity of ways in which love can be experienced, and fulfilled and accomplished. Open yourself and love — because this is the way of the Cross! Not the way which the two criminals trod together with Christ to be punished for their crimes; but the wonderful way in which giving oneself unreservedly, turning away from self, existing only for the other, loving with all one's being so that one exists only for the sake of the other — this is the Cross and the glory of the Cross.
So, when we venerate the Cross, when we think of Christ's crucifixion, when we hear the call of Christ to deny ourselves — and these words simply mean: turn away from yourself! Take up your cross! — we are called to open ourselves to the flood of Love Divine, that is both death to ourselves and openness to God and to each and to all.
In the beginning of the Gospel of Saint John we are told, "And the Word was with God"; in the Greek it says "Godwards". The Word, the Son had no other love, no other thought, no other movement but towards the Beloved One, giving Himself to Him Who gave Himself perfectly to Him.
Let us learn the glory of crucified Love, of this Love sacrificial which is in the words of the Old Testament, stronger than death, stronger than hell, stronger than all things because it is Divine Life conquering us and poured through us onto all those who need to be loved in order to come to Life, to believe in Love and themselves to become children of Love, children of Light, inherit the Life eternal. Amen.
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Parish Web Site - http://www.stalexischurch.org ; calendar (https://bit.ly/StA-Calendar)
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Please complete this form by our Annual Meeting in November