Church Telephone: (781) 585-8907
Church Email: stmarkofephesuskingstonma@gmail.com
Donations: PayPal or Credit Card
Administrator and Dean: Archpriest Vasily Lickwar
Priests: Archpriest John T. Bacon and Fr. Kevin Kalish
Church Warden: Catherine Condrick
Divine Liturgy begins at 10:00 AM (Third Hour begins at 9:30 AM)
Great Vespers & Confession: 5:00 PM on the first Saturday of every month (unless otherwise noted)
St. Mark of Ephesus Orthodox Church is blessed with a small, but actively participating congregation. We are a warm, family-oriented body of faithful believers and our members are of all age groups and we embrace many cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The parish conducts a regular and traditional cycle of Orthodox liturgical worship throughout the course of the year, and participates regularly in several community charitable ministries such as on-going charities to aid local shelters, grocery collections for our on-going food pantry, and visiting the ill and shut-ins in our community. All these inititatives are supported by the free-will offerings and volunteer assistance of the parishioners.
Christ is Risen! Khristos Voskrese! Christos Anesti! Al Masih Qam! Hristos A Inviat! El Christo Ha Resucitado! Krishti U Ngjall! Le Christ Est Ressuscite!
In the eighth ode of the Resurrection Canon, written by St. John of Damascus, we find this descriptive reference to Pascha: "This is the Holy and Chosen Day; The first of Sabbaths; Lord and King; the Feast of Feasts; and the Triumph of Triumphs. Let us bless Christ on this day forever." Certainly we all can agree on the monumental importance of today. Everything pales in comparision to Christ's rising from the dead. No triumph is greater. No Sabbath is sweeter. No day is as sacred and blessed. No celebration carries the same impact or magnitude. Words cannot properly describe the feeling in our hearts and souls on this "Feasts of Feasts." How does one verbalize the surge of emotion released when the Paschal Troparion is sung for the first time? What can be said for the inner joy that exists for us when we view our church brilliantly illumined at Resurrection Matins - a sharp contrast to the solemn darkness so prevalent in our Lenten liturgical life?
For the next 40 days, we will greet each other repeatedly with the most meaningful of Christian phrases: "Christ is Risen!" The message of Pascha, however, is not merely seasonal. We are constantly overshadowed by the light of the Resurrection. All of our daily actions are tempered by the victory of our Savior over death and the grave. We, who profess to be His devoted followers, are heartened by His blessed promise to us; "I am the Resurrection and the Life. He, who believes in Me, will never die." Let us boldly proclaim the words of St. John Chrysostom as we celebrate Pascha: "Christ is Risen, and death is abolished. Christ is Risen, and the demons are cast down. Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice. Christ is Risen and life is freed!"
Icon: The Holy Resurrection
Weekly Liturgical Calender
Monday, May 23: St. Michael the Confessor, Bishop of Synnada; Synaxis of the Saints of Rostov
Tuesday, May 24: Venerable Simeon Stylites the Younger of Wonderful Mountain; Venerable Niketas the Stylite, Wonderworker of Pereyaslavl Zalesski
Wednesday, May 25: The Third Finding of the Honorable Head of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John
Thursday, May 26: Apostle Carpus of the Seventy; Apostle Alphaeus of the Seventy; Greatmartyr George the New at Sofia, Bulgaria; St. Augustine of Canterbury, Evangelizer of England
Friday, May 27: Hieromartyr Therapon, Bishop of Sardis; Saint John the Russian and Confessor, whose relics are on the Island of Euboia
Saturday, May 28: Saint Neketas, Bishop of Chalcedon; Saint Ignatius the Wonderworker, Bishop of Rostov; Icon of the Mother o God "The Softening of Evil Hearts"
Sunday, May 29: Sunday of the Blind Man; Virgin Martyr Theodosia of Tyre, Repose of teh Blessed John of Ustiug the Fool-for-Christ; Virgin Martyr Theodosia the Nun of Constantinople; Icon of the Mother of God "the Surety of Sinners"; Martyred Fathers and Mothers of Atchara; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM, Celebrant: Fr. John; Church School
For today's scripture readings, please click on the following link: https://www.oca.org/readings
Remember in prayer: ill & shut-in: Priest Ceraphim Mitchell, Luis, Ramon, Maria, Marya, Paul, Simon, Alban Frank, Robert, Mat. Eleanor, Priest Antony, Reader George, Alexandra, Conor, Peter, Alexandra, Marilyn, Reader Daniel; Cathechumens: Judith, Ryan, Rebecca, Ari, Selah, Matthew, Robert; the kidnapped Hierarchs Metropolitan Paul (Boulos Yazigi) & Archpriest John (Yohanna Ibrahim); the suffering Christians of Egypt and Syria; deployed: Travis, Acolyte Jan; for the cessation of hostilities in the Ukraine
Icon: Sunday of the Blind Man
Parish Announcements
The Memorial Day Yard Sale Fundraiser will take place on Saturday, May 28 from 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM. In preparation, we are asking for donations to the yard sale. If you are downsizing, doing spring cleaning or need extra space in your garage, closet or basement, please consider donating your unwanted items to St. Mark. We are asking for the donations to be clean and marked with a realistic selling price. We will be accepting donations at the church on Friday night preceding the sale at 5:00 - 7:00 PM. We are flexible with accepting donations in advance if Friday evening doesn't work for you. As always, thank you for your continued support of these fundraisers. We also need volunteers on the day of the sale, such as help with set-up, cashier, sales and clean-up. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board near the bookstore.
Church School will be on Sunday, May 22. The students will be learing about "Letting their light shine". They will be putting the first coat of paint on their mother's day rocks, listening to a story, and making special candles. The last day of church school will be on Sunday, June 19. Please speak with Catherine if you have any questions about church school.
The Parish Council will meet on Thursday, June 16 at 6:00 PM via Zoom.
Choir practice will take place on the first Wednesday of every month at 6:00 PM. All are welcome to attend. Please speak with Jen if you have any questions.
Work on the iconostasis will begin at a later date in June. The work will be done by Joseph Pecevich, Robert Pirone and Subdeacon Peter Condrick. Members of the Parish Council will oversee the project. We are asking everyone for their cooperation and patience for the duration of this important project. If you have any questions, please speak with a council member.
We are collecting items for distribution to those in need via a local food pantry. Please leave the items you wish to donate in the large blue bin located in the nave of the church. It is important that we continue to care for those in need during these difficult times.
Icon: The Mother of God "The Softening of Evil Hearts"
