Welcome to Saint Mary's Orthodox Church

Welcome to The Dormition of the Mother of God Orthodox Christian Church (Saint Mary's) which is a parish of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church of the USA whose presiding Bishop is His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa. The American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese is an Autonomous Diocese under the spiritual protection of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople of which His All-Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is the ruling Patriarch.

We are thankfully to Almighty God that you are here in God's House to Worship with us Today!

If you are new to the Orthodox Church you will find that our worship is abit different than what you maybe used to, or it maybe entirely new all together! It's okay!!! All of us were new to the Faith at one time or another, but we encourage you to participate as you feel comfortable. The Blue Book in your pew has the whole Service of what we call the Divine Liturgy in it so you can follow along.

Please, if you have any questions about what you see or hear today at the Divine Liturgy, we have a Coffee Hour in the Church Hall after service that you are invited to attend! Come and join us for fellowship to have something to eat and have all your questions answered either by Our Pastor Father Vincent or a friendly member of the Church.

If you have been on a long or short spiritual journey looking for the True Church you have found it here in the Orthodox Church!

We pray that what you find and experience here is none other than the peace of Christ Jesus Our Risen Lord and the Kingdom of Heaven!

If you are ready or interested in becoming an Orthodox Christian please see Father Vincent at Coffee Hour or contact him at (570) 640-2517 or email him at vincedranginis@gmail.com

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Tone

Your tomb was sealed with a stone by the Jews,* and the soldiers guarded Your most pure body:* yet You arose on the third day, O savior,* giving life to the world.* The heavenly powers cried out to You, O Giver of Life:* "Glory to Your resurrection , O Christ!* Glory to Your Kingdom!* Glory to Your plan of salvation, for You alone love mankind."

Apolytikion for Euthymius the Great in the Fourth Tone

Be glad, O barren one, that hast not given birth; be of good cheer, thou that hast not travailed; for a man of desires hath multiplied thy children of the Spirit, having planted them in piety and reared them in continence to the perfection of the virtues. By his prayers, O Christ our God, make our life peaceful.

Dormition of The Theotokos in the First Tone

O Birth giver of God, in giving birth you retained virginity; and in your falling asleep you did not forsake the world. You are the Mother of Life and have passed into Life, and by your prayers have delivered our souls from death.

Resurrectional Kontakion in the 1st Tone in the First Tone

Being God, You rose in glory from the tomb, O Lord, restoring life to the world and conquering death. All humanity exalts You as God. Adam rejoices and Eve, delivered from her bonds, glories and cries out to You: "O Christ, You are the Resurrection of all!"

Birthgiver Hymn in the First Tone

O Virgin when Gabriel hailed you, at the sound of his voice the Lord of all was conceived in you. You became a holy temple, as was foretold by David the Just. Bearing Your Creator, you became more spacious than the heavens. Glory to Him Who dwelt in you! Glory to Him Who came forth from you! Glory to Him who set us free by being born of you!

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Tone

You who have sanctified by Your Birth a virgin womb and fittingly blessed the hands of Simeon, * You have come O Christ our God, and on this day have saved us. * Give peace to nations at war * and strengthen the Orthodox people whom you have loved, * for You alone love mankind.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

First Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Matthew 28:16-20

At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Amen."

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Seventh Tone. Psalm 115.15,12.
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
Verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all that he has given me?

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 13:17-21.

Brethren, obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in you that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Gospel Reading

The Reading is from Luke 6:17-23

At that time, Jesus stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came forth from him and healed them all. And he lifted up his eyes on His disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God. Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven."

Saints and Feasts

January 20

Righteous Euthymius the Great

This Saint, who was from Melitene in Armenia, was the son of pious parents named Paul and Dionysia. He was born about 377. Since his mother had been barren, he was named Euthymius-which means "good cheer" or "joy"-for this is what his parents experienced at his birth. He studied under Eutroius, the Bishop of Melitene, by whom he was ordained and entrusted with the care of the monasteries of Melitene. Then, after he had come to Palestine about the year 406, he became the leader of a multitude of monks. Through him, a great tribe of Arabs was turned to piety, when he healed the ailing son of their leader Aspebetos. Aspebetos was baptized with all his people; he took the Christian name of Peter, and was later consecrated Bishop for his tribe, being called "Bishop of the Tents." Saint Euthymius also fought against the Nestorians, Eutychians, and Manichaeans. When Eudocia, the widow of Saint Theodosius the Younger, had made her dwelling in Palestine, and had fallen into the heresy of the Monophysites which was championed in Palestine by a certain Theodosius, she sent envoys to Saint Symeon the Stylite in Syria (see Sept. 1), asking him his opinion of Eutyches and the Council of Chalcedon which had condemned him; Saint Symeon, praising the holiness and Orthodoxy of Saint Euthymius near whom she dwelt, sent her to him to be delivered from her error (the holy Empress Eudocia is commemorated Aug. 13). He became the divine oracle of the Church, or rather, "the vessel of divine utterance," as a certain historian writes. He was the instructor and elder of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified. Having lived for ninety-six years, he reposed in 473, on January 20.

Wisdom of the Fathers

The farther Christians remove themselves from the spirit of their faith, the more they become divided by self-love; the more they are absorbed in themselves, the lesser community they have in spiritual and material blessings - especially of material ones with those in want - love becomes exhausted in them, and mankind more distressed.

St. John of Kronstadt

My Life in Christ, Part 1; Holy Trinity Monastery pg. 82, 19th century

One must be in obedience to a superior: for through this he who is obedient prospers mightily in the formation of his soul; and in addition he obtains by this means understanding of things and comes to heartfelt contrition.

St. Seraphim of Sarov

Spiritual Instructions no. 19, Little Russian Philokalia Vol. 1; Saint Herman of Alaska Brotherhood pg. 39, 19th century

He who truly wishes to believe in God must be lifted above himself, his mind, and even the whole world. For this reason, the value of faith is considered higher than the value of man. It is even higher than the value of the whole world. Therefore, the reward of faith should be higher than all of man's possessions along with the glories of this world. The reward of faith is God.

Fr. Matthew the Poor

Orthodox Prayer Life: The Interior Way, p. 74, 20th century

So in order that we may not destroy the grace that we have received, but preserve it to the end and depart this life in possession of the treasure, there is need of something human, of endeavor on our part. In ordinary affairs it is neither reasonable nor usual for us merely to be content with having received life ... Rather we must seek the means of preserving it.

St. Nicholas Cabasilas

The Life in Christ, The Sixth Book, 1. B#38, p. 159, 14th Century

Saint Mary's News

Axios! Axios! Axois!

By the Divine Grace of Almighty God Father Deacon Vincent will be Ordained to the Holy Priesthood of the Holy Orthodox Church by Our Bishop Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa on Sunday February 3rd! The Ordination will take place at Father Deacon's Home Parish of Saint Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church in Saint Clair Pennsylania at the 10am Divine Liturgy! If anyone is interested in attending the ordination please let Father Deacon know as soon as possible, since it is a long trip and places to stay at least over night would be necessary.

Rectory House Warming/Open House February 17th After Divine Liturgy!

All are welcome to attend the Rectory House Warming/Open House to welcome our New Pastor Father Vincent and his lovely wife Pani Christyn! After Divine Liturgy on February 17th all are invited down to the Rectory for Lunch and to see the new paint by our resident painter Pani Christyn! This will take the place of coffee hour that Sunday, so come extra hungry for the Eucharist and then a nice Lunch at the Rectory!

Attention All Members of Saint Mary's Parish!

Diocesan Assessments are past due! They were to be sent to our Chancery in Johnstown on January 1st. The assentment dues per parish member is $75 dollars. Please if you have not paid or are unable to pay the whole amount please see Michael Peters or Father Vincent. To paid your assentment please drop it into the offering basket on Sunday Morning and if paying by check please make out the check to Saint Mary's Orthodox Church. Thank you for your support of our Diocese!

Parish Snow Tubing Event!!!!!!!!!! Get Excited!!!!!

Who is interested in some fun in the Sun and the Snow?? If you answered the question, "I am!" then why not join your friends from Saint Mary's at Canaan Valley Resort WV for a day of Snow Tubing! We will talk as a community about the Actual Day of the Event and Times at Coffee Hour this Sunday and next Sunday. Hopefully, we can plan our day of fun sometime before Great Lent begins in Mid-February or early March. Get your snow suits ready!!!

Chili Cook Off for this February has been Canceled

The normal Chili Cook Off that usually occurs the first Saturday in February will be canceled this year and we will pick it up again this time next year.