Mark your calendars! Sisters from St Elizabeth Convent in Minsk, Belarus will be in our parish Saturday, March 4 and Sunday, March 5. They will give a presentation about their convent and ministries and be selling beautiful Orthodox items, which support these ministries. Times to be announced. 

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:

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

Lazarus Saturday, April 23
9:40am: Hours & Liturgy
12:30pm: Children’s Activity: Palm Sunday Decorating
5:30pm: Vigil & Blessing of Palms

Palm Sunday, April 24
9:40am: Hours & Liturgy
12:00pm: Potluck Fish Meal
4:00pm: Bridegroom Matins

Holy Monday, April 25
6:30pm: Bridegroom Matins

Holy Tuesday, April 26
6:30pm: Bridegroom Matins

Holy Wednesday, April 27
6:30pm: Matins for Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday, April 28
9:00am: Vesperal Liturgy (Mystical Supper)
6:30pm: Matins of Holy Friday/Passion Gospels

Holy Friday, April 29
9:00am: Royal Hours & Typika
2:00pm: Vespers (Taking Down from the Cross)
5:00pm: Matins of Holy Saturday/Lamentations

Holy Saturday, April 30
9:30am: Vesperal Liturgy
12:00pm: Holy Saturday Meal (Bread, Fruits, Nuts, Wine, etc.)

**HOLY PASCHA**
Saturday, April 30: 11:30pm – Midnight Office; Procession; Matins; Liturgy; Blessing of Baskets
(Pascha service extends into the early morning hours of Sunday, May 1)

Pascha, May 1
12:00pm: Agape Vespers
1:30pm: Pascha Picnic

On March 26 Deacon Mark and Elizabeth Barna will give an all-day workshop based on their book, “A Christian Ending, A Handbook for Burial in the Ancient Christian Tradition” at St Elizabeth the New Martyr Russian Orthodox Church in Columbia, SC. The workshop begins with a discussion of a Patristic understanding of Death and Life. Later discussions include Elder Care and Care of the Dying Patient, legal issues, estate planning, dealing with hospitals, healthcare facilities and hospice, the cremation fallacy, how to prepare a body for burial and preforming a complete in-home or church funeral without the aid of a professional funeral director. Time permitting, the afternoon session concludes with a discussion of a Patristic understanding of grief.

We will begin the day with a Liturgy for the Departed at 9:00 AM and lunch will be provided. There is a $10 per person suggested donation, and space is limited. Please contact Fr. Mark Mancuso at frmark@stelizabeth.net or 803-600-0001 if you are interested in attending.

9:00am: Liturgy for the Departed
11:00am – 6:00pm: Presentations

Christian Ending Flyer

Over the weekend of Saturday, February 20 through Sunday, February 21, 2016, the
ancient Russian icon of the Virgin Mary, known as the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, will be in the parish of St Elizabeth the New Martyr in West Columbia, SC.

The Kursk Root Icon was discovered in Russia in the year 1295 and for eight centuries has been the source of many miracles. It is one of the most treasured icons in the entire Orthodox world.

All are welcome to come pray before this holy icon of the Mother of God.

For more information about the Kursk Root Icon: http://eadiocese.org/News/2009/november/kurskicon.en.htm

Schedule of Services

Saturday, February 20
2:00pm – Akathist
5:30pm – Vigil

Sunday, February 21
9:40am – Hours & Liturgy