Christ is Risen!
Radonitsa and Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women 13 - 19 May 2013
13 May Monday - Meeting of the Parish Council. All Council members are reminded of their monthly meeting at 7:00 in the Parish Hall.
14 May Tuesday - Radonitsa ("Day of Rejoicing"), General Panikhida, 7:00 pm. Radonitsa is a holiday in the Orthodox Church which falls on the Tuesday of Saint Thomas Week- nine days after Pascha. On this day, according to the order instituted by our Holy Fathers, we call to remembrance all those who have died from the beginning of the ages in faith and in the hope of resurrection and life eternal. Having previously celebrated the radiant feast of Christ's Resurrection, the faithful commemorate the dead on this day with the pious intent to share the great joy of this Pascha feast with those who have departed this life. Due to the great jubilation this commemoration bears, it is known in the Slavonic tradition as 'Radonitsa' or Day of Rejoicing. Please make every effort to attend the General Panikhida at 7:00 pm as an extension of your Pascha celebrations, contribute the names of your departed to Father Oleg and partake after in sharing the blessed wheat and honey 'koliva' in memory of those who have fallen asleep.
19 May - Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women, Invitation - Reception hosted by the Brotherhood, 11:45 am. The Sunday of Myrrh-bearing Women falls on the third Sunday of Pascha. The myrrh-bearers, including The Mother of God and Mary Magdalene, had brought funeral spices and ointments to finish committing Christ's body to the grave. They were the first to see the empty tomb and were instructed by the risen Lord to bring the joyful news to the apostles. In honour of the women in our parish, the Brotherhood extends an invitation to all to attend a reception in the Parish Hall immediately following Divine Liturgy.
Paschal Thanks and Open Houses. A heartfelt thanks to Sub-deacon Michael Popovich who kindly offered his residence to the many parishioners who gathered as one family at the well-attended Paschal Sunday Open House. For Pascha our St. Xenia's parish in Ottawa was blessed with fine spring weather, well-attended and spiritually rich services contributed by our choir under Aleksander Ignatow and Gregory Svedlovsky and the stamina and inspiration of Father Oleg and his acolytes. Most grateful to Luba Kushnerenko for the countless number of red Paschal eggs distributed after Matins and Liturgy. Thank you as well to Matushka Olga and Father Oleg for their Bright Monday reception at the manse. The generous contribution of many towards the flowers for the beautification of the Shroud is also appreciated.
Newly Baptized Anastasia. Congratulations to parents Raissa Adrianova and Christopher Witt, Godparents Paul Pomnikow and Ksenia Sokolova (Montreal) and their families for the baptizing of Anastasia, their second child, during Bright Week. Many Years of health and happiness to the newest member of our parish! Truly He has Risen!
Looking Ahead. 25-26 May, St Nicholas Convent Patronal Feast Day, Cleveland, New York. Faithful are encouraged to visit St Nicholas Convent which will be celebrating its patronal feast day 25-26 Mary. Vigil will take place Saturday May 25 at 6 PM with a Hierarchal Liturgy presided by Archbishop Andronik on Sunday May 26 starting at 9 AM. It is located only 3 hours south of Ottawa, just before Syracuse, New York. Accommodations are available at St. Andrew's Orthodox Retreat overlooking the Oneida Lake. Contact Matushka Irina Dutikow, 718-726-7870, dutikow@juno.com or Mother Agapia at the convent, 315-675-3178, convent@stnicholasconvent.org for details and arrangements. St. Nicholas is the nearest ROCA church to St. Xenia's and pilgrimages to monastic centres help to encourage and enrich our faith.
Paschal Epistle of Vl. Agafangel. Dear brothers and sisters, you will find Vl. Agafangel's paschal epistle here.
Schedule for 5/2013. Dear brothers and sisters, the new schedule is now available in English.
Metropolitan Agafangel's Trip. A report on Metropolitan Agafangel's recent trip can be found here.
Weekly Church History Workshop. Fr. Oleg's weekly 7:00 pm Monday workshops for adults on Church history and spiritual issues continues. All are welcome. As of March, it is proposed to move these sessions to Tuesday.
Sunday luncheons. All are invited to the popular weekly Sisterhood light luncheons in the Parish Hall. Besides raising funds for the work of the Sisterhood, they are also designed for our socializing. Therefore, please after the Cross dismissal following Liturgy all are encouraged to quietly vacate the church so that the the Prayers After Communion can be read in peace for those who partook. If you would like to join one of the rotating teams of cooks, please contact Matushka Sarah at email sarah.kambites@gmail.com.
Sunday School. The popular young children Sunday School For more information please contact Olga Malinina by email: olga_malinina@hotmail.com.
Friday Children's Visual Art Lessons. Matushka Olga continues her Friday afternoon art classes at 5:00 pm in the Parish Hall for children. Please contact Matushka at the church or by telephone at 613.599.9367 to obtain further information.
Saturday Adults Visual Art Lessons. Matushka Olga also invites adults interested in developing their visual arts techniques to join a new group already underway on Saturday mornings.
Theatre Club. The parish theatre club holds practices every Thursday at 5:00 pm in the Parish Hall. Some have noticed that sets are being constructed in preparation for forthcoming performances.
Interview With Vl. Agafangel
ROCA YouTube Channel. For updates on the life of our church, please fell free to visit the YouTube channel of our church. Those wishing to listen to the recorded sermons of our hierarchs or learn more about the life of our parishes and monasteries worldwide can do so by going to this link.
Fr. Oleg and Parish Council
