On July 2-3, the Orthodox Church celebrated the Feast of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco.  The feast was marked by festive services in the Cathedral.  For more about St. John, please see the following:

"I Look for the Resurrection of the Dead, and the Life of the Age to Come." - By St. John
English                             Russian

The Life of St. John, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco
English                             Russian

August 6 - Bell Tower Fundraising Dinner-Dance  more information>

October 7-10 - 60th Anniversary Celebration of St. Sergius Parish

November -  Pilgrimage to the Holy Land (see more information below)

On Sunday, June 27, the St. Sergius Cathedral Sisterhood held its annual summer picnic.  A variety of delicious lenten dishes were served and the children enjoyed pony rides.  On Sunday, July 18, the Russian-American Cultural Society held a summer picnic.  This was the first of the events this year celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the society. 

Fr. Ilia Marzev will be leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in November of 2010.  More information is available here>

A virtual tour of the Holy Sepulcher can be viewed here: http://simvol-veri.ru/index.shtm

On April 26-27 His Grace Bishop Peter, Bishop of Cleveland, Administrator of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America traveled to Cleveland (Parma), Ohio to witness and verify the miracle in connection with the relics of St. Sergius. The Ukaz in Russian and English of His Grace can be read here

There are now English services offered at the Cathedral once a month.  The next services are on August 13-14.  Please watch the schedule for future services. 

Our Cathedral serves all the Sacraments and Services of the Orthodox Church: Confession, Communion, Baptism, Wedding, Holy Unction, Funeral, Panikhida, Molebens, Akathists, House Blessings, etc. Depending on the specifics of each service, they can be served in our Cathedral, as well as at the home or in the hospital (for the sick). Each service should be arranged ahead of time with the Priest. For more information, please contact Fr. Ilia.

Orthodox Christians, brothers and sisters!

On our sinful earth the holy Church is the only place where we can get away from life's storms and inclemency, from the world's moral filth. The Church is an image of heaven on earth; within the temple the heavenly powers serve invisibly. Remember and know: the Holy Temple is the House of God, in which God Himself is invisibly present. For this reason, our behavior in the temple should correspond to its holiness and its greatness.
 
1. Enter the church with humility and meekness, so as to leave justified, as the humble publican of the Gospel.

2. When you enter the temple and see the holy icons, think about the fact that the Lord Himself and all the Saints are looking at you; be particularly reverent and have the fear of God.

3. Always come to the beginning of the service, If for some important reason you are late, be careful not to disturb the prayer of those already there. If you come to church during the reading of the Gospel, stand at the entrance doors until the end of the reading: when it is finished, quietly go to your place.

4. When you take your place in the church and others are standing nearby, greet them with a silent nod; never, even with close friends shake hands or ask any questions, Be sincerely modest in church

5, If you come to church with children, see that they behave themselves properly, meekly, that they not be noisy; teach them to understand and know how one should behave in church; accustom them to pray. If the children have to leave the church, tell them to cross themselves and to leave quietly or take them out yourself.

6. Pray in church as if you yourself are participating in the Divine services and not simply attending, that those prayers and hymns which are being read and chanted come from your heart; attentively follow the holy Service, in order to pray together with everyone and to pray for that which the whole Church is praying for.

7. While still at home, before going to church, prepare your money for candles, prosphora and the collection plates; avoid having to make change at the candle counter; this necessitates talking and disturbs the service and those praying.

8. Never, without extreme need, leave the church before the end of the service; this indicates disrespect for the holiness of the church and is a sin before God. If it happens that you do leave early, you should mention this to the priest in confession.

9. Approach Holy Communion humbly and reverently, crossing your hands on your chest; with faith and love receive the Holy Mysteries of God; then, without crossing yourself, kiss the chalice, so as not to bump It accidentally, and quietly return to your place, and do not leave the church without listening to the thanksgiving prayers to the Lord God, after communion.

Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko, +1960)
 

Be sure to check our Orthodox Reading page often for updated articles and spiritual reading materials.

 

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