St. LukeDiocese Orthodox Christian Church of the South, Orthodox Church in America The Rev. Father Basil Henry, Priest 1415 Woodstock Ave. • Anniston, Alabama • www.stlukeanniston.org/ basilncana@yahoo.com • (256) 235-3893
July 17, 2011 • 5th Sunday after Pentecost
Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils. Greatmartyr Marina (Margaret) of Antioch in Pisidia (4th c.). Ven. Irenarchus, Abbot of Solovkétsky Monastery (1628). Translation of the Relics of Ven. Lazarus of Mt. Galerius near Ephesus. Ven. Andrei Rublev (14th-15th c.). Royal Passionbearers Tsar Nicholas (Nikolai), Tsaritsa Alexandra, Tsarevich Aleksy, Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia (1918—July 4th O.S.).
Announcements
We now have a bin in the dining room for those who wish to donate for the hungry. Fr. Basil’s class on Corinthians continues Wednesday evening at 4 o’clock.
The icon on the front is of the First Ecumenical Council called by the Emperor Constantine, who stands in the forefront.
Mon, 7/18
This Week’s Scripture, Service and Fasting Schedule Tues, 7/19 Wed, 7/20 Thurs, 7/21 Fri, 7/22 Sat, 7/23
Sun, 7/24
No Services
Matins 8 a.m.
Bible Study 4 p.m.
Matins 8 a.m.
Matins 8 a.m.
Great Vespers Divine Liturgy 4 p.m. 10 a.m.
Romans 16:17-24
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
1 Corinthians 2:9-3:8
1 Corinthians 3:18-23
1 Corinthians 4:5-8
Romans 9:1-5
Romans 12:6-14
Matthew 13:10-23
Matthew 13:24-30
Matthew 13:31-36
Matthew 13:36-43
Matthew 13:44-54
Matthew 9:18-26
Matthew 9:1-8
Galatians 5:22-6:2
James 5:10-20 (Prophet Elijah)
Romans 8:28-39
Luke 6:17-23
Luke 4:22-30
John 15:17-16:2
(St. Seraphim) (St. Seraphim)
New Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth
St. Seraphim of Sárov
(SS Boris & Gleb) (Prophet Elijah)
Prophet Elijah
(SS Boris & Gleb)
St. Ilia Chavchavadze, Martyr of Georgia
Holy Myrrhbearer Mary Magdalene
Prophet Ezekiel
Passionbearers Boris and Gleb
Service times are subject to change. Please check with Fr. Basil if in any doubt.
Great Vespers “Lord, I Call”
From the morning watch even to the night, let Israel hope in the Lord!
Sunday (Tone 4)
Lead forth my soul from prison, that I may confess Thy name!
We glorify Thy Resurrection on the third day, O Christ God, by always honoring Thy life-creating Cross; by it Thou hast renewed the corrupted nature of man, O Almighty One. By it, Thou hast renewed our entrance to heaven, for Thou art good and the Lover of man. The righteous await me, till Thou shalt reward me.
O honored Fathers, thou didst skillfully stitch together the garment of Christ, which had been divided and torn apart by barking dogs. Thou didst find it unbearable to see His nakedness, as, of old, Shem and Japheth could not bear to see the nakedness of their father. Thou didst put to shame the wretchedness of Arius and those who agreed with him, and who professed the madness that bears his name. For with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is plenteous
Thou didst loose the Tree’s verdict of disobedience, O redemption, and He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. Savior, by being voluntarily nailed to the tree of the O honored Fathers… Cross. By descending to hell, O Almighty God, Thou O praise the Lord, all ye nations, praise Him, all ye people! didst break the bonds of death. Therefore, we adore The Macedónians and Nestórians, the Eutýchians Thy Resurrection from the dead, singing in joy: “Gloand Dióscorenes, the Appolinárians, Sabéllians, and ry to Thee, O all powerful One!” Séverans, who were revealed as oppressive wolves in Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord; O Lord, sheep’s skins, thou, as true shepherds, didst drive far hear my voice! away from the Savior’s flock, having stripped the Thou didst smash the gates of hell, O Lord, and by thrice-wretched ones of their sheep’s skins. Therefore, Thy death, Thou didst demolish the kingdom of we call thee blessed, O holy Fathers. death. Thou didst deliver the race of men from corFor His mercy hath been confirmed upon us and the truth of ruption, granting to the world life, incorruption and the Lord remaineth forever. great mercy. The Macedónians and Nestórians… Let Thine ears give heed to the voice of my prayer!
Holy Fathers (Tone 6)
stand? For with Thee is propitiation.
Dogmatikon (Tone 4)
Come, O people! Let us sing of the Savior’s ResurrecGlory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit… tion on the third day! By it, we have been freed from Today let us praise the mystical trumpets of the Spirit, the unbreakable bonds of hell. By it, we have received the God-bearing Fathers, who stand in the midst of the life and incorruption. Save us by Thy Resurrection, O Church, singing true theology, praising the changeless Life-creating and Almighty Savior, glory to Thee! Trinity. They laid low the errors of Arius and upheld the Orthodox Faith. They always entreat the Lord to Holy Fathers (Tone 6) have mercy on our souls. If Thou observest transgression, Lord, O Lord, who shall Thou wast begotten from the Father before the MornBoth now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. ing Star, but Arius taught wrongly that Thou wast cre- The Prophet David was a Father of the Lord through thee, ated. In his ignorance he designated Thee as a creature, O Virgin. He foretold in songs the One Who worked yet the Fathers of the Council in Nicea, O Lord, pro- wonders in thee. “At Thy right hand stood the Queen,” claimed that Thou art the Son of God, co-enthroned Thy Mother, the Mediatrix of life, since God was freely with the Father and the Holy Spirit. born of her without a father. He wanted to renew His fallen image, made corrupt in passion, so He took the lost For Thy name’s sake have I waited upon Thee, O Lord; my soul hath waited upon Thy word; my soul hath hoped in the Lord. sheep upon His shoulder and brought it to His Father, Thou wast begotten from the Father… joining it to the heavenly powers. Christ who hast great and rich mercy hast saved the world, O Theotokos. ~3~
Old Testament Readings
it belong to the Lord your God. The Lord preferred your fathers, to love them: and he chose their seed afHoly Fathers ter them, you above all nations, as it is at this day. So The 1st book of Moses called Genesis (14:14-20) Now when Abram heard that Lot his nephew had been circumcise the hardness of your heart and stiffen your taken captive, he numbered his own home-born ser- neck no longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods vants, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued after and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and strong them as far as Dan. And he fell upon them by night, he and awesome, who shows no partiality and takes no and his servants, and smote them and pursued them as bribe. He executes judgement for the proselyte, the far as Chobal, which is on the left of Damascus. And he orphan and the widow; and loves the proselyte, giving brought back all the cavalry of Sodom, and he brought him food and clothing. You shall fear the Lord your back Lot his nephew and all his goods and the women God and serve him, and to him you shall hold fast, and the people. And the king of Sodom came out to and take oaths in his name. He is your boast, and he meet him, after his return from the slaughter of your God, who has done for you the great and wonChodologómor and the kings with him, to the valley of derful things which your eyes have seen. Sabí; this is the plain of a king. And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out loaves and wine; he was priest of Aposticha Sunday (Tone 4) the most high God. And he blessed Abram and said: Blessed is Abram by the most high God, who created By ascending the Cross, O Lord, Thou hast annulled the heaven and the earth. And blessed is the most high our ancestral curse! By descending to hell, Thou hast freed the eternal prisoners, granting incorruption to God, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. the human race! Therefore in songs we glorify Thy The 5th book of Moses called Deuteronomy (1:8-11, 15-17) life-creating and saving Resurrection. Moses said to the children of Israel: See, I have handed The Lord hath become King; with beauty hath He clothed over the land in front you; go in and inherit the land Himself. which I swore to your fathers, to Abraham and to By hanging upon the tree, O only powerful Lord, Thou Isaac and to Jacob, that I would give it to them and to didst shake all of creation! By being laid in the tomb, their seed after them. And I spoke to you at that time Thou hast raised those who dwelt in the tombs, grantsaying: I shall not be able to bear you alone. The Lord ing life and incorruption to the human race! Therefore your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are toin songs we glorify Thy rising on the third day. day as the stars of heaven in multitude. May the Lord For He hath established the world, which shall not be moved. the God of our fathers multiply you a thousand times Thy lawless people, O Christ, handed Thee over to more than you are, and bless you as He has spoken to Pilate, condemned to be crucified, by proving themyou. And I took from you wise and understanding and selves ungrateful before their Benefactor! But volunprudent men, and I set them to rule over you, captains tarily, Thou didst endure burial, rising by Thine own of thousands and hundreds and fifties and tens and power on the third day as God, granting us life everrecorders for your judges. And I commanded your lasting and great mercy. judges at that time, saying: Hear cases between your Holiness belongeth to Thy house, O Lord, unto length of days! brethren, and judge rightly between a man and his brother and the proselyte who is with him. You shall With tears the women reached Thy tomb, searching not have respect to persons in judging. You shall hear for Thee, but not finding Thee. They wept with wailthe small as well as the great. You shall not shrink be- ing and lamented: “Woe to us! Our Savior, King of all, how wast Thou stolen? What place can hold Thy lifefore any man’s person; for the judgement is God’s. bearing body?” An Angel replied to them: “Do not The 5th book of Moses called Deuteronomy (10:14-18; 20-21) weep but go and proclaim that the Lord is risen, grantMoses said to the children of Israel: Behold, the heaving us joy as the Only Compassionate One!” en and the highest heaven, the earth and all that is in ~4~
Troparia
Holy Fathers (Tone 4)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…
Sunday (Tone 4)
Today we celebrate the annual memorial of the God- When the women disciples of the Lord learned from bearing Fathers who assembled in Nicea. They laid low the angel the joyous message of Thy Resurrection, the godless doctrines of Arius, driving him from the they cast away the ancestral curse and elatedly told the unity of the Catholic Church, and teaching us how to Apostles: Death is overthrown; Christ God is risen, confess the consubstantial and co-eternal Son of God. granting the world great mercy! They expressed this clearly in the Symbol of Faith, and Holy Fathers (Tone 8) we follow their divine doctrines, believing in and servGlory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit… ing the Son with the Father and the all-Holy Spirit, the Thou art most glorious, O Christ our God! Thou hast consubstantial Trinity and one Divinity. established the Holy Fathers as lights on the earth. Theotokion (Tone 4) Through them Thou hast guided us to the true Faith. Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. O greatly compassionate One, glory to Thee! Look on the entreaties of Thy servants, O Blameless One! Stop all the terrible attacks against us, freeing us Resurrectional Dismissal Theotokion (Tone 8) Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. from every affliction, for we have only Thee as our For our sake Thou wast born of the Virgin and endured sure and firm anchor. Do not let us be put to shame, crucifixion, O Good One, destroying death by death O Lady, for we call on Thee for our intercession! Hasand revealing the Resurrection as God. Do not despise ten to pray for those who call in faith: Rejoice, O Lady, the work of Thy hand! Reveal Thy love for mankind, O Help of all, the Joy and Shelter and Salvation of our Merciful One! Accept the Theotokos who is praying for souls! us, and save the despairing people, O our Savior!
Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 1st Six Œcumenical Councils
n the Sunday that falls from the 13th to the 19th of the present month, we chant the Service to the Holy and God-bearing Fathers who came together in the first Six Œcumenical Councils, that is: The First Council, of the 318 Fathers who assembled in Nicaea in 325 to condemn Arius, who denied that the Son of God is consubstantial with the Father; the Fathers of the First Council also ordained that the whole Church should celebrate Pascha according to the same reckoning; the Second Council, of the 150 Fathers who assembled in Constantinople in 381 to condemn Macedonius, Patriarch of Constantinople, who denied the Divinity of the Holy Spirit; the Third Council, of the 200 Fathers who assembled in Ephesus in 431, to condemn Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, who called Christ a mere man and not God incarnate; the Fourth Council, of the 630 who assembled in Chalce-
don in 451, to condemn Eutyches, who taught that there was only one nature, the divine, in Christ after the Incarnation, and Dioscorus, Patriarch of Alexandria, who illegally received Eutyches back into communion and deposed Saint Flavian, Patriarch of Constantinople, who had excommunicated Eutyches; the Fifth Council in 535, of the 165 who assembled in Constantinople for the second time to condemn Origen and Theodore of Mopsuestia, the teacher of Nestorius; and the Sixth Council in 680, of the 170 who assembled in Constantinople for the third time, to condemn the Monothelite heresy, which taught that there is in Christ but one will, the divine.
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Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom Beatitude Verses
sunday
Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.
Through a tree, Adam was deprived of his home in Paradise; while through the wood of the Cross, the thief went there to dwell. For the one by tasting set aside the commandment of the Maker, while the other, crucified with Him, confessed the hidden God crying aloud: ‘Remember me in Thy kingdom.’
consubstantial with the Father and the Spirit, the assembly of inspired Teachers taught all, with divine energies acknowledging one natural energy and will. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…
The champions of error, thinking the will to be hypostatic, wickedly introduced along with the wills the persons of those who willed: the Fathers, excellently refuting them, teach that the energy which is appropriate to it is congenital with the nature.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Lifted upon the Cross, Thou, O Lord, as God, hath both destroyed the power of death and blotted out the handwriting against us. Do Thou Who alone lovest mankind, grant us the repentance of the thief as we serve Thee with faith, O Christ our God, and cry to Thee: ‘Remember us also in Thy kingdom.’ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Crucified and rising from the tomb in power on the third day, with Thyself hast Thou, only Immortal, raised Adam, the first-formed man. Make me also worthy, O Lord, to turn to repentance with my whole heart and with warm faith ever to cry to Thee: ‘Remember me, O Savior, in Thy kingdom.’
Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
All-blameless Lady, you have become the door of the divine ray and source of the unsetting light; for all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt ineffably in your womb; you reward with his natural energy and radiance those who crave.
Troparia
sunday (Tone 4)
When the women disciples of the Lord learned from the angel the joyous message of Thy Resurrection, they cast away the ancestral curse and elatedly told the Apostles: Death is overthrown; Christ God is risen, granting the world great mercy!
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Holy Fathers (Tone 8)
Thou art most glorious, O Christ our God! Thou hast Thou hast torn to pieces on the Cross, the handwriting established the Holy Fathers as lights on the earth. against us and counted among the dead, Thou hast Through them Thou hast guided us to the true Faith. bound yonder tyrant, delivering all from the bonds of O greatly compassionate One, glory to Thee! hell by Thy resurrection. Through it we have been enlightened and cry aloud to Thee, Lord who lovest Kontakia sunday (Tone 4) mankind: ‘Remember us also in Thy kingdom.’ My Savior and Redeemer as God rose from the tomb Holy Fathers and delivered the earth-born from their chains. He has Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. shattered the gates of hell, and as Master, He has risen That it might escape the dread Nestorios, who wick- on the third day!
edly introduced a duality of sons, the assembly of error Holy Fathers (Tone 8) slid from the mire into the pit, vainly teaching a con- Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,… fusion of wills and natures; but it was refuted by the The Apostles’ preaching and the Fathers’ doctrines godlike Fathers. have established one Faith for the Church. Adorned with the robe of truth, woven from heavenly theology, Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. it defines and glorifies the great mystery of piety. The Son, whom the Fathers of old had proclaimed as ~6~
Steadast protectress (Tone 6)
Holy Fathers
Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Hebrews (13:7-16)
Steadfast Protectress of Christians, constant Advocate before the Creator; despise not the entreating cries of us sinners, but in thy goodness come speedily to help us who call on thee in faith. Hasten to hear our petition and to intercede for us, O Theotokos, for thou dost always protect those who honor thee!
Brethren, remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been Prokeimenon occupied therein. We have an altar, whereof they have no sunday (Tone 4) right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of O Lord, how manifold art Thy works; in wisdom hast those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by Thou made them all. the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people Vs: Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord, my God, Thou with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go art very great! forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his Song of the Fathers (Tone 4) reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek Vs: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers, and one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praised and glorified be Thy Name unto the ages! praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communiEpistle Reading cate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Sunday
The Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Romans (10:1-10)
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, that the man which doeth those things shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Alleluia Verses
sunday (Tone 4)
Vs: Go forth, prosper and reign, for the sake of meekness, righteousness and truth! Vs: For Thou lovest righteousness, and doth hate iniquity.
Holy Fathers (Tone 1) Vs: The Lord, the God of gods, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Gospel Reading
Sunday
The Gospel according to St. Matthew (8:28-9:1)
At that time, when Jesus came to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, two demoniacs met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one would pass that way. And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now a herd of many swine was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into
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the swine; and behold, the whole herd rushed down “I have manifested your name to the men whom the steep bank into the sea, and perished in the wa- you gave me out of the world; yours they were, and ters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. told everything, and what had happened to the de- Now they know that everything that you have givmoniacs. And behold, all the city came out to meet en me is from you; for I have given them the words Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to which you gave me, and they have received them leave their neighborhood. And getting into a boat he and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you did send me. I am praying crossed over and came to his own city. for them; I am not praying for the world but for Holy Fathers those whom you have given me, for they are mine; The Gospel according to St. John (17:1-13) all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am At that time, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and glorified in them. And now I am no more in the said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son world, but they are in the world, and I am coming that the Son may glorify you, since you have given to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all which you have given me, that they may be one, whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept that they know you the only true God, and Jesus them in your name, which you have given me; I Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on have guarded them, and none of them is lost but earth, having accomplished the work which you the son of perdition, that the scripture might be gave me to do; and now, Father, you glorify me in fulfilled. But now I am coming to you; and these your own presence with the glory which I had with things I speak in the world, that they may have my you before the world was made. joy fulfilled in themselves.”
Grand Duchess Elizabeth aint Elizabeth was the older sister of Tsarina Alexandra, and was married to the Grand Duke Sergius, the governor of Moscow. She converted to Orthodoxy from Protestantism of her own free will, and organized women from all levels of society to help the soldiers at the front and in the hospitals. Grand Duke Sergius was killed by an assassin’s bomb on February 4, 1905, just as St Elizabeth was leaving for her workshops. Remarkably, she visited her husband’s killer in prison and urged him to repent. After this, she began to withdraw from her former social life. She devoted herself to the Convent of Sts Martha and Mary, a community of nuns which focused on worshiping God and also helping the poor. She moved out of the palace into a building she purchased on Ordinka. Women from the nobility, and also from the common people, were attracted to the convent. St Elizabeth nursed sick and wounded soldiers in the hospitals and on the battle front. On Pascha of 1918, the Communists ordered her to leave Moscow, and join the royal family near Ekaterinburg. She left with a novice, Sister Barbara, and an escort of Latvian guards. After arriving in Ekaterinburg, St Elizabeth was denied access to the Tsar’s family. She was placed in a convent,
where she was warmly received by the sisters. At the end of May St Elizabeth was moved to nearby Alopaevsk with the Grand Dukes Sergius, John, and Constantine, and the young Count Vladimir Paley. They were all housed in a school-
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house on the edge of town. St Elizabeth was under guard, but was permitted to go to church and work in the garden.
down a mineshaft, then grenades were tossed after them. St Elizabeth lived for several hours, and could be heard singing hymns.
On the night of July 5, they were all taken to a place twelve miles from Alopaevsk, and executed. The Grand Duke Sergius was shot, but the others were thrown
The bodies of St Elizabeth and St Barbara were taken to Jerusalem in 1920, and buried in the church of St Mary Magdalene.
Holy Royal Martyrs of Russia sar Nicholas II was the son of Alexander III, who had reposed in the arms of Saint John of Kronstadt. Having been raised in piety, Tsar Nicholas ever sought to rule in a spirit consonant with the precepts of Orthodoxy and the best traditions of his nation. Tsaritsa Alexandra, a grand-daughter of Queen Victoria of England, and a convert from Lutheranism, was noted for her piety and compassion for the poor and suffering. Their five children were beloved of all for their kindness, modesty, and guilelessness. Amidst the political turmoil of 1917, Tsar Nicholas selflessly abdicated the throne for what he believed was the good of his country. Although he had abdicated willingly, the revolutionaries put him and his family under house arrest, then sent them under guard to Tobolsk and finally Ekaterinburg. A letter written from Tobolsk by Grand Duchess Olga, the eldest of the children, shows their nobility of soul. She writes, “My father asks that I convey to all those who have remained devoted to him ... that they should not take vengeance on his account, because he has forgiven everyone and prays for them all. Nor should they avenge themselves. Rather, they should bear in mind that this evil which is now present in the world will become yet stronger, but that evil will not conquer evil, but only love shall do so.” After enduring sixteen months of imprisonment, deprivation, and humiliation with a Christian patience which moved even their captors, they and those who were with them gained their crowns of martyrdom when they were shot and stabbed to death in the cellar of the Ipatiev house in Ekaterinburg in 1918.
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Together with them are also commemorated those who faithfully served them, and were either slain with them, or on their account: General Elias Tatishchev; Prince Basil Dolgorukov; the physician Eugene Dotkin; the lady-in-waiting Countess Anastasia Hendrikova; the serving-maid Anna Demidova; the cook John Kharitonov; and the sailors Clement Nagorny and John Sednev.
We work, pray and hope every day to experience God’s mercy. Every day we experience a continuous miracle. Others begin to feel this and come to our church in order to give their souls a rest.
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New Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth (1864–1918) ~9~
An Interview with Mother Christophora
Abbess of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Ellwood City, Pennsylvania by Teva Regule
Continued from last week
T.: This community was started and for many years guided by Mother Alexandra, the former princess Ileana of Romania. It was one of the earliest monasteries for women in the United States. What are some of the challenges in sustaining a monastery in this country? M.C.: I think one of the greatest things that Mother Alexandra will be remembered for is her stability. When she was starting the monastery over thirty years ago when she was one of the first nuns in this country, people really thought she was crazy. No matter how much people questioned her or how much she questioned inside herself whether it was God’s will, whether it would ever grow, she never stopped doing it. She never gave up. We too are asked to continue the legacy of stability. It means very much in our culture. T.: You had mentioned before that the monastery works as a community and that the sisters are provided for in terms of their basic needs. How does the monastery support itself ? M.C.: I didn’t list that as one of the challenges to sustaining a monastery, although most people might think that the finances would be one of the biggest challenges. We live in a very expensive time. What it costs to keep this monastery open would probably shock anybody. But Christ said that if we seek first the Kingdom of God, everything we need will be given to us. He was speaking truth. He keeps His side of the bargain, so to speak, because it is a miracle. Our monastery has really always been supported by donations, almost exclusively. We do some small projects. We have a little shop in which we sell mounted icons, prayer ropes, etc. But most of our support comes from free will donations. These donations are received from people who receive our journal, Life Transfigured, or from people who stay in our guesthouses. We have been publishing our journal for the entire history of our monastery. It is sent out three times a year, free of charge, but many people send a donation in response to the journal. Pilgrims are also welcome to stay in our guesthouses, free of charge, although they often leave a gift.
T.: What draws pilgrims to Holy Transfiguration Monastery? M.C.: People are spiritually hungry. The world we live in is very noisy and stressful. They come to get away from the stress of the world, the noise, the busyness. One of the biggest complaints people have is busyness. They enter into this atmosphere. There is quiet and not a lot of distractions. The only things we have on our walls are icons. We don’t watch television, we don’t have radios playing, so that we can be thinking more about God. The visitors appreciate hearing our liturgical cycle. In the parishes they mostly hear only liturgy on Sunday, not the daily cycle that monasteries do. They also appreciate the fact that our services have always been in English. That was something about which Mother Alexandra felt strongly. Some people come from their particular parish or jurisdiction in which they have never heard English. They like hearing English here. Families come. There are some beautiful things happening with families in the Church with parents really taking the faith very seriously. They want to expose their children to more than just a parish. They want to expose them to monasticism and the quiet and peace of a monastery— the prayerful atmosphere. And it is a holy place—not because we are holy (although we are striving to be so), but because prayer has been going on here everyday for thirty-two years. Prayer sanctifies the place, and people feel it. Even non-Orthodox people feel a difference when they come here. T.: What counsel would you give to a woman who feels called to the monastic way of life? M.C.: One of the first things we ask is that they start visiting several monasteries, or if they feel they like our monastery, that they make several visits. Through those short visits they can begin to discern whether they think they would really like to do this. It does happen that I receive letters from women who, before they have even visited a monastery, have already quit their jobs and decided to come. I have to send back a “red light” saying, first things first. We shouldn’t give everything away and hop on a bus and come. There is a period of discernment. Our
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monastery asks that they visit. Then after a few short visits if they want to pursue this, they take a leave of absence from their jobs, and come and stay for a couple of months and think about it more. Besides visiting, I would say to keep the commandments of Christ, go to church, keep a daily prayer, not to exaggerate their spiritual lives. What I mean by that, is not to start dressing in black or covering their hair, or stop talking with their friends, or stop eating meat. Everything has to be put in order, and we can’t jump the gun. We shouldn’t be drawing attention to ourselves. Take things slow, and easy and natural. Still, I say to keep the commandments and live the teachings of the Church and the teachings of Christ and not look at this time as the last chance to sew those wild oats—doing something we have to repent of later. Stay somewhere in the middle. Do some reading but not too much. One can come with too many preconceived notions and too many “answers” and then she has to be corrected. Keep the life of the Church—keep the fasts, daily prayer, go to liturgy on Sunday, confession and communion, visit monasteries. T.: Is there any formal theological education for those that enter the monastery?
Mother Christophora of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
T.: Many women today lead incredibly hectic lives. They are very involved in the upbringing of the children, usually maintaining the home, and perhaps, working outside the home. Although they have not chosen the monastic life, how can monasticism inform their lives?
M.C.: In our monastery we don’t have it in a very formal way. In some monasteries in Europe it might be more formal. In most monasteries, the new novice would be learning simply by entering into the atmo- M.C.: Traditionally, married people have often come sphere, by watching other nuns, by being assigned jobs to monasteries for spiritual counsel, for confession, for and learning how to do them in the monastery way, and communion, for prayer. In the Church we have a tradiby going to church. Sometimes a new sister can kind of tion where just those women you describe would come panic and think that she is not at all on the right track, to the monastery to receive something for themselves. thinking, “There must be something more.” But the mo- It might be the refreshment of just being a little bit nastic life is a long distance run. We don’t learn it all in quiet for a short period of time. One thing that women three months, or even six months or even three years. It can learn from us is that we also are very busy. We often is a daily learning. She has to slow down her pace from feel that we don’t have enough time. We try to keep our what she may have had in the world and in her prior work in perspective. Sometimes I am very overwhelmed formal education. The education she gets here is mostly by the things that I have to do. Things on the calendar through the liturgical cycle, as every day we are hear- that I have to do—speaking engagements or something ing the psalms and something of the lives of the saints going on at the monastery, keeping various appointof the day through the hymns to those saints. At the ments, keeping in touch with the sisters. I say to myself reading at lunch, we are learning more of the spiritual that if I died tomorrow those things wouldn’t matter. teachings of the Church. We are surrounded by icons. The panic, the anxiety, the confusion are all signs of the Sometimes the saints are looking at us and want to tell devil. We have to quiet ourselves. If God is asking us to us something or draw our attention to their lives. The do this, He is giving us the strength to do it. We can ask Church realizes that in a monastery there is full-time Him to give us the peace to do it. We must remember training, seven days a week. what is really important is to prepare for our eternal life. ~11~
Continued nextweek
St. John the Theologian Monastery Makarov, Russia
St. Luke Orthodox Christian Church 1415 Woodstock Ave. Anniston, AL 36207