Hieromartyr Polycarp the Bishop of Smyrna

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733 Starkweather Ave.Cleveland, Ohio

Mailing:733 Starkweather Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44113

T 216 741.1310F 216 623 1092www.sttheodosius.org

• Archpriest John Zdinak Dean

• Archpriest Pavel Soucek Attached/Retired

• Subdeacon Theodore Lentz Sacristan

• Reader Julius Kovach - Ecclesiarch & Choirmaster

Divine ServicesEve Sundays & Feast Days5:00 PM Confessions6:00 PM Great Vespers

Sundays and Feast Days8:40 AM 3rd and 6th Hour9:00 AM Divine Liturgy

AmboFEBRUARY 17, 2008

38TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOSTPUBLICAN AND PHARISEE

ST. THEODOSIUS ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL

Saint Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, who was "fruitful in every good work" (Col. 1:10), was born in the first century, and lived in Smyrna in Asia Minor. He was orphaned at an early age, but at the direction of an angel, he was raised by the pious widow Kallista. After the death of his adoptive mother, Polycarp gave away his possessions and began to lead a chaste life, caring for the sick and the infirm. He was very fond of and close to St Bucolus, Bishop of Smyrna (February 6). He ordained Polycarp as deacon, entrusting to him to preach the Word of God in church. He also ordained him to the holy priesthood.

The holy Apostle John the Theologian was still alive at this time. St Polycarp was especially close to St John, and sometimes accompanied him on his apostolic journeys.

Shortly before his death, St Bucolus expressed his wish that Polycarp be made Bishop of Smyrna. When St Polycarp was consecrated as a bishop, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him. St Polycarp guided his flock with apostolic zeal, and he was also greatly loved by the clergy. St Ignatius the God-Bearer of Antioch (December 20) also had a high regard for him. Setting out for Rome where execution awaited him, he wrote to St Polycarp, "This age is in need of you if it is to reach God, just as pilots need winds, and as a storm-tossed sailor needs a port."

The emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180) came to the Roman throne and started up a most fierce per-secution against Christians. The pagans demanded that the judge search for St Polycarp, "the father of all the Christians" and "the seducer of all Asia."

During this time St Polycarp, at the persistent urging of his flock, stayed in a small village not far from Smyrna. When the soldiers came for him, he went out to them and invited them in to eat. He asked for time to pray, in order to prepare himself for martyrdom. His suffering and death are recorded in the "Epistle of the Christians of the Church of Smyrna to the Other Churches," one of the most ancient memorials of Christian literature.

Having been brought to trial, St Polycarp firmly confessed his faith in Christ, and was condemned to be burned alive. The executioners wanted to nail him to a post, but he declared that God would give him the strength to endure the flames, so they could merely tie him with ropes. The flames encircled the saint but did not touch him, coming together over his head in the shape of a vault. Seeing that the fire did him no harm, the pagans stabbed him with a dagger. So much blood flowed from this wound that it extinguished the flames. The body of the hieromartyr Polycarp was then cremated. The Christians of Smyrna reverently gathered up what remained of his holy relics, and each year they celebrated the day of his martyrdom.

A story has been preserved about St Polycarp by his disciple, St Irenaeus of Lyons, which Eusebius cites in his ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY (V, 20):

"I was still very young when I saw you in Asia Minor at Polycarp's," writes St Irenaeus to his friend Florinus, "but I would still be able to point out the place where Blessed Polycarp sat and conversed, and be able to depict his walk, his mannerisms in life, his outward appearance, his speaking to people, his companionable wandering with John, and how he himself related, together with other eyewitnesses of the Lord, those things that he remembered from the words of others. He also told what he heard from them about the Lord, His teachings and miracles....

Through the mercy of God to me, I then already listened attentively to Polycarp and wrote down his words, not on tablets, but in the depths of my heart. Therefore, I am able to bear witness before God, that if this blessed and apostolic Elder heard something similar to your fallacy, he would immediately stop up his ears and express his indignation with his usual phrase: 'Good God! That Thou hast permit-ted me to be alive at such a time!'"

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During his life the holy bishop wrote several Epistles to the flock and letters to various individuals. The only one that has survived to the present day is his Epistle to the Philippians which, St Jerome testifies, was read in the churches of Asia Minor at divine services. It was written by the saint in response to the request of the Philippians to send them some letters of the hieromartyr Ignatius (December 20) which St Polycarp had in his possession.

The composer H.I.F. Bibier (1644-1704) has written a Sonata "Scti Polycarpi" for eight trumpets in honor of the holy martyr.

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ILL-AFFLICTED:

Archpriest Pavel SoucekSubdeacon Theodore Lentz

Betty BalaszHelen BaldnerHelen BarskiCarol BohurjakMartha BondorJohn ClementsJohn ConradJoseph GammaloHenry & Julia GrabowskiMaria HanzelChristina HelleJason Kleps (cousin of Maca Tyler. Jason is in Kirkuk, Iraq)

Basil & Marian KluchnikDorothy LaskovichJohn MatsonOlga MichailukNancy NielsenGrace Mary Parhamovich (Karen Felon’s mother)Marshall ProckRebekah SamolJulia Sankovic(child)James ShehanMary Ann SilberhornWilliam J. SpurlockJune StuchlakElsie Sudnick

Jeanne TwitchellHarrison Ward (Child)Christine Witnik

Edward & Carol Jacak& Unborn Child

Tom & Nancy Mitchell & Unborn Child

Nathan & Chelsea Pozderac & Unborn Child

Robby & Jacqui Prock& Unborn Child

William & Petra Turko& Newborn Nicholas

NOTICE: ANNUAL MEETING will be held TODAY after Divine Liturgy

PRAYER REQUESTS

FEBRUARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONREPAIR OF ROSE WINDOWS

CONGRATULATIONS to William and Petra Turko on the birth of Nicholas on February 9.

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COFEE HOUR & GREETERS SCHEDULES Coffee Hour Hosts: Greeters: 2/17/08 Maca Tyler/Judy Schwind Pangrace/Felon 2/24/08 Mat. Cindy Zdinak Felon/Tyler

3/2/08 Mary Swit/Tammy Ponomarenko Smotzer/Medvec 3/9/08 Joyce Tabeling/Albert Casey Pinta/Broslawik

Finance Committee Meeting Monday,

March 3, 2008 at 5:30 PM

Parish Council NewsThe next Parish Council Meet-

ing will be held on Tuesday, March 4, at 6:00 PM

@ Ridge Manor

BOYS’ NIGHT OUT UPDATE

All men of the parish are welcome to attend the next Boys' Night Out in the Heights area (West- and South-siders please check passports!). It's Sunday Feb. 24, 5PM, at Lopez, 2196 Lee Rd. (www.lopezonlee.com) It's Mexican and then some. So check out their website for a menu and pictures. Please let Dan Morris know if you plan on attending.

Pan-Orthodox Luncheon Guest Speaker: Fr. Michael Dahulich,

Saturday, February 23, 12:00 noon, at

St. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church,

12711 Madison Ave., Lakewood. Contact Ann Porterfield

at 216-328-9247.

Members of the Guild from St. Theo-

dosius are responsible for the dessert -

bakery. Contact Karen Felon at 440-

238-3837 if you plan to bake. It will be

greatly appreciated.

FOCA MEETINGThere will be a FOCA meeting on Sunday, February 24, after Liturgy in the Parish Hall

FOCA Annual Dinner & Movie at Cinemark, Valley View, on February 26, Dinner Location to be an-nounced. Contact Darrel Felon if you will be attending, 440-238-3837

GET WELL GREETINGSFOR FR. PAVEL SOUCEK

If you would like to send greetings to Fr. Pavel, please address them to: 4624 Ridge Road Brooklyn, Ohio 44144

Dome Lighters Donations to offset the cost of lighting the domes can be made for the health of or in memory of your loved ones. Contact Paul Pangrace or the Parish Office if you are interested.

SUNDAY OF

ORTHODOXYPlease become a Patron with your do-

nation by completing the Orthodoxy in

America form and returning it in the

attached self-addressed envelope. Your

valued support is needed in celebrating

this Great Feast and for all the projects

during the course of the year. Thank

you for your much needed support.

DEADLINE FOR

DONATIONS IS TODAY

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MonasteryEvening

BattleplanforSpiritualWarfareaswebeginGREATLENT

Reflectionsby:FR.IVESBABICH

- RESCHEDULED -

TUESDAY,FEBRUARY197:00-9:00PM

MONASTERYMARCHA5095BROADVIEWROAD

RICHFIELD

What is Great Lent?Why do we celebrate Great Lent?How do we celebrate Great Lent?

These and other Questions will be addressed at special pre-Lenten reflection on:

Saturday, March 1, 2008by the Reader John (Roger) Pinta

The session will begin at 12:30 pm with a light lunch. It will conclude with dinner at 4:45 PM.

The session is open to anyone who is interested. Young adults and teens who have completed our regular Church School are especially encouraged to participate.

Mark your calendars and join us as we prepare to enter the “School of Repentance: of Great and Holy Lent.

Please RSVP to Parish Office 216-741-1310__________________________________________________

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Sunday, February 179:00 AM Divine LiturgyAnnual Meeting afterDivine Liturgy

Monday, February 18Happy Presidents’ Day!

Tuesday, February 197:00 PM Night at Monastery Marcha

Wednesday, February 20

Thursday, February 2111:00 AM Faith Enrichment @ Ridge Manor 6:30 PM Bible Study @ Parish Hall

Friday, February 22

Saturday, February 2312:00 Noon Pan-Orthodox Luncheon@ SS. Peter and Paul in Lakewood4:30 PM Church School6:00 PM Great VespersMemorial for Pogorily FamilyMemorial for Rosalia Derkashchenko

Sunday, February 249:00 AM Divine LiturgyFOCA meeting after Liturgy5:00 PM Boys’ Night Out @ Lopez Restaurant

St. Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral733 Starkweather Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44113

Weekly Schedule

NOTE: WEEK OF FEBRUARY 17 - 23 IS FAST FREE