Greatmartyr Anastasia Dec. 22The Great Martyr Anas-tasia the Deliverer from Potions, a Roman by birth, suffered for Christ at the time of Dio-cletian's persecution of Christians. Her father was a pagan, but her mother was secretly a Christian. St Anastasia's teacher in her youth was an educated and pious Christian named Chry-sogonus. After the death of her mother, her father gave St Anastasia in marriage to a pagan named Publius, but feigning illness, she pre-served her virginity.

Clothing herself in the garb of a beggar, and accompanied by only

one servant, she visited the prisons. She fed, doctored and often ransomed captives who were suffering for their faith in Christ. When her servant told Publius about everything, he subjected his wife to a beating and locked her up at home. St Anastasia then began to correspond secretly with Chrysogonus, who told the saint to be patient, to cleave to the Cross of Christ, and to accept the Lord's will. He also foretold the impending death of Publius in the sea. After a certain while Publius did indeed drown, as he was setting out with a delegation to Persia. After the death of her husband, St Anastasia began to distribute her property to the poor and suffering.

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733 Starkweather Ave.Cleveland, Ohio 44113

Mailing:733 Starkweather Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44113

T 216 741.1310F 216 623 1092www.sttheodosius.org

• Archpriest John Zdinak Dean

• Dn. Daniel Boerio

• Subdeacon Theodore Lentz Sacristan

• Reader Julius Kovach Ecclesiarch & Choirmaster

Divine ServicesEve Sundays & Feast Days5:00 PM Confessions6:00 PM Great Vespers

Sundays and Feast Days8:40 AM 3rd and 6th Hour9:00 AM Divine Liturgy

Fr. John Office HoursTuesday & Wednesday10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

*Articles for publication in the AMBO should be sub-mitted to:AMBO@sttheodosius.org by Wednesday of each week before noon.

December 21, 200827th Sunday after Pentecost

VIRGIN MARTYR JULIANAAND HER COMPANIONS

AmboST. THEODOSIUS ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL

Diocletian was informed that the Christians who filled the prisons of Rome stoically endured tor-tures. He gave orders to kill them all in a single night, and for Chrysogonus to be sent to him at Aquileia. St Anastasia followed her teacher at a distance.

The emperor interrogated Chrysogonus personally, but could not make him renounce his faith. Therefore, he commanded that he be beheaded and thrown into the sea. The body and severed head of the holy martyr were carried to shore by the waves. There by divine Providence, the relics were found by a presbyter named Zoilus who placed them in a coffer, and concealed them at his home.

St Chrysogonus appeared to Zoilus and informed him that martyrdom was at hand for Agape, Chione and Irene (April 16), three sisters who lived nearby. He told him to send St Anastasia to them to encourage them. St Chrysogonus foretold that Zoilus would also die on the same day. Nine days later, the words of St Chrysogonus were fulfilled. Zoilus fell asleep in the Lord, and St Anastasia visited the three maidens before their tortures. When these three martyrs gave up their souls to the Lord, she buried them.

Having carried out her teacher's request, the saint went from city to city ministering to Christian prisoners. Proficient in the medical arts of the time, she zealously cared for captives far and wide, healing their wounds and relieving their suffering. Because of her labors, St Anastasia re-ceived the name Deliverer from Potions (Pharmakolytria), since by her intercessions she has healed many from the effects of potions, poisons, and other harmful substances.

She made the acquaintance of the pious young widow Theodota, finding in her a faithful helper. Theodota was taken for questioning when it was learned that she was a Christian. Meanwhile, St Anastasia was arrested in Illyricum. This occurred just after all the Christian captives there had been murdered in a single night by order of Diocletian. St Anastasia had come to one of the prisons, and finding no one there, she began to weep loudly. The jailers realized that she was a Christian and took her to the prefect of the district, who tried to persuade her to deny Christ by threatening her with torture. After his unsuccessful attempts to persuade St Anastasia to offer sacrifice to idols, he handed her over to the pagan priest Ulpian in Rome.

The cunning pagan offered St Anastasia the choice between luxury and riches, or grievous suf-ferings. He set before her gold, precious stones and fine clothing, and also fearsome instru-ments of torture. The crafty man was put to shame by the bride of Christ. St Anastasia refused the riches and chose the tools of torture.

But the Lord prolonged the earthly life of the saint, and Ulpian gave her three days to recon-sider. Charmed by Anastasia's beauty, the pagan priest decided to defile her purity. However, when he tried to touch her he suddenly became blind. His head began to ache so severely that he screamed like a madman. He asked to be taken to a pagan temple to appeal to the idols for help, but on the way he fell down and died.

St Anastasia was set free and she and Theodota again devoted themselves to the care of im-prisoned Christians. Before long, St Theodota and her three sons accepted a martyrdom. Her eldest son, Evodus, stood bravely before the judge and endured beatings without protest. After lengthy torture, they were all thrown into a red-hot oven.

St Anastasia was caught again and condemned to death by starvation. She remained in prison without food for sixty days. St Theodota appeared to the martyr every night and gave her cour-age. Seeing that hunger caused St Anastasia no harm whatsoever, the judge sentenced her to drowning together with other prisoners. Among them was Eutychianus, who was condemned for his Christian faith.

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The prisoners were put into a boat which went out into the open sea. The soldiers bored holes in the boat and got into a galley. St Theodota appeared to the captives and steered the ship to shore. When they reached dry land, 120 men believed in Christ and were baptized by Sts Anas-tasia and Eutychianus. All were captured and received a martyr's crown. St Anastasia was stretched between four pillars and burned alive. A certain pious woman named Apollinaria bur-ied her body, which was unharmed by the fire, in the garden outside her house.

In the fifth century the relics of St Anastasia were transferred to Constantinople, where a church was built and dedicated to her. Later the head and a hand of the Great Martyr were transferred to the monastery of St Anastasia [Deliverer from Potions], near Mount Athos.

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DEPARTED:

Patriarch Alexei + 12/05/08 Martha Bondor + 12/16/08

ILL-AFFLICTED:Archpriest Pavel Soucek and Mat. PaulaFr. Anthony DimitriHelen AntonikJerry ArangelovichAlice ArtinoHelen BaldnerCarol BohurjakMary ChrewanJohn ClementsJohn ConradJoseph GammaloJulia GrabowskiRobert GuidoMaria HanzelAnnaliese JacakDonna JacakTom Jacobson

Sarah KerseyJason Kleps (cousin of Maca Tyler. Jason is in Kirkuk, Iraq)Marian KluchnikMary Ann KovachDorothy LaskovichJohn MatsonAlan MeyerOlga MichailukDan O’DonnellWalter & Grace Parhamovich (Karen Felon’s parents)David Roman (nephew of Margaret Rusynyk)Julia Sankovic (Child)Mary Ann SilberhornElsie SudnickNina SudnickPauline TimmSonia VorellLarry Walter

Harrison Ward (Child)Helen Zawisza (Joe Rusynyk’s sister)Nicholas Zolikoff

Russell Carleton & Tanya Klimova& Unborn ChildNikol Nanicevic & Gianni & Unborn Child (Friend of Nikol Zdinak)

CONGRATULATIONSTO:Cara Ann Gartman& Newborn Elijah James,born on September 12.

William & Suzanne Frazier& Newborn Olivia Pearl Frazier,born on October 14.

CATECUMINS: Michael & Michelle Scott, (Leonora Felon’s co-worker)

Daniel McNeilly and children

PRAYER REQUESTS

Dues payments are no longer accepted at

the Bookstore. Payments can be

made at Ridge Manor or Parish Office

Thank you.

ANNOUNCEMENTSVESPERAL LITURGY

WILL BE ONWEDNESDAY

DECEMBER 31 - 5:00 PM

Church Schoolresumes

Saturday, January 10, 2009Parents please see Maca Tyler to

sign up for providing one Saturday night light meal.

PLEASE SUBMIT ARTICLES

FOR NEXT WEEK’S AMBO

BY NOON - MONDAY

DECEMBER 22. THANK YOU.

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Welcome VisitorsOur parish welcomes you and thanks you for joining us at today’s Divine Liturgy. While only Orthodox Christians may approach the chalice for Holy Communion,

everyone is welcome to partake of the Holy Bread after Liturgy.

COFEE HOUR & GREETERS SCHEDULES Coffee Hour Hosts: Greeters: 12/21/08 Maca Tyler/Judy Schwind Debbi Pinta/Tom Broslawik

12/28/08 Nick & Kate Zolikoff Tom Browslawik/Linda Smotzer

01/04/09 Joyce Tabeling Debbi Pinta/Joyce Tabeling

01/11/09 Mary Swit/Tammy Ponomarenko Steve and Eileen Bondor

01/18/08 Chanda Czaruk/Lauren Miklos Maca Tyler/Sonia Vorell

For your convenience, we will have HOMEMADE APRICOT, NUT and POPPY- SEED ROLLS for sale at every Sunday’s Coffee Hour. The price is $8.00. Homemade rolls are also available at the Ridge Manor Party Center. Please call Sharon Glagola at 216-749-5509.

HELP SUPPORT OUR CATHEDRAL

Children’s hand painted banks will be on display at coffee hour. $10.00 each.

Please see Carol Machaskee.

GOD’S GIFTS TO US -

OUR GIFTS TO GOD

Weekly expenses: $6,538.00 Last week’s collection: $5,879.00 Over/Under < $ 629.00>

Dome Lighters Donations to offset the cost of lighting the domes can be made for the health of or in memory of your loved ones. Contact the Parish Office if you are interested. December 21 - December 27: In memory of Emil, Julia & Emma Pinta and Joseph Hezoucky by Roger & Debbi Pinta

THANK YOUThank you to all who helped make our Merrick House Angel

Tree a success! We hope to continue providing gifts to the

children at Merrick House again next year.

Thank you to all who volunteered on

Thursday and to all who gave so generously

of their time, talents and gifts.

God Bless each of you!

Daniel Morris, Charities Committee

2009 Dues$250.00 per

Adult member (18 and older)

Finance Committee Meeting

Monday, Jan. 12 5:30 PM

Parish Council NewsThe next Parish Council Meeting

will be held on Tuesday, January 13, at 6:00 PM

@ Ridge Manor

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Sunday, December 21Virgin Martyr JulianaAnd Her CompanionsSunday Before Nativity9:00 AM Divine Liturgy1:00 PM Cathedral Open House3:00 PM Cathedral Christmas ConcertMonday, December 22Greatmartyr Anastasia and Her CompanionsPrefeast of Nativity6:00 PM Vespers for Prefeast

Tuesday, December 23Holy Ten Martyrs of CretePrefeast of Nativity6:00 PM Vespers for Prefeast

Wednesday, December 24Nun Martyr Eugeniaand Her CompanionsEve of Nativity 9:00 AM Royal Hours11:00 AM Vesperal Liturgy 6:00 PM Vigil of Nativity

Thursday, December 25 Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ Faith Enrichment Cancelled 9:00 AM Festal Divine Liturgy

Friday, December 26 Synaxis of the Most-Holy Theotokos 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy

Saturday, December 27 St. Stephen the First Martyr 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy 6:00 PM Great Vespers

Sunday, December 28 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia Sunday after Nativity 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy

"Glory to God in the Highest!

and on earth peace

to men of good will! "

Weekly Schedule

St. Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral733 Starkweather Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44113