St. John of Shanghai & San Francisco Russian Orthodox Mission Church

This weekend, Bible Study on the General Epistle of James, Sunday at 3 pm to 4 pm, Jackass Brewery west of Lewisburg. No previous knowledge needed, all are welcome. Come learn from the ancient Church's living tradition as we go through the text together!

Kontakion VI Preaching salvation though slow of speech, thou wast shown to be like a new Moses, leading thy people out of captivity of the godless, O all-blessed John. Deliver us also from bondage to sin and the invisible foe, that, rejoicing, we may cry out to God: Alleluia! - Akathist To The Holy Hierarch John.

Come and see! Experience the living tradition of the one holy apostolic and catholic Church, at Orthodox Divine Liturgy, 10 a.m. tomorrow (Sunday 10/25), at the Lewisburg Club, 131 Market St. We will commemorate the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, who with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit articulated why we venerate (but don't worship) icons in the Orthodox Church. Prayers of the Hours will start at 9:40 a.m. For more information please see stjohnthewonderworker.com

Kontakion1 Offering worthy veneration and thanksgiving unto Thee, the Queen of heaven and earth, who art more exalted than all creation, who wast chosen by the preeternal King, and once did enter the Church of Blachernae to make supplications, with faith and compunction we flee beneath Thy radiant omophorion as ones who are in darkness. As Thou hast might which is invincible, free us from all misfortunes, that we may cry un toThee: Rejoice, O our joy! Protect us from all evil by Thy precious Omophorion. - Akathist Hymn to the Protection of the All-Holy Theotokos.

Kontakion 1 O chosen wonderworker and most excellent favorite of Christ, who pourest forth upon the whole world abundant streams of instruction and a multitude of wonderous miracles! We praise thee with love, and cry out to thee: Rejoice, O holy hierarch, father John, speedy helper amid misfortunes! - Akathist Hymn to the Holy Hierarch John, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco, The Wonderworker.

New community Bible study starts next Sunday in Lewisburg on the Epistles of the New Testament. All are welcome! (3 to 4 p.m, First conversation: start of the Epistle of St. James, Location: Jackass brewery and restaurant just west of Lewisburg on 45)

Today we commemorate the translation of the Holy incorrupt relics of Saint John Maximovitch. May we have his holy intercessions always! Like a spiritual daysta...r in heaven’s firmament, thou didst encompass the whole world and didst enlighten men’s souls. Hence thy name is glorified throughout the East and West, for thou didst shine forth with grace of the Sun of righteousness, O John our beloved shepherd. Wherefore, cease not to entreat Christ, that He show mercy and redeem our souls! + Apolytikion of Saint John

Come and see! Join us in worshipping our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ in the living ancient tradition of the Apostles, at Orthodox Christian services this week in Lewisburg PA. Vespers Saturday 5 pm, Sunday Divine Liturgy 10 a.m. (Prayers of the Hours 9:40), at the Lewisburg Club, 131 Market St. And please check out our fifth-anniversary story-telling project "Voices from St. John's," linked below, on how we came to be Orthodox Christians at a Russian Orthodox Mission in Central Pennsylvania. Then join us on Oct. 24 at the Mazeppa Union Community Hall in Mazeppa PA for our fifth-anniversary pulled-pork and Russian food take-away fund-raiser for our building program! For more details please see stjohnthewonderworker.com

An old photo I just stumbled upon of my great aunt Tamara Petrovna Ilyinsky. She was a professional seamstress who sewed vestments for countless bishops, priest...s, deacons, and churches in general. Many of the vestment at st. Alexander’s were seen by her. I currently live in the same house where Tetya Tom (as we all called her) used to sew for many years. In fact the master bedroom was once the sewing room. My wife and I both feel that there is a special sense of holiness and grace in this house because of t. Tom and her mother (my great grandma) Baba Raya. These women were not just amazing Babushka’s - they were ordinary saints. Both of them were widows and they lived like monastics to a certain degree. In this photo you can see tetya Tom admiring a Mitre that she recently completed for someone. I’m sure Michael Kazmierczak will know how details about the mitre. I just thought this picture was such a beautiful and elegant reminder of a pious way of life that is becoming more difficult to find these days. Memory eternal to Tamara, her husband Andrei, and her parents: Archpriest Peter and Raisa.

A little ROCOR mission history currently being recorded: Some stories of converts at a ROCOR mission parish, St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, in a wide r...egion of central Pennsylvania that until five years ago had no ROCOR presence, founded in a university town. This fifth-anniversary project will feature additions of more stories in future too, and hopefully oral histories in future. See more

Come and see! Join us in worship in the tradition of living apostolic Christianity. Deacon Vespers and Akathist Prayer, 5 p.m. Saturday 10/3, and Prayers of the Hours with Typika on Sunday 10/4 at 10 a.m. All are welcome. For more details see stjohnthewonderworker.com

Divine Liturgy will be tomorrow (Sunday 9/27) at 10 am, Hours at 9:40, as we commemorate the Elevation of the Cross. Please also be in touch with any needs, questions, or prayer requests. Homily on the Exaltation of the Cross (Sep 27) St. John of Shanghai...Continue reading

Come and see! Experience the ancient living tradition of apostolic Christianity. Tonight (Friday Sept. 18) at Vespers at 6 p.m. in the Lewisburg Club, 131 Market St. alley entrance, and tomorrow, Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. (Prayers of the Hours at 9:40), same location. We continue our celebration this fall of our mission’s fifth anniversary and look to the commemoration of th Nativity of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God (depicted in the icon shown here) on Monday. All are welcome! For details, see stjohnthewonderworker.com

Glory to God! Our newest member, welcome, newly illumined Nicholas! (Thanks to brother Luke for his beautiful photography)