25th Sunday After Pentecost November 11, 2018

ST. BASIL THE GREAT CHARLOTTE, North Carolina

1400 Suther Road, Charlotte, NC 28213 (980) 785-2764

stbasil.weebly.com stbasilcharlotte@gmail.com

Sundays: Divine Liturgy, 11:00 a.m.

Saturdays: Vespers, 5:00 p.m. Holy Days: Vespers, 6:00 p.m.; Divine Liturgy, 7:00 p.m.

Confessions: Before Liturgy; Upon Request or Appointment

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HOLY CROSS MISSION

COLUMBIA, South Carolina

Meets at Transfiguration Catholic Church 306 N. Pines Road, Blythewood, SC 29016

colabyzcatholic.weebly.com colabyzantinecatholic@gmail.com

Divine Liturgy: 2nd Sunday of the Month, 5:00 p.m.

Confessions: Before Liturgy; Upon Request or Appointment

HOLY DORMITION MISSION

GREENVILLE, South Carolina

Meets at St. Rafka Maronite Catholic Church 1215 SC-14, Greer, SC 29650

dormition.weebly.com dormitiongreenville@gmail.com

Next Divine Liturgy -- To Be Confirmed

Confessions: Before Liturgy; Upon Request or Appointment

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

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PRIESTS

Father JOSEPH MATLAK

Administrator

Telephone: (980) 785-2764

Email: frjosephmatlak@ gmail.com

Deacon MATTHEW HANES

DEACONS

FEASTS & READINGS FOR THE WEEK

THURSDAY Holy Martyrs & Confessors Gurias, Samonas, & Abibus

1 Timothy 3:1-13 Luke 16:1-9

FRIDAY Holy Apostle & Evangelist Matthew

1 Corinthians 4:9-16 Matthew 9:9-13

SATURDAY Holy Father Gregory the Wonderworker,

Bishop of Neocaesarea; Blessed Josaphat Kotsylovsky

Galatians 3:8-12 Luke 9:57-62

NEXT SUNDAY

26th Sunday After Pentecost (Tone 1)

Matins Luke 24:1-12 (Matins Gospel 4)

Divine Liturgy

Ephesians 5:9-19 Luke 12:16-21

SUNDAY 25th Sunday After Pentecost (Tone 8) Holy Martyrs Menas, Victor, & Vincent;

Venerable Father & Confessor Theodore the Studite

Matins Mark 16:9-20 (Matins Gospel 3)

Divine Liturgy Ephesians 4:1-6

Luke 10:25-37

MONDAY Hieromartyr Josaphat, Archbishop of Polotsk;

John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria; Nil the Faster;

Blessed Hieromartyr & Confessor Gregory Lakota

Hebrews 4:14-5:10 John 10:9-16

TUESDAY Holy Father John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople

Hebrews 7:26-8:2 John 10:9-16

WEDNESDAY Holy & All-Praiseworthy Apostle Philip

1 Corinthians 4:9-16 John 1:43-51

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THE NATIVITY FAST WILL BEGIN ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15th

The Basics

In the weeks leading up to the Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas), the period of preparation is also a time of fasting called the “Nativity Fast,” “Pre-Nativity Fast,” or “Christmas Lent.” It may also be referred to as “Phillip’s Fast,” as it traditionally begins after we celebrate the Feast of St. Phillip

the Apostle, which falls on Wednesday, November 14th. The period of fasting begins with Vespers on the evening of Wednesday, November 14th and ends with the celebration of the Lord’s Nativity

(Christmas Day) on December 25th.

The Purpose of the Nativity Fast

Fasting before the Feast of the Nativity is an ancient practice. In earlier centuries, both Eastern and Western Churches practiced fasting in preparation for the Nativity of Our Lord, though presently it is the Eastern Churches that maintain the practice. Like the Lenten Fast, this Fast traditionally

lasts for 40 days.

The purpose of the Nativity Fast is to draw closer to God through denying the body by fasting with repentance and humility. Although fasting most apparently affects the body, however, what happens to the body has an effect on the soul and one’s consciousness of the spiritual. The fast is

not only based on refraining from eating certain foods. It is also based on fasting from sin, increasing one's prayer life, increasing the practice of almsgiving and good works.

Minimum Fasting Regulations For Our Eparchy:

"All those from 14 to 59 years of age, inclusively, must abstain from meat on Holy Saturday and each and every Friday of Lent (the Great Fast), as well as Christmas Eve (December 24) and Theophany Eve (January 5). These faithful must also abstain from meat and all dairy food

(including milk, eggs, cheese, etc.) on the first day of the Great Fast (the Monday which follows Cheesefare Sunday) and on Holy and Great Friday. Pregnant and nursing mothers, the ill and

infirm, those who work at hard physical labor and the very poor are excused."

You may also choose to observe the traditional, stricter fast.

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THE WORD OF GOD

The Synod of Bishops has called for each parish and mission community to “establish or reactivate groups for the prayerful study of Sacred Scriptures,” and to “encourage the faithful in the practice of prayerfully reading the Sacred Scriptures themselves or within their family circle.”

Scripture studies on Wednesday evenings are available through internet live stream and conference call, giving you the opportunity to read, study, and pray the scriptures with others from the convenience of your homes. Contact us if you would like to join an online group.

You are also invited to contact us if you would be interested in establishing a scripture study group at the parish or its missions, in conjunction with Divine Liturgy & Fellowship.

PARISH REGISTRATION FORMS

If you have not filled out a registration form, the form is available on our parish website by

clicking on “Mission” and then “Registration.” For a paper copy, please speak with the clergy.

PARISH HOSPITALITY

Our parish and mission communities are continually in need of a regular, stable group of faithful who are willing to help with:

- Greeting and welcoming visitors - Preparing food for special events

Please be generous with your time and talents.

100th ANNIVERSARY

Sunday, November 11th at 11:00 am exactly marks one hundred years since the end of the Great War. We will commemorate the souls of those who died at the Divine Liturgy.

NEXT WEEKEND

Saturday, November 17:

NO VESPERS

Sunday, November 18:

11:00 am – MATINS & TYPICA

Catechesis with Fr. Deacon Matthew Hanes (separate groups for adults and children)

PRAYER REQUEST

In your Christian charity, please pray for Sarah Kelt, the wife of Fr. Andriy Kelt, who has undergone surgery in order to treat a brain tumor in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Fr. Andriy was in seminary with Fr. Joseph, and is now stationed at our parishes in Northern Cambria and Revloc, Pennsylvania.

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NEXT CATECHETICAL SUNDAY

Join us on Sunday, November 18th at St. Basil the Great Parish, Charlotte. After the Divine Service and fellowship, Fr. Deacon Matthew Hanes will present our next catechetical talk on the Word of God, focusing on the teachings of the Catechism, Christ Our Pascha. There will be separate groups

for adults and children.

PLEASE COMMUNICATE ANY FOOD CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CLERGY.

AKATHIST TO THE THEOTOKOS

You are cordially invited to pray the Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos:

- For our Parish & its Missions - For our Bishop, Eparchy, & Church

- For Priestly, Diaconal, Monastic Vocations - For Christian Marriages

Please contact the parish via email stbasilcharlotte@gmail.com, indicating which day or days of the week you would like to take. Our goal is to have one person or family praying the Akathist every day of the week.

“The joy of praising Mary with the Akathist Hymn [is] so dear to the Eastern tradition. It is a song centered on Christ, contemplated in the light of his Virgin Mother…. We have retraced the stages of her life and offered praise for the marvels worked in her by the Almighty: from the virginal conception, the beginning and principle of the new creation, to her divine motherhood, to her sharing in her Son's mission, especially the moments of his passion, death and resurrection. Mother of the risen Lord and Mother of the Church, Mary goes before us and leads us to genuine knowledge of God and to the encounter with the Redeemer. She indicates the way to us and shows us her Son. In celebrating her with joy and gratitude, we honor the holiness of God, whose mercy has worked marvels in his humble handmaid. We greet her with the title Full of Grace and implore her intercession for all the children of the Church, which celebrates her glory with this Akathist Hymn” -- Pope St. John Paul II

VESPERS

Saturdays, 5:00 pm Eves of Feasts, 6:00 pm

Learn to pray like the saints of the early Church Purchase your own copy of the Divine Office

“Where such practice of celebrating the Divine Praises with the people has diminished, if not completely disappeared, the ancient tradition should be restored without delay, so as not to deprive the faithful of a privileged source of prayer, nourished by treasures of authentic doctrine…. Calling upon the time when the Divine Praises were upheld with special care in the East, not only by the monastic communities, but also by the parishes, the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches reminds us of the obligation—often easily forgotten or abandoned—to celebrate them in the cathedrals, parishes, rectoral churches, religious communities and seminaries.”

-- Congregation for the Eastern Churches

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Word of God and Catechesis 

Workshop on The Word of God This is a time for exploring the importance of the Word of God in our lives and allowing God's un-

conditional love to transform our lives.

Holy Trinity Church (Carnegie, PA)

Saturday November 17, 2018 The conference will start with registration at 9:30 am until 3:30 pm. Admission is free. All are welcome

Confessions will be available - lunch will be available - donations accepted.

The program will feature three presentations followed by group discussion to share insights and reflections.

1. “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” - Rev. James Davidson

2. “Genesis in Christ Our Pascha” - Pani Katie Matlak

3. “Ignorance of Scripture is Ignorance Of Christ” - Rev. Joseph Matlak

More information will be provided in your parish bul-letins or call (412) 279- 4652 for Holy Trinity Church. Please RSVP by emailing srannl@aol.com or calling

Live Stream @ https://livestream.com/accounts/7096943/events/8343172 Or go to www.EasternCatholic.org and click “Livestream” and “Eparchy of St. Josaphat”

“Were our hearts not burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” (Lk 24:32)