St. George. Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church W. 14th Street, Cleveland OH SUNDAY AFTER-FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION

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1 St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church 2587 W. 14th Street, Cleveland OH SUNDAY AFTER-FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION Serving the Orthodox Christian Community of Greater Cleveland

2 St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church V. Rev Father John Ojaimi, Pastor Office: (216) Fax: (216) Cellular: (440) Archdeacon Yarid Sahley Subdeacon Sam Elias Pastor s frjojaimi@msn.com Parish office@stgeorgecleveland.com Sunday August 09, 2015 Tone 1/ Eothinon 10 Tenth Sunday after Pentecost & Tenth Sunday of Matthew After-feast of the Transfiguration of Christ Apostle Matthias; translation of the relics of Venerable Herman of Alaska, wonderworker of America WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS We are glad you are worshiping with us today. There are Service Books in the pews. Orthodox Christians must be prepared for Holy Communion through Confession, Fasting, Prayer and by being at peace with others. Please seek and give forgiveness before receiving Holy Communion. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, please join us for coffee hour in the Parish Hall. t ½Êà The mission of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church is to serve God and the community by commitment to the Gospel s command to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ through faith, hope, and love. It is a parish of the Self Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. The Orthodox Church follows the faith and practice of the apostles and disciples of Christ handed down by the ancient Christian fathers and twenty centuries of Church tradition. Genuine Christian life nurtures and stimulates our spiritual and moral development. The liturgical life of the Orthodox Church has been developing over the last 2000 years. By taking part in the mysteries of Christ s life, death and resurrection at the liturgical services, the community members are drawn to repentance and the gradual change of their inner selves. To join the community of St. George or to find out more information, please fill out the Guest Book in the Narthex. We hope this day will be spiritually rewarding for you. Fr John will be happy to answer any questions. Join us in the hall after Liturgy for our Coffee Hour and Fellowship.

3 Trisagion Prayers, Bread of Oblation, Wheat & Coffee Hour are offered in memory of Elias Ojaimi by V. Rev. Fr. John &, Kr. May Ojaimi & Family Coffee Hour is offered for the Health & Safety of Charles & Joan Haddad by Leo & Lila Koury Next Week: Trisagion Prayers, Bread of Oblation, Wheat and Coffee Hour are offered in memory of Souad Al Haddad (40 days) by George & Esmiralda Almaz Candles are offered for the Health, Safety & Spiritual Welfare of: My Daughter Jennifer Rueda (Birthday Prayers) by her Mother Joan Haddad by Bill & Laverne Ameen & by Mary Ameen & Family Family & Friends by Sami & Ragda Harb Family & Friends by George & Joie Haddad Family & Friends by Hal & Louise Bouhasin Candles are offered in Beloved Memory of: Elias Ojaimi by Fr. John & Kr. May Ojaimi & Family & by Bill & Laverne Ameen George Harb & Yacoub Karsheh by John & Nareen Karsheh My Beloved, Mother Mary, Father Abraham, Brothers Emile and James, Sitteh Zaineh & Uncle Kaiser by Emilie L. Easa Wadia Ameen by his wife Mary & Family Edward Haddad by his wife Edward Fadel by his wife & family Prayers for the Health & Spiritual Welfare of our parishioners: Olivia Abdallah, Melissa Aboid, Evelyn Baldassari, Shirley Courey, Ann Deeb, Emilie Easa, James Eassey, Helena Elias, Dani Fadel, Minerva Gantose, Peter George, Odeh Hanna, Pauline Hanna, Samia Harb, Baby Alma Maria Issa, Corrine Khouri, Hanadi Khouri, Becky Magas, Joyce Nader, Kaukab Nader, Virginia Nader, Jennie Sadallah, Christopher Fadel-Samuel, Norma Shami, Alvera Shiekh, Christine Simon, Asma Zaboura. UPCOMING DIVINE SERVICES Wednesday August 12 Paraklesis 6:30 pm Friday August 14 The Dormition Evening Divine 6:00pm followed by St. Mary s Dinner Sunday August 16, 2015 Matins 9:30 am, Divine am Confessions will be heard on Sundays Morning before Liturgy starts or by appointment. With fear of God, faith And love draw near. Come to Church, Jesus loves you, we love you we are waiting for you. Sign up and take your turn in offering a Coffee Hour. Pick a birthday, memorial, anniversary etc.. or just a day that no one has sponsored.

4 Divine Liturgy Variables on Sunday, August 09, 2015 Tone 1/ Eothinon 10;Tenth Sunday after Pentecost & Tenth Sunday of Matthew After-feast of the Transfiguration of Christ Apostle Matthias; translation of the relics of Venerable Herman of Alaska, wonderworker of America THE FIRST ANTIPHON Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, in His holy mountain. Who settest fast the mountains by Thy strength, Who art girded about with power. Refrain: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us. Who coverest Thyself with light as with a garment. The mountains shall rejoice at the presence of the Lord, for He cometh; yea, He is come to judge the earth. (Refrain) Glory Both now (Refrain) THE SECOND ANTIPHON His foundations are in the holy mountains. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Refrain: Save us, O Son of God, Who wast transfigured on Mount Tabor, who sing to Thee. Alleluia. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. (Refrain) Zion is our mother, a man shall say, and such a man was born in her; and the Most High Himself hath established her. (Refrain) Glory Both now O, only begotten Son and Word of God THE THIRD ANTIPHON Of Thy mercies, O Lord, will I sing forever. The heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord, and Thy truth in the congregation of saints. Blessed is the people that knoweth jubilation. O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance shall they walk, and in Thy Name shall they rejoice all the day long. APOLYTIKION OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST IN TONE SEVEN When, O Christ our God, Thou wast transfigured on the mountain, Thou didst reveal Thy glory to Thy Disciples in proportion as they could bear it. Let Thine everlasting light also enlighten us sinners, through the intercessions of the Theotokos. O Thou Bestower of light, glory to Thee. THE EISODIKON (ENTRANCE HYMN) OF ORDINARY SUNDAYS Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead; who sing to Thee. Alleluia. RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE ONE While the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. For which cause the heavenly powers cried aloud unto Thee, O giver of life. Glory to Thy Resurrection O Christ, glory to Thy kingdom, glory to Thy providence, O Thou Who alone art the lover of mankind.

5 APOLYTIKION OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST IN TONE SEVEN When, O Christ our God, Thou wast transfigured on the mountain, Thou didst reveal Thy glory to Thy Disciples in proportion as they could bear it. Let Thine everlasting light also enlighten us sinners, through the intercessions of the Theotokos. O Thou Bestower of light, glory to Thee. TROPARION OF ST. GEORGE TONE 4 As deliver of captives and defender of the poor, healer of the infirm, champion of kings, victorious Great martyr George, intercede with Christ our God, for our souls salvation.. KONTAKION OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST IN TONE SEVEN Thou wast transfigured on the mount, and Thy Disciples, in so far as they were able, beheld Thy glory, O Christ our God; so that, when they should see Thee crucified, they would remember that all Thy suffering was voluntary, and could declare to all the world that Thou art truly the effulgent Splendor of the Father. THE TRISAGION Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us. Dynamis! (With Strength) Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us THE EPISTLE (For the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost) Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous. The Reading from the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (4:9-16) Brethren, God has exhibited us Apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill clad and buffeted and homeless; and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. THE GOSPEL (For the Tenth Sunday of Matthew) The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (17:14-23) At that time, a man came up to Jesus and kneeling before Him said, Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to Thy disciples, and they could not heal him.

6 And Jesus answered, O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me. And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, Why could we not cast it out? Jesus said to them, Because you have no faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. This kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting. As they were traveling together through Galilee, Jesus said to them, The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and He will rise on the third day. الر سال ة 9 ف ا ن ي أ ر ى أ ن الله أ ب ر ز ن ا ن ح ن ال رس ل آخ ر ین ك ا ن ن ا م ح ك وم ع ل ی ن ا ب ال م و ت. لا ن ن ا ص ر ن ا م ن ظ ر ا ل ل ع ال م ل ل م لا ي ك ة و الن اس. 10 ن ح ن ج ھ ال م ن أ ج ل ال م س یح و أ ما أ ن ت م ف ح ك م اء ف ي ال م س یح! ن ح ن ض ع ف اء و أ ما أ ن ت م ف ا قو ی اء! أ ن ت م م ك رم ون و أ ما ن ح ن ف ب لا ك ر ام ة! إ ل ى ھذ ه ال ساع ة ن ج وع و ن ع ط ش و ن ع ر ى و ن ل ك م و ل ی س ل ن ا إ ق ام ة و ن ت ع ب 13 ع ام ل ین ب ا ی د ین ا. ن ش ت م ف ن ب ار ك. ن ض ط ھ د ف ن ح ت م ل. ی ف ت ر ى ع ل ی ن ا ف ن ع ظ. ص ر ن ا ك ا ق ذ ار ال ع ال م و و س خ ك ل ش ي ء إ ل ى الا ن. ل ی س ل ك ي أ خ جل ك م أ ك ت ب ب ھذ ا ب ل ك ا و لا د ي الا ح ب اء أ ن ذ ر ك م. لا ن ھ و إ ن ك ان ل ك م ر ب و ات م ن ال م ر ش د ین ف ي 16 ال م س یح لك ن ل ی س آب اء ك ث یر ون. لا ن ي أ ن ا و ل د ت ك م ف ي ال م س یح ی س وع ب الا ن ج یل. ف ا ط ل ب إ ل ی ك م أ ن ت ك ون وا م ت م ث ل ین ب ي. إ لان ج یل و ل ما ج اء وا إ ل ى ال ج م ع ت ق دم إ ل ی ھ ر ج ل ج اث ی ا ل ھ و ق اي لا :»ی ا س ی د ار ح م اب ني ف ا ن ھ ی ص ر ع و ی ت ا ل م ش د ید ا و ی ق ع ك ث یر ا ف ي الن ار و ك ث یر ا ف ي ال م اء. و أ ح ض ر ت ھ إ ل ى ت لا م یذ ك ف ل م ی ق د ر وا أ ن ی ش ف وه.«ف ا ج اب ی س وع و ق ال :»أ ی ھ ا 18 ال ج یل غ ی ر ال م و م ن ال م ل ت و ي إ ل ى م ت ى أ ك ون م ع ك م إ ل ى م ت ى أ ح ت م ل ك م ق دم وه إ ل ي ھھ ن ا!«ف ان ت ھ ر ه ی س وع ف خ ر ج 19 م ن ھ ال شی ط ان. ف ش ف ي ال غ لا م م ن ت ل ك ال ساع ة. ث م ت ق دم الت لا م یذ إ ل ى ی س وع ع ل ى ان ف ر اد و ق ال وا:»ل م اذ ا ل م ن ق د ر ن ح ن أ ن 20 ن خ ر ج ھ «ف ق ال ل ھ م ی س وع :»ل ع د م إ یم ان ك م. ف ال ح ق أ ق ول ل ك م : ل و ك ان ل ك م إ یم ان م ث ل ح ب ة خ ر د ل ل ك ن ت م ت ق ول ون ل ھذ ا 21 ال ج ب ل : ان ت ق ل م ن ھ ن ا إ ل ى ھ ن اك ف ی ن ت ق ل و لا ی ك ون ش ي ء غ ی ر م م ك ن ل د ی ك م. و أ ما ھذ ا ال ج ن س ف لا ی خ ر ج إ لا ب ال صلا ة و ال صو م.«و ف یم ا ھ م ی ت ر دد ون ف ي ال ج ل یل ق ال ل ھ م ی س وع :»اب ن الا ن س ان س و ف ی س ل م إ ل ى أ ی د ي الن اس ف ی ق ت ل ون ھ و ف ي ال ی و م الث ال ث ی ق وم.«ف ح ز ن وا ج د ا. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom continues as usual. "If we expect our children and grandchildren to grow into adulthood as practicing Orthodox Christians, we must give daily witness to the importance of our faith in our everyday life. If we are lax in our fasting, church attendance, and piety, our children will see by our lack of seriousness a faith that will mean nothing to them. If they do not see us keeping a prayer rule, they will not have prayer as a part of their lives. If they do not see us putting the divine services before entertainment, they will abandon Orthodoxy, once they ve left the nest." Abbot Tryphon

7 Dormition Fast Began on August 1st The Theotokos, the Virgin Mary, was blessed amongst women, and she was chosen to bear the Savior of our souls. Orthodox Christians consider her to be the Queen of all the saints and angels. Knowing that she is eternally present at the throne of God interceding for mankind, we pray for her love, guidance, and protection. Every year the Orthodox Church sets aside the first fourteen days of August in honor of the Virgin Mary. This fast period is climaxed on August 15th, when the Church gathers to celebrate the Great Feast of the Dormition (Falling- Asleep) of the Theotokos. Why a Fast for Dormition? by Daniel Manzuk from The Word, June 2008 It would be a gross understatement to say that much has been written about the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos. Yet very little has been written about the fast that precedes it. Every Orthodox Christian is aware and generally knows the reason behind the fasts for Pascha and Christmas. But while they may know of the Dormition Fast, few follow it, and more than a few question why it is there, neither knowing its purpose. First, given the pervasive misunderstanding of the purpose of fasting itself, a refresher on its purpose is always a good idea. There is a perception that we should fast when we want something, as though the act of fasting somehow appeases God, and seeing us suffer gets Him to grant our request. Nothing can be further from the truth. It is not our fasting that pleases God, it is the fruits of our fast (provided we fast in the proper mind set, and do not merely diet) that please Him. We fast, not to get what we want, but to prepare ourselves to receive what God wants to give us. The purpose of fasting is to bring us more in line with another Mary, the sister of Lazarus, and away from their sister Martha, who in the famous passage was anxious and troubled about many things. Fasting is intended to bring us to the realization of the one thing needful. It is to help us put God first and our own desires second, if not last. As such it serves to prepare us to be instruments of God s will, as with Moses in his flight from Egypt and on Mt. Sinai, as well as our Lord s fast in the wilderness. Fasting turns us away from ourselves and toward God. In essence it helps us become like the Theotokos, an obedient servant of God, who heard His word and kept it better than anyone else has or could. So why do we fast before Dormition? In a close-knit family, word that its matriarch is on her deathbed brings normal life to a halt. Otherwise important things (parties, TV, luxuries, personal desires) become unimportant; life comes to revolve around the dying matriarch. It is the same with the Orthodox family; word that our matriarch is on her deathbed, could not (or at least should not) have any different effect than the one just mentioned. The Church, through the Paraklesis Service, gives us the opportunity to come to that deathbed and eulogize and entreat the woman who bore God, the vessel of our salvation and our chief advocate at His divine throne. And as, in the earthly family, daily routines and the indulgence in personal wants should come to a halt. Fasting, in its full sense (abstaining from food and desires) accomplishes this. Less time in leisure or other pursuits leaves more time for prayer and reflection on she who gave us Christ, and became the first and greatest Christian. In reflecting on her and her incomparable life, we see a model Christian life, embodying Christ s retort to the woman who stated that Mary was blessed because she bore Him: blessed rather are those who hear His word

8 and keep it. Mary did this better than anyone. As Fr. Thomas Hopko has stated, she heard the word of God and kept it so well, that she of all women in history was chosen not only to hear His Word but give birth to it (Him). So while we fast in contemplation of her life, we are simultaneously preparing ourselves to live a life in imitation of her. That is the purpose of the Dormition Fast. When the assumption of thine undefiled body was being prepared, the Apostles gazed on thy bed, viewing thee with trembling. Some contemplated thy body and were dazzled, but Peter cried out to thee in tears, saying, I see thee clearly, O Virgin, stretched out, O life of all, and I am astonished. O thou undefiled one, in whom the bliss of future life dwelt, beseech thy Son and God to preserve thy people unimpaired. Transfiguration The transfiguration of Christ is one of the central events recorded in the gospels. Immediately after the Lord was recognized by his apostles as the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the Living God, he told them that he must go up to Jerusalem and suffer many things... and be killed and on the third day be raised (Mt 16). The announcement of Christ s approaching passion and death was met with indignation by the disciples. And then, after rebuking them, the Lord took Peter, James, and John up to a high mountain by tradition Mount Tabor and was transfigured before them.... and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as snow and behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah. He was still speaking when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is my Beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him. When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces with awe. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, Rise, and have no fear. And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead (Mt 17:1-92, see also Mk 9:1-9; Lk 9:28-36; 2 Peter 1:16-18). The Jewish Festival of Booths was a feast of the dwelling of God with men, and the transfiguration of Christ reveals how this dwelling takes place in and through the Messiah, the Son of God in human flesh. There is little doubt that Christ s transfiguration took place at the time of the Festival of Booths, and that the celebration of the event in the Christian Church became the New Testamental fulfillment of the Old Testamental feast in a way similar to the feasts of Passover and Pentecost In the Transfiguration, the apostles see the glory of the Kingdom of God present in majesty in the person of ChriSt They see that in him, indeed, all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, that in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily (Col 1:19, 2:9). They see this before the crucifixion so that in the resurrection they might know who it is who has suffered for them, and what it is that this one, who is God, has prepared for those who love him. This is

9 what the Church celebrates in the feast of the Transfiguration. Thou wast transfigured on the mount. O Christ God, revealing Thy glory to Thy disciples as they could bear it. Let Thine everlasting light shine upon us sinners. Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Giver of Light, glory to Thee (Troparion). On the mountain wast Thou transfigured, O Christ God, and Thy disciples beheld Thy glory as far as they could see it; so that when they would behold Thee crucified, they would understand that Thy suffering was voluntary, and would proclaim to the world that Thou art truly the Radiance of the Father (Kontakion). Besides the fundamental meaning which the event of the Transfiguration has in the context of the life and mission of Christ, and in addition to the theme of the glory of God which is revealed in all of its divine splendor in the face of the Saviour, the presence of Moses and Elijah is also of great significance for the understanding and celebration of the feast. Many of the hymns refer to these two leading figures of the Old Covenant as do the three scripture readings of Vespers which tell of the manifestation of the glory of God to these holy men of old (Ex 24:12-18; 33:11-34:8; 1 Kings 19:3-16). Moses and Elijah, according to the liturgical verses, are not only the greatest figures of the Old Testament who now come to worship the Son of God in glory, they also are not merely two of the holy men to whom God has revealed himself in the prefigurative theophanies of the Old Covenant of Israel. These two figures actually stand for the Old Testament itself: Moses for the Law and Elijah for the Prophets. And Christ is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (Mt 5:17). They also stand for the living and dead, for Moses died and his burial place is known, while Elijah was taken alive into heaven in order to appear again to announce the time of God s salvation in Christ the Messiah. Thus, in appearing with Jesus on the mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah show that the Messiah Saviour is here, and that he is the Son of God to whom the Father himself bears witness, the Lord of all creation, of the Old and New Testaments, of the living and the dead. The Transfiguration of Christ in itself is the fulfillment of all of the theophanies and manifestations of God, a fulfillment made perfect and complete in the person of Christ. The Transfiguration of Christ reveals to us our ultimate destiny as Christians, the ultimate destiny of all men and all creation to be transformed and glorified by the majestic splendor of God himself. There is little doubt that the feast of the Transfiguration of Christ belonged first to the preã Easter season of the Church. It was perhaps celebrated on one of the Sundays of Lent, for besides certain historical evidence and the fact that today Saint Gregory Palamas, the great teacher of the Transfiguration of Christ, is commemorated during Lent, the event itself is one which is definitely connected with the approaching death and resurrection of the Saviour.... for when they would behold Thee crucified, they would understand that Thy suffering was voluntary (Kontakion).

10 The feast of the Transfiguration is presently celebrated on the sixth of August, probably for some historical reason. The summer celebration of the feast, however, has lent itself very well to the theme of transfiguration. The blessing of grapes, as well as other fruits and vegetables on this day is the most beautiful and adequate sign of the final transfiguration of all things in Christ. It signifies the ultimate flowering and fruitfulness of all creation in the paradise of God s unending Kingdom of Life where all will he transformed by the glory of the Lord. Be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later. Think about this for a minute. * If you plant honesty, you will reap trust * If you plant goodness, you will reap friends * If you plant humility, you will reap greatness * If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment * If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective * If you plant hard work, you will reap success * If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation If It happened to show up on your door step crying, would you care? If I called you and asked you to pick me up because something happened, would you come? If I had one day left to live my life, would you be part of that last day? If I needed a shoulder to cry on, would you give me yours? This is a test to see who your real friends are or if you are just someone to talk to when they are bored. Do you know what the relationship is between your two eyes? They blink together, they move together, they cry together, they see things together, and they sleep together, but they never see each other; that's what friendship is. Your aspiration is your motivation, your motivation is your belief, your belief is your peace, your peace is your target, your target is heaven, and life is like hard core torture without it!

11 Speech of His Beatitude John X 25 July 2015, US His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, Your Eminences, Graces, Distinguished Members of the Convention, It is with deep joy and pride that I address the Convention of our Antiochian Orthodox Christianity congregation in North America and Canada. This Convention, given prominence by the Thrice Blessed Memory Metropolitan Philip, is carried forth with distinction by His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph. We are fortunate to have His Eminence lead this congregation at this important phase in the history of our Church. This congregation assumes the distinctive role of living in a superpower of great influence in the world. This position carries with it a special responsibility, at a very special time. I address you at a critical moment in the history of our Church. For the past four years, the Arab East, al-mashriq al-arabi has been in the midst of a political earthquake of historic proportions. Not since medieval times have such destruction, killing, persecution, and dislocation been witnessed by our society. A wave of religious extremism has taken over the region, reversed civic democratic trends, shattered established society, and reconfigured national frontiers in total disregard of established legal and constitutional systems. While the conflict is inflicting terror on all, a major victim of this conflict is the Christian Community in Syria and Iraq and in a special category in Lebanon as well. There were 1.5 million Christians in Iraq early in this century. Only a few of them remain, internally displaced, seeking shelter for themselves and their families. In Syria, there were over 2 million Christians before the crisis in Hundreds of thousands have fled, and many are internally displaced. Hundreds of thousands of our Orthodox flock are scattered in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan. Others are scrambling at embassies for exit. Hundreds of our people were killed. Dozens of our churches were looted and destroyed. Thousands upon thousands of our icons and manuscripts are burnt, or are being sold in the open market. Our region is in trouble, and on the verge of despair, but we as Orthodox Christians are not in despair. Inspite of our suffering, we are determined to stay on our land, we are vigilant, we know our way in the future. We have a great role to play in healing wounds and rebuilding institutions. We have Metropolitans and priests who had been kidnapped for more than two years now, within a suspicious and shameful International silence. They are the Metropolitans of Aleppo Youhanna Ibrahim and Paul Yazji. We have priests, monks, nuns, people and martyrs their only crime is that they hold the entity of Christianity. We are in our land because we were always there. We are the first Christians, the authentic and faithful followers, who knew Jesus Christ and walked with him.

12 For two thousand years, we have been emissaries of the faith of love, emissaries, working with our Muslim brethren in the development of a civilization that became in time the world civilization. We were a ferment then in the 7th to 14th centuries as we are a ferment now since the dawn of the 19th century. Since then we have been again in the foreground advancing the ideas of modernity, civic order, and constitutional government. We were there building universities, schools, and hospitals, serving our society with total disregard to religious or racial affiliation. We are still there doing just that. All of a sudden we find ourselves in a dark tunnel squeezed from right and left in all directions, in the midst of conflict in Iraq and Syria, wars that flow their frontiers into our beloved Lebanon. I am with you this evening to sound the alarm for what is happening in the very land that our savior rendered holy and its surrounding region, and to seek your support in reversing the tide of bloodshed and destruction. We have problems for sure, but we are determined to resolve them. The Patriarchate is rapidly becoming an institution with a strong media and technological arm. We have a hospital in Beirut amongst the best in the region. We are building an urgently needed hospital in Balamand, which we envision to be the best between Byblos and Istanbul. We are also building new sectors in Al-Hosn hospital in the Christian valley in Syria. In a quarter of a century we built at Balamand a University of international fame. Although it was founded in 1988, it is classified with the best three private universities in Lebanon that were founded a century and a half before. In a quarter of a century, we bridged a century and a half. Such is our resolve. We are working with Metropolitan Joseph to offer a Ph.D. degree in Orthodox Theology in the United States. By the Grace of God, our Orthodoxy is spreading in the United States as it is in Britain, and we welcome our new converts. They are an indispensable part of the future of our Church. In all these endeavors we welcome close association with the universities, research centers, and think tanks in the United States and Canada. We understand America s concern for its commercial interests and its strategic interests in the region, but the United States must always keep its eye on its own highest standard. The Founders of the American Republic had higher goals. They had a civilized order in mind, based on ethical tradition, on freedom, on religious tolerance and on equality of all men before the One Creator. Were the U.S. to ignore this dimension in its foreign policy, it will no longer have the right to claim its leadership role in the world order. I ask the above, not only in the interest of my suffering people in the Arab East, but also in your higher interests as citizens of the United States and Canada. A moral imperative binds humanity irrespective of race, place, and time, and this imperative is our burden as leaders who care and plan. I know your love to the Church in its home ground, and I know how you feel about the dangers that face it.

13 While decision-makers may ponder what they should or should not do in our region, I have few humble, yet immediate and urgent concerns. I shall share them with you as we think together in this Convention. I need your counsel on how to approach your government, your foundations, your relevant civic organizations, and the appropriate U.N. organizations to meet our urgent humanitarian needs. We have immense needs. These needs involve immense efforts. We are together in this noble mission of salvaging Christianity in al-mashriq and ensuring its hitherto leading cultural role in the region. We need aid to support refugees. We need aid to rebuild schools that were destroyed. We need aid to salvage a generation of young men and women who have lost years of school and college education. We need to help people to stay on their land, to rebuild their houses, and to plant their crops. We have projects on institution building, on helping refugees, and we need to prepare more such projects in the immediate future. We are not born to be refugees in foreign lands. We are not prepared for humiliation. We do not cherish the sight of our brothers and sisters swarming foreign embassies for exit visas. Like you in the United States, we are strong people, industrious, proud, and avid achievers. Forces greater than us are boxing us from all directions. If the region is in despair, we the leaders of the Christian community and our people in al-mashriq al-arabi are not in despair. In spite of our suffering, our will is strong, our determination is absolute. We are staying in our land and we shall play a leading role in the future of the region. And for that we will always need your help. We need the help of the United States, and other friends and powers around the world, to open up the channels of dialogue, to silence the drums of war, and to give our people a chance at a renewed future. Brothers and sisters, we share a common destiny, a destiny as people of faith and humanity. Acts undertaken in the East will affect the West; and decisions taken in the West will affect the East. Let us put our heads and hearts together, and act urgently to reverse the slide into genocide and mass slaughter; let us work together to rebuild the pillars of religious coexistence and our common humanity. Dialogue, coexistence, and cultural progress have been our guideposts in the past. They will continue to be so at present and in the future. The birthplace of the World s Great Religions is falling apart. It cries out for help, not only because it needs it, it deserves it. I am addressing you from the heart with a clear message. We need to work with you in the context of your extensive contacts, organizational skills, and economic power to help our people realize their commitment to their own land, on their own terms. In conclusion, we raise our prayers for the peace in all the Middle East. We pray for the peace in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, and in all the region. Thank you for the privilege of being with you, and may the Lord bless you and keep you as a great resource for all that is good and just, in your country, in our own region and in the world.

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16 COME AND CELEBRATE WITH US THE DORMITION FEAST EVENING DIVINE LITURGY THE EVE OF AUGUST 14TH, 6:00 PM & ST. MARY S POTLUCK DINNER As in the past it will be an evening of FELLOWSHIP for the entire parish. All families in our church are called upon for food donations, especially If you or any member of your family is named MARY or SAIDY For more information please contact Emilie EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS SPECIAL HOLY DAY.

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18 BAPTISMS Child s Name Yasmeen Maria Estfan Mario Anthony Estfan Maria Mouded Eliza Marie Slife Samuel Thomas Bendetta Timothy Michel Chapman Isabella Haddad Rami Yacoub Karsheh Jr. Naya Oubeid Gabriella Sunnaa Bassam Dayoub Lucas Karadsheh Parents Name Mr. & Mrs. Bassam & Rouba Mouded Mr. & Mrs. Bassam & Rouba Mouded Dr. & Mrs. Rami & Line Mouded Mr. & Mrs. Daniel & Natalie Slite Mr. & Mrs. Jared & Alana Bendetta Mr. & Mrs. David & Claude Chapman Mr. & Mrs. Charlie & Jacqueline Haddad Mr. & Mrs. Rami & Ashley Karsheh Mr. & Mrs. Ayham & Hanan Oubeid Mr. & Mrs. William & Roula Sunnaa Mr. & Mrs. Iyad and Mona Dayoub Mr. & Mrs. Yazan & Baraa Karadsheh Date of Baptism January 17, 2015 January 17, 2015 January 17, 2015 March 22, 2015 April 18, 2015 May 15, 2015 May 17, 2015 May 17, 2015 May 24, 2015 May 24, 2015 June 07,2015 June 13, 2015 MARRIAGES Married Couples Names Omar & Sandy (Eid) Haddad Date of Marriage May 2, 2015 DEATHS Names George Harb Yacoub Karsheh Rita Courey Elaine ( Harb) Sheheen Michel Hayek Issa Harb Roudi Zaboura Date of burial January 02, 2015 February 25, 2015 April 10, 2015 May 27, 2015 June 05, 2015 June 25, 2015 June 29, 2015

19 For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:48) Thank you to previous years wish list contributors List Two Cases of Orthodox Liturgical Wine for Holy Communion $240 by William Tegreen 800 Plastic Holy Water Bottles for Epiphany (2 years supplies) $675 Paid by Emilie Easa Nine Large Refiliable Oil Candles $1008 paid by Nuha Karsheh Copying and Binding 150 Holy Friday Service Books $600 by James Hussney. Six cases of Taper Candles $385 Paid by an Anonymous Donor & $145 by William Tegreen Twenty Four Altar Pure Liquid Paraffin Quarts $312 paid by Samir & Clara Nader Replace the walk-in cooler evaporator and condenser $5676 Donated by George & Carol Sarkes Eleven large Refillable Oil Candles $112 each Sell the rest of the memorial tiles at the entrance of the office area. $150 each Replace The Metropolitan Hall Light Bulbs to LED Replace the Yarid Light Hall Bulbs to LED Replace the Aluminum Entry Door, back entrance to the Sunday school $4690 Move the Church Power Switch Box from the Cry Room to inside the Altar Thank you. RESERVE THESE DATES ON YOUR CALENDER Friday August 14, 2015 St. Mary Dinner Sunday September 13, 2015 Parish Picnic Saturday October 3, 2015 Clam Bake Sunday November 22, 2015 Thanksgiving Banquet Thursday December 31, 2015 New Years Eve.

20 What is Orthodoxy? First of all, Orthodoxy is right faith in God; it is that mighty power which makes each truly believing Orthodox Christian unwavering on the righteous and pious path of his life. To be Orthodox means to know correctly with the mind, to believe correctly with the heart, and to confess correctly with the lips all that God Himself has revealed to us about Himself, about the world and man, and about the tasks and aims of our life in the teaching on the attaining of our spiritual union with Him and our eternal salvation. Without such right faith, according to the word of the Apostle Paul, it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). Orthodoxy is not only right faith and a right confession of the fundamental truths and dogmas of the Church of Christ, but also a right and virtuous life, founded on an unshakable law: the fulfilling of God s commandments, the permeating of the heart with humility, meekness and love for one s neighbor, the rendering of help to the needy and unfortunate, and the serving of one s church. The Apostle James teaches: Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the future Judge of the whole world, promises to reward every man according to his works (Matt. 16:27). The Apostle Paul testifies that every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor (1Cor. 3:8). Here is the Orthodox point of view. Right faith must be expressed in deeds, and deeds must serve as a manifestation of faith. One must be closely united with the other indissolubly, like soul and body. This only, then, is the Orthodox, the correct way leading us to God. Orthodoxy is not only right faith and a life according to faith, but also correct service to God. Our Lord Jesus Christ expressed the essence of the right worship of God in these brief but profound words: God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Only the inspired divine service of the Holy Orthodox Church, which is permeated by prayer, has realized this sacred worship of God in truth. Moreover, Orthodoxy is strict proportionality and correctness in the manifestations of all the powers of soul and body. In Orthodoxy, a proper place is allotted to everything: to the intellect, to the wants and needs of the heart, to the manifestations of man s free will, to labor and prayer, to abstinence and watchfulness, in a word, to everything of which man s life consists.