The Transfiguration of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Written by Ivan Synevskyy
Saturday, 16 August 2008 10:07
The Transfiguration of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Not long before His suffering, Jesus Christ took three of his disciples, Peter, James and John, with Him high up a mountain to pray. (According to ancient church tradition it was beautiful Mt. Tabor.) While Our Savior was praying, the disciples fell asleep from tiredness. When they awoke, they saw that Jesus Christ was transfigured. His face shone like the sun, and His clothing became white like snow and as glowing as light. Through this transfiguration, Christ shows His divine glory and that He is God.
At the same time, Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and Prophets, appeared to Christ in heavenly glory and spoke with Him about His future suffering, serving as a future reminder to the apostles that this suffering will be of His own free will. Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” This reminds us that the Father bears witness from heaven concerning His Son.
St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church over the years has awarded generous scholarships to its graduating high school seniors. Through the generosity of a dedicated parishioner, Mr. Pavlo Danylenko, the church board established a scholarship program when Mr. Danylenko left his estate to the church. Each year deserving seniors who have filed an application and have written essays about the importance of the Orthodox Church in their lives and about their memories of St. Andrew’s in particular, are honored. This year
Orthodox worship is different! Some of these differences are apparent, if perplexing, from the first moment you walk in a church. Others become noticeable only over time. Here is some information that may help you feel more at home in Orthodox worship—twelve things I wish I’d known before my first visit to an Orthodox church.
1. What’s all this commotion?
During the early part of the service the church may seem to be in a hubbub, with people walking up to the front of the church, praying in front of the iconostasis (the standing icons in front of the altar), kissing things and lighting candles, even though the service is already going on. In fact, when you came in the service was already going on, although the sign outside clearly said “Divine Liturgy, 9:30.” You felt embarrassed to apparently be late, but these people are even later, and they’re walking all around inside the church. What’s going on here?
Choir of St. Andrew Parish is performing a song on Shevchenko Day.
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 30 July 2008 02:18 )
Junior UOL Activities
Written by Jane Yavarow
Monday, 26 May 2008 10:59
St. Andrew’s Jr. UOL of Boston, MA
St. Andrew’s Jr. UOL of Boston has had a busy six months. In September 2007, we elected officers and helped out at our annual Parish Fall Picnic. In October we participated in our first ever Youth Sunday. Jr. UOL members did everything from holding candles and leading our Deacon around the church as he censed before the beginning of the Liturgy to making the collection. We raised charity funds by hosting a Sunday Coffee Hour and holding a Candy Sale on St Nicholas Day. Our charity projects included appealing for new books for the Boston Children’s Hospital from our generous parishioners and most recently asking for donations for St. Andrew’s Society Soup Kitchens in Ukraine on Souper Bowl Sunday. Co-presidents Allie Teper and Anna Walling of St. Andrew’s Jr. UOL organized and collected donations for Super Bowl Sunday on February 3, 2008.
Orthodox worship is different! Some of these differences are apparent, if perplexing, from the first moment you walk in a church. Others become noticeable only over time. Here is some information that may help you feel more at home in Orthodox worship—twelve things I wish I’d known before my first visit to an Orthodox church.
St. Andrew’s Jr. UOL of Boston has had a busy six months. In September 2007, we elected officers and helped out at our annual Parish Fall Picnic. In October we participated in our first ever Youth Sunday. Jr. UOL members did everything from holding candles and leading our Deacon around the church as he censed before the beginning of the Liturgy to making the collection. We raised charity funds by hosting a Sunday Coffee Hour and holding a Candy Sale on St Nicholas Day. Our charity projects included appealing for new books for the Boston Children’s Hospital from our generous parishioners and most recently asking for donations for St. Andrew’s Society Soup Kitchens in Ukraine on Souper Bowl Sunday. Co-presidents Allie Teper and Anna Walling of St. Andrew’s Jr. UOL organized and collected donations for Super Bowl Sunday on February 3, 2008.
