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The Good Shepherd Newsletter
Saint Mary Romanian Orthodox Cathedral
3256 Warren Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44111
Phone: (216) 941-5550, Fax: (216) 941-3068
E-mail: [email protected] - www.smroc.org
V. Rev. Dr. Remus Grama, Parish Priest
Rev. Deacon Nick Neagoe
VOLUME XXVII MAY 2021
Pascha – The Gift of God’s Love
The Holy Pascha represents the most
essential aspect of our Faith: The Resurrec-
tion from the dead. Without this, our
preaching and faith would be in vain (I Cor.
15,14). Experiencing again the Passion and
Resurrection of Christ, in the Church, any
faithful person is filled again with hope in
the eternal life, which is God’s gift to us.
We do this because: ”God gave us life eter-
nal and this life is in His Son” (1 Cor. 5,11)
The word Pascha comes from the Hebrew word
Pesah that means passing. The ancient Hebrews were
commemorating their wondrous passage through the
Red Sea. The Christians in turn, re-live in their Pascha
the Passion of Christ, Pascha represents the passing of
Christ and ours, from death to life.
The Jews consume the Paschal Lamb
remembering their journey to the Promised Land. For
the Christians, Christ Himself becomes the Lamb of
sacrifice who gives Himself on the Cross for our sins.
In this sense, Christians regard Christ as the true
Pascha, that carries us from death to life.
Following a hard year of pandemic and
emotional oppression, the inner brightness and joy of
Pascha comes as the most befitting and needed sacred
therapy. I pray to the Lord to grant good health and life
eternal to all those who love Him. I also call on all
those who are Baptized to get renewed through the
Holy Sacraments and re-affirm their Faith by enlisting
themselves in the Church! Christ comes to us through
the Holy Light to give us His peace joy of
Resurrection, the gift of God’s love.
Christ Is Risen!
Father Remus Grama
Paștile – Darul Iubirii lui Dumnezeu
Sfintele Paști reprezintă cel mai essențial
aspect al credinței noastre: Învierea din
morți. Fără înviere, credința noastră ar fi
zadarnică (1 Cor. 15, 14). Retrăind în
Biserică Patimile și Învierea lui Hristos
omul credincios se umple iarăși de
nădejdea în viața veșnică, darul iubirii lui
Dumnezeu pentru om. Pe aceasta o primim
prin Botez, deoarece: “Dumnezeu ne-a dat
viață veșnică și această viață este în Fiul
Său”(1 John 5,11)
Cuvântul Paști sau Paște (de obicei la plural!),
provine din evreiescul Pesah și înseamnă trecere. La
Evrei era trecerea minunată prin Marea Roșie. La
creștini, Paștile reprezintă trecerea lui Hristos și a
noastră de la moarte la viață.
Evreii consumă mielul pascal amintindu-și de
călătoria lor spre pământul făgăduinței. La Creștini,
Hristos Însuși devine “Mielul de jertfă” care Se
jertfește pe Cruce pentru păcatele noastre. În acest
sens, Creștinii Îl privesc pe Hristos ca pe adevăratul
Paște, care ne trece de la moarte la viață.
După un an greu de pandemie și suferință,
strălucirea și bucuria interioară a Paștilor vine ca cea
mai potrivită și necesară sacro-terapie. Rugând pe
Domnul să dăruiască sănătate și viața veșnică tuturor
celor ce-L iubesc, vă chem pe toți cei botezați la
reînnoire prin Sfintele Taine și reafirmare a credinței.
Hristos Cel ce vine la noi prin Sfânta Lumină să ne
dăruiască pacea și bucuria Învierii, darul iubirii lui
Dumnezeu.
Hristos a înviat!
Părintele Remus Grama
MONTH OF MAY SPIRITUAL
May 1 - Holy Saturday / Sfânta și Marea
Sâmbătă - 9 am Divine Liturgy; 11 am - 2 pm
Distribution of Paști for Elderly, Sick, &
Travelers; 10:30 pm Church Opens;
11:30 pm Midnight Service.
May 2 - Resurrection of our Lord / Învierea
Domnului - 12.01 am Resurrection Service,
Divine Liturgy followed by blessing of
baskets and Pascha reception in the Social
Hall.
11:30 am Paschal Vespers followed by
Sunday School Egg Hunt activity and
Paschal reception.
May 3 - Bright Monday / Sfintele Paști - 9 am
Paschal Divine Liturgy.
May 4 - Bright Tuesday / Sfintele Paști - 9 am
Paschal Divine Liturgy.
May 7 - (+) Life-giving Fount of Mother of
God / (+) Izvorul Tămăduirii - No Divine
Liturgy in our church, visit a Monastery.
May 21 - Sts. Constantine and Helen / Sfinții
Mari Împărați și întocmai cu Apostolii,
Constantin și mama sa, Elena - 9 am Divine
Liturgy.
BLESSING OF THE GRAVES
This year, the blessing of the graves will
be as follows:
Sunday, May 30 at:
1 pm - Sunset Cemetery
3 pm - Lakewood Cemetery
Monday, May 31 at:
8:30 am - St. Theodosius Cemetery
11 am - West Park Cemetery (Ridge
Gate)
For any other cemeteries, appointments could be
personally arranged by calling the parish office or
directly Fr. Grama for scheduling.
SFINȚIREA MORMINTELOR
În acest an, binecuvântarea mormintelor va
avea loc după cum urmează:
Duminică, 30 mai la:
1 pm - Sunset Cemetery
3 pm - Lakewood Cemetery
Luni, 31 mai la:
8:30 am - St. Theodosius Cemetery
11 am - West Park Cemetery (Intrarea Ridge)
Pentru sfințirea mormintelor la alte cimitire, vă rugăm să
contactați oficiul parohial sau direct Părintele Grama pentru
programare.
The Parish Office is
CLOSED on MONDAY, MAY 31st in observance of
The office hours will return to normal on
TUESDAY, June 1st at 9 AM.
Thank you and have a safe Memorial weekend!
IMPORTANT PARISH CONTACTS
Parish Council
President:
Viorel Oancea
(440) 915-9642
Ladies Auxiliary
President:
Maria Tent
(216) 272-5961
Custodian:
Marian Ciuta
(216) 513-5535
Financial Secretary:
Simona Sarsama
(216) 533-4636
Hall Rental:
Italian Creations Church Office
(216) 226-2282 (216) 941-5550
Blessings to our Supporters!
In the celebration of the Holy Week we see the Lord
giving Himself for us and our salvation. The Cross
remains a testament of His altruistic love. What shall
we give Him in return?
We give in imitation of Christ. We give the earthly
things so that we may receive the heavenly things.
Today, we thank ALL our members and future
members for their generosity in supporting Saint
Mary Cathedral! Your steady support helps the entire
community and enables us to continue our mission.
Please, do your own share and give. “God blesses the
cheerful giver.”
On behalf of all members of the church we thank our
donors / supporters!
FISH FRY IS OVER
On April 2nd we ended our Fish Fry To Go project. Our
parishioners responded greatly to our need for workers.
Many faithful men and women came on Thursday to
clean fish and prepare the details. Then, on Fridays, we
had plenty of helpers to fry, bake and run the kitchen and
plenty of youth acting as servers. Among the hardest jobs
were done by the cashiers and parking lot workers, who
had to face the relentless cold that indubitably came upon
us every Friday. May the Lord see everyone’s effort and
bless our hearted volunteers!
****
Grave Blessing on Memorial Weekend
Orthodox clergy bless the graves according to
different practices, some on Palm Saturday, others on
Thomas Sunday. In Cleveland, for over 60 years, the
Orthodox Clergy Council initiated the blessing of graves
on or around the Memorial Weekend.
This year’s schedule may be found in this publication
on page 2. Father usually goes to: Saint Theodosius
Cemetery, Sunset Cemetery, West Park Cemetery,
Lakewood Cemetery. For other locations, you need an
appointment.
A Note from Father / Notă de la Părintele
Receive the Body of Christ!
A few more weeks and Holy Pascha is here! It is Great
Lent and it is high time for all our spiritual children to get
ready to enter the Holy week and the great feast of
Resurrection of Christ. I urge all of you to come to
confession and receive absolution from the Priest.
Receiving the Holy Eucharist is necessary in order to
remain in Him. It is our way to stay alive in Christ.
Please, do not postpone your coming. My hope is that by
Palm Sunday, all our members will have been renewed in
the Lord by receiving the Holy Sacrament of Eucharist!
Trupul lui Hristos Primiți!
Peste câteva săptămâni sunt Paștile! Suntem în Postul
Mare și este vremea ca toți fii noștri duhovnicești să se
pregătească să intre cu inimă curată în Săptămâna
Sfintelor Patimi și marele Praznic al Învierii. Vă îndemn
pe toți să veniți la Spovedit și să primiți iertare de la
Preot. Spre a ne menține filiația în credință trebuie să ne
împreunăm euharistic cu Hristos. Vă rog să nu amânați
venirea. Speranța mea este ca mai înainte de Duminica
Floriilor toți enoriașii noștri să fie înnoiți în Hristos,
primind Sfînta Taină a Cuminecării.
ABOUT HOLY PASCHA, 2021
Paschal Services
By God’s Grace, this year, the Holy Week and Paschal
services will take place according to the usual schedule, at
midnight.
Follow CDC Rules
We remind our members to observe the CDC rules and be
considerate toward others, by wearing the facial mask,
disinfecting and maintaining the distance, for everyone’s
good.
Holy Communion
Only those who had Confession may receive Communion.
When receiving Holy Communion please open your
mouth widely and do not touch the spoon. Then,
immediately, discard the napkin as directed.
Midnight Service
This year, candles may be obtained outside the church.
Please get you candle, leave your Paschal donation and
quietly wait for the beginning of the
service.
The Holy Light
The Holy Light will be distributed by the
Priest outside the church, on the entrance
platform. When receiving it, please,
observe “the distance”.
Distribution of “Paști”
The bread and wine called “Paşti” will be
distributed Saturday from 11 AM – 2 PM
and at midnight, immediately after the
Resurrection service through the end of
the Midnight Liturgy. Discard the
container after washing it.
My Paschal Donation
Most of us offer generous donations in honor of the
Resurrection. Please, use an envelope and write your
name on it. Then return it to our Epitrop. May the Lord
repay you in Grace!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY
ORDERLY AND SAFE!
DESPRE SFINTELE PAȘTI, 2021
Slujbele Paștilor
Cu ajutorul Domnului, în anul acesta slujbele din
Săptămâna Mare și Sfintele Paști vor avea loc potrivit
programului obișnuit, la miezul nopții.
Urmați Regulile CDC
Pentru protecția tuturor, reamintim enoriașilor noștri să
continue să se conformeze regulilor cunoscute, purtând
masca și menținând distanța.
Sfânta Cuminecătură
Sfânta Euharistie poate fi primită numai de cei care s-au
pregătit prin Spovedanie. Atunci când primim Sf.
Cuminecătură să deschidem gura mare și să nu atingem
lingurița. Șervețelul trebuie lăsat imediat la locul indicat
spre a evita orice profanare.
Lumânarea de la Miezul Nopții
În acest an, lumânările se vor obține afară din biserică, de
la Epitrop. Vă rugăm luați lumânarea, lăsați donația și
așteptați în liniște începerea rugăciunii.
Distribuirea Sfântei Lumini
Lumina sfântă se va distribui de sfințiții
slujitori, afară din biserică, pe platforma din
fața bisericii. Nu vă înghesuiți! Vă rugăm să
păstrați distanța!
Distribuirea “Paștilor”
Pentru cei vârstnici, pâinea și vinul numite în
popor “Paști” se vor distribui Sâmbătă
dimineața, de la 11 AM – 2:00 PM, precum si
noaptea, imediat după slujba Învierii.
Atențiune: Nu aruncați containerul decât după
ce îl spălați.
Donația de Sfintele Paști
Credincioșii noștri dăruiesc cu generozitate în onoarea
Învierii Domnului. Vă rugăm să folosiți un plic și să vă
scrieți numele și suma donată. Apoi lăsați darul Dvs la
Epitrop. Domnul să vă răsplătească cu al Său Har!
VĂ MULȚUMIM PENTRU EFORTUL DE A MENȚINE
COMUNITATEA SĂNĂTOASĂ!
Behold! The Bridegroom comes at midnight, and
blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching...
Holy Week - (April 26 - 30)
During the Holy Week’s services, we accompany Jesus to Jerusalem, where He is betrayed, judged, unjustly con-demned, mocked, beaten and crucified. The services will take us through the Lord’s death and burial on Friday, to witness the empty tomb and His glorious Resurrection on Saturday at midnight.
The Troparion sung at Matins on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday begins with the following words:
This is an exhortation to accompany Jesus through His
Passion by participating in the services and by praying. We need to focus our minds on the Lord. He is the Bride-groom of our souls.
Great and Holy Wednesday On this day Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples. Judas received thirty coins of silver from the Jewish priests, in exchange for telling them where they could find Jesus.
Orthodox Christians normally fast on Wednesdays, in
rememberance of the fact that on this day our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ was betrayed.
Great and Holy Thursday On this day Jesus ate
at the Last Supper with His disciples in the Upper Room. As He was sitting at the table, He took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His discilples, saying: “Take, eat, this is My Body which is broken for you.” Then, He also took the Cup in His hand, saying: “Drink of it, all of you, this is My Blood which is shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins.”
Orthodox Christians partake of Christ’s Own Most
Pure Body and His Most Precious Blood every time they
receive Holy Communion.
Great and Holy Thursday, Cont. On Thursday evening Jesus washed the disciples’ feet as a sign of love and humility. In this way He taught us that we are called to show brotherly love by serving one another. On Thursday night after supper, as Jesus was in the Gethsemane Garden praying,
Judas came in with armed guards. The traitor gave Jesus a kiss on the cheek to indicate to the guards who was the man they were looking for. Suddenly, one of the disciples truck the servant of the High Priest and cut off his ear. Jesus rebuked the disciple for doing that, by saying, “Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father in Heaven, and that He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels right away?” But Jesus did not want to do that so that the Scriptures may be fulfilled. He came to the world to die and to rise for us. He came to save us.
The guards arrested Jesus and took Him to be judged by the Jewish priests. The disciples were greatly afraid and flew away. Only Peter followed Him at a distance, all the way to the High Priest’s courtyard. There a maid recognized Peter and said out loud that he was one of Jesus’ disciples. Peter denied it three times. Then the rooster crowed. At that moment, Peter remembered that Jesus had told him that he was going to betray him, and he went out of the courtyard and “wept bitterly.” (Matthew 26:75)
Caiaphas, the Hight Priest, asked Jesus if He was the Son of God. Jesus said yes. Caiaphas was very troubled to hear such an answer, and tore up his vestment in anger. He considered that a blasphemy which needed to be punished by death.
Great and Holy Friday The Jews could not put anyone to death. Only the Romans had the right to condemn to death. For this reason, Caiaphas sent Jesus to the palace of Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor. Pilate found no guilt in Jesus. Besides, Pilate’s wife had told him that she had had a terrible dream and warned him not do anything to Jesus. Pilate asked the crowd of people to decide. The people shouted to have Jesus crucified.
Continue on Page 6
Paschal Edition - (3 pages)
JESUS OF NAZARETH,
THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Aduceți Copiii la Biserică
Copiii sub șapte ani nu trebuie să
se spovedească spre a primi Sf.
Eucharistie. Copiii peste 7 ani au
nevoie să-și mărturisească
păcatele. De aceea, rugăm pe
părinți, să aducă copiii la
Spovedanie. Părintele vă stă la
dispoziție în fiecare Sâmbătă după Vecenie. Pentru
programare la alte date, vă rugăm să sunați la 216-941-
5550.
Great and Holy Friday, Continue from page 5 Then the soldiers took Him away and mocked Him.
They clothed Him with a purple robe, put a crown of thorns on his head, and began to salute Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they struck Him on His head with a reed and spat on Him. They also knelt in front of Him and worshipped Him. After they had humiliated Him in this way, they took Him to crucify Him.
A great multitude of people followed Him to the place where He was going to be crucified. That place was called Golgotha, which means “Place of the Skull.” Women mourned and lamented Him.
Jesus Christ our Lord, the Creator of the visible and the invisible worlds, was crucified on Holy Friday. While the soldiers were nailing Him to the Cross, He prayed for them to the Father in Heaven, saying: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
Pontius Pilate had written an inscription in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, and put it on the Cross. It read:
Two criminals were also crucified there on that day.
One of them blasphemed Jesus, by saying: “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” The other criminal, though, rebuked him for not fearing God and said that they were justly condemned for what they had done, but that Jesus had done nothing wrong. Then the same criminal addressed the Lord with humility and asked Him: “Lord, remember me when You come in Your kingdom.” Jesus answered him: “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43) During their brief dialogue on the cross, the thief humbly confessed his sins and recognized Jesus as the Lord. In His great mercy, Christ forgave him and promised to fulfill his wish. The repentant thief was the first man who entered paradise.
There stood by the Lord’s Cross His beloved Apostle John and three women named Mary: His Most Pure Mother the Virgin Mary, and also Mary, the wife of Clopas, together with Mary Magdalene. John was weeping by the Cross. The Lord told them that from that moment on they would be like mother and son. On that day St. John took the Virgin Mary to his home.
Jesus gave up His Spirit at about three o’clock in the afternoon. Soon after that there was a big and fearful earthquake, and it became dark. The veil of the Temple of Jerusalem was torn in two. When those who were guarding Jesus saw those things, they were greatly afraid and said: “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:51,54).
The Son of God came into the world to save us from death and to grant us eternal life. He destroyed death by His own Death on the Cross. He did not forsake the Cross, but He accepted it with humility out of love for mankind.
We too can defeat evil only if we take up our cross. The power of the Cross is the power of God’s love. We can defeat evil only through love.
The Epitaphios is a large embroidered icon which depicts Christ after He has been taken down from the Cross. During the Great Vespers on Holy Friday, the priest and the deacon bring the Epitaphios in procession down from the Altar Table into the center of the church. There they place it on a table which symbolizes Christ’s Tomb. The faithful venerate the Epitaphios by kneeling in front of it and by kissing the Lord’s feet, hands and shoulder. In some churches, the faithful “pass under Christ’s Tomb” by crawling under one side of the table, and coming out on the other side. This is a symbolic act. We die with Christ so that we may also be raised with Him on the third day.
Near the end of Matins on Holy Saturday, the whole congregation participates in a solemn procession around the chruch to commemorate Christ’s burial. Church bells are ringing while the Epitaphios is carried with candles and incense.
Great Lent, Holy Week & Pascha - Activity Book for Children, 2ndEdition, Lengua Viva, 2018
Apply in the below activity what you have learned about the Holly Week.
ACROSS:
2. Jesus gave it to them to eat.
3. The day when Jesus was crucified.
5. Jesus went to pray in this garden.
8. The ultimate punishment
10. He took it in His hand.
11. It took place in the Upper Room.
12. It was torn in two.
13. Icon depicting Christ taken down from the Cross.
16. Orthodox Christians receive this Sacrament at every Liturgy.
18. The High Priest asked Jesus if He was the One.
20. On that evening Jesus washed the disciples’s feet.
DOWN: 1. Roman Governor.
4. Christ was betrayed on this day.
6. Jesus was unjustly accused of it.
7. The way Jesus was put to death.
9. Jesus gave it to them to drink.
14. Christ’s dead body was placed in it.
15. Christ was nailed to it.
16. From Palm Sunday to Pascha.
17. The High Priest.
19. Iscariot.
BOILED - COLORED EGGS ARE NEEDED
All parish ladies are invited to bring boiled-
colored eggs for the Pascha Reception, on
Saturday, May 1st, in the Social Hall’s
kitchen. Thank you!
******
Pentru sâmbătă, 1 mai, ne trebuie ouă fierte-vopsite
pentru recepția din noaptea Învierii și ziua de Paști.
Doamnele care aduc ouă sunt rugate să le lase la bucătărie,
în sala socială. Vă mulțumim!
St. Mary Ladies Auxiliary
Palm Sunday, April 25th, after the
Divine Liturgy in the Social Hall
Lobby.
This delicious traditional pastry must not
miss from your Paschal table. If you did not
place an order before April 18, stop by, we
will make some extra loaves for you. Fist
come, first served rule apply for those who
did not put an order. Thank you!
Saint Mary Romanian Orthodox Church
3256 Warren Road
Cleveland, OH 44111
CURRENT OCCUPANT OR:
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID
Cleveland, Ohio Permit No. 1077
Resurrection of Our Lord
May 2
Învierea Domnului
