St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, DuBois, PA

On Thursday, December 31, 2020, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America has issued an encyclical entitled, "'We Rejoice Even in Tribulations...': An Encyclical of Hope." The Holy Synod offers this work out of love and gratitude to its faithful at the end of this year. The Synod also intends for the encyclical to be seen as an encouragement for the year to come. In the encyclical, the Synod seeks to find meaning in the year that has past, which has been marked by a pandemic, political polarization, economic anxiety, and civil unrest, and calls the faithful to a renewed faith and hope in Jesus Christ, and service to one another. Presently the encyclical is available as a PDF for download: https://www.oca.org//P/synod/2020-1231-encyclical-hope.pdf In January 2021, printed copies will be mailed to all parishes, monasteries, and institutions of the Orthodox Church in America. [https://www.oca.org//holy-synod-of-bishops-issues-an-encyc]

Christ is Born!! Christos Razdajetsja!!

Except its not the third anymore...so hard to believe it has already been 11 years! Forever in our hearts and prayers! Memory Eternal, Vladyka! Pray for us!

St Herman of Alaska 13th December Apolytikion 4th mode... Blessed ascetic of the northern wilds and gracious intercessor for the whole world, teacher of the Orthodox Faith, good instructor of piety, adornment of Alaska and joy of all America, holy Father Herman, pray to Christ God that He save our souls. Kontakion & Oikos Monk of Valaam, who through ascetic labors didst become an emulator of the desert-dwelling saints of old, O beloved of the Mother of God and Virgin, having taken prayer as sword and shield, thou wast revealed as the scourge of pagan darkness and the demons’ hosts. Hence we cry to thee: O Saint Herman, pray that we be saved. If any would fitly laud the luminary of Alaska, he were in need of an angel’s thunderous praises. For this heroic man, braving the vast Siberian wilderness, accepted exile in a strange land for the love of strangers. Withstanding the mighty to defend the defenseless, he had mercy on them both; and he sowed the simplicity of the Aleuts with the seeds of faith, bringing forth and hundredfold unto Christ, Who saveth them that worship Him as God while crying to His friend: O Saint Herman, pray that we be saved. Synaxarion On 13th December we commemorate our righteous Father Herman of Alaska, Enlightener of the Aleuts, who reposed in peace in the year 1837. Verses Having stripped off the old man with many labours, To the new world came Herman as an Apostle. On the thirteenth, Herman shineth with Alaskan gold. Herman was born in the town of Serpukhov in the Moscow Diocese around 1756. At age 16, he entered the Russian Orthodox monastic life at the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Hermitage near St. Petersburg. Later, he moved to the Valaam Monastery. During this time, the head of the Golikov-Shelikov Company visited Valaam and made a request for several monks to begin a mission into the Alaskan territory. Father Herman was selected, along with seven other monks. They arrived on Kodiak Island on September 24, 1794. The monks educated and converted the Aleuts or native Alaskans and, as time progressed, they found themselves protecting the natives from exploitation and abuse. Because of this moral stance the monks themselves were abused, arrested and physically threatened. In time, enduring hardship, inclement weather, illness and more, Herman stood as the only remainder from the original band of missionaries. Father Herman felt it his duty to protect the native Alaskans (Aleuts) from exploitation. He defended them against the often cruel treatment of those who controlled the colony, which he documented and presented before the governors of the colony. The natives regarded him as their intercessor before God. When there was a tidal wave on the Island, Herman took an icon of the Theotokos, placed it on the beach and assured the people that the water would not rise beyond the place where the icon was, and it did not. When there was a great fire on the island, he dug a trench and stayed the flames. Prior to his death he foretold that there would be no priest to bury him and that he would be forgotten for 30 years. He died on December 13, 1837, and was forgotten until the first investigation of his life in 1867 by Bishop Peter of Alaska. By his intercessions, O Christ God have mercy upon us. Amen.