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 11th 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

2015 – Annual Parish Meeting Agenda

Rector’s Address

Warden’s Address

Treasurer’s Report

Audit Committee’s Report

Parish Budget

Sisterhood Report

Brotherhood Report

Election of Officers and Parish Council

Current Matters

From Friday the 17th to Sunday the 19th of July, His Eminence, Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen; former primate of the Orthodox Church in America) performed an archpastoral visit to St. Elizabeth the New-Martyr Church in Columbia, SC. Over the very full weekend, His Eminence led two All-Night Vigils and two Divine Liturgies, co-served by Archpriest Mark Mancuso (parish rector and dean of the Carolinas & Tennessee Deanery) and Deacon Columba Wilson (parish cleric), as well as the following visiting clergy: Archimandrite Maximos (Weimar; abbot of the Holy Cross Brotherhood in East Setauket, NY), Archpriest Thomas Moore (rector of the Holy Apostles Church OCA in West Columbia, SC), Archpriest Antonio Perdomo (rector of St. George Church OCA in Pharr, TX), Priest Mark Rowe (dean of ROCOR Western Rite parishes), Priest Job Watts (rector of St. Nektarios Church in Lenoir City, TN), Priest Eugene Antonov (rector of Joy of All Who Sorrow Church in Atlanta, GA), Priest Richard Reed (rector of St. Joseph of Optina Church in Virginia Beach, VA), Priest Benedict Simpson (chaplain of the Monastery of the Glorious Ascension in Resaca, GA), Hierodeacon Dionysios (Hatcher; cleric of Holy Cross Brotherhood in East Setauket), Deacon Daniel Gregoire (cleric of Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church in Summerville, SC), and Deacon Aidan Griswold (cleric of St. Nektarios Church in Lenoir City).

On Friday night, Metropolitan Jonah served the All-Night Vigil for the eve of the feast of the Nun-Martyrs, as well as the Liturgy on Saturday morning. In his sermon, His Eminence spoke about how St. Elizabeth was crowned thrice: crowned as a Grand Duchess, crowned by her good works, and crowned by martyrdom. After the murder of St. Elizabeth’s husband, the Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, she became a monastic. Her ascesis was to dedicate her life to the service of others. The Metropolitan spoke of how St. Elizabeth’s aristocratic background would have allowed her almost no access to the life of common people, yet she freely chose to help and serve the poorest denizens of her adopted homeland. His Eminence said that, while not all are called to dedicate themselves to monastic life, everyone can benefit from following St. Elizabeth’s example of charity and service, as St. Elizabeth’s own sister and nieces – the Holy Empress Alexandra and her daughters – did.

After the service, the clergy, parishioners, and guests gathered for a festal luncheon in St. John’s Parish Hall next to the church. Metropolitan Jonah and other guests were then taken to Downtown Columbia to visit the South Carolina History Museum and Confederate Relic Room.

On the evening of July 18th, Metropolitan Jonah returned to St. Elizabeth’s Church to serve the All-Night Vigil for Ven. Sisoes the Great, and another Hierarchical Divine Liturgy the next morning. His Eminence gave a homily on the Gospel reading for the day. Following the Liturgy, the faithful gathered for Sunday luncheon in the parish hall. After the meal, the Adult Sunday School session was taught by Metropolitan Jonah, as he spoke about Temple worship in the Old Testament and how it prefigured and is continued in the Orthodox Divine liturgy.

Photos

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese

Sunday, May 10 at 12:30pm St John’s Parish Hall

For all women of the parish! Invite your mothers! The men of the parish prepare the meal, serve tables, clean up after the meal, and take care of the children! 

Mothers’ Day Luncheon 2015

Friday, April 3
8:00am: Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts
6:15pm: Matins of Lazarus Saturday

Lazarus Saturday, April 4
9:40am: Hours & Liturgy
5:30pm: Vigil & Blessing of Palms

Palm Sunday, April 5
9:40am: Hours & Liturgy
12:00pm: Potluck Fish Meal
4:00pm: Bridegroom Matins

Holy Monday, April 6
6:30pm: Vigil (Annunciation)

Holy Tuesday/ANNUNCIATION, April 7
8:00am: Vesperal Liturgy (Annunciation)
6:30pm: Bridegroom Matins

Holy Wednesday, April 8
6:30pm: Matins of Holy Thursday

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

Holy Friday, April 10
9:00am: Royal Hours & Typika
2:00pm: Vespers w/ Taking Down from the Cross
5:30pm: Matins of Holy Saturday w/ Lamentations & Procession

Holy Saturday, April 11
9:00am: Vesperal Liturgy
12:00pm (noon): Meal of Bread, Fruits, Nuts

**HOLY PASCHA**
Saturday, April 11:
11:30pm: Midnight Office; Procession; Matins; Liturgy; Blessing of Baskets

Pascha Sunday, April 12
12:00pm (noon): Agape Vespers
1:30pm: Pascha Picnic & Egg Hunt

On Saturday the 14th and Sunday the 15th of February, on the great feast of the Meeting of the Lord and the Sunday of the Dread Judgment, His Grace, Bishop George, performed his last archpastoral visit to St. Elizabeth the New-Martyr Church in Columbia, SC as Bishop of Mayfield. His Grace was recently appointed to be the Bishop of Canberra, vicar of the Australian & New Zealand Diocese. Coming to Columbia directly after a two-week trip to Russia and the Ukraine, Bishop George led the All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy.

At Liturgy, His Grace was co-served by rector Archpriest Mark Mancuso, Archpriest Alexander Logunov (rector of the Church of the Reigning Mother of God in Charlotte, NC), parish Deacon Columba Wilson, and Deacon Jeremiah Davis (cleric of Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV). During the Little Entrance, Fr. Mark was awarded the palitsa in recognition of his priestly care for the parish and his work for the Eastern American Diocese.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, the parish presented Bishop George with a beautiful velvet eagle rug (orletz) in gratitude for his kindness over the past seven years of his episcopacy, and offered well-wishes for his newly assigned see in Australia.

The festal Meatfare meal was served by the parish brotherhood, after which His Grace gave an informal talk about his life on Mount Athos and his associations with the newly glorified Saint Paisios. In addition, he answered questions from the faithful about everything from book recommendations, the prayer life, and confession, to the current events transpiring in the Ukraine.

Before his departure, some of the young girls of the parish presented Bishop George with small bouquets of roses.

Courtesy of the Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese

St John’s Parish Hall

Potluck Blini & Cheesefare Meal

Games and Entertainment for the Children

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