May 18 – Fifth Sunday of Pascha. Tone 4

The Samaritan Woman. Martyr Irene of Thessalonica (1st - 2nd c.).

Acts 11:19-26, 29-30; Jn. 4:5-42;

May 25 – Sixth Sunday of Pascha, of the Blind Man. Tone 5

St. Epiphanius, bishop of Cyprus (403). St. Germanus, patriarch of Constantinople (740). St. Sabinus, archbishop of Cyprus (5th c.). St. Polybius of Cyprus, bishop of Rinokyr in Egypt (5th c.).

Acts 16:16-34; Jn. 9:1-38;

Апостол і Євангеліє - Gospel and Epistle of the Day

Дивіться у вказівках - See propers here

The Samaritan Woman

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!

In today's Gospel we heard the story of our Lord's meeting with a simple woman. This woman wasn't going to the temple, nor to prayer, nor even on her way to perform some good deed. She was merely going for water, as thousands of women in every country, and as she had done from her youth. She would take the bucket, walk to the well which was located in a valley (this well still exists), lower the bucket to fill it, and return along the mountain path to her village. Though she would have never suspected it, this was a special day for her. As usual, she put on her cloak, placed the bucket on her shoulder, as was the custom, and headed for the well. Tradition tells us that her name was Oria, in Greek, Fontinae, and in Russian, we pronounce it as Svetlana. However, the Gospel does not mention her name. It does mention that she was a Samaritan, that sect which believed in God and was awaiting the Lord's deliverance, but considered that the most holy place was Mount Gerizim, where their temple stood.

So this woman was on her way to the well, and perhaps was thinking about her heavy and bitter fate. Her life had not turned out very well; five times she had tried to create a family, and each time it had failed. Her current marriage wasn't much better. Walking down to the well, she was probably thinking about her daily chores, about washing the clothes and baking the bread.

A tired traveler was sitting by the well and asked her for a drink. Here began something completely new in her life. This traveler was the Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ. It was though He was waiting for her there, and asking her for a drink, He Himself would give her the living water of truth. This gospel story tells us of three things.

First, that one might meet the Lord in the most usual circumstances of one's life. This Samaritan woman did not suspect that sitting by the well, where every day she drew water for eating and cleaning, there awaited a prophet, the Messiah, Christ, the Savior of the world. Just like us, when we are caught up in our daily chores, often think that the Lord is far away from us. But if our hearts have not lost the Lord, then He will meet with us even here.

Secondly, this woman had lived a difficult life, and she herself was probably guilty that her personal relations had not worked out. This, however, did not stop the Lord from speaking to her about the most sublime of matters. She began to ask Him about faith, about where was the most holy of places; in Jerusalem as maintained the Jews, or with the Samaritans, on Mount Gerizim.

The Lord said: "Jerusalem is the holy place, for from it comes salvation. But the time is coming, I tell you woman, when people will not worship on this mountain nor in Jerusalem, but everywhere, in spirit and truth. God is Spirit". What a great secret He revealed to her! You don't have to believe that God lives in a particular temple, building or church: there is no place on earth, where He is not living. There is only one place where He can't be found, that place where evil reigns. He is calling every one of us, telling us that God is Spirit, and that those who worship Him, must worship in spirit and truth. This doesn't mean that we ought not to gather together in church. It is a great blessing to pray with one another. It doesn't mean that we shouldn't have icons before us, for they remind us about the Lord and His saints. Nor does it mean that we can't light candles before the icons, for they illuminate the holy images and symbolize our sacrifice to the church. But the most important sacrifice must be located in the heart. For no sacrifice is pleasing to God, unless the spirit is turned to Him in truth, in honesty and in bearing good witness.

This spirit and truth is our faith, true and strong belief. Spirit and truth is love, spirit and truth is service. This spirit is accessible not just to holy, extraordinary people, chosen from their mother's womb, but to all. The Samaritan woman is an example for us. She was an ordinary woman, merely performing her daily chores. And God appeared to her, called her and told her about spirit and truth. This means that none of us have the right to say: "I'm too much of a sinner, too insignificant and much too unworthy to hear and understand the word of Christ." Christ's good news is directed to each one of us, to everyone in his time. The Word of God is like a sword, penetrating deep into our hearts, to the very depth of our being. Just feel this power and it will give to you eternal life, the living water which the Lord promised to this Samaritan woman. Amen.

By Fr. Alexander Men

Great Martyr Irene

The holy Great Martyr Irene was born in the city of Magedon in Persia during the fourth century. She was the daughter of Licinius, the pagan ruler of a certain small kingdom, and his wife Licinia, and at birth her parents named her Penelope.

Penelope was very beautiful, and her father kept her isolated in a high tower from the time she was six so that she would not be exposed to Christianity. He also placed thirteen young maidens in the tower with her. An old tutor by the name of Apellian was appointed to give her the best possible education. Apellian was a Christian, and during her lessons, he told the girl about Christ the Savior and taught her about the Christian Faith and Christian virtues.

When Penelope reached adolescence, her parents began to think about her marriage. One night Penelope beheld the following vision: a dove entered the tower with an olive branch in its beak, depositing it on the table. An eagle also flew in carrying a wreath of flowers, and left it on the table. Then a raven flew in through another window and dropped a snake on the table. In the morning Penelope woke up and wondered about the meaning of the things she had seen. She related them to her tutor Apellian and he explained that the dove symbolized her superior education, and that the olive branch represented the grace of God which is received in Baptism. The eagle and the olive branch indicated success in her future life. The snake signified that she would experience suffering and sorrow.

At the end of the conversation Apellian said that the Lord wished to betroth her to Himself and that Penelope would undergo much suffering for her heavenly Bridegroom. After this Penelope refused marriage, was baptized by the priest Timothy, and he named her Irene (peace). She even urged her own parents to become Christians. Shortly after being baptized, she smashed all her father's idols to pieces.

Since Saint Irene had dedicated herself to Christ, she refused to marry any of the suitors her father had chosen for her. When Licinius learned that his daughter refused to worship the pagan gods, he was furious. He attempted to turn her from Christ by having her tortured. She was tied up and thrown beneath the hooves of wild horses so that they might trample her to death, but the horses remained motionless. Instead of harming the saint, one of the horses charged Licinius, seized his right hand and tore it from his arm. Then it knocked Licinius down and began to trample him to death. This caused a great deal of confusion among the people there but Irene consoled them with the words of Christ: "All things are possible to the one who believes" (Mark 9: 23). And indeed, with wondrous faith, she prayed and through her prayers Licinius rose unharmed in the presence of many eyewitnesses with his hand intact. Then, Licinius and his wife were baptized as Christians, along with almost 3000 others who turned away from the worship of inanimate idols. Licinius abandoned his domain and lived in the tower he had built for his daughter. There he spent the rest of his life in repentance.

Saint Irene lived in the house of her teacher Apellian, and she began to preach Christ among the pagans, leading them to the path of salvation.

When Sedekias (Yesdegerd), the new prefect of the city, heard of the miracles performed by the saint, he summoned Apellian and questioned him about Irene's manner of life. Apellian replied that Irene, like other Christians, lived in strict temperance, devoting herself to constant prayer and reading holy books. Sedekias summoned the saint to him and urged her to stop preaching about Christ. He also attempted to force her to sacrifice to the idols. Saint Irene staunchly confessed her faith before the prefect, not fearing his wrath, and prepared to undergo suffering for Christ. By order of Sedekias she was thrown into a pit filled with vipers and serpents. The saint spent ten days in the pit and remained unharmed, for an angel of the Lord protected her and brought her food. Sedekias ascribed this miracle to sorcery, and he subjected Saint Irene to many other tortures, but she remained unharmed. Under the influence of her preaching and miracles even more people were converted to Christ, and turned away from the worship of inanimate idols.

Sedekias was deposed by his son Sapor, who persecuted Christians with an even greater zeal than his father had done. Saint Irene went to her home town of Magedon in Persia to meet Sapor and his army, and ask him to end the persecution. When he refused, Saint Irene prayed and his entire army was blinded. She prayed again and they received their sight once more. In spite of this, Sapor refused to recognize the power of God. Because of his insolence, he was struck and killed by a bolt of lightning.

After this, Saint Irene walked into the city and performed many miracles. She returned to the tower built by her father, accompanied by the priest Timothy. Through her teaching, she converted five thousand people to Christ.

Next, the saint went to the city of Callinicus, or Callinicum (possibly on the Euphrates River in Syria). The ruler of that place was King Numerian, the son of Sebastian. When she began to teach about Christ, she was arrested and tortured by the pagan authorities. They enclosed her inside three bronze oxen, one after another, which were heated until they were red-hot. When the Great Martyr was placed within the third ox, it began to walk about, and then it split asunder. Saint Irene emerged from it as if from the fires of hell. This resulted in thousands of souls converting to the faith of Christ.

Sensing the approach of death, Numerian instructed his eparch Babdonus to continue torturing the saint in order to force her to sacrifice to idols. Once again, the tortures were ineffective, and many people turned to Christ.

Christ's holy martyr then traveled to the city of Constantina, forty miles northeast of Edessa. By 330, the Persian king Sapor II (309-379) had heard of Saint Irene's great miracles. To prevent her from winning more people to Christ, she was arrested, beheaded, and then buried. However, God sent an angel to raise her up again, and she went into the city of Mesembria. After seeing her alive and hearing her preach, the local king was baptized with many of his subjects.

Wishing to convert even more pagans to Christianity, Saint Irene went to Ephesus, where she taught the people and performed many miracles. The Lord revealed to her that the end of her life was approaching. Then Saint Irene left the city accompanied by six people, including her former teacher Apellian. On the outskirts of the town, she found a new tomb in which no one had ever been buried. After making the Sign of the Cross, she went inside, directing her companions to seal the entrance to the cave with a large stone, which they did. She also told them that that no one should move the stone until four days had passed.

Apellian returned after only two days, and found that the stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty. There are conflicting accounts about her holy relics being taken to Constantinople and other places, including Patras, Samos, and Patmos. According to the Western Martyrologies, Saint Irene was martyred in Thessaloniki after being thrown into the fire, while according to the Menologion of Emperor Basil II, Saint Irene completed her martyric contest by being beheaded.

Saint Irene led thousands of people to Christ through her preaching, and by her example. The Church continues to honor her memory and to seek her heavenly intercession. She is invoked by those wishing to effect a swift and happy marriage. In Greece, she is also the patron saint of policemen. Saint Irene is also one of the twelve Virgin Martyrs who appeared to Saint Seraphim of Sarov (January 2) and the Diveyevo nun Eupraxia on the Feast of the Annunciation in 1831. By her holy prayers, may the Lord have mercy upon us and save us. Amen.

Fragments of Saint Irene's Holy Relics are located at Kykkos Monastery on Cyprus, and in the Greek church of Saint George in Venice.

Великомучениця Ірина

Свята Ірина, слов'янка за походженням, жила в другій половині І століття і була дочкою Лікінія, правителя міста Магеддона в Македонії. Ще в юнацтві Ірина, котра до прийняття християнства носила ім'я Пенелопа, зрозуміла суєтність язичництва й увірувала у Христа. Згідно з переданням, її хрестив апостол Тимофій, учень апостола Павла. Бажаючи присвятити своє життя Богу, свята Ірина відмовилася від шлюбу.

Пізнаючи все глибше християнську віру, свята Ірина стала переконувати і батьків стати християнами. Батько мучениці, Лікіній, спершу прихильно слухав її слова, але потім розгнівався на неї, і, коли вона не погодилася поклонитися ідолам, кинув її під ноги диким коням. Один із коней кинувся на Лікінія і задавив його до смерті. Коли за молитвою святої він повернувся до життя, то увірував у Христа сам і все його сімейство, а з ним увірувало три тисячі осіб.

Після цього свята Ірина стала сміливо проповідувати Христа серед жителів Македонії, за що багато разів зазнавала принижень і страждань. За наказом правителя Седекії святу Ірину то кидали в рів зі зміями, то намагалися розпиляти пилкою, то прив'язували до млинового колеса. Муки Ірини супроводжувалися чудесними знаменнями, що приваблювали багатьох до віри в Христа. Так, змії не торкалися мучениці, пили не шкодили її тілу, колесо млинове не крутилося. Сам мучитель Ваводон увірував у Христа і охрестився. Всього ж Іриною навернено було понад десять тисяч язичників. Коли Господь вказав Ірині день її смерті, вона пішла в одну гірську печеру біля міста Ефеса, вхід до якої на її прохання був завалений каменем. На четвертий день її знайомі повернулися до печери і, відкривши її, не знайшли в ній тіла святої Ірини. Усі зрозуміли, що вона була взята Господом на Небо.

Пам'ять святої Ірини дуже шанувалася в стародавній Візантії. У Царгороді в пам'ять святої Ірини було побудовано кілька прекрасних храмів.

Поклонятися Богові в дусі і в істині

Отже, із сьогоднішнього євангельського читання, з цієї події, з цього діалогу між Христом і самарянкою ми повинні для себе зрозуміти те, що ми завжди повинні старатися жити в правді і в істині, і, таким чином, духом і правдою поклонятися і служити Богові – нашому всемогутньому Творцеві, Який є промислителем роду людського.

Самарянка після розмови із Христом, коли вона зрозуміла, що Він – Месія, пішла до свого міста. І коли вона бігла по дорозі, її переповнювала така велика радість, що вона цією радістю хотіла поділитися з усіма, кого зустрічала на своєму шляху. Вона всім казала: «Ідіть, побачите Чоловіка, Який сказав мені все, що я зробила; чи не Він Христос?» (Ін. 4 29). Люди, хто із цікавості, а хто із того, що дійсно повірили у її слова, а дехто через те, що дійсно з великим нетерпінням чекали на прихід Месії, пішли до Нього. Вони там слухали Його слова, Його повчання і, як описує євангеліст, після цього вони попросили щоб Ісус залишився у їхньому місті й Він ще два дні з ними перебував, їх учив — і ще більше людей прийшло і повірило в Христа (Ін. 4. 40-41). І потім самаряни, як описує євангеліст, говорили до цієї жінки, що тепер ми віримо не тому, що ти нам сказала, а тому, що ми самі побачили і почули Його слова.

Священне Писання не відкриває нам імені цієї жінки-самарянки, яка знайшла Месію, але Священне Передання передає, що її звали Фотинія.  Фотинія на нашу українську мову перекладається як Світлана – та, яка несе світло. І ось ця самарянка, яку Церква, Священне Передання Церкви іменує Світланою, Фотинією, носієм світла, - вона принесла це божественне світло Христового вчення до самарянського народу, який ворогував із юдеями, і просвітила цим світлом всю свою землю! А самаряни, які вороже були налаштовані проти юдеїв, після спілкування із Христом Спасителем прийняли в себе, у своїй землі, представника юдейського народу, і настільки захопилися Його вченням, що просили Христа на довше залишитися із ними!

Архимандрит ОЛЕКСІЙ (Мензатюк)

Jr. UOL Chapter

We are happy to announce that St. John's has reinstated a Jr. UOL chapter, who had their first official meeting on 05/11/25. Stamatia Dimitriou is acting as senior advisor, and is pleased to present the newly elected board.

• President: Maxim Synevskyy
• Vice President: Max Hatala
• Secretary: Naveen Bhandari
• Treasurer: Hunter Harendza

The group looks forward to a year of faith, community, and of course fun, as they continue to grow in their own lives and within our parish.

Oath of Office will be on Sunday, June 1 after the service.

Special Parish Body Meeting - May 18

Special Parish Body Meeting is scheduled for May 18, 2025 to elect a Delegate and an Alternate to the Tri-Annual Sobor which is scheduled for October 16-19, 2025 in Somerset, NJ.

Sacred Sites Open House on Sunday, May 18, 2025

Our church will again be participating in the Sacred Sites Open House Program sponsored by The Preservation Society of the Southern Tier (PAST) and The New York Landmarks Conservancy on Sunday May 18, 2025 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm.

This state-wide event open to the public, free-of-charge, offers an opportunity to visit and tour the many sacred sites in our area and learn their history and traditions.

To obtain a complete list of sites in our area, including libraries, historical buildings, and other places of worship, that will be open for visitations 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please go to www.pastny.org

Kitchen Sessions

June 1 - Celebrate Ukraine

Father, Pani & Marianne K. Lawryk Scholarship

This music scholarship is offered to all St. John's members who are graduating from high school.  The scholarship is in the amount of $750.00 and all qualifying seniors are encouraged to apply.

In order to be eligible, graduating seniors must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Each applicant must currently be a member of at least one (1) musical ensemble at his/her high school.
2. Each applicant must have an academic average of at least 85% for four (4) years of high school.
3. Each applicant must have been a member of at least two (2) different performing groups sometime during his/her 4 years of high school.
4. Each applicant must be accepted at a fully accredited college or university.
5. Each applicant must demonstrate the highest character and leadership.

Please contact Nancy Skojec (zmknancy@gmail.com or (607) 972-6606) for an application.  Please return the application to Nancy by the end of May.  Thank you.

Ukrainian Day - July 12, 2025

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

• May 18: Dr. Patrick Scannell
• May 20: Dominic Marra
• May 20: Samuel Hatala
• May 20: Stamatia Dimitriou
• May 20: Dominic Marra
• May 21: Sabina Bhandari
• May 22: Mykola Kapytsia

May God bless them with health, wealth and happiness for many blessed years!

* 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, Melodye, 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