Looking Up: The Feast of the Ascension

Then, He went with His disciples to Bethany and stopped on the Mount of Olives. "While they beheld, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they LOOKED steadfastly toward heaven as He went UP, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, 'Ye men of Galilee , why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven'" (Acts 1:9-11).

Ascension of our Lord

Image Source

In the Life of the Church, we celebrate the Great Feast of the Ascension of our Lord 40 days following Pascha (this year on Thursday, May 24, 2012). In the presence of His disciples, our Lord ascends to His Heavenly Throne: "I ascend to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God" (John 20:17). According to the account given in Luke's Gospel: "And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now, it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy..." (Luke 24:50-53).

Jesus, their Master, leaves them, yet His disciples are filled with great joy. Its an odd reality to grasp; the comfort of being in the presence of their Lord, especially witnessing His Resurrection and being "filled with great joy" at His departure from them. But the reason for such a feeling among the Disciples is the promise given to them: Jesus tells them that He must go to the Father, but He will send the Holy Spirit upon them.

Troparion of the Feast of the Ascension (Tone 4): “Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, and gladdened thy Disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit, having become confident of the blessing. Verily, thou art the Son of God, and Deliverer of the world."

Wishing you and your family a blessed Great Feast of the Ascension of our Lord!

- A Day in the Life of the Youth Director

Graduation Sunday 2012 at St George Houston

As a Youth Director, I'm often asked, "why did you do _____ this way?" or "how come you choose that _____?" There are many decisions you just have to make on your own; go with your gut!

One such occasion where decision-making is "key" is our annual Graduation Sunday at St George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Houston, TX. Following Liturgy, we recognize the graduates from our parish community (I'm sure your parish has a similar event) and we host a Coffee Hour in honor of our graduates, providing graduation cakes for all.

Cakes for Graduation Sunday at St George Houston

The past four years, I've purchased the cakes at a local bakery for this event. I've always gotten the same two color icings for the cakes: green and blue. Last year, I was going over the logistics for Graduation Sunday with our former parish priest, V Rev Fr John Salem (now at St Elijah Orthodox Church in OKC). He asked what color icing I was ordering for the cakes, to which I replied, "green and blue." Fr John asked why those colors, pointing out that I did the same the previous year. I laughed and told him those are the colors of my alma maters: Trinity High School & University of Kentucky!
                 

Image Source & Source

In my mind: If I order the cakes, I pick the colors!

Congratulations to all the St George Houston graduates of 2012!

- A Day in the Life of the Youth Director

Outdoor Shrine of Ss Constantine & Helena

Over the past few years, we've celebrated the Feast of Ss Constantine & Helena, Equal-to-the-Apostles (May 21), in a unique fashion at St George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Houston, TX. We are blessed to have an Outdoor Shrine dedicated to Ss Constantine & Helena; this Shrine that is surrounded by some beautiful landscape and large water fountain is a wonderful addition to the parish community.

Our campus and young adult ministries groups of Greater Houston have gathered at this outdoor shrine for a supplication service to Ss Constantine & Helena on their feastday. It has been a unique experience to worship God and ask intercessions of Ss Constantine & Helena in an outside setting. This experience definitely has that "camp" feel to it, for those who remember their fun youthful days spent at Orthodox summer camps. We'd like to invite all Orthodox in the Houston area, especially our college students and young adults to join us again this year on Monday, May 21 at noon for our Supplication Service.

Enjoy some pictures from previous Supplication Services:

Outdoor Shrine of Ss Constantine & Helena

Icon of Ss Constantine & Helena

Supplication Service led by Fr Joseph Huneycutt (2010)

Group photo (2010)

Brief discussion of the Lives of Ss Constantine & Helena
by Fr Symeon Kees (2011)

Group photo (2011)

Dismissal & Veneration at the Shrine (2011)

- A Day in the Life of the Youth Director

Fuller Twins Birthday (May 2)

As kids are concerned, you couldn't find a cuter pair than the "Fuller twins" (I'm not biased - if ya don't believe me, just ask our Mama)! In honor of my sister, Adriane's birthday (mine too!), here are some photos of us during the years!

Country Western Night at the Antiochian Village (2000)

AV Staff Siblings Photo (2003)

Fuller kiddos (Aaron, Adriane, & Paul)

Godparents at the Baptism of Alexander Schardein

It's just how we get down - Adriane, Paul, & James Salman

Helping me move into my apartment in Houston, TX (July 2008)

Adriane & Paul - Twins!

Image Source

I have a very distinct memory from my childhood, and luckily its an experience of my youth while in Church. In line during the Dismissal, we kept seeing and hearing a dialogue between each person with our parish priest - the same dialogue. We turned to ask our mom what they were saying. She expained that the priest was saying, "Christ is Risen" and we should respond back with, "Truly, He is Risen."

Obviously, as children we didn't know what those sayings meant, but everyone was doing it. What kids wants to be left out of all the fun? It was our turn in line, and much to our delight, he was handing out a gift to everyone in line - a red egg!

He handed us each an egg, as he proclaimed, "Christ is Risen!" And our reply, apparently not what everyone else was saying (Truly, He is Risen!), but something much more to our liking as a kids. My sister and I loudly exclaimed: "Truly, He eats raisins!"

Everyone had a nice laugh. My sister and I continued to say to one another and others:
"Christ eats raisins!" "Truly, He eats raisins!"



Image Source

Cute kids, right??

- A Day in the Life of the Youth Director

Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women

On the 3rd Sunday of Pascha, the Orthodox Church commemorates the Myrrh-bearing Women along with Ss Joseph of Arimathea & Nicodemus. Their commemoration keeps the "theme" of the Paschal season: sharing the good news of the Resurrection ("He has risen" Mark 16:6).

Icon of the Myrrh-bearing Women

Image Source

It's amazing to think of the situation these women found themselves during these chaotic days in Jerusalem. Their Master had been betrayed by his own people (the Jews) and sentenced to a painful and humiliating death to hang upon a Cross for all to witness by the authorities (Romans). These women attended to Jesus and his disciples throughout his Ministry, and yet while his closest friends, his disciples fled the scene (very understandably) after the capture of Jesus, they continued to follow and witnessing the torture he endured for their sake. Fulfilling their service to their Master, they came early in the morning to the tomb of their Lord to wash and anoint His body for burial as was their Jewish custom required. Much to their amazement, they arrived at the tomb and saw the large stone rolled back from the entrance. Being greeted by an angel, they heard the most glorious news that Jesus has risen from the dead and were commanded to go and tell His disciples that their risen Lord would meet with them all in Galilee.

Icon of the Myrrh-bearing Women

Image Source 

From the Gospels and Church Tradition, we learn of eight women included among the group commemorated on this Sunday:

*Mary Magdalene
*Mary, the Theotokos (the Virgin Mary)
*Joanna (wife of Chusa, the household steward of King Herod Antipas, also according to Holy Tradition, she recovered the glorious head of John the Baptist after it has been disposed of by Herodias)
*Salome (mother of the Apostles James & John, sons of Zebedee, also daughter of Joseph the Betrothed)
*Mary the wife of Cleopas (or Alphaeus)
*Susanna
*Mary of Bethany (sister of Lazarus)
*Martha of Bethany (sister of Lazarus)

Icon of the Myrrh-bearing Women

Image Source

Their sadness has been turned into joy; the myrrh-bearing women ultimately become the "apostles to the Apostles," the first to share the good news of the Resurrection with His apostles. What a beautiful example to Christian women, and to all who are called to share to good news of our Lord's Resurrection in a "post-Paschal" world!

"Christ is risen" for the Myrrh-bearing Women told me so! Truly, He is risen!

- A Day in the Life of the Youth Director

Venerable Vitalius: Minister of Harlots

In the Life of the Church, we commemorate Venerable Vitalius on April 22. I had never heard of this saint before, but as I was looking through the Saints of the Day, came across his Life. It is a remarkable story of truly living according to the Gospel. He loved the sinner, but hated the sin; working against society to minister to prostitutes of the city of Alexandria. His Life is as follows:

When he was sixty years old, undertook an extraordinary task: he wrote down from memory the names of all the prostitutes of Alexandria and he began to pray for them. He worked from morning to evening, earning twelve copper coins each day. In the evening the saint bought a single bean, which he ate after sunset. Then he would give the rest of the money to one of the harlots, whom he visited at night and said, "I beg you, take this money and do not sin with anyone tonight." Then he stayed with the harlot in her room. While she slept, the Elder spent the whole night at prayer, reading the Psalms, and quietly left in the morning.

He did this each day, visiting all the harlots in turn, and he made them promise to keep the purpose of his visit secret. The people of Alexandria, not knowing the truth, became indignant over the the monk's behavior, and they reviled him. However, he meekly endured their scorn, and he only asked that they not judge others.

Venerable Vitalius of Gaza

Image Source

The holy prayers of St Vitalius saved many fallen women. Some of them went to a monastery, others got married, and others found respectable work. But they were forbidden to tell anyone the reason why they had changed their life, and thereby stop the abuse heaped upon St Vitalius. They were bound by an oath they had made to the saint. When of the woman began to break her oath and stood up to defend the saint, she fell into a demonic frenzy. After this, the people of Alexandria had no doubt concerning the sinfulness of the monk.

Certain of the clergy, scandalized by the behavior of St Vitalius, reported him to the holy Patriarch John the Merciful. But the Patriarch did not believe the informers and he said, "Cease to judge, especially monks. Don't you know what happened at the First Council of Nicea? Some of the bishops and the clergy brought letters of denunciation against each other to the emperor St Constantine the Great (May 21). He commanded that a burning candle be brought, and not even reading the letters, he burned them and said, "If I had seen with my own eyes a bishop sinning, or a priest, or a monk, then I would have veiled such with his garb, so that no one might see his sin." Thus the wise hierarch shamed the calumniators.

St Vitalius continued on with his difficult exploit: appearing himself before people under the guise of a sinner and a prodigal, he led the prodigal to repentance.

One time, emerging from an house of ill repute, the monk encountered a young man going there -- a prodigal fellow, who with an insult struck him on the cheek and cried out, that the monk was a disgrace to the Name of Christ. The monk answered him: "Believe me, that after me, humble man that I be, thou also shalt receive such a blow on the cheek, that will have all Alexandria thronging to thine cry".

A certain while afterwards St Vitalius settled into a small cell and in it at night he died. At that very hour a terrifying demon appeared before the youth who had struck the saint, and the demon struck the youth on the cheek and cried out: "Here is a knock from St Vitalius." The youth went into a demonic madness. In a frenzy he thrashed about on the ground, tore the clothing from himself and howled so loudly, that a multitude of people gathered.

When the youth finally came to his senses after several hours, he then rushed off to the cell of the monk, calling out: "Have mercy on me, O servant of God, for I have sinned against thee." At the door of the cell he came fully to his senses and he told those gathered there about his former encounter with St Vitalius. Then the youth knocked on the door of the cell, but he received no answer. When they broke in the door, they then saw, that the monk was dead, on his knees before an icon. In his hand was a scroll with the words: "Men of Alexandria, judge not beforehand, til cometh the Lord, the Righteous Judge".

At this moment there came up the demon-possessed woman, punished by the monk for wanting to violate the secret of his exploit. Having touched the body of the saint, she was healed and told the people about everything that had happened with her.

When the women who had been saved by St Vitalius learned about his death, they gathered together and told everyone about the virtues and mercy of the saint.

St John the Merciful also rejoiced, in that he had not believed the calumniators, and that a righteous man had not been condemned. And then together with the throng of repentant women, converted by St Vitalius, the holy Patriarch solemnly conveyed his remains throughout all the city and gave them reverent burial. And from that time many of the Alexandria people made themselves a promise to judge no one.

Cited Source

- A Day in the Life of the Youth Director

Paschal Quiz

Christ is Risen! Christos Anesti! Al Maseeh Qam!

In the joy of the Resurrection, our Paschal season, test your knowledge with some Orthodox Trivia focused on Pascha!

Resurrection of our Lord

1. What does Pascha mean?

a. resurrection   b. passover
c. feast              d. salvation

2. Who is the disciple that would not believe in the good news of the Resurrection of our Lord until he saw the marks of the crucifixion?

a. Peter       b. Paul
c. Thomas    d. Andrew

3. Who is the first person to tell the myrrh-bearing women the good news of the Resurrection?

a. an angel       b. the Jewish soldier
c. Nicodemus   d. Pontius Pilate

4. Did St Paul ever meet Jesus (in the flesh)?

YES or NO

5. Who is the disciple chosen to replace Judas Iscariot among the Twelve?

a. Justus    b. Matthias
c. Mark      d. Paul

6. What is the week following Pascha called?

a. Week of Joy                b. Easter Week
c. Resurrection Week      d. Bright Week

7. Who is depicted in the Icon of the Resurrection/Descent into Hades as being raised by the hand out of the graves by Christ?

a. Joachim & Anna    b. Adam & Eve
b. Abraham & Sarah   d. Moses & Zipporah

8. Who does the Church commemorate on the second Sunday following Pascha?

a. the twelve disciples     b. Jesus' family
c. myrrh-bearing women  d. Longinus the Centurion

9. How many days after Pascha do we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord?

a. 12 days    b. 20 days
c. 40 days    d. 50 days

10. What is the Paschal greeting for Orthodox Christians (in English)?

a. Christ is risen!     b. Christ no longer sleeps!
b. Jesus is Lord!      d. Lord, come!

11. What is the traditional color of the Church during the Paschal season (vestments, altar cloth, candle holders)?

a. blue    b. white
c. red     d. gold

12. On the road to what town did the Lord reveal himself as risen from the dead to some of his disciples?

a. Capernaum      b. Bethany
c. Jerusalem       d. Emmaus

13. What day is the Sabbath?

a. Thursday    b. Friday
c. Saturday    d. Sunday

14. Where did the angel tell the myrrh-bearing women that Jesus would meet with his disciples?

a. Galilee       b. Capernaum
c. Jerusalem  d. Bethlehem

15. Which Church Father's homily is read during the celebration of the Feast of Feasts, Pascha?

a. St Basil the Great      b. my bishop
c. my parish priest        d. St John Chysostom

The Answer Key is below, please highlight to view:

Answer Key:

1. b     6. d   11. b
2. c     7. b   12. d
3. a     8. c   13. c
4. NO  9. c   14. a
5. b    10. a  15. d

- A Day in the Life of the Youth Director