The Parishioners of St. Andrew’s in Boston had a very busy Nativity season.  On Sunday, December 11, 2011, Fr. Roman Tarnavsky and Hierdeacon Vasyl celebrated the Divine Liturgy in honor of our patron saint.  As has become customary at this time of year, the Church honored its most recent college graduates with icons of St. Andrew and an invitation to renew their commitment to the parish.  After the Liturgy our honorees, Timothy Smith, a recent graduate of Bentley College and Julia Nary, a recent graduate of Boston College, joined fellow parishioners and guests at a celebratory banquet prepared by the men of the parish.

On Friday, January 6, 2012, the Eve of the Nativity of Christ, the faithful of the parish gathered for the Great Compline and Blessing of Wheat, Wine, and Oil. After the service parishioners and guests attended the Holy Supper, Sviat Vechir, prepared by many dedicated workers who spent numerous days preparing the 12 traditional dishes.

The following day, January 7, the Divine Liturgy was offered in celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  The church was beautifully decorated with red poinsettias and the Christmas tree, sparkling with white lights and ornaments made by the parish Sunday School children throughout the years. The full choir sang the many special responses including the beautiful words of the Nativity Tropar - Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, Has shone to the world the Light of wisdom!  For by it, those who worshipped the stars, Were taught by a Star to adore Thee, The Sun of Righteousness, And to know Thee, the Orient from on High. O Lord, glory to Thee!

On January 15, 2012 the traditional New Year’s Malanka Covered Dish Luncheon was held after the Liturgy.  A true sense of Christian community was felt by all who shared good conversation and fellowship.

Theophany, the Baptism of Our Lord, was celebrated on January 19, 2012 with the traditional blessing of holy water after the Divine Liturgy. After the blessing service, the faithful filled their containers to take some holy water home with them.  The celebration of the Great Blessing of Water serves as a reminder that when we are baptized, we are baptized into Christ!

     On the feast day of Palm Sunday (4/17/11), St. Andrew’s of Boston overflowed with parishioners and guests.  The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom was celebrated by Fr. Roman Tarnavsky and Hierdeacon Vasyl as responses were beautifully rendered by the choir. 

As is customary on this day, Fr. Vasyl gave a children’s sermon explaining the solemn days of Holy Week in anticipation of the great day of Pascha.  Pussy willows were distributed to the faithful.
 

After the Liturgy, the Paska Bake Sale table was crowded with eager shoppers lined up to purchase one of the over 100 delicious breads made by Pani Matushka Lydia and Fr. Roman.

On April 24, 2011, Paschal services at the church began at midnight after the Nocturns.  The faithful processed around the church three times before stopping at the front doors where Fr. Roman proclaimed, “Christ is Risen!”  and the congregation replied, “Indeed He is Risen!” 

After celebrating the Paschal Matins and the Paschal Divine Liturgy, those who lasted until 3 A.M. went to the church hall for the blessing of Easter baskets filled with traditional foods.  The choir gave one last rousing rendition of  “ХРИСТОС ВОСКРЕС!” before everyone departed to break the Lenten fast in celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Sviachene, our Post-Easter Dinner, was held on May 15, 2011 in St. Andrew’s church hall.  For the past 10 years we have been alternating the hosting duties with Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church and donating a portion of the proceeds to charity. 

Fr. Yaroslav Nalysnyk of Christ the King and Fr. Roman gave a joint blessing before the meal. 

Participants enjoyed traditional Paschal foods prepared by many volunteers from St. Andrew’s. 

Sunday, May 15, 2011 marked the end of another productive Sunday School year at St. Andrew’s of Boston.
Fr. Roman Tarnavsky thanked teachers Pearl Smith and Carol Walling for their dedication in preparing lessons for the various class levels. He extended special congratulations to Sunday school graduates Alex Geba, Lizzie Little, and Melanie Muzyka.  In his words to these students, Fr. Roman said, “To paraphrase the Holy Apostle Paul, ‘You have run a good race!  You have won the battle!’  You all passed your Sunday school test!”

As is tradition at St. Andrew’s, each graduate was given a copy of the Orthodox Study Bible. As is also customary, the graduating class donated an icon to be put on the back wall in the narthex of the Church. This class chose an icon of St. John Climacus also know as St. John of the Ladder. In addressing the students, Fr. Roman said, “St. John taught that our whole life is a divine ascent to God. Religious education can also be classified as a divine ascent where we gain the knowledge that will allow us to draw closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Each year a student is recognized for best attendance. This year Daria Dingle, who travels from Maine to attend church in Boston, was in class the most often! She was congratulated for her commitment. All of the Sunday School students were given certificates of participation. After the Divine Liturgy, students and teachers celebrated with cake and ice cream served for dessert at the Sviachene, post-Easter dinner.

Annual Lenten Mission at St. Andrew’s in Boston

Friday, March 25th and Saturday, March 26th were busy days at St. Andrew’s in Boston. The Annual Lenten Mission began at 6PM on Friday with a vesper service officiated at by visiting priest, Fr. Anthony Perkins from St. Michael’s in Woonsocket, RI. Fr. Roman Tarnavsky, pastor of St. Andrew’s and Hierdeacon Vasyl assisted. After the vespers, confessions were heard, and then parishioners adjourned to the hall for a Lenten repast. Fr. Anthony then conducted a religious education discussion focusing on “True and False Spiritualities – Scientific Mysticism, Modern Mysticism and Orthodox Truth.” As always, Fr. Anthony left his listeners with much food for thought.

On Saturday the Divine Liturgy, again officiated at by Fr. Anthony and the clergy of St. Andrew’s, began at 10 AM followed by a memorial Panahyda for the departed. Following the service, a Lenten luncheon was enjoyed by the communicants.

Youth Lenten Workshop Held at St. Andrew’s in Boston

In the afternoon of March 26, 2011 the youth of St. Andrew’s Parish in Boston gathered for the fourth annual Youth Lenten Workshop. The theme of this year’s session was “Growing a Monastery”. This theme was developed in light of the fact that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA has inherited land in Pennsylvania on which they hope to establish a monastery. The Jr. Ukrainian Orthodox League is supporting this endeavor. Students learned about being good stewards of the church just as monks devote themselves to this, and they explored the power of prayer, just as monks are called to pray ceaselessly.

Fr. Roman spoke to the students about Pochaiv, a monastery he visited in Ukraine, and Hierdeacon Vasyl shared his experiences living the life of a monk. Other highlights of the day included crafting prayer ropes and making a Lenten soup to sell at church on Sunday, the proceeds of which will be given to the UOCofUSA monastery project.

As has become customary on this day, the parents, too, gather, to do various jobs around the church especially giving various areas in the hall a thorough cleaning in preparation for Pascha. They set a good example of stewardship. At the end of a busy day full of activity, everyone enjoyed an evening meal together.