Church guide

"This life is the crucible in which our hearts and souls are moulded. It is the heat of purification, the pain of our struggles that helps to prepare us for our true home."--from The Ancient Path by Father Spyridon Bailey

Learn more about this important philanthropic organization and how vital it has been in supporting the ministries, clergy, and youth of our churches. https://youtu.be/L662wCSTUpI

Photos from the visit from Bishop Nicholas during Lent 2019.

We had a wonderful luncheon Sunday provided by the Calache family honoring Debra and Joni’s birthdays along with the memorial for the recently reposed Katherine Hunt Green.

July 6 we commemorate Saint Sisoes. Extremely strict with himself, Abba Sisoes was very merciful and compassionate to others, and he received everyone with love. To those who visited him, the saint first of all always taught humility. When one of the monks asked how he might attain to a constant remembrance of God, Saint Sisoes remarked, “That is no great thing, my son, but it is a great thing to regard yourself as inferior to everyone else. This leads to the acquisition of humility.” Asked by the monks whether one year is sufficient for repentance if a brother sins, Abba Sisoes said, “I trust in the mercy of God that if such a man repents with all his heart, then God will accept his repentance in three days.”

Why do Orthodox Christians burn incense in a censer? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaIuqt-bZXs

Thanks to the crew at Alberto’s for a great luncheon. It was a feast indeed.

The Feast of the Holy, Glorious Apostles Peter and Paul is upon us. Vespers tonight is at 6:00 PM and Divine Liturgy is at 10:00 AM Saturday morning. Below is the Icon of the Mother of God “of the Three Hands. You can read about this icon here: https://oca.org/saints/lives/2019/06/28/101839-icon-of-the-mother-of-god-of-the-three-hands

“For this cause we salute one another at the Mysteries, that being many we may become one; and in the case of the uninitiated, we make our prayers common, supplicating for the sick, and for the produce of the world, for land and sea. Seest thou all the power of love? in the prayers, in the Mysteries, in the exhortations? This is that which causeth all good things. If we hold carefully to this, we shall both rightly dispense things present, and also obtain the Kingdom; which may we all obtain through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom and with whom, to the Father and the Holy Ghost, be glory, for ever and ever. Amen.“-St. John Chrysostom, from the Homilies on the Gospel of John

Are you looking for an Orthodox church near you? Visit this link to find one and plan a visit soon. http://www.assemblyofbishops.org/directories/parishes

Today we celebrate the Nativity of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John. https://oca.org/saints/lives/2019/06/24/101800-nativity-of-the-holy-glorious-prophet-forerunner-and-baptist-joh?fbclid=IwAR1K1tomWsJN8R97c0rWq8J2yk8Bs0UE8T-MfTBzW2WFe0vrF80aERIgTlc

THE APOSTLES FAST The fast of the Holy Apostles starts on the second Monday after Pentecost. (This year June 24) The duration of this fast varies, depending on the date of Pascha (Easter). The rule is that the Fast starts on the second Monday after Pentecost and ends on June 29, on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. No better words may express the importance of fasting in our life like the words of St. Abba Isaac the Syrian who says, "... since fasting is a weapon established by God ...the human race knew no victory before fasting, and the devil was never defeated by our nature as it is: but this weapon has indeed deprived the devil of strength from the outset... As soon as the devil sees someone possessed of this weapon (fasting), fear straightway falls on this adversary and tormentor of ours, who remembers and thinks of his defeat by the Saviour in the wilderness; his strength is at once destroyed and the sight of the weapon given us by our Supreme Leader burns him up. A man armed with the weapon of fasting is always afire with zeal. He who remains therein, keeps his mind steadfast and ready to meet and repel all violent passions."

Sunday June 23 is the Sunday of All Saints- On this day, the Sunday after Pentecost, we celebrate the feast of All Saints who shone forth throughout all the world, North and South, East and West. David the Prophet and king, who revered the beloved of God, and respected them because of his great piety, said in the Psalms, "How precious are Thy beloved unto me, O God" (138:17). And the Apostle Paul, in his Epistle to the Hebrews, recounted the lives of the saints, when he wrote, "Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily besets us; and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (12:1). Therefore, as Orthodox Christians, we honor the beloved saints of God, respecting them as keepers of God's commandments, shining examples of virtue and benefactors of humanity. We commemorate all of the holy ones every year on this day, as the list of saints ever increases, even though some of their names escape us. Nevertheless, we honor them for their piety and strive to imitate their good works. By the intercessions of Thine immaculate Mother, O Christ God, and of all Thy Saints from the beginning of time, have mercy and save us, since Thou alone art good and the Lover of mankind. Amen. + From the Synaxarion at Orthros on Sunday of All Saints

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY If you worship Christ in your heart, you can save your kinsfold as well as yourself; if your heart worships father and mother, son and daughter, you will certainly lose both yourself and them. St. Nicholai of Zica

The Great Entrance at the Parish Life Conference in Raleigh, NC. Father Yuri and his son Alexander bookended the procession.#DOMSEPLC2019

The Beachside Brass Quartet, all five of them, doing what they do best at our food festival.

The youngsters sing "This Little Light of Mine" to His Grace Bishop Nicholas

The Teens and pre-teens present His Grace Bishop Nicholas a giant hand-made greeting card.

Sights and sounds from our World Food Fare Festival. Join us October 27 for the festivities.

How you feel after eating our delicious dishes at our World Food Fare Festival coming Oct. 27.