Z ST. THOMAS SUNDAY Z THE 2nd

SUNDAY OF PASCHA Z

May 8, 2016

EPISTLE: Acts of the Apostles 5:12 - 20 (#14)GOSPEL: St. John 20:19 - 31 (#65)TONE: 1

St. Innocent Orthodox ChurchZ Founded in 1967 Z Moscow Patriarchal Parishes Z

23300 W. Chicago _ Redford, MI 48239 _ 313-538-1142 _ Fax: 313-538-8126Church Website: www.stinnocentchurch.com _ E-Mail: frroman@firebirdvideos.com

St. Innocent Monastic Community: 9452 Hazelton, Redford, MI 48239 _ 313-535-9080PASTOR: Rt. Rev. Mitered Archpriest ROMAN STAR _ Cell: 313-319-0590

Dean, Central States Deanery, Patriarchal ParishesASSISTANT PRIEST: Rev. DANEIL SHIRAK _ 313-295-3073

DEACON: Rev. Dn. Michael ComerfordSUBDEACON: Dr. Joshua Genig

ATTACHED: Sister IoannaCHOIR DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Star Hatfield

READERS: Robert Joseph Latsko & George Hanoian

SCHEDULE FOR THE COMING WEEK (Resume regular fasting on Wednesdays & Fridays)

TODAY: Sun, 5/8 1pm GRAVE BLESSINGS (after Coffee Hour, about 1:00pm)

Saturday 5/14 4pm GREAT VESPERS & CONFESSIONS

Sunday 5/15 Myrrhbearing Women Sunday (3rd Sunday of Pascha); [Mothers’ Day]

9:15am Hours & Akathist for the Resurrection

10am DIVINE LITURGY, Followed by Coffee Hour (COCC Dinner-Dance at 5/6pm at St. Michael’s)

Tuesday 5/10 “Joy-Day” (“Radonitsa) (bringing the Joy of the Resurrection to the departed at their graves)Feast-Days: Today, Sunday, 8 May: Apostle & Evangelist St. John the Theologian; Wed, 11 May: Ss. Cyrill & Methodius, Apostles to the Slavs

FOR THE HEALTH OF: Archimandrite Seraphim; Priest Daneil, Matushka Debra & Corrina Shirak; Deacon Michael, Matushka MaryEllen & Julius Comerford; Matushka Mary Donahue; Subdeacon Joshua & Abigail Genig; Reader Robert Latsko, Reader George & BettyHanoian, Rose Nossal, Mary Glover, Nancy Cupp, Vasiliki Stamoulis, Gerald Martell, Azbehat, Donald Yakuber (in Assisted Living), CarldeVyver, Jo Anne Nicholas, Joan Rusko, Daria, Joseph Nossal Ed Manier, Martha Genig, Jennifer, Ben & unborn baby BenjaminALSO FOR: Agatha Danylov, who celebrates her birthday on Wednesday, 11 May Adhanet Iskias, who celebrates her birthday on Saturday, 14 May

All our living Mothers, Grandmothers, Great-Grandmothers & Godmothers on Mothers’ Day

� MAY GOD GRANT THEM MANY YEARS! �

COMMEMORATED TODAY: Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian (98-117). St. Thomas Sunday. Ven. Arsenius the Great(449-450). Ven. Arseny the Lover-of-Labor (14th c.) and Pimen the Ascetic, of the Kiev Caves (Far Caves—12th c.).

FOR THE REPOSE OF: Estelle & Joseph Star; Anna & John Witkowski; Michael Sr. & Margaret Rusko; Mary, Andrew, Daniel,Michael & Lottie Yakuber; Ross & Margaret Falsetti; Helen, John & Carole Andrayko; Peter & Theresa Harvilla; Betty Martell; Frances& Todd Smoly; Peter Glover; Irene Adams; Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua deVyver, David Horka; Michael Rusko; Anna Lichagina,Yelena & Zinaïda Korniyevskaya; Joseph Nossal; Michelle Tucker; Todd Comerford. MEMORY Kenneth Nossal (child), whose anniversary of his repose is Today, Sunday, 8 May ETERNAL! Paul Yupco, whose anniversary of his repose is Tomorrow, Monday, 9 May (by grandson, Fr. Roman)

All our departed Mothers, Grandmothers, Great-Grandmothers & Godmothers on Mothers’ Day

_ 9:15AM — HOURS & AKATHIST FOR THE RESURRECTION; CONFESSIONS __ 10am — DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM _

_ 9:15AM — HOURS & AKATHIST FOR THE RESURRECTION; CONFESSIONS __ 10am — DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM _

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! Z ÕÐÈÑÒÎÑ ÂÎÑÊÐÅÑÅ! ÂÎÈÑÒÈÍÓ ÂÎÑÊÐÅÑÅ!

KHRISTOS ANESTI! ALITHOS ANESTI! Z HRISTOS A ÎNVIAT! ADEVÃRAT A ÎNVIAT!

CANDLES FOR LAST SUNDAY, 1 MAY (Pascha)YEARLY CHURCH VIGIL LAMPS:Royal Doors Lamp: In Memory of Husband, Joseph; Son, Kenneth; parents, Michael & Margaret Rusko, & John & Martha Nossal, by Rose NossalAltar Candelabra: In Memory of Parents, Nicholas and Susan Yakuber, by son, Donald Yakuber Altar Candles (2): In Memory of Irene Adams, by Goddaughter, Rose Ann EverhardtIconostasis Lamps: In Memory of Parents, Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua; Robert David H; & Health of brother, Carl, by Sister IoannaCandles on the Solea: In Memory of Peter & Theresa Harvilla, Norman & Monica Holst, & Ricky Ellis, by Jason & Debra Truskowski Table of Oblation Lamp: In Memory of Parents, Helen & John Andrayko, Sr. & sister, Carole Andrayko, by John Andrayko, Jr.

Reliquary-Icon Lamps: Sts. Innocent, Tikhon & Herman: Health of Joseph/Sue; Robert/Diane; Pat/John; Joseph B., Jared, Jay; Rachelle/Aaron, Gabriel; Tricia, Lindsey; & In Memory of sisters, Anna, Margaret, Theresa & Irene; & brothers, John, Edwin & Michael by Rose NossalReliquary-Icon Lamps: Sts. Elizabeth & Raphael: Health of the Genig and the Just Families, by Subdeacon Joshua & Abigail GenigReliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Seraphim & St. Alexis: In Memory of Ross & Margaret Falsetti, by daughters, Rose Ann Everhardt & Margie MartellReliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Hilarion & Sts. Alexandra & Martha (AVAILABLE)Reliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Nestor & St. Gerontius (AVAILABLE)

IN MEMORY OF (MEMORY ETERNAL!)Joseph & Estelle Star, by son Father Roman and familyPaul & Alexandra Yupco, Basil & Ellen Starinshak, by grandson, Father Roman and familyJohn & Anna Witkowski, by daughter, Matushka Rose Marie and familySamuel & Mary Kupec, by granddaughter, Matushka Rose Marie and familyParents, Helen & John Andrayko, and sister, Carole Andrayko, by John Andrayko + + + Ross & Marge Falsetti, by Family My husband, Joe; my sisters, Margaret & Ross Falsetti, Anna & Mike Elaschat, Theresa & Pete Harvilla, Irene, & brothers, Michael, John & Edwin Rusko; niece, Rose Mary & Dean Hough; Joe’s brothers, Raymond & Walter Nossal, & sisters, Theresa, Florence & Helen Nossal, by Rose Nossal ++ + Pete & Theresa Harvilla, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay Truskowski + + + My husband, Michael Rusko, by Joan Rusko Parents, Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua; David H; Nina I; Marion P; Fr. Photius; Mo. Benedicta; Archm. Roman; Olive, by Sister IoannaChild Lana Wilson, Shirley Troyer, Marsha Olsen, Betty & Paul Stelmaszek, by Becky JurczyszynGradparents Holst, Harvilla & Truskowski; & Ricky Ellis, by Debra Truskowski

FOR THE HEALTH OF: (MANY YEARS!)Elizabeth & Lawrence, Caitlin & Zachary, by parents & grandparents, Father Roman & Matushka Rose Marie Gregory & Tamiko Star, by parents, Father Roman & Matushka Rose MarieChildren, Grandchildren & Great-grandchildren; Monk Fr. Sdn. Tikhon (Dade); by Rose NossalFather Roman & Matushka & family; Sister Ioanna; John Andrayko; Nancy; Mary G; Jo Anne N; Grandson Joey (in the Navy Reserves) & all people in the Armed Forces; & all the people of St. Innocent Church, by Rose Nossal + + + Shirley Peponis, by brother, Nick & JoAnne My Mom, Jaime Truskowski, by Kay Truskowski + + + Family & Friends, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay T. Brother, Greg & Donna, nephew, Gregory & Liz & nephew, Alex, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay + + + Ed Manier, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay Archimandrites Nafanail, Gregory & Seraphim; Fr. Roman & Mat. Rose Marie; Fr. Lawrence & fam; Fr. Laurence & fam; Fr. Daneil & fam; Dcn. Michael & fam; Mat. Mary D; Carl; Sdn Fr. Tikhon; Sdn Andrew; Sdn Joshua, Abigail & children; Rdr Robert; Robert M; David Samuel, Sky & Avi; Jo Anne & Nick; Athanasius; John A; Ed & Tiffany; Kim & fam; Vasiliki; Rose; Emil; Billy & Fonda; Donald Y; Richard Z, by Sr IoannaJohn Andrayko (May God watch over him), by Rose Nossal + + + Rose Nossal, by John Andrayko Leia, Mike Reece & Baby Wilson; Joan & Bob Jurczynszyn; Paul Stelmaszek; Pete, Jacob, Claire, Matt & Krista Stelmaszek; Damon, Levi Troyer, Damon& Briann Saylor; Toni & Richard Bussen; Liz Tomachewski, Andrea Faust & Nathan, by Becky Jurczyszyn My husband & children; all Family & loved ones, by Debra Truskowski

PROSPHORA FOR TODAY IS OFFERED BY: Subdeacon George & Nadia (Shirak) BakanIn Memory Eternal of: all the Shirak and Bakan Families; and For the Health of: Fr. Daneil and Matushka Debra Shirak; Subdeacon George and Nadia (Shirak)

Bakan and all Shirak and Bakan Families.

ANNOUNCEMENTS1) COCC ANNUAL CHARITY/BENEFIT DINNER-DANCE, NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 15th,(Myrrhbearing Women Sunday), at St. Michael’s Church Banquet Hall, Redford, on W. Chicago, betweenBeech Daly & Inkster. 5pm, social hour; 6pm, dinner; $40 each, adults; 12 & under, FREE. See Fr. Romanfor tickets. Proceeds help the COCC’s charitable works. Please mark your calendars for this mostenjoyable annual event. (Flyer to right or at http://coccdetroit.com/2016_4_12_springdinnerdance.html)2) MANY THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO DONATED FOR PASCHA FLOWERS & BOWS. (We almost reached our goal of 100 bows.)3) MANY THANKS TO THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED FOOD FOR THE PASCHA AGAPEMEALS, both at night and in the morning. 4) KITCHEN & COFFEE HOUR NEEDS: Cases of bottled spring water & small dessert-size plates.5) NEW ISSUE OF THE COCC’S “GOOD WORKS” (March-April) NOW AVAILABLE. Printedcopies are available at church, or can be mailed. The cover photo shows our 10-year-old choir singer,Emma Genig, on Orthodoxy Sunday, holding an icon with 2 other children. See the FULL-COLOR, on-line version at: http://coccdetroit.com/files/Good%20Works/COCCGoodWorks-2016MAR-APR.pdf6) LISTEN EVERY SUNDAY TO THE COCC’S DETROIT’S OWN ORTHODOX RADIO HOUR[DOOR] ON WNZK 690-AM, 4-5 pm, or on your computer/smart-phone, live, athttp://www.doorradio.org. This website also has an archive of all its previous programs.

2016 PASCHAL MESSAGE OF PATRIARCH KIRILL OF MOSCOW to the Archpastors, Pastors, Deacons, Monks and Nuns andAll the Faithful Children of the Russian Orthodox Church

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God (1 Jn 3:1).

Your Graces the archpastors, all-honourable priests,God-loving monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters:

CHRIST IS RISEN!

With these joyous and life-affirming words I greet you, mybeloved, from the depths of myheart and congratulate you all onthe great and saving feast of Pascha.

The Church calls this day ‘the feastof feasts and the festival offestivals’ through the lips of one ofher great ecumenical teachers, St.Gregory the Theologian. Herein iscontained a profound spiritualmeaning, for ‘Pascha is as farexalted above all – not only thosewhich are merely human andearthly but also those which are ofChrist himself and are madeperfect for Him – as the sun is

exalted above the stars’ (Oration 45: On Holy Pascha). The glorious resurrection of the Lord Jesus, which hasbecome the most important event in the history of the salvation of the human race, contains the very meaningand profound essence of our faith, the heart and mighty power of the Christian message to the world. In thesedays what we preach may be encapsulated in these three words: Christ is risen! ‘In saying this, what more canI say? All has been said!’ proclaims St. Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow (Homily for Holy Pascha, 18 April1826).

The history of humanity after the fall of Adam is the history of the unceasing struggle of good with evil. Havingshown disobedience to the Creator, people embarked upon their own life and sin came into the world, and withit suffering and disease, corruption and death. Yet, most importantly, sin separated people from God Who didnot create evil and Who is foreign to any falsehood. No righteous man has ever been able to overcome this tragicdivision, this great spiritual abyss, as it is impossible to do so purely through human endeavour. And so it wasthat, as St. Gregory the Theologian says, ‘we needed an incarnate God Who would die that we might live’(Oration 45: On Holy Pascha).

In other words, Christ’s resurrection has become the breach into eternity by which human limitation has beenovercome and the thirst to be united with God has been satisfied. Pascha is the triumph of the Maker’s boundlesslove for people, ‘for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in himshould not perish, but have everlasting life’ (Jn 3:16).

And yet what does it mean to celebrate Pascha in a world weighed down by pain and suffering, exhausted fromwar and conflict, replete with hatred and enmity? What does it mean to sing ‘trampling down death by death andto those in the tombs he has given life,’ when death remains the evident culmination of the earthly life of eachone of us? Undoubtedly, Pascha does not abolish the real presence of death in the world, but now human painand the tragedy of our earthly life are overcome by the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, who has granted to us, hisdisciples and followers, unconquerable hope in attainment of eternal life. Death is henceforth for us Christiansno longer a parting but the joyful encounter and longed for reunification with God.

Christ, ‘the first fruit of them that slept’ (1 Cor 15:20), has shown us the only possible way of overcoming sinand death. This is the way of love. And it is to this love that we are called to bear witness before the wholeworld. And we are called in the first instance by the example of our own lives, for ‘by this shall all men knowthat ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another’ (Jn 13:35).

Love, which according to the Apostle Paul, ‘is the bond of perfectness’ (Col 3:14), is the loftiest and greatestof Christian virtues. When we enter eternity and are granted to see the Lord, our faith will be transformed intoknowledge, and our hope in salvation will be turned into reality by God’s mercy. And yet, ‘charity never faileth’(1 Cor 13:8) and does not change.

As St. Ignatius Bryanchaninov so wonderfully writes, ‘the perfection of Christianity lies in the perfect love ofone’s neighbour’ (Ascetic Essays: On Love of One’s Neighbour). What does ‘perfect love’ mean? It is a lovethat extends to a love for strangers, for ill-wishers and even for enemies. It is a sacrificial love which transcendsall human reasoning as it cannot be contained by the framework of everyday worldly logic. We can attain it onlythrough great spiritual endeavours which evoke the grace of God that grants to us the ability to respond to hatredwith love and to evil with good.

It is precisely this love which Christ has shown to us when for our salvation he endured terrible humiliation,suffering on the cross and the agonizing death. By his all-conquering love, which fills all things, hades wasdestroyed to its foundation and finally the gates of paradise were opened to all humanity. In all of life’scircumstances we are called upon to remember that the powers of evil are indeed illusory and not so great, forthey cannot compare with the powers of love and virtue, the sole source of which is God. Let us recall, too, thatthe best response to and the most effective means of resisting sin and falsehood is our sincere prayer that is liftedup from the depths of our heart, and mainly prayer which is communal, offered up in church in worship, andeven more so communion of the Body and Blood of the Saviour in the mystery of the Eucharist.

In experiencing today great Paschal joy and contemplating with reverence and awe Christ the Giver of Life whohas risen from the tomb, let us share this saving message with our neighbours and those far from us, so that theytoo may see the ineffable radiance of Divine Love and together with us ‘bless and glorify the all-honorable andmajestic name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit’.

May the saving light of Christ’s resurrection, which surpasses all human comprehension, immutably illumineour way through life, enlightening and comforting us in making us participants and heirs of the kingdom ofheaven.

Rejoice, my beloved, for

CHRIST GOD HAS TRULY RISEN!

+KIRILL

PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIAPascha, 2016

2016 PASCHA MESSAGE OF BISHOP JOHN

Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA

to all the clergy and faithful children of the Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in the USA.

Dear Reverend Fathers-Concelebrants, Dear Brothers and Sisters!

CHRIST IS RISEN!

Do not be terrified: You seek Jesus Who was crucified: He is risen; He is not here” (Mark16: 6) — proclaims the Angel to the Myrrhbearers. Thus does the Gospel relate the goodnews that Jesus of Nazareth, who was abandoned by the people, rejected by the synagogue,betrayed by the disciples, and crucified by the Romans, has now risen from the dead,destroying death and altering the entire world order.

In the event of the Resurrection of Christ is revealed the true meaning of all occurrences andevents in biblical history, and God’s design for mankind and each one of us is madecomprehensible. The passage of Moses through the Red Sea becomes an indication of theLord’s overcoming of the waters of death. The swallowing of Jonah by the great fishsignifies the presence of the Redeemer in Hades. The three holy youths cast into the furnaceof Babylon reveal the glorious rising of Jesus from the dead by the power of the Father.

In the Resurrection of Christ the events and words of the Gospel become understandable,for each word now discloses an interpretation of the life and death of the Lord in the lightof His Resurrection. The glorious depiction of His Nativity is an indication that He is notsubject to death as personified by Herod. The multiplication of the loaves of bread becomes

a sign of the Eucharist, of the communion of the Body of the Resurrected One. The healings accomplished by the Teacherfrom Nazareth serve to restore to the blind, to those who are broken and hopelessly ill, that which is not restorable. Thecasting out of demons indicates, at the one and same time, the destruction by the Risen Lord of the depths of Hades.

The Resurrection of the Lord unites in itself all the triumphs of the Church. By the power of the Risen One we are unitedto those who have lived before us. By the power of the Conqueror of death the saints stand with us rejoicing in glory andhear our prayers. The Light of the Resurrection is reflected in each of the feasts of the liturgical year, filling with life thosewho are in communion with the Church.

The Power of the Resurrected One makes possible the abolition of the fear of death which tears the world apart, but whichhas been overcome by the Glorified Lord. His Glory fills each moment of a believing human life, and the Truth of HisDescent into Hades bears testimony to the fact that the all-powerful presence of the Lord will not depart from us in anyseeming hopelessness. For “both death and Hades have been cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20, 14).

The Resurrection of Christ changes being itself, and fills with a new meaning the key concept of freedom, which is someaningful for the existence of man. From this point onwards freedom, appearing in the image of the Lord, now consistsof one’s incapacity to do evil, while love for what is good, once born in the human heart through the Lord’s Cross, piercesour day-to-day lives and prepares us for entry into the Kingdom.

This Kingdom comes closest to us on this Paschal Night, it becomes evident in the paschal days of triumph of the Risen One.“For the Lamb which is in the middle of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters” (cf.

Rev. 7:17).

May the Joy of the Risen Lord remain with all of us!

CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!

+ JOHN

Bishop of Naro-Fominsk

Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA

New York City, Pascha 2016

THE PASCHAL SERMON OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

The Paschal sermon of St. John Chrysostom is read aloud in every Orthodox parish at theResurrection Service of the Great and Holy Pascha of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Whoever is a devout lover of God, let him enjoy this beautiful bright Festival!

Whoever is a grateful servant, let him rejoice and enter into the joy of his Lord!

And if any be weary with fasting, let him now enjoy what he has earned.

If any have toiled from the first hour, let him receive his due reward.

If any have come after the third hour, let him with gratitude join in the Feast.

If any have come after the sixth hour,

let him not doubt, for he too shall be deprived of nothing.

And if any have delayed to the ninth hour,

let him not hesitate, but let him come too.

And he that has arrived only at the eleventh hour,

let him not be troubled over his delay, for the Lord is gracious,

and received the last even as the first.

He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour

as well as to him that has toiled from the first.

Yea, to this one he gives, to that one he bestows;

He honors the former's work; the latter's intent He praises.

Let all then enter the joy of our Lord!

Both the first and the last and those who come after, enjoy your reward!

Rich and poor, dance with one another, sober and slothful, celebrate the day.

Those who have kept the fast and those who have not, rejoice today, for the table is richly spread.

Fare royally upon it — the calf is a fatted one.

Let no one go away hungry.

All of you, enjoy the banquet of faith!

All enjoy the riches of his goodness.

Let no one cry over his poverty, for the universal Kingdom has appeared!

Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again, for forgiveness has risen from the grave.

Let no one fear death, for the death of our Savior has set us free.

He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He spoiled the power of hell when he descended thereto.

Isaiah foretold this when he cried,

Death has been frustrated in meeting him below!

It is frustrated, for it is destroyed.

It is frustrated, for it is annihilated.

It is frustrated, for now it is made captive.

For it grabbed a body and discovered God.

It took earth and behold! it encountered heaven.

It took what was visible,

and was overcome by what was invisible.

O Death, where is your sting?

O Death, where is your victory?

CHRIST IS RISEN, and the demons are cast down.

CHRIST IS RISEN, and life is set free.

CHRIST IS RISEN, and the tomb is emptied of the dead.

For Christ, having risen from the dead,

is become the first-fruits of those who sleep.To him be glory and power forever and ever! Amen!