9650 Johnnycake Ridge Road • Mentor, Ohio 44060 • 440-946-9571 • fandrew@saintnicholas-oca.org • saintnicholas-oca.org

Weekly BulletinSt. Nicholas Orthodox Church

A Community of the Orthodox Church in AmericaWitnessing to the Apostolic Faith in Lake County for over 44 Years

Father Andrew Clements, Pastor

ATTENDANCE / STEWARDSHIP / Sep 30Attendance: (Adults 100, Children 30) 130Operating $3,314.00OCA Assessments 243.00 Uganda Children 50.00Charities 45.00Icons 37.00Seminarians 627.00WEDDING BANNSAshley Brozozowski and Joseph Dimattia on Satur-day, Oct 13 at 1:00 pm.DIOCESAN ASSEMBLYPlease keep Fr Andrew and Sue Hoffacker in your prayers this week as they travel to Lansing, IL for the Diocesan Assembly Oct 8-10. Fr will be monitoring his messages remotely so call the Parish Office if any emergencies arise.EVENING ADULT CLASSThe Class will not meet this week but will resume on Oct 16 at 7:00 pm to continue our study of the Epistle to the Hebrews. SPECIAL COLLECTIONNext Sunday, following Liturgy, Anna Cuningham will be taking a collection for St Innocent’s Orphan-age.3RD MEL TINTOR ANNUAL BLOOD DRIVESaturday, Oct 27 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. 1. Go to www.redcross.org2. Put in 44060 and click “find a drive”

Volume 32 2018 Number 40

Sunday Oct 7 19th Sunday after Pentecost / Tone 2 / Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus 9:00 am Church School 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Coffee HourSaturday Oct 13 St Innocent of Alaska 1:30 pm Brozozowski Wedding 5:30 pm Great Vespers Sunday Oct 14 20th Sunday after Pentecost / Tone 3 / Frs of the 7th Ecumenical Council Readings: Gal 1:11-19 Luke 8:5-15 9:00 am Church School 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Coffee Hour

3. Click the “load more results” button at the bottom of the address list until the 28th of October shows up (took about 5 clicks)4. Click the blood drive and sign up for a time.DINNER FOR BISHOP’S VISTA Catered Dinner will take place on Sunday, Nov 4 in honor of Bishop Paul’s Visit. Menu: Chicken Marsala, Lemon Chicken, Red Skin Potatoes, Salad and dress-ing, Garlic Rolls. There is a $5.00 ticket price and children 10 and under are free. Also, we’re asking that each family bring a Baked Good for dessert. Please see Maureen Medakovich during Coffee Hour to pur-chase tickets. Please indicate total people attending from your family.BISHOP’S SCHEDULE NOV 2-4Friday, Nov 2Dinner with Fr Andrew & DebbieSaturday, Nov 32-4:00 pm—Open Forum with Bishop Paul—every-one is invited.4:00 pm Vespers5:30 pm—Dinner with Parish Council (Hellriegel’s Inn)Sunday, Nov 49:30 am—Greet the Bishop10:00 am Divine Liturgy (Ordination of Dan Rausch to Subdeacon)12:00 pm —Informal Banquet

Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus

PRAYER CORNER + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Eleanor Alexander (Tom’s mom), Perry (Capitan), Sbdcn Leonard, Kathy (Denise F’s sis), Jim (Ruth’s dad), John (Adam’s nephew), Ted Geletka, (Fr’s frnd), infant Julian, John Clements, Sarah Crivella, Darlene (Mary V’s csn), Nancy, (Ruth B’s frnd), Joella (Lu D’s daughter), Scott Strunk (Glorai H’s frnd), suffering Christians in Ukraine and the Middle East.Anniversaries: Chad & Meredith Nicoletti (10/12).Birthdays: Maria Kucmanic, Sue Hoffacker (10/7), Paula Tintor, Alexi Antonoff (10/12).

Newborns: Silvia (Chad & Meredith), Maverick (Matt & Michelle), Theodora (Tom & Miranda).Expecting: David & Maria, Daniel & Danielle, Colin & Tamuna, Tom & Laura.Departed: Fr Dragon Filipovic (9/18, Fr A’s good friend), Katherine (9/13, Adam C’s cousin), Janet Weinland (9/5, Sharon G’s mom).Our Seminarian: Brian Crivella & Family.Our Missionaries: Peter & Sharon.

Commemorated on October 7 The Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus in Syria were appointed to high positions in the army by the emperor Maximian (284-305), who did not know that they were Christians. Envious people informed Maximian that his two trusted counsellors did not honor the pagan gods. This was considered to be a crime against the state.

The emperor, wanting to convince him-self of the truth of the accusation, ordered Sergius and Bacchus to offer sacrifice to the idols, but they replied that they honored the One God and worshiped only Him.

Maximian commanded that the martyrs be stripped of the insignia of military rank (their belts, gold pendants, and rings), and then dressed them in feminine clothing. They were led through the city with an iron chains around their necks, and the people mocked them. Then he summoned Sergius and Bacchus to him again and in a friendly manner advised them not to be swayed by Christian fables, but to return to the Roman gods. The saints refuted the emperor’s words, and demonstrated the folly of worshiping the pagan gods.

The emperor commanded that they be sent to the governor of the eastern part of Syria, Antiochus, a fierce hater of Christians.

Antiochus had received his position with the help of Sergius and Bacchus. “My fathers and benefactors!” he said. “Have pity on yourselves, and also on me. I do not want to condemn my benefactors to cruel tor-tures.” The holy martyrs replied, “For us life is Christ, and to die is gain.” The enraged Antiochus ordered Bacchus to be mercilessly beaten, and the holy martyr surrendered his soul to the Lord. They shod Sergius with iron sandals with nails in their soles and sent him to another city, where he was beheaded with the sword.

Troparion Your holy martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, O Lord, through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God. For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries, and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. Through their interces-sions, save our souls!

Kontakion Having courageously confronted the en-emy, you brought an end to his guiles, and received from on high the crown of victory. Illustrious martyrs, Sergius and Bacchus, with one heart you cry aloud: “How good and pleasant it is to dwell with God.”