SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church

  May 24, 2026 A. D.

Saturday, May 23                   PENTECOST SUNDAY (Myrovania)

        4:00 PM                           Michael Sirak- Michaelene Ostrum

Sunday, May 24                     PENTECOST SUNDAY(Myrovania)

        8:30 AM                            God’s Blessings & Good Health For All Parishioners

       2:00 PM                             Panachyda Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery

                                                Blessing of Graves

      3:30 PM                              Panachyda Saint Vladimir Cemtery

                                                                        Blessing of Graves

Monday, May 25                    MEMORIAL DAY

****9:00 AM Transfiguration of Our Lord Church****

Saturday, May 30                   SUNDAY OF ALL SAINTS

         4:00 PM                          God’s Blessings & Good Health For All Parishioners

Sunday, May 31                     SUNDAY OF ALL SAINTS

        8:30 AM                            Jewel Johnstone- Mr. & Mrs. Rossi

Please remember in your prayers all of our brave service men and women who bravely served our country.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE!

PENTECOST QUESTIONS….

In the prayer, ‘Heavenly King’, we ask for salvation. But surely only Christ, and not the Holy Spirit, is our Saviour?

We use many short, and long, prayers, asking for salvation.  For example: ‘Most Holy Trinity, save us’.  ‘Most Holy Mother of God, save us’.  And yet, as you say, there is only one Savior, Christ our God.  So how then can we be saved by the Holy Trinity? Answer: Through the Savior, through Christ, sent down to us by the Holy Trinity.  How can we be saved by the Mother of God?  Surely, she cannot save us?  Yes, she can – through her mother’s prayers to the Savior. Christ saves us through others.   So too, Christ the Savior saves us through the Holy Spirit, or, if you like, the Holy Spirit saves us through Christ.  After all, it was only through the Savior, that we received the Holy Spirit and the knowledge of the Holy Trinity.  It was only through the Mother of God that the Savior became one of us, only without sin.

What does the word Pentecost mean?

First of all, I should say that the most common name for this feast is ‘Trinity Day’, rather than the more formal ‘Pentecost’.  This is because this feast is the revelation of the Holy Spirit, and therefore the revelation of the fullness of the Holy Trinity, for until today, we had only known the Father and the Son.  The Son had promised us the ‘Comforter’ and today He is here, in fulfilment of that promise.   Pentecost is simply the Greek word for fifty.  Pentecost comes 50 days after Easter. The significance of this is that even in the Old Testament (Leviticus 25), the number 50 was special.  This is because seven is the number of fullness, and eight (7+1) is the number of completion (God rested on the seventh day, after the six days of Creation).  7 x 7 is therefore a particular sign of fullness and 50 is of course 7 x 7 + 1, fullness.  Therefore, in the Old Testament, every fiftieth year was called a Jubilee year.  The Jubilee year was not only the end of the old Jubilee period, but also the beginning of the new one.  Thus, there were forty-nine years between each Jubilee year.

By adding one to seven, we reach eight.  Eight is seen as the number of what is beyond the fullness of this world, beyond Creation, beyond the physical world, what is part of the age to come, ‘the eighth day’.  Thus, Pentecost, the Descent of the Holy Spirit to earth, is the fullness of the revelation of the Holy Trinity.  This is why it is called Trinity Day.  The Descent of the Holy Spirit from heaven is the sign of the other world, the age to come, ‘the eighth day’, penetrating into this world.  That is why baptisteries were, and still are, octagonal.  They symbolize the person baptized entering into the other world, becoming a citizen of the Kingdom to come, ‘the eighth day’.

The Sanctuary Light for the week ending 5/17 was requested by Anna Magill IMO her sister Irene Frisbee.

This week ending 5/24, the Sanctuary Light is requested by Michaelene Ostrum IMO her father Michael Sirak.

PLYMOUTH 250^th ANNIVERSARY OF OUR NATION PARADE IN PLYMOUTH:  The Auspice of Maria will participate in the parade from; St. Mary’s, St. Stephan’s & St. Vincent’s Catholic Church and welcomes parishioners of Saint Peter & Paul Church to participate.  If you are interested please call Nancy Restraino at 570-239-3363.  There is a flyer in the back of the church and they will be parking at St. Peter & Paul Church and assembling at the Family Dollar at 10:30 am.

The Borough of Plymouth has asked Parishes to ring their bells at Noon on Saturday, May 30 in celebration of our nation’s 250^th Birthday.  Any parishioner who is willing to ring the bells, please feel free to come and ring the bells.

FATHER’S DAY REMEMBRANCES:  Father’s Day is June 21^st, don’t forget to remember your Father at our Father’s Day Divine Liturgy.

WALKING PILGRIMAGE: FOOTSTEPS OF OUR ANCESTORS:  Save the date Saturday, June 13.  A Seven Mile Walking Pilgrimage from St. Mary’s Church in Mocanaqua through the Pinchot State Forest, Mocanaqua Tract to St. Nicholas Church, Glen Lyon.  Divine Liturgy offered and lunch served at the end of the walk.  Register by June 6, 2026 at www.tinyurl.com/foapilgrimage26.  For more information call/text 570-301-9253 or email foapilgrimage@gmail.com.  The faith lives on in Glen Lyon……….

Petitions & Prayers for Our Parishioners:  John Ostrum, Donna Winsock, Sonia Dempsey, Catherine Halloway, Charles Hallaway, Louise Hubiack, Frank Udiski, Paul Hoover & James Bencho.  Keep them in your prayers.  If anyone would like to be included in the prayer list drop a note in the basket, email the church or text Michalene Ostrum at 570-704-7079.

The True Spectacle

By surrendering Jesus to the blood thirsty crowd, Pontius Pilate enacted more than a judicial sentence—he affirmed Romes’s power to define life and death through public spectacle.  In the crucifixion, Jesus’ body became an object of scorn, offered up to satisfy the crowd’s appetite for violence.  The spectacle invited the multitude to gaze, to judge, and to consume.  Yet Christ, in freely offering Himself, inverting the meaning of His death.  What Rome staged as humiliation, Christ transformed into a gift.  The cross, intended as an imperial spectacle of domination, became the altar of divine love. 

The Eucharist is the fulfillment of this transformation.  Where spectacle thrives on the objectification of the body, the Eucharist invites communion with the body.  In spectacle, the flesh is consumed to satisfy desire; in the Eucharist, Christ offers His flesh to reorient desire.  Rather than being passively consumed by the crowd, Jesus gives Himself intentionally to His disciples—Take, Eat; this is My Body.

The Eucharist thus becomes the anti-spectacle: not a performance to observe, but a mystery to enter.  In consuming Christ’s body and blood, the believer is united to His death and resurrection.  The Eucharist reshapes the soul, drawing it away from the illusion of spectacle and toward the reality of divine communion.  In this sacred act, desire is not inflamed and misdirected as in spectacle, but purified and fulfilled. Through this sacrament, believers are formed not into spectators, but into participants in the life of God. -excerpt from Saints of the Apoclalypse, Saint Stephen

Typologically, the rise of the Antichrist will be marked not by overt evil alone, but by a widespread failure to perceive and name the enmity between the true Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, and its counterfeit- the Anti-Church.  In such an age, the distinction between truth and falsehood will be deliberately obscured.  The ancient conflict between Christ and the Synagogue of Satan (Revelation 2:9) will be recast as irrelevant, intolerant or obsolete.  This spiritual blindness will manifest not only in the silencing of prophetic voices, but in a distorted image of the Church herself.  Without the ability—or willingness—to identify spiritual enemies the Church risks becoming lukewarm, accommodating the worlds’ narratives rather than proclaiming the Gospel.  The command to love one’s enemies presumes the courage to recognize them—not as objects of hatred, but as those in need of truth and conversion.  – excerpt from Saints of the Apoclalypse, Saint Stephen

The True Spectacle

By surrendering Jesus to the blood thirsty crowd, Pontius Pilate enacted more than a judicial sentence—he affirmed Romes’s power to define life and death through public spectacle.  In the crucifixion, Jesus’ body became an object of scorn, offered up to satisfy the crowd’s appetite for violence.  The spectacle invited the multitude to gaze, to judge, and to consume.  Yet Christ, in freely offering Himself, inverting the meaning of His death.  What Rome staged as humiliation, Christ transformed into a gift.  The cross, intended as an imperial spectacle of domination, became the altar of divine love. 

The Eucharist is the fulfillment of this transformation.  Where spectacle thrives on the objectification of the body, the Eucharist invites communion with the body.  In spectacle, the flesh is consumed to satisfy desire; in the Eucharist, Christ offers His flesh to reorient desire.  Rather than being passively consumed by the crowd, Jesus gives Himself intentionally to His disciples—Take, Eat; this is My Body.

The Eucharist thus becomes the anti-spectacle: not a performance to observe, but a mystery to enter.  In consuming Christ’s body and blood, the believer is united to His death and resurrection.  The Eucharist reshapes the soul, drawing it away from the illusion of spectacle and toward the reality of divine communion.  In this sacred act, desire is not inflamed and misdirected as in spectacle, but purified and fulfilled. Through this sacrament, believers are formed not into spectators, but into participants in the life of God. -excerpt from Saints of the Apoclalypse, Saint Stephen

Typologically, the rise of the Antichrist will be marked not by overt evil alone, but by a widespread failure to perceive and name the enmity between the true Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, and its counterfeit- the Anti-Church.  In such an age, the distinction between truth and falsehood will be deliberately obscured.  The ancient conflict between Christ and the Synagogue of Satan (Revelation 2:9) will be recast as irrelevant, intolerant or obsolete.  This spiritual blindness will manifest not only in the silencing of prophetic voices, but in a distorted image of the Church herself.  Without the ability—or willingness—to identify spiritual enemies the Church risks becoming lukewarm, accommodating the worlds’ narratives rather than proclaiming the Gospel.  The command to love one’s enemies presumes the courage to recognize them—not as objects of hatred, but as those in need of truth and conversion.  – excerpt from Saints of the Apoclalypse, Saint Stephen

The Soul is a Lamp

Saint Symeon the New Theologian declares that God is fire.  The Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles at Pentecost in the form of flaming tongues of fire.  He compares the soul to a lamp.  Just as a lamp must be adorned with a good supply of oil and trimmed wicks in order to produce fire and light, so the soul must be adorned with all virtues, but beyond that it must receive the fire which is the Holy Spirit.  God is fire, He says, and through the Holy Spirit searches for material to set on fire with divine love.  We are that material.  Jesus came to cast fire not on earth, but in our hearts and minds.  He came to ignite and illumine the lamp of each person’s soul.  We read in Proverbs 20:27, “The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord.”  The spirit of man remains unfulfilled until it is touched by the divine flame.  All candles have one thing in common:  they must be lit in order to be useful.  If not, they may as well be pieces of pottery.  God created us in many different, sizes, shapes and colors.  Each of us has a special talent.  But, like candles, we are just a decoration in the world unless we are lit to shine for Him.

-Sacred Symbols, by Anthony M Coniaris

A Word of Caution

A note of caution here.  There are many cults that emphasize the Inner Light.  They have good things to say about the inner light and the guidance they receive from it.  However, by “inner light” they do not mean what we mean:  the presence of the Trinity within us.  Inner light to them means their own light that emerges from their own thinking.  It has nothing to do with God.  It, is in fact, a Godless humanism.  As G.K. Chesterton so well said, “That Jones shall worship the god within him turns out ultimately to mean the Jones shall worship Jones.”

-Sacred Symbols, by Anthony M Coniaris

PETROVKA (St. Peter & Paul Fast):  St.  Peter & Paul Fast begins on Sunday evening, June 1 at Vespers with the singing of “O Joyful Light…” after the Sunday of All Saints and continues until Saturday, June 29th.  The Apostles’ Fast is not as severe as Lent or the Dormition Fast, but entails fasting from red meat, poultry, meat products, eggs, dairy products, fish, oil, and wine. Fasting also partners with prayer, almsgiving and confession, readying the whole person like an athlete; body, mind, and soul, for an upcoming feast, similar to the way in which orthodox Catholics would hope to be properly prepared for the Second Coming. For this reason, during fasting seasons, no marriages should take place. Another important part of any fasting period is going to Confession.  The Feast of Ss. Peter & Paul is Sunday, June 29th.

  May 17, 2026 A. D.

Saturday, May 16                   SUNDAY OF THE FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL

         4:00 PM                          Irene Frisbie- Dempsey Family

Sunday, May 17                     SUNDAY OF THE FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL

        8:30 AM                            Joseph Kane- Gloria Udiski

Saturday, May 23                   PENTECOST SUNDAY

        4:00 PM                           Michael Sirak- Michaelene Ostrum

Sunday, May 24                     PENTECOST SUNDAY

        8:30 AM                            God’s Blessings & Good Health For All Parishioners

       2:00 PM                             Panachyda Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery

                                                Blessing of Graves

      3:30 PM                              Panachyda Saint Vladimir Cemtery

                                                                        Blessing of Graves

Monday, May 25                    MEMORIAL DAY

****9:00 AM Transfiguration of Our Lord Church****

Please remember in your prayers all of our brave service men and women who bravely served our country.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE!

PENTECOST SUNDAY

The account of Pentecost is found in the book of The Acts of the Apostles. In Chapter two we are told that the Apostles of our Lord were gathered together in one place. Suddenly, a sound came from heaven like a rushing wind, filling the entire house where they were sitting. Then, tongues of fire appeared, and one sat upon each one of Apostles. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as directed by the Spirit (Acts 2:1-4).

This miraculous event occurred on the Jewish Feast of Pentecost, celebrated by the Jews on the fiftieth day after the Passover as the culmination of the Feast of Weeks (Exodus 34:22; Deuteronomy 16:10). The Feast of Weeks began on the third day after the Passover with the presentation of the first harvest sheaves to God, and it concluded on Pentecost with the offering of two loaves of unleavened bread, representing the first products of the harvest (Leviticus 23:17-20; Deuteronomy 16:9-10).

Since the Jewish Feast of Pentecost was a great pilgrimage feast, many people from throughout the Roman Empire were gathered in Jerusalem on this day. When the people in Jerusalem heard the sound, they came together and heard their own languages being spoken by the Apostles (Acts 2:5-6). The people were amazed, knowing that some of those speaking were Galileans, and not men who would normally speak many different languages. They wondered what this meant, and some even thought the Apostles were drunk (Acts 2:7-13).

Peter, hearing these remarks, stood up and addressed the crowd. He preached to the people regarding the Old Testament prophecies about the coming of the Holy Spirit. He spoke about Jesus Christ and His death and glorious Resurrection. Great conviction fell upon the people, and they asked the Apostles, “What shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38-39).

The Bible records that on that day about three thousand were baptized. Following, the book of Acts states that the newly baptized continued daily to hear the teaching of the Apostles, as the early Christians met together for fellowship, the breaking of bread, and for prayer. Many wonderful signs and miracles were done through the Apostles, and the Lord added to the Church daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47).

PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL:  Holy Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls.   Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE CHURCH

O glorious St. Michael, guardian and defender of the Church of Jesus Christ, come to the assistance of the Church, against which the powers of hell are unchained, guard with especial care her august Head, and obtain that for Him and for us the hour of triumph may speedily arrive.  O glorious Archangel St. Michael, watch over us during life, defend us against the assaults of the devil, assist us especially at the hour of death; obtain for us a favorable judgement, and the happiness of beholding God face to face for endless ages.  Amen. 

 There were no requests for the Altar Candles or Sanctuary Light.         

PETITIONS TO THE MOTHER OF GOD:  May is the month of Blessed Mother of God. We will have Petitions to the Mother of God following Divine Liturgies this month.

WALKING PILGRIMAGE: FOOTSTEPS OF OUR ANCESTORS:  Save the date Saturday, June 13.  A Seven Mile Walking Pilgrimage from St. Mary’s Church in Mocanaqua through the Pinchot State Forest, Mocanaqua Tract to St. Nicholas Church, Glen Lyon.  Divine Liturgy offered and lunch served at the end of the walk.  Register by June 6, 2026 at www.tinyurl.com/foapilgrimage26.  For more information call/text 570-301-9253 or email foapilgrimage@gmail.com.  The faith lives on in Glen Lyon……….

Petitions & Prayers for Our Parishioners:  John Ostrum, Donna Winsock, Sonia Dempsey, Catherine Halloway, Charles Hallaway, Louise Hubiack, Frank Udiski, Paul Hoover & James Bencho.  Keep them in your prayers.  If anyone would like to be included in the prayer list drop a note in the basket, email the church or text Michalene Ostrum at 570-704-7079.

PRAYERS:  Please remember in your prayers all who are in need of God’s help.  Remember those in the nursing facilities, hospital and at home, all the sick and the suffering.  Please say a special prayer for all of our nation’s soldiers and their families at home and abroad.  Please pray for all our priests, active and retired.

SOROKOUSTY SERVICE:    The fifth Sorokousty is Saturday, May 23^rd, 8:00 am in Nanticoke. 

MEMORIAL DAY

Memorial Day began in the late 1860’s as “Decoration Day” when Americans decorated the graves of Civil War soldiers.  Memorial Day became a Federal Holiday in 1971.  According to the U.S. Department of Defense, more than 1.3 million military members have died in America’s wars.  The Civil War is the deadliest conflict in U.S. history, accounting for nearly half of all U.S. military deaths.

One hundred and thirty National Cemeteries such as Arlington National Cemetery are operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs in the United States and serve as the final resting places for service members.  The American Battle Monuments Commission maintains 26 overseas cemeteries where more than 200,000 American service members are buried.

Every Memorial Day, there is a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier (located in Arlington National Cemetery) honors unidentified service members and has been continuously guarded since 1937. The memorial stands atop a hill overlooking Washington, D.C. Since 1921, it has provided a final resting place for one of America’s unidentified World War I service members, and Unknowns from later wars were added in 1958 and 1984. The Tomb has also served as a place of mourning and a site for reflection on military service.  In March 1926, soldiers from nearby Fort Myer were first assigned to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The guards, present only during daylight hours, discouraged visitors from climbing or stepping on the Tomb. In 1937, the guards became a 24/7 presence, standing watch over the Unknown Soldier at all times.  The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard,” was designated as the Army’s official ceremonial unit on April 6, 1948. At that time, The Old Guard began guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Soldiers of The Old Guard also serve as escorts to the president and conduct military ceremonies in and around Washington, D.C., including military funeral escorts at Arlington National Cemetery.  Soldiers who volunteer to become Tomb Guards must undergo a strict selection process and intensive training. Each element of the Tomb Guard’s routine has meaning. The Guard marches 21 steps down the black mat behind the Tomb, turns and faces east for 21 seconds, turns and faces north for 21 seconds, and then takes 21 steps down the mat. Next, the Guard executes a sharp “shoulder-arms” movement to place his rifle on the shoulder closest to the visitors, signifying that he or she stands between the Tomb and any possible threat. The number 21 symbolizes the highest symbolic military honor that can be bestowed: the 21-gun salute.

NATIONAL MOMENT OF REMEMBERANCE ACT

Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act in 2000. The act designates 3:00 p.m. on Memorial Day as a time for prayer and reflection.

As stated by the Clinton administration, the purpose of the National Moment of Remembrance is to honor fallen soldiers and remind citizens of the true meaning of Memorial Day.

May 3, 2026 A. D.

Saturday, May 9                     SUNDAY OF THE MAN BORN BLIND 

         4:00 PM                          All Mothers Living & Deceased

Sunday, May 10                     SUNDAY OF THE MAN BORN BLIND 

        8:30 AM                            All Mothers Living & Deceased

Thursday, May 14                     ASCENSION OF OUR LORD- OBLIGATION

        8:30AM                             God’s Blessing & Good Health for All Parishioners

Saturday, May 16                   SUNDAY OF THE FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL

         4:00 PM                          Irene Frisbie- Dempsey Family

Sunday, May 17                     SUNDAY OF THE FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL

        8:30 AM                            Joseph Kane- Gloria Udiski

MOTHERS…..

A teacher asked the class a question: “Suppose your mother baked a pie and there were five of you– two parents and three children.  What part of the pie would you get?”  Quickly a little boy shot up his hand to answer, and then confidently responded, “One fourth. “No.  You didn’t understand the question, or you don’t know your fractions,” said the teacher.  “Remember, there are five of you.”  “Yes, I realize that,” said the boy, “But you don’t know my mother.  My mommy would say she didn’t want any pie so that everyone else could have more.”  How many of us have mothers like this?  I was fortunate to grow up with a mother who possessed such a spirit.  If one phrase summarizes authentic motherhood, it is “sacrificial love,” (agape).  She is always ready to give of her very self in a quiet, humble way.  

St. John Chrysostom on Motherhood and Mother’s Prayer

As someone who studies motherhood and theology and who has five children myself, fellow Catholic mothers often ask me if I can point them to prayers for mothers for their children, since few of our prayer books include prayers on this subject. While I do have a few prayers I pass on, I also recommend that they read Saint John Chrysostom’s thoughts on prayer and motherhood.  Saint John of the fourth century is a frequent source for reflection on family life in the twenty-first. His reverence for family rings clear across the centuries, and this is true especially in his appreciation for motherhood. Saint John elevated motherhood to something beyond the mundane, daily care of children and into the realm of spiritual significance. Directing his remarks at mothers, he said, “I mean, the children being born, provided they receive proper care and are brought up to virtue by your attention, prove a basis and occasion of complete salvation for you; and in addition to your own virtuous acts you will receive a great reward for your care of them.” (Homily on Hannah, Old Testament Homilies) Thus Chrysostom saw motherhood as a salvific opportunity, as a vocation that can lead to the heavenly reward.  Saint John was particularly moved by the vision of motherhood he saw in Hannah, the mother of Prophet Samuel in the Old Testament (1 Samuel 1-2). He admired the power of Hannah’s spontaneous prayer when she visited the temple eager to have a child. He wrote of the intensity of the prayer she prayed in her quest for motherhood and in her later dedication of her child to the Lord.   In praising Hannah’s spontaneous prayer, Saint John contrasted it with more typical, less mindful prayer: “I mean, while we all pray, we do not all do it before the Lord: when the body is lying on the ground and the mouth is babbling on, and the mind wandering through all parts of the house and the market place, how will such people be in a position to claim that they prayed before the Lord?” (Homily on Hannah, Old Testament Homilies)  In short, Hannah provides the model for all types of prayer, not just a mother’s prayer. Most prayer is half-hearted, barely present, whereas Hannah’s prayer is fully present, felt in her body and her soul. Yet, Saint John also saw a special role for prayer by mothers. His specific instruction to mothers is that they should consecrate their children through prayer. As a mother and a theologian, I find this to be an important reminder of the importance of my prayers for my own children.   Though the Catholic Church lacks many composed prayers for mothers, and though the addition of such prayers would be welcome, Hannah’s tale shows that mothers have taken prayers for their children into their own hands for millennia—and that the Church has celebrated this initiative. This is why I point mothers to Saint John: he reminds us that our spontaneous prayers as mothers are powerful on their own. Whatever words we choose, it is our sacred responsibility as mothers to bless and consecrate our children by praying for them.-The Catalog of Good Deeds

To us he gave life everlasting, let us bow before His third-day Resurrection.

PRAYERS:  Please remember in your prayers all who are in need of God’s help.  Remember those in the nursing facilities, hospital and at home, all the sick and the suffering.  Please say a special prayer for all of our nation’s soldiers and their families at home and abroad.  Please pray for all our priests, active and retired.

SOROKOUSTY SERVICE:    The fifth Sorokousty is Saturday, May 23^rd at 8:00 am. 

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!:   Father Walter wishes all of the Mothers of our Parish a Very Happy and Blessed Mother’s Day and Eternal Rest to all Deceased Mothers.  

PETITIONS TO THE MOTHER OF GOD:  May is the month of Blessed Mother of God. We will have Petitions to the Mother of God following Divine Liturgies this month.

Petitions & Prayers for Our Parishioners:  John Ostrum, Donna Winsock, Sonia Dempsey, Catherine Halloway, Charles Hallaway, Louise Hubiack, Frank Udiski, Paul Hoover & James Bencho.  Keep them in your prayers.  If anyone would like to be included in the prayer list drop a note in the basket, email the church or text Michalene Ostrum at 570-704-7079.

WALKING PILGRIMAGE: FOOTSTEPS OF OUR ANCESTORS:  Save the date Saturday, June 13.  A Seven Mile Walking Pilgrimage from St. Mary’s Church in Mocanaqua through the Pinchot State Forest, Mocanaqua Tract to St. Nicholas Church, Glen Lyon.  Divine Liturgy offered and lunch served at the end of the walk.  Register by June 6, 2026 at www.tinyurl.com/foapilgrimage26.  For more information call/text 570-301-9253 or email foapilgrimage@gmail.com.  The faith lives on in Glen Lyon……….

The Feast of the Ascension of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ is celebrated each year on the fortieth day after the Great and Holy Feast of Pascha (Easter). Since the date of Pascha changes each year, the date of the Feast of the Ascension changes. The Feast is always celebrated on a Thursday.  The Feast itself commemorates when, on the fortieth day after His Resurrection, Jesus led His disciples to the Mount of Olives, and after blessing them and asking them to wait for the fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit, He ascended into heaven.  The account of the Ascension of our Lord, celebrated as one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Church, is found in the book of the Acts of the Apostles 1:3-11. It is also mentioned in the Gospels of Mark (16:19) and Luke (24:50-53). The moment of the Ascension is told in one sentence: “He was lifted up before their eyes in a cloud which took Him from their sight” (Acts 1:9).  Christ made His last appearance on earth, forty days after His Resurrection from the dead. The Acts of the Apostles states that the disciples were in Jerusalem. Jesus appeared before them and commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the “Promise of the Father”. He stated, “You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5).  After Jesus gave these instructions, He led the disciples to the Mount of Olives. Here, He commissioned them to be His witnesses “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). It is also at this time that the disciples were directed by Christ to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Jesus also told them that He would be with them always, “even to the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).  As the disciples watched, Jesus lifted up His hands, blessed them, and then was taken up out of their sight (Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9). Two angels appeared to them and asked them why they were gazing into heaven. Then one of the angels said, “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him going into heaven” (Acts 1:11).  The icon of The Ascension of Our Lord is a joyous icon. It is written with bright colors. Christ is shown ascending in His glory in a mandorla.  A mandorla is a design which is almond-shaped or round. Inside the mandorla is the figure of a holy person. Christ blesses the assembly with His right hand. In His left is a scroll. The scroll is a symbol of teaching. This icon shows that the Lord in heaven is the source of blessing. In addition, Jesus is the source of knowledge. The icon reminds us that Christ continues to be the source of the teaching and message of the Church, blessing and guiding those to whom He has entrusted his work.  The Theotokos occupies a very special place in this icon. She is in the center of the icon, immediately below the ascending Christ. The gesture of her hands is gesture of prayer. She is clearly outlined by the whiteness of the garments of the angels. The Theotokos is depicted in a very calm pose. This is quite different from the appearance of the Disciples. They are moving about, talking to one another and looking and pointing towards heaven. The entire group, the Theotokos and the disciples represent the Church.  The icon of the Ascension includes some who did not witness the Ascension. St. Paul is shown to the left of the Theotokos, but we know that he was not present at the Ascension. At that time, St. Paul did not yet believe in Jesus. But he became a Christian and one of the greatest Apostles and missionaries of Church.  The icon expresses the sovereignty of Christ over His Church; He is its Head, its guide, its source of inspiration and teaching; it receives its commission and ministry from Him, and fulfils it in the power of the Holy Spirit.

May 3, 2026 A. D.

Христос Воскрес!   Воістину Воскрес!

CHRIST IS RISEN!  INDEED HE IS RISEN!

Saturday, May 2                     SUNDAY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN

CHRISTOS VOSKRESE!  VOISTINU VOSKRESE!

         4:00 PM                          Helene Sirak- Helen Harabin

Sunday, May 3                        SUNDAY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN 

        8:30 AM                            God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Saturday, May 9                     SUNDAY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN

         4:00 PM                          All Mothers Living & Deceased

Sunday, May 10                     SUNDAY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN 

        8:30 AM                            All Mothers Living & Deceased

“With Fear of God”- The fear of God is often misunderstood.  “Why should we fear God, when our God is the God of love?” some say.  Of course He is the God of love but if we don’t have the fear of God in us, we won’t have the love of God either, but only a deceptive feeling, which will lull our conscience into permissiveness, laxity and a stagnant spiritual life.  And if they further retort, “I don’t fear God, because I love God,” quoting the Scripture, which says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears, has not reached perfection in love” (1 John 4:18) they forget one thing, that few reach this stage of perfection.

            The Scripture says, “Fear God, and keep His commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone.  For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every secret thing, whether good or evil(Eccl 12:13-14).   Fear of God is not instructed only in the Old Testament.  The Apostle Peter is very direct and straightforward:  “Fear God”.  (1Peter 2:17) Also the Angel of the Apocalypse shouts, “Fear God and give Him glory, for the hour of judgement has come.” (Rev 14:7). The Lord Himself warned us, “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more.  But I will warn you whom to fear: fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into Gehenna (Hell).  Yes, I tell you fear Him.” (Lk 12:4-5) This fear keeps us on the right path and gives birth to other virtues.

            St. Tikhon couples fear of God with faith, and tells us that, “Without living faith and the fear of God it is impossible to live in a godly way… The fear of God  will guard you and correct you everywhere and in all things, and will turn you away from every evil deed, and confirm you in every good deed.  Thus day by day, you will become better.”   “Let us draw near to Him, then, with fervor and burning charity, so that we will not have to endure punishment,”  St. John Chrysostom prompts us. And he continues: “Let us, then rouse ourselves up and be filled with awe… that we may not, by approaching thoughtlessly and carelessly heap fire upon our heads…For this table is the sinews of our soul, the bond of our mind, the foundation of our confidence, our hope, our salvation, our light, our life.”    (The Heavenly Banquet; Father Emmanuel Hatzidakis…Page 334)

ASK FATHER A QUESTION?  Father, when are the gifts changed into the Body and Blood of Christ according to our Eastern Faith?  Is there a moment, or a time in the Liturgy when we are certain?  It happens during the Liturgy which begins even before most parishioners arrive at church.  There is no single specific moment in the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom that you can point to and say it happens here.  The most you can say from that mindset is that by the time the Epiclesis Prayer is completed, this is now without question the body and blood of Christ.  Remember, the priest begins the Prayers of Preparation before the Liturgy begins. Most people notice something is happening when people hear the bells of the censor. (Priest incensing the gifts.)  

PRAYER FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE CHURCH

O glorious St. Michael, guardian and defender of the Church of Jesus Christ come to the assistance of the Church, against which the powers of hell are unchained, guard with especial care her august Head, and obtain that for Him and for us the hour of triumph may speedily arrive.  O glorious Archangel St. Michael, watch over us during life, defend us against the assaults of the devil, assist us especially at the hour of death; obtain for us a favorable judgement, and the happiness of beholding God face to face for endless ages.  Amen.

The Altar Candles for April are requested by Michaelene Ostrum IMO father Michael Sirak.

PETITIONS TO THE MOTHER OF GOD:  May is the month of Blessed Mother of God. We will have Petitions to the Mother of God following Divine Liturgies this month.

WALKING PILGRIMAGE: FOOTSTEPS OF OUR ANCESTORS:  Save the date Saturday, June 13.  A Seven Mile Walking Pilgrimage from St. Mary’s Church in Mocanaqua through the Pinchot State Forest, Mocanaqua Tract to St. Nicholas Church, Glen Lyon.  Divine Liturgy offered and lunch served at the end of the walk.  Register by June 6, 2026 at www.tinyurl.com/foapilgrimage26.  For more information call/text 570-301-9253 or email foapilgrimage@gmail.com.  The faith lives on in Glen Lyon……….

SOROKOUSTY SERVICE:    The fifth Sorokousty is Saturday, May 23^rd at 8:00 am. 

MOTHER’S DAY:  Mother’s Day is next Sunday, May 10th.  We will have Divine Liturgy for All Living and Deceased Mothers’ of our Parish.  Remember your Mom in Divine Liturgy. 

PRAYERS:  Please remember in your prayers all who are in need of God’s help.  Remember those in the nursing facilities, hospital and at home, all the sick and the suffering.  Please say a special prayer for all of our nation’s soldiers and their families at home and abroad.  Please pray for all our priests, active and retired.

Saint Andrew-The First Called (Apostle)

(Apostle means “called,” disciple means “follower,” hence there can only be 12 apostles)

St. Andrew, also known as Andrew the Apostle, was the older brother to St. Peter.  According to the New Testament, Andrew was born in the village of Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee during the early first century. Much like his younger brother, Simon Peter, Andrew was also a fisherman. Andrew’s very name means strong and he was known for having good social skills.

Little else is said about Andrew in the Gospels, but it is believed Andrew was one of the closer disciples to Jesus. It was he who told Jesus about the boy with the loaves and fishes, according to John 6:8. When Philip wanted to speak to Jesus about Greeks seeking him, he spoke to Andrew first. Andrew was also present at the last supper.

Eusebius in his church history 3,1 quoted Origen as saying that Andrew preached in Scythia. The Chronicle of Nestor adds that he preached along the Black Sea and the Dnieper river as far as Kiev, and from there he traveled to Novgorod. Hence, he became a patron saint of Ukraine, Romania and Russia.

Per Christian tradition, Andrew went on to preach the Good News around the shores of the Black Sea and throughout what is now Greece and Turkey. Andrew was martyred by crucifixion in Patras. He was bound, rather than nailed, to a cross, as is described in the Acts of Andrew. He was crucified on a cross form known as “crux decussata,” which is an X-shaped cross or a “saltire.” Today this is commonly referred to as “St. Andrew’s Cross.” It is believed Andrew requested to be crucified this way, because he deemed himself “unworthy to be crucified on the same type of cross as Jesus.”  Andrew’s remains were originally preserved at Patras. However, some believe St. Regulus, who was a monk at Patras, received a vision telling him to hide some of Andrew’s bones. Shortly after Regulus’ dream, many of Andrew’s relics were transferred to Constantinople by order of Roman emperor Constantius II around 357. Regulus later received orders in a second dream telling him to take the bones “to the ends of the earth.” He was to build a shrine for them wherever he shipwrecked. He landed on the coat of Fife, Scotland.  In September 1964, Pope Paul VI had all of St. Andrew’s relics that ended up in Vatican City sent back to Patras. Now, many of Andrew’s relics and the cross on which he was martyred are kept in the Church of St. Andrew in Patras.

St. Andrew is venerated in Eastern Europe as the first preacher of Christianity in that territory and in Cyprus for having struck the rocks creating a gush of healing waters upon landing on the shore.  His saltire cross is featured on the flag of Scotland and is represented in much of his iconography. He is commonly portrayed as an old man with long white hair and a beard, often holding the Gospel book or a scroll.  St. Andrew is the patron saint of fishermen and singers. He is also the patron saint to several countries and cities including: Scotland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and the city Patras and his feast day is celebrated on November 30.

*It is said that Andrew preached in Scythia,  a kingdom which included at the time modern- day Ukraine.

                                                   April 26, 2026 A. D.

Saturday, April 25                  SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC MAN

         4:00 PM                          Alex Szumskyj – God’s Blessings and Health 

Sunday, April 26                     SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC MAN

8:30 AM                           Baptism of Julia Kate Johnson, daughter of Joshua Kieth and Oksana Palashchuk Johnson.

Tuesday, April 28

         Noon                               Visit by Ukrainian Catholics from Philadelphia

Saturday, May 2                     SUNDAY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN

         4:00 PM                          Helene Sirak- Helen Harabin

Sunday, May 3                        SUNDAY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN 

        8:30 AM                            Paul Morelli- Lindy Morelli

Christ is Risen! Indeed He Is Risen!   ХРИСТОС ВОСКРЕСЕ!

The Altar Candles for April are requested by Michaelene Ostrum IMO father Michael Sirak.

SVIACHENNE:   A sincere thank you to everyone who helped out with the Sviachenne this past week.  It was especially nice to see everyone enjoying themselves and working together.  Thank you again to everyone who donated the food, money and their time to make it happen!

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE HEATING SYSTEM REPAIR:  I express my deepest appreciation to everyone who contributed the repair for the heating system.  The total bill was $8,106.50.  Parishioner donations were a total of $2,200 and the Women’s Society donated the remainder of the cost, $5906.50.  May God grant you many happy years, peace, health and salvation, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

WALKING PILGRIMAGE:  Save the date Saturday, June 13.  Seven mile trek from St. Mary’s Church, Mocanaqua to St. Nicholas Church, Glen Lyon.  More information is on the flyer in the vestibule. 

MOTHER’S DAY:  Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10th.  We will have Divine Liturgy for All Living and Deceased Mothers’ of our Parish.  Remember your Mom in Divine Liturgy. 

40^th ANNIVERSARY OF CHERNOBYL DISASTER: The disaster took place April 26, 1986.  The World Health Organization estimates that 30,000 deaths can be directly attributed to the Chernobyl Disaster and over 7 million people have been exposed to radiation from the accident.  The Chernobyl explosion unleashed at least 400 times more radioactive fallout that the bomb the United States dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.  Soviet Authorities allegedly forced thousands of pregnant women within an 18.6 miles exclusion zone to get an abortion after the disaster.  Although the Chernobyl accident occurred in Ukraine, Belarus received about 70 percent of the contamination.  Three men prevented a steam explosion after the initial Chernobyl accident.  The explosion would have destroyed the entire Chernobyl plant and rendered all of Europe uninhabitable for hundreds of years.  Please pray for the living and deceased victims of this disaster and for the whole world.  (See Letter from Major Archbishop Svyatoslav Shevchuk.)

PRAYER FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE CHURCH

O glorious St. Michael, guardian and defender of the Church of Jesus Christ come to the assistance of the Church, against which the powers of hell are unchained, guard with especial care her august Head, and obtain that for Him and for us the hour of triumph may speedily arrive.  O glorious Archangel St. Michael, watch over us during life, defend us against the assaults of the devil, assist us especially at the hour of death; obtain for us a favorable judgement, and the happiness of beholding God face to face for endless ages.  Amen.

ASK FATHER A QUESTION?  Father, in the Roman Catholic tradition at Easter Time, we have the symbol of the lamb of God- is that part of our Ukrainian Tradition- why does it not appear as prominent in our church?  Father after church on Sunday, you were wearing a White Cassock- why? The Lamb of God absolutely is in our tradition in plain sight-but unrecognized.  The white cassock of the priest is part of our tradition that if a priest or deacon has a cassock made of pure wool-the hair of the lamb- he wears it during Eastertide from Easter till Eve of Ascension.  Likewise, the priest wears the brightest vestments he has during this time for the Liturgies.  All of these are a reminder and a living of the sacrifice of the most pure and unblemished Lamb to atone for sin.  Lastly the word, Pascha translates into “Lamb of God,” “Passover,” and “Bread of Life.”  Our church calls Easter the Feast of the Lamb of God.

Saturday, April 18                SUNDAY OF THE OINTMENT BEARERS 

         4:00 PM                        God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Sunday, April 19                   SUNDAY OF THE OINTMENT BEARERS 

        8:30 AM                         Michael Hubiak- Louise Hubiak

Saturday, April 25                SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC MAN

         4:00 PM                        Alex Szumskyj – God’s Blessings and Health 

Sunday, April 26                   SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC MAN

8:30 AM                         Baptism of Julia Kate Johnson, daughter of Joshua Kieth and Oksana Palashchuk Johnson.

Entering into Solitude for Prayer

Whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door. – Matthew (6:6)

In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ taught us that during prayer we should “go into our room and shut the door.”  The Fathers of the Spiritual Life frequently offered interpretations of these words.  They understood them as an injunction to direct our intention deep within ourselves.  This is the interior intention to which St. Basil the Great refers in his appeal to “Attend to yourself!”  The Liturgical Words “Let us be attentive!” continually reminds us of this.  The most important reaction to this call is to increase our attention to what is going on within ourselves.  CUCC 699/700

Evil Thoughts

 We are constantly under the influence of various thoughts, ideas, and views, and we choose from among them those that we consider important.  These thoughts can be either good or evil, and so they affect our spiritual life in different ways.  In the book of Genesis, we read how the serpent deceived mankind, saying that they will become like God if they reject God’s commandment. Temptation is a “nudge” or incitement to sin.  Confronted by such instigation, mankind can either succumb or resist it.  Adam and Eve succumb to the sinful temptation and become, therefore, personally responsible for the sin.  The same occurs in our life.  If we give our ascent to evil thoughts then we sin.  The beginning of every sin is the acceptance of an evil thought coupled with the desire to bring it to life.  If a person does not take possession of an evil thought, this thought is not a sin but only a temptation.  St. John of Damascus distinguishes various stages in the process by which evil thoughts penetrate the heart.  Among these are:  suggestion, internal conversion, struggle, ascent, and passion (captivity).      *n.b. Demonic forces can influence mankind through thoughts, as can angels guide you through thoughts.  Every thought that runs through your mind did not necessarily begin with you.  Pray often and pray well so that good thoughts may originate with you and you learn to follow angels and not devils.*   CUCC 788/789

PRAYER FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE CHURCH

O glorious St. Michael, guardian and defender of the Church of Jesus Christ come to the assistance of the Church, against which the powers of hell are unchained, guard with especial care her august Head, and obtain that for Him and for us the hour of triumph may speedily arrive.  O glorious Archangel St. Michael, watch over us during life, defend us against the assaults of the devil, assist us especially at the hour of death; obtain for us a favorable judgement, and the happiness of beholding God face to face for endless ages.  Amen.

The Altar Candles for April are requested by Michaelene Ostrum IMO father Michael Sirak.

The Sanctuary Light is requested by Carol Bosack-Kosek  IMO The Bosack Family.

SVIACHENNE: IT’S THIS WEEK! The Sviachenne will be this Sunday, April 19, 2026 12:15PM.  It is a Covered Dish Sviachenne between Transfiguration of Our Lord Church & Ss. Peter & Paul Church!  There is no charge for the Sviachenne Dinner and it will be held at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church basement.  Thank you to everyone who signed up!

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE HEATING SYSTEM REPAIR:  I express my deepest appreciation to everyone who contributed the repair for the heating system.  The total bill was $8,106.50.  Parishioner donations were a total of $2,200 and the Women’s Society donated the remainder of the cost, $5906.50.  May God grant you many happy years, peace, health and salvation, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

WALKING PILGRIMAGE:  Save the date Saturday, June 13.  Seven mile trek from St. Mary’s Church, Mocanaqua to St. Nicholas Church, Glen Lyon.  More information is on the flyer in the vestibule. 

FLEA MARKET:  Transfiguration of Our Lord Church will be having a Flea Market, Bag Day is Sunday, April 19^thfrom noon to 1PM.

            Ask Father a question? Father, the following passage is confusing “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open.  The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.  They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people,” could you help me with this?  Does this mean that individuals other than Christ have risen from the dead and are in heaven?  What does “appeared to many people” refer to, spirits?  No, just as Lazarus was raised from the dead, Lazarus died a second time and was buried a second time.  So too all those who rose from the dead, died a second time and were buried a second time.  This is a reminder to us that at the end of days with the second coming of Christ, all the dead will rise from their tombs, their soul being re-united with their perfect (finished) body.  That little passage “returned to life” means that they went back to living as they were before they died and were buried in a tomb.  Each of these people lived for a time and died a second natural worldly death.  They too will rise at the end of time for judgement with all the dead.  I believe your difficulty in understanding this, is the common concept today that salvation is being in heaven with God is your bodiless soul floating around in the sky eternally.  This is simply wrong.  Everyone will bodily rise from the dead, even the people who were vaporized by the atomic bombs of Japan at their epicenter will receive back their physical bodies with their soul reunited, and then judged for Heaven or Hell.  A little side note, did you know that the cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima had the highest populations of Catholics in Japan?  This is an indication, and a reminder, to us of our end that God has in store for us.  Your body and your soul both matter.  So let’s go to Revelation Chapter 20:12-15:

“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened.  Another book was opened, which is the book of life.  The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.  The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

We were given a fore taste of the general resurrection with the dead that rose from their tombs with Christ.  From Luke Chapter 24:37-41:

“They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet.  It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”  When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”

April 12, 2026 A. D.

Saturday, April 11                  THOMAS SUNDAY 

4:00 PM                      Helene Sirak- Stephen & Gloria Udiski

                                                 Distribution of Artos

Sunday, April 12                     THOMAS SUNDAY 

             8:30 AM                       Divine Liturgy, Distribution of Artos

God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Saturday, April 18                  SUNDAY OF THE OINTMENT BEARERS 

         4:00 PM                          God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Sunday, April 19                     SUNDAY OF THE OINTMENT BEARERS 

        8:30 AM                            Michael Hubiak- Louise Hubiak

CONFESSION: “We can talk about a confession crisis, but the larger issue is that people just don’t believe in sin anymore,” said journalist Russell Shaw, former communications director for the U.S. bishops and author of numerous books, including “Why We Need Confession.”   This points to a related fact — many Catholics no longer affirm many ancient teachings of the church, he said.  This is especially true when details in the Catholic catechism clash with the doctrines of the sexual revolution.  When thinking about “grave” or “mortal” sins, many Catholics have decided this language simply does not apply to their own mistakes and struggles.  “The idea is that you don’t need to go to confession unless you’ve done something really, really bad,” said Shaw.  “People say, ‘I’m a good person.  I haven’t done anything bad, or I haven’t done anything I think is really bad — so I don’t have anything to confess.’  And many Catholics question whether the church should play any role in mediating this sin, repentance and forgiveness process.”  Father Moses agreed that “our culture is working hard to get rid of the concept of sin. … But sin is sin because it’s bad for us and lots of people are hurting.  That’s reality.”  While stressing that “I’ve only been a priest for four years and I’m not an authority on anything,” he said he does believe priests now have a decision to make when preaching and teaching about confession.   “We have to ask, ‘Do we believe that the gospel is good news?  Do we believe that what we are teaching is true and that the sacraments are real?’ … If we do, then confession is an essential part of our faith.”  From:  canonlawmadeeasy.com/2023/04/06/is-confession-still-an-easter-duty-repost/

Can a truly Orthodox view and practice of confession be restored?  Yes, if we have the courage to deal with the problem at its roots and not with mere externals.

The starting point of this restoration is in preaching and teaching.  To some extent all Christian preaching and teaching is a call to repentance, to the metanoia, the change of mind, the reevaluation of all values in the light of Christ.  There is no need to preach constantly on “sin,” to judge and to condemn.  It is when a man is challenged with the real “contents” of the Gospel, with its Divine depth and wisdom, beauty and all embracing meaning, that he becomes “capable of repentance,” for the true repentance is precisely the discovery by the man of the abyss that separates him from God and from His real offer to man.  It is when the man sees the bridal chamber adorned that he realizes that he has no garment for entering it.  Too much of our preaching is in the form of abstract imperatives: the Church prescribes to do this and that; but commanding is not preaching.  Preaching implies the desire to convey to people the positive, the Divine meaning, for it is only this meaning that makes “prescriptions” significant, life-giving, saving. Christian teaching should also include a deep and constructive criticism of the secularistic philosophy of life, an evaluation of the culture in which we live.  Christians must always fight idols – and there are plenty of them today: “success,” “materialism,” “security,” “money-centerdness,” etc.  For here again, only within such broad and truly Christian judgment of this world the notion of sin recovers its true meaning, as deviation of love and interest, as worshipping values and norms that are not truly “valuable.”  This implies, of course, that the priest himself is free of this identification with the world, puts eternal Truth and not the “practical considerations,” in the very center of his ministry.  Confession, then, must be replaced in the perspective of the sacrament of penance [and Holy Communion].  And each sacrament implies at least three equally essential elements: preparation, liturgical order, and fulfillment.  If the whole life of the Church, but especially preaching and teaching are, as we have seen, preparation for repentance in a broad sense, there is room and need for special preparation.  The Church has set apart special periods of repentance: Lent, Advent, other fasts.  Here the liturgy itself becomes a “school of repentance” (cf. for example the inexhaustible riches of the Lenten Triodion), and it is the proper time to center preaching on the sacrament of penance itself.  The order of Gospel readings, the Psalter, the hymns and prayers supply us with abundant material, the purpose of preaching being to “apply” all this to men, to their life, to their actual situation.  The goal is to provoke in them the penitential mood, to make them examine their life not only in terms of isolated sins and transgressions, but in their deepest motivations.  Where is the real treasure of their hearts?  What guides them in their life…A man who questions the deep motivations of his life, who has understood, be it just once, that life in its totality can and must be referred to Christ, is on his way to repentance, which is always a conversion, a change of mind, a renewed vision, a decision to return to God (cf. my pamphlet on Great Lent).  The preparation must, of necessity, include an explanation of confession, – its order, prayers, meaning.

6. The liturgical order of confession consists of A) prayers before confession, B) exhortation to penitents, C) confession proper, and D) Absolution,[and E) reception of Holy Communion which completes the confession.]

The Altar candles for April are requested by Michaelene Ostrum IMO father Michael Sirak.

The Sanctuary Light for this week is requested by Rebecca Molecavage IMO her mother Frances Bencho.

WOMEN’S SOCIETY:  The monthly meeting of the Women’s Society will be held on Tuesday, April 14th at 6 PM in the church hall. All current members are urged to attend and new members are needed and always welcome. 

SVIACHENNE: IT’S NEXT WEEK! The Family Sviachenne will be on Sunday, April 19, 2026 12:15PM.  It is a Covered Dish Sviachenne between Transfiguration of Our Lord Church & Ss. Peter & Paul Church!  We have hams donated.  We will put out a list for other items and attendees.  There is no charge for the Sviachenne Dinner and it will be held at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church basement.  Please see sign-up sheet at back of church.  HELP IS NEEDED ESPECIALLY FOR CLEAN UP.  Thank you to everyone who signed up!

WALKING PILGRIMAGE:  Save the date Saturday, June 13.  Seven mile trek from St. Mary’s Church, Mocanaqua to St. Nicholas Church, Glen Lyon.

FLEA MARKET:  Transfiguration of Our Lord Church will be having a Flea Market on Saturday, April 11 from 9am to 2pm and Saturday, April 18 from 9am to 2pm (1/2 Price Sale).  Bag Day is Sunday, April 19 from noon to 2PM.

Prayer for Family

Heavenly Father, please shine Your light upon our families. Give us strength to overcome the attacks of the evil one in all of the difficulties that we are dealing with now and protect us against any and all problems we may encounter in the future.  O Lord, please bring us together as we are meant to be.  May the love that binds us grow stronger as we fulfill the destiny you have laid out for us.   Grant my family repentance from sins we have committed.  May we also forgive one another Lord, as it is sometimes difficult to do.  Bless us O Lord, In your name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit I pray, Amen.

CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!

PASCHA-RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD

April 5, 2026 A. D.

Saturday, April 4                    HOLY SATURDAY  *Abstinence from Meat *

            1:00 PM                      Blessing of Food

Sunday, April 5                       PASCHA-EASTER SUNDAY (w/Myrovania)

             7:30 AM                       Resurrection Matins, Divine Liturgy, Blessing of Artos

God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

                                                Myrovania, Blessing of Paschal Food 

Monday, April 7                     BRIGHT MONDAY (w/Myrovania)

          8:30 AM                         God’s Blessings on Gary & Jacinta Poullard- Poullard Family

Tuesday, April 7                     BRIGHT TUESDAY (w/Myrovania)

          8:30 AM                         God’s Blessings on Brent, Allison W., Allison P., Matthew, 

                                                Cameron, Blaise & Jayce Alexander – Poullard Family

Saturday, April 11                  THOMAS SUNDAY 

4:00 PM                      Helene Sirak- Stephen & Gloria Udiski

                                                 Distribution of Artos

Sunday, April 12                     THOMAS SUNDAY 

             8:30 AM                       Divine Liturgy, Distribution of Artos

God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Ancient Holy Saturday Homily

(REPRINTED WWW.ROYAL DOORS.NET)

Something strange is happening – there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.  He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with you all”. Christ answered him: “And with your spirit”. He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light”.  I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated. For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucified in a garden.  See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. See there the marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your warped nature in my image. On my back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your back. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree.  I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in hell. The sword that pierced me has sheathed the sword that was turned against you.   Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity.  Written by an unknown author in Greek in the fourth century (PG 43, 439, 462f).

Petitions & Prayers for Our Parishioners:  John Ostrum, Donna Winsock, Sonia Dempsey, Catherine Halloway, Charles Hallaway, Louise Hubiack, Frank Udiski, Paul Hoover & James Bencho.  Keep them in your prayers.  If anyone would like to be included in the prayer list drop a note in the basket, email the church or text Michalene Ostrum at 570-704-7079.

ASK FATHER A QUESTION?   Father, why are the Royal Doors open during Bright Week?  The Royal Doors are kept open as a sign to us that Christ came to restore access to the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Eternal Life for us, which we lost access to when we sinned as we read in the First Week of Lent.  

Ask Father a question, Father, I noticed that when the “women” return to the grave, there is Mary, the mother of God, and the “other” Mary is with her.  Who is the other Mary?  It seems to me that there are many Mary’s…. wasn’t there Saint Mary of Egypt that we commemorated on the Fifth Week of Lent?  I get confused.  Yes, there are many Mary’s.  Depending on which Gospel you read, it may be difficult to understand which Mary is being spoken about at times.  A few of the Mary’s we know; are Mary the Mother of God, Mary Magdalene, Mary the sister to Lazarus and Martha, Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary the mother of James, Joseph and Salome, among others.  Mary is the Greek translation from Jewish, Mariam.  At the grave, Luke and Mark, specify that Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James and Joseph are at the grave looking for Jesus on the morning of the first day of the week.  

            Why did Mary, the Mother of Jesus not go to the sepulcher on first day of the week with the other Mary’s?  Church tradition orally passed on from the apostles, and some common sense, tells us that Jesus having risen from the dead, went to visit His mother first.  

            Yes, there was a Saint Mary of Egypt that we remember the Fifth Week of Lent, who lived in the late fourth to early fifth century.  We do not read about Saint Mary of Egypt in the Holy Scriptures.

Christ is Risen! Indeed He Is Risen!   ХРИСТОС ВОСКРЕСЕ !

May everyone have a most Blessed Easter and Bright Week!   Christos Voskes!

The Altar candles for April are requested by Michaelene Ostrum IMO father Michael Sirak. 

The Sanctuary Light for this week is requested by Michaelene Ostrum IMO father Michael Sirak.

SVIACHENNE:  The Family Sviachenne will be on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 12:15PM.  Plans are being constructed to have a Covered Dish Sviachenne between Transfiguration of Our Lord Church & Ss. Peter & Paul Church!  We have hams donated.  We will put out a list for other items and attendees.  There is no charge for the Sviachenne Dinner and it will be held at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church basement.  Covered dishes and help is needed.

CONFESSION:   Reminder, the Church decrees that you make at least one good confession a year before Easter.  

FLEA MARKET:  Transfiguration of Our Lord Church will be having a Flea Market on Saturday, April 11 from 9am to 2pm and Saturday, April 18 from 9am to 2pm (1/2 Price Sale) due to the contribution of additional new and used merchandise.

Tackle your Fears Head-On

Fear is a childish feeling of the adult but empty soul. Fear is really a lack of faith that becomes obvious when we think of what unforeseen things might happen. It is lack of trust in God. The proud soul is a slave to fear precisely because it trusts in itself and so shudders at any noise or any shadow. Those who are contrite for their sins have no fear. So if there are places where you are normally afraid to go, do not hesitate to frequent them even at dead of night, armed with prayer. Your fear is a childish and ridiculous thing, but if you give way to it only a little, it will take root in your heart and stay with you. So arm yourself with prayer and when you reach the spot lambaste the enemy in the name of Jesus. There is no stronger weapon in earth or heaven than that. And when you are cured of your fear, sing the praises of the One who has freed you. If you thank him, he will always protect you. Sometimes only the body is afraid and the fear has not spread to the soul, then you are nearly cured. The one who serves God, fears his Lord and no other. The one who does not fear his Lord is scared even of his own shadow. – By St. John Climacus Stairway to Paradise 21 (PG88, 945)

GUARDIAN ANGELS:  Angels do exist!  Besides our visible universe God has created another, invisible, corporeal spiritual world.  Though angels are superior to us in dignity, we are created more perfectly in God’s image.  The Holy Spirit attests to their creation before the universe to their great numbers, and to their primary ministry, which is to ‘present the prayers of the Saints’ to God, and to behold His glory.  The Lord said, “Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you  in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven” and glorify Him incessantly.  The angels are assigned to many ‘orders’ usually grouped in nine, although we know nothing definite about this.  God has assigned angels to protect us, from different scriptural passages we are taught the angels are assigned by God to protect entire nations and individuals.  Certain angels are assigned to minister to us, by being God’s messengers, and attend to the spiritual progress and perfection of human beings.  They are placed in the service of God’s plan of salvation for man.  “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to salvation?  “We pray for the guardian angel, (not that one may be given us), since each of us has one from the moment of his birth, but that he may be active and may fulfill his task, that he may protect us and lead us in the right way, and may not, angered by our sins, desert us.”  Several of the Fathers of the Church teach that only baptized Christians have a guardian angel.  According to certain Fathers, we are assigned two angels a good one, our guardian angel, and an evil one.  Guardian angels guide human beings and steer them in the path of goodness without interfering with their free will or forcing them to follow it.  When we fall into serious sin, however, the guardian angel departs.  At the hour of death the guardian angel will carry the soul to heaven.  In the prayer “You who in all times.” Recited during Hours, we pray, “Surround us with your holy angels, so that guarded and guided by their host, we may attain to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of Your unapproachable glory.”  

Prayer to Our Guardian Angel:  O Holy Angel of God, guardian and protector of my soul and body, forgive me everything in which I have grieved you all the days of my life, and in which I sinned in the day just past.  Protect me during the coming night and keep me from every influence of the enemy, that I may not anger God by any sin.  Intercede for me to the Lord that He may strengthen me in His fear and make me worthy to be a servant of His goodness. Amen.

March 29, 2026 A. D. 

Saturday, March 29 PALM SUNDAY (Myrovania)

Blessing of Palms/Pussywillows

            4:00 PM           UMichael Drazba- Monica Bergin

Sunday, March 30       PALM SUNDAY (Myrovania)

Blessing of Palms/Pussywillows

            8:30 AM             God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners 

Tuesday, March 31 HOLY TUESDAY

          4:00 PM The Presanctified Liturgy (Confessions Before/After)

Thursday, April 2 HOLY THURSDAY

          3:00PM Matins of the Holy and Saving Passion of our Lord

Friday, April 3 GOOD FRIDAY*Abstinence from Meat & Dairy Products*

           1:00 PM Vespers with the Placement of the Holy Shroud

Saturday, April 19 HOLY SATURDAY*Abstinence from Meat *

1:00 PM Blessing of Food

Sunday, April 20 PASCHA-EASTER SUNDAY (w/Myrovania)

             7:30 AM            Resurrection Matins, Divine Liturgy, Blessing of Artos

God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Myrovania, Blessing of Paschal Food 

Transfiguration of our Lord Church – 2026 A.D.

Holy Monday, March 30

       6:30PM  The Presanctified Divine Liturgy/Confessions

Holy Tuesday, March 31 – Services at SS. Peter & Paul Church (4:00pm)

Holy Wednesday, April 1

      5:30 PMThe Presanctified Divine Liturgy/General Anointing

            ******Abstinence from Meat ***

Holy Thursday, April 2

      6:30PM  Matins of the Holy and Saving Passion of our Lord/Confessions

Good Friday, April 3

      5:30PM  Vespers with Placement of the Plastinicha/Confessions

  ******Abstinence from Meat & Dairy Products***

Holy Saturday, April 4

       3:00PM Blessing of Paschal Food 

  ******Abstinence from Meat ***

      6:30 PM Resurrectional Vespers/Divine Liturgy Saint Basil the Great(Myrovania)

Pascha (Easter Sunday), April 5 

      11:00AM Divine Liturgy/Blessing of Artos/Myrovania Blessing of Easter Baskets

ANOINTING OF THE SICK ON HOLY WEDNESDAY

The General Anointing of the Sick is done for all baptized Christians present at the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts on Holy Wednesday.  If there are two blessings, the first blessings is done at the end of The Litany of Peace and the second is after the Litany of Supplication.  If more than one priest is present the people should be anointed by each of the priests present, up to seven priests in total.  The Prayer of Anointing is said first for all present, then each is anointed on the forehead, cheeks and palm of the hands with the formula, “The servant of God is anointed for the healing of soul and body, for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting.” This is the one time each year that this Mystery (Sacrament) is provided to all the faithful in attendance and forgives all sins so that even one who has not “gone to confession” is now freed from sin and if the person remains free from sin, is free to receive of the Eucharist, the Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

Pick up your Palms as you enter the church.  Hold your Palms when Father Walter incenses the church-following that Father will bless the Palms while you hold them.

 AFTER……Let us who mystically represent the Cherubim……  DURING THE ENTRANCE OF GIFTS:  WELCOMING JESUS WITH PALMS-Now is the time to hold up your palms/willows.

Petitions & Prayers for Our Parishioners:  John Ostrum,Donna Winsock, Sonia Dempsey, Catherine Halloway, Charles Hallaway, Louise Hubiack, Frank Udiski, Paul Hoover & James Bencho.  Keep them in your prayers.  If anyone would like to be included in the prayer list drop a note in the basket, email the church or text Michalene Ostrum at 570-704-7079.

The Altar candles for April are requested by Michaelene Ostrum IMO father Michael Sirak. 

The Sanctuary Light for this week is requested by Michaelene Ostrum IMO Kathy Zoltewicz.

SVIACHENNE:  The Family Sviachenne will be on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 12:15PM.  Plans are being constructed to have a Covered Dish Sviachenne between Transfiguration of Our Lord Church & Ss. Peter & Paul Church!  We have hams donated.  We will put out a list for other items and attendees.  There is no charge for the Sviachenne Dinner and it will be held at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church basement.  Covered dishes and help is needed.

CONFESSION: Let us prepare our souls by making a good Confession and receiving Communion.  Holy Confession will be held before Divine Liturgy or after Divine Liturgy, if necessary.  Confessions will be held before the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy and by appointment.  Reminder, the Church decrees that you make at least one good confession a year before Easter.  

SETTING UP GRAVE:  We will be setting up the grave immediately following services on Holy Thursday.  Everyone is invited and encouraged to help prepare for Good Friday Services.

ADORATION SCHEDULES:  Adoration schedules are in the back of the church.  Please sign up to spend time with Christ.

March 22, 2026 A. D.

Saturday, March 21 FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

            4:00 PM           UAnn Beshada – Nieces & Nephews

Sunday, March 22       FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

            8:30 AM             God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners 

Wednesday, March 25 FEAST OF ANNUNCIATION- Obligation (Myrovania) 

            4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Friday, March 28 LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

            4:00 PM            

Saturday, March 29 PALM SUNDAY (Myrovania)

Blessing of Palms/Pussywillows

            4:00 PM           UMichael Drazba- Monica Bergin

Sunday, March 30       PALM SUNDAY (Myrovania)

Blessing of Palms/Pussywillows

            8:30 AM             God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners 

Transfiguration of Our Lord Church

Saturday Liturgy is 6:00 PM

Sunday Liturgy is 10:30 AM

Pre-Sanctified Liturgy (Wednesday): 6:30PM

 ASK FATHER A QUESTION.  Father, Lent ends on Lazarus Saturday, now what?  Why are we still fasting?    We fast because we are in Holy Week, a completely new fast period.  Just as the children of Israel fasted before the Passover, we fast during Holy Week.  We fast for the Eternal Passover.  Passover?  What’s Passover?  Passover is when the Angel of Death came over the nation of Egypt, the 10^th plague came, because in vengeance Pharaoh swore death on the first born son of every Jewish Family in Egypt.  That night the Angel of Death came and took the first-born male of every household in Egypt that did not have the blood of the lamb on the doorpost and lintel (top of the door frame) of their house, but “passed over” those with the lamb’s blood marker.  God instructed all the Israelites to slaughter the lamb and to eat the “whole” lamb that night.  Nothing was to be left until morning.  Because of the speed and the urgency of the Pharaoh’s decree, the Israelites did not have time to bake bread and to allow it to rise, hence the unleavened bread, the bread of haste, was made and eaten with bitter herbs and the lamb that evening.  This is the Passover Meal.  This is a type of resurrection, passing over from death into life, from slavery to freedom, that the bitter herbs are to remind them of 400 years of bondage in Egypt.  Pascha has three meanings that are all intended at one and the same time:  1)  Pascha is the Greek from the Jewish word “Pesach,” meaning Passover.  2)  Pascha is also translated from the Greek to means “lamb.”  3)  Pascha also means “bread.”  When we celebrate the Feast of Pascha, we are celebrating:  the Passover into Eternal Life, the Lamb of God, and the Bread of Eternal Life.  

ASK FATHER A QUESTION……. Father, the betrayal of Jesus was foretold by the prophet Zechariah 11:12-13 ….. it leads one to believe that Judas is just a mechanism to fulfill the prophecy of Jesus.  Is this is true?  What happens to Judas?  In short, the answer to the question is no.  The reason for this is that Judas has free will, just like us.  He can choose how to respond to God and what he will do.  From his free will, desire to obtain more money, Judas betrays Christ.  After the crucifixion, Judas recognizes his sin of betraying the Messiah.  Perhaps his greater sin is that he falls into despair and kills himself.  He does this being tempted by the Devil.  This is perhaps the bigger sin.  The devil leads him to believe that God would not forgive him of betraying an innocent man.  Ultimately, the point is that just because something is foretold does not mean that that person has to act it out like a mechanical robot.  God lives outside of time and knows everything everyone will ever do.  When God reveals this message to a prophet to lead people to salvation- it does not mean that that person’s actions are “pre-destined”- meaning that that person does not have free will to act as they choose.  Imagine if on that morning Judas came to his senses and repented and begged forgiveness to Jesus and the Apostles for his betrayal.  We would be telling the great story of the Conversion of Saint Judas The Repenter; however, he chose to follow the deceiving words of the deceiver, fall into despair, thinking he could not be forgiven, so he hung himself.  All these are of Judas’ free will choices.  God’s saving plan is revealed in salvation history, i.e. time, so that we could know the truth and believe.  Once you grasp this you realize that Judas is not mere mechanism to fulfill what is foretold.  

“And I said unto them, If you think good, give me my hire; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter, the goodly price that I was prized at by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them unto the potter, in the house of the Lord.” (Zechariah 11:12-13).

The Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints, Basil the Great, is celebrated ten times each year: January 1^st (Feast of Saint Basil); December 24^th (Christmas Eve); January 5^th (Theophany Eve); First thru Fifth Sundays of Lent (not Palm Sunday); and Holy Thursday & the Virgil Liturgy of Easter Sunday.

Petitions & Prayers for Our Parishioners:  John Ostrum,Donna Winsock, Sonia Dempsey, Catherine Halloway, Charles Hallaway, Louise Hubiack, John Udiski, Paul Hoover & James Bencho.  Keep them in your prayers.  If anyone would like to be included in the prayer list drop a note in the basket, email the church or text Michalene Ostrum at 570-704-7079.

The Sanctuary Light for this week is requested by Ann Magill IMO Ann Beshada.

HEATER REPAIR: The Heat Exchange Unit has been replaced and the total cost is $8,106.54.  The heater is now working.  Thank you to everyone who donated to offset the cost of this repair.  Thank you very much.

LENTEN RETREAT:  Lenten Retreat is THIS Sunday, March 22 at 4:00PM, beginning with Lenten Vespers/Retreat given by Father Paul Makar at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church.  A light social will follow.

SVIACHENNE:  The Family Sviachenne will be on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 12:15PM.  Plans are being constructed to have a Covered Dish Sviachenne between Transfiguration of Our Lord Church & Ss. Peter & Paul Church!  We have hams donated.  We will put out a list for other items and attendees.  There is no charge for the Sviachenne Dinner and it will be held at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church basement.  Covered dishes and help is needed.

PSYANKY CLASSES: Thank you to Ali Shappert & David Youells for “teaching” our psyanky class.  We had many children who came and enjoyed making Ukrainian Easter Eggs.  Thank you!

FLEA MARKET & FOOD SALE

Transfiguration of Our Lord Church

240 Center Street, Nanticoke, PA

Friday, March 27, 9am- 2pm

Saturday, March 28, 9am- 2pm &

 BAG DAY WILL BE AFTER EASTER

Weather permitting we will be

Selling Potato Pancakes, Pierogi,

Whimpies, Clam Chowder & More!

Tell Your Friends & Neighbors!

The Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom

If any man be devout and love God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast. If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord. If any have labored long in fasting, let him now receive his recompense.

If any have wrought from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If any have come at the third hour, let him with thankfulness keep the feast. If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall in no wise be deprived therefore. If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing.

If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; for the Lord, who is jealous of his honor, will accept the last even as the first; he gives rest unto him who comes at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who has wrought from the first hour.  And he shows mercy upon the last and cares for the first, and to the one he gives, and upon the other he bestows gifts. And he both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honors the acts and praises the offering.

Wherefore, enter you all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward, both the first and likewise the second. You rich and poor together, hold high festival. You sober and you heedless, honor the day. Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast. The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away. Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness.

Let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon has shown forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Savior’s death, has set us free. He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it. By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive.

He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry:

Hell, said he, was embittered when it encountered Thee in the lower regions. It was embittered, for it was abolished. It was embittered, for it was mocked. It was embittered, for it was slain. It was embittered, for it was overthrown. It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains. It took a body and met God face to face. It took earth and encountered Heaven. It took that which was seen and fell upon the unseen.

O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory?
Christ is risen, and you are overthrown!
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life reigns!
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave!

For Christ, being risen from the dead has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen. (an excerpt.)

Transfiguration of our Lord Church – 2026 A.D.

Holy Monday, March 30

       6:30PM  The Presanctified Divine Liturgy/Confessions

Holy Tuesday, March 31 – Services at SS. Peter & Paul Church (4:00pm)

Holy Wednesday, April 1

      5:30 PMThe Presanctified Divine Liturgy/General Anointing

            ******Abstinence from Meat ***

Holy Thursday, April 2

      6:30PM  Matins of the Holy and Saving Passion of our Lord/Confessions

Good Friday, April 3

      5:30PM  Vespers with Placement of the Plastinicha/Confessions

  ******Abstinence from Meat & Dairy Products***

Holy Saturday, April 4

       3:00PM Blessing of Paschal Food 

  ******Abstinence from Meat ***

      6:30 PMResurrectional Vespers/Divine Liturgy Saint Basil the Great(Myrovania)

Pascha (Easter Sunday), April 5 

       11:00AM Divine Liturgy/Blessing of Artos/Myrovania Blessing of Easter Baskets

ANOINTING OF THE SICK ON HOLY WEDNESDAY

The General Anointing of the Sick is done for all baptized Christians present at the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts on Holy Wednesday.  If there are two blessings, the first blessings is done at the end of The Litany of Peace and the second is after the Litany of Supplication.  If more than one priest is present the people should be anointed by each of the priests present, up to seven priests in total.  The Prayer of Anointing is said first for all present, then each is anointed on the forehead, cheeks and palm of the hands with the formula, “The servant of God is anointed for the healing of soul and body, for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting.” This is the one time each year that this Mystery (Sacrament) is provided to all the faithful in attendance and forgives all sins so that even one who has not “gone to confession” is now freed from sin and if the person remains free from sin, is free to receive of the Eucharist, the Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

SS. Peter and Paul Church-2026 A.D.

 20 Nottingham Street, Plymouth, PA

Holy Tuesday, March 31

4:00 PM The Presanctified Liturgy, Confessions

Holy Thursday, April 2

3:00PM Matins of the Holy and Saving Passion of our Lord

Good Friday,   April 3

1:00PM Vespers with the Placement of the Holy Shroud

******Abstinence from Meat & Dairy Products***

Holy Saturday, April 4

1:00 Blessing of Food

******Abstinence from Meat ***

Pascha, Sunday, April 5

7:30AM Resurrection Matins, Divine Liturgy, Blessing of Artos

Blessing of Paschal Food, Myrovania

 ASK FATHER A QUESTION…What is the significance of the number 40 in the Bible?  Why did God allow Christ to be tempted in the desert in Christ’s 40 days of preparation for His Ministry?  In Salvation History between sinning and entering the Kingdom of Heaven is a long life and preparation period.  The number 40 repeats in the Holy Scriptures as a “type” of Spiritual journey either preparing to do some special calling of God in the material world or a cleansing before it is acceptable to enter the “holy Land.”  Forty years in the desert of the nation of Israel, Moses on Mount Sinai forty days and forty nights, Forty days of rain at the time of Noah, Jesus going out in the desert and preparing forty days among others.  

Do not forget Jesus is fully man as well as Holy God.  So just as the devil has access to tempt men, so too the devil has access to tempt the Son of Man, Jesus Christ.  Because, Jesus demonstrates that yes, a man can be successful and does have power over devils.