Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church A Parish of the Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese

Ecumenical Patriarchate Our 60th Year of Worshiping Christ as a Family!

10201 Democracy Blvd Potomac, Maryland 20854

301-299-5120(Office) 301-367-9051(cell) www.holyresurrection.com

www.facebook.com/groups/hroc25 Very Rev. Peter Zarynow, Pastor

Subdeacon Anastasios Davis ††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††

Sunday 20 May 2018 Seventh Sunday of Pascha/Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council

Martyr Acacius the Centurion Epistle: 20:16-18, 28-36

Gospel: John 17:1-13 Tone Six

The Schedule of Divine Services for Bright Week is as follows:20 May (SUN) Seventh Sunday of Pascha/Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council

Confessions 9:15am Chanting of the 3rd Hour 9:40am Singing of the Paschal Verses 9:55am

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom 10am Blessing of the Marriage: Angelo & Linda Taveria-DaSilva (#45) Panachida: +Evelyn Semancik (40th Day), by Irene Dzubak Coffee Social/Bagged Lunch Assembly to follow 27 May (SUN) FEAST OF THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Holy Pentecost)

SUMMER SCHEDULE BEGINS! Confessions 8:45am Chanting of the 3rd Hour 9:20am Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom 9:30am Kneeling Prayers Panachida: +Maria Esperanca Taveira-DaSilva, +Antonio Taveira-DaSilva & +Harry Rapach, by grandson Andrey Taveira-DaSilva Coffee Social to follow

Announcements: Confessions will be heard on Sunday mornings from 8:45-9:15am. All faithful are encouraged to come to the Sacrament every 8-10 weeks, on average, to help maintain spiritual health. Fr Peter will be away from te office from early Friday morning until late Saturday evening. In the event of an emergency requiring the service of a priest, please call Fr Joseph Edgington at: 703-532-8017 Thank you to “Chef” Tim Dzubak, the men of the parish and the members of the Jr. ACRY for cooking, serving and cleaning up for the Mother’s Day Breakfast last Sunday. The food was good and the fellowship wonderful! May God bless you for your labors! Many Years! Mnohaja L’ita! Camp Nazareth Family Day Raffle Tickets have arrived and are available from Dan Timko during Coffee Social. One again, top prize is $10,000! Tickets are $20 each (as they have been for the past 30+years). We received 50 ticket. Tickets will be available until 25 May or until we sell out. Family Day at Camp is scheduled to for Sunday 3 June. Details will be printed when they become available. Father will be away from the parish on Saturday 26 May. Not wanting to miss remembering our departed, we will remember them on Spirit Monday, Memorial Day. A General Panachida for the Departed of the Parish and for the Departed Veterans of our Nation will be served. A list of Spring Maintenance items is posted on the bulletin board in the hall. Please look over the list and see Mark Sudik if you are able to complete any of these tasks. The Annual Retreat for the Diocesan Altar Boys will be held in Johnstown will be held from 1-4 July 2018. This year’s theme is “Who Am I?” The Young Women’s Encounter will be held July 1-4 in Windber. This year’s theme is “Pray like a Girl” Registration is now open for both events! See acrod.org to register. Make plans now to attend. The cost of the retreats will be covered by the parish, as usual so notify Father as soon as you register! This year, Fr Peter will not be able to attend, so parents begin communicating with each other now so that we can try

to have a transportation plan in place well before the children’s day of departure. Deadline for Ads and registrations for the1st Annual Camp Nazareth Classic is 28 May. The event, to support the Camp’s Science and Nature Camp, is hosted by St. Michael Orthodox Church in Binghamton, NY. Checks for such should be made payable to “St. Michael’s,” with “CNC Golf Tournament” in the memo line. They are to be sent to the tournament chairman, Dr. Nicholas Seketa, 1104 Tamara Lane, Johnson City, NY 13790. (Telephone: (607) 798-9455; E-mail: 2018camperclassic@gmail.com )

Candle Offerings: Eternal Light: (2) Birthday Blessings Carol Divine, Lois Erhard-Rose Plowchin (Many Years!)

Offerings For the Living (Many Years! Mnohaja L’ita!) 1-health of Les-love Carol 1-health of Mom-your loving family- Chrysa, Taina & Craig 2-for health-love Alex & Melanie Fathers John & Michael 2-for health-love Mom & Dad Jonathan & Lara; Stephanie 2-for health-John & Sheila HROC parishioners; Family members 3-special intention-John & Sheila Fr. Peter & family; Diocesan Priests & their families; OCMC Missionaries 2-special intention-brother George Archbishop Michael; Barbara Knighton 2-special intention-George Dahulich Bishop Gregory; Bishop Matthias 2-for health-George Dahulich Fr Tom Kadlec; Fr Jim Dutko 2-happy birthday-George Dahulich Stephen VanZanten; Constantin Acsente 1-health of Savannah, Chloe, Caroline, Christopher, Natalie, Cole-love Grandparents 1-health of Mom-Ray & Georgene 2-happy anniversary-Mom & Dad Matt & Maria; Debbie & Donny 6-special intentions-the Breno Family Breno Family; Fedornock Families; Peart Family; Nakonecznyj Family; Zankey Family; Fabian Family 5-for health-Marge Tomasevich Mary Elko; Les & Carol Miller; John & Barbara Homick; Lois Erhard; Ray Ammon 1-special intention Aleksey, Yuliya & Family-Yuliya 1-special intention John-love Marie 1-special intention Marie-love John

10-health & healing-John & Marie Smith Melanie Samson; Irene Dzubak; Carol & Les Miller; John Homick; Fr Tom Kadlec; Ray & Georgene Ammon; Marie Skasko; Marge Tomasevich; Chris Hudack; Alex & Eleanor Breno 1-safe travel ACRY members to Bowling Tournament-John & Marie Smith 2-birthday blessings-Rose Plowchin Jesse Plowchin; Mark Plowchin 2-for health-Charlie, Debi, Jacob & Joey Grandpa; Grammy 1-special intention Stevens Family-Charlie, Debi, Jacob & Joey 2-for health-Paňi Jean Hutnyan Muhlenberg & Hutnyan Families 1-safe travel for family-Mark, Marie & Stephen 1-special intention Mark-love Marie 1-specail intention Marie-love Mark 2-specail intention-Mom & Dad Angela & Brian; Stephen 9-for health-Mark, Marie, Angela & Stephen Mom/Baba; Ma/Nana; Ann Thear; Helen Beverage; Verna Czap; Nancy Shields; Skeets; Lynn Williams; Kari Ann Williams 6-health & special intention-Mark, Marie & Stephen Chris Hudack; Ray & Georgene Ammon; Irene Dzubak; Marge Tomasevich; Carol & Les Miller; Alex & Eleanor Breno 2-happy birthday- Mark, Marie & Stephen Stephen; Jacob

Vigil Candles In Loving Memory: (Memory Eternal! Vicnaja Pamjat!) 1+loving memory of my husband Tom-your loving wife Ann 1+in loving memory of our father-Chrysa, Taina and Craig 1+in memory of Steve Sheftic-love your family 1+in memory Mother & Father–Les & Carol Miller 2+loving memory-the Fallons Paňi Jeannette; Anna & John Luchok 1+in memory of Marion Fallon-Diane 1+in loving memory of Helen Rowland-Diane 1+in loving memory Parents & Grandparents-Diane & Brian 1+Memory Eternal Parents/Grandparents-Koval Family 2+Memory Eternal-Koval Family Uncle George & Uncle Tony

2+Memory Eternal -love Alex, Melanie Mother Katherine; Mother Elaine 5+in memory-John & Sheila Dad Kraynok; Mom Kraynok; Charles Hrapchak; Anna Hrapchak; Evelyn Hrapchak 1+in loving memory of Gene Eaton-love Starlene 1+in loving memory of parents Peter & Ann Dahulich-love son George 1+in loving memory of Parents & Grandparents-Yuliya 2+in memory-Paňi Jean Hutnyan Fr. Andrew; Mom & Dad

************************************************************* Missed in Last Week’s Listings: Eternal Light: In honor of Archbishop Michael on 8th Anniversary of Consecration - brother George (Mnohaja L’ita) Please pray for the following: Bishop Gregory, Bishop Matthias, Fr. Frank & Paňi Connie Miloro; Fr. John & Paňi BettyJean Baranik, Fr. George Hutnyan, Fr. Lawrence & Paňi Linda Barriger, Fr. James Gleason, Fr. Luke Mihaly, Fr. Robert Teklinski, Fr. Michael Psenechnuk, Fr. Ted Mozes, Fr. Thomas & Paňi Magdaline Blaschak, Dn. Peter Skoog, Paňi Donna Smoley, Paňi Yvonne Lysack, Paňi Kathy Dutko, Paňi Karen Miklos, Fr. Michael & Paňi AnnaMarie Slovesko, Paňi Mary Kundla, Fr. John & Paňi Patricia Duranko, Fr. Tom Kadlec, Fr. Christopher Rozdilski, Fr John & Paňi Cindy Zboyovski, Fr. Jonathan & Paňi Marsha Tobias, Paňi Amy George, Elisa Castilla, Ann Thear, Owen Moriak, Beth & Ed ‘Skeets’ Williams, Les & Carol Miller, Cindy Russell, Michael Buchko, Dorothy Mastronicola, Nicholas Yacko, Mildred Bartko, Angie Wali, Megan Antonishek, Nancy Lynn Arthur, Mary Urbas, Yoel Ramos, Tony Zankey, Justin Popek, Nadia Sumner, Karen Ogden, Joshua, Faye & Tess, Emilie Dixon, Paul Tobias, Shirley Miree, Michael Rake, Olga Vasconez, Diane Dupere-Lindell, Gerry Sadler, Ann Eckert, Stan Damren, Lois Hall, Marshal Smith, Dave Stanton, Andrew Sussman, Florence Gregoric, Dennis Davis, James & Melody Peyton, Louann Giger, Daniel Ward, Jennifer Brady, Carol Blum, Katie Bleeker, Alexi Williams, Missy Johns, Liliana Shirvanian, Harry Coe, Susan Buckley, Constance Amey, Daniel Pfaff, James Lazor, Debbie Dell, Rose & Douglas Eade, Robert Horsch, Edward & Grace Yoon, Michael Dinneen, Kellie Barett, Zaun Kligge, Andrea Katz, Joan Detwiler, Metro & Joan Kondratick, John Homick, Jim David, Melanie Samson, Mary West, Mary Elko, Margie Stemler, Martha & John White, Brian Medvigy; Laura Gary; James Durachko, Louise Brudnak, Rory McDermott, Julia Rapach, Randi Caffalle, Hayley Marshall, Bryan Fitzgerald, Jon Green, Aleia Dick, MaryJane, Kyle & Rosie Brant, Valentina Ioukliaevskikh, Martha Novelly, Mary Agnes, Alicia, Lisa Cherno, Tommy & Shyanne Showerman & baby; Sofia Sabirova & baby

May Our Lord Jesus Christ Touch Them With His Healing Hand!

Follow Your Diocese On-Line

Diocesan Website: http://www.acrod.org Camp Nazareth: http://www.campnazareth.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acroddiocese Twitter: https://twitter.com/acrodnews

You Tube: https://youtube.com/acroddiocese

Camp Nazareth Events!!!

Camp Nazareth Family Camp 2018 Our Diocese is pleased to announce its sixth annual Family Camp at Camp Nazareth this year in conjunction with Family Day. The event is exactly what it sounds like. Families “camping” together in the Camp cabins and participating in a weekend of services, games, discussions, activities and challenges that are all designed to help families deepen their relationship with God and with one another. This year’s theme – “Being Grateful for Your Family”. Come join His Grace Bishop Gregory in the beautiful environment of Camp Nazareth. Come and learn what it means to be a grateful family. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from You the Father of Lights…” St. James writes in his letter (James 1:17). Did you ever consider that the biggest of these gifts may be your family? Come to Family Camp and see what God has given you and IS giving you through your family!

Family Camp is scheduled for Friday, June 1 – Sunday, June 3, 2018.

Each year we have a wonderful time together and we are looking forward to being together again this year. A variety of events and activities have been planned that will allow families to learn, have fun and pray together, and simply be together in the peaceful environment of the Camp. With the newly renovated and expanded cabins, together with the new High and Low Ropes Course the Camp has even more to offer our families this year. Don’t miss out on this opportunity for you and your family. Space is limited to the first 10 families, so register soon. Register online at campnazareth.org. Registration closes after Friday, May 25. Visit campnazareth.org for more information. Annual Family Day Sunday 3 June 2018 Divine Liturgy 10am Picnic Lunch to follow Fellowship and Fun All Day! Music, Swimming, Crafts, Games and Raffle Drawing

ADULTS: $10.00 Children under 13 : $6.00 Children under 5: free FAMILY PRICE: $30.00 (includes 2 parents & all children under age 13)

Summer Camp 2018 Information on the summer Camping Sessions at Camp Nazareth for Summer 2018 were emailed out a few weeks ago. On line registration is now open! Please begin making plans now to attend. If you need assistance to help defray the cost of sending your child(ren) to camp, let Father Peter know as soon as possible and he will get you information on the numerous camperships that are available. No child should be held back from camp because of cost! Our Deanery week is Week #3 - Sunday 29 July through Saturday 4 August. The Fee for Camp is: $315/diocesan camper and $365/non-diocesan camper.

Registrations after 1 June will incur a $20 late fee! Camper Registrations are due by 1 July at the latest!!!

If you have any questions, please call or email Fr. Stephen at 724-662-4840 or campnazareth@acrod.org When you register online please note that you will still need to submit a paper copy of the Medical Examination Form (i.e. Camper Physical) which must be filled out and signed by a licensed medical professional (licensed physician or physician’s assistant). This form will be emailed to you after you complete the online registration process. The parish will once again be renting a van to get our kids to camp. There will be 10 seats available. Please let Father know as soon as possible if you will be needing transportation! «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»

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God's choicest blessings are bestowed upon Senior Chief Petty Officer Rachel M. Timko upon her retirement from the U.S. Navy! Rachel has served our country for 20 years and has held various executive assistant positions to some of the Navy's most senior Admirals, the White House and most recently at the Vice President's Residence at the Naval Observatory in NW Washington. After some well-deserved time off, Rachel will begin her next career as a "civilian," working in a similar position in Alexandria, VA. Congratulations Rachel and Thank You for your service! May God grant to His handmaiden Rachel many years of Peace, Health, Happiness and Salvation! ghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghgh

A Very Big Thank You! Many Thanks and God’s choicest blessings to our Sunday School Teachers: Cyndi Dzubak: Pre-K-1st Grade Dan Timko, Jr: First Confession Cathy Lavender: Primary Sbdn. Anastasios: Middle & High School We also want to thank our parents who make sure that their children are in class and help reinforce at home what is taught on Sunday mornings. Our kids are the future leaders of our parishes, our Diocese, and of the Orthodox Church. Looking at our children we can see the possibility of Parish Council members, Cantors, Priests, and Paňis of the generations to come. Our Sunday School teachers are a part of that firm foundation in the Orthodox Faith!!

Many Years!! Mnohaja L’ita!

Enjoy the Summer Break. The new academic year will begin on Sunday 16 September 2018 ghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghgh

SAVE THE DATE: Annual Parish Family Picnic The Annual Parish Family Picnic is set for Father’s Day, Sunday 17 June, following Divine Services. Food will once again be catered from Carter-Que in Mt. Airy, MD. There will be food, beverage, music, games for the kids and plenty of time for fun and fellowship. Plan to spend a good part of the afternoon with us (last year people were here until almost 4pm). Please use the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board so that we know how much food to order. You can sign up

until Sunday 10 June. This event is sponsored by the parish and there is no charge to attend! ghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghgh

When you see that some people harbor ill-will towards you, don’t think of that wickedness as belonging to them. No, they’re acting as tools of Satan, though they don’t understand the deceit of the evil one and become trapped. Pray to God that the enemy will release them and that the eyes of their heart, which have been darkened by the evil one, will be illumined. St John of Kronstadt

Something to think about……

God to be on Leave (what if it were true?) Author Anonymous

We are sorry to inform you that God will not be available during the summer, beginning 1 July. We have it from reliable sources that He feels He deserves some time off, so He has cancelled normal duties for the summer. However, He has arranged to send the sun and rain occasionally, when He happens to be in town. But as far as answering prayers for the needs of your family, please don’t count on a reply. God has let it be known to the church leadership that they should not plan any outreach efforts or other activities during the summer. Or if they do, they will have to do it without Him because He plans to be with relatives and at the lake. God has expressed the opinion that we should find somebody else to take His place. Yes, we are reminded of His promise “Surely I will be with you always.” But He didn’t realize when He said it that it meant going for two or three years without a break. He expressed His sincere regrets, and hopes that it will not cause anyone any inconvenience. God may be contacted any time after 1 September, when He hopes to “get back into His regular routine.” Please defer any requests until then. ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

The Holy Martyr Acacius Commemorated on May 7/20

The Holy Martyr Acacius, who lived mostly in the III Century, was born at Cappadocia and was a centurion of the Martesian regiment under the military officer Firmus. When the persecution against Christians was started up on order of the emperor Maximian Galerius (305-311), Firmus began one after the other to interrogate his soldiers about their faith. Saint Acacius thereupon firmly and openly confessed himself a Christian. Seeing the steadfastness of Saint Acacius, Firmus sent him off to the military officer higher up in command, named Vivianus. Vivianus gave the saint over to fierce torture. After the tortures they put him in heavy chains and locked him up in prison. A certain while later they led the martyr together with other prisoners to Byzantium, to the governor. The soldiers accompanying them went along quickly, showing the prisoners no mercy, and Saint Acacius weakened along the way from his wounds, and also from his chains and hunger and thirst. When finally they halted for the night, Saint Acacius offered up thanks to God, for granting him to suffer for His Holy Name. During the time of prayer the saint heard a voice from the heavens: "Valour, Acacius, and be strong!" This voice was heard also by the other prisoners, and many of them believed in Christ and besought the saint to instruct them and further them in the Christian faith. At Byzantium they situated the holy martyr in onerous lockup, while the other prisoners were put under less severe conditions. But at night the other prisoners beheld, how radiant youths appeared to Saint Acacius and attended to him, washing his wounds and bringing him food. After seven days, Vivianus again summoned Saint Acacius before him and was struck by his fresh appearance. Supposing, that the prison guard for money had given the prisoner both respite and food, he summoned the guard for a strict questioning. And not believing his answers, Vivianus had the guard severely beaten. Saint Acacius himself thereupon answered Vivianus: "My power and strength art given me by the Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath healed my wounds". Vivianus in a frenzy of rage gave orders to beat the martyr about the face and smash his teeth for his unsolicited words. Striving all the more to intensify and prolong the torture of Saint Acacius, Vivianus sent him off to the governor Flaccinus with a letter. But having read the letter, Flaccinus became annoyed, that Vivianus had for so long and so cruelly tortured a soldier holding the venerable rank of centurion, and he gave orders to without further delay behead the martyr. At the place of execution Saint Acacius lifted up his eyes to the heavens, offering up thanks to God for being granted to accept a martyr's death for Him, and then with a calm joy he lay down his head beneath the sword. This occurred in the year 303. Under Constantine the Great the relics of the holy Martyr Acacius rested at Constantinople in a church built in his honor, and later they were transferred to Calabria, to the city of Scillatio. The holy Martyr Acacius particularly helps those resorting to him in prayer in struggle with the flesh, as discovered by himself for Saint Epiphanios, a disciple of the Fool-for-Christ Saint Andrew.

Why Tension-free Living is a Terrible Goal Eric Hyde, on pravmir.com

Those who follow much of the current pop-psychology and religious thought might be under the impression that perfect, unending peace of mind is the assumed goal for everyone; that one must strive to conquer one’s inner conflicts to such an extent that stress is altogether eliminated. Ridiculous! If tension-free living is your goal get ready for an incurably unhappy life. There is nothing living that does not live by way of tension. Whatever is not in tension is dead. Otto Rank was one of the first psychologists to note that, “individuals seem to prefer to absolute rest a certain condition of tension, perhaps because absolute rest could only be death.” Indeed, can the goal of attaining a state of perfect rest translate into anything other than death? Besides, one is kidding himself if he thinks for a moment that he truly wishes to live a perfectly tense-free life. Take sports for example. What is a sport but a manufactured scene of combat, a way to bring tension to its highest pitch, albeit in a controlled environment? And nearly any pursuit one can imagine, whether relationships, work, school, games, etc., has tension already built in as a primary attracting feature. This tension is a basic mode of life. By itself it is neither good nor bad; it is what one does with it that makes all the difference. The Christian is often the first to object to the notion of a believer expecting anything less than perfect peace. He will quote familiar passages in the Bible of God supplying perfect peace to the one who puts his trust in Him. But the Christian should actually be the first to acknowledge that tension can indeed be holy. Christ Himself was no stranger to tension. So much so that He literally sweats blood just before His crucifixion praying “Not My will but Yours be done”; not exactly a great example of tension-free living. One can even go back to the very beginning of the story. Adam, that original primordial image of perfection, made in God’s likeness and image, had yet one major flaw which displeased God—he was alone. Paul Evdokimov reflecting on the Biblical account of the creation of Eve saw that the story “set up the original archetype of the consubstantiality of complementary principles. The masculine and feminine form the archetypal human monad: Adam-Eve” (Carl Jung is famous for finding this archetypal human monad of both masculine and feminine—the hermaphroditic image—woven throughout the myths and legends of nearly every culture on earth, both ancient and modern, giving weight to the fact that this Adam-Eve monad is not an isolated story but something all people everywhere have been in touch with, if not unconsciously). Why was the original Adam-Eve monad made into a dyad? It is my guess that the Genesis account points to the fact that individuals are not truly whole beings until they are in Holy Communion. This is why the sacrament of marriage is so vital to the Orthodox Christian faith—two becoming one flesh. Self-perfection is not enough. Just as God’s own being is communion—the Holy Trinity—He created humans to have their being in communion as well, perfect communion with the God of infinity. Tension helps teach the one who fears vulnerability and loss of individuality how to be in communion with the ‘other.’ St. Gregory of Nyssa taught that “every limit contains in its essence a beyond, its own transcendence, and this is why the soul can rest only in the actual infinity of God.” All human beings have in their very essence their own transcendence. This correlates to the natural drive in each of us to go beyond our limits, setting the stage for endless inner tension. Mankind was designed to live in holy tension; the tension of overcoming our human limits and ascending to God via communion with Him and one another. It is not that peace is unattainable; rather peace should not be equated with the total removal of tension, not this side of heaven anyway. A human in tension is like gold in a furnace; it burns off the guck while refining the good stuff.

Besides, trying to attain a tension-free life is a very stressful way to live. Eric Hyde is an Orthodox Christian, husband, father and psychotherapist.

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Lots of people today go chasing after joy, happiness, and go down roads that aren’t clean, but are befouled by the actions of demons. But if ‘the Lord God speaks’ in our heart, then we should be quiet. We should turn to our heart, learn to pray the Jesus prayer, cleanse our heart with introversion, and then, without wishing for it, without seeking it, we’ll be a ‘city built on a hill’. Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»

Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council The heresiarch Arius was a Libyan by race and a protopresbyter of the Church of Alexandria. In 315, he began to blaspheme against the Son and Word of God, saying that He is not true God, consubstantial with the Father, but is rather a work and creation, alien to the essence and glory of the Father, and that there was a time

when He was not. This frightful blasphemy shook the faithful of Alexandria. Alexander, his Archbishop, after trying in vain to correct him through admonitions, cut him off from communion and finally in a local council deposed him in the year 321. Yet neither did the blasphemer wish to be corrected, nor did he cease sowing the deadly tares of his heretical teachings; but writing to the bishops of other cities, Arius and his followers requested that his doctrine be examined, and if it were unsound, that the correct teaching be declared to him. By this means, his heresy became universally known and won many supporters, so that the whole Church was soon in an uproar. Therefore, moved by divine zeal, the first Christian Sovereign, Saint Constantine the Great, the equal to the Apostles, summoned the renowned First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, a city of Bithynia. It was there that the shepherds and teachers of the Church of Christ gathered from all regions in the year 325. All of them, with one mouth and one voice, declared that the Son and Word of God is one in essence with the Father, true God of true God, and they composed the holy Symbol of Faith up to the seventh article (since the remainder, beginning with "And in the Holy Spirit," was completed by the Second Ecumenical Council).

Thus they anathematized the impious Arius of evil belief and those of like mind with him, and cut them off as rotten members from the whole body of the faithful. Therefore, recognizing the divine Fathers as heralds of the Faith after the divine Apostles, the Church of Christ has appointed this present Sunday for their annual commemoration, in thanksgiving and unto the glory of God, unto their praise and honor, and unto the strengthening of the true Faith. (gorach.org) ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

The Fathers of Nicea: Why Should I Care? Fr. Lawrence R. Farley, from the blog No Other Foundation

Those for whom ancient history is irrelevant and who equate “old” with “outdated” (or better yet, “medieval” with “barbarically primitive”) will have trouble appreciating the Fathers of the First Council of Nicea, since they met and produced their work well over a thousand years ago, in 325 A.D. How could a creed so old be remotely relevant today? Accordingly, some churches have produced their own creeds (such as the United Church of Canada, which produced its own creed for alternative use in 1968. It is a cautionary tale, for it began “Man is not alone; he lives in God’s world” and they soon enough found that political correctness demanded its alteration to “We are not alone; we live in God’s world”). Among other things, the Fathers of Nicea declared the full divinity of Jesus of Nazareth by saying that He was homoousios with the Father—of the same essence as Him. Later attempts to create consensus would suggest that maybe it could be said that Jesus was homoiousios with the Father—“of like essence”. After all, it has been pointed out, it only involves the difference of one letter, and a tiny one at that. Why fight over a single iota, a single “i”? Who would care? Why should any sensible person get worked up over whether the pre-incarnate Word was homoousios with the Father or homoiousios? The ruckus of Nicea and afterward only went to prove how miserable and contentious those Christians were. A moment’s thought however will reveal the nonsense of saying that Jesus was homoiousios with the Father. He was of “like essence”? What could that possibly mean? That He was divine-ish? God in an honourary kind of way? Sort of God? Almost God? Anyone not obviously drunk and who thinks for a second will realize that the distance between God and His creation is infinite, so that one is either absolutely God or not God at all. The eternal Creator, without beginning or limit, stands on one side of an ontological abyss, and all creation stands on the other side. One can’t be a little bit God any more than one can be a little bit pregnant. Like pregnancy, divinity is an all or nothing kind of thing—either one is completely divine or not divine at all. Either Jesus was God and homoousios with the Father or He was created and of a completely different essence than the Father. Even Arius, the villain of the Nicene piece, got that much right. But still one may ask: why should we care? Sure, we confess His divinity, but what does it really matter? This is why it matters: salvation consists in giving one’s life, heart, and soul to God, living and dying for Him down to one’s last breath and one’s last drop of blood. The issue is: may we give such loyalty, allegiance, love, and commitment to Jesus of Nazareth, or not? If He is not truly God, then giving Him such allegiance would be idolatry. No one sensibly would live and die so totally for a mere celebrity. And if the Nicene Fathers were wrong and Jesus is simply just an ancient celebrity, we ought not to give Him our lives. Our admiration, perhaps, but not lives and our worship. But in fact the Fathers of Nicene were right, and Jesus of Nazareth is God in the flesh—Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not made, homoousios with the Father. It is through Him that all things were made, and to Him that all things shall return with bowed knee. It is our salvation that we bow the knee in love to Him even now before that final end, and confess that the road to His city runs through our heart.