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Parish Life - March, April & May, 2010
Last Updated (Sunday, 25 July 2010 21:34)
Parish News (Pascha 2010)
During Great Lent, each of our four choirs participated in the Divine Services, including the men’s choir (Vigil and Liturgy for the Departed) and women’s choir (Pre-Sanctified Liturgy), while the children’s choir renewed the tradition of singing during Vespers and parts of the Liturgy on Lazarus Saturday. God willing, the children will continue to sing outside of the school year and on the Great Feasts. The main parish choir sang prayerfully and majestically throughout Great Lent, and especially during Holy Week and Pascha. Click here and here for pictures.
During Vespers on the first day of Pascha, in accordance with an established local tradition, the laity assisted in reading the Gospel in different languages. This year the Gospel was read in 12 languages (Church Slavonic, Russian, Ukrainian, Serbian, English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin).
On Bright Monday, the rector of St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church in Roslindale, Fr. Vassilios Bebis, and some parishioners joined us for Liturgy. As is the tradition of our parish, the children carried icons during the procession.
On the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, two visiting clergymen served with the parish clergy: Protodeacon Joseph Jarostchuk of St. John of Kronstadt Church (Utica, NY) and Hierodeacon Roman of St. Daniel’s Monastery in Moscow. Later in the week, Fr. Roman and Fr. Victor visited Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville. After the meal, the parish school children presented a short Paschal concert. Click here to view video of the concert.
On the Sunday of the Paralytic, Archpriest Pavel, the brother of M.P. Jockush—the children’s choir director, was visiting from Ukraine and concelebrated with the parish clergy. Fr. Pavel gave an edifying sermon about the significance of the Gospel reading on the paralytic within the context of the Paschal period.
On the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, a litia was served for the newly departed Valentina Vasil’evna Tolkunova. Professor Alexander Dmitrievich Portniagin, one of our churchgoers and a close friend of Tolkunova, organized the commemorative meal on the occasion of the 40th day of her repose. Donations went towards the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem in memory of servant of God Valentina. Professor Portniagin shared his memories of Tolkunova, who was known by many as the “most delicate voice in Russia.” Professor Portniagin noted that she was always a spiritual person, a firm believer who never compromised her dignity and never sold out in the uncertain period of transition in Russia over the last 20 years.
On May 14, a panikhida was served, followed by a commemorative meal, on the occasion of the third anniversary of Archpriest Roman Lukianov’s repose. In his homily, Fr. Victor noted that Fr. Roman’s life should serve as a guide for the current generation. For Fr. Roman the essence of “Russianness” was Orthodoxy. Faced with an enticing secular culture with all kinds of material opportunities, Fr. Roman kept his focus on what was most important. At the meal, Matushka Irina Lukianov and numerous parishioners and spiritual children of Fr. Roman shared their memories of Fr. Roman and recollections of his life. Different distinguishing features of Fr. Roman’s pastoral activities were brought to light, including his ability to welcome representatives of the different emigrations from Russia and the USSR. In the outside world, these people clashed, but as members of Holy Epiphany, they became fused into a single Christian family.
On the Sunday of the Holy Fathers, the parish school had its end-of-the-year ceremony, including a brief concert, followed by a picnic, which was very well attended. In his homily during the Liturgy, Fr. Victor emphasized the role of the Church, parish, family and school in the upbringing of children. He noted that there cannot be contradiction between what is taught in the home and the church. Christ needs to be “front and center” in our lives. The teachers echoed Fr. Victor’s words in their comments to the students. Father Victor thanked the director of the school, Reader Ilia Jarostchuk, and all the teachers for their hard work, and noted the great progress of the parish school in offering authentic learning. The rector voiced his pleasure that the school is instilling a Russian Orthodox consciousness in our children and is now once again fully integrated into parish life. Reader Ilia thanked Matushka Irina Lukianova for laying the foundation for the church school; in turn, Matushka explained how the school started under Fathers Cosmas and Alexander. Fr. Protodeacon Alexander Jarostchuk then exclaimed Many Years for Matushka Irina, whose namesday was forthcoming. View pictures here.