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SHEPHERDMonthly newsletter of the Serbian

Orthodox Church of the AssumptionFair Oaks, California

May 2013God be with you

P AS T I R

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SHEPHERD

A monthly publicationof the

Serbian Orthodox ChurchAssumption of the Blessed

Virgin Mary

7777 Sunset AvenueFair Oaks, Ca 95628

Very Rev. Stavrophor Dane PopovicVery Rev. William Weir

Church: 916-966-5438Fax: 916-966-5235

Priest: 916-966-6276Cell: 916-606-8808

Shepherd Staff

Editor: V. Rev. Stavrophor Dane Popovic

Written contributions are welcome;Editorial discretion reserved. Please

Submit articles and ideas to:

V. Rev. Stavrophor Dane Popovic7777 Sunset Ave

Fair Oaks, Ca 95628

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“Thanks be to God, Whogave us the victory through ourLord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor.15:57)

The greatest day of the year–is the glorious Resurrection of ourLord, Jesus Christ. It is the greatestHoly day of Christianity, because theResurrection of Christ isthe foundation of our holyOrthodox Catholic Fait. AsSt. Paul, the Apostle, said:“If Christ is not risen, vainthe is our preaching, vaintoo is our faith.” (1Cor.15:14).

The divine teachingsof Christ are based on twovery important truths. First,that Christ is the Son ofGod, the second Person of the DivineTrinity. Secondly, that besides thisearthly life, another life awaits us be-yond the grave —the eternal life.

Christ’s glorious resurrectionfrom the dead on Easter Sundayproved, that He truly is the Son ofGod. No one could bring himselfback to life after dying, unless He

was life Himself, the fountain andsource of all life. In other words,unless He is God. Thee Resurrectionof Christ proves beyond any doubtthat Jesus is truly God and that all Hetaught is divine.

By His Resurrection, Jesusproved that there is a lifeafter death, and that onlyfinishes our journey hereon earth.

This is, therefore,the joy of Easter Sunday,that He Who died for uson the Cross, is alive.Christ is risen, Christlives, Christ conquers!On Easter Sunday thereis no room for tears.

Good Friday is past. No longer dowe see the Cross! On Easter Sundaythere is joy and happiness as westand before our empty tomb for“Christos Voskrese” - “Christ isRisen!”

“This is the day the Lord hasmade; let us be glad and rejoicetherein,” says David in the Psalter.

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On Easter Sunday heaven and earthjoin to celebrate the Resurrection ofChrist. In splendor and love, allheaven exults and triumphs. It isjoyful, a happy Easer because a Tri-umphant and Glorious Christ hastaken the place of the SufferingChrist.

How happy were all the faith-ful followers of our on the firsEaster in Jerusalem, when theygreeted one another with the joyfulmessage: “Christ is Risen” -“Christos Voskrese!”

The pious women came earlyin the morning on the first Easterwith precious ointments. An angelcalls out to them: “Why seek youthe living among the dead? He isrisen! He is not here! He is risenas He has said.” Oh, blessed andhappy Easter! As we greet one an–other on Easter Sunday with a“Christos Voskrese– Christ isRisen” we all exclaim from thedepths of our hearts, full of joy..“Truly He is Risen”- VaistinuVoskrese!”

We reiterate and reecho thejubilant Easter Hymn of “Christ isRisen from the dead” ...and it seemsthat no matter how often we repeatit, we never have our fill. All around

us we notice in nature a wonderfulresurrection at this time of the year.The earth dies every winter under-neath the with shroud of snow to bereborn each spring under the greenand colorful mantle of flowers andplants. All plants and trees die eachyear to revive to a new life duringthe gladsome Easter season.

Man is the noblest and mostperfect of all creatures on earth, andof him our Lord has earth, and ofhim our Lord has said: “And I willraise him up again on the last day!”Let us follow our Saviour now, andwe shall follow Him also hereafter.Believe in Him, serve Him and loveHim. Follow Him by keeping HisCommandments. Live with Him inthe frequent reception of the Sacra-ments. Live for Him in your life ofprayer and good intentions.

I say to you in the name of thegloriously Risen Christ: “A veryhappy, joyous and blessed Easterto you. May the joys and blessedEaster to you. May the joys andblessings and graces of this holyseason be years in the fullest meas-ure. A happy Easter to you todayand a blessed, never-ending Easterto you hereafter.”

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“Neka je hvala Bogu kojinam dade pobedu kros GospodaIsusa Hrista” (1Kor.15:57)

Najve}i dan (Praznik)godine je Vaskrsenje GospodaIsusa Hrista. Ovo jenajve}i sveti dan hri{}anstva, zato {to jevaskrsenje Hrista te-melj na{e Svete Pra-voslavne vere. Kao {toje apostol Pvle rekao“Da Hristos nije vaskrsao, uzaludje na{a propoved, uzalud je verana{a.”(1.Kor.15:14).

Boànsko u~enje Hrsitovose zasniva na dve va`ne istine.Prva da je Hrist sin Boga, i daje on drugo lice Presvete troice.Druga istina je da pored zemal-jskog ìvota, drugi ìvot naso~ekuje posle smrti-Ve~ni ìvot.

Hristovo sveto vaskrsenje izmrtvih u vaskr{nju nedelju doka-zuje, da je on zaista sin Boìji.Niko nemoga{e sebe podici izmrtvih osim ako je sam On ìvot,

izvor Ìvota. Drugim re~ima akoje i sam Bog. Vaskrsenje Hris-tovo je dokaz da je Hristoszaista Bog i da je Njegovou~enje boànsko.

Svojim vaskrsenjem, Isus jedokazao da postojiìvot posle smrti, i dasmrt samo zavr{ava na[e putovanje ovde nazelji. Ovo je radostvaskr{nje nedelje, daonaj koji umre za nas

na krstu je ìv. Hristos jevaskrsao, Hristos ìvi, Hristospobe|uje! Na vaskr{nju nedeljunema mesta za suze. VelikiPetak je pro{ao nevidimo krst vi{e! Na vaskr{nju nedelju je samoradost i sre}a dok stojimo ispredpraznog Hristovog groba jer“HristosVAskrse!”

“Ovo je dan koji je Go-spod stvorio; Radujmo se iuìvajmo u njemu re~e David usvom Pasalmu. Na vaskr{njunedlju sastaju se nebo i zemljada slave vaskrsenje Hrista. U


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Ushi}enju i ljubavi, cela nebesaslave pobedu sve je radosno isre}no, Pobedio je vaskrsli Hris-tos nad raspetim Hristom.

Kako su bili sre}ni svivernici I pratioci na{eg Gospodaone prve nedelje vaskrsenja uJerusalimu, kada su pozdravljalijedan drugog radosnim pozdra-vom “Hristos Vaskrse.” @ene sudo{le ujutru rano prvog vaskr{njeg jutra sa uljem za po-mazivanjm. An|eo ih upita;“Za{to traìte ìvog me|umrtvima? On je Vaskrsao! Onnije ovde! On je vaskrsao ba{ kao {to je i rekao.” Neka jeblagosloven i sretan dan Vask-rsenja! Da kada pozdravljamojedan drugog na vaskr{njunedelju “Hristos Vaskrse” saushi}enjem iz dubine svoga srca,ispunjenog rado{}u odgovaramo“Vaistinu Vaskrse!”

Ponavljamo jubilarnu vaskr{nju himnu, mnogo puta“Hristos vaskrse iz mrtvih… inevezano koliko je puta po-navljamo nije nam dovoljno.Svuda oko nas prime}ujemo uprirodi prelepo vaskrsenje u ovodoba godine. Zemlja umiresvake zime ispod sne`nog pok-

riva~a da bi se opet rodila sva-kog prole}a ispod pokriva~a saraznobojnim svecem i biljkama.Biljke i drve}e umiru svakegodine da bi ponovo oìvele uvreme vaskr{nje sezone.

ôvek je najplemenitije inajsavr{enije bi}e na zelji injemu je Gospod rekao. “Ja }uga vaskrsnuti zadnjeg dan!”Pratimo na{eg Spasitelj sada dabi smo ga pratili i posle. Veru-jmo u Njega, sluìmo mu ivolimo ga. Pratimo ga ispun-javaju}i Njegove zapovesti.@ivimo sa Njim kroz svete tajne.@ivimo za Njega koz molitve idobra dela.

Kaèm vam u ime pro-slavljenog Vaskrsl;og Hrista:“@elim vam sre}an, radostan iblagosloven Vaskrs. Neka vasradost i blagoslov prati kroz celugodinu. Sre}an vam Vaskrsdanas i neka ste zauvek bla-gosloveni vaskrsenjem. “


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Monday: "Beholdthe Bridegroom comesin the midst of thenight, And blessed isthe servant whom Heshall find watching.But, also unworthy is

he whom He shall find lazy. Bewaretherefore my soul, do not fall intosleep."Thus is sung the hymn which highlights the theme of Holy Monday evening. The service commemorates theParable of the Ten Virgins. Of the tenvirgins, five were wise and five werefoolish, and all were awaiting the Bride-groom to enter the Marriage Feast.However, He delayed His arrival andthe five foolish virgins fell asleep aftertheir oil lamps had gone out. When theBridegroom arrived, they could not wel-come Him properly, and only the fivewise virgins, who were prepared, en-tered the bridal hall with the Bride-groom,

Tuesday: In this, the final Nym-phios Service, the Church commemo-rates the sinful woman who anointedthe Lord with myrrh, only a few days before His death. With true repentancefor the life she had led, the womananointed the head and feet of Christwith the myrrh and wiped His feet withher hair. Her tears, which mixed with,the myrrh, were more effective than

words in expressing her repentance tothe Lord.

THE FINAL DAYSOn Holy Wednesday evening it has beentraditional for hundreds of years for theChurch to celebrate the Sacrament ofHoly Unction. The priest anoints thefaithful with holy oil for the forgivenessof sins, protection from all things thatmay deter one's mind away from theLord and the healing of spiritual and

physical infirmities.This allows thefaithful to clearthemselves of allthings and to con-centrate on the finalevents of

HolyWeek.

Thursday morning the Orthos issung. The service, which commemoratesthe Lord's washing of His disciples' feet,also remembers the shameful deed of Ju-das Iscariot in his decision to betray Je-sus. As the Liturgy begins the thoughtof this betrayal is combined with read-ings and hymns marking the Last Sup-per. As the faithful prepare to partakeof Holy Communion in remembrance ofthe Lord's sheering of His Body andBlood with His disciples, a hymn unitingthe betrayal and the Last Supper issung.

"Receive me today, O Son of God,as a partaker of Your mystic feast. For Iwill not speak of Your mystery to yourenemies; I will not kiss You as Judasdid. But, as the thief I will confess You,


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Lord, remember me as You come intoYour Kingdom."

On the evening of Holy Thursday,Jesus Christ is cru-cified. There aretwelve Gospel read-ings in this service,all of which contrib-ute to the comple-tion of the tragicand dramatic pic-ture of the Lord'sfinal hours onearth. He is fol-

lowed to His farewell conversation withHis disciples and the Garden of Geth-semane where He prays one last time toHis Father in Heaven.

"My Father, if it is at all possible,take this cup of suffering away from me.Yet, not by my will, but by Thine bedone." Then Jesus wept.

The atmosphere in the Church onthis evening is one of hushed sorrow andtragedy. The words of our Lord's ac

cusers are read; the state-ments of Pontius Pilate; andthe cries of the mobs de-manding His crucifixion.

Finally, after thefifth Gospel is read, thesymbolic procession to thehill of Golgotha, whereChrist was crucified, beginsfrom the Sanctuary door.The lights of the church are

dimmed, the priest carries the largewooden crucifix on which Christ's bodyis nailed and the congregation chants.

At the conclusion of the proces-

sion the priest places the Crucifix in thefront of the church where the faithfulapproach and kiss Christ's feet in shameand sorrow of man's wickedness, evenagainst the Creator.

On Holy Friday morning thechurch commemo-rates the RoyalHours: the Lord'shours of agony onthe cross and Hisdeath. No DivineLiturgy is ever cele-brated on Holy Fri-day because the Su-preme Sacrifice ofour Lord must behonored.Friday afternoon the Lord's body is re-moved from the Cross. Usually done bytwo priests, they symbolize Joseph ofArimathea and Nicodemus who, afterremoving the Lord's body, wrapped Himup in the finest linen and buried Him inJoseph's new tomb. The priest, who alsowraps Christ's body, places it on theHoly Altar to prepare it for the tomb.

Toward theend of the servicethe funeral pro-cession takesplace with thepriest and the al-tar boys. Thepriest carries theEpitaphios, arichly embroi-dered cloth depict-ing Christ pre

pared for burial, while the altar boys


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carry their torches and fans. The pro-cession slowly approaches the tomb ofChrist, the flowercovered canopy(Kouvouklion) at the front of thechurch, and the priest places the Lordwithin it.

CHRIST IS RISENOn Holy Saturday morning, Vespers and theDivine Liturgy of St. Basil are celebrated.This service links together the hopelessness

of the burial ofChrist with theHope of HisGlorious Resur-rection. Thepriest scattersrose petals andbay leavesthroughout the

church chanting: Arise, 0 God, and judge theearth; For You shall inherit all the nations.That evening, just before the stroke of mid-night, the lights in the church are turned off.The darkness represents the despair felt bymankind over Christ's death. However, withthe coming of midnight, the darkness is sud-denly broken. The priest emerges from thesanctuary with a lighted candle and chantstriumphantly:

"Come receive the light from theNever-fading Light; ' - And glorifyChrist Who is risen from the dead. "The light from the priest's candle is then dis-tributed to all the congregation and thechurch takes on a brilliant glow. The time ofmourning and sadness is over, for JesusChrist has conquered death, He is the victor.He is Risen! Indeed He has!

The triumphant hymns which followtell the faithful that this is the Day of Days.This is the Great Banquet told about in theBridegroom services. All are invited to partici-pate in the Feast of the Lord. In the Liturgy ofSt. John Chrysostom which follows, all are invited to receive Holy Communion. All whofasted and all who did not; all who came in thefirst hour and those who came in the eleventhhour; all who are of wealthy means and all whoare of humble means; everyone is invited toshare equally in the Bridegroom feast.

THIE KISS OF AGAPEThe final day of Holy Week takes place on

Easter Sunday afternoon. Without this service,the Easter celebration is not complete. Thefaithful gather once more with lighted candlesto sing of the Lord's triumphant Resurrection.The Gospel reading of this service, which isChrist's visit to His disciples after His Resur-rection, is read in many languages to symbolize

that the promise ofeternal salvation isoffered to all peopleeverywhere.

This servicehas been traditionallycalled the Feast ofAgape (love). Thefaithful greet one an-other with a kiss, sym-bolic of forgiveness

and Christian love, They realize that they haveshared a common road with Christ and throughall the pain and the sorrow and the suffering,they have emerged, like Him, triumphant.

Answers to Quiz, more that 8 correct isgood. 1. d 2. c 3. a 4. d 5. d 6. c 7. a 8. d9. d 10. d


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ГосподинуТомиславу Николићу,Председнику СрбијеГосподину Ивици Дачићу,Председнику Владе СрбијеГосподину Александру Вучићу,првом Потпредседнику Владе СрбијеБеоград

Уважени господине Председниче,уважени господине ПредседничеВладе, уважени господине први

Потпредседниче Владе,У овом, за Србију и Српство тешком ипресудном – а можда и судбоносном –тренутку обраћамо вам се у име СрпскеПравославне Цркве очински и братски, сапоштовањем и поверењем у Вашуправославну хришћанску савест и у Вашеосећање родољубља и државничкеодговорности. Не обраћамо вам се науобичајени начин него јавним апелом, а точинимо из више разлога, од којих сунајважнија два – краткоћа времена(бриселски ултиматум истиче, наиме, већу уторак) и потреба да се на најочевиднијиначин оповргне безочна лаж којупоследњих дана шире одређени људи иизвесни медији тврдећи да наша Цркваћути о Косову(!).

И ми, као и читав српски народ,знамо и осећамо колико је вама садатешко, пред каквим мучним избором сеналазите и под каквим сте притисцима иуценама. Подсећамо вас, међутим, у циљуохрабрења и духовне подршке, да вамније теже него што је било честитомеКнезу уочи Косовског боја, или књегињиМилици после боја, или патријарсимаПајсију, Арсенију III Чернојевићу и другимапод османским игом, илисвештенемученику ђакону Авакуму предустанак, или Карађорђу и Милошу токомоба устанка, или краљу и влади у времеаустроугарског ултиматума 1914. године,

или српској држави у недавнојпрошлости, у времеултиматума изРамбујеа.

Црква, по својојсаборној природи, није против идеје оевропском обједињавању народâ и државâнити против идеје о још ширим процесимауједињавања. Уосталом, Црква је искључивиисторијски зачетник и носилац учења освечовечанском јединству и о свејединствутворевине Божје у Христу. Али овде садавише није реч о томе. Сада се од Србијеултимативно тражи фактичко одрицање одКосова и Метохије, од изворишта нашегацрквеног, народног и државног бића, ипрепуштање тамошњег остатка српскогнарода власти оних који су претходно његоввећи део или побили или прогнали, у заменуза магловиту и неизвесну могућностдобијања фамозног – само за Србијуусловног – „датума за почетак преговорâ”,преговорâ чије трајање и исход нико жив неможе предвидети.

Захваљујући бруталној, али затолековитој искрености берлинског речника, заразлику од бриселског, једно је сасвимпредвидиво и извесно – последњи ултиматумће гласити: или и званично, формално,признајете „државу Косово” или од пријема уЕвропску унију нема ништа. Другим речима:од Срба се захтева да се добровољноодрекну територије и суверенитета, чак итрагова свог хиљадуипогодишњег живота наКосову и Метохији (будући да косовско-метохијски Арбанаси и у присуству НАТО-снагâ могу некажњено да скрнаве цркве,манастире и гробља и нападају људе), а заузврат се нуди празно, необавезујућеобећање „светле европске будућности”,односно нуди се у пракси једно великоништа, уз циничну поруку: држите то чврсто!Дух данашње Европске уније није, нажалост,дух добре старе Европе. Ми и даље јесмо заидеју слободног духовног и економскогобједињавања европског континента, алиникако нисмо за пројекат поробљавања или


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When we come to church on the af-ternoon of Holy Friday, we are attending the burial of ourLord and Savior Jesus Christ Every image and object we see,every step we take, is part of our solemn mourning for thedeath of Christ We remember the very devoted man who tookdown the body of Christ from the cross, Joseph of Arimathea.After Joseph removed the body of Jesus, he anointed it withoil, and then he wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid itin his own new tomb?

Christ is real His death is real. To see His lifelessbody on the cross, to reach up and carry His weight down, isreal. We respect Joseph'sact of love and devotion, and werespect the realness of Christ's death on the cross on thisday. During the Gospel reading, when we hear the story ofChrist's crucifixion and death once again, the icon of thebody of Christ is removed from the cross. The priest wrapsthe icon in white linen.

After Joseph took down the body of Christ, he pre-pared it for burial and carried the body to a new tomb. Thepriest represents this by carrying the Epitaphios icon, a beau-tiful cloth icon showing Christ's body being prepared forburial, around the church and placing it in the kouvouklion,which symbolizes the tomb of Christ During the procession,we hear the hymn:

When Joseph of Arimathea took You, the Life of all,now dead, down from the cross, he buried You in fine linen,after anointing You with myrrh. He yearned with desire, hum-bly contained by awe, rejoicing, he cried out to You: Glory toYour condescension, O merciful God!

Notice that the priest chants to God, who conde-scended to die on the cross. This means that our all-powerfulLord and Creator decided to do something He didn't have todo—to become a man and die like a man, out of love. Josephheld a dead man in his arms, but we never forget that thisman was God Himself.

понижавања било које европске државе,па ни наше Србије. Уверени смо даниједно државно руководство Србије, пани данашње, нема ни право ни мандатда пристане на услове који нисуиспостављени ниједној другој државикандидату за чланство у Европској унији.Улазница је прескупа. Србија не бисмела да пристане да унапред платитакву цену за робу која јој можда никаднеће бити испоручена. Она то никад усвојој историји није учинила, без обзирана чашу жучи коју је због тога из века увек морала да испија.Најважније предизборно и непосреднопостизборно обећање вас који стедобили народно поверење да у бурноми смутном времену водите државниброд Србије било је да ни под каквимусловима нећете ни предати, ни издати,ни продати Косово и Метохију,историјску Стару Србију.Ми, архијереји Српске ПравославнеЦркве, уверени да представљамо иизражавамо став свих њених верника,сматрамо својом светом дужношћу давас на то обећање подсетимо и да васуверимо да очекујемо, као и огромнавећина нашег народа, да га одржите. Точинимо управо сада јер смо потпуносвесни трагике тренутка и бременаодговорности на вашим плећима.Ипак, нада никад не умире. Када серазиђу тмасти облаци, сијаће сунце.Сутра је у нашој Цркви недељапоклоњења Крсту, а ускоро ће празникВаскрсења. Када су пред нама два зла,мање зло је најбоље решење. Верујемоу љубав и помоћ Божју како нама тако исвим људима добре воље.Са благословом

Председник Светог АрхијерејскогСинода

АЕМ Патријарх српскиИ р и н е ј


12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This glorious andvictorious saint wasborn in Cappadociathe son of wealthyand virtuous parents.His father sufferedfor Christ and hismother then movedto Palestine. WhenGeorge grew up, he

entered the military, where in his twenti-eth year, attained the rank of a Tribuneand as such was in the service of the Em-peror Diocletian. When Diocletian beganthe terrible persecution against Christians,George came before him and coura-geously confessed that he is a Christian.The emperor had him thrown into prisonand ordered that his feet be placed in astockade of wooden hobbles and that aheavy stone be placed on his chest. Afterthat, the emperor commanded that Georgebe tied to a wheel under which was aboard with large nails and he was to berotated until his entire body became as onebloody wound. After that, they buried himin a pit with only his head showing abovethe ground and there they left him forthree days and three nights. Then Georgewas given a deadly poison to drink bysome magician. But, through all of thesesufferings, George continuously prayed toGod and God healed him instantly andsaved him from death to the great aston-ishment of the people. When he resur-

rected a dead manthrough his

prayer, manythen accepted

the Faith of Christ.Among these also was Alexandra, the wifeof the Emperor Athanasius, the chief paganpriest and the farmers: Glycerius, Valerius,Donatus and Therinus. Finally the emperorordered George and his wife Alexandrabeheaded. Blessed Alexandra died on thescaffold before being beheaded. St. Georgewas beheaded in the year 303 A.D. Themiracles which have occurred over thegrave of St. George are without number.Numerous are his appearances, either indreams or openly, to those who have in-voked him and implored his help from thattime until today. Enflamed with love forChrist the Lord, it was not difficult for thissaintly George to leave all for the sake ofthis love: rank, wealth, imperial honor, hisfriends and the entire world. For this love,the Lord rewarded him with the wealth ofunfading glory in heaven and on earth andeternal life in His kingdom. In addition, theLord bestowed upon him the power andauthority to assist all those in miseries anddifficulties who honor him and call uponhis name.


13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Овај славни и победоноснисветитељ беше рођен у Кападокији каосин богатих и благочестивих родитеља.

Отац му пострадаза Христа, и мајкаму се пресели уПалестину. Кадапорасте Ђорђе одеу војску, где доспеу двадесетој својојгодини до чинатрибуна, и каотакав беше наслужби при царуДиоклецијану.

Када овај цар отпоче страшно гоњење нахришћане, ступи Ђорђе пред њега иодважно исповеди, да је и он хришћанин.Цар га баци у тамницу, а нареди да му сеноге ставе у кладе а на прси тежак камен.По том нареди, те га везаше на точак, подкојим беху даске са великим ексерима, ида га тако окрећу, док му цело тело непоста као једна крвава рана. По том газакопа у ров, тако да му само глава бешеван земље, и остави га у рову три дана итри ноћи. По том преко некогамађионичара даде му смртоносни отров.Но при свим овим мукама Ђорђе сенепрестано мољаше Богу, и Бог гаисцељиваше тренутно, и спасаваше одсмрти на велико удивљење народа. Кадаи мртваца једног молитвом васкрсе, тадамноги примише веру Христову. Међуовима беше и жена царева Александра, иглавни жрец Атанасије, и земљоделац

Гликерије, и Валерије,Донат и Терина. Најзад осуди царЂорђа и своју жену Александру напосечење мачем. Блажена Александраиздахну на губилишту пре посечења, асв. Ђорђе би посечен 303 год.Чудесима, која се десише на гробу св.Ђорђа нема броја. Нема броја нињеговим јављањима у сну и на јавимногима, који га споменуше и његовупомоћ поискаше од онда до данаданашњега.

Разгоревши се љубављу премаХристу Господу светом Ђорђу не бешетешко све оставити ради те љубави: ичин, и богатство, и царску почаст, ипријатеље, и сав свет. За ту љубавГоспод га награди венцем неувелеславе на небу и на земљи и животомвечним у царству Свом. Још му дароваГоспод силу и власт да помаже убедама и невољама свима онима којига славе и његово име призивају.


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Samo u tom slu~aju ~ove moè bitizasluàn pred sudom Bo`hjim kad ~inidobro I odgovoran kad ~ini zlo.

Zato je Bog ovaj svet tako uredioda Ga qudi ne vide telesno o~ima. Madaje prisutan ne samo u svim kutovimazemlje nego I ~itavog Svemira. Pros-ver}en Duhom Svetim, car Davidotkriva du{u svoju Bogu I govori:“Gospode, .. Ti zna{ kad sednem I kadustanem; Ti zna{ pomisli moje iz-daleka. Kad hodim I kad se odmaram, Tisi oko mene, I sve puteve moje vidi{. Jo{ nema re~I na jeziku mome, a Ti, Go-spode, gle, ve} sve zna{. Sastrag Ispread Ti si me zaklonio, I stavio namene ruku svoju. ûdno je za mene znanjeTvoje, visoko, ne mogu da ga doku~im.Kuda bih oti{ao od Duha Tvojega, I odlica Tvojega kuda bih utekao? Daiza|em na nebo, Ti si onde. Da si|em upakao, onde si. Da se dignem na krilimado zore, I preselim se na kraj mora: Ionde }e me ruka Tvoja voditi, I dràtime desnica Tvoja. Da re~m: da ako memrak sakrije; ali je I no} kao svetlostoko mene. Ni mrak nije tama za Tebe.No} je svetla kao dan, a tama kao svet-lost” (Psalmam 139,1-12).

Ako su ljudi pre dolaska Boga nazemlji u licu Bogo~oveka Isusa Hristadonekle I mogli da se izgovaraju Ipravdaju svoje neznanje Boga I neverovanjeu Njega, posle dolaska to vi{e ne mogu. Naovo je On sam upozorio ljude, kad je rekao:“Da nisam do{ao I govorio im, ne bi greha(za svoje neznanje I neverovanje) imali; a

sad izgovora ne}e imatiza greh svoj” (Jovan15:22). On se na Zemlji nije samo trenutnopojavio pa i{~ezao, nego je pune 33 godineboravio me|u ljudima, od toga tri I pogodine kao objavljeni Bo`ji Poslanik.U~itelj, Mesija, Iskupitelj I Spasitelj.Za to vreme On je Palestinu vi{e putapro{ao uzdu` I popreko, neumorno u~e}Iqude objavljuju}i istinu, isceljuju}ibolesnike i vaskrsavaju}i umrle. Kaosveznaju}I Bog, On je znao {ta }e sve qudipo Wegovom dolasku sa Zemqe govoriti oWemu, jedni da je bio obi~an, mudar ~ovek,dok }e drugi ~ak tvrditi da je On izmi{qena li~nost I da nikada nije ni posto-jao. Zato je On na po~etku svoje javneslu`be izabrao 12 u~enika, koje je nazvaosvojim svedocima (Luka 24:48; Dela aop-stolska 1:8). Oni su Ga svuda pratili Izaista bili svedoci {to je govorio I~inio. êtvorica od njih zapisali su jedandeo onoga {to su videli I ~uli. Tako sunastala ~etiri Evan|eqa, ~iji su autori:Matej, Marko, Lukai Jovan. (Marko I Lukanisu bili iz broja dvanaestorice. Marko jebio u~enik I pratilac apostola Petra Ipo njegovom kazivanju pisao je. A Luka jebio u~enik I pratilac apostola Pavla Izapisao je ono {to je od njega I od drugih~uo.)

Na zavr{etku svoje iskupiteqskemisije I pored svoj odlazak sa zemqe, Go-spod Isus je, prilikom svoje posledweve~ere sa u~ennicima, u svom opro{tajnomgovoru I molitvi Ocu nebeskom rekao:“O~e, ja Tebi proslavih na zemqi, Delosvr{ih koje si mi dao da uradim.. Objavihime Tvoje qudima” (Jovan 17:4-6).


15…. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

Otkako se la` pojavila me|u qudima,a wu je na Zemqi doneo satana, pa ga zbogtoga Gospod nazvao ocem laÌ (Jn.8:44),za potvrdu istine me}u qudima nisu dovo-qne samo re~I, nego se traè I svedoci,I to bar dva –tri (2 Kor13:1;5 Moj.19:5).A Gospod Isu izabrao ih je 12 -~etiriputa vi{e nego {to se traÌ na zem-qskim sudckim forumima. I oni su, posleWegovog vaznesewa na nebo, kad suzapo~eli poverenu il misiju u svetu,~esto I sa ponosom isticali da su oniWegovi svedoci pred qudima: “Ovoga Is-usa vaskrse Bog, ~emu smo mi svi svedoci”,izjavquje apostol Petar okupqenoj masi uJerusalimu, odmah po silasku SvetogaDuha na apostole (Dap 2:32). On to isti~eI u svojoj Prvoj poslanici (5:1,12). Asveti apostol Jovan svoju Prvu poslanicupo~iwe re~ima: “[to ~usmo, {to videsmoo~ima svojim, {to smo posmatrali I rukena{e opipa{e..to svedo~imo I javqamovama ìvot ve~ni, koji be{e u Oca, I javise nama..Ovo vam pi{em, da radost va{abude ispuwena” (1:1-4). Za ovo svojesvedo~anstvo svi su oni, sem jednoga,ìvote svoje poloìli I mu~eni~komsmr}u zape~atili. Samo je Jovan umroprirodnom smr}u. Kako onda moè da seposumwa u wihova svedo~anstva?

Istina o Bogu, Wegovom dolasku nazemqu u qudskom obliku I boravku me|uqudima utvr|ena je na ~vr{}im temeqimaod onih na kojima po~ivaju nebo I zemqa,jer }e, po re~I Gospodwoj, I nebo Izemqa pro}I, a istina koju je Bog objavioo Sebi osta}e ve~no: “Nebo I zemqa }epro}I, ali re~I moje ne}e pro}I” (Matej24:35; Mk.13:31; Lk.21:33).

Zaista posle tolikih I takvihsvedoka I svedo~anstva o Bogu, sumwati u

Wega, ili negirati da On postoji, predstavqakrajwe bezumqe, nadahnuto paklenom mr`womsatanskih sila, koje na taj na~in kroz qudenastavqaju svoj bunt protiv Boga, zapo~et nanebu jo{ pre stvarawa ~oveka.

Od svih stvorewa na zemqi jedino je~oveku, kao razumnom bi}u, tvorac stavio uzadatak da istraùje I tkriva istinu I da sewe drì. A po{to je najvi{a istina Bog, to jeTvorac radi postizawa ovoga zadatka dao~oveku na raspolagawe da svoje kwige: vidqivuprirodu - delo ruku svojih - I svoje Otkroveweili Sveto pismo, u komer su izloène Wegovanauka I zapovesti. Nauka - da mu sluÌ kaosvetilnik na ìvotnom putu, a zapovesti - kaoputokaz. U svetlosti nauke mo}I }e da sagledaI lice I nail~je svega, spqa{wu qudsku Ijezgro stvari, I uvdi wihovu pravu vrednost nesamo vremensku, prolaznu, nego I ve~nu.Zapovesti, ako se wih ~vrsto drÌ, void}e gasigurno pravim putem kroz pra{umu ìvota Ibespu}a ka krajwem ìvotnom ciqu I spasticod lutawa I zastrawivawa.

Ove dve Boìje kwige uzajamno se dopu-wavaju I obja{wavaju, I zato ih treba obemarqivo ~itati I studirati. Bez wih je ~oveku duhovnom mraku I u opasnosti da zaluta Ipogine zanavek.

DRUGA ISTINA: POZNAJ SEBENeverovatno zavu~I , ail je istina: ~ovek

je ispitao I upoznao mnoge oblasti zemqe Ineba, a sebe ne poznaje. Svojim kriti~kimumom prodro je u mnoge tajne I zbivawa uSvemiru, otkrio zakone kretawa nebeskihtela: sunca, meseca, planeta; uspeo da ode domeseca, pro{eta po njemu I vrati se natrag, asebe, svoje bi}e, jo{ nije u potpunostiupoznao. U ovoj oblasti najmawe je napredovao.

NASTTAVI}E SE..


16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

It allbegan a longtime ago with ayoung womannamed Mary.Mary Magda-lene. Mary,

who later became a Saint of the OrthodoxChurch, was a devout follower of Jesus Christ inthe days when He came to earth to save sinners.

When the time had come that Christ wasburied, Mary Magdalene went to his grave, bear-ing Myrrh, to anoint his body. But, when she ar-rived, the stone of the tomb had been cast aside,and the tomb was empty. Worried that thieveshad stolen her Lord's body in the middle of thenight, Mary asked the first person she saw if theyhad seen anyone enter or leave the tomb. Marystood and cried. Through tear-filled eyes, she bentover, looked into the tomb and saw two angels,dressed in white, sitting where the body of Jesushad been. One angel was sitting where His headhad been and one at the feet.

"Woman, why are you crying?" theyasked. "They have taken my Lord away, and I donot know where they put Him," replied Mary.Then she turned around and saw a man standingthere; but she could not recognize that it was Je-sus. "Woman, why are you crying?" asked Jesus."Who is it that you are looking for?" She thoughtHe was the gardener and so she said to Him "Ifyou took my Lord away sir, please tell me whereyou have put Him and I will go get Him." ButJesus called to her "Mary!" and immediately she

knew that it was Him. "Do nothold on to me," Jesus told her. ' 'I have not yetgone back up to my Father. Go to my brothers andtell them that I am returning to Him, who is myFather and their Father, my God and their God."

And so, Mary heard first the Good Newsthat Christ had Risen. She ran to tell his disciples,and then went to visit the Emperor in Rome. Shegreeted the Emperor with "Christ has Risen," andgave him a red-dyed egg. She knew it would bedifficult to convince the Emperor of the Glory ofChrist, and thus she used the tiny egg as her exam-ple.

Mary borrowed the ancient belief that theegg symbolizes new life much like the Resurrec-tion of her Lord. She told the Emperor that Christhad been transformed into a new life. She dyed theegg red to symbolize the blood that was shed tosave the world from their old ways.

This tradition has been carried onthroughout the years. The egg represents thesealed tomb of our Lord. On Holy Thursday morn-ing households dye the eggs red to symbolize thesacred blood of Christ that was shed on the cross.The eggs are then put away until Saturday eveningwhen after the Resurrection service families em-bark in the traditional egg-cracking ceremony.Each member of the family chooses an egg that hethinks is hardest and that will crack everyoneelse's.

The eggs are then tapped against eachother, first the more pointed ends, while the twoplayers announce, "Christ is Risen!" and "IndeedHe has!" This simple act symbolizes the seal of theTomb of Christ being broken and His life beingresurrected. The person whose egg remains unbro-ken receives the good-luck blessing for the year.


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Kod nas srba obi~aj je dase za Vaskrs spremajuobojena I {arena jaja.Doma}ice se trude dapripreme jaja sa rznim{arama. Na tim kuvanimjajima ispisuju: Hristosvaskrse!, “Sre}anVaskrs” I drugo. Decanajvi{e vole ovaj praznikzbog {arenih jaja. Kucaju se jajima, I~ije se razbije, to razbijeno predajese pobedniku. Po~etak ovogaobi~aja, da se za Vaskrs spremajufarbana jaja, poti~e jo{ iz ranih hri{}anskih vremena. Sledbenica IsusaHrista, Marija Magdalina do{la je,posle Hristovog Vaznesenja u Rimradi propovedanja Jevan|elja. I kadaje izi{la pred cara Tiberija, pozdra-vila ga je re~ima: “Hristos vaskrse!”I pruìla mu na dar ofarbano jaje.Ovakav poklon Svete Marije Magda-line obja{njava se time {to je u RimuI kod drugih naroda bio obi~ajdarivanja jaja pri nastupanju novegodine, koja je tada obi~no po~injalau prole}e. Kada su prvi hri{}anidoznali za ovaj dar Svete MarijeMagdaline, onda su I oni po~eli dase ugledaju na nju. Od tada, svuda udane Vaskrsenja Hristovog pripre-maju se uskr{nja jaja kao symbolVaskrsenja Hristovog. U mnogimmestima jaja se boje crvenom bojom,{to podse}a hri{}ane na krvHristovu. No, osim crvenom bojom

{araju se jaja Idrugim bojama,kaoùtom, zelenom,ruì~astom I raznim

{arama, prema ukusudoma}ice.

Pored navedenogpredanja, ~ini nam se daje pravi simbol uskr{njeg jajeta u slede}em:kao {to pile, bez i~ijepomo}I spolja, kada

do|e vreme, sopstvenim mo}ima raz-bija ljusku I izlazi na svetlost dana,tako I Hristos, sopstvenim snagamarazbija okove groba– smrti,vaskrsava I donosi novi ìvot svimakoji veruju u Njegovu re~ I boànskumo}.

Sa pripremom I {aranjem uskr{ih jaja vezani su razni obredi Iverovanja, koja svedo~e o njihovomva`nom zna~enju u religioznomìvotu na{eg naroda. @ene I devojke{araju jaja obi~no uo~I Vaskrsa. Ovajposao smatraju sve{tenom radnjom,pa se zato pripremaju molitvom. Dabi {aranje I bojenje ispalo bolje, voduspremaju na Veliki ~etvrtak, po{to~uju da crkveno zvono odzvoni zabogosluènje. U tu vodu dodaju Imalo osve}ene vodice, koju je sve{tenik osvetio u toku Vaskr{njegposta. U nekim krajevima, prvo jajespu{teno u vodu ~uva se do slede}egodine.


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It has been written by Charles

Kingsley that if we are to know the love

of Christ for us, then we must look at the

cross on which the Son of God gave His

life. We must study it and take in its di-

mensions. Here are the dimensions of

the Cross in question and answer from:

Q. What is the breadth of Christ’sCross?

A. “My friends, it is as broad as the

whole world, for He died for

the whole world: as it is writ-

ten, “ He is a propitiation not

for our sins only, but for the

sins of the whole world.” and

that is the breadth of the

Cross.”

Q. And what is the length ofChrist's Cross?

A.”Long enough to last through all time.

As long as there is a sinner to be saved;

as long there is ignorance, sorrow, pain,

death, or anything else which is contrary

to God and hurtful to man in the universe

of God, so long will Christ’s Cross last.

And that is the length of the Cross.”

Q. How high is Christ’s Cross ?

A. “As high as the highest heaven, and

the throne of God and the bosom of the

Father - that bosom out of which for

ever proceed all created things. Aye, as

high as the highest heaven: for, if you

will receive it, when Christ hung upon the

Cross heaven came down to earth, and

earth ascended into heaven. That is the

height of the Cross of Christ.”

Q. And how deep is theCross of Christ?

A.“This is a dark mystery

which people are afraid be as

high as heaven, then it must

be as deep enough to reach

the deepest pit to which he

may fall, for Christ descended

in to hell, and preached to the

spirits in person. Let us hope,

then, that is the depth of the Cross of

Christ.”

19Serbian Orthodox Church of the Assumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

In 2 Corinthians 9, itstates if you sow sparinglyyou will reap sparingly and ifyou sow bountifully you willalso reap bountifully. If yougive freely, God will supplyyour needs, physically andspiritually. Beloved, we havemembers in this congregationwho have given honestly and freely and Godgives them more and more. It is like going to theblood bank and you give your blood, a preciouscommodity. In 36 hours, you have that bloodback. Your body reproduces it. God returnswhat you gave in approximately 36 hours. Thatis the way it is with God. He may not return toyou within 36 hours, but He will return it withinterest.

Remember the rich young ruler in Mat-thew 19:31 that came to Jesus and Jesus saidgo sell all that you have and give to the poorand then you could come. People hear that andsay, you mean you have to give all your moneyaway? No, I do not think that is what it is say-ing. What He was saying is that there is some-thing between you and Me and it is your money.There was a slave one time who was a greatChristian and gave testimony to his master.One day his master came to him and said,"Whatever you have I want. You have such peaceand contentment and joy. How can I get this?"The slave answered, "Go to your house, put on

your white suit and come down here and workin the mud with the rest of us and you canhave it." He said, "What are you talking about?I could not do that. I am the master and youare the slave. That would be beneath my dig-

nity." He then walked awayangered with his slave.

A few monthspassed and he came backto the slave and said, "Icannot resist asking youagain. What is it that youpossess and how can I have

this?" he said, "I told you. Go put your whitesuit on and come down and work with us inthe mud and you could have it.." And he wasfurious again and stomped away. Finally, indesperation, he came again. "I do not carewhat it takes," he said, "I have to do it. I'll doanything." The slave said, "Go put on yourwhite suit and come down. Will you do that?""Yes." He said, "You do not have to." You seethe point? He knew what was standing be-tween the man and Christ - pride. And that isall Jesus is saying. Until you are detachedfrom your money, you are separated from Godbecause you cannot serve both.

Giving is a matter of attitude. Re-member what Solomon said? What is new?Nothing! The system of giving is the same. Welearn what we choose to learn. Where is yourtreasure? What is really important to you?Giving is sacrificial. It is not the amount. It iswhat it costs you to give. Even when there islittle there is much when God is in it.

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Serbian Orthodox Church of the Assumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The ceremony takes place in the OrthodoxChurch of the Resurrection in Jerusalem insuch a way that bewilders the soul of theChristians.

On Easter Saturday, at noon, the Or-thodox Patriarch, or any other OrthodoxArchbishop, enters the Holy Sepulcher, re-cites special prayers andremains waiting. Thecrowd, in the darkenedchurch, repeats continu-ally with a loud voice:"Lord, havemercy." (Kyrie eleison).At a certain moment theHoly Light flashes fromthe depth of the HolySepulcher in a supernatu-ral way, and miraculously lights up the littlelamp of olive oil put on the edge of it. ThePatriarch, or the Archbishop, (after havingread some prayers) lights up the two clus-ters of 33 candles he is holding, and beginsto distribute the Holy Light to the multitudeof pilgrims, who receive it with great emo-tion, accompanied with the peeling of bells,acclamations, and an unbridled enthusiasm.

The Holy Light is not only distrib-uted by the Archbishop, but operates also

by itself. It emits from the Holy Sepul-cher having a gleam of a new completelydifferent from that of natural light. Itsparkles, it flashes like lightning, it flieslike a dove around the tabernacle of theHoly Sepulcher, and lights up the unitlamps of olive oil hanging in front of it.

It whirls from one side of thechurch to the other. It also lights up thecandles of certain pilgrims. In fact thereare some very pious pilgrims -who every

time they attended thisceremony, noticed thattheir andles lit up ontheir own accord!

This divine lightalso presents some pe-culiarities. As soon as itappears it has a bluishhew and does not burn.At the first moments of

its appearance, if it touches the face, orthe mouth, or the hands, it does notburn. . We must also take into considera-tion that the Holy Light appears only bythe invocation of an OrthodoxArchbishop. Each time the heterodoxbishops tried to obtain it, they failed.

Once the Armenians paid theTurks, who then occupied the HolyLand, in order to obtain permission fortheir Patriarch to enter the Holy Sepul-cher. The Orthodox Patriarch was stand-

Given by God Only to the OrthodoxChurch. The Ceremony of the Holy Lightin Jerusalem.

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Serbian Orthodox Church of the Assumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ing sorrowfully -with his flock at the exit ofthe church, near the left column, when theHoly Light split this column vertically andflashed near the Orthodox Patriarch.

A Muslim Muezin, called Tounom, whosaw the miraculous event from an adjacentmosque, abandoned immediately the Mus-lim religion and became an OrthodoxChristian. This event took place in 1549 un-der Sultan Mourad IV. , when the Patriarchof Jerusalem was Sophrony II. (The men-tioned split column still exists. It goes backto the XII c. The Orthodox pilgrims embraceit at the "place of the split" as you enter thechurch).

The appearance of the Holy Light is

an event -which occurs every year in frontof thousands of visual -witnesses. No-body can deny it. On the contrary, thismiracle can reinforce those -who havelack of faith.

There are some very touching re-cent cases of some Jews, •who believed inChrist after having seen the Holy Light,and -who said to their compatriots: "Whyare you still waiting for the Messiah? TheMessiah came indeed".

From Irene Econimides’ book "Differencesbetween the

Orthodox and Roman Catholicism"

The flyer is attached and can also be viewed and downloaded from our website at:

http://westsrbdio.org/wsd/stories/2013-06-24-pilgrimage/pilgrimage-web-lg.jpg

God"Your thoughts determine your actions, Your actions determine your habits. Your habits deter-

mine your character. And your character gives birth to your destiny." ...author unknown

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Serbian Orthodox Church of the Assumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Calendar of EventsWe are publishing a calendar of events

so that you and your familycan join us for these events. All are welcome

and we hope to see you at Church,as well as these events.

More details will follow.

May 5, Easter– VaskrsMay 18, Day in Homeland-RestaurantJune 15 Day in Homeland-RestaurantJune 23, PentecostJune 30, Vidovdan CelebrationJuly 21, Drazin danAugust 25, church Slava Celebration

Your Church Board Welcomes you.


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CHARGES FOR RELIGIOUS RITES - TREBESteward Non-Steward

Wedding $50 $500Baptism Donation DonationChurch Funeral Donation $300Chapel $50 $300Parastos—Panihida $25 $100Pomen $15 $ 50Certificates $10 $ 20

Parish StatisticsBAPTISM: No

WEDING: No

FUNERAL: No

PARASTOS: April 1, 2013 Vasilica

April 6, 2013 Todorka Grigorova Georgieva, Vecnaja Pamjat!

BECOME A SHEPHERDSPONSOR FOR 2013

Please consider becoming a ShepherdSponsor. For $ 25 you will become a

bronze Sponsor, for$ 50 a Silver Sponsor and for $ 100.00 agold Sponsor. Your name or the name

of a loved one will be listed.You could advertise your business thru

our SHEPHERD

QUESTIONS-QUESTIONS-QUESTIONS

Do you have a question of a spiritual orreligious nature? If you do, please write it

down and give it to one of our tutors or Priestsany Sunday. One Sunday a month we will an-swer the question during the usual time for theSunday sermon. Please try to keep your ques-tions to things that may be of broader interest

to others as well.

SHEPHERD SPONSOR for2013

GOLD SPONSORSHIPFor good health of his family

ByGene Pleces

SHEPHERD SPONSOR for2013

SILVER SPONSORSHIPFor good Health of their family

byMilivoje & Cveta Radovanovic


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From the light of Holy Thursday weenter into the darkness of Friday, the day ofChrist's Passion, Death, and Burial. The earlyChurch called it "Pascha of the Cross" for it isthe beginning of the Passover or passage, themeaning of which is gradually revealed to us,first, in the quiet of the Great Sabbath, and thenin the joy of the Pay of Resurrec-tion, Easter.This is the day when the Churchinvites us to realize the reality andawful power of sin and evil in theworld. For sin and evil have notdisappeared, but on the contrary,are still predominant in our lives.

This day is also a day ofRedemption, for Christ's death is asaving death for us and for our sal-vation. It is the perfect, supremesacrifice. Death is the natural fruit of sin, yetthere is no sin in Christ, although He died for us,only by His love for us. He accepts the punish-ment of the whole world, and takes upon Him-self the tragedy of man's life. In His death, thevery nature of death is changed, for, from pun-ishment it becomes an act of love and forgive-ness. His death is a saving death because it de-stroys the very source of death, which is evil.Throughout His whole passion, it is Christ whotriumphs, for evil can do nothing against Him.As Christ moves toward the Cross and the end,the human tragedy reaches its climax, His tri-umph, His victory over evil.

This is the double mystery of Holy Fri-day, manifested in darkness and yet light. Thereis, during the services, a constant emphasis onthe Passion of Christ as the crime of all crimes.

But, on the other hand, the sacri-fice of love which prepares the

final victory is also present. Thebeautiful Vesper Hymns depict

this:"When Thou, the Redeemer of all, Hast beenlaid for all in the new tomb, Hades, the respectorof none, saw Thee and crouched in fear. Thebars broke, gates were shattered, graves wereopened, the dead arose. Then Adam, thankfullyrejoicing, cried out to Thee: Glory to Thy hu-miliation, 0 Merciful Master."The end of Holy Friday marks the end of the

long history of salvation and redemp-tion, and introduces the Blessed Sab-bath, which relates Good Friday, thecommemoration of the Cross, with theday of His Resurrection, Easter.

The Services in the OrthodoxChurch for Good Friday are of a sad,mournful note. They begin Fridaymorning with the "Royal Hours", ser-vices consisting of Hymns, Psalms,and Readings from the Old and New

Testaments, all related prophetically to Christ.In the afternoon, the Vespers are celebrated,during which the commemoration of the re-moval of Christ's Body from the Cross is re-membered. The unnailing and wrapping of theBody with a white sheet by Joseph of Arimatheatakes place. The priest takes the Holy Shroud onwhich is painted the Body of Christ, carries itaround the Church, and places it in the tomb,which has been prepared in the Church. In theevening of Good Friday, the Church celebratesthe Service of Lamentation.

The whole of Good Friday is observedin prayer, fasting, self-examination, confession,good works, always in humility and repentanceso that the grace of the Cross might descendupon the faithful.


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Parishioners hospitalized, sick at home or in nursing homes…Proto Miladin Garic Greta Ljubisavljevic Alexandra FitzpatrickNikola Dragovic Ana Bozinovic Milli MatacicDusko Pesevic Marta Mamika Persa Dragovic

Sandy Tobe Michael Melnikov Nada KosanovicMilos Kovac Ana Mileusnich Daisy FreemanMichael Sadownikov Oleg & Irina Butin Ana LisnichFrancis Sokitch Milanka MiladinocvicDear Brothers and Sisters, please remember these people in your daily prayers. If you know anyone who is sickplease let Father Dane know. He would like to visit them and pray for them. His telephone number is 966-6276

or 606-8808.We pray for your return to health and well-being.

When your are making a donation to our Church,please note on the check (under the memo field) what itis for. This is because we have no way of knowing yourintent for the donation. Otherwise, if there is no suchnotation, and if you are already a steward, the donationwill automatically apply towards your stewardship. Ifyou are not a steward, it will be applied as a church do-nation.

THE BLESSING OF THE HOMESThe homes of thousands of Orthodox Christian

have been blessed during the Epiphany seasons. Let your homes beblessed as they are like small churches. Prepare a candle, bowl of wa-ter, and a list of your living family members. Call Father Dane to blessyour home with the sanctified water of Epiphany starting on this day.

OSVE]ENJE DOMOVAHiljade Pravoslavnih domova se osve}uju u vreme Bogojavljenja I

posle. Osvetite svoje domove jer domovi su va{e male crkve.Pripremite sve}u, ~iniju sa vodom I spisak `ivih ~lanova

porodice. Nazovite Protu Dana da unese krst u va{ dom I bla-goslovi sa Bogojavljenskom vodicom. Osve}enje domova po~inje

na dan Bogojavljenja.


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Gospod naš Isus Hristos, od-nosno njegovo čovečansko telo, umroje raspet na krstu u Veliki petak ipred veče istog dana bio je sahran-jen. Treći dan po smrti, u Velikunedelju, Hristos je vaskrsao. O tomegovore sva četiri jevan-đelja (Mat. 28, 1-10),(Mar. 16, 2-8), (Luka24, 1-12), (Jovan 20,1-18). Svojim vask-rsenjem Hristos je po-kazao da je on praviBog i da ima vlast nadživotom i nad smrću. U NjegovomVaskrsenju mi vidimo naše spasenje ivaskrsenje - "Ako Hristos ne vask-rese, uzalud je vera naša i propove-danje naše", kaže apostol Pavle."Pošto je kroz čoveka došla smrt,kroz čoveka je došlo i vaskrsenje izmrtvih. Jer, kao što u Adamu sviumiru, tako će u Hristu svioživeti" (1. Korinćanima 15, 21-22). Hristos se nakon vaskrsenjajavljao jedanaest puta za četrdesetdana: Mironosicama, Mariji Magda-leni, dvojici učenika svojih kada su

pošli iz Jerusalima za Emaus, svimaučenicima i na skupu vernih gde jebilo više od 500 braće. VaskrsenjeHristovo dobro je provereno od apos-tola i mnogih ljudi koji su videli vask-rsloga Hrista i to je postao najvažnijidogađaj u istoriji sveta. Njime jezavršeno delo isklupljenja i spasenjaroda ljudskoga.

Crkva ovaj događaj proslavljakao najveći praznik.Uskrs (Vaskrsenje, Pasha,Veligdan, Vazam) je staripraznik; praznuje se jošod vremena apostola, aline svuda u isti dan:negde je praznovan za-jedno sa jevrejskom

Pashom, negde četrnaestog dana me-seca jevrejskog Nisana, a negde unedelju posle jevrejske Pashe. Naprvom vaseljenskom saboru odlučenoje da se svuda praznuje jednog dana,i to posle prolećne ravnodnevnice,prve nedelje posle jevrejske Pashe ipunog meseca. Uskrs je, dakle, pok-retan praznik, koji se uvek vezujesamo za dan nedeljni, a može pasti urazmaku od 35 dana, od 4. aprila do8. maja.

Uskrs je najsvečaniji praznik u


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godini; on je "praznik nadpraznicima". Na taj dan skidaju sedveri u crkvi na oltaru, čime se želipokazati da je Isus svojim vaskrsen-jem pobedio smrt i otvorio rajskavrata. Cela nedelja po Uskrsu nazivase "Svetla nedelja", a crkvene pesmekoje se tada pevaju pune su radosti iveselja. Umesto uobičajenog poz-drava, narod se na Uskrs i celeSvete nedelje pozdravlja sa "Hristosvoskrese!" i "Vaistinu voskrese!"Tropar Vaskrsenju glasi: "HRISTOSVASKRESE IZ MRTVIH,SMRĆU SMRT UNIŠTI ISVIMA U GROBOVIMAŽIVOT DAROVA."Da bi se hrišćani dostojno pripremiliza ovaj praznik, još od apostolskihvremena ustanovljen je "Veliki post"ili "Četrdesetnica", po uzoru na Isusakoji je 40 dana postio na Goriiskušenja. U narodu postoji običaj dase o Uskrsu, na Veliki petak, jajaboje crvenom i drugim jarkim bojamai da se daruju poznanici i prijatelji.To je u znak podsećanja na MarijuMagdalenu koja je caru Tiberiju, ob-jašnjavajući mu Hristovo vaskrsenje,darovala kokošije jaje kao simbolUskrsa.

Glory to You, O God! Glory toYou, O God! Glory to You, O God

I thank You, 0 Lord my God, forYou. have not rejected me, a sinner, buthave made me worthy to be a partaker ofYour holy things. I thank 5fou, For Youhave permitted me, the unworthy, to com-mune of Your most pure and heavenly Gifts.But, 0 Master who love mankind, Who forour sakes died and rose again, and gave usthese awesome and life-creating Mysteriesfor the good and sanctification of our soulsand bodies; let then be for the healing ofsoul and body, the repelling of every adver-sary, the illumining of the eyes of my heart,the peace of my spiritual powers, a faith un-ashamed, a love unfeigned, the fulfilling ofwisdom, the observing of Your command-ments, the receiving of Your divine grace,and the attaining of Your Kingdom. Pre-served by then in Your holiness, nay I al-ways remember Your grace and live not formyself alone, out for You, our Master andBenefactor. May I pass from this life in thehope of eternal life, and so attain to the ev-erlasting rest, where the voice of those whofeast is unceasing, and the gladness of thosewho behold the goodness of Your counte-nance is unending. For You are the true de-sire and the ineffable joy of those who loveYou, 0 Christ our God, and all creationsings Your praise forever. Amen.


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NASTAVAK...

У 18. беседи Златоусти говори о духовнојучмалости када ми "прилазимо посту само сауздржавањем од јела"[9], тј. без црквеностикоју сам поменуо.

Он дословно каже: "остајући кодкуће, ти ћеш да проведеш време у пасивностии бесмислености, а дошавши овде имаш даотресеш сваку успаваност и лењост... Онајкоји је нешто појео и дошао овамо сапотребном скромношћу мало заостаје за онимкоји је постио, а тај који је постио који безусрдности и пажње слуша поуке, мало ће дадобије од поста. Онај који једе и учествује насвештеним сабрањима са потребномусрдношћу неупоредиво је бољи од оног којине једе и остаје код куће, зато што гладовањенама не може донети толико користи, коликонам користи и добра доноси учествовање удуховном учењу (читај: богослужењу)."[10]

Када говоримо о богослужењу, св.Симеон Н. Богослов дивно повезује ову нитцрквености и причешћа, где напомиње дасамо правилно празновање, узношењекандила, свећа, тамјана, возгласа, песмехвале итд. може да "достојно" припреми засвето причешће (у вези са овим прочитати 41.Слово). Кашњење на Литургију јесте сметњаза причешће. А о којој Литургији говоримо?"Необновљенској" (код нас "новотарској"),тј. оној евхаристијске теологије, илиговоримо о Литургији пуноте дана[11], што јесве заједно: вечерња, јутрења и часови? Дачовек пости целу годину он није достојанпричешћа ако игнорише ове службе које свезаједно сачињавају Литургију. Трагично је тода Литургију као Анафору схватају истосрпски традиционалисти и модернисти, тадва већ добро утврдоглављена табора.

Догма Цркве, која потиче из

еванђелске поруке, јасно говори дапрвостепени пост није храна негоиспуњавање еванђелских идеала, који завреме поста морају да буду далеко плоднијинего у осталим данима године, а ту се посебноподвлачи црквеност. То је пост, и топосипање пепелом смирења и трпљења, афизичког умивања лица и мазањем разниммирисима[12], чиме се, као ни у чему бољинити посебнији од других, не издвајамо излитургичке заједнице! Зато Црква нама недаје пример Богочовечанског поста упустињи, нити Претечиног у пустињи, него усвом "уводу" у Велики пост, Триодом од"Недеље митара и фарисеја", она учи о постукао великом унутрашњем смирењу човека, ане баш гладовању које се код нас изразитопотенцира као оправдање.

Та поменута наука Цркве је главни иједини услов за достојно сједињење саХристом, и даље кроз Њега са Заједницом, иобрнуто - кроз човека поред нас откривамоХриста! Тако постајемо део Цркве, тј. деоХриста, јер се "приЧашћујемо" - узимамо"делић" (часть) и путем Њега постајемо деоса "при" и "часть" општег Тела -"сателесници"[13] Цркве.

Суштина причешћа није индивидуалнопостојање пред Богом него је оно оверавање,освежавање, потврђивање нашег постојања уЗаједници. Причешће није магија, јер неможемо да га добијемо ван заједнице (у својојклијети - ма колико се ми молили!). Због тогана свакој служби дана Великог поста узуздигнуте руке свештеника чујемо речи св.Јефрема: "Господе и Владико живота мога!Духа лености, унинија, властољубља ипразнословља, не дај ми. Дух целомудрености,смиреноумља, дуготрпљења и љубави, дарујми, рабу Твоме. Да, Господе, Царе, даруј ми дасагледам сагрешења своја и да не осуђујем


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брата свога, јер си благословен у векове века.Амин."

Кад си сам, како ћеш ово да испуниш?

Ово поменуто је услов зазаједничарење (причешће) и скоро ништадруго! Однос према другом човеку, и самото (наравно, треба чувати тог човека и усеби)! Неприродно стање према само једномчлану Цркве јесте неуклоњива препрека, незбог неких закона и форми него збогреалности односа према Христу, јер јеречено[14] да богопознање није могуће ванвежбања и откривања Бога у сваком члануЗаједнице. Ако постоји болестан односпрема нашем брату, уздржавање од меса,седам, четрдесет или триста шездесет и петдана, неће да уклони ту сметњу.

Пост се бави човеком, а не нечимнедокучивим (апстрактним). Он имазадатак да нас смири и научи да се ђаволомне затремо. Зато "самогласен на стиховње,3. гласа" на вечерњи Чистог понедељка насучи да је главни пост здрав однос премаЗаједници: "Истинити пост је: одвраћањеод зла, уздржавање језика, одбацивањејарости, очишћење од похоте, и одоговарања, од лажи, од кривоклетства.Одбацивање поменутог јесте истинитипост, и благопријатан".

Девета песма Триода Чистог уторкакаже да ми постимо "постомдоброчинства", а подобен на "Господивозвах" прве Пређеосвећене литургијепродужује ту мисао Цркве:

"Доброчинством је Илија ушао убожанствене кочије, просветивши сепостом, вазнесе се у висине небеске; његаимитирај смирена душо моја, и пости одсваке злобе, и зависти, и свађе, инаслађивања брзопролазећих".

Пост садржи јак императивмилостиње, који има задатак да смиридомаћина у нама, наше срце, које скупљаблаго, да га поделимо и са другима.Вечерња друге недеље поста, глас 8. овако

учи: "Ходите да се очистимо милостињом идобротом према убогима, не хвалећи се, непоказујући наше доброчинство, да не сазналевица дело деснице, да нам сујета не расточиплодове милостиње, него у тајни Оном којитајну зна да завапимо: Оче, остави прегрешењанаша јер си човекољубив".

Прва стихира вечерње, прве Пређеосвећенелитургије Великог поста, нас верујуће зове дамолитвено подигнемо своја срца и да постимои на овај заборављени начин:

"Браћо, постећи телесно постимо идуховно; ослободимо се сваког савеза санеправдом: разрешимо се од плаховитости,сваки неправедни уговор поцепајмо: дајмогладнима хлеба, сиромашне и без крова уведимоу наше домове да од Бога примимо великумилост."

Интересантне су ове "стиховње Триода"на вечерњи чистог уторка, глас 2:

"Пост није уздржавање од хране које самовршимо, него плот која је на нама, мучи нас даје умиримо и тако достојни ("достойни")будемо причешћа, Јагњета за свет закланогвољом Сина Божијег, и духовно празнујемо измртвих Спаситељево Васкрсење; на висинудоброчинства да се уздигнемо..."

Триод само понегде као да стидљивопомиње "брашна" = храну, и то у уопштеном ишироком појму њеног значења а неспецифично.

У светоотачком богословљу код писцаСтудијског црквеног устава видимо да сваканападна ревност штети нашем духовномживоту. Он се овако жали на ове аномалије:"Зашто неки од вас штрче и замењују Типиксопственим, и што је горе од свега, штетнимжељама и гордим плановима, не покоравајућисе правилима послушања и заједничкогпоретка (општежића), него у самољубљупроизвољно измишљају боље законе,састављајући боља правила и учења,богонадахнутије од старих, што је у самојсуштини безакоње и безбожност.

Nastavice se...


30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Inside the Holy Sepulchre thePatriarch prays kneeling and readingthe special wishes requesting our LordJesus Christ to send His Holy Light asa gift of sanctification for the people.And in the absolute quietness at thehour when the patriarch prays awheeze is heard and almost simultane-ously blue and white lightnings of HolyLight penetrate from everywhere, asthough millions of photographic flashesturn on embracing the walls and all thelamps light up miraculously. In the HolySepulchre the torches the Patriarchholds while he prays turn on also bythe Holy Light. The crowd bursts out incheers while teardrops of joy and faithrun from the eyes of the people.

For a few minutes the Holy Lightdoesn’t have the attributes of fire. Thishappens the first minutes after the pa-triarch comes out of the Holy Sepulchre

and gives the Light to the people. Any-one can touch the fire of the 33 can-dles! and he doesn’t burn. After 33 min-utes the flame is normal. The HolyLight symbolizes and reminds us in amiraculous way the Resurrection ofChrist. It is a Godsend miracle throughcenturies from the light of the world,and this light is Christ for the world.Science cannot explain this great mira-cle and this time in its honour sciencenever tried to explain it not even theo-retically. Besides how can anyone ex-plain a genuine miracle?

Many people every year watch theHoly Light and feel intensely the pres-ence of God between them. This Lightshould light humanity for a better tom!orrow.

For those who can't attend church on a regularbasis and wish to provide financial support,please consider using our PayPal account to doso: Log onto the church website at

www.sacserbchurch.orgIn the panel on the lower left side click on"Donate".Enter an amount and choose how often togive. (Weekly, monthly, etc.)Choose a payment type (PayPal account )Submit.

Joyous Feast to allTo all the faithful of our Parish, School

Teachers, Readers, Altar boys, support-ers of our church….

The Staff of the Church Shepherd extendssincere greetings on the Feast of Feasts,

the Glorious Resurrection of Our Lordfrom the Dead. “This is the day that the

Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoicetherein.”


31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Please help us decorate the Church andChrist’s Tomb for the Easter

Holidays.

Easter is upon us!We are now beginning to

take donations for flowers to decorateChrist’s Tomb and for the Church on

Easter. You may wish to give a donationin memory, or for the good health, of a

Loved One.Please specify that your donation

is for Easter Flowers.

Thank you!

MOLIMO VAS POMOZITE ZA DEKORACIJUHRISTOVOG GROBA I CRKVE ZA VASKR[NJI

PRAZNIK

Vaskrs je skoro ovde!Po~injemo sa prilozima za cve}e za

Hristov grob I crkvu. Priloge moète datiza pokoj du{e vama dragim, ili za zdravlje

oni koji su vam dragi.Molimo vas nazna~ite da je prilog za

Veaskr{nje cve}e.Hvala!


32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ……………….. . . . . . .

DATO OD BOGASAMO PRAVOSLAVNOJ CRKVIObred silaska Svetog Plamena

u Jerusalimu.

Ovaj obred se de{ava u Pra-voslavnoj crkvi Hristovog Vasksenjau Jerusalimu na takav na~in dazadivljuje I prepora|a du{e hri{}ana.

Na veliku Subotu u podnePravoslavni Patrijarh ili neki drugiPravoslavni Episkopulazi u Hristov grob ,govori specijalne mo-tive I ~eka. Nekada je~ekanje duè a nekadakra}e. Narod u tamnojcrkvi ponavlja stalnonaglas “Gospode po-miluj”. U odre|enovreme Sveti Plamenzasvetli iz dubine svetinje na nadpri-rodan na~in I pali malo kandilo samaslinovim uljem ispred Hristovoggroba. Partijarh ili Episkop posle~itanja odre|enih molitvi pali dvarukovata od 33 sve}e koje drÌ Ipo~inje da deli sveti plamen mnogo-brojnim hodo~asnicima koji je pri-maju sa neopisivom emocijom, pro-pra}eni zvonima ushi}eni I puni odu{evljenja.

Sveti Plamen ne dolazi samood Episkopa ve} od samog sebe.

Izlaze}I iz Hristovog Grobasvetlost je potpuno razli~ita odobi~nog plamena. Svetluca i obasjavakao munja, i oble}e kao golub okosvetog prestola i pali kandilo isprednjega.

Plamen ska~e sa jedne stranecrkve na drugu. Ulazi u neke odkapela u crkvi kao na primer u

kapelu Raspe}a Hris-tovog i pali kandila.Tako|e pali sve}enekima odhodo~asnika. Ustvaripostoje neki vrlopobo`ni hodo~asnicikojima se ovo doga|asvaki put kada pris-

ustvuju ovom obredu, {to zna~I nji-hove sve}e se pale same od sebe.

Ovaj plamen tako|e predstav-lja ~udo jer neprestano gori a nikogane ope~e. Kada se pojavi ako do-takne lice, usta ili ruku ne}e ope}i.Ovo je sam dokaz Boànskog I nad-prirodnog porekla. Moramo razumetida ovaj sveti plame se pojavljujesamo pri prizivu PravoslavnogEpiskopa. Svaki put kada nepra-


33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

voslavni episkop vr{I obred ni{ta sene dogodi.

Jednom su Armejci paltiliTurcima koji su tada vladali Sv.Zemljom da im dozvole da njihovEpiskop u|e u Hristov Gob. Pra-voslavni Patrijarh je stajao àlostan sasvojom pastvom na izlazu crkve blizulevog stuba, kad je sveti plamenrazdelio ovaj stub vertikalno i zasi-jao blizu Pravoslavnog Patrijarha.

Musliman Mujazin zvaniTonom, koji vide ovo ~udo sa mina-reta ostavi odjednom islamsku re-ligiju I posta Pravoslavni Hri{}anin.Ovo se dogodilo 1549 godine kada jevladao sultan Murat IV a PatrijarhJerusalimski tada be{e Sofronije II.Pomenuti razdeljeni stub jo{ uvekpostoji od 12 veka. Pravoslavnihodo~asnici se poklone pred ovimstubom pre nego {to u|u u crkvu.

Pojava Svetog Plamena jedoga|aj koji se ponavlja svakegodine pred o~ima hiljade i hiljadesvedoka. Niko nemoè da porekneovo. Naprotiv ovo ~udo moè daoja~a one sa slabom verom.

Postoje vrlo dirljivi skora{njidoga|aji, koji su se dogodili nekimaod Jevreja koji su poverovali u Hristaposle vi|enja ovog svetog plamena Ikoji javno govore svojima: “Za{to jo{ uvek ~ekate Mesiju? Mesija je zaistave} do{ao”.

ВАСКРС- дан радости , иотврда наде -

Као дузи сред мутних облака садашњицерадујемо се ми и ове године Васкрсу Христовом.

Јер као што је дуга поуздан знак да ће се ра«сути облаци што мраче небеске хоризонте, тако

је Васкрсеље Христа из мрачиога доба знак да ћесе расути у ништа све мрачне силе које paiyjyпротив Христа и Његових верних. Зато некадрхтаве усне свију нас по- нове дамас древне

песме иаше православне дркве, песме триумфаживо- та над смрђу:47

"Ево дана којега створи Господ, да се радујемоу н и веселимо.

"Као што дим исчезава — тако да исчезну свиненавидници Христа"

"Воскресеније Христово видцевше, поклонимосе светоме Гос- иоду Исусу, јединоме

безгрешному. ""Ангел вопијаше благодатњеј: чиетаја Дјево

радуј се, и опет велим радуј се! Твој Синвоскресе тридневен од гроба; и мртве поди-

же, о људи веселите се!"Ако си се и у фоб спустио Бесмртни, Ти си

разрушио силу адо- ву, и васкрсао си каопобедитељ, Христе Боже ; поздравио си жене ми

- роносице са.-радујте се,1 даровао си мирТвојим апостолима, и палим дао си

воскресеније. /Кондак. /Од сада се ја више не бојим поврагити се у

земљу, о Господе ХрисгеЈер Ти си ме ТвојимВаскрсењем подигао од земд>е као не пос-тојећег у висину бесмртности, по премногојмилости". /канон недељни, глас 6;песма 5/.Христово васкрсегБе донело је човечанствутемељиу промеиу, равиу Стварању света.

Познавиш и осетивши ово апостол Павле, пока-јани гонитељ хришћаиа, узвикује: Старо прође,

гле све ново постаде /II Кор. 5,17/. To јест: стариснови о постојашу другог света; стара философ-

ска нагађања, популарне легенде као иматеријалисгичке негације - све то прође као

сенка пред светлосним факгом Христоваваскрсења.

Ваистину Хриаос воскресе браћо и сестре

34Serbian Orthodox Church of the Assumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

An Easter Story.

There is the center cross of the . righteous;There is the right cross of the penitent;And the left cross of the impenitent.

There were three crosses on Gol-gotha (The Skull) on the first Great andHoly Friday: the central Cross of our LordGod and Saviour Jesus Christ; and the endcrosses of the two sinners, of Dismas to theright and of Gestas to the left. And thereare three crosses in life.

All the three crosses stand for suf-fering, yet each suffering differs from oneanother. For one is the suffering of therighteous, another is the suffering of thepenitent, and still another is the suffering ofthe impenitent.

Suffering of the righteous is theblessdness possessing the ideal Christianvirtues, or gained as chastisement throughself - denial, leading into the sainthood. Itis the nerve center of Orthodox theologybased upon the Beatitudes preached by theMaster in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt.5:3-13 Lk. 6:20-22), so eloquently de-scribed in the Book of Job and practiced bythe Fathers of the Desert.

Suffering of the penitent is in real-ity his expiation for his wrong-doings, thepenitence with hope for forgiveness andreconciliation with God. For Christ said tothe penitent thief. 'Truly I say to you, today

you will be with Me in Para-dise." (Lk. 23, 43).Suffering of the impenitent islifeless, the eternal death, of

whom said the Lord: "And cast the worth-less servant into the outer darkness; theremen will weep and gnash theirteeth." (Matt. 25, 30).Both the righteous and the penitent fullyrealize that their suffering is their spiritualremedy and they bear it with faith andhope.cheerfully for to them said the Lord:

'Take my yoke upon you, and learnfrom me; for I am gentle and lowly inheart, and you will find rest for your souls.For my yoke is easy and my burden islight." (Matt. 11:29-30).

But lost is the case of the impeni-tent for he knows not why he suffers. In-flicted by the deadly sins (pride, avarice,lust, envy, gluttony, anger, desperation), heis a hopeless ruin. He is painless and obdu-rate, and only feels hurt, insulted andcheated, and is never satisfied.

There are three ways in life to fol-low and the three crosses to cany, and manmust choose which way to follow andwhich cross to carry:

Either the cross of the righteous,Or the cross of the penitent;Or of the impenitent.

St. Nikolai

35Serbian Orthodox Church of the Assumption. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Shepherd-Quiz Related to Pascha

1. We do not kneel for_____ days after Pascha. (a) 10 (b) 20 (c) 40

(d) 50

2. What feast day falls 50 days after Pascha? (a) Annunciation

(b) Ascension (c) Pentecost (d) Transfiguration

3. The Sunday immediately following Pascha is called: (a) St.

Thomas Sunday (b) Sunday of the Myrrh bearing women (c)

Bright Sunday (d) Sunday of the Paralytic

4. Which of the following feast days is set based on the date of

Pascha? (a) Annunciation (b) Transfiguration (c) Theophany

(d)Ascension

5. The Holy Gospel readings on the Sundays immediately fol-

lowing Pascha are from which Gospel? (a) Matthew (b) Mark (c)

Luke (d) John

6. On which feast day do the royal doors of the iconostasis re-

main open while the clergy receive communion? (a) Nativity of

Christ (b)Pentecost (c) Pascha (d) Palm Sunday

7. Which day following Pascha does the Holy Spirit descend on

the apostles? (a) Pentecost (b) Ascension (c) Theophany (d)

the Baptism of our Lord

8. The “moveable” feasts of the Church are based on which day?

(a) Pentecost (b) Palm Sunday (c) Church New Year day (d) Pas-

cha

9. On which days do we fast in the week following Pascha? (a)

Friday (b) Wednesday and Friday (c) All of them (d) None of them

10. What Jewish holiday always preceeds Pascha? (a) Yom Kip-

pur (b) Channukah (c) Festival of Lights (d) Passover

Find answer page in the Shepherd

36Serbian O

rthodox Church of the A

ssumption

7777 Sunset Avenue

Fair Oaks, C

alifornia 95628

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