The 50th Anniversary Commemorative Book will be distributed to the benefactors who sponsored its publication. A limited number will also be available for purchase.
Last Sunday, February 21, 2010, St. Andrew’s hosted a 5 P.M. Pan-Orthodox Vesper service for the Sunday of Orthodoxy. There were four visiting priests: Fr. Anthony Hughes, pastor of St. Mary Orthodox Church, Cambridge, MA (Antiochian), Fr. John Bacon, pastor of Nativity of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church, Chelsea, MA, (OCA), homilist for the service, Fr. Michael Kohn, cleric of Holy Resurrection Eastern Orthodox Church, Allston, MA (Bulgarian) and Fr. Vasily Gilbert, cleric of Nativity of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church, Chelsea, MA, (OCA) as well as deacons: Fr. Alexander Scott, of St. John of Damascus Antiochian Orthodox Church, Dedham, MA (Antiochian) Fr. Jeffry Smith, of St. Mary Orthodox Church, Cambridge, MA (Antiochian) and altar servers who celebrated with our own V. Rev. Roman Tarnavsky, Heirodeacon Vasyl and Fr. Dn. Borislav Kroner. The choir, under the direction of Jane Yavarow, welcomed singers from surrounding parishes to render the responses. Over 100 worshipers gathered to pray together. After the service, all were invited to a reception of Lenten treats prepared by many generous parishioners. This was a wonderful and rare opportunity for members of the Greater Boston Orthodox community to come together in fellowship.
On a recent weekday in February, parishioners gathered in the church hall to make varenyky. This is a two-day process.First the potatoes are prepared, and then the next day the potato-filled and cabbage-filled dumplings are assembled.Everyone has a designated job, and they’re experts at it.Some prepare the potato balls, others roll and cut out the dough while many fold and pinch the dough around each individual dumpling.Meanwhile others cook them in bubbling pots of boiling water. Finally, they are packaged to be put up for sale, raising much-needed funds for the church.This session included individuals who came for the first time and others who have been making varenyky for the church for 50 years! The over 800 varenyky made on this day will brings smiles to many faces when they eat them and think, “Just like Grandmother used to make!”
On Sunday, February 21st at 5:00 PM, the Sunday of Orthodoxy a Pan-Orthodox Vespers will take place at St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church located at 24 Orchardhill Road in Jamaica Plain, MA.
On behalf of all the clergy and the people of St. Andrew the First Called UOC we invite you to share in this celebration with us as we gather together to glorify our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Please spread the word around. We would like everyone to come!
Lenten desserts will be served after the Vespers Service.
If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact Fr. Dn. Borislav at 617-792-5434
On the first Sunday of Lent the Orthodox Church celebrates the Victory of Orthodoxy over the iconoclastic heresy.Iconoclasts falsely argued that icon veneration was a type of idolatry. Iconoclastic emperors forbid icon veneration.Sacred Images were destroyed and removed from Churches.Clergy that supported Icons were excommunicated and exiled.Led by St. Theodore Studite and St. John of Damascus, faithful Orthodox Christians continued to venerate icons even in the face of persecution and even death.Finally in 787, on the first Sunday of Lent the 7th Ecumenical Council defeated the Iconoclasts, and although persecution of Icons continued for some time after the Council,this was the first step to the Victory of Orthodoxy. Finally the Iconoclasts were defeated in the year of 843 when the Empress Theodora stopped all persecutions and restored Orthodoxy in the East. The Victory of Orthodoxy is immensely important because it not only restored Icon veneration,but again reaffirmed the Orthodox beliefs in the mystery of Incarnation.Our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ became man; by this act He sanctified the entire world and everything in it.Human nature itself was glorified in His Divine Person. As the Kontakion of the feast proclaims, our Lord "restored the fallen image to it's former glory" through the Incarnation, Crucifixion and His Glorious Rerurection. Icons are often called "windows to to heaven", because they represent the mystery of the Incarnate and Risen Christ. They represent diefied humanity. They serve a constant witness to the eschatological nature of the Orthodox faith and to the Grace of God that opens for us all Life Eternal and the Kingdom of Heaven.
Troparion - Tone 2
We venerate Your most pure image, O Good One, and ask forgiveness of our transgressions, O Christ God. Of Your own will You were pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh to deliver Your creatures from bondage to the enemy. Therefore with thanksgiving we cry aloud to You: You have filled all with joy, O our Savior, by coming to save the world.
Kontakion - Tone 8
No one could describe the Word of the Father; but when He took flesh from you, O Theotokos, He accepted to be described, and restored the fallen image to its former beauty. We confess and proclaim our salvation in word and images.
The 50th Anniversary Commemorative Book will be distributed to the benefactors who sponsored its publication. A limited number will also be available for purchase.
St Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Year at a Glance - Parish Calendar 2010
