Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost August 23, 2020

Weekly ScheduleTHIS IS A TWO WEEK BULLETIN

ONLY the Sunday Divine Liturgy will be available for viewing through Facebook Live

Sunday, August 23—9:30 AM; Divine Liturgy

Thursday, August 27—6:00 PM; Vespers for the Dormition

Friday, August 28—9:00 AM; Divine Liturgy for the Dormition

Sunday, August 30—9:30 AM; Divine Liturgy & Parish Picnic AT ST NICK’S GROVE

Wednesday, September 2—6:00 PM; Moleben to St. Nectarios & Building Committee Meeting

Saturday, September 5—Confessions (Use Sign-Up Sheet)

Sunday, September 6—9;30 AM; Divine Liturgy

Confessions are by appointment only until further notice.

If you would like to receive the Eucharist, please call Fr. Nick to schedule an appointment.

If there is an emergency, please call Fr. Nick immediately.

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Fr. Nicholas Mihaly, Pastor

1123 East Avenue Erie, PA 16503 H: (814) 453-4902 C: (203) 241-1027 nmihaly1013@gmail.com

More Information

Parish Website: www.stnicholaserie.org

Diocesan Website: www.acrod.org

www.facebook.com/StNicholasErie/

Welcome!

If you are new to our parish, welcome! St. Nicholas is a welcoming Orthodox Christian parish. As a reminder, only those Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves are invited to receive Communion. For all of our visitors, Orthodox or non-Orthodox, please join us for coffee downstairs; meet Fr. Nick & the parishioners!

ST. NICHOLAS ORTHODOX CHURCH “Let us therefore strive to preserve the holiness of our souls and to guard the purity of our

bodies with all fervor”-St. Nicholas of Myra

American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese | Ecumenical Patriarchate

Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost August 23, 2020

Parish Statement on Covid 19The following guidelines are to be followed during this phase of reopening.

• If you are sick or have ANY symptoms of COVID19, STAY HOME. We will not be taking your temperature at the door. But please, for the safety of your neighbor, if you are ill, stay home.

• Social distancing will still be enforced. You will be able to seat yourselves in whatever pew you would like provided that there is AT LEAST 6 feet of space between you and any other parishioners. For reference, the pews are spaced three feet apart. There will be an usher to greet you at the door as usual who might ask you to move after you sit down. We ask that you follow the instructions of the usher in ensuring the social distancing guidelines.

• Wash and sanitize your hands upon entering the church.• Masks are strongly suggested and encouraged! • At this time, we are not yet open to outside visitors.

Dormition Flower BlessingSince it is customary to bless flowers for the feast of the Dormition, please bring flowers of all kinds to be blessed. Fr. Nick will bless your flowers at both the Festal Vespers Thursday evening and Divine Liturgy Friday morning.

Trunk-or-Treat On Saturday, October 10 we will host a community Trunk-or-Treat at our St. Nick’s Grove. We are looking for volunteers to help pass out candy and donations of candy to pass out to the children and empty milk jugs that will be used to light the way. For more information, please contact Beth Potter or Pani Stacey.

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Upcoming Events

• August 30—Parish Picnic

Thank You!

Many of you have, without prompting or asking, sent in your weekly envelopes and other donations to your church. Thank you for remembering your parish family during the economic uncertainties at this time.

We also want to thank the Irwin Family for their tireless efforts in cleaning and sanitizing the church before and after services, especially during the COVID19 pandemic.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

If you would like Many Years to be sung for you or a loved one, please let Fr. Nick know prior to the beginning of Divine Liturgy

Aug

27 Very Reverend Michael Kabel

27 Steve Stafford

Sept

1 Sandra Sekerak

Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost August 23, 2020

Confessions and Sick CallsAt this time, with the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory, confessions and non-emergency pastoral visits can resume (emergency pastoral visits were never suspended by our hierarch). If you would like to go to confession, it is by appointment only until further notice—NO EXCEPTIONS. All confessions will take place with appropriate social distance measures. If, at this time, you are uncomfortable attending Divine Liturgy due to health issues and concerns, please call Fr. Nick to schedule an appointment if you would like to receive communion. And as always, if there is an emergency, do not hesitate to call Fr. Nick.

OCMC Trek for MissionsOCMC's Trek4Missions virtual fundraiser has begun. Our team, Team ERIE, has three members so far working hard to trek through their neighborhoods. Our efforts are not only raising funds, but awareness for the amazing work that missionaries have done and are doing in the world. 

Did you know that in 2010 thousands of people in Guatemala and southern Mexico converted to Orthodoxy? Currently, there are only seven missionaries working hard to help establish ministry and support to the Church in that region. 

To support our team, please visit www.ocmc.org/trek4missions and click donate and search for our team, Team Erie. If you want to join in our trek, click join a team and use the team password 1corinthians924

Our team-leader is Lynne Hulse. Please contact her for more information at: lhulse1@verizon.net

Let's Go the Distance to Share the Faith!

Parish Picnic—Social Distance StyleOur annual annual parish picnic will look a little different this year. On Sunday, August 30, we will have the Divine Liturgy at our St. Nick’s Grove in one of the open pavilions. Following the Divine Liturgy, the graves will be blessed. A small coffee social will be provided.

Monthly ConfessionsNext Saturday, September 5, Fr. Nick will be available at the church for confession. Please use the sign-up sheet in the office to sign-up for a time-slot.

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Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost August 23, 2020

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Parish Prayer List“Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of

a righteous man has great power in its effects.” James 5:16

For the Health of…Fr. John Baranik, Fr. Lawrence Barriger, Fr. Kenneth Bachofsky, Fr. James Gleason, Fr. John Gido, Fr. George Livanos, Fr. Edward Pehanich, Fr. Michael Polanichka, Fr. Michael Rustick, Fr. Peter Staviski, Fr. Jonathan Tobias, Fr. James Dutko, Pani Kathy Dutko, Fr. David Smoley, Pani Donna Smoley, Pani Svetlana Birthisel, Pani Dorothy Hutnyan, Pani Marie Brancho, Pani Eleanor Herbert, Pani Connie Miloro, Pani Eleanor Pribish, Pani Dolores Zuder, Matushka Gail Mathewson, George Arghyrou, Ashley Barber, James Battaglini, Gregory Beskid, Douglas Borkowski, Christian Brown, Emma Burkell, John Candia, Robert Carlisle, Sandy Carlisle, Neil Chaudhary, Gail Collister, Thomas Decerbo, James DeHaven, Mark DeHaven, Mary Ellen Demyanovich, Maribeth Derer, Peter Dimitriadis, Helen Douglas, Curtis Elrod, Chad Feli, Irene Fendya, Ann Fuller, Bennett Heberle, Joseph Hulse, Alan Irwin, Athanasios Kehagias, Aggie Kiehart, Richard Koerner, Jean Kramer, Olivia Kuzmin, Kathleen Logsdon, Evelyn McCambridge, Mike McCambridge, Orestes Mihaly, Sadie Mihaly, Mark Mizak, Nicole Naccash, John Novak, Nina Paliouras, Stavros Rallis, Donna Rowald, Barbara Scheibeck, Richard Schrader, Alyn Shedden, Emily Silvera, Athena Silvestri, Elizabeth Skalko, Joseph Skalko, Isabella Smith, Eric Spiegelberg, Anastasia Thompson, Vicktor Volpe, Leona Vukmer, Cheryl Walker, David Walker, Jake & Lauren, Steven, Inna, Justin, Katlyn Wyant, George Yurcan, Fred Zetts…through the prayers of St. Nectarios the Wonderworker & St. Panteleimon the Great-Martyr and Healer

For the Repose of…Fr. George Hutnyan, Fr. Michael Shuster, Fr. Thomas Parthenakis, Fr. Michael Psenechnuk, Pani Patsy Joseph, Sister Nymphodora, Lee Anthony, Elizabeth Beck, Robert Collister, Ed Griffith, John Halama, Sr., Martin Howley, Tom Izzi, Miko Jovanovich, David Lee, Dawn Marie Lucas, Diane McConkey, Brian Menlen, Richard Molly, Theodore Molly, Serge Mihaly, Gregory Nakonecznyj, George Nedelkov, Edward Pehanich, Sr., Robert Perevuznik, Sr., Natalia Petrashevskaya, Stelian Popescu, Laura Robinson Russo, Edith Serke, Irene Schwab, Maureen Sekel, Peter Sima, Evangelia Spiridoulias, Dorothy Steiner, Paul Tobias, Ron van Lente, Eugene Weisser, Barbara Wisnosky, Steve Zulovich, Guillermo…May their memories be eternal!

If you have someone you would like to be added to the prayer list, please see Fr. Nick

Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost August 23, 2020

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LET’S GO THE DISTANCE TO SHARE THE FAITH!

1 2 3Start aTeam

Trek Your Miles

RaiseFunds

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JOIN OCMC’S VIRTUAL TREK FOR MISSIONS!

AUGUST 9TREKSTARTS SEPTEMBER 14& GOES

UNTIL

^ƚĂƌƚ�ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ�ĞdžĐŝƟŶŐ�ŝŶ�LJŽƵƌ�ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ�ďLJ�ŐĂƚŚĞƌŝŶŐ�Ă�ƚĞĂŵ�ƚŽ�ƌƵŶ͕�ǁĂůŬ͕�ĐLJĐůĞ͕�ĂŶĚ�ŵŽƌĞ�ĨŽƌ�KƌƚŚŽĚŽdž�ŵŝƐƐŝŽŶƐ͘�:ŽŝŶ�ƉĂƌŝƐŚĞƐ�ĂĐƌŽƐƐ�ƚŚĞ�ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ�ƚŽ�ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞ�ϲϬ͕ϬϬϬ�ŵŝůĞƐ�ĂŶĚ�ƌĂŝƐĞ�ΨϭϬϬ͕ϬϬϬ�ƚŽ�ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ�Ă�ŶĞǁ�ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶ�ŽĨ�ŵŝƐƐŝŽŶĂƌŝĞƐ͘

For questions: events@ocmc.org To register: https://www.ocmc.org/Trek4Missions

COMPLETE 1,200+ MILES AND RAISE $2,000!

Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost August 23, 2020

“Whoever prays for those who hurt him lays the demons low; but he who opposes his affronter is bound to the demons.”—St. Mark the Ascetic

“Whoever does not fight the one who despises him, neither in word not in thought, has received true knowledge and demonstrates a firm trust in God.”—St. Mark the Ascetic

“We have such a law: If you forgive, it means that God has forgiven you; but if you do not forgive your brother, it means that your sin remains with you.”—St. Silouan the Athonite

“We all have to die, beloved brethren, and it will be hard for us if, while we are in this world, we do not love each other, if we are not reconciled to our enemies, whom we have offended, and if one has grieved another, if we do not forgive him. Then we will not have eternal blessedness in that world, and the heavenly Father will not forgive our sins.”—St. Peter of Cetinje

“The forgiveness of insults is a sign of true love, free from hypocrisy. For thus the Lord also loved this world.”—St. Mark the Ascetic

“We must receive the one who curses us as a messenger from God, rebuking our hidden

evil thoughts, so that we, seeing our thoughts with exactness, might correct ourselves. For we do not know how many hidden evils we have; Only a perfect man can understand all of his own shortcomings.”—St. Mark the Ascetic

“Inasmuch as you pray with all your soul for the one who has slandered you, so much will God reveal the truth to them who have believed the slander.”—St. Maximus the Confessor

“When people begin to praise us, let us hurry to remember the multitude of ours transgressions, and we will see that we are truly unworthy of that which they say and do in our honor.”—St. John of the Ladder

“If you are remembering evil against someone, then pray for him; and as you remove through prayer the pain of the remembrance of the evil he has done, you will stop the advance of the passion. And when you have attained brotherly love and love for mankind, you will completely cast this passion out of your soul. Then when someone else does evil to you, be affectionate and humble toward him, and treat him kindly, and you will delver him from this passion.”—St. Maximus the Confessor

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To Ponder

Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost August 23, 2020

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WEEKLY OFFERINGS – Sunday, August 16, 2020

DONOR $2.00 WEEKLY CANDLES FOR HEALTH GIVEN FOR Tamara Kloss Brother George Hazuda Tamara Kloss Uncle Very Reverend Protopresbyter Michael Polanichka John Lipchik Jr. & Kathleen Boyce Aunt Marge Sima John Lipchik Jr. & Kathleen Boyce Niece/Daughter Cami Meistrell Kathleen Boyce Families of Brother John Lipchik Jr. and Husband Gary Boyce David Lipchik His Family DeHaven Family Health of All Family Members Phyllis Tarasovich Herself and Family Phyllis, Reader David, & Debra Tarasovich Daughter/Sister Pani Kelley Kabel’s Birthday, August 18 Douglas & Patricia Borkowski Themselves and Family James & Nancy DeHaven St. Nicholas Parishioners with Birthdays/Anniversaries in August Dimitriadis Family Mrs. Weiszczyk’s Speedy Recovery from Hip Surgery DONOR $2.00 WEEKLY CANDLES FOR THE DECEASED GIVEN FOR Tamara Kloss Parents Very Rev. Proto. Ronald & Pani Dolores Hazuda Tamara Kloss Husband John Kloss Douglas & Jean LaBoda and Family His Father Michael LaBoda Douglas & Jean LaBoda and Family His Mother Virginia LaBoda Richard & Susanne Demchak Beloved Parents Joseph & Susan Demchak Dr. George & Kitty Kuzmishin Beloved Family Members John Lipchik Jr. & Kathleen Boyce Parents John Sr. & Helena Lipchik and Uncle Peter Sima Atty. Janet Belliveau Parents Douglas & Anne (Demyanovich) Liebel David Lipchik Parents Steve & Ann Lipchik Mark DeHaven Parents George & Mary DeHaven Phyllis Tarasovich Deceased in the Tarasovich and Kelley Families Reader David & Debra Tarasovich Grandson Carter Robert Egloff Reader David & Debra Tarasovich Her Sister Diane McConkey Douglas & Patricia Borkowski Her Parents Thomas & Ann Burdick and His Father Walter Borkowski James & Nancy DeHaven His Parents George & Mary DeHaven and Her Mother Louise Butts James & Nancy DeHaven All Deceased St. Nicholas Parishioners CATEGORY AMOUNT CATEGORY AMOUNT Candles 38.00 Grove Wish List* 100.00 Loose Change 21.00 Grove Security Deposits 200.00 Regular Envelopes 1,387.00 Grove Rentals 1,375.00 Diocesan Assessment 73.00 Total Income 3,194.00 *Thank you to James & Nancy DeHaven for their donation for future projects at the Grove. ATTENDANCE Divine Liturgy (Sun., Aug. 16): 28 (106 Live Facebook Views)

Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost August 23, 2020

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Diocesan COVID-19 Prayer List

Our Diocese is compiling names of those who have contracted COVID-19; those who have reposed from COVID-19; and those medical professionals working on the front-lines. If you have someone

you would like to add to this list so that the whole Diocese can raise them in prayer, please speak with Fr. Nick. May God grant healing to those afflicted with this virus and strength to those on the

front-lines; and may the memories of those lost be eternal!

PRAYER REQUESTS CONNECTED TO PANDEMIC OF COVID-19 UPDATE #7 (as of 7-5 -20)

Those who have fallen asleep in the Lord

William Ann Katherine Andrew Sr. Anthony David Warren Tekla Edward Margaret Susanne Helene Mary Katherine Annette Warren Barbara John Bernadette Sara Mary Lydia Eileen Gloria Darline Andreas David Helen Gabby Michael the Priest Those who are sick Ronald Mario Olivia Tairy Jayden John Daniel Jackson Jennifer the Nurse Heriberto Luz Marie Patricia Adelaine Nicole Thaddeus Aaron Nicole John Amancio Natalie Michael Bertha Timothy Vincent Edda Alex Nina Barbara A.J. Josephine Sonia Adrian the Deacon Juliana Melissa Alex the Priest John Karen Chuck Megan David Chris Lisa Bertha John Sara Krystal Anna Ed Natalia Pauline Darren Nicholas Holly Emily Gregory Desiree the Nurse Chester Candice Nathan Kenneth the Priest Maribeth Anna Carlos Athanasios Anna Yennifer Paul Melissa Elena Olivia Regina Helene John Eleanor Vanessa Jennifer the Nurse Yolanda Corona Margaret Karen Enrique Patrick James Gabby Gregory Nona William James Bill Neil Diana

Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost August 23, 2020

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Those who are healthcare providers and first responders Jennie the Nurse Lisa the Provider Thomas the Doctor Mercedes the Nurse Colleen the Provider Randy the Provider Mike the EMT Fundador the Nurse Helen the Provider DJ the Firefighter Ava the Provider Marita the PA Kenny the Firefighter Michael the Doctor Marissa the Nurse Melissa the Nurse Jennie the Provider Jordan the Provider Anne Marie the Nurse Mary the Nurse Julia the Provider Maria the Nurse Alexandra the Nurse Sara the Provider Nicholas the Paramedic/EMT Melanie the Provider Katrina the Nurse Meghan the Nurse Ashley the Provider Sandra the Nurse Kathryn the Nurse Naomi the Nurse Sharon the Nurse Nancy the Nurse Angela the Nurse Stephanie the Nurse Jennifer the Nurse Kim the Doctor Laura the Nurse Matthew the First Responder Angela the Doctor David the Firefighter Ashley the Nurse Natalia the Nurse Amelia the Nurse Nicholas the EMT Marina the Nurse Aaron the Doctor Lori the PA Svetlana the Provider Matthew the Doctor Lauren the Nurse Nellie the Provider Rhiannon the NP Peter the EMT Matthew the First Responder Cheryl the Nurse Mariana the Pharmacist Linda the LPN Suzanne the CMA Silvio the Doctor Patricia the Nurse Jennifer the CMA Irene the Provider Natalia the Nurse Debbie the Med Assistant Paige the Provider Lazarus the Doctor Martha the Med Assistant Carole the Provider Philip the Doctor Marina the Med Assistant Brandt the Provider Jamie the PA Andrea the Med Assistant Jessica the Provider Bonnie the PA Megan the Doctor Marc the Provider Maria the Provider Natalie the Nurse Danielle the Provider Michele the Nurse Stephanie the Nurse Dawn the Provider Linda the Doctor Greg the Paramedic/Firefighter Shannon the Provider John the Doctor Megan the Nurse Mary Ellen the Provider Richard the Doctor Mary the Provider Coleen the Provider Allison the Doctor Anna the Provider Jamie the Provider Peter the Doctor Irma the Doctor Marc the Provider Thomas the Doctor Peter the Deacon/1st Responder Judy the Provider Joseph the Doctor Joseph the Provider Danielle the Provider Mary the Doctor Wesley the Provider Peter the Provider Elizabeth the Nurse Kelly the Nurse Lauren the Provider CG the Firefighter Jennifer the PA Meagan the Provider Maureen the Nurse Scott the First Responder Helen the Provider Lillian the Doctor Bill the First Responder Marianna the Provider Michael the Priest and Doctor Vincent the First Responder Oksana the Provider Julia the Nurse Daniel the First Responder Ann the Provider Nabiel the Nurse Elaine the Provider Paul the Provider Patricia the Provider Serena the Pediatric MA

Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost August 23, 2020

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PRAYER REQUESTS CONNECTED TO PANDEMIC OF COVID-19 UPDATE #7 (as of 7-5 -20)

Those who have fallen asleep in the Lord

William Ann Katherine Andrew Sr. Anthony David Warren Tekla Edward Margaret Susanne Helene Mary Katherine Annette Warren Barbara John Bernadette Sara Mary Lydia Eileen Gloria Darline Andreas David Helen Gabby Michael the Priest Those who are sick Ronald Mario Olivia Tairy Jayden John Daniel Jackson Jennifer the Nurse Heriberto Luz Marie Patricia Adelaine Nicole Thaddeus Aaron Nicole John Amancio Natalie Michael Bertha Timothy Vincent Edda Alex Nina Barbara A.J. Josephine Sonia Adrian the Deacon Juliana Melissa Alex the Priest John Karen Chuck Megan David Chris Lisa Bertha John Sara Krystal Anna Ed Natalia Pauline Darren Nicholas Holly Emily Gregory Desiree the Nurse Chester Candice Nathan Kenneth the Priest Maribeth Anna Carlos Athanasios Anna Yennifer Paul Melissa Elena Olivia Regina Helene John Eleanor Vanessa Jennifer the Nurse Yolanda Corona Margaret Karen Enrique Patrick James Gabby Gregory Nona William James Bill Neil Diana

Christ Healing the Sick

Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost August 23, 2020

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What’s in an icon?

WORD SEARCHWORD SEARCHWORD SEARCHWORD SEARCH

Can you find these words in the jumble? BLESSINGS BUILDING DORMITION FEASTDAY FOUNDATION MARY PASCHA SAVE US THANK YOU THEOTOKOS

S P T M R A Z Y E F P V S H P M O F H M B A C O R K S G G A I F K U A D B U I L D I N G S J Z Q O T N N Y A X H Q I A C U F N S T D K W H E T G S E H N U A D A O S Y U F I T S L A C E N T A A E I O I I I E Q G F J I C V U I H T U J C L L I T O O E M G J Y T X L P B C A N S U I O A Y F I P O K B V C L S F X J H V R M Y F Z K T B Y R A M O Q S V X B E E R K P A D J Y J X P T W C L D D K J E W T D T R Z T F O X J O L P N O I T I M R O D H Y B W R F

In the middle of the Dor-mition icon, Christ holds the soul of his mother, Mary.

Does it remind you of an icon of the Theotokos hold-ing her baby son, Jesus?

PASCHA IN AUGUST? THE GREAT FEAST OF DORMITION

We celebrate the feast of the Dormition on Aug. 15th (OC: Aug. 28th).

In springtime, we celebrate the

great feast of Christ’s Resurrection. You

might call that special day Easter, or you

might call it Pascha. Pascha means “passing

over.” We remember how our Lord, Jesus

Christ, “passed over” death to life again. We

know that our Lord is living, watching over

us still.

We celebrate another Pascha too, and we

celebrate it this week! This feastday is called

the Dormition, and some people call it an-

other Pascha, because God’s mother, the Theotokos, “passed over”

death into life. We know that the Theotokos is living too, and she is

watching over us too!

Orthodox Christians celebrate this day in a big way! Pascha in April is

a celebration, but this is a celebration too. God gave us life when He

rose from the dead, but Mary gave us life too when she gave baby Je-

sus life. So, we have to celebrate!

All through the first half of August we have been praying to the The-

otokos, and we ask her to “save us.” We can always ask her for help,

especially in getting close to her son, Jesus Christ. After all, she was

the closest person to Him! This week, let’s celebrate this other Pas-

cha, and thank the Theotokos for her help.

Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost August 23, 2020

12

What’s in an icon?

WORD SEARCHWORD SEARCHWORD SEARCHWORD SEARCH

Can you find these words in the jumble? BLESSINGS BUILDING DORMITION FEASTDAY FOUNDATION MARY PASCHA SAVE US THANK YOU THEOTOKOS

S P T M R A Z Y E F P V S H P M O F H M B A C O R K S G G A I F K U A D B U I L D I N G S J Z Q O T N N Y A X H Q I A C U F N S T D K W H E T G S E H N U A D A O S Y U F I T S L A C E N T A A E I O I I I E Q G F J I C V U I H T U J C L L I T O O E M G J Y T X L P B C A N S U I O A Y F I P O K B V C L S F X J H V R M Y F Z K T B Y R A M O Q S V X B E E R K P A D J Y J X P T W C L D D K J E W T D T R Z T F O X J O L P N O I T I M R O D H Y B W R F

In the middle of the Dor-mition icon, Christ holds the soul of his mother, Mary.

Does it remind you of an icon of the Theotokos hold-ing her baby son, Jesus?

PASCHA IN AUGUST? THE GREAT FEAST OF DORMITION

We celebrate the feast of the Dormition on Aug. 15th (OC: Aug. 28th).

In springtime, we celebrate the

great feast of Christ’s Resurrection. You

might call that special day Easter, or you

might call it Pascha. Pascha means “passing

over.” We remember how our Lord, Jesus

Christ, “passed over” death to life again. We

know that our Lord is living, watching over

us still.

We celebrate another Pascha too, and we

celebrate it this week! This feastday is called

the Dormition, and some people call it an-

other Pascha, because God’s mother, the Theotokos, “passed over”

death into life. We know that the Theotokos is living too, and she is

watching over us too!

Orthodox Christians celebrate this day in a big way! Pascha in April is

a celebration, but this is a celebration too. God gave us life when He

rose from the dead, but Mary gave us life too when she gave baby Je-

sus life. So, we have to celebrate!

All through the first half of August we have been praying to the The-

otokos, and we ask her to “save us.” We can always ask her for help,

especially in getting close to her son, Jesus Christ. After all, she was

the closest person to Him! This week, let’s celebrate this other Pas-

cha, and thank the Theotokos for her help.