Apr. 6 – Fifth Sunday of the Great Lent. Tone 8

Forefeast of the Annunciation. Venerable Mary of Egypt. Ven. Zacharias the Recluse of Egypt (4th c.). St. Artemon, bishop of Seleucia (1st c.). Ven. James the Confessor, bishop of Catania (811). Ven. Zachariah, faster of the Kyiv Caves (13th c.).

Heb. 9:11-14; Mk. 10:32-45;

Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

Apr. 7 – The Annunciation of the Theotokos - Благовіщення Пресвятої Богородиці

Martyr Victoria.

Vesp.: Gen. 27:1-41; Prov. 19:16-25;
To Annun.: Exodus 3:1 - 8; Prov. 8:22 - 30;
Lit.: Heb. 2:11-18; Lk. 1:24-38;

Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Apr. 13 – The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem - Вхід Господній в Єрусалим

St. Hypatius the Wonderworker, bishop of Gangra (ca. 360). Ven. Apollonius, ascetic of the Thebaid (395). Martyrs Abdas the Bishop and Benjamin the Deacon, of Persia (424). Ven. Hypatius the Healer of the Kyiv Caves (14th c.).

Phil. 4:4-9; Jn. 12:1-18;

Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Апостол і Євангеліє - Gospel and Epistle of the Day

Дивіться у вказівках - See propers here

Sermon on the Annunciation by St. Proklos, Patriarch of Constantinople

Our present gathering in honor of the Most Holy Virgin inspires me, brethren, to say of Her a word of praise, of benefit also for those come unto this churchly solemnity.

It comprises a praise of women, a glorying of their gender, which (glory) is brought it by Her, She Who is at one same time both Mother, and Virgin. O desired and wondrous gathering! Celebrate, O nature, that wherein honor be rendered to Woman; rejoice, O human race, that wherein the Virgin be glorified. "For when sin did abound, grace did superabound" (Rom 5:20). The Holy Mother of God and Virgin Mary hath gathered us here, She the pure treasure of virginity, the intended paradise of Second Adam -- the locus, wherein was accomplished the co-uniting of natures, wherein was affirmed the Counsel of salvific reconciliation.

Whoever is it that ever saw, whoever heard, that within a womb the Limitless God would make habitation, Whom the Heavens cannot circumscribe, Whom the womb of a Virgin limiteth not!?

He born of woman is not only God and He is not only Man: This One born made woman, being the ancient gateway of sin, into the gateway of salvation: where evil poured forth its poison, bringing on disobedience, there the Word made for Himself a living temple, bringing in thither obedience; from whence the arch-sinner Cain sprang forth, there without seed was born Christ the Redeemer of the human race.

The Lover-of-Mankind did not disdain to be born of woman, since this bestowed His life. He was not subject to impurity, being settled within the womb, which He Himself arrayed free from all harm. If perchance this Mother did not remain a Virgin, then that born of Her might be a mere man, and the birth would be no wise miraculous; but since she after birth remained a Virgin, then how is He Who is born indeed -- not God? It is an inexplicable mystery, since in an inexplicable manner was born He Who without hindrance went through doors when they were locked. When confessing in Him the co-uniting of two natures, Thomas cried out: "My Lord, and my God!" (Jn 20:28).

The Apostle Paul says, that Christ is "to the Jews indeed scandal, and to the Gentiles yet folly" (1 Cor 1:23): they did not perceive the power of the mystery, since it was incomprehensible to the mind: "for had they understood, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory" (1 Cor 2:8). If the Word had not settled within the womb, then the flesh would not have ascended with Him onto the Divine Throne; if for God it were disdainful to enter into the womb, which He created, then the Angels too would have disdained service to mankind.

That One, Who by His nature was not subject to sufferings, through His love for us subjected Himself to many a suffering. We believe, that Christ not through some gradual ascent towards the Divine nature was made God, but being God, through His mercy He was made Man. We do not say: "a man made God"; but we confess, that God was incarnated and made Man.

His Servant was chosen for Himself as Mother by That One Who, in His essence did not have mother, and Who, through Divine foresight having appeared upon the earth in the image of man, does not have here father. How one and the same is He both without father, and without mother, in accord with the words of the Apostle (Heb 7:3)? If He -- be only a man, then He cannot be without mother -- but actually He had a Mother. If He -- be God only, then He cannot be without Father -- but in fact He has the Father. And yet as God the Creator He has not mother, and as Man He has not father.

We can be persuaded in this by the very name of the Archangel, making annunciation to Mary: his name -- is Gabriel. What does this name mean? -- it means: "God and man." Since That One about Whom he announced is God and Man, then his very name points beforehand to this miracle, so that with faith be accepted the deed of the Divine dispensation.

To save people would be impossible for a mere man, since every man has need in the Saviour: "for all, -- says Saint Paul, -- have sinned, and come short the Glory of God" (Rom 3:23). Since sin subjects the sinner to the power of the devil, and the devil subjects him to death, then our condition did become extremely hapless: there was no sort of way to be delivered from death.

There were sent physicians, i.e. the prophets, but they could only the more clearly point out the malady. What did they do? When they saw, that the illness was beyond human skill, they summoned from Heaven the Physician; one of them said "Lord, bend the heavens, and come down" (Ps 143[144]:5); others cried out: "Heal me, O Lord, and I shalt be healed" (Jer 17:14); "restore Thine power, and come yet to save us" (Ps 79[80]:3). And yet others: "For if God truly be settled with man upon the earth" (3[1] Kg 8:27); "speedily send before Thine tender mercy, O Lord, for we are brought very low" (Ps 78[79]:8).

Others said: "O woe to me, my soul! For the pious art perished from the earth, and of the upright amongst men there is none" (Mich 7:2). "O God, in help attend to me, O Lord, shield me with Thine help" (Ps 69[70]:1). "If there be delay, endure it, for He that cometh shalt come, and not tarry" (Hab 2:3). "Perishing like a lost sheep: seek out Thine servant, who doth hope on Thee" (Ps 118[119]:176). "For God wilt come, our God, and wilt not keep silence" (Ps. 49[50]:3).

That One, Who by nature is Lord, did not disdain human nature, enslaved by the sinister power of the devil, the merciful God would not accede for it to be forever under the power of the devil, the Ever-Existing One came and gave in ransom His Blood; for the redemption of the race of man from death He gave up His Body, which He had accepted of the Virgin, He delivered the world from the curse of the law, annihilating death by His death. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law" -- exclaims Saint Paul (Gal 3:13).

Thus know, that our Redeemer is not simply a mere man, since all the human race was enslaved to sin. But He likewise is not God only, non-partaking of human nature. He had body, since if He had not clothed Himself in me, He then likewise should not have saved me. But, having settled within the womb of the Virgin, He clothed Himself in my fate, and within this womb He perfected a miraculous change: He bestowed the Spirit and received a body, That One only indeed (dwelling) with the Virgin and (born) of the Virgin. And so, Who is He, made manifest to us? The Prophet David doth point it out for thee in these words: "Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord" (Ps 117[118]:26).

But tell us even more clearly, O prophet, Who is He? The Lord is the God of Hosts, says the prophet: "God is the Lord, and hath revealed Himself unto us" (Ps 117[118]:27). "The Word was made flesh" (Jn 1:14): there were co-united the two natures, and the union remained without mingling.

He came to save, but had also to suffer. What has the one in common with the other? A mere man cannot save; and God in only His nature cannot suffer. By what means was done the one and the other? Wherein that He, Emmanuel, being God, was made also Man; both this, that what He was, He saved by -- and this, that what He was made, He suffered as. Wherefore, when the Church beheld that the Jewish throng had crowned Him with thorns, bewailing the violence of the throng, it said: "Daughters of Zion, go forth and behold the crown, of which is crowned He of His mother" (Sng 3:11).

He wore the crown of thorns and destroyed the judgement to suffering from the thorns. He Only is That One both in the bosom of the Father and in the womb of the Virgin; He Only is That One -- in the arms of His Mother and in the wings of the winds (Ps. 103[104]:3); He, to Whom the Angels bowed down in worship, at that same time reclined at table with publicans.

Upon Him the Seraphim dared not to gaze, and at the same time Pilate pronounced sentence upon Him. He is That One and Same, Whom the servant did smite and before whom did tremble all creation.

He was nailed to the Cross and ascended to the Throne of Glory -- He was placed in the tomb and He stretched out the heavens like a skin (Ps. 103[104]:2) -- He was numbered amidst the dead and He emptied hell; here upon the earth, they cursed at Him as a transgressor -- there in Heaven, they exclaimed Him glory as the All-Holy.

What an incomprehensible mystery! I see the miracles, and I confess, that He is God; I see the sufferings, and I cannot deny, that He is Man. Emmanuel opened up the doors of nature, as man, and preserved unharmed the seal of virginity, as God: He emerged from the womb thus as He entered through the announcing; the same wondrously was He both born and conceived: without passion He entered, and without impairment He emerged, as concerning this doth say the Prophet Ezekiel: "He returned me back the way of the gates of the outer sanctuaries, looking upon the east: and these had been shut. And saith the Lord to me: son of man, these gates shalt be closed, and not open, and no one go through them: for the Lord God of Israel, He Only, shalt enter and come forth, and they wilt be shut" (Ez 44:1-2). Here it clearly indicates the Holy Virgin and Mother of God Mary.

Let cease all contention, and let the Holy Scripture enlighten our reason, so that we too receive the Heavenly Kingdom unto all eternity. Amen.

Благовіщення Пресвятої Богородиці

7 квітня (25 березня за ст.ст.) Церква святкує Благовіщення Пресвятої Богородиці – одне з найбільших дванадесятих свят Православної Церкви. Торжество це нагадує про біблійну подію, викладену в Євангелії від Луки :

"Шостого ж місяця був посланий від Бога ангел Гавриїл у галилейське місто, яке називається Назарет, до Діви, зарученої з мужем на ім'я Йосиф, з дому Давидового; ім'я ж Діви — Марія. Ангел, увійшовши до Неї, сказав: радуйся, Благодатна! Господь з Тобою, благословенна Ти в жонах. Вона ж, побачивши його, стривожилася від слів його і міркувала, що б то значило це привітання. І сказав Їй ангел: не бійся, Маріє! Бо Ти знайшла благодать у Бога. І ось зачнеш в утробі і народиш Сина, і наречеш ім'я Йому Ісус. Він буде Великий і Сином Всевишнього наречеться, і дасть Йому Господь Бог престіл Давида, отця Його. І царюватиме у домі Якова повік, і царству Його не буде кінця. Марія ж сказала ангелу: як же станеться це, коли Я мужа не знаю? Ангел сказав Їй у відповідь: Дух Святий зійде на Тебе, і cила Всевишнього осінить Тебе. Тому і народжуване Святе наречеться Сином Божим".

Як бачимо, це свято нагадує нам про благовіщення – принесення вісником Божим, архангелом Гавриїлом, благої звістки про майбутнє народження від Духа Святого і Марії Діви Сина Божого, Господа нашого Ісуса Христа.

Святі отці Церкви у своїх писаннях пояснюють і те, чому Син Божий втілився в утробі Діви Марії саме в день 25 березня (7 квітня). Адже Бог сотворив чоловіка 25 березня (7 квітня), тому Отець Небесний і послав архангела Гавриїла цього дня благовістити Діву Марію.

Це свято відзначається з перших часів християнської Церкви. У давніх вірян воно мало такі назви: Зачаття Христа, Благовіщення про Христа, Початок викуплення, Благовіщення ангела Марії. І тільки в VII столітті отримало сучасну назву: Благовіщення Пресвятої Богородиці.

У науці про богослужіння, літургіці, читаємо: "Встановлення свята дійшло до нас з глибокої давнини. Відомо було святкування Благовіщення уже в III столітті (із Слова святого Григорія Чудотворця цього дня). У своїх бесідах святий Іоан Золотоустий, блажений Августин згадують торжество як давнє і відоме церковне свято. Протягом V – VIII століть під час єретичних вчень свято особливо було звеличене в Церкві. У V ст. Анатолій Константинопольський, у VII – Андрій Єрусалимський, у VIII – Іоан Дамаскин, а також і в ХVІІІ ст. Феофан, митрополит Нікейський, склали канони, якими нині Церква прославляє цю священну подію".

Добровільна згода Діви Марії стати Матір'ю Месії була абсолютно необхідною для втілення Сина Божого, тому що Бог завжди оберігає дар свободи волі, яким Він наділив людину. Моральна свобода – це найцінніша властивість, яка вивищує нас над бездушною природою і над тваринним світом. Без неї ми були б чимось на зразок запрограмованих роботів, нездатних морально удосконалюватися. Будучи ж морально вільними, ми можемо духовно зростати, вдосконалюватися і, таким чином, уподібнюватися нашому Творцю. Таким чином, після вільної згоди Діви Марії Дух Святий осінив Її, і відбулася у цей момент найбільша таємниця, незбагненна, фактично, навіть ангелам: Невмістимий, неприступний і вічний Господь зійшов у дівочу утробу і, не спопеливши її, прийняв від неї людську природу, що складається з тіла і розумної душі. Подальший розвиток Плоду в дівочій утробі йшло за звичайними законам природи, і Діва носила в собі Немовлятко, до дня Його народження у Вифлеємі (З милості Божої, незбагненне Чудо втілення Сина Божого як би повторюється на кожній літургії, коли Дух Святий сходить на хліб і вино, що лежать на престолі, і перетворює їх у Тіло і Кров Христові. Так у таїнстві Причастя Господь Ісус Христос долучає нас Своєю Божественною природою).

Саме пришестя у світ Сина Божого — це і радість, і початок жертовності божественної любові: «Бо так полюбив Бог світ, що віддав і Сина Свого Єдинородного, щоб усякий, хто вірує в Нього не загинув, а мав життя вічне» (Ін. 3, 16). Ось свідчення божественної жертовної любові. Блага звістка Архангела Діві Марії є початком цієї любові. Син Божий приходить на розп'яття, смерть і добровільне поховання, щоб дати людям визволення і вічну радість.

Найбільший дар благословення Господа Діва Марія здобула тому, що була смиренною Його рабою. Її будуть ублажати всі роди (Лк. 1, 48). Усі покоління людей, які прийшли завдяки Її смиренню до торжества в їхньому житті благодаті й істини (Ін. 1, 17), будуть прославляти Її як Матір Господа, і милість Всесильного Бога буде простиратися на всі покоління до тих, хто має страх Його (Лк. 1, 50).

У найдавніших сказаннях про Пресвяту Діву потрібно, безсумнівно, бачити відголоски Священного Передання, на історичній основі якого Церква заснувала свята на честь Діви Марії. «Благовіствуй земле радість велику, небеса воспівайте славу Божию». Через Пресвяту Діву Марію людині знову відкрилася глибина Любові Божої. Відкрилася дорога в Небо, спілкування з небожителями, зі святими Ангелами. Стало можливим для людини усе, що благоволив Господь, приготував і дарував людині для її користі і спасіння. Відкривається Небо, і Престол херувимський і Пресвята Діва; Церква на землі стає частиною Неба, де ми зустрічаємося з Богом і оновлюємося.

Пресвята Богородице,
спаси нас і допомагай нам!

Thank You Note

Dear Parish Family and Friends,

My sincere and heartfelt thanks for your prayers, visits and cards. I truly appreciate your well wishes. With God's love I know He has been with me through this journey. I so miss attending church, especially through this lenten season.

With love in Christ, Zenna Mihovan

Easter bake sale variety booth bakers needed.

Please consider baking your specialties for the variety booth. At the holiday bake sale we were missing many of our regular bakers. Please support the sisterhood and share your baking specialties. All baked goods should be at the hall by 3 PM Friday, April 11, so that we may cut and organize. Thank you as always for your help.

Pysanky class

Today is the last Pysanky class. Please finish your pysanky and leave them ready for varnish. You will be able to receive them back next Sunday thanks to Dr. Mark Hatala who makes the pysanky shine bright for Pascha celebration.

At the same time we would like to thank the instructors Julie Marra, John Maliwacki and all who helped them. Also, many thanks to the chef cooks who fed the children during Sunday Classes.

Easter Bake Sale - April 12, 2025 11am - 1pm

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

• April 07: Rose Klodowski
  
• April 08: Hristos Dimitriou
  
• April 11: Lily Hatala
  
• April 12: Damian Bhandari

* 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, Bob, Nadine, Dannette,
John, Jane, Mary, Zenna, Douglas,
Melanie, William, Marion, Helen,
Mariann, Robert, Jean, Ronald, Brian,
Fr. James, Scott, Andriy, James, William,
Pipinos, Fr. Gabriel and PM Susan

Upcoming Readings