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 V. REV. DANIEL D. RESSETAR, PASTOR EMERITUS V. REV. DR. MICHAEL G. KOVACH, ASSOCIATE CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN! SUNDAY APRIL 29, rd SUNDAY OF PASCHA Tone 2. Myrrhbearing Women. Nine Martyrs at Cyzicus: Theognes, Rufus, Antipater, Theostichus, Artemas, Magnus, Theodotus, Thaumasius, and Philemon. Ven. Memnon the Wonderworker. Martyrs Diodorus and Rhodopianus Deacon, at Aphrodisia in Anatolia. St. Basil, Bishop of Ostrog in Montenegro. Lazian Martyrs slain in Dudikvati and Papati. Epistle: Acts 6:1-7 Gospel: Mark 15:43-16:8 UPCOMING SERVICES AND EVENTS: Apr 29, Sun: Holy Myrrhbearing Women Sunday. Adult Ed -8:30am; Divine Liturgy -9:30am; First Holy Confession Recognition; Kuzupas Memorial; Church School -11am; Fellowship -11:15am; Illustrator Sheena Hisiro book signing of Josiah and Julia Go to Church Hour Readers: 3 rd Hour: Bill Kuchta 6 th Hour: Chris Dupkanick Altar Servers All welcome Apr 30, Mon: Holy Apostle James. Men s Club Meeting -7pm May 1, Tue: Illustrator Sheena Hisiro book signing of Josiah & Julia Go to Church (At Agia Sophia Bookstore & Coffee House) -11:30am to 1pm; Choir Rehearsal -7:30pm May 2, Wed: Bible Study (33 N 2 nd St) noon; Vespers -6:30pm; Bible Study -7pm May 3, Thu: Ven. Theodosius of the Kiev Caves. May 5, Sat: Vespers & Confession -6pm May 6, Sun: Adult Ed -8:30am; Divine Liturgy -9:30am; Demopolous Memorial; Church School - 11am; Fellowship-11:15am; Softball Games (Double Header) -7:30pm Hour Readers: 3 rd Hour: Joseph Russian 6 th Hour: Leavitt Keener Altar Servers All welcome ANCIENTFAITHRADIO.COM - 24 hour Orthodox Internet Radio 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 all food and drink 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: PARISHIONERS: Archpriest Michael Kovach; Salwa Shunnara; infant Cole John Schilling; FAMILY AND FRIENDS: Gina Rosso & John Hawranick Sr. (great niece & family friend of Bill Kuchta); Ruth Mazurek (Moe's wife); Jenna Seitz (Kristen's daughter); Eva Paraschak (sister of Dotty Fedetz); Helen Zebel (Lara Haluszczak's grandmother); Milt Taleff & Doris Smith (son & sister of June); Mary Ann Cacchiani (Melissa Zuro s grandmothers friend); Dona Beshore, Ann Boronski & Christopher Mitchell (mother-inlaw, cousin & best friend of Bob Drozd); Carrie Faust, Lynn Wheeler, Emily Campbell, Landon Payne (friends and family of Jerry & Ann Cole); Joseph Salvador (Libby s nephew); Irene Priggin s (Christine s mother); Theodore & Nicholas Demopolous (Samantha s father and cousin); Diane Chambers and Marlene Kalenak (Anna Doray's daughter and neice); Infant Elizabeth Ruzanka; Jamie Krempasky & Irene Pagel (George's great niece, daughter and friend); Keturah Faust (J. Barns and L. Shuga s friend); Matthew Kocsis; Pauline Lapinsky, & John Fatich (Janet Kuzupas siblings); Christine and Joseph, and Steven Demchak (Sue s sister and brothers) HEALTH & WELL-BEING: PARISHIONERS: Kevin Herman; Daniel Bretz; Elizabeth & Paul Pellegrini; Robin Kuzupas; Scott & Robbin Staller HOME-BOUND & IN CARE FACILITIES: Betty Danko; Agnes Risser; Millicent Russell; Shirley Sass; Nicholas Essis;; EXPECTANT MOTHERS: Natalie Schilling Murphy; Pelegia Adams; Tatiana Graham, and the children to be born of them; MILITARY: Stephanie King; Jessica Shingara; Matthew Pylypciw; Steven Heberle; Thomas Shingara; SPONSORED SEMINARIAN: Fr. Ian & M. Priscilla Shipley and family; OCMC MISSIONARY TO ROMANIA: Christina Semon; FAMILY AND FRIENDS: Archpriest Alexander Atty; Cassandra Millet (friend of Anastasia Nikolaeva); Cathy Rusynyk Geppert (Nick & Wilma Sutovich s friend); Rene Symcak (Dave Hancher s wife); Christine Kihm, Addison Holl, Van Milbrand, and Margaret & Cecilia Hunt (Larry Smith s friends, aunt & cousin); Becky Voras (friend of Lydia Mantle); Addison, Judy & Greg (family of Christine Priggins); Mattie Martin; Becky Angelo; Diane Broskey, Myron Starinshak (Libby s nieces & brother); Willard Brown; Thomas Ridenour & Christian Ridenour (son & grandson of Suzanne Mioff); Tom & Bernadine Antolick (Mary Ellen Osuch s sister & brother-in-law); NEWLY DEPARTED: Martha Branchak (aunt of Andy Fedetz) Apr 15; Antoinette Paolicelli (Elise Mossers great aunt) - April 10; Alexandra Logwintschuk Mar 25 (Krempasky s friend); ANNIVERSARIES OF DEPARTED: Evelyn Bacha, sister of Andy Fedetz & mother of Lydia Mantle & Cathy Kemp, May 1-41 st ; James Wolfe, father of Sue, May 1-23 rd ; Randall Paules, Patty Taleff's nephew, May 2-1 st ; Bernard Kozuck, George Krempasky s brother-in-law, May 4 51 st ; Brian Ribarro, cousin of Paul Hadginske, May 5 2 nd ; CANDLE OFFERINGS: For information on how to purchase commemoration candles, please go to the candle desk or speak with one of the vestrymen. Please note: offerings must be in the office by Wednesday for inclusion. Seven Day Votive is offered in Memory of Alex Kuzupas, on the 5 th year of departing this life, from his wife Janet. MANY YEARS: Please submit to ctsocahbg@aol.com by the preceding Wednesday. BIRTHDAYS: Fr. Stephen Vernak Apr 29; Jacob Herman May 3

3 PARISH NEWS AND EVENTS: Children's Orthodox Book Signing: TODAY during Fellowship, Sheena Hisiro will be a signing a new children s book she illustrated called "Josiah and Julia Go to Church." The book is a young child's guide to church etiquette and was written by Kelly Ramke Lardin. Our church is featured in the book as well as at least a few other familiar faces. Another book signing will be held Tuesday, May 1, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Agia Sophia Bookstore and Coffee Shop. Please visit her website at SAVE the DATE: Our parish will host a public lecture entitled: An Introduction to GOD: Encountering the Divine in Orthodox Christianity on Wednesday, May 16 th at 7pm. Note: Daily Vespers will be held at 6:30pm. The speaker is Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, the pastor at St. Paul Orthodox Church in Emmaus, PA and he is the author of Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy, published by Conciliar Press (2011). There is no charge for this event. Please come - and invite your friends! CORRECTION: Father Michael Rachko, who was 90 years old on Friday April 27, has moved from Waymart. Please send him a birthday card or a note to his new address: Father Michael Rachko, Forest City Nursing Home and Rehab Center, 915 Delaware Street, Forest City PA His phone number is Gift Card Fundraiser Program: Please don t forget about the gift card program available through our Parish. For Mother s Day gift cards, the forms must be submitted on April 29 th and will be available on Sunday, May 6 th. Father s Day order forms must be submitted on June 3 rd with a delivery on June 10 th. The order forms are located in the vestibule; any questions please see Allice Mallick. Fellowship Hour Schedule: Parishioners are asked to help by bringing at least 48 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 2012 is available at the parish hall. If you are unable to be at church on your scheduled date contact Nadzia Schilling at May 6: Natalie Treece Sue Demchak Robbin Staller May 13: Mary White Patty Taleff Larissa Shuga May 20: Ann Cole Dotty Fedetz Lydia Mantle LAST SUNDAY LITURGY ATTENDANCE: 138

4 EVENTS AROUND OUR ORTHODOX COMMUNITY Volunteer Opportunity: Agia Sophia Coffee House & Bookstore is seeking parishioners to volunteer. Please see Joanne Wevodau at with any inquiries. Greek Festival: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral will host their Annual Greek Festival on Friday, May 18 th & Saturday, May 19 th from 11am to 8pm and on Sunday, May 20 th from noon to 5pm. For more information please see the poster or visit Hellenic College: Is currently accepting application, it is a fully accredited Orthodox Christian institution of higher education. Please visit their website at to see how you can receive up to 80% tuition scholarships to accepted application. Saint Tikhon s Summer Camp: Registration is now open for St. Tikhon s summer camp which will be held July 1 st thru 7 th. Registration forms must be postmarked by May 31 st. For forms please go to or inform the church office and they will be able to print the forms for you.

5 SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR SUNDAY APRIL 29, 2012 Acts 6:1-7 (Epistle) In those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. Mark 15:43-16:8 (Gospel) At that time, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. 45 So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid. 1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us? 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you. 8 So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 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 SAINT BASIL OF OSTROG Basil was born in Popova, a village in Hercegovina of simple and God-fearing parents. From his youth, he was filled with love for the Church of God and when he reached maturity, he entered to the Monastery of the Dormition (Assumption) of the Birth-giver of God in Trebinje and there received the monastic tonsure. As a monk, he quickly became renown because of his genuine and rare ascetical life. Saint Basil took upon himself mortification upon mortification each one heavier and more difficult than the last. Later, against his will, he was elected and consecrated bishop of Zahumlje and Skenderia. As a hierarch, he first lived in the Monastery Tvrdosh and from there, as a good shepherd, strengthened his flock in the Orthodox Faith, protecting them from the cruelty of the Turks and the cunning ways of the Latins. When Basil was exceedingly pressed by his enemies and, when Tvrdosh was destroyed by the Turks, he moved to Ostrog, where he lived an austere ascetical life, protecting his flock by his ceaseless and fervent prayer. He died peacefully in the Lord in the sixteenth century, leaving behind his incorruptible relics; incorruptible and miracle-working to the present day. The miracles at the grave of St. Basil are without number. Christians and Muslims alike come before his relics and find healing of their most grave illnesses and afflictions. A great people's assembly (pilgrimage) occurs there annually on the Feast of Pentecost. REFLECTION Nothing can be kept secret from our Omniscient God. At every moment, to Him is known all that is being done in the world; both in the external as well as in the internal, spiritual world. Not one intention, not one desire, not one thought of his can man conceal from God. How can you hide from God that which you cannot hide from men; from holy men! One day, Tsar Ivan the Terrible came to church to pray to God. In the church, Blessed Basil, "the fool for Christ," stood for prayer. It is true the Tsar was in church physically, but his thoughts were on the Hill of the Sparrow, a short distance from Moscow, upon which he had begun to construct a palace. Throughout the liturgical services the Tsar thought about how he could extend and complete his palace on that hill. After the services the Tsar noticed Basil and asked him: "Where have you been?" Basil replied: "In church." Basil then immediately asked the Tsar: "O Tsar and where were you?" "I, also, was in church, " answered the Tsar. To that the discerning saint replied: "You are not speaking the truth Ivanushka for I perceived how, in your thoughts, you were pacing about on the Hill of the Sparrow and building a palace.