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

Ecumenical Patriarchate 10201 Democracy Blvd

Potomac, Maryland 20854 301-299-5120(Office) 301-367-9051(cell)

www.holyresurrection.com www.facebook.com/groups/hroc25

YouTube: HROC Media Very Rev. Peter Zarynow, Pastor Protopresbyter John Fedornock

Subdeacon Anastasios Davis Reader Stephen Sudik ₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪

Sunday 16 August 2020 Tenth Sunday after Pentecost Venerable Isaac the Ascetic Epistle: 1 Corinthians 4:9-16 Gospel: Matthew 17:14-23

Tone One 16 Aug (SUN) 10th Sunday after Pentecost Chanting of the 3rd Hour 9:10am Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom 9:30am Panachida: +Peter, +Lawrence & +Helen Rowland, by daughter/granddaughter Diane 12 Aug (Wed) Feast of the Transfiguration Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom 9:30am (attendance limited to our seniors 65+) Blessing of Grapes & First Fruits

15 Aug (Sat) 11th Saturday after Pentecost Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom 9:30am Blessing of Grapes & First Fruits 23 Aug (SUN) 12th Sunday after Pentecost Chanting of the 3rd Hour 9:10am Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom 9:30am

Blessing of Grapes & First Fruits

Announcements: As we are well into the Phase 2 reopening please keep in mind all protocols that were set out for us, with the blessing and guidance of our Metropolitan Gregory. These will be followed for the foreseeable future, given that the Covid-19 pandemic is not over. As he guides us, continue to keep our Metropolitan in your daily prayers, along with all of the Hierarchs of the Assembly of Bishops! We are in the Dormition Fast until the Feast of the Dormition on 28 August. All fasting guidelines are to be observed during this two-week period. If there are any questions, please contact FrPeter Confessions be heard by appointment. Your Confession will be heard with Father, in front of the Icon of Christ, in the front pew. Masks (face cover) are required for both priest & penitent. Social distancing will also be in effect. Call Father Peter to set a time and date for an appointment. Home visits (Sick calls) have resumed, especially for those not able to return to church at this time. If you would like Father Peter to bring the Sacraments to you at home, call to make an appointment and go over the protocols for visits. This is also for those not comfortable with coming out into crowds but would still want to receive the Sacraments. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Wednesdays at 9:30am for our seniors (age 65+). Please call the Rectory if you are planning on attending. We can accommodate up to 10 households each Divine Services. NOTE: While we are in the situation where we are not able to meet fully, if you are able, please continue to make your regular tithe/offering to the parish. Even though we are not together, the bills continue to come in (electric, water, communications, etc.) Your continued support is necessary and appreciated. Your offering can simply be made through the PayPal button on our parish website homepage or by sending it in the mail to the church. (Also, new in the tax code for 2020, all charitable donations, no matter if you take the standard deduction or itemize, will be able to be used as deductions when you file your returns in early 2021.) Grocery Gift cards from Giant are still available. Contact Mark or Marie Sudik to have them mailed to you. A reminder for attending Divine Services during Phase 2: you will receive a phone call from Fr Peter to attend on Sunday mornings. All Divine Services will begin at 9:30am. So far, this seems to be working well, with everyone being able to attend about every third week. If, for some reason, you have not yet received a phone call, or if you were hesitant at first but now want to attend, please let Father know and you will be put in the rotation. ֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎

In the Mail... Dear Parishioners of Holy Resurrection Church, I want to thank you for the many cards and best wishes I received for my 80th birthday. I was touched by the thoughtfulness of so many of you especially since we are all going through very difficult times. Hopefully this will all pass and I will be able to thank each and every one of you personally. May God bless each of you and keep your family members well and safe. All my love, Paňi Jean

During this time of Covid-19, if you have any candle requests, please email or text them to Fr Peter by no later than Wednesday evening. Candles will be lit as requested.

Candle Offerings Eternal Light: Health & Blessings HROC Family-Yuliya Lore (Mnohaja L’ita!) Altar, Sacramental Table Candles & Eternal Lamp: In memory of +Helen Rowland on anniversary of repose-RG (Vicnaja Pamjat!)

Vigil Candles Offered For the Living (Many Years! Mnohaja L’ita!) 1-health of Mom-your loving family- Chrysa, Taina & Craig 1-health Dad Michael-love Alex & Melanie 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 1-health of Chris Fallon-Michael, Kathleen, John & Anna 1-health & blessings Marge Tomasevich-Joanie 1-blessings, grace & strength Judy Naugle-Joanie 1-specail intention Roby Family-Scott 2-special intention-brother George Archbishop Michael; Barbara Knighton 2-special intention-George Dahulich Metropolitan Gregory; Bishop Matthias 6-for health-George Dahulich Fr Tom Kadlec; Fr Jim Dutko; Chris Fallon; Charlie Myers; Barbara Knighton; Matushka Anastasia Karlgut 2-happy birthday-George Dahulich Jelani Wimberly; Andrey Taveira-DaSilva; Ruth Strauss; Michael Sofelkanik, Jr. 1-health of Savannah, Chloe, Caroline, Christopher, Natalie, Cole-love Grandparents 1-happy birthday Paňi Jean-Ray & Georgene 3-for health-Ray & Georgene Joanie Wisnosky; Rose Plowchin; John & Marie Smith 17-health & healing-John & Marie Smith Irene Dzubak; Melanie Samson; Fr Tom Kadlec;

John & Barbara Homick; Chris Hudack; Ray & Georgene Ammon; Marge Tomasevich; Carol Miller; Marie Skasko; Paňi Eleanor Pribish; Lois Erhard; Chris Fallon; Emilia Zak; Stephen Brancho; Charlie Myers; Debbie & Tom Delare; Rose Marie Jung 6-special intentions-the Breno Family Breno Family; Fedornock Families; Peart Family; Nakonecznyj Family; Zankey Family; Fabian Family 1-happy birthday Chris Zankey-the Breno Family 2-specail intention-Mom & Dad Angela & Brian; Stephen 1-special intention Mark-love Marie 1-special intention Marie-love Mark 9-for health-Mark, Marie & Stephen Mom/Baba; Ann Thear; Helen Beverage; Verna Czap; Nancy Shields; Mike & Josie Czap; Skeets; Williams Family; Charlene Myers 12-health & special intention- Mark, Marie & Stephen

Chris Hudack; Ray & Georgene Ammon; Marge Tomasevich; Irene Dzubak; Carol Miller; Alex & Eleanor Breno; Fr John & Paňi Marge; James Battaglini; Bridget Myers; Charlie Myers; Paňi Bernadette; Fr Peter

1-health of Charlie-love Debi 1-birthday blessings Mark-Charlie, Debi, Jacob & Joey 2-for health-Charlie, Debi, Jacob & Joey Skeets; Grammy 1-specail intention Jacob & Joey-love Mom & Dad 1-sp. intention healthcare workers-Charlie, Debi, Jacob & Joey 1-health & sp.int. Aleksey, Dru & Yuliya-Yuliya Lore

Vigil Candles In Loving Memory: (Memory Eternal! Vicnaja Pamjat!) 1+in loving memory of Les-love Carol 1+in memory Mother & Father–Carol Miller 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 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 3+Memory Eternal –love Alex, Melanie Mother Katherine; Dad John; Mother Elaine 5+in memory-John & Sheila Dad Kraynok; Mom Kraynok; Charles Hrapchak; Anna Hrapchak; Evelyn Hrapchak 1+In loving memory of Metro-Love, Joan and Family 1+in loving memory of parents Peter & Ann Dahulich-love son George 1+Eternal Memory Patty Wiegand-Rose Plowchin 1+in loving memory of Parents & Grandparents-Yuliya Lore

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

COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS Meeting 28 JUL 2020

ATTENDING: Rose Plowchin, Marie Smith, Marie Sudik, Debi Myers, Carol Miller, Father Peter, Mark Sudik

· Council is so grateful for our generous parishioners. Our income has exceeded expenses for four months in a row.

· Parish had participation in both the virtual altar boy retreat and virtual Camp Nazareth.

· Mark Sudik will be scheduling an outdoor work day in the fall.

· Defibrillator/AED pads expired and were replaced; rectory/parish house needed an AC check.

Both cost approximately $130 each.

· Council meetings are held socially distanced in the church hall; next meeting is 25 August.

Marie Sudik, Council Secretary

The second Issue of SPF50 is available NOW!! It is a digital edition. If you didn’t start with us on March 1, consider joining now. Make a commitment to reading Scripture and Praying together with your family. Visit the Diocesan Website at acrod.org and look for the SPF50 section or go directly to the SPF50 web page at https://www.acrod.org/ministries/acrod-family/spf50 to find out more about SPF50 and how to help your family read Scripture and Pray together at home. Don’t forget to fill out the Commitment Card which is available in the SPF50 Section of the Diocesan Website, and return the Card to FrPeter.

℘℘℘℘℘℘℘℘℘℘℘℘℘℘℘℘℘℘℘℘℘℘℘℘℘℘ NOTE TO PARENTS: We are beginning to get our new Sunday School year planned, and, like everything else, it will be a little different than usual. Details will be worked out in the coming weeks, but we will not actually begin the Academic Year until Sunday 4 October. This will give time to work out a schedule for virtual classes and also to plan for, if things change, actual class in person. This will also give time for our students going to get back into “school mode” as schools will be starting the year via online learning. Look for more details coming late August/early September. Please pray for the following: Metropolitan Gregory, Bishop Matthias, Fr. Frank & Paňi Connie Miloro; Fr. John & Paňi Betty Jean Baranik, Fr. John Fencik, Fr. Paul Stoll, Fr. Robert Teklinski, Fr. John Gido, Dn. Peter Skoog & family, Pañi Kathy Dutko, Fr. Gregory Allard, Fr. Lawrence Barriger, Fr. James Gleason, Fr. Luke Mihaly, Fr. Ted & Paňi Marjorie Mozes, Fr. Thomas Blaschak, Hieromonk Michael, Fr Thomas Kadlec; Paňi Donna Smoley, Fr. Michael & Paňi AnnaMarie Slovesko, Fr John & Paňi Patricia Duranko, Fr. Christopher Rozdilski, Fr John & Paňi Cindy Zboyovski, Fr. Jonathan & Paňi Marsha Tobias, Fr Robert Lucas, Pañi Delores Zuder; Paňi Amy George, Fr Ken Ellis; Paňi Dorothy Hutnyan, Fr Ed Pihanich, Elisa Castilla, Ann Thear, Beth & Ed ‘Skeets’ Williams, Carol Miller, Cindy Russell, Michael Buchko, Dorothy Mastronicola, Angie Wali, Nancy Lynn Arthur, Mary Urbas, Tony Zankey, Justin Popek, Karen Ogden, Joshua, Faye & Tess, Emilie Dixon, Shirley Miree, Michael Rake, Olga Vasconez, Diane Dupere-Lindell, Gerry Sadler, Ann Eckert, Lois Hall, Marshal Smith, Dave Stanton, Florence Gregoric, James & Melody Peyton, Louann Giger, Daniel Ward, Jennifer Brady, Carol Blum, Katie Bleeker, Alexi Williams, Missy Johns, Susan Buckley, Constance Amey, James Lazor, Debbie Dell, Rose & Douglas Eade, Robert Horsch, Edward & Grace Yoon, Michael Dinneen, Kellie Barett, Joan Detwiler, Joan Kondratick, John Homick, Jim David, Melanie Samson, Mary West, Laura Gary; Richard & Wendy Sulich; James Durachko, Julia Rapach, Randi Caffalle, Hayley Marshall, Jon Green, Aleia Dick, MaryJane, Kyle & Rosie Brant, Mary Agnes, Alicia, Lisa Cherno, Stephen Brancho, Emily, MaryMargaret , Leslie Perez, Thomas & Deborah Delare, Diana Hannan; Ed Murphy; LeLe Luu; Bridget Myers; Devan Merrill; Joann Wiant; Bob Fitzurka; Vasili Pavuk; Frank Pavuk; Theodore Corcoran; Richard, Kari, Nicholas & Daniel Zarynow; Olga Vovk; infant Emilia Zak, Elizabeth Fabian & daughter

May Our Lord Jesus Christ Touch Them with His Healing Hand

Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Commemorated 06/19 August

Our Lord had spoken to His disciples many times not only concerning His Passion, Cross, and Death, but also concerning the coming persecutions and afflictions that they themselves would endure. Since all these evils were near at hand, but the enjoyment of good things which they hoped to receive in their stead was yet to come, our Savior desired to give them full assurance, evidently and openly, concerning that glory which is prepared for those who endure to the end. Therefore, fulfilling that which He had promised shortly before, that "there be some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His Kingdom" (Matt. 16:28), He took His three foremost disciples and ascended Mount Tabor, where He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as the light. Suddenly, together with this dread and marvelous effulgence of light, there appeared those pinnacles of the Prophets, Moses and Elias, who spoke with the Lord Jesus concerning His saving Passion which was about to take place. Standing before Him as reverent servants, they showed that He is the Lord of both the living and the dead, for Moses came forth from Hades, having died many centuries before, and Elias, as it were from heaven, whither he had been taken up while yet alive. After a little while a radiant cloud overshadowed them and out of the cloud they heard that same voice which had been heard at the Jordan at the Baptism of Christ, testifying to the Divinity of Jesus and saying: "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased; hear ye Him" (Matt. 17: 5).

Such are the marvels, truly worthy of God, celebrated in this present feast, which is an image and prefiguring of the future state of the righteous, whose splendor the Lord spoke of, saying: "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun" (Matt. 13:43). It is because of this that the Kontakion of this Feast is said daily (when there is not a great feast) in the Service of the Typica in perpetual commemoration of the glory that will be the lot of the Saints. According to tradition, the Lord's Transfiguration came to pass forty days before His Crucifixion; this is why the Transfiguration is celebrated forty days before the Exaltation of the Cross.

The Sacraments

Holy Unction Christ came to the world to “bear the infirmities” of men. One of the signs of his divine messiahship was to heal the sick. The power of healing remains in the Church since Christ himself remains in the Church through the Holy Spirit. The sacrament of the unction of the sick is the Church’s specific prayer for healing. If the faith of the believers is strong enough, and if it is the will of God, there is every reason to believe that the Lord can heal those who are diseased. Is any among you sick, let him call for the presbyters of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed (Jas 5.14–16; see also Mk 6.13). The sacrament of anointing is a “sobornal” sacrament in the traditional Orthodox practice. This means that as many of the faithful as possible are gathered to participate in the prayers. The rite itself calls for seven priests, seven readings from the epistles and gospels, seven prayers and seven anointings with oil specifically blessed for the service. Although it is not always possible to perform the sacrament in this way, the normal procedure is still to gather together as many priests and people as possible. The express purpose of the sacrament of holy unction is healing and forgiveness. Since it is not always the will of God that there should be physical healing, the prayer of Christ that God’s will be done always remains as the proper context of the sacrament. In addition, it is the clear intention of the sacrament that through the anointing of the sick body the sufferings of the person should be sanctified and united to the sufferings of Christ. In this way, the wounds of the flesh are consecrated, and strength is given that the suffering of the diseased person may not be unto the death of his soul, but for eternal salvation in the resurrection and life of the Kingdom of God. It is indeed the case that death inevitably comes to man. All must die, even those who in this life are given a reprieve through healing in order to have more time on the earth. Thus, the healing of the sick is not itself a final goal, but is merely “instrumental” in that it is given by God as a sign of his mercy and as a grace for the further opportunity of man to live for him and for others in the life of this world. In the case where a person is obviously in the final moments of his earthly life, the Church has special

prayers for the “separation of soul and body.” Thus, it is clear that the sacrament of holy unction is for the sick-both the physically and mentally sick-and is not reserved for the moment of death. The sacrament of unction is not the “last rites” as is sometimes thought; the ritual of the anointing itself in no way indicates that it should be administered merely in “extreme” cases. Holy unction is the sacrament of the spiritual, physical, and mental healing of a sick person whatever the nature or the gravity of the illness may be.

Venerable Isaac the Ascetic of the Dalmatian Monastery at Constantinople

Commemorated 03/16 August

Saint Isaac was a soldier before he became a monk. After he was tonsured, he attained such a degree of spiritual perfection that he was accounted worthy of beholding divine visions.

When Saint Isaac heard about how the Emperor Valens had fallen into the Arian heresy and was persecuting the Orthodox Christians, he left his monastery and traveled to Constantinople to confront the emperor. At that time Valens was planning a campaign against the Goths. Saint Isaac tried to change the emperor’s mind several times, but was unable to convince him. He prophesied that Valens would die in flames because of his actions. The emperor ordered that Saint Isaac be thrown into prison, and promised to deal with him when he returned from his expedition. On August 9, 378 Valens was defeated at Adrianople and died in a fire after hiding in a barn, just as the saint had predicted.

Emperor Theodosius the Great, who had a great love for the saint, released him from prison and banned Arianism. Saint Isaac attended the Second Ecumenical Council (381), where he defended the Orthodox Faith against the Arian heresy.

Saint Isaac hoped to return to his monastic life in the wilderness, but a wealthy man built a monastery for him at Constantinople, and he became its first igumen (abbot). The monastery was later named for his disciple Dalmatus.

When Saint Isaac was approaching the end of his earthly life, he named Saint Dalmatus to succeed him as igumen. He lived to a ripe old age and reposed in the year 383.

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Apostle Matthias of the Seventy Commemorated on 09/22 August

The Holy Apostle Matthias was born at Bethlehem of the Tribe of Judah. From his early childhood he studied the Law of God under the guidance of Saint Simeon the God-Receiver (February 3).

When the Lord Jesus Christ revealed Himself to the world, Saint Matthias believed in Him as the Messiah, followed constantly after Him and was numbered among the Seventy Apostles, whom the Lord “sent them two by two before His face” (Luke 10:1).

After the Ascension of the Savior, Saint Matthias was chosen by lot to replace Judas Iscariot as one of the Twelve Apostles (Acts 1:15-26). After the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Matthias preached the Gospel at Jerusalem and in Judea together with the other Apostles (Acts 6:2, 8:14). From Jerusalem he went with the Apostles Peter and Andrew to Syrian Antioch, and was in the Cappadocian city of Tianum and Sinope. Here the Apostle Matthias was locked into prison, from which he was miraculously freed by Saint Andrew the First-Called.

The Apostle Matthias journeyed after this to Amasea, a city on the shore of the sea. During a three-year journey of the Apostle Andrew, Saint Matthias was with him at Edessa and Sebaste. According to Church Tradition, he was preaching at Pontine Ethiopia (presently Western Georgia) and Macedonia. He was frequently subjected to deadly peril, but the Lord preserved him to preach the Gospel.

Once, pagans forced the saint to drink a poison potion. He drank it, and not only did he himself remain unharmed, but he also healed other prisoners who had been blinded by the potion. When Saint Matthias left the prison, the pagans searched for him in vain, for he had become invisible to them. Another time, when the pagans had become enraged intending to kill the Apostle, the earth opened up and engulfed them.

The Apostle Matthias returned to Judea and did not cease to enlighten his countrymen with the light of Christ’s teachings. He worked great miracles in the Name of the Lord Jesus and he converted a great many to faith in Christ.

The Jewish High Priest Ananias hated Christ and earlier had commanded the Apostle James, Brother of the Lord, to be flung down from the heights of the Temple, and now he ordered that the Apostle Matthias be arrested and brought for judgment before the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem.

The impious Ananias uttered a speech in which he blasphemously slandered the Lord. Using the prophecies of the Old Testament, the Apostle Matthias demonstrated that Jesus Christ is the True God, the promised Messiah, the Son of God, Consubstantial and Coeternal with God the Father. After these words the Apostle Matthias was sentenced to death by the Sanhedrin and stoned.

When Saint Matthias was already dead, the Jews, to hide their malefaction, cut off his head as an enemy of Caesar. (According to several historians, the Apostle Matthias was crucified, and indicate that he instead died at Colchis.) The Apostle Matthias received the martyr’s crown of glory in the year 63.

The Tradition of Blessing Fruit on the Transfiguration

PROTOPRESBYTER GEORGE D. KONSTANTOPOULOS St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, South Bend, IN

My beloved spiritual children in Christ God,

On the Holy Feast-Day of Transfiguration (Metamorphosis) on August 6th (19th) our tradition calls that the Orthodox Christian faithful bring fruits and even vegetables to be blessed on this day. The most common fruit to be blessed are grapes.

The blessing of fruits i.e., grapes, apples, etc., as well as vegetables on this day, is one very beautiful custom of our Holy Church. The practice signifies the final transfiguration of all things in Christ our Savior. “It signifies the ultimate flowering and fruitfulness of all creation in the Paradise of God’s Kingdom of Life where all will be transformed by the Glory of the Lord”.

This is an early Christian tradition. The first week of August, on the sixth of August, the farmers used to gather the first fruits of their summer harvest (grapes, figs, etc.) and to offer thanks to God and offer them to the Church to be blessed and then to give them to the faithful present at the Divine Liturgy as a blessing to them. These fruits are called the “beginnings”.

In a text from the 7th century (“the laws of the kingdom”) by Emperor Constantine Porfirogenitos this tradition is described clearly: “The Emperor of Constantinople gathers the “beginnings” (“aparches”) in Chalcedon, where there are many vines, and then he waits for the Patriarch of Constantinople to come on the Holy Day of the Transfiguration of Christ, to bless the fruits and to personally hand out the grapes to the faithful.

This tradition is adhered to in various parts of Greece where they grow grapes.

Saint John Chrysostom wrote: “Plowman receives fruit from the earth not so much for his labor and diligence, as out of the goodness of God Who grows this fruit, because neither is he that plants anything, neither he that waters, but God that gives the increase”.

Grapes are brought to church because they are directly connected to the Holy Eucharistic Mystery (Sacraments); that is why in the prayer for the blessing of grapes the priest says, “Bless, Lord, this new fruit of the vine which reached ripeness because Thou kindly provided god weather, drops of rain and stillness. Let eating this fruit of vine makes us joyful. And give us the honor of offering this fruit to Thee, as the gift of purging of sins, altogether with the Holy Body of Thy Christ.

In the first centuries of Christianity, the faithful brought forth to the church the fruit and crops of the new harvest: bread, wine, olive oil, incense, wax, honey, etc. Of all these offerings, only bread, wine, incense, olive oil, and wax were taken to the altar, while the rest was used for the needs of the clergy and the poor whom the church was caring for. These offerings were to express gratitude to God for all goods, but at the same time help servants of God and people in need. Until today, the consecration of bread and wine, eggs and milk and other food has been kept in the consecration of artos (bread) in the church and meals at home on Pascha. Consecration of flowers and tree branches is performed now on Palm Sunday, the days of the Holy Trinity and Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and on Sunday of the week of the Veneration of the Cross. Rice with raisins and honey are used as offering in services for the dead and remembrance repast. Prosphora is brought forth to church for proskomide (Credence) in order for the priest to perform the Offertory Service. Source: Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Church)

I ask all of you to learn and appreciate the Orthodox Christian tradition and to practice them.

With sincere agape,

+Father George