GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST!
Reminder: St. Nicholas has moved to an open sign-up process for Sunday Divine Liturgy. All parishioners may sign up for any Sunday through the same sign-up app here. This will facilitate, as much as possible, our communal Christian worship as a unified parish family.
Please keep an eye on the parish website and the the weekly updates for additional information.
St. Nicholas Live Streaming Services
A reminder that the Divine Liturgy is livestreamed each Sunday here on the St. Nicholas Greenwood YouTube channel -- don't forget to subscribe to the channel to receive updates
Virtual Coffee Hour: Connect via Zoom, beginning at 11:30am: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83508000853
Reminder: Upcoming Dormition Fast and Feasts
The Dormition Fast begins on 1 August, with the celebration of Feast of the Dormition of the Birthgiver-of-God on Saturday 15 August (Divine Liturgy at 8am). Everyone, including our youth, are encouraged to view this 15-minute video which offers an excellent overview of this feast and the teachings of the Holy Church regarding it. Father will be celebrating the traditional Paraklesis service during Dormition Fast. A reminder also of the upcoming Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ on 6 August (Divine Liturgy at 8am).
Statement on the Status of Hagia Sophia
The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America has issued a statement regarding the decision of the government of Turkey to reconvert the Hagia Sophia into a mosque. Read the statement here. Our Hierarchs have asked us to pray with them today for Hagia Sophia, and honor the life of service of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Great Princess Olha.
ThriVe Virtual Walk4Life 2020
ThriVe Women's HealthCare of Central Virginia is moving the annual Walk4Life online. Please see details here.
Memorial for +Fr. John Moses
25 July will mark the one-year Memorial of the repose in the Lord of +Fr. John Moses. There will be a blessing of the headstone and Panikhyda at Thornrose cemetery in Staunton at 11 AM on Saturday the 25th. A reception will follow at the home of Stanley and Elena B. May Fr. John's Memory be Eternal.
Upcoming Parish Activities
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:
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!
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
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.
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
+Sam (newly departed, friend of Darya L.)
Nicholas and Jennifer (newly crowned in marriage) and their families
Gabriel (catechumen)
Tatiana (illness)
Liubov (mother of Anya B., healing)
Nicholas (friend of Sue M., healing)
Karen B. (healing)
Mary S. (healing)
Dorian (health and protection)
Chaplain Robby (serving those in prison)
Chaplain Joseph (serving those in prison)
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, and all those struggling with mental illness and infirmity
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
Schedule of Upcoming Services
Sunday 26 July
9am: 3rd & 6th Hours
9:30am: Divine Liturgy
Monday 27 July: Great Martyr Panteleimon
Saturday 1 August: Dormition Fast Begins
Sunday 2 August
9am: 3rd & 6th Hours
9:30am: Divine Liturgy
Thursday 6 August: Feast of the Transfiguration
8am: Divine Liturgy
Sunday 9 August
9am: 3rd & 6th Hours
9:30am: Divine Liturgy
Seventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:1-10
On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.
7th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 9:27-35
At that time, as Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, "See that no one knows it." But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons."
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.
Saint Paraskeve, who was from a certain village near Rome, was born to pious parents, Agatho and Politia. Since she was born on a Friday (in Greek, Paraskeve), she was given this name, which means "preparation" or "preparedness" (compare Matt. 27:62, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54, and John 19:31, where 'Friday' is called "the day of the preparation"). From childhood she was instructed in the sacred letters and devoted herself to the study of the divine Scriptures, while leading a monastic life and guiding many to the Faith of Christ. During the reign of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, she was apprehended because she was a Christian and was urged to worship the idols, but she answered with the words of Jeremias: "Let the gods that have not made heaven and the earth perish from off the earth" (Jer. 10:11). Because of this she endured exceedingly painful torments, and was beheaded in the year 140. The faithful pray to her for the healing of eye ailments.
Saint Hermolaus and those with him were priests of the Church in Nicomedia, living in hiding after the Emperor Maximian had burnt to death the 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia (see Dec. 28). It was Hermolaus who converted Saint Panteleimon to Christ. When Saint Panteleimon was seized as a Christian and was asked by Maximian who it was that had turned him from the idols, the Saint, enlightened by God that the time of his teacher's martyrdom also was at hand, revealed to Maximian that it was Hermolaus the priest. Saint Hermolaus was taken with Saints Hermippus and Hermocrates, and when they had confessed Christ to be the only true God, they were beheaded in the year 305. Saint Hermolaus is one of the Holy Unmercenaries.