Saint John the Baptist Orthodox Church

From a renowned Orthodox scholar of church history; may Dr. Jaroslav’s soul - he reposed in the Lord in 2006 - rejoice in the light of our Risen Lord, whose Resurrection provides light and context to our lives!

God bless Joseph’s efforts, and many thanks to him for offering his professional help with our parish choir this Holy Week in the midst of so many other projects!

Holy Week is tough on everyone. It is meant to be. We journey with Christ to the Cross and Grave so that we may all rise with Him. With Children it is an especi...ally more difficult road. Do not be discouraged! Be calm, be patient, be faithful! Here is some factual knowledge from Steve Robinson:

Join us each morning and evening this week! https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/print_preview

Last night, Vladyka Tikhon gave a homily especially geared towards the faithful of our parish, as a way of thanking us for our care of Metropolitan Theodosius. We encourage you to read these words, and thank Met. Tikhon for his kindness.

Memory eternal to a man of deep compassion!

SIGN-UP FOR VLADYKA'S MEMORIAL SERVICES Due to social distancing requirements, the number of faithful in attendance is limited, and we are requiring registration to attend the memorial services for Met. Theodosius. Please consider attending either one or the other of the services, to allow others to attend. Those interested in singing should contact Fr. Tom Soroka ([email protected]), and if welcomed to join the choir need not register. Singers and serving clergy do not coun...t towards our totals, but non-serving clergy must register. Pannikhida (Wed, 10/21, 7p): https://www.signupgenius.com//10c084fada929abf94-pannikhida Funeral (Thurs, 10/22, 6p): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c084fada929abf94-funeral

Father John Kotalik serves parastas for His Beatitude Metropolitan Theodosius. Memory Eternal.

UPDATES PERTAINING TO SERVICES: We will be serving a Pannikhida tonight (Monday) at 6:00 PM, all are welcome. Met. Theodosius' body will arrive at St. John's at 1 PM on Wednesday; all are welcome to greet him. There will then be a viewing until 7 PM, at which time a Pannikhida will be served by Met. Tikhon. This will be limited; I am working on a sign-up system now.... On Thursday, there will be a viewing from 1 PM until the Funeral service at 6 PM. This will also be served by Met. Tikhon and limited in attendance. It is hoped that having services on both nights will allow more to attend. On Friday, at 10 AM, the Funereal Liturgy will be served by Met. Tikhon at Holy Transfiguration Monastery, followed immediately by the burial in the cemetery there. Because this Liturgy will be served in their pavilion chapel, we do not anticipate there being a limit to attendance. Thanks for your patience; I'll get more info out soon! ------------------------- Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, It is with great sadness, yet with hope in the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that I must inform you all that His Beatitude, Metropolitan Theodosius, fell asleep in the Lord this morning. It appears as if he died in his sleep, "painless, blameless, and peaceful". Regardless, I received word just before 9 AM, and was able to be by his body shortly thereafter. Thankfully, they allowed me to enter and say all the appointed prayers, as well as to annoint Vladyka. Once His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, determines the funeral schedule, I will post that information here. Please remember to keep Vladyka Theodosius in your prayers. May he dwell with the saints, and may his memory be eternal. Вчная память! In Christ, with thanks, -Fr. John Joseph Kotalik

Today we commemorate St Lucian of Antioch. He was a great scholar, a holy priest, and even a martyr. But what was his greatest treasure? Something that all too often we take for grantedHoly Communion. Here's the story: St. Lucian was in prison with several of his disciples and other Christians. On the eve of Theophany, Lucian longed, on such a great Christian feast, to partake of the Body and Blood of Christ, for he knew that his death was imminent. Seeing this sincere desir...e, God Almighty arranged that some Christians pass bread and wine into the prison. When the Feast of Theophany dawned, Lucian called all the Christian prisoners to stand in a circle around him and said to them: "Surround me and be the Church." He had no table, chair, stone or wood in the prison upon which to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. "Holy Father, where shall we place the bread and wine?" they asked Lucian. He lay down in their midst and said: "Place them on my chest, let it be a living altar for the Living God!" And thus the Liturgy was celebrated correctly and prayerfully on the chest of the martyr, and all received Holy Communion. (From the Prolog from Ohrid.) Do we truly hunger for the Body and Blood of Christ like St Lucian? Do we prepare for that great Mystery with our whole life, or do we approach unthinkingly? May God grant us this grace, through the prayers of St Lucian!

Our parishioners giving back to the community!

St. Tikhon - pictured here, and whom we be commemorating this Thursday evening with Vespers and Friday morning with Typica - shows us to pray for and love even those oppressing us, while yet standing up for the truth: speaking the truth in love, as all Christians ought to do.

Another fundraiser to consider supporting tomorrow:

For those intending to head to St. Nicholas in Donora tomorrow for their ethnic food fair: