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With open arms we welcome all who desire to discover, experience, and live the Orthodox Faith, which is above all earthly boundaries and nationalities! continue reading
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 Met. Philip of Moscow | Met. Philip of Moscow |
Sunday, January 22, 2012Sunday after TheophanyHieromartyr Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia(click to read the beautiful Life of Hieromartyr Philip)Matthew 4:12-17(Commentary by Blessed Theophylact—St. Nikolai does not provide a homily for this Sunday) 12-13. Now when Jesus had heard that John had been handed over, He departed into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim. Jesus departs, teaching us not to throw ourselves into dangers. He departs into Galilee, which means "rolling down," for the Gentiles had rolled down into sin. He dwells in Capernaum, which means "house of comfort and consolation," because Christ came down from heaven to make the Gentiles the house of the Comforter. Zabulon means "nocturnal" and Nephthalim, "a broadening." The life of the Gentiles, therefore, was both dark and broad, for they were walking not the narrow way, but the way leading to destruction.
14-16. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; the people which sat in darkness saw a great light; and on them which sat in the region and shadow of death life hath dawned. By the way of the sea means "which is situated along the sea." The great light is the Gospel; the law, too, was a light, but a smaller one. The shadow of death is sin, for sin is the likeness and silhouette of death. Just as death overpowers the body, so too does sin overpower the soul. The light has dawned on us, when we were not seeking it; it appeared to us as if it were pursuing us.
17. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say. From the time John was arrested, Jesus began to preach. Jesus waited for John to first bear witness to Him and to prepare the way for Him, in the same manner in which servants make preparations for their masters. Being equal to the Father, the Lord also had John as a prophet, just as God the Father had the prophets who were before John; yet in truth these were the prophets of both the Father and the Son. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The kingdom of heaven is Christ; it is also the life of virtue. When someone lives on earth as an angel, is he not heavenly? So also the kingdom of heaven is within each one of us when we live as angels.
 mosaic icon by front door | mosaic icon by front door |
The Parish Feast Day of St. John Chrysostom O Holy Hierarch Father John Chrysostom,
pray to God for us!Saturday, November 26, 2011 (n.s.)
 A new monument in Russia to the Royal Children Martyrs | A new monument in Russia to the Royal Children Martyrs |
The Children of our Parish on St. Nicholas Day
(plus two moms)
Sunday, December 19, 2010 (n.s.)
 (for English, click near the Canadian flag)
 Met. Hilarion of Volokolamsk | Met. Hilarion of Volokolamsk |
Faithful and proper Orthodox Ecumenism: An address by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk to the Annual Nicean Club Dinner, Lambeth Palace, September 9, 2010
Read here
The Truth, in Love:
A short talk by V. Rev. Siarhei Sardun (Orthodox Church of Belarus)presented at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (PC-USA)on July 8th, 2010
Click here
 A New Deacon and a New Reader
for St. John Chrysostom ParishMay 16, 2010On Sunday, May 16, 2010, at Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Des Plaines, Illinois, His Grace, Bishop Peter, ordained Reader Basil Vogt to the deaconate—"filling the vacancy" that occurred when Fr. Matthew Williams was ordained to the priesthood on Feb. 20, 2010 (see article below). He also tonsured Isaac Crabtree as a Reader. Newly-ordained Deacon Basil has served the parish conscientiously for the past 10 years as senior reader and altar server, and as a choir singer. Monday through Friday, he is a dedicated and successful high school teacher at Parkway North High School. He also teaches the oldest group of children in our Sunday School program.
 Basil, his wife Kristen, and their eldest daughter, one-year-old Claire, moved to our parish in 1998, and all three were baptized in 1999. In 2000 the Vogt family rented the house located directly behind the church. Subsequently, two more children were born: Theodosius (Theo), now aged nine, and Amelie (Amy), aged five.
From December, 2004, until the present Kristen has been the parish secretary, ably performing many and varied tasks essential to the life of our parish. She also home-schools her children, as do several other families in the parish.
 Isaac Crabtree and his wife Maria (Arlie) entered Orthodoxy in 2004 through St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Huntington, West Virginia. After reading the biography of Fr. Seraphim Rose, they decided to join ROCOR and began attending services at Christ the Savior Church in Wayne, West Virginia. In December, 2004, they moved to the St. Louis area and joined our parish. After leaving again for three years of law school in Akron, Ohio, they returned in 2009 with their newborn son, Charalambos (Robert), becoming active members of the parish. Isaac has been a dedicated choir singer. May God grant Deacon Basil, Reader Isaac, and their respective families, many years, and strength and patience for the new spiritual labors that await them in Christ's vineyard.
 The Perfection of the Mysterious Divine
(A comment reported in the "Daily Devotion" on Channel 6 of the Portland, Maine, TV station, May 3, 2010)
We could take a cue from Orthodoxy, whose priests stand with their backs to their congregation, leading a liturgy that is neither clever nor impassioned, but simply beautiful, like stone smoothed by centuries of rhythmic tides. It's an austere ritual, in the sense of "there's nothing new here"; it's sublime, in the sense of creating a clearer view into Heaven. The priest can be any priest. Who he is, what he looks like, how he speaks, and what he thinks matter little. He hasn't written the service that he officiates. It isn't about him or his prowess. He's an interchangeable functionary draped in brocaded robes, obscured by incense, and, as such, never points to himself, a flawed human, pointing ever and only to the Perfection of the Mysterious Divine. That is the role of every priest or preacher—invisibility, while making God seen."
A Beautiful Sermon for Lent
(and for any time of the year) THE CUP OF CHRIST
by St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
Two beloved disciples asked the Lord for thrones of glory,
and He gave them His Cup
(Matthew 20:20-23)
The Cup of Christ is suffering. But for those who drink from it on earth, the Cup of Christ grants participation in Christ's Kingdom. It prepares for them the thrones of eternal glory in heaven. We stand in silence before the Cup of Christ, nor can any man complain about it or reject it; for He, Who commanded us to taste it, first drank of it Himself. (continue reading at monachos.net)
 The Relic of the Head of St. John Chrysostom
at the Synod Cathedral of the Mother of God of the Sign, New York City
Tuesday, Jan 27 / Feb 9, 2010
The Feast of the Translation of the Relics of St. John Chrysostom
Fr. Christopher Stade and Rdr. Constantine Stade served at this Liturgy, representing our parish—the only parish in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia whose patron saint is St. John Chrysostom. During the Liturgy Fr. Christopher was elevated to the rank of Archpriest. May God grant him, and all our parishioners whom he represented, many years!
(In the photo, the relic is in the gold box to the right of Metropolitan Hilarion, who is seen venerating the icon of St. John Chrysostom)
|  Cross for new church | Cross for new church |
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The Parish Feast Day of St. John Chrysostom
Thursday, Nov. 26 (n.s.), 2009
On Wednesday evening and Thursday morning (Thanksgiving Day), we celebrated the Feast Day of our Patron Saint, John Chrysostom. Unfortunately, His Grace Bishop Peter, Administrator of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America, was unable to attend, due to illness. Serving with us were: Archpriest Martin Swanson, Rector of St. Basil the Great Orthodox Church in St. Louis, Priest Joseph Strzelecki, Rector of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in St. Louis, and Priest Thomas Kulp, Rector of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Blue River, Wisconsin. Also attending were Abbess Sergia and Mother Alexandra, of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary Monastery in Marshfield, Missouri. Over 100 people were present. With spiritual beauty and fervor, the choir sang ancient Znamenny hymns as well as more modern compositions. At Vespers, the choir divided into two parts to sing antiphonally—the men in the right kliros and the women in the left kliros. At the end of Lord, I have cried, they met together in a semi-circle in the center of the church for the concluding stichera, and the beautiful vesperal hymn, O Joyous Light. After Liturgy the next morning, Deacon Matthew Williams and the priests led the Procession with the Cross around the outside of the church, blessing it on all four sides with holy water. At the end, everyone sat down in the church hall for a delicious and plentiful festal dinner prepared by the entire sisterhood. Heartfelt thanks are due to all who participated, especially those labored to prepare the food, clean and decorate the church itself and the church property, and participated in the Divine services. The Cross erected in the adjacent field—representing our desire to build a new and permanent church—will be blessed by Bishop Peter as soon as he is able to return to us. Glory to God for all things!
 The Icon of the Mother of God,
The Softener of Evil HeartsOn Oct 13 and 14, 2009, at the Cathedral of the Protection of the Mother of God, Des Plaines, Illinois, a myrrh-streaming icon of the Mother of God, brought from Russia, was present at the Vigil service and Liturgy. The name of this icon is The Softener of Evil Hearts. Those who pray with faith and humility before this Icon find that their own hearts are softened from anger and bitterness, as well as the hearts of others for whom they pray. Read the following prayer and troparion before a copy of the Icon, if you have one, or pray directly to the Mother of God, and you will receive heavenly consolation:
O much-suffering Mother of God, who art higher than all the daughters of the earth in thy purity, and in the multitude of suffering which thou didst bear on earth: accept our sighs of suffering, and keep us under the protection of thy mercy, for we know no other refuge and fervent protection than thee. But as one having boldness before Him Who was born of thee, help and save us by thy prayers, that we may without hindrance attain the Kingdom of Heaven, where with the saints we may sing praises to the One God in Trinity, always, now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.The Troparion, Tone 5 Soften our evil hearts, O Theotokos, and quench the attacks of those who hate us and loose all the rigidity of our soul. For looking on thy holy image we are filled with compunction by thy suffering and loving-kindness for us, and we kiss thy wounds; we are filled with horror for the darts with which we wound thee. Let us not, O Mother of Compassion, because of the cruelty of our hearts, perish from the cruelty of heart of those near us, for thou art in truth the Softener of Evil Hearts.
I am father, saith Christ, I am brother, I am bridegroom,
I am dwelling place, I am food, I am raiment, I am root, I am foundation . . .
Men's quartet sings in English at Holy Virgin Protection CathedralDes Plaines, Illinois, March 31 & April 1, 2009 An impromptu quartet of American singers sang at the matins and and presanctified liturgy which concluded the 2009 Lenten Diocesan Assembly. Among them were two young men of our parish: Rdr Nathaniel Brown and Rdr Constantine Stade. Also participating were Rdr Dimitry Kulp and Serge Kaminski.
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New from Chrysostom Press:
The Explanation of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatiansby Blessed Theophylact click here to order
Upcoming Services & Events
Saturday, 15 / 28 January
House Blessings
6:00 Vigil
| Sunday, 16 / 29 January
Zaccheus Sunday & Chains of St Peter
9:40 Hours
10:00 Liturgy
Trapeza Team 4
| Monday, 17 / 30 January
St. Anthony the Great
Cleaning Team 1
| Saturday, 22 January / 4 February
6:00 Vigil
| Sunday, 23 January / 5 February
Publican & Pharisee, New Martyrs of Russia
9:40 Hours
10:00 Liturgy
Trapeza Team 5
PARISH COUNCIL
| Wednesday, 26 January / 8 February
6:00 Vigil
| Thursday, 27 January / 9 February
Translation of Relics of St John Chrysostom
8:40 Hours
9:00 Liturgy
| | Monthly Calendar > |
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Sheet Music Download
Carol Surgant, at Orthodox Church Music, has English choral arrangements of traditional Russian chant available as free downloads, including selections from Vespers, Matins, and Liturgy for upcoming Sundays and feasts. Music Downloads...
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Русская Версия
