Ambo ST. THEODOSIUS ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL LAST JUDGMENT (MEATFARE) FEBRUARY 22, Hieromartyr Polycarp the Bishop of Smyrna (2/23)

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1 Ambo ST. THEODOSIUS ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL 733 Starkweather Ave. Mailing: 733 Starkweather Avenue T F FEBRUARY 22, 2009 LAST JUDGMENT (MEATFARE) Hieromartyr Polycarp the Bishop of Smyrna (2/23) Archpriest John Zdinak Dean Dn. Daniel Boerio Subdeacon Theodore Lentz Sacristan Reader Julius Kovach Ecclesiarch & Choirmaster Divine Services Eve Sundays & Feast Days 5:00 PM Confessions Sundays and Feast Days 8:40 AM 3rd and 6th Hour Fr. John Office Hours Tuesday & Wednesday 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM *Articles for publication in the AMBO should be submitted to: AMBO@sttheodosius.org by Wednesday of each week before noon. St. Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral Ambo - Page 1

2 Saint Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, who was "fruitful in every good work" (Col. 1:10), was born in the first century, and lived in Smyrna in Asia Minor. He was orphaned at an early age, but at the direction of an angel, he was raised by the pious widow Kallista. After the death of his adoptive mother, Polycarp gave away his possessions and began to lead a chaste life, caring for the sick and the infirm. He was very fond of and close to St Bucolus, Bishop of Smyrna (February 6). He ordained Polycarp as deacon, entrusting to him to preach the Word of God in church. He also ordained him to the holy priesthood. The holy Apostle John the Theologian was still alive at this time. St Polycarp was especially close to St John, and sometimes accompanied him on his apostolic journeys. Shortly before his death, St Bucolus expressed his wish that Polycarp be made Bishop of Smyrna. When St Polycarp was consecrated as a bishop, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him. St Polycarp guided his flock with apostolic zeal, and he was also greatly loved by the clergy. St Ignatius the God-Bearer of Antioch (December 20) also had a high regard for him. Setting out for Rome where execution awaited him, he wrote to St Polycarp, "This age is in need of you if it is to reach God, just as pilots need winds, and as a storm-tossed sailor needs a port." The emperor Marcus Aurelius ( ) came to the Roman throne and started up a most fierce persecution against Christians. The pagans demanded that the judge search for St Polycarp, "the father of all the Christians" and "the seducer of all Asia." During this time St Polycarp, at the persistent urging of his flock, stayed in a small village not far from Smyrna. When the soldiers came for him, he went out to them and invited them in to eat. He asked for time to pray, in order to prepare himself for martyrdom. His suffering and death are recorded in the "Epistle of the Christians of the Church of Smyrna to the Other Churches," one of the most ancient memorials of Christian literature. Having been brought to trial, St Polycarp firmly confessed his faith in Christ, and was condemned to be burned alive. The executioners wanted to nail him to a post, but he declared that God would give him the strength to endure the flames, so they could merely tie him with ropes. The flames encircled the saint but did not touch him, coming together over his head in the shape of a vault. Seeing that the fire did him no harm, the pagans stabbed him with a dagger. So much blood flowed from this wound that it extinguished the flames. The body of the hieromartyr Polycarp was then cremated. The Christians of Smyrna reverently gathered up what remained of his holy relics, and each year they celebrated the day of his martyrdom. A story has been preserved about St Polycarp by his disciple, St Irenaeus of Lyons, which Eusebius cites in his ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY (V, 20): "I was still very young when I saw you in Asia Minor at Polycarp's," writes St Irenaeus to his friend Florinus, "but I would still be able to point out the place where Blessed Polycarp sat and conversed, and be able to depict his walk, his mannerisms in life, his outward appearance, his speaking to people, his companionable wandering with John, and how he himself related, together with other eyewitnesses of the Lord, those things that he remembered from the words of others. He also told what he heard from them about the Lord, His teachings and miracles... Through the mercy of God to me, I then already listened attentively to Polycarp and wrote down his words, not on tablets, but in the depths of my heart. Therefore, I am able to bear witness before God, that if this blessed and apostolic Elder heard something similar to your fallacy, he would immediately stop up his ears and express his indigna- St. Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral Ambo - Page 2

3 tion with his usual phrase: 'Good God! That Thou hast permitted me to be alive at such a time!'" During his life the holy bishop wrote several Epistles to the flock and letters to various individuals. The only one that has survived to the present day is his Epistle to the Philippians which, St Jerome testifies, was read in the churches of Asia Minor at divine services. It was written by the saint in response to the request of the Philippians to send them some letters of the hieromartyr Ignatius (December 20) which St Polycarp had in his possession. The composer H.I.F. Bibier ( ) has written a Sonata "Scti Polycarpi" for eight trumpets in honor of the holy martyr. PRAYER REQUESTS DEPARTED: Archpriest Pavel Soucek + 1/15/09 Victor Wojnicz + 1/23/09 Joyce Franks + 1/28/09 Eva Dudich + 2/05/09 ILL-AFFLICTED: Fr. Anthony Dimitri Fr. Andrew Stevens Helen Antonik Dan Arangelovich Jerry Arangelovich Alice Artino Helen Baldner Carol Bohurjak John Clements John Conrad Julia Grabowski Maria Hanzel Annaliese Jacak Donna Jacak Sarah Kersey Dorothy Laskovich Paul Laskovich Walter & Grace Parhamovich (Karen Felon s parents) David Roman (nephew of Margaret Rusynyk) Mary Ann Silberhorn Elsie Sudnick Sonia Vorell Hannah Ward Harrison Ward Helen Zawisza (Joe Rusynyk s sister) Julia Zimmerman Russell Carleton & Tanya Klimova Gianni & Nicole DeAngelis (Friend of Nikol Zdinak) Kimberly & Brian Warren Robbie & Jacqui Prock & Newly Baptized Hailey Ann Prock CATECHUMENS: Daniel McNeilly and children Erik & Gwen Hasselquist Dome Lighters Donations to offset the cost of lighting the domes can be made for the health of or in memory of your loved ones. Contact the Parish Office if you are interested. February 22 - February 28: In memory of Henry Grabowski by Gill & Betty Scherry TH ANK YOU Fr. Andrew Stevens wishes to thank you for all your cards and prayers for his recent surgery. He is progressing and doing well. PLEDGE FORMS Pledge forms for 2009 are available at the Candle Stand. If you have any questions, please see Paul Pangrace, Treasurer. THANK YOU SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY Patron donations were $ Thank you for your support! ATTENTION Father John will be away from the office beginning Monday, February 16 and will be returning Friday, February 27. In case of any immediate emergency, please contact the Parish office at or contact Father John Memorich. Archangel Michael Church Broadview Hts. Home: Office: Please Note: We still need an auditor on the Audit Committee. If you are interested, please see Fr. John. St. Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral Ambo - Page 3

4 Welcome Visitors Our parish welcomes you and thanks you for joining us at today s Divine Liturgy. While only Orthodox Christians may approach the chalice for Holy Communion, everyone is welcome to partake of the Holy Bread after Liturgy. You are also invited to join us for fellowship in the Parish Hall following Liturgy. COFEE HOUR & GREETERS SCHEDULES Coffee Hour Hosts: Greeters: 02/22/09 Karen Felon Linda Smotzer/Virginia Medvec 03/01/09 Mat. Jeanne Homik, Mat. Cindy Zdinak, Debby Pinta/Tom Broslawik and Mat. Jennifer Boerio 03/08/09 Nick and Kate Zolikoff Maca Tyler, Sonia Vorell 03/15/09 Alex & Deborah Wojnicz Paul Pangrace, Michael Tabeling 03/22/09 Joyce Tabeling Eileen Bondor ANNOUNCEMENT All receipts submitted for reimbursement must be turned in to the church office within 90 days of date of event or date of purchase. After 90 days, the expense will be considered a donation to the Cathedral. NO reimbursement. At this Sunday s Coffee Hour all apricot and nut rolls will be on sale for $5.00. Homemade rolls are also available at the Ridge Manor Party Center. Please call Sharon Glagola at For those not pledging, dues payments by credit card are no longer accepted at the Bookstore. Credit card payments can be made at Ridge Manor or at the Parish Office. Check and cash payments accepted at the Candle Stand. If you have any questions, please see Paul Pangrace. Finance Committee Meeting Monday, March 9 4:30 Manor NO CHURCH SCHOOL SATURDAY FEBRUARY PRE-LENTEN LECTURE What! Great Lent Again? Reader Roger John Pinta ST. THEODOSIUS CATHEDRAL SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, :30AM Registration 12:00 Noon - Lunch 1:00 PM Presentation 4:00 PM Dinner Taste and see why we should look forward to Great Lent instead of dreading it. Call by Monday, February 23 to make a reservation. Parish Council News The next Parish Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 10, at 6:00 Ridge Manor WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS TIMOTHY LARSEN has recently joined our parish community. God bless him and grant him many years with us! St. Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral Ambo - Page 4 GOD S GIFTS TO US - OUR GIFTS TO GOD Weekly expenses: $6, Last week s collection: $4, Over/Under <$2,454.00> Attendance Members 120 Visitors 1 Total 121 CONGRATULATIONS to Newly Elected COUNCIL MEMBERS Nicholas Zolikoff Jason Grimes Paul Pangrace Mary Lee Erhardt 2008 CONTRIBUTION REPORTS Contribution reports are available. If you would like a copy, please call the office or see Paul Pangrace, Treasurer

5 Sunday, February 22 Sunday of Last Judgment Meatfare Sunday Monday, February 23 Hieromartyr Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna Deadline for Reservations Pre-Lenten Lecture Tuesday, February 24 1st and 2nd Finding Honorable Head of St. John The Baptist Wednesday, February 25 NO LITURGY St. Tarasius ABP. Of Constantinople SPECIAL MARCH COLLECTION I O C C Weekly Schedule Thursday, February 26 St. Porphyrius Bishop of Gaza Martyr Sebastian 11:00 AM Faith Manor Friday, February 27 NO LITURGY St. Raphael Bishop of Brooklyn Saturday, February 28 Departed Righteous Monastics Ven. Basil The Confessor Ven. Jon Cassian 11:30 Pre-Lenten Lecture NO Church School Sunday, March 1 Cheesefare Sunday Forgiveness Sunday Martyr Eudoxia Martyr Antonina 6:00 PM Forgiveness Vespers St. Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral 733 Starkweather Avenue St. Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral Ambo - Page 5