The Service schedule for the month December is available. 

February 2010 - English                   February 2010 - Russian


Bulletin for January 2010 - Russian/English

There are now English services offered at the Cathedral once a month.  For this month, the services will be on February 26-27.  Please watch the schedule for future services. 

On Thursday, November 19, the day of the Funeral service of the Newly-reposed Serbian Patriarch Pavle, the clergy of St. Sergius Cathedral visited the neighboring St. Sava Cathedral to participate in a Parastas (Memorial service).  Following the service, the Dean of St. Sava Cathedral, Fr. Zivojin Jakovljevic, spoke about the life of Patriarch Pavle, remarking on his saintly life here on earth.  Fr. Ilia Marzev, Dean of St. Sergius Cathdral, then expressed his sympathies on behalf of the Russian community and read the letter of condolences from Metropolitan Hilarion to the Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Church.  Also serving was Fr. Peter Burlakov, senior clergyman of St. Sergius Cathedral.  Fr. Peter, a Russian born in Serbia when his family fled communist Russia, served with Patriarch Pavle when he visited the United States in the early 1990's. 

In the evening of Friday, November 13, the Cathedral held a Fall Dinner-Dance fundraiser at Crystal Restaurant.  This successful event raised funds that will go for the repair of the Cathedral parking lot.   A special thanks to Laura Verbiski and George Balasko for organizing the evening.

The following day, the Cathedral Sisterhood held its annual Bazaar, featuring Russian foods, arts and crafts, drive-thru foods, and other goods.  The theme of the Bazaar this year was "Think Pink".  A special table and raffle raised funds for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, an organization promoting awareness and research for a cure of breast cancer.  'Thank you' to all those who helped with this event, especially head sister Alla Chistik.

photos by Darina Molkina

On October 15-16, 2009, the Cathedral was blessed by the visit of the the miraculous Icon of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts".  Hundreds of faithful Orthodox Christians of the greater Cleveland area venerated this holy Icon throughout the services on these days.  Bishop Peter of Cleveland presided at the Akathist to the Mother of God before the Icon, during which he gave a sermon on the Orthodox veneration of the Mother of God and her intercession before her Son on behalf of those who pray to her.  The Divine Liturgy, attended by many who could not attend the evening services, had the feeling of a Great Feast.  The Cathedral choir sang splendidly and a multitude of worshipers prayed and partook of Holy Communion in the presence of the Icon.  It is interesting to note that the travels of this Icon in the United States began at St. Sergius Church in the Synod building in New York, and ended at our St. Sergius Cathedral.  The Icon was not scheduled to come to the Cathedral, but by the grace of God, it was seen fit that she complete her journey here, bestowing a great blessing upon the St. Sergius Cathedral community and the Orthodox Faithful of the greater Cleveland area.

The Cathedral celebrated the day of its patron, Saint Sergius of Radonezh, on October 7-8, 2009.  Bishop Peter of Cleveland officiated at the Divine services.  Joining His Grace was the Dean of the Cathedral, Priest Ilia Marzev, as well as the Cathedral clergy: Archpriest Peter Burlakov, Archpriest Peter Selenoi, and Deacon Nikolai Pravitsky.  Several local clergymen also participated in the festive services: Archpriest Roman Starr, Archpriest Basil Stoyko, and Priest Victor Trotskyy.  During the reading of the hours, Reader Andrew Rodzianko was ordained to the rank of Subdeacon.  The Divine Liturgy was followed with a Cross procession around the cathedral.  At the conclusion of the services, Bishop Peter presented a Thanksgiving Gramota (Proclaimation) to Daniel and Jane Gildenmeister for their labors in the founding and care of St. Tikhon Russian Orthodox Mission in Sandusky, OH. 

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)
 

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