Hymns & Propers: Twenty-Seventh Sunday After Pentecost - December 2, 2012

This coming Sunday, December 2, 2012, is the Twenty-Seventh Sunday After Pentecost. There are no special commemorations or major feasts falling on this Sunday. Thus, we commemorate on this Sunday, as on each and every Sunday, the glorious Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ according to Byzantine tradition, with reference to the liturgical hymns and propers for Sundays and Days of Pascha.

Given that the Propers are thus limited to those for Sundays and Days of Pascha in the tone of the week (Tone 2), we will not be posting an outline of hymns, propers and liturgical hymn selection (order of worship) for this week, concentrating instead on preparation for upcoming Nativity season.

Epistle - Ephesians 6:10-17
Gospel - Luke 18:18-27

Tone of the week = Tone 2

We will announce the opening hymn just before the start of the Divine Liturgy.

Judith Walsh will be at the kliros leading the responses this Sunday. Please join her and the chant group in singing praise to God on another glorious Sunday morning at the Church of the Resurrection!

+Daniel Holodick: Fortieth Day Remembrance

Troparion from the Memorial Service [Panachida] for the Faithful Departed (Tone 4)

With the souls of the just brought to perfection, give rest, O Savior, to the soul of Your servant, keeping him for the blessed life with You, for You love us all.

In Your place of rest, O Lord, where all Your saints repose, give rest to the soul of Your servant, for You alone love us all.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

You are the God who descended into Hades and loosed the bonds of those imprisoned there. Now, O Savior, give rest to the soul of Your servant.

Now and ever and forever. Amen.

Virgin, uniquely pure and immaculate, without seed you gave birth to God. Intercede for the salvation of the soul of your servant.

Hymns & Propers: Twenty-Sixth Sunday After Pentecost and Leave-taking of the Entrance of the Theotokos - November 25, 2012

This coming Sunday, the twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost, is also the leave-taking of the Solemn Feast of the Entrance of the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary into the Temple in Jerusalem, celebrated this past Wednesday, November 21st.

Customarily, the propers for a Solemn Feast are repeated on the leave-taking, or final post-festive day of the feast. As the leave-taking falls on a Sunday this year, the propers for Sundays and Days of Pascha in the tone of the week (Tone 1) are combined with the propers of the Solemn Feast in prescribed order.

Hymns, propers and liturgical hymn selection (order of worship) for this Divine Liturgy have been posted to our For the Faithful resource page.

Epistle - Ephesians 5:9-19
Gospel - Luke 13:10-17

Tone of the week = Tone 1

Our opening hymn for this Sunday is taken from the oeuvre of +Professor John Kahanick, who wrote the text and lyrics for this festal hymn as set to the melody of Beautiful Holy Queen (Radujsja Carice). This hymn was included in the propers published by our Archeparchy's Metropolitan Cantor Institute for this particular feast day.

Hope everyone had a joyous Thanksgiving Day, and plan to give thanks to the Lord for the blessings bestowed upon our parish this coming Sunday!

Hymns & Propers: Twenty-Fifth Sunday After Pentecost - November 18, 2012

This coming Sunday, November 18, 2012, is the Twenty-Fifth Sunday After Pentecost. There are no special commemorations or major feasts falling on this Sunday. Thus, we commemorate on this Sunday, as on each and every Sunday, the glorious Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ according to Byzantine tradition, with reference to the liturgical hymns and propers for Sundays and Days of Pascha.

Given that the Propers are thus limited to those for Sundays and Days of Pascha in the tone of the week (Tone 8), we will not be posting an outline of hymns, propers and liturgical hymn selection (order of worship) for this week, concentrating instead on preparation for upcoming feast days.

Epistle - Ephesians 4:1-6
Gospel - Luke 12:16-21

Tone of the week = Tone 8

We will announce an opening hymn just before the start of the Divine Liturgy.

Hope to see you in church for another glorious Sunday morning at the Church of the Resurrection!

Filipovka: The Christmas (Phillipian) Fast

With Vespers marking the start of the new liturgical day this evening, in Byzantine tradition, the spiritual 40 day preparation for the Great Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ begins with Christmas Fast, also known as Phillip's or the Phillipian Fast (commencing on the evening of the feast day of the Holy Apostle Phillip).

The Metropolitan Cantor Institute of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh has dedicated an entire page on their website to the Christmas Fast, with good detail on the customs and traditional fasting practices and other practices relating to the preparation for the Great Feast of the Nativity. The liturgical season of preparation is well explained on this page, including reference to the Emmanuel Moleben which has been celebrated at our parish faithfully for several years running.

Pre-festive Troparion of the Nativity (Tone 4)

Bethlehem, make ready, Eden has been opened for all.
Ephrathah, prepare yourself, for the Tree of Life has blossomed from the Virgin in the cave.
Her womb has become a spiritual paradise in which divinity was planted.
If we partake of it, we shall live and not die like Adam.
Christ is born to raise up the likeness that had fallen.

Hymns & Propers: Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost - November 11, 2012

This coming Sunday, November 11, 2012, is the Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost. There are no special commemorations or major feasts falling on this Sunday. Thus, we commemorate on this Sunday, as on each and every Sunday, the glorious Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ according to Byzantine tradition, with reference to the liturgical hymns and propers for Sundays and Days of Pascha.

Given that the Propers are thus limited to those for Sundays and Days of Pascha in the tone of the week (Tone 7), we will not be posting an outline of hymns, propers and liturgical hymn selection (order of worship) for this week, concentrating instead on preparation for upcoming feast days.

Epistle - Ephesians 2:14-22
Gospel - Luke 10:25-37

Tone of the week = Tone 7

We will announce an opening hymn just before the start of the Divine Liturgy.

Hope to see you in church for Sunday worship!

Hymns & Propers: Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Michael and All the Heavenly Powers - November 8, 2012

This coming Thursday, November 8th, is the Solemn Feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Michael and All the Heavenly Powers. On this solemn feast day, we commemorate the Holy Archangel Michael, leader, defender and protector, as well as all the Heavenly Powers at his command.

The Divine Liturgy for the Solemn Feast will be held at 7PM on Thursday, November 8, 2012 by the Resurrection - Smithtown, NY parish.

Hymns, propers and liturgical hymn selection (order of worship) for this Divine Liturgy have been posted to our For the Faithful resource page.

Epistle - Hebrews 2:2-10
Gospel - Luke 10:16-22

Tone of the week = Tone 6

An opening hymn for this feast day is included, which was written and composed by +Professor John Kahanick for use at our Eparchial Cathedral in Passaic, NJ, on its patronal feast day.

We hope to see many of you, as we join the Heavenly Powers in singing hymns of praise to God, and to give thanks for the heavenly protection of the Holy Archangel Michael.

Hymns & Propers: Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost - November 4, 2012

This coming Sunday, November 4, 2012, is the Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost. There are no special commemorations or major feasts falling on this Sunday. Thus, we commemorate on this Sunday, as on each and every Sunday, the glorious Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ according to Byzantine tradition, with reference to the liturgical hymns and propers for Sundays and Days of Pascha.

Given that the Propers are thus limited to those for Sundays and Days of Pascha in the tone of the week (Tone 6), we will not be posting an outline of hymns, propers and liturgical hymn selection (order of worship) for this week, concentrating instead on preparation for upcoming feast days.

Epistle - Ephesians 2:4-10
Gospel - Luke 8:41-56

Tone of the week = Tone 6

We will announce an opening hymn just before the start of the Divine Liturgy.

NOTE: Hope everyone weathered the storm without major incident, and please don't forget daylight savings time - "fall back" (or you'll have a lot of time to pray in church before Divine Liturgy)!