Welcome

Coronavirus crisis

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, in person services in our parish have been cut back for now.  Fr Matthew sends out reader’s services via email each week to follow at home. In addition, the diocesan web page nynjoca.org/livestream has online services for viewing. When services are held, they are celebrated with only the allowed number of people in attendance. Please contact Fr Matthew if you wish to attend as part of the restricted number. 

(No one else should attend in person.)

Icon of the Ascension of Our Lord

Icon of the Ascension of Our Lord

This Icon of the Ascension of Our Lord, is found on the Iconostas of our church, in the row of great feasts.

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Feast of the Ascension

Feast of the Ascension

^{The Orthodox Faith, by V. Rev. Thomas Hopko}

Jesus did not live with his disciples after his resurrection as he had before his death. Filled with the glory of his divinity, he appeared at different times and places to his people, assuring them that it was he, truly alive in his risen and glorified body.

To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the Kingdom of God ^{(Acts 1:3)}.

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Corona Virus Prayer

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O God Almighty, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all creation visible and invisible, in thine ineffable goodness, look down upon us, thy people gathered in thy Holy Name. Be our helper and defender in this day of affliction. Thou knowest our weakness. Thou hearest our cry in repentance and contrition of heart. O Lord who lovest mankind, deliver us from the impending threat of the Corona Virus. Send thine angel to watch over us and protect us. Grant health and recovery to those suffering from this virus. Guide the hands of physicians and preserve those who are healthy. Enable us to continue to serve our suffering brothers and sisters in peace that together we may glorify thy most honorable and majestic name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Amen.

 Links:

• Sign for NYNJ Churches
• Diocesan Directives on the Gradual Re-Opening of Diocesan Churches
• UPDATED GUIDELINES FROM OUR ARCHBISHOP MICHAEL
• Holy Synod issues Statement on Coronavirus outbreak
• Archpastoral Letter Regarding the Coronavirus Pandemic
• DIOCESAN GUIDELINES CONCERNING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Paschal Basket Raffle

The Paschal basket raffle has been postponed until it is safe for the entire congregation to meet again.

The children’s Paschal baskets were raffled off this week.
The winners were Aleko Sofis and Jacob Vasquez-Ramishvili. Entries into the raffle were determined by the children’s attendance at Sunday School.
Congratulations, Aleko and Jacob!

About the Patron of our Parish

(the Icon of the Mother of God "the Joy of All the Sorrowful"  is Commemorated on July 23, October 24, and November 19)

About the Patron of our Parish

^{By Helen Creticos Theodoropoulos}

Deep within the heart of the Church, in the place where sorrow and joy meet and where our bitter tears are kissed away by a mother's love, we encounter the Most Holy Mother of God. The Church in its devotion to the Ever-Virgin Mary has always known that she is a mystery and a gift given to us by God. The Theotokos is a mystery that can be experienced and encountered, and yet never explained or described in words of logic and science, and she is a gift that brings radiant joy and comfort in the midst of darkness and need. Through the centuries the Church has expressed its love for her through countless hymns, has praised her in its most exquisite poetry and song, and has portrayed her in its most beautiful and beloved icons. No other saint is the subject of so much devotion, and no other saint has so many miracles attributed him or her.

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Purpose

Purpose

As the local community of the Church of the Mother of God, this parish, exists for the purpose of worshiping God according to the Holy Scriptures and Tradition of the Holy Orthodox Church, to encourage union with God among the members of the parish, to seek out the lost, the searching, and the un-churched and to strive to bring them into union with the Church, to provide religious education to its members and potential members, provide charitable aid, and to defend, promote, and witness to theOrthodox Christian Faith in southern New Jersey.

This website is a tool to help in this purpose. Primarily to publicize our existence in southern New Jersey, and hopefully, encourage people to "come and see".  

The many pages on this website contain information we hope is helpful. 

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