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 15, 2026

 

Welcome all visitors, please come again.

 

****************************************

"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. 

********************************************* 

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.

***************************************

Scripture Reading: Matins: Gospel Reading: John 20:1-10. Divine Liturgy Epistle: Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:1-6. Gospel Mark 8:34-9:1. 

We pray for those who celebrate their birthday. Хρόνια πολλά & ευλογημενα! March 16 Glicheria, 18 Eleni Manos Rojas, 19 Daniel Pilan, 20 Karyn Mertz, 21 Alexadros Lambrou.  

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. 

If you know someone who would like to rent church apartment please see Ike Nestopoulos or Fr. Zenoviy. Thank you. 

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. 

Today, General Assembly meeting, following Divine Liturgy.  

Sunday, March 29 Memorial in memory of Amalia Stratakos 40 days. 

Memory Eternal! Αιώνια η μνήμη του! March - 16 Evaggelos Lambrou, 17 Amanda Karakantas, 20 James Poulos.  

Sunday, March 8 Eleni Neferis fell asleep in the Lord. Funeral and burial service will be this Monday, March 16 at 10:30 AM.  

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 16 - 3:00PM Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." Day of Fasting. 

Tuesday, March 17 - 3:00PM Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." Day of Fasting. 

Wednesday, March 18 - 3:00PM 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, March 19 - 3:00 PM Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." Day of Fasting. 

Friday, March 20 - 3:00 PM Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." Day of Fasting. 6:00 PM - Salutations to the Theotokos. Reading the life of the Saints Catechism classes following the service. 

Saturday, March 21 - 10:00 AM Memorial Divine Liturgy. Ψυχοσάββατο St. Thomas Patriarch of Constantinople. Reading the life of the Saints Catechism classes following the Divine Liturgy. Day of Fasting. 3:00 PM Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." NO VESPERS. 

Sunday, March 22 - 8:45 AM Orthros/Confession 10:00 AM DivineLiturgy Every Sunday we commemorate Christ's resurrection. Day of Fasting.

 

Holy Passion Week services.
Palm Sunday, April 5 - 8:45 AM Orthros. 10:00 AM 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. 3:00 pm Apokathelosis Service. Strict Fast. 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.          12:00 noon - The Agape Vespers Service. Reading the Gospel in different languages.

BRIGHT WEEK. Fast Free Week. 

 

Can we change society? Question: Father Sofian, some say that since we are a students we should fight to change society. How should we respond to them? I advise you never to take such exhortations seriously - that you, young people are called to change society. You will be totally destroyed if you follow this advice. We must only become good Orthodox Christians and sociable people. Other denominations are agitators and organizers of parades. It is very difficult to change society now. It continues along the path on which it started. What we can do today is to change ourselves and become a light for those around us, whether at home or at work. Then, think of the fact that even during the Savior's time, there was a secret police like there is today. And then - as now - there were people who noted every word spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ in order to catch Him with something. And the poor believers as in all the ages that followed since - were running after the Word of God, after Truth... Thus, students should seek to be at peace with God, and every one of should be a child of God according to grace. These are the things that are truly pleasing to God. For this reason, the Eternal Son became incarnate; He died on the Cross to reconcile us with God. It is very important for you all not to become proud. If you are proud, you will not advance spiritually. Be decent, be modest. Don't become proud because all that we have is given to us either by God, our teachers, or other people who are older than us. Everything is given to us. I wish that God helps you to grow in all that is good and worthy and to finish your exams and university studies with which you are engaged. When you finish them, tell yourselves the words that a father said to his son who had completed his BA degree: "My dear, only now you are beginning your studies." I also completed two degrees: Arts and Theology. But after I finished them, I continued to learn. So, I wish for you to study well, because the world puts a high price on someone with a degree, on a scholar. You know that the Holy Apostle Paul says that nothing impure will enter the Kingdom of God (Ephesians 5:5). That is why it is good for you to strive toward a life that is holy. Tell the truth! God is Truth! Therefore, seek to be close to God and yourselves by being honest in your souls! Keep this sincerity in your hearts, this purity, this honesty toward others, because we have enough liars. Be pure! May God give you health! /St. Sofian of Antim Monastery/  

Life is a gift from God.  It is not those without sins who are sanctified, but those who are able to see their mistakes and touch them without fear that they will be stained and their image will be crumpled. As Saint Isaac the Syrian says, the one who can see one's sins is above the one who can resurrect the dead.  Life doesn't have a meaning, life itself is the meaning. Life is a gift from God, a discovery of fullness in the person of Christ, Who expects us to live it and not to hide from it. We live with what we can, rightly or wrongly, do, with the missing pieces and empty parts in our life, reconciling ourself with life's reality and drawing closer and closer to God in our repentance. 

Sunday of the Holy Cross.  With the help of God, we have almost reached the middle of the course of the Fast, where our strength has been worn down through abstinence, and the fulldifficulty of the labour set before us becomes apparent. Therefore our holy Mother, the Church of Christ, now brings to our help the all-holy Cross, the joy of the world, the strength of the faithful, the staff of the just, and the hope of sinners, so that by venerating it reverently, we might receive strength and grace to complete the divine struggle of the Fast.

A miraculous story about St. Ephraim of Katounakia (+1996) who was still alive at that time. Katounakia is a region on Mt. Athos known for its extreme climate and topography. St. Ephraim used to pray every morning for an hour or so for all the schoolchildren who were going to and from school. He would use his prayer rope and go from one knot to the next saying the prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on your servants!" One day, a group of children were in downtown Thessaloniki at a street corner, awaiting a school bus. One of the kids was goofing around and lost his balance and accidently stepped out into the street. At that very moment, a large mass-transit bus was passing by, and everyone thought that the boy had been run over. After the bus had passed, to everyone's surprise, the boy was standing across the street at the opposite corner. When the light changed, he came back across the street to his friends. Everyone was in tears and disbelief, and asked him what had happened. He said, "I don't know... I stepped into the street, and next moment a monk picked me up and placed me across the street." That monk was St. Ephraim of Katounakia. Due to our demanding schedule, we might not have time to do a Paraklesis or an Akathist service. However, the example of St. Ephraim shows us that simply saying the Jesus Prayer for others has tremendous impact. What is so wonderful about the Jesus Prayer is that we can say it in almost any circumstance throughout our day. Saying the Jesus Prayer is an act of love and service and allows us to do so much for others with very little effort. 

 

*************************************************************

 

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.

 

Online Chapel