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

Liturgical/Class Schedule

Saturday May 18th Choir Practice 4:00PM - Tone 3 If you would like join the choir group please come and practice singing with us! Everyone is Welcome! We will be going over parts of Vespers, The Divine Liturgy, and Orthros.

Saturday May 18th Confessions 5:00PM - Confessions are also available after Vespers

Saturday May 18th Great Vespers 6:00PM- The Paralytic

Sunday May 19th Orthros/Matins 8:30AM

Sunday May 19th The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom 10:00AM -The Fourth Paschal Sunday/The Paralytic

Tuesday May 21st The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom 9:00AM - The Feast of Saint Constantine and Helen

Wednesday May 22nd The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom 9:00AM - Mid Pentecost/ The Martyr Basiliscus, Great Martyr John-Vladimir, & New Martyr Paul

Wednesday May 22nd Adult Catechism/Bible Class 6:30PM - Topic: Part Three of Eucharist and Resurrection

Saturday May 25th Choir Practice 4:00PM - Tone 4 If you would like join the choir group please come and practice singing with us! Everyone is Welcome! We will be going over parts of Vespers, The Divine Liturgy, and Orthros.

Saturday May 25th Confessions 5:00PM - Confessions are also available after Vespers

Saturday May 25th Great Vespers 6:00PM- The Samaritan Woman

Sunday May 26st Orthros/Matins 8:30AM

Sunday May 26st The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom 10:00AM -The Fifth Paschal Sunday/The Samaritan Woman

Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Fifth Tone

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and to those in the tombs bestowing life!

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Tone

Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad!* For the Lord has shown strength with His arm,* trampling down death by death, He has become the first-born of the dead.* He has delivered us from the depths of the realm of death,* and has given great mercy to our souls.

Troparion of the Dormition of The Theotokos in the First Tone

O Birthgiver 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 Third Tone

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit! Today You arose from the grave O Merciful One,* and lifted us from the gates of death.* Adam exults, and Eve rejoices.* They, together with the Prophets and the Patriarchs,* continually proclaim the Divine Authority of Your power!

Sunday of The Paralytic Kontakion in the Third Tone

With your Divine Protection, O Lord,* as You once raised the Paralytic, now lift up my soul* paralyzed with all kinds of sin and evil deeds of wickedness,* so that, as saved, I may cry out to You:* "Glory to Your Might, O Merciful Christ!"

Seasonal Kontakion in the Eighth Tone

You descended into the grave, O Immortal One, * yet You destroyed the power of death. * As Conqueror You arose, O Christ God, * saying to the myrrh-bearing women, "Rejoice!", * granting peace to Your Apostles, * and offering resurrection to the fallen.

Resurrectional Theotokion in the Third Tone

Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen! O Virgin Birth-Giver of God,* Mediatrix of the Salvation of the Human Race,* we sing to you a song of praise,* for in the flesh He received from you,* your Son Christ our God suffered the pains of Crucifixion,* in order to save us from corruption,* for He is the Lover of Mankind!

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Fifth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:13-35

At that time, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see." And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Third Tone. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 9:32-42.

In those days, as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, rise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Paralytic
The Reading is from John 5:1-15

At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your pallet, and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked.

Now that day was the sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, "It is the sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet." But he answered them, "The man who healed me said to me, 'Take up your pallet, and walk.' "They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your pallet, and walk'?" Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you." The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

Saints and Feasts

May 19

Sunday of the Paralytic

Close to the Sheep's Gate in Jerusalem, there was a pool, which was called the Sheep's Pool. It had round about it five porches, that is, five sets of pillars supporting a domed roof. Under this roof there lay very many sick people with various maladies, awaiting the moving of the water. The first to step in after the troubling of the water was healed immediately of whatever malady he had.

It was there that the paralytic of today's Gospel way lying, tormented by his infirmity of thirty-eight years. When Christ beheld him, He asked him, "Wilt thou be made whole?" And he answered with a quiet and meek voice, "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool." The Lord said unto him, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." And straightaway the man was made whole and took up his bed. Walking in the presence of all, he departed rejoicing to his own house. According to the expounders of the Gospels, the Lord Jesus healed this paralytic during the days of the Passover, when He had gone to Jerusalem for the Feast, and dwelt there teaching and working miracles. According to Saint John the Evangelist, this miracle took place on the Sabbath.

May 19

Patrick the Hieromartyr and Bishop of Prusa and His Fellow Martyrs Acacius, Menander, and Polyaenus

Saint Patrick was Bishop of Prusa, a city in Bithynia (the present-day Brusa or Bursa). Because of his Christian Faith, he was brought before Julius (or Julian) the Consul, who in his attempts to persuade Patrick to worship as he himself did, declared that thanks was owed to the gods for providing the hot springs welling up from the earth for the benefit of men. Saint Patrick answered that thanks for this was owed to our Lord Jesus Christ, and explained that when He, Who is God, created the earth, He made it with both fire and water, and the fire under the earth heats the water which wells up, producing hot springs; he then explained that there is another fire, which awaits the ungodly. Because of this, he was cast into the hot springs, but it was the soldiers who cast him in, and not he, who were harmed by the hot water. After this Saint Patrick was beheaded with the presbyters Acacius, Menander, and Polyaenus. Most likely, this was during the reign of Diocletian (284-305).

May 21

Constantine and Helen, Equal-to-the Apostles

This great and renowned sovereign of the Christians was the son of Constantius Chlorus (the ruler of the westernmost parts of the Roman empire), and of the blessed Helen. He was born in 272, in (according to some authorities) Naissus of Dardania, a city on the Hellespont. In 306, when his father died, he was proclaimed successor to his throne. In 312, on learning that Maxentius and Maximinus had joined forces against him, he marched into Italy, where, while at the head of his troops, he saw in the sky after midday, beneath the sun, a radiant pillar in the form of a cross with the words: "By this shalt thou conquer." The following night, our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream and declared to him the power of the Cross and its significance. When he arose in the morning, he immediately ordered that a labarum be made (which is a banner or standard of victory over the enemy) in the form of a cross, and he inscribed on it the Name of Jesus Christ. On the 28th Of October, he attacked and mightily conquered Maxentius, who drowned in the Tiber River while fleeing. The following day, Constantine entered Rome in triumph and was proclaimed Emperor of the West by the Senate, while Licinius, his brother-in-law, ruled in the East. But out of malice, Licinius later persecuted the Christians. Constantine fought him once and again, and utterly destroyed him in 324, and in this manner he became monarch over the West and the East. Under him and because of him all the persecutions against the Church ceased. Christianity triumphed and idolatry was overthrown. In 325 he gathered the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, which he himself personally addressed. In 324, in the ancient city of Byzantium, he laid the foundations of the new capital of his realm, and solemnly inaugurated it on May 11, 330, naming it after himself, Constantinople. Since the throne of the imperial rule was transferred thither from Rome, it was named New Rome, the inhabitants of its domain were called Romans, and it was considered the continuation of the Roman Empire. Falling ill near Nicomedia, he requested to receive divine Baptism, according to Eusebius (The Life of Constantine. Book IV, 61-62), and also according to Socrates and Sozomen; and when he had been deemed worthy of the Holy Mysteries, he reposed in 337, on May 21 or 22, the day of Pentecost, having lived sixty-five years, of which he ruled for thirty-one years. His remains were transferred to Constantinople and were deposed in the Church of the Holy Apostles, which had been built by him (see Homily XXVI on Second Corinthians by Saint John Chrysostom).

As for his holy mother Helen, after her son had made the Faith of Christ triumphant throughout the Roman Empire, she undertook a journey to Jerusalem and found the Holy Cross on which our Lord was crucified (see Sept. 13 and 14). After this, Saint Helen, in her zeal to glorify Christ, erected churches in Jerusalem at the sites of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, in Bethlehem at the cave where our Saviour was born, another on the Mount of Olives whence He ascended into Heaven, and many others throughout the Holy Land, Cyprus, and elsewhere. She was proclaimed Augusta, her image was stamped upon golden coins, and two cities were named Helenopolis after her in Bithynia and in Palestine. Having been thus glorified for her piety, she departed to the Lord being about eighty years of age, according to some in the year 330, according to others, in 336.

May 22

4th Wednesday after Pascha - Mid-Pentecost

After the Saviour had miraculously healed the paralytic, the Jews, especially the Pharisees and Scribes, were moved with envy and persecuted Him, and sought to slay Him, using the excuse that He did not keep the Sabbath, since He worked miracles on that day. Jesus then departed to Galilee. About the middle of the Feast of Tabernacles, He went up again to the Temple and taught. The Jews, marvelling at the wisdom of His words, said, "How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?" But Christ first reproached their unbelief and lawlessness, then proved to them by the Law that they sought to slay Him unjustly, supposedly as a despiser of the Law, since He had healed the paralytic on the Sabbath. Therefore, since the things spoken by Christ in the middle of the Feast of Tabernacles are related to the Sunday of the Paralytic that is just passed, and since we have already reached the midpoint of the fifty days between Pascha and Pentecost, the Church has appointed this present feast as a bond between the two great feasts, thereby uniting, as it were, the two into one, and partaking of the grace of them both. Therefore today's feast is called Mid-Pentecost, and the Gospel Reading, "At Mid-feast"--though it refers to the Feast of Tabernacles--is used.

It should be noted that there were three great Jewish feasts: the Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Passover was celebrated on the 15th of Nisan, the first month of the Jewish calendar, which coincides roughly with our March. This feast commemorated that day on which the Hebrews were commanded to eat the lamb in the evening and anoint the doors of their houses with its blood. Then, having escaped bondage and death at the hands of the Egyptians, they passed through the Red Sea to come to the Promised Land. It is also called "the Feast of Unleavened Bread," because they ate unleavened bread for seven days. Pentecost was celebrated fifty days after the Passover, first of all, because the Hebrew tribes had reached Mount Sinai after leaving Egypt, and there received the Law from God; secondly, it was celebrated to commemorate their entry into the Promised Land, where also they ate bread, after having been fed with manna forty years in the desert. Therefore, on this day they offered to God a sacrifice of bread prepared with new wheat. Finally, they also celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles from the 15th to the 22nd of "the seventh month," which corresponds roughly to our September. During this time, they live in booths made of branches in commemoration of the forty years they spent in the desert, living in tabernacles, that is, tents (Ex. 12:10-20; Lev. 23).

Wisdom of the Fathers

In that case [Matt 9:2] there was remission of sins, (for He said, "Thy sins be forgiven thee,") but in this, warning and threats to strengthen the man for the future; "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto you."

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 37 on John 1, 4th Century

Great is the profit of the divine Scriptures, and all-sufficient is the aid which comes from them ... For the divine oracles are a treasury of all manner of medicines, so that whether it be needful to quench pride, to lull desire to sleep, to tread under foot the love of money, ... from them one may find abundant resource.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 37 on John 5, 4th Century

For where tears are-- or rather, where miracles are, there tears ought not to be; not where such a mystery is celebrating. Hear, I beseech you: although somewhat of the like kind does not take place now, yet in the case of our dead likewise, a great mystery is celebrating. Say, if as we sit together, the Emperor were to send and invite some one of us to the palace, would it be right, I ask, to weep and mourn? Angels are present, commissioned from heaven and come from thence, sent from the King Himself to call their fellow servant, and say, dost thou weep? Knowest thou not what a mystery it is that is taking place, how awful, how dread, and worthy indeed of hymns and lauds? Wouldest thou learn, that thou mayest know, that this is no time for tears? For it is a very great mystery of the Wisdom of God. As if leaving her dwelling, the soul goes forth, speeding on her way to her own Lord, and dost thou mourn? Why then, thou shouldst do this on the birth of a child: for this in fact is also a birth, and a better than that.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 21 on Acts 9, 4th Century

From Father Vincent's Desk

Dear Parish Family,

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

Today on the fourth Sunday of the Paschal Season once again as on the First Pascha, for Us Faithful Orthodox Christians it is again; The Feast of Feasts, The Holy, The Glorious, and The Radiant Holy Pascha, The Glorious Resurrection of Our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ; Pani Christyn and I greet you all with over flowing joy in our hearts and tears in our eyes and we cry with the loudest voices possible: "CHRIST IS RISEN!!!" "INDEED HE IS RISEN!!!"

On this Most Glorious and Joy Filled Day of The Sunday of The Paralytic who was healed by the Risen Christ in the Gospel of Saint John, we continue to celebrate with great joy in our hearts Holy Pascha the eight day of the Lord! I would like to share with you my reflections on the first chapter of Saint John's Gospel known as the Prologue.

We read in the first verses of chapter one; “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (Orthodox Study Bible John 1:1-4.) Following the the ancient semitic tradition, Saint John begins with a very different type of genealogy then we find in the synoptic gospels. Saint John begins his Gospel with a Divine Genealogy recalling the words of Genesis, “In the beginning…”, but here in the Gospels we see this Divine Genealogy concerned with Jesus Christ as the preexistent God, the Logos, of whom all creation was made through. Thus, the Prologue of Saint John is a Christological hymn, and this hymn developed liturgically within the Orthodox Church, giving us the ability to understand Saint John’s entire Gospel in liturgical fashion. As human beings we need the experience of liturgy in order to understand the deep mysteries that are hidden within the Sacred Scripture, and likewise, the mysteries hidden within the Theology of the Church. The use of the Old Testament Mosaic Law, the Holiness Code of the Levitical Priesthood, and the various revelations and theophanic covenants made between the people of Israel and Yahweh, lead us up to the point of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. In the person of Jesus Christ the Divine Logos, a transformation of Old Testament law and priesthood takes place, and we are given the the Liturgical Theology of the New Testament, as seen in the Gospel of Saint John.

The word Prologue can be defined as the preface or introduction to a literary work, a speech often in verse addressed to the audience by an actor at the beginning of a play, likewise an actor speaking in an introductory fashion; or something that precedes an event or development. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary) In the Prologue of The Gospel of Saint John we do not encounter the preface or introduction to a work of fiction or a theater play. We encounter the introduction to the plan of Salvation that was in place from the very moment of creation in Genesis, which is now fulfilled by the Divine Word of God; Our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ. There are five major Theological themes found within the Prologue of Saint John’s Gospel. These five major Theological points are as follows; Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all Old Testament Prophecies and is greater than Moses, Redemption of all creation is found in Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ is the Divine Eternal Word who was present in Genesis, Jesus Christ is the Personification of The Divine Wisdom spoken of in the Book of Proverbs, and finally the battle between the Light and the Darkness. “The whole point of the Prologue is to show, after all, how the Word takes flesh to lead human beings back with Himself to the “bosom of the Father” as adopted children. In becoming man, the Word “explains” or “interprets” God by revealing Him as “Father” and by making clear His desire to adopt human children into the divine family.” (The Holy Gospel: A Byzantine Perspective, John S. Custer, pg. 262.)

The first and most prominent theology point within the Prologue is that Jesus Christ is the Eternal preexistent Word, or Logos, who was present in Genesis at the creation of the entire cosmos. We read in the first verse of the Prologue that Jesus Christ is the Divine Logos who was in the very beginning with God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit in the action of creating the World. We have the image of the Holy Trinity revealed to us in this act of beginning and of creation, thus revealing that the creating Word of God in the beginning is now physically manifested in the Divine Person of Jesus Christ. The word Logos itself means a divine utterance, manifestation, or revelation. This revelation of Jesus Christ as the eternal creating Logos is presented to us as the ultimate and complete revelation of the Holy Trinity. Jesus Christ is The Word of God, who was in the beginning with God, therefore Jesus Christ as the Son of God is co-eternal and co-equal with the Father. Jesus Christ Himself is God with the exact same divinity as God the Father and likewise the Holy Spirit. It also follows that because Jesus Christ is consubstantial with the Father he is Co-Creator with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We see here that as far as creation goes, we have the oneness of will, operation, and power, in the creative activities of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God as creator is always acting and is continuously creating, and in the end times will be the ultimate act. Thus, the creation of the Cosmos is found in chapter one of the Genesis account, and likewise in chapter one of the Prologue we see not the same act of creation as is found in Genesis, but we see the manifestation of the New Creation in Jesus Christ. (OSB pg. 1419 footnotes.) “In the Gospel “Word” functions, for the believer as God Himself, in that it is the means by which God reveals Himself. It is the only way the believer comes to know God. “The word was God,” means that what the believer finds in God’s word is to be obeyed and revered, as God Himself is to be obeyed and revered.” (The New Testament Intro: Johannine Writings, Paul Tarazi pg. 134.)

The second theological point I would like to cover is the reality that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all Old Testament Prophecies and is greater than Moses. “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” (OSB John 1:16-18.) All of the Old Testament must be interpreted in a Christocentric fashion, because all things are fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. It is of the utmost importance for us to have a strong faith in Jesus the eternal Logos, so we can attain salvation by hard work in moving from Grace to Grace, or from Glory to Glory. The most important Old Testament prophecy that is fulfilled in Jesus Christ is from Isaiah chapter seven verse fourteen; “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Immanuel.” (OSB Isaiah 7:14.) This prophecy from Isaiah is fulfilled in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, born of the ever virgin Theotokos. This verse from Isaiah is paralleled by verse fourteen of the Prologue; “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (OSB John 1:14.) This verse bears another unique link to the Old Testament because of the wording “dwelt among us,” or some translations of this verse read “pitched His tent among us.” This pitching of a tent calls to mind the image of the Meeting tent in the Book of Exodus where Yahweh dwells among His people using the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat. Saint John uses this verbiage to illustrate how Jesus Christ became flesh becoming our brother in all things but sin. Likewise, Jesus Christ in becoming man, shares fully in all our human nature, He the great Theanthropos has permanently made His dwelling among men. Jesus Christ is the only-begotten of the God the Father, in Greek Monogenes, which means special or unique. Being the only-begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ alone carries in Himself the fullness of all the Old Testament Covenant promises. (The Gospel of John: Beholding the Glory; Lawrence Farley, pgs. 20-21.) “St. John clearly intends us to see Jesus as superior to Moses and “grace and truth” as a better gift than the Law. In the spirit of St. Paul, Christians may hear “law” and “grace” as opposites, but Judaism has always revered the Torah as God’s greatest gift to his people. A good gift is replaced being replaced by a prefect gift, Jesus’ “truth” should be seen as a fulfillment of the prophetic truth of the Old Testament.” (The Holy Gospel: A Byzantine Perspective, John S. Custer, pg. 261.)

The third and fourth Theological points I would like to mention are closely related; the Redemption of all creation is found in Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ being the Personification of The Divine Wisdom. The creating Word of God Jesus Christ, came into the world born of a woman, the Theotokos, born under the law, that He might recapitulate all of mankind and lead us back to full communion with Himself. In Greek the word Logos, can also be translated as Wisdom, therefore, we can see that in the person of Jesus Christ Our Saviour we have personified Divine Redemptive Wisdom. Jesus Christ is the personification of Divine Wisdom spoken of in the Book of Proverbs. “The Lord created me in the beginning of His ways for His works; He established me in the beginning before time, Before He made the earth, and before He made the abysses, Before the going forth of the fountains of waters, Before the mountains were created; And He begot me before all the hills.” (OSB Proverbs 8:23-25.) This passage is directly correlated to the first three verses of the Prologue, declaring that this Divine Wisdom is Jesus Christ, the second person of the Holy Trinity. The Wisdom that is described in the Book of Proverbs is eternal, everlasting, and unchanging. In the Torah, Wisdom is held in the highest regard because it is seen as no mere expression of human culture, but this Wisdom is seen as transcendent and all Holy, and proceeds and flows from God’s eternal essence. This Wisdom is also personified as the eternal companion of Yahweh, thus, this Wisdom as person always existed before anything else was created. “The role of Wisdom in these Old testament texts is actually played by the Word. He, not merely poetically (as with Proverbs), but actually and personally, is the One whom the Father used to create the world, so that every single thing created came into being through the Word.” (The Gospel of John: Beholding the Glory; Lawrence Farley, pgs. 16-17.) This Word, or Wisdom of God in Christ, comes to us by grace and truth. The Word is the instrumental cause of all creation seen and unseen, and this revelation of God as creator sustains all of creation. If God did not exist there would be no creation or existence at all, because God is the only one that bears Life in Himself, therefore only in the person of Jesus Christ, who is the Light and Life of the world, can we find redemption and the forgiveness of our sins.

The finally Theological point in the Prologue and my fifth theme is, the battle between the Light and the Darkness. “And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” (OSB John 1:5;9.) Jesus Christ is the Light of the World and all who choose to follow Him and believe in His name will no long walk in the darkness of sin and passion, but will enjoy the overflowing grace of God, and ultimately Theosis. Christ offers His Light and Life to everyone, but the world which is in the darkness of sin and passion, refuse to accept the Light. The world of men is full of sin and darkness, because man has made himself god placing himself at the center of his world, thus, when man sins all of creation is affected. When man walks in the darkness he can neither know nor recognize Christ, and walking in this illusion man rejects his own salvation by his own free will. Man is in the darkness of sin and death, but man is not the darkness itself, man can be saved and redeemed from this darkness because it is not a part of him. Man did not have to succumb to the darkness but he did, following the pride and lusts of his heart. The Darkness can not overcome the light, and God will never abandon us, therefore there is always the hope of Salvation in Christ. There is a war between the Light who is Jesus Christ, and the darkness which is the Devil and the World. Jesus Christ is the eternal bridegroom who is at the same time the eternal Logos, who is the Light that gives light to all men. Christ has come into this world of darkness to save all men and bring them to deification, and likewise the whole cosmos will be deified along with man. All people must respond to Jesus Christ the Logos in a synergic fashion that all of them may be brought to healing and transformation into the adopted Sons of God. “That Christ “came into the world,” however, did not mean that He would be instantly recognized for who He was and welcomed. He was indeed in the world and fully incarnate, walking among men. He was present as the true Light and Life of all, the One through whom the world was first made. Nonetheless, because He came in humility, the world did not know Him or recognize its true Light.” (The Gospel of John: Beholding the Glory; Lawrence Farley, pg. 19.)

Saint Mary's News

Wedding Announcement!!!

It is with great joy and excitment that I have the pleasure to officially announce The Crowning in Holy Matrimony of Shara Yancey and James Morris Jr. Their Wedding will be held on Saturday June 15th at 3 O'clock in the Afternoon in our Holy Church of Saint Mary's. The reception will follow the Marriage Ceremony in the Church Hall!

World Food Festival Meeting

There will be a World Food Festival meeting on Thursday May 23rd. The Meeting will be held in the Church Hall sometime on Thursday afternoon or early evening. Please see Randy or Ranae for further details on time and what to bring to the meeting.

Grave Blessings Saturday May 25th

Father Vincent being assisted by Sub-deacon James, will be Blessing Graves on Saturday May 25th beginning at 10:00AM. We will be going to both the WoodLawn and Bluewell Cemeteries. We will first be arriving at the Bluewell Cemetery at 10:00AM and then proceed to the WoodLawn Cemetery. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend all the grave blessings, as we sing the hymns of Victory among the tombs. "Christ is Risen from the Dead trampling down Death by Death and upon those in the Tombs bestowing Life!"

Mother's Day and Father's Day Meal

Do to our current renovations being completed in the Church, we will be holding a combined meal for both Mother's and Father's Day on Sunday June 9th following the Divine Liturgy. For more information if you would like to help, on what to bring and about the food and setup; please contact Joyce Peters, or Randy or Ranae Bailey.

Cook Book Recipes

Pani Christyn is working on our parish cook book and was wondering if there is anymore recipes that need to be included?? We could actually use some more entries for the cook book! If anyone would like to submit more recipes please email them to either Pani Christyn or Father Vincent before the June 2nd! Thank you!

Ladies Altar Society Easter Flower Donations

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! The Ladies Altar Society purchased all the flowers for our beautiful Holy Week and Pascha Sunday celebrations which totaled $700.00 dollars. But, they have only collected $240.00 dollars of the seven hundred which they spent. If anyone is interested in helping defray the cost of this flower purchase please kindly see one of our Ladies Altar Society members to make your donation. Thank you very much in advance for your generosity!!

Church Tile Project Up-Date

Dennis our tile and flooring specialist is making great progress and maybe finished with the project before the estimated three week time frame. If anyone would like to help pay for the cost of the new flooring as a gift to the Church or as a donation in memory of a Loved One please let Father Vincent or Michael Peters know at your earliest convenience. Any donations will be greatly appreciated to help defray the cost of our first major Church renovation since we have been in Bluefield.

Church Offerings

God Bless you for your kindness and generosity!

Pascha Sunday: $ 4,738.33

Sunday May 5th: $ 287.00

Sunday May 12th: $ 660.00

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

Welcome to Saint Mary's Orthodox Church

Liturgical/Class Schedule

Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Fifth Tone

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Tone

Troparion of the Dormition of The Theotokos in the First Tone

Resurrectional Kontakion in the Third Tone

Sunday of The Paralytic Kontakion in the Third Tone

Seasonal Kontakion in the Eighth Tone

Resurrectional Theotokion in the Third Tone

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Saints and Feasts

Sunday of the Paralytic

Patrick the Hieromartyr and Bishop of Prusa and His Fellow Martyrs Acacius, Menander, and Polyaenus

Constantine and Helen, Equal-to-the Apostles

4th Wednesday after Pascha - Mid-Pentecost

Wisdom of the Fathers

From Father Vincent's Desk

Saint Mary's News