NATIVITY OF THE HOLY VIRGIN RUSSIAN

ORTHODOX CHURCH
JACKSON, NEW JERSEY

AUGUST 2017 NEWSLETTER

NEWSLETTER SPONSOR:
THE KLING FAMILY

GLORY BE TO JESUS CHRIST!

GLORY BE FOREVER!

DORMITION FAST: The Dormition Fast period begins

on August 14th. We are encouraged to take up this fast
in preparation for the Feast day of the Dormition that
will be commemorated on August 28th.
FEAST DAY Celebrations in August:
Saturday: August 19th: Feast of the Transfiguration of
Our Lord. Divine Liturgy at 10 AM followed by the
Blessing of Fruit.
Monday: August 28th: Feast of the Dormition of the
Mother of God: Divine Liturgy at 10 AM followed by
the Blessing of Flowers and Herbs.
WHY DO WE BLESS FRUIT ON THE FEAST OF
THE TRANSFIGURATION? It is the tradition of the
Day of Transfiguration to bless grapes, apples and
other fruit after the Divine Liturgy. The custom of
bringing fruit to church for the blessing originates in
the Old Testament time (Gen 4:2-4). The apostles
brought this tradition to the Church of the New
Testament (1Cor16:1-2). Instruction regarding bringing
fruit to church is found in the Third Rule of the
Apostolic Canon, the earliest collection of ecclesiastic
laws (canons), known since the second century in
Greece, August is the month of ripeness of fruit, mostly
grapes and new ears of corn. Since old time, the faithful
have been bringing them to church for blessing and as
Thanksgiving to God. St John Chrysostom wrote:
plowman receives fruit from the earth not so much for
his labour and diligence, as out of goodness of God Who
grows this fruit, because neither is he that planteth any
thing, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth
increase. Some food for thought!
WHY DO WE BLESS FLOWERS ON THE FEAST
OF THE DORMITION? As part of our celebration of
Dormition we bless flowers and fragrant herbs and the
faithful traditionally keep them in their homes. The
herbs, used as natural medicine, are blessed in
commemoration of the numerous healings and the
extraordinary grace bestowed on the pilgrims at the
blessed tomb of the Mother of God. Holy tradition tells
us that all the Apostles with the exception of St.
Thomas were transported mystically to Jerusalem in
order to be with the Mother of God, the Theotokos as
she reposed, and to be present at her burial. When the
Apostle Thomas arrived the next day, the Apostles
opened the tomb so that he could kiss her farewell. As
the tomb was opened, the body of the Most Pure Virgin
was missing, and the cave was filled with flowers and
the sweet fragrance of Paradise. This was a sure sign of
her great purity and holiness to the faithful.
ORTHODOX YOUTH DAY: On Thursday, August 24th
the youth of our diocese of NY/NJ will gather at our
Parish Home beginning at 9AM with a breakfast that is
sponsored every year by our Parish. This Youth Day
will be held at Six Flags Great Adventure and is open to
all of our diocesan youth. If you would like to attend
please go to the Diocesan website and fill out the
required paperwork and make an effort to represent
our parish. His Eminence Archbishop Michael will join
the youth of our diocese at Great Adventure and will
serve a molieben service in our parish home for the
participants in the Youth Day. If you would like to help
defray the cost of the breakfast please see Matushka
Ludmila at the candle desk. Your help in this matter is
greatly appreciated.
GENERAL CONFESSION will be held again on the
first Sunday of the month August 6th. Please make an
effort to come to General Confession so that you can
cleanse your soul and partake of the Body and Blood of
Our Lord at the Divine Liturgy. Last month this service
was greeted by many faithful and a joy to witness so
many communicants who came forth to receive the
Holy Eucharist.
We are a hierarchical Church. But we are blessed in
the Orthodox Church in America because we have
implemented a model in which the hierarchical
structure preserves the spirit of collaboration and
cooperation on all levels of the Church This is a
principle that we should hold dear as we forge the way
forward in the life of our church.
- His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon.
-
DIOCESAN DIACONAL FORMATION PROGRAM
offers an opportunity for men, with the blessing of their
parish priest and Archbishop Michael to experience a 2
year program facilitated by Saint Tikhons Orthodox
Theological Seminary. The Program involves both
academic and practical application of a diaconal parish
ministry. While no program of study guarantees
ordination as a deacon, graduates will have fulfilled the
necessary requirements. Please see Father John for
more info if interested.
THANK YOU to those members of our church
community who came together and helped remove the
trees on our Parish home property. We are truly
thankful for your help that helped us save a significant
amount of money. One can not believe how much the
cost of this tree removal would have cost the parish.
Thank You again to Mikheil Tabliashvili, Guga
Miminoshvili, Michael Bulko and Peter Budkin who
helped on Saturday July 15th. Many Years to all of you!
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK OF OUR PARISH!