St. Elizabeth Orthodox Mission Church. Glory be to Jesus Christ!!! Reverend Father Matthew Dutko Pastor/Administrator Father Deacon Stephen Haynes

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1 T h e S t. E l i z a b e t h s p a r i s h n e w s St. Elizabeth Orthodox Mission Church 2265 E. Cherokee Dr. Woodstock, GA A Parish of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople Glory be to Jesus Christ!!! Reverend Father Matthew Dutko Pastor/Administrator Father Deacon Stephen Haynes Phone: fatherdutko@gmail.com Sunday February 18th 2018 Forgiveness Sunday Epistle: Romans 13:11-14:4 Gospel: Matthew 6:14-21 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. -Matthew 6:14-15 If you have never been to an Orthodox Church before you are about to participate in the Divine Liturgy. The Liturgy is the work of the people and that means that all of your prayers are necessary! We hope you will stay and join us for coffee hour in the atrium. Please feel free to ask Fr. Matthew any questions you might have! May God s blessings be upon all of you! Tropar and Kondak Tone 4 Blue Book pg. 94 Red Book pg. 104 Kondak of Forgiveness Blue Book pg.178 Red Book pg. 200 Weekly Schedule: First Week of Lent Monday 2/19 9:30 am Daily Lenten Matins 6 pm Canon of St. Andrew of Crete Tuesday 2/20 6 PM Moleben to the Holy Cross Wednesday 2/21 6 PM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts Friday 2/23 6 PM- Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts followed by potluck dinner Saturday 2/24 4 PM Great Vespers Sunday 2/25 10AM Divine Liturgy Sunday of Orthodoxy Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers-6PM-@ Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Atlanta Evelyn Melnikoff, Fr. John and Pani Betty Jean Baranek, Fr. James Gleason, The Paccio Family, Kara, Johanna, James, Herbert and Mary Schleining, Patricia+ (Blessed Repose), James+ (Blessed Repose), Anna, Basil, David, Dianna, Denise, Alex, Jason, Athanasia, Ethel, Kathy, Lester, Sally, Jack, Angela, Tyler, Maria, Jeff, Lesley, Page Family, Stephen (Blessed Repose), The Blanar Family, Anna+ (Blessed Repose), Louise, Emma Rae, The Floyd Family, Phillip (Blessed Repose), Zachary, George, Fred and Helen Mileshko, Robin, Michael, Dean, Margaret, Jenny+ (Blessed Repose) and Keith, Peter (blessed repose), Bishop Gregory and his family, Bryan + (Blessed Repose), Rick, the James Family, Fr. Scott, Rebecca Cooper+ (Blessed Repose), Fr. Paul Herbert+ (Blessed Repose), Joseph, Boris, Maria+ (Blessed Repose), Maria Starcova, Ernie +(Blessed Repose), Fr. Hazuda+ (Blessed Repose), Janis,, David Novak, Suzette Gardenhour, Bob, David. Michelle, Stephen, James, Brian Paul, George Smisko+ (Blessed Repose), Kathy, Mike, Helen S+ (Blessed Repose), Bob+ (Blessed Repose), Debbie, Alma+ (Blessed repose), Ken, The Hayes and Boucher families, Bo+ (Blessed Repose), Sadie+ (Blessed Repose), Peyton & the Gully Family, John, Alexandra, Benjamin, John, The Hazuda Family, Fr. William George+ (Blessed Repose), Pani Amy George and the George Family, Violet+ (Blessed Repose), Madeline, Eddie, Fr. Kozar+ (Blessed Repose), Mary, Benjamin+ (Blessed Repose), Cathy, Jay Brackin, Drew, John Haddad+ (Blessed Repose), Marilyn & family, Mark, Fr. John Zboyovski & family, Nathaniel, Kasi, Scarlett, Athena, Tim, George, Chris, Joy, Ada, Fr. Dcn. Stephen, Michelle, James - Through the prayers of the Birthgiver of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, St. Elizabeth, The Holy Fathers, and all the Saints, may our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ have mercy on us and save us!

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4 Fighting Evil During Great Lent During this past week our country was rocked yet again by another horrific act of mass murder. It is with great sadness that we, as a society must say this time in once again. This time a 19-year-old gunman took to arms against his former school mates at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. 17 students and teachers lost their lives, a dozen others are recovering from injuries sustained in the attack, and families have been forever marked by the tragic loss of their children and loved ones. Throughout the week the debate has raged, asking the questions of why this happens in America? Where have our laws fallen short on mental health, gun control, and school safety? These questions are important and should be discussed by our elected law makers. The gunman s murderous rampage has been called many times this week an act of pure evil. This term is correct, after all, how could we call the murder of children anything less than evil, than demonic? My fear is this, when we look to what s wrong with our society as the reason for these tragedies, to government for the solution, and pure evil as it s cause, we isolate ourselves from being connected to both the problem and the solution. Society, government, and evil, represent things that are so big that it can lead us to inaction. In the face of such giants what can we as individuals really do? This is why we become concerned and agitated for a time, and then move on with our lives, all while effecting little or no change. The Christian life calls us to something greater, and as we begin Great Lent once again we are reminded of this. Today we are reminded of the original sin of Adam and Eve and their explosion from the Garden of Eden. Adam and Even were cast out from paradise into the world we live in today; a world that is filled with sin. A world that since that murder of Abel has seen countless men, women, and children murdered. This is our world, filled with sin, but it doesn t need to be. Throughout lent we are called to return to Paradise. To re-enter the garden where man once walked with God. We do this by rooting out the sins that we have given free room and board in our hearts. This lent we are reminded that our enemy is not one another, but the devil himself and all his demons. We are reminded that today we bring the fight to him. Today we fight with all our might to love one another as God loves us and to forgive one another as God forgives us. The gunman in Parkland, Florida committed an act of evil. This is a bit scary, but for a moment try to walk in his shoes. I imagine his mind as place overflowing to the brim with the demon of anger. Now we must ask ourselves, Does that same demon that tormented this young man to the point of committing mass murder not dwell within our hearts as well? Sadly, this demon finds a home in all our hearts. Whenever our pride is wounded, we are embittered, hurt, or offended we all too often give the same passion of anger a place to live and thrive within us. As a society we have a responsibility to look to our government to help prevent these tragic events form occurring again. There are certainly many measures on a macro level that can help to fight this evil. However, the battle begins at the micro level, in each of our hearts. It begins with humility and meekness. With mercy and forgiveness. It begins with seeing the evil within ourselves and totally and utterly rejecting it through repentance, prayer, and fasting. Through returning to the garden God prepared for us. It is a terrifying reality that we welcome the same passions into our hearts that Nikolas Cruz let thrive in his. This lent we wage battle with those forces of evil, that same sin that live in us. We win this war by loving one another as Christ loves us, by sacrificing for one another as Christ sacrifices for us, and by forgiving one another as Christ forgives us. If each of us do this we live in a world that is less evil and we become examples of what it means to be a Christian, to be a disciple. When we do this our loves shines as an example to the world, the same example and love that Christ gave to sinner s time and time again. This lent let us purge our sinful and evil inclinations, put on Christ, come to the foot of the Cross and behold the joys of the Resurrection once again. Each of us has work that we can do to make the world a better place. It begins with working on ourselves and becoming the person who God created us to be.

5 Some Guidelines for Lent These are just a few guidelines to help anyone who has general questions. If you need any help with you or your families Lenten Pilgrimage please to talk to Fr. Matthew! In the Orthodox Church the period of 40 days until Holy Week is known as Great Lent. The Following week is known as Holy Week (the week before Pascha or Easter). This entire time is a period of repentance, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving where Orthodox Christians are called to turn away from material and temporal aspects of the world and turn spiritually closer to Christ. Lent is not about food, it is about growing closer to Christ through imitating Him. Christ fasted, but he also prayed, loved all, sacrificed, and remained sinless. Lent is the time we are reminded to imitate Christ in all ways. A strict fast means abstinence from both meat and dairy products. If you have never done this before, why not try? If you cannot physically do this or feel as though you are not ready for such a strict fasting rule, you should adopt a fasting rule of some kind (see Father for help and guidance) and stick to it for the duration of the Fast. Remember fasting is personal, between you, your family, and God. Remember that a fast without prayer, repentance, almsgiving, and making every effort to be in God s House as much as possible is fruitless. Fasting is not an end, but a means. A means by which we can grow closer to our Lord. To live on the Word of God and not on bread alone. It is a means by which we can obtain true humility and purify our souls of passionate and sinful thoughts, free it from slavery to sin, and acquire the grace of the Holy Spirit. The sick and infirm are not bound by the fast and should not attempt anything that is not recommended by their doctor. Those requiring medications or certain prescribed diets are to follow their physician s instructions. Finally, the Great Fast is not a 40 day diet program or simply a dietary adjustment. It is a return to the perfection and simplicity that was made for us in the Garden of Eden. Attend as many of the Divine Services as possible. Come to the Sacrament of Confession and approach the Chalice to receive the Holy Eucharist with the fear of God. If we can do this in humility Great Lent will be life changing for us and prepare us to stand before the Cross of our Saviour and experience the joys of the Empty Tomb.

6 Services this week- Do your very best to attend as many services as you can during this first week of lent. Sunday School/ Icon Making Today! Presanctified Liturgy Presanctified Liturgies will be held on Wednesday and Friday this week, and on all of the following Friday evenings during lent. In order to receive the Eucharist a fast from all foods is required for at least three hours before the service, which would be which be around 4PM. Potluck Friday s following Presanctified Over the years we have had a great turn out for Friday Presanctified Liturgies. After the service those who came enjoyed a potluck dinner. We will be continuing this throughout lent this year. Remember that the dishes you bring are to be fasting dishes consisting of no meat and no dairy products. See The Bulletin Board For Info About the Sunday of Orthodoxy 6PM on Februry 25th at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral.A declaration on the importance of fasting from the Great and Holy Councilof the Orthodox Church in 2016.Camp Nazareth 2018 Registration...and much more important information! Wedding today!- Today at 2pm The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony will be celebrated for Chris Peterson and Joy Marino. They have family coming in form out of town and will be having a small reception in the Church Atrium. Please do your best to keep/help clean following Coffee Hour. Please move out of the main area of the Atrium by 12:15 so that set up and clean up can begin. Thank you for your help and understanding! All children who make an Icon are asked to come early (by 9:50am) on Sunday February 25th to process the their Icon into the Church and place it in the front to have it blessed. New Organizational Committee: A new committee has ben formed to help organize dates and times between the different ministries and organization of the Church and post them with plenty of advanced notice, when this is possible, in different and easily accessible ways for the whole community. Michael and Cathy Page are co-chairing this committee and have so far produced a calendar for the next few months. You can view it online here! Installation of Parish Council Officers and New Committee Members will take place at the end of Liturgy on the Sunday of Orthodoxy (February 25th). If this date will not work for you then we will do individual installations prior to the next meeting. To the Women Don t forget about Alex Cathey s Our Mothers Study Group that meets Thursday s at 8:30 pm Via Skype

7 From the Great and Holy Council of the Orthodox Church 2016 THE IMPORTANCE OF FASTING AND ITS OBSERVANCE TODAY 1. Fasting is a divine commandment (Gen 2:16-17). According to Basil the Great, fasting is as old as humanity itself; it was prescribed in paradise (On Fasting, 1, 3. PG 31, 168A). It is a great spiritual endeavor and the foremost expression of the Orthodox ascetic ideal. The Orthodox Church, in strict conformity with the apostolic precepts, the synodal canons, and the patristic tradition as a whole, has always proclaimed the great significance of fasting for our spiritual life and salvation. The annual liturgical cycle reflects the entire patristic teaching on fasting, the teaching on constant and unceasing watchfulness of the human person, and our participation in spiritual struggles. Accordingly, the Triodion praises fasting as grace that is full of light, as an invincible weapon, the beginning of spiritual struggles, the perfect path of virtues, the nourishment for the soul, the source of all wisdom, life imperishable, an imitation of the angelic life, the mother of all good things and virtues. 2. As an ancient institution, fasting was mentioned already in the Old Testament (Deut 9:18; Is 58:4-10; Joel 2:15; Jonah 3:5-7) and affirmed in the New Testament. The Lord Himself fasted for forty days before commencing His public ministry (Lk 4:1-2) and provided instructions on how to practice fasting (Mt 6:16-18). Fasting is generally prescribed in the New Testament as a means of abstinence, repentance, and spiritual edification (Mk 1:6; Acts 13:2; 14:23; Rom 14:21). Since the apostolic times, the Church has proclaimed the profound importance of fasting and established Wednesday and Friday as days of fasting (Didache 8, 1), as well as the fast before Pascha (Irenaeus of Lyons, as cited in Eusebius, Church History 5, 24. PG B-508AB). In ecclesiastical practice that has existed for centuries, there has always been diversity with regard not only to the length of the fast before Easter (Dionysius of Alexandria, Letter to Basilides, PG 10, 1277), but also the number and content of other periods of fasting which became customary under the influence of various factors, primarily, of the liturgical and monastic traditions, with a view to proper preparation for the great feasts. Thus, the indissoluble link between fasting and worship indicates the extent and purpose of fasting and reveals its spiritual nature. For this reason, all the faithful are invited to respond accordingly, each to the best of his or her strength and ability, while not allowing such liberty to diminish this holy institution: See that no one make thee to err from this path of doctrine If thou art able to bear the whole yoke of the Lord, thou wilt be perfect; but if thou art not able, what thou art able, that do. But concerning meat, bear that which thou art able to do (Didache 6, 1-3). As a spiritual endeavor, the true fast is inseparable from unceasing prayer and genuine repentance. Repentance without fasting is fruitless (Basil the Great, On Fasting 1, 3. PG 31, 168A), as fasting without merciful deeds is dead, especially nowadays when the unequal and unjust distribution of goods deprives entire nations of their daily bread. While fasting physically, brethren, let us also fast spiritually. Let us loose every knot of iniquity; let us tear up every unrighteous bond; let us distribute bread to the hungry, and welcome into our homes those who have no roof over their heads (Sticheron at Vespers on Wednesday of the First Week of Lent; cf. Is 58:6-7).

8 Fasting cannot be reduced to simple and formal abstinence from certain foods. So let us not be selfish as we begin the abstinence from foods that is the noble fast. Let us fast in an acceptable manner, one that is pleasing to God. A true fast is one that is set against evil, it is self-control of the tongue. It is the checking of anger, separation from things like lusts, evil-speaking, lies, and false oaths. Self-denial from these things is a true fast, so fasting from these negative things is good (Basil the Great, On Fasting, 2, 7. PG 31, 196D). Abstinence from certain foods during the fast and temperance, not only with regard to what to eat but also how much to eat, constitutes a visible aspect of this spiritual endeavor. In the literal sense, fasting is abstinence from food, but food makes us neither more nor less righteous. However, in the spiritual sense, it is clear that, as life comes from food for each of us and the lack of food is a symbol of death, so it is necessary that we fast from worldly things, in order that we might die to the world and after this, having partaken of the divine nourishment, live in God (Clement of Alexandria, From the Prophetic Eclogae. PG 9, 704D-705A). Therefore, the true fast affects the entire life in Christ of the faithful and is crowned by their participation in divine worship, particularly in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. 4. The forty-day fast of the Lord exemplifies fasting for the faithful, initiating their participation in the obedience in the Lord, that through it we might recover by its observance that which we have lost by not observing it (Gregory the Theologian, Homily 45, On Holy Pascha, 28. PG 36, 661C). The Christocentric understanding of the spiritual dimension of fasting in particular the fast of Great Lent is a general rule in the entire patristic tradition and is characteristically epitomized by St Gregory Palamas: When you fast like this you not only suffer with Christ and are dead with Him, but you are also risen with Him and reign with Him forever and ever. If through such a fast you have been planted together in the likeness of His death, you shall also share in His resurrection and inherit life in Him (Homily 13, On the Fifth Sunday of Lent, PG 151, 161AB). 5. According to the Orthodox Tradition, the measure of spiritual perfection is the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph 4:13), and all who want to attain this should strive and grow accordingly. For this very reason, ascesis and spiritual struggle, like the refinement of the perfect, are endless in this life. Everyone is called to strive, to the best of his or her abilities, to reach the lofty Orthodox standard, which is the goal of deification by grace. Indeed, while they should do all things that they were commanded, they should nonetheless never vaunt themselves, but confess that they are unprofitable servants and have only done that which was their duty to do (Lk 17:10). According to the Orthodox understanding of the spiritual life, all people are obligated to maintain the good struggle of the fast; however, in a spirit of self-reproach and humble recognition of their condition, they must rely upon God s mercy for their shortcomings, inasmuch as the Orthodox spiritual life is unattainable without the spiritual struggle of the fast. 6. Like a nurturing mother, the Orthodox Church has defined what is beneficial for people s salvation and established the holy periods of fasting as God-given protection in the believers new life in Christ against every snare of the enemy. Following the example of the Holy Fathers, the Church preserves today, as she did in the past, the holy apostolic precepts, synodal canons, and sacred traditions, always advancing the holy fasts as the perfect ascetic path for the faithful leading to spiritual perfection and salvation, while proclaiming the necessity to observe all the fasts throughout the year, namely, the fasts of Great Lent, Wednesdays and Fridays, testified in the sacred canons, as well as the fasts of the Nativity, the Holy Apostles, and the Dormition of the Theotokos;

9 there are also the single-day fasts on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, on the eve of the Epiphany, and on the day commemorating the Beheading of John the Baptist, in addition to the fasts established for pastoral reasons or observed at the desire of the faithful. 7. The Church, however, has also established, with pastoral discernment, boundaries of philanthropic dispensation (oikonomia) concerning the rules of fasting. In this regard, the Church has considered physical infirmity, extreme necessity, and difficult times where she has ordained the application of the principle of ecclesiastical oikonomia, through the responsible discernment and pastoral care of the body of bishops in the local Churches. 8. It is a fact that many faithful today do not observe all the prescriptions of fasting, whether due to faint-heartedness or their living conditions, whatever these may be. However, all these instances where the sacred prescriptions of fasting are loosened, either in general or in particular instances, should be treated by the Church with pastoral care, for God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live (Ezek 33:11), without, however, ignoring the value of the fast. Therefore, with regard to those who find it difficult to observe the prevailing guidelines for fasting, whether for personal reasons (illness, military service, conditions of work, etc.) or general reasons (particular existing conditions in certain regions with regard to climate, as well as socioeconomic circumstances, i.e., inability to find lenten foods), it is left to the discretion of the local Orthodox Churches to determine how to exercise philanthropic oikonomia and empathy, relieving in these special cases the burden of the holy fast. All this should take place within the aforementioned context and with the objective of not diminishing the importance of the sacred institution of fasting. The Church should extend her philanthropic dispensation with prudence, undoubtedly to a greater extent when it comes to those fasts, on which the ecclesiastical tradition and practice have not always been uniform. It is good to fast, but may the one who fasts not blame the one who does not fast. In such matters you must neither legislate, nor use force, nor compel the flock entrusted to you; instead, you must use persuasion, gentleness and a word seasoned with salt (John of Damascus, On the Holy Fasts, Homily 3, PG 95, 68 B). 9. Fasting for three or more days prior to Holy Communion is left to the discretion of the piety of the faithful, according to the words of Saint Nicodemus the Hagiorite: fasting before partaking of Communion is not decreed by the divine Canons. Nevertheless, those who are able to fast even a whole week before it, are doing the right thing (Commentary of the 13 th canon of Sixth Ecumenical Council, Pedalion English translation 307). However, the totality of the Church s faithful must observe the holy fasts and the abstinence from food from midnight for frequent participation in Holy Communion, which is the most profound expression of the essence of the Church. The faithful should become accustomed to fasting as an expression of repentance, as the fulfillment of a spiritual pledge, to achieve a particular spiritual end in times of temptation, in conjunction with supplications to God, for adults approaching the sacrament of baptism, prior to ordination, in cases where penance is imposed, as well as during pilgrimages and other similar instances. Bartholomew of Constantinople, Chairman, Theodoros of Alexandria, Theophilos of Jerusalem, Irinej of Serbia, Daniel of Romania, Chrysostomos of Cyprus, Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland, Anastasios of Tirana, Durres and All Albania, Rastislav of Presov, the Czech Lands and Slovakia And all their delegations.

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