On August 19th Holy Orthodox Church celebrates feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. On that day we had a beautiful celebration at St. George Church. Our Rector, Archpriest Igor Tarasov headed the Divine Liturgy. After the Gospel lesson he preached the following homily in English:

”Dear brothers and sisters! Today we celebrate the great feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Once more time in our life we are spiritually present on the Mt. Tabor. Through the eyes of faith together with the holy Apostles Peter, James and John who came to that mountain along with the Lord Jesus Christ we are seeing the glory of God during the sacred moments of that holy event. This happened not long before the holy passions and death of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
”You know that the Son of God who came down to our earth for the sake of eternal salvation of the people, appeared not in His Divine glory. If He did so, He would blind us, the sinful people, with His Divine light. But He came to us in a humble appearance, covering His divinity with the image of man. Here, on the mountain of Transfiguration, He showed Himself in the shining of His glory in which He is staying forever and in which He will be seen by those of us who by his or her life will become worthy of that”.
“On the mountain of Transfiguration along with the Lord holy Apostles saw the Prophets Moses and Elijah. Moses lived 16 centuries before the birth of Christ, and Elijah 9 centuries before. That means that Moses and Elijah aren’t dead, they are alive. They were alive on the day when the Apostles saw them, they are living today, and they will be living in the infinite ages because God in Whom we believe, as the Scripture says, “is not God of the dead but of the living” (Mt. 22, 32). In the Lord all are living. Thus the Apostles seeing the Prophets who for that moment appeared from the heavenly world, saw the confirmation of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ: “He who believes in Me has life everlasting” (Jn. 6, 47)”.
“It is then understood why holy Prophets Moses and Elijah appeared at the time of Transfiguration. We may ask then why the Lord chose only three of His disciples to follow Him to the Mt. Tabor and to sow His glory only to them. St. John of Damascus explains that saying that holy Apostle Peter was taken because he confessed the faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Such a faith needed to be confirmed, and it was confirmed when Jesus showed His Divine nature. Holy Apostle James was chosen because he was the one who was to die first for Christ, to be baptized in the bath of blood shed for the Lord. And, finally, holy Apostle John the Theologian was chosen to come with the Lord to the Mt. Tabor because He was the special disciple, a virgin saint, the one who had to write in his Gospel that “in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn. 1, 1). And He saw in the Transfiguration that the Word, our Lord Jesus Christ, was with God”.
“Yet another reason why our Lord did not show His Divine nature to all of His Apostles was because He did not wish to show it to His betrayer, to Judas. Transfiguration had to be a secret until the death and Resurrection of Christ. Now that secret is revealed to us, the Christian people. Let us then be worthy of it. Let us not allow the sin to destroy our relations with God and His trust to us. Let us be watchful because sin deprives us of the joy to see the Lord and to be with Him in eternity”.
“Therefore, we are asking today that the Lord Who transfigured upon the Mt. Tabor may enlighten our souls. We are asking that the everlasting light of His divinity may shine for us the sinners and may show us the way we should follow to pass our earthly life. May it shine to make us worthy of the dignity we are given, the dignity to be the dwellers of the heavenly Jerusalem. Let us live with the Lord and let us die with the Lord. And may our heart learn to foretaste the joy to see the Lord, to worship Him and to be with Him forever!”

Before the rite of the Holy Communion the choir prayerfully performed festal hymns of Transfiguration.

Following the Ambo prayer the Rector performed traditional Blessing of fruits.

After the dismissal of the Liturgy Fr. Igor congratulated the parishioners on the occasion of the holy day and preached a short sermon in Russian addressing the ideas of his English homily.

On August 16, on the 10th Sunday after Pentecost, St. George parish family had a nice celebration. Our Rector, Archpriest Igor Tarasov served the Divine Liturgy in our temple. Following the readings from the Sacred Scripture he preached a homily in English on the appointed Gospel lesson:

“The Gospel lesson of today is telling us about the importance of faith. The disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ were unable to cure an epileptic. Jesus rebuked them and called them “faithless and perverse generation”. He also said that even little faith can do great things, can make the mountains move. “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you” (Mt. 17, 20)”.
“These days of the summer we celebrate the memory of the Holy Prophet Elijah who spent his life on earth surrounded by the mountains. On one of them, Mt. Carmel he took a refuge and worked a miracle which shamed the ministers of the idols. We also celebrate the great holy day of the Transfiguration, the event which took place on the mountain, on Mt. Tabor. God often revealed Himself to the people on the mountains. Moses received Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai. Our Lord Jesus Christ preached His first homily on a certain mountain, so it is called Sermon on the Mount. Then the Lord transfigured on the mountain. He also died on Golgotha which was also a hill, an elevated place, often called a mountain. He then ascended into heaven from Mt. of Olives. Many important things in the Scripture happened on the mountains. Naturally, the Holy Land is located in the region full of the mountains”.
“Mountains are important in the Scripture. They should be understood in a literal sense, as well as in a symbolic sense. We should not doubt that even a little, but true and firm faith can do amazing things. If so, it would be able to move physical objects, even so huge as the mountains. But in a symbolic, spiritual sense, a mountain may mean a great achievement, a highness of glory, as well as a great obstacle or a difficulty. We should not forget that our Lord Jesus Christ was tempted by the devil also on a high mountain. “The devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and He said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me’” (Mt. 4, 9). Thus a mountain can mean spiritual success, it can also mean spiritual failure. Our Lord overcame the temptation and answered to the devil, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve’” (Mt. 4, 10). Will we also overcome the temptation in certain time when it will come? Will we find a proper answer to the tempter? Will we move that mountain of temptation from the way of our salvation? Unfortunately, many times in our olives we cannot answer ‘yes’. Mountains in the spiritual sense bother us and our faith is insufficient to move them away”.
“We should especially understand the disappointment that our Lord felt about His disciples if we remember that the event described in today’s Gospel took place very soon after the Transfiguration. After our Lord showed three Apostles the radiance of His divine glory, made them the partakers of the uncreated light of God – they failed to cure the epileptic. We have also received great gifts from God. We were baptized, chrismated, received the Body and Blood of Christ. But it still does not stop us from falling into sins or being unsuccessful in our spiritual achievements. What should be done about it? Jesus gives us an answer: “If you have faith as a mustard seed… nothing will be impossible for you”. So, first of all, we need faith. Even if we have it, it must be perfected. Faith means both a belief and a trust. We have to believe in God and we have to trust Him”.
“Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, let us be grateful for a wonderful gift of faith. But let us also work on this gift in order to make it stronger and greater. As such, it may actually do great things, make us spiritually successful and move the mountains standing on our way to salvation”.

During the Litany of Fervent Supplication, Fr. Igor proclaimed a petition beseeching the Lord to spare the faithful from the outbreak of the disease. After the Litany he also offered a special prayer for the deliverance from pestilence.

The choir nicely performed Psalm 33 and a hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos during preparation for Holy Communion.

Following the dismissal of the Liturgy the Rector performed the customary blessing of the new honey.

On August 9, on the 9th Sunday after Pentecost, as well as feast of the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, our parish held a nice celebration. St. George’s Rector, Archpriest Igor Tarasov served the Divine Liturgy in our temple. After the Gospel lesson he preached a homily in Russian. An English translation of that homily is as follows:

“Dear brothers and sisters in Christ! Today’s Gospel lesson tells us about our Lord Jesus Christ walking on the water. There is nothing amazing about that. He is the Son of God and He has a full dominion over nature. In fact, at the end of today’s reading the Apostles confess their faith in Him worshipping Him and saying: “You are the Son of God” (Mt. 14, 33). What is amazing is that His Disciple, Peter could walk on the water also. It is not surprising that God can do amazing things. The real miracle starts when He invites man to do amazing things”.
“The Gospel tells us that Holy Apostle Peter wished to come to Jesus on the water. The only provision he has is that the Lord will command him to do so. Jesus quickly answers with one word: “Come” (Mt. 14, 29). Then Peter comes down out of the boat and starts walking on the sea, just as Jesus did. However, he could not make all his way to Jesus. Peter saw that the wind was boisterous, became afraid and began to sink. He cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” Jesus saved him and rebuked him for having too little faith”.
“Today’s Gospel teaches us that with God we are able to do anything. Having firm faith and sincere hope generates greatest powers in man. Today we commemorate Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon. He was an Unmercenary physician who by the power of Christ performed miraculous healings. Before being baptized, this Saint could heal a child bitten by a venomous snake. He prayed to the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing, and the child lived and became cured. After that Panteleimon received Holy Baptism and became a zealous Christian doctor. Later he was condemned to be tortured for his Christian faith. His life story describes many different executions he endured and it says that in all of them he remained unharmed. When he had to be beheaded, the sword of the executioner became soft like a piece of wax. Only later, being comforted after a fervent prayer, the Saint himself ordered his torturers to kill him. Therefore, we see that St. Panteleimon having a firm faith in Christ could perform great works during his life and at the time of his martyrdom he showed great miracles”.
“A firm faith enables us to perform great things, as it was revealed in the life of St. Panteleimon. Our faith and our hope become our comfort in difficulties and our foundation in calamities. Speaking of walking on the waters, let us ask what do we need to stand on something or to walk on something? We need foundation and comfort. Naturally, we are unable to walk on the water because it does not have sufficient foundation for our body. But St. Peter could do it, at least for a brief moment, because his faith and trust in Jesus became his foundation”.
“In today’s Epistle lesson we also find thoughts of the Holy Apostle Paul regarding that. He calls Jesus Christ the foundation of our life in Him. “No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3, 11). Having such a foundation we may build our life on Him. God will empower us to do many amazing things. St. Paul teaches that we may build using gold, silver or precious stones. He refers to a fruitful and rich life in Christ, life full of virtue and good deeds, life of holiness. This kind of life is very hard to conduct, it may even seem to be impossible, just as walking on the waters. But as an example we have a great number of people whom we call Saints. They could live such a life. They were always trying to do impossible things because they had faith as a foundation and they never lost the Christ from their sight”.
“But even if we fail, if we became overcome by doubt, by fear or by something else, Jesus still stretches His saving hand to us. Even if we start to sink, like Peter, it would be enough just to cry out: “Lord, save me!” And help will come. St. Paul tells that some may build their structure with wood, hay or straw. Although such building will not be strong, it still has a very strong foundation. It may be damaged, destroyed, but it could be rebuilt again. Thus when we experience difficulties, go through troublesome life, when we fall, let us not forget that our Lord Jesus Christ may help us and save us”.
“Let us attempt to have firm faith and full trust to do amazing and great things for the glory of God. Let us try to walk on the waters of our uncertain and unreliable earthly existence. God will help us. But even if we doubt, even if we become afraid, even if we fail, even if we fall and begin to sink, let us remember that Jesus is with us. Let us call Him. Let us say even a little prayer. He will come and help us. He will come and save us. For He is our Foundation, our Comfort and our Hope”.

During the Litany of Fervent Supplication, Fr. Igor proclaimed a petition beseeching the Lord to spare the faithful from the outbreak of the disease.

The choir prayerfully performed hymns to St. Panteleimon during preparation for Holy Communion.

Following the dismissal of the Liturgy the Rector preached a short homily in English addressing the main ideas of his Russian homily. He also reminded parishioners of the beginning of the Dormition fast next week. Then Fr. Igor congratulated our small parishioner, Elena Malyshew and her parents on the occasion of her birthday. Traditional Polychronion (“Mnogaia leta!”) was proclaimed.

On August 2, on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost, as well as feast of the Holy Prophet Elias (Elijah), we had a beautiful celebration at St. George Church. Our Rector, Archpriest Igor Tarasov headed the service of Divine Liturgy. After the Scripture readings he preached the following homily in English:

“Dear brothers and sisters! Today’s Sunday Gospel tells us about a miraculous multiplication of the five loaves of bread our Lord Jesus Christ performed. He fed five thousand men with five loaves of bread and two fishes. In doing so, Christ showed that He is the Son of God. He repeated what God did to His chosen people when He fed them in the desert after their exodus from Egypt. In both instances God interfered with the powers of nature to help the people whom He loved. Such interference is called a miracle”.
“We are not very much accustomed to the miracles in our daily life. Many of us tend to think that miracles are almost impossible. Some of us consider them totally impossible. However, life in faith gives us numerous examples when something unusual and extraordinary happened. A person who deeply believes in God, would certainly admit that miracles do happen. Holy Scripture tells us about many instances when the God’s power and omnipotence, His love and compassion worked in a way that the usual order of things was overridden. Today’s Gospel is one of those instances. It is physically impossible to feed five thousand men and many more people with only five loaves of bread. But through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ it was accomplished. It was also impossible to feed the Israelites in the desert for 40 years, but God took care of them sending them food literally from heaven or giving them other chances to feed themselves. When God wishes the order of nature becomes overridden. He is the Creator of this world. He is the Lord of nature. Thus the nature may be altered only by Him”.
“Today we also observe the feast of the Holy Prophet Elias. This holy man lived long before Jesus Christ, was faithful to God and was blessed by special gifts. Miracles did happen in his life. Holy Apostle James wrote about him the following: “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit” (Jam. 5, 17-18). Holy Scripture of the Old Testament also tells us that Elijah was sent by God to a place called Zarepthah where a widow had to provide for him. Encountering that widow Elijah asked her to give him something to eat. But the widow complained that she has no food, but some flour in the bin and some oil in the jar. Elijah insisted on feeding him first and then he promised to the poor widow that “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’”(1 Kings 17, 14) It happened exactly as Elijah predicted according to the will of God. They could eat from that little portion of flour and oil for a long time. Isn’t that similar to multiplying the five loaves of bread? God is infinite. When He wants, things He created and granted to us may also become infinite”.
“Even the end of the earthly life for Holy Elijah was miraculous. He did not die, but was taken to heaven by the chariot of fire, as the Scripture says. Thus the order of human nature sometimes becomes changed due to the will of God”.
“If the miracles happened many times in the life of the righteous people like Elijah, they may happen in our lives. Let us remember that God can do anything. If we have a true and firm faith, miracles will be worked in our lives. God will stretch His hand to us overcoming the obstacles of nature, our spiritual nourishment will never stop, His love shall not be used up, nor His grace will run dry, until the day the Lord comes again”.

During the Litany of Fervent Supplication, Fr. Igor proclaimed a petition beseeching the Lord to spare the faithful from the outbreak of the disease. After the Litany he also offered a special prayer for the deliverance from pestilence.

The choir nicely performed Psalm 33 and a hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos during preparation for Holy Communion.

After the Liturgy dismissal the Rector and the altar servers performed the rite of glorification in the middle of the church singing the troparion, kontakion and magnification of St. Elias before his icon. Then Fr. Igor preached a brief sermon in Russian conveying the thoughts of his English homily. He also congratulated our new parishioner, Emilian Suric, on the occasion of his past name day handing to him the Theotokian prosphora and proclaiming a traditional Polychronion.

On Tuesday, July 28, on the day of commemoration of the Holy Equal of the Apostles Great Prince Vladimir, Rector of St. George Church, Archpriest Igor Tarasov attended celebration of the patronal feast at St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ.

Coming early before the Liturgy, our Rector looked at the surrounding area of the Memorial Church. He visited the lower temple dedicated to St. Olga where the three prominent hierarchs of the ROCOR are buried, Metropolitan Laurus (Shkurla), Archbishop Vitaly (Maksimenko), and Archbishop Nikon (Rklitsky). Fr. Igor offered his prayers for the repose of those known archpastors of the Russian emigration and venerated the altar of the lower church. Later he joined the clergy in meeting the celebrating bishop in the main, upper temple of St. Vladimir.   

The Divine Liturgy at that temple was headed by the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion. He was co-served by the two ROCOR hierarchs: Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, and Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan. The bishops were joined by the clergy, including Archpriest Igor Tarasov.

The divine services were held in the presence of the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. Faithful came to pray at the church’s patronal feast from several other parishes. Virtually all those present received Holy Communion.

Upon completion of the Liturgy the clergy performed a short prayer service to St. Vladimir in the middle of the church. Then Metropolitan Hilarion congratulated all those present on the feast and addressed them with a sermon, in which he pointed out that we must always remember those who brought us the Holy Faith of Christ and, first among these, the Holy Equal of the Apostles Prince Vladimir. Before this St. Vladimir was a pagan who worshipped the forces of nature, being also a man of particular cruelty. But the Lord saw a great spiritual future in him, and enlightened him. Prince Vladimir found Christ the Savior, was born again in the spirit, and brought the true faith to his people. Thus Metropolitan Hilarion called on the faithful to thank God for giving us the Orthodox faith through His Saints, and to ask for the prayers of the Saints and our pious forebears. The Protodeacon intoned the Polychronion for the hierarchs, clergy, and all who prayed at the services.

Following the services the bishops, clergy and the faithful gathered for a festal luncheon in the Parish Hall. Fr. Igor had an opportunity to interact with Metropolitan Hilarion, Archbishop Gabriel and Bishop Nicholas and to present them with the copies of his book of talks on the Nicene Creed.

On July 26, on the 7th Sunday after Pentecost, as well as on the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the Six Ecumenical Councils, we had a beautiful celebration at St. George Church. Our Rector, Archpriest Igor Tarasov served the Divine Liturgy in our parish temple. After the Gospel lesson he preached the following homily in Russian:

«Дорогие во Христе братия и сестры! Сегодня в очередной раз евангельское чтение поведало нам об исцелении больных (Мф. 9, 27-35). И в который раз мы также услышали, что учители еврейского народа, фарисеи, отвергли эти исцеления. «Сегодня мы читали, что они считали эти чудеса творимыми силою бесовскою (Мф. 9, 34). Поэтому хотелось бы сегодня поразмышлять об этом противостоянии фарисеев, книжников и саддукеев Христу и увидеть его главную причину. Почему они выступали против Христа? На их глазах Господь исцелял болящих, врачевал различные недуги, даже воскрешал мертвых, но они не уверовали в Него. Они не считали Его тем Мессией, которого ожидали; они отвергли Его и в конце осудили на распятие».
«Почему такое произошло? Здесь, дорогие братия и сестры, проявлялась наша удивительная способность стремиться веровать в такого Бога, которого хотим мы. Это способность падшего человека не искать истинного Бога, а создавать самому себе Бога по своему хотению. И так человечество на протяжении тысячелетий создавало себе различных богов, покланялось разного рода идолам, которые занимали место истинного Бога. Возьмем к примеру древних греков и римлян, тех, кого апостол Павел называет «еллинами». И вот они имели богов на все случаи жизни. Если они желали воевать, то у них был воинственный бог Марс, если они хотели предаваться блуду, то была богиня Афродита, или Венера, а при ней такой мальчик с крылышками – Амурчик, он же Купидон. До сих пор его рисуют как символ чувственной любви, с луком и стрелами. На деле же эти так называемые боги олицетворяли человеческие занятия, а часто – человеческие страсти и похоти».
«В то же время у иудеев была вера в единого истинного Бога. Но и там иногда эта вера искажалась в представлении людей, и многие веровали в такого Бога, которого хотели они. И поэтому, когда в мір пришел Сын Божий, Иисус Христос, далеко не все иудеи уверовали в Него. Возьмем саддукеев. Саддукеи были такие себе рассудочные люди, мало верующие в духовные вещи, не верующие в такое важное понятие как воскресение мертвых. А ведь это было главная надежда верующих людей – что когда-нибудь Бог воскресит всех людей. В это веруем и мы, христиане. Мы говорим: «Чаю воскресения мертвых и жизни будущаго века». А саддукеи это отрицали. И при этом именно они во времена Христа были иудейскими первосвященниками, главными служителями Храма. И вот, появляется некий Галилеянин, Иисус, который учит, что Он – Мессия и что Он воскресит всех в последний день. А еще Он обличал порядки, которые тогда были установлены в Храме, изгонял оттуда торгующих. Конечно же первосвященникам претил такой Проповедник, и они решительно отказывались видеть в Нем Мессию. И вот они были главными организаторами Его осуждения и распятия».
«Теперь о фарисеях. Это были ревностные приверженцы всех традиций иудейской религии, неукоснительные соблюдатели всех обрядов и обычаев. Они наоборот, верили во все, что было в Писании и иудейском предании. Молились, постились. Не общались с язычниками. Но на деле многие из них были лицемерами: внешне соблюдали все правила и исполняли обряды, а на деле занимались разного рода злоупотреблениями, грешили, особенно гордостью и осуждением. И вот приходит Иисус Христос, который призывает соблюдать не букву, а дух закона, который исполняет суть закона, без всяких наслоений и добавлений. Он исцеляет в субботу, когда фарисеи считали, что ничего нельзя делать. А еще Он обличает их, фарисеев, в лицемерии, называет «гробами побеленными», которые внешне красивы, а внутри полны мерзости и нечистоты (Мф. 23, 27). И конечно же и фарисеям такой Мессия не нравился, а на деле не нравился истинный Бог. Вот потому и они осуждали Христа, постоянно Его отвергали, говорили, что Он исцеляет силою князя бесовского. А в конце они были единодушны с саддукеями, что Его следует распять».
«Все эти извращенные понятия о Боге среди людей существуют и поныне. В міре множество религий, верований и учений и все они предлагают свой вариант Бога или божественного. И человеку ищущему истину, но не имеющему благодати Божией и правильного понимания, очень тяжело разобраться во многоообразии этих всех учений. Однако, слава Богу, что мы с вами имеем истинную веру в Бога, веру христианскую и православную. Мы в Православии имеем возможность знать единого истинного Бога и Иисуса Христа, которого Он послал, а тем самым иметь жизнь вечную (Ин. 17, 3). Сегодня мы вспоминаем Отцов шести Вселенских Соборов, тех Соборов, которые определили, что есть Православная вера. Шесть из семи Вселенских Соборов четко указали, каковы границы этой веры, что есть православное учение, а что нет. И вот это помогает нам разобраться, где истина, а где ложь».
«Однако и у нас, православных христиан, есть опасность стать похожими на саддукеев или фарисеев. Ведь иногда видишь, как люди ищут для себя такой приход, такого священника, который соответствует их понятию. Ищут юрисдикцию среди Православия, ищут такое христианство, которое подходит им…»

«Дорогие братия и сестры!  Пусть сегодняшнее евангельское чтение, уличающее фарисеев в том, что они, не веря Христу, не приняли Бога, ибо сотворили Бога по своему собственному подобию, будет нам наукой. Пусть это чтение заставит нас задуматься, а дорог ли нам Бог таким, какой Он есть? Готовы ли мы при­нять Бога таким, каким Он пришел в этот мір? Готовы ли мы поэтому измениться сами, чтобы узнав Христа, преобразить и собственную душу и окружающий нас мір? Давайте задумаемся и попросим помощи у истинного Бога, молитвами святых Отцов Вселенских Соборов, молитвами святых равноапостольных Владимира и Ольги, которых мы вспоминаем в эти дни! Да пребудем в истине, которая ведет к жизни вечной!»

During the Litany of Fervent Supplication, Fr. Igor proclaimed a petition beseeching the Lord to spare the faithful from the outbreak of the disease. After the Litany he also offered a special prayer for the deliverance from pestilence.

Our cantor, Olga Roussanow had to sing alone because all other choir singers left for vacation. Before the Holy Communion she prayerfully performed hymns dedicated to St. Olga whose memory was celebrated recently, as well as other singings.

After the dismissal of the Liturgy the Rector preached a short sermon in English addressing the ideas of his Russian homily. He also congratulated our Warden and Choir Director, Olga Roussanow on the occasion on her past name day handing her the Theotokian prosphora. Traditional Polychronion (“Mnogaia leta!”) was proclaimed.

Following the Liturgy a memorial Litia was served on the request of Malyshev family.

Then the Rector performed the Holy Sacrament of Baptism over Victor Suric, the son of our new parishioner, Emilian Suric. After the Baptism and Chrismation little Victor was churched and received Holy Communion.

Following all the services the Rector and parishioners enjoyed delicious luncheon. The toasts to the newly-baptized Victor and to Olga Roussanow who celebrated her name day were raised.  

On July 19, on the 6th Sunday after Pentecost, the Rector of St. George Church, Archpriest Igor Tarasov served the Divine Liturgy in our temple. After the Gospel lesson he preached the following homily in English:

“Dear brothers and sisters! Today we heard the reading from the Holy Gospel about the healing of a paralyzed man. That miracle has a spiritual meaning for all of us. A human being is supposed to act but a paralyzed man cannot move or act. Every human soul is supposed to move to God, to perfection. It is called to perform the works of love and mercy. However, how often we see that we are not able to make certain movements, to do good things or to live a spiritual life. Didn’t we notice that it is sometimes so difficult for us to pray? Didn’t we notice that we are in some kind of spiritual paralysis? The miracle our Lord performed over a paralyzed man reminds us of the necessity to heal our paralyzed soul, to restore it to a normal life”.
“Before the healing of the paralytic our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you” (Mt. 9, 2). He said so because all our spiritual infirmities and shortcomings of the soul are caused by sin. When we commit sin of any kind, we damage our soul. When we envy, we poison our soul. When we are angry, we deprive our soul of movement. When we have no mercy or compassion, our soul becomes bound by wickedness. And it is very dangerous because we get used to the sins. At first we consider those sins small and insignificant. Or even if they are grave, we may try to justify ourselves saying, “What a big deal that I judged someone? Is it so bad that I failed to help someone? Nowadays everybody does it”. Thus a person keeps thinking and justifying himself, so the soul becomes paralyzed”.
“And if our conscience is not totally silenced, sometimes we feel bad about our spiritually paralyzed state, we feel guilty about our sins and we are troubled by our inability to change things. Therefore, the Lord said to the paralytic, “Be of good cheer” (Mt. 9, 2). God always wishes us to be happy. He desires to cheer us up. And God can always help us, heal us from spiritual paralysis, deliver us from the infirmity of the soul. But for Him to help us, He needs our desire. It is noted in today’s Gospel lesson that Jesus saw the faith of the people who brought a paralytic to Him. Seeing their faith the Lord began to speak, to forgive the sins and then to heal. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, God desires to see our faith in order to rescue us”.
“Very often our faith is too small, so it rather helps us to be spiritually paralyzed than to be spiritually active. We see that we are bad in prayer, in doing good works, in living in purity and chastity. We need help. And today’s Gospel story is telling us that the paralyzed man was also very weak and unable to act by himself. He needed other people to carry him to Jesus. And for us those other people carrying us to God is the Holy Church. When we turn to the Church, we get a lot of help to come to the Lord. Being in the Church we encounter the multitudes of the Saints interceding for us, the Angels begin to bear us in their hands and cover us with the shadow of their wings, the Most Holy Mother of God begins to cover us with Her precious protection. The servers of the holy altar, the priests begin to offer their prayers for us and to give us the Holy Mysteries bearing the divine grace. And then our Lord Jesus Christ seeing the faith of His Church forgives us our sins and grants us healing from our spiritual infirmities”.
“To confirm that need for us to be helped by the Church the Lord said in today’s Gospel lesson that the healing He performed was to show that “the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” (Mt. 9, 6). Thus the healing was a sign of forgiveness of that man’s sins. And Jesus declared His power to forgive, the power of God He possesses. For us, dear brothers and sisters, it means that the Church of Christ has the same power to forgive our sins, to loose and bind. So, if we turn to the Church, to her Holy Sacraments, especially to Confession, we acquire the grace and forgiveness of our sins”.
“Dear brothers and sisters! Let us practice repentance turning ourselves to the Holy Church to receive forgiveness of our sins. Let us ask the All-Merciful Lord Jesus Christ to deliver us from the spiritual weakness and infirmity, to cheer us up and to heal all our infirmity of the soul”.

During the Litany of Fervent Supplication, Fr. Igor proclaimed a petition beseeching the Lord to spare the faithful from the outbreak of the disease. After the Litany he also offered a special prayer for the deliverance from pestilence.

Before the Holy Communion the choir prayerfully performed Psalm 33 and a hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos.

Following the dismissal of the Liturgy the Rector preached a short sermon in Russian conveying the ideas of his English homily.

On July 12, on the 5th Sunday after Pentecost, as well as feast of the Holy Major Apostles Peter and Paul, the Rector of St. George Church, Archpriest Igor Tarasov served the Divine Liturgy in our parish temple. After the readings from the Sacred Scripture he preached the following homily in the Russian language:

«Дорогие братия и сестры! Сегодня мы одновременно отмечаем 5-ю Неделю по Пятидесятнице и великий праздник святых верховных апостолов Петра и Павла. Соответственно, мы слышали два евангельских чтения. В первом мы читали об изгнании нечистых духов, которые по повелению Господа Иисуса Христа вышли из людей и вошли в стадо свиней и это стадо бросилось с крутизны в море и погибло в воде (Мф. 8, 28 – 9, 1). Во втором чтении мы слышали как апостол Петр исповедал веру во Христа, заявив, что Иисус является Мессией, Сыном Бога живого (Мф. 16, 13-19)».
«Размышляя над этими чтениями из святого Евангелия от Матфея, нельзя не придти к заключению, что Господь является Владыкой всего міра и все повинуется Ему. Несмотря на различные скорби, беды и несчастья, которые случаются в нашей жизни, последнее слово всегда остается за Богом».
«Христос и Его ученики встретили двух бесноватых людей, которые были весьма свирепые, так что их все боялись. И эти бесноватые, а точнее нечистые духи, которыми они были одержимы, закричали: «Что Тебе до нас, Иисус, Сын Божий? пришел Ты сюда прежде времени мучить нас» (Мф. 8, 29). То есть бесы явно и прямо признали, что Иисус является Сыном Божиим! Таким образом, они исповедали Христа и показали Ему Свое повиновение. Они лишь попросили рарешить им вместо людей войти в стадо свиней, которое паслось неподалеку. Господь им позволил, и бесы вошли в свиней и погубили целое стадо, заставив его броситься с обрыва в воду (Мф. 8, 30-32)».
«Итак, братия и сестры, в этом случае мы видим как злая сила признает над собой власть всемогущей доброй силы – истинного Бога. И видим, что бесы повинуются Богу, если Бог того требует. И еще мы видим, что бесы в данном случае не лгут, не лукавят, а честно говорят с Иисусом. Это некий момент истины, когда как говорится, «все маски сорваны». Злые духи исходят из людей и губят стадо свиней».
«Отдельно можно сказать пару слов о тех несчастных животных, которых бесы погубили. Кто-нибудь может спросить: «А почему Иисус разрешил убить целое стадо? Чем виноваты те животные?» Ответ таков: животные не виноваты, но Господь позволил бесам их погубить, ибо Бог допускает в этом грешном міре зло. Из-за грехопадения человека злу разрешено существовать и даже иногда торжествовать в этом міре. Поэтому гибель стада животных, тем более животных нечистых, каковыми были свиньи согласно Закону Моисея, была злом, но меньшим злом, нежели одержимость двух людей этими демонами. Люди важнее животных».
«Поэтому нам с вами, дорогие братия и сестры, нужно всегда помнить, что в міре существует зло, но есть Бог, который добр и за Ним всегда будет последнее слово. В наше нинешнее время мы наблюдаем много различного зла, но нам следует не отчаиваться и помнить, что есть Бог, который все потом управит и приведет к нужному результату».
«Сегодня, чествуя святых верховных апостолов Петра и Павла, мы слышали в Евангелии как святой Петр исповедал Христа. В ответ на это Господь сказал ему: «Ты – Петр, и на сем камне Я создам Церковь Мою, и врата ада не одолеют ее» (Мф. 16, 18). Мы с вами веруем во Апостольскую Церковь, Церковь основанную Христом на святых Апостолах, на их вере, твердой как скала, ведь имя «Петр» данное Христом ученику Симону, означает «скалу» или «камень». И мы веруем, по слову Господнему, что и врата ада не смогут одолеть эту Церковь. Поэтому, опять же, дорогие братия и сестры, какие бы трудности, скорби, гонения или беды не выпадали на долю Церкви Христовой, она все равно выстоит и победит, ибо победит ее Основатель – Христос».
«Оба верховных апостола, Петр и Павел, закончили свой земной путь мученической кончиной в этот сегодняшний день. Прожив свою жизнь полную трудов по благовестию Христовому, полную лишений и преследований, они оба были казнены в городе Риме во время гонений, воздвигнутых тогда императором Нероном. И казалось бы, можно сказать, что Христос обещал апостолу Петру, что и врата ада не одолеют Церковь, а вот, Петр был схвачен и казнен, распят вниз головой. И апостол Павел казнен – усечен мечем. Как тут быть с обещанием Христа? А очень просто: Господь не говорил, что даст Петру легкую и спокойную земную жизнь, что убережет его от зла и от смерти. Он сказал, что создаст на нем и на таких как он Свою Церковь. А Церковь всегда может быть гонима, терпеть скорби в этом міре. Но последнее слово остается за Господом, который всегда победит».
«Дорогие братия и сестры! Сегдняшние два евангельских чтения говорят нам о двух исповеданиях истинного Бога. Одно было от нечистых духов, противников Бога, а другое – от верховного апостола, ученика Господня. И оба убеждают нас, что в духовном міре все – и те, кто следует за Господом, и те, кто Ему противятся – все признают Его власть. Поэтому нам с вами, если мы желаем быть с Богом, следует не печалиться, не смущаться, когда мы видим бедствия и трудности в этой жизни, а уповать на волю Божию, которая все приведет к нужному концу».
«В конце 2 Міровой войны в Германии нацисты казнили христианского пастора Бонхёффера. Когда палач вел его к виселице, он глумливо сказал пастору: «Ну и где же твой Бог? Еще минута, и тебе будет конец!» На это христианский служитель ответил: «И ребенку понятно, что сегодня у тебя есть надо мной власть, возможно она будет у тебя и завтра. Но помни, что потом придет третий день; и он принадлежит Богу!» Помним и мы, братия и сестры, что Сам Господь умер на кресте и два дня был мертв, пребывал во гробе. Но настал третий день, день Воскресения! Что бы ни случилось, последнее слово будет за Господом Богом!»

During the Litany of Fervent Supplication, Fr. Igor proclaimed a petition beseeching the Lord to spare the faithful from the outbreak of the disease. After the Litany he also offered a special prayer for the deliverance from pestilence.

The choir nicely performed hymns in honor of St. Peter and Paul during preparation for Holy Communion.

Following the dismissal of the Liturgy the Rector and the altar servers performed the rite of glorification in the middle of the temple singing the troparion, kontakion and magnification of the Holy Major Apostles. Then Fr. Igor also preached a short sermon in English stressing the main ideas of his Russian homily and greeted the faithful on the feast and on the conclusion of the Apostolic fast.

Our celebration continued after the service at the trapeza table where the Rector and parishioners enjoyed delicious and abundant meals and a nice company.

On July 5, on the 4th Sunday after Pentecost we had a nice celebration at St. George Church. Our Rector, Archpriest Igor Tarasov served the Divine Liturgy. After the Gospel lesson he preached the following homily in English:

“Our today’s Gospel reading is about a healing of the servant of the Roman centurion performed by our Lord Jesus Christ. This miracle gives us a lot of thoughts”.
“First of all, the centurion, an officer of the Roman army, was a Gentile, a pagan. But he decided to approach Jesus Christ. And Jesus did not reject his request but desired to visit that man’s house to perform a healing. That tells us that our Lord being sent to the people of Israel, did not wish to avoid other nations in delivering His Holy Gospel. He showed His mercy and concern for the servant of a Gentile officer. And we have read today that the centurion himself showed a great faith in Jesus. The officer had to know that the Jews, especially the Jewish rabbis, whom Jesus was considered, are not usually entering the homes of the Gentiles. So, the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed” (Mt. 8, 8). So, the centurion showed his humility, his sense of unworthiness, as well as his great faith that Jesus can perform a healing remotely, only by saying a word. He referred to the concept of the authority, to a usual relationship between a superior and those who are under his command. So, he actually professed that Jesus being the Lord for everyone, is able to command from the distance, and His command will be followed”.
“Further we have read that the Lord was marveled by such faith of a Gentile person. Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven. But the sons of the Kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness” (Mt. 8, 10). These prophetic words mean that the teaching of the Lord was intended not just for the Jews, most of whom rejected that teaching, but for the multitudes of other nations, for the Gentiles who came from East and West, who converted to Christian faith and who sat down with the Old Testament just in the Kingdom of Heaven. The light of Christ was supposed to shine for all. And now, we who belong to those different nations, became the true sons and daughters of the Kingdom. As Holy Apostle Paul says, now in Christ “there neither Jew nor Greek” (Gal. 3, 28). This is the true unity in Christ which all of us should desire”.
“However, it is now up to those Greeks, Jews, Russians or any other nationality or community either to accept Christ and to follow Him, or to keep Christian faith they once acquired. We know that among ourselves, belonging to the traditionally Christian nations, not everyone is now adheres to that faith. Not everyone is drawn to Christ and following Him. But remember, He said, “Many are called but few are chosen” (Mt. 22, 14)”.
“In our times we are seeing a lot of people living without faith and rejecting the teaching of Christ, so we should not wonder why we are so divided. And we are seeing a great difference, a deep gulf fixed between true Christians and modern secular people. Of course, we are distinguishing between “us” and “them”. Someone may accuse us of being not inclusive or intolerant. But our Lord Jesus Christ Himself said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Mt. 10, 34). The “sword” here means separation, not a weapon. It divides, cuts someone off. As in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, but we are united, so everyone who is out of Christ is separated from us. Regardless who he is, Russian, Greek or American – if he is out of Christ, he is not with us”.
“Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, in our relationship with God let us imitate the faith and trust of the Roman centurion. Let us cherish our faith and strengthen our hope. Let us be united in Christ but avoid the spirit of those who are out of Christ. Let us be called and chosen to enter and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven!”

During the Litany of Fervent Supplication, Fr. Igor proclaimed a petition beseeching the Lord to spare the faithful from the outbreak of the disease. After the Litany he also offered a special prayer for the deliverance from pestilence.

After the dismissal of the Liturgy the Rector preached a short sermon in Russian addressing the ideas of his English homily. He also congratulated a visitor of our parish, a long-term worker of the ROCOR Synod, Inna Shevtsova, on the occasion of her past name day and proclaimed a traditional Polychronion (“Mnogaia leta!”).

On June 17, on the 3rd Sunday after Pentecost, Rector of St. George Church, Archpriest Igor Tarasov served the Divine Liturgy in our parish temple.

Before the Liturgy the Rector performed the Office of Joining the Orthodox Church for the newly-converted Richard Beltran. After being a catechumen he was received into the Orthodox Church and chrismated receiving a name in honor of Holy King Richard of Wessex.

During the Liturgy, after the Gospel lesson Fr. Igor preached the following homily in Russian:

«Дорогие братия и сестры! Сегодня чтение святого Евангелия содержит несколько важных поучений Господа нашего Иисуса Христа. Спаситель говорит о том, что светильником для тела является око, и что оно должно быть светлым, чтобы светить человеку (Мф. 6, 22-23). Он также заявляет, что невозможно служить двум господам – Богу и маммоне, то есть богатству (Мф. 6, 24). И еще Он учит не заботиться о земных вещах – еде, питье и одежде, утверждая, что Господь позаботится о нас (Мф. 6, 25-32). А в конце дает очень важное, главное из сегодняшнего чтения наставление: «Ищите же прежде Царства Божия и правды Его», а все остальное приложится (Мф. 6, 33)».
«Эти поучения вновь утверждают нас в мысли, что нужно ставить в жизни правильные приоритеты. Об этом мы недавно уже говорили. Вот и сегодня Господь учит нас, что небесное важнее земного, духовное важнее материального. Спаситель говорит: «Душа не больше ли пищи, и тело одежды?» (Мф. 6, 25). Поэтому если человек правильно оценивает свою жизнь, верно расставляет в ней, что важнее чего, он может во многом преуспеть, а главное, он может найти правильный путь к своему спасению, к Царству Божию и его правде, которые и есть целью нашей с вами жизни, если, конечно, это жизнь во Христе».
«А очень важным для такого правильного понимания жизненных приоритетов является наше с вами сознание. Его Господь сегодня в евангельском чтении называет «оком», которое есть «светильник для тела». Око, то есть глаз здесь надо понимать образно: мы видим нашими глазами, но оцениваем то, что видим, нашим умом. Кроме зрения у нас есть еще четыре чувства, которыми мы познаем земной мiр, но оцениваем мы все умом. И каков будет наш ум, наше сознание, от того зависит как мы понимаем эту жизнь. Господь сегодня говорит, что око должно быть чистым, но если оно худо, то тот свет, который в нас, тьма, то какова же будет тьма для нас!»
«Поэтому, дорогие во Христе братия и сестры, нам очень важно блюсти свой ум, свое сознание, чтобы оно было наполнено светом, светом Христовым. Святые отцы учат, что весьма важным в духовной жизни является «хранение ума», то есть осторожное и внимательное отношение к своим мыслям и желаниям. Ведь сколько грехов совершаются помышлением! А если дать им волю, то мы будем все больше грешить и словом и делом. И еще: чтобы наш ум был светел во Христе, нам необходимо постоянно сверять наши мысли, суждения и желания с истиной Христового учения и учения Церкви. Ибо все иные, особенно противные учению Христа, Евангелия и Церкви мысли и доктрины являются вредными и часто пагубными для нашего сознания и не ведут нас ко спасению».
«Примеров, к сожалению, множество, но в наши дни особенно тревожат те беспорядки в обществе, которые мы наблюдаем в последнее время. Люди в Америке сильно разделены политическими и культурными взглядами, и часть их устраивает волнения, мятежи под лозунгом борьбы с расизмом и за социальную справедливость. На деле же эти бунтари и особенно те, кто их вдохновляет, не заботятся ни о расовом равенстве ни о справедливости в обществе. Меня могут упрекнуть в том, что я в проповеди слишком увлекся политикой, но думаю, что стоит об этом поговорить. Ведь если разобраться, то вдохновители вот этих беспорядков под лозунгом о значении «жизни чернокожих» на самом деле не ценят эту жизнь. Они стараются, чтобы чернокожее население дальше было бедным, нуждалось в поддержке государства, чтобы его использовать в своих целях, целях политической борьбы. Вместо того, чтобы заботиться о духовном воспитании народа, о нравственном уровне, они всеми способами устраняют религию и Церковь из общественной жизни, чтобы свет Христов не просвещал ни черное ни иное население страны. Они поощряют и финансируют аборты, наркоманию, нравственное падение людей. Их лозунги за «право выбора» убить или не убить ребенка в материнской утробе. И им совершенно неважны убитые жизни черонокожих нерожденных младенцев. Их стремление узаконить извращения, однополые браки, смену пола. И они уже во многом преуспели. А еще в основе идей этих людей лежит учение Маркса о преобразовании общества в так называемое социалистическое. Их сознание затуманено, их «око» темно, и тьма их мыслей и их дел очевидна всякому внимательному и духовному человеку».
«Многие из нас, родившиеся в нашем бывшем отечестве, все это уже видели или хорошо знаем. Более ста лет назад земли Руси подверглись страшным потрясениям – революциям, сначала 1905 года, а потом страшному перевороту в году 1917-м. И тогда тоже эти одержимые бесовскими идеями люди, сами «бесы», как их называл Достоевский, захватили власть и натворили множество злодеяний. О революции 1917 года мы все знаем, а вот если не знаете о революции 1905 года, какой она была тоже уже пагубной, то почитайте праведного Иоанна Кронштадтского. Он пережил ту революцию, но не дожил до 17-го года, преставился раньше. Если бы дожил, то наверняка пополнил бы ряды Новомучеников. Так вот он описывает, какие злодеяния творили революционеры в 1905 году. Ну а о 1917-м мы все знаем. Ибо у этих людей, творивших зло, у них тоже светильник тела был омрачён, их сознание было затуманено идеями чуждыми свету Христову, учению Евангелия и Церкви. Все это с трудом было преодолено, да и теперь с трудом еще преодолевается на исторической Руси, в тех странах, которые образовались на тех землях. А теперь Америка, которая долго была оплотом борьбы с этой заразой, теперь и она становится зараженной этими пагубными идеями марксизма, социализма и прочих непотребств».
«А между тем истинное учение о справедливой жизни в обществе есть в Священном Писании, оно давно есть в проповеди Христа и в творенях святых Отцов. Церковь христианская давно располагает этим учением. Нужно только внимательно читать и применять его в жизни. Сегодня Церковь празднует память святого пророка Амоса. Он является одним из малых пророков Ветхого Завета. Так вот, в его книге можно прочитать о социальной справедливости. Он пишет: «Продают правого за серебро и бедного – за пару сандалий. Жаждут, чтобы прах земной был на голове бедных, и путь кротких извращают» (Ам. 2, 6-7). Так пророк обличает несправедливость. А жил он в 8 веке до Христа. Почти три тысячелетия отделяют нас от этого пророка, а нравы у людей все те же».
«Дорогие братия и сестры! Давайте стараться блюсти наш ум, наш светильник тела, чтобы он светил нам в нашей жизни светом Христовым, а не чужими и пагубными мыслями. Давайте остерегаться вредных учений, чуждых и далеких от учения Христа и Церкви. Давайте верно оценивать жизнь вокруг нас и искать прежде Царства Божия и его правды, дабы и все остальное было с нами. Давайте идти верной дорогой ко Христу, Господу нашему!» 

During the Litany of Fervent Supplication, Fr. Igor proclaimed a petition beseeching the Lord to spare the faithful from the outbreak of the disease. After the Litany he also offered a special prayer for the deliverance from pestilence.

Following the dismissal of the Liturgy the Rector preached a brief sermon in English conveying the main thoughts of his Russian homily. He also greeted Richard Beltran on his joining the Orthodox Church and our parish, handed him the Theotokian prosphora and proclaimed a Polychronion on his behalf.