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All mail and correspondence should be sent to:  6 Lansing Ave Watervliet NY 12189-1845

Phone: (518) 273-6262   E-Mail:  kaolsen2410@gmail.com  Please do not send text messages.  Thank you.

 

OUR MISSION/VISION STATEMENT

  • ST. BASIL'S CHURCH WILL STRIVE TO GLORIFY GOD THROUGH 

ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN WORSHIP,

SINCERE LOVE AND CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER,

AND SERVICE TO THOSE IN NEED AROUND US

 

St. Basil's, a parish of the Orthodox Church in America, is a Christian community of people from various ethnic and social backgrounds sharing a common commitment to the Lord, each other, and the Apostolic Faith. We warmly welcome all families, couples, children and individuals who are looking for a deeper experience of the salvation offered in Jesus Christ. Come and see!

**All services are in English                  

Welcome! It is always an honor and a privilege when we have visitors worship with us at St. Basil’s.  Please consider filling out a “Visitor’s Card” at the Candle Desk and joining us for Coffee Hour after the liturgy. Please keep in mind that we have certain traditions and practices that perhaps you may not be accustomed to.  For example, modest and proper attire should be worn.  We do not practice so-called "Eucharistic hospitality" or "inter-Communion."  Only Baptized Orthodox Christians who have been to Holy Confession recently may receive Holy Communion.  If you are an Orthodox visitor and plan to receive Holy Communion, please call Fr. Peter ahead of time (518-273-6262).  ALL SERVICES ARE IN ENGLISH!

Sacraments are scheduled only by Baptized Orthodox Christians who go to church, go to Confession, and receive Holy Communion on a regular basis.  Please note that in order to schedule a sacrament, you must be a member in good standing of St. Basil's.  If you are a member of another Orthodox Church, you must bring a letter from the Parish Priest stating that you are a member in good standing of that parish and that he gives you his blessing to request a sacrament in our church.  All Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals must be scheduled ahead of time with Fr. Peter.  Please keep in mind that not all days and times are permitted.  All canonical, traditional and liturgical practices of the Orthodox Church must be followed and adhered to.  All Baptisms must be discussed with the parents of the child ahead of time, and all couples seeking to be wed in our church must themselves discuss this request with the priest.  Thank you!

Confession is a soul-proftitable Mystery (Sacrament) of the Church.  It is a gift to us from God in our struggle to be cleansed from our sins and to have inner peace in our hearts and souls.  It is the practice of the Orthodox Church to go to Confession before receiving Holy Communion.  If we are frequent communicants (receive Holy Communion on a weekly basis), it is the guidance of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America to go to Confession once a month.  Confessions are generally heard at St. Basil’s on Saturday evening after Great Vespers.  Confessions are generally not heard on Sunday morning before Divine Liturgy because there is little time, as the priest must do the proskomedia before the liturgy.  Exceptions for worthy reasons can be made.  Confessions are also heard on other days and times by appointment.  Occasionally (RARELY) Confessions may not be scheduled on a particular Saturday.  Please check our weekly bulletin for our schedule.  Please see Fr. Peter if you would like further guidance or reading material explaining Confession, as well as how to prepare for Confession and Holy Communion.  Children begin going to Confession at seven years of age.

Таинства назначаются только крещеным православным христианам, которые регулярно ходят в храм, исповедуются и причащаются. Обратите внимание, что для того, чтобы запланировать таинство (крещение ребенка, венчание, отпевание, и.т.д.); вообще Вы должны быть членом церкви Св. Василия.  Если Вы являетесь членом другой православной церкви, Вам необходимо принести письмо от приходского священника, в котором будет указано, что Вы являетесь членом этого прихода и, что Вы получили благословение священника того храма, чтобы попросить у нас соблюдать таинство.  Все крещения, свадьбы и похороны необходимо согласовывать заранее с о. Петром.  Имеете ввиду, что не все дни и часы разрешены.  Необходимо соблюдать все канонические, традиционные и литургические практики Церкви.    Все крещения необходимо заранее обсудить с родителями ребенка. Спасибо за внимание!

St. Basil's celebrated its Parish Feast Day of St. Basil the Great  with His Eminence, Archbishop MICHAEL on January 1, 2025.  Serving with the parish rector, Archpriest Peter Olsen, was Priest Paul Fedoroff and parish deacon Jason Gagnon.  Subdeacons were Benjamin Goes and Andrew Karlgut.  A festive meal and fellowship was enjoyed by all in the parish hall.

We encourage you to visit the official website of the Diocese of NY and NJ, www.nynjoca.org

 It includes information about various Diocesan activities:  Teen Retreats, Altar Servers Retreats, Mens and Womens Retreats, Family Fun Days, the Bishop’s schedule, etc.. 

Diocesan Guidelines and other vital documents are also available.  News about parish events and activities throughout the Diocese are also posted.

518-273-6262

kaolsen2410@gmail.com
OUR RELIQUARY

LIFE AT ST. BASIL'S

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SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

NATIVITY FAST

Sunday - November 30 - 9:10 am - Hours and Divine Liturgy. No Church School. Coffee Hour

Friday - December 5 - 6:00 pm - Great Vespers with Blessing of Loaves. Confession

Saturday - December 6 - Nicholas the Wonder-worker, archbishop of Myra in Lycia - 9:10 am - Hours and Divine Liturgy

5:00 pm - Panikhida.  5:30 pm - Great Vespers. Confession

Sunday - December 7 - 9:10 am - Hours and Divine Liturgy. Church School. Coffee Hour

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                       

                                                         

 
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UKRAINIAN AND MOLDOVAN HIERARCHS ADDRESS UN ON RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION

Geneva, December 2, 2025

Two Orthodox hierarchs addressed the United Nations Forum on Minority Issues in Geneva on November 27-28, 2025, raising concerns about the persecution and discrimination against their respective Churches.

His Eminence Metropolitan Theodosy of Cherkasy and Kanev of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (who was urgently hospitalized the next day, likely as the result of poisoning) participated in the 18th session of the forum, submitting a video address and written statement distributed through the UN online events system, reports Public Advocacy, a human rights organization with consultative status with UN.

In his statement, Met. Theodosy highlighted decisions by UN Special Rapporteurs confirming violations of the rights of Ukrainian Orthodox Church believers. He noted that Ukraine’s Parliament has passed legislation banning his confession, with hundreds of violent seizures of churches occurring across the country and arrests of clergy and laypeople.

The Metropolitan specifically addressed what he termed discriminatory mobilization legislation. “Ukraine has adopted special discriminatory legislation that prohibits our church from obtaining draft deferments for our priests, unlike other confessions that have the right to full exemption from the army,” he stated. “We cannot save our priests from death, who are simply grabbed on the streets and sent to the front, where they die as ordinary soldiers.”

The UOC hierarch referenced UN Special Rapporteurs’ criticism of Ukrainian authorities in May 2025 for violations of UOC believers’ rights, stating that Ukrainian authorities continue policies he characterized as approaching “genocide on religious grounds.” The Metropolitan has been recognized as a human rights defender-victim of violations by the Ukrainian state and has been invited to the UN for personal testimony, though criminal cases opened against him currently prevent his departure from Ukraine.

His Eminence Archbishop Marchel Michăescu of Bălți and Fălești of the Orthodox Church of Moldova also addressed the forum, submitting video and written statements. He expressed concern about Moldovan President Maia Sandu’s July 30 statement listing the Orthodox Church of Moldova among ten “instruments of Russian interference” in parliamentary elections and “threats to national security.”

“In my opinion, this statement is an example of ‘hate rhetoric’ against our Church. Such statements are unfounded and inadmissible in a state governed by the rule of law,” the archbishop stated. “If Moldova wants to join the EU, it needs to comply with European legal standards and demonstrate equal treatment of all religious groups in practice.”

The forum, established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2007, attracted over 900 registered participants this year. Both hierarchs’ statements were supported by human rights organizations including Public Advocacy and For Human Rights.

Oleg Denisov, head of Public Advocacy, stated that the international alliance Church Against Xenophobia and Discrimination would continue supporting the Orthodox Church of Moldova in defending believers’ rights. He noted that complaints are being submitted to UN special procedures and that there may be opportunity to raise Moldova’s compliance with religious freedom obligations during the UN Human Rights Committee’s 144th session in 2026.

Source:  orthochristian.org
ROCOR FIRST HIERARCH ISSUES STATEMENT IN DEFENSE OF THE FAITHFUL OF THE UOC
November 25, 2025 

On 21st November 2025, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, issued a statement, in which he explained the purpose of the meetings held earlier in Washington, denounced their misinterpretation in the media and expressed support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church suffering under ongoing pressure.

As Raskolamnet web portal reports citing the Union of Orthodox Journalists, Metropolitan Nicholas had visited Capitol Hill and participated in several meetings with the U.S. officials as a member of an inter-Orthodox delegation advocating the freedom of religion in Ukraine and recognition of the grievous plight of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The delegation acted under the auspices of the Society of Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco.

Commenting his trip, Metropolitan Nicholas wrote, “It is a pity that our visits coincided with a media article that so misrepresented all our Churches, attempting to cast Orthodoxy in a negative light; but we were grateful that the actual reception we had by our political leaders in Washington was warm, filled with a desire for understanding and an awareness of our shared wish to work together for peace.”

“As Orthodox Christians, it is our particular responsibility to advocate for those who are members of our own household of Faith,” the ROCOR First Hierarch continued, “We therefore seek to ease pressures and hostile actions being directed against our brothers and sisters in Christ who belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, including the forced closure of their churches and violence directed against their clergy and people”.

As was reported by the western media, the Archons of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in the United States had issued a statement, accusing the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of persecuting and attacking the OCU members. The statement was made following the meeting of the Orthodox Churches’ delegation with the U.S. officials in Washington, during which they discussed the grievous plight of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Source:  https://www.patriarchia.ru/en   (Official website of the Moscow Patriarchate)

 
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6 Lansing Avenue
Watervliet, NY 12189
Phone: 518-273-6262