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 /607/ 245-9988

 

Sunday, September 7, 2025

 

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 

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Scripture Reading: 

Matins: Gospel Reading: Mark 16-1:8. Divine Liturgy Epistle: Galatians 6:11-18. Gospel: John 3:13-17. 

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 

We pray for those who celebrate their birthday. Хρόνια πολλά & ευλογημενα! God grant you many years! September 6 Jacob Shezas, 10 Susan Hoskins, 10 Ellias Momeni, 11 Nika Maisuradeze, 12 Alexander Shezas, 13 Ike Nestopoulos.

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 Sundays Bulletins. Thank you.  

Today - Philoptochos hosting the annual Student Luncheon. We welcome the OCF - Orthodox Christian Fellowship students 

Memory Eternal! September 7 - Sofia Neagu, 13 - Velentina. 

Sunday, September 14 - The Philoptochos will hold a second collection at church to support the IOCC - International Orthodox Christian Charities and aid the people in the Holy Land and Palestine.  

Sunday, September 28 - Philoptochos will hold a second collection to support the children in Ukraine who have been wounded, as well as those who have lost their families due to the Russian war of occupation.

Sunday School: Children please go to class after Holy Communion. Please see Emeline Mandeville for more information.

Monday, September 8 - Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady Mother of God and Ever Virgin Mary. The Most Holy Virgin Mary was born at a time, when people had reached such limits of decay of moral values, that it seemed altogether impossible to restore them. The best minds of this era were aware and often said openly, that God must needs come down into the world, so as to restore faith and not tolerate the ruination of the race of mankind.
The Son of God chose for the salvation of mankind to take on human nature, and the All-Pure Virgin Mary, alone worthy to contain in Herself and to incarnate the Source of purity and holiness, He chose as His Mother.
The Birth of Our Most Holy Lady Mother of God and EverVirgin Mary is celebrated by the Church as a day of universal joy. Within the context of the Old and the New Testaments, on this radiant day was born the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, having been forechosen through the ages by Divine Providence to bring about the Mystery of the Incarnation of the Word of God, and she is revealed as the Mother of the Saviour of the World, Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Most Holy Virgin Mary was born in the small city of Galilee, Nazareth. Her parents were Righteous Joakim from the tribe of the King and Prophet David, and Anna from the tribe of the First-Priest Aaron. The couple was without child, since Saint Anna was barren. Having reached old age, Joakim and Anna did not lose hope on the mercy of God. They had strong faith that for God everything is possible, and that He would be able to solve the barrenness of Anna even in her old age, as He had once solved the barrenness of Sarah, spouse of the Patriarch Abraham. Saints Joakim and Anna made a vow to dedicate the child which the Lord might bestow on them, into the service of God in the Temple. Childlessness was considered among the Hebrew nation as a Divine punishment for sin, and therefore the righteous Saints Joakim and Anna had to endure abuse from their own countrymen. On one of the feast days at the Temple in Jerusalem the elderly Joakim brought his sacrifice in offering to God, but the High Priest would not accept it, considering him to be unworthy since he was childless. Saint Joakim in deep grief went into the wilderness and there he prayed with tears to the Lord for the granting of a child. Saint Anna, having learned about what had happened at the Jerusalem Temple, wept bitterly; never once did she complain against the Lord, but rather she prayed, asking God's mercy on her family. The Lord fulfilled her petitions when the pious spouses had attained to extreme old age and prepared themselves by virtuous life for a sublime calling to be the parents of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, the future Mother of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Archangel Gabriel brought Joakim and Anna the joyous message: their prayers were heard by God, and of them would be born a MostBlessed Daughter Mary, through Whom would come the Salvation of all the World. The Most Holy Virgin Mary of Herself in purity and virtue surpassed not only all mankind but also the Angels. She was manifest as the Living Temple of God, such that the Church sings in its festal verses of song: "The Heavenly Gate, bringing Christ into the world for the salvation of our souls" The Birth of the Mother of God marks the change of the times, wherein the great and comforting promises of God begin to be fulfilled about the salvation of the human race from slavery to the devil. This event has brought nigh to earth the grace of the Kingdom of God, a Kingdom of Truth, piety, virtue and life immortal.

Σεπτεμβρίου 8 - Τω αυτώ μηνί Η', το Γενέσιον της Υπεραγίας Δεσποίνης ημών Θεοτόκου και Αειπαρθένου Μαρίας.  Πάσας αληθώς Άννα νικάς μητέρας, Μήτηρ έως αν, ση γένηται θυγάτηρ. Εξάγαγε προς φάος Θεομήτορα ογδόη Άννα. Ταύτης της Κυρίας ημών Θεοτόκου, ο μεν πατήρ Ιωακείμ είχε το γένος από την βασιλικήν φυλήν του Δαβίδ· και επειδή παιδίον δεν εγέννα, αλλά ωνειδίζετο δια τούτο, τούτου χάριν δεν έπαυεν από το να προσφέρη εις τον Θεόν διπλά τα δώρα του, ως πλούσιος ων και φιλόθεος. Η δε μήτηρ αυτής Άννα, και αυτή παρομοίως εκατάγετο από το βασιλικόν γένος του Δαβίδ· όθεν ήτον και κατά το σώμα και κατά την ψυχήν ευγενεστάτη από όλας. Επειδή λοιπόν και οι δύω ελυπούντο δια το όνειδος της απαιδίας, ο μεν Ιωακείμ, επήγεν εις το όρος· η δε Άννα, εμβήκεν εις το περιβόλιον. Και οι δύω ομού επαρακάλουν με δάκρυα τον Θεόν, δια να χαρίση εις αυτούς καρπόν κοιλίας. Δια τούτο και έτυχον του ποθουμένου, και εγέννησαν την Θεοτόκον Μαρίαν, την πάντων των Αγίων αγιωτέραν. Και ούτως απόκτησαν μίαν καλλιτεκνίαν ασύγκριτον και εξοχωτάτην, ήτις υπερείχεν όλας τας καλλιτεκνίας των ανθρώπων. Και μακάριοι όντες καθ' εαυτούς δια την ενάρετον και θεοφιλή αυτών γνώμην, πολλώ μάλλον μακαριώτεροι έγιναν, δια την ασύγκριτον χάριν και θείαν τεκνογονίαν, οπού ηξιώθησαν. Επειδή από την εδικήν τους θυγατέρα, ήτοι την αειπάρθενον Μαριάμ, κατεδέχθη να γεννηθή ο Υιός του Θεού. Με ποίον δε τρόπον η Άννα εκατάγετο από την βασιλικήν φυλήν του Δαβίδ, τώρα θέλει το φανερώσει ο λόγος με συντομίαν. Εικοστός τρίτος από το γένος του Δαβίδ ευρίσκεται ο Ματθάν, (ή ακριβέστερον ειπείν εικοστός έβδομος, κατά την γενεαλογίαν του Ευαγγελιστού Ματθαίου). Ούτος λοιπόν λαβών γυναίκα Μαρίαν την εκ της φυλής του Ιούδα καταγομένην, εγέννησεν υιόν τον Ιακώβ, τον πατέρα Ιωσήφ του Μνήστορος, και τρεις θυγατέρας, Μαρίαν, Σοβήν, και Άνναν. Και η μεν Μαρία, γεννά Σαλώμην την μαίαν· η δε Σοβή, γεννά την Ελισάβετ· η δε Άννα, γεννά την Θεοτόκον. Ώστε οπού η Σαλώμη, η Ελισάβετ, και η Θεοτόκος είναι, έγγοναι μεν του Ματθάν, και Μαρίας της γυναικός αυτού, πρώται δε εξάδελφαι αναμεταξύ των. (Περί της Γεννήσεως της Θεοτόκου όρα εις την Σάλπιγγα, εις τον Μηνιάτην, και εις την Αποστολικήν Σαγήνην, και λόγους ευρήσεις απλοϊκούς.) Εντεύθεν συνάγεται, ότι ο εκ της Θεοτόκου γεννηθείς Κύριος, και ο εκ της Ελισάβετ γεννηθείς Πρόδρομος, ήτον δεύτεροι εξάδελφοι. Ορθώς δε γράφεται εν τοις Μηναίοις και τω τετυπωμένω Συναξαριστή, ότι η Ελισάβετ και η Σαλώμη ήτον ανεψιαί της Άννης, ως θυγατέρες των αδελφών αυτής, της Μαρίας λέγω και της Σοβής. Σημείωσαι, ότι εις την Γέννησιν της Θεοτόκου λόγους πανηγυρικούς έχουσιν Ανδρέας ο Κρήτης τρεις, ων του μεν ενός η αρχή έστιν αύτη· «Πάλιν εορτή και πάλιν πανήγυρις». Του δε ετέρου· «Ει μετρείται γη σπιθαμή». Του δε άλλου· «Αρχή μεν εορτής». Θεόδωρος ο Στουδίτης, ου η αρχή· «Λαμπρώς πανηγυρίζει». Γρηγόριος ο Παλαμάς, ου η αρχή· «Πας μεν καιρός επιτήδειος». Ιωάννης ο Δαμασκηνός, ου η αρχή· «Δεύτε πάντα τα έθνη». Σώζονται δε αυτοί εν τη Λαύρα, εν τω Κοινοβίω του Διονυσίου και εν τη Ιερά Μονή του Βατοπαιδίου. Εν τω έκτω δε Πανηγυρικώ της αυτής Μονής του Βατοπαιδίου σώζεται εις λόγος διαλαμβάνων περί γεννήσεως και ανατροφής της Θεοτόκου, ου η αρχή· «Εχρήν αληθώς την Παρθένον». Αλλά και ο Μεταφραστής λόγον εις το Γενέσιον της Θεοτόκου, όστις σώζεται εν τη Ιερά Μονή των Ιβήρων. Εν δε τη Μεγίστη Λαύρα σώζεται και τέταρτος λόγος του Ανδρέου Κρήτης, ου η αρχή· «Άλλοι μεν άλλας εορτών υποθέσεις». Έχει δε εγκώμιον εις αυτήν και Φώτιος ο Πατριάρχης, και Λέων ο Σοφός. Σημείωσαι δε ότι, εις την Γέννησιν της Θεοτόκου εμελούργησε κανόνας οκτωήχους και ιδιόμελα ωραιότατα ο σοφολογιώτατος διδάσκαλος κυρ Χριστοφόρος, ο κατά την Ιεράν Σκήτην του Τιμίου Προδρόμου τον ασκητικόν δίαυλον διατρέχων.

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." 

Today - 6:00 PM Vesperal - Divine Liturgy. Nativity of Theotokos. 

Monday, September 8 - 3:00 PM. Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner"

Tuesday, September 9 - 3:00 PM. JesusPrayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner"

Wednesday, September 10 - 3:00 PM. Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner" Day of Fasting.  Every Wednesday we remember when Judas betrayed Christ. 6:00 PM. Prayers near Miraculous Icon Mother of God "The Tender Heart" St. George's Orthodox Church in Taylor, PA.

Thursday, September 11 - 3:00 PM. Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner" 

Friday, September 12 - 3:00 PM. Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." Every Friday we commemorate Christ's Crucifixion.Day of Fasting. 

Saturday, September 13 - 3:00 PM. Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner" 6:00 PM. Great Vespers/Confession. Reading the life of the Saints. Catechism classes following the Vespers.           

Sunday, September 14 - 8:45 AM Orthros/Confession. 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy. Cross Elevation. Every Sunday we commemorate Christ's resurrection. 

WISDOM OF THE SAINTS! 

"You see, the person who has felt the compassion of God will hold his tongue and be careful not to criticize another. When he listens to his conscience, he won't censure others. His conscience holds him back, and in this way his life passes pleasantly, and he is joyful. How beautiful is unity! How beautiful are love, good behavior, and courtesy!"

"What do theatres bring into the hearts of men? The spirit of this world, the spirit of idleness, of idle speaking, of joking, of cunning, and wickedness, of pride, presumption they do not bring any moral good to anyone. The authors of the pieces and the actors only give people what they have in themselves, their own spirit, neither more nor less. And do the actors think of public morality? Have they any intention of cor recting people's morals? None whatever."

"Never begin lunch or dinner, or finish them, without fervent prayer to the Lord God as, unfortunately, very many Christians of our time do." 

 

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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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