St.Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Orthodox Church

	06-28-2009		map archive home

			St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Mission
			2770 West Central Ave, Toledo, OH, 43606 (place of worship)
			Fr. Mark David StMichaelOC@yahoo.com 419-474-7484
			Fr. Liviu Ardelean gavei1@yahoo.com

	Troparion of St Michael the Archangel
	O Commanders of the heavenly hosts, we the unworthy beseech you,
	that through your entreaties you will fortify us, guarding us in the shelter
	of the wings of your ethereal glory, even as we fervently bow before You, crying:
	"Deliver us from all danger as commanders of the powers on high."

Fast of the Apostles (Peter and Paul) begins Monday, June 15 thru Monday, June 28 2009

	Troparion *of Sts. Peter and Paul (Tone 4)*
	O foremost in the ranks of Apostles, and teachers of the world, Peter and Paul,
	intercede with the Master of all to grant safety to the world and to our souls the Great mercy.

Dormition Fast begins Friday, August 1 thru Friday, August 14 2009

	*Troparion of the Dormition (Tone 1)*
	In giving birth, you preserved your virginity!
	In falling asleep, you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos!
	You were translated to life, O Mother of life,
	and by your prayers you deliver our souls from death.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

St. Peter and St. Paul Feast Day is June 29th. The

June and July 2009

Fast begins June 15 thru 29th. Since Father’s Day falls

June 7

Sunday of Holy Pentecost

during the fast, Archbishop Lorenzo gave us

June 14

First Sunday after Pentecost

dispensation so we can enjoy the Holiday. Even though

All Saints Sunday

we have dispensation for Father’s Day, please keep in

June 21

Second Sunday after Pentecost

mind what St. Peter and St. Paul had to endure during

June 28

Third Sunday after Pentecost

the early days of Christianity and because of them not

June 29, Monday

Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul

only was the beginning of Christianity possible but also

July 5

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

the beginning of Orthodoxy (Acts 11:22). “In Antioch, they

July 12

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

were first called Christians.”

July 19

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Archbishop Lorenzo will arrive Thursday, June 25th;

Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical

there will be a Hierarchical Liturgy, Sunday, June 28th

Council

with his Eminence. Let’s have a good turn out for the

July 26

7th Sunday after Pentecost

Archbishop; bring a friend if you like that Sunday and

August 2

8th Sunday after Pentecost

enjoy this blessed event.

August 6, Thursday

The Feast of the Transfiguration of our

Bible study is on Sunday, June 28th with Archbishop

Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Lorenzo. Immediately after Bible study, there will be a

August 9

9th Sunday after Pentecost

coffee hour in the church hall. Also, we will have a cake

The Sunday after Transfiguration

for Missy David Graduation! God bless you!

August 15, Friday

Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the

Congratulations to Anna and Sandro! They were

Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary

married May 19th at St Michael’s Orthodox Church.

August 16

10th Sunday after Pentecost and the

God Grant you many years!

Sunday after the Dormition of the

Message from Kelly:

Theotokos

Due to the busy summer season beginning and our

August 23

11th Sunday after Pentecost and Leave-

vacation schedules, there will be no women's meeting

taking of the Dormition

until September. Further information about the actual

August 30

12th Sunday after Pentecost

date will be sent in September.

September 6

13th Sunday after Pentecost

Also, the first annual picnic will NOT be happening

September 8, Tue

Feast of the Nativity of our Most

this year due to scheduling difficulties and other

Holy Lady Theotokos

commitments. I hope when we meet again in

September 13

14th Sunday after Pentecost

September, we can start working on next year picnic;

Sunday before the Elevation of the Cross

that way, if scheduling difficulties arise, we can have it

September 14, Mon

Feast of the Elevation of the Cross

ready to go in advance.

September 20

15th Sunday after Pentecost

And in September we will be nominating new officers.

Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross

I pray you all have a safe and wonderful summer!

September 27

16th Sunday after Pentecost

See you in church!

Sincerely,

Kelly Salgau

President of St. Michael's Women's Circle

Upcoming Sunday

June 7, 2009

Holy Pentecost

Troparion Pentecost (Tone 8):

..........

Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast revealed the fishermen as most wise, having sent upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them Thou hast fished the universe, O Lover of mankind, glory to Thee.

Kontakion for Pentecost (Tone 8):

..........

O Christ God, when we were buried with Thee in Baptism, we became deserving of thy Resurrection to immortal life. Wherefore, we praise thee, crying, Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.

Epistle: Acts 2:1-11

Gospel: John 7:37-52, 8:12


	Sunday of Holy Pentecost
	(June 7th)
	Pentecost is the “Descent of Holy Spirit”. This is the day that our Lord Jesus Christ promised to his disciples would happen. “When the day of Pentecost had come they were all together in one place and suddenly a sound came from Heaven like the rush of a mighty wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting and there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed upon each one of them and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 1-4). The fullness of the Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Spirit is manifested with the Spirit coming to man. The disciples now the Apostles had received “the power from on high” had the responsibility to spread the Good News. They began to preach and bear witness to Jesus as the risen Christ, the King and Lord. Because the fullness of the Holy Spirit appeared in the room that day, Pentecost is also referred to as Trinity Day in the Orthodox Church. The tongues of fire over the Apostles heads were the tongues of many languages so they could speak the language of the country they were going to.

Upcoming Sunday

June 14, 2009

First Sunday after Pentecost

All Saints Sunday

Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 8).

Troparion of the Saints (Tone 4):

..........

Thy Church, O Christ God, hath regaled herself in the blood of thy Martyrs throughout all the world, as in porphyry and purple. Through them she lifteth her voice crying: Turn with thy compassion to thy people and grant peace to thy city. And to our souls the Great Mercy.

Troparion of St Michael (Tone 4).

Kontakion of the Saints (Tone 8):

..........

As the first fruits of nature to the lord of creation the world offers to Thee, O Lord, the divinely inspired martyrs. By their entreaties of Thy mercy, preserve Thy church and establish her in peace, through the supplication of Thy Virgin Mother.

Epistle: Heb. 11:33-12:2

Gospel: Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38; 19: 27-30

Upcoming Sunday

June 21, 2009

Second Sunday after Pentecost

Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 1).

Troparion of St. Julian (Tone 4):

..........

Thy Martyrs O Lord, by their struggles have received from thee, our God, imperishable crowns because acquiring Thy strength, they demolished usurpers and crushed the powerless might of Satan. Therefore through their intercessions, O Christ God, Save our souls.

Troparion of St Michael (Tone 4).

Kontakion of the Theotokos (Tone 4):

..........

O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant, O despise not the suppliant voices of those who have sinned; but be thou quick, O good one, to come to our aid, who in faith cries unto thee: Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplication, Thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

Epistle: Roman 2:10-16

Gospel: Matthew 4:18-23

Upcoming Sunday

June 28, 2009

Third Sunday after Pentecost

Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 2).

Troparion of St Michael (Tone 4).

Troparion of the Theotokos (Tone 4):

..........

Epistle: Roman 5:1-10

Gospel: Matthew 6:22-33

	Feast Day of Sts. Peter and Paul
	*(Celebrated on June 29th)*
	With the help of Sts. Peter and Paul they both reestablished the confidence of the Christian nation and led them out of their hopeless state to an era of new prosperity. Keep in mind Christianity was still in its infancy. Out of all the disciples, Peter seems to be the most prominent. He ranks with St Paul without whom Christianity flourished and survived during the pagan era of false gods and spiritual persecution. The moving verse from the New Testament of St Matthew when Christ told Peter: “And I say to thee that thou art Peter and upon this rock, I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18).
	St Paul conversion to Christianity began when he met our Lord on the road to Damascus. It was on this road he embraced Jesus the risen Messiah whom he set out to defeat. Christ spoke to him saying: “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” (Acts 9:4) Thereafter he was called Paul, and devoted himself to the new Christian faith, announcing the Good News of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Upcoming Sunday

July 5, 2009

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 3).

Troparion of St. Athanasius (Tone 3):

Troparion of St Michael (Tone 4).

Kontakion of the Theotokos (Tone 4):

..........

Epistle: Roman 6:18-23

Gospel: Matthew 8:5-138:5-13

	How to make the Sign of the Cross properly
	Put your thumb and the first two fingers of your right hand together. The other two fingers should be bent and touching the palm of your hand.
	Reverently, touch your forehead with your right hand, which signifies, that God is in our mind. Then, touch your chest, which means that God is in our heart, and finally, touch your right shoulder then the left shoulder, which signifies that God is in our soul.

Upcoming Sunday

July 12, 2009

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 4).

Troparion of St Michael (Tone 4).

Kontakion of the Theotokos (Tone 4):

..........

Epistle: Roman 10:1-10

Gospel: Matthew 8:28-34; 9:1

	*SERMON ON HOLY COMMUNION*
	Motto: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word
	that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Mat.4: 4; Deut.8: 3).
	Dearly beloved in Christ,
	Have you ever heard these biblical words? Yes, they were asserted by Christ when He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. In asserting these words, Jesus withstood the temptation of sin since, as God and Man He lived in perfect harmony with the will of His Father. Notice, Jesus agrees that food is necessary for living. In fact, He does say that we all need “our daily bread” (Mat.6: 11), to sustain the process of life. But what Christ is saying in the verse with which I began the sermon is that food alone does not satisfy the hungers of a human being. Why not? Because food satisfy the body only but the soul is to be fed, also.
	The question arises: Does the world have food for the soul? I want to share with you a story that will answer this question. When the first Orthodox Christians came to America, they first got jobs in the mines, stores, steel plants and mills, because they had a physical hunger. But after a while they experienced a different kind of hunger: a hunger of the soul for God. They missed their churches and worship services. They missed the mysteries, the loving fellowship of the Christian community. So you know what they did, don’t you? They organized parishes and built churches, they called priests to minister to their spiritual needs, to provide nourishment for their souls. Now they fully realized that human beings cannot live on bread alone, and that the world has no food for the soul!
	One may ask: What is the food God has provided for our souls? Listen to these words of Christ: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven” (John 6: 51). In clear words Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, identified Himself with that spiritual food for the proper growth of the human personality. It is Christ, the bread of life, offered us in the Holy Eucharist. Now, since there is so much misunderstanding about the peak of our spiritual life, that is, the partaking of the Holy Eucharist, in my sermon of today I will share with you very concisely the teaching of our Orthodox Church on the Mystery of Eucharist.
	The Eucharist, which means thanksgiving, is the Mystery in which the bread and wine of offering are changed by the Holy Spirit into the true Body and Blood of Christ, and then the faithful partake of it for a most intimate union with Christ and eternal life. The Body and Blood of Christ are called the “Bread of Heaven and the Cup of life” or “Cup of salvation.” They are also called “the Holy Mysteries” or “the Bloodless Sacrifice.” The Holy Eucharist is the greatest Mystery of our Faith.
	Our Savior Jesus Christ pre-indicated the future establishment of this great Mystery when He said: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day…He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me and I in him” (John 6: 53-54; 56). The very establishment of the Mystery is set forth in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, and then is repeated by St. Paul.
	In St. Matthew’s gospel, we read: “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, ‘Drink from it all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins’” (Mat. 26: 26-28; see also Mark 14: 22-25; Luke 22: 19-20; I Cor.11: 23-24). The words of Christ at the Mystical Supper are very clear and do not allow any other interpretation apart from the most direct one. They were given to the Apostles and mean that we receive the true Body and the true Blood of Christ.
	Having given communion to His disciples, the Lord Jesus commanded: “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22: 19). This bloodless sacrifice must be performed “till He comes” (I Cor.11: 26), as the Apostle Paul teaches, that is, until Christ’s Second Coming. The Eucharist was received by the Church from the first days as the greatest Mystery. The institution of it is preserved with the greatest reverence. It will be performed until the end of the world. For the first thousand years of Christian history, when the Church was undivided, the holy gifts of the Body and Blood of Christ were received as just that: His Body and Blood! The Church taught that this is a Mystery: the bread is truly Christ’s Body, and that which is in the chalice is truly Christ’s Blood, but one cannot say how they become so.
	We do not even try, as the Roman Catholic Church does, to explain the unexplainable! St. Paul instructs with what reverence and preparatory self-testing we must approach the Mystery: “Therefore whoever eats this bread and drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s Body” (I Cor.11: 27-29).
	In the Mystery of Holy Eucharist, when the priest, invoking the Holy Spirit upon the offered gifts, blesses them, the bread and wine are actually changed into the Body and Blood of Christ by the coming down of the Holy Spirit. After this moment, even if we continue to see bread and wine on the Holy Table, in their very essence, invisibly for our physical eyes, in front of us is the true Body and Blood of Christ, under the form of bread and wine.
	I cannot stress enough that the sanctified Gifts are not only signs or symbols reminding the faithful of the salvation, as the Protestant reformer Zwingli taught. Also, it is not only by His activity and power that Christ is present in them, as Calvin, another reformer, taught. By the same token, Christ is not only co-present in panem, cum panem, sub panem, “in the bread, under the form of bread, with the bread,” as Luther taught. They all were dead wrong!
	The consecrated Gifts in the Mystery of the Eucharist are *changed* into the true Body and Blood of Christ! This is the teaching of the Orthodox Faith! This is the *unchanged* teaching of *The Church* for two millennia. Here is what the holy Fathers who participated in the First Ecumenical Synod professed: “At the Divine Table we should not see simply the bread and the cup which have been offered, but raising our minds on high, we should with faith understand that on the sacred Table lies the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world, Who is offered as a Sacrifice by the priests; and truly receiving His precious Body and Blood, we should believe that this is a sign of our resurrection.”
	In order to explain the possibility of such transformation of the Eucharistic elements into the Body and Blood of Christ, St. John Damascene indicates how the bread and wine or water taken by us as food are converted “in a way unknown to us” into our own body.
	My friends: Here are my questions: Do you approach the chalice when the priest invites you to do so “with fear of God, with faith and with love?” Are you a frequent partaker of Holy Communion? If you are not, I do remind you of these words of Christ: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you!” (John 6: 53). Yes, we are spiritually dead if we fail to do so! Yes, we cannot live by bread alone, we need to feed ourselves with the spiritual food “the bread of life…the bread which comes down from heaven that one may eat of it and not die” (John 6: 48; 50). This bread cannot be offered by this world, but by the Church! It is the Holy Eucharist, the very Body and Blood of Christ!
	There is a well known case study in medical journals that emphasizes the need for spiritual food. A number of years ago, there was a large foundling home in South America. Some one hundred babies were there, ranging in age from six months to three years. The institution provided normal care for the youngsters. There was nourishing food to eat, clean clothing to wear, and adequate medical facilities for the sick. Yet something was missing. Over a period of time the children became restless, listless and hopeless. There was no joy and radiant life. Something was wrong!
	It was discovered that the children were not being loved. The nurses were so busy that they did not lovingly cuddle their charges. Once they started to do this, a gradual change came over them. As they showered their affection on them, as they kissed them and held them close, as they sang to them and spoke to them, as they simply loved them they changed. This was nourishment for their souls! This was the food that had been denied them!
	Beloved: As we pray to God for “our daily bread,” let us remember that, as Orthodox Christians, this means food to sustain not only our bodies, but food to sustain our souls, also. Our sublime spiritual food is the Holy Eucharist! Let us not deprive ourselves of the power which is communicated to us in the eating and drinking of the Holy Gifts! However, let us not partake of them in willful disregard of the Lord, since it could result in sickness and death. Here is again St. Paul’s warning: “He who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself!” (I Cor.11: 29). Let us examine ourselves and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup to unite ourselves with Christ as a foretaste of the Kingdom, taking to heart His divine words: “Man shall not live by bread alone!” (Mat.4: 4). Try and remember: The Eucharist has always been the supreme act of thanksgiving and praise to God in His Church. So, come, “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34: 8) Amen.
	Rev. Dr. Dumitru Macaila

Upcoming Sunday

July 19, 2009

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 5).

Troparion for the Holy Father (Tone 8):

..........

Thou, O Christ , art our God of exceeding praise who didst establish our Holy Fathers as luminous stars upon earth, and through them didst guide us unto the true faith, O most merciful one, glory be to Thee.

Troparion of St Michael (Tone 4).

Kontakion of the Theotokos (Tone 4):

..........

Epistle: Titus 3:8-15

Gospel: Matthew 5:14-19

Sunday of the Holy Fathers

	On the Sunday that falls from the 13th to the 19th of the present month, we chant the Service to the Holy and God-bearing Fathers who came together in the Seven Ecumenical Councils, that is: the First Council, of the 318 Fathers who assembled in Nicaea in 325 to condemn Arius, who denied that the Son of God is consubstantial with the Father; the Fathers of the First Council also ordained that the whole Church should celebrate Pascha according to the same reckoning; the Second Council, of the 150 Fathers who assembled in Constantinople in 381 to condemn Macedonius, Patriarch of Constantinople, who denied the Divinity of the Holy Spirit; the Third Council, of the 200 Fathers who assembled in Ephesus in 431, to condemn Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, who called Christ a mere man and not God incarnate; the Fourth Council, of the 630 who assembled in Chalcedon in 451, to condemn Eutyches, who taught that there was only one nature, the divine, in Christ after the Incarnation, and Dioscorus, Patriarch of Alexandria, who illegally received Eutyches back into communion and deposed Saint Flavian, Patriarch of Constantinople, who had excommunicated Eutyches; the Fifth Council in 535, of the 165 who assembled in Constantinople for the second time to condemn Origen and Theodore of Mopsuestia, the teacher of Nestorius; the Sixth Council in 680, of the 170 who assembled in Constantinople for the third time, to condemn the Monothelite heresy, which taught that there is in Christ but one will, the divine; and the Seventh Council in 787, of the 350 who assembled in Nicaea for the second time to condemn Iconoclasm.

Upcoming Sunday

July 26, 2009

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 6).

Troparion of St. Pareskeva (Tone 8):

..........

Through thee, the divine likeness was securely preserved, O righteous Mother Pareskeva; for thou didst carry the cross and followed Christ. By example and precept, thou didst teach us to ignore the body, because it is perishable, and to attain to the concerns of the undying soul. Therefore, doth thy soul rejoice with the angels.

Troparion of St Michael (Tone 4).

Kontakion of the Theotokos (Tone 4):

..........

Epistle: I Timothy 3:13- 4:5

Gospel: Matthew 9:27-35

Did You Know?

	The Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ is celebrated each year on August 6.
	According to tradition, the Lord's Transfiguration came to pass forty days before His Crucifixion; this is why the Transfiguration is celebrated forty days before the Exaltation of the Cross.
	The event of the Transfiguration is recorded in three of the four Gospels: Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36.

	Thank you for visiting St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Mission website!

If you see mistake on this page, please, let us know at StMichaelOC@yahoo.com .............................................................................................06-28--2009