St. George

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church

Serving the Orthodox Christian Community

of Greater Cleveland

Venerable Makarios the Great of Egypt, the Anchorite

St. George

Antiochian

Orthodox Church

WELCOME

The mission of St. George

Antiochian Orthodox Church

is to serve God and the community

by commitment to the Gospel’s

command to grow in the knowledge

of Jesus Christ through faith,

hope, and love. It is a parish of the

Self –Ruled Antiochian Orthodox

Christian Archdiocese of North

America.

The Orthodox Church follows the

faith and practice of the apostles

and disciples of Christ handed

down by the ancient Christian

fathers and twenty centuries of

Church tradition. Genuine Christian

life nurtures and stimulates our

spiritual and moral development.

The liturgical life of the Orthodox

Church has been developing over

the last 2000 years. By taking part

in the mysteries of Christ’s life,

death and resurrection at the

liturgical services, the community

members are drawn to repentance

and the gradual change of their

inner selves.

To join the community of St.

George or to find out more

information, please fill out the

Guest Book in the Narthex. We

hope this day will be spiritually

rewarding for you. Fr John will be

happy to answer any questions.

Join us in the hall after Liturgy for

our Coffee Hour and Fellowship.

V. Rev Father John Ojaimi, PastorOffice: (216) 781-9020 Fax: (216) 781-9545

Cellular: (440) 665-6724

Archdeacon Yarid Sahley

Subdeacon Sam Elias

www.stgeorgecleveland.com

Pastor’s E-Mail: frjojaimi@msn.com

Parish E-Mail: office@stgeorgecleveland.com

Sunday January 19, 2014Tone 5; Eothinon 8

Twenty-ninth Sunday after Pentcost

& Twelfth Sunday of LukeVenerable Makarios the Great of Egypt,

Venerable Makarios of Alexandria; Arsenios,

bishop of Kerkyra; Venerable Mark

Eugenikos, metropolitan of Ephesus, pillar of

Orthodoxy

WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS

We are glad you are worshiping with us

today. There are Service Books in the pews.

Orthodox Christians must be prepared for

Holy Communion through Confession,

Fasting, Prayer and by being at peace with

others. Please seek and give forgiveness

before receiving Holy Communion. At the

conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, please join

us for coffee hour in the Parish Hall.

Bread of Oblation is offered in Memory of Rita George by the Family

Bread of Oblation is offered in Memory of Linda Simon By Archdeacon Yarid &

Chamassy Diane Sahley & Family

Candles are offered for the Health, Safety & Spiritual Welfare of:

Mary Ameen (Happy Birthday) by her Children & Grandchildren

Selma Sharpe by Bill & Laverne Ameen

Shirley Maxim by Linda Ziton

Family & Friends by George & Joie Haddad

Family & Friends by Hal & Louise Bouhasin

Candles are offered in Beloved Memory of:

Wadia Ameen by his wife Mary & Family

Edward Haddad by his wife

UPCOMING DIVINE SERVICES

Sunday, January 26, 2014 Matin @ 9:30am, Liturgy @ 10:30 am

Confessions will be heard on Sundays Morning before Liturgy starts or by appointment.

Prayers for the Health & Spiritual Welfare of our parishioners: Olivia Abdallah, Melissa

Aboid, Evelyn Baldassari, Rita Courey, Shirley Courey, Ann Deeb, Emilie Easa, James Eassey,

Helena Elias, Dani Fadel, Minerva Gantose, Peter George, Odeh Hanna, Pauline Hanna, Samia

Harb, Baby Alma Maria Issa, Corrine Khouri, Hanadi Khouri, Helen Lambert, Becky Magas,

Joyce Nader, Kaukab Nader, Virginia Nader, Jennie Sadallah, Christopher Fadel-Samuel,

Norma Shami, Selma Sharpe, Alvera Shiekh, Christine Simon, Asma Zaboura. Rudy Zaboura.

In Ohio in 2012 more than 25,000 people lost their lives to abortion.MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE ETERNAL

AKATHIST SERVICE TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRISTWITH PRAYERS FOR THE VICTIMS OF ABORTION

A PAN-ORTHODOX GATHERING IN COLLABORATION WITH ZOE FOR LIFESUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 6:00 PM

ST. MATTHEW’S ORTHODOX CHURCH10383 ALBION RD., NORTH ROYALTON

PLEASE JOIN US IN THIS AKATHIST WITH PRAYERS FOR THE MANY VICTIMS OFABORTION

COFFEE TIME AND BRIEF PRESENTATION FOLLOWING THE SERVICE

Divine Liturgy Variables on Sunday, January 19, 2014Tone 5/Eothinon 8; Twenty-ninth Sunday after Pentcost & Twelfth Sunday of Luke

Venerable Makarios the Great of Egypt,

Venerable Makarios of Alexandria; Arsenios, bishop of Kerkyra;

Venerable Mark Eugenikos, metropolitan of Ephesus, pillar of Orthodoxy

RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE FIVE

Let us believers praise and worship the Word; coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of

the Virgin for our salvation. For, He took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh to suffer

death; and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.

THE EISODIKON (ENTRANCE HYMN) OF ORDINARY SUNDAYS

Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the

dead; who sing to Thee. Alleluia.

RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE FIVE

Let us believers praise and worship the Word; coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of

the Virgin for our salvation. For, He took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh to suffer

death; and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.

APOLYTIKION OF ST. MAKARIOS OF EGYPT IN TONE ONE

Thou didst prove to be a citizen of the desert, an angel in the flesh, and a wonderworker, O

Makarios, our God-bearing Father. By fasting, vigil, and prayer thou didst obtain heavenly gifts,

and thou healest the sick and the souls of them that have recourse to thee with faith. Glory to

Him that hath given thee strength. Glory to Him that hath crowned thee. Glory to Him that

worketh healings for all through thee.

TROPARION OF ST. GEORGE TONE 4

As deliver of captives and defender of the poor, healer of the infirm, champion of kings,

victorious Great martyr George, intercede with Christ our God, for our souls’ salvation..

KONTAKION OF THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN TONE ONE

Thou, O Christ God, Who by Thy Birth, didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb, and, as is meet, didst

bless Simeon’s arms, and didst also come to save us; preserve Thy fold in wars, and confirm them

whom Thou didst love, for Thou alone art the Lover of mankind.

THE TRISAGION

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us.

Dynamis! (With Strength)

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us

THE EPISTLE

(For the Twenty-Ninth Sunday after Pentecost)

How magnified are Thy works, O Lord; in wisdom hast Thou made them all.

Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians. (3:4-11)

Brethren, when Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and

covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons

of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away:

anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing

that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is

being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. Here there cannot be Greek and

Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.

THE GOSPEL

(For the Twelfth Sunday of Luke—“Ten Lepers”)

The reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (17:12-19)

At that time, as Jesus entered a village, He was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and

lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When He saw them He said to

them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one

of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell

on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus said, “Were

not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God ex-

cept this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

الرسالة.متى أظھر المسیح حیاتنا، فحینئذ تظھرون أنتم أیضا معھ في المجد 4دیة، الطمع الذي ھو عبادة األوثان، :فأمیتوا أعضاءكم التي على األرض 5 ھوة الر نا، النجاسة، الھوى، الش الزالذین بینھم أنتم أیضا سلكتم قبال، حین كنتم 7األمور التي من أجلھا یأتي غضب هللا على أبناء المعصیة، 6

ا اآلن فاطرحوا عنكم أنتم أیضا الكل 8.تعیشون فیھا الغضب، السخط، الخبث، التجدیف، الكالم القبیح من :وأمولبستم الجدید الذي یتجدد 10ال تكذبوا بعضكم على بعض، إذ خلعتم اإلنسان العتیق مع أعمالھ، 9.أفواھكم

، بل المسیح 11للمعرفة حسب صورة خالقھ، ، عبد حر یثي ، ختان وغرلة، بربري سك حیث لیس یوناني ویھودي.الكل وفي الكل

إالنجیلیا یسوع، یا «:ورفعوا صوتا قائلین 13وفیما ھو داخل إلى قریة استقبلھ عشرة رجال برص، فوقفوا من بعید 12

ا 15.وفیما ھم منطلقون طھروا.»اذھبوا وأروا أنفسكم للكھنة «:فنظر وقال لھم 14.»!معلم، ارحمنا فواحد منھم لمد هللا بصوت عظیم، فأجاب 17.وخر على وجھھ عند رجلیھ شاكرا لھ، وكان سامریا16رأى أنھ شفي، رجع یمج

ΐ˶�18ألیس العشرة قد طھروا؟ فأین التسعة؟ «:یسوع وقال ϳή˶ϐ˴˸ϟ�˴άϫ�˵ήϴ˴˸Ϗ�˶Ϳ�˶˱ΪΠ˸˴ϣ�˴ϲ τ˶ ό˸˵ϴ˶ϟ�˵ϊ Ο˶ή˸ϳ˴�˸Ϧϣ˴�˸ΪΟ˴Ϯϳ˵�˸Ϣ˴ϟ˴.»قم وامض، إیمانك خلصك «:ثم قال لھ 19»الجنس؟

Bible StudyJoin us at Church Monday January 20, 2014 @ 6:00 pm to pray and study

together the words of God.

Megalynarion:

It is truly meet to call thee Blessed, Lady Theotokos; Lady ever greatly blessed, and most

perfect in innocence, and the Mother of our God. Lady more precious than the Cherubim and

more glorious beyond all measure than the Seraphim. That without corruption gavest birth

to God the Word, and art truly Theotokos. We magnify thee.

Post-Communion

We have seen the true light; we have received the heavenly Spirit.

Sign up and take your turn in offering a Coffee Hour. Pick a birthday,

memorial, anniversary etc.. or just a day that no one has sponsored.

“With fear of God, faith And love draw near”.

Come to Church, Jesus loves you, we love you

we are waiting for you.

A Collection of Recipes

by

“Antiochian Women”

St. George

Antiochian Orthodox

Church

Cleveland, Ohio

$15

"If we expect our children and grandchildren to grow into

adulthood as practicing Orthodox Christians,

we must give daily witness to the importance of our faith

in our everyday life.

If we are lax in our fasting, church attendance, and

piety, our children will see by our lack of seriousness a

faith that will mean nothing to them.

If they do not see us keeping a prayer rule, they will not

have prayer as a part of their lives.

If they do not see us putting the divine services before

entertainment, they will abandon Orthodoxy, once they’ve

left the nest."

Abbot Tryphon

Lebanese Syrian American Junior LeagueScholarship

The Lebanese Syrian American Junior League will be hosting their 37th Debutante Ball andScholarship PresentationSunday, July 20, 2014

at Executive Caterers of Landerhaven.All high school junior or senior girls and boys (2014 and 2015 graduates) of Lebanese or

Syrian descent are eligible to participate as a Debutante or Escort.Please contact Stephanie (Kaim) Varney at 440.376.4433 or LSAJLDebutanteBall@yahoo.com

for an application.The deadline to submit the application is January 31, 2014.

Twenty of Our Teensare participating in

The MidwestBasketball

Tournament inCanton, Ohio. Please

pray for their safereturn

St. Abba Macarius the Great (295-392 A.D.; also known as Macarius the Egyptian) was among the mostinfluential Desert Fathers of Egypt, and a disciple of St. Anthony the Great

St. Macarius, one of the founding fathers of monasticism, was born in the village of Shabsheer, Menuf,Egypt, around 300 A.D. (295 A.D. according to Coptic Orthodox Synaxarium) from good and righteousparents. His father's name was Abraham and his mother's name was Sarah and they had no son. In avision at night, his father saw the angel of the Lord, who told him that God was about to give him a son, andhis name will be known all over the earth, and he will have a multitude of spiritual sons. Shortly after thisvision, they had a son and called him Macarius, which means "Blessed."

St. Macarius the Great was obedient to his parents, and the grace of God was upon him since his youngage. When he grew up his father forced him to get married against his will, so he pretended that he wassick for several days. Then he asked his father if he might go to the wilderness to relax a bit. He went to thewilderness and prayed to the Lord Christ to direct him to do what is pleasing to Him. While he was in thewilderness he saw a vision, and it seemed that one of the Cherubim, with wings, took his hands, andascended up to the top of the mountain, and showed him all the desert, east and west, and north andsouth. The Cherub told him, "God has given this desert to you and your sons for an inheritance." When hereturned from the wilderness he found that his future wife, who was still virgin, had died, and Macariusthanked the Lord Christ. Shortly after, his parents departed, and he gave all what they had left to the poorand the needy. When the people of Shabsheer saw his chastity and purity, they took him to the bishop ofAshmoun (Egypt) who ordained him a priest for them. They built a place for him outside the city, and theywent to him to confess and to partake from the Holy Mysteries.

Then it once happened that an unmarried pregnant girl accused him of fathering her child. The pious saintdid not protest; he quietly accepted the responsibility she had unjustly laid on him, and was attacked andbeaten by the villagers and the girl's family, who demanded that he support her. He did so, selling thebaskets that he wove and giving the money to her parents. When the time came for the girl to give birth,she was in great agony and cried out that it was not St. Macarius, but another man who was her baby'sfather. As soon as they heard this, the villagers felt ashamed of the way they had treated the saint, andwent to ask his forgiveness. When they arrived at his little hut, they found it completely empty; he had fledfrom their praise and flattery.

St. Macarius was now (c. 330 A.D.) on his way to Scetis, where he would spend most of the remaining sixtyyears of his life. He dwelt in the inner desert, in the place of the monastery of Sts. Maximus and Domadius(now known as the Coptic Orthodox Monastery of El-Baramous). He went to visit St. Anthony the Great,who said about St. Macarius when he saw him, "This is an Israelite in whom there is no guile." St. Anthonyput on him the Holy Eskeem (Great Schema), then St. Macarius returned to his place.

When the number of monks increased around him he built a church for them. St. Macarius' relationship withhis fellow monks was a very special one. To them he was the 'aged youth' because, although he wasyoung, having been thirty when he came to Scetis, he had the depth and wisdom of a person much older.St. Macarius fame also grew all over the country and many kings and Emperors heard aboutthe miracles that God performed at his hands. He healed the daughter of the king of Antioch that waspossessed by an unclean spirit.

One day he thought that the world had no more righteous people, so a voice came to him from heavensaying: "In the city of Alexandria there are two women who feared God." He took his staff, his provisions,and went to Alexandria and he asked around until he reached their house. When he entered, theywelcomed him, washed his feet with warm water, and when he asked them about their life, one of them toldhim, "There is no kinship between us and when we married these two brothers we asked them to leave usto be nuns but they refused. So we committed ourself to spend our life fasting till evening with manyprayers. When each of us had a son, whenever one of them cry, any one of us would carry and nurse him,even if he was not her own son. We are in one living arrangement, the unity in opinion is our model, and

Macarius the Great

our husbands work is shepherding sheep, we are poor and only have our daily bread and what is left overwe give it to the poor and the needy." When the saint heard these words he cried saying, "Indeed God looksto the readiness of the heart and grants the grace of His Holy Spirit for all those who wish to worship Him."He bade them farewell and left returning to the wilderness.

It also happened that there was an erring monk who strayed many by his saying that there was no resurrec-tion of the dead. The bishop of the city of Osseem (Egypt) went to St. Macarius and told him about thatmonk. Abba Macarius went to that monk and stayed with him until the monk believed and renounced hiserror.

St. Macarius also knew how to be kind to those outside the Christian community. He knew that loving wordshad a greater effect than harsh ones. The story is told of his once having walked with a younger monk, andpassing by a pagan priest, whom the younger monk greeted rather insultingly. But St. Macarius gave him aloving greeting, so much so that the pagan asked why St. Macarius was so thoughtful. The monk answeredthat he felt sorry for one who did not know that all his worship and effort were in vain. So deeply impressedwas the pagan that he ended by joining the monastery, and becoming a model Christian, who attractedmany other pagans by his own love and care for them.

St. Macarius the Great also fought Arianism and was exiled c. 374 A.D. to an island in the Nile Delta be-cause of his support to the Orthodox teachings of St. Athanasius the Great. While he was there with St.Macarius of Alexandria, a pagan priest's daughter began to have terrible fits, and everyone agreed she waspossessed by a demon. The two monks were able to heal her, and in gratitude, the people tore down theirpagan shrine and replaced it with a church. Hearing of this, the authorities were quick to send both monksback to their respective monasteries.

Following this incident, St. Macarius returned to Scetis, where he continued to build on the foundations ofmonastic living laid by St. Anthony and St. Pachomius. His monastery grew and prospered, as did monasticlife in general.

St. Macarius the Great departed from our vanishing world in 390 (or 392 A.D. according to the CopticOrthodox Synaxarium). He was ninety-seven years old. On the day of his departure, he saw Sts. Anthonythe Great and Pachomius the Great, with a company of the saints. A manuscript in Shebeen El-Koum(Egypt) mentions that St. Babnuda, his disciple, saw the soul of St. Macarius ascending to heaven, and heheard the devils crying out and calling after him, "You have conquered us O Macarius." The Saint replied, "Ihave not conquered you yet." When they came to the gates of heaven they cried again saying, "You haveconquered us", and he replied as the first time. When he entered the gate of heaven they cried, "You haveovercome us O Macarius." He replied, "Blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ who has delivered me from your hands."

St. Macarius had commanded his disciples to hide his body, but some of the natives of the village ofShabsheer came and stole his body, built a church for him and placed the body in it for around 160 years.Later on, his body was moved to another town where he stayed for 440 years, till the time of Pope Michael V(also known as Mikhail II or III, depending on how one names and counts previous Coptic popes sharing therelated names of 'Khail' and 'Mikhail'), the 71st Coptic Pope of Alexandria. When Pope Michael went to thewilderness to observe the holy fast in the monastery, he sighed and said, "How much I yearn that God wouldhelp us so that the body of our father Abba Macarius be in our midst."

Later on, the abbot of St. Macarius monastery went with some of the elders on a certain business of themonastery, and they thought of bringing back the body of the saint to their monastery. They came to wherethe body was, but the people of the town and the governor assembled against them and prevented themfrom taking the body. The elders spent the night in great sorrow. The governor saw that night a vision of St.Macarius telling him, "Let my children take my body and do not prevent them." The governor was frightenedand he called the elders and gave them the body. The elders took the body with great joy, and many faithfulpeople followed them to bid the body farewell.

As they reached the monastery, all the monks came out holding candles and singing. Then they carried thebody on their shoulders and went into the church in a great celebration, and God performed many wonders

on that day.

Dear ParishionorsWe Would like to welcome the two new members, Mrs. Evelyna Abdelnour and Mrs. Nareen Harb

(Appointed by Fr. John) to our Parish Council.

The Parish Council Officers for this year are:

George Aboumrad, Chairperson

Bassam Saliba, Vice Chairperson

Evelyna Abdelnour, Secretary

Fady Chaccour, Treasurer

Clara Nader and Nasseeb Saadeh, Assistants Treasurer

We are very thankful to our past Secretary Raghda Harb who served faithfully our Parish

Council for three years,

We Pray that parish Council members as well as every other parishioner will continue to serve

the Lord, faithfully and peacefully .

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

January 15, 2014

Dear friends,

As I attend a Parish Council meeting for the last time, I wish to express how I feel about my

experience as a parish council (Secretary) member for the past three years and here’s what I’ve

learned;

I’ve learned that there are passionate people who give so much without asking for anything in

return.

I’ve learned that respect is an asset that each of you have displayed at all times.

I’ve learned that hard work and dedication is common practice.

I’ve learned that generosity runs in our veins.

I’ve learned that freedom of speech is welcome and encouraged.

I’ve learned that we all have ONE common goal; the success of our church spiritually and

financially.

I’ve learned that our church is standing on strong foundation for many years to come because of

you.

I am honored and privileged to have served my church this way and to have worked with a great

group of people. I may not be a parish council member, but I am still a parish member who is

willing to help in any way possible.

May God Bless You All!

Raghda Harb

Why Do We Have Our Homes Blessed?

by Phyllis Meshel Onest, M.Div.

Begin Everything with Prayer

Since we are reminded in Scripture to begin whatever we do

with prayer, it has been the practice of Orthodox Christians for

centuries to have new dwellings blessed either before or just

after settling in. This has been extended to one's business or

office, and even college dorm rooms. "The service performed

by the priest to bless the new dwelling is somewhat similar to

the consecration of a church [in the Russian practice] in that holy water, holy oil, and incense

are used and a lesson from the holy Gospel is read. All the rooms of the house are sprinkled

with holy water and each of the four outer walls are anointed with the sign of the Cross with

holy oil, a candle placed before them, and after the censing of the house, the lesson from

the Holy Gospel is read [in Greek practice the service of the Small Blessing of Waters is

generally done]. At the conclusion of the blessing, the inhabitants are blessed with holy

water: the husband first, followed by the wife and then the children - the oldest first.

Relatives and friends present are then blessed." (Marriage and the Christian Home, by Rev.

Michael B. Henning, p.24.)

Back to "The Fall"

From Scripture we know that whatever God created was good, but with "the Fall", evil entered

the world, corrupting the creation. God the Father sent His Son Jesus to save it by effecting a

"new creation". This is celebrated at Theophany, specifically with the Great Blessing of Water.

"The consecration of the waters on this feast places the entire world - through its 'prime

element' of water - in the perspective of the cosmic creation, sanctification, and glorification

of the Kingdom of God in Christ and the Spirit." (The Orthodox Faith, Vol. II, Worship, by Fr.

Thomas Hopko, p.127.) All the readings, hymns, prayers, and actions of the day speak of

God's presence in our entire world and universe, His creation.

Through water all of the creation is once again sanctified by God, becoming good again, the

way God had intended.

The Feast Of Theophany

The Feast of Theophany (or Epiphany) commemorates the Baptism of our Lord in the Jordan

River by John the Baptist. We know from the troparion of the day that "the Trinity was made

manifest" to us. But there's more to it than this. "When Jesus descends into the depths of the

river, there occurs a profound upheaval. It is not the one baptized who is purified, for he is

spotless; but it is the water that is transfigured and illumined. This water, which was

believed to be transparent and purifying, is in fact polluted, inhabited by evil spirits,

servants of the old gods. … By purifying the elements, by sanctifying matter, Jesus frees the

cosmos from the powers of evil." (The Incarnate God, Vol. I, Catherine Aslanoff, French

edition editor, translated by Paul Meyendorff, p.163.)

The Great Blessing of Water and the Home

The Great Blessing of Water takes place at the end of that day's Liturgy. Since our homes

cannot be brought to the Church, the Church - through the priest and cantor - go to the

homes. There the service of blessing, which began in the church, is finished with the sprin-

kling of water in the home. Traditionally, in most Orthodox parishes, the priest personally

visits all his parishioners each year to pray with them in the place where they live, and to

bless their surroundings with the newly sanctified water of Theophany (January 6/13). By

sanctifying our living quarters, our private place, we extend the grace of God to our individ-

ual dwellings. (In very large parishes a yearly visit may not be possible. In areas of the

country where the winter is harsh, I know of at least one parish where houses are blessed at

the beginning of the ecclesiastical year in September.)

We also bring the blessed water to our homes to use throughout the year to bless our

homes and to drink whether we are ill or as part of our daily prayer life. "There are many

occasions in family life when a sip of holy water can help to remind us of the blessing that

was given 'to bestow sanctification', 'unto healing of soul and body', 'to be a fountain

welling forth unto life eternal', as the priest prayed in the litany of Epiphany day."(Little

Falcons: Water, Vol. 5, No. 2, 1998, p.33.)

Weaving Christ into Our Lives

The blessing of homes by these holy waters maintains the spiritual association between the

'family church' and the parish, as well as again providing for the sharing of God's spiritual

gifts. … This annual blessing is not as elaborate as the blessing of the new dwelling, but

because of this it should not be overlooked, for it is in this way that the grace of God is

extended to individual dwellings." (Marriage and the Christian Home, p.25.)

If the priest comes to bless the home when the children are present, they have the opportu-

nity to see the parish priest in a different and personal situation. If the priest permits, they

can lead the way through the house, or hold a candle. They can show him their rooms or

pets or favorite toys. They receive a blessing with water. For children, the house blessing

shows the connection of the Church to the home.

In Summary

What does it mean to ask God to bless something? All things in the world have been spoiled

right along with us. God must bless His world again in order for it to be the way that He

wants it to be. For this reason God sent His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit to the world: to

bless everyone and everything that He made, to make all things good again. When the

priest comes to bless our homes, he asks God to have mercy on the house, to rid it of every evil

and to fill it with every blessing. What a wonderful way to begin the New Year!

Personal Use of Holy Water

According to Orthodox faith, holy water has

the power to sanctify and heal. Have each

family member drink a small amount of the

holy water from Epiphany or the home

blessing. Keep the unused holy water in your

home prayer corner for future use: times of

adversity, before starting a new venture or

trip, to give thanks, or when someone is ill.

You may drink it or anoint yourself when you

feel spiritually afflicted.

Why Give Money or Time To A Church?"stewardship is not a program, it is not about raising money, and it is not here today and gone tomor-

row. Stewardship is a journey. It is about life – a way of life." Put simply, giving is our response to

what we have received. We are created in God’s image, as we read in the Book of Genesis, and God

gives. God gives us life and love, forgiveness and mercy. Stewardship is our response to God’s gifts, in

which we give of our time, talent, and treasure so that the church can carry on its ministries of worship,

formation, and service. Stewardship is our giving back to God, in thanksgiving, a portion of the bless-

ings we have received.

Why give to St. George? Is it the same as giving to God?Today, there are many worthy charities doing good work. They deserve your financial support. Many

of our members do not limit their giving to their local congregation. However, for nearly 2000 years,

this is what we know to be true: making a decision to give back to God through the ministry of the

Church is an essential way for us to carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation in the world.

What about gifts of time and talent?The ministry of St. George’s could not survive without the countless hours of donated time and the

generous sharing of talents and gifts by so many of our members. The gifts of time and talent are in-

valuable to our common life and are very much appreciated.

Why fill out a pledge card?Each year the Pastor of St. George’s asks the parish members to make a financial offering in the form of

a pledge. Only when the signed pledge cards are received and totaled can the church’s leadership ade-

quately plan for the upcoming year. The overwhelming majority of the church’s total operating budget

Should be funded by the pledges of our members. Without a broad-based financial commitment

through pledging, we would not be able to offer the kind of pastoral care, spiritual formation, support

of worthy outreach ministries, and the quality worship that we have all come to appreciate.

Doesn’t the Archdiocese help our congregation cover our expenses?No. In this country, the church is funded from the bottom up, not the top down. It is the local congre-

gations, through the pledges of its members, who support the work of the Archdiocese. The Archdio-

cese, in turn, sends money to support the Mother Church in Antioch and its charitable programs.

Should one make a pledge as an individual or a couple?There is no hard and fast rule. Most married couples sign one pledge card. Some people feel strongly

about making their own individual pledge. Each young person who works is invited to make his or

her own pledge, even if he or she is living in the family home.

What if one decides not to pledge and instead puts cash into the Sunday collection?All monies given to the church are offered to glory of God. However, the total yearly amount received

from collection plate offerings accounts for a small fraction of the monies needed to fund our ministry.

As Jesus said while being tempted in the wilderness, "One does not live by bread alone." Nor can this

congregation flourish through collection plate offerings alone.

Is it true that each household that pledges gets a quarterly bill?Not exactly. When a pledge is made, a number is assigned to the giver. Pledge envelopes are available

in the pews. Whenever you use the pledge envelope by putting it into the collection plate or mailing it

to the church office, the Treasurer is able to give you credit for what you contributed. That is why it is

beneficial to use the pledge envelopes rather than putting loose cash into the collection plates.

Quarterly statements, not bills, are mailed out to remind members of their progress in paying off their

pledge. Since the church has expenses throughout the calendar year, it is important that most

members stay current with their giving. The year-end statement mailed to each giving household is an

essential document for those who claim their gift as a tax deduction. It pays to use the pledge

envelopes!

Suppose your personal financial picture varies from month to month, year to year?One of the most frequent reasons people offer for not making a pledge is that they are uncertain about

their overall financial picture in the year ahead. In today’s economy, your personal financial picture

may change from month-to-month, year-to-year. When you make a pledge for the upcoming year,

should your income drop dramatically, please know that you may decrease your pledge by writing to

the Pastor of the church. On the other hand, should you experience an added bonus or dividend

during the year, you are of course free to increase your pledge.

What if you were not able to pay your pledge in full in years past?Each year the slate is wiped clean. If circumstances prevented you from fulfilling past pledges, do not

allow that experience to discourage pledging for the upcoming year.

How much is enough?In truth, we can never give back to God as much as we have been given. Each one of us needs to ask

the question "how much is enough" and answer it for oneself. Some of our members have been tithing

– giving 10% of their income – for years, and they speak with great passion and joy for what the

discipline has meant in their lives. You are invited and encouraged to make your pledge a

proportional gift – a percentage of your household income. If pledging is new for you, you may want

to start small. Begin by giving 2% or 3% of your household income and try to increase each year until

you reach 10%.

What is Orthodoxy?

First of all, Orthodoxy is right faith inGod; it is that mighty power whichmakes each truly believing OrthodoxChristian unwavering on the righteousand pious path of his life. To be Ortho-dox means to know correctly with themind, to believe correctly with theheart, and to confess correctly with thelips all that God Himself has revealed tous about Himself, about the world andman, and about the tasks and aims ofour life in the teaching on the attainingof our spiritual union with Him and our

eternal salvation. Without such right faith, according to the word of the Apostle Paul,it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6).

Orthodoxy is not only right faith and a right confession of the fundamental truthsand dogmas of the Church of Christ, but also a right and virtuous life, founded on anunshakable law: the fulfilling of God’s commandments, the permeating of the heartwith humility, meekness and love for one’s neighbor, the rendering of help to theneedy and unfortunate, and the serving of one’s church. The Apostle James teaches:“Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, thefuture Judge of the whole world, promises to “reward every man according to hisworks” (Matt. 16:27). The Apostle Paul testifies that “every man shall receive hisown reward according to his own labor” (1Cor. 3:8). Here is the Orthodox point ofview. Right faith must be expressed in deeds, and deeds must serve as a manifesta-tion of faith. One must be closely united with the other indissolubly, like soul andbody. This only, then, is the Orthodox, the correct way leading us to God.

Orthodoxy is not only right faith and a life according to faith, but also correctservice to God. Our Lord Jesus Christ expressed the essence of the right worship ofGod in these brief but profound words: “God is Spirit, and those who worship Himmust worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Only the inspired divine service of theHoly Orthodox Church, which is permeated by prayer, has realized this sacredworship of God in truth. Moreover, Orthodoxy is strict proportionality and correct-ness in the manifestations of all the powers of soul and body. In Orthodoxy, aproper place is allotted to everything: to the intellect, to the wants and needs of theheart, to the manifestations of man’s free will, to labor and prayer, to abstinence andwatchfulness, in a word, to everything of which man’s life consists.