Nativity of the Mother of God Russian Orthodox Church Albany, New York MARCH 2016 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

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1 Nativity of the Mother of God Russian Orthodox Church Albany, New York MARCH 2016 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 Great Martyr Theodore of Tyro 2 St. Leo the Great Fast Day 3 Apostle Archipus 4 Ven Leo of Catania Fast Day 5 Ven. Timothy SOUL SAT. Panikhida 3:30 Choir Practice 4 pm 6 MEATFARE SUNDAY School 8:30am Hours & Liturgy 9:30 ANNUAL PARISH MEETING 7 Hieromartyr Polycarp 8 Finding the Head of St. John the Baptist 9 St. Tarasius of Constantinople No Meat 10 Ven. Porphyrius of Gaza 11 Confessor Procopius No Meat 12 Confessor Basil 13 CHEESEFARE SUNDAY School 8:30am Hours & Liturgy 9:30 FORGIVENESS VESPERS Tentative Sisterhood 14 GREAT LENT BEGINS GREAT CANON 6PM 15 GREAT CANON 6PM 16 GREAT CANON 6PM 17 GREAT CANON 6PM 18 VESPERS 6PM 19 St. Theodore Saturday MATINS & LITURGY AT 8:00 Blessing of Kolivo 20 ORTHODOXY SUNDAY School 8:30am Hours & Liturgy 9:30 Council Meeting 21 Venerable. Theophylactus Martyrs of Sabaste 23 Martyr Quadratus 24 St. Sophronius of Jerusalem 25 Confessor Theophanus 26 Relics of St. Nikifor SOUL SAT. Panikhida 4PM 27 St. Gregory of Palamas School (after Liturgy) Hours & Liturgy 9:30 28 Martyr Agapius 29 Martyr Sabinas of Egypt 30 Venerable Alexis Man of God 31 St.Kirill of Jerusalem APRIL 1 Sts. Chrisanthus & Daria APRIL 2 SOUL SAT. Panikhida 3:30 Choir Practice 4PM Please note: Church School is BEFORE LITURGY EVERY SUNDAY except March 27 th, because of Meetings and Forgiveness Vespers.

2 THE PARISH NEWSLETTER - MARCH 2016 The Nativity of the Mother of God Russian Orthodox Church 617 Sand Creek Road, Albany NY (518) A parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad Rector: Protopriest Fr. Alexis Duncan Protopriest: Fr. Michael Fritz Protodeacon: Fr. Michael Soloviev MARCH NAMESDAYS 10 Alexander Kristie 13 Kira Milas 14 Antonina Shevtchuk 17 Viatcheslav (Slava) Boitchenko 18 Conon (Conner) McClure 19 Helene (Jean) Henry 23 Victoria Alieva 26 Nikiforov Popov 30 Fr. Alexis Duncan Alexei Nikiforov Alexey Vepritskiy Patrick Henry Patrick Soloviev COFFEE HOUR ASSIGNMENTS FOR MARCH (** indicates fasting period) If any group cannot serve on their designated Sunday, it is their responsibility to switch with another group. MARCH 6 th - MARCH 13 th - MARCH 20 th ** - Natasha Smelova; Olga Usova; Victoria Alieyva BLINI - Cecelia Soloviev Group; Barb Nikiforov Group; Natasha Schuler Group Anastasia Gonyea; Paula Markessinis; Tanya Scott MARCH 27 th ** - Jeannie Stabinski; Jean Henry; Junia Dragon This year for Blini, we are going to try something a bit more festive. On the Sunday of Blini, not only will we have the delicious food prepared by our hosting groups, as usual, but we will have Caviar, Vodka, Beer and Wine available to our Parishioners for an additional cost. So please join us, and help support the Sisterhood in their Fundraising efforts so, bring some extra cash with you on Sunday March 13 th, and let s celebrate together. Tentative prices, so you have an idea what to expect: Caviar $5.00; Shot of Vodka $5.00; Beer and Wine $3.00. Fundraising without the work - please join us.

3 ANNUAL PARISH GENERAL MEETING SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2014 The meeting will be held in our Parish Hall following the Divine Liturgy. We request that ALL parishioners attend the General Parish Meeting so they may be informed as to the current status of the Church and the Parish as a whole. Please be advised that in order to take an active role in the Parish and to vote on issues during the meeting, you must be a member of good standing in the Church. To inquire as to how to become a member of the Parish and to pay your Church Dues, please contact the Church Treasurer Natasha Smelova smelova@yahoo.com. We all hope the parish will be there when we need it (for marriages, funerals, baptisms, etc.). By joining you show your visible support of the parish which nourishes you and your family spiritually. Through the payment of membership dues we pay our Clergy's salary, the upkeep of the Church (Electricity, Heat, Gas, etc.), and also for any repairs that may be needed. The monthly dues for 2016 are $20 ( employed adults), $10 ( retired persons), $5 ( students and non-working adults). Thank you for supporting your parish. ****************************************** CHOIR PRACTICE Just a reminder that choir practice will be held on Saturday, MARCH 5 th and Saturday, APRIL 2 nd at 4:00 pm at the Church. We think it is wonderful that people have an enthusiasm for singing, and would like to welcome new singers. Anyone that has expressed an interest in joining the choir, and has an aptitude for singing, must attend these practices. This will help us see how you fit into the choir. Please consider that many of our current choir members have extensive musical training - whether in voice, choir singing (especially through school), musical instruments (piano, etc) and have the ability to read music and sing 4 part harmony. Reading Russian or Slavonic type is a plus. In addition, some of our older members have put in decades (literally) of practice to bring our choir to its current standard. This situation needs to be respected as new singers begin to join us. New singers need to understand that they are joining an established choir, and be accommodating and respectful to that. New singers include those who are new to the choir in Albany as well as those who have never sung before. They should sing very quietly, or not at all, for many services until they begin to learn the music, and to listen carefully to what singers around them are singing. They should stand a bit to the side and not block sheet music. If a piece of music is brought out that they do not know, they should not sing. They need to respect directions from the Choir Director - if they cannot take direction (or be insulted or have their feelings hurt) they should not be singing. They should also introduce themselves to the choir director and explain their background. In short, we would like to make new singers welcome, and would like to make it as easy and successful as possible to integrate new members with the current choir. Thank you! See you at practice. Natasha Schuler, Choir Director, with input and agreement from Father Alexis and choir

4 PARISH PICNIC Tentative date for the Parish Picnic is Sunday, September 18 th following the Divine Liturgy. The picnic will be held at Cook Park, as it has been in the past. Beautiful pavilion, in case the weather does not want to cooperate. If the weather is nice, then we have volleyball, soccer, bocci ball, tennis and a great playground for the kids. Lots of open ground if you want to fly a kite or play frisbee. Mark your calendars and more information will be available as the time draws near. ****************************************** HAITI FUNDRAISING SUPERBOWL PARTY Thanks to everyone who participated in our Haiti fundraiser Superbowl Party. The game was exiting until nearly the end we all enjoyed great company, really good food and drinks and we even had fun cleaning up afterward. Thank you to everyone who purchased squares in our Superbowl Pool - with half of the proceeds designated to go to Haiti. The winners of our pool this year where generous as always and donated most of the money back. We were able to raise almost $ for Haiti Orthodox Family Relief. Thank you EVERYONE. ************************************************** MONTHLY FLOWER COMMITTEE As Father Alexis mentioned in Church, we are looking for people to volunteer for a month on the Flower Committee. No need to have any experience men and women are welcome. If you are interested in donating some of your time to help beautify the Church, please contact Jeannie Stabinski (Head Sister) Jstabinski@gmail.com. For details. THANK YOU! ********************************************* CONGRATULATIONS! Congratulations and Many Years! To Gabriella Fritz and John Mabb who were joined in Holy Matrimony on Sunday, February 28 th. Congratulations also to the parents of the bride, Father Michael and Matushka Connie. Many Years of love and happiness! GORKO! ********************************************** CHURCH SCHOOL Church School is held EVERY Sunday either before Liturgy at 8:30am or after Liturgy and Coffee Hour, depending on the scheduling of Council & Sisterhood Meetings. Please check the calendar to make sure of the time. If your child is NOT presently attending Church School, please make an effort to bring them to class. The future of our Parish lies with our children and we should do everything that we can to ensure that they are raised in the Faith. If you have any questions regarding Church School or the Adult Education Classes (held during the same time as Church School), please contact Fr. Alexis or Fr. Michael, or one of

5 the instructors. Thank you. Hope to see you there! LANDSCAPING AROUND THE CHURCH & HALL As you may have noticed, our property line between the Church Property and our neighbors needs some landscaping. We have trees that are down, overgrown brush, trash caught in the bushes, and in general it looks pretty bad. We have had an extremely mild winter and hope that it continues into an early Spring. We hope to have a WORK DAY scheduled in the Spring. No specific dates have been set, but we hope that the entire parish will be able to participate so we can finish the work in one day. We will need parishioners to bring chain saws and other gardening tools. We will discuss this at our next Council Meeting and hopefully set a date. You will be advised via the parish group of the date. Thank you. ************************************************* PROJECT TIKHVIN We are approaching the deadline for the 2016 Project Tikhvin. We will take a group of young adults to Russia to work on the restoration of the Monastery of the Entrance of the Mother of God in Tikhvin. This year we plan a special trip to the ancient monastery of Pskov. We will also visit St. Petersburg and Moscow. We will be in Russia for about three weeks at the end of June until mid July. We need to have a list of participants before March 15. All participants must be 18 or older. The cost per person will be $1, and that will include airfare, lodging, much transportation and many meals. For further detailed information please contact Fr. Alexis Duncan at fr.alexis.duncan@gmail.com. When we receive your we will send further information. Only faithful members of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad may apply and you must be at least 18 years of age. At this time the dates are not finalized, but we anticipate dates of approximately June 21-July 16. *************************************************** ADOPT A FAMILY For the past two weeks, after the kissing of the cross, we have been collecting for our Annual Adopt a Family appeal. Every year the Sisterhood attempts to help an Orthodox Family in need of a little love and support during a difficult time in their lives. Many of us are blessed with good jobs, good health and more material comforts than we can use. So please, if you have not donated to the Adopt a Family appeal, please consider doing so. Checks may be written to the Sisterhood with a notation Adopt a Family in the memo field and given to the Sisterhood Treasurer, Alex McClure. Thank you all for your generous support and God Bless!

6 THE TRIODION PREPARING FOR GREAT LENT Great Lent is the 40-day season of spiritual preparation that comes before the most important Feast of the Christian year, Holy Pascha (which means Passover and is commonly called Easter,). It is the central part of a larger time of preparation called the Triodion season. The Triodion begins ten weeks before Pascha and is divided into three main parts: three Pre-Lenten weeks of preparing our hearts, the six weeks of Lent, and Holy Week. The main theme of the Triodion is repentance mankind's return to God, our loving Father. This annual season of repentance is a spiritual journey with our Savior. Our goal is to meet the risen Lord Jesus, Who reunites us with God the Father. The Father is always waiting to greet us with outstretched hands. We must ask ourselves the question, Are we willing to turn to Him? During Great Lent, the Church teaches us how to receive Him by using the two great means of repentance prayer and fasting. THE LENTEN FAST The word fast means not eating all or certain foods. As Orthodox Faithful, we can fast completely at certain times of great importance, and especially each time before receiving Holy Communion. Usually, fasting means limiting the number of meals and/or the type of food eaten. The purpose of fasting is to remind us of the Scriptural teaching, Man does not live by bread alone. The needs of the body are nothing compared to the needs of the soul. Above all else, we need God, Who provides everything for both the body and the soul. Fasting teaches us to depend on God more fully. The first sin of our parents, Adam and Eve, was eating from the forbidden tree (Genesis 3:1-19). We fast from food, or a food item, as a reminder that we are to fast from sinning and doing evil. There are several benefits of fasting. Fasting helps us pray more easily. Our spirit is lighter when we are not weighed down by too much food or food that is too rich. Through fasting, we also learn to feel compassion for the poor and hungry and to save our own resources so that we can help those in need. Fasting is more than not eating food. Saint John Chrysostom teaches that it is more important to fast from sin. For example, besides controlling what goes into our mouths, we must control what comes out of our mouths as well. Are our words pleasing to God, or do we curse God or our brother? The other members of the body also need to fast: our eyes from seeing evil, our ears from hearing evil, our limbs from participating in anything that is not of God. Most important of all, we need to control our thoughts, for thoughts are the source of our actions, whether good or evil. Fasting is not an end in itself. Our goal is an inner change of heart. The Lenten Fast is called ascetic. This refers to actions of self-denial and spiritual training which are central to fasting. Fasting is a spiritual exercise. It is not imposed or forced upon us. In the same way that true repentance cannot be forced upon anyone, each of us makes the choice to turn away from our sinful ways and go toward our loving, forgiving Father in Heaven. THE PRE-LENTEN WEEKS Before Great Lent begins, four Sunday lessons prepare us for the Fast. Humility is the theme of the first Sunday, called the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee. The Lord's parable in Luke 18:10-14 teaches that fasting with pride is rejected by God. For this reason, there is no fasting the week following this Sunday. This includes no fasting on Wednesday and Friday that week. (Wednesdays and Fridays are usually fast days throughout the year Wednesday's Fast recalls the betrayal of Christ by Judas; Friday's Fast commemorates the Lord's Crucifixion.) Repentance is the theme of the second Pre-Lenten Sunday, called the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. Before we can return to God, we need to recognize that we are far from God because of sin. Like the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), we are in a self-imposed exile. Will we come to our senses as did the Prodigal Son and return to our Father? The next Sunday is called both Meatfare Sunday and the Sunday of the Last Judgment. The second name

7 refers to the Gospel lesson (Matthew 25:31-4 6) read on this day. The Lord tells us we will be judged at the end according to the love we have shown for our brother. I was hungry..thirsty.. naked...a stranger...in prison...sick... Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine you did for Me. Almsgiving goes hand in hand with fasting. This Sunday is called Meatfare because it is the last day meat, fish or poultry is eaten before Pascha, for those keeping the Lenten Fast. The last Pre-Lenten Sunday is called both Cheesefare Sunday and the Sunday of Forgiveness. This is the last day dairy products are eaten before the Fast. The Gospel lesson (Matthew 6:14-21 ) read on this day tells us that our fast must not be hypocritical or for show. Our work and our appearance are to continue as usual and our extra efforts are to be known only by God. The Gospel reading also reminds us that God the Father will forgive us in the same manner as we forgive our brother. With this promise of forgiveness, Great Lent begins on the next day, which is called Clean Monday. Clean Monday is a total fast day, except for a little water where no other beverages or food are taken. Most Orthodox Christians try to limit the amount of food they eat during the first week (Clean Week).. GENERAL RULES OF THE LENTEN FAST The Lenten Fast rules that we observe today were established within the monasteries of the Orthodox Church during the sixth through eleventh centuries. These rules are intended for all Orthodox Christians, not just monks and nuns. The first week of Lent is especially strict. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, a total fast is kept. In practice, very few people are able to do this. Some find it necessary to eat a little each day. Many Faithful do fast completely on Monday and then eat only uncooked food (bread, fruit, nuts) on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the fast is kept until after the Liturgy. From the second through the sixth weeks of Lent, the general rules for fasting are practiced. Meat, animal products (cheese, milk, butter, eggs, lard), fish (meaning fish with backbones), olive oil and wine (all alcoholic drinks) are not consumed during the weekdays of Great Lent. Octopus and shellfish are allowed, as is vegetable oil. On weekends, olive oil and wine are permitted. According to what was done in the monasteries, one meal a day is eaten on weekdays and two meals on weekends of Great Lent. No restriction is placed on the amount of food during the meal, though moderation is always encouraged in all areas of one's life at all times. Fish, oil and wine are allowed on the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25/April 7) and on Palm Sunday (one week before Pascha). HOLY WEEK The week before Pascha, Holy Week, is a special time of fasting separate from Great Lent. Like the first week, a strict fast is kept. Some Orthodox Christians try to keep a total fast on Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday and Holy Wednesday. Most eat a simple Lenten meal before going to the evening Church services. On Holy Thursday, wine is allowed in remembrance of the Last Supper. Holy Friday is kept as a strict fast day, as is Holy Saturday. Holy Saturday is the only Saturday in the entire year when oil is not permitted. In short, these are the Lenten rules for fasting. Traditionally, the Church Fathers recommend that someone new to fasting begin by resolving to faithfully do as much as he or she is able during the Lenten period. Each year as one matures as a Christian, a fuller participation can be under taken. However, it is not recommended that a person try to create their own rules for fasting, since this would not be obedient or wise. The Faithful are encouraged to consult with their priest or bishop regarding the Fast when possible. Personal factors such as one's health and living situation need to be considered as well. For example, an isolated Orthodox Christian required to eat meals at their place of employment, school or in prison may not be able to avoid certain foods. The Church understands this and extends leniency. It is important to keep in mind that fasting is not a law for us rather, a voluntary way of remembering to not sin and do evil, and to help keep our focus on prayer, repentance and doing acts of kindness, for we are not under the law but under grace (Romans 6:14).

8 A PRAYER FOR LENT O Lord and Master of my life, a spirit of idleness, despondency, ambition, and idle talking give me not. Prostration. But rather a spirit of chastity, humble-mindedness, patience, and love bestow upon me Thy servant. Prostration. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my failings and not condemn my brother; for blessed Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen. Prostration. art ************************************************ DRESS CODE FOR CHURCH Dress Code for Church: Please keep in mind that a certain standard of dress is expected in church. Women and girls should wear skirts or dresses (no pants!) at least knee length, blouses with a modest neckline and at least short sleeves nothing sleeveless and a scarf or hat on their heads. Men and boys should wear clothing best described as businesslike or business casual, collared shirts and long trousers, no t-shirts (especially with writing on them) or shorts. No one should wear tank tops (sometimes an issue in the summer). Remember, we should always show respect in church, both for God and for our fellow parishioners. Thank you. *************************************************** REMINDER Confessions will be heard on Saturday evenings (or eve of a Feast) during Vigil, on Sunday prior to Hours, and by Appointment. If you have any questions, please speak to Fr. Alexis. ************************************* NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS Anyone wishing to share news, an announcement, or ask for prayers for the sick, traveling, or otherwise in need -- is requested to Tasia Fedorov at tasbf@aol.com Any submissions to the Newsletter shall be received by the last Thursday of the month in order to make the next issue. The Newsletter will be ed to Parishioners and will also appear on-line at the Church Website If you would like a copy mailed to you every moonth, please advise Tasia Fedorov I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped in providing a Parish Newsletter after the repose of our last Editor Charlie Vas Murn. Thank you!