On June 20 Holy Ortodox Church Commemorates the Hieromartyr Methodius.

The Hieromartyr Methodius, Bishop of Patara (Lycia in Asia Minor), was distinguished for his genuine monastic humility. Calmly and with mildness he instructed his flock, but he firmly defended the purity of Orthodoxy and he energetically contended against heresies, especially the widespread heresy of the Origenists. He left behind him a rich literary legacy: works in defense of Christianity against paganism, explications of Orthodox dogmas against the heresy of Origen, moral discourses, and explanations of Holy Scripture.

St Methodius was arrested by the pagans, steadfastly confessed before them his faith in Christ, and he was sentenced to death by beheading in the year 312.
Troparion – Tone 1

Your blood cries out to God from the earth like that of Abel,
divinely-wise holy hierarch, Methodius.
You openly preached the Incarnation of God,
putting the heresy of Origen to shame.
You were translated to the heavenly bridal chamber:
Pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion – Tone 4

As a priest of the mysteries of the Holy Trinity,
and a preacher of the commandments of God that surpass understanding,
you were the confirmation of Orthodox Christians, O Methodius!
You denounced the errors of heretics;
for the sake of the True Faith you shed your blood as a hieromartyr.
Now as you stand before Christ with the angels,
pray that we may be saved.

On June 19 Holy Orthodox Church celebrates the memory og Apostle Jude the Brother of the Lord.

apostle_jude.jpgThe Holy Apostle Jude, one of the twelve apostles of Christ, is descended from King David and Solomon, and was the son of Righteous Joseph the Betrothed (Sunday after the Nativity of the Lord) by his first wife.

The Holy Apostle John the Theologian writes in his Gospel, “… neither did his brethren believe in Him” (John. 7:5). St Theophylact, Archbishop of Bulgaria, explains this passage. He says that at the beginning of the Lord Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, Joseph’s sons, Jude among them, did not believe in His divine nature. Tradition says that when St Joseph returned from Egypt, he began to divide his possessions among his sons. He wanted to allot a share to Christ the Savior, born miraculously and incorruptibly from the All-Pure Virgin Mary. The brothers were opposed to this because Jesus was born of another mother. Only James, later called “The Brother of God,” offered to share his portion with Him.

Jude came to believe in Christ the Savior as the awaited Messiah, and he followed Him and was chosen as one of the twelve Apostles. Mindful of his sin, the Apostle Jude considered himself unworthy to be called the Lord’s brother, and in his Epistle he calls himself merely the brother of James.

The Holy Apostle Jude also had other names: the Evangelist Matthew terms him “Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddeus” (Mt. 10:3). The Holy Evangelist Mark also calls him Thaddeus (Mark 3:18), and in the Acts of the Holy Apostles he is called Barsabas (Acts 15: 22). This was customary at that time.

After the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, St Jude traveled about preaching the Gospel. He propagated the faith in Christ at first in Judea, Galilee, Samaria and Idumaia, and later in the lands of Arabia, Syria and Mesopotamia. Finally, he went to the city of Edessa. Here he finished the work that was not completed by his predecessor, St Thaddeus, Apostle of the Seventy (August 21). There is a tradition that St Jude went to Persia, where he wrote his catholic Epistle in Greek. In the Epistle much profound truth was expressed in a few words.

St Jude’s Epistle speaks about the Holy Trinity, about the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ, about the good and bad angels, and about the dread Last Judgment. The Apostle urges believers to guard themselves against fleshly impurity, to be diligent in prayer, faith and love, to convert the lost to the path of salvation, and to guard themselves from the teachings of heretics. He also says that it is not enough just to be converted to Christianity, but faith must be demonstrated by good works. He cites the rebellious angels and men punished by God (verses 6 ff.) to support this.

The Holy Apostle Jude died as a martyr around the year 80 near Mt. Ararat in Armenia, where he was crucified and pierced by arrows.

Tropation and Kondakion Apostle Jude the Brother of the Lord

Troparion – Tone 1

Divinely we praise you, O Jude, as a faithful witness,
Knowing you to be the brother of Christ.
You trampled on delusion,
And so preserved the faith.
Today as we celebrate your holy memory,
By your intercessions we receive remission of sins.

Kontakion – Tone 2

You were chosen as a disciple for your firmness of mind:
An unshakable pillar of the Church of Christ,
You proclaimed His word to the Gentiles,
Telling them to believe in one Godhead.
You were glorified by Him, receiving the grace of healing,
Healing the ills of all who came to you,
O most praised Apostle Jude!

Source: Orthodox Church of America

During the time of Great Lent, Orthodox Church reserves the celebration of Divine Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great only to Saturdays and Sundays because of their more festal and joyous spirit. Form ancient times period of Great Lent is regarded by the Orthodox Church to be a special season of repentance, fasting and intensified prayer. During that time Church encourages the faithful to partake of Holy Communion more frequently.

The Divine Liturgy of the Presactified Gifts is one the churches most ancient services. While it is possible to serve this Liturgy every weekday during the Great Lent, todays practice in many parishes is to celebrate this beautiful service on Wednesdays and Fridays of the Great Lent.

Divine Liturgy of Presantified Gifts is services that combines vespers with the Holy Communion. The Holy Gifts are sanctified on the previous Sunday are used for this service, hence the term “presanctified”. During the Vespers’ Psalms, the presantified gifts are prepared on the altar and the transfered to the table of oblation.

The Vespers part of the Divine Liturgy of Presantified gifts concludes with the readings from the Old Testament between which the priest blesses the faithful holding a lighted candle with the words “The Light of Christ illumines All!”, a proclamation that all wisdom comes from Christ and is given by the Church to people through scriptures and sacraments.

After the readings the Psalm 141 is sung again solemnly with offering of the incense. Then the priesantified gifts are solemnly brought to the altar in a silent procession. The sung that people sing before the procession and after procession is completed calls the faithful to the communion:

Now the heavenly powers do minister invisible with us. For behold the King of Glory enters. Behold the mystical sacrifice, all fulfilled, is ushered in.

Let us with faith and love draw near that we maybe partakers of everlasting life. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Following this procession a litany is sung and after the Our Father, the priest exlaims “Prescatified Holy Gifts to the Holy” after which the faithful receive Holy Communion.

The Second Sunday of Lent is the commemoration of St Gregory Palamas. It was St. Gregory (d.1359) who bore living witness that men can become divine through the grace of God in the Holy Spirit; and that even in this life, by prayer and fasting, human beings can become participants of the uncreated light of God’s divine glory.

saint_gregory.jpgSaint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica, was born in the year 1296 in Constantinople. St Gregory’s father became a prominent dignitiary at the court of Andronicus II Paleologos (1282-1328), but he soon died, and Andronicus himself took part in the raising and education of the fatherless boy. Endowed with fine abilities and great diligence, Gregory mastered all the subjects which then comprised the full course of medieval higher education. The emperor hoped that the youth would devote himself to government work. But Gregory, barely twenty years old, withdrew to Mount Athos in the year 1316 (other sources say 1318) and became a novice in the Vatopedi monastery under the guidance of the monastic Elder St Nicodemus of Vatopedi (July 11). There he was tonsured and began on the path of asceticism. A year later, the holy Evangelist John the Theologian appeared to him in a vision and promised him his spiritual protection. Gregory’s mother and sisters also became monastics.

St Gregory performed many miracles in the three years before his death, healing those afflicted with illness. On the eve of his repose, St John Chrysostom appeared to him in a vision. With the words “To the heights! To the heights!” St Gregory Palamas fell asleep in the Lord on November 14, 1359. In 1368 he was canonized at a Constantinople Council under Patriarch Philotheus (1354-1355, 1364-1376), who compiled the Life and Services to the saint

The first Sunday is called the Feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy. It is a historical feast commemorating the return of the icons to the churches in the year 843 after the heresy of iconoclasm was overcome. The spiritual theme of the day is first of all the victory of the True Faith. “This is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith” (1 Jn 5:4). Secondly, the icons of the saints bear witness that man, “created in the image and likeness of God” (Gen 1:26), becomes holy and godlike through the purification of himself as God’s living image.

(February 18, 2007 Jackson, NJ)- In the Orthodox Church Cheesefare Sunday, also referred to as Forgiveness Sunday, concludes four weeks of preparation for the Great Fast. Cheesfare Sunday is preceded by Sunday of Publican and Pharisee, Sunday of the Prodigal Son, and the Sunday of Meatfare.

St. Mary’s Russian Orthodox Church in Jackson, NJ is blessed by the presence of His Eminence Archbishop GREGORY, retired bishop of Alaska, who celebrated Hierarchical Divine Liturgy for the faithful today. In his homily Archbishop explained to the faithful the spiritual meaning of the Sunday of Forgiveness- a reminder of the exile of our ancestral parents Adam and Eve from the paradise for their disobedience. “As a human race”- said His Eminence “ we have inherited this state of being expelled from paradise.” He also reminded the faithful that through fasting, prayers and good deeds along with grace of God it is possible enter into Resurrection with Christ. His Eminence pointed out that the time of the Great Lent should be used for our benefit by controlling our passions and desires.

Following the Divine Liturgy Vespers of Forgiveness were celebrated that mark the beginning of Great Fast. At the end of the Vespers in the spirit of Orthodox tradition for the beginning of Great Fast, His Eminence Archbishop Gregory along with Father John Prokopiuk, Protodeacon John Morvay and all the faithful asked and offered each other forgiveness for anything they may have done to wrong each other.

After the Divine Services, Father John Prokopiuk, the Rector of St. Mary’s Russian Orthodox Church, extended an invitation to all present to join together for a time of fellowship at the Parish Home, where Sisterhood prepared wonderful Cheesefare dinner.

On September 21, 2006, His Beatitude Most Blessed Herman visited our parish on the occasion of Church rededication. Following are the photo to commemorate this beautiful moment in our parish history.

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