My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
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ON SEPTEMBER 26th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE FALLIG ASLEEP OF SAINT JOHN THE THEOLOGIAN
John was the son of Zebedee the fisherman and Salome the daughter of Joseph, the betrothed of the Holy Mother of God. Called by the Lord Jesus, John immediately left his father and the fishing nets and followed Christ with his brother James. From that time, he was not parted from his Lord until the end. With Peter and James, he was present at the raising of Jairus's daughter and at the Lord's Transfiguration (Metamorphosis), and he laid his head on Jesus' breast at the Mystical Supper. When all the other had forsaken the Crucified Lord, John stayed beneath the Cross with the Holy Mother of God. In obedience to the Lord's wish, he was as a son to the Holy Ever-Virgin Mary, caring for her and serving her, looking after her right up to her Falling Asleep. After her Koimisis (Dormition), Saint John went off with his disciple Prochorus to preach the Gospel in Asia Minor, and mainly lived and worked in Ephesus. By his inspired preaching and miracles (wonders), he brought many to Christianity and undermined the foundation of paganism. The angry pagans bound him and sent him to Rome to the pagan Emperor Domitian. He was tortured and flogged before the Emperor, but, when he was unharmed either by the strong poison that he was given t drink or the boiling oil into which he was put, the Emperor was afraid and, thinking he was immortal, sent him into exile on the Greek Island of Patmos. On this island, Saint John the Theologian brought many to Christianity by his words and miracles and strengthened the Church of God. He wrote his Gospel and the Apocalypse (Book of Revelation there. In the time of the pagan Roman Emperor Nerva, who gave liberty to all the captives, Saint John returned to the city of Ephesus, where he lived for some time, confirming the work that he had earlier begun. He was over a hundred years old when he went to the Lord. When his disciples later opened his grave, they found that his body was not there. Every year, on May 8th, fine, fragrant dust endowed with healing power rose from his grave. After a long and fruitful life of labor upon earth, this beloved disciple of Christ and pillar of the Church entered unto the joy of his Lord, to peace and Eternal rejoicing. (Source: The Prologue from Ochrid)
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DIVINE LITURGY AT 10:00 A.M. Parishioners at higher-risk are asked to attend this service and receive Holy Communion.
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things! - Saint John Chrysostom
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George