Our Sixtieth Anniversary: Thank you!

On behalf of Fr. John and the Parish Council, we want to take a moment to thank everyone for making our Sixtieth Anniversary celebration this past weekend such a special event. From cleaning, decorating, singing, preparing for the banquet, making special donations, and most importantly, being present to pray with us – so many went to great lengths to make this a memorable and historic event in our parish life.

We in particular thank His Eminence, Archbishop Michael; Deacon John Carpenter and his family; Subdeacon Mark Federoff and his family; and Subdeacon Andrew Karlgut for joining us and attending to the details of the hierarchical celebration. We also are especially indebted to Father Nectarios Yangson, the guardian of the Hawaiian-Iveron icon, and his drivers Reader Christopher & Anna Lasek, for bringing this miraculous icon to grace our celebration.

We congratulate the newly-ordained readers Achilles and Gabriel (Kenny) and their families, and look forward to seeing how their ministry to the church continues to develop in time.

Thank you to all of the donors who contributed towards our commemorative journal, as well as to our new set of vestments. The vestments truly befitted heavenly worship! Additional copies of the commemorative journal will be available at the candle desk in the narthex; copies will be mailed to those who donated but weren’t able to join us.

Finally, thank you to Ginger Jerosh and Edna Fetkowitz for all of their tireless labors, consistently and ceaselessly, for over sixty years to build up the body of Christ here in Dix Hills! Many years!

The Dormition of the Mother of God

O Apostles from all the ends of the earth, who have gathered here in Gethsemane, bury my body, and Thou, my Son and God, receive my spirit! – Exapostilarion of the feast

In giving birth, you remained a virgin, in falling asleep you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos! You were translated to life, O Mother of Life! And by your prayers you deliver our souls from death! – Troparion of the feast

We greet you with both sadness and joy on this great and final feast of the liturgical year! We will celebrate with a Festal Vesperal Liturgy on Friday, August 14, at 7:00 PM, with the blessing of flowers and fragrant herbs to follow. Joyous feast to all!

The Transfiguration of Christ

This week, we will celebrate the Great Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ upon Mount Tabor. The feast is August 6; we will serve a Vesperal Liturgy on Wednesday evening, August 5, at 7:00 PM, followed by the traditional blessing of fruit.

The blessing of fruit is a pious custom which finds its roots in the desire of the faithful to bless the first-fruits of the harvest, which become ready around the time of the feast. There is a poetic connection between the harvest and the Feast, as we see the tilled earth transfigured in the beauty of the fruit which comes forth from it, just as we see the beautiful fruit of our spiritual labors emerge in our lives. Below is an article written by Fr. John about the feast, from a past edition of The Cupola.

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