Weekly Bulletin

His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas

120 W. Seneca St. Ithaca, NY 14850 http://www.stcatherine.ny.goarch.org

TEL. 607-273-2767 e-mail: stcatherinegoc@gmail.com

Fr. Zenoviy Zharsky

 

Sunday, March 29, 2026

 

Welcome all visitors, please come again.

 

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"By changing ourselves in Christ, we are able to change the world around us"

 

Please let Father know who is in need of visiting and prayers. 

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Daily reading of the holy scripture, Saints for the day, liturgical schedule, news from the parish life, announcements and more, please read the Sunday Bulletin on the parish websitewww.stcatherine.ny.goarch.org 

Please submit to the parish priest all announcements for the church bulletin website before Thursday evening. Thank you.

Follow us on Facebook: St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church of Ithaca, NY.

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Scripture Reading: Matins: Gospel Reading: John 20:19-31. Divine Liturgy Epistle: Hebrews 9:11-14. Gospel Mark 10:32-45.

We pray for those who celebrate their birthday. Хρόνια πολλά & ευλογημενα! March - 26 Victoria Skezas, 31 Fotula Fegaras, 31 Emeline Mandeville. April 3 - Khatuna Kachlishvili. 

Announcement:If you didn't give names and date of your birthdays and your families birthdays please provide them. Also please give the names and dates of your family members who fell asleep in the Lord. We will pray for them. The list of the names located near the Sunday Bulletins. Thank you.

When you write your will, won't you please remember St. Catherine's Church? Such a gift will live forever as our church minister to our spiritual needs and others it's an investment in the Gospel of our Lord and life eternal

Today - Memorial in memory of Amalia Stratakos 40 days.

Memory Eternal! Αιώνια η μνήμη του! March - 29 John Wells, 30 Zorica Dimitrijevic, 31 George Bantuvanis.   

If you'd like to make a Paschal donation or a donation toward the flowers for the Epitafio/Kouvouklion, you will find envelopes for each in the back of the church near the candles. Any donation, small or large will be appreciated! 

The donation letters that you can use for taxes were sent out by email on February 22nd. If you did not receive one, that means that we do not have your complete contact information; please email the treasurer, John Franck, at st.cath.treas@gmail.com. If you do not have email, or need a copy printed out, please speak to John or any member of the parish council, and he will be happy to get you a copy in person or by mail.

Liturgical Schedule:  Daily 3:00 PM. Let's pray Jesus Prayer for 10 minutes straight saying,"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." 

Monday, March 30 - 3:00PM Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." Day of Fasting. 

Tuesday, March 31 - 3:00PM Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." Day of Fasting. 

Wednesday, April 1 - 3:00 PM Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." Day of Fasting. 6:00 PM - Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. 

Thursday, April 2 - 3:00 PM Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." Day of Fasting. 

Friday, April 3 - 3:00 PM Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." Day of Fasting.

Saturday, April 4 - 10:00 AM. Divine Liturgy. Lazarus Saturday. 3:00PM Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." Day of Fasting. 

Sunday, April 5 - 8:45 AM Orthros/Confession 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy Every Sunday we commemorate Christ's resurrection. Fasting.

Lazarus Saturday, April 4 - After the Divine Liturgy, children and their parents are invited to make Crosses for Palm Sunday. 

Philoptochos is collecting toiletries (and other items on the list provided on flyer) to support to the Women's Opportunity Center through Lent. Please see flyer or Angela Teeter for more details. 

Please let us know if you can provide Greek lessons for adults. 

What Is the Meaning of 9 and 40 Days after Death? Death in Orthodox Christianity is not viewed as the end of our existence. After death, the soul is only temporarily separated from the body. During the first 40 days, it goes through certain trials and meets its Creator. During this period, a soul's posthumous fate is decided until it will be ultimately determined at the Final Judgement preceding the Universal Resurrection. The 3rd, 9th and 40th days after death are important for the posthumous existence of the deceased. The Venerable Macarius of Alexandria (+395) was once given a revelation from an angel. It revealed to the Saint what happens to the soul after death. Although the Bible says nothing about any particular days after death and their meaning for a human soul, this revelation resonates with biblical events (Christ rose from the dead on the 3rd day after the crucifixion, and ascended on the 40th).The angel revealed to St. Macarius that in the first two days after death, a person's spirit remains on earth accompanied by angels and remaining free to travel wherever it wills. Many souls spend these days at their homes, next to their loved ones and their own coffin. On the third day, in parallel with the Resurrection of Christ, the angels ascend the soul to worship God. After that, the until the 9th day, the soul dwelling among angels and saints. Seeing heavenly bliss makes the souls of the righteous rejoice, while the unrighteous lament their futile lives, realizing that heaven is beyond their reach. In the first two days after death, a soul experiences separation from the body. Being able to stay with the body alleviates its suffering. After a spirit ascends to God on the third day, it will not return to earth until the Second Coming of Christ. Just as the spirit departs to God on the third day, so the body must be buried in the ground. However, after the ninth day instead of contemplating the bliss of heaven, it goes to behold the torments of hell. On the 40th day, angels take a person to God, the Lord determines where each soul will dwell until the Second Coming, the General Resurrection and the Last Judgement. During these 40 days, the prayers of the Church and loved ones are especially important for a deceased person's soul. During this period, prayer intercedes for a person before God and may influence his or her posthumous fate. We have no way of knowing the outcome of God's judgement about a person's posthumous fate. Perhaps the Lord does not allow this to be known so that our prayers for the deceased do not cease and our love for them does not fade. Even if a soul is condemned to posthumous suffering, the prayers of believers can influence the outcome of the Last Judgement and change the wrath of God into mercy. 

Let us reflect, brethren, upon the second coming of Christ, upon our resurrection, and the last judgment. Then, by the words of the Lord, shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other (Matt. 24:29-32). The hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:2-29). When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal (Matt. 25:31-34; 41;46). What can be more painful and frightening than that sentencing and spectacle, when we shall see all the unrepentant sinners sent to eternal tortures, trembling and weeping bitterly? How can we not begin to weep and to sob when only the thought comes to us of those dreadful and ferocious tortures which are listed in the Scripture: eternal fire, hellish darkness, the cruel, indefatigable worm, gnashing of teeth, and other tortures, awaiting those who have angered the All-Good God by their evil morals! Brethren! What fear shall overcome us then, when the thrones shall be placed, the books opened, when God shall sit in judgment with glory, when even the angels themselves shall stand before God with trembling? What shall we men, guilty of many sins, do, what shall we say in our defence then, when all our deeds shall come to light, when all our secret sins, committed by us in day and at night, in word, deed, and in thought, shall reveal themselves? What shame shall overcome us then!  What can express the fear and horror with which the second coming of the Lord and His terrible and impartial judgment shall be accompanied? So great shall this fear be that a certain father said: if it were possible to die then, then the whole world would die from fright. Therefore, let us also fear and be terrified, let us always remember this; even though we may not want to, let us constrain ourselves towards such meditation, saying thus to our soul: O darkened soul! Why do you not abandon evil deeds? Why do you not think of the hour of death? Why do you not tremble before the terrible judgment seat of the Savior? All-Gracious One, do not reveal my secret sins, do not humiliate me before the angels and men; but spare me, God, and have mercy on me. For I tremble and fear the judgment day, being convicted by my conscience; I bitterly regret my evil deeds and am perplexed: what shall I answer to Thee, Immortal King? I have angered Thee unspeakably. How shall I, defiled and prodigal as I am, dare to look upon Thee, the Terrible Judge? But, Lord of glory, Compassionate Father, Only-Begotten Son, and Holy Spirit! have mercy on me, deliver me then from the fire unquenchable, and vouchsafe me to stand at the right hand of Thee, the most just Judge!  

Holy Passion Week services.

Palm Sunday, April 5-8:45 am Orthros. 10:00am Divine Liturgy.

6:00 pm Bridegroom Service. Day of Fasting.

Holy Monday, April 6-6:00 pm Bridegroom Service. Strict Fast.

Holy Tuesday, April 7-6:00 pm Bridegroom Service. Strict Fast.

Holy Wednesday, April 8 - 6:00 pm Holy Unction. Strict Fast.

Holy Thursday, April 9-10:00 am Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil. Commemorating the Last Supper. Strict Fast.

6:00 pm The Passion Service.

Holy Friday, April 10-Decorating the Kouvouklion. Strict Fast.

3:00 pm Apokathelosis Service. 
7:00 pm The Lamentations Service.

Holy Saturday, April 11-10:00 am Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil.

11:15 pm Orthros of the Resurrection. Strict Fast.

Great and Holy Pascha-Midnight The Resurrection Service and Divine Liturgy.12:00noon The Agape Vespers Service. Reading the Gospel in different languages.

 

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Methods of Giving:

Cash and checks can be brought to the church and put in the donation baskets.

 

Checks made out to Saint Catherine Greek Orthodox Church can also be mailed to:

St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church

120 W. Seneca St Ithaca, NY 14850

 

When you write your will, won't you please remember St. Catherine's Church? Such a gift will live forever as our church minister to our spiritual needs and others. It's an investment in the Gospel of our Lord and life eternal.

 

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