New Chandelier Blessing

On Sunday October 25th, we celebrated the blessing of our new chandelier during liturgy which has been donated in honor and memory of Max Rosenfield. The Kerpchar Family graciously hosted a wonderful dinner after the liturgy.

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Here are some quotes that Father Luke mentioned during service about the chandelier with links to the full articles below:

“…its ring is embellished with arches, very-slightly horseshoe shaped, which lend a splendid crown-like elegance.”  –  Andrew Gould, “A Chorus Chandelier for a Timber Frame Church”, Orthodox Arts Journal, January 9, 2014

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“Winding through an ever-changing progression of ornamental foliage and beasts is an inscription from Revelation 21:5 “There shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” This use of this verse on a chandelier has precedent in ancient Romanesque art, and it is fitting to the Orthodox idea of every church as an outpost of the Kingdom of God, shining from within with the light of God’s grace.“ – Andrew Gould, “A Chorus Chandelier for a Timber Frame Church”, Orthodox Arts Journal, January 9, 2014

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“A church interior should give a sense to incomers that this is a special place, a sacred space, not separate from but nevertheless distinct from the world outside. If the lighting inside is as intense as daylight, or is just like a well-lit work place, then we have little reminder that this is a place set side. One can think of low lighting as an evocation of the sepulchre from which the resurrection light breaks forth, or the mouth of a spring from which gushes the water of life to “bring life wherever it flows” (Ezekiel 47:9).” –  Aidan Hart, “Lighting in Orthodox Churches: Liturgical Principles and Practical Ideas” Orthodox Arts Journal, August 27, 2015

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3And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4And they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] in their foreheads. 5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. 6And he said unto me, These sayings [are] faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. 7Behold, I come quickly: blessed [is] he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” – Revelations 22:3-7

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*… because in Orthodoxy the entire temple represents the New Jerusalem. The meaning of the fixture in an Orthodox temple is complex, and can best be understood by examining the word ‘choros’. In ancient Greek, it was the word for a circular clearing in the forest, a meadow. In classical mythology it is the place where lovers gather secretly for trysts, where satyrs and nymphs dance to the pan flute. Churchmen boldly adopted this word to denote the circular liturgical space under the dome, a sunlit clearing in the forest of columns. Here God and man meet for their lover’s dance, and couples hold hands and walk in circles to be married, like the pagans of old. The chandelier is called choros after the circular space that it adorns. It is the wedding crown, an ornament of pure joy to celebrate the union of God and man, like the flowers and birds that ornamented the forest clearing.” – Andrew Gould “Holy Ascension Chorus”, Orthodox Arts Journal, June 14, 2012

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“The surviving Byzantine choroi do not include inscriptions, so for our choros we had to choose a text of our own. In consultation with the donor, we settled upon Revelation 21:5 “There shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” This verse is similar to the inscription on the Aachen corona, however it does not describe the architecture of the city, but only the quality of light, and the eternal triumph of the blessed. It is a verse fitting to the role of the Orthodox choros—an instrument of illumination at the center of a temple which is itself the Heavenly City.”  – Andrew Gould “Holy Ascension Chorus”, Orthodox Arts Journal, June 14, 2012

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Schedule of Services and Events for October 25 – November 1

Monday, October 26
6 PM – Prayer Group
7 PM- Spirituality Class

Tuesday, October 27
8:30 AM – Akathist
9 AM –Perogie Session

Wednesday, October 28
7 PM – Adult Catechism Class

Thursday, October 29
8:30 AM – First Hour

Saturday, October 31
8 AM – Baking Session
5 PM Vespers

OCTOBER 31
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME turn your clocks BACK 1 HOUR 

Sunday, November 1
9 AM – Church School – Middle and High School
10 AM – Divine Liturgy
11:30 AM – Church School – Elementary

Sunday, November 1
1 PM – Deanery DDD dinner at:
The Original Vazzy’s
513 Broadbridge Avenue
Bridgeport, CT


Readers Schedule
10/25 – Paul Toaso
11/1 – Harry Fong
11/8 – Susan Paltauf
11/15 – Stasia Mihaly


Coffee Hour
10/25 – Kerpchar
11/1 – Budyonny
11/8 – Lenox Retreat


Upcoming Events

Chandelier Blessing – Sunday, October 25
Roll Baking Day – Saturday, October 31 & November 14
Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen – Friday, November 6
St. Nectarios Retreat,Lenox, MA – Fri, Nov 6 – Sun, Nov 8
Cemetery Clean Up – Saturday, November 14
Music on the Mount – Saturday, November 28
St. Nicholas Day Brunch – Sunday, December 6

Bless My Enemies

St. Nikolai Velimirovich: Bless My Enemies O Lord

Enemies have driven me into your embrace more than friends have.

Friends have bound me to earth, enemies have loosed me from earth and have demolished all my aspirations in the world.

Enemies have made me a stranger in worldly realms and an extraneous inhabitant of the world. Just as a hunted animal finds safer shelter than an unhunted animal does, so have I, persecuted by enemies, found the safest sanctuary, having ensconced myself beneath your tabernacle, where neither friends nor enemies can slay my soul.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.

They, rather than I, have confessed my sins before the world.

They have punished me, whenever I have hesitated to punish myself.

They have tormented me, whenever I have tried to flee torments.

They have scolded me, whenever I have flattered myself.

They have spat upon me, whenever I have filled myself with arrogance.

Bless my enemies, O Lord, Even I bless them and do not curse them.

Whenever I have made myself wise, they have called me foolish.

Whenever I have made myself mighty, they have mocked me as though I were a dwarf.

Whenever I have wanted to lead people, they have shoved me into the background.

Whenever I have rushed to enrich myself, they have prevented me with an iron hand.

Whenever I thought that I would sleep peacefully, they have wakened me from sleep.

Whenever I have tried to build a home for a long and tranquil life, they have demolished it and driven me out.

Truly, enemies have cut me loose from the world and have stretched out my hands to the hem of your garment.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.

Bless them and multiply them; multiply them and make them even more bitterly against me:

so that my fleeing to You may have no return;

so that all hope in men may be scattered like cobwebs;

so that absolute serenity may begin to reign in my soul;

so that my heart may become the grave of my two evil twins, arrogance and anger;

so that I might amass all my treasure in heaven;

ah, so that I may for once be freed from self-deception, which has entangled me in the dreadful web of illusory life.

Enemies have taught me to know what hardly anyone knows, that a person has no enemies in the world except himself.

One hates his enemies only when he fails to realize that they are not enemies, but cruel friends.

It is truly difficult for me to say who has done me more good and who has done me more evil in the world: friends or enemies.

Therefore bless, O Lord, both my friends and enemies.

A slave curses enemies, for he does not understand. But a son blesses them, for he understands.

For a son knows that his enemies cannot touch his life.

Therefore he freely steps among them and prays to God for them.

+ St. Nikolai Velimirovich, Prayers By the Lake (A Treasury of Serbian Orthodox Spirituality, Volume 5)

 

Schedule of Services and Events for the week October 18 – October 25, 2015

Monday, October 19
6 PM – Prayer Group
7 PM – Spirituality Class

Tuesday, October 20
8:30 AM – Akathist
9 AM –Perogie Session

Wednesday, October 21
9:30 AM – New Milford High School visit
7 PM – Adult Catechism Class

 Thursday, October 22
10 AM – Liturgy imo for Nancy Franco

Friday, October 23
9:30 AM – Old Testament Class

Saturday, October 24
5 PM – Vespers

Sunday, October 25
9 AM – Church School – Middle and High School
10 AM – Divine Liturgy blessing of Chandelier
11:30 AM – Church School – Elementary
12 noon – Brunch in honor and memory of Max Rosenfield. Blessing and dedication of the new Chandelier


Readers Schedule
10/18 – Susan Paltauf
10/25 – Paul Toaso
11/1 – Harry Fong
11/8 – Susan Paltauf


Coffee Hour
10/18 – Gross
10/25 – Kerpchar
11/1 – Budyonny
11/8 – Lenox Retreat


Upcoming Events
Parish Council Meeting – Sunday, October 18
Deanery Corn Maze Family Outing – Sunday, October 18
Sunday, October 25, – Chandelier Blessing
Saturday, October 31 – Roll Baking Day
Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen – Friday, November 6
Lenox St. Nectarios Retreat – Friday, November 6 through Sunday, November 8
Music on the Mount Saturday, November 28
St. Nicholas Day Brunch – Sunday, December 6

Schedule of Services and Events for the Week of October 5 – October 11, 2015

Monday, October 5
6 PM – Prayer Group
7 PMSpirituality Class

Tuesday, October 6
9 AM– Perogie making session

Sunday, October 11
9 AM – Church School – Middle and High School
10 AM – Divine Liturgy – served by Fr. Sergei Bouteneff
11:30 AM – Church School – Elementary

Thursday, October 15
7 PM – St. Nectarios Service

Friday, October 16
9:30 AM – Old Testament Class
6 PM – Weeping Icon from Taylor Pennsylvania
at St. John’s Church
384 Mill Hill Avenue, Bridgeport, CT

Saturday, October 17
5 PM – Vespers

Sunday, October 18
9 AM – Chrismation of Roz Mihaylo
9 AM – Church School
10 AM – Liturgy
11:30 AM – Church School
12:30 PM – Parish Council

Fr. Luke and Pani along with several others are away in South Dakota from October 6 thru October 14.

For emergencies please contact the rectory so Fr. Luke can be reached


Readers Schedule
10/11 – Paul Sulich
10/18 – Susan Paltauf


Coffee Hour
10/11 – Radcliff
10/18 – Gross
10/25 – Kerpchar
11/1 – Budyonny


Upcoming Events

Lakota Nation Adult Mission Trip
October 11 thru October 14

Weeping Icon to visit Bridgeport’s St. John’s Church
Friday, October 16, 6 PM

Deanery Corn Maze Family Outing
Sunday, October 18

Chandelier Blessing
Sunday, October 25

Roll Baking Day
Saturday, October 31

Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen
Friday, November 6

Lenox St. Nectarios Retreat
Friday, November 6 through Sunday, November 8

Bake Sale
November 21-22

Music on the Mount
Saturday, November 28

St. Nicholas Day Brunch
Sunday, December 6

Bake Sale
December 13

Schedule of Services and Events for the Week of September 28 – October 4, 2015

Monday, September 28
6 PM – Prayer Group
7 PM- Spirituality Class

Tuesday, September 29
8:30 AM
– First Hour
9 AM – Perogie Session

Wednesday, September 30
7 PM
– Catechism Class

Thursday, October 1
9 AM –
Liturgy Feast of the Protection

Friday, October 2
9:30 AM
– Parish Old Testament Class

Saturday, October 3
9 AM
– St. Vladimir’s Education Day
5 PM – Vespers

Sunday, October 4
9 AM
– Church School – Middle and High School
10 AM – Divine Liturgy
11:30 AM – Church School – Elementary


Readers Schedule
10/4- Harry Fong
10/11 – Paul Sulich
10/18 – Susan Paltauf


Coffee Hour
10/4 – Zubek
10/11 – Radcliff
10/18 – Gross
10/25 – Kerpchar
11/1 – Budyonny


Upcoming Events

Lakota Nation Adult Mission Trip
October 11 thru October 14

Weeping Icon to visit Bridgeport’s St. John’s Church
Friday, October 16, 6 PM

Deanery Corn Maze Family Outing
Sunday, October 18

Roll Baking Day
Saturday, October 31

Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen
Friday, November 6

Lenox St. Nectarios Retreat
Friday, November 6 through Sunday, November 8

Bake Sale
November 21-22

Music on the Mount
Saturday, November 28

St. Nicholas Day Brunch
Sunday, December 6

Bake Sale
December 13