Newsletter February 1, 2025

Man of Resurrection

Anastasios Yannoulatos, Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania, stands as a unique and extraordinary contemporary witness of the Orthodox faith. His approach to life was always grounded in the principles of faith, which shaped his every decision. A man of knowledge and action, prayer and evangelism, tradition and openness, he exemplified a rare combination of humility and courage. He preserved the treasure of faith while loving God’s creation.

Despite facing immense challenges, he remained steadfast in bearing and transmitting the Christian witness until his last breath. He preserved this witness with a joyful demeanor and genuine smile radiating from the peace of his soul which was indwelled by the Holy Spirit.

Read the entire article: https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2320

Simon Scionka and Silas Karbo from Holy Theophany Church in Colorado Springs have made a film about Orthodox Alaska. It will be premiered in Denver next week, Teusday February 4. Please support their work and enjoy this beautiful Orthodox production! Here their information:

My name is Simon Scionka and I serve as a subdeacon at Holy Theophany Church (OCA) in Colorado Springs. I’m a filmmaker and my co-filmmaker Silas Karbo and I made a film about Orthodoxy in Alaska called Sacred Alaska.

Here is our trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O–6uVTVG9M
and website: http://www.sacredalaskafilm.com/

We are excited to share that our film is scheduled to show at the Sie FilmCenter in Denver on Tuesday, February 4 at 6:45pm – 2510 East Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80206

Both Silas and I plan to be in attendance and host a filmmaker Q&A after the showing.

Please see this Eventbrite link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sacred-alaska-denver-premiere-tickets-1207638803169?aff=oddtdtcreator
for details and tickets. If you are interested and available, I hope you can attend. And if you are willing, please help us by sharing this information with your parish community. We would be so grateful! There has been a lot of enthusiasm around the film and it can make for a great opportunity to invite friends and neighbors. I would love to have all the local Orthodox Churches represented.

Film Synopsis
Sacred Alaska is an award-winning documentary that offers an intimate look into Native Alaskan culture and spirituality. It showcases the profound influence of Orthodoxy, introduced by Russian monks in the late 18th century, on Alaskan society. The film highlights the unique way Alaskans have woven their indigenous beliefs with Orthodox traditions, deeply influencing their worldview. Central to this is the concept of learning to become a “real person.” Through beautiful cinematography and powerful storytelling, Sacred Alaska underscores the profound, sacred bond between the Alaskan people, their faith, and the formidable landscape they call home.

Runtime: 88 minutes
Genre: Documentary
Director: Simon Scionka
Producer: Silas Karbo

Note: Generally, the content is appropriate for all ages. There are brief mentions of alcoholism and suicide as issues that are faced in village life, but there are no graphic details.

In this time after the Feast of Theophany and before Great Lent (1/6 – 3/2) we bring the Holy Water newly blessed during Theophany services to each of our homes and celebrate the service of the Theophany Home Blessing. I would love to celebrate it at everyone’s home (catechumens included!) this year.

As I am still working a secular job, weekday evenings are the prefered time. Please contact me via phone or email to schedule a time. Also, while I appreciate everyone’s hospitality, I would ask that there be no food. We can celebrate the service and then have a visit over a cup of tea (or other refreshment).

For the celebration of the service, I simply need a small space near your icons. I will bring everything required with me. If you would like to light a candle and carry it around during the blessing that would be great. The service is simple: we will say the few prayers and a litany, and then we will walk through the home and bless each room with the Holy Water.

Please remember that our full calendar continues to be available at our parish web site. Here is a link:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Calendar/calendar.php

Full schedule:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Prosphora/Docs/prosphora sched 2025 web.pdf

Full schedule:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Altar/Docs/epistle readers for 2025.pdf

Epistle: ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE HEBREWS 7:7-17

BRETHREN, it is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. Here tithes are received by mortal men; there, by one whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, ‘Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek.’

Gospel: LUKE 2:22-40

At that time, the parents brought the child Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Symeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel. And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Symeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

The Diary of an American Priest

Fr. Zechariah Lynch

This is not a success story. It is not one of riches or fame or glamour. There are no grand events or dazzling deeds. Reading it will not help you unlock your inner potential. Such stories will need to be sought elsewhere.

It is simply my story. Why my story? It’s surely not because my story is all that special. For a little while now I’ve been wanting to write something about the labors and life of small parish life in America. I think it’s a potentially interesting narrative. I’ve thought about it for a while, the how and what for. Time and again, I come back to my own experiences. And so, I think, in telling my story, I will be able to paint a general picture of small parish life in America. Ultimately, it’s the story that I can tell. I will tell it through the particulars that are unique to me and the place I find myself. Ultimately, I can only speak for myself and won’t pretend to speak on someone else’s behalf. My guess is, there’s a certain commonality in the experiences of small parish priests even though times and places differ. At least my conversations with other parish priests seem to indicate that.

Read the entire article: https://substack.com/home/post/p-155041234