Holy Ghost Orthodox Church 714 Westmoreland Avenue PO Box 3 Slickville, PA 15684-0003 www.holyghostorthodoxchurch.org Very Rev. Father Robert Popichak, Pastor 23 Station Street Carnegie, PA 15106-3014 [412] 279-5640 home [412] 956-6626 cell GREAT LENT—ADORATION OF THE CROSS ON THE MEND: Please keep the following parishioners and others in your prayers for recovery from their illnesses and injuries: Metropolitan Theodosius [OCA], Archbishop Jovan, Bishop Robert, Father George & Pani Lillian Hnatko, Father John Harvey, Father Jakiw Norton, Father Dragan Filipović, Father Paul Stoll, Father Igor Soroka, Father Joseph Kopchak, Father Elias Warnke, Father Nestor Kowal, Father George Yatsko, Father Paul Bigelow, Father Emilian Balan, Father John Nakonachny, Father Steve Repa, Protopresbyter William Diakiw, Archpriest Dionysi Vitali, Protodeacon Joseph Hotrovich, Father Adam Yonitch, Pani-Dobrodijka Sonia Diakiw, Father Paisius McGrath, Father Michael Smolynec, Father Bazyl Zawierucha, Father Lawrence & Matushka Sophia Daniels, Father John Harrold [Saint Sylvester], Joshua Agosto and his family, Eva Malesnick, Stella Peanoske, Nick Behun, Grace Holupka, Virginia Bryan, Joseph Sliwinsky, Gary & Linda Mechtly, Evelyn Misko, Jeanne Boehing, Alex Drobot, Rachelle, Jane Golofski, Doug Diller, Harry Krewsun, Mary Alice Babcock, Dorie Kunkle, Andrea, & Melissa [Betty O’Masta’s relatives], Mary Evelyn King, Sam Wadrose, Isabella Olivia Lindgren, Ethel Thomas, Donna, Erin, Michael Miller, Grace & Owen Ostrasky, Patti Sinecki, David Genshi, Sue Segeleon, Mike Gallagher, Liz Stumpf, Theodore Nixon, Michelle Corba Kapeluck, Linda Hippert & family, Margaret Vladimir, Luke Emmerling, George Rocknage, Robert McKivitz, Liz Obradovich, Halyna Zelinska [Bishop Daniel’s mother], Charlotte, Andrew Mark Olynyk, Deborah Finley, Claire Senita, Eleanor Kelly, Bryan, Nancy Barylak, Patrick Keenan, Khrystyna Chorniy, Anthony Cormier, Nathan Forbeck, Sarah Doyle, Samuel Peters, Esther Holupka, David Vallor, Henry Faraly, Julie Eiler, Dorothy Lednovich, Bob C., Allie— young girl with leukemia, Heather Kramer, Jane Wartinbee, Matthew—21- year-old with cancer, Nicholas Orlando, Mary Ann Kuznik, Michael Pryhodzenko, Sonia Luciow, Theresa Ditto, Mary Ann Musial, Mary Pelino, Yvonne Christy, Myron & Barbara Spak, Julia Duda, Lisa Pandle, Kris & Julie Hanczar, John Kennedy, Loretta, Nancy, Carol, & Michael Sheliga, Gaelle Kelly, Irma McDivitt, Robin Young, Mckayla, Rachel, Carl & Margaret Reed, Lydia Wilson, Robert Pointon, Walter Cecelia, John Persico, Jeff Miller, Mary Kernick, Glenn Miller, Jean Marie, Donna & Walter McCrackin, Bonnie & Eugene Blair [Pani Gina’s parents], David Hoenshell, Barbara Macino, Shelley Hill, Mikaela Kapeluck, Linda Cawley, Gerald Cogley, Helen Bozo, Corey Guich, Robert Vangrin, Pauline Witkowsky, Sera White, Donald Griffey, Deborah Smith, Nancy & Eric Dunik, Julian Strozh [child with cerebral palsy], Dr. Kirsten Ream, Patricia Corey, Michelle, Katie Swarm, Richard Dunst, Michelle, Patrick, Linda Morris, Howard Simpson, Chris, David Hiles, Karen Johnson, Jennifer, Jerry Quinn, Cher Mount, Frank & Janet Horrell, Jim Wandling, Gail, Sirena Sharp, Ron Paulovich, Fred DeNorscia, Sandi Anderson, ina, Shirley, Denny Mader, Ella Campbell, Tom Hyatt, Bill Janiro, Jean Symanko-Andy’s sister, William Lemonakis, Barbara McDougall, Alma Wyke, Lindsay Romanczak & family, Virginia Catherine Pyrch, Susan Lucas, Neil Carter & family, James Paluh, Mickie Weikel, Evelyn Krempasky, Tammy Strunk, Loida Esbry, Darlene Chicka Deskins, Drew, Alice & Keith Philipa, Kateryna Kocelko, Nancy Heinbaugh, Mira Filipović, Lynn, Jacqueline, Sharon, Zan Cheng, Jeff Jones, Kristy, Elaine Ellenberger, Brandon, Anna Tranchine, Demetra, Blase Urban, Catherine Hogel & children, Jennifer & Dylan, Ron Schwartz, Lydia Wilson, Flora Tomlin, Stella Rossi, Howell Swarm, Jane Bielewicz Allred, Manny “Lazarus” Lopez, Glenn & Lucas Burlack, Katie Elizabeth, Mileva, & Michael, Deirdré Straughan, Terri Paluh, Lori & Steve Lucier, Kyranna Cherpas, Pastor Bruce Nordeen, Millie Koss Good, Heather Ried, Carla Perry, Linda Elliot, Dennis McDaniel, Luke Tinsley, Brent, Tricia, Katherine Gorman, Pamela Jaquette, Michael Pawlyshyn, Sherri Walewski, Marika Zeliszczuk, Donna Davis, Jackie Crimbchin, Marta Charron, Mary [Corba], Stella McKeag, Margie Sekelsky, Gary Howell, Fran Fulton, Gina Catanese, Bill Vizza, Jamie Swarm, Kevin Allen (from Ancient Faith Radio), Kathy Flaherty, Tori Reade-Henry’s niece, Derick-Glen Burlack’s neighbor, Michael, Nichole & Christopher, Ben Douglas, Dianne Donahue, Zachary, Natasha, Noah Willard, Jodi Hanczar, Gregory Cervo, Lisa Bruce, Martha Nezolyk, Kathy Cvetkovich, Frances Gebet, Sheryl Smith Haraczy, Judy, Will, Emma, Ginny, Ye-Jin, Maria, John & JoAnn, Jim & Kitty, Bill Baronie, Phil Bouse, Ralph & Beverly Stoker, Noah Willard, Nikola, Natalie, Nikola, & Nevenka Jovonovich, Julia Collier, Amy Kemerer, Thomas Smith, Tracy Slaugenhaupt, Louis & Teresa Berceli, Tom Nolan, Noble Wilshaw, Silvia Martin, Sarah Dorning, Evelyn Burlack, Dena & George, Georgia, Lawanda [Evelyn’s niece], and Ian Brick. ARNOLD: Homer Paul Kline. We pray that God will grant them all a speedy recovery. PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS: All Christians and the others in the Middle East who are suffering during this time of great tragedy and unrest. May God watch over and keep them safe! Lord have mercy! HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our March babies: Sonia Luciow on the 3rd, Walter Anthony Burlack on the 7th, Mary Shirley on the 9th, Mother Alexandra on the 11th, and Judy Previc on the 12th. May God grant them all Many Happy, Healthy, Prosperous, and Blessed Years! M’nohaya Lita! God Bless! REMINDER FOR GREAT LENT: This year we are asking everyone to pray for those who protect the least amongst us: police officers, firefighters, medical professionals, EMS folks, and especially the monastics—nuns and monks who pray for all of us constantly. Please remember Mother Alexandra and the sisterhood in Guatemala, and all members of our parish. God Bless you all! Please remember ALL American service men and women in your prayers. May God watch over them and all American service men and women—and bring them all home safely! FREE! REMEMBER—PRAYERS ARE ALWAYS Communion Fasting: nothing to eat or drink after midnight, EXCEPT in cases where your doctor tells you to eat or drink something for medical reasons: medication, diabetes, etc. If you have a question, please ask Father Bob. AT ANY TIME—if there is an emergency, if you have questions, or if you just need to talk, please CALL FATHER BOB at [412] 279-5640. SCHEDULE OF SERVICES SUNDAY, MARCH 11 DIVINE LITURGY OF SAINT BASIL THE GREAT 10:30 AM ADORATION OF THE MOST HOLY CROSS; SAINT PORPHYRIUS-BISHOP OF GAZA; MARTYR SEBASTIAN Tone 7 Hebrews 4:14-5:6 Mark 8:34-9:1 SUNDAY, MARCH 18 OBEDNITZA DOWNSTAIRS IN THE CHURCH HALL 10:30 AM SAINT JOHN CLIMACUS—SAINT JOHN OF THE LADDER OF DIVINE ASSENT; MARTYRS CONON & ONISIUS OF ISAURIA; MARTYR CONON THE GARDENER OF PAMPHYLIA; VIRGIN-MARTYR IRAIS OF ANTINOE IN EGYPT; MARTYR EULAMPIUS; SAINT MARK; SAINT HESYCHIUS Tone 8 Hebrews 6:13-20; Ephesians 5:9-19 Mark 9:17-31; Matthew 4:25-5:12 SUNDAY, MARCH 25 OBEDNITZA DOWNSTAIRS IN THE CHURCH HALL 10:30 AM 5TH SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT; SAINT MARY OF EGYPT; SAINT THEOPHANES THE CONFESSOR OF SIGRIANE; RIGHTEOUS PHINEAS-GRANDSON OF AARON; SAINT GREGORY THE DIALOGIST-POPE OF ROME; SAINT SYMEON THE NEW THEOLOGIAN Tone 1 Hebrews 9:11-14 Mark 10:32-45 BULLETIN INSERT FOR 11 MARCH 2018 ADORATION OF THE MOST HOLY CROSS; SAINT PORPHYRIUS- BISHOP OF GAZA; MARTYR SEBASTIAN TROPARION—TONE 1 O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians, over their adversaries; And, by virtue of Thy cross, preserve Thy habitation. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. KONTAKION—TONE 7 Now the faming sword no longer guards the gates of paradise; It has been mysteriously quenched by the wood of the Cross! The sting of death and the victory of hell have been vanquished; For Thou, O my Savior, didst come and cry to those in hell: Enter again into Paradise. INSTEAD OF “O HOLY GOD” Before Thy Cross, we bow down in worship, O Master, and Thy holy Resurrection, we glorify Thee. Before Thy Cross, we bow down in worship, O Master, and Thy holy Resurrection, we glorify Thee. Before Thy Cross, we bow down in worship, O Master, and Thy holy Resurrection, we glorify Thee. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. And Thy holy Resurrection, we glorify Thee. Before Thy Cross, we bow down in worship, O Master, and Thy holy Resurrection, we glorify Thee. PROKEIMENON—TONE 7 READER: Extol the Lord our God; worship at His footstool, for it is Holy! PEOPLE: Extol the Lord our God; worship at His footstool, for it is Holy! READER: The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! PEOPLE: Extol the Lord our God; worship at His footstool, for it is Holy! READER: Extol the Lord our God. PEOPLE: Worship at His footstool, for it is Holy! ALLELUIA VERSES Remember Thy congregation which Thou hast gotten of old. God is our King before the ages; He has worked salvation in the middle of the earth. “Fasting is a medicine. But like all medicines, though it be very profitable to the person who knows how to use it, it frequently becomes useless (and even harmful) in the hands of him who is unskillful in its use. For the honor of fasting consists not in abstinence from food, but in withdrawing from sinful practices, since he who limits his fasting only to abstinence from meats is one who especially disparages fasting. Do you fast? Give me proof of it by your works. If you see a poor man, take pity on him. If you see an enemy, be reconciled with him. If you see a friend gaining honor, do not be jealous of him. And let not only the mouth fast, but also the eye and the ear and the feet and the hands and all members of your bodies.” (St. John Chrysostom) Dating Pascha in the Orthodox Church Dr. Lewis J. Patsavos Ph.D. The long-awaited common celebration of Pascha on April 15, 2001 by all Christians has come and gone. It was in 1990 when this coincidence last occurred and will be in 2004 when it occurs again. In anticipation of this common observance by all Christians, much was said and written. What was stressed was the need to keep alive the momentum of the occasion. Unless we all understand the significance of this event, it will remain nothing more than a peculiarity of the calculations related to the date of Pascha. In one sense, that is what it is. But in another sense, it is the convergence of all that we as Christians in the East and West profess regarding the centrality of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as the cornerstone of our faith. Nothing challenges the credibility of this fact to non-believers more than the scandal of our division on this point of celebration. In the ardent desire to address this problematic and troubling reality, the following contribution is offered..... Almost from the very beginning of the existence of the Christian Church, the issue regarding the date of our Lord's death and resurrection presented variations. Although the New Testament relates these events to the Jewish Passover, the details of this relationship are not clear. On the one hand, the tradition of the synoptic gospels identifies the Lord's last supper with His disciples as a passover meal. This would place the death of our Lord on the day after Passover. On the other hand, the tradition of the gospel of St. John situates the death of our Lord at the very hour the paschal lambs were sacrificed on the day of Passover itself. This variation in the interpretation of the scriptures led to two different practices. The one observed Pascha on the day of Passover, regardless of the day of the week. The other observed it on the Sunday following Passover. By the 4th century, the latter practice prevailed throughout the Church universally; nevertheless, differences continued to exist. In response to this ongoing problem, the First Ecumenical Council convened at Nicaea in 325 took up the issue. It determined that Pascha should be celebrated on the Sunday which follows the first full moon after the vernal equinox-the actual beginning of spring. If the full moon happens to fall on a Sunday, Pascha is observed the following Sunday. The day taken to be the invariable date of the vernal equinox is March 21. Hence, the determination of the date of Pascha is governed by a process dependent on the vernal equinox and the phase of the moon. Another factor which figures prominently in determining the date of Pascha is the date of Passover. Originally, Passover was celebrated on the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Christians, therefore, celebrated Pascha according to the same calculation-that is, on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. The correlation between the date of Pascha and the date of Passover is clear. Our Lord's death and resurrection coincided with Passover, thereby assuring a secure point of reference in time. This assurance lasted, however, only for a short time. Events in Jewish history contributing to the dispersion of the Jews had as a consequence a departure from the way Passover was reckoned at the time of our Lord's death and resurrection. This caused the Passover to precede the vernal equinox in some years. It was, in fact, this anomaly which led to the condemnation reflected in Canon 1 of Antioch (ca. 330) and Canon 7 of the Holy Apostles (late 4th century) of those who celebrate Pascha "with the Jews." The purpose of this condemnation was to prevent Christians from taking into account the calculation of Passover in determining the date of Pascha. Most Christians eventually ceased to regulate the observance of Pascha by the Jewish Passover. Their purpose, of course, was to preserve the original practice of celebrating Pascha following the vernal equinox. Thus, the Council of Nicaea sought to link the principles for determining the date of Pascha to the norms for calculating Passover during our Lord's lifetime. Despite the intervention of Nicaea, certain differences in the technicalities of regulating the date of Pascha remained even thereafter. This resulted occasionally in local variations until, by the 6th century, a more secure mode of calculation based on astronomical data was universally accepted. This was an alternative to calculating Pascha by the Passover and consisted in the creation of so-called "paschal cycles." Each paschal cycle corresponded to a certain number of years. Depending upon the number of years in the cycle, the full moon occurred on the same day of the year as at the beginning of the cycle with some exceptions. The more accurate the cycle, the less frequent were the exceptions. In the East, a 19- year cycle was eventually adopted, whereas in the West an 84-year cycle. The use of two different paschal cycles inevitably gave way to differences between the Eastern and Western Churches regarding the observance of Pascha. A further cause for these differences was the adoption by the Western Church of the Gregorian Calendar in the 16th century. This took place in order to adjust the discrepancy by then observed between the paschal cycle approach to calculating Pascha and the available astronomical data. The Orthodox Church continues to base its calculations for the date of Pascha on the Julian Calendar, which was in use at the time of the First Ecumenical Council. As such, it does not take into account the number of days, which have since then accrued due to the progressive loss of time in this calendar. Practically speaking, this means that Pascha may not be celebrated before April 3, which was March 21, the date of the vernal equinox, at the time of the First Ecumenical Council. In other words, a difference of 13 days exists between the accepted date for the vernal equinox then and now. Consequently, it is the combination of these variables which accounts for the different dates of Pascha observed by the Orthodox Church and other Christian Churches. Specifically with regard to this year's date of Pascha, the following observations are made. The invariable date of the vernal equinox is taken to be April 3 (March 21 on the Julian Calendar). Pascha must therefore be observed on the Sunday following the full moon which comes after that date. According to the 19-year Paschal cycle, the first full moon which comes after April 3 this year is on May 1 (April 18 on the Julian Calendar) - the day assigned to the Jewish Passover as calculated originally. In reality, this full moon falls on April 27, a discrepancy left uncorrected in the paschal cycle. As already stated, the provision of the First Ecumenical Council calls for Pascha to be observed on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Since May 1, for the reasons stated above, is taken to be the date of that full moon, the following Sunday, May 5, is the day on which Pascha is observed this year. If anything, this review of the complexities surrounding the issue of the date of Pascha underscores the compelling need to revisit it with patience and openness. This was the spirit which predominated at the most recent consultation on the matter held in Aleppo, Syria in 1997. One of its conclusions was that the present differences in the calendars and lunar tables (paschal cycles) employed rather than to differences in fundamental theological outlook. In view of the fact that both the Julian and Gregorian modes of calculation diverge from the astronomical data, it behooves us to return to the norms determined by the Council of Nicaea. Although the council did not itself undertake a detailed regulation of the paschal calculation, it did in fact respect available contemporary science regarding the vernal equinox and the phase of the moon. We can do no less today. October, 2001—Dr. Lewis J. Patsavos Professor of Canon Law Holy Cross School of Theology Copyright: 2002 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Department of Internet Ministries Copyright: 2002 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Department of Internet Ministries SPIRITUAL THOUGHT FOR THE DAY! Via Father George Livanos, All Saints GOC, Canonsburg, PA You missed my call this morning. I was looking at you when you woke up this morning. I was expecting you to tell me one or two things, thanking me for everything that was happening to you, asking for my assistance for whatever you were about to do today. I realized that you were very busy trying to find what to wear for work. I was hoping that you would find a few moments to tell me ‘good morning’! But you were very busy. To help you see that I was near you, I had created the colorful sky and the songs of the birds. What a pity! You didn’t even notice my presence, not even then. I was looking at you being in a hurry for work and was again waiting for you. I suspected that because you were busy you didn’t have time to say a few words to Me, even then. When you returned from work, I saw how tired you were and how stressed and sent you some rain to relieve you from the day’s stress. I thought that by making this favor to you, you would remember Me. Instead, being tired, you swore at Me. I so much wished that you would have wanted to talk to Me. Still the day was not over yet. You switched on the TV and watched your favorite program. I was waiting. Then you had dinner with your loved ones and once again you didn’t remember Me. Seeing you so exhausted, I understood your need for silence and turned off the sky’s brilliance so you could get some rest, but I didn’t turn the sky into a dark pitch. I turned on innumerable stars for you. They were so beautiful… it’s a pity you didn’t see them… never mind! Do you really realize that I am here for you; I have more patience that you can ever imagine. I want to demonstrate this, so that you tell those around you. I love you so much that I am putting up with you. Any moment now, you will wake up again. All I can do is to love you and hope that today at least you will give me some of your time… Your Loving Heavenly Father Putting off for Tomorrow: A Series on the Problem of Procrastination By Father Alexios on Apr 20, 2017 07:17 am In this new series, we will explore the nettlesome problem of procrastination, which affects the most of us at some point in our lives. In fact, one study found that 95% of the population has experienced procrastination in one form or another. Silver and Sabini (1981) label it a psychopathology of everyday life. Its manifestations can cause havoc in our personal relationships, careers, and our spiritual life. Not getting a term paper done in time may not be the end of the world, but not preparing for the Kingdom of Heaven in time could mean being shut out of the bridal chamber like the foolish virgins of the Gospel. If procrastination is so prevalent and powerful in our society, if its consequences can be potentially so dire at every level of our existence, it’s certainly worthwhile examining not only its root causes, but also strategies to minimize it in our everyday lives. As civilizations progressed, the opportunities for procrastination arose such that civic leaders warned against such tendencies. The ancient Babylonian leader Hammurabi codified penalties for procrastination, recognizing the harm to society in such behavior. Benjamin Franklin listed decisiveness and prompt attention to the work at hand as one of his 13 virtues. Franklin wrote, “Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.” According to William J. Knaus, in his paper entitled, “Procrastination, Blame, and Change”, procrastination became an issue with the dawn of the Industrial Revolution as societies moved from an agrarian economy to one that utilized machinery to enhance efficiency and performance. However, it is only in the cyber era where procrastination becomes a ubiquitous phenomenon. The advent of the personal computer, as Knaus notes, has become a double-edged sword “used by some for gain and by others to dally and procrastinate.” As societies have progressed in making production more prized, more efficient, and less physically burdensome, there has been a corresponding growth in putting off tasks, delaying projects, or ignoring deadlines. Some of this stems from feelings of being overwhelmed or being distracted by more pleasurable pursuits. This often leaves the individual in a state where