We present here a short educational offering for both children and adults on the upcoming Sunday's principle Gospel reading so that all can better prepare for the Divine Services. Parents are asked to review the children’s portion with their children. It is very important for us to attend the Divine Services on Sundays and whenever else we are able, but in addition it is our spiritual responsibility to educate ourselves and our families in the faith. It is our hope that this mid-week offering will be an aid in this regard. Please contact Fr. Gregory with questions or suggestions.

For Adults: from the writings of Blessed Theophylact

For Youth: from the Antiochian Archdiocese (various age groups)

Thank you to all who made our Holy Week and Pascha at St. Vladimir’s such a success this year! Last year we had just a skeleton crew present to serve the services due to the pandemic. It was so nice to have more people able to attend this year! God willing next year will be without any pandemic measures at all! Our choir worked incredibly hard to prepare for these holiest of days – please take a moment to remember our choir members in your prayers. And if you get a chance: thank a choir member for their many, many hours of preparation for the sake of our parish family! But not just the choir: the sisterhood worked liked crazy to make our holy days successful, as well as all those who serve in the altar, our brotherhood, and many, many more who worked quietly behind the scenes – hoping only for a reward from the Lord. Please remember all who exerted such herculean efforts in our parish family. The Lord knows them by name even if you don’t.

BUT HERE IS THE THING: the celebration just BEGINS at Pascha. Sometimes we think that is the end. Let’s set things straight now – Pascha is the beginning of the celebration!

This week we have services every night at 6:00 p.m. and every morning at 8:00 a.m. That is Pascha every day for a week! Of course no one can go to every service, but everyone can go to at least one or two during this special week. And should. And we can almost say “must”, for how can we celebrate the Feast of Feasts and the Day of Days for just a few hours? We can’t! We need to celebrate in earnest for Bright Week, and really continue to celebrate during these 40 days – until the Ascension of the Lord. Please join us! In person if you can, and virtually if you can’t. As St. John Chrysostom says in his homily read on Pascha night: “...the table is fully laden, delight ye all...” The Holy Church lays out the banquet of faith – but it will not force feed us. It is up to us to receive with love the free gift of God: the Paschal Divine Services which so nourish us spiritually. May God grant us all the strength to receive this gift by participating in the Divine Services this Pascha week!
FULL BRIGHT WEEK SCHEDULE HERE

Please find the Paschal Epistle of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion at the links below.

English ~ Russian

Please find the Paschal Epistle of His Holiness Patriarch Kyrill at the links below.

English ~ Russian

The chief end of our life is to live in communion with God. To this end the Son of God became incarnate, in order to return us to this divine communion, which was lost by the fall into sin. Through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, we enter into communion with the Father and thus attain our purpose.

+ St. Theophan the Recluse

"This is the cause of all evils: the ignorance of the Scriptures. We go into battle without arms, and how ought we to come off safe?" -St. John Chrysostom, Homily IX on Colossians.

In order to help increase the general knowledge of scripture in our parish family we present here for your edification the scripture readings for the coming week. At least one Gospel Reading and one Epistle reading are assigned for each day of the year (although during Great Lent the readings are from the Old Testament). Hearing or reading only those readings appointed for Sunday merely scratches the surface of the great spiritual wealth that the scriptures provide us. Some of the readings are easily understandable – others are less so. As Orthodox Christians we do not make private interpretation of scripture, but rather consult the fathers of the Church for their explanations to aid us in our understanding. Those wishing to have access to such explanations are asked to contact Fr. Gregory or inquire in the kiosk for further reading in this regard. Bibles may also be acquired in the kiosk.

Monday: Acts 1:12-17, 21-26 & John 1:18-28
Tuesday: Acts 2:14-21 & Luke 24:12-35
Wednesday: Acts 2:22-36 & John 1:35-51
Thursday: Acts 2:38-43 & John 3:1-15
Friday: Acts 3:1-8 & John 2:12-22
Saturday: Acts 3:11-16 & John 3:22-33

Please find below several very nice articles on how to read the scripture from an Orthodox point of view.

By St. Justin (Popovich):

http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/phronema/bible_how.aspx

By Bishop Kalistos (Ware):

http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/phronema/ware_howto.aspx

Our weekly bulletin, "Sunday Reading", has been posted at the following link:

THIS WEEK'S "SUNDAY READING"

Please join us for a live broadcast of today's second Paschal Divine Liturgy beginning at 8:00 a.m. at the following link:

ST. VLADIMIR AUDIO LIVE STREAM
VIDEO LIVE STREAM
Please remember - the stream only broadcasts live services. If you would like to listen to previously recorded and edited services please visit our sound blog:

SOUND OF THE PARISH BLOG
If you would like to view past services please visit our YouTube page:

ST. VLADIMIR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Please find this week's issue of "The Good News" at the link below. This bulletin/handout contains the Troparia and Kontakia that will be sung by the choir at today's Divine Liturgy as well as the readings from the Epistle and Gospel readings of the day - all in both English and Russian. This little bulletin is distributed to visitors and others who may find it useful by our parish Greeters on duty today at St. Vladimir's. We cordially invite you to join us at St. Vladimir's for Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. - or any Sunday soon. You are always welcome at St. Vladimir's!

THIS SUNDAY'S "THE GOOD NEWS"

Please keep our parishioners, friends, and those who have asked us in our unworthiness to pray for them in your prayers this coming week. Our parish prayer list can be found here:

PARISH PRAYER LIST
PLEASE NOTE! We have removed those from the list that we believe no longer should be present there. If you requested that someone be included in this list please review it carefully to make sure we have not removed someone erroneously. If we have, please contact Fr. Gregory to have your loved one again added to the list.