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St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-03-29
Bulletin Contents
Weekly Update
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Saints and Feasts
Climicus
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St. Nicholas Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • 434-973-2500
  • Street Address:

  • 7581 Rockfish Gap Turnpike

  • Charlottesville, VA 22906
  • Mailing Address:

  • PO Box 6981

  • Charlottesville, VA 22906

Past Bulletins


Weekly Update

Stlogo

 

Glory to Jesus Christ!

 A couple of updates as we head into the weekend: 

 First, I have posted a brief meditation for today -- please check the Updates page for this and other resources. 

 Second, a recurring topic of some concern among parishioners has to do with illness, physical healing and the sacraments (and especially the Eucharist), and how all that relates during this time of pandemic.  To this I would suggest three short articles that dig into this topic a bit, from diverse perspectives.  I offer these with the caveat that this implies neither endorsement of any particular source or forum nor endorsement of the contents by our hierarchs -- they are simply offered to promote reflection and deepen understanding.

 

 

Updated Directive from our Hierarchs

Please see the special announcement from Fr. Charles, sent Tuesday, regarding special instructions from our Council of Bishops. Please continue to check the Weekly Updates, the parish website and special announcements for additional information as it becomes available. 

Due to impacts of the Coronavirus, all special Lenten services are cancelled.  Sunday Divine Liturgy will be offered but only the priest, server and cantors may attend:  no congregation is allowed.

Weekly Sermons from Father

During this period of curtailment of the parish' ability to gather in worship, audio sermons, written meditations and other resources will be posted regularly to the parish website ['Updates from Father Charles' link on the homepage]. Weekly bulletins and email communications will continue. Please use these resources to remain connected to your parish family.

Updated Information for the Semi-Annual Parish Meeting

The semi-annual parish meeting, originally scheduled to convene on 29 March, was primarily to present and approve the budget for the year. Given current restrictions the Parish Board will circulate the proposed budget to the parish via email along with instructions for comment. The Board has further recommend the parish move to one general meeting per year, to occur in late October or early November.  Stand by for additional communications from the Parish Board on these two important items.

Stewardship Reminder

Despite the current (temporary) modification to the parish's schedule of services, meetings, and events, all parishioners are reminded of the pledges they have made as part of their stewardship commitment of time, talent and treasure. Some parishioners may encounter financial hardship during this time of crisis, and we can only give as we are able. That said, the parish must continue to meet its budgetary obligations and operating expenses.  Please consider sending your contributions by to the church via US Mail:

St. Nicholas Orthodox Church

PO Box 6981

Charlottesville, VA 22906

Resources During the Pandemic

As we continue our Lenten journey, we must remember the critical importance of loving our neighbor (Mt 22:34-40), as the Lord commanded us to do ( "my neighbor is my salvation").  Love is demonstrated both in prayer and deed.  Please remember your neighbors in this time of acute need. Here are some specific ways to help:

  • Virginia hospitals across the state are experiencing a severe shortage of blood, and the UVA Medical Center is encouraging healthy and eligible individuals to contact the American Red Cross to make an appointment to donate.  Our Archbishop Daniel and our seminarians have already done so!

  • Please also keep an eye on Support Charlottesville, which is a hub for opportunities to give (and receive) material support.  This is a very good way to stay informed, get involved and help your neighbors in need.

  • The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank needs healthy volunteers to assist them at multiple locations (even more critical as the needs increase.

  • New: Charlottesville Community Cares just published a resource guide with information on how to receive financial assistance, request for grocery/prescription delivery, COVID-19 hotline, emergency shelter, and Region Ten Emergency Services Hotline. Join the network: bit.ly/cvillecare2020. Donate: congregatecville.com. Email: cvillecares@gmail.com.

 Update From the Charitable Works Service Group

The Charitable Works Service Group has planned two projects during this Lenten season to demonstrate the importance of almsgiving and acts of mercy. The first project involves assembling personal hygiene kits for the Waynesboro Victim-Witness Assistance Program to distribute to trafficking victims.  Each kit should contain shampoo/conditioner, toothbrush and toothpaste, body wash and skin lotion, deodorant, washcloth, and a small snack (granola bar, crackers, etc.).  We encourage each family to contribute one or more of these kits, which can be assembled at home and will be collected at a future date when restructions allow.  The second project is collection of paper towels for Grace Grocery in Crozet.  We ask everyone to contribute one or more paper towel packages.  These also will be collected at the church when restrictions allow.  Please consider these worthy charitable offerings to assist our most vulnerable neighbors, especially in this time of uncertainty and public crisis.

Special Intentions, Needs and Requests

A reminder to contact Father directly (fr.charles@mailbox.org | 443-204-4542) with any special prayer requests, intentions or concerns/needs, and he will make sure these are addressed.

Recent Prayer Requests

+Marcia (reposed 18 March)

+Charita (2 year)

Lisa and Daniel (illness)

Karen (recovery)

All medical personnel ministering to the sick

All those in high-risk populations during this pandemic

 

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 8th Tone

You descended from on high, O Merciful One! You accepted the three day burial to free us from our sufferings! O Lord, our Life and Resurrection, glory to You!

Troparion for St. John Climacus in the 1st Tone

O dweller of the wilderness and angel in the body, you were a wonderworker, O our God-bearing Father John. You received heavenly gifts through fasting, vigil and prayer, healing the sick and the souls of those drawn to you by faith. Glory to Him Who gave you strength! Glory to Him Who granted you a crown! Glory to Him Who grants healing to all!

Resurrectional Kontakion in the 8th Tone

By rising from the tomb, You raised the dead and resurrected Adam. Eve exults in Your Resurrection, and the world celebrates Your rising from the dead, O greatly Merciful One!

Kontakion for St. John Climacus in the 4th Tone

The Lord truly set you on the heights of abstinence, to be a guiding star, showing the way to the universe, O our father and teacher John.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Eighth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:11-18

At that time, Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that He had said these things to her.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. John Climacus
The Reading is from Mark 9:17-31

At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and saying: "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise."

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Wisdom of the Fathers

Seest thou how He now proceeds to lay beforehand in them the foundation of His doctrine about fasting? ... See, at any rate, how many blessings spring from them both. For he that is praying as he ought, and fasting, hath not many wants, and he that hath not many wants, cannot be covetous; ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

... he that is not covetous, will be also more disposed for almsgiving. He that fasts is light, and winged, and prays with wakefulness, and quenches his wicked lusts, and propitiates God, and humbles his soul when lifted up. Therefore even the apostles were almost always fasting.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

He that prays with fasting hath his wings double, and lighter than the very winds. ... For nothing is mightier than a man who prays sincerely. ... But if thy body be too weak to fast continually, still it is not too weak for prayer, nor without vigor for contempt of the belly. For although thou canst not fast, yet canst thou avoid luxurious living.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

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Saints and Feasts

Climicus
March 29

Sunday of St. John Climacus

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on March 30, where his biography may be found. He is celebrated today because his book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is a sure guide to the ascetic life, written by a great man of prayer experienced in all forms of the monastic polity; it teaches the seeker after salvation how to lay a sound foundation for his struggles, how to detect and war against each of the passions, how to avoid the snares laid by the demons, and how to rise from the rudimental virtues to the heights of Godlike love and humility. It is held in such high esteem that it is universally read in its entirety in monasteries during the Great Fast.

Allsaint
March 29

The Holy Martyrs Jonas and Barachesius

As for the holy Martyrs Jonas and Barachesius, they were monks from Persia who lived in the reign of Sapor II, King of Persia from 325 to 379. These Saints found nine Christians in prison suffering for their faith, and comforted them, encouraging them to stand fast till the end, which they did, and received the crown of martyrdom. Because of this, Saints Jonas and Barachesius also were seized, and commanded to worship the fire, the sun, and the water. When they refused, Jonas, among other tortures, had his hands and feet cut off, was crushed in a device that broke his bones, and was sawn asunder. Barachesius was dragged naked over thorns, his whole body was pierced with sharp reeds and then broken in the same device employed upon Jonas, and when boiling pitch was poured down his throat, he gave up his soul into the hands of God.

Allsaint
March 29

Mark, Bishop of Arethusa

Saint Mark was Bishop of Arethusa in Syria. In the days of Saint Constantine the Great, Saint Mark, moved with divine zeal, destroyed a temple of the idols and raised up a church in its stead. When Julian the Apostate reigned, in 361, as the pagans were now able to avenge the destruction of their temple, Saint Mark, giving way to wrath, hid himself; but when he saw that others were being taken on his account, he gave himself up. Having no regard to his old age, they stripped him and beat his whole body, cast him into filthy sewers, and pulling him out, had children prick him with their iron writing-pens. Then they put him into a basket, smeared him with honey and a kind of relish of pickled fish, and hung him up under the burning sun to be devoured by bees and wasps. But because he bore this so nobly, his enemies repented, and unloosed him.

Allsaint
March 29

Eustathios the Confessor, Bishop of Bithynia

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