Sunday, June 20, 2021 Holy Pentecost: Feast of the Holy Trinity

8th SUNDAY OF PASCHA — Tone 7. Holy Pentecost: Feast of the Holy Trinity. Hieromartyr Methodius, Bishop of Patar (312). Rt. Blv. Prince Gleb Andreevich (son of St. Andrew Bogoliubsky—1174). Translation of the Relics of St. Gurias, Archbishop of Kazan’ (1630). Martyrs Inna, Pinna, and Rimma, disciples of Apostle Andrew in Scythia (1st-2nd c.). Martyrs Aristocleus—Presbyter, Demetrian—Deacon, and Athanasius—Reader, of Cyprus (ca. 306). St. Leucius, Bishop of Brindisi (5th c.). St. Callistus, Patriarch of Constantinople (1363). Icon of the Mother of God “Hodēgḗtria” (“THE GUIDE”) at the Monastery of Xenophontos on Mt. Athos. Hodēgḗtria Icon of the Mother of God (Παναγία Οδηγήτρια).

https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2021/06/20

Happy Father’s Day! We wish all our fathers, grandfathers,

Godfathers, and spiritual fathers, a Happy Father’s Day. Many Years!

Schedule and Notes about Services and Events, Upcoming

Wednesday morning Matins, June 23, 8:00 AM: Wednesday Morning Prayers Service (a simplified order of Matins for local parish usage), beginning at 8:00 AM.

Thursday morning, June 24, 8:00 AM: The Feast of the Birth of Saint John the Baptist. We will mark this feast day with a Prayer Service asking the intercessions of Saint John the Baptist. The service will begin at 8:00 AM.

Thursday evening, June 24, 7:00 PM, ONLINE: We will have Bible Study, online, at 7:00 PM, on Thursday evening, June 24.

Saturday evening Vigil, June 26, 6:30 PM: Saturday evening Vigil (Great Vespers, with the Reading of the Matins Gospel), beginning at 6:30 PM.

Sunday morning Divine Liturgy, June 27, 9:15 AM: The weekly Sunday morning Lord’s Day celebration of the Divine Liturgy, beginning at 9:15 AM. All Saints Day. The First Sunday after Pentecost.

Tuesday morning, June 29, 8:00 AM: The Feast of the Holy Apostles Saints Peter and Paul. We will mark this feast day with a Prayer Service asking the intercessions of the Holy Apostles. The service will begin at 8:00 AM.

Wednesday morning Matins, June 30, 8:00 AM: Wednesday Morning Prayers Service (a simplified order of Matins for local parish usage), beginning at 8:00 AM.

Saints Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Christian Church A Parish of the Diocese of New England of the Orthodox Church in America

Fr. John Hopko, Pastor Protodeacon Paul Nimchek

860.582.3631 email: terryvilleorthodoxchurch@gmail.com

www.terryvilleorthodoxchurch.org www.facebook.com/TerryvilleOrthodoxChurch

Sunday, June 20, 2021 + Holy Pentecost

PARISH PRAYER LIST We pray for all victims of disease, disaster, difficulty,

and senseless violence throughout the world, especially

in this time of pestilence and civil unrest.

+ THOSE WHO HAVE DEPARTED THIS LIFE: Memory Eternal!

First of all, we pray for all the thousands of victims of COVID-19. Memory Eternal!

Newly Departed William—prayed for at the request of the Nimcheks d. 5/28/2021 George—prayed for at the request of Marilou P. d. 6/3/2021

Anniversaries of Repose – Memory Eternal! Mary Fill 6/21/2010 Xenia Bystry 6/22/1986 Julia Virovoy 6/23/1961 Evdokia Oneperko 6/23/1997 Olga Baiga 6/24/1920 Walter Polochan 6/26/1962 Helen Sulish 6/26/1992 Charles “Chas” King 6/26/2005

THOSE IN NEED OF GOD’S MERCY AND HELP

First of all, we pray for all those suffering due to the present pestilence which is COVID-19, and those working to alleviate their suffering.

Persons captive and suffering for the Faith Metropolitan Paul and Archbishop John—hostages in Syria

Those who are sick and suffering Archpriest Michael K.—former pastor of our parish; reoccurrence of illness Fyodor (Frank) G.—suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Dolores T.—permanent colon malfunction following colon cancer treatment child Drew—grandson of friends of the Nimcheks; ongoing treatment for eye cancer

Darlyne—facing health challenges; daughter of Bob and Vera Martin Donna—Ann S.’s niece, Deb W.’s cousin; kidney disease Dayrl—Ann S.’s niece, Deb W.’s cousin; kidney disease JoAnn—acquaintance of Jeanne Moore; ovarian cancer MaryEllen—Louine K.’s daughter-in-law; suffering with Huntington’s Disease Yelena “Lenna” M.—overcoming, by God’s grace, serious health challenges Katie and Aubrey—a mother and daughter for whom we have been asked to pray Tanya B.—suffering long-term and lingering effects of brain hemorrhage Mary Lynn—friend of Donna O.; battling breast cancer Barbara—friend of Patty N.; unwell and in need of prayerful support Dorothy F.—Waterbury parishioner; still recovering from a serious surgery Rosie D.—ongoing health issues Michael “Mike” L.—ongoing health issues

child George—9-year-old son of a Kenyan Orthodox priest; quite unwell Bill M.—has experienced some health issues lately, please keep in prayer Paula—friend of Jim L.; struggling with cancer Dimitri—brother of Carolyn P.; health issues Maryna B.—dealing with some health issues Thomas—Patty N.’s nephew; battling cancer Wayne—Donna O.’s father Sarah—a young woman for whom we have been asked to pray (D.B.) Richard—a man struggling with cancer, for whom we have been asked to pray Maria O.—dialysis three times a week George K.—our fellow parishioner; facing a variety of health challenges Lorraine—friend of Joan M.; cancerous blood disease Joseph—friend of Jeanne M.; in need of prayers Joan—dear and close friend of Carolyn P.; recovering from serious back surgery Elaine H.—recovering from hip replacement surgery; our fellow parishioner Dianna—Jennifer W.’s mother; suffering some health problems Thomas—fighting cancer; father of a friend of the Parish (S.H.) Yvonne K.—a person we have been asked to pray for; multiple myeloma Jayne—our fellow parishioner; recent knee joint replacement surgery James B.—husband of a Waterbury parishioner; very unwell recently Matushka Ann S.—recovering from recent fall

Shut-ins and those resident in long-term Care Facilities Alex—John D.’s brother; suffering permanent effects of stroke Dolores—Bob M.’s mother; resident in long-term eldercare

New Mothers and Their Children Sarah and the child newly born of her—at request of Jayne G.

Expectant Mothers Nicole and the child to be born of her—at the request of Bob M.

Travelers, Those Soon to be Traveling, and Those Apart from Us All those who are traveling, soon to be traveling, or apart from us

Those from among us serving on active duty in the Armed Forces Fr. James P., Chaplain (MAJ)—deployed with the CT ARNG Joel O.—U.S. Navy; hospital corpsman (“medic”) Joseph B.—a Terryville neighbor; U.S. Marine Corps Joshua P.—husband of a niece of Fr. John’s; U.S. Army officer and pilot Alexander—relative of Carolyn P.; 82nd Airborne Division soldier Derek—relative of Carolyn P.; U.S. Army soldier Ian H.—Fr. David K.’s son-in-law; overseas deployment, U.S. Army

Anniversaries of Marriage NONE THIS WEEK

Birthdays Ann Sovyrda 6/22 John Saltourides 6/24

News and Notes Fr. John out of the office June 21: Fr. John will be out of the office, all day long, on Monday, June 21.

THIS WEEK: Thursday morning, June 24, The Feast of the Birth of Saint John the Baptist. We will mark this feast

day with a Prayer Service asking the intercessions of Saint John the Baptist. The Prayer Service will begin at 8:00 AM,

on Thursday morning, June 24.

Bible Study, Thursday evening, June 24, 7:00 PM, ONLINE: We will have Bible Study, online, at 7:00 PM, on

Thursday evening, June 24. Watch for the ZOOM invite in your email inbox.

LOOKING AHEAD: Tuesday morning, June 29, The Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul. We will mark this feast

day with a Prayer Service asking the intercessions of the Holy Apostles. The Prayer Service will begin at 8:00 AM, on

Thursday morning, June 24.

How to Support our Parish, financially: Donations to the Parish may be submitted via checks made out to and mailed

to Saints Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Church, 34 Fairview Avenue, Terryville, CT 06786-6329. Also, a PayPal

Donation “button” (https://www.terryvilleorthodoxchurch.org/donatenow) is located on our parish website to make online

donations possible. Our parish is registered as a charity with PayPal, so we have slightly lower fees connected to the use

of that means of receiving donations. For us, PayPal’s fees are 2.2%, plus $0.30 per transaction. (So, for example, a

donation of $100.00 given via PayPal will realize us actual income of $97.50.)

The Feast of Holy Pentecost: The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit!

Excerpt from the book The Orthodox Way by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware

The whole aim of the Christian life is to be a Spirit-bearer, to live in the Spirit of God, to breathe the Spirit of

God. “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).

How is Christ present in our midst? Through the Holy Spirit! “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the

world” (Matthew 28:20). How is Christ always with us? Through the Holy Spirit! Because of the Comforter’s

presence in our heart, we do not simply know Christ at fourth or fifth hand, as a distant figure from long ago,

about whom we possess factual information through written records; but we know him directly, here and now,

in the present, as our personal Savior and our friend. With the Apostle Thomas we can affirm, “My Lord and

my God (John 20:28). We do not merely say “Christ was born” – once, very long ago; we say “Christ is born”

– now, at this moment, in my own heart. We do not say merely “Christ died” but “Christ died for me.” We do

not say merely “Christ rose” but “Christ is risen” – he lives now, for me and in me. This immediacy and personal

directness in our relationship with Jesus is precisely the work of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit, then, does not speak

to us about himself, but he speaks to us about Christ. “When the Spirit of Truth is come,” says Jesus at the Last

Supper, “he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak about himself…..he will take what is mine

and show it to you’ (John 16:13-14). The Holy Spirit points, not to himself, but to the risen Christ.

About the gift of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, three things are particularly striking: first, it is a gift

to all God’s people. “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4). The gift or charisma of the Holy

Spirit is not conferred only upon bishops and clergy but upon each of the baptized. All are Spirit-bearers, all are

– in the proper sense of the word – “charismatics.” Secondly, it is the gift of unity. “They were all with one

accord in one place” (Acts 2:1). The Holy Spirit makes the many to be one Body in Christ. The Spirit’s descent

at Pentecost reverses the effect of the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:7). The Spirit brings unity and mutual

comprehension, enabling us to speak with “one voice.” Of the first Christian community at Jerusalem, in the

period immediately following Pentecost, it is stated that they “had all things in common” and were “united in

heart and soul” (Acts 2:44 and 4:32); and this should be the mark of the Pentecostal community of the Church

in every age. Thirdly, the gift of the Spirit is a gift of diversity: the tongues of fire are “divided” (Acts 2:3) and

they are distributed to each one directly. Not only does the Holy Spirit make us all one, but he makes us each

different. At Pentecost, the multitude of different tongues was not abolished, but it ceased to be a cause of

separation; each spoke as before, in his own language, but by the power of the Spirit each could understand the

others. For me to be a Spirit-bearer is to realize all the different characteristics in my personality; it is to become

truly free, truly myself in my uniqueness.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness…” (Galatians 5:22). The conscious

awareness of the Spirit’s action should be something that permeates the whole of our inward life. It is not

necessary for everyone to undergo a striking “conversion experience.” Still less is it necessary for everyone to

“speak in tongues.” Most contemporary Orthodox Christians view with deep reserve that part of the “Pentecostal

Movement” which treats “tongues” as the decisive and indispensable proof that someone is truly a Spirit-bearer.

Discernment is necessary in the case of “tongues.” Often it is not the Spirit of God that is speaking through the

tongues, but the all-too-human spirit of auto-suggestion and mass hysteria. “Beloved, trust not every spirit, but

test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1). In any event, St. Paul insists that this is one of

the least important of the spiritual gifts (see 1 Corinthians 14:5).

Orthodoxy, therefore, while insisting upon the need for a conscious, direct experience of the Holy Spirit, insists

also upon the need for discernment and sobriety. Our participation in the gifts of the Spirit needs to be purged

of all that is merely fantasy, delusion and emotional excitement. Gifts that are genuinely spiritual are never to

be rejected, but we should never pursue such gifts as an end in themselves. Our aim in the life of prayer is not

to gain “sensible” feelings or experiences of any kind, but simply and solely to conform our will to God’s. “I

seek not what is yours, but you,” says St. Paul to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 12:14); and we say the same to

God. We seek not the gifts but the Giver!

+ + +

Readings from Holy Scripture

Scripture Readings for the Sunday of Holy Pentecost

The Reading from the Acts of the Holy Apostles (Acts 2:1-11)

At that time, when the day of Pentecost had come, they were

all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from

heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the

house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them

tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of

them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began

to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men

from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the

multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because

each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they

were amazed and wondered, saying, "Are not all these who

are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of

us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and

Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and

Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt

and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from

Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we

hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of

God."

The Reading from the Gospel according to St. John (John 7:37-52; 8:12)

At that time, on the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus

stood up and proclaimed, "If any one thirst, let him come to me

and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, 'Out

of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.'" Now this he said

about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to

receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus

was not yet glorified. When they heard these words, some of the

people said, "This is really the prophet." Others said, "This is

the Christ." But some said, "Is the Christ to come from Galilee?

Has not the scripture said that the Christ is descended from

David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David

was?" So there was a division among the people over him. Some

of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. The

officers then went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who

said to them, "Why did you not bring him?" The officers

answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!" The Pharisees

answered them, "Are you led astray, you also? Have any of the

authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd,

who do not know the law, are accursed." Nicodemus, who had

gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them,

"Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing

and learning what he does?" They replied, "Are you from

Galilee too? Search and you will see that no prophet is to rise

from Galilee." Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light

of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but

will have the light of life."

Scripture Readings for the First Sunday after Holy Pentecost, which is All Saints Day

The Reading from the Book of Hebrews (Hebrews 11:32-12:2)

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of

Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the

prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced

justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won

strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign

armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection.

Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might

rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and

scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were

stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword;

they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted,

ill-treated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering

over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive

what was promised, since God had foreseen something better

for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of

witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which

clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that

is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our

faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,

despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne

of God.

The Reading from the Gospel according to St. Matthew (Matt. 10:32-33, 37-38, 19:27-30)

The Lord said to his disciples, “Every one who acknowledges

me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who

is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. He who loves father or

mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son

or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does

not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Then Peter

said in reply, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you.

What then shall we have?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to

you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his

glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on

twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother

or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a

hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many that are first will

be last, and the last first.