Dec. 28 – 29 Sunday after Pentecost, of the Holy Forefathers. Tone 4

Hieromartyr Eleutherius, bishop of Illyria, and his mother, Martyr Anthia and Martyr Corivus the Eparch (126). Ven. Paul of Mt. Latros (956). Martyr Eleutherius (4th c.). Ven. Pardus, hermit (6th c.). St. Stephen the Confessor, archbishop of Surozh in the Crimea (790).

Col. 3:4-11; Lk. 14:16-24;

Jan. 4 – 30 Sunday after Pentecost. Tone 5

Sunday before Nativity. Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ. Great-martyr Anastasia of Rome, and her teacher Martyr Chrysogonus, and with them martyrs Theodota, Evodias, Eutychianus, and others (304).

Heb. 11:9-10, 17-23, 32-40 ; Mt. 1:1-25;

Апостол і Євангеліє - Gospel and Epistle of the Day

Дивіться у вказівках - See propers here

Righteous Priest Aaron

The Righteous Aaron was the son of Amram and Jochebed, and the elder brother of the Prophet Moses the God-seer, and also of Miriam. He was a direct descendent of Levi by both parents. God called him "the Levite" in Exodus 4:14, when He appointed Aaron to be the spokesman for Moses, who was "slow of speech," before the people. Later, he would also speak on behalf of Moses before Pharaoh in Egypt (Ex. 4:30; 7:2). Aaron was married to Elisheba, the daughter of the Prince of Judah (Ex. 6:23), who bore him four sons.

Moses was eighty years old and Aaron was eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh and asked that the Hebrews be released from their slavery. The Lord told Moses that Pharaoh would ask them for a miracle, and that Aaron should throw down his rod before him, and it would become a serpent (Ex. 7:9). When Pharaoh would not allow the Hebrews to leave Egypt, God told Moses to have Aaron stretch forth his rod over the Nile River, and it would turn to blood.

Following a succession of plagues, Pharaoh relented and let the people go, then Moses led them on their long journey to the Promised Land. In Chapter 17 of Exodus, the Hebrews fought Amalek in a battle at Rephidim. Moses stood atop a hill with the rod of God in his hand. As long as he raised his hand, the Hebrews prevailed, but when he became tired and lowered it, Amalek prevailed. Aaron and Hur sat Moses on a rock and held up his hands, one on each side. This was a prefiguration of the suffering of Christ, because the arms of Moses formed a cross. In the Greek Septuagint, the names Aaron and Hur begin with the letters Alpha and Omega, another reference to Christ (Revelation 1:8).

Aaron and his sons were anointed and sanctified to serve God as priests (Exodus chapter 29). In chapter 32, Aaron fell into temptation when Moses went up on Mount Sinai to receive the Commandments. Since Moses was taking a long time, the people grew restless and asked Aaron to make them a golden idol in the form of a calf so that they could offer sacrifices. He gave into them, and Moses was angry when he returned and saw them dancing and singing before the calf. He threw down the tablets on which God had written the Ten Commandments, and then he burned the golden calf and ground it to powder. He scattered the powder on the water, and he made the people drink it. When Moses asked those who were on the Lord's side to gather around him, the Levites came to him. He ordered them to take their swords and slay their sons, companions, and neighbors. About three thousand people were killed that day.

Later, Aaron and Miriam criticized Moses for marrying a Cushite woman (Num. 12:1). God was angry with them, so He punished Miriam with leprosy. She was healed by God seven days after Moses interceded for her.

In chapter 17 of Numbers, the people murmured against Moses and Aaron, so God commanded that the leaders of the twelve tribes should have their names inscribed on their rods and placed in the tent of testimony. God would reveal His choice to make the people cease their grumbling against Moses and his brother. Aaron's rod bloomed miraculously in the tent of the testimony, to show that he had been chosen for this purpose.

Aaron reposed atop Mount Hor when he was one hundred and twenty-three years old. One of his descendants was Saint Elizabeth, the mother of Saint John the Baptist (Luke 1:5).

Собор Кримських святих

Історія християнського Криму нерозривно пов'язана з історією київського Православ'я. Уже в першому столітті слово євангельської проповіді приніс сюди святий Андрій Первозванний. До цієї ж доби належить християнська місія священномученика Климента, єпископа Римського, який прийняв мученицьку кончину в Криму. А в четвертому столітті на півострові діяли вже п'ять єпархій. Саме в древньому Херсонесі, або Корсуні, як казали слов'яни, за традиційною версією, прийняв Хрещення Київський князь Володимир.

Багато святих, подвижників і святителів, подібно до яскравого духовного суцвіття, прикрасили Крим подвигами християнської просвіти, мучеництва і сповідання. Зокрема, своїм праведним життям, подвигами і чудесами Крим освятили: апостол Андрій Первозванний; рівноапостольні Кирил і Мефодій, учителі Словенські; рівноапостольний великий князь Володимир; преподобномучениця Параскева; священномученик Климент, папа Римський; священномученики єпископи Херсонеські Агафодор, Василій, Євгеній, Єлпідій, Єферій, Єфрем і Капітон; сповідник Мартин, папа Римський; сповідник Стефан, архієпископ Сурозький; Савва, архієпископ Сурозький; Лука (Войно-Ясенецький), архієпископ Сімферопольський і Кримський.

Святкування спільної пам'яті всіх святих землі Кримської встановлено 1988 року, на тисячоліття хрещення Русі.

Let's Help Ukraine!

St. John's Ukrainian Humanitarian Fund is accepting donations to help Ukrainians during war. Donations will go to provide food and other humanitarian needs.

To make donation online click here

We accept checks as well.

Please make the checks to St. John Ukrainian Humanitarian Fund

Mailing address:

1 Saint John's Parkway
Johnson City NY 13790
 

Cash is accepted in church

Pray for Ukraine!

Prayers for Ukraine are done during each service. To see the schedule click here.

Молитви за Україну проводяться під час кожної служби. За розкладом дивіться тут.

May God bless and protect Ukraine!

Please Note!

• Only Orthodox Christians may receive Holy Communion or other Sacraments.
  
• If you have not been to confession in over a month, please go to confession before receiving the Holy Gifts.
  
• We fast from all food and drink (including water) from bedtime (the previous night) until we receive the Holy Gifts during morning Divine Liturgy. That also means no coffee, no cigarettes, no gum, candies in the morning and during Divine Liturgy.

Happy Birthday

• December 29: Dr. Amar Bhandari
  
• December 30: Adam Hatala
  
• December 31: Mr. Michael Maslak Jr.
  
• January 01: Hunter Gorick
  
• January 02: Kristi Gorick
  
• January 03: Olexandr Astakhov

* If your or someone else's birthday is missing or incorrect please let Fr. Ivan know right away.

Please Pray for the Servants of God

John, Rose, Solomiia, Bob,
Melodye, Hristos, John, Jane,
Fr. Andre, Mary, Zenna, Douglas, Ivan,
Melanie, William, Marion, Helen,
Mariann, Robert, Jean, Ronald, Brian,
Fr. James, Scott, Andriy, James, William,
Pipinos, Fr. Gabriel and PM Susan, Vasyl

Upcoming Readings