June 21
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-06-21
Bulletin Contents
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
General Information
- Phone:
- 434-973-2500
- Web:
- 33-ad.org
- Street Address:
- 7581 Rockfish Gap Turnpike
- Charlottesville, VA 22906
- Mailing Address:
- PO Box 6981
- Charlottesville, VA 22906
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2020-06-28
- Publish Date:
- 2020-06-14
- Publish Date:
- 2020-06-07
- Publish Date:
- 2020-05-31
- Publish Date:
- 2020-05-24
- Publish Date:
- 2020-05-17
Weekly Update
GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST!
Welcome Back to Church!
A reminder to please see the Welcome Back to Church link on the parish website for more information on what to expect on your first Sunday back at church -- we are happy to see you! If you have not already done so, please go here to sign up as there are still some spaces available for the next three Sundays.
Reminder: What to Expect on Sunday
- At 9:30am, at the conclusion of the Hours, we will proceed out of the church, led by altar server, priest and cantor, and on the way out of the Narthex, everyone will receive palms and willows to carry in procession.
- We will process around the church one time, singing the troparion from Palm Sunday (Tone 1):
By raising Lazarus from the dead before Your passion, You did confirm the universal Resurrection, O Christ God! Like the children with the palms of victory, we cry out to You, O Vanquisher of death; Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord!
- We will stop in front of the doors of the church as at the Paschal midnight rush service. Father will begin with the doxology as at the beginning of the Paschal Matins service and we will sing the Paschal troparion ("Christ is Risen from the dead...."). We will then open the doors and proceed into the church repeating the Paschal troparion until everyone is in. Everyone will take their places and we will begin the Divine Liturgy as usual. Everyone will continue to hold their palms and willows throughout the service.
- At the reading of the Holy Gospel, children are invited to approach with lighted candles as usual, and to venerate the Gospel book by bowing at the conclusion of the reading.
- Holy Communion wil be administered through standard practice; when approaching the chalice, all adults and older children are asked to please not close your mouth over the spoon or venerate the chalice; the cloth will be used only to ensure safe administration of the sacrament to the communicant.
- At the conclusion of the Liturgy, we will invite everyone to come forward in the customary manner, and instead of venerating (with a bow) the blessing cross, they will be anointed with the oil from the Holy Wednesday Unction Service (a sacrament), unto the healing of soul and body.
Father's Day
This Sunday we offer a prayer of thanksgiving for all of our fathers, grandfathers, Godfathers, and all those who have played an important role in forming us as we grow into (and through) adulthood. St. Joseph the Betrothed in particular, like so many others, comes to mind as a model who reflected the self-giving love and compassion of our Heavenly Father. We also pray this day for all of our beloved fathers, grandfathers and Godfathers who have departed this life in the hope of eternal life -- Memory Eternal. May the Lord bless and strengthen all those to whom God has given the vocation of fatherhood.
St. Nicholas Live Streaming Services
Thank you to everyone who have been participating in the St. Nicholas Virtual Coffee Hour on Sundays. We are continuing to refine our efforts to make Sunday services as widely available as possible via streaming. Here are ways to connect:
Divine Liturgy: Live-streamed on YouTube, beginning with the 3rd and 6th Hours at 9:00am and the Liturgy at 9:30am (note new link): https://youtu.be/mViJmoDHsBE
Virtual Coffee Hour: Connect via Zoom, beginning at 11:30am: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83508000853
Meeting ID: 835 0800 0853
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,83508000853# US (New York)
+13017158592,,83508000853# US (Germantown)
To protect privacy, all services live-streamed from the church will show only the priest, server(s) and cantor(s), and will be removed regularly from the site.
Save the Date
As announced last Sunday, we celebrate with joy the betrothal of Nicholas M. and Jennifer L. -- God grant them many years! They have set aside Saturday 18 July as the planned date of the wedding, which will be held at St. Nicholas. Between now and then, we ask that everyone pray most fervently for them and their families as they prepare to be joined in the sacrament of Holy Marriage.
Opportunities to Serve Your Neighbor
As we celebrate the Lord's Resurrection, we must continue to 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:
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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!
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Grace Grocery, our neighborhood food pantry at Crozet United Methodist Church, has several volunteer opportunities including set up, client help and clean up for food distributions, unloading food from truck, computer assistant, which are listed on the website. They provide training for first time volunteers. You can ask to be placed on their volunteer email list. Email: foodpantry@crozetunitedmethodist.org Phone: 434-823-4420
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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.
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The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank needs healthy volunteers to assist them at multiple locations, as well as in-kind and monetary donations (even more critical as the needs increase). Our Bishops, seminarians and Consistory staff have all been involved in similar work to address food insecurity in New Jersey -- let us emulate their example, and get involved.
- Charlottesville Community Cares has 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.
Weekly Sermons from Father
Though sermons will be offered during the Divine Liturgy, audio sermons, written meditations and other resources will continue to be posted regularly to the parish website (see the Updates from Father section). Weekly bulletins and email communications will continue. Please use these resources to remain connected to your parish family.
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 continue sending your contributions by to the church via US Mail:
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
PO Box 6981
Charlottesville, VA 22906
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
+All who have reposed in the Lord this week due to the pandemic
The child +Andrew (newly-departed), and for his parents
Nicholas and Jennifer (preparing for holy marriage) and their families
Liubov (mother of Anya B., healing)
Karen (healing)
Elaine (healing)
Donald (healing)
Bill (mission work)
Elaine (mission work)
Fr. Robert and Pani Dobrodyka Christine (retirement)
All those working in defense of human dignity, justice and equality during this time of unrest
The hungry and the homeless, all children born and unborn and for their parents
All those struggling financially during the pandemic, and for those whose basic necessities are out of reach
All medical personnel, first responders and others ministering to the sick, and those rendering vital services to their neighbors
All those in high-risk populations during this pandemic
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 1st Tone
When the stone had been sealed by the Jews and the soldiers were guarding Thine immaculate Body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Saviour, granting life unto the world. Wherefore, the powers of the Heavens cried out to Thee, O Lifegiver: Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ. Glory to Thy Kingdom. Glory to Thy dispensation, O only Friend of man.
Seasonal Kontakion in the 2nd Tone
O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Matins Gospel Reading
Second Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:1-8
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back, for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. 1st Tone. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 2:10-16.
Brethren, glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. All who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
Gospel Reading
2nd Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 4:18-23
At that time, as Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left their boat and their father, and followed him. And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.
Wisdom of the Fathers
But mark both their faith, and their obedience. For though they were in the midst of their work (and you know how greedy a thing fishing is), when they heard His command, they delayed not, ... but "they forsook all and followed," ... Because such is the obedience which Christ seeks of us, as that we delay not even a moment of time.
Homily 14 on Matthew 4, 4th Century
Prayer, fasting, vigil and all other Christian practices, however good they may be in themselves, do not constitute the aim of our Christian life, although they serve as the indispensable means of reaching this end. The true aim of our Christian life consists in the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God.
The Acquisition of the Holy Spirit: Chapter 3, The Little Russian Philokalia Vol. 1; Saint Herman of Alaska Brotherhood pg. 79, 19th century
Saints and Feasts
June 21
Nikitas the New Martyr of Nisyros
June 21
Julian the Martyr of Tarsus
This Martyr, who was born to a pagan father and a Christian mother, was from Cilicia, confessed the Christian Faith before the Proconsul Marcian, and was perfected in martyrdom at the age of eighteen, when he was put into a sack with sand and venomous serpents and cast into the sea. Saint John Chrysostom has a homily in his honour.