V. REV. DANIEL D. RESSETAR, PASTOR EMERITUS V. REV. DR. MICHAEL G. KOVACH, ASSOCIATE

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1 CHRIST THE SAVIOUR ORTHODOX CHURCH A PARISH OF THE OCA DIOCESE OF EASTERN PA HIS GRACE, BISHOP TIKHON OF PHILADELPHIA 5501 OLD LOCUST LANE, HARRISBURG, PA OFFICE: HALL: FAX: WEB: CTSOCAHBG@AOL.COM REV. STEPHEN VERNAK, PASTOR SVERNAK@HOTMAIL.COM CHRIST IS BORN! V. REV. DANIEL D. RESSETAR, PASTOR EMERITUS V. REV. DR. MICHAEL G. KOVACH, ASSOCIATE GLORIFY HIM! SUNDAY DECEMBER 26, st SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Tone 6 (14 th of Luke). SYNAXIS OF THE MOST- HOLY THEOTOKOS. Sunday After the Nativity. Holy Righteous Ones: Joseph the Betrothed, David the King, and James the Brother of the Lord. Afterfeast of the Nativity of Christ. Hieromartyr Euthymius, Bishop of Sardis. Ven. Constantine of Synnada. Ven. Evaristus of the Studion Monastery. Ven. Nicodemus of Tishmana. Hieromartyr Constantine the Russian of Lavra. Epistle: Galatians 1:11-19 Gospel: Matthew 2:13-23 UPCOMING SERVICES AND EVENTS: Dec 26, Sun: Synaxis of the Most-Holy Theotokos Divine Liturgy 9:30am; Fellowship 11am; Parish Open House Social 5:30pm; Dinner -6pm Hour Readers: (3 rd ) Dimitri Ressetar (6 th ) Chris Dupkanick Altar Servers All welcome Dec 27, Mon: Protomartyr Stephen. Divine Liturgy -9:30am (our parish); Diocesan Hierarchical Divine St. Stephen Cathedral, Philadelphia - 9:30am Dec 29, Wed: Bible Study (33 N 2 nd St) noon; Vespers 6:30pm Dec 31, Fri: Vesperal Divine Liturgy 6:30pm followed by Festive Pot-luck & cutting of the Vasilopita Jan 2, Sun: Adult Ed 8:30am; Divine Liturgy -9:30am; Church School -11am; Fellowship -11:15am Hour Readers: (3 rd ) Joseph Russian (6 th ) Leavitt Keener Altar Servers All welcome Jan 5, Wed: Theophany Eve (Strict Fast) Royal Hours -9am; Vesperal Divine Liturgy -10:30am; Holy Supper 5pm (potluck, signup sheet in vestibule); Great Compline with Blessing of Waters -7pm Jan 6, Thu: Theophany Divine Liturgy -9:30am; Vespers (St. John) -7pm AncientFaithRadio.com - 24 hour Orthodox Internet Radio Orthodox Radio on 720 AM Radio every Sunday at 8 am OrthodoxyinAmerica.org (Traveling or Going on Vacation?) check it out! WELCOME TO OUR VISITORS!!! Please join us for fellowship in the church hall and sign our guest book in the vestibule. If you are interested in becoming a part of our community please ask to speak to Fr. Stephen. Please note: Only those faithful who are Orthodox Christians and have properly prepared themselves by fasting (from midnight), prayer, and recent confession; and who were present for the reading of the Epistle and Gospel, should approach to receive the Eucharist

2 PARISH PRAYER LIST: Please remember the following persons during your daily morning and evening prayers. Names will be listed for 2 weeks unless requested. Submit names to the office by Wednesday for inclusion. Ailing: Jeffrey Eckerd, Arthur McLaughlin & Frank Trimble (friends of Gloria Maliniak); Alice Kelly (Kathy Kuchwara's cousin); Jay Newcomb (Courtney's brother-in-law); Ann Marie and Joe Keating (Carl Polansky s friends); Brian Gingrich Jr. (infant grandson of J. Wevodau's friend); Eva Kunz (Mike Zart s Aunt); Zack Voras (Mantle family friend); Nancy I. Sheaffer (sister of John R. Barns); Frank Priggins (Christine s father); Diane Broskey (Libby Hancher s niece); Justin McGarrity (Hancher & Zart family friend); Mattie Martin; Joseph Graham (Tatiana's father-inlaw); Keturah Faust (J. Barns and L. Shuga s friend); Naomi Hershey and Carrie Faust (friends of the Cole's); Matthew Kocsis; Marlene Kalenak (Anna Doray's niece); Van Milbrand (friend & co-worker of Larry Smith); Nicholas Essis; Pauline Lapinsky, Susan Strenski, and John Fatich (Janet Kuzupas siblings); Christine Demchak (Suzanne s sister); M. Olga Kovach Health and well-being: Jacob Fedetz, Alyssa Fedetz, David Altieri and Walt O'shinski (grandson, daughter-in-law, nephew and brother-in-law of Dotty Fedetz); Tom Drebot; D.J. Pawlush; Dan & Donna Bretz; Linda Kalenevitch; Shirley Sass; Deb Reigle (friend of Ann Cole); Harvey Knupp (Dan & Donna Bretz's friend); John Varkala (Lydia Mantles friend); David Martin; Elizabeth Betty Pellegrini; Irene Priggins & Addison Wechter, her parents Judy & Greg (Christine Priggins sister & mother); Joe Demchak; Karen Crawford (Debbie Hisiro s co-worker); Tom and Bernadine Antolick (Mary Ellen Osuch s sister and brother-in-law); Archpriest Alexander Atty [Traveling] Nick Schilling; [Active Duty] Steven Heberle (Jean Dotsey s nephew); [OCMC Missionary] Christina Semon; [Catechumen] Jonathan Dunnavent [Expectant Mothers] Nino Sensor, M. Anna Vernak; Elise Mosser; Christina Yerke and the children to be born of them. Newly Departed from This Life: Barbara Cornwell (Kathy Kuchwara's friend) - Dec 12; Nellie Stine (John R. Barns aunt) - Dec 7; Kathy Lazor - Dec 4; Anniversaries of Those Departed: John Solovey, Dec nd ; Dr. Michael Ressetar, Dec th ; John Carter, M. Anna s grandfather, Dec 26-5 th ; MaryAnn English, Dec 26-3 rd ; Margaret Spaseff, Dec 26-3 rd ; Vida Kodi, Bishop Mitrophan s Mother, Dec 26-5 th ; Tsgay Andemichael, brother of Sebhatu Andemichael, Dec 27-6 th ; Sophie Mehalko, Dec 29-8 th ; Dean Lebo, Dec 29-5 th ; Steven Bortniak, Dec th ; Julia Lubecki, mother of Chet, Dec th ; Helen Evans, grandmother of M. Theodora, Jan 1 78 th ; Archpriest Nicholas Fedetz, brother of Andy Fedetz, Jan 1-6 th ; Candle Offerings: For information on how to purchase commemoration candles, please go to the candle desk or speak with one of the vestrymen. Seven Day Votive is offered in Health & Salvation of Fr. Stephen, Parish Council & their families One decorated candles (on Altar table) is offered in Memory of Mary Hornack, mother of Evelyn Onufer Many Years: Names will be accepted for each week. Please submit to ctsocahbg@aol.com by the preceding Wednesday for inclusion in the Sunday bulletin Birthdays: Grace Firestine Dec 27; Greg Sirb Dec 31

3 PARISH NEWS AND EVENTS: Thank you: To all who donated a decorated candle or poinsettia plant for the Nativity of our Lord and for the Theophany Season. A full listing is on the doors in the vestibule. JOB WELL DONE!: Congratulations to the church school students and their teachers for putting on another AMAZING PRODUCTION for the parish to enjoy. We were DAZZLED!!! House Blessings 2011: Following the Great Feast of Theophany, Fr. Stephen will be blessing homes. House blessings will be arranged with those who sign-up in the vestibule, call or svernak@hotmail.com. Please have a candle, bowl of water, and list of living & departed members of your family ready for this visit. If possible, all members of the family should be present, and the TV, radio & cell phones turned off. Men s Club Breakfast: Sunday, January 9 th following Divine Liturgy & prior to the Blessing of the Water on City Island, the Men s Club will host a breakfast of ham, sausage, scrambled eggs, pancakes, potatoes, OJ & coffee. The cost is $6.00 for adults and children under 12 are free. Please sign up in vestibule to help us in our preparations. Pan-Orthodox Great Blessing of the Susquehanna River: Sunday, January 9 th at 1:30pm on City Island, Bishop TIKHON will be presiding at the Great Blessing of the Susquehanna River with fellow clergy from throughout Central PA. Dress warmly & please bring a friend. Harrisburg O Club: The January meeting will be hosted by Evelyn Onufer at her home on Thursday, January 13 th at 6pm. There will be a pot-luck dinner prior to the meeting, if you would like to bring an item please contact John Dotsey Book Club: You can purchase The Gurus, the young man, and Elder Piasios for $17 in the church office. Discussion is Jan 16, 2011 at 3pm at the Lubecki residence (Lebanon). St. Vladimir Seminary (Crestwood, NY) Male Octet will be singing the responses at Vespers on Saturday, January 15 th at 6pm. Please come to be uplifted by their singing, and spend some time in fellowship with the future clergy and lay leaders of our Church. St. Mary s Altar Guild: The Altar Guild is sponsoring a Pot-luck dinner & social for all the women of the parish on Monday, January 24 th at 6:30 in the church basement. A sign up sheet will be provided a later date in the vestibule. Save the Date: Men s Club Annual Super Bowl Party, Sunday, February 6 th. More information will be available at a later date St. Tikhon s Lectionary Wall Calendar: Your copy of the Lectionary Wall Calendar is located on the umbrella stand. Please take one per household. Fellowship Hour Schedule: Parishioners are asked to help by bringing at least 60 servings of baked goods and to serve them during their assigned fellowship hour. Please check the dates below and mark your calendar accordingly. The complete list through next May 2011 is available at the parish hall. If you are unable to be at church on your scheduled date contact Nadzia Schilling at January 2: Joanne Wevodau Donna Bretz January 9: Maryanne Hadginske Barb Somple January 16: Alice Mallick Denise Zullo Last week s liturgy attendance: 186

4 EVENTS AROUND OUR ORTHODOX COMMUNITY 74 th Annual Novogodny Ball: Sponsored by St. Stephen s OCF, Chapter #82 of the FOCA will take place on Sunday, Jan 16 th, 2011 at the Radisson Hotel Philadelphia Northeast. Please see the flyer in the candle stand, novogodnyball@verizon.net or contact Lisa Lelo at for more information College Conference: Orthodox Christian Fellowship has announced that registration for the 2010 College Conference is now open at This year's conference is being held at the Antiochian Village (Bolivar, PA). A limited number of scholarships are available and offered on a first come-first served basis. For more information and to register online please visit: Youth Winter Retreat 2011: The Annual Young Adult Winter Retreat will be held February 4-6 at Fatima Renewal Center in Dalton, PA. This retreat is open to student s grades For more please see the flyer in the candle stand or Kim Metz at retreat@ocayouth.org

5 SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR SUNDAY DECEMBER 26, 2010 Galatians 1:11-19 (Epistle, Sunday after Nativity) Brethren, 11 But I make known to you that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. Matthew 2:13-23 (Gospel, Sunday after Nativity) At that time, when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son." 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: 18 A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more." 19 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead." 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene." GLORY TO THEE O LORD, GLORY TO THEE!

6 THE PROLOGUE OF OHRID: THE DAILY LIVES OF THE SAINTS AND REFLECTIONS BY ST. NIKOLAI OF ZICHA AND SOUTH CANAAN The Synaxis of the Most-holy Theotokos On the second day of the Nativity, the Christian Church gives glory and thanksgiving to the Most-holy Theotokos, who gave birth to our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ. This feast is called the Synaxis'' because on this day all of the faithful gather to glorify her, the Most-holy Theotokos, and to solemnly and universally celebrate a feast in her honor. In Ohrid, it has been the tradition from ancient times that, on the eve of the second day of Nativity, Vespers has been celebrated only in the Church of the Most-holy Theotokos called the Chieftain [Èelnica]. All the clergy with the people gather together to glorify the Most-pure Mother of God. REFLECTION A story of the Divine Christ-child: When the holy family fled before Herod's sword to Egypt, robbers leapt out on the road with the intention of stealing something. The righteous Joseph was leading the donkey, on which were some belongings and on which the Most-holy Theotokos was riding with her Son at her breast. The robbers seized the donkey to lead it away. At that moment, one of the robbers approached the Mother of God to see what she was holding next to her breast. The robber, seeing the Christ-child, was astonished at His unusual beauty and said in his astonishment: If God were to take upon Himself the flesh of man, He would not be more beautiful than this Child!'' This robber then ordered his companions to take nothing from these travelers. Filled with gratitude toward this generous robber, the Most-holy Virgin said to him: Know that this Child will repay you with a good reward because you protected Him today.'' Thirty-three years later, this same thief hung on the Cross for his crimes, crucified on the right side of Christ's Cross. His name was Dismas, and the name of the thief on the left side was Gestas. Beholding Christ the Lord innocently crucified, Dismas repented for all the evil of his life. While Gestas reviled the Lord, Dismas defended Him, saying: This man hath done nothing amiss. (Luke 23:41). Dismas, therefore, was the wise thief to whom our Lord said: Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise (Luke 23:43). Thus the Lord granted Paradise to him who spared Him in childhood.