Sunday of The Holy Forefathers

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians 3:4-11


• Gospel: The Reading is from Luke 14:16-24 and Matthew 22:14
  

Saints Commemorated Today

• Holy Martyrs and Callinicus of Asia Minor
• Athenodoros the Martyr of Mesopotamia
  
• Appollonius, Philemon, and Arrian of Alexandria.
  
• St.Fingar & St. Phiala the Martyrs
  

The living we are praying for

• Patriarch Pavle of Serbia
• the Hieromonk Ambrose in Wellington
• Olga (Soroka)
• Luba
• Kathleen
• June
• The Archpriest Ilyan
• Anita
• Alison
  

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Jacob

^{Christmas Services at St Micheal's Orthodox church 2008}

24th December (NS)	Christmas vigil from 8 pm
7th of January (NS) 25th December (OS)	Divine Liturgy of St John Chyrstostom at 10 am

Sunday of The Holy Forefathers

Today is the second Sunday before the Nativity and we remember the forefathers of Christ according to the flesh, from Adam through to the Theotokos, all of whom came before the Law but some of whom lived to see the giving of the Law.

In particular we take note of the promise made to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 and " And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." and again in Genesis 22:18, "And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice". A promise

We also remember Joachim and Anna, the father and mother of the Theotokos.

10th Sunday of Luke

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 4:1-7
  
  


• Gospel: The Reading is from Luke 13:10-17
  

Saints Commemorated Today

• Ambrose, Bishop of Milan
  
• Athenodoros the Martyr of Mesopotamia
  
• Righteous Father Gerasimus, Ascetic of Euboia
  
• Holy Father John of Kronstadt
  

The living we are praying for

• Patriarch Pavle of Serbia
• the Hieromonk Ambrose in Wellington
• Olga (Soroka)
• Luba
• Kathleen
• June
• The Archpriest Ilyan
• Amelia

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow
• Milena
• Maurice
• John & Christina
• George

Memory Eternal, Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow

Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow reposed last Friday, the 5^th of December.

Patriarch Alexy was born on February the 23^rd 1929 and ordained to the priesthood in 1950. He succeeded Patriarch Pimen as Patriarch of Moscow in 1990.

^{Christmas Services at St Micheal's Orthodox church 2008}

24th December (NS)	Christmas vigil from 8 pm
7th of January (NS) 25th December (OS)	Divine Liturgy of St John Chyrstostom at 10 am

Orthodox Study Bibles and Liturgical Calendars

Reminder if you wish to purchase an Orthodox study bible see Fr Ilyan - these cost $55 each plus postage.

Fr Ilyan also has the Archdiocesan Liturgical Calendar for 2009 available. This is a wonderful wall calendar suitable for the faithful, to remind us of feast days and fast days throughout the year. These cost $15 each and are available from Fr Ilyan.

Father of the Church, Ambrose, Bishop of Milan

St Ambrose was born in the middle of the fourth century AD at time when the Arian controversy was splitting the Church.

Highly educated in literature, the law and rhetoric Ambrose became consular prefect with headquarters in Milan. He showed himself to be a capable and excellant administrator.

In 374 the Bishop of Milan, the Arian Auxentius died; leaving the see vacant and civil disorder arose between the Orthodox and Arians over the choice of his successor.

Called on to restore order Ambrose delivered a speech of such eloquence that the people called for him to succeed Auxentius as Bishop, although at that time Ambrose was still only a catechumen. St Ambrose was initially reluctant to take on the position but after settling his affairs, selling his property and distributing it to the poor he was baptized, ordained and elevated to the rank of Bishop.

As a Bishop, Ambrose was was an eloquent and valiant defender of the Faith, influencing another of Western Fathers, St Augustine.

St Ambrose reposed on the 4^th of April 397 - the night of Pascha.

Twenty-fourth Sunday of Pentecost

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 4:9-16
  
  


• Gospel: The Reading is from John 1:35-52
  

Saints Commemorated Today

• The Holy Apostle St Andrew, the First-Called
• St Tudwal, Bishop of Wales & Brittany
• St Frumentius Archbishop of Abyssinia

The living we are praying for

• Patriarch Pavle of Serbia
• Olga (Soroka)
• Luba
• Kathleen
• June
• The Archpriest Ilyan
• Amelia

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Oksana
• Nikolai
• Grigory
• Yevdokia
• Eugenia
• Sergei
• Maria
• Stephan
• Irina

Orthodox Study Bibles and Liturgical Calendars

Reminder if you wish to purchase an Orthodox study bible see Fr Ilyan - these cost $55 each plus postage.

Fr Ilyan also has the Archdiocesan Liturgical Calendar for 2009 available. This is a wonderful wall calendar suitable for the faithful, to remind us of feast days and fast days throughout the year. These cost $15 each and are available from Fr Ilyan.

The Holy Apostle Andrew

Today we remember St Andrew, the first called.

St Andrew was the brother of St Peter and a fisherman by trade.

After Pentecost he planted Churches in Greece, Georgia and the Russian lands.

In Particular he appointed St Stachys as the first Bishop of Byzantium.

He also planted a cross in Kiev prophesying that a city of Churches would grow there and a Christian future for the region.

St Andrew was martyred in 62 AD in the city of Patras a city of the Peloponnese.

The After-Feast of The Presentation of Our Lady The Theotokos in The Temple

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:4-10
  
  


• Gospel: The Reading is from Luke 12:16-21
  

Saints commemorated today

• Amphilochios, Bishop of Iconium
• Gregory, Bishop of Agrigentum
• Ischyrion, Bishop of Egypt
• St Metrophan, Bishop of Voronezh
• St Polin, the Ascetic
• St Columbanus of Ireland, Abbot of Luxeuil & Bobbio
• St Alexander Nevsky

The living we are praying for

• Patriarch Pavle of Serbia
• Olga (Soroka)
• Luba
• Kathleen
• June
• The Archpriest Ilyan
• Amelia

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Costandino
• Elias
• Pavlos
• Laskaritsa
• Nikki
• Georgos
• Stelyos
• Theothora
• Reginald
  

Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 4:9-16


• Gospel: The Reading is from Matthew 9:9-13
  

Saints commemorated today

• Holy Apostle and Evangelist St Matthew
• St Afan, the Hierarch
• 
  St Fulvianus, Prince of Ethiopia (in Baptism Matthew)
• St Eucherius, Bishop of Lyons

The Living

• the Ordination of the priest Rafic Al-Baba in Sydney today
• Patriarch Pavle of Serbia
• Olga (Soroka)
• Kathleen
• Luba
• June
• the Archpriest Ilyan

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Noura
• Gordana
• Milos
• Nenad
• Katica
• Slavko
• Marjorie

The Nativity Fast

Advent - The Nativity fast began yesterday, the 15^th of November.

Reminder

Fr Ilyan has:

• Orthodox Study Bibles @ $55.00 each plus postage
• The Archdiocesan Orthodox Calendar for 2009 @ $15.00 each
• Christmas cards, religious, available @ $2.50 a pack of 5

 

Presentation of the Theotokos - 21st of November

Next Friday is the celebration of the Presentation of the Theotokos in the Temple, one of the 12 Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church.

This Feast marks the replacement of the Temple in Jerusalem as the dwelling place of God and reminds us that Mary becomes the Ark of the New Covenant, since she her womb will carry Christ, our God.

You can learn about more this feast at the Archdiocesan site

21st Sunday of Pentecost

Scripture Readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20
  


• Gospel: The Reading is from Luke 8:41-56
  

Saints remembered today

• St.Nektarios Kephalas
• Metropolitan of Pentapolis
• Holy Martyrs Onesiphorus & Porphyrius
• St.Matrona the Righteous
• St.Benen
• St.Pabo
  

The Living in need of our prayers

• Patriarch Pavle of Serbia
• Olga (Soroka)
• Kathleen
• Luba
• June
• the Archpriest Ilyan

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Caliopi
• Dimitri
• Yevgyeni
• Georgios Tisbena
• Tagie

Notices

Fr Ilyan has copies of the Orthodox Study Bible at $55, Archdiocese wall calendars at $15 and religious themed Christmas cards in packs of 5 at $2.50.

Please see him if you wish to purchase any of these items.

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 1:11-19
  
  


• Gospel: The Reading is from Luke 16:19-31
  

Todays Saints and Martyrs

• Holy Martyrs Acindynus, Pegasius, Apthonius, Elpidephorus and Anempodistus of Persia
• Domnina, Domna, & Kyriaki, the Martyrs
• St Erc the Hierarch

The Living in need of our prayers

• Patriarch Pavle of Serbia
• Luba
• Olga
• Kathleen
• June
• the Archpriest Ilyan

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Kostas
• Eleni
• Kyriaki
• Loukas
• Leo
• Anna
• Paraskeva
• Alla

Orthodox study Bibles and Calendars

Copies of the Orthodox Study Bible are available at $55.
The Archdiocesan Calendar for 2009 has arrived and sells for $15.

See Fr Ilyan if you wish to purchase either of these items.

Both come highly recommended for the faithful of our parish.


Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

Nineteenth Sunday of Pentecost

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 2:1-10


• Gospel: The Reading is from Luke 8:26-39
  

Commemorated Saints

• Glorious Great Martyr St Demetrios, the Myrrh-flowing of Thessalonika
   
• Commemoration of the Great Earthquake at Constantinople in 740 AD
   
• St Eata, Bishop of Hexham and Abbot of Lindisfarne
   
• St Theophilus of the Kievan Caves, Bishop of Novgorod
   

The Living in need of our prayers

• Patriarch Pavle of Serbia
• the Archpriest Ilyan
• Olga (Soroka)
• Kathleen
• Luba
• June
• the newly Baptised Alexander Emil , Romeo , Cristina & Family, Lučiana and Dragoş

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Nicholas
• Irina
• Sarandos
• Julia

Patriarch Pavle

Patriarch Pavle of Serbia has asked the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church to be released from his duties due to ill health.

The Patriarch, who has served as head of the Serbian Orthodox Church since 1990 was hospitalized for several months ago, suffering from heart and lung problems.

The Holy Synod next meets on November the 11^th.

Orthodox Study Bibles and next years wall calendar

A new shipment of the Orthodox Study Bible has arrived. It is recommended for all Orthodox Christians and those interested in Orthodoxy.

Next years Archdiocesan Calendar will soon be available, price to be announced. They will be available from Fr Ilyan once they arrive.

Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

Eighteenth Sunday of Pentecost

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 9:6-11
  
  


• Gospel: The Reading is from Luke 7:11-16
  

Saints and Martyrs

• St John of Kronstadt
  
• Holy Prophet Joel
  
• Holy Martyr Varus
  
• St Ethbin, the Monk
  
• St Frideswide of Oxford, the Abbess
  
• Translation of the Relics of St John, Abbot of Rila in Bulgaria

The Living in need of our Prayers

• Olga (Soroka)
• Kathleen
• Luba
• June
• the newly Baptized child of God Alexander, Romeo, Christina and family, Lučiana and Dragoş
  
• the Archpriest Ilyan

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Aspasia
• Yevgyeni
• Demetrios
• Ingraham-Mervyn

St John of Kronstadt

Born October 19, 1829, in Sura, reposed December 20, 1908, in Kronstadt.

"Do not be despondent when fighting against the incorporeal enemy,
but even in the midst of your afflictions and oppression praise the Lord,
Who has found you worthy to suffer for Him,
by struggling against the subtlety of the serpent,
and to be wounded for Him at every hour; for had you not lived piously,
and endeavored to become united to God,
the enemy would not have attacked and tormented you."

Troparion

With the apostles your message has gone out to the ends of the world,
And with the confessors you suffered for Christ!
You are like the hierarchs through your preaching of the word;
With the righteous you are radiant with the grace of God.
The Lord has exalted your humility above the heavens
And given us your name as a source of miracles.
O wonder-worker, living in Christ for ever,
Have mercy on those beset by troubles;
And hear us when we cry out in faith, O our beloved shepherd John!

Kontakion

This day the pastor of Kronstadt
Appears before the throne of God
Praying fervently on behalf of the faithful
To the chief pastor Christ, who has promised:
"I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it!"

Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of The Seventh Ecumenical Council

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 3:8-15
  


• Gospel: The Reading is from Luke 8:5-15

Saints and Martyrs

• Holy Martyrs Probus, Tarachus & Andronicus of Tarsus in Cilicia
• St Fiace, the Hierarch
• St Edwin, King & Martyr
• St Wilfrid, Bishop of York
• St Symeon, the New Theologian
• St John of Riga (Latvia 1934)

The Living in our prayers

• Olga (Soroka)
• Kathleen
• Luba
• June
• the newly Baptized child of God Alexander, Romeo, Christina and family, Lučiana and Dragoş
  
• the Archpriest Ilyan

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Caliopi
• Athanasios
• Stanojko
• Anastasia
• Romulus
• Savdelina

Welcome the family of the Church, Alexander

Alexander Emil, son of Romeo and Christina - Baptized at St Michael's on the 11^th of October 2008

Alexander's Godparents are Lučiana and Dragoş.

The Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council

About 726 AD a dispute arose in the Church about the place of Icons in Christian worship.

In 787 AD the Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council resolved that it the use of Icons in Christian worship was appropriate and today we recall this.

The issue was not fully resolved until the time of Empress Theodora in 843 AD.

In truth it has continued through until today although not within the Orthodox Church, which laid this matter to rest well over a millenia ago.


St John of Damascus had this to say on the matter

Concerning the charge of idolatry: Icons are not idols but symbols, therefore when an Orthodox venerates an icon, he is not guilty of idolatry. He is not worshipping the symbol, but merely venerating it. Such veneration is not directed toward wood, or paint or stone, but towards the person depicted. Therefore relative honor is shown to material objects, but worship is due to God alone.

We do not make obeisance to the nature of wood, but we revere and do obeisance to Him who was crucified on the Cross... When the two beams of the Cross are joined together I adore the figure because of Christ who was crucified on the Cross, but if the beams are separated, I throw them away and burn them

Troparion (Tone 8)

Most glorious are You, O Christ our God!
You have established the Holy Fathers as lights on the earth!
Through them you have guided us to the true faith!
O greatly Compassionate One, glory to You!

Kontakion (Tone 6)

The Son who shone forth from the Father
Was ineffably born, two-fold in nature, of a woman.
Having beheld Him, we do not deny the image of His form,
But depict it piously and revere it faithfully.
Thus, keeping the True Faith,
The Church venerates the icon of Christ Incarnate.

Sixteenth Sunday of Pentecost

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:1-10


• Gospel: The Reading is from Luke 6:31-36

Saints remembered today

• St Peter
• St Alexis
• Jonas
• St Philip
• St Hermogenes (Germogen) and St Tikhon, for the Synaxis of the Hierarchs of Moscow
• Martyr Charitina of Amisus
• Martyr Mamelta (Mamelchtha) of Persia
• Hieromartyr Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria
• St Damian the Healer and Saints Jeremiah and Matthew, clairvoyants of the Kiev Caves
• St Charitina, princess of Lithuania
• St Cosmas, Abbot in Bithynia
• St Gregory of Chandzoe in Georgia
• St Eudocimus the Unknown, monk of Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos
• St Methodia the Righteous of Kimolos;

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Anastasi
• Irini
• Itsa
• May
• Sarah
• Irina

Reminder

There will be no Divine Liturgy this morning as Fr Ilyan is still on vacation. He returns next Thursday.

Dn Andrei will be conducting a Typika service beginning a 10 am


Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15



• Gospel: The Reading is from Luke 5:1-11

Saints and Martyrs remembered today

• Venerable Chariton the confessor, abbot of Palestine
• Venerable Neophytos and Auxentios
• Martyr Heliodoros
• Prophet Baruch
• Martyr Wenceslaus

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Valentina
• Ekaterini
• Yelana
• Vasily

The 25^th anniversary of Fr Ilyan's elevation to the priesthood

Yesterday marked the 21^st anniversary of Fr Ilyan's ordination to the priesthood by Bishop Gibran on the 27^th of September 1987.

Fr Ilyan first served the parish of St Ignatius in Auckland before coming to serve at St Micheal's, Dunedin in October 1992, sixteen years ago next month.

I am sure all parishioners past and present join us in congratulating Fr Ilyan on this occasion and thanking him for his service to our parish .

Reminder

There will be no Divine Liturgy at St Michael's this morning or next Sunday since Fr Ilyan is taking a well earned vacation.

Dn Andrei will be conducting the typika service in it place starting at 10 am.




Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

Sunday after The Elevation of The Precious and Life-Giving Cross

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20
  


• Gospel: The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1
  

Today is the leave-taking of The Elevation of The Precious and Life-Giving Cross and we remember

• The Holy Prophet Jonah
  


• St Quadratus, Apostle of The Seventy & Apologist
  


• St Mabyn
  


• St Jonah the Presbyter, father of St Theophanes the Hymnographer & St.Theodore Graptus
  

 

The living in need of our prayers

• the Archpriest Ilyan
• Kathleen
• Luba
• Olga
• June

The Departed we Commemorated today

• John
• Stavroula
• Ivan
• Vulla
• Uriy

Fr Ilyan's trip to Australia

Fr ilyan and Matushka Mary are taking a well earned vacation in Australia, leaving on the 25^th of September and returning on October the 7^th. This means that divine Liturgy will not be celebrated at St Micheal's again until the 12^th of October.

Fr Dn Andrei will be conducting a Typika service for the two Sundays of Fr Ilyan's absence.

Elevation of the Life Giving Cross

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 1:18-24
  


• Gospel: The Reading is from John 19:6-11, 13-20, 25-28, 30

Today is the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost and we remember

• The Elevation of The Precious & Life-Giving Cross
• The repose of St John Chrysostom
• Commemoration of The Sixth Ecumenical Council

The living in need of our prayers

• Archpriest Ilyan
• Luba
• June
• Kathleen
• Olga

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Peter
• Nikolai
• Grigori
• Ivan
• Eleni

Elevation of the holy Cross

We remember two specific historic events on today, the first being the finding of the Cross upon which Christ was crucified by the Empress Helena at Golgotha during her journeys in Palestine in 327-328 AD.

During this journey she built Churches and provided for the poor.

Upon reaching Golgotha she ordered a pagan temple constructed on the site destroyed and when this was done three crosses were discovered. They were placed in turn upon a dying woman and when she was touched by the third she miraculously recovered. Thus was the True Cross identified.

It was held up high for the Faithful to see who sang Kyrie eleison.

The True Cross was captured by the Persians in 614 but recovered thirteen years later, the second historical event remembered on this day.

This Feast is a day of fasting and repentance. The Cross is laid in the center of the church surrounded by flowers and branched of basil. We prostrate ourselves before the feet of Our Lord and pledge our faithfulness to him.

Today are we reminded of Christ's sufferings for our salvation and that following him may seem foolish to the world but it is the path to our gaining reunification with God (Theosis).

Forefeast of The Nativity of The Theotokos

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18
  


• Gospel: The Reading is from John 3:13-17
  

Saints Commemorated today

• Holy Martyr Sozon , the Shepherd
• St John, Archbishop of Novgorod
• Holy Apostles Euodias & Onesiphorus of The Seventy
• St Clodoald, Abbot – Founder of Nogent-sur – Seine near Paris

The living in need of our Prayers

• Archpriest Ilyan
• Luba
• June
• Kathleen
• Olga Soroka

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Khaliel
• Bogdan
• Kleianthei
• Michael
• Gabriela
• Milivoye

The Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos

Tomorrow. the 8^th of September, we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos, one of the twelve great feasts of the Church.

According to Church tradition the Virgin Mary's parents were Joachim and Anna who were childless, a source of great grief to them but they retained their faith in God despite their prayers to God remaining unanswered.

One day Joachim went to the Temple to make an offering but was turned away by the High Priest who rebuked him for his lack of children.

Joachim feeling shame went to to live amongst the shepherds and their sheep in the hills away from Jerusalem.

As he was praying one day an angel appeared to him promising him a daughter whose name would be known throughout the ages. Simultaneously an angel appeared to Anna, at home in Jerusalem, who gave her the same message. Joachim returned to his wife in Jerusalem and In due course Mary was born.

Anna promised to dedicate her child to God.

In time Mary became the Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ and is given the title Theotokos (literally God Bearer) in recognition of the Divinity of Christ.

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:1-7
  


• Gospel: The Reading is from Matthew 18:23-35
  

Todays commemorated saints

• Holy Hieromartyr Cyprian Bishop of Carthage
• St. Gennadius, Patriarch of Constantinople
• St. Eanswythe, Virgin of Folkestone
• St.Aidan , Bishop of Lindisfarne

The living in need of our prayers

• Archpriest Ilyan
• Luba
• June
• Kathleen
• Olga Soroka

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Frederick
• Evdokiya
• Zorona
• Nicholas

Congratulations

Fr Ilyan and Matushka Mary's 38^th wedding anniversary, celebrated last week

Bon voyage

Liliana Gamenov departed for Bulgaria last Wednesday. She will be away for nine weeks.

Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

Tenth Sunday of Pentecost

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 4:9-16
  


• Gospel: The Reading is from Matthew 17:14-23
  

The Saints Commemorated today

• Holy Hieromartyr Eutyches , Disciple of St. John the Theologian
• St.Ychard
• St. Ouen, Bishop of Rouen
• Translation of the Relics of St. Peter , Metropolitan of Moscow & All Russia
• Translation to Zante , the Relics of St.Dionysios Bishop of Aegina , the Wonderworker
• St.Kosmas of Berat , Evangelizer of Southern Albania

The living in need of our prayers

• Archpriest Ilyan
• Luba
• June
• Kathleen
• Olga Soroka

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Priest Nikolai
• Alexander
• Iliana
• Eugene
• Olga
• Madelina
• Julian
• Cosmin
• Alexander
• Walter
• Millie

Garage Sale

The garage sale held yesterday was very successful. Many thanks to all involved and contributed, particularly Matushka Mary, Fr Andrei, Carol Taurua, Gloria Billington from the IHC, June and Zita.

Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

After-Feast of The Holy Dormition of our Most Blessed and Glorious Lady

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 3:9-17
  


• Gospel: The Reading is from Matthew 14:22-34
  

The Saints we commemorate today

• Holy Hieromartyr Myron
• St.Alypios the Iconographer

The Living in need of our prayers

• the Archpriest Ilyan
• Kathleen
• Luba
• Olga
• June

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Mary
• Alexander
• George
• Pilip
• Sadie
• Laura

Garage Sale next Saturday

Don't forget the garage sale to raise funds for the Church is happening next Saturday.

Any gifts for this will be appreciated.

After Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos

Last Friday the Church celebrated the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, one of the twelve great feasts of the Church.

Church tradition tells us that when Mary died, as all humans must, all of the Apostles were present excepting Thomas.

When he arrived a few days later he asked to see her and thus her tomb was opened and it was found her body was no longer present but had been assumed into Heaven, a foretaste of our own resurrection at Christ's second coming.



Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

Eighth Sunday of Pentecost

Scripture readings

• Epistle: The Reading is from St Paul to the Corinthians, 1:10-17
  


• Gospel: The Reading is from Gospel of St Matthew, 14:14-22
  

The Saints Commemorated today

• The Holy Martyr Laurence , Archdeacon of Rome
• St.Geraint , the Confessor
• St.Blane , the Hierarch.
  

The Living in need of our prayers

• Archpriest Ilyan
• Kathleen
• Luba
• Olga
• June
  

The Departed we Commemorated today

• Pandeilu
• Margareta
• Vladimir
• Tamara
• Constantine

Garage Sale

A garage sale will be held on Saturday the 23^rd 0f August to raise funds for the Church.
Gifts of items suitable for sale will be gratefully received.

Please leave your gifts with Matushka Mary as soon as possible to allow plenty of preparation time for this event.


Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand

A Letter to our youth From Metropolitan Paul

In the Book of Acts, Jesus said to his disciples:” You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you”!

On the Pentecost Day (50 days after Resurrection), the Holy Spirit came down and filled all those who were in the upper room.

(As was promised).

By the new power, the disciples and others went to every corner of the known world preaching, teaching and baptising.

(As were commanded).

The church from that day on kept proclaiming the marvels of God and calling all people to faith, love and new life in Christ.



Today, more than anytime in the two thousand years history the Church is calling you to open your hearts to the same power of the Holy Spirit and to the richness of his gifts, asking you, as a new generation of apostles to come forward and catechise and bring the world to Christ.

Jesus promised his disciples before his ascension; “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you”. The same promise is directed to you today, you who are baptised and confirmed by the gift of the Holy Spirit during baptism and in every Liturgy.

-2-

What is the power of the Holy Spirit and what did it means? It is the power of God’s life. It is the power of the same spirit which Jesus sent to stay with us and in us. It is the same spirit and the same power which points us and our words towards the living of the Gospel and towards the coming of the kingdom of God, the Church, brothers and sisters, Christ’s body, and living community of love, embracing people of every race, nations, and tongue, of every time and place. In the unity born of our faith is the risen Lord. This power of the spirit, will never cease to fill the Chruch with life.

Yet this power, the grace of the spirit is not something we earn or achieve, but it is given to us as a gift.

God’s love can only unleash its power when we allow Him to change us from within. We have to allow Him to break through the hard crust of our indifference, our spiritual weariness, our blind conformity to the spirit of age and our self-love. The daily prayer, the private prayer, and the sacramental prayer are the means to achieve His love and gift. In the power of His spirit, Jesus is there always in our hearts, quietly waiting for us to be still with Him, to hear his voice, to abide in his love and to receive power from on high, enabling us to be His disciples. He told them:” You will be my witness to the end of the earth”!! The same He is telling you today.

-3-

Let me ask you some questions: - Are you his disciples?

Do you know his word? What are you going to leave to the next generation? Are you building your lives on firm foundation? Are you living your lives in a way that open up a space for the spirit to come in, to a world that want to forget about him, or even reject him in the name of falsely conceived freedom? How are you using the gifts you have been given? What legacy will you leave to young people of the future? What difference will you make?

Do you curse the darkness or light a candle?

Are your hearts searching and will not find peace until they rest in Him? (Augustine)



The power of the Holy Spirit directs us to the future, to the coming of the Kingdom of God. It can creates a new world, a new generation of Christians called to help build a world in which God’s gift of life is welcomed, respected and cherished, or rejected in fear. A new age in which love is not greedily or self-seeking but pure, faithful and genuinely free. Open to others, respectful of their dignity, seeking their good, initiating joy and beauty. A new age in which hope liberates us from the shallowness, apathy and self-love which deaden our souls and poison our relationships, and destroy our families.

-4-

Friends:-

The Lord is asking you to be His disciples to this new age, messengers of his love, drawing people to Him and building a future of hope for all humanity. The world needs you, there is a spiritual desert there and it is spreading an interior emptiness, a quiet sense of despair. How many of young you know, friends, relatives and family members, who have got lost because of their trust and hope of the world promises? Jesus love is the only and real liberating gift.



The Church needs you, needs your power, your faith, your idealism and your generosity. It needs you to carry the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a world refusing of God’s Grace. Are you listening to your calling? Come forth and repeat with prophet Isaiah:” Here I am Lord, send me”.

Do not be afraid to say “Yes” to Jesus, to find your joy in doing His will, giving yourselves to the persecute of holiness in the service of the others.

May God bless all of you.

+Paul

Metropolitan Archbishop Paul
Primate of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines

Tagged: Saint Michaels Orthodox Church, Dunedin, New Zealand