Oct. 26 – 20th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone 3

Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council (787). Martyrs Carpus, bishop at Thyateira, Papylus the deacon, Agathadorus, and Agathonica at Pergamus (251). Martyr Florentius of Thessalonica (1st-2nd c.). Martyr Benjamin, deacon, of Persia (ca. 424). St. Nicetas the Confessor of Paphlagonia (838). St. Benjamin of the Kyiv Caves (14th c.).

Gal. 1:11-19; Lk.8:5-15;
Heb. 13:7-16; Jn. 17:1-13;

Nov. 2 – 21st Sunday after Pentecost. Tone 4

Great-martyr Artemius at Antioch (362).

Gal. 2:16-20 ; Lk. 16:19-31;

Апостол і Євангеліє - Gospel and Epistle of the Day

Дивіться у вказівках - See propers here

About Saints, Repentance and Virtue
by Saint Nektarios of Aegina

Saints

Our Church honors saints not as gods, but as faithful servants, as holy men and friends of God. It extols the struggles they engaged in and the deeds they performed for the glory of God with the action of His grace, in such a way that all the honor that the Church gives them refers to the Supreme Being, Who has viewed their life on earth with gratification. The Church honors them by commemorating them annually through public celebrations and through the erection of Churches in honor of their name.

The holy men of God, who were magnified on earth by the Lord, have been honored by God's holy Church from the very time it was founded by the Savior Christ.

Repentance

Two factors are involved in man's salvation: the grace of God and the will of man. Both must work together, if salvation is to be attained.

Repentance is a Mysterion through which he who repents for his sins confesses before a Spiritual Father who has been appointed by the Church and has received the authority to forgive sins, and receives from this Spiritual Father the remission of his sins and is reconciled with the Deity, against Whom he sinned.

Repentance signifies regret, change of mind. The distinguishing marks of repentance are contrition, tears, aversion towards sin, and love of the good.

Virtue

We ought to do everything we can for the acquisition of virtue and moral wisdom (phronesis), for the prize is beautiful and the hope great.

The path of virtue is a path of effort and toil: "Straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it;" whereas the gate of vice is wide and the way spacious, but lead to perdition.

compiled by Fr.Nektarios Serfes

Saint Nectarios of Aegina (1846–1920): Greek: Άγιος Νεκτάριος Αιγίνης, Metropolitan of Pentapolis and Wonderworker of Aegina, was officially recognized as a Saint by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1961. His Feast Day is celebrated every year on 9 November.

Про Святих, Покаяння та Чесноту
Святого Нектарія Егінського

Святі

Наша Церква вшановує святих не як богів, але як вірних слуг, як святих людей і друзів Божих. Вона звеличує боротьбу, яку вони вели, і діяння, які вони звершили на славу Божу дією Його благодаті, таким чином, що вся честь, яку Церква їм віддає, відноситься до Всевишнього, Який з благоволінням споглядав на їхнє земне життя. Церква вшановує їх, щорічно згадуючи їх під час урочистостей та через зведення храмів на честь їхнього імені. Святі угодники Божі, які були прославлені на землі Господом, вшановуються святою Божою Церквою з самого часу її заснування Спасителем Христом.

Покаяння

У спасінні людини беруть участь два фактори: благодать Божа і воля людини. Обидва повинні співдіяти, щоб спасіння було досягнуто. Покаяння — це Таїнство, через яке той, хто кається у своїх гріхах, сповідається перед духівником, який призначений Церквою і отримав владу відпускати гріхи, і отримує від цього духівника відпущення своїх гріхів та примирюється з Богом, проти Якого він згрішив. Покаяння означає розкаяння, переміну розуму. Відмінними ознаками покаяння є сокрушення, сльози, відраза до гріха та любов до добра.

Чеснота

Ми повинні робити все можливе для здобуття чесноти та моральної мудрості (phronesis, розсудливості), бо нагорода прекрасна і надія велика. Шлях чесноти — це шлях зусиль і старань: «Тісні ворота, і вузький той шлях, що веде до життя, і мало тих, хто знаходить його;» тоді як ворота пороку широкі і шлях просторий, але ведуть до погибелі.

Укладено о. Нектарієм Серфесом

Святий Нектарій Егінський (1846–1920): грец.: Άγιος Νεκτάριος Αιγίνης, митрополит Пентапольський і Чудотворець Егінський, був офіційно визнаний святим Вселенським Патріархатом Константинополя у 1961 році. День його пам'яті святкується щороку 9 листопада.

The Parable of Sower

In today's Gospel reading, the Evangelist Luke presented the Parable of Sower. Our Lord Jesus Christ used examples from the daily life to express the heavenly and divine truths. He was able in this way to help the man of good will to understand and to accept His divine message. Even today through the Parable of the Sower He takes the example of sowing, an image which is very familiar to the farmers. He compares the seed to the word of God, the earth to men's souls and the various conditions under which one accepts or renounces the word of God in his personal life.

Once, a farmer went out to his fields to sow. He sowed in all directions, but although he sowed with skill one part of the seeds fell on the road and was trampled down by the passing men and the rest was eaten by the birds. Another fell on rocky soil, and as it grew it dried, because it had no earth for its roots to spread. Another fell on ground full with thorns and as it grew amongst the thorns, it was strangled. Finally, another fell on good ground and when it grew it produced plentiful of fruit, one hundred times more.

Man has naturally implanted within him the desire to ask and learn for everything. As man will question and searches the knowledge of science and wisdom, even more he will understand how little he really knows. If we are unable to know for things which take place around us, how much more we are ignorant of those things which take place beyond this world and which are unapproachable to man's research and knowledge?

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is the source and fountain of all wisdom and knowledge, is the only One who can reveal to the good-willing man the mysteries concerning man's salvation. He assured His Disciples that "to you has been given to learn about the truths of God's Kingdom".

These thruths – the mysteries of God – it is proper to be known by only those who believe in our Savior Jesus Christ.

The word of God is always full of life. It is the source of life and strength; it is always holy and powerful. But, to bear fruit it depends on the good will of every man who listens and accepts God's words within his heart. If man, because of his evil intensions does not accept in his heart the word of God, then the Divine Grace does not give its fruits and that soul cannot be vested with the virtues of Christ.

Many are those who listen to the word of God which is spread in various ways. The Bishops, the Priests, the Preachers, the Radio and the Television spread in their own ways the word of God. Everyone listens, from the youngest to the elderly, but the question arise: "How many keep the divine words within their hearts and practice it in their daily life"?

Our Lord Jesus Christ assured us saying, that "not anyone who calls me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father". It is not enough to hear nice and beautiful sermons. It is not enough to study Holy Scriptures. It is not enough to come to church every Sunday and major feast days. All these must be done, but under the basic rule that we practice God's teachings in our daily life. First practicing and secondly teaching are the two basics of Orthodox Spirituality and Life.

All those who listen with indifference the Church's voice, the devil comes and removes from his soul the words of salvation so that man will not benefit and be saved. Man, then, remains under the darkness of sin, deprived from the Divine Light and suffering from spiritual starvation. How many are those who in their life deny the Divine Teachings? How many, although hear the word Of God, yet, they turn their heart towards earthly and material things, thus allowing Satan and his devils to loot the sacred words of God from their hearts?

The word of God which is treasured in Holy Scriptures have the almighty Grace of God and the Life of the Holy Spirit. The word of God has the power to change, to regenerate man's soul and then man bears the fruits of virtue and piety. The fruitfulness of the virtues is achieved only within the Church, which is the soil. Outside of the Church they are many evil paths, those of unbelieving, doubting and materialism. Outside of the Church's Life man is strangled by the worldly cares.

When the word of God is accepted by a good-willing soul, then it is completely transformed spiritually and bodily. The unbeliever makes him a believer, the man of the flesh makes him spiritual, the greedy makes him a philanthropist, the blasphemer makes him a god-fearing person, the prodigal makes him an honest man.

Thus, we must not only hear or read the word of God, but we should practice it in our daily life. The acceptance and practice of God's words bears the fruits of virtues and changes man into the living temple of the Holy Spirit. 

By His Eminence Metropolitan PANTELEIMON of Antinoes

Ukrainian Orthodox League
Thanksgiving Project

November is the month we celebrate Thanksgiving and also the month we commemorate the victims of the Holodomor in Ukraine. The UOL National Executive Board has decided that our yearly recommended Thanksgiving Project will focus on bringing a greater awareness of the Holodomor while helping the hungry in our communities now and in the future. In our remembrance, we strive to combat hunger in the present.

Please donate non-perishable foods in the bin in the vestibule.  Each item will be labeled with a sticker that says:

In 1932, 10 million people perished in an artificial famine in Ukraine.
We pray no one ever goes hungry again.

#Holodomor #UkrainianGenocide #NeverForget

All donations will be given to Our Lady of Sorrows food pantry.  If you would like to write a check, please make it payable to OLS Food Pantry.  We will collect food and donations until Sunday Dec 7th. 

Let's remember the innocent victims of the Ukrainian Holodomor, honor their memory, and help those in need within our own community at this time of giving!

Українська Православна Ліга Проєкт до Дня подяки

Листопад — це місяць, коли ми святкуємо День подяки, а також місяць, коли ми вшановуємо пам'ять жертв Голодомору в Україні. Національна виконавча рада УПЛ вирішила, що наш щорічний рекомендований Проєкт до Дня подяки буде зосереджений на підвищенні обізнаності про Голодомор, водночас допомагаючи голодним у наших громадах зараз і в майбутньому. У наших спогадах ми прагнемо боротися з голодом у сьогоденні.

Будь ласка, приносьте продукти тривалого зберігання до контейнера у вестибюлі. Кожен предмет буде позначено наліпкою з написом:

У 1932 році 10 мільйонів людей загинули від штучного голоду в Україні.
Ми молимося, щоб більше ніхто й ніколи не голодував.
#Голодомор #УкраїнськийГеноцид #НіколиНеЗабудемо

Усі пожертви будуть передані харчовій коморі храму Скорботної Божої Матері (Our Lady of Sorrows). Якщо ви бажаєте виписати чек, будь ласка, зазначте отримувачем
OLS Food Pantry. Ми збиратимемо продукти та пожертви до неділі, 7 грудня.

Давайте вшануємо пам'ять невинних жертв Українського Голодомору, віддамо шану їхній пам'яті та допоможемо тим, хто цього потребує у нашій власній громаді в цей час дарування!

Constitution Committee

If you have any changes to our Constitution / Bylaws please submit them by December 1, 2025 at st.john@hrimno.com

The committee will meet in December to discuss all propositions and make recommendation to the Parish Council.

Thank you,
Brian Baxendale

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

• October 26: Robert Lown
  
• October 27: Nadine Kalada
  
• October 28: Stephanie Cardarelli
  
• October 28: Sofiia Kapytsia
  
• October 29: Conor Brown
  
• October 30: Jeffrey Skojec
  
• October 30: Oxana Nagorny

* 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,
Nancy, Hristos, John, Jane,
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