Newsletter Summer 2017 by Holy Apostles Orthodox Church

THE MOSAIC

SPOTLIGHT: Tamburitzans

A Monthly Newsletter of Holy Apostles Orthodox Church

Year after year, generation after generation, the Tamburitzans dazzle audiences across the country with elaborate costumes and incredibly versatile musicians, singers and dancers. The talented young performers are full-time students who have chosen to continue the Tamburitzans’ legacy by brining international cultures to the modern stage. Producing the longest-running live stage show in the country, the Tamburitzans is a significant cultural and historical entity in Pittsburgh. This amazing song and dance folk troupe, which has not visited northern New Jersey in years, is being sponsored by Holy Apostles this fall. It will be an excellent opportunity for the church to make itself known in the community and to share the rich Eastern European heritage of its Orthodox Faith. The concert will be held Saturday, September 23rd at 4 PM at the Clifton High School Auditorium (333 Colfax Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07013). Tickets are now on sale and may be purchased online at http:// talentshadows.events/ category/tamburitzans

Summer 2017 Mother’s Day at Holy Apostles Across the country and across denominations Mother’s Day is the most well attended Sunday of the year. It was no exception at Holy Apostles. The church was full of families and children. In addition to our tradition of handing out flowers to the women of the parish and remembering all our living and departed Mothers, this year’s celebration was marked by a visit from the Archbishop. It was the parsh’s first time serving a hierarchical liturgy in a very long time. It made for a beautiful and ornate service for Mother’s Day and the choir provided beautiful and flawless music for the occasion. To top it all off Archbishop Michael awarded Father Matthew with the skufia for his fourth year of service as a priest. The Archbishop also gave a beautiful homily on motherhood tying it together with the them of resurrection. Photos of the event can be found on the parish facebook page and videos of the Archbishop’s homily and Father Matthew’s award ceremony can found on the parish youtube channel. Check them out!

Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. For questions about the concet call Daria Miskiv at 973460-0243 or email at eventsholyapostles@gmail.com Buy your tickets soon!

PRACTICING THE FAITH:

This Issue

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES & SACRAMENTS

PAGE 3 Parish News & Events PAGE 4 & 5 Calendar PAGE 6 & 7 Fasting & Photos PAGE 8 & 9 Liturgics 101 & World News PAGE 10 & 11 Sophia & Practicing the Faith PAGE 12 Tamburitzans

Evangelism The month of June is a good month to highlight the Christian practice of evangelism. During this month we have the feast of Pentecost after which the apostles went into all the world sharing the good news of the resurrection. It is also during this month that Sts. Peter and Paul, and the Twelve are remembered. Evangelism in the original Greek means ‘to bring or share good news’ It is the privilege and joy of every Christian to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Whenever we truly have something good to share, some good fortune in our life, we cannot help but share this with others. The same ought to be true of our Orthodox faith. Part of growing in our faith is sharing how it has benefited our life with those around us. Some practical ways we can share our faith include inviting friends, family, co-workers to attend church ser“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing vices or special events. Sharing our faith also them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, means telling our story and opening up our heart and of the Holy Spirit. … and lo, I am with you to others by sharing our fears, hopes, and beliefs. This cannot be forced, but we must be ready always even unto the end of the age. “ when such opportunities arise. We must know what we believe and why. If we are not sure of these things then we ought to take the initiative and learn. Lastly, we bear witness to our faith by our daily actions. The Lord says that ‘they will know you are mine by how you love’. We share the good news best of all by living good and just lives, when we display virtues, and reach out to those in need.

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PARISH NEWS

Sophia Practical Wisdom for Everyday Life

April and May were very busy months in the parish. This was the only the second year since Bridegroom Matins was reintroduced. Both the music and the attendance was much better this year. The highlight was the hymn of St. Cassia. New this year was the addition of Pre-sanctified on Holy Wednesday evening. The Passion Gospels was very well attended as well. We had enough people to both fill the choir and had twelve people to hold a candle for each of the gospel readings. As has now become the custom at Holy Apostles the St. Basil’s Liturgy of Holy Saturday was held in the afternoon. It was again very popular. But the big change this year was the moving of Pascha back to Midnight. It was a success with young and old joining together in worship. The music, serving, and the feast afterwards were all on point and made for a joyous celebration of the resurrection. The Paschal season was marked by the blessing of the graves at George Washington, East Ridgelawn, St. Mary’s, and Saints Peter and Paul cemeteries. The archbishop made a visit to the parish on Mother’s day and the parish joined Holy Assumption in Clifton for the feast of the Ascension. Father Matthew also concluded his meetings with the college students at the OCF at Montclair. And a group of students from Elizabeth Lagerstrom’s school fulfilled community service hours at the church by cleaning in preparation for Holy Week.

On Anger The beginning of freedom from anger is silence of the lips when the heart is agitated; the middle is silence of the thoughts when there is turbulence in the soul; and the end is an unshakable calm in the midst of a storm. ~ St. John of the Ladder The bible and the writings of the Fathers have much to say about anger; how to control it, its dangers, and finding freedom from it. We are warned in Psalm 37 to “cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret, it only leads to evildoing.” It is not just anger itself which is dangerous—though there are times when anger is ‘righteous’, but that is a discussion for another time. The things that uncontrolled anger lead to also have potential to ruin our lives and relationships. Revenge, resentment, bitterness, arguments, racism, domestic violence, fights, slander, and foul language are all manifestations of anger. The danger of anger is that it takes on a life of its own and owns us. It impairs our judgment and reason. And it drowns out any competing feelings, thoughts, and sentiments we might have for the person or group with whom are angry.

ness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:31-32).” We should first remember that God is slow to anger with us; he is not some vengeful deity who is full of anger and wrath. No. He forgives us. Is patient with us. And loves us. Remember this. And give thanks to God for it each day. Then think of all the ways in your own life you have disappointed God or let other loved ones down. Think of all things you have done which warrant anger from others. Often our embrace of anger is a result of forgetting our own shortcomings. We become hypocrites. Angry hypocrites.

One good rule of thumb when we are beset by anger is to allow ourselves a 1/2 hour to calm down before responding to someIt is not uncommon that in a fit of anger we are embarrassed or one. It takes at least that long for the adrenaline to leave our sysregretful of what we have done or said, because it was not the tem and for our bodies and minds to physiologically return to a whole truth. Anger colors the world around us in absolutes. My calm state. We should refuse to argue, or make important decispouse is always …, my sister is never …, he is completely … The sions when we are angry. Another good rule when trying to object of our wrath becomes like an evil character from a comic avoid turning a seri“Anger is a perversion of courage, as book, one who is wholly bad, with nothing redemptive, comous or tense discuslust is a perversion of love.” pletely in the wrong, worthy of all blame, and deserving of all sion into an argument - St. Gregory of Nyssa malice. Anger makes us lose our perspective, judgment, and is to refrain from ackinder feelings towards another, leading us to say and do things cusatory or blaming language. Rather than saying “you said we would never do if we were calm, clear thinking, and under this..” or “you did that…” try saying “ I feel this..” or “I get control. As the Latin Poet Horace once remarked , “Anger is a hurt when you do that…” Also, avoid absolute language, words brief madness.” If left unchecked, anger can have a detrimental like: always, never, and completely. If you struggle with anger, effect on our mind, our heart, and our body. Saint John of the you could also try incorporating the Jesus Prayer into your spirLadder says that anger disfigures the soul. Some people struggle itual life. This ancient meditative prayer can be used everyday as with long-term and deep-seated anger for someone who has part of your morning or bedtime routine. It is a short, one senwronged them, abused them or betrayed them. Holding on to tence, silent prayer said to God: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, this anger burns a whole in our heart. “Holding on to anger is have mercy on me the sinner.” Rarely do we get time to be silent like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone and still during our day. Carving out some time each day for this else; you are the one who gets burned” (Buddha). will help us to cultivate peace and calmness in our lives, virtues which if we possesses will help us to both prevent and better flee There is only one way to remove this poison: forgiveness. Formoments of uncontrolled anger. giveness is a vomiting up of that poison and a freedom from the misery of mulling over wrongs and nursing past wounds. It is for Lastly, consider this story: There were once three monks who this reason that Jesus tells us that “the meek inherit the earth”. It each suffered the same abuse at the same time. The first felt the is they who are free to grab ahold of the world and all the good sting of this wrong deeply, but for fear of falling into sin and gifts that God has given. Those possessed by anger are robbed being given over to anger merely kept his mouth shut. The secof this inheritance; that is, the privilege to become children of ond rejoiced inwardly for he knew that enduring wrongs and God. And what do the children of God inherit ? The earth. That insults can earn him a reward in heaven and like all hardships is life in this world the way it was meant to be lived with all its helps forge virtue. And he longed to acquire the treasure of virjoy and beauty. tue. The third monk thought only of the harm his enemy was inflicting on himself, knowing that the victimizer is also a victim. If we want to fight back against our tendency towards anger we Over this he wept fervently for his enemy. These three were at should remember the words of the Apostle Paul , “Let all bitter- work against anger: fear, reward, and love.

UPCOMING EVENTS

❖ Apostle’s Fast begins June 12th

❖ Transfiguration: Vespers Saturday

and ends June 28th. Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul: Vigil at 7 PM on June 28th and Liturgy at 9 AM on the 29th. Both held at Christ the Saviour in Paramus. ❖ Archbishop Michael visiting for the patronal feast of Holy Apostles: Vespers at 6 PM on June 29th and Liturgy at 9 AM on the ❖ Father on vacation from July 24th till August 4th. A substitute priest will serving on Sunday July 30th. ❖ No church school during the

the 5th at 5 PM with blessing of fruit and Liturgy on Sunday the 6th at 10 AM ❖ Dormition Fast begins August 1st and end August 14th. ❖ Feast of the Dormition: Vespers at 6:30 PM on the 14th and Liturgy at 9 AM on the 15th, both to be held at Holy Assumption in Clifton. ❖ Next Parish Council Meeting: Thursday June 29th after Vespers.

Orthodox World News

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Edited by Sub-Deacon Peter Eagler

Major relics of St Nicholas of Myra visit Russia

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For the first time in nearly 1,000 years, the major relics of Saint Nicholas, one of the Church's most revered figures, are travelling outside of Italy. The relics were transported to Russia, one of many countries that have a particular devotion to the Saint.

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Huge crowds of believers, both Catholics and Russian Orthodox, are expected to venerate the relics. The historic move follows talks between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill. After reaching Moscow's Vnukovo airport, a glass-topped metallic ark bearing the relics was visited by long stream of Russian pilgrims who bowed and kissed the container. It was to be taken to Christ the Savior Cathedral, the enormous Moscow church that is a reconstruction of a cathedral dynamited in 1931 by officially atheistic Soviet authorities.

3 Memorial & Vespers 5 PM

5 Pentecost Patricia Lagerstrom’s Church School 9:15 AM Birthday Liturgy & Kneeling Vespers 10 AM Coffee Hour to Follow

6 Ellen Avrutis’s Birthday

No Vespers

Church Bells

Church School 9:15 AM Liturgy 10 AM Coffee Hour to Follow

Vespers 5 PM

Church School 9:15 AM Metelow Liturgy 10 AM Anniversary Coffee Hour to Follow

In Moscow churches rang their bells on Sunday May 21 to mark the relic’s arrival. They were sent to Russia after last year's agreement between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill during the first meeting of the heads of the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches. The 4th-Century Saint Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra, now the Turkish city of Demre. After his death, Italian merchants brought his body from Myra, in modern-day Turkey, to Italy.

No Church School Liturgy 10 AM Coffee Hour to Follow

Earlier, the relics of Saint Nicholas were brought into the crypt of the Saint Nicholas Basilica in Bari, Italy, before their 3,000 kilometer-long journey to Moscow. It marks the first time in some 10 centuries that the [major relics] of the man who became the inspiration of the legendary figure of Santa Claus were moved from their resting place.

The relics are to be displayed in Moscow's Christ the Savior cathedral until mid-June. They will then be moved to St. Petersburg, Russia's second largest city, before being returned to Bari on July 12. Both cities are expecting huge crowds of believers to visit the relics, and the Moscow patriarchate has already described it as "an unprecedented event.

Vespers 5 PM

Vigil 7 PM

Liturgy 9 AM

Saints Peter & Paul

From 22 May to 12 July the relics will be on show at Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The relics will be in St Petersburg, Russia July 13-28 before returning to Bari, Italy.

Holy Apostles

Christ the Saviour, With Christ the Saviour, Paramus Archbishop Vespers 6 PM Michael Paramus

Orthodox Faithful venerate the Relics of St Nicholas in Moscow

Council 7 PM

Liturgics 101

J ULY 2017

By Sub-deacon Ben Kalemba

Pentecost – The Kneeling Vespers One of the features peculiar to the services of Pentecost is what is commonly known as the “Kneeling Vespers”. This Vespers service is celebrated in the evening of the Day of Pentecost itself, to begin the liturgical cycle for the second day of the feast – The Day of the Holy Spirit. (Although in current practice, this Vespers is celebrated in anticipation, immediately after the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy.) To the usual office are added seven kneeling, prayers which are divided into three parts.

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Sat 1 Vespers 5 PM

Vespers begins as usual - the opening prayers, the call to worship, and Psalm 104. Next follows the Great Litany (with special petitions added), the singing of Psalm 141 (Lord, I call upon You…), and three sticheri followed by the singing of “O Heavenly King.” The entrance is made with the censer and the choir sings “O gladsome light.” After the solemn singing of the great prokeimenon, “Who is so great a God as our God?” the priest says: “Again and again on bended knee, let us pray to the Lord.” All now kneel for the first time since Pascha. (A canon of the 1st Ecumenical Council states that kneeling is not prescribed during the Paschal period.) The priest, facing the people from the middle of the open Royal Doors of the iconostasis then reads the first two kneeling prayers. When the prayers are finished, all rise. Next follows the Augmented Litany.