2019 Dormition Ladies Dinner
From our youngest to our eldest ladies, we all came out for our annual Dormition Dinner, celebrating the patronal feast day of our ladies group. This year, we went to Lilly Kazilly's and had our own room, overlooking Lake St. Clair. It was a time for fun and fellowship. Given the age of some of our members, we look forward to enjoying one another's company for many, many years to come!
JOSHUA'S FAREWELL
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Joshua w/Fr and Matushka |
August 18th represented a bittersweet occasion for the community of St. John the Divine. It was the last time that we would be worshipping with our own Joshua for a while. Joshua has taken another teaching assignment in Moscow, Russia. Joshua had taught in Russia several years ago (He also completed a teaching assignment in Japan). A seminary graduate from Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, he has spent the last two year here in Windsor. He has taught an enlivened course on the New Testament weekly for the past year. All the participants learned a lot about our Orthodox faith and enjoyed their time studying with Joshua. Joshua, you will be missed!
BAPTISM OF ARIELLE
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After the Baptism |
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All Tuckered Out |
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After Arielle's First Communion |
ARIELLE IS CHURCHED
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Entering the Church |
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Proceeding to the Altar |
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Returning Arielle to her Mother |
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The Proud and Happy Family |
2019 Pascha
Good Friday
Holy Thursday
Palm Sunday
Making Palm Crosses on Lazarus Saturday
PAN ORTHODOX SERVICES 2019 |
Gracanica Serbian Orthodox Church |
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St. George Romanian Orthodox Church |
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Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church |
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St. Dimitrije Serbian Orthodox Church |
BIRTHDAYS IN MARCH=/images/2019/2019-March-Birthdays/1552244611579.jpg; "Click to view")
Normally, we do not celebrate birthdays in these pages. But this was a special month!
On Sunday, March 10th, both Father Constantine and our dear Olga celebrated their birthdays. Olga suprised Father with her delicious Napoleon pastry and a huge bouquet of red roses. We all joined in to wish them 'Many Years' and Happy Birthday.
On Sunday, March 17th, our dear Nayda celebrated her 93rd birthday! Wow! Nayda is a life-long communicant at St. John, having been baptized here as a baby, and worked hard through our community's lean years. She continues to drive herself to church for just about all our services, sings in the choir, and is one of the first and last people, working in the kitchen each week. We wished her 'Many Years' in both English and Russian (and that brought a tear to her eye.) Many Years to the Matriarch of St. John the Divine!
And, on Sunday, March 24th, it was Panayiotis' birthday!
(5 images)
CHURCHING (40 DAYS) OF KATIE AND BABY ROMAN
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Happy Mother and Son! |
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Receiving a Blessing From Father |
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Father presents Roman after Entry into the Altar |
It was a great joy for Father Constantine to give the blessing to Katie and Roman as they entered the church for the first time after Roman's birth. (The ever-happy and proud grandfather had great difficulty limiting the pictures to these three!)
CVETA AND HER NEW SON RE-ENTER THE CHURCH FOR 40 DAY BLESSING
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Cveta Receives the Blessing |
Forty days after the birth of her son, Joseph, Cveta returned to the church. Father gave her the blessing. Infant Joseph also received his blessing and was carried into the altar by Father. God gave Joseph to Cveta and Dani; Cveta returned her son to God in the blessing, and Joseph was returned to his family to grow and service the Lord. Many Years!
TYLER 'CUTHBERT' IS BAPTIZED AND CHRISMATED
On Saturday, February 16th, catechumen Tyler was baptized and chrismated, taking the name Cuthbert. Sunday morning, he was the first to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion, completing his entrance into the Orthodox faith.
Tyler Cuthbert has been faithful in his attendance at all services, since he first entered the doors of St. John the Divine, about a year ago.
We welcome him into our church family!
THE FEAST OF THE THEOPHANY 2019
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Father Blessing the Water |
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Father Blessing Us |
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Receiving a Watery Blessing |
On Sunday, January 6, 2019, we celebrated the Feast of Theophany. After Divine Liturgy, Father celebrated the Blessing of the Waters and the faithful were able to partake of the Blessed Water and take some to their homes.
Our choir improves as we sang the Stichera, Troparion, and Kontakion of the feast in conjunction with the service.
VASILOPITA 2019
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Singing the Troparion to St. Basil |
On our first Sunday in January, 2019, we celebrated St. Basil, with Vasilopita, in the Church Hall, after celebrating the Feast of the Theophany upstairs.
Eleni & Lorraine each made a Vasilopita -- one with almonds, one with citrus.
We sang the Troparion and Kontakion of St. Basil. Father cut a cross into each loaf. The loaves were then cut up into pieces, sufficient so that each person present got a piece. Ron got the 'lucky' piece with a coin inside.
It was a wonderful and playful time together.