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Welcome to St. Basil's Orthodox Church

pascha 2013

Pascha 2013 - 05/05/13

HOLY PASCHA!

CHRIST IS RISEN!     INDEED HE IS RISEN!

Holy Pascha, the Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord, is the Feast of Feasts!  We prepare for its celebration especially during forty days of Great Lent – a period of repentance, prayer and fasting.  Great Lent is followed by the Holiest of Weeks, when each day, we remember the last events of Our Lord’s earthly life – the Mystical Supper, His betrayal, His Passion, death and burial.

Even while we stand before the Tomb of Christ on Holy Friday evening, we sing the beautiful Canon of Holy Saturday, already experiencing the Life Giving Tomb!  We hear, “Let creation rejoice!  Let all born on earth be glad!  For hateful hell has been despoiled.  Let the women with myrrh come to meet me; for I am redeeming Adam and Eve and all their descendants, and on the third day shall I arise!” (Ode 9, Canon of Holy Saturday)

 

Our photos capture some scenes from Vespers of Holy Friday and the procession on Holy Friday evening.  Then, at the midnight service Saturday night, all the faithful carry lit candles in procession three times around the church, bells ringing, singing: “Thy Resurrection O Christ our Savior, the angels in heaven sing, enable us on earth to glorify Thee in purity of heart.” Finally arriving at the door of the church, just as the Myrrh-bearing Women arrived at the Tomb of Christ, the priest proclaims, “Christ is Risen!”  All reply, “Indeed He Is Risen!”

Upon entering the church at midnight, we celebrate the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.  All is illumined by the joy of the Resurrection!

We gather again for Paschal Vespers on Sunday.  With the faithful following in procession, the priest proclaims the Gospel in different languages on all sides the church!

We sing again and again, “Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs, bestowing life!”

                                                               ~ Paschal Troparion



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URGENT APPEAL -  Release of two Orthodox Christian Archbishops 

Bishop Michael requests your assistance in obtaining 100,000 signatures on an appeal for the release of abducted Archbishop Paul Yazigi and Archbishop Youhanna Ibrahim.

To SIGN the petition, go to:

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/appeal-president-obama-and-his-government-release-two-abducted-orthodox-christian-archbishops-syria/xNskxL1q

You will need to register yourself ... then you will receive a confirmation email with a link ... then you can sign the petition.

The appeal to President Obama and his government is for the release of two Orthodox Christian Archbishops, namely Archbishop Paul Yazigi and Archbishop Youhanna Ibrahim who were abducted by armed rebels on April 23, 2013 in the suburbs of Aleppo, Syria.  The driver of the Archbishops was murdered and the Archbishops were forced by the rebels to go to an unknown location either in Syria or in Turkey. We appeal to you beloved in Christ and peace loving people to sign this petition urgently asking the American administration to use all its influence for the release of these two Archbishops and to bring a peaceful settlement to this bloodletting Syrian conflict through a negotiated settlement.

May you have a blessed Holy Week and glorious Pascha.

Yours in Christ,

+Bishop THOMAS (Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese in America

   Diocese of Charleston, Oakland, and the Mid-Atlantic)

http://stbasilschurch.org/files/Patriarch_Antioch_LTR_HolyWeek2013.pdf


Icon of Saint Anna - 04/12/13

The Myrrh-Streaming Icon of Saint Anna visited Saint Basil’s Orthodox Church in Watervliet NY on Friday, 12 April. Over 120 parish faithful and guests attended the Molieben and Akathist to the Holy and Righteous Joachim and Anna celebrated by Father Peter Olsen (parish rector). Assisting clergy were Father Igor Burdikoff and Father Matthew Markewich.

The homily was given by the guardian of the icon, Father Athanasy Mastalsky of Saint Tikhon’s Monastery. He explained the history of the icon and how grace is given to us by God through this miraculous icon. At the conclusion of the service all present were anointed with the flowing myrrh (oil) from the icon. A fellowship at the church center followed.



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Upcoming Events

HAIR OF THE DOG CONCERT

 

Saturday May18, 2013 at the St. Basil’s ChurchCenter

Tickets $15.00 in Advance, $18.00 at the Door

Please plan on attending this event featuring the band Hair of the Dog

Volunteers are needed.  Please contact Kim Cuva at 269-8724.

 
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