Holy

Assu

mp

tion

Ort

hod

ox C

hu

rch

OC

A -

Dio

cese

of

the

Mid

wes

t

Fr.

An

dre

w B

art

ek, R

ecto

r

Pari

sh

Cou

ncil

Pre

sid

en

t: R

on

ald

F. R

oyh

ab

110 E Main Street, Marblehead, OH 43440 Rectory 419-798-4591 / Cell 570-212-8747 www.holyassumptionmarblehead.org padrebartek@gmail.com

Sunday, February 25, 2018 Tone 5Gospel: St. John 1:43-51 Epistle: Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-12:2

Sunday of OrthodoxySt. Tarasius, Archbishop of Constantinople

Liturgical & Events Schedule

Sunday, February 25 9:05 am: Regular Third & Sixth Hours 9:30 am: D. L. / Procession of Icons / Social w/

Lenten cake for Monthly B-days, Anniver-sary’s & Namesday

2:45 pm: Leave for Sunday of Orthodox Vespers 5:00 pm: Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers @ Greek

Cathedral of St Constantine & Helen, Cleveland Heights

Monday, February 26 10:00 am: Fr. Will be attending Lenten Clergy Re-

treat in Cleveland

Wednesday, February 28 9:30 am: Lenten Prayers 6:00 pm: Liturgy of Pre-sanctified Gifts followed by

Lenten meal

Thursday, March 1 9:30 am: Lenten Prayers

Friday, March 2 9:30 am: Lenten Prayers 6:00 pm: Akathist to the Divine Passion of Christ /

Confessions

Saturday, March 3 9:30 am: Soul Sat. D. L. 4:00 pm: Great Vespers followed by pre-communion

prayers / Confession

Sunday, March 4 9:05 am: Third & Sixth Hours 9:30 am: D.L. / Swearing in of Officers / Social

MONTHLY ATTENDANCE: FEBRUARY

Friday, February 2: Meeting of the LordAttendance: 8 people for Liturgy; 13 people for Vespers

Sunday, February 4Attendance: Total People 24 (22 adults; 2 children; 14 Communicants; 9 people attended Vespers

Collections: Total $494.50 (Offerings $374.50; $120 Festival)

Saturday, February 10: Soul Sat. Attendance: 8 / 7 Communicants

Sunday, February 11 Attendance: 17 Total (16 members; 1 child; 11 Communicants; 11 attended Vespers)

Collections: Total $834 (Offerings: $752; Special Collection of Police Department $82)

Sunday, February 18 Attendance: 25 Total (22 members; 3 children; 15 communicants; 20 attended Sunday of forgiveness Vespers; 11 attended Saturday Vespers

Collections: $2,150 (Offerings: $1,950; $175 Special collection for Police Dept.; $25 Food Pantry

LENTEN SERVICE ATTENDANCE

First Week:

Monday Morning: 5 Evening: 12 Tuesday Morning: 4 Evening: 12 Wednesday Morning: 4 Evening: 13

SIGN-UP SHEET FOR DEANERY LENT-EN SERVICE

Please sign up for the one and only Lenten deanery service to be held on Sunday March 11 at St. Michael’s in Broadview Heights. Again, transpor-tation will be provided. We will leave at 3:00pm and arrive back around 8:30pm.

FATHER AWAY

Fr. Will be leaving for Johnstown, Pa to see his spirit-ual Father right after the Clergy Retreat. He will be back Tuesday evening. Please call him on his cell in case of emergency.

110 E Main Street, Marblehead, OH 43440 Rectory 419-798-4591 / Cell 570-212-8747 www.holyassumptionmarblehead.org padrebartek@gmail.com Pg 2

THE PRAYER OF SAINT EPHREM

O Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power and idle talk. (Full Prostration)

But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant. (Full Prostration)

Yea, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own transgres-sions and not judge my brother, for blessed art Thou, unto ages of ages. (Full Prostration)

O God, cleanse me, a sinner (12 times with deep bow after each)

Then the entire Prayer of St. Ephrem is read and a single full prostration is made at the end

DANBURY FOOD PANTRY FOR MARCH

Donations of Peanut Butter & Jelly will be collected on Sunday February 25 & March 4 & 11 for the food pantry.

All of the above donations will be delivered to the food pantry on Saturday, March 17. Thank You & God Bless You!

40 Day Remembrance

Feb. 18: His Grace, Bp. Mark (Forsberg) / Those who lost their lives in CA mudslides

March 4: Philip Kobb, Sawyer, Morgan & Brad, KY school shooting , Jacob , Mykaela

March 11: Nancy PipenurMarch 25: 2 police officers from Westerville, Police

Commander from Chicago, Russian Plane Crash, The school shooting in Fl., Mat. Mary Perez; Victims from terrorist attack at an Orthodox church in Russia, Lawrence Beck

OUR SHUT-INSEdgewood Manor Nursing Center

1330 Fulton StreetPort Clinton, OH 43452Anne Kovalik- Room 309

UP-COMING FOCA EVENTS

National Basketball Tournament: Fri. April 20-22 in Cleveland

National Bowling Tournament: Fri. May 18-20 in Campbell, OH

VIGIL’S FOR FEBRUARY 18

Laura Kovach: (1) In loving Memory of Mom

Basil Glovinsky: (4) Loving memory of wife Jean, brother Norman and mother and father

Sandy Martin: (1) Special Intention

David & Roddie Mazurik: (5) Health & Blessings for Debbie & Marco, mom & dad; safe travel; Special Intentions; Special Intentions, Health of Ellen.

Diane Tryon: (1) For the recovery of Greg

Twarek: (5) Health of Sonja, Health & recovery of Todd Pollick, George Biecheler, David Bobb; Health of Diane, Mike, Greg, Julia, Gage, Annette, Darlene, Debbie, Judy, Robin, Margi, Joe, Nancy, Sue, Morgan, Ron, Richie, Jake, Helen, Janice, Pete; Safe travel for family & friends, Special Intention

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

By nature You are beyond measure, O Lord; yet in these last times You deigned to accept the limitations of the flesh. By your incarnation You assumed all aspects of our human nature. We now inscribe the image of your likeness so that we might worthily venerate it, and that we might be raised up to your love from which we draw your great mercy, according to the traditions of your holy Apostles. Vespers, at Psalm 140

REFLECTION ON THIS DAY

Today is the first Sunday of the Great Fast, the Sunday of Holy Images.

It is time for the Liturgy to begin. I rise as the Royal Doors open and bow to venerate the Holy Icons of Christ the Teacher and the Holy Theotokos as the priest or deacon incenses them. I ponder; Christ is central to these icons. Next, I bow my head as I, too, am incensed–-as a holy image! But, am I really, really worthy to receive this honor?

You, O God, have created me to your image but what have I done and what am I doing to become your likeness? Is Christ central to my life? Is Christ, evident in both my public and private lives, my thoughts, my words, my actions?

As I gaze upon the Holy Image of Christ the Teacher, its spirituality, its holiness, the radiance of peace and love Captivate me. Whenever I come before this Icon, Christ is always blessing me. My heart can be filled with joy, my shoulders heavy with burdens, my eyes filled with tears, my soul burning with love–-at all times Jesus is loving and blessing me! What do others see when they look at me, when they really com to know me. Con’t Page 7

Prayer List (Updated February 25)

Priests: His Beatitude, Metropolitan Theodosius; His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman; John Duranko (Father’s home pastor); Joseph Gibson; James Gleason (Father’s Spiritual Father); Andrew Harmon; Emilian Hutnyan; John Jones; Josef Von Klarr; Paul Lazor; Michael Prevas; Peter Tutko; Demetri Vincent; Protodeacon Theodore Rose

Matushkii: Pani Patricia Duranko; Khourian Bonnie Harmon; Carol Janecek; Virginia Lecko; Mat. Carly Koranda & her new born baby Magdalena (Chicago Deanery); Sonya Tutko; Mother Victoria

Parishioners / & their Family: Infant Lofteon Barta (Great nephew of Jean H.); Debbie Garnek (sister of Roddie); Michael Glovinsky (Nephew to Basil); Ernest Gresh (Basil’s nephew) Julia Guzy; Joseph Habegger (Laura Kovach’s brother-in-law); Charles Hagmaier (Brother-in-law to Roberta Royhab); James Heffernan (father-in-law of Jennifer Heffernan) ; Judy Heffernan; Rich Kokinda (Cousin of Greg Twarek); Michael Kouznetsov (Son of Mary Hiser); Victoria Kousnetsov (Daughter of Mary

Hiser);Anne Kovalik; Helen Lis; Stanley Lis;Walter Litzie (Fr.’s Cousin); Judy Mazurik (sister-in-law of Paul Mazurik); Darlene Mazurik; Nancy Pipenur (sister-in-law of Jean Hileman) ; William Rentz (father of Tamara Rentz Blackford); Sonja Rose; Ron Royhab; Nancy Sitzler (mother of Amber Twarek); Diane Tryon; Greg Tryon; Alice Zinchak (David’s Aunt); Rachel & her new born baby Jonah; Jessica Issler & her unborn baby (Jean Hileman’s daughter)

Other Requests: Victor Abrahamowicz (Friend of Mary Hiser); Brad Biecheler; David Bobb friend of Nikki Twarek); John Cox (husband of Pastor Kay Mooney-Cox); George Danchisen; Paul Demkosky (Friend of Fr. Andrew) ; Dominic (friend of the

Cassell’s); Elizabeth (friend of the Cassell’s); Sally Franklin (friend of Wayne); Theodore Geletka (St. Michael Orthodox Church,

Broadview Heights choir director); Baby Lucas Goodman (friend of Christi Soski); Donald Gresh (neighbor to Basil); Gretta Gresh (neighbor to Basil); Mike Jacobson (Fr.’S friend); Tommy Leonchick (Friend of Fr’s); Jake Lipstraw (friend of Natalie Twarek); Dana Mahler (Friend of Christi); Violet Mattingly (neighbor of Greg Mazur); Pauline Meath (Friend of Fr. Andrew’s); Todd Pollick (Friend of the Twarek’s); Randy (Friend of Cassell’s) ; Beth Reinhard (friend of Diane Tryon); Cheryl Schell (Co-worker of

Jennifer Heffernan); Nick Shortridge (Friend of Christi); Karen Simonsen (friend of David Mazurik); Janice Timko; Brian Turner (Fr.’S friend); Nicole & her New born baby Logan (Friends of Fr.Andrew)

Military: Craig Cassell; James Jerome

Captives: Metropolitan Paul (Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo); Archbishop John (Syriac Archdiocese of Aleppo); for the UN & IOCC humanitarian aid workers in & around Syria; those suffering persecution in Iraq, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Ukraine and throughout the world; those held captive throughout the world.

Additions or removals from the list? Please notify Fr. Andrew

110 E Main Street, Marblehead, OH 43440 Rectory 419-798-4591 / Cell 570-212-8747 www.holyassumptionmarblehead.org padrebartek@gmail.com Pg 3

Reposed List - F E B R U A R Y

5- Peter Kowal (2004) 6- Steve Michael Mazur (1970) 6- Elizabeth Kravetz Mc Mahon (1984)12- Glenn Schoonmaker (2002)14- Rose Polosky No Year provided 17- Metropolitan Orestes (1977)

17- Stanley Guzy (1986)20- Infant Linda Sue Alber (1969)21- Mary Tomka Matso (1956)22- Metro Mazur (1973)22- Fr. Andrew Hutnyan (2004)23- George Elchisco Sr. (1961)

26- Elizabeth Millie (1998)29- Mary Uka Kosteary (1996) No Dates Provided: William Gratson (1908)Eva Hritsko (1908)Helen Hritsko (1908)

BEST POEM EVERI was shocked, confused, bewildered as I entered Heaven’s door, not by the beauty of it all, nor the lights or its décor. But it was the folks in Heaven who made me sputter and gasp––The thieves, the liars, the sinners, the alcoholics and the trash. There stood the kid from seventh grade who swiped my lunch money twice. Next to him was my old neighbor who never said anything nice. Bob, who I always though was rotting away in hell, was sitting pretty on cloud nine, looking incredi-bly well. I nudged Jesus, ‘what’s the deal? I would love to hear your take. How’d all these sinners get up here? God must’ve made a mistake. ‘And why is everyone so quiet, so somber–-give me a clue’. ‘Hush, child,’ he said, ‘they’re all in shock. No one thought they’d be seeing you.’ JUDGE NOT!!!!

Remember…just going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car. Every Saint has a Past…Every Sinner has a Future!

NOW IT IS YOUR TURN…..

110 E Main Street, Marblehead, OH 43440 Rectory 419-798-4591 / Cell 570-212-8747 www.holyassumptionmarblehead.org padrebartek@gmail.com Pg 4

Holy Dormition Monastery site of lenten wom-en’s retreat March 16-18

RIVES JUNCTION, MIHoly Dormition Monastery here will host its 10th annual lenten women’s retreat Friday, March 16 through Sunday, March 18, 2018.

In addition to a full cycle of liturgical services, two meditational presentations on “The Mystery of Confes-sion” will be offered.

The suggested donation is $50.00 with lodging, $30.00 without lodging. To book lodging please contact dormitionmonastery@dormitionmonastery.org. Space is limited to early booking is recommended. Those planning to attend the Saturday program only are asked to call 517-569-2873 or to email the monastery at the above address by Friday, March 9. Questions may be directed to Sharon Foster at ssteffoster@yahoo.com or 231-267-

Message from Bishop Paul regarding recent school violence

To Our Youth and their Parents in the Midwest Diocese,

Once again we have heard about another tragic mass shoot-ing that occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Florida earlier this week.

“Police say the 19-year-old suspect, Nikolas Cruz, killed 17 people and wounded at least a dozen others in the rampage,” reports Yahoo News. “Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel told reporters that Cruz had been expelled from the school for ‘disciplinary reasons.’ Israel said that an AR-15-style weapon and ‘countless magazines’ were re-covered at the scene. According to the Associated Press, Cruz purchased the weapon legally about a year ago.”

This AR-15 style weapon, according to Yahoo News, has no fully automatic mode, but it is still marketed as coming from a lineage of military-grade arms. It is modeled on the M-16 used by the US Army and Marine Corps and carried by thousands of troops around the world.

I begin this note with this information because the time has come to ban private citizens from purchasing military-grade and other kinds of semi-automatic weapons designed for use by the military for war. This would not deny a citizen’s right to purchase a simple firearm to protect his or her family and home from possible danger. But this need not include military style weapons.

Of course, the only true answer to this and the many similar tragedies that occur all too frequently is not a ban.

Rather, there is a need for us to repent from acts of violence and turn to the Prince of Peace, our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, to receive forgiveness and reconciliation. As we enter into Great Lent, we need to call upon the grace of the All-Holy Spirit to give us the grace to do what is not in our fallen sinful nature to do — to forgive the troubled perpetrator from the horrible acts he committed in Parkland, Florida; and to pray for those who were slain and their family members who are suffering.

Forgiving, however, does not necessarily mean forgetting. Why can’t we learn from these tragedies? We live in a fallen world in which people do not always do what they should do. The Orthodox Church sees abortion as an act of murder and many call upon and pray for the day that Roe vs. Wade will be overturned. But these horrific mass killings in our schools are equally a Sanctity of Life issue. We need to advocate for laws to be passed to protect our students from these military style weapons. In my opinion, doing so would help signifi-cantly to make our schools safer places for our youth to attend and learn.

+PaulBishop of Chicago and the Midwest

Orthodox Christian Women of Michigan to sponsor talk on “Mary and the Orthodox Woman”

The Rev. Joshua Genig, Ph.D. will speak on the subject of “Mary and the Orthodox Woman” at Saint Thomas Church, 29150 Ten Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 10:00 a.m.

The presentation will be sponsored by Orthodox Christian Women of Michigan [OCW]. It is free of charge and open the public.

Father Joshua is assistant priest at Saint Innocent Church, Redford, MI; Associate Professor of Church History at Holy Apostles College and Seminary, Cromwell, CT; Visiting Professor of Theology at Trinity College, University of Toronto; and Adjunct Professor of Philosophy at Purdue University. He also serves as Spiritual Advisor to the Wayne State University chapter of Orthodox Christian Fellowship and as a Chaplain for the Detroit Fire Department.

For further information, contact OCW President Mary Ann Dadich at 586-775-4799 or mdadich811@gmail.com.OCW was founded in 1993 to provide spiritually enriching and educational presentations and activities, to promote Or-thodox unity, to provide opportunities for Inter-Orthodox fellowship, and to perform charitable works. All women who are members of Orthodox Christian parishes in metropolitan Detroit are invited to become supporting members and par-ticipate in the organization’s activities.

110 E Main Street, Marblehead, OH 43440 Rectory 419-798-4591 / Cell 570-212-8747 www.holyassumptionmarblehead.org padrebartek@gmail.com Pg 5

Lorain, Ohio parishes to celebrate Pan-Orthodox Divine Liturgy on First Sunday of Great Lent

Lorain, OH’s five Orthodox Christian parishes will cele-brate a combined Divine Liturgy on the first Sunday of Great Lent — the Sunday of Orthodoxy — February 25, 2018.

The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 2000 Tower Blvd, Lorain, OH at 10:00 a.m.

Other parishes that will be participating include Saints Peter and Paul [OCA] Church, Saints Cyril and Methodius [OCA] Church, Saint George Serbian Orthodox Church, and Saint Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Church.The faithful of Saint Nicholas Church will host a light Lenten luncheon after the Divine Liturgy, to which all are invited.

1st Saturday of Great Lent: The Miracle of the Boiled Wheat

Commemorated on February 24 Today we remember the miracle of Saint Theodore and the boiled wheat. Fifty years after the death of Saint Theodore, the emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363), wanting to com-mit an outrage upon the Christians during the first week of Great Lent, commanded the city-commander of Constanti-nople to sprinkle all the food provisions in the marketplaces with the blood offered to idols. Saint Theodore appeared in a dream to Archbishop Eudoxius, ordering him to inform all the Christians that no one should buy anything at the market-places, but rather to eat cooked wheat with honey (kolyva).

In memory of this occurrence, the Orthodox Church annually celebrates the holy Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit on the first Saturday of Great Lent. On Friday evening, at the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts following the prayer at the ambo, the Canon to the holy Great Martyr Theodore, composed by Saint John of Damascus, is sung. After this, kolyva is blessed and distributed to the faithful. The celebration of the Great Martyr Theodore on the first Saturday of Great Lent was set by the Patriarch Nectarius of Constantinople (381-397).

The Troparion to Saint Theodore is quite similar to the Troparion for the Prophet Daniel and the Three Holy Youths (December 17, Sunday Before Nativity). The Kontakion to Saint Theodore, who suffered martyrdom by fire, reminds us that he also had faith as his breastplate (see I Thessalonians 5:8).

Saint Theodore the Recruit is also commemorated on Febru-ary 17.

Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-12:2 (Epistle)

By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the vio-lence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliver-ance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented – of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

John 1:43-51 (Gospel)

The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Natha-nael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

110 E Main Street, Marblehead, OH 43440 Rectory 419-798-4591 / Cell 570-212-8747 www.holyassumptionmarblehead.org padrebartek@gmail.com Pg 6

St. Tarasius the Archbishop of ConstantinopleCommemorated on February 25

Saint Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople was of illustrious lineage. He was born and raised in Constantinople, where he received a fine education. He was rapidly promoted at the court of the emperor Constantine VI Porphyrogenitos (780-797) and Con-stantine’s mother, the holy Empress Irene (August 7), and the saint attained the rank of senator.

During these times the Church was agitated by the turmoil of the Iconoclast disturbances. The holy Patriarch Paul (August 30) although he had formerly supported Iconoclasm, later repented and resigned his office. He withdrew to a monastery, where he took the schema. When the holy Empress Irene and her son the emperor came to him, Saint Paul told them that the most worthy successor to him would be Saint Tarasius (who at this time was still a layman).

Tarasius refused for a long time, not considering himself worthy of such high office, but he then gave in to the common accord on the condition, that an Ecumenical Council be convened to address the Iconoclast heresy.

Proceeding through all the clerical ranks in a short while, Saint Tarasius was elevated to the patriarchal throne in the year 784. In the year 787 the Seventh Ecumenical Council was convened in the city of Nicea, with Patriarch Tarasius presiding, and 367 bishops attending. The veneration of holy icons was confirmed at the council. Those bishops who repented of their iconoclasm, were again received by the Church.

Saint Tarasius wisely governed the Church for twenty-two years. He led a strict ascetic life. He spent all his money on God-pleasing ends, feeding and giving comfort to the aged, to the impoverished, to widows and orphans, and on Holy Pascha he set out a meal for them, and he served them himself.

The holy Patriarch fearlessly denounced the emperor Constantine Porphyrigenitos when he slandered his spouse, the empress Ma-ria, the granddaughter of Saint Philaretos the Merciful (December 1), so that he could send Maria to a monastery, thus freeing him to marry his own kinswoman. Saint Tarasius resolutely refused to dissolve the marriage of the emperor, for which the saint fell into disgrace. Soon, however, Constantine was deposed by his own mother, the Empress Irene.

Saint Tarasius died in the year 806. Before his death, devils examined his life from the time of his youth, and they tried to get the saint to admit to sins that he had not committed. “I am innocent of that of which you accuse me,” replied the saint, “and you falsely slander me. You have no power over me at all.”

Mourned by the Church, the saint was buried in a monastery he built on the Bosphorus. Many miracles took place at his tomb.

THE FOLLOWING APPEARED IN THE NEWS-MESSENGER OUT OF PORT

CLINTON BY SHERI TRUSTYPRIEST IMPRESSED BY ‘SMALL BUT

MIGHTY’ PARISH’

The Rev. Andrew Bartek was a longtime coming to Marblehead.

He grew up in Connecticut, where he dreamed of one day becoming a priest. Instead, life took a different turn, and he wasn’t ordained until 2005. From there, he served in Orthodox churches in Pennsylvania and Chicago before becoming rector of Holy Assumption Orthodox Church in Marblehead in August.

But now that he is here, he plans to stay. With an amiable wit that defines Bartek’s personality, he recently joked about his plans.

“Two priests have made it 17 years at this church. I plan to make it 18, when I’m 72, just so I can say I was the longest,” he said.

Bartek’s journey to priesthood began when he first attend-ed seminary in the 1980s, but what was initially going to be a short break from his religious studies turned into a long detour.

“In that time, I went to college and got all my degrees and went into the business world,” he said, referring to de-grees in psychology, business administration and public administration.

Bartek worked in hospitals and restaurants and spent time taking care of his ailing mother. Through all of those years, he continued in ministry, serving as a diocesan camp counselor, choir director and cantor. The call to the priesthood always remained.

“I never really left (that calling). I never left the church,” he said. “My mom passed away in 2004, and I became a priest in 2005.”

His business experience helped him administrate the churches he led in Pennsylvania and Chicago. Con’t Page 7