ПАСХАЛЬНОЕ ПОСЛАНИЕ ВЫСОКОПРЕОСВЯЩЕННЕЙШЕГО НИКОЛАЯ, МИТРОПОЛИТА ВОСТОЧНО-АМЕРИКАНСКОГО И НЬЮ-ЙОРКСКОГО, ПЕРВОИЕРАРХА РУССКОЙ ЗАРУБЕЖНОЙ ЦЕРКВИ

ПАСХАЛЬНОЕ ПОСЛАНИЕ ВЫСОКОПРЕОСВЯЩЕННЕЙШЕГО НИКОЛАЯ, МИТРОПОЛИТА ВОСТОЧНО-АМЕРИКАНСКОГО И НЬЮ-ЙОРКСКОГО, ПЕРВОИЕРАРХА РУССКОЙ ЗАРУБЕЖНОЙ ЦЕРКВИ

С чувством Пасхального ликования и особой духовной близости, несмотря на разделяющее нас расстояние, приветствую вас, Преосвященные собратья-архипастыри, всечестные отцы, дорогие братья и сестры, рассеянные по всему свету, в сей великий и светоносный день Пасхи Христовой!

ХРИСТОС ВОСКРЕСЕ!

Приступая к Посту великому, кающийся христианин заглядывает в душу и видит свое безпомощное положение, напоминающее ему поле “сухих костей”, описанное в книге пророка Иезекииля (Иез. 37:1-14). Но по мере своего усердия в несении покаянного подвига и приближения к “Празднику праздников”, он начинает вкушать радость и мир душевный. Христианин вместе со всей Церковью, соборно молящейся, постящейся, кающейся и говеющей, начинает оживать, становиться на ноги и присоединяться к “весьма и весьма великому полчищу” верных (Иез. 37:10). Вместе с ним все оживляется; весь мір христианский, вся природа  – все ликует, светло торжествуя тридневное восстание Человеколюбца-Бога.

Наше земное празднование Пасхи – это посильное ощущение нами благодати Царства Божия. Митрополит Антоний (Храповицкий) говорил, что при внимательной духовной жизни человек приобретает способность радоваться не один день, а сначала всю Светлую седмицу, потом и все 40 дней празднования, а затем уже в течение всей своей жизни, как это было у преподобного Серафима Саровского, который жил этой радостью, провозглашая ее не только сердцем и устами, но и образом своей жизни. Да поможет нам Господь сохранить эту неизреченную радость, предвозвещающую нам блаженство “в невечернем дне Царствия” Христова, и освятим ею все оставшиеся дни нашей земной жизни!

Размышляя об испытаниях нашего времени, мы видим, что Сын Божий стал человеком, проповедовал Свое Евангелие, творил чудеса, умер и воскрес, чтобы спасти мір, в котором праведные страдают от гонений, а грешники – погибают. Бог, “иже праведныя любяй и грешныя милуяй”, ищет спасения всех. Вот в этом единстве Христовом со всеми людьми будем горячо молиться о спасении праведников и грешников, о сугубой милости Божией для тех и других, о том, чтобы водворилась не наша или чья-то версия правды, а правда Божия. Именно она, как и Его победа над злом, грехом и смертью, всегда ведет к любви, торжеству единства и победе Добра и Красоты. Так молился приснопамятный митрополит Иларион (+3/16 мая 2022 г.), всегда сиявший Пасхальной радостью и примером доброй христианской жизни. Так будем молиться и мы, приближаясь к первой годовщине со дня его кончины.

Пользуясь возможностью, особо прошу архипастырей, пастырей, монашествующих и миллионов верных чад Украинской Православной Церкви во главе с Блаженнейшим митрополитом Киевским и всея Украины Онуфрием, священноархимандритом древней Киево-Печерской Лавры, принять от всех нас Пасхальное целование мира, сочувствия и христианской любви! Да поможет им Господь продолжать идти тем путем свидетельства, который начертал всем христианам апостол Павел, когда писал свое Послание к Коринфянам: “В чести и безчестии, при порицаниях и похвалах: нас почитают обманщиками, но мы верны; мы неизвестны, но нас узнают; нас почитают умершими, но вот мы живы; нас наказывают, но мы не умираем; нас огорчают, но мы всегда радуемся; мы нищи, но многих обогащаем, мы ничего не имеем, но всем обладаем” (II Кор. 6:8-10).

“Вы ‒ свет міра” (Матф. 5:14) – сказал Господь Своим ученикам. И мы, дорогие отцы, братья и сестры, причисляя себя к ученикам Христовым, призваны проповедовать Его Воскресение как добрым словом, так и силою жизни по Евангелию. Когда мы вкладываем свою веру в наши слова и дела, то они постепенно преображаются в Свет Христов, просвещающий и согревающий всех. В трудныя времена этот Свет, воссиявший из Живоносного Гроба Господня, особенно нужен всем. И чем больше среди людей будет этого Света – добрых слов и дел – тем больше они начнут чувствовать себя своими и родными друг для друга. Посему, будем всячески стараться пребывать в Свете Христова Воскресения, в ощущении Его крепости и силы! Аминь.

ВОИСТИНУ ВОСКРЕСЕ ХРИСТОС!

Испрашивая святых молитв, остаюсь с Пасхальной радостью о Христе
и самыми добрыми благопожеланиями,

+НИКОЛАЙ
Митрополит Восточно-Американский и Нью-Йоркский
Первоиерарх Русской Зарубежной Церкви

Пасха Господня 2023

PASCHAL EPISTLE OF HIS EMINENCE NICHOLAS, METROPOLITAN OF EASTERN AMERICA & NEW YORK, FIRST HIERARCH OF THE RUSSIAN CHURCH ABROAD

PASCHAL EPISTLE OF HIS EMINENCE NICHOLAS, METROPOLITAN OF EASTERN AMERICA & NEW YORK, FIRST HIERARCH OF THE RUSSIAN CHURCH ABROAD

With a sense of Paschal joy and special spiritual closeness, despite the distances separating us, I greet you, Eminent Brother-Archpastors, reverend fathers, dear brothers and sisters scattered throughout the world, on this great and light-bearing day of the Pascha of Christ!

CHRIST IS RISEN!

Approaching Great Lent, a repentant Christian gazes into his soul and sees his own helpless situation, reminding him of the field of the “dry bones” described in the Book of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 37:1-14). But depending on the degree of one’s zeal in carrying out the ascetic labor of repentance and the approach of the “Feast of feasts,” he begins to taste joy and spiritual peace. A Christian, together with the entire Church, praying together, fasting, repenting, and communing, begins to come alive, stands up upon his feet and joins “an exceeding great army” of the faithful (Ezekiel 37:10). All come alive together with him; the entire Christian world, all of nature ‒ all things rejoice, brightly celebrating the Third-Day Resurrection of God, the Lover of Mankind.

Our earthly celebration of Pascha means sensing the grace of the Kingdom of God to the highest degree possible. Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky) would say that, with attentive spiritual living, a person acquires the ability to rejoice not for one day, but first all of Bright Week, and then the other 40 days of the feast, and then over the course of his entire life, as it was with Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, who lived with this joy, declaring it not only with his heart and mouth, but in his very way of life. May the Lord help us preserve this unspeakable joy, foreshadowing for us the blessedness “in the unwaning day of the Kingdom” of Christ, and may we thereby sanctify all the rest of our earthly days!

Pondering the tribulations of our time, we understand that the Son of God became man, preached His Gospel, worked miracles, died, and was risen in order to save the world in which the righteous suffer persecutions, but where sinners perish. God, “Who loveth the righteous and hath mercy on sinners,” seeks the salvation of all. It is in this unity with Christ together with all of mankind that we must fervently pray for the salvation of the righteous and the sinners, for the great mercy of God for the former and for the latter, that it is not our version of the truth that reigns nor anyone else’s, but the truth of God. It is that truth, like His victory over evil, sin, and death, which always leads to love, the triumph of unity and the victory of Goodness and Beauty. Thus prayed Metropolitan Hilarion (+May 3/16, 2022) of blessed memory, who always shone with Paschal joy and served as an example of good Christian living. May we pray likewise as we approach the first anniversary of his repose.

I take this opportunity to ask the archpastors, pastors, monastics, and the millions of faithful children of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church headed by His Beatitude Onouphry, Metropolitan of Kiev & All Ukraine, Archimandrite of the ancient Kiev Caves Lavra, to accept from us all the Paschal kiss of peace, empathy, and Christian love! May the Lord help them continue upon the path of witness, which the Apostle Paul described to all Christians in his Epistle to the Corinthians: “by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things” (II Cor. 8:10).

“Ye are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14), said the Lord to His disciples. And we, dear fathers, brothers, and sisters, counting ourselves as among the disciples of Christ, are called to preach His Resurrection both with a good word and by the power of living according to the Gospel. When we put our faith into our words and deeds, they gradually transfigure into the Light of Christ, illuminating and warming all. In difficult times, this Light, shining forth from the Life-Bearing Sepulcher of the Lord, is especially needed by everyone. And the more this Light exists among people ‒ in good words and deeds ‒ the more they will feel themselves close and dear to one other. Therefore, let us in all ways strive to be in the Light of Christ’s Resurrection, sensing His strength and power! Amen.

CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!

Asking your holy prayers, I remain with Paschal joy in Christ
and with the kindest of wishes,

+NICHOLAS
Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

Pascha of the Lord 2023

A Few Notes for Bright Week and the Paschal Season

A Few Notes for Bright Week and the Paschal Season
By Very Rev. Fr. Mark Mancuso
• We greet one another during the entire Paschal season (which lasts 40 days) with the words: “Christ is risen!” and the response to the greeting is: “Indeed, He is risen!”
• During Bright Week, the Holy Doors and the Deacons’ doors of the iconostasis remain open symbolizing the empty tomb of our Master and Savior: Christ is risen!
• During Bright Week, our prayers in church and at home are sung and not read as we sing all week the feast of the risen Christ: Christ is risen!
• During Bright Week, our morning and evening prayers are replaced by the singing of the short service of the Hours of Pascha (see your prayer books): Christ is risen!
• During Bright Week, we do not read from the psalter at home or in church for the prophecies have been fulfilled: Christ is risen!
• During Bright Week, there is no fasting as we are at feast with the Bridegroom who processes forth from the tomb: Christ is risen!
• During the entire Paschal season and extending to Pentecost there is no prostrating or kneeling permitted in church or at home for we stand with the resurrected Christ: Christ is risen!
• During the Paschal season we begin all of our prayers at home and in church by singing the troparion of Pascha: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!”
• During the Paschal season and extending to Pentecost, we do not pray “O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth…” for the Comforter comes on Pentecost. Christ is risen!
• And most important of all: “A Pascha worthy of all honor has dawned for us. Pascha! Let us embrace each other joyously!…This is the day of resurrection. Let us be illumined by the feast. Let us embrace each other. Let us call ‘Brother’ even those who hate us, and forgive all by the resurrection, and so let us cry: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!” “And unto us He has given eternal life. Let us worship His resurrection on the third day!”

РАСПИСАНІЕ БОГОСЛУЖЕНІЙ СТРАСТНОЙ СЕДМИЦЫ И ПАСХИ 2023

РАСПИСАНІЕ БОГОСЛУЖЕНІЙ
СТРАСТНОЙ СЕДМИЦЫ И ПАСХИ 2023

Пятница, 7 апрѣля
18:30 ч.: Утреня Лазаревой субботы

Лазарева суббота, 8 апрѣля
9:40 ч.: Часы и Литургія
17:30 ч.: Всенощная и освященіе вербочекъ

Вербное воскресенье, 9 апрѣля
9:40 ч.: Часы и Литургія
16:00 ч.: Утреня Великаго понедѣльника

Великій понедѣльникъ, 10 апрѣля
18:30 ч.: Утреня Великаго вторника

Великій вторникъ, 11 апрѣля
18:30 ч.: Утреня Великой среды

Великая среда, 12 апрѣля
18:30 ч.: Утреня Великаго четвертка

Великій четвертокъ, 13 апрѣля
10:00 ч.: Вечерня съ Литургіей (Тайная Вечеря)
18:30 ч.: Утреня съ чтеніемъ 12-и Евангелій

Великій пятокъ, 14 апрѣля
10:00 ч.: Часы и изобразительны
15:30 ч.: Вечерня съ выносомъ Плащаницы
18:30 ч.: Утреня съ чиномъ Погребенія; крестный ходъ

Великая суббота, 15 апрѣля
10:00 ч.: Вечерня съ Литургіей

**ПАСХА – СВѢТЛОЕ ХРИСТОВО ВОСКРЕСЕНІЕ**
Суббота, 15 апрѣля: 23:30 ч. – Полунощница; крестный ходъ; заутреня; Литургія; освященіе корзинокъ

(Пасхальное богослуженіе длится до ранняго утра Воскресенья, 16 апрѣля)

Пасхальное воскресенье, 16 апрѣля
13:00 ч.: Пасхальная вечерня
14:30 ч.: Пикникъ и охота за яйцами въ паркѣ Saluda Shoals

SCHEDULE for HOLY WEEK & PASCHA 2023

SCHEDULE for HOLY WEEK & PASCHA 2023

Friday, April 7
6:30 PM: Matins for Lazarus Saturday

Lazarus Saturday, April 8
8:30am: Baptism
9:40 AM: Hours & Liturgy
5:30 PM: Vigil & Blessing of Palms

Palm Sunday, April 9
ENTRY OF THE LORD INTO JERUSALEM
9:40 AM:
Hours & Liturgy
4:00 PM: Bridegroom Matins

Holy Monday, April 10
6:30 PM: Bridegroom Matins

Holy Tuesday, April 11
6:30 PM: Bridegroom Matins

Holy Wednesday, April 12
6:30 PM: Matins for Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday, April 13
10:00 AM: Vesperal Liturgy (Mystical Supper)
6:30 PM: Matins w/ 12 Passion Gospels

Holy Friday, April 14
10:00 AM: Royal Hours & Typica
3:30 PM: Vespers: Bringing out of the Shroud
6:30 PM: Matins w/ Lamentations; Procession

Holy Saturday, April 15
10:00 AM: Vesperal Liturgy

PASCHA: THE GLORIOUS RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
Saturday, April 15: 11:30 PM – Midnight Office; Procession; Matins; Liturgy; Blessing of Baskets

(Pascha service extends into the early morning hours of Sunday, April 16)

Pascha Sunday, April 16
1:00 PM: Agape Vespers
2:30 PM: Pascha Cookout & Egg Hunt at Saluda Shoals Park

The Spiritual Meaning of The Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete

The Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete is chanted Monday through Thursday of the first week of Great Lent (Clean Week), rubrically broken up into four parts. Additionally, The Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete is chanted in full Wednesday evening of the fifth week of Great Lent. Below are a few resources highlighting the spiritual meaning of the Great Canon on its importance within Great Lent.

Full text of The Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete:

Great-Canon-of-St-Andrew-of-Crete

Old Testament References in The Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete:

The-Whos-Who-of-The-Great-Canon-of-St.-Andrew-of-Crete

Podcast – “The Cry of the Humbled Heart: The Ascetical Significance of The Great Canon”:

 

YouTube Video – “The Canon of St Andrew of Crete”:

Updated Nativity & Weekend Services / Inclement Weather – PLEASE READ

Dear Brethren,

As most of you probably know by now, our state is to be hit with a Winter storm and extremely cold weather following. We are thus modifying our Nativity schedule in order to ensure everyone’s safety. We will be cancelling our Vigil tomorrow night because of fear of freezing rains. Also, we will be postponing our Yolka until Sunday, January 15 and it will follow the Mercy Meal for the one year anniversary of Maria Panov’s repose. Our plan is still to serve liturgy on Nativity and on Sunday. Please use your best judgment regarding driving to church. If you feel it’s not safe to drive, please stay home. The updated schedule is as follows:

Friday, Jan 6 – Eve of Nativity
9:00am: Royal Hours & Typika
10:30am: Vesperal Liturgy
5:30pm: Vigil CANCELLED

Saturday, Jan 7 – Nativity
9:40am: Hours & Liturgy
12:00pm: Festal Meal & Yolka RESCHEDULED for Sunday, January 15
4:00pm: Great Vespers CANCELLED

Sunday, Jan 8 – Synaxis of the Theotokos
9:40am: Hours & Liturgy
12:00pm: Coffee Hour / Meal CANCELLED
1:00pm: Children’s Sunday School POSTPONED
1:30pm: Orthodoxy 101 Adult Class (Iconography) POSTPONED

With much love in Christ,
Fr Mark

Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, October 16 at 12:30pm in St John’s Parish Hall

With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, ruling bishop of the Diocese of New York and Eastern America, we will have our Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, October 16 at 12:30pm in St John’s Parish Hall.  Everyone is strongly encouraged to attend and participate. The Parish Council and Clergy have worked hard this year in support of the parish, so please honor their efforts by your attendance.

With much love in Christ,
Fr Mark

2016 – Annual Parish Meeting Agenda

Rector’s Address

Warden’s Address

Treasurer’s Report

Audit Committee’s Report

Church Budget

Sisterhood Report

Brotherhood Report

Election of Officers and Parish Council

Current Matters

Annual Meeting Agenda with Metropolitan Hilarion’s Blessing