tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56167343919960017432024-03-12T19:43:34.414-07:00Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church<center><b>Glory to Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ our God! Glory to Thee!<br>Слава Тебе, Господи Иисусе Христе Боже наш! Слава Тебе!</b></center>Deacon Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787634471171734365noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-28306028763644510162021-03-20T11:34:00.000-07:002021-03-20T11:34:10.413-07:00Wonderworking "Kursk-Root" Icon of the Virgin Mary "Of The Sign" - Visiting on March 23, 2021<p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-omFACHrktoE/Ux9bnSo1H1I/AAAAAAAAAzc/MWlvdCmARdc/s1600/Kursk017.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-omFACHrktoE/Ux9bnSo1H1I/AAAAAAAAAzc/MWlvdCmARdc/s1600/Kursk017.jpg" width="265" /></a>Glory to God! Once again, for the 4th time since <a href="http://orthodoxpeoria.blogspot.com/2014/04/kursk-root-icon-in-brimfield-greater.html" target="_blank">her initial visit in 2013</a>, Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church plans to host the "<a href="https://www.synod.com/synod/enghistory/enkursk.html" target="_blank">HODIGITRIA OF THE RUSSIAN DIASPORA</a>," the wonderworking <i>Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, Of The Sign</i> on Tuesday evening, March 23, 2021, at our new facility at 6216 N. Sheridan in Peoria. Our Holy Lady will be with us from 5-8pm. At 6pm we will serve a <a href="https://orthodoxwiki.org/Molieben" target="_blank">moleben</a> prayer service with the <a href="http://archive.eadiocese.org/Orthodoxy/Akathist.kursk.icon.pdf" target="_blank">Akathist Hymn to the Mother God</a>. </p><p>Visitors are welcome, but please be advised that our space is not large. We ask that any who wish to come respectfully observe local and federal guidelines for cleanliness, social distancing, and face coverings at all times. </p><p>Our parking lot is limited, but nearby parking is available along W. Kellar Parkway or across Sheridan at Lindbergh Middle School. </p>Deacon Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787634471171734365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-81963211223391928882021-03-06T18:43:00.000-08:002021-03-06T18:43:29.257-08:00Relocation Complete! Regular Services Resumed<p>On February 28th, we served the first Divine Liturgy at our new location at 6216 N Sheridan in Peoria, and we have resumed our normal service schedule. Our <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SWQv9cQRIpaeb0Gi8T2XLc8YOn_MXIMuz1WA6TYOIAE">relocation document</a> has been updated and we have published a short <a href="https://youtu.be/mTLR5AicmXA">video</a> summary of the effort. We are grateful to God for having been granted the privilege to serve in a building of our own, and for all of the prayers and assistance we have received in the process of moving. </p>Deacon Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787634471171734365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-62200280542797512362020-11-10T21:07:00.000-08:002020-11-10T21:07:22.049-08:00Holy Transfiguration - Building Acquisition and Relocation<p>Glory to God! With the blessing of Archbishop Peter we have entered into an agreement to acquire the building at 6216 N. Sheridan, just 2 miles north of our current location. We are posting updates to our progress via a <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SWQv9cQRIpaeb0Gi8T2XLc8YOn_MXIMuz1WA6TYOIAE/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">live document posted here</a>. </p>Deacon Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787634471171734365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-72177596011992990142018-07-13T11:27:00.002-07:002018-07-13T11:27:31.628-07:00Archbishop Peter Marks 15 Years of Episcopal Service<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://chicagodiocese.org/images/BP/The-Most-Reverend-Peter-cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="534" height="320" src="https://chicagodiocese.org/images/BP/The-Most-Reverend-Peter-cropped.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times, "“Times New Roman”", serif; font-size: 16px;">15 years ago, the feast of the Preeminent Apostles Peter & Paul, His Eminence Archbishop Peter was consecrated Bishop of Cleveland, Vicar of the Diocese of Chicago & Detroit at the Diocesan Cathedral of the Protection of the Mother of God in Des Plaines, IL. We ask the prayers of all the faithful of our diocese on this auspicious day for our spiritual leader – that the Merciful Lord may grant him many years of service in His Vineyard! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times, "“Times New Roman”", serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times, “Times New Roman”, serif;"><a href="https://chicagodiocese.org/news_180712_2.html" target="_blank">https://chicagodiocese.org/news_180712_2.html</a></span>Deacon Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787634471171734365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-44274844302179323442018-02-20T19:12:00.000-08:002018-02-20T19:12:18.725-08:00Peoria Russian Orthodox Church Set for Third Visit of the Ancient and Holy Kursk-Root Icon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://chicagodiocese.org/public/image.php/8945.jpg?width=1600&height=1600&color=cccccc&cropratio=16:9&image=/images/326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://chicagodiocese.org/public/image.php/8945.jpg?width=1600&height=1600&color=cccccc&cropratio=16:9&image=/images/326.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, a mission parish in Peoria, Illinois USA of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (MP) enthusiastically welcomes our Orthodox Christian brothers and sisters along with our local community of Greater Peoria and the surrounding Central Illinois region to come and experience the grace of Jesus Christ, bestowed upon His mother, our most holy Lady and Ever Virgin Mary, in the presence of her ancient, renowned, and wonderworking Kursk-Root Icon "of the Sign". <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We plan to greet our Holy Mother upon her arrival at our humble parish facility at 3701 N. Sheridan Road Unit C, Peoria, Illinois on <u>March 1, 2018 at 5pm</u>, with moleben prayers immediately followed by Vespers. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At approximately 6:00 PM the Kursk-Root Icon will be available for public viewing, veneration and silent prayer.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At 8:45 PM we will close visitation with joint evening prayers, concluding at approximately 9:00 PM.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We are thankful to God and our Lord Jesus Christ for the honor and privilege to serve as host for this once-again historic event for both the area faithful and our neighbors and friends. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thank you for your prayers and support.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Glory to God!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Fr. Benjamin Bryant</div>
<div>
Deacon</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Deacon Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787634471171734365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-17304085051992420422017-12-11T12:39:00.000-08:002017-12-16T08:43:06.165-08:00Services for Saint Nicholas<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FdYtA-JcDFQ/VmNUv8bxZyI/AAAAAAAAKO4/pRqgjXoOHGM/s1600/%25D0%259D%25D0%25B8%25D0%25BA%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BB%25D0%25B0%25D0%25B9-%25D0%25A7%25D1%2583%25D0%25B4%25D0%25BE%25D1%2582%25D0%25B2%25D0%25BE%25D1%2580%25D0%25B5%25D1%2586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1093" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FdYtA-JcDFQ/VmNUv8bxZyI/AAAAAAAAKO4/pRqgjXoOHGM/s1600/%25D0%259D%25D0%25B8%25D0%25BA%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BB%25D0%25B0%25D0%25B9-%25D0%25A7%25D1%2583%25D0%25B4%25D0%25BE%25D1%2582%25D0%25B2%25D0%25BE%25D1%2580%25D0%25B5%25D1%2586.jpg" width="272" /></a>Fr. Joseph Towne is planning to visit Holy Transfiguration for St. Nicholas day. <br />
<br />
Vespers at 5pm on Monday Dec 18th.<br />
Divine Liturgy at 10am on Tuesday Dec 19th.<br />
<br />
As always please check our calendar page for the latest updates.Deacon Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787634471171734365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-14590948164961441802016-12-27T11:36:00.003-08:002017-03-30T08:31:57.930-07:00Announcement: New Rector, Priest Gabriel MonforteAs of December 2(15) 2016, Archbishop Peter has appointed Priest Gabriel Monforte as Rector of Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church. Fr. Gabriel, Matushka Laura (Kassiana), and their daughter Lydia, live in Indianapolis, Indiana. Fr. Gabriel is a graduate of St. Tikhon's Theological Seminary and has already served in Peoria several times in 2016. We are grateful to God and look forward to Fr. Gabriel's leadership in Peoria.<br />
<br />
<br />Deacon Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787634471171734365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-12159579583105240982016-04-22T08:25:00.002-07:002016-04-22T08:25:43.138-07:00Full Schedule of Services Through PaschaGreetings in Christ!<br />
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Starting tonight at 6PM with the commemoration of the raising of St. Lazarus from the dead begins a 9-day schedule of services every day through Pascha! Every day we will commemorate the specific events described in the Gospels which happened as the Lord completed His man-restoring mission, was lifted up on the cross, and arose from the tomb. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Please make sure to always reference the *live* calendar to get the latest on any adjustments to our schedule. There are also links on this page which you can use to subscribe to the calendar on your smartphone or PC calendar application:</span></div>
<br />
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><a href="http://orthodoxpeoria.blogspot.com/p/calendar_24.html">http://orthodoxpeoria.blogspot.com/p/calendar_24.html</a></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
Fr. Gabriel will be serving with us every day through Pascha, except for Monday and Tuesday. He has asked that all confessions be heard on or before Wednesday evening, so please prepare accordingly. If this is not possible, then please contact Subdeacon Benjamin <span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">(309) 282-6755 </span>so that another appropriate time can be arranged. </div>
<div class="p3">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<i><b>“Rejoice with Jerusalem, And be glad with her, all you who love her; Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her; That you may feed and be satisfied With the consolation of her bosom, That you may drink deeply and be delighted With the abundance of her glory.”</b></i></div>
<div class="p3">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<br /></div>
Deacon Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787634471171734365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-22823561797033576182016-02-27T10:31:00.000-08:002016-03-18T08:58:22.619-07:00Announcement: Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God to Visit Peoria on March 26, 2016<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-omFACHrktoE/Ux9bnSo1H1I/AAAAAAAAAzc/MWlvdCmARdc/s1600/Kursk017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-omFACHrktoE/Ux9bnSo1H1I/AAAAAAAAAzc/MWlvdCmARdc/s1600/Kursk017.jpg" width="266" /></a>Glory to God for all things!<br />
<br />
We are pleased to announce that, with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Peter, we plan to receive a visit from the Mother of God on March 26, 2016. Her holy wonderworking <a href="http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/enghistory/enkursk.html" target="_blank">"Kursk-Root Icon 'Of The Sign'"</a> - the protectress of the Russian Church Outside of Russia - will make a second-ever visit to the Greater Peoria Area and a first-ever visit to the city of Peoria itself. <br />
<br />
We will host this second visit on Saturday, March 26th, 2016 at our current location:<br />
<br />
3701 N. Sheridan Rd. Unit C<br />
Peoria, IL 61614<br />
<br />
A single Moleben prayer service will be held at 9AM.<br />
<br />
The general community are all welcome and encouraged to come and see the icon in-person from 10AM - 1PM.<br />
<br />
Here are the accounts of her first visit, in 2014, to our former location in Brimfield, IL:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://orthodoxpeoria.blogspot.com/2014/03/13th-century-russian-orthodox-icon-of.html">http://orthodoxpeoria.blogspot.com/2014/03/13th-century-russian-orthodox-icon-of.html</a></li>
<li><a href="http://orthodoxpeoria.blogspot.com/2014/04/kursk-root-icon-in-brimfield-greater.html">http://orthodoxpeoria.blogspot.com/2014/04/kursk-root-icon-in-brimfield-greater.html</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.pjstar.com/photogallery/IP/20140408/PHOTOGALLERY/408009995/PH/264_629?refresh=true">http://www.pjstar.com/photogallery/IP/20140408/PHOTOGALLERY/408009995/PH/264_629?refresh=true</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<u>All interested visitors are welcome</u>. While personal viewing, veneration, lighting of available candles, and silent prayer near the icon are all encouraged, those not of spiritual motivation should also each feel equally welcome to satisfy his or her curiosity. <br />
<br />
A special presence of Mary is always near the icon, so extra care will be taken to maintain an environment of silent, prayerful reverence in the church. Nevertheless, parents are encouraged to bring children near to the icon, albeit under continual supervision. <br />
<br />
Anyone wishing to contribute to icon's travel expenses can do so by submitting a check written to "DCMA" with "Kursk-Root Icon" in the notes. <br />
<br />
For further questions, please leave a message at the parish phone number, (309) 282-6755, or send email to warden@orthodoxpeoria.org.<br />
<br />
Event on our Facebook page:<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/950837775006189/">https://www.facebook.com/events/950837775006189/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Deacon Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787634471171734365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-39565292788748913702016-02-27T10:00:00.003-08:002016-02-27T10:00:40.623-08:00A Test of the Reasonableness of Our Faith<i>Source: <a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/90995.htm" target="_blank">pravoslavie.ru</a></i><br />
<br />
A homily given on the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee
<br />
<div>
- by Bishop Tikhon (Shevkunov) of Egorievsk</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/sas/image/102190/219021.p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/sas/image/102190/219021.p.jpg" height="219" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
Two men each brought their own righteousness to
God’s temple and presented them to God—the
publican and the Pharisee.</div>
<div>
<br />
The Pharisee presented his righteousness: he strictly
fulfilled everything prescribed in the law of
Moses—not just fulfilled, but fulfilled it devoutly,
to the last detail. And in this he sees the meaning of his
life. He studies the law. He disdains everything that is
not in accordance with this law. And this is truly his own
suffered and soul-saving—or so he
thinks—righteousness. But in the Church we call this
righteousness the righteousness of the
Pharisee—prideful, and false. It is a mortally
dangerous righteousness. It seeks and very successfully
finds strength in self-aggrandizement, and the continual
humiliation of others. And this strength really is quite
remarkable. But the God of Truth and Love loathingly
rejected this deceitful and cruel spirit: <em>Ye serpents,
ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation
of hell?</em> (Mt. 23:33). There are no more wrathful
words in the Gospel uttered by the Creator to His
creation. Only the “righteous” Pharisees
earned them.
<br />
<br />
The publican also brought his own righteousness to God.
This righteousness consisted in words that, like those of
the Pharisee’s, expressed the spirit and state of
the man’s soul. But these words became the deepest
and most beloved prayer of all disciples of the Lord Jesus
Christ. We repeat them every day: “God, be merciful
to me, a sinner!” This sincere and bitter, wise and
saving truth about himself became the publican’s
sacred offering to God.
<br />
<br />
What righteousness do we bear in our own souls? What
righteousness do we not in words but in realty offer from
our hearts to God, Who knows the most hidden things about
us? The Holy Church from year to year calls us to learn
from the publican’s example.
<br />
<br />
Today we have also run across two kinds of righteousness
that people bring to church with respect to one and the
same recent matter. Ten days ago an event occurred that
has stunned and troubled millions of people: His Holiness
Patriarch Kirill met with the Pope of Rome. However, this
event also caused a large number of Orthodox people
serious confusion—let’s call a spade a spade.
We priests know this from confessions and questions that
have been asked us at meetings and in letters to the
website, <em>Pravoslavie.ru</em>. What is there to do?
This is nothing other than a test—a test of the
sobriety of our faith, our faith in the Church, holy
Orthodoxy, and the Gospels of Christ. Today, brothers and
sisters, we have to talk about this.
<br />
<br />
We are not going to talk about what Catholicism
is—that is a scholastic subject. Each of us can take
a look at the catechesis, study the many writings,
including patristic writings, that talk about the
deviations and heresies present in the Catholic faith.
<br />
<br />
The holy fathers definitely consider Catholicism erroneous
and heretical. “Papism is what the heresy that has
possessed the West is called, and from it as branches from
a tree have come the various Protestant teachings,”
St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) points out. “The Pope
changed many dogmas, corrupted all the sacraments,
weakened the rules of ecclesiastical leadership and
correction of morals, and everything from there went not
according to God’s intention—worse and
worse…” writes St. Theophan the Recluse.
<br />
<br />
Other holy fathers are in agreement with them.
<br />
<br />
The vast Christian catechism of the Orthodox Catholic
Eastern Church determines the meaning of heresy:
“Heresy is when people mix opinion into the
teachings of the faith that are against Divine
truth.”
<br />
<br />
But at this we must also recognize as essentially
important for all our patristic tradition: The falling
away of the Western Church in 1054 was one of the most
terrible tragedies in the history of Christianity. This is
our catastrophe and woe. And therefore the desire for
unity, the prayer for it (<em>That they all may be
one</em> [Jn. 17:21]), commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ
Himself, is perfectly natural for Orthodox Christians.<br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/90995.htm" target="_blank">Continue Reading on Pravoslavie.ru</a></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Deacon Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787634471171734365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-44467837772921559512015-12-27T17:32:00.000-08:002015-12-27T17:32:23.705-08:00Upcoming Priest Visits - January 2016Starting in January, we will have the opportunity for more frequent services with a priest at Holy Transfiguration. We have already <a href="http://orthodoxpeoria.blogspot.com/p/calendar_24.html" target="_blank">updated our calendar</a> for the next several weeks to reflect our ambitions.<br />
<br />
We have also added a new "Online Donations" link on the right side of this page. Please make use of it as we will need the extra funds to support Fr. Gabriel as he travels back-and-forth from Indianapolis to serve in Peoria. Without additional income we will not be able to have Fr. Gabriel here as often as he will be available.<br />
<br />
Thank you for your prayers and support.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-25204992463494142682015-12-21T08:15:00.000-08:002015-12-21T08:15:22.491-08:00The Real Saint "Nick"<i>Source: <a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/46645.htm" target="_blank">pravoslavie.ru</a></i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Life of St Nicholas the Wonderworker</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Commemorated May 9/27, December 6/19</span></b></div>
<br />
<i>'The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, an icon of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; for this cause, thou hast achieved the heights by humility, riches by poverty. O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.'</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/sas/image/100359/35910.p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/sas/image/100359/35910.p.jpg" height="320" width="251" /></a></div>
So reads the troparion of St Nicholas, hierarch of the Church of Myra in Lycia (now Demra in Turkey), known as 'wonderworker' and 'father' throughout the Christian world. He is beloved in the Orthodox Church, and indeed far beyond, for his kindness, almsgiving and aid, meted out both during his earthly life and after. As one of the multitude of English lives of the saint joyously proclaims, 'he is one of the best known and best loved saints of all time.' And in another: 'The name of the great saint of God, the hierarch and wonderworker Nicholas, a speedy helper and suppliant for all hastening to him, is famed in every corner of the earth, in many lands and among many peoples. In Russia there are a multitude of cathedrals, monasteries and churches consecrated in his name. There is, perhaps, not a single city without a church dedicated to his honour.'<br />
<br />
<b>Childhood and early life</b><br />
<br />
St Nicholas was born (c. 270) in the the region of Lycia (southern Asia Minor), in the city of Patara. His parents, Theophanes and Nonna, were both pious Christians, and being childless until his arrival, consecrated Nicholas to God at his birth (the name Nicholas meaning 'Conqueror of nations'). His birth considered by both an answer to their prayer, and especially the prayer issued during Nonna's illness, his mother was said to have been healed immediately after giving birth. Nicholas would always remember his parents' love and devotion to God, and in his later years promised to come to the aid of those who remembered them in their prayers.<br />
<br />
Various traditions recount signs of Nicholas' future glory as 'wonderworker' (Gr. thaumatourgos), apparent already in his earliest childhood. One recalls that as an infant in the baptismal font, Nicholas stood on his feet for three hours in honour of the Trinity. Another proclaims him a childhood faster, not accepting milk from his mother until after the conclusion of evening prayers on Wednesdays and Fridays.<br />
<br />
His later life revealed that Nicholas had from a young age been absorbed in the study of the Church's sacred scriptures. He thrived on reading divine texts, and earned a reputation as a devoted youth who often would not leave the church, reading the sacred texts late into the night.<br />
<br />
Such activity soon came to the attention of the local bishop, Nicholas' uncle (his father's brother), also called Nicholas. Seeing his nephew's fervour for the Christian life, this elder Bishop Nicholas of Patara tonsured him reader, and later ordained him priest. At Fr Nicholas' ordination, the elder Bishop Nicholas remarked:<br />
<br />
'I see, brethren, a new sun rising above the earth and manifesting in himself a gracious consolation for the afflicted. Blessed is the flock that will be worthy to have him as its pastor, because this one will shepherd well the souls of those who have gone astray, will nourish them on the pasturage of piety, and will be a merciful helper in misfortune and tribulation.'<br />
<br />
The newly-ordained Fr Nicholas' special charge as assistant to the bishop of Patara was the instruction of the faithful—a unique and uncommon role, given his young age.<br />
<br />
<b>The ministry of Fr Nicholas</b><br />
<br />
Nicholas approached his duties as priest and teacher of the faith with the same fervour his uncle had witnessed in him during his childhood. Despite his youthfulness, many of the faithful considered him an elder, and his ability to respond to questions of the faith in love and wisdom earned him the deep respect of those in the city. He was noted in particular for the fervency of his prayer and kind-hearted nature, and the attention to charitable work that characterised his priestly ministry. Following the injunction of Christ, Fr Nicholas sold his possessions and, following his parents deaths a few years after his ordination, distributed his inheritance to the poor and afflicted, who would often seek him out for assistance...<br />
<br />
<div>
<i>Continue Reading at <a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/46645.htm" target="_blank">pravoslavie.ru</a></i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Deacon Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787634471171734365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-5537139567231160782015-07-28T05:42:00.000-07:002015-07-28T05:43:01.781-07:00Message by Patriarch Kirill on the occasion of the millennium of the repose of the Holy Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles<i>Source: <a href="https://mospat.ru/en/2015/07/24/news121287/" target="_blank">Moscow Patriarchate Department of External Church Relations</a></i><br />
<br />
<i>His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has sent a
Message to Archpastors, Pastors, Deacons, Monks and Nuns, and All the
Faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church on the occasion of the
millennium of the demise of the Holy Prince Vladimir
Equal-to-the-Apostle:</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.pravmir.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/195558.b-600x465-600x465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pravmir.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/195558.b-600x465-600x465.jpg" height="248" width="320" /></a></div>
Beloved in Christ archpastors, all-honourable presbyters and deacons, pious monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters!<br />
<br />
This year the whole Church of Russia and together with her the entire
Orthodox world are marking the millennium of the demise of the Holy
Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles.<br />
<br />
What has this man brought us? Why after many centuries we commemorate
him so solemnly? The essence of the prince’s feat is remarkably
expressed by St. Hilarion in his famous <i>Homily on the Law and Grace</i>:
‘All the countries and cities and peoples honour and glorify each their
own teacher who has taught them Orthodox faith. Let us too, as much as
we can, praise the one who did a great and wonderful thing, our teacher
and leader Vladimir, the Great Prince of our land’. His wise choice
changed the whole course of our history, for he brought us the good news
of Christ the Saviour of the world – the unfading Sun of the Truth that
illuminated the human existence with His divine light. Thanks to St.
Vladimir, our people found themselves under the protection of the
Intercessor swift to hearken – the Most Holy Virgin and Mother of God
who spreads her honourable omophorion over our land. Thanks to this holy
ruler, the Church of Russia was founded, which brings to people for
over one thousand years now the word of life, love and peace and in
which we, just as our forefathers, find the Heavenly Kingdom.<br />
<br />
By embracing the faith from the Eastern Roman Empire, Byzantium, Rus’
came to fully share both the Divine Revelation and the greatest
cultural tradition of the time, creatively taking in and developing it.
Like the Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine, Prince Vladimir was
not afraid of defying the views of his armed force and boyars – the
ruling class of Old Rus’, who associated the heathen worship with power,
wealth and fertility. He was not afraid either of the wrath of the
crowd instigated by heathen priests to make bloody sacrifices. Like
Moses who heard the call of God: <i>Bring My people out of Egypt </i>(Ex.
3:10), Prince Vladimir brought Rus’ out of the pagan captivity and put
her on the bright path of confessing Christ as God and Saviour. This man
equal to the Apostles became one of those who symbolize the Orthodox
ideal of righteous power guided by true values, directing the individual
and society to God and to life according to His commandments. As we
know, the Baptizer of Rus’ was concerned not only for the devotion of
the newly-enlightened people but also for their education and help to
the needy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.pravmir.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/kreschenie-600x426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pravmir.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/kreschenie-600x426.jpg" height="283" width="400" /></a></div>
St. Hilarion, praising the Prince of Kiev, says, ‘It was not one man
or ten men or a city, but this whole land that he turned away from the
falsehood of idolatry’. These words were uttered as far back as the 11<sup>th</sup>
century when the wonder of the Baptism of Rus’ happened not long ago.
It was followed by ten centuries of our Christian history. During this
time the Lord revealed a multitude of saints in our people and our
culture and civilization was formed. And all this is what we live by
today. Our very worldview is founded on the fateful decision made by
Prince Vladimir to turn to true God and make the people follow him.<br />
<br />
The Dniester baptismal font initiated a new, Holy, Rus’, and our
spiritual unity. For the centuries that elapsed since that time,
attempts were made to eliminate Orthodoxy, to sow discord and civic
tribulation among our peoples, to lure people by false ideas and
promises of early temporal happiness and material prosperity. However,
by the Lord’s grace, Holy Rus’ lives in our hearts to this day, for our
peoples to this day have one faith and one Church, common shrines,
countless models of Christian feat and a common history.<br />
<br />
Today again we are experiencing a difficult time when senseless
people seek to divide us, to deprive us of peace and accord by sowing
enmity and hatred among brothers. These people, on the basis of
momentary moods and egoistic aspirations, make dangerous decisions
having long-term and sometimes even indelible consequences. But wise
people understand that their life and good works can become a part of
God’s design for the salvation of the world. That is why they always
keep eternity in mind and look mentally to history, learning lessons
from it and finding answers in it to the most important problems of
today.<br />
<br />
We all need to look for these answers, overcoming the negative
information noise produced by the mass media. And we can find them also
in the examples of great personalities who made a beneficial influence
on the development of our people and who are canonized by the Church.
Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles is one of them as he laid the
saving faith of Christ in the foundation of the life of the peoples in
historical Rus’.<br />
<br />
May the Merciful Lord the Lover of Mankind, through the intercession
of St. Vladimir, help us to stand steadfast in Orthodoxy, guarding
ourselves, just as His apostles did, <i><sup> </sup>by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love </i>(2 Cor. 6:6). Amen.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>+Kirill</b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia</b></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-21691513435318094672015-04-06T20:35:00.003-07:002015-04-06T20:37:55.136-07:00Archpastoral Visit by His Grace Bishop Peter<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m3sbI-HtdPg/VSNPcOwdYxI/AAAAAAAABQQ/7nZ-93OWRbM/s1600/11022592_10153269325513793_9086138221359414206_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m3sbI-HtdPg/VSNPcOwdYxI/AAAAAAAABQQ/7nZ-93OWRbM/s1600/11022592_10153269325513793_9086138221359414206_o.jpg" height="200" width="156" /></a>Glory to God!<br />
<br />
On the fifth Sunday of Great Lent 2015, commemorating our holy mother St. Mary of Egypt, Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church were blessed to host Bishop Peter, Pastoral Vicar of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America, for both his first visit to Peoria and the first-ever archpastoral visit to Peoria by a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CfIEBjmbPRw/VSNPdcSwMfI/AAAAAAAABQc/_yea183GUhQ/s1600/11130475_10153269326113793_5105909530882849692_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CfIEBjmbPRw/VSNPdcSwMfI/AAAAAAAABQc/_yea183GUhQ/s1600/11130475_10153269326113793_5105909530882849692_o.jpg" height="200" width="120" /></a>Vladyka was attended by Protodeacon Alexander, his wife Liuba, and their children. Also serving were parish rector Hieromonk Alexander (Reichert) and Priest Joseph Towne. Although our space is small Vladyka's own words spoken to me years before rang true again, "Where there is love, there is always enough room."<br />
<br />
After the Divine Liturgy, the parish hosted everyone in attendance for lunch at a local establishment, and then to coffee before receiving final blessings from Vladyka prior to his return to Des Plaines.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zU-9z2FFHu8/VSNPdFgejSI/AAAAAAAABQs/m1CkyE2yRMQ/s1600/11096407_10153269326153793_5297353063783917946_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zU-9z2FFHu8/VSNPdFgejSI/AAAAAAAABQs/m1CkyE2yRMQ/s1600/11096407_10153269326153793_5297353063783917946_o.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>We are thankful to God for being counted worthy of this historic moment not only for our diocese of the Russian Church, but also for our local community. The joy of our celebration together still lingers here. <br />
<br />
More photos are available via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/orthodoxpeoria" target="_blank">our Facebook page</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-prjTf-FyPmc/VSNPcP_qg3I/AAAAAAAABQM/ToX7RR0XNqA/s1600/11071033_691720437604892_613979220398156412_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-prjTf-FyPmc/VSNPcP_qg3I/AAAAAAAABQM/ToX7RR0XNqA/s1600/11071033_691720437604892_613979220398156412_o.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-41236536515587059482015-01-10T19:44:00.000-08:002015-01-11T05:26:06.773-08:00Shedule for TheophanyWe will hold the following services for Theophany (all dates according to the civil calendar):<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.volgaprav.ru/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/volgograd_bogoyavlenie_tsaritsyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.volgaprav.ru/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/volgograd_bogoyavlenie_tsaritsyn.jpg" height="320" width="222" /></a>Saturday, 17 January<br />
Vespers for the Sunday Before and the Eve of Theophany - 5:00 PM<br />
<br />
Sunday, 18 January<br />
Hours and Typika for the Sunday Before and the Eve of Theophany - 10:00 AM<br />
Vespers for Theophany - 5:00 PM<br />
<br />
Monday, 19 January<br />
Festal Hours and Typika for Theophany - 10:00 AM<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-11135498415265302312015-01-07T05:48:00.000-08:002015-01-07T05:51:47.971-08:00 Christmas Epistle of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad<div align="center">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Source: <a href="http://synod.com/synod/eng2015/20150104_enmhnativityepistle.html" target="_blank">Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia</a></i><b><a href="http://synod.com/synod/eng2015/20150104_enmhnativityepistle.html" target="_blank"><i> </i></a></b></div>
<br />
<b>Most Reverend
fellow archpastors, most honorable fathers–concelebrants, reverent
diaconate in Christ, beloved in the Lord monastics, laboring in our
monasteries; brothers and sisters, faithful children of the Russian
Church Abroad, spread as God’s grains of wheat </b><br />
<b>across the face of the entire earth! </b></div>
<div align="left">
<br />
From the
depth of my heart, filled with joy, I greet all of you with the Nativity
of the God of peace and love, who became a live Human Being, one of us!
Contemplating the manger of Christ, I offer the gift of fervent prayer
for the establishment of a deep and inalienable peace in the hearts of
all men, all peoples, in my heart and in your hearts—that compunctious
peace which was brought to the city of Bethlehem by that great chorus of
angels, which proclaimed: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will toward men.”</div>
<div align="left">
<br />
<a href="http://www.pravmir.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/57090.p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pravmir.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/57090.p.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a>Today the
Holy Church represents Bethlehem in each of Her temples. She desires
that each heart be a pure manger for God… What is necessary for this? It
is necessary for each of us to become a child. From His manger the Lord
proclaims: look at Me, the Creator of the world, I have become a child
for your sake. If you do not change and do not become like children, you
will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 18:3); you will not be
capable of and worthy of receiving Me into your hearts. </div>
<div align="left">
<br />
Having been
cleansed in the fount of Holy Baptism, the Holy Great Prince Vladimir,
the enlightener of Rus’, who died exactly 1000 years ago, became such a
child. In the upcoming 2015 New Year this momentous date will be widely
celebrated by our beloved and great Mother – the Russian Orthodox
Church. Let us note that the famous historian of Russian Church history
and architecture, Yevgeny Golubinsky wrote in the early twentieth
century about St. Vladimir, that his very name contains the concept of
possessing peace, amity, harmony. Sadly, at this time there is no such
concord and peace in our common font, the kind our enlightener Vladimir
(whom we call “our beautiful Sun”) possessed…</div>
<div align="left">
<br />
Everyone
longs for peace and demands peace for the entire world. Where can that
peace be found? It is in the preservation and cultivation of our common
Orthodox Christian roots. In 1988, my predecessor, Metropolitan Laurus
of blessed memory (who at the time was the Archbishop of Syracuse and
Holy Trinity Monastery) wrote: “What will befall our nation in the
future is fully known only by the Lord our God. Yet that which
constituted its strength in the past—only that can make us strong now
and at all times. Therefore, let us firmly enshrine and staunchly
protect the testament of our fathers from whom we inherited the Orthodox
faith as the true power, greater than that which can be found in this
world.”</div>
<div align="left">
<br />
Let us
humbly beseech the God Child that He grant our people spiritual strength
for the overcoming of fraternal strife, that through the prayers of the
right-believing, equal to the apostles Great Prince Vladimir peace be
restored in the God-preserved lands of Rus’, having been cleansed
through repentant tears as through a second baptism. May we uphold the
way of St. Vladimir which alone can save us and our historic native
land, and with it the entire world. And then the promise of the luminary
John (Maximovitch), the great archpastor of the Russian diaspora, will
come to pass: “Blessed are you, the land of Russia, which is being
purified by the fire of suffering! You passed through the waters of
baptism, and now through the fire of suffering, and will enter into your
rest” (from his Homily on the 950th Anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’,
1938).</div>
<div align="left">
<br />
Once again
I greet all the beloved children of the Russian Church Abroad with the
joyous and world-saving Feast of the Nativity of Christ! Through this
greeting, I would like to underline the spiritual loftiness of this good
and luminous celebration. May the Son of God enlighten our hearts with
the quiet light of the star of Bethlehem. To Him is due glory and
thanksgiving unto the ages of ages. Amen! </div>
<div align="left">
<br />
With love in Christ Who is born, </div>
<div align="left" class="style6" style="font-style: italic;">
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">†Hilarion, </span><br />
Metropolitan of New York & Eastern America, <br />
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia</div>
<div align="left">
<span class="style6" style="font-style: italic;">Nativity of Christ<br />
2014 / 2015</span><br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-45367372591027663052015-01-06T10:53:00.000-08:002015-01-06T10:53:01.049-08:00Christmas Message of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus Kirill<i>Source: <a href="https://mospat.ru/en/2015/01/05/news113878/" target="_blank">Department of External Church Relations, Patriarch of Moscow</a></i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Christmas Message </strong></em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><strong>of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus Kirill </strong></em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><strong>to the Archpastors, Pastors, Monastics and All the Faithful Children </strong></em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><strong>of the Russian Orthodox Church</strong></em></div>
<br />
<strong>Your Graces the archpastors, venerable fathers, all-honourable monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters!</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://eadiocese.org/News/2011/jan/01/pk.lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://eadiocese.org/News/2011/jan/01/pk.lg.jpg" height="320" width="242" /></a>On this holy night I address all of you living in different
countries, cities and villages, yet making up the One Russian Orthodox
Church, and from the bottom of my heart I congratulate you on the
world-saving feast of the Nativity of Christ. I send you my heartfelt
greetings, my dear ones, and prayerfully wish that we all be filled with
spiritual joy in participating in this great festivity and enjoy the
banquet of faith as sons and daughters of God and friends of Christ (Jn
15:15).<br />
<br />
Today, as we contemplate the mystery of the incarnation of God, we
strive to understand what the meaning of this event is that happened two
thousand years ago in Bethlehem and what relationship it has to us and
our contemporaries.<br />
<br />
St. Paul writes: ‘ But when the fullness of the time was come, God
sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them
that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons’
(Gal 4:4-5). But what preceded this fullness of time? The entire history
of the human race before the Nativity of Christ in essence is the
history of the search for God when the best minds tried to understand
who is the source of the supernatural power which affects every human
person in one way or another in life.<br />
<br />
On their path for searching for God, people, in endeavouring to find
the truth, have stumbled into all sorts of errors. Yet, neither man’s
primitive fear before terrifying natural phenomena, nor the deification
of the natural elements, idols and at times himself, nor even those rare
insights which illumined the pagan philosophers, have brought people to
God. And when ‘the world by wisdom knew not God’ (1 Cor 1:21), he
deigned to come down to people. With our spiritual eyes we contemplate
the ‘great mystery of godliness': the Creator is likened to creation, he
assumes human nature, endures humiliation, dies on the cross and rises
again. All of this transcends human understanding and is a miracle which
reveals the fullness of the Revelation of God of himself to people.<br />
<br />
Christ is born and the world has found hope, Christ is born and love
reigns forever, Christ is born and the heavens have bowed down to the
earth, Christ is born and the star of Bethlehem shows the true way to
God, Christ is born and let no one believe in the triumph of evil, for
we are ‘saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift
of God’ (Eph 2:8).<br />
<br />
The prophet Isaiah awaited and foresaw the coming of the Messiah, and
exclaimed: ‘God is with us’ (Is 8:10). His divinely inspired words are
even today a source of ineffable joy for millions of Christians. Once
born in Bethlehem, the Lord is born in our hearts and abides with us if
we remain faithful to him and the Church that he has founded. He is with
us when we accomplish good deeds. He is with us when we help our
neighbours. He is with us when we are compassionate and sympathetic. He
is with us when we reconcile enemies. He is with us when we forgive and
remember not evil. He is with us when we pray and participate in the
Church’s sacraments, more so in the sacrament of Thanksgiving, the
Eucharist.<br />
<br />
The feast of the Nativity of Christ speaks to us of that which is
most important; we are called to learn how to love God and serve him,
our Saviour, the one who has granted this salvation to all nations and
for all times, who extends his embrace to each one of us. In acquiring
the skill of worshipping God and reverentially standing in his presence,
we at the same time learn how to serve our neighbour as well by
manifesting ‘faith which worketh by love’ (Gal 5:6).<br />
<br />
We have only to add a little – to respond to the action of the saving
grace of God through our obedience, through our trust in the words of
the Lord, through our desire to fulfill his commandments. If we master
this great truth, then much will be transformed not only within
ourselves but around us. We will be able to set priorities on our
values, we can peacefully, calmly and assuredly go along the path of
life mapped out for us, rendering praise and thanksgiving to God.<br />
<br />
In order to attain this spiritual state, we must be Orthodox people
not only by opinion polls but according to our deepest convictions and
way of life, as our pious ancestors were ardent believers and people who
loved God. Among these a special place is occupied by the baptizer of
Rus, the Holy and Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Prince Vladimir, the
thousandth anniversary of whose demise we shall commemorate this year.
It is thanks to him that we are the bearers of the lofty estate of
Christian and in total comprise the single family of Orthodox brotherly
peoples of historical Rus. Thus it was, is and shall be. And no
temporary troubles and trials, no external forces can tear asunder these
centuries-old spiritual and cultural ties of the inheritors of the
baptismal font of Kiev.<br />
<br />
In these holy days of the Nativity the prayers of the fullness of the
Church and my own fervent prayer are for peace in the country of
Ukraine. Irrespective of where her children live and of their political
views and preferences, the Russian Orthodox Church fulfills her
responsible mission which was placed upon her by Christ (Mt 5:9). She
has done and continues to do all that is possible to reconcile people
and help them overcome the consequences of enmity.<br />
<br />
At the bottom of all conflict, hatred and division is sin. According
to St. Justin Popović, sin ‘exploits all its power to accomplish one
thing: to render the human person godless and inhuman’ (St. Justin
Popović, <em>Philosophical Abysses</em>). And we see in what infernal
state the human person at times abides when he has lost the dignity
granted to him by the Creator.<br />
<br />
Yet the Church in the name of God, tirelessly proclaiming to people
the ‘great joy’ (Lk 2:10) of the birth of the Saviour, calls upon each
dweller on earth to believe and transform himself for the better. She
offers to us the way of ascent: from seeking out God to the knowledge of
God, from the knowledge of God to communion with God, and from
communion with God to becoming like God. St. Athanasius the Great, who
lived in Alexandria in the fourth century, expressed the purpose of the
coming into the world of the Saviour in these amazing words: ‘God became
man so that man may become god,’ yet not according to his nature but
according to divine grace. The centuries-old experience of the Church
testifies that genuine transfiguration, <em>theosis</em>, is
accomplished through the action of grace by means of the voluntary
co-operation between God and the human person. And it is attained
through labour, in obedience to the Creator, and not through accepting
the diabolic temptation of the serpent who intimated to our ancestors
that they should taste of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil and immediately become ‘as gods’ (Gen. 3:5). Every person who
lives according to faith knows that it is fidelity to God that deters
him from evil deeds and thoughts, that it is faith which inspires him to
spiritual feats and labours to the glory of God and for the good of our
neighbours.<br />
<br />
In congratulating you all on the great feast of the Nativity of
Christ and the New Year I would like to wish you from the bottom of my
heart good health, peace, prosperity and abundant succour from on high
in following our Lord and Saviour without stumbling.<br />
<br />
‘But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory
by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect,
stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever
and ever. Amen.’ (1 Pet 5:10-11)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<strong>+ KIRILL</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<strong>PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<em>Moscow</em></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<em>The Nativity of Christ</em></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<em>2014/2015</em></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-53695603049425210832015-01-05T20:00:00.000-08:002015-01-05T20:09:04.636-08:00Resources on Primacy and the FilioqueThis post is for the assistance of those seeking more information on the subjects of:<br />
<ul>
<li>Primacy in the Universal Church</li>
<li>The non-Orthodox addition of Creedal article "filioque" ("and the Son") within the statement proclaiming the procession of the Holy Spirit <b><br /></b></li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Position of the Moscow Patriarchate on the Problem of Primacy in the Universal Church
</b><br />
<a href="https://mospat.ru/en/2013/12/26/news96344/" target="_blank">https://mospat.ru/en/2013/12/26/news96344/</a><br />
<br />
<b>"Filioque" on Orthodoxwiki</b><br />
<a href="http://orthodoxwiki.org/Filioque" target="_blank">http://orthodoxwiki.org/Filioque </a><br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-52628172797723051202014-12-27T08:00:00.002-08:002014-12-27T08:00:57.284-08:00Traditional Christmas Schedule at Holy TransfigurationWe are fortunate that the Russian Orthodox Church has held fast to the Church Calendar, as we now in Peoria have the opportunity to participate in the services of Nativity as they were originally set forth by our Christian fathers. <br />
<br />
Our preparation for Nativity began the day after American Thanksgiving with the beginning of the Nativity fast. It continued with<br />
<ul>
<li>the Feast of the Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple in Jerusalem</li>
<li>the commemorations of the Prophets Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah</li>
<li>the celebration of St. Nicholas the Hierarch and Wonderworker of Myra and Lycia, and </li>
<li>the Conception of the Virgin Mary by her mother, St. Anna </li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.oca.org/icons/lg/nativity/1225nativity-xc001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.oca.org/icons/lg/nativity/1225nativity-xc001.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<u>This Sunday</u> (12/28 on the civil calendar) we begin our approach to Nativity celebrating the "Forefathers of Christ" - all in the Old Testament who participated in His future Incarnation - with our normal service schedule. <br />
<br />
<i>(The following Monday and Tuesday are the commemorations of the Prophet Haggai and the Prophet Daniel with the Three Youths) </i><br />
<br />
<u>Next Sunday</u>, (the Sunday before Nativity, we commemorate the genealogy of Christ. <br />
<br />
<u>Christmas Eve</u> begins on Monday evening (Jan 5th on the civil calendar) with Vespers at 5PM, and continuing Tuesday morning with Royal Hours of Nativity at 8:30 AM.<br />
<br />
<u>Nativity</u> will be celebrated Tuesday evening with Great Compline at 5PM, and Festal Hours and Typika at 8:30 AM on Wednesday morning. <br />
<br />
Please remember to refer to our calendar page for the latest schedule updates. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-30710755396765197672014-12-12T17:56:00.000-08:002014-12-12T17:56:12.348-08:00Attend Church Services; Feed Your Soul<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qvzGzECfeS8/VIuch1FFWWI/AAAAAAAABKc/JKG1jtRpu2k/s1600/10700622_730829233664503_6734028625542367110_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qvzGzECfeS8/VIuch1FFWWI/AAAAAAAABKc/JKG1jtRpu2k/s1600/10700622_730829233664503_6734028625542367110_o.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-83794012703370025842014-09-21T18:51:00.000-07:002014-09-21T18:51:17.600-07:00Blessing of the New Church Space and First Divine LiturgyNativity of the Mother of God, 2014<br />
<br />
Today our rector, Hieromonk Alexander, performed the blessing of the new church space and served our first Divine Liturgy here. This joyous event was coupled with the celebration of the Nativity of the Mother of God and the Sunday before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. <br />
<br />
Fr. Alexander during his homily reminded us that there are no coincidences and that this timing is by God's providence. We had initially planned for the blessing of the church to happen last week, during the Indiction of the Church Year, but circumstances delayed Fr. Alexander's trip one week. He reiterated how fortunate we are to be given the opportunity to perform this work on this Great Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God. <br />
<br />
And we did feel fortunate to be a part of this important and uniquely satisfying work. Glory to God!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZExAmW-WEY/VB90BCDeXCI/AAAAAAAAA-g/H04RYROhswM/s1600/IMG_2405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZExAmW-WEY/VB90BCDeXCI/AAAAAAAAA-g/H04RYROhswM/s1600/IMG_2405.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zQ-NDUZcmoQ/VB90BYLXBdI/AAAAAAAAA-k/pMwLtLpLF2k/s1600/IMG_2407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zQ-NDUZcmoQ/VB90BYLXBdI/AAAAAAAAA-k/pMwLtLpLF2k/s1600/IMG_2407.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a63VGgSvpGM/VB90Bvk6cGI/AAAAAAAAA-o/7j8fL0BCfcU/s1600/IMG_2409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a63VGgSvpGM/VB90Bvk6cGI/AAAAAAAAA-o/7j8fL0BCfcU/s1600/IMG_2409.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7fdyuIsL0Wg/VB90CGFblHI/AAAAAAAAA-0/eCFAhVMViEg/s1600/IMG_2411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7fdyuIsL0Wg/VB90CGFblHI/AAAAAAAAA-0/eCFAhVMViEg/s1600/IMG_2411.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vJANktDDIV0/VB90CQATVVI/AAAAAAAAA-8/IaBZdPQFYsQ/s1600/IMG_2413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vJANktDDIV0/VB90CQATVVI/AAAAAAAAA-8/IaBZdPQFYsQ/s1600/IMG_2413.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i06LXbfJ1Is/VB90Cm6pu_I/AAAAAAAAA_A/DF8aR4giLz0/s1600/IMG_2415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i06LXbfJ1Is/VB90Cm6pu_I/AAAAAAAAA_A/DF8aR4giLz0/s1600/IMG_2415.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJpFGTPYWVo/VB90DMqTItI/AAAAAAAAA_M/RpNPsaptJhQ/s1600/IMG_2417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJpFGTPYWVo/VB90DMqTItI/AAAAAAAAA_M/RpNPsaptJhQ/s1600/IMG_2417.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O5oh2l3ogLE/VB90DheOSwI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/ynKN2yn2bxk/s1600/IMG_2419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O5oh2l3ogLE/VB90DheOSwI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/ynKN2yn2bxk/s1600/IMG_2419.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sL_NthcEZks/VB90DkRfgQI/AAAAAAAAA_U/ePdWq7M6JnU/s1600/IMG_2421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sL_NthcEZks/VB90DkRfgQI/AAAAAAAAA_U/ePdWq7M6JnU/s1600/IMG_2421.jpg" height="221" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h6JSQ9c9F24/VB90EDmxbcI/AAAAAAAAA_g/qpLvSXJpYh0/s1600/IMG_2423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h6JSQ9c9F24/VB90EDmxbcI/AAAAAAAAA_g/qpLvSXJpYh0/s1600/IMG_2423.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dz2dgx5gjKM/VB90Ejdp-TI/AAAAAAAAA_o/40PC_pNu-2A/s1600/IMG_2425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dz2dgx5gjKM/VB90Ejdp-TI/AAAAAAAAA_o/40PC_pNu-2A/s1600/IMG_2425.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WyNk-o9JE80/VB90Ex-FeqI/AAAAAAAAA_w/3h1BWiJNVxw/s1600/IMG_2427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WyNk-o9JE80/VB90Ex-FeqI/AAAAAAAAA_w/3h1BWiJNVxw/s1600/IMG_2427.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qq6AAtdEDIY/VB90FKsusrI/AAAAAAAAA_0/qPtYDsSUcR0/s1600/IMG_2429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qq6AAtdEDIY/VB90FKsusrI/AAAAAAAAA_0/qPtYDsSUcR0/s1600/IMG_2429.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lSNd0S3q8ew/VB90FYD-ZuI/AAAAAAAABAE/njt1eBXr7lc/s1600/IMG_2431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lSNd0S3q8ew/VB90FYD-ZuI/AAAAAAAABAE/njt1eBXr7lc/s1600/IMG_2431.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JXYVfmKw9jY/VB90FwSSEwI/AAAAAAAABAM/MV6DOK-VaBA/s1600/IMG_2433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JXYVfmKw9jY/VB90FwSSEwI/AAAAAAAABAM/MV6DOK-VaBA/s1600/IMG_2433.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_uP4Y14eoP0/VB90Gff9u2I/AAAAAAAABAU/7BIpidzMWqA/s1600/IMG_2435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_uP4Y14eoP0/VB90Gff9u2I/AAAAAAAABAU/7BIpidzMWqA/s1600/IMG_2435.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ui7sqUlxJkE/VB90G3PkYOI/AAAAAAAABAg/2fztGZqPuUI/s1600/IMG_2437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ui7sqUlxJkE/VB90G3PkYOI/AAAAAAAABAg/2fztGZqPuUI/s1600/IMG_2437.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5veR1Y0qR74/VB90HaVxP2I/AAAAAAAABAk/osn_pSFy5BY/s1600/IMG_2439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5veR1Y0qR74/VB90HaVxP2I/AAAAAAAABAk/osn_pSFy5BY/s1600/IMG_2439.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-puPsRq7VtMc/VB90Hnb7OGI/AAAAAAAABAo/Ax-o6-wam3Y/s1600/IMG_2441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-puPsRq7VtMc/VB90Hnb7OGI/AAAAAAAABAo/Ax-o6-wam3Y/s1600/IMG_2441.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SOUOvcP2T38/VB90Hy96kYI/AAAAAAAABAw/b1pDr5INQNY/s1600/IMG_2443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SOUOvcP2T38/VB90Hy96kYI/AAAAAAAABAw/b1pDr5INQNY/s1600/IMG_2443.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-2zFHHKzr8/VB90IJzVb3I/AAAAAAAABBI/o4OjeBSey6k/s1600/IMG_2447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-2zFHHKzr8/VB90IJzVb3I/AAAAAAAABBI/o4OjeBSey6k/s1600/IMG_2447.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-njxY8CKqdh8/VB90IYxg_KI/AAAAAAAABA8/cW2BYxlJIRM/s1600/IMG_2450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-njxY8CKqdh8/VB90IYxg_KI/AAAAAAAABA8/cW2BYxlJIRM/s1600/IMG_2450.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kRNPiUeoUsw/VB90Ig-VG7I/AAAAAAAABBE/vafKjdywgrY/s1600/IMG_2452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kRNPiUeoUsw/VB90Ig-VG7I/AAAAAAAABBE/vafKjdywgrY/s1600/IMG_2452.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U9k4swHGVEE/VB90JZuq0sI/AAAAAAAABBY/LFS_A5Sl4hI/s1600/IMG_2458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U9k4swHGVEE/VB90JZuq0sI/AAAAAAAABBY/LFS_A5Sl4hI/s1600/IMG_2458.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F2UdDXQnmuE/VB90JhxlZEI/AAAAAAAABBc/3N8vSyyoZLk/s1600/IMG_2462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F2UdDXQnmuE/VB90JhxlZEI/AAAAAAAABBc/3N8vSyyoZLk/s1600/IMG_2462.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J59afSFElyw/VB90KPTQ_OI/AAAAAAAABBk/78BykMFosGc/s1600/IMG_2464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J59afSFElyw/VB90KPTQ_OI/AAAAAAAABBk/78BykMFosGc/s1600/IMG_2464.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5MQqm_bz1A/VB90Kb0XDsI/AAAAAAAABBs/OsNGhgHTORc/s1600/IMG_2468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5MQqm_bz1A/VB90Kb0XDsI/AAAAAAAABBs/OsNGhgHTORc/s1600/IMG_2468.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZetFKm2H7Yk/VB90KnvcFFI/AAAAAAAABB0/uak3GqCKTIk/s1600/IMG_2470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZetFKm2H7Yk/VB90KnvcFFI/AAAAAAAABB0/uak3GqCKTIk/s1600/IMG_2470.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J7ho9-F5YG4/VB90LGGz3NI/AAAAAAAABB8/uCYxM3WUZyY/s1600/IMG_2472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J7ho9-F5YG4/VB90LGGz3NI/AAAAAAAABB8/uCYxM3WUZyY/s1600/IMG_2472.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BFV-TCDN0Lc/VB90LivqpBI/AAAAAAAABCE/wXSJxEXHsJg/s1600/IMG_2474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BFV-TCDN0Lc/VB90LivqpBI/AAAAAAAABCE/wXSJxEXHsJg/s1600/IMG_2474.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zDFiFQn4dKM/VB90L8kB6PI/AAAAAAAABCM/4F_eyTlY1wQ/s1600/IMG_2480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zDFiFQn4dKM/VB90L8kB6PI/AAAAAAAABCM/4F_eyTlY1wQ/s1600/IMG_2480.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uFB9Q1qcyiI/VB90MNZ1BsI/AAAAAAAABCU/3s5pAjJAX3c/s1600/IMG_2482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uFB9Q1qcyiI/VB90MNZ1BsI/AAAAAAAABCU/3s5pAjJAX3c/s1600/IMG_2482.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ogt_0Vo5Ng8/VB90MqMW2LI/AAAAAAAABCc/3bCXTSIzokI/s1600/IMG_2490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ogt_0Vo5Ng8/VB90MqMW2LI/AAAAAAAABCc/3bCXTSIzokI/s1600/IMG_2490.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uy0QuDIdF5I/VB90NFzUKHI/AAAAAAAABCk/qDErm1kh5Go/s1600/IMG_2494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uy0QuDIdF5I/VB90NFzUKHI/AAAAAAAABCk/qDErm1kh5Go/s1600/IMG_2494.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2kwUXL9E0i4/VB90NayhyxI/AAAAAAAABCs/y4-GEgYG4ak/s1600/IMG_2500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2kwUXL9E0i4/VB90NayhyxI/AAAAAAAABCs/y4-GEgYG4ak/s1600/IMG_2500.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SgG2DtVA8ZM/VB90OGnP-LI/AAAAAAAABC0/rzZXYNProVg/s1600/IMG_2504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SgG2DtVA8ZM/VB90OGnP-LI/AAAAAAAABC0/rzZXYNProVg/s1600/IMG_2504.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-84L3qz3EnS8/VB90OF2nsjI/AAAAAAAABC4/KvzlxU7IfEI/s1600/IMG_2510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-84L3qz3EnS8/VB90OF2nsjI/AAAAAAAABC4/KvzlxU7IfEI/s1600/IMG_2510.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-itv7NM6IchU/VB90OrLZ0cI/AAAAAAAABC8/hPvu5bLUbFI/s1600/IMG_2518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-itv7NM6IchU/VB90OrLZ0cI/AAAAAAAABC8/hPvu5bLUbFI/s1600/IMG_2518.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_GEsSVji_k8/VB90OnSUgYI/AAAAAAAABDE/1ykliwmqyj0/s1600/IMG_2520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_GEsSVji_k8/VB90OnSUgYI/AAAAAAAABDE/1ykliwmqyj0/s1600/IMG_2520.JPG" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yd_3DfY6ZoQ/VB90PUMbyvI/AAAAAAAABDQ/HzAjFBo5ECk/s1600/IMG_2524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yd_3DfY6ZoQ/VB90PUMbyvI/AAAAAAAABDQ/HzAjFBo5ECk/s1600/IMG_2524.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zakotDG64sg/VB90Pl9ICYI/AAAAAAAABDU/_BLJYfC2a_o/s1600/IMG_2530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zakotDG64sg/VB90Pl9ICYI/AAAAAAAABDU/_BLJYfC2a_o/s1600/IMG_2530.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PcPnOWchLw4/VB90QPBt24I/AAAAAAAABDg/5zzV48VYRaY/s1600/IMG_2535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PcPnOWchLw4/VB90QPBt24I/AAAAAAAABDg/5zzV48VYRaY/s1600/IMG_2535.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gklrmnUnDIQ/VB90QYCiVnI/AAAAAAAABDs/V3tyiKC_Cuc/s1600/IMG_2539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gklrmnUnDIQ/VB90QYCiVnI/AAAAAAAABDs/V3tyiKC_Cuc/s1600/IMG_2539.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xp2x3lYefBI/VB90Q4SLwjI/AAAAAAAABDk/vhh_lisMlT4/s1600/IMG_2543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xp2x3lYefBI/VB90Q4SLwjI/AAAAAAAABDk/vhh_lisMlT4/s1600/IMG_2543.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-10FKkBonso8/VB90RprRBiI/AAAAAAAABD4/G5JfW-BH9t8/s1600/IMG_2547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-10FKkBonso8/VB90RprRBiI/AAAAAAAABD4/G5JfW-BH9t8/s1600/IMG_2547.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_1Nyd31eMUQ/VB90R1zWjmI/AAAAAAAABD0/0Z8hle67QQo/s1600/IMG_2553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_1Nyd31eMUQ/VB90R1zWjmI/AAAAAAAABD0/0Z8hle67QQo/s1600/IMG_2553.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KZVrnXLEMMQ/VB90SbRm0ZI/AAAAAAAABEE/xdvXCE5iMg4/s1600/IMG_2555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KZVrnXLEMMQ/VB90SbRm0ZI/AAAAAAAABEE/xdvXCE5iMg4/s1600/IMG_2555.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cAqyDM4QTAU/VB90S5RMuAI/AAAAAAAABEU/TmLNMIRauKc/s1600/IMG_2558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cAqyDM4QTAU/VB90S5RMuAI/AAAAAAAABEU/TmLNMIRauKc/s1600/IMG_2558.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-akXxiULWMBs/VB90TAyUqII/AAAAAAAABEM/NgUjBHI--No/s1600/IMG_2560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-akXxiULWMBs/VB90TAyUqII/AAAAAAAABEM/NgUjBHI--No/s1600/IMG_2560.jpg" height="199" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-39323356802318670082014-09-08T19:43:00.002-07:002014-09-08T19:43:32.477-07:00Interview With Fr. Gregory Joyce: Common Questions About the Orthodox Church<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/s-GehTVBJq8?rel=0" width="480"></iframe>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-76668176409432416082014-08-29T07:23:00.000-07:002014-08-30T12:42:14.977-07:00We Are Moving!Greetings in the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God!<br />
<br />
With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Peter we have acquired a lease for a space of our own at 3701 N. Sheridan, Peoria, Illinois. This new location places us right in the center of the Peoria city limits.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ELUT5jTcI3w/U_-QOB-u3rI/AAAAAAAAA8c/ib5HdnM22Og/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-08-12%2Bat%2B6.25.07%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ELUT5jTcI3w/U_-QOB-u3rI/AAAAAAAAA8c/ib5HdnM22Og/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-08-12%2Bat%2B6.25.07%2BPM.png" height="324" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Location of New Space relative to Zion Church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It is ~700 sqft in the rear of a retail/office building (donning blue curtains in the image below). It has plenty of parking and should serve our needs nicely for this next phase of our community's development. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PzyQOkPZnxc/U_-RO1VR5NI/AAAAAAAAA8k/S4-YXmNeSNw/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-08-12%2Bat%2B6.14.55%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PzyQOkPZnxc/U_-RO1VR5NI/AAAAAAAAA8k/S4-YXmNeSNw/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-08-12%2Bat%2B6.14.55%2BPM.png" height="334" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3710 N. Sheridan, Peoria, Illinois (Google Street View)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ud7rAirU9BI/VACIRiVKwOI/AAAAAAAAA80/G6o7kPY2um0/s1600/IMG_0007_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ud7rAirU9BI/VACIRiVKwOI/AAAAAAAAA80/G6o7kPY2um0/s1600/IMG_0007_2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our New Location</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This coming weekend (August 30/31, civil) we will hold services at Zion Church in Brimfield for our last time. We are grateful for the hospitality of the community at Zion, Father Thomas, and of the Bishop of the Diocese of Quincy Juan Morales, and the dean Fr. Shawn Doubet. These Anglican Christians in and around Peoria responded immediately and enthusiastically to our earliest introductions, offering the immediate use of their facilities and have joyfully shared their spaces with Holy Transfiguration for our first two years. May they forever be numbered among our "founders and benefactors".<br />
<br />
Services at the new Peoria location will begin the weekend of September 6-7 (civil).<br />
<br />
In addition, we will now refer to the mission as our incorporated name, "Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church" and begin establishing our identity accordingly.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YPr6YdBExWo/VACMW2f8ZSI/AAAAAAAAA88/wDtvtN74--k/s1600/HTOC%2Bsign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YPr6YdBExWo/VACMW2f8ZSI/AAAAAAAAA88/wDtvtN74--k/s1600/HTOC%2Bsign.png" height="449" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Please pray for us!<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-54758361003324952992014-08-18T10:26:00.001-07:002014-08-18T10:26:15.699-07:00Feast of the Transfiguration - Tonight and Tomorrow MorningTonight and Tomorrow morning we celebrate the Transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ on Mount Tabor, which is also the patronal feast of our mission. <br />
<br />
Fr. Joseph Towne will be serving Vigil tonight at 5:30 PM and Divine Liturgy tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM (with hours preceding at 7:40). <br />
<br />
Services are located at 205 E. Van Buren, Brimfield, IL <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nwDEjTCkRgQ/U_I2zK8IF2I/AAAAAAAAA74/WgEHgW5ynF8/s1600/Transfiguration-freso-in-an-Orthodox-church-in-the-US.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nwDEjTCkRgQ/U_I2zK8IF2I/AAAAAAAAA74/WgEHgW5ynF8/s1600/Transfiguration-freso-in-an-Orthodox-church-in-the-US.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5616734391996001743.post-2716861781386077942014-08-18T10:08:00.000-07:002014-08-18T10:08:28.350-07:00His Holiness Patriarch Kirill calls Primates of Local Orthodox Churches to raise their voice in defence of Orthodox Christians in the east of Ukraine<em>Source: <a href="https://mospat.ru/en/2014/08/14/news106782/" target="_blank">Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate</a></em><br />
<em> </em><br />
<em><span>14.08.2014 19:55</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span></span>Being deeply concerned over the situation in eastern Ukraine,
where a fratricidal civil war has been going on for already seven
months, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sent
messages to the Primates of the Local Orthodox Churches, asking them to
pray for the peace in the Ukrainian land. The Primate of the Russian
Orthodox Church also called the heads of the Local Orthodox Churches to
raise their voice in defence of Orthodox Christians in the east of
Ukraine, who, in a situation of violence on the part of the Greek
Catholics and schismatics, live in everyday fear for themselves and
their loved ones.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Given below is the message to His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.</em><br />
<br />
Your Holiness,<br />
<br />
Beloved in the Lord Brother and Concelebrant:<br />
<br />
I wholeheartedly greet you wishing you peace, blessed physical strength and God’s inexhaustible help in your primatial ministry.<br />
<br />
I am impelled to address myself to you with this letter by the
feeling of profound pain and extreme concern for the situation of our
Church’s flock in eastern Ukraine, where a fratricidal civil war has
continued for already several months now.<br />
<br />
As far back as last autumn when the present political crisis in
Ukraine just began, representatives of the Greek Catholic Church and
schismatic communities, who appeared in the Kiev Maidan, openly preached
hatred towards the Orthodox Church, calling to seize Orthodox shrines
and to eradicate Orthodoxy from the territory of Ukraine. With the
beginning of hostilities, the Uniates and schismatics, having been given
arms, under the pretext of antiterrorist operation, began an outright
aggression against the clergy of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church
in the east of the country.<br />
At the same time, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, unlike the
Greek-Catholics and schismatics, remains alien to any political
commitment. She continues taking pastoral care of her numerous flock,
which includes those who have found themselves on the opposite sides of
the conflict, seeking to reconcile them and tirelessly calling them to
dialogue.<br />
<br />
In recent weeks we have received from local hierarchs reports
attesting to outrage committed against the clergy of the canonical
Ukrainian Orthodox Church and to the purposeful persecution against
them. Here are some examples:<br />
<br />
On July 17, 2014, during the Divine Liturgy at the church of the
Resurrection in the city of Slavyansk, a group of armed men led by a
Greek Catholic military chaplain burst in the church and began
threatening the rector of the church, Archpriest Vitaly Vesyoly. A
representative of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church declared that
there was no room in Ukraine for the Moscow Patriarchate and complained
that the president of the country did not allow the Uniates to seize the
Kiev Laura of the Caves.<br />
<br />
On July 19, the dean of the Nikolaevsky District of the diocese of
Gorlovka, Archpriest Andrey Chicherinda, was insulted and interrogated
with handcuffs put on his hands and under the threat of murder.<br />
<br />
On July 20, near Slavyansk, people armed with submachine guns forced
Archpriest Vadim Yablonovsky to dig a grave for himself. On the same
day, Archpriest Viktor Stratovich was handcuffed and, with a sack on his
head, driven into forest, where he was forced to his knees and
interrogated in this position.<br />
<br />
On July 30, at the Krasnokamenskoe village near Donetsk, a similar
group of armed people carried out an illegal search in the house of
Archpriest Igor Sergienko, rector of the church of the Holy Prince
Alexander Nevsky. The priest was abused, accused of participation in the
work of underground organizations, threatened with torture, called to
leave the territory of Ukraine and to issue a title to the church fixing
the right to the church property.<br />
<br />
On the same day, at the Amvrosievsky District of Donetsk Region, the
Ukrainian military detained Archpriest Yevgeny Podgorny. His hands were
tired and with obscenities heaped upon him he was knocked off and beat
up and kicked with feet and butts. They shoot over his head, trying to
force him into admitting that he helped the militia. The archpriest was
forced to put off his priestly cross, but when he refused they tore it
off, put him in a pit with a sack on his head and threaten to kill his
son. His house was looted. The priest was set free only thanks to the
interference of parishioners.<br />
<br />
We cannot ignore the fact that the conflict in Ukraine has an
unambiguous religious cause underlying it. The Uniates and schismatics
linked up with them seek to gain the upper hand over the canonical
Orthodoxy in Ukraine, while the Ukrainian Orthodox Church continues with
patience and courage to take pastoral care of her suffering faithful in
this very difficult situation. Most of the clergy who serve in places
that have become arenas for hostilities have remained with their flock,
sharing with them all the terrors of civil war. Their families are
suffering from attacks and lack of water and food and dying under
artillery shelling. Thus, on July 31, Archpriest Vladimir Kreslyansky
was wounded and later died after a shelling of residential quarters in
Lugansk. The priest has left a wife and five children.<br />
Eastern Ukraine, a blossoming land inhabited by millions of
industrious Orthodox Christians, is turning into a scorched field. The
residence of Metropolitan Hilarion of Donetsk and Mariupol has been
destroyed by bombing. A bombshell has ruined and burned out the Iveron
Convent of the diocese of Donetsk. But despite all these severe
conditions, the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, a martyr Church,
stays with her flock, doing all that is possible to help people enduring
the most terrible times in the modern history of Ukraine. In the fire
of civic confrontation, hundreds of thousands of people have lost their
homes and become refugees. In fleeing the terrors of war, many of them
have found asylum in churches and monasteries, in particular in the
Svyatogorsky Laura of the Assumption, which is now overfilled with
refugees. In Donetsk, Gorlovka and Lugansk, civilians, in the hope to
escape the bombing and shelling, remain in churches overnight, where
they receive roof and free food. Other monasteries, parishes, dioceses
of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, too, give aid to refugees and
civilians in general.<br />
<br />
The Moscow Patriarchate as a whole has used all its resources to
render humanitarian aid to civilians in the areas where hostilities are
going on. In the Russian Orthodox churches, a special daily prayer is
lifted up for peace and overcoming of fratricidal strife in Ukraine. The
Church has taken care of many thousands of refugees from eastern
Ukraine accommodated in tent camps and taken from it to specially
prepared facilities in various parts of Russia. Aid is given to all
regardless of nationality and faith. Among those who are seeking asylum
in Russia are numerous servicemen of the Ukrainian Army who do not wish
to shoot at their own people.<br />
<br />
In these days so hard for the whole Russian Orthodox Church,
especially for her faithful in Ukraine, I ask Your Holiness, Most
Reverend archpastors, pastors, monastics and all the faithful of the
Holy Church of Constantinople to pray for peace in the Ukrainian land,
for a end of the bloodshed and for our suffering brothers in the Lord,
especially archpastors and pastors who, in this most difficult situation
of civic confrontation, continue courageously to do their duty and to
carry out their church ministry and to defend Holy Orthodoxy.<br />
<br />
I would like to ask Your Holiness to use every opportunity for
raising your voice in defence of Orthodox Christians in the east of
Ukraine, who, in a situation of violence on the part of the Greek
Catholics and schismatics, live in everyday fear for themselves and
their loved ones, in the fear that if the prosecutors take over, the
Orthodox will be forced to renounce their faith or subjected to severe
discrimination.<br />
<br />
With brotherly love in the Lord,<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<strong>+Kirill</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<strong> Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0