On Sunday, October 6th after Divine Liturgy, Saint George recognized our Choir Directors, Singers, Chanters  and Readers as part of the commemoration of “Church Musician Sunday”.  The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America designated the Sunday following the commemoration of Saint Romanus the Melodist (October 1st) as “Church Musician Sunday.” This annual designation highlights the essential role of liturgical music in Orthodox Christian worship and the important role of church musicians in the life of the Church. Those who serve in our musical ministries were publicly thanked, given a Thank you card which was signed by our Church School, and recognized with the parish singing to them Many Years!

The photo on the left is an icon located at St. George on the rear (or north-side) wall of the choir -  it is the Icon of the Feast of the Protection of the Most-Holy Theotokos.  The St. George icon shows the Theotokos standing above the faithful with her arms outstretched in prayer, but below the Theotokos, in the center of the icon, stands Saint Romanus the Melodist, the famous hymnographer whose feast is also celebrated on the same day. On the lower left corner of the icon is his choir. 

Click onto the more information link below to view several photos.
 

At the end of Divine Liturgy on Sunday, September 29th, St. George held a memorial service for Fr. Arthur Liolin on the 1-year anniversary of his death.  Fr. Arthur was the former pastor of St. George Albanian Orthodox Cathedral in Boston, and our former long-time Chancellor of the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America. I perjetshem kujtimi! Click onto the more information link below to view some photos from the memorial service.
 

On Sunday evening at 5PM, St. George was honored to host a visit from His Grace, Bishop Nikodhim, Bishop of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese in America, Fr. Juxhin Skhurti and his wife, Prifteresha Livia (Fr. Juxhin was ordained to the priesthood the day prior, on Saturday, Sept 21st during Divine Liturgy as part of the Annual Archdiocesan Assembly which was held at St. Peter & Paul in Philadelphia), and Fr. Grigori Pelushi.  Fr. Grigori is a visiting dignitary from the Orthodox Church in Albania, and is the chair of Radio Ngjallja and the secretary of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Albania.  He attended the Archdiocesan Assembly in Philadelphia and is visiting several parishes in the Albanian Archdiocese in America.  
 
There was a light meal available for participants and afterwards, Fr. Grigori gave a presentation on the Orthodox Church in Albania and answered a few questions from some of the parishioners.
 
Additionally, Bishop Nikodhim presented to St. George a new Antimension.  An antimension is a gold colored cloth that has an icon of the Burial of Christ. Sewn into many antimensions are a relic of a martyr, and in the St. George antimension, there is a relic of the Hieromartyr Januarius.  Click onto the following link to read about the many miracles attributed to Hieromartyr Januarius Bishop of Benevento.  Bishop Nikodhim made a notation "St. Januarius" on the antimension in the upper right corner.  The antimension sits on the Altar table and gives permission from the bishop, in our case Bishop Nikodhim, for our community to exist as a parish and to serve Divine Liturgy.  Bishop Nikodhim’s signature is also located on the antimension.  Click onto the more information link below to view 2 photos. 
 
Many thanks go out to parishioners who set-up for the event, donated and prepared food, dishes, desserts, and beverages for the meal, and cleaned up afterward.  Special thanks go to Louise Gallagher, Curt Dionis, Pauline Dionis, and Laura Coughlin for their lead, organization and extra efforts in putting this event together. 
 
Click onto the more information link below to view several photos.

We welcomed Fr. Danaks (Fr. Dennis Rhodes) again to St. George on Sunday, September 22nd to serve Divine Liturgy for us.  Fr. Danaks was tonsured as a Hieromonk (a priest-monk) on Friday, Sept 20th (see additional info below).  St. George sang Many Years after Divine Liturgy to him, and celebrated with a cake at Coffee Hour in the Church Hall.  Click onto the more information link below to view several photos from Sunday, Sept 22nd. May God grant Fr. Danaks Many Years!
 
The opening paraklesis on Friday morning, Sept 20th, of the Albanian Archdiocese Annual Assembly included the monastic tonsure of Fr. Dennis Rhodes. Fr. Dennis is now known as Hieromonk Danaks (honoring the 2nd century Albanian martyr).  Fr. Danaks (Fr. Dennis) served as our parish priest for 8 years, from September 2010 until September 2018.  
 
The two liturgical services at the Assembly (Friday 9AM opening prayers with Fr Dennis' monastic tonsure, and the Saturday 10AM Hierarchal Divine Liturgy with ordination of Dn Jushin Skhurti, memorial service and prayers) will be aired live and available afterwards on the St. Peter & Paul parish's YouTube channel:   https://www.youtube.com/@sspeterpaulorthodoxchurcho1810   Additionally, you may click onto the following link at the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese website, under "Assembly in Philadelphia" to view photos from the Friday opening prayers with Fr. Dennis' monastic tonsure, and some photos from the legislative session of the Assembly:  https://albanianarchdiocese.org
 

Congratulations to Jim Bowe who turned 90 years old this past week.  His family sponsored the Coffee Hour in his honor. Many years!  Click onto the more information line below to view a few photos.

St. George celebrated the feast of the Elevation of the Cross (also known as the Exaltation of the Cross) with Divine Liturgy on Sunday, September 15th.  This feast day was transferred from Saturday, September 14th. This feast commemorates the finding of Christ’s Cross by Saint Helen, the mother of the Emperor Constantine in the fourth century.  At the end of Divine Liturgy, Fr. Dennis lead a procession with the cross around the church with the Church School children following the cross in procession.  The procession ended at the center of the church where parishioners completed prostrations before the cross while the choir sang the hymn for the Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross: “Before Thy Cross, we bow down in worship, O Master, and Thy holy resurrection, we glorify!"

Immediately after this procession and prostrations, Fr. Dennis lead the parish in prayer for the beginning of the new Church School year with the Church School children gathered in the center aisle.  Sunday was the first day of classes for the 2024-2025 Church School year. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos from the day's service.

St. George welcomed and wishes to thank Fr. Dennis Rhodes for serving Divine Liturgy for us on Sunday, September 15th.  He will be returning again to serve Divine Liturgy for us next Sunday, September 22nd.  Fr. Dennis was our parish priest from 2010 through 2018, after which he retired after serving 40 years as a priest.  Click onto the more information link to view a larger photo of Fr. Dennis giving his sermon.

On Sunday, September 8th, St. George celebrated Divine Liturgy for the feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos.  This feast commemorates the birth of the Mother of Jesus Christ, which is celebrated on September 8th each year. After Divine Liturgy, we sang the Magnification to the Theotokos in celebration of her nativity.  Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.