! CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 CHURCH BULLETIN ~ APRIL 2014 FATHER STEPHEN S MESSAGE TO THE FAITHFUL PASHCA IN DACHUA CONCENTRATION CAMP

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1 CHURCH BULLETIN ~ APRIL 2014 Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America SS Peter and Paul Albanian Orthodox Church ~ sspeterpaulphila.org 9230 Old Bustleton Avenue ~ Philadelphia, PA ~ Church Phone: Pastor: Father Stephen Siniari ~ Phone: ~ frsiniari@gmail.com FATHER STEPHEN S MESSAGE TO THE FAITHFUL PASHCA IN DACHUA CONCENTRATION CAMP by Gleb Alexandrovitch Rahr - Russian Prisoner April 27, 1945 The last transport of prisoners arrives from Buchenwald. Of the 5,000 originally destined for Dachau, I was among the 1,300 who had survived the trip. Many were shot, some starved to death, while others died of typhus... April 28th: I and my fellow prisoners can hear the bombardment of Munich taking place some 30 km from our concentration camp. As the sound of artillery approaches ever nearer from the west and the north, orders are given proscribing prisoners from leaving their barracks under any circumstances. SS-soldiers patrol the camp on motorcycles as machine guns are directed at us from the watch-towers, which surround the camp. have surrendered in the South and in the North. But the fighting still rages in Austria and Czechoslovakia... Naturally, I was ever cognizant of the fact that these momentous events were unfolding during Holy Week. But how could we mark it, other than through our silent, individual prayers? A fellow-prisoner and chief interpreter of the International prisoner's committee, Boris F., paid a visit to my typhus-infested barrack "Block 27" to inform me that efforts were underway in conjunction with the Yugoslav and Greek National Prisoner's Committees to arrange an Orthodox service for Easter day, May 6th. There were Orthodox priests, deacons and a group of monks from Mount Athos among the prisoners. But there were no vestments, no books whatsoever, no icons, no candles, no prosphoras, no wine... April 29th: The booming sound of artillery has been joined by Efforts to acquire all these items from the Russian parish in the staccato bursts of machine gun fire. Shells whistle over the Munich failed, as the Americans just could not locate anyone camp from all directions. Suddenly white flags appear on the from that parish in the devastated city. Nevertheless, some of towers - a sign of hope that the SS would surrender rather the problems could be solved: The approximately 400 Catholic than shoot all prisoners and fight to the last man. Then, at priests detained in Dachau had been allowed to remain together in one barrack and recite mass every morning before going about 6:00 p.m., a strange sound can be detected emanating from somewhere near the camp gate which swiftly increases in to work. They offered us Orthodox the use of their prayer volume... room in "Block 26", which was just across the road from my Finally all 32,600 prisoners join in the cry as the first American own "block". The chapel was bare, save for a wooden table and soldiers appear just behind the wire fence of the camp. After a a Czenstochowa icon of the Theotokos hanging on the wall short while electric power is turned off, the gates open and the above the table - an icon which had originated in Constantinople and was later brought to Belz in Galicia, where it was sub- American GIs make their entrance. As they stare wide-eyed at our lot, half-starved as we are and suffering from typhus and sequently taken from the Orthodox by a Polish king. When dysentery, they appear more like fifteen-year-old boys than the Russian Army drove Napoleon's troops from Czenstochowa, however, the abbot of the Czenstochowa Monastery battle-weary soldiers... gave a copy of the icon to czar Alexander I, who placed it in An international committee of prisoners is formed to take over the Kazan Cathedral in Saint-Petersburg where it was venerated until the Bolshevik seizure of power. A creative solution the administration of the camp. Food from SS-stores is put at the disposal of the camp kitchen. A US military unit also contributes some provision, thereby providing me with my first towels were taken from the hospital of our former SS-guards. to the problem of the vestments was also found. New linen opportunity to taste American corn. By order of an American When sewn together lengthwise, two towels formed an epitrachilion and when sewn together at the ends they became an officer radio-receivers are confiscated from "prominent Nazis" in the town of Dachau and distributed to the various national orarion. Red crosses, originally intended to be worn by the groups of prisoners. The news come in: Hitler has committed medical personnel of the SS-guards, were put on the towelvestments. suicide, the Russians have taken Berlin, and German troops CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

2 CHURCH BULLETIN ~ APRIL 2014 Apr 2, 9 - Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 7 PM Apr 12 - Lazarus Saturday, Divine Liturgy 9 AM Apr 13 - Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem, Divine Liturgy & Blessing of Palms, 10 AM Apr 16 - Holy Wednesday (Holy Unction) 7 PM Apr 17 - Holy Thursday (Twelve Passion Gospels) 7 PM Events and Announcements LITURGICAL SCHEDULE ~ APRIL/MAY 2014 Apr 18 - Holy Friday (Vespers, Taking Down From Cross) 3 PM; Lamentations at Tomb 7 PM Apr 19 - Holy Saturday (Vesperal Liturgy of St Basil) 9 AM; Orthros/Paschal Canon/Liturgy 11 PM Apr 20 - Pascha Sunday (Agape Vespers; Gospel in many languages) Noon SCHEDULE OF OTHER SERVICES Bible Study - Every Wednesday - 7 PM - 8:30 PM in the Church Hall - Led by Fr. Dn. Gregory *Will resume Wednesday, April 30th Membership Dues are $125 - Dues can be paid at any time to our treasurer, James Schaeffer. Coffee Hour - The Coffee Hour sign up sheet is located upstairs in the Church Hall by the door to the kitchen. Please write your name, address and phone number by the date you sign up for. Special Services - If you are planning to have a special service in the Church, please be considerate and notify either Father Stephen or the Church Committee one week in advance. When you are planning for a Baptism, Wedding, Funeral, or any other Prayer Service in the Church, please speak with Father CHURCH NEWS AND REMINDERS Stephen in advance to determine if there is any way you can contribute to help the Church in helping others. Thank you. Please note: if the services of the Church Choir are required, please notify the Choir Director, Christina Murianka, as soon as possible. No Smoking/No Cell Phones Please remember that SS Peter & Paul has a no smoking policy in the building and that ringers on cell phones should be off during the Divine Liturgy. Church Council Meeting - Monday, April 7th, 7 PM. All Parishioners are welcome to attend. PLEDGES & DONATIONS Pledges for our New Lift - Contact our Parish Treasurer, James Schaeffer to make your pledge and support the community of SS Peter & Paul. Thank you for your generosity Collection Sundays - 1st Sunday - Collection for the Poor; 2nd Sunday - IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities); 3rd Sunday - Pastoral Fund. May God bless you for your generosity Easter Flowers Donation - Please donate generously to defray the cost of Pascha flowers. We hope to have envelopes for your donations available soon. Donations for Covenant House - Food Items: canned spaghetti, soup, chocolate chip granola bars, tuna fish, jelly, pasta noodles (angel hair, penne, etc.), spaghetti sauce, oatmeal; Baby Items: THE JOY OF GIVING Enfamil (Premium), baby bottles, receiving blankets, pacifiers, wipes, size 5 diapers; Hygiene Items: white t-shirts (small, medium), socks (boys, girls, any color), underwear (teens 18, 19, 20 years old). Thank you Other Donations: Church Library Pop Tab Collections for Ronald McDonald House Wine: Altar wine: Manischewitz Concord Grape (please do not donate any other brand of concord grape) Oil: Virgin Olive Oil (not needed at this time) GENERAL INTEREST Change your Electricity Provider & Benefit Our Church - Switch through this website ( & help the church A flyer is posted on our bulletin board and a direct link is on our website on: Current Announcements page. Or contact Sophia Demas: or demas@usa.net Ancient Faith Radio 24 hour a day internet Orthodox radio station: Ancient Faith Radio has numerous resources for your spiritual edification. Check out the "Purification, Illumination, Deification: Orthodox Spirituality" series at Orthodox Quote of the Day - Subscribe at: Make a Purchase through Amazon and Help St George Cathedral in South Boston - Go to the Cathedral website: and scroll down to Shop Amazon on the left side. PAGE 2

3 SS Peter & Paul Annual Spring Clean Up/Fix Up Day - Scheduled for Saturday, March 29th, 9 AM. We will be cleaning out the basement and discarding old and water damaged items from the broken water pipe last month. A dumpster will be available for our use If you are at all able, please reserve this time to come and help beautify, clean-up, and fix-up our Church for Pascha IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS AT SS PETER & PAUL UPCOMING EVENTS AT OTHER LOCATIONS SS Peter & Paul Community Paschal Meal (Pot Luck Pascha) - Sunday, April 20th - after Agape Vespers - If you can, bring food and we will all share the Pascha meal together St John Chrysostom Sunday School retreat on Lazarus Saturday, April 12, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. All Sunday school students and their families are welcome. For questions, contact Donna Dimitri at donnadimitri@gmail.com or call her at Icon Workshop will be offered by Michael Kapeluck in June and will be taking place in Pittsburgh,. Cost is $ For com-. plete info and registration please to archangelicons@verizon.net or call PA Albanian Folk Festival DVD A wonderful and widely acclaimed DVD of traditional and contemporary Albanian Folk Dances. With accompanying selections of folk songs. Only $8. Makes a very special cultural gift or for your home library. If order by mail: Send order to the following. Please include $4 for S&H. St. George Cathedral Bookstore, 523 East Broadway, South Boston, MA Archdiocesan Annual Assembly - Thursday, September 25 through Saturday, September 27 (Hosted this year by SS Peter & Paul) The clergy begins on Thursday, September 25. The all-day meeting with clergy and delegates and evening banquet takes place on Friday, September 26. The Assembly concludes with Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning, September 26, followed by a parish hosted brunch. ***Volunteers and support will be needed from our parish for duplication of materials, delegate packages that need assembling, transportation assistance, and the preparation of a lavish brunch. Please set aside these dates on your calendar. More information will follow as plans are finalized. Life of Christ Choir Concert - Sunday, April 6th at 2PM Experience Christ in the ancient and timeless beauty and depth of the Orthodox Christian a cappella musical heritage. St Philip Orthodox Church 1970 Clearview Rd, Souderton, PA Lenten Mission Vesper Services (sponsored by the OCA Clergy Brotherhood) Sunday, March 30, 4PM - St Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church, 335 Fairmount Ave, Phila, PA Sunday, April 6, 4PM - Assumption of the Holy Virgin Pan Orthodox Church, 2101 South 28th St, Phila, PA SS Peter & Paul Church Store - Open Sundays at 9:30 AM (1/2 hour before Divine Liturgy) Items available: SS Peter & Paul 90th Year Celebration DVD ($15); Divine Liturgy Books, Icons; Crosses (Baptismal, lapel pins, Georgian style, orthodox); Prayerbooks (English); Censors; CDs and cassettes; Religious Books. Also available: In Their Own Tongue, a documentary chronicling the Albanian Archdiocese in America. Announcements/News about Parishioners - If you have any items to include in next month s Bulletin, please see Maria or call her at or maria.starr@comcast.net. The deadline for the next Bulletin is Saturday, April 19th. Parishioners will be able to pick up the Bulletin at the Church on Sunday 4/27/14. Bulletins will be mailed to any Parishioners unable to attend. MISCELLANEOUS Weekly Devotional Lights - Envelopes are available at the Church Store counter for special prayers to be said during the week in conjunction with the burning of the Seven-Day Votive Light hanging above the Royal Doors. Suggested offering: $20, which will go towards building up our Pastoral Fund with the ultimate goal of supporting a full time priest. Please remember to let Maria know the names of our members who are ill or in need of prayer so that they can be included in our Bulletins. ***Please note: You cannot arbitrarily be removed from the Prayer List. You must let Maria know to remove your name. Thank you. Thank You to all members of the Parish who have helped out or volunteered in any way with their time and efforts, and a very special thank you to anyone whose name was inadvertently omitted from the Bulletin. PAGE 3

4 Parishioner s Corner A Very Happy Birthday is wished to the following parishioners and friends who are celebrating April Birthdays: Stuart Barenbaum, Belinda Mentzer, Sally O Brien, Rose Shaloka, Sharon Spause, Margaret Vesho, Maxxim Broeker. May God grant them all many, many years As of March 25th, 2014, SS Peter & Paul has FULL TIME Priest Please help us welcome our own Arch-Priest Father Stephen Siniari to our Parish full time. Our humble gratitude to our Lord Jesus Christ for allowing us to have this opportunity May God grant Father Stephen many, many years Ladies Society Lenten Luncheon appreciation - A most sincere thank you to all who volunteered their time, efforts and services and to all those who participated in this year s Lenten Luncheon. THANK YOU Andi Steffa thanks everyone for their get well and birthday wishes. She is grateful that she was able to celebrate her 90th birthday with everyone at SS Peter & Paul Peter and Paulette thank David Lane, Christina, Al, Georgia and Charlotte Reeves, Hope Vrato, Stephen and Matthew Murianka, Tish and Mark Klus, Belinda Mentzer, Diane Vesho, and Jim Schaeffer for helping with the celebration Honorary & Memorial Gifts to the Pastoral Fund - A way to recognize a friend or family member s name-day, graduation, wedding, birthday, anniversary, momentous celebration, or a gift of well wishes and prayers. For each donation received (minimum of $10), your designated recipient will receive an honorary greeting card in your name. Send all information to: Paulette Steffa, 220 Limestone Lane, Willow Grove PA ***Pascha and Mother's Day are good times for sending honorary gifts to special people in our lives. So far, this new fundraiser has resulted in more than 60 cards being sent and raising more than $1200 for our pastoral fund A Friendly and Important Reminder - If you are the last person to leave the Church building, please make certain that all lights are off, the refrigerator door is closed securely, the gas is not on, all candles are out, and the toilets are not running. Given that the Church is not used on a daily basis, any of these things could potentially become a major problem. Thank you Blank Icon Greeting Cards - Available year-round. All proceeds benefit our Pastoral Care Fund. For all occasions, including sending well wishes to our parishioners with surgeries, ailments, and illnesses. Addresses can be provided for you. Contact Donna Bacon at , or her at: dab0893@optonline.net for cards and/or addresses. SS Peter & Paul Choir: Choir rehearsals are held after Liturgy on the last Sunday of each month. If anyone is interested in joining the choir, please speak to the Choir Director or any choir member. Donate An Item a Month Campaign - We are in need of the following items: Lenten items: margarine, peanut butter, nondairy creamer, paper coffee cups, paper plates. Your continued help is truly appreciated No styrofoam, please A sincere Thank You to all parishioners who so kindly donated any requested items. The Following Items Are Needed - Unwanted tools in good condition Thank you Anyone with Access (who is not currently receiving Bulletin notifications from Maria) - please Maria at maria.starr@comcast.net to be put on the list to receive a PDF version of the Bulletin and no paper Bulletin. Please help us conserve paper and expenses Thank you Volunteers Needed to Sponsor and Clean Up after Coffee Hour - The sponsoring of Coffee Hour has worked out well in bringing our Parish together after the Divine Liturgy. We need volunteers to help with the clean-up after Coffee Hour. Please volunteer to help. Sincere thank you to all parishioners that brought food in for Anna s 40 Day Memorial Big thank you to Schaffer s for sponsoring our lunch on 3/23. Thank you PAGE 4

5 Let Us Keep Them in our Prayers Please continue to pray for the full and speedy recovery of: Gregory Vrato, Sr., Matthew Murianka, Joyce Dorsey, Thimi Daka, Sophie Bacon, Margot Craig, Eteri Okropiridze, Mary Ann Clark, Alexandra Pana, Nicholas Desloges, Martha Murianka, Anthony Sarris, Jeannie Rifkin, Nick Zeo, His Eminence Archbishop Nikon, Eurania (Elaine) Quirias, Lester Speero, Lester Paul Speero, Sandy Speero, Fr Stephen Siniari, Andi Steffa, Allan Heller. God knows the names and ages of all who need His love and mercy... If you can, please consider sending any of the above people a card to let them know that they are still being thought of and prayed for and still a part of SS Peter & Paul Family - it might make a world of difference to them Gregory Vrato, Sr., is at the John Neumann Nursing Home, Room 729, at the intersection of Haldeman & Tomlinson Road (make a right on Tomlinson and the parking lot is immediately on your right). Visitors are welcome anytime from noon to 8. Please continue to keep Gregory in your prayers. May God grant him good health HOLY DAYS AND NAME DAYS IN APRIL April 2 April 6 April 7 April 12 April 13 April 16 April 19 April 20 April 23 April 25 April 26 April 28 April 30 - Ven. Titus The Wonderworker - St. Eutychius, Patron of Constantinople - Repose St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow - St Basil, Confessor, Bishop of Parium - Heiromartyr Artemon, Presbyter of Laodicea - Virgin Martyrs Agape, Irene and Chionia - Ven. John of the Ancient Caves in Paletstine - Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - Holy Greatmartyr, Victorybearer and Wonderworker Georger - Holy Apostle & Evangelist Mark - Heiromartyr Basil, Bishop of Amasea - Apostles of the 70: Jason and Sosipater and The Virgin Cercyra - Holy Apostle James, Brother of St. John HOLY APOSTLE JAMES, commemorated on April 30th The Holy Apostle James, the son of Zebedee, was the brother of St John the Theologian, and one of the Twelve Apostles. He and his brother, St John, were called to be Apostles by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who called them the Sons of Thunder (Mark 3:17). It was this James, with John and Peter, who witnessed the Raising of the Daughter of Jairus, the Lord s Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, and His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. St James, after the Descent of the Holy Spirit, preached in Spain and in other lands, and then he returned to Jerusalem. He openly and boldly preached Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world, and he denounced the Pharisees and the Scribes with the words of Holy Scripture, reproaching them for their malice of heart and unbelief. The Jews could not prevail against St James, and so they hired the sorcerer Hermogenes to dispute with the apostle and refute his arguments that Christ was the promised Messiah Who had come into the world. The sorcerer sent to the apostle his pupil Philip, who was converted to belief in Christ. Then Germogenes himself became persuaded of the power of God, he burned his books of magic, accepted holy Baptism and became a true follower of Christ. The Jews persuaded Herod Agrippa (40-44) to arrest the Apostle James and sentence him to death (Acts 12:1-2). Eusebius provides some of the details of the saint s execution (CHURCH HISTORY II, 9). St James calmly heard the death sentence and continued to bear witness to Christ. One of the false witnesses, whose name was Josiah, was struck by the courage of St James. He came to believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah. When they led the apostle forth to execution, Josiah fell at his feet, repenting of his sin and asking forgiveness. The apostle embraced him, gave him a kiss and said, Peace and forgiveness to you. Then Josiah confessed his faith in Christ before everyone, and he was beheaded with St James in the year 44 at Jerusalem. St James was the first of the Apostles to die as a martyr. ***Reading and Icon are Courtesy of OCA website PAGE 5

6 Father Stephen s Message to the Faithful (continued) On Easter Sunday, May 6th (April 23rd according to the Church calendar), - which ominously fell that year on Saint George the Victory-Bearer's Day, Serbs, Greeks and Russians gathered at the Catholic Priests barrack. Although Russians comprised about 40 percent of the Dachau inmates, only a few managed to attend the service. By that time "repatriation officers" of the special "Smersh" units had arrived in Dachau by American military planes, and begun the process of erecting new lines of barbed wire for the purpose of isolating Soviet citizens from the rest of the prisoners, which was the first step in preparing them for their eventual forced repatriation. In the entire history of the Orthodox Church there has probably never been an Easter service like the one at Dachau in Greek and Serbian priests together with a Serbian deacon adorned the make-shift "vestments" over their blue and gray-striped prisoners uniforms. Then they began to chant, changing from Greek to Slavonic, and then back again to Greek. The Easter Canon, the Easter Sticheras - everything was recited from memory. The Gospel - "In the beginning was the Word" - also from memory. And finally, the Homily of Saint John Chrysostom - also from memory. A young Greek monk from the Holy Mountain stood up in front of us and recited it with such infectious enthusiasm that we shall never forget him as long as we live. Saint John Chrysostomos himself seemed to speak through him to us and to the rest of the world as well Eighteen Orthodox priests and one deacon - most of whom were Serbs, participated in this unforgettable service. Like the sick man who had been lowered through the roof of a house and placed in front of the feet of Christ the Saviour, the Greek Archimandrite Meletios was carried on a stretcher into the chapel, where he remained prostrate for the duration of the service. The priests who participated in the 1945 Dachau Easter service are commemorated at every Divine Service held in the Dachau Russian Orthodox Memorial Chapel, along with all Orthodox Christians, who lost their lives "at this place, or at another place of torture" ("na meste sem i v inykh mestakh mucheniya umuchennykh i ubiennykh").the Dachau Resurrection-Chapel, which was constructed by a unit of the Russian Army's Western Group of Forces just before their departure from Germany in August, 1994, is an exact replica of a North-Russian "tent-domed" (Shatrovyie) church or chapel. Behind the altar-table of the chapel is a large icon depicting angels opening the gates of the Dachau concentration camp and Christ Himself leading the prisoners to freedom. Today I would like to take the opportunity to ask you, Orthodox Christians all over the world, to pass on the names of fellow Orthodox who were imprisoned and died here in Dachau or in other Nazi concentration camps so that we can include them in our prayers. Should you ever come to Germany, be sure to visit our Russian Chapel on the site of the former concentration camp in Dachau and pray for all those who died "at this place, or at another place of torture". Khristos voskrese Christos anesti Christ has risen El Messieh Qahm Krishit Unjgalle Message from Alicia With the blessing of Fr Stephen, after 12 1/2 years of doing the SS Peter & Paul Church Bulletin, I am turning over the Bulletin to the extremely capable hands of Maria Starr. It has been truly a pleasure to have served the SS Peter & Paul Parish and Community by doing the Bulletin. As many of you know, I moved to the Pocono Mountains last November, and it is time for a change for me and for SS Peter & Paul. My sincerest gratitude and thanks to all those who have helped with their comments, suggestions, or information. And, of course, my deepest thanks to all those who faithfully read the Bulletin each month. Do take care, Alicia SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM FR. STEPHEN Father Stephen may be reached at , Monday - Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM or by frsiniari@gmail.com. Please remember that all confessions and consultations on Sunday mornings shall take place from 9 AM to 10 AM before the Divine Liturgy. Thank you. Father Dudash may be reached at or by ghiggee@yahoo.com PAGE 6

7 Lenten Prayer of St Ephraim the Syrian O Lord and Master of my life Take from me the spirit of sloth, faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to they servant. Yea, Lord and King Grant me to see my own errors and not to judge my brother, for Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen. Prayer For Our Children Sweetest Jesus Christ, God of my heart You have given me children in the flesh, They are Yours in their souls. Mine and their souls You have redeemed With Thy Most Precious Blood. I beg of you, my sweetest Savior: Touch with Thy grace the hearts of my children (names) and my Godchildren (names), Protect them with Thy Divine Fear, Keep them from bad habits and addictions, Guide them to the light path of truth and goodness, Adorn their lives with all this is kind and salutary, Build their fate as only Thou can do, Build their destiny as Thou want, And save their souls. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen Christ Is Risen - in different languages Christ is Risen Indeed He is Risen Krishti U Ngjall Vertete U Ngjall (Albanian) Christos Anesti Alithos Anesti (Greek) Khristos Voskrese Voistinu Voskrese (Russian) Hristus A Inviat Adeverat A Inviat (Romanian) Christus Ist Auferstanden Wahrhaf Auferstanden (German) Kriste Aghsdga Cheshmaritad Aghsdga (Georgian) Cristo Ha Resucitado En Verdad, Está Resucitado (Spanish) Le Christ Est Resurrecté En Verite, Il Est Resurrecté (French) PAGE 7