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Transfiguration Of Our Lord

Feast of the Transfiguration Of Our Lord

Service:

• Wednesday evening, August 5, 2020,  6:30 PM - Vesperal Liturgy for the Transfiguration.
  

 Services are held 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 Transfiguration

Icon of the Transfiguration

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

The feast is celebrated by all Orthodox Christians on August 6th.

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The Transfiguration of Christ

The Transfiguration of Christ

^{By Archbishop Dmitri of Dallas and the South}

The Transfiguration of Christ is recorded in the first three Gospels (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9: 2-9; Luke 9: 28-36). The fourth does not contain an account of the event, but its author, being one of the three witnesses, is probably referring specifically to it when he says: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth ^{(John 1:14)}. The holy Apostle Peter also recalls his (as well as James’ and John’s) presence with the Lord on Mt. Tabor: (we) were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount ^{(II Peter 1:16-18)}.

All three Gospel accounts agree in the details of the event as well as its following the rather crucial conversation between Jesus and the disciples on the road to Caesarea of Philippi. The Lord seems to have wanted to get certain matters of great importance clear in the minds of His followers before He entered into His priestly ministry:

1. In answer to His question, Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am? we have Peter’s confession: Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God ^{(Matthew 16:16)}, or thou art the Christ ^{(Mark 8:29)}, or the Christ of God ^{(Luke 9:20)};
2. Jesus then foretells His suffering, death and resurrection;
3. He rebukes Peter for his objection that such things could not happen to Him;
4. He exhorts them to bear the cross if they would be true disciples; and
5. He promises that some of those standing there would not taste of death till they have seen the Son of Man coming in His kingdom ^{(Matthew 16:28)}, or till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power ^{(Mark 9:1)}, or till they see the kingdom of God ^{(Luke 9:27).} 

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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.)

The Re-Openning of Our Parish

THE RE-OPENING OF OUR PARISH
 
REV MATTHEW SEARFOORCE
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters, His Eminence Archbishop Michael has Blessed our Plan for the Re-Opening of our Parish for worshipping together as a Parish Family.  We are planning to start this Sunday with the celebration of Pentecost! There will be some changes with the way we will be doing things in order to protect ourselves now and for the foreseeable future, as Covid-19 is still a danger to all of us.  We are making every attempt to protect our parish family from the virus.

Things that will be different:

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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

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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