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SS PETER AND PAUL CHURCH 401 Hamilton St Syracuse NY 13204

THE ENLIGHTENER May 2017 www.sspeterandpaulsvracuse.com Vol 39 No 5

THE PERIOD OF GRACE: PASCHA TO ASCENSION Cfirist is risen from tfie cCeacC,

trampCing cCawn death By cCeatfi, ancCupon those in the tomhs, Bestowing Cife!

In the icon of the Resurrection, Jesus steps on two planks that represent the doors of Hades, the place of the dead, in the dark area are locks and keys, symbols of bondage, indicating that man is no longer bound by sin and death. Jesus has burst the doors of dark Hades and stands victorious in glorious garments of white. He pulls from their tombs Adam and Eve, who represent all the righteous who lived before Christ.

What great joy was experienced, shared, and expressed by the Holy Apostles in those early days of the Church. So great was this joy that the longest day (without end) of the liturgical year, as we still now experience it, is Pascha - the Resurrection of our Lord

and Savior Jesus Christ. This day that knows no evening begins with the Holy Saturday Vesperal Liturgy during

which we hear and re-live the Old Testament Prophecies concerning God's Plan for our salvation: from the first chapters of Genesis -'and God saw that it was good', to the prophecies of Isaiah - 'Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you', to Jonah's three days in the belly of the whale, the saving of the people of God by the parting of the Red Sea, the raising of the dead son of the widow by Elijah and also Elisha, the faith of Abraham who was willing to sacrifice his only son on Mt Moriah, the saving of the Three Youths in the burning, firey furnace to mention a few. The prophecies pre-announced Our Lord's Passion, His power over nature, life, and death, and His own Resurrection.

The reading of the epistle (that is also read at one's Baptism) proclaims ' we believe that we should also live with Him ...we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again'. While the psalm verses are chanted, 'Arise, O God, judge the earth', the covers and lights of the Church are changed from dark to light in time for the declaration of the Resurrection from the tomb (Mt 28:1-20) by the angel to the myrrhbearing women. Note, the angel did not need to roll away the stone because 'there was a great earthquake' (hell was unable to contain the uncontainable God, also Christ could easily pass through the rock as He did through closed, locked doors (Jn 20:19). The women saw the empty tomb and heard from the angel, 'He is risen, go and tell His disciples'.

A second icon of the Resurrection is known as the icon of the myrrh-bearing women at the tomb, recognizing that the first disciples to see the Risen Lord were the women. It depicts

The Enlightener May 2017

the women coming to the tomb on the third day to anoint the Body with spices. The angel sits on the stone door of the tomb and shows them that there is no body in the tomb.

In addition to the women and Mary Magdalene who met Him and were told 'Rejoice', many of the disciples saw the Risen Lord and believed. Luke and Cleopas on their way to Emmaus, talked with Christ but only recognized Him in the Breaking of the bread. The 10 disciples, as they were waiting in the upper room were greeted with, 'Peace be withyoU. He showed them his hands, feet, and side, and they believed. Eight days later, Thomas was present in the room when Jesus came again. Thomas felt the wounds of the Lord himself and cried, *i^y Lord and My God'.

His doubt is described as "blessed" for it was not a doubt of resistance to truth but one that desired desperately a truthful answer - a "doubt which gave birth to faith". In the hymns of the Church, Christ says to Thomas, "Your faith will teach My Passion and Resurrection to all". We affirm that his doubt "brought the hearts of believers to knowledge" because

his confession was a true and clear witness of Christ's divinity, "My Lord and My God".

IVfien tfie women cCiscipCes of tfie Lord CearnecCfrom the angeC tfie joyous message of Thy resurrection, tfiey cast away tfie ancestraf curse ancCeCatecCfy toCcftfie JApostCes: Deatfi is overtfirown, Cfirist Qodis risen granting tfie warCdgreat mercy!

-Resurrection Troparion Tone 4

Two aspects of Orthodox worship must be pointed out and clearly understood. First, each and every Sunday is the day to worship the Lord and His Resurrection (Pascha). The Hymn of the day, the Matins Gospel, the events of Christ's salvatory work all reflect the resurrection. At every Liturgy we proclaim: 'We have seen the True Light, we have received the Heavenly Spirit, we have found the true faith', 'Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the Holy Lord Jesus'.

Second,the Sundays following Pascha set the tone for the rest of the year by 'introducing' the Resurectional Troparia in the eight tones and instructing us in true worship. The third Sunday commemorates the Myrrhbearing Women, Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus. The Fourth Sunday is the Sunday of the Paralytic - again showing our Lord as all-powerful. The themes begin to focus on His miraculous works and the words of Life He speaks to us. The fifth and sixth Sundays focus on the Samaritan Woman at the well and the Blind Man. Here we are instructed that we must worship God in spirit AND in truth.

The Lord Christ Himself has said, "lam the Way the Truthand the Life", '7am the Resurrection". "Because I live, you shall live also". Our life here on earth is truly wonderful, we live in a glorious world. We know that only God could have made that way. But this earthly life is nothing compared to what God has prepared for those who love Him. In the end, the Christian does not go to the darkness of the tomb, but rather, to the Lord Jesus Christ Who is the Light of the World. ^

The Myrrhbearers

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

1̂ May 2017 Bulletin Board

READERS SCHEDULE

May/ Hours: Bill Helwig/Sophia S

Epistle: Adam Kantor

May 14̂ ^ Hours: Peter McElveln/Elena K

Epistle: Scott Anderson

May 21'* Hours: Scott Anderson/Larlssa F

Epistle: Tim Chupeck

May 28'̂ Hours: Larissa S/Rachel S Epistle: Peter McElvein

June 4'̂ Hours: Bill Helwig/Sophia S

Epistle: Matt Chupeck

June 11*̂ Hours: Peter McElvein/ Elena K

Epistle: Scott Anderson

June 18*̂ Hours: Scott Anderson/Larissa F

Epistle: Adam Kantor

June 25'̂ Hours: Scott Anderson/Rachel S

Epistle: Scott Anderson

Fellowship Gathering Wednesday May 3̂ ^ after Liturgy at 9 am.

All are welcome -refreshments, presentation,

Questions & Answers ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Feast Day Ascension of Our Lord

Thursday May 25*̂ (40 days after Pascha)

Wed May 24̂ ^ - 6 pm Vigil Thursday Liturgy 9:30 am

ORDINATION to the

Holy Diaconate of Scott Alexander

Anderson by His Eminence

Archbishop Michael June 25*̂

Light luncheon to follow in the Church Parlors

113*̂ Annual Pilgrimage to St Tikhon'sMonastery

May 26*̂ - 29'' May 26*' - 3:30 pm, greeting

of myrrh-streaming Iveron icon from Hawaii & Molieben

May 29"-10 am Liturgy

When Christians listen to the voice of the Church And live according to its commands,

Then they truly have peace and love-But when, on the contrary, people distance themselves from

the Holy Church and live according to their own will, then egoism, division, discord ,and wars reign in their midst.

-from The Teachings and Instructions of Patriarch Tikhon

COFFEE HOUR HOSTS

May 7*̂ - Grigg/Curtis

May 14*'' —Kondakoff/Sweet

May 21'* -Swifts

May 28*̂ -Matt & Jadyn

June4**'-• Ellingworth

June ll**' —Church Picnic

June 18*̂ — Tim & Denise

June 25**" — Ordination Dinner

Next Parish Council Meeting

Sunday May 21 s ^ 2017

Maines Shoppers Sign up with

Christine Sahm for the GIVE BACK

PROGRAM to benefit our Church

Bottle and Can Drive i is on-going to benefit j our Church Youth

Programs THANK YOU !

Food Pantry Donations

are accepted and appreciated

all year round, as we continue to

team up with St Lucy's Food Pantry

to minister to the poor in our area.

The Enlightener May 2017

Martyr Thallelaeus at Aegae in Cilicia- May 20^

The Martyrs Thallelaeus, Alexander and Asterlus lived during the reign of Numerian (283-284). The prefect of the city of Aegea sent soldiers to seek out Christians. They brought to him Thallelaeus, an eighteen-year-old blond-haired youth. To the prefect's questions Saint Thallelaeus replied, "I am a Christian, a native of Lebanon. My father, Beruchlus, was a military commander, and my mother was named Romylla. My brother is a subdeacon. I, however, am studying medicine under the physician Macarius. During a former persecution against Christians in Lebanon, I was brought before the prefect Tiberius, and barely escaped execution. But now that I stand before this court, do with me as you will. I wish to die for Christ my Savior and my God, and hope to endure all torments with His help."

The enraged prefect ordered the two torturers Alexander and Asterius to bore through the knees of the martyr, pass a rope through the bone, and suspend him head downwards. But the executioners, by God's design, bored into a block of wood, which they hung up in place of the martyr. When the prefect saw that they had deceived him, he then ordered that Alexander and Asterius be whipped. They also confessed themselves Christians and glorified God. The prefect immediately gave orders to cut off their heads.

Twice he attempted to carry out the execution, and to bore through the saint's knees, but the grace of God prevented him. Then he commanded that Saint Thallelaeus be drowned. The returning servants reported to the prefect that they had carried out the execution, but just as they finished their report. Saint Thallelaeus appeared in white raiment. For a long time everyone was numbed with terror, but finally the prefect said, "Behold, this sorcerer has bewitched even the sea."

Then one of his advisers, the magician Urblcian, told the prefect to have the martyr thrown to the wild beasts. But neither the vicious bear, not the hungry lion and lioness, would touch the saint, alt meekly lay down at his feet. Seeing this happen, the people began to shout, "Great is the God of the Christians. 0 God of Thallelaeus, have mercy on us!"

The crowd seized Urbician and threw him to the beasts, which did not hesitate to tear the magician apart. Finally, the prefect gave orders to kill the holy martyr with a sword. They led Christ's martyr to the place of execution, called Aegea, where he prayed to God and bent his neck beneath the sword. This occurred in the year 284.

The relics of the holy martyr Thallelaeus are in the church of Saint Agathonicus of Constantinople and have performed many miracles. Saint Thallelaeus treated the sick without payment. For this reason, the Church calls him an Unmercenary Physician. He is invoked in prayers for the sick in the Mystery of Holy Unction, and during the Blessing of Waters.

\ ^ i L ^ K^TOti BOtK^tf! Rl Wir^k^^ Christ Is Risen!

The Enlightener May 2017

Details of 113"" Pilgrimage to St Tikhon's Monastery

The pilgrimage will officially open on Friday, May 26. at 3:30 p.m. with the greeting of the Hawaiian Myrrh Streaming \con of the Iveron Mother of God and the celebration of a Molieben. Vespers and Matins will follow at 4:00 p.m. in the Monastery Church of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk. The icon will be available for veneration throughout the pilgrimage. All pilgrims are invited to dinner in the monastery dining hall following Friday's services.

The 75th annual Commencement of Saint Tikhon's Seminary will be held on Saturday, May 27. The day will open with the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the monastery church at 9:00 a.m., followed by a meal in the dining hall. Commencement Exercises will begin at 1:00 p.m. The Resurrection Vigil will be celebrated at 4:00 p.m., followed by dinner for all pilgrims in the dining hall.

The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 28, followed by a meal for all in the dining hall. Vespers and Matins will be celebrated at 4:00 p.m.

On Memorial Day—Monday, May 29— t̂he Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in the Monastery Church at 7:30 a.m. The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., followed by a Panikhida for Veterans at All Saints Bell Tower at 12:15 p.m. The Akathistos Hymn to Saint Alexis will be celebrated in the monastery church at 1:30 p.m., while the Molieben to the Most Holy Theotokos with the Anointing of the Sick, Infirm and All Pilgrims will be celebrated at the monastery bell tower at 2:30 p.m. The pilgrimage will close with the celebration of Vespers and Matins at 4:00 p.m.

J/cnv important is it tfiat Ortfiodox Christians read the 'Bihk?

Both the Bible itself and the Tradition of the Church teach the importance of Scripture for our Christian lives. In 2 Timothy we read: '"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness "(3:16).

St John Chrysostom, who is said to be the greatest interpreter of the Bible in our Church, teaches that reading the Bible is a necessity for the Christian life. Read on what he says in "On Matthew" to the average Christian:

" M am not', you will say, *one of the monks, but I have both a wife and children, and the care of a household.' Why, this is what has ruined all your supposing that the reading of the Divine Scriptures pertains to those only (monks), when you need it much more than they. For they that dwell in the world, each day receive wounds, these have most need of medicines.

.. .Hear yet not Paul saying, 'that all these things are written for our admonition?' ... For a word from the Divine Scriptures, made to sound in the ear, doth more than soften the hardened soul, and renders it fit for all good things." -Fr Stanley Harakas,1987

May 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

7 Paralytic 9:30 am

Divine Liturgy Coffee Hour

Church School

8

6 pm Vespers

6 pm Vespers

3 9 am

Divine Liturgy Tellow^sfiip Gathering"

Refreshments & Presentation

10 Mid-Pentecost

9 am Divine Liturgy

11 12

5 pm Vespers

Confessions Choir

13

5 pm Vespers

Confessions Choir

14 Samaritan Woman 9:30 am

Divine Liturgy Coffee Hour

Church School

75 16 17 9 am

Divine Liturgy

18 ^ . x

6 pm Vespers

21 Blind Man 9:30 am

Divine Liturgy Coffee Hour

Church School Council Meeting

22 23 24 Leavetaking of

PASCHA

6 pm VIGIL

25 ASCENSION

9:30 am Divine Liturgy

28 Holy Fathers 9:30 am

Divine Liturgy Coffee Hour

29 Memorial Day

(USA)

30

rTFwcloujWillcoJw

20

5 pm Vespers

Confessions Choir

27

5 pm Vespers

Confessions