the angel of light 02/2010

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February 2010/ Monthly Bulletin of the Orthodox V Charitable AssociationEditorAlona Sergeeva

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The Meeting of our Lord Jesus ChristOn the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, the Church

commemorates an important event in the earthly life of

our Lord Jesus Christ (Lk 2: 22-40). On the 40th day af-

ter birth the God-Infant was taken to the Jerusalem Tem-ple the centre of religious life of the God-chosen na-

tion. By the Law of Moses (Lev 12) a woman, having

given birth to a child of the male gender, was forbidden

for 40 days to enter into the Temple of God. After this

interval the mother came to the Temple with the child, so as to offer to the Lord

thanksgiving and a purification sacrifice. The Most Holy Virgin, the Mother of God, did not have need

for purification, since without defilement she had given birth to the Source of purity and sanctity, but in

profound humility she submitted to the precepts of the Law.

At this time there lived at Jerusalem the righteous elder Simeon (the account about him is located un-

der the day of his commemoration

3 February). It had been revealed to him that he would not die untilhe should behold Christ the Saviour. By inspiration from above, the pious elder went to the Temple at

that very moment when the Most Holy Mother of God and Righteous Joseph had brought there the In-

fant Jesus, so as to fulfill the ritual ceremony of the Law. The God-Bearer Simeon took the God-Infant

in his arms, and having given thanks to God, he uttered a prophecy about the Saviour of the world: "Now

lettest Thou Thy servant depart, O Lord, with peace according to Thy word, wherefore hath mine eyes

beheld Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to the enlightening

of gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel" (Lk 2: 29-32). At the Temple also the 84 year old widow Anna

the Prophetess, daughter of Phanuel (Comm. 3 February), "who did not leave the temple, serving God both day

and night in fasting and prayer. And she also at that time, having drawn near, glorified the Lord and spake about

Him (the God-Infant) to all awaiting deliverance at Jerusalem" (Lk 2: 37-38).

Before the Birth of Christ, all righteous men and women lived by faith in the Future Messiah the Saviour of the

world, and they awaited His coming. The final righteous ones of the closing Old Testament Righteous Simeon

and the Prophetess Anna were deemed worthy to meet at the Temple the Bearer of the New Testament, in the

Person of Whom both Divinity and humanity do meet.

The Feast of the Meeting of the Lord is among the most ancient feasts of the Christian Church.

holytrinityorthodox.com


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After surviving parachute failure, test pilot builds

church in Antarctica

Test pilot Pyotr Zadirov thanked God for his successful flight with-

out parachute by building the Holy Trinity Church in Antarctica.

Zadirov, a professional parachutist, made a jump from 800 meters,

which has become crucial for him. His parachute failed to open for

technical reasons. However, Pyotr fell in a snowdrift and miracu-

lously had only slight concussions and bruises, doctors could not help wondering as he did not have any

internal injuries, the Moskovsky Komsomolets reported.

Since then Zadirov has erected three churches to thank God for his miraculous salvation including the one

at the South Pole.

uiem service was read for all who died at the Pole before, they were just buried in snow in a small local

Patriarch Alexy II blessed the project of the church in style of wooden architecture in 2000. The church

has become a representation of the Holy Trinity - St. Sergius Laura and rectors serve there in shifts.

Interfax

Followers of "Kiev Patriarchate" attempt to seize church by force in Western Ukraine

A group of Cossacks have averted another attempt by followers of the self-

proclaimed "Kiev Patriarchate" to seize the Protection Church in the village of

Musorovtsy in Western Ukraine.

The incident occurred during the Christmas holidays.

The official website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate reported on Wednes-

day that a Cossack community will be set up in Ternopil region to protect churches from dissenters.

The previous attempt to take over the church was made on January 3. In total, 4 attempts have been made

by followers of the "Kiev Patriarchate" to seize control of the church. At the end of the liturgy about 100

people tried to break in through the front door in the presence of the police and representatives of the vil-

lage administration. They managed to break the lock but failed to enter as they repeated their attemptthrough the side doors using an axe and a five-meter ram.

The first attempt to take over the church by force was made in mid-November and the second two weeks

later. According to Archbishop of Ternopil Sergy, head of the village council personally broke the locks on

the church doors while the riot police used force to let followers of the "Kiev Patriarchate" enter the

church.

There are major divisions in the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Followers are split between the "Kiev Pa-

triarchate" and the Moscow Patriarchate. Interfax

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FOR TWO YEARS IN SUCCESSION ON THE FEAST OF THEOPHANY HIS BEATITUDE MET-

ROPOLITAN VOLODYMYR BLESSES THE WATERS OF THE

DNIEPER.

On January 19, the feast of Theophany, at the capital Obolon-ska embankment, at the foot of the Holy Protection Church(Pryrichna str., 5-the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of

Moscow Patriarchate Metropolitan Volodymyr blessed the waters ofthe Dnieper. Note that this event has taken place already for twoyears in succession.

Concelebrating with His Beatitude were rector of the Kyiv Theologi-cal Schools Archbishop Anthony of Boryspil, Secretary for the Pri-mate of the UOC of Moscow Patriarchate Bishop Alexander ofPereyaslav-Khmelnytskyy and the district clergy.

Upon completion of the rite of the Great Blessing of Waters the Archpastor addressed thosepresent with a word of instruction and greeted them on the feast of Theophany.

"On these bright and lightsome days in the history of our salvation the Innocent Christ hastaken up upon Himself our sins and washed them in the waters of the Jordan. Today theentire essence of the water is being purified and everywhere the water is clean, becausethis is the mercy of God, Who wants us to be as perfect as He is, and were holy as He isHoly. May God send everyone the blessing of the Jordan river through our unworthyprayers, aspersion and reinforcement", he said in particular.

Thereafter all those willing could dive into the ice-hole cut in the shape of the cross. At thevery bath the two-meter glacial cross was installed. It should be noted that the place forblessing of the waters was chosen not by chance, since by tradition the local residents hold

their Theophany bathingthere. orthodox.org.ua

Residents of Ivanovo to "nail" their sins

youth in last month.

The event organizers set a wooden column before the chapel near the Sci-

entific Library and participants in the action should nail with the hammer a sheet of paperwith their sins, the local diocese has informed Interfax.

All comers can repent in such an unusual way, participants in the action also have achance to talk to orthodox clerics.

Interfax

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Orthodox believers celebrated ChristmasOn January 7, Orthodox believers celebrated one of the most important church feasts - the

Nativity of Christ.

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia traditionally conducted the main Christmas service in

the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. About four thousand people attended the Liturgy in spite of biting frost. It was the

first Christmas service Patriarch Kirill celebrated after he had been elected Primate in late January last year. Russian

President Dmitry Medvedev prayed at the patriarchal service.

Festival services have been celebrated that night in 800 Orthodox churches of Moscow and 30 thousand Russian

churches all around the globe - as many parishes the Moscow Patriarchate has today.

Not only Russian Orthodox believers are glorifying the Infant Christ on January 7, but the faithful of the Serbian,

Georgian and Jerusalem Churches who also live according to the Julian calendar. One of the central services took

place in Bethlehem basilica erected above the cave of Christ's Nativity.

Greeting the believers, Patriarch Kirill told about the meaning of Christ's Nativity as it brought people closer to God

and urged to remember about eternal Divine truths, "which can but only transform our lives."

Interfax

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With the Saints give rest, o Christ, to thesouls of Thy servants, where there is neithersickness, nor sorrow, nor sighing, but lifeeverlasting. Memory eternal to people, whichwere our parishioners and departed to Godin the month of February!!!.

God grant many years to all ourparishioners who celebrate theirbirthdays and anniversaries inthe month of February! Wewish you all good health, longlife and happiness!!!

Harold and Jane was not a very religious couple but tried their best; they only went to

Special thanks from father George,Alona and Kirill!Dear brothers and sisters!!!

Thank all of you for your attention, good wishes and nice gifts

May God bless all of you!!!!


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Synodal Department for Prison Ministry of the UOC of Moscow Patriarchateapplied art by the imprisoned.

On January 15, at the blessing of His Beatitude Metropoli-tan Volodymyr, the solemn opening of the All-Ukraine exhibi-tion "Christmas Fretwork", dedicated to the feast of nativity ofChrist, of the works of artistic and applied arts by impris-oned.The organizers of the exhibition were the Synodal Departmentof the UOC for Pastoral Care of the Penitentiary System together with the State Departmentfor Execution of Penalties and the national Kyiv-Pechersk Historical Culture Reserve.

The exhibition presents the objects of art on Christmas themes, manufactured by the impris-oneds, and its participants became some 120 people serving the sentence. After the exhi-bition was announced in December previous year, the local branch offices of the State De-

partment selected the best works and sent them to the central office of the State Departmentof Ukraine for Execution of Penalties. There are more than 130 objects at this exhibition,representing almost all territorial branch offices of the Department.

At the blessing of the Primate of the Ukrainian OrthodoxChurch the exhibition was opened by Vicar of the KyivMetropolis, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Reli-gious Education and Catechization Bishop Ilary ofMakariv. Vladyka conducted the prayer service at theRefectory Church of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, followingwhich he addressed those attending with archpastoral

word. Then the concert of Christmas carols and the pres-entation of the exhibit items were held in the building20, the gallery "Nef" of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. In-vited to the exhibition were the representatives of the

state authorities, the publicity, creative intelligence etc.

At the opening the deputy chief of the administration for social-psychological work of theState Department of Ukraine for Execution of Penalties, colonel of internal service BezorchukO.L. mentioned that the aim of holding such events is propagation of spiritual tradition ofthe Ukrainian nation and the values of the Christian culture, promotion of bringing up in theimprisoned of the healthy habit and morality, law-abiding behavior, effective occupancy at

leisure.

Also addressing those present was head of the Synodal De-partment of the UOC for Pastoral Care of the Penitentiary Sys-tem priest Victor Yatsenko: It has become a good tradition toacquaint the community with religious visual art of the impris-oned. The most part of the exhibits testifies that in spite ofimperfect professional level the creativity itself is motivated byreligious inspiration and the desire to touch the sanctity. Manysimilar iconographic works decorate the churches and prayer rooms in the places of confine-ment. The organizers of the exhibition hope that it will be interested for the general publicand will invoke readiness to help the imprisoned fell necessary for the society".

orthodox.org.ua


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Schedule of Services

For February 2010

7 February (Sunday)- Tone 2 - Chipman - 10:00 AM - Ortho V annual Meeting14 February (Sunday) The meeting of our Lord - Skaro - 10:00AM15, 16, 17, 18 February - the beg. Of Great Lent, Grand Compline - Chipman - 6.30 PM21 February (Sunday) Tone 4, Confession - Mundare - 10:00 AM27 February (Saturday) Patriarchal Parishes Meeting - 10:30 AM - Nisku28 February (Sunday) - Tone 5, Confession - Shiskovtzi - 10:00 AM

Orthodox feasts (prazdniki)

in February

If you have any questions or proposals, please, Contact us:Priest: Father George Sergeev 780-895-21-49

Email: [email protected].

PO Box 483 Lamont Alberta TOB 2R0

President Yakim Lopushinsky 780-895-26-67Vice -President Jim Nemirsky 780-896-23-47Secretary John Tkachuk 780-576-30-73Treasurer Fred Pewarchuk 780-895-21-59

6 February - The Saturday of the Dead(in this day we remember about our de-parted relatives and all departed orthodox people and pray about their souls)

7 February- Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos "Assuage My Sorrow"

8 February- The beg. of Maslenitsa (Pancake week)

14 February- - Martyr Tryphon of Campsada near Apamea in Syria (250).

15 February-The Meeting of Our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

21 February- Triumph of Orthodoxy.

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the angel of light 02/2010

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