St. John Chrysostom Russian Orthodox Church - House Springs (St. Louis Area), Missouri

Home
Calendar
Our News
Our Photos
Our Parish
St John
Orthodoxy
Articles
Prayers
Church Bells
Your First Visit
Contact Us
WELCOME TO OUR PARISH!


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

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women

and St. Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus

A short selection from the Homily by St. Nikolai Velimirovich

Luke 15:43 - 16:8

Very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun. ... And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment, and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them: Be not affrighted; ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified. He is risen; He is not here; behold the place where they laid Him. But go your way, tell His disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him, as He said unto you.

God’s resplendent angel first calms the women’s fear and terror, in order to prepare them for the strange tidings of the Lord’s Resurrection. The women were first surprised to see the tomb open, and then terrified at finding there in the tomb, not Him whom they were seeking, but someone whom they were not expecting. Why does the angel speak so specifically, Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified? In order that there should be no possible doubt or confusion about Him who had risen. The angel speaks so specifically both for the women’s sake and for that of all future ages and generations. The angel has the same intention in showing them the empty tomb: Behold the place where they laid Him. It was superfluous to say this to the women, who had seen with their own eyes what the angel was telling them, but it was not so for the human race, for whom the Lord died and rose again. He is risen; He is not here. The heavenly messenger proclaims the greatest tidings in the whole of human history in the briefest and simplest possible way: He is risen; He is not here. For the immortal angelic hosts, it was the Lord’s death that was more amazing than His Resurrection. For mortal men, the reverse was the case.

After this, the angel told the women to proclaim these joyful tidings to the apostles and  to Peter. Why did the angel say, “and to Peter?” Surely because Peter was feeling far more confused than the other disciples. His conscience must have been pricking him for having three times denied the Lord, and for having fled from Him... He needed to be set back on his feet and to have dignity as a man and an apostle restored to him. The Lord, in His love for mankind, did this now, and this is why the angel made special mention of him.  


The Life of St. Nikolai Velimirovich

A great 20th century saint of Serbia,
Western Europe, and America.

Watch and listen to this beautiful
 
2 hour documentary of his life,
with original footage.

(for English, click near the Canadian flag)



 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)

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 . . .

From Chrysostom Press:
The Explanation of the Epistle

of St. Paul to the Galatians
by Blessed Theophylact

click here to order

Upcoming Services & Events
Tuesday, 8 / 21 May
St. John the Theologian
Fr. Christopher away
Wednesday, 9 / 22 May
Fr. Christopher away
Thursday, 10 / 23 May
Fr. Christopher away
Saturday, 12 / 25 May
6:00 Vigil
Sunday, 13 / 26 May
Paralytic
9:40 Hours
10:00 Liturgy
Trapeza Team 3
Tuesday, 15 / 28 May
7:00 Vespers
Wednesday, 16 / 29 May
Mid-Pentecost
9:00 Liturgy & Water Blessing
Monthly Calendar >

Help support our church
make a donation here!
 

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...