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 23rd 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.
SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church 