Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church A Parish of the Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese

Ecumenical Patriarchate Our 60th Year of Worshiping Christ as a Family!

10201 Democracy Blvd Potomac, Maryland 20854

301-299-5120(Office) 301-367-9051(cell) www.holyresurrection.com

www.facebook.com/groups/hroc25 Very Rev. Peter Zarynow, Pastor

Subdeacon Anastasios Davis ††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††

Sunday 06 May 2018 Sixth Sunday of Pascha/Sunday of the Blind Man

Venerable Ignatius (Brianchaninov), Bishop of the Caucasus and Stavropol Epistle: Acts 16:16-34 Gospel: John 9:1-38

Tone Five The Schedule of Divine Services for Bright Week is as follows:

13 May (SUN) Sixth Sunday of Pascha/Sunday of the Blind Man/Mother’s Day Sunday School 9:00am Confessions 9:15am Chanting of the 3rd Hour 9:40am Singing of the Paschal Verses 9:55am

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom 10am Panachida: +Departed Mothers, Grandmothers, Godmothers & Aunts Jr ACRY Mother’s Day Brunch to follow 17 May (Thu) FEAST OF THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom 10am 20 May (SUN) Seventh Sunday of Pascha/Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council

Confessions 9:15am Chanting of the 3rd Hour 9:40am Singing of the Paschal Verses 9:55am

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom 10am Blessing of the Marriage: Angelo & Linda Taveria-DaSilva (#45) Panachida: +Evelyn Semancik (40th Day), by Irene Dzubak Coffee Social to follow

Announcements: Confessions will be heard on Sunday mornings from 9:15-9:45am. All faithful are encouraged to come to the Sacrament every 8-10 weeks, on average, to help maintain spiritual health. God’s choicest blessings to all of our Mothers, Grandmothers, Godmothers and Aunts on this Mother’s Day! Thank you for all you do! Many Years! Christ is Risen! May God grant rest to the souls of our +Departed Mothers, Grandmothers, Godmothers and Aunts on this Mother’s Day! Vicnaja Pamjat! Christos Voskrese! Camp Nazareth Family Day Raffle Tickets have arrived and are available from Dan Timko during Coffee Social. One again, top prize is $10,000! Tickets are $20 each (as they have been for the past 30+years). We received 50 ticket. Tickets will be available until 25 May or until we sell out. Family Day at Camp is scheduled to for Sunday 3 June. Details will be printed when they become available. A list of Spring Maintenance items is posted on the bulletin board in the hall. Please look over the list and see Mark Sudik if you are able to complete any of these tasks. There will be a photographic gallery show held in our courtyard on the evening of Thursday 17 May from 7-10pm. Hors Devours and beverages will be served. Invite your friends to come along. It should be a fun, relaxing evening! In case of rain, the event will take place in the parish hall. Summer Schedule (Divine Liturgy beginning at 9:30am) begins on Sunday 27 May. That schedule will be in place until Sunday 02 September. Sunday School will resume on 16 September. The Annual Retreat for the Diocesan Altar Boys will be held in Johnstown will be held from 1-4 July 2018. This year’s theme is “Who Am I?” The Young Women’s Encounter will be held July 1-4 in Windber. This year’s theme is “Pray like a Girl” Registration is now open for both events! See acrod.org to register. Make plans now to attend. The cost of the retreats will be covered by the parish, as usual so notify Father as soon as you register! This year, Fr Peter will not be able to attend, so parents begin communicating with each other now so that we can try

to have a transportation plan in place well before the children’s day of departure. Follow Your Diocese On-Line

Diocesan Website: http://www.acrod.org Camp Nazareth: http://www.campnazareth.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acroddiocese Twitter: https://twitter.com/acrodnews

You Tube: https://youtube.com/acroddiocese

Christ is Risen!! Christos Voskrese! Christos Anesti!

Candle Offerings: Eternal Light: Congratulations Philip Breno on graduation from William & Mary-love Mom & Dad (Many Years! Christ is Risen!); Happy 50th Anniversary Rose & Dave-Lois (Many Years! Christ is Risen!); Happy Mother’s Day to all!-Lois (Many Years! Christ is Risen!)

Offerings For the Living (Many Years! Mnohaja L’ita!) 1-health of Les-love Carol 1-health of Mom-your loving family- Chrysa, Taina & Craig 2-for health-love Alex & Melanie Fathers John & Michael 2-for health-love Mom & Dad Jonathan & Lara; Stephanie 2-for health-John & Sheila HROC parishioners; Family members 3-special intention-John & Sheila Fr. Peter & family; Diocesan Priests & their families; OCMC Missionaries 2-special intention-brother George Archbishop Michael; Barbara Knighton 2-special intention-George Dahulich Bishop Gregory; Bishop Matthias 2-for health-George Dahulich Fr Tom Kadlec; Fr Jim Dutko 4-happy birthday-George Dahulich Randy Wimberly; Laci Timko; Matthew Muhlenberg; Marie Skasko 2-God’s Blessings 1st Confession Class-George Dahulich Karoline Davis; Nathan Painter 2-happy anniversary-George Dahulich Angelo & Linda Taveria-DaSilva; Donny & Debbie Boyd 4-Happy Mother’s Day-George Dahulich Barbara Knighton; Georgia Wimberly; Shanise Kent; HROC Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunts & Godmothers 1-health of Savannah, Chloe, Caroline, Christopher, Natalie, Cole-love Grandparents 1-happy Mother’s Day Mom-Ray & Georgene 2-happy Mother’s Day-Mom & Dad Debbie; Maria 6-special intentions-the Breno Family Breno Family; Fedornock Families; Peart Family; Nakonecznyj Family; Zankey Family; Fabian Family 1-happy birthday Alex Breno-love Mom & Dad 2-Happy Mother’s Day-the Breno Family Paňi Marge Fedornock; Eleanor Breno 5-for health-Marge Tomasevich Mary Elko; Les & Carol Miller; John & Barbara Homick; Lois Erhard; Ray Ammon

1-special intention John-love Marie 1-special intention Marie-love John 8-happy birthday-John & Marie Smith Chris Hudack; Alex Breno; Stephen Sudik; Jacob Myers; Jude Sumner; Laci Timko; Matthew Muhlenberg; Marie Skasko 1-happy anniversary Angelo & Linda Taveria-DaSilva-John & Marie Smith 10-health & healing-John & Marie Smith Melanie Samson; Irene Dzubak; Carol & Les Miller; John Homick; Fr Tom Kadlec; Ray & Georgene Ammon; Marie Skasko; Marge Tomasevich; Chris Hudack; Alex & Eleanor Breno 2-birthday blessings-Rose Plowchin Steve Paczolt; Don Larmuth 2-for health-Rose Plowchin Lois Erhard; Elaine Koval 1-special intention Dn Steve & Nancy Hall-Rose Plowchin 1-health of Grandpa-Charlie, Debi, Jacob & Joey 1-Stephen on his birthday-Charlie, Debi, Jacob & Joey 1-Jacob on his birthday-love Mom, Dad & Joey 1-special intention Tina N.-Charlie, Debi, Jacob & Joey 1-Stephen on his Graduation-Charlie, Debi, Jacob & Joey 2-for health-Paňi Jean Hutnyan Muhlenberg & Hutnyan Families 2- on Mother’s Day-the Fallons Rachel Sumner; Paňi Jodi 1-Margaret Medvick on Mother’s Day-Chris Fallon 1-Becky Connelly on Mother’s Day-Kathleen 1-health & sp. int. Aleksey, Yuliya & Family-Yuliya 1-spec. int. Vladislav, Irina & Dennis-Irina Panfilov 7-health & healing-Lois Hayley; Bob; Uncle Ralph; Mary Elko; Chris Hudack; John Homick; Peggy 2-for health-Lois Savannah, Caroline & Natalie; Karen K.

Vigil Candles In Loving Memory: (Memory Eternal! Vicnaja Pamjat!) 1+loving memory of my husband Tom-your loving wife Ann 1+in loving memory of our father-Chrysa, Taina and Craig 1+in memory of Steve Sheftic-love your family 1+in memory Mother & Father–Les & Carol Miller 2+loving memory-the Fallons Paňi Jeannette; Anna & John Luchok 1+in memory of Marion Fallon-Diane 1+in loving memory of Helen Rowland-Diane 1+in loving memory Parents & Grandparents-Diane & Brian 1+Memory Eternal Parents/Grandparents-Koval Family 2+Memory Eternal-Koval Family Uncle George & Uncle Tony 2+Memory Eternal -love Alex, Melanie Mother Katherine; Mother Elaine 5+in memory-John & Sheila Dad Kraynok; Mom Kraynok; Charles Hrapchak; Anna Hrapchak; Evelyn Hrapchak 1+in loving memory of Gene Eaton-love Starlene

1+in loving memory of parents Peter & Ann Dahulich-love son George 1+in loving memory of Parents & Grandparents-Yuliya 2+in memory-Paňi Jean Hutnyan Fr. Andrew; Mom & Dad 1+in memory of Dad/Grandpa William-the Breno Family 1+in memory of Grandmothers on Mother’s Day-Chris & Michael Fallon 1+in memory Grandma Luchok on Mother’s Day-John & Kathleen 1+in memory Grandma Fallon on Mother’s Day-John & Kathleen 1+in memory of Maria Fallon on Mother’s Day-Michael 1+in memory of Paňi Jeannette on Mother’s Day-John 2+in memory-Ray & Georgene Mary Sopp; Ruth Ammon 1+in memory of Mom, Grandma, Baba & Godmother Aunt Margie-Lois

Please pray for the following: Bishop Gregory, Bishop Matthias, Fr. Frank & Paňi Connie Miloro; Fr. John & Paňi BettyJean Baranik, Fr. George Hutnyan, Fr. Lawrence & Paňi Linda Barriger, Fr. James Gleason, Fr. Luke Mihaly, Fr. Robert Teklinski, Fr. Michael Psenechnuk, Fr. Ted Mozes, Fr. Thomas & Paňi Magdaline Blaschak, Dn. Peter Skoog, Paňi Donna Smoley, Paňi Yvonne Lysack, Paňi Kathy Dutko, Paňi Karen Miklos, Fr. Michael & Paňi AnnaMarie Slovesko, Paňi Mary Kundla, Fr. John & Paňi Patricia Duranko, Fr. Tom Kadlec, Fr. Christopher Rozdilski, Fr John & Paňi Cindy Zboyovski, Fr. Jonathan & Paňi Marsha Tobias, Paňi Amy George, Elisa Castilla, Ann Thear, Owen Moriak, Beth & Ed ‘Skeets’ Williams, Les & Carol Miller, Cindy Russell, Michael Buchko, Dorothy Mastronicola, Nicholas Yacko, Mildred Bartko, Angie Wali, Megan Antonishek, Nancy Lynn Arthur, Mary Urbas, Yoel Ramos, Tony Zankey, Justin Popek, Nadia Sumner, Karen Ogden, Joshua, Faye & Tess, Emilie Dixon, Paul Tobias, Shirley Miree, Michael Rake, Olga Vasconez, Diane Dupere-Lindell, Gerry Sadler, Ann Eckert, Stan Damren, Lois Hall, Marshal Smith, Dave Stanton, Andrew Sussman, Florence Gregoric, Dennis Davis, James & Melody Peyton, Louann Giger, Daniel Ward, Jennifer Brady, Carol Blum, Katie Bleeker, Alexi Williams, Missy Johns, Liliana Shirvanian, Harry Coe, Susan Buckley, Constance Amey, Daniel Pfaff, James Lazor, Debbie Dell, Rose & Douglas Eade, Robert Horsch, Edward & Grace Yoon, Michael Dinneen, Kellie Barett, Zaun Kligge, Andrea Katz, Joan Detwiler, Metro & Joan Kondratick, John Homick, Jim David, Melanie Samson, Mary West, Mary Elko, Margie Stemler, Martha & John White, Brian Medvigy; Laura Gary; James Durachko, Louise Brudnak, Rory McDermott, Julia Rapach, Randi Caffalle, Hayley Marshall, Bryan Fitzgerald, Jon Green, Aleia Dick, MaryJane, Kyle & Rosie Brant, Martha Novelly, Mary Agnes, Alicia, Lisa Cherno, Tommy & Shyanne Showerman & baby

May Our Lord Jesus Christ Touch Them With His Healing Hand!

Camp Nazareth Events!!!

Camp Nazareth Family Camp 2018 Our Diocese is pleased to announce its sixth annual Family Camp at Camp Nazareth this year in conjunction with Family Day. The event is exactly what it sounds like. Families “camping” together in the Camp cabins and participating in a weekend of services, games, discussions, activities and challenges that are all designed to help families deepen their relationship with God and with one another. This year’s theme – “Being Grateful for Your Family”. Come join His Grace Bishop Gregory in the beautiful environment of Camp Nazareth. Come and learn what it means to be a grateful family. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from You the Father of Lights…” St. James writes in his letter (James 1:17). Did you ever consider that the biggest of these gifts may be your family? Come to Family Camp and see what God has given you and IS giving you through your family!

Family Camp is scheduled for Friday, June 1 – Sunday, June 3, 2018.

Each year we have a wonderful time together and we are looking forward to being together again this year. A variety of events and activities have been planned that will allow families to learn, have fun and pray together, and simply be together in the peaceful environment of the Camp. With the newly renovated and expanded cabins, together with the new High and Low Ropes Course the Camp has even more to offer our families this year. Don’t miss out on this opportunity for you and your family. Space is limited to the first 10 families, so register soon. Register online at campnazareth.org. Registration closes after Friday, May 25. Visit campnazareth.org for more information. Annual Family Day Sunday 3 June 2018 Divine Liturgy 10am Picnic Lunch to follow Fellowship and Fun All Day! Music, Swimming, Crafts, Games and Raffle Drawing

ADULTS: $10.00 Children under 13 : $6.00 Children under 5: free FAMILY PRICE: $30.00 (includes 2 parents & all children under age 13)

Summer Camp 2018 Information on the summer Camping Sessions at Camp Nazareth for Summer 2018 were emailed out a few weeks ago. On line registration is now open! Please begin making plans now to attend. If you need assistance to help defray the cost of sending your child(ren) to camp, let Father Peter know as soon as possible and he will get you information on the numerous camperships that are available. No child should be held back from camp because of cost! Our Deanery week is Week #3 - Sunday 29 July through Saturday 4 August. The Fee for Camp is: $315/diocesan camper and $365/non-diocesan camper.

Registrations after 1 June will incur a $20 late fee! Camper Registrations are due by 1 July at the latest!!!

If you have any questions, please call or email Fr. Stephen at 724-662-4840 or campnazareth@acrod.org When you register online please note that you will still need to submit a paper copy of the Medical Examination Form (i.e. Camper Physical) which must be filled out and signed by a licensed medical professional (licensed physician or physician’s assistant). This form will be emailed to you after you complete the online registration process. The parish will once again be renting a van to get our kids to camp. There will be 10 seats available. Please let Father know as soon as possible if you will be needing transportation! «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»

LAST CALL: Attention Class of 2018 To our High School and College graduates and Parents: By Sunday 20 May, please give Fr Peter the following information: High School Students: your High School, any academic and/or athletic awards, where you will attend in the Fall and your attended major in college (or undecided at this time) College Students, Graduate and Post-Graduate: your college/university, your field of study and degree you have earned.

We will recognize our graduates on Sunday 10 June. Please be in church that Sunday so that we can take a group photo.

MOTHERS IN THE BIBLE from the bulletin of St. Mary (Dormition) Orthodox Church, Yonkers, NY

Mary, Mother of God - Most glorious is the Theotokos, the first "mother" of the Orthodox Church. Her intercession is heard in countless hymns and prayers as we appeal to her maternal love for help and protection. To commemorate Mother’s Day, we will look at other mothers who played key roles in the Bible, through their actions or children. Some of the mothers here made terrible mistakes and were forgiven. Many show their true faith in God through patience and prayer and were rewarded for their devotion. Eve – Eve was the first woman and the first mother. She became the "Mother of All the Living" despite allowing the Snake (Satan) to undermine her faith in God and causing her ultimate expulsion from the Garden of Eden. She also had to bear the sorrow of one son, Cain, killing the other, Abel. But it is her third son, Seth, who is an integral part of her story and one often not remembered. An ancestor of Seth was Noah, the Ark builder. Sarah, Wife of Abraham - Sarah (originally named Sarai) was one of several women in the Bible who were unable to have children. That proved doubly distressing for her because God had promised her husband Abraham that he would be the father of the Jewish nation, with descendants more numerous than the stars in the sky. Three heavenly beings, disguised as travelers, appeared to Abraham. God repeated his promise to Abraham that his wife would bear a son. Even though Sarah was very old, she did conceive and deliver a son. They named him Isaac. Rebekah, Wife of Isaac - Rebekah, like her mother-in-law Sarah, was barren. When her husband Isaac prayed for her, she conceived and gave birth to twin sons, Esau and Jacob. During an age when women were typically submissive, Rebekah was quite assertive. Rebekah clearly played favorites with Jacob and even tricked her husband, Isaac into giving the patriarchal blessing of the nation to Jacob over the rightful heir, Esau. To avoid Esau’s wrath, Rebekah sent Jacob away and she never saw him again. Jacob would father 12 sons who became the heads of the 12 tribes of Israel. From the tribe of Judah would come David, and finally Jesus of Nazareth. Jochebed, Mother of Moses - The Pharaoh in the opening of the book of Exodus was afraid of the multitudes of Jews. He feared they would start a rebellion or fight against him. He ordered all male Hebrew babies to be killed. When Jochebed gave birth to a son, she saw that he was a healthy baby. Instead of letting him be murdered, she took a basket and coated the bottom with tar, to make it waterproof. Then she put the baby in it and set it among the reeds on the bank of the Nile River. God so worked that her baby was found by Pharaoh's daughter. Jochebed even became her own son's nurse, raising him for many years. Hannah, Mother of Samuel - Hannah's story is one of the most touching. Like several other mothers in the Bible, she knew what it meant to suffer long years of barrenness. In Hannah's case she was cruelly taunted by her husband's other wife. But Hannah never gave up on God. Finally her heartfelt prayers were answered. She gave birth to a son, Samuel, then did something entirely selfless to honor her promise to God by allowing him to be raised by the priest Eli. God favored Hannah with five more children, bringing great blessing to her life. Samuel grew up to become the last of Israel's judges, its first prophet, and counselor to its first two kings, Saul and David. Bathsheba, Wife of King David - Bathsheba was married Uriah the Hittite, a soldier in King David’s army. King David had him sent to the front lines (and killed) so that he could marry Bathsheba. God was so displeased with David's actions that he struck dead the baby from that union. Their next son, Solomon, was loved by God and grew up to become Israel's greatest king. From David's line would come Christ, the Savior of the World. Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist - Barren in her old age, Elizabeth was another of the miracle mothers in the Bible. She conceived and gave birth to a son. She and her husband, Zechariah, named him John, as an angel had instructed. Like Hannah before her, she dedicated her son to God, and like Hannah's son, he also became a great prophet, John the Baptist. Elizabeth's joy was complete when her relative Mary visited her, pregnant with the future Savior of the World, and she too was touched by the Holy Spirit.

A Brief Mother's Day History Origin of Mother's Day goes back to the era of ancient Greek and Romans. But the roots of Mother's Day history can also be traced in UK where a Mothering Sunday was celebrated much before the festival saw the light of the day in US. However, the celebration of the festival as it is seen today is a recent phenomenon and not even a hundred years old. Thanks to the hard work of the pioneering women of their times, Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis that the day came into existence. Today the festival of Mother’s day is celebrated across 46 countries (though on different dates) and is a hugely popular affair. Millions of people across the globe take the day as an opportunity to honor their mothers, thank them for their efforts in giving them life, raising them and being their constant support and well-wisher. Earliest History of Mother’s Day

The earliest history of Mother’s Day dates back to the ancient annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to maternal goddesses. The Greeks used the occasion to honor Rhea, wife of Cronus and the mother of many deities of Greek mythology. Ancient Romans, too, celebrated a spring festival, called Hilaria dedicated to Cybele, a mother goddess. It may be noted that ceremonies in honor of Cybele began some 250 years before Christ was born. The celebration made on the Ides of March by making offerings in the temple of Cybele lasted for three days and included parades, games and masquerades. The celebrations were notorious enough that followers of Cybele were banished from Rome. Early Christians celebrated a Mother's Day of sorts during the festival on the fourth Sunday of Lent in honor of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ. In England the holiday was expanded to include all mothers. It was then called Mothering Sunday. History of Mother's Day: Mothering Sunday The more recent history of Mother’s Day dates back to 1600s in England. Here a Mothering Sunday was celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter) to honor mothers. After a prayer service in church to honor Virgin Mary, children brought gifts and flowers to pay tribute to their own mothers. On the occasion, servants, apprentices and other employees staying away from their homes were encouraged by their employers to visit their mothers and honor them. Traditionally children brought with them gifts and a special fruit cake or fruit-filled pastry called a simnel. Yugoslavs and people in other nations have observed similar days. Custom of celebrating Mothering Sunday died out almost completely by the 19th century. However, the day came to be celebrated again after World War II, when American servicemen brought the custom and commercial enterprises used it as an occasion for sales. History of Mother's Day: Julia Ward Howe The idea of official celebration of Mother’s day in US was first suggested by Julia Ward Howe in 1872. An activist, writer and poet Julia shot to fame with her famous Civil War song, "Battle Hymn of the Republic". Julia Ward Howe suggested that June 2 be annually celebrated as Mother’s Day and should be dedicated to peace. She wrote a passionate appeal to women and urged them to rise against war in her famous Mother’s Day Proclamation, written in Boston in 1870. She also initiated a Mothers' Peace Day observance on the second Sunday in June in Boston and held the meeting for a number of years. Julia tirelessly championed the cause of official celebration of Mother’s Day and declaration of official holiday on the day. Her idea spread but was later replaced by the Mothers' Day holiday now celebrated in May. History of Mother's Day: Anna Jarvis Anna Jarvis is recognized as the Founder of Mother’s Day in US. Though Anna Jarvis never married and never had kids, she is also known as the Mother of Mother’s Day, an apt title for the lady who worked hard to bestow honor on all mothers. Anna Jarvis got the inspiration of celebrating Mother’s Day from her own mother Mrs Anna Marie Reeves Jarvis in her childhood. An activist and social worker, Mrs. Jarvis used to express her desire that someday someone must honor all mothers, living and dead, and pay tribute to the contributions made by them. A loving daughter, Anna never forgot her mother’s word and when her mother died in 1905, she resolved to fulfill her mother’s desire of having a mother’s day. Growing negligent attitude of adult Americans towards their mothers and a desire to honor her mother’s soared her ambitions. To begin with Anna, send Carnations in the church service in Grafton, West Virginia to honor her mother. Carnations were her mother’s favorite flower and Anna felt that they symbolized a mothers pure love. Later Anna along with her supporters wrote letters to people in positions of power lobbying for the official declaration of Mother’s Day holiday. The hard work paid off. By 1911, Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state in the Union and on May 8, 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»

“MOMISMS” •Money does not grow on trees. • Don't make that face or it'll freeze in that position. • If I talked to my mother like you talk to me.... • Always change your underwear; you never know when you'll have an accident. • Be careful or you'll put your eye out. • What if everyone jumped off a cliff? Would you do it, too? • Close that door! Were you born in a barn? • If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. • Don't put that in your mouth; you don't know where it's been! • Be careful what you wish for, it might come true. • Don't eat those, they will stunt your growth. • If you don't eat those, you will stunt your growth. • It doesn't matter what you accomplish, I'll always be proud of you. • I hope that when you grow up, you have kids "Just Like you"! (Also known as the "Mother's Curse") • If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times. • Because I'm your mother that's why.

St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) Commemorated on April 30/May13 He was born in 1807 into Russian aristocracy — his father was a wealthy provincial gentleman. From a very early age he felt strongly called to monastic life, but at that time it was almost unheard of for a nobleman to take such a path, and Dimitri (as he was called in baptism) entered the Pioneer Military School in St Petersburg. There he distinguished himself, and even attracted the attention of Grand Duke Nicholas Pavlovich, an event which would profoundly affect his later life. Despite his excellent record at the academy, young Dimitri still longed only for the things of God. In 1827 he graduated from the school and was commissioned as an officer in the army, but soon fell critically ill, and was granted a discharge. This proved to be providential: when he recovered his health, he immediately became a novice, living at several different monasteries and coming under the spiritual care of Starets Leonid, one of the celebrated fathers of the Optina monastery. In 1821 he took his monastic vows and received the name Ignatius. Soon afterwards he was ordained to the priesthood. Soon after the newly-professed Fr Ignatius had entered the seclusion that he sought, Tsar Nicholas I — the former Grand Duke Nicholas — visited the Pioneer Military School and asked what had become of the promising cadet he had met a few years before. When the Tsar learned that the former Dimitri was now a monk, he sought him out, had him elevated to the rank of Archimandrite (at age 26!) and made him Superior of the St Sergius Monastery in St Petersburg. Tsar Nicholas instructed him to make the monastery a model fo all Russian religious communities. Though he had desired only a life of solitude and prayer, the new Archimandrite devoted himself conscientiously to fulfilling the Tsar's charge. The monastery did in fact become a kind of standard for Russian monasticism, and its abbot acquired many spiritual children, not only among his monks but among the laity in the capital. After twenty-four years as superior of the monastery, St Iganatius was elevated to the episcopate in 1857, first as Bishop of Stavropol, then as Bishop of Kavkaz. Only four years later (aged 54) he resigned and spent the rest of his life in reclusion at the Nicolo-Babaevsky Monastery in the diocese of Kostromo. There he continued the large body of spiritual writings for which he is well known. His printed Works fills five volumes; of these, at least two major works have been translated into English: On the Prayer of Jesus and The Arena: an offering to contemporary monasticism. Both are gems of spiritual writing, profitable to every serious Orthodox Christian. St Ignatius reposed in peace in 1867. He was glorified in 1988 by the Moscow Patriarchate, during the millennial celebrations in that year. ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Thank you to Dr. Angelo & Linda Taveria-DaSilva for putting on the AED Class last week after Coffee Social and to all who stayed to learn about the unit. We had 15+ people! Thanks also to our Anonymous Donor for this gift to the parish (Many Years! Christ is Risen!) It is a great thing to have, but something we pray we never have to use. The unit is currently under the TV set in the hall until it gets hung in its permanent home, which will be in the landing at the top of the stairs, next to the fire extinguisher. It was mentioned, and will be followed through with, that we will have a refresher course about once a year, after Pascha.

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Spiritual people are all pain. In other words, they feel pain for situations and people, but are rewarded for this pain with divine consolation. They feel pain, but also divine consolation within themselves, because God pitches blessings down into our soul from Paradise. And we rejoice in His divine love. This is joy, spiritual joy, which is inexpressible and inundates the heart. Saint Paisios the Athonite

The Ascension: A Beginning, Not an Ending Archpriest Lawrence Farley, on pravmir.com

If one read the four Gospels as if they were four separate biographies of Jesus, one might be forgiven for thinking that the Ascension narrated the end of the story. We have read narratives of Christ’s birth, His baptism, His temptation in the wilderness, His ministry, His crucifixion, His resurrection, and now at the last we come the narrative of His ascension, concluding the story of His life with a heavenly happy ending. Everyone loves a happy ending, and this one rounds out the story of Jesus by saying in effect, “And He lived happily ever after at the right hand of God.” In this way of thinking, the story is not finished without the Ascension.

It might therefore come as a surprise to learn that three out of the four canonical Gospels do not end with the Ascension or even narrate it at all. Matthew’s Gospel ends not with Christ ascending from us, but with His remaining with us, uttering the words, “Behold, I am with you always, even to the close of the age” [Matthew 28:20].

The authentic ending of Mark’s Gospel ends with the discovery of the empty tomb (the last part of Christ’s public ministry, just as His baptism was the first part), and with the words that the women “fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid” [Mark 16:8]. John’s Gospel ends with a third appearance of the risen Christ to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias (scholars debate about whether or not it first ended with the earlier appearance to Thomas) and with John’s observation that if everything Jesus had done were to be written up, the world itself could not contain those books. John clearly knew about the ascension, for he records Christ’s words to Mary Magdalene, “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father” [John 20:17], but he does not narrate that ascension any more than Matthew does or Mark does. Only Luke narrates the ascension, adding almost as an afterthought that “while He was blessing them, He went away from them and was carried up into heaven” [Luke 24:51], the ascension event itself expressed in a mere five words in the Greek. Luke narrates it at somewhat greater length in his second volume, the Acts of the Apostles, saying with a similar economy of words, “while they were looking, He was taken up and a cloud received Him from their eyes” [Acts 1:9] — the event expressed in nine Greek words. What does all this mean?

For one thing it means that the Gospels are not biographies as we understand the term. But more importantly it reveals that the ascension was not the ending of a story, but the beginning of one, not the conclusion of Christ’s life so much as the beginning of the life of the Church. It is no coincidence that the Evangelist who narrated the ascension also narrated at great length and repeatedly the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, so that Luke is the Evangelist of the Holy Spirit as well as the Evangelist of the Ascension. The two events are connected, for one is the cause of the other. Christ foretold it during His last night with His disciples prior to His arrest: “It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” [John 16:7]. Luke narrated the fulfillment in the words of Peter’s Pentecostal sermon: “Being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this which you both see and hear” [Acts 2:33].

The temptation is to regard the Holy Ascension as if it were the Holy Absence, as if Christ has gone away and we now have less of His presence than was available when He walked the earth. It is not so. While He walked the earth, the apostles could be with Him, but this nearness was conditioned by time and space, and there were times when they were not with Him. When He was not physically in Judea, for example, Mary and Martha could not be with Him. Now that He has been exalted to the Father’s right hand and has sent His Spirit, we can be near Him always, for His presence is no longer conditioned by time and space. Everyone can now be close to Jesus and by the power of the Spirit can be with Him every waking hour and even every sleeping hour. The ascension and the sending of the Spirit means that we now have more of Jesus, not less of Him. That is why the Lord said at the end of Matthew’s Gospel that He would be with us until the close of age. These words were not a denial of a future ascension, but a promise of it. The challenge for us now is to live as children of the ascension, and as children of the Spirit. Our Lord’s presence and power are always available to us. The question is: how often do we avail ourselves of them?