SUN MAY 18 5th SUNDAY OF PASCHA. Of the Samaritan Woman. Tone 4
- 5тa НЕДІЛЯ ПАСХИ. Про Самарянку.
- Liturgy.Святa Літургія @ 9:00 AM
- Apostle Acts 11:19-26, 29-30
- Gospel Jn. 4:5-42
- Panakhyda for Julia and Michael Stepanczak, and Joann Mitchell, requested by the Stepanczak and the Pokotylo families.
SAT MAY 24 Moleben to the Mother of God.
- Молебень до Пресвятої Богородиці @ 5:00 PM
SUN MAY 25 6th SUNDAY OF PASCHA. Of the Blind Man. Tone 5
- 6та НЕДІЛЯ ПАСХИ. Про Сліпородженного.
- Liturgy.Святa Літургія @ 9:00 AM
- Apostle Acts 16:16-34
- Gospel Jn. 9:1-38
- Memorial Day Panakhyda. (Outside by the memorial, weather permitting)
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ХРИСТОС ВОСКРЕС! ВОІСТИНУ ВОСКРЕС! CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED, HE IS RISEN!
PLEASE BE COURTEOUS when parking your vehicle in a church parking lot on Sunday morning! It has been noticed that some of our parishioners take two parking spots by parking their cars outside of the designated parking spot lines. Please ensure your vehicle is positioned correctly before leaving it and coming to the church.
БУДЬ ЛАСКА, БУДЬТЕ ВВІЧЛИВІ під час паркування автомобіля в неділю вранці біля церкви! Помічено, що деякі наші парафіяни займають 2 паркувальних місця, паркуючи свої автомобілі поза відведеними лініями паркувальних місць. Будь ласка, переконайтеся, що ваш автомобіль правильно запаркований, перш ніж залишити його на парковці та прийти до церкви.
A REMINDER: According to the overwhelming decision of last November’s Annual parish meeting, annual dues are $12 per week now. Please consider that when making your much-appreciated contributions.
НАГАДУВАННЯ: Згідно з рішенням щорічних парафіяльних зборів у листопаді минулого року, щорічні парафіяльні внески зараз становлять 12 доларів на тиждень. Будь ласка, враховуйте це, роблячи свій дуже цінний внесок.
FROM CEMETERY COMMITTEE: The Cemetery bylaws (Decorations and Memorials) page 63 item 2 state that NO GLASS containers are to be used. These are strictly forbidden and will be removed. Also, memorials of wood, tin, or iron composition will not be permitted; this includes wooden or metal crosses. These WILL be removed at the discretion of the cemetery committee. If there are any questions about this, рlease contact David Bouchard at (860) 463-4506 or email david.bouchard@comcast.net.
Coffee and… Thank you to Youth Ministry and Church School for hosting coffee and… last Sunday! Hryhorii Protsanyn will host today, and pani matka Oksana will host next Sunday. Thank you for your continuous support of coffee and…
ВІД КОМІТЕТУ Кладовища: Вода включена. У положеннях кладовища зазначено, що СКЛЯНІ контейнери заборонено використовувати. Вони суворо заборонені та будуть видалені. Також, пам’ятники з дерева, нержавійки або заліза не дозволені. Це включає дерев’яні або металеві хрести. Вони БУДУТЬ видалені відповідно до встановлених правил на розсуд комітету кладовища. Будь ласка, зв’яжіться з Девидом Бушаром за тел. (860) 463-4506. Будь ласка, передайте це повідомлення родині, друзям та тим, хто, можливо, не отримує цю розсилку
PHOTINI/SVITLANA (the Samaritan woman): At Pentecost, Saint Photini received baptism, along with her five sisters, Anatole, Photo, Photis, Paraskeve, Kyriake, and her two sons, Photeinos and Joseph. She then began a missionary career, traveling far and wide, preaching the Good News of the Messiah’s coming, His death, and resurrection. When Nero, the emperor of Rome, began to persecute Christians, Photini and her son Joseph were in Carthage, in Africa, where she was preaching. After Jesus appeared to Photini in a dream, she sailed to Rome. Her son and many Christians from Africa accompanied her. Photini’s arrival and activity aroused curiosity in the capital city. Everyone talked about her, “Who is this woman?” they asked. “She came here with a crowd of followers and preaches Christ with great boldness.” Soldiers were ordered to bring her to the emperor, but Photini anticipated them. Before they could arrest her, Photini went to Nero with her son Joseph and her Christian friends. When the emperor saw them, he asked why they had come. Photini answered, “We have come to teach you to believe in Christ.” The half-mad ruler of the Roman Empire did not frighten her. She wanted to convert him! Nero asked the saints their names. She introduced herself, her five sisters, and her younger son by name. The emperor then demanded to know whether they had all agreed to die for the Nazarene. Photini spoke for them. “Yes, for the love of Him we rejoice and in His name we’ll gladly die.” Hearing their defiant words, Nero ordered their hands beaten with iron rods for three hours. The saints, however, felt no pain. Nothing happened to their hands. Photini joyfully quoted words of a psalm by David: “God is my help. No matter what anyone does to me, I shall not be afraid.” Perplexed by the Christians’ endurance and confidence, Nero ordered the men thrown into jail. Photini and her five sisters were brought to the golden reception hall in the imperial palace. There, the six women were seated on golden thrones. In front of them stood a large golden table covered with gold coins, jewels, and dresses. Nero hoped to tempt the women by this display of wealth and luxury. Nero then ordered his daughter Domnina, with her slave girls, to speak with the Christian women. He thought women would successfully persuade their Christian sisters to deny their God. Domnina greeted Photini graciously, mentioning the name of Christ. On hearing the princess’s greeting, the saint thanked God. She then embraced and kissed Domnina. Photini catechized Domnina and her hundred slave girls and baptized them all. She gave the name Anthousa to Nero’s daughter. After her baptism, Anthousa immediately ordered all the gold and jewels on the golden table distributed to the poor of Rome. When the emperor heard that his daughter had been converted to Christianity, he condemned Photini and all her companions to death by fire. For seven days, the furnace burned. But when the furnace door was opened, it was seen that the fire had not harmed the saints. Next, the emperor tried to destroy the saints with poison, but Photini offered to be the first to drink it. “O King,” she said, “I will drink the poison first so that you might see the power of my Christ and God.” All the saints then drank the poison after her. None suffered any ill effects from it. In vain Nero subjected Photini, her sisters, sons, and friends to every known torture. The saints survived unscathed to taunt and ridicule their persecutor. For three years, they were held in a Roman prison. Saint Photini transformed it into a “house of God.” Many Romans came to the prison, were converted, and baptized. Finally, the enraged tyrant had all the saints, except for Photini, beheaded. She was thrown first into a deep, dry well and then into prison again. Photini now grieved that she was alone, that she had not received the crown of martyrdom together with her five sisters and her two sons. Night and day, she prayed for release from this life. One night, Jesus appeared to her and made the sign of the cross over her three times. Many days later, while she hymned and blessed God, Saint Photini gave her soul into God’s hands.
+ + + CHURCH SCHOOL AND YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS + + +
Church School classes will be held today. No class next Sunday, May 25 (Memorial Day Weekend). Classes will resume on June 1 (last class of the school year).
Congratulations to Yuliya, who is observing her patron saint’s day, St. Julia, today. May God grant Yuliya MANY BLESSED YEARS! MNOHII LITA!
Next Saturday, May 24, at 10:00 a.m., students, teens, young adults, and parents are encouraged to place flags on the graves of veterans at our cemetery on Osgood Avenue. Please help to honor those who have served to protect us. There is no rain date.
Sunday, June 1 – Last Church School class of the school year. Bowling will follow at Lessard Lanes in Plainville from 12:30-3:00 pm. All forms should be returned to Helen Zeleniuk by next Sunday, May 25. All students, teens, and young adults are invited to participate in this annual fun event.