the angel of light 04/2009

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April; 2009/Monthly Bulletin of the Orthodox V Charitable AssociationEditorAlona Sergeeva

Happy Easter!!!On Easter morn, we celebrate our Savior;

Whatever people seek in Him, they find.

In history, there has never been another

So holy, sacrificial, good and kind.

His resurrection makes us all immortal;

Happy Easter! Jesus Christ is everything!

If any man is a devout lover of God, let him enjoy this fair andradiant triumphal feast. If any man is a wise servant, let himrejoicing enter into the joy of the Lord. If any has labored long in fasting, let him now receive his recompense. If anyhas wrought from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If any has come at the third hour, let him have

no misgivings; because he will in no wise be deprived thereof. If any has delayed until the ninth hour, let him drawnear, fearing nothing. If any has tarried even until the eleventh hour let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; forthe Lord, who is jealous of his honor, will accept the last even as the first; He gives rest to him who comes at theeleventh hour, even as to him who has wrought from the first hour. And he shows mercy on the last, and cares forthe first; and to the one he giveth, and upon the other he bestoweth gifts. And he accepts the deeds, and welcomesthe 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 youwho have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast. The table is full-laden; feast you all sumptuously. The calfis fatted; let no one go away hungry. All of you, enjoy the feast of faith: receive all the riches of loving-kindness. Letno one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one weep for his iniquities, for par-don has shone forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Savior's death has set us free. He who was held

prisoner of it, has annihilated it. By descending into Hell, he has made Hell captive. He angered it when it tasted ofhis flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry: Hell, said he, was angered, when it encountered You in the lower re-gions. It was angered for it was abolished. It was angered, for it was mocked. It was angered, for it was slain. It wasangered for it was overthrown. It was angered, 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 isyour 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 Angelsrejoice. Christ is risen, and life reigns. Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave. For Christ, being risenfrom the dead, has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages

of ages. Amen. "classic" texts that cannot be read enough!)

Christ is Risen!!! Indeed He is Risen!!!

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The Patriarchal Parishes Meeting was heldon Saturday February 28/09 in Chipman church

after the Divine Liturgy, whichleadedHis GraceIov, Bishop of Kashira, Administrator of the

Patriarchal Parishes in Canada. Concelebrated

him minister parishes of Orthodox V father

George Sergeev,minister ofSt. Barbara Russian

Orthodox Cathedral in Edmonton father Sergey

Kipriyanovich and minister parishes of Ortho-

dox IX father Igor Kisil.

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On March 6 in Chipman church there

was a meeting of different Christian

confessions within the framework of-World Day of Prayer, which was de-

voted to women-Christians of Papua

New Guinea. The rector of the church a

priest George Sergeev made a report

After the prayer meeting in which

about 80 people took part, there was a

lunch organized by the ladies of ourparishes.

Three Christians killed in Eri-trea for refusing to denouncefaith.International Christian Concern (ICC) reports thatthree Christians have been tortured and killed inEritrea for refusing to denounce their faith.

Eritrea's one-party communist regime has report-edly arrested around 2,000 Christians since2002 and often imprisons them in metal contain-

ers. The country is listed ninth on the ICC Hallof Shame, which lists the worst persecutors ofChristians in the world.

The three latest victims of the regime were ar-rested because they were not members of one ofthe approved Christian churches in the country -the Roman Catholic Church, the Eritrean Ortho-dox Church and the Eritrean Lutheran OrthodoxChurch.

ICC said one of those killed was awoman who was tortured until shewas given the option of being killedor signing a document denying herfaith. Two men were also given thesame choice.

Two of the three victims were deliber-ately exposed to malaria and offeredmedicine if they denied their faith. ICCsaid all three refused the offer andhave been killed.

ICC is calling on Christians to remem-ber the victims of persecution and theirfamilies in their prayers.Chriistian Today, 12 March 2009


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Prison governor says to the pastor:- I've just received the documents: the convictto death is granted pardon.

Oh, what a pity! I prepared him so well.

- Dear, I retire to a cloister-. Wow! Should I dine in the cloister now?

Two autos clashed on the road, one drivenby a Protestant pastor, and another with aJesuit at wheels. The pastor feels sick, andthe Jesuit is a little better. The Jesuit takesout a bottle of whiskey and offers a drop tothe pastor: "Brother, I see you are unwell.Please, have some whiskey..."Whiskey does not makes the Protestant anybetter, and the Jesuit offered him somemore, and more, and more... So the pastoralmost finished the bottle. He felt much bet-ter and said:- What about you, Father? Have a drink, getwarm!- Why? I'm waiting for the police...

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His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill expressedhope that relations between Russia and Canada would develop in anumber of directions.

On Tuesday (March 10) there was ameeting of the embassador of Canada inRussia Ralph Lisishin with the Patriarch in

his residence in Chysty Lane. The Patriarchsaid that Russia and Canada had manycommon features, in the first place the lifeof people in severe northern conditionsand the necessity to fight with frost, theinfrastructure and the culture are also simi-lar.

noted.

tions with Christians of Canada and reminded that there were several parishes of the Mos-

able conditions make it possible for the Orthodox clergy and believers to follow freely

Special thanks from father George,Alona and Kirill!Dear brothers and sisters!!!Thank all of you for your prayers, attention, love and cares inthat time, when Alona was in hospital and thank all of you for


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The Day before Palm Sunday calls Lazarus Saturday. Lazarus was Jesus' friendand the brother of Martha and Mary. When he became very sick, his sisters informed

Jesus. But before He was able to visit him, Lazarus died. Shedding tears for his friend,Jesus hurried to his tomb and brought him to life again.This foreshadows Christ's own Resurrection and serves to remind us of the new life inChrist.

Palm Sunday

The day is the sixth and last Sunday of Lent and the be-ginning of Holy Week calls Palm Sunday. The feast com-memorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem inthe days before his Crucifixion and Resurrection.crowd heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, theywent out to meet Him. He came, riding atop a donkey.Some people spread garments in the way, others cutdown branches from the trees and strewed them alongBlessed is he Who comes in the Name of the Lord; Ho-Two thousand years ago it was not uncommon in the Middle East for people touse palm branches in triumphal processions.

The various names for the Sunday before Easter come from the plants used palms (Palm Sunday) or branches in general (Branch Sunday, Domingo de Ramos,Dimanche des Rameaux). In most countries of Europe real palms are unobtainable,so in their place people use many other plants: olive branches (in Italy), box, yew,spruce, willows, and pussy willows. In fact, some plants have come to be called"palms" because of this usage, such as the yew in Ireland and the willow in Eng-names "Sunday of the Palm-carrying" and "Hosanna Sunday."

From the use of willow branches Palm Sunday was called "Willow Sunday" in

pussy willows, which symbolize new life are blessed and distributed to the faithfuland use for decoration of the Church.

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SPECIAL SERVICES

Holy Friday (Holy Shroud Services) Holy Saturday (Blessing of Paschas)10:00AM - Chahor 1:00PM - Chahor12:00PM - Skaro 3:00PM - Lamont Aux. Hospital

1:00PM - Wostok 4:00PM - Wostok

2:00PM - Farusi 5:00PM - Farusi

3:00PM - Serediak 6:00PM - Serediak

4:00PM - Mundare 7:00PM - Shishkovtzi

5:00PM - Shishkovtzi 8:00PM - Chipman

6:00PM - Chipman 9:00PM - Skaro

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The Saturday of the AkathistHymn is the day, in which the Akathist to the Theotokos is readduring Matins. This Akathist to the Theotokos (Great Akathist) is the only

one recognized by the Typicon and used formally in Divine services; all oth-ers, nearly all of which are of late Slavic origin, are para-liturgical and

properly used only in private devotions. Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) in hisintroduction to the Lenten Triodion writes that this Akathist is one of the

greatest marvels of Christian religious poetry. The Akathist Hymn is a pro-

found, devotional poem, which sings the praises of the Holy Mother andEver-Virgin Mary. It is one of the most beloved services in the OrthodoxChurch. It was composed in the imperial city of Constantinople, "the city of

the Virgin," by St. Romanos the Melodist, who reposed in the year 556. TheAkathist Hymn has proven so popular in the liturgical life of the Church

that many other hymns have been written following its format. These in-

clude Akathists to Our Lord Jesus Christ, to the Cross, and to many Saints.

The Akathist hymn consists of praises directed to the Mother of God, beginning with the salutation of the

Archangel Gabriel: "Rejoice." As the hymn is chanted all of the events related to our Lord's Incarnation passbefore us for our contemplation. The Archangel Gabriel marvels at the Divine self-emptying and the renewalof creation which will occur when Christ comes to dwell in the Virgin's womb. The unborn John the Baptist

prophetically rejoices. The shepherds recognize Christ as a blameless Lamb, and rejoice that in the Virgin"the things of earth join chorus with the heavens." The pagan Magi following the light of the star, praise Her

for revealing the light of the world.

The word "akathistos" means "not sitting," i.e., standing; normally all participants stand while it is beingprayed. The hymn is comprised of 24 stanzas, arranged in an acrostic following the Greek alphabet. The stan-

zas alternate between long and short. Each short stanza is written in prose and ends with the singing of

about the birth of Christ, the worship of the Shepherds and Magi, the flight to Egypt and the visit to Saint

Simeon in the Temple. In the third part the hymn directs our attention to the renewal of the world by

Son. The fourth and the last part is once more a lyric and rhetorical appraisal of Virgin Mary, whom the poet

adorns with the most beautiful of adjectives asking her to accept his poetical offering and to intercede for

the salvation of human race from the earthly sin.


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Schedule of Services

For April 200901 WednesdayAnnual Ortho V Bake Sale

04 Saturday -Confession - North Star05 Sunday - (Tone 1)5th Sunday of LentConfession - Spirit River05 Sunday - ( Tone 1)5th Sunday of LentConfession Chahor, Bishop Iov11 Saturday - Lazarus Saturday- ConfessionShishkovtzi12 Sunday - PALM SUNDAYConfessionSerediak16 Thursday - Holy Thursday- Reading of 12 Gospels -Serediak. 7:00 PM17 Friday -Holy FridaySee page 5

18 Holy Saturday - Blessing of Easter Baskets See page 5

19 Sunday -EASTER SUNDAY ,RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST-

Mundare 8:00 AM25 Sunday -(2th after Easter) -1ST SUNDAY AFTER EAST ER -10:00PMSkaro 3:00 PM WostokOrthodox feasts (prazdniki)

in april

If you have any questions or proposals, please, Contact us:Priest Father George Sergeev 780-895-21-49Email: [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 780-895-21-59Or visit our websitewww.orthodoxfive.org

4 April Saturday of the Akathist Hymn

7 April - The Annunciationof our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos (one of the 12 High Holidays) 11 April - The Saturday of Lazarus

13-18 April - Passion/Holy Week

19 April - Easter Sunday. Holy Pascha (the Greatest Christian Feast)

20-26 April - Easter Week

28 April - Radonitsa ("Day of Rejoicing"). This day is a general memorial for the departed.

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the angel of light 04/2009

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