The St George community wishes to extend its heartfelt condolences to Mary DiIulio and family on the passing of her brother, George Costa of Canton, GA. George leaves behind a son Michael. May his Memory be Eternal.

As a reminder, Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 9th.
 
At 2AM, clocks need to be turned forward 1 hour to 3AM.

Greg Buzi II will be offering a Prayer Group on Wednesday, March 12, at 6:30 pm. It will be followed by a potluck dinner. Let Gregory know if you plan on attending.

Last year (in February 2024), Bishop Nikodhim inaugurated a new annual commemoration called Heritage Sunday for the Albanian Archdiocese.  The annual commemoration will be held on the Sunday before the Feast of the Annunciation. The Feast of the Annunciation is celebrated annually on March 25th.

This year (2025), we will commemorate "Heritage Sunday" on Sunday, March 23rd. 

March is an important month in the history of the Albanian Archdiocese: March 22, 1908 is the date of the first liturgy was ever served in the Albanian language in America (in Boston), and March 13, 1965 is the date of repose of our first hierarch Theophan (Noli).   

Additionally as part of "Heritage Sunday", St. George will be offering additional prayers at the close of Divine Liturgy for the blessing and guidance of the Albanian Archdiocese. And per Bishop Nikodhim's request to all parishes in the Ardiocese, we will hold a Memorial service for all of our departed diocesan hierarchs, and for the priests and priftëresha who served our parishes.  

Click here to read Bishop Nikodhim’s letter on the commemoration from last year (February 27, 2024).
 

We are now approaching the season of Great Lent.  This year, Great Lent begins Monday, March 3rd.

During this time, Orthodox Christians fast and pray in preparation for the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection.

According to the Tradition of the Church, we observe this Fast by abstaining from meat (including poultry and eggs), dairy, fish, olive oil and wine. While many people relax these rules, it is important that we do as much as we can, so that we can properly prepare ourselves spiritually for the Great Feast of our Lord’s Resurrection.

To read more on Lenten Fasting, click onto the following link:  https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/worship/the-church-year/lenten-fasting

For the months of March & April, we will be also collecting cash donations through our Charity Tray for the Trumbull Food Pantry.  The charity tray is for all cash donations (or electronic donations made through our Support/Donate link on our website).  St. George will donate all cash donations from our March and April Chairty Tray to the Trumbull Food Pantry for them to purchase and distribute fresh produce and bagels. 

This is in concert with St. George's support of a coordinated Trumbull Faith-based organizations food drive effort which is organized by Refill the Pantry.  The food drive is for the same charity (the Trumbull Food Pantry), however the food drive is focused for donations of hard good items, either non-perisahable food items or personal care items. 

Click onto our Annoucement for details of this program:  https://www.stgeorgetrumbull.org/news_250225_1

Click onto the following link to view the Trumbull Food Pantry webpage. 

This year, St. George has been asked to participate with all Trumbull Faith-based communities and organizations in a program called Refill the Pantry to support The Trumbull Food Pantry.
 
The Refill the Pantry program began in 2022 when a collaboration of churches established a program to address food insecurity in the Bridgeport, CT, area – Trumbull being one of those areas. Approximately 200 families use the Trumbull Food Pantry.
 
Refill the Pantry has asked St. George to participate with other Trumbull churches in two food drives this year:
 
o   The first drive we are asked to participate in is now, for March and April, with all food collected to be driven to Stop & Shop at 100 Quality St. in Trumbull on Saturday, April 19th between 9AM and 5PM.  The food will be delivered to the Trumbull Food Pantry by Refill the Pantry volunteers on Monday, April 21st.
 
o   The 2nd drive in Trumbull is scheduled for July and August, with the delivery to Stop & Shop scheduled for Saturday, August 16th.
 
The Trumbull Food Pantry is asking for donations of shelf-stable items and personal care items (see the list below). They use cash donations to purchase and distribute once a week fresh produce and bagels. They do not collect frozen meats and items because they do not have refrigeration or freezer facilities.
 

Coffee: 1lb containers
Tea
Cold breakfast foods: cold cereals, breakfast bars, pop tarts
Hot breakfast foods: hot cereals, pancake mixes & syrup
Cake, Brownie, Muffin mixes 
Canned Fruit
Apple sauce (ie, low sugar, no sugar, natural juices)
Pancake mix and syrup
Tomato product (crushed, puree, diced, paste)
Shelf stable milk (whole, soy, almond)
Pasta (Wheat and Gluten Free Products) and Pasta Sauce
Rice/Noodle Mixes
Instant Potatoes
Juice and juice boxes
Peanut butter and jelly
Beans (low sodium, kidney, black, white, red, garbanzo, pink, pinto)
Laundry detergent and dishwashing detergent
Hygiene products: shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste, deodorant. 
Cleaning supplies
Facial tissues
Napkins

This is a very simple project for all of our parishioners to participate in, and is directly aligned and supportive of our pledge to do 100 Acts of Service during our 100th Anniversary Year.

In addition, during the same time period, St. George will be directing our March and April monthly Charity Tray to the Trumbull Food Pantry in support of the "Refill the Pantry" drive in Trumbull (the monthly Charity Tray is for any cash donations or electronic donations made through the "Support/Donate" link on our website).

Click onto the following link to read the appeal request from the Refill the Pantry coordinator, and a brochure with some additional information on the Refill the Pantry program.  2025 Refill the Pantry Food Drive for Trumbull

As always, Thank you in advance for your continued support of our Charity and Outreach efforts.
 
 

Below please find an email that was sent to St. George from FOCUS North America (The Fellowship of Orthodox Christians United to Serve).  

They are offering parishioners to sign up and receive a video series they have prepared for Lent.  There are 5 weekly videos for Lent (from the Sunday of Orthodoxy (March 9th) through the Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt (April 6th). 

 
EMAIL from Focus North America: 

Have Your Parishioners Journey to Pascha with FOCUS!

Lent is a season of reflection, renewal, and spiritual growth. It's a time not just for prayer and fasting, but almsgiving as well. Yet service is a part of the spiritual life we often overlook. 

That’s why FOCUS is bringing you a special Lenten video series—weekly reflections from our team to help share how this season inspires our efforts and motivates the ministry.

Each week, we’ll explore the themes of Lent, from the Sunday of Orthodoxy to St. Mary of Egypt, and connect them with the ministry of FOCUS. These short, impactful videos will be delivered straight to your inbox, giving you a moment to pause, reflect, and refocus on Christ in those we serve.

Encourage your parish to sign up today.  

Click onto the following link to sign up:  SIGN UP LINK FOR FOCUS VIDEO SERIES 

Would you encourage your parishioners to sign up and join us on this journey?

A simple invitation from you could help them experience Lent in a more profound way.

Thank you for your pastoral care and for guiding your parishioners toward a deeper encounter with Christ this Lent.

In gratitude

The FOCUS team

FOCUS North America | 1-866-267-3083 | communications@focusna.org | focusna.org
 
 
FOCUS North America | 600 N Bell Ave Building 1, Suite 115 | Carnegie, PA 15106 US
Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact D

Click onto the following link to view the schedule for the 2025 Sunday Pan Orthodox Lenten Vespers.  

Consider enriching your Lenten journey by attending the Sunday Lenten Vespers with our Orthodox brethren in the Greater Bridgeport area.   

On Mon, Feb 17th, frozen turkeys and hams were delivered to the Bishop Jean Williams Community Market and to the Thomas Merton Family Center  - a food pantrry and a soup kitchen located in Bridgeport.  Between Nov. 2024 and early Feb. 2025, St. George’s parishioners collected 23 frozen hams and turkeys with the goal to distribute them in February when donations are historically low. Thanks go out to Brooke & Sophie Dionis, their father Curt and grandmother Pauline, Evan and Kosta Nani, and Fr. Sergei Bouteneff for the loading of food and making the deliveries. Finally, many thanks to our parishioners who support these outreach initiatives. Click onto the more information link below to view a larger photo.

There was a Valentine's Day Dance held on Sat, Feb 15th in the Church Hall.  This was a fundraising event for St. George with $1,376 raised. Thanks to Nardi Tollkuci and Aida Kalapo for organizing and coordinating the event.  Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

A group of parishioners from St. George attended a “Faith and Family Night” at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport on Sat, Feb 15th for an evening of hockey, fellowship, family fun, and to support a worthy cause. There were about 450 Orthodox Christians who participated from 15 Orthodox churches.  Participants were primarily members of FORCC (Fellowship of Orthodox Churches of Connecticut), but also parishes from central NJ up to Boston participated. His Grace Bishop John Abdalah (from the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese) and Rev. Peter Orfanakos from St. Barbara's Church (Greek Archdiocese) in Orange, lead a seminar before the game on the theme “All You Need Is Love”. The net proceeds from the ticket purchases, about $2000, went to the IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) for their hurricane relief efforts. Click onto the more information link below to view 2 photos.

UPDATE from Sun, Feb 16th 7:50AM

Due to the iced road conditions our area, Church services are CANCELLED for today, Sunday, Feb 16th

 The St. George Anniversary Committee is requesting ads for the Anniversary Journal book.  We encourage you to create your ads to acknowledge family, members, offer good wishes, etc. 

We are also asking people to try to get businesses to sponsor ads. Ad forms with all of the details were handed out at last week's Parish Body meeting (held on Sun, Feb 23rd), and are also available at the candle desk or online. Forms were also mailed out to some members of our extended community, but please reach out to your family and friends that might not be aware.    

For those who do not have a computer or internet at home, or are not confident with their computer skills - St. George will have some individuals available on Sunday March 2nd and March 9th during Coffee Hour to help you with your ad, and to add any old photographs to your ad.

Ads should be sent to stganniversary@gmail.com

Payment can be made with a check to St. George Orthodox Church, or electronically by going onto our website under "Donate" - please check "100th Anniversary - Journal AD"  

Deadline for all ads is April 1st. 

We need your support to help to make this a beautiful keepsake and tribute to our 100 Year history.

Click onto the following links to view and download two forms about the 100th Anniversary Journal:  1)  Ad Request Letter  and  2) Ad Form

The Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Sunday, February 23rd, after Divine Liturgy.

Please make every effort to attend.

Updated Announcement (Feb 26, 2025)

The St. George Anniversary Committee is requesting ads for the Anniversary Journal book.  We encourage you to create your ads to acknowledge family, members, offer good wishes, etc. 

We are also asking people to try to get businesses to sponsor ads. Ad forms with all of the details were handed out at last week's Parish Body meeting (held on Sun, Feb 23rd), and are also available at the candle desk or online. Forms were also mailed out to some members of our extended community, but please reach out to your family and friends that might not be aware.  

For those who do not have a computer or internet at home, or are not confident in their computer skills - St. George will have some individuals available on Sunday March 2nd and March 9th during Coffee Hour to help you with your ad, and to add any old photographs to your ad.

Ads should be sent to stganniversary@gmail.com

Payment can be made with a check to St. George Orthodox Church, or electronically on our website under "Donate" -  please check "100th Anniversary - Journal AD".  

Deadline for all ads is April 1st.  We need your support to help to make this a beautiful keepsake and tribute to our 100 Year history.

Click onto the following links to view and download two forms: the St. George 100th Anniversary Journal Ad Request Letter   and the  St. George 100th Anniversary Journal Ad Form

Updated Announcement (Feb 15, 2025)

Click onto the following link to view the St. George 100th Anniversary Announcement Flyer.   Please return to this annoucement periodically as additional details will be posted as they become available.

Updated Annoucement (July 26, 2024):

Please contact Laura Coughlin or Curt Dionis if you would like to join the Anniversary Committee, or sign up on the sheet at the candle desk. Thank you!

Original Annoucement (July 10, 2024):

The Parish Council is happy to announce that we will celebrate St. George's 100th Anniversary with Divine Liturgy and an Anniversary Banquet next year on Sunday, June 22, 2025.  

Please mark your calendars!  Additional details will be coming soon. 

On Sunday, February 2nd, St. George celebrated the Feast of The Meeting of Our Lord in the Temple (referred to as “Papandia” in Albanian). For our Teuta Ladies Society, this day is their Patronal Feast, with 2025 marking the 94th year of the Teuta Society’s founding. Traditionally the Teuta Society offers 5 loaves, wheat, wine and oil for the celebration, and grure, (a boiled-wheat confection) for the health of the parish family. Finally, we wish to congratulate and thank Kosta Nani for his first time reading the Gospel lesson in Albanian. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos. 
 

In February 2025, we will be continuing our charity collections for the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), an agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America whose mission is humanitarian relief and development.

To learn more, click onto the following link:  https://iocc.org

On Saturday, January 25th, Elira Joy Buzi was received into the Orthodox Church through the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Chrismation. Elira’s sponsors were Greg Buzi II and Sarah McGrath.  Elira was churched the following day, on Sun, Jan 26th. God grant her Many years!. Congratulations to her parents: Gina and Christopher Buzi, her grandparents Sharon and Greg Buzi, and to the extended Buzi and Ferrarese families. Click onto the more information link below to view several photos.

St. George was deeply saddened to learn that His Beatitude, Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durres, and All Albania fell asleep in the Lord on Sat, Jan 25th at the age of 95.  St. George served a Memorial for him after Divine Liturgy on Sun, Jan 26th. Memory Eternal! I perjetshem kujtimi!  

Bishop Nikodhim, Bishop of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese, attended the funeral for Archbishop Anastasios. The funeral was Thursday, January 30th. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.
 
The following paragraph is an excerpt from a “Biographical Sketch of Archbishop Anastasios” on the “Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania” website:
 …… As Archbishop of Albania (1992 to the present), under tremendously difficult circumstances, he has restored and further developed the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, which had been fully dissolved for 23 years. Together with the work of revitalizing the Orthodox Church, innovative programs were also developed in the areas of health, social welfare, education, agricultural developments, culture and ecology. At the same time, he struggled to assist in relieving the many tensions in the Balkans……
 
Click onto the following link to view the entire biographical sketch:
https://orthodoxalbania.org/2020/en/2020/04/04/biographical-sketch-of-archbishop-anastasios/

On Thursday evening, Jan 16th, St. George assisted the Binky Patrol Comforting Covers by donating it’s Church Hall for volunteers to make fleece blankets that will be sent to comfort children impacted by the wildfires in California, especially from the town of Altadena.

Volunteers from our local area were asked to just bring a sharp pair of scissors and a $10 donation to help pay for the fleece, and some pizza and treats for dinner.  Across 3 hours, a total of 110 volunteers from our local area participated and 153 blankets (or Binkies) were made. 

 Numerous parishioners and friends of St. George joined and volunteered to help make blankets and help with the set-up, pizza dinner and kitchen cleanup.  Blanket makers include: Caelyn Baird, Susan Batura, Pam Buzi, Kelly Coughlin, Laura Coughlin, Mary Costulas, Luba Csernica, Brooke Dionis, Sophie Dionis, Laura Denisevich, Erin Galich, Melissa Galich, Sue Galich, Cathy Hotova, Karen Masek, Ledi Nani, Nicolas Nani, Kim O’Brien, Heather Uva, Olivia Uva, and Lorraine Vangel. The set-up/dinner/kitchen crew include: Tim Coughlin, Dave Denisevich, Curt Dionis, Joe Galich, and Bob Lazar.
 
This event is part of one of St. George’s major initiatives called 100 Acts of Service which kicked off this calendar year, recognizing St. George’s Centennial Anniversary year.
 
Many thanks go to the Binky Patrol Comforting Covers (the Monroe/Trumbull CT Chapter) who coordinated this event, to Al’s Angels (Westport, CT) who is arranging for the shipment of blankets and purchased some of the fleece, and to Crown Pizza of 5663 Main St. in Trumbull, who donated 40% of the cost of the pizzas for this charity event.  Finally a big thank you to Jeanne Malgioglio, the Binky Area Coordinator, and to Laura Coughlin who coordinated the event from St. George’s side (their photo is on the left).
 
Click onto the following links to learn more about the charities that St. George and a local business helped support this night:   the Monroe/Trumbull Chapter website of Binky Patrol Comforting Covers, the National organization website link of Binky Patrol Comforting Covers,  and the  Al’s Angels website link. and the Crown Pizza website.

Clink onto the more information link below to view several photos from the event. 

Attached is an email invitation to the parish of St. George.  The invitiation is to parishes around New England and the Tri-State area to attend a Faith and Family Night on Saturday, Feb 15th.  Please read the details below:   

Dear St George Trumbull,

We are thrilled to invite you and your parish community to be part of a historic Orthodox Christian gathering at "Faith and Family Night" on Saturday, February 15, 2025! This unique event will unite Orthodox Christians from across New England and the Tri-State area, allowing us to witness and celebrate the unity of our faith in a public setting.

Event Highlights:

· Pre-Game Seminar: His Grace Bishop JOHN Abdalah (AOCANA) and guest speaker Rev. Peter Orfanakos (GOArch) will lead a seminar on the theme “All You Need Is Love”.
· Game & Fellowship: The evening features a thrilling hockey matchup between the Bridgeport Islanders and the Providence Bruins at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, CT.
· Tickets:  Each ticket is $27 (plus fees).  The Processing fee will be $4.43 for a total cost of $31.43 per ticket (the processing fee is charged by the ticket processor, this is similar to a Ticketmaster fee). While the processing fee is unavoidable, please note that the net proceeds from each ticket support IOCC’s hurricane relief efforts.

With each ticket purchased (by using the following link to purchase tickets: https://fevo- enterprise.com/event/ Faithfamily808 , or by using the QR code in the Faith and Family NIght Flyer - see flyer link below), attendees will receive:
           o Center ice seating
           o An Islanders hat
           o Early stadium access
           o A post-game photo on the ice
           o Entry into a prize drawing (for tickets purchased by January 31st)
           o Net proceeds support IOCC’s hurricane relief efforts

Additionally, church communities with 50 or more attendees will receive a special gift basket from the Islanders—a great raffle item for a parish event!

Involvement Opportunities:

We invite members (as space permits) to participate in the evening in two special ways:

           o Pan-Orthodox Choir: We welcome parishioners interested in joining a Pan-Orthodox choir to sing God Bless America
           o Children’s Intermission Activities: Children are invited to join intermission activities

If members are interested, please feel free to have them contact me directly via the email provided.
 
How you can help:

To help you share this event with your parish, attached are two documents:
           1.    A letter for Sunday announcements. Click onto the following link to view a:  Faith and Family Night Announcement Letter
            2.    An event flyer.  Click onto the following link to view a:  Faith and Family Night Flyer 

We kindly ask if you could include a flyer in your bulletin and add the event to your parish calendar to spread the word and encourage your parishioners to join us.

This event offers a meaningful opportunity for the Orthodox community to unite in faith and support a worthy cause. We would be honored to have you and your congregation join us in fellowship, strengthening bonds and creating lasting memories together.

If you have any questions or need further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly at kyle.laham@stnicholasbridgeport.org.

In Christ,

Kyle Laham
Event Chair
 
 

St. George is helping the Binky Patrol Comforting Covers and Al’s Angels by donating our Church Hall this Thursday, Jan 16th from 5:30PM to 8:30PM.
 
Volunteers will be making fleece blankets that will be sent to comfort children impacted by the wildfires in California, especially from the town of Altadena.
 
Al’s Angels is arranging for the shipment of items, and has purchased some of the fleece.
 
Volunteers are asked to just bring a sharp pair of scissors and a $10 donation to help pay for the remainder of the fleece, and some pizza and treats for dinner.
 
Teenagers are welcome to also volunteer – Community service hours will be awarded, so teens bring your sheets.
 
For the 16 parishioners who already gave their name to Laura Coughlin at church on Sunday, you do not need to reconfirm you attendance – Laura will forward your name as a participant.
 
For those who wish to help making fleece blankets but have not confirmed with Laura on Sunday, please reply by Wednesday morning (Jan 15th) to Jeanne at:
 
CTBINKY@gmail.com 
 
or
 
on Facebook www.Facebook.com/CTBINKY.
 
 
 

St. George celebrated the Liturgy for the Feast of Theophany on Sunday, January 12th. (The celebration of this feast was transferred from Mon, Jan 6th). The Great Blessing of Water was held the prior Sunday, Jan 5th - see three updates below for that News Update.  

The Troparion for the Feast of Theophany: When You, O Lord were baptized in the Jordan / The worship of the Trinity was made manifest / For the voice of the Father bore witness to You / And called You His beloved Son. / And the Spirit, in the form of a dove, / Confirmed the truthfulness of His word. / O Christ, our God, You have revealed Yourself / And have enlightened the world, glory to You!

There will be a Valentine's Day Dance held on Saturday, Feb 15th in the Church Hall.  This is a fundraising event for St. George. 

Doors will open at 6PM, and dinner will be served at 7PM.

Tickets are $50 per person.  Children 12 and under are $20 per person.

The last day to call/confirm is Wednesday, Feb 12th. 

Please confirm with Nardi at 203-895-4263  or  Aida at 203-685-7231.

St. George was saddened to learn that a former parishioner, Dennis Schutte passed away on Monday, Jan 6th.  We extend our condolences to his sons David and Fr. Dennis, and their extended family.  Click onto the following link to view his Obituary.  Memory Eternal! I perjetshem kujtimi! 

Year-End 2024 Contribution Statements were emailed to parishioners on Friday, January 10th. 

If you haven't provided the church with your email address, or do not have an email account, please pick up your statement at the Church Desk this Sunday, January 12th.

For those who do not, or cannot, pick them up this Sunday - they will be physically mailed either on Monday or Tuesday, Jan 13th or 14th.

If you have any questions, please email the Financial Secretary @  luba.csernica@gmail.com , or text or phone @ 203-414-8141. 

The parish of St. George extends our thanks to the many people who helped support St. George with their dedicated stewardship work over the past year.

Click onto the more information link below to view details.  2024 Year-end thank yous

St. George is undertaking a special fundraising project as a parish during our Centennial Year (2025).  The fundraiser is called "Buy A Brick" 
 
The fundraiser is being used to finance the building of a “Prayer Patio” on our church grounds. The approximate location for the Prayer Patio will be on the right side of the church just off the parking lot, between the sidewalk that leads to the rear of the property and the church.  Click onto the following link to view the location:  St. George Prayer Patio location
 
The patio will be constructed with concrete brick pavers of a red brick color.  To support the construction cost, personalized engraved bricks can be purchased to be part of the permanent patio.
 
Donors may purchase personalized brick pavers as a way to permanently honor individuals, their family, and even to memorialize their deceased family members who were members of the St. George parish over the past 100 years.
 
We have set a goal to get a minimum of 100 bricks donated by our 100 year Anniversary celebration, which will be on June 22, 2025.  We are hopeful that this project will appeal to almost everyone, and we will exceed our goal.  
 
We will be collecting orders for the next 6 months, until the end of June 2025. The patio will not be built by the Anniversary celebration, but we will order the bricks to build the patio shortly after our Centennial Celebration.
 
The bricks are available in two sizes:
a 4 inch x 8 inch brick for a cost of $100, and
a 8 inch x 8 inch brick for a cost of $200.
 
The brick pavers will be engraved/etched with the donor’s requested names and/or message, with the etching finished in a black exterior paint.  There are sample bricks available to look at in the church hall.
 
On the 4x8 inch brick, you can utilize up to 3 lines (20 characters and spaces per line). 
For the 8x8 brick, 6 lines are available with a maximum of 20 characters/spaces per line.
Below please find links to some graphics with “Sample Messages” you may consider using.  All messages will be centered top to bottom, and left to right.  If you would like a blank line in the middle of your message, on the order form, you will be able to leave the appropriate line blank for the vendor to follow.
 
If you have any questions, please see or contact Curt Dionis at CPD19@att.net   or text/call on his mobile:  203-446-7195.  Please contact him after 6PM (after he gets off of work). 
 
Also below, please find links to order forms to purchase a personalized brick – please note there are separate forms for each sized brick.  You may bring in or mail the order form to the church (5490 Main St  Trumbull, CT  06611), or feel free to take a photo of your completed order form with your mobile phone and text the photo to Curt Dionis (his contact info is in the prior paragraph), or even scan your order form and email it to Curt.
 
Payment for any brick can be made by cash, check, or by credit card.   When using a check, please make the check out to St. George Orthodox Church with a notation ”Buy A Brick”  in the memo space.  You may pay by credit card utilizing the St. George Trumbull website -  go to the Support/Donate link on the top navigation bar on our Home page, click onto the red “Donate” box, and complete the boxes as displayed.  Please click onto “Buy A Brick – Prayer Patio” in the Give “To” box.
 
We hope you will all join in supporting this project, and/or permanently honoring your family and ancestors in our Prayer Patio!

Link to view Sample Messages for a 4 inch x 8 inch Brick

Link to view Sample Messages for a 8 inch x 8 inch Brick 

Link to a 4 inch x 8 inch Brick Order Form

Link to a 8 inch x 8 inch Brick Order Form

On Sunday, Jan 5th, St. George parish conducted the Great Blessing of Water. The celebration of Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Theophany (normally celebrated on Jan 6th) is being transferred to the following Sunday, Jan 12th.  Click onto the more information link below to view several photos.
 

In January 2025, we will be collecting for the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), an agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America whose mission is humanitarian relief and development.

To learn more, click onto the following link:  https://iocc.org

The celebration of the Feast of Theophany is being transferred from Monday, Jan 6th to Sunday, Jan 12th. 

We will be blessing the water on Sunday, Jan 5th at the end of Divine Liturgy, with the intention of passing out holy water bottles on January 12th.

Please remember to bring your empty plastic Holy Water bottles to church for Holy Water.  These bottles will be filled during the week of Jan 5th, and will be available to take home on Sunday, January 12th.   If you still have Holy Water in the bottle from last year, you may water a potted plant. 

Once again we will engage in the annual secular ritual of the Konizmat Icon Auction.  His Grace, Bishop Nikodhim, is encouraging all of his Archdiocesan parishes to have "Icon Sunday."

From the time of Turkish occupation, through the years, even in America, this was a traditional and important fundraising method for those whose Church heritage is from the central Balkans.

"Bids" are to be submitted and will be collected beginning the weekend of Jan 5th, and continue through Sunday, Jan 26th.  The icons will be assigned - based on the highest and/or earliest received bid.  Icons will be available to take home the following weekend, Sunday Feb 2nd.

Icons are to be returned back to church on Sunday, March 24th (Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy).  

The Icon and Bid form can be downloaded here:   2025 Konizmat Icons.    Forms will also be available at the Church Desk. 

Click onto the following link to read more on the Konizmat Icon Auction

Photo Note: Sketch of the procession for the "Restoration of the Icons" (Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy).

On Sunday Dec 29th St. George welcomed and thanked Bishop Nikodhim, Bishop of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese, for serving Divine Liturgy for us.  Additionally, St. George welcomed Nikollaq Lako, an Assistant to Bishop Nikodhim. After Divine Liturgy, the parish welcomed both as they joined us for a light lunch in the church hall. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

Christ is born! Glorify Him!  Krishti U-Lind! Lavdërojeni! are the traditional Orthodox Christian Christmas greetings in both English and Albanian. On the Eve of the Nativity of Christ, the St. George community celebrated the Nativity with the Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil. Many thanks to Olsi Nani who read the Gospel in Albanian. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

The Parish Council and Father Sergei decided to celebrate the feast of the Nativity of Christ (Christmas) with a Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil on Tuesday, December 24th, Christmas Eve, at 4:00 PM.

For those planning on taking Communion, in preparation, they should begin their fast by noon of December 24th.

For those following the livestream services, click onto the following link to view the service booklet:  Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil for Christmas.

Booklets will be available for those coming for the Vesperal Liturgy at the church.

There will be no church services on Wednesday, December 25th, but the church will be open from 10 to 11 AM for those who wish to offer prayers and or put up a candle.

On Saturday, Dec 21st, Sylvia Sophia Ancona was received into the Orthodox Church through the Mysteries of Baptism and Chrismation.  Sunday Dec 22nd was Sylvia's Churching service (presentation in the context of community) during Divine Liturgy.  We also congratulate her parents, Marica and Blaise, and her godparents Elena Andreopoulos & Nicolas Dacey.  Many Years!  Për Shumë Vjet!  Click onto the more information link below to view two photos of the family.

In accordance with the Orthodox Church teachings, Memorials cannot be held between Christmas day (December 25th) and Theophany (January 6th).

St. George Church was forwarded this invite from St. Dimitrie Church in Easton:

There is a retirement dinner / event to honor Fr. George and Preoteasa Mariana Coca.  The dinner is on Saturday, Jan 11th, 2025 at 1PM.  

The deadline for making reservations is next Tuesday, Dec 31st. 

Click onto the following link to view the details and reservation instructions:   Fr. George and Preoteasa Mariana Coca Retirement Dinner

The St. George Parish Family wishes you a joyous celebration of the Nativity of our Lord.  Christ is Born! Glorify Him!  Krishti U-Lind! Lavdërojeni!  Click onto the more information link below to view photos of each page of the Community Christmas Card.

On Saturday, Dec 14th, a group of St. George "Elves" delivered a bag of Christmas Cheer to some of our senior parishioners who are restricted at home or haven't been able to attend church services due to age or health. The gifts were assembled and delivered to help remind these parishioners that they remain in our thoughts and prayers.  The Christmas Cheer bag contained homemade cookies, candies and baked treats, and some seasonal teas and hot chocolate, a Christmas candle, along with a handmade card from one of our church school children. Our sincere thanks go out to: Pam Buzi, Sharon Buzi, Laura Coughlin, Diane Cryan, Luba Csernica, Laura Denisevich, Pauline Dionis, Jennifer Goetz, Cathy Hotova, Karen Masek, and Kim O'Brien. We also wish to additionally thank our Church School children who created the holiday cards.  Click onto the more information link below to view some photos.

At the end of Divine Liturgy, the following is the Prayer for Vocations, for a New Priest for St. George, that is read before the dismissal:

Choir:  Blessed be the Name of the Lord…(2x)
 
O Lord, the High Priest of God’s People, You have shown us that it is Your Will that men be called to the priesthood of Your Holy Church.
 
From the ranks of fisherman, You called Andrew and Peter, James, and John, and made them, and their successors in every age, to the be “fishers of men.”
·      We, Your people in this age, call upon Your great love to inspire dedicated men to be Your future priests.
·      Touch their lives with Your Holy Spirit; give them the courage to answer Your call and the strength to work all the days of their life in Your service.
·      As we call Your Name for more vocations, O great High Priest, send a priest after Your own heart to shepherd and lead Your flock here at the Saint George Orthodox Church.
 
For You are a loving God, and we praise Your Holy Name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Amen.
 

On Sunday, January 5th, we said a Prayer for our Jubilee Year.

Jan 5th was the first Sunday of 2025, and the beginning of the calendar year in which we will be celebrating St. George’s 100th Anniversary.  As a reminder, our 100th Anniversary celebration will be held on June 22nd.

This prayer will be said during Divine Liturgy monthly as we proceed towards our Centennial Celebration.  

Click onto the following link to view the prayer:   Prayer for our Jubilee Year
 
 Photo note:  The photo of the St. George Icon is from the cover of the ad book for the consecration of the new church in Trumbull (April 20, 1980)
 

Christ the Savior Church in Southbury extends an invitation to the Orthodox parishes in Connecticut, inviting them to attend a concert from the Yale Russian Chorus.  Below is an email invitation from Fr. Moses Locke, Pastor of Christ the Savior Church:
 
Dear Brothers,
We will have the Yale Russian Chorus here at Christ the Savior on Wednesday night, December 18th at 7pm. Please be sure to invite your parishioners to join us. Thank you!
In Christ,
Moses

On Sunday, Dec 8th after Divine Liturgy, the parish held its St. Nicholas Party during it's Coffee Hour.   This annual event is held specifically for the parish children, but also for the parish community to gather for fellowship and seasonal joy.  There is a visit from Santa for the children, and all are requested to donate a Christmas gift to donate to local charity toy drive – this year the Church School will be collecting and delivering those gifts to St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop and Food Bank who will distribute them to the underprivileged children of the lower Naugatuck Valley. The gathering was very well attended and enjoyed by all. Many thanks go out to Pauline Dionis, Curt & Nicole Dionis, and Laura Denisevich who handled all the major aspects of planning cooking and preparing for the celebration.  Thanks to Louise Gallagher & Cathy Hotova who helped with the cleanup, and Laura Coughlin who helped keep the coffee flowing.  A final thank you to Greg Buzi II for "arranging" Santa's visit, and to Sophie & Brooke Dionis who were Santa's helpers. Click on the more information link below to view several photos.

For the month of December, we will continue collecting for Trumbull Helps with our charity tray. 

The Trumbull Helps mission is “to make a difference by providing meals at the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, supporting the Trumbull Food Pantry, and coming together as a community to help others”. 

To learn more about Trumbull Helps, please click onto the following link: https://trumbullhelps.org

On Sunday, Nov 24th, a Doxology service (a prayer of praise to God) was held after Divine Liturgy recognizing Albanian Flag Day (Dita e Flamurit).  The official observation date for Flag Day (or Albanian Independence Day) is November 28th.  Click onto the following link to view a text of the Doxology service that was used.  Our thanks go to Nardi Tollkuci who read the prayer in Albanian, and also helped during Divine Litrugy by reading the Gospel lesson in Albanian.  Click on the more information link below to view a few pictures.
 

Greg Buzi II will be hosting a Prayer Group on Saturday, December 7 at 10:00 a.m. Please bring a small dessert or breakfast dish for fellowship afterward.

St. George 100th Anniversary Commemorative T-shirts are now on sale for $20!   Two styles are available - click on the following link to view the options:  100th Anniversary Commemorative T-Shirt options.  Additionally shirt samples are displayed in the church hall.  

The order with the vendor will be made on Dec 1st:  In order to ensure we can get shirts back in time for the Christmas holiday, orders with payments need to be received by Dec 1st.  Delivery of the order is expected by Dec 15th. 

There are 3 Ways to Order: 

Option 1:  Fill out a hard copy form at church and pay with cash or a check.

Option 2: Print out a hard copy form at home, and mail or drop off at church with a cash or check payment.  Click onto the following link to print out an order form:  St George Anniversary T-shirt Order Form

Option #3:  Fill out an online form and make a payment online with a credit card using our Tithe.ly account. Click onto the following link to order online:  https://forms.gle/ 57PUj3aQfEKYF2Hf9   After ordering, please click onto the following link to make a credit card payment using St. George's Tithe.ly account:  https://www.stgeorgetrumbull.org/supportdonate   Note: Click onto the red "Donate" button, and when the payment box opens, in the "To:" box, hit the down-arrow and please select "100th Anniversary - T-shirt"

Any questions? please contact: 

Laura Coughlin: Call or text @ 203-685-3839 or Email @ lemc15@aol.com 

Diane Cryan: Call or text @ 203-520-2811 or Email @ cryandb@aol.com

As always, we thank you for your support! 

As in years past, we will be collecting contributions for our annual Community Christmas Card. 

All submissions must be turned in by Sunday, December 8th for the card to be printed and mailed in a timely manner

Click onto the following link to view and download an offering form: 2024 Community Christmas Card Form. We invite all to take part.

If you prefer, hard copies of the form will be available at the church desk.  

As we announced before, His Grace, Bishop Nikodhim, has directed all parishes within the Albanian Archdiocese to annually celebrate/commemorate Flag Day/Dita e Flamurit on its observation date of November 28th, or on the prior Sunday.

Flag Day (or Albanian Independence Day) is on Thursday this year, so per Bishop Nikdhim’s directive, we will commemorate it after Divine Liturgy this Sunday, November 24th.
 
Please click onto the following link to view the Doxology (a prayer of praise to God) service that will used this Sunday: Albanian Archdiocese Flag Day Doxology
 

St. George wishes to congratulate Fr. Sergei Bouteneff on the occasion of his 47th anniversary of his ordination into the Priesthood which will occur this coming Monday, Nov 25th.  Many Years! Për Shumë Vjet! to Fr. Sergei, and to his family. 

Teuta will be holding a brief meeting on Sunday, Dec 1st during coffee hour - hope everyone can attend. 

Our annual St Nicholas party will be held on Sunday, December 8th.  A brunch will be held after liturgy followed by a visit from Santa. All children are welcome!

If you are planning on attending, please let Pauline Dionis know the number of participants and the name(s) and age(s) of any children. Pauline may be reached by phone at 203-261-0611 or email: 3grammmmmmma@gmail.com

All participants are encouraged to donate a new, unwrapped Christmas gift for a child - the Church School will be collecting and delivering those gifts to St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop and Food Bank who will distribute them to the underprivileged children of the lower Naugatuck Valley.

The following annoucement has been requested to be posted by Three Saints Orthodox Church in Ansonia:

St. Tikhon’s Seminary Choir Returns to Connecticut for the annual Sacred Music Concert!

We invite you to join us for a special evening of sacred music performed by the talented seminarians of St. Tikhon’s Seminary. This concert, dedicated to the memory of our beloved former chancellor and pastor emeritus, The Very Rev. Mitered Archpriest Nicholas Timpko, is a cherished annual tradition that brings together our community in celebration and remembrance.

The concert will be held at Three Saints Orthodox Church in Ansonia, CT, on Sunday, December 8th, at 4:00 p.m. All donations will go to support “The Very Rev. Mitered Archpriest Nicholas Timpko St. Tikhon’s OCA Seminarian Memorial Scholarship,” which contributes to the formation and education of future priests and leaders in the Orthodox Church.

While admission is free, we appreciate and encourage donations in support of this vital scholarship fund. Please see the flyer posted on your church bulletin board for more information. Checks can be made payable to Three Saints Orthodox Church (with “STOTS” in the memo line) and mailed to:
Three Saints Orthodox Church
ATTN: Scholarship
26 Howard Ave,
Ansonia, CT 06401

May our good Lord bless you for your generosity!

Click onto the following link to view the flyer:  2024 St Tikhon Seminary Concert Flyer
 

Beginning January 1, 2025 there will be an opening on the Parish Council for Recording Secretary. This involves taking and transcribing notes at the council and parish body meetings. The notes are kept in the Council Binder and forwarded to the council members and Bishop Nikodhem via Barry.
Please see Louise Gallagher for any questions. Thank you, Louise, for your 10 years of service!    
 

There are two options to order from - photos show the logos in detail

A 2024 Year-to-date Contribution Summary, that includes donations received through Sunday, November 3rd, were emailed to parishioners on Wednesday, November 13th.  For those who have not provided us with an email address and were not in church this past Sunday, those statements were physically mailed on Tuesday, November 19th. 

If you have an email address, we would appreciate it if you would forward it to us so we may use it, rather than utilizing physical mail. 

If you have any questions or corrections, please contact the Financial Secretary, Luba Csernica:  email: luba.csernica@gmail.com ; text or call: 203-414-8141.

Thank you for your continued support of St. George!

On Sunday November 10th after Divine Liturgy (the day before Veteran’s Day), St. George recognized our Veterans for their service to our country. Children from our Church School prepared some hand-made Thank-you cards which they gave to the Vets.  Click onto the following link to view the Veteran’s Day Prayer that was read during the recognition.  Click onto the more information link below to view a several photos. Many Years!

As in prior years, St. George will be recognizing and expressing thanks to our Military Veterans on Sunday, Nov 10th.   In the United States, Veterans Day is celebrated the following day (Mon, Nov 11th). 

The Nativity Fast (often referred as Advent in the West) began on Friday, November 15th, and lasts through the Divine Liturgy of Christmas Day.  This is one of the four fasting seasons during the year. 

During this time, Orthodox Christians fast and pray in preparation for the Feast. According to the Tradition of the Church, we observe this Fast by abstaining from meat (including poultry and eggs), dairy, olive oil and wine. On Wednesdays and Fridays, we also abstain from fish.

In a long-standing tradition, the bishops of the OCA gave a special dispensation to break the fast for Thanksgiving.  

While many people relax these rules, it is important that we do as much as we can, so that we can properly prepare ourselves spiritually for the Great Feast of our Lord’s Nativity. 

Attached below you will find an educational pamphlet for reading in preparation of this fasting season: Preparing for the Nativity of Christ  

As we did in prior years, over the next 3 months (from November 2024 through early February 2025), St. George will be collecting frozen hams and turkeys. They can be placed in the church's freezers located in the Church Hall Storage Room.  

This charity project's intent is to donate the hams and turkeys to local soup kitchens during February 2025 - this is typically when food donations are low. We will target to deliver them after Valentines Day, Feb 14, 2025.

Click onto the following link to view the News Update from last year's donations: https://stgeorgetrumbull.org/news_240220_2

Thank you again for your continued support of our various Charity efforts throughout each year!

Below is an invitation from Fr. Moses Locke of Christ the Savior Church in Southbury for the Vespers of St. Nektarios:

All are invited to Christ the Savior Parish in Southbury, Sunday November 10th, 2024 at 4:00 pm for the Vespers of St. Nektarios. Please note this is the Sunday after his Feast Day.

There will be a procession with his relics, prayers for the sick and anointing with the oil from St. Nektarios’ tomb. A light Buffet will follow.

On the feast, Saturday November 9th, there will be Divine Liturgy at 9:15 am, all are invited.

Christ the Savior Orthodox Church
1070 Roxbury Rd Southbury Ct. 06788

-Fr. Moses Locke

Our November charity tray will be earmarked to support Trumbull Helps.

The Trumbull Helps mission is “to make a difference by providing meals at the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, supporting the Trumbull Food Pantry, and coming together as a community to help others”. 

To learn more about Trumbull Helps, please click onto the following link: https://trumbullhelps.org

St. George held it's annual Fall Bazaar on Saturday, October 26th. The Bazaar is St. George's major fundraising event during the calendar year. A heartfelt thank-you goes out to all who had their hand in assisting with the Bazaar in some way - with organizing, set-up, cooking, baking, donating, working the event, and cleaning up at the end.  The Bazaar featured Ethnic dishes, Take-out meals, Albanian pastries, Take-A-Chance table, and Handcrafted items for sale.  We especially wish to recognize and thank the women of the Teuta Society who are the major driver and effort behind this event. Click onto the following link to view the 2024 Bazaar Ad Book - we ask you to review and note the businesses that supported us, and return the gesture by supporting their businesses. Click onto the more information link below to view several photos.

Below is an invitation from Three Saints Church in Ansonia to their Fall Youth Party:

2024 Fall Youth Party at Three Saints
 
On Thursday, October 31, at 4 pm, Three Saints in Ansonia will host a friendly alternative to Halloween. We will start in the church with a Moleben followed by games, food, prizes and candy.

We need volunteers to help, and donations of candy, or monetary assistance. It’s an open invitation to all but reservations must be made no later than Wednesday, the 30th.

A $5 per person donation is requested to help offset the cost just a bit.

Please email us at threesaintschurch@gmail.com or call us at 203-735-0117 to offer your time with our youth or to RSVP.
 
 

Click onto the following link to view the 2024 Fall Youth Party flyer.

On Saturday, October 12th, Fr Sergei blessed the marriages of Sarah and Brian Davis and Chelsey and Hans Lugus. Thank you to Fr Sergei, Charlie Soter, and Peter Dacey for their participation in this joyous service. We wish both couples Many Years!

As an early reminder, Daylight Saving time ends on the first Sunday in November, which for this year is Sun, Nov 3rd.  This marks the return to Standard time when at 2AM, clocks need to be turned backward one hour to 1AM.  

Additionally on this day, the Service start time for Divine Liturgy will change from 9:30AM to 10AM.  
 
 

Background on service start-times:
The Parish Council conducted a start-time survey with parishioners in the fall of 2020. That survey resulted in the majority of parishioners preferring a 9:30AM start time, but as part of a compromise, the Council decided to go back to a 10AM start time during the winter months. 

This is the current approved Calendar Schedule for Divine Liturgy: 
10AM Divine Liturgy (from the 1st Sunday in November through March)
9:30AM Divine Liturgy (from the 1st Sunday in April through October)

We need everyone who is able, to help after coffee hour on Sunday, Oct 20th to rearrange the tables in preparation for the Bazaar. Thank you!

The Teuta Ladies.
 

According to Archdiocesan instruction given by Bishop Nikodhim, all of the parishes in the Albanian Archdiocese are directed to follow “Byzantine practice“ for the readings of the lectionary for Sunday liturgy.  A lectionary is a book that contains the Scripture readings for each day of the year.

Bishop Nikodhim notes that the same readings are used by the Church of Albania.

The directed sequence of readings differs from the published calendar that we have been using in our parish.

St. George was saddened to learn that a former parishioner, Virginia (Spiro) Schutte passed away on Monday, Oct 7th.  We extend our condolences to her husband Dennis, her sons David and Fr. Dennis, and their extended family. Click onto the following link to view her Obituary.  Memory Eternal! I perjetshem kujtimi! 

Click onto the following link to view and listen to an interview of Fr. Grigori Pelushi with Bishop Nikodhim. Fr. Grigori is a visiting dignitary from the Orthodox Church in Albania, and is the chair of Radio Ngjallja in Albania. Fr. Juxhin Skhurti served as a translator during the interview. The interview was conducted on October 3, 2024 in Boston, MA at the St. George Albanian Orthodox Cathedral -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk66DImFNGU
 
Bishop Nikodhim, Fr. Grigori, and Fr. Juxhin recently visited St. George on September 22nd, when Fr. Grigori gave a presentation to parishioners on the Orthodox Church in Albania. Click onto the following link to view an news update on that visit:  Welcome to Fr. Grigori Pelushi from the Orthodox Church of Albania
 

St. George was saddened to learn that James Rubis passed away on Friday, October 4th.  The family has requested that the funeral and burial services be private. Click onto the following link to read James Rubis' obituary. We extend our sympathies to Jim's wife Gloria, his children Michael, Christopher, and Michele, his sister Viola Watson, and their extended family.  Memory Eternal! I perjetshem kujtimi! 

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.
 

If there is an emergency, and you would like a priest to contact you, call

Father Sergei at 203-331-2251 (cell),  203-713-6007 (home) 

or 

Bill Kovachi at 203-449-4404 (cell). 

We will continue collecting for The Theological Student Fund of the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America for our October 2024 Charity Tray.  
 
As a reminder, you will find a special envelope in your Offering Envelope box labeled “Seminarian Fund” in the October slot.
 
As always, your generosity is appreciated.

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.

There will be a Parish Body Meeting held after Divine Liturgy on Sunday, October 6th.  Please mark your calendars.

All members are encouraged to attend and participate.
 

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
 

There is a lot of scheduled activity the next several days in the Albanian Archdiocese and with our St. George parish.
 
2024 Albanian Archdiocesan Assembly is this weekend, beginning Thurs evening, Sept 19th and ends on Sat, Sept 21st.  The Assembly is being held at St. Peter and Paul Church in Philadelphia.
 
Some specific items of interest:
-              The monastic tonsure of Fr. Dennis Rhodes.  (Friday, 9AM)  Opening prayers on Friday and Divine Liturgy on Saturday; can be watched live, or watched later recorded, via St. Peter and Paul’s YouTube channel: (https://www.youtube.com/@sspeterpaulorthodoxchurcho1810).
-              Deacon Juxhin Shkurti to be ordained as a Priest (Saturday, 10AM Divine Liturgy)
-              Fr. Gregori Pelushi visit to the Albanian Archdiocese.  Reminder – Fr. Gregori will be visiting St. George on Sunday at 5PM to speak to the parish. There will be a light dinner available to all participants.  Please RSVP via call or text to Curt Dionis @ 203.446.7195
 
Please click onto the following link below to read additional details on this weekend. The information is located on the Recent News page of the Albanian Archdiocese of America website.  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.

UPDATED Annncement (from Sept 13, 2024):

As we announced last weekend, at 5PM on Sunday, Sept 22nd, we will be hosting a visit from His Grace, Bishop Nikodhim and Fr. Grigori Pelushi, with Fr. Grigori leading a talk with the parish.  Fr. Grigori is a visiting dignitary from the Orthodox Church in Albania,and is visiting the Albanian Archdiocese in America at the end of September.  

All parishioners are invited to attend to hear and speak with Fr. Grigori, we will meet in the church hall.  To learn more, click onto the links below in the ORIGINAL announcement.

There will be a light meal available for participants, as 5PM is the beginning of dinner time for many people. 

To gather an approximate headcount so we may prepare properly, please contact Curt Dionis (contact methods below) to confirm your attendance.  

Curt can be reached the following ways:

- Call or text him on his mobile phone: 203.446.7195

- Email him at:  CPD19@att.net  

- See him in person this Sun, Sept 15th at St. George

Thank you in advance for your participation!  
 

ORIGINAL announcement (from Sept 6, 2024):
Hold the Date - Visit by Fr. Grigori: Sun Sept 22nd; 5PM

Fr. Grigori Pelushi, a visiting dignitary from the Orthodox Church of Albania, will be visiting the Albaniian Archdiocese in America towards the end of September. Fr. Grigori is the chair of Radio Ngjallja and the secretary of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Albania.
 
Click onto the following links to read a brief bio on Fr. Grigori.  
Fr. Grigori Pelushi Bio – ENGLISH
Fr. Grigori Pelushi Bio – SHQUIP (Albanian)
 
On Sunday, September 22nd later in the afternoon, around 5PM, His Grace, Bishop Nikodhim will be arriving at St. George with  Fr. Grigori for a visit with our parish as part of Fr. Grigori's visit to the US.
 
The parish community is invited to join the visit, and to hear and speak with Fr. Grigori.
 
Please block your calendars so you may attend this visit. More information will be forwarded when it becomes available.
 

On Sunday, October 6, 2024, FORCC (Fellowship of Orthodox Churches of Connecticut) will celebrate the 31st Anniversary of its founding with it's Annual Banquet.

The annual banquet will be held at St. Dimitrie Romanian Orthodox Church in Easton starting at 12:30pm.

The guest speaker will be The Right Reverend Benedict, Bishop of Hartford and New England.

Reservations are required for the banquet, no tickets will be sold/paid at the door.

A buffet dinner will be available for $50.00 for reservations made by Sept. 20th.  Tickets are $55.00 if paid between Sept 21st and Oct 6th). Children's tickets, up to age 12, are $10.00.

Proceeds of this dinner provide major funding for FORCC programs.

For tickets, contact Bob Lazar who is our parish FORCC representative, or Nina Kosowsky at 203.305.5683.

Click onto the following to view or download the: FORCC 31st Anniversary Flyer

Also, click onto the following to download the form for the:  FORCC 31st Anniv Ad Program.  
 
 

The 1-year anniversary of the falling asleep of our former long time Chancellor of the Albanian Archdiocese, Father Arthur Liolin, is Saturday, September 28th.  On Sunday, September 29th, St. George will hold a memorial service in his memory at the end of Divine Liturgy, as directly by His Grace, Bishop Nikodhim to all the parishes within the Archdiocese.

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. 

Fr. George Coca of St. Dimitrie Church in Easton wishes to extend an invitation to St. George’s parishioners for this Saturday, Sept 14th  at 6PM to greet Hawaii's Myrrh-Streaming Iveron Icon and to attend an Akathist service.  

Presently, the icon is on a visitation schedule to the Midwest and the East Coast, and is scheduled to visit St. Dimitrie this Saturday evening: 

Saturday, Sept 14th;   Saint Dimitrie Orthodox Church   504 Sporthill Road  Easton, CT 06612-1744

6:00pm, Greeting of the Wonderworking Iveron Icon    6:15pm, Akathist to the Holy Theotokos

To learn more about Hawaii’s Myrrh-Streaming Icon, click onto the following link - to the Holy Theotokos of Iveron Orthodox Church’s (in Hawaii) webpage:  https://www. orthodoxhawaii.org/icons

The 2024 annual CT United Ride (Motorcycle Ride), which is CT’s largest annual 9/11 tribute, is being held this Sunday, Sept 8th:

As a heads-up:  The southbound portion of Main Street in Trumbull will be essentially shutdown as the riders move through Trumbull beginning around 12:30PM for about 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
 
Below is an email from the Trumbull Police Department notifying our parish that Main St. southbound will be essentially shutdown on Sunday:

Good morning I wanted to notify you that next Sunday, 09/08, the CT United 911 motorcycle ride will be traveling through Trumbull. At approximately 12:30 pm it will be almost impossible to have any traffic enter onto Main St southbound. The ride usually last for 1-1 ½ hours.
Please contact me if you have any questions.

Lt. Ken Jones
Trumbull PD

The  Church Bazaar is back and will be held in our church hall on Saturday, October 26th, from 11:30am to 6:00 pm. There are many ways you can help:

The Take a Chance table is looking for new gifts such as themed baskets, gift cards, wine and children’s gifts.  See Luba Csernica:  luba.csernica@gmail.com or 203-414-8141 (Mobile).

Please consider baking for our Baked Goods table.  See Laura Chadwick: lchad@att.net or 203-218-1552 (Mobile) or Kim O'Brien:  kimobrien720@gmail.com  or 203-907-5578 (Mobile).

Would you like to purchase a page/ad in the Program Booklet to help offset the costs?  Click onto the following link to download a Bazaar Ad Book Donation form, or see Diane Cryan: cryandb@aol.com or 203-520-2811 (Mobile).

If you would like to work at the bazaar or are looking for another way to help, please talk to Laura, Luba, Diane, Kim or any other Teuta members.

The first day of the 2024 - 2025 Church School Year will begin on Sunday, Sept 15th.   Please see Curt Dionis if you have any questions.

We wish to give our best wishes for continued success to our collegians: 

Hayley Dionis who is beginning her college career at Furman University (South Carolina).

James Goetz - pursuing his Masters in Finance from the University of Maryland

The St George community would like to extend their condolences to the O’Brien family on the passing of John’s mother, Mary O’Brien, on September 1, 2024. May her memory be eternal!

On Sunday, September 1st after Divine Liturgy, St. George held a memorial service on the occasion of the 5th year anniversary of Archbishop Nikon's death.  His Eminence, Archbishop Nikon served as the Archbishop of Boston, New England, and the Albanian Archdiocese. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.
 

The first day of the Liturgical New Year in the Orthodox Church is September 1st.  At the end of Divine Liturgy, and after the Ambo Prayer, the following prayer was read for the Church’s New Year:  Prayer for the New Year.  Click onto the more information link below to view two photos.

Our September 2024 Charity Tray will be dedicated to The Theological Student Fund of the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America.  

As a reminder, you will find a special envelope in your Offering Envelope box labeled “Seminarian Fund” in the October slot.

As always, your generosity is appreciated.
 

The first day of the Church New Year in the Orthodox Church is September 1st.

Click onto the following link to view a Prayer for the New Year.

This Sunday, September 1st, marks the 5th year anniversary of the death of Archbishop Nikon.  His Eminence, Archbishop Nikon served as the Archbishop of Boston, New England, and the Albanian Archdiocese.  We will be offering memorial prayers at the end of Divine Liturgy.

The 100th Anniversary Committee will be meeting next Sunday, Sept 8th after Divine Liturgy in the Church Hall. 

St. George held a Parish Picnic after Divine Liturgy on Sunday, August 25th.  The picnic was held outside on the rear yard, and was a fundraiser hosted by the Teuta Ladies Society. Many thanks to all that supported the picnic by cooking and preparing salads and sides of food, managed the grills, set-up and broke down the tents, tables, chairs, and grills, and helped with all the final clean-up.  And finally a thank you to all who supported the event by participating. We would especially like to thank Mary, John, & Maribeth DiIlulio, and Pierre Rhodes (Maribeth's boyfriend and owner of Beyond All Drones).  Pierre took numerous drone photos and put together a video of the picnic from above. Click onto the more information link below to view photos and the video from the day. 

St George Parish Picnic will be held Sunday, August 25th, after Divine Liturgy.

New Note:  To kick off St. George's Centennial plans, we will be taking a group Parish photo on this day after church. 

Please click onto the following link to view, download, or forward a copy to family and friends of St. George:  St George 2024 Parish Picnic Flyer

Tickets are $20 for adults / $10 for children 12 and under. This includes hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, sides, chips, soft drinks and desserts. Please reserve by Tues, August 20th.

Tickets are available at the candle desk and from Diane Cryan (203-520-2811 or cryandb@aol.com).

We’re looking forward to seeing all St George family and friends. Get together for a great party!

The great feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos falls annually on August 15th.  We had hoped to transfer this feast to Sunday, August 18th, however we do not have a priest, choir director, or reader available to serve a Divine Liturgy or a Reader Service.

Because of this, there will be no service held on Sunday, August 18th.  However, the church will be open from 9:30AM to 10:30AM for anyone to enter, light a candle, and say a prayer. 
 

We congratulate Haley Dionis who is receiving a scholarship for the 2024-2025 school year from the Thomas and Katherine LaBache Scholarship Fund. The St. George parish offers best wishes to Haley for a successful year!

SAVE THE DATE:   The Teuta Society will be holding our annual Bazaar and Food Festival on Saturday October 26th!    
 
This is the parish’s major fundraiser for the year.  Please be support the Bazaar by participating, and of course by helping out.  Additional details will be coming soon.
 

St. Dimitrie is holding their 44th Fall Festival on Friday and Saturday, September 6th & 7th.   

They have asked that we post their flyer and notify our parishioners of their fund raising event. 

As most of you know, St. Dimitrie is located at 504 Sport Hill Rd in Easton.  Click onto the following link to view their flyer:   St. Dimitrie 2024 Fall Festival 

Below is an invite from Fr. Mark Roosien of Holy Ghost Church in Bridgeport with his invite to our parishioners to join their picnic on Sunday, Sept 8th  Click onto the following link to view their flyer:  2024 Holy Ghost Picnic Flyer

Dear St George's, 
 
Joyous Feast!
 
I wanted to let you know about Holy Ghost Church's annual picnic on Sunday, September 8 at our park grounds in Shelton. I would ask that you please distribute the flyer attached and let the good people of St George Church know they are invited. 
 
Yours in Christ,
Fr Mark 

St. George welcomed and wishes to thank Fr. Dennis Rhodes for serving Divine Liturgy for us on Sunday, August 11th.  We celebrated the Feast of the Transfiguration, which was transferred from Tues, Aug 6th.  After Divine Liturgy, Fr. Dennis blessed grapes, fruit, and vegetables that is traditional on this feast day.  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 below to view some photos.

The Teuta Ladies Society will have their next meeting this Sunday, August 11th after Divine Liturgy during coffee hour.

The purpose of the meeting is to finalize plans for our August 25th parish picnic.  

Click onto the following link to view, download, or to forward to family or friends of St. George  St. George 2024 Picnic flyer. 

Please try to attend - all are welcome!
 

For the month of August, we will continue collecting for The Thomas Merton Center which is located in Bridgeport.  They provide “Meals, Shelter, and Support” to those in need in the greater Bridgeport area.

Their stated mission:  “The Thomas Merton Family Center is committed to providing a loving, safe and hope-filled community atmosphere that responds to the needs of its guests. Respecting the dignity of each person, we reflect to the individual and the community our shared responsibility to love and support one another. We believe the sharing of a hot meal is an invitation to come in and share in a place where one can belong; respect and love are mutually given and received; each person is valued and not to be judged; and healing life’s hurts is possible with people who care. Collaboration with other agencies and people is essential to meeting the needs of those we serve.”

To learn more, click on the following link:https://www.ccfairfield.org/project/thomas-merton-center/

As always, thank you for your generosity!  

 In the Orthodox Church, it is common practice to bless grapes (as well as any other fruit and vegetables) on the great feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. This feast normally falls on August 6th.  At St George this year, we will be transferring and celebrating this feast day on Sunday, August 11th.
 

 

On Sunday July 21st (the 4th Sunday after Pentecost) St. George wishes to thank The Right Reverend Nikodhim, Bishop of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese, for serving Divine Liturgy for us.  After Divine Liturgy, the parish welcomed Bishop Nikodhim as he joined us for Coffee Hour in the church hall. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

On Tuesday, July 30, at 6:30 pm, Greg Buzi II will be hosting a Jesus Prayer Meditation followed by a Potluck supper.

All are invited. Please bring a small dish of food of your choice.

The Teuta Ladies Society will have their next meeting this Sunday, July 14th after Divine Liturgy during coffee hour.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss upcoming events including the parish picnic and the bazaar.

Please try to attend - all are welcome!
 

On Sunday, July 7th, we commemorated All Saints of America.  We were blessed that Fr Sergei shared an icon of Saint Herman containing his relics, which was located on the center table of the church. Saint Herman’s relics are enshrined in a small reliquary at the bottom of the icon (below his feet). Click onto the more information link below to view some photos and to read additional information about the St. Herman icon and St. George's icon of Albanian and American saints. 
 

For the month of July, we will be collecting for The Thomas Merton Center which is located in Bridgeport.  They provide “Meals, Shelter, and Support” to those in need in the greater Bridgeport area.

Their stated mission:  “The Thomas Merton Family Center is committed to providing a loving, safe and hope-filled community atmosphere that responds to the needs of its guests. Respecting the dignity of each person, we reflect to the individual and the community our shared responsibility to love and support one another. We believe the sharing of a hot meal is an invitation to come in and share in a place where one can belong; respect and love are mutually given and received; each person is valued and not to be judged; and healing life’s hurts is possible with people who care. Collaboration with other agencies and people is essential to meeting the needs of those we serve.”

To learn more, click on the following link: https://www.ccfairfield.org/project/thomas-merton-center/

As always, thank you for your generosity!  

St. George celebrated the Feast of Pentecost on Sunday, June 23rd with Divine Liturgy immediately followed by the Kneeling Vespers.  The Feast commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit and is also seen as the culmination of the revelation of the Holy Trinity. 

The Troparian for Pentecost:  Blessed art You O Christ Our God / You have revealed the fishermen as most wise / By sending down upon them the Holy Spirit / Through them You drew the world into Your net / O Lover of Man, Glory to You!

Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

Congratulations to Sarah (O’Brien) and Brian Davis on the birth of their son, Banks Calloway, born June 12, 2024. He joins big sisters, River and Saylor. Grandparents are John and Kim O’Brien and great-grandmother is Toni Barmashi.  Per Shume Vjet!  Many Years!                                         
 

St. George recognized Fathers’s Day on Sunday, June 16th.  Names were read by Peter Dacey after our Reader Service, as seen in the photo on the left. The choir led the singing of Memory Eternal after the reading of the names of the departed, and Many Years after reading the names of those living.

On Sunday, July 7th, at 4:00 PM, at All Saints of North America Church, 313 Twin Lakes Road in Salisbury, CT, there will be an Akathist Service (a service of praise and thanksgiving)to celebrate the Feast of All Saints of North America with Bishop Benedict, Bishop of Hartford and the Diocese of New England presiding. 

The Akathist will be celebrated before the Relics and Icons of 10 of the North American Saints: St. Herman of Alaska, St. Innocent Apostle to America, St. Tikhon Enlightener of North America, St. John of San Francisco, St. Nikolai of South Canaan, St. Raphael of Brooklyn, St. Mardarije of Libertyville, St. Alexis of Wilkes-Barre, St. Sabastian of Jackson and St. Vasily who served in Waterbury CT.

Click onto the following link to view a Flyer

The parish marked the end of the Church School year on Sunday, June 9th with a short Recognition and Commencement exercise immediately after Divine Liturgy. Our congratulations go out to the Students, and our thanks go to Curt Dionis for coordinating the Church School program, and to Pauline Dionis and Nicole Dionis for their teaching and backup coordination efforts to the program. Many years!  Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

We are preparing for our annual Fathers’s Day Commemorations. This year, Father's Day is on Sunday, June 16th.

At this time, we have not been able to secure Priest coverage for that day, so we will be holding a Reader Service.  Prayers for our Departed and Living Fathers will be made at the end of that service.

Please submit your donation and names of your father, stepfather, sons, stepsons, husbands, brothers, stepbrothers, great grandfather, great grandsons, grandfathers, grandsons, great-uncles, uncles, nephews, godfathers, and all those who were "fathers" to us in our time of need.  Clearly indicate whether they are Living or Deceased.  

Finally, please submit your names to Louise Gallagher by Saturday, June 15th at 3PM - she needs time to prepare a prayer list for use during Divine Liturgy on Sunday.  Louise can be reached by email: jlgall103@aol.com, or by phone @ 203-268-3803.

Applications for the 2024 Thomas and Katherine LaBache Scholarships are now being accepted. 

Click on the following link to view the 2024 Announcement

Click on the following link to view the 2024 Guidelines

Click on the following link to obtain the 2024 Application

Reminder - the applications must be returned by Sunday, July 21st.

St. George was saddened to learn that Archpriest John Scollard unexpectedly fell asleep in the Lord on Friday, May 31st. Fr. John has been attached and serving as the Dean of Saint George Albanian Orthodox Cathedral in Boston.  

For 35 years, he was the former pastor of Saint John the Baptist Church in South Boston until the parish was tragically destroyed by fire in 2013.

Click onto the following link to view an In Memoriam from the OCA: https://www.oca.org/in-memoriam/archpriest-john-scollard  St. George held a Memorial Service for Fr. John on Sunday, June 2nd after Divine Liturgy. I perjetshem kujtimi! 

St. George wishes to thank the Teuta Ladies Society for organizing and holding a Spring Brunch after Divine Liturgy on Sunday, June 2nd.  We specifically wish to thank all those who prepared dishes and desserts, and helped with the set-up and cleanup, and for those who came out to support the fundraiser.  It was a rewarding display of fellowship and stewardship. Click onto the more information link to view several photos. 

We are continuing our June 2024 Charity tray again to support Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo's CDC - Conservation Discovery Corp.  CDC is a volunteer group of high school kids.  
 
The CDC kids are going to Yellowstone National Park - 2024 Eco Expedition in August of this year for 10 days. Only 10 students are chosen with a prerequisite that they must fundraise to help defray their costs. This is the 2nd year for this program to Yellowstone. Prior to the kickoff of the 2024 fundraising program the CDC kids who went to the 2023 Eco Expedition group gave a presentation to the public at the Zoo and other locations talking about their work and experiences in Yellowstone. Last year the CDC students along with chaperone Zoo staff went to Yellowstone working with expert Rick McIntyre to track the Junction Butte (wolves) pack in Lamar Valley:  https://www.yellowstonewolf.org/yellowstones_wolves.php?pack_id=3

Some additional information:
 
Excerpt from CT’s Beardsley Zoo website:
 
Conservation Discovery Corps ​​
 
What is it? CDC is a year-long volunteer program that will allow teens to explore zoological and environmental careers while presenting to and interacting with small groups of visitors at the Zoo.  Teens will also have the opportunity to participate in exciting field conservation research studies in the field.
 
Get involved with local conservation education and field work.  Qualified high school students will have the opportunity to work side by side with field biologists, study the role of zoos in conservation and help educate the zoo’s visitors.  This is a year-long program with the opportunity for greatest involvement during the summer months.  
 
Excerpt: Facebook page:
 
Conservation Discovery Corps at the Beardsley Zoo 
 
What is it?  The Conservation Discovery Corps is a high school volunteer program where students educate zoo visitors on our animal collection and the zoo conservation efforts as well as engage in active conservation in the local community to support wildlife.
 
 Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is recognized as a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization and an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)

Congratulations to our 2024 Graduates who recently completed their studies and graduated. We extend our best wishes to them for continued success!
 
TJ Coughlin – received a Master’s Degree in Film and Television Production from Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA)
Hayley Dionis – graduated from Greenwich High School
Erin Galich – received a B.A. in Psychology from Central Connecticut State University (New Britain). 
James Goetz – graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.A. in Economics. 
Pandora Kerma – received her Associate degree in Photography at Connecticut  State Community College (Housatonic Campus, Bridgeport)
Christopher Michael – received his Master’s of Education from Columbia University

On Sunday, May 26th, St. George recognized Memorial Day by praying for all of our deceased military veterans from the parish family. Memorial Day is a holiday that was established to officially remember those who have died in service to our country. St. George expanded our remembrance to include all the deceased veterans of our “parish family”, adding relatives of our parish family that served in the military and are now deceased. We also wish to thank the living military veterans who participated during the Memorial Service by standing in vigil (Veterans Day was established to officially thank our living veterans).  Prayers were said for 105 deceased veterans - click onto the following to view the list of names: St George - Names of Deceased Military Veterans.  Memory Eternal!  Please click onto the more information link below to view a  few photos from the service.

The parish will mark the end of the Church School year with a short Recognition Ceremony & Commencement on Sunday, June 9th immediately after Divine Liturgy.  We wish to acknowledge and congratulate the students, teachers, and coordinators for all of their efforts and dedication this past year.

St. George extends congratulations to Luiza Tollkuci and Evan Stamps who were married on Saturday, May 18th.  We also wish to congratulate Luiza's parents, Nardi and Silijana, her sister Kristina Tollkuci, and her grandparents Nikolas and Liuiza Tollkuci. Many Years!  Për Shumë Vjet!  Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos. 

St. George learned of the repose of Vanthi Nani on Tuesday, May 14th. We extend our deepest condolences to Vanthi’s husband Koco Nani, her daughter Entela Gjylapi, her son Olsi George Nani, and to her extended family.  Click onto the following link to view her Obiturary-Vanthi Nani.  May her memory be eternal!   I perjetshem kujtimi! 

St. George recognized Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 12th during Divine Liturgy.  Prayers were offered for all of the living and departed mothers, stepmothers, daughters, stepdaughters, wives, sisters, stepsisters, great grandmothers, great granddaughters, grandmothers, granddaughters, great-aunts, aunts, nieces, godmothers, and all those who "mothered" us in our time of need. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

On Sunday, May 26th following Divine Liturgy (which is Memorial Day weekend), we will hold our annual commemoration of the deceased military veterans of our parish family. Memorial Day is a holiday that was established to officially remember those who have died in service to our country (Veterans Day was established to officially thank our living veterans).  

St. George believes we only have one military serviceman who was our parishioner, Michael J. Vani, who died in service (during World War II). 

St. George has expanded our remembrance to include all the deceased veterans of our “parish family”, and relatives of our parish family that served in the military and are now deceased.  There are two additional names of servicemen who died during their military service - William Liolin and Victor Peristere - they were not parishioners of St. George, but relatives of our parishioners.

For the service, the veterans of our community will stand honor guard around the center Memorial Table.

Click on the following link to view the names list that has been compiled from years previous:  St. George – Deceased Military Veterans from the St. George parish families. If anyone recognizes any missing names, please contact Louise Gallagher by Saturday, May 25th at 3PM, either at her email: jlgall103@aol.com,  or by phone @ 203-268-3803. 

Please click onto the following link to view our specific thanks to the many people who helped to make Lent, Holy Week and Pascha beautiful and meaningful celebrations.  Thank you for their Stewardship!

Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen!  Krishti U-Ngjall! Vërtet U-Ngjall! are the traditional Orthodox Christian Paschal greetings in both English and Albanian. The St. George community recently completed the service cycle of Great Lent and Holy Week to Holy Pascha, with the celebration of the Midnight Paschal Liturgy on May 5th.  Click Here to view the Paschal greeting in numerous languages.  Please click onto the more information link below to view several photos from the Pascha service.

On Friday, May 3rd, St. George completed services for Great and Holy Friday (Good Friday) with the afternoon Vespers Service of Taking down from the Cross, and the Friday evening Matins service for Great and Holy Saturday, with the Praises (or Lamentations) at the Tomb of Christ.  Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.  Come back in a few days to view some additional photos.

Attached is the Paschal Letter from Bishop Nikodhim to the parishes of the Albanian Archdiocese.  Please note one is in English, the other is in Albanian (Shqip). 

Bishop Nikodhim's 2024 Paschal Letter - English

Bishop Nikodhim's 2024 Paschal Letter - Albanian (Shqip)

On Thursday evening, May 2nd, the Matins Service of Great and Holy Friday with the readings of the Twelve Gospel Lessons was held. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos. 

Below is an invitation from the Teuta Society to the parishioners and friends of St. George:
 
Teuta will be sponsoring a fundraising Spring Brunch Buffet on June 2nd after Divine Liturgy (there will be no regular coffee hour that day).

Tickets are $20 per person and $10 for children 12 and under.  Please reserve by Wednesday, May 29th. 
 
Please send payment to the Teuta Society, care of St. George. You may buy tickets at the candle desk, or contact Diane Cryan at 203-520-2811. 
 

Our May 2024 Charity tray will be supporting Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo.  Specifically we will earmark the donation to the CDC - Conservation Discovery Corp.  CDC is a volunteer group of high school kids.  
 
The CDC kids are going to Yellowstone National Park - 2024 Eco Expedition in August of this year for 10 days. Only 10 students are chosen with a prerequisite that they must fundraise to help defray their costs. This is the 2nd year for this program to Yellowstone. Prior to the kickoff of the 2024 fundraising program the CDC kids who went to the 2023 Eco Expedition group gave a presentation to the public at the Zoo and other locations talking about their work and experiences in Yellowstone. Last year the CDC students along with chaperone Zoo staff went to Yellowstone working with expert Rick McIntyre to track the Junction Butte (wolves) pack in Lamar Valley:  https://www.yellowstonewolf.org/yellowstones_wolves.php?pack_id=3

Some additional information:
 
Excerpt from CT’s Beardsley Zoo website:
 
Conservation Discovery Corps ​​
 
What is it? CDC is a year-long volunteer program that will allow teens to explore zoological and environmental careers while presenting to and interacting with small groups of visitors at the Zoo.  Teens will also have the opportunity to participate in exciting field conservation research studies in the field.
 
Get involved with local conservation education and field work.  Qualified high school students will have the opportunity to work side by side with field biologists, study the role of zoos in conservation and help educate the zoo’s visitors.  This is a year-long program with the opportunity for greatest involvement during the summer months.  
 
Excerpt: Facebook page:
 
Conservation Discovery Corps at the Beardsley Zoo 
 
What is it?  The Conservation Discovery Corps is a high school volunteer program where students educate zoo visitors on our animal collection and the zoo conservation efforts as well as engage in active conservation in the local community to support wildlife.
 
 Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is recognized as a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization and an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)

On April 28th, St. George celebrated Palm Sunday, which marks the Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem. After Divine Liturgy, there was a procession of palms lead by the youth and children of the parish. The blessing of the palms and branches followed with parishioners holding their branches high. This year, due to difficulty acquiring pussy willow branches, a mix of boxwood branches and palm fronds were bundled for blessing.  Palm crosses were made by the Church School and handed out during the dismissal. Thanks to Anna Bouteneff, Fr. Sergei, Cathy Hotova, and Sue & Joe Galich for assembling the boxwood branches and palm fronds on Lazarus Saturday. Click on the more information link below to view several few photos.

The St. George Holy Week Service Sechedule was revised on Thursday, April 25th.   Please click onto the following link to view or download a copy:   2024 REVISED Holy Week Service Schedule

We are preparing our annual Mother’s Day Commemorations.

Please submit your donation and names of your mother, stepmother, daughters, stepdaughters, wives, sisters, stepsisters, great grandmothers, great granddaughters, grandmothers, granddaughters, great-aunts, aunts, niece, godmothers, and all those who "mothered" us in our time of need.  Clearly indicate whether they are living or deceased. 

Please submit your names to Louise Gallagher by Saturday, May 11th at 3PM - she needs time to prepare a prayer list for use during Divine Liturgy on Sunday.  Louise can be reached by email: jlgall103@aol.com, or by phone @ 203-268-3803. The names will be remembered in prayer during the Divine Liturgy on Mother’s Day, May 12th.

All donations will be used for the beautification of the Church.
 

According to Orthodox teaching, no Memorial Services may be served in the Church from Lazarus Saturday (April 27th) until the Tuesday after Thomas Sunday (May 14th).

Similarly, there are no funerals/burial services served from Holy Thursday (May 2nd) through Bright Monday (May 6th).  

Our departed will only be commemorated at the Proskomedia (Liturgy of Preparation).

On Saturday, April 20th, Sydney May Gartsu was received into the Orthodox Church through the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Chrismation. Congratulations to her parents, Crystal and Jason Gartsu, her godmother, Gretta Lee Cynthia (Gartsu) Flynn, grandparents Elsie and Tom Gartsu, and the extended Gartsu family. Sydney May was churched the following day, on Sunday April 21st.  God grant her Many years! Click onto the more information link below to view a larger photo from the Churching.

It’s that time again for our Myrrhbearing Women to gather to decorate the Petafi (Christ’s Tomb).

Great and Holy Friday is on May 3rd. We will meet at 10:00 a.m. and the decorating will take approximately 2 hours.

Everyone is welcome. If you have any questions, please contact Pauline Dionis at 203-261-0611.

If there are pussy willows that have not yet budded in your neighborhood, please remember we need them for Saturday, April 27 at 4 PM

2024 Vacation Church School at Three Saints Park

When- June 17-21, 2024.    (Registration deadline June 1st)

Where- Three Saints Park, 112 Miller Road, Bethany, CT 06524. 

Time – Daily 9am to 4pm with Family Night on Friday starting at 5pm. 

Cost - $50 per child.

Come join us for our week-long Vacation Church School for youth ages 5-15. Your child will experience fun, faith, friendship, swimming, games, bible study, religious education, worship and song. This year’s theme will be “Christ’s Healers”. 

Questions? - Call Fr. Patrick Burns (203) 734-3988 Children of all faiths are welcome! If you are 16 or older and are interested in volunteering, please contact Fr. Patrick for a volunteer application.

Click onto the following link to view a flyer and registration form: 2024 Vacation Church School  

Below is an email from Fr. Moses Locke regarding the Diocese of New England 2024 Youth Rally:

On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 11:15 AM, Fr. Moses Locke

It is our pleasure to formally open the registration for the 2024 Youth Rally to be held from August 5th-10th at the St. Methodios Faith and Heritage Center in Contoocook, NH (https://www.saintmethodios.org/).

The application can now be found on our diocesan website here: https://www.dneoca.org/youthministry
 
The deadline for registration is July 15th. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Fr. Moses Locke (frmoseslocke@gmail.com).
 
Again, we want to reiterate that no child will be turned away due to financial constraints. We would ask that the parents first start in their own parish for financial help, and if they are unable to secure help to speak with Fr. Moses Locke.
 
Our youth camp is so valuable for our children, please help spread the word and distribute this information widely. Thank you all for your support!
 
In Christ,
Fr. Moses and the Youth Rally Staff
 

Click onto the following link to view the 2024 Youth Rally Flyer

On Sunday April 14th (the 4th Sunday of Great Lent, commemorating St. John Climacus (of The Ladder)), St. George welcomed The Right Reverend Nikodhim, Bishop of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese, who served Divine Liturgy for us. After Divine Liturgy, Bishop Nikodhim joined the parish for it’s Coffee Hour in the church hall. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

St. George wishes to thank Greg Buzi II who on Thursday evening, April 11th, hosted a short prayer service followed by a screening of the movie “Man of God” in the church hall. “Man of God” is a movie about St. Nectarios of Aegina. The movie originally was released in April 2021.
The Storyline from Wikipedia:  Man of God brings to life the incredible true story of Saint Nectarios of Aegina, Greece. A priest of the common people, his humility annoyed the prideful orthodox clergy of the day. In contrast to his religious superiors - the bishops and patriarchs mesmerized by worldly honors and power - Nectarios cared for the poor; taught peasant girls to read and write; inspired by example young men to enter the priesthood; and wrote books and delivered sermons that uplifted nations of believers. In this exquisitely made film, relive Nectarios' inspiring devotion and perseverance as, despite the efforts of the religious establishment to discredit him and dismantle his good works over decades, he embraced humility and inspired thousands to become one of Greece's most renowned saints.

At Divine Liturgy on the third Sunday of Great Lent (April 7th), St. George commemorated the Veneration of the Cross. The Cross is venerated as it stands in the middle of the Church at the middle of Great Lent, reminding us of Christ’s redemption. The Troparian for the day:  O Lord, save Your people, / and bless Your inheritance. / Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians, / over their adversaries. / And by virtue of Your Cross / preserve Your habitation! Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

As a reminder, as we exit the winter season, Divine Liturgy returns to a 9:30AM start time the first Sunday of April, which is April 7th. 

The 9:30AM start time will continue for the next 7 months.  We will return back to the 10AM schedule the first weekend in November.
 

The Teuta Ladies Society will have their next meeting on Sunday, April 7th after Divine Liturgy.  The purpose of the  meeting is to discuss Easter and spring events.

All are welcome to attend!

The Parish is having it's Children's Easter Egg Hunt following the Paschal Vespers service on Sunday, May 5th.

The Church School will be hosting the Coffee Hour that day after the Paschal Vespers service.

We are requesting candy donations to support the Egg hunt. We have plenty of plastic eggs so there is no need to donate those. The candy donations should be brought to church by Palm Sunday, April 28th. There will be a box in the vestibule for the donations.

Reminder, for those bringing young children, please bring a basket for them to collect their eggs during the hunt.

Thank you for your continued support!

In April 2024, St. George will be collecting for the Bridgeport Rescue Mission. Their mission is “to fight poverty from the inside out by embracing people with the compassion of Christ, offering hope and healing for a changed life”

Go to the following link to learn more: https://bridgeportrescuemission.org 

Once again, we are wearing the red and white bracelets (called a Veror bracelet) on our right hand during lent, an ancient Balkan tradition now incorporated into our Lenten practices.

If you want to be part of this practice, please see Pauline Dionis to get your bracelet.

The bracelets are removed after the services of Pascha, and left on a bush or shrub so a bird can take it for nesting purposes.

Click onto the following link to learn more about the Veror Albanian Lenten bracelet tradition.
 

On Thursday April 11th at 6:00 PM, Greg Buzi will host a short prayer service followed by a screening of the movie “Man of God” in the church hall.

Man of God is a movie about St. Nectarios of Aegina.
 
Click onto the following link to view a trailer for the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcgnbVlQ7Tc

On Sunday, March 24th, St. George recognized the Sunday of Orthodoxy, (or The Triumph of Orthodoxy) on the 1st Sunday of Great Lent. Our parish celebrates an annual Albanian secular tradition called the “icon auction” or “Konizmat”, which began back in February when parishioners took home some of the church icons they bid on as part of a Stewardship tradition.  On Sunday (for The Triumph of Orthodoxy), the persons who took “their” icon home back in February returned them back to the church during the procession of the Great Entrance. To learn more, click onto the following link:  Konizmat Icon Auction
 
Additionally, at the end of Divine Liturgy, St. George held prayers for the blessing and guidance of the Albanian Archdiocese, along with a  memorial service for all of our departed diocesan hierarchs, and for the priests and priftëresha who served our parishes.  This is a new commemoration inaugurated by Bishop Nikodhim, and will be held annually on the Sunday before the Feast of the Annunciation, which is March 25th each year.  Please click onto the more information link below to view some photos.
 

Greg Buzi II will be leading a prayer and discussion group each Thursday evening during Great Lent.  

The group will meet at 6:15PM. All are welcome!

Below please find the 2024 Lenten Pan-Orthodox Vespers Schedule  

The following contains the schedule of Pan-Orthodox Lenten Vespers services in our region.
Special note: FORCC (Fellowship of Orthodox Church in Connecticut) is hosting the April 7th Vespers.  
 
Sunday, March 24th - 1st Sunday of Lent
Sunday of Orthodoxy/Eve of Annunciation  
4PM Vespers;  St. Dimitrie Church, Easton
 
Sunday, March 31st – 2nd Sunday of Lent
St. Gregory Palamas
4PM Vespers; Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Bridgeport
 
Sunday, April 7th – 3rd Sunday of Lent
Sunday of the Cross
FORCC Sunday
4PM Vespers;  St. John the Baptist, Bridgeport
 
Sunday, April 14th - 4th Sunday of Lent
St. John Climacus (of The Ladder)  
4PM Vespers; St. Nicholas Antiochian, Bridgeport
 
Sunday, April 21st - 5th Sunday of Lent
St. Mary of Egypt
4PM (Holy Unction Service) Three Saints Church, Ansonia
 

On Sunday, March 3rd after Divine Liturgy, the Teuta Ladies Society of St. George held its annual luncheon for its members at Vazzy’s in Bridgeport.  This year marks the 93rd year of the Teuta Society’s founding.  The Teuta Ladies continue to be the most important driver of St. George’s fundraising, charitable, and social efforts.  Click onto the more information link below to view several photos from the luncheon. 

There will be a Parish Body Meeting on Sunday, March 24th after Divine Liturgy.  

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss Stewardship.  

All members are encouraged to attend and participate. 

In March 2024, we will continue collecting for the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), an agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America whose mission is humanitarian relief and development.

To learn more, click onto the following link:  https://iocc.org

The St George community would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Jean Brideau on the passing of her brother, John Rafail, who passed away in Oregon last week. We also extend our condolences to the Galich family on the passing of Joe’s brother, George Galich.  Memory eternal!

There will be a Parish Body Meeting held after Divine Liturgy on Sunday, February 25th.  All members are encouraged to attend.
 

Teuta invites all the women of St George to a luncheon on Sunday, March 3rd at 12 Noon.

The luncheon will be held at Vazzy's, 513 Broadbridge Rd, Bridgeport. Cost is $32/person.

If you are interested, please contact Diane Cryan on her mobile: (203) 520-2811 or by email: cryandb@aol.com, or mail a $32 check addressed to Teuta, care of St George, as soon as possible,

The last day to signup is Wednesday February 28th.

Please pass this invitation along to anyone else who may be interested. 

Recently, food donations were delivered to a food pantry and two soup kitchens.  Throughout the year, St. George maintains the collection of non-perishable food stuffs, personal hygiene products and household cleaning products. Several times a year, those donations are delivered to one of our local food pantries. Recently a delivery of those donations was made to the Monroe Food Pantry – thanks to Greg Buzi Sr. for making the delivery.  Between November 2023 and early February 2024, St. George’s parishioners collected frozen hams and turkeys to distribute to local soup kitchens during February when donations are historically low.  On Monday, Feb 19th, 20 frozen hams and turkeys were delivered to the Thomas Merton Family Center (Bridgeport) and the Beth-El Center (Milford) who operate soup kitchens.  Thanks go out to Brooke & Sophie Dionis and their mother Nicole, and Fr. Sergei for making the deliveries. Finally, many thanks to our parishioners who support these outreach initiatives, those who purchased and donate all the foods, hygiene products, and cleaning products throughout the year.  Click onto the more information link below to view a larger photo.

St. George has just completed setting up an Online Giving option with Tithe.ly.
 
What is Online giving?  Online giving allows payments to be made either through a credit card, debit card, or directly from a bank account.
 
Why are you doing this?  Online giving options for charities have been available for over 20 years. Online giving has become more and more popular over the years, and is widely used today by numerous churches and the vast majority of charities.
 
St. George is adding this as an additional payment option for persons to donate to St. George.  Obviously, our traditional options of donating to St. George by cash or check will continue for those who prefer to use those methods.
 
Why are you using Tithe.ly?  Tithe.ly is the #1 giving platform for churches. Over 37,000 churches and ministries in 50 countries around the world use Tithe.ly. Additionally, our website host, Orthodox Web Solutions, recommends Tithe.ly, and has developed a fully integrated option to work with our website. Finally, there were no set-up fees or monthly fees for using Tithe.ly.  We have set up an account with Tithe.ly and executed several test donations over the past few weeks to verify that the donations are processed and documented properly to our checking account.
 
What are the fees to make a donation with Tithe.ly?  As with all electronic payment methods, there are fees charged to use/process donation payments with online giving.  The traditional credit card or debit card fee to make a donation is 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. Note: American Express charges a higher processing fee, using their card will cost 3.65% + $0.30 per transaction. If you choose to use your bank account, the fee is 1.0% + $0.30 per transaction. We ask those who wish to use the online donation service to pay for the donation fees, as this is a common practice when donating to a charity.
 
How do I make an online donation? Currently, there are two methods to make an online donation to St. George:

Option 1 – Using the donation platform on our website: (https://www.stgeorgetrumbull.org). On the navigation bar at the top of the website, click onto the “Support / Donate link”. This will open up to our donation platform page. Click onto the red “Donate” button and a Tithe.ly payment window will open up where you can make your donation. This payment window is similar to what you will find if you use any other online payment function for any retail or charity provider.  If you intend to use the online donations payment method frequently, to speed up the process of making a donation, you may set up an account with Tithe.ly (the link to set up an account is on the top right of the Tithe.ly payment window).

Option 2 – Using the Tithe.ly App on your mobile phone.
You may download the Tithe.ly Mobile app for Apple phones (iOS) on the App Store, or for  Google phones (Android) on the Google Play Store. The correct Tithe.ly app icon has a light green background. After downloading the Tithe.ly app, it will ask you to set up an account (name, email address, PIN).  Next it will ask you to “Find a church …“  Search for and select:  “St. George Orthodox Church, 5490 Main St. Trumbull”.  Follow the payment instructions to finish setting up your account and to make a donation (Credit, Debit, or Bank Account).
 
Future capability: After running for a few weeks, we will be working on setting up a Kiosk (to operate off of a tablet) to make online donations at St. George. This would facilitate parishioners or visitors requesting to make an online donation at the church, assuming they have a credit card, debit card, or their bank account information with them.  This Kiosk/tablet would also be available for use during the Fall Bazaar and other fund raising events for credit card transactions.
 

The Teuta Ladies sponsored a Lakror Workshop & Social on Saturday, February 10th. Lakror is a taditional Albanian pie typically made with a vegetable filling. A group of 14 women participated. The workshop purpose was to learn how to make lakror or to brush up on techniques, but also to be social and fun. At the end of the baking session, the group had a lunch sampling their creations. Many thanks to Laura Denisevich who organized, purchased the ingredients, and coordinated the event.  Click onto the more information link below to view photos from the day.

On Wednesday, Feb 21st at 6:00PM, Greg Buzi II will host a Jesus Prayer Meditation.

This will be followed by light refreshments and presentation of St Justin Martyr's Second Century Account of the The Divine Liturgy.

As we did last year, we have been collecting frozen hams and turkeys since November of last year to distribute to local soup kitchens during this month. The month of February is traditionally a low food donation month for local charities.

We are planning to distribute the frozen hams and turkeys on Monday, Feb 19th (Presidents Day).

The last day to bring the donations to the church freezers (in the Church Hall Storage Room) is Sunday, Feb 18th.

Click onto the following link to view the News Update from last year's donations:  https://stgeorgetrumbull.org/news_230221_1

Thank you again for your continued support of our various Charity efforts throughout each year!
 

On Sunday, February 4th, St. George celebrated the Feast of The Meeting of Our Lord in the Temple (referred to as “Papandia” in Albanian). The feast was transferred from Friday, Feb 2nd.   For our Teuta Ladies Society, this day is their Patronal Feast, with 2024 marking the 93rd year of the Teuta Society’s founding.Traditionally the Teuta Society offers 5 loaves, wheat, wine and oil for the celebration, and grure, (a boiled-wheat confection) for the health of the parish family. Adding to the joy of the occasion was the presence Deacon Eugene & Livia Shkurti. Deacon Eugene joined Fr. Sergei in serving Divine Liturgy. He is in his third and final year of studies at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary in NY.  Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.
 

In February 2024, we will be collecting for the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), an agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America whose mission is humanitarian relief and development.

To learn more, click onto the following link:  https://iocc.org

The collection of non-perishable food stuffs is, and has been, an on-going ministry in the parish.  The proceeds are directed to local area food banks for distribution to those who are in need. 
St. George maintains collection boxes in the rear of the church for donating non-perishable food items all year.  
 
Typical food item needs include:
 
o   Coffee: 1 lb containers
o   Tea
o   Breakfast foods: hot and cold cereals, breakfast bars, pop tarts
o   Syrup (regular or sugar free)  
o   Pancake Mix
o   Canned fruit (regular or low sugar - preferably in juice)  
o   Canned vegetables
o   Apple sauce (ie., low sugar, no sugar, natural juices)
o   Pancake mix and syrup
o   Chicken, Beef, or Vegetable Broth  
o   Hamburger Helper, Knorr Pasta/Rice Sides, Macaroni & Cheese
o   Jarred tomato sauce and tomato product (crushed, puree, diced, paste)
o   Shelf stable milk (whole, soy, almond)
o   Gluten Free Products
o   Juice and juice boxes
o   Peanut butter and jelly
o   Canned beans (low sodium, kidney, black, white, red, garbanzo, pink, pinto)
o   Laundry detergent and dish soap
o   Hygiene products: shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste, deodorant. 
o   Household cleaning supplies
o   Facial tissues
o   Napkins
 
Periodically we designate one of our monthly Charity tray donations to one of the local food banks.  Any monetary donations received by the food banks are used to purchase fresh vegetables, milk, meat, frozen vegetables, eggs, and any non-perishables needed to fill in their inventory.
 
“Hunger never takes a vacation!” is a theme used often during food drives. We appreciate everyone's continued support! 

The Teuta Ladies are sponsoring a Lakror Workshop Social on Saturday, February 10th at 10:00AM.

All are welcome to join us to learn how to make lakror or just brush up on your technique!

Of course we will be sampling what we make.  Please let Laura Denisevich know if you plan on attending so that enough ingredients can be purchased.

Bring your rolling pin!

On Sunday, January 14th, St. George welcomed The Right Reverend Nikodhim, Bishop of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese, who served Divine Liturgy for us. This was his first visit to St. George as Bishop. We also welcomed Barry Migyanko, the Diocesan Executive Administrator, who accompanied Bishop Nikodhim.  Finally, the parish of St. George wishes to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Bill Kovachi (and to his family). In a special surprise after Divine Liturgy, Bill was awarded the honor of the Knight of St. George award from Bishop Nikodhim. The Knight of St. George is the “highest honor that can be bestowed upon a layperson in the Archdiocese”, where the recipient is well recognized both for service to their parish as well as the Archdiocese over an extended period of time. May God bless Bill as he continues his Stewardship work for our community.  Click onto the more information link to view several photos. 

As a reminder, The Right Reverend Nikodhim, Bishop of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese, will be making his first visit to St. George as Bishop, and he will be serving Divine Liturgy this Sunday, Jan 14th.  

Since it has been quite a while since a Bishop visited with St. George, here are a few reminders:

1- If you want to greet the Bishop personally, you approach him with you right hand cupped in your left and say: "Your Grace, may I have your Blessing?" or "Master, Bless!"  
When he gives you his blessing, he will place his hand in yours, and then you kiss his hand.  In NO WAY do you shake hands with him.

2- If you are at a distance, and prefer not to greet him personally, just nod in his direction, as your eyes meet.

3- At coffee hour, rise when he enters the Church Hall. 

4- If he chooses to bless the food:   Lord's Prayer / Glory to the Father, etc. / Master, Bless.  After the Blessing:  "Per shume vjet!" (3x) 

The Teuta Ladies Society will have a meeting on Sunday, January 21st after Divine Liturgy.  

All are welcome to attend!

Fr. Sergei held the Blessing of Water service, and filled water bottles with Holy Water for our parishioners.

Holy Water is available to the faithful to pick-up and take home.

If you have bottles with Holy Water at home from last year, please pour out last year’s water on your houseplants and please bring the empty container for an exchange.

If you have no houseplants, pour the Holy Water into one of the bushes outside your house.

On Thursday January 25th. Greg Buzi, II will be offering a Jesus Prayer meditation followed by light refreshments and a discussion on the approaching feast of The Meeting of The Lord in the Temple.

It will begin at 6:15PM

The parish of St. George extends our thanks to the many people who helped to make our Christmas services beautiful and meaningful celebrations, and to those who helped support St. George with their dedicated stewardship work over the past year. Click onto the more information link below to view details. 

FORCC (The Fellowship of Orthodox Churches of Connecticut) is inviting Orthodox youth (young people ages 2 through teens) to a Duckpin Bowling Social on February 18, 2024 from 2PM until 4PM. 

The social will be held at Devon Duckpin Bowl at 551 Naugatuck Ave in Milford (Devon).

There is a capacity limit of 60 people (children + adults), so please make reservations.  For more information or to make reserviations, please contact Eve Nucifora by Feb 11th at 203-675-1575 or  eveckn@gmail.com

Click onto the more information link below to see a larger view of the flyer. 

For the month of January, our Charity tray will continue to collect for Caroline’s Place.  

This charity comes to us through the suggestion of Pauline Dionis who knows Sofia Cole, a parishioner of Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church in Southbury. Sofia is a high school senior and the granddaughter of Father Vladimir Aleandro. She is a volunteer at Caroline’s Place which is a Catholic pregnancy resource center in Waterbury.

Caroline’s Place relies totally on individual donations so your generosity is especially appreciated. 

Click onto the following link to learn more and to view their website:  https://carolynsplace.org/ 

Click onto the following link to view a Prayer for the New Year.

Christ is born! Glorify Him! & Krishti U-Lind! Lavdërojeni! are the traditional Orthodox Christian Christmas greetings in both English and Albanian.  Additionally, on Sunday, Dec 24th during Divine Liturgy (on the Eve of the Nativity of Christ), St. George joyously witnessed Sally Balis being received into the Orthodox Church.  Many God grant Sally Many years!  Please click onto the more information link below to several few photos.

Please remember to bring your water bottles to church for the Holy Water on Sunday, January 7th. There will be a few available for purchase at the candle desk as well.

The St. George Parish Family wishes you a joyous celebration of the Nativity of our Lord.  Christ is Born! Glorify Him!  Krishti U-Lind! Lavdërojeni! Click onto the more information link below to view larger photos of the Community Christmas Card.  We wish to acknowledge a donation from "Brendan and Jane Quinn Family", however we received it after we went to the printer.  

On Saturday, Dec 16th, a group of "St. George Elves" delivered a bag of Christmas Cheer to some of our senior parishioners who are restricted at home or haven't been able to attend church services due to age or health. The gifts were assembled and delivered to help remind these parishioners that they remain in our thoughts and prayers.  The Christmas Cheer bag contained homemade cookies, candies and baked treats, some seasonal teas, a home-made Christmas decoration, a Poinsettia plant, and a handmade card from one of our church school children. Our sincere thanks go out to: Pam Buzi, Sharon Buzi, Laura Chadwick, Laura Coughlin, Diane Cryan, Luba Csernica, Laura Denisevich, Sue Galich, Jennifer Goetz, and Kim O'Brien. We also wish to additionally thank our Church School children who created the holiday cards and Dave Dougiello from Commerce Hill Funeral Home for a generous donation that was used to support this project. Click onto the more information link below to view some photos.

This year, the Church School Holiday break will be on Sunday, Dec 24th & Sunday, Dec 31st.  There will be no meet with Fr Sergei or class instruction on those days.

Church School will resume on the 1st Sunday in January, Jan 7th. 

We were saddened to learn that Priscilla Christianson died on Thursday, Dec 7th.  St. George extends our condolences to her husband Daniel, her sister JoAnn Mahoney, and their extended family.  Click onto the following link to view Priscilla's Obituary. Memory Eternal!

On Sunday, Dec 3rd after Divine Liturgy, the parish held its annual St. Nicholas Party during it's Coffee Hour. The Feast day for St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, is commemorated each year on December 6th  This event is held specifically for the parish children, but also for the parish community to gather for fellowship and seasonal joy.  There is a visit from Santa for the children, and all are requested to donate a Christmas gift to donate to local charity drives.  Click on the more information link below to view several photos. 

For the month of December, our Charity tray will benefit Caroline’s Place.  

This charity comes to us through the suggestion of Pauline Dionis who knows Sofia Cole, a parishioner of Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church in Southbury. Sofia is a high school senior and the granddaughter of Father Vladimir Aleandro. She is a volunteer at Caroline’s Place which is a Catholic pregnancy resource center in Waterbury.

Caroline’s Place relies totally on individual donations so your generosity is especially appreciated. 

Click onto the following link to learn more and to view their website:  https://carolynsplace.org/ 

St. George is extremely saddened to learn of the repose of Prifteresha Elisabeth (Lisa) Bouteneff, beloved wife of Fr. Sergei Bouteneff, on Saturday, November 25th.  Their ministry together faithfully served our parish of Saint George beginning in 1989 for 21 years, and most recently over the past 5 years in their retirement, filling in during our parish priest vacancy. The funeral and burial services were held on Thursday, November 30th at St. George Orthodox Church and at St. John's Cemetery in Monroe. We extend our deepest condolences to the Bouteneff family. Click onto the following link to view an In Memoriam.  May her memory be eternal!

There will be a Parish meeting at Coffee hour on December 17th.

Everyone is encouraged to attend.

On Saturday, November 25th (the 2nd day after Thanksgiving),  St. George wishes to congratulate Fr. Sergei Bouteneff on the 46th anniversary of his ordination into the Priesthood. Many Years! Për Shumë Vjet! to Fr. Sergei, Prifteresha Elisabeth, and his family.
 

 St. Tikhon’s Seminary Choir comes again to Connecticut for a special Sacred Music Concert.

Three Saints Orthodox Church in Ansonia, CT will again be hosting a Concert of Sacred Music, sung by seminarians from St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, PA on Sunday, December 3rd at 4 PM. 

In honor our former chancellor and beloved pastor emeritus, we will be funding “The Very Rev. Mitered Archpriest Nicholas Timpko St. Tikhon’s OCA Seminarian Memorial Scholarship”. There is no admission fee, but donations will help fund the scholarship, to help prepare priests and leaders within the Orthodox Church.  Please see the Flyer Posted on your Church Bulletin Board for more information. 

Donation checks made out to Three Saints Orthodox Church (with STOTS written on your memo line) may be mailed to:
Three Saints Orthodox Church
ATTN: Scholarship
26 Howard Ave,
Ansonia, CT 06401

Don’t hesitate to contact Dn.Peter Romanovsky at 203-305-5683 or pwromanovsky89@gmail.com for more information or look us up at threesaintschurch.org.

May our good Lord bless you for your generosity!

Click onto the following link to view the Conccert flyer.
 

We are excited to announce that our 2023 St. Nicholas celebration will be held during coffee hour on Sunday, December 3rd.  The Church School is sponsoring the Coffee Hour that day.

This is an annual event specifically for the parish children, but also for the parish community to gather for fellowship and seasonal joy.  There is a visit from Santa for the children, and all participants are encouraged to donate a new, unwrapped Christmas gift to donate to a local charity.

Please RSVP to Curt Dionis (cpd19@att.net), Pauline Dionis (3grammmmmmma@gmail.com ) or Sue Galich (susan.galich@snet.net) by Friday, December 1st, as we need a headcount for food planning and presents for the children.

Following Divine Liturgy on November 19th, Diane Cryan, the President of the Teuta Society, presented a check of $10,000 from profits of the recent Fall Bazaar to Bill Kovachi, the President of the Parish Council for St. George’s Future Fund.  Diane again thanked everyone for the great teamwork and efforts that had made the annual Bazaar a success. Many Years to the Teuta Society of St. George! Click onto the more information link to view a larger photo.

As in years past, we will be collecting contributions for our annual Community Christmas Card. 

All submissions must be turned in by Sunday, December 10th for the card to be printed and mailed in a timely manner.

Click onto the following link to view and download an offering form: 2023 Community Christmas Card Form.  We invite all to take part.

Please note there is a short note from the Parish Council on the top half of the form.

If you prefer, hard copies of the form will be available at the church desk.  

Gregory Buzi II will be leading a Lenten Akathist and prayer group every Wednesday during Christmas (advent) lent.

The group will meet at the church at 6:15 PM, starting November 22nd.

If you have any questions, feel free to call Greg Buzi II.  His mobile number is 475-218-2829.

Please attend this spiritually nourishing event.

On Sunday November 12th after Divine Liturgy (the day after Veteran’s Day), St. George recognized our Veterans for their service to our country. Children from our Church School prepared some hand-made Thank-you cards which they gave to the Vets.  Click onto the following link to view the Veteran’s Day Prayer that was read during the recognition.  Click onto the more information link below to view a several photos. Many Years!

On November 8th, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, have unanimously decided and decree for the Glorification (or canonization - the official recognition of a person as a saint of the Church) of Matushka Olga of Kwethluk, Alaska. 

Click onto the following links to view a 6 minute Video from His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon. 

St. George will be celebrating Festa e Flamurit (Albanian Independence Day) with dinner, music and dancing on Saturday, December 2nd. 

The celebration will begin at 6PM in the Church Hall.  Please note that beverages will not be served, please bring your own beverages for the evening.

Tickets $50 per person. Children under 15 years old cost $25 per person.  This is a fund raiser for the church. 

Last day to purchase tickets is Sunday, November 26th. Please see or call Nardi Tollkuci for tickets. Mobile: 203-895-4263.  

As we did last year, over the next 3 months (from November 2023 through January 2024), St. George will be collecting frozen hams and turkeys. They can be placed in the church's freezers located in the Church Hall Storage Room.  

This charity project's intent is to donate the hams and turkeys to local soup kitchens during February 2024 - this is typically when food donations are low.

Click onto the following link to view the News Update from last year's donations:  https://stgeorgetrumbull.org/news_230221_1

Thank you again for your continued support of our various Charity efforts throughout each year!

St. George held a 40-Day Memorial Service for the Very Reverend Protopresbyter Arthur E. Liolin on Sunday, November 5th after Divine Liturgy. Fr. Arthur was the  former pastor of St. George Albanian Orthodox Cathedral and Chancellor Emeritus of the Albanian Archdiocese in America. Click onto the following link to view an In Memoriam from the OCA:  https://www.oca.org/in-memoriam/protopresbyter-arthur-e-liolin 

On Sunday, November 12th, we will be recognizing our parish Veterans (Veteran's Day is Saturday, Nov 11th). 

For the month of November, our charity tray will go to support our Archdiocesan Seminarian, Deacon Eugene (Juxhin) Shkurti and his wife, Livia.  Deacon Eugene served with us several times over the past 2 years, and most recently they visited our Bazaar this last weekend. Deacon Eugene is enrolled at Saint Vladimir's Seminary and is in his final year of his three years of study there.

As always, we thank you for your generosity.

St. George held it's annual Fall Bazaar on Saturday, October 28th, it was a successful event on a beautiful warm and sunny day.  A heartfelt thank-you goes out to all who had their hand in assisting with the Bazaar in some way - with organizing, set-up, cooking, baking, donating, working the event, and cleaning up at the end.  The Bazaar featured Ethnic dishes, Take-out meals, Albanian pastries, Take-A-Chance table, and Handcrafted items for sale.  We especially wish to recognize and thank the women of the Teuta Society who are the major driver and effort behind this event.  The Bazaar is St. George's major fundraising event during the calendar year. We unfortunately have not been able to hold a Bazaar the past 3 years due to risks from the COVID pandemic  - so it was rewarding to see it’s return.  Click onto the following link to view the 2023 Bazaar Ad Book - we ask you to review and note the businesses that supported us, and return the gesture by supporting their businesses. On Nov 5th after Divine Liturgy, Diane Cryan, President of the Teuta Society confirmed the success of the Bazaar, thanked everyone who supported it this year, and reported that the proceeds from the Bazaar will net at least $11,200 (there remains some final donations and expenses to finalize, but the final proceeds will at minimum be in that range). Click onto the more information link below to view several photos.

Please view the following flyer which is an invitation from Christ the Savior Church in Southbury, regarding the Feast of St. Nektarios of Aegina on Sunday, Nov 12th at 4PM: 2023 Feast of St. Nektarios

We were saddened to learn of the passing of Jim Bindner on Saturday, October 7th.  St. George extends its condolences to Mary Lazar Bindner and the Lazar family. Memory Eternal!

On Sunday October 1st, after Divine Liturgy, St. George recognized it’s Choir and Readers as part of a national recognition of “Church Musician Sunday”. The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America has designated the Sunday on or following the commemoration of Saint Romanus the Melodist (October 1st) as “Church Musician Sunday.” Church Musician Sunday highlights the essential role of liturgical music in Orthodox Christian worship and the important role of church musicians in the life of the Church. The Parish Council hosted a coffee hour in honor of the Choir in the Church Hall.  Click onto the more information link below to view 2 photos.

It is with great sadness, but hope in the resurrection that we inform you of the passing of the Very Reverend Protopresbyter Arthur E. Liolin, former pastor of St. George Albanian Orthodox Cathedral and Chancellor Emeritus of the Albanian Archdiocese in America.

Click onto the following link to view an In Memoriam from the OCA. https://www.oca.org/in-memoriam/protopresbyter-arthur-e-liolin   

The Visitation and Funeral were held on Friday and Saturday, Oct 6th & 7th. A video of the Divine Liturgy held on Sat, Oct 7th can be viewed on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgeOrthodoxChurch  Thanks to Laura Chadwick for posting the streamed service. 

St. George held a Memorial Service for Fr. Arthur on Sunday, October 1st after Divine Liturgy.  Click onto the more information link below to view a photo. I perjetshem kujtimi! 

Our October 2023 Charity Tray will be dedicated to The Theological Student Fund of the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America.

As a reminder, you will find a special envelope in your Offering Envelope box labeled “Seminarian Fund” in the October slot.

Below is an invitation from Three Saints Church in Ansonia to their Fall Youth Party:

2023 Fall Youth Party at Three Saints

On Tuesday, October 31, at 4 pm, Three Saints in Ansonia will host A friendly alternative to Halloween.  

We will start in the church with a Moleben followed by games, food, prizes and candy. We need volunteers to help, and donations of candy, or monetary assistance.

It’s an open invitation to all but reservations must be made no later than Friday, the 27th.

Please email us at threesaintschurch@gmail.com or call us at 203-735-0117 to offer your time with our youth or to RSVP.

Click onto the following link to view or download their flyer:  2023 Three Saints Fall Youth Party
 

The  Church Bazaar is back and will be held in our church hall on Saturday, October 28th, from 11:30am to 5:30pm. There are many ways you can help:

The Take a Chance table is looking for new gifts such as themed baskets, gift cards, wine and children’s gifts. See Luba Csernica:  luba.csernica@gmail.com or 203-414-8141 (Mobile).

Please consider baking for our Baked Goods table.  See Laura Chadwick lchad@att.net or 203-218-1552 (Mobile)  or Kim O'Brien  kimobrien720@gmail.com  or 203-907-5578 (Mobile).

Would you like to purchase a page/ad in the Program Booklet to help offset the costs? Click onto the following link to download a Bazaar Ad Book Donation form, or see Diane Cryan: cryandb@aol.com or 203-520-2811 (Mobile).

If you would like to work at the bazaar or are looking for another way to help, please talk to Laura, Luba, Diane, Kim or any other Teuta members. 

Click onto the following link to download a copy of the 2023 Bazaar Flyer

St. George welcomed and wishes to thank Fr. David Koles for serving Divine Liturgy for us on Sunday, September 24th. Fr. David is recently retired, and was the former pastor at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in New Britain, CT.  

On Friday, September 15, 2023, the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America held it’s annual Archdiocesan Assembly at St. George Albanian Orthodox Cathedral in Boston.  At that Assembly, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America canonically elected Archimandrite Nikodhim to Diocesan Bishop of the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese. 

The next day, on Saturday September 16th at a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy presided by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, Archimandrite Nikodhim was consecrated to the episcopacy of the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America.  The consecration was held at St. George Albanian Orthodox Cathedral.

St. George wishes to thank Cathy Hotova and Bob Lazar who represented our parish as delegates to the Assembly on Friday.   Additionally, we thank Laura Coughlin and Karen Masek who attended the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and Ordination on Saturday. Finally, thanks to Pauline Dionis, Curt & Nicole Dionis and their daughters Brooke & Sophie who on Sunday, September 17th attended Bishop Nikodhim’s first service as our Diocesan Bishop.

Click onto the following link to view the OCA News update (photos can be viewed at a link at the bottom of the article:  https://www.oca.org/news/headline-news/episcopal-ordination-of-bishop-nikodhim-as-bishop-of-boston-and-the-albanian-archdiocese

Click onto the following link to view 2 videos from the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ89Wnj586M  and  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF2rII0uQJA

Also click onto the more information link below to view a few photos from the Hieracrchical Divine Liturgy and Episcopal Ordination, and from Bishop Nikodhim's 1st Divine Liturgy service as the Archdiocesan Bishop .

We recently learned of the passing of Florence Costoulas.  Florence is the maternal aunt of Bev Dacey. St. George extends our condolences to the Dacey family. Memory Eternal!

Congratulations to Chelsey (O'Brien) and Hans Lugus on the birth of their son, Otto Wallace, born on September 7, 2023. He weighed in at 7lbs 8oz. Proud grandparents are Kim and John O'Brien and Jennifer and Kristjan Lugus.  His great-grandmothers are Toni Barmashi and Mary O'Brien.  Per Shume Vjet! Many Years!

St. George was saddened to learn that Walter Ostrowski passed away on Monday, September 11th.  Walter was the brother-in-law to Jen Goetz. We extend our condolences to the Ostrowski, Goetz, and Lopen families. May his memory be eternal!

Below is the official announcement from the Albanian Archdiocese regarding the upcoming Annual Assembly and Episcopal Ordination of Bishop-Elect Nikodhim:
 
The Annual Assembly of the Albanian Orthodox Church in America will be hosted this year (2023) by St. George Albanian Orthodox Cathedral on Friday, September 15, 2023.  This year's Annual Assembly is being held in conjunction with Episcopal Ordination of Bishop-Elect Nikodhim (Preston) as bishop of the Albanian Archdiocese.  This event will take place on Saturday, September 16, 2023 with Matins beginning at 9:00am followed by the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 10:00am.  All are invited and encouraged to attend this hostoric event in the life of our Archdiocese.
 
As a reminder: Cathy Hotova and Bob Lazar are representing our parish as delegates to the Assembly which will be held on Friday.
 
Additionally: Laura Coughlin and Karen Masek will be attending the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and Ordination on Saturday.  Below you will find an copy of the invite. You may contact them if you are interested in going. The luncheon option is unavailable as the venue has sold out.

Finally;  Pauline Dionis, Curt & Nicole Dionis and their daughters Brooke & Sophie will attend Divine Liturgy on Sunday, September 17th at the Cathedral in Boston for Fr. Nikodhim’s first service as our Diocesan Bishop.

Gift Announcement:  Individuals have contacted the chancery office asking about options of an appropriate gift for Fr. Nikodhim on the occasion of his episcopal ordination.  St. George is not soliciting donations, but we were instructed to advise areas to donate towards for anyone interesting in making a gift. After Divine Liturgy last weekend, a review of a letter which discusses appropriate gift options was discussed, and a copy of the letter was handed out with the weekly Bulletin. Click onto the following to view this letter:  Gift Option Letter Episcopal Ordination Sept 2023

Below, please find the Episcopal Ordination flyer from the Archdiocese. 
 
 

Saint George will join the nationwide “Church Musician Sunday”,  recognizing our Choir on Sunday October 1st.  

The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America has designated the Sunday on or following the commemoration of Saint Romanus the Melodist (October 1st) as “Church Musician Sunday.”

This yearly designation will take place this year on Sunday, October 1, 2023.

Church Musician Sunday highlights the essential role of liturgical music in Orthodox Christian worship and the important role of church musicians in the life of the Church. 

Parishes are encouraged to recognize those who serve in the various roles involved in Church music: choir directors, singers, chanters, readers, composers, arrangers, and bell-ringers, through a public acknowledgment following the Divine Liturgy.

To the left is a photo of St. George's icon on the rear (or north-side) wall of the choir, which 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 is his choir. 

Click onto the more information link below to view a larger photo of St. George's icon. 

The beginning of the 2023 - 2024 Church School Year began on Sunday, Sept 10th.  Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

The following is a status of some of our young adults currently enrolled in college. We give our best wishes for their continued success!

Erin Galich - is a Senior majoring in Psychology at Central Connecticut State University (New Britain). 
James Goetz - is a Senior attending University of Maryland, majoring in Economics.
Pandora Kerma – is majoring in Photography at CT State Community College (the old Housatonic Community College).  

This year's annual Bazaar will be held on Saturday, October 28th.  Additional details will be coming soon.

On Sunday, September 10th will be the annual CT United Ride (a motorcycle ride with police escort riding through 11 cities and towns to honor those who lost their lives during the 9/11 tragedy).  Please take note of the following which affects Main Street southbound in Trumbull: 

From the Trumbull Police Dept: 
On Sunday 09/10/23 the CT 911 motorcycle ride will take place. There will not be access to Main St southbound from approximately 12:30-1:30 in the afternoon. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call me.
Lt. K. Jones, 203-261-3665

Donations collected from the September 2023 Charity Tray will continue one additional month to be ear-marked for the Spooner House in Shelton CT.

The stated Mission Statement of the Spooner House is:
Spooner House is operated by Area Congregations Together, Inc. with the mission of providing food, shelter and support services to people in need. All of our energies are devoted to helping our clients establish a self-sufficient living situation. We recognize the dignity of our clients, we give them our respect and we deliver our services without proselytizing.

To learn more, please click onto the following link:  http://www.actspooner.org

St. George learned James Karoli passed away on Thursday, August 31st.  We send our condolences to wife, Rachel, his sister Louise Gallagher, and the rest of the Karoli family. Memory Eternal!

St. George held a Parish Picnic after Divine Liturgy on Sunday, August 27th.  The picnic was held outside on the rear yard, and was a fundraiser hosted by the Teuta Ladies Society. Many thanks to all that supported the picnic by cooking and preparing salads and sides of food, managed the grills, set-up and broke down the tents, tables, chairs, and grills, and helped with all the final clean-up.  And finally a thank you to all who supported the event by participating. We would especially like to thank Mary, John, & Maribeth DiIlulio, and Pierre Rhodes (Maribeth's boyfriend and owner of Beyond All Drones).  Pierre took numerous drone photos and put together a unique video of the picnic from above - click onto the following link to view the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dljNnQX_XA8   Click onto the more information link below to view numerous photos from the picnic, several are also from a drone camera.

Church School for the 2023 - 2024 school year began on Sunday, September 10th.

A reminder: Each Sunday at 9:15AM (except for the 1st Sunday of each month), there will be a short teaching from Fr. Sergei with the Church School children in the Church before the children move to their classes in the Church Hall. (The reason there will be no discussion with the Church School on the 1st Sunday of each month is General Confession is scheduled at that same 9:15AM time). 

The Parish will be holding a Parish Picnic, rain or shine, on Sunday, August 27th after Divine Liturgy.  

Tickets can be purchased at the candle desk or through Diane Cryan.  All inclusive price is $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under.  

Advance purchase is preferred so we can get a headcount (please confirm by Sunday, August 20th).  Please contact cryandb@aol.com with any questions.

Click onto the following link to view the flyer:  2023 Parish Picnic

Please save the date and plan to attend.  

St. Dimitrie Orthodox Church in Easton is holding their 43rd Annual Fall Festival on Friday & Saturday, September 8th & 9th.  All are invited,

Click onto the following link to view their 2023 Festival Flyer.

Holy Ghost Church is holding their annual Parish Picnic at Holy Ghost Park in Shelton on Sunday, September 10th.  St. George has been invited to join them. Below please find an email invite from Fr. Mark Roosien, the new pastor of Holy Ghost Church.  Click on the following link to view their flyer: Holy Ghost Church Annual Picnic
 

Email from Fr. Mark Roosien:

Dear St George's, 

Blessed Feast! I hope you are all doing well. This is Fr Mark Roosien, the new pastor of Holy Ghost Church here in Bridgeport.
 
I'm writing to share with you information about our parish's annual picnic on September 10 at Holy Ghost Park in Shelton. I would ask you to please add this to your bulletin/communications with your parishioners at St George over the next few weeks and let them know they are invited to join us. 
 
Thank you!
 
In XC,
Fr Mark

On October 1, 2023 FORCC (Fellowship of Orthodox Churches of Connecticut) will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its founding.

The annual banquet will be held at St. Dimitrie Romanian Orthodox Church in Easton starting at 12:30pm.

The guest speaker will be Dr. Philip Mamalakis from Holy Cross Seminary.

Each parish has received information for making reservations for the banquet. A buffet dinner will be available for $45.00 for reservations made by Sept. 20th. Children's tickets, up to age 12, are $10.00.

Contact your parish FORCC representative for tickets or Nina Kosowsky at nk246@aol.com

On Sunday, August 20th, St. George celebrated the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos. The celebration of this feast was transferred from Tuesday, August 15th, the normal date it is celebrated. This feast commemorates the repose (dormition) or "falling-asleep" of the Mother of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and also commemorates the assumption into heaven of the body of the Theotokos.  After Divine Liturgy, there was the blessing of fragrant herbs and flowers, which is customary on this feast. St. George wishes to thank Fr. Dennis Rhodes who served Divine Liturgy for us on this day. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

On Saturday, August 19th, Sienna Ann Moras was received into the Orthodox Church through the Mysteries of Baptism and Chrismation.  Sunday September 3rd was Sienna's Churching service (presentation in the context of community) during Divine Liturgy.  Many Years!  Për Shumë Vjet!  Click onto the more information link below to look at an enlarged version of the photo.

On Saturday, August 12th, donations of over 50 lbs of frozen hams were made to the Thomas Merton Center (Bridgeport) who operate a meal program. Our thanks go out to Sophie Dionis, her mother Nicole, and to Fr. Sergei for making the delivery.  Also, many thanks to our parishioners who purchased and donated the hams for this charity effort.  Click onto the more information link below to view a larger photo.  

The Orthodox Church annually celebrates the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos on August 15th – this year the 15th falls on a Tuesday. 

St. George is transferring the celebration of this great feast to Sunday, August 20th when Fr. Dennis Rhodes will be celebrating Divine Liturgy for us.  This feast commemorates the repose (dormition) or "falling-asleep" of the Virgin Mary. 

As a reminder, please bring in fragrant herbs or flowers, which will be blessed after Divine Liturgy. In the Orthodox Church it is common practice to bless all fragrant herbs or flowers on this feast.

On Sunday, August 6th, St. George celebrated the Feast of the Transfiguration with Divine Liturgy.  After Divine Liturgy, Fr. Sergei, assisted by Deacon Eugene Shkurti, blessed grapes, fruit, and vegetables that is traditional on this feast day.  The blessing of grapes and other fruits and vegetables is an ancient tradition of the Orthodox Church, stretching all the way back to the early church, and is a sign of God's renewal of all creation through Christ. Afterwards, parishioners shared their blessed fruits or vegetables at coffee hour. Click onto the more information link below to view some photos.

Below are the prayers that were offered during the blessing of fruits and vegetables:

Prayer at the partaking of grapes on the sixth day of August:
Bless, O Lord, this new fruit of the vine, which, through temperate weather, through showers of rain and times of calm, has attained to ripeness at this hour, according to Thy good pleasure.  May our partaking of this birth of the vine be for gladness, and for the offering of a gift unto Thee for the cleansing of sins, through the sacred and holy Body of Thy Christ, with whom thou art blessed, together with thy most holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.  Amen.

Prayer for those who offer first fruits:
O Master, Lord our God, who commandest everyone to offer to Thee thine own of thine own, according to their intention, granting them in return thine eternal good things, and who didst favourably accept the offering of the widow which was according to her ability: now also accept these things offered by Thy servants [here present], counting them worthy to lay up the same in thine eternal treasury.  And grant them an abundant harvest of thine eternal good things, together with all things that are profitable unto them.  For blessed is Thy Name, and glorified is Thy kingdom: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.  Amen.

We congratulate the following young adults who are receiving scholarships for the 2023-2024 school year from the Thomas and Katherine LaBache Scholarship Fund:

Erin Galich
James Goetz

Donations collected from the August 2023 Charity Tray will be ear-marked for the Spooner House in Shelton CT.

The stated Mission Statement of the Spooner House is:
Spooner House is operated by Area Congregations Together, Inc. with the mission of providing food, shelter and support services to people in need. All of our energies are devoted to helping our clients establish a self-sufficient living situation. We recognize the dignity of our clients, we give them our respect and we deliver our services without proselytizing.

To learn more, please click onto the following link:  http://www.actspooner.org

The August 6th Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ falls on a Sunday this year.

The Orthodox Church keeps an ancient tradition, stretching all the way back to the early church, of blessing grapes and other fruits and vegetables on this feast as a sign of God's renewal of all creation through Christ. 

Please bring fruits or vegetables to be blessed and to share at coffee hour. In particular, if you have items that you have grown in your own gardens, please bring a few that are ripe and ready to eat! 

The next Teuta Meeting will be Sunday, August 6th after Divine Liturgy

We will be continuing our discussion on the Picnic and Food Fest.  All are welcome to attend.

We thank the members of the Teuta Ladies’ Society for their donation of $5,000.00 to St. George’s Future Fund.  The Teuta Society is a major contributor to St. George, organizing numerous social and fundraising events.  Many years to the Teuta Ladies Society!

We were saddened to learn that Irene Billings passed away in her sleep on Thursday morning, July 20th.  St. George offers it’s condolences to her children Peter, April, and Christopher, “surrogate” daughter Donna Mladina, her grandchildren Alexa, Katrina, and Peter, Jr., her brothers James and Theodore Petro, and to her extended family. May her memory be eternal!

We would like to organize a group that is interested in reading our former priest Fr. Stephen Siniari’s book titled 'Big in Heaven". It is a collection of short stories.
 
Once we determine the level of interest we can aim for a scheduling a meeting in September and try to get Fr. Stephen to a Zoom conference with us to discuss.
 
Contact Laura Coughlin at Lemc15@aol.com if you are interested. The book is available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Big-Heaven-Collection-American-Orthodox-ebook/dp/B08CLV84GV
 

 
 
Below:  some reviews of the book "Big in Heaven":
 
First Things - America's foremost journal of religion and public life says:
Big in Heaven is religious fiction as it should be: compelling, immensely readable stories that are challenging and spiritually eye-opening. Both poignant and profound...
 
Englewood Reviews, a major Protestant book review site, called Big in Heaven,
“…A humble incarnation of broken beauty.”
 
Catholic World Report lists Big In Heaven among the Best Books of 2021
 Rhonda Ortiz - Catholic World Report:
Big in Heaven by Stephen Siniari (Ancient Faith Publishing, 2020) is a collection of short stories about Saint Alexander the Whirling Dervish Orthodox Church, a fictional parish in a gritty working-class Philadelphia neighborhood. Through Fr. Naum, the humble and perceptive parish priest, we enter into the complex lives of Saint Alexander’s motley and often eccentric parishioners and neighbors.

 
About the Author:
Father Stephen N. Siniari is a retired priest of the Albanian Archdiocese. During almost 40 years in ministry, Fr. Stephen served parishes in New England and the Philadelphia/South Jersey area while working full time as a street outreach worker in Philadelphia, Atlantic City, & Camden, NJ, serving homeless, at-risk, and trafficked teens with the international Roman Catholic Agency, Covenant House. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he currently lives on the Florida Gulf Coast with Margot, his wife of more than 40 years.
 

St. George was pleased to host Deacon Eugene & Livia Shkurti during their visit to St. George on Sunday, July 9th.  Deacon Eugene assisted serving Divine Liturgy with Fr. Sergei. He has completed his second year of studies at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary and is taking an intense program of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) this summer. His visits are part of his parish internship. Deacon Eugene will be visiting with us periodically in the future as his schedule permits. The photo to the left is of Deacon Eugene reading the Gospel lesson of the day. 

We wish to congratulate Nikollaq Tollkuci who recently became a US citizen. Many Years! Për Shumë Vjet! 

Deacon Eugene and Livia Shkurti will be visiting St. George this Sunday, July 9th.

He has completed his second year of studies at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary and is taking an intense program of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) this summer.  His visits are part of his parish internship.
 
Please welcome both of them at our Coffee Hour.
 

Below please find 2 interviews with Fr. Nikodhim (Preston) recently posted from Radio Ngjallja in Albania. The interviews are conducted in both Albanian and English.

The Right Reverend Archimandrite Nikodhim is the Bishop-elect of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese. Fr.  Nikodhim is presently the Administrator of the Albanian Archdiocese, and is spending 3 months in Albania before his scheduled episcopal ordination which will be in September 2023.   Photo:  Fr. Nikodhim (left) with Metropolitan Tikhon at the conclusion of the Special Assembly of the Albanian Archdiocese, September 22, 2022.

1st Interview with Fr. Nikodhim, posted by Radio Ngjallja on July 3, 2023   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjsjSE1MVo8

2nd Interview, posted by Radio Ngjallja on June 29, 2023   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bvQhfqI7Hw

St. George welcomed and thanked Fr. Dennis Rhodes for serving Divine Liturgy for us on Sunday, July 2nd.  Fr. Dennis was our parish priest from 2010 through 2018, afterwhich he retired after serving 40 years as a priest.  

Our July charity tray will continue one additional month to support Trumbull Helps.

The Trumbull Helps mission is “to make a difference by providing meals at the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, supporting the Trumbull Food Pantry, and coming together as a community to help others”. 

To learn more about Trumbull Helps, please click onto the following link: https://trumbullhelps.org
 

The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) has announced the availability of a groundbreaking manual that has been recently completed in an cooperative effort of various Departments of the OCA.  It is now offered to the Church to assist clergy and parishes in their work of instructing inquirers and the faithful in the truths of the Orthodox Christian Faith.  

The manual, which is 16 chapters, is available for viewing at the following link and is titled “Essential Orthodox Christian Beliefs: A Manual for Adult Instruction”.

This work is not meant to replace time-trusted books and publications which have taught generations but to work in concert with them.
 

St. George recognized Fathers’s Day on Sunday, June 18th during Divine Liturgy.  Prayers were offered for all of the living and departed fathers, stepfathers, sons, stepsons, husbands, brothers, stepbrothers, great grandfathers, great grandsons, grandfathers, grandsons, great-uncles, uncles, nephews, godfathers, and all those who "fathered" us in our time of need. Memory Eternal! I Përjetshim Kujtimi! for our departed fathers, and Many Years! Për Shumë Vjet! for those living fathers.

St. George congratulates Lluiza Tollkuci who recently became a US citizen. Many Years! Për Shumë Vjet! 

Congratulations to the Students and Teachers of our Church School as they completed their 2022-2023 academic year.  After Divine Liturgy on Sunday, June 11th, we marked the end of the Church School year with a short recognition ceremony.  Specific thanks go out to first to our students and their parents for their attendance; to Curt Dionis our Church School Coordinator; to Pauline Dionis who is our Church School “Superintendent” or lead teacher; to our Assistant Teachers: Nicole Dionis, Greg Buzi, Haley Dionis and Lauren Dionis; to Louise Gallagher and Bob Lazar for their assistance with candles and icon organization and support of the children’s procession during the Great Entrance; to Sue & Joe Galich, Melissa Galich, and Erin Galich for their work organizing the St. Nicholas Christmas Party and our Easter Egg Hunt after Pascha; and to Fr. Sergei Bouteneff for his weekly meetings with the students before Church School instruction.  Click onto the more information link to view 3 photos.

Below is an invite to participate in a Zoom book review with Fr. Stephen Siniari who has authored 3 books that have received positive reviews from Catholic World report.  If anyone is interested, please see someone on the Council and they can get you contact information for Fr. Naum to obtain Zoom participation credentials

Zoom With Father Naum - Among Best Books Says Catholic World Report
 
 
Father, Brothers & Sisters,
 
Looking for a unique Parish Activity?
 
Father Stephen Siniari, author
of a 3 volume collection of 
Orthodox short stories
published by Ancient Faith Media
will host a one hour Zoom discussion
for groups in your parish without charge.
 
Email now to reserve a date and time
that works for you and your parish groups.
 
Real life faith in action
Gritty and raw
Big In Heaven
Secret Turning
Bread From Home
 
Not for the faint of heart
An artfully crafted collection
Featuring Father Naum
An ordinary priest
Serving God's extraordinary people
In the working-class Philly Fishtown parish of
Saint Alexander the Whirling Dervish
Real-life people immersed together 
In the day-to day struggle 
To see in one another & in all creation
An icon of God's love
 
First Things - America's foremost journal of religion and public life says:
Big in Heaven is religious fiction as it should be: 
compelling, immensely readable stories 
that are challenging and spiritually eye-opening. 
Both poignant and profound...
 
Englewood Reviews, 
a major Protestant book review site, 
called Big in Heaven,
“…A humble incarnation of broken beauty.”
 
Catholic World Report Lists 
Big In Heaven 
Among the Best Books of 2021
 
Rhonda Ortiz - Catholic World Report:
Big in Heaven by Stephen Siniari (Ancient Faith Publishing, 2020) is a collection of short stories about Saint Alexander the Whirling Dervish Orthodox Church, a fictional parish in a gritty working-class Philadelphia neighborhood. Through Fr. Naum, the humble and perceptive parish priest, we enter into the complex lives of Saint Alexander’s motley and often eccentric parishioners and neighbors.
Orthodox Short Stories nominated for the 
Pen/American Robert W. Bingham Prize 
for a Debut Short Story Collection
 
About the Author
Father Stephen N. Siniari is a retired priest of the Albanian Archdiocese. During almost 40 years in ministry, Fr. Stephen served parishes in New England and the Philadelphia/South Jersey area while working full time as a street outreach worker in Philadelphia, Atlantic City, & Camden, NJ, serving homeless, at-risk, and trafficked teens with the international Roman Catholic Agency, Covenant House. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he currently lives on the Florida Gulf Coast with Margot, his wife of more than 40 years.
 

God bless and Many Years to Elizabeth (“Lizzie”) Post Dacey, to her parents Alexis & Peter Dacey, to grandmother Bev Dacey, and to her sponsers Blaise & Marica Ancona on her recent "churching" (her presentation to the church community) on Sunday, June 4th (which was the Feast of Pentecost - looked at as the birth of the Church).

Lizzie was received into the Orthodox Church through the Sacraments of Baptism and Chrismation on May 6th.  Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.   
 

The next few weeks include upcoming fast-free and fasting weeks:
 
June 5th – June 10th  is a Fast-Free Week. The week after Pentecost (also called Trinity Week) is fast-free until the Saturday before All Saints Sunday
 
June 11th through June 28th is the St. Peter & Paul (Apostles’) Fast
 
 

Our June charity tray will go to support Trumbull Helps.

The Trumbull Helps mission is “to make a difference by providing meals at the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, supporting the Trumbull Food Pantry, and coming together as a community to help others”. 

To learn more about Trumbull Helps, please click onto the following link: https://trumbullhelps.org
 

Applications for the 2023 Thomas and Katherine LaBache Scholarships are now being accepted. 

Click on the following link to view the 2023 Announcement

Click on the following link to view the 2023 Guidelines

Click on the following link to obtain the 2023 Application

Reminder - the applications must be returned by Sunday, July 16th.

On Sunday, May 28th, St. George recognized Memorial Day by praying for all of our deceased military veterans from the parish family. Memorial Day is a holiday that was established to officially remember those who have died in service to our country (Veterans Day was established to officially thank our living veterans).  St. George has had only one parishioner, Michael J. Vani, who died during his military service (during World War II).  St. George expanded our remembrance to include all the deceased veterans of our “parish family”, adding relatives of our parish family that served in the military and are now deceased. The living military veterans participated during the Memorial Service by standing in vigil.  Prayers were said for 103 deceased veterans - click onto the following to view the list of names: St George - Names of Deceased Military Veterans  Memory Eternal!  Please click onto the more information link below to view a larger photo from the service.

On Sunday, May 28th following Divine Liturgy (which is Memorial Day weekend), we will hold our annual commemoration of the deceased military veterans of our parish family. Memorial Day is a holiday that was established to officially remember those who have died in service to our country (Veterans Day was established to officially thank our living veterans).  

St. George believes we only have one military serviceman who was our parishioner, Michael J. Vani, who died in service (during World War II).  St. George has expanded our remembrance to include all the deceased veterans of our “parish family”, and relatives of our parish family that served in the military and are now deceased.  There are two additional names of servicemen who died during their military service - William Liolin and Victor Peristere - they were not parishioners of St. George, but relatives of our parishioners.

For the service, the veterans of our community will stand honor guard around the center Memorial Table.

Click on the following link to view the names list that has been compiled from years previous:  St. George – Deceased Military Veterans from the St. George parish families. If anyone recognizes any missing names, please contact Louise Gallagher at her email: jlgall103@aol.com,  or by phone @ 203-268-3803. 

On Sunday, May 21st after Divine Liturgy, the Teuta Ladies Society of St. George held a luncheon for its members at Casa Nova Restaurant in Shelton. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

We are preparing our annual Fathers’s Day Commemorations. Father's Day is Sunday, June 18th

Please submit your donation and names of your father, stepfather, sons, stepsons, husbands, brothers, stepbrothers, great grandfather, great grandsons, grandfathers, grandsons, great-uncles, uncles, nephews, godfathers, and all those who were "fathers" to us in our time of need.  Clearly indicate whether they are living or deceased.  

 Please submit your names to Louise Gallagher by Saturday, June 17th at 3PM - she needs time to prepare a prayer list for use during Divine Liturgy on Sunday.  Louise can be reached by email: jlgall103@aol.com, or by phone @ 203-268-3803.

The names will be remembered in prayer during the Divine Liturgy on Father’s Day, June 18th. 

All donations will be used for the beautification of the Church.

Below is an email from Fr. John Kreta inviting all to join the All Saints of North America Church in Salisbury on the Feast of All Saints of America: 

Subject: [CT Deanery] Pilgrimage for All Saints of North America - June 18

Dear Brothers in Christ,

Christ is Risen!

I would like to invite all of you and your parishioners to join our parish on the Feast of All Saints of America.

On Sunday, June 18, at 4:00 PM, at All Saints of North America Church, Salisbury, CT, an Akathist Service (a service of praise and thanksgiving) will be celebrated before the icons and relics of 10 of the North American Saints. The service will be followed by a fellowship reception with refreshments. You will have the opportunity to venerate and pray before the relics of St. Herman of Alaska, St. Innocent Apostle to America, St. Tikhon Enlightener of North America, St. John of San Francisco, St. Nikolai of South Canaan, St. Raphael of Brooklyn, St. Mardarije of Libertyville, St. Alexis of Wilkes-Barre, St. Sabastian of Jackson and St. Vasily who served in Waterbury CT. We also have a relic of St. Gregory the Theologian that will also be available for veneration.

Please find attached a poster to print and hang in your parishes and to send out in your bulletins.

All of you are invited to serve, we will be wearing Green Vestments.

I hope you are able to join us on this wonderful Feast celebrating the Saints that lived and walked on these lands of North America.

With Love in the Risen Lord,
Fr. John

Archpriest John Kreta
Priest-in-Charge, All Saints of North America Mission
Salisbury, CT

Click onto the following link to view their poster: Pilgrimage and Feast of All Saints of North America

The 2023 Diocese of New England Youth Rally registration is now open. This is an event where diocesan youth come together in a camp setting for Orthodox Christian education, fellowship, and worship.

Youth Rally is hosted at the Saint Methodios Faith and Heritage Center, a beautiful camp and retreat center in Contoocook, New Hampshire. The event spans the entire week from August 7th through August 12th, and it is for children of ages 9 – 17.

The firm deadline for registrations is July 18th, 2023.

Click onto the following link to view the 2023 Youth Rally poster.  To learn more and to download application forms, open the following link:  https://dneyouthrally.com
 

On Sunday, May 14th, St. George was blessed and excited to welcome The Right Reverend Archimandrite Nikodhim, Bishop-elect of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese. Fr.  Nikodhim is presently the Administrator of the Albanian Archdiocese, and is scheduled for his episcopal ordination in September 2023.  Additionally we welcomed the newly ordained Deacon Juxhin (Eugene) and his wife Livia Shkurti. Deacon Juxhin is our Archdiocesan Seminarian currently finishing his 2nd year of studies at St. Vladmir’s Seminary. Coincidentally, May 14th was Mother’s Day, and prayers were said for all of our departed and living mothers from our parish. After Divine Liturgy, a special Coffee Hour was held to welcome our visitors and congratulate all of our mothers on Mother’s Day.  Click onto the more information link below to view several photos.

Archimandrite Nikodhim, in his capacity of Administrator of the Albanian Archdiocese, will be visiting Saint George for Divine Liturgy on Sunday, May 14th.  He will be accompanied by the newly ordained Deacon Juxhin (Eugene) and Livia Shkurti.
 
We are excited for the opportunity of such a visit.

At our Parish Discussion meetings, it was suggested with significant support to install a weekly basket collection during Divine Liturgy which will be ear-marked for fund support in our efforts to secure a full-time priest for St. George.  This effort will be called our Future Fund collection.  The intent is for this collection to be separate from our Stewardship donations, which will continue to be collected at the Church Desk.  If using a check, please indicate "Future Fund" in the memo portion of your check.

Donations may also be mailed into the church.

Click onto the following link to view a flyer:  St. George Future Fund
 
As always, we thank everyone in advance of their support and generosity to this important effort.

On Saturday, May 6th,  Elizabeth ("Lizzie") Post Dacey was received in to the Orthodox Church through the Mysteries of Baptism and Chrismation. Lizzie is the daughter of Alexis & Peter Dacey. Many Years!

Our May Charity tray will be earmarked for the Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV.   We will be collecting through June 4th for this charity.

We will forward our donations to their new Matching Funds Campaign which are being used to help with the construction of their new church. The Matching Funds Campaign ends on Pentecost (Sunday, June 4th).

Click onto the following link to view the Holy Cross Matching Funds Campaign Flyer.

Holy Cross Monastery is where Fr. Gregory Buzi was tonsured.

On Sunday, April 30th, the parish welcomed Fr. John & Matushka Denise Jillions to St. George.  Fr. John served Divine Liturgy for us in Fr. Sergei's absence. Many in the parish were able to greet Fr. John & Matushka Denise at coffee hour after Divine Liturgy. Fr. John is recently retired after serving as the pastor at Holy Ghost Church in Bridgeport, and was also a former Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America. 

On Tuesday, April 25th, the Holy Synod canonically elected Archimandrite Nikodhim as Bishop of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese.

Click onto the following link to view the OCA announcement.

Click onto the following link to view a few Photos.

We elected to postpone the Parish Discussion meeting originally scheduled for April 23rd two additional weeks due to the priority of the Teuta brunch to celebrate the Feast of St. George, the patron saint of our parish. 

The next of Discussion Meeting will be held Sunday, May 7th.  Please try to attend. 

All are welcome.

We are preparing our annual Mother’s Day Commemorations.

Please submit your donation and names of your mother, stepmother, daughters, stepdaughters, wives, sisters, stepsisters, great grandmothers, great granddaughters, grandmothers, granddaughters, great-aunts, aunts, niece, godmothers, and all those who "mothered" us in our time of need.  Clearly indicate whether they are living or deceased. 

Please submit your names to Louise Gallagher by Saturday, May 13th at 3PM - she needs time to prepare a prayer list for use during Divine Liturgy on Sunday.  Louise can be reached by email: jlgall103@aol.com, or by phone @ 203-268-3803. The names will be remembered in prayer during the Divine Liturgy on Mother’s Day, May 14th. 

All donations will be used for the beautification of the Church.

Teuta invites all the women of St George to a luncheon on Sunday, May 21st at 12 Noon.

It will be a buffet at Casa Nova Restaurant, 833 River Rd, Shelton. Carpools will be available after church. Cost is $35/person.

If you are interested contact Diane Cryan at her mobile: (203) 520-2811 or by email: cryandb@aol.com, or mail a $35 check addressed to Teuta, care of St George, as soon as possible, by Sunday May 14th. 

Please pass this invitation along to anyone else who may be interested. 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the many people who helped to make Lent, Holy Week and Pascha beautiful and meaningful celebrations.

Thank you to Zoe Michael, Diana Michael, Karen Masek & Laura Coughlin for their donation of flowers for the Petafi in memory of Father Llambi & Priftresha Dhoxhi Michael and family.

Thanks to Louise Gallagher and Bill Kovachi for their donation of Prayer Plants and Easter Lillies for the Altar.

Thank you to Pauline Dionis who decorated the Cross for the Petafi, and to the ‘Myrrh-bearing Women” who decorated the Petafi: Jean Brideau, Laura Coughlin, Diane Cryan, Laura Denisevich, Mary DiIulio, Pauline Dionis, Louise Karoli Gallagher, and Dolores Nauchy.

A special thanks to Diane Cryan, Laura Denisevich, Louise Karoli Gallagher, Elsie Gartsu, and Kim O’Brien for donating the dyed Pascha Eggs.

Thanks to Jennifer Goetz for decorating the Church for Holy Pascha.

To Curt, Nicole, Brooke & Sophie Dionis for filling the plastic eggs with candy, and to Sue, Melissa, and Erin Galich, Madeline Leighton, and Nicole, Brooke & Sophie Dionis for preparing and organizing the successful Children’s Easter Egg Hunt after the Paschal Vesper service.  Also thanks to all the parishioners who made donations of candy which was needed to fill the plastic eggs. 

Fr. Sergei Bouteneff who served all the Lenten, Holy Week and Paschal services for us, and for continuing to assist us, and serve all the Liturgies at St. George.

Luba Csernica and Cathy Hotova for the live-streaming of services.

Cantors Peter Dacey and Charles Soter for their dedication and reading at all the services.

Thanks to Louise Gallager and Bob Lazar who faithfully change the table cloths when required by feast or church season.  And thanks to Louise who also irons and prepares all the table cloths ahead of time so they are ready to be switched out.  

The Choir and Karen Masek for their singing on Palm Sunday, the Holy Wednesday Matins with Unction service, the Holy Thursday Matins with Passion Gospel Readings, the Holy Friday Matins with Lamentations, and the midnight Paschal Liturgy. 

All of our volunteer readers who helped during all of the Holy Week services. 

Louise Gallagher and Cathy Hotova for all their efforts with the coffee hour set-up each Sunday.

Bob Lazar for his assistance in the sanctuary – he faithfully helps at all services.

To the Altar Servers for their time and assistance.

And to all those who came to pray and celebrate the services. 

Our Archdiocesan Seminarian Eugene (Juxhin) Shkurti will be ordained Deacon this Sunday, April 23rd. Our prayers for him and his wife Livia at this momentous occasion.

The photo on the left is after Seminarian Juxhin Shkurti was ordained as a Subdeacon on September 23, 2022 at the Special Assembly of the Albanian Archdiocese held at St. Nicholas Church in Jamaica Estates, NYC - from Left to Right: Subdeacon Juxhin Shkurti, Met. Tikhon, and Livia Shkurti.  

Announcement from Holy Ghost parish:
 
Metropolitan TIKHON will be ordaining Deacon Mark Roosien to the Holy Priesthood on Saturday, May 6th at Holy Ghost Church. 
 
The Holy Ghost parish is planning a luncheon afterward, and so need to know how many plan to attend.  A simple sign-up sheet has been created to aid them in this effort. 
 
Please sign up if you plan to attend Dn. Mark's ordination and stay for the luncheon before April 30th. 
 
Immediately below is the link to sign-up:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGmAqW2rj3yPXTBboVB3umakNJdPT7m8WAbla85mWq4RIEhw/viewform
 

2023 Vacation Church School at Three Saints Park

When- June 19-23, 2023 (NOTE NEW DATES). 

Where- Three Saints Park, 112 Miller Road, Bethany, CT 06524. 

Time – Daily 9am to 4pm with Family Night on Friday starting at 5pm. 

Cost- $45 per child.

Come join us for our week-long Vacation Church School for youth ages 5-15. Your child will experience fun, faith, friendship, swimming, games, bible study, religious education, worship and song. This year’s theme will be “The Holy Apostles”. 

Questions? - Call Fr. Patrick Burns (203) 734-3988

Children of all faiths are welcome!

Click onto the following link to view the Three Saints Vacation Church School flyer
 

The St. George community recently completed the service cycle of Great Lent and Holy Week to Holy Pascha, with the celebration of the Midnight Paschal Liturgy on April 16th.  Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen!  Krishti U-Ngjall! Vërtet U-Ngjall! are the traditional Orthodox Christian Paschal greetings in both English and Albanian.  Click Here to view the Paschal greeting in numerous languages. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos. 

St. George completed services for Good Friday with the afternoon Vespers Service of Taking down from the Cross, and the Friday evening Matins service for Great and Holy Saturday, with the Praises (or Lamentations) at the Tomb of Christ.  Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos from the services.
 

On Thursday evening, April 13th, St. George continued its cycle of services for Holy Week with the Matins service of Great and Holy Friday with the Twelve Gospel readings. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos. 

According to Orthodox teaching, no Memorial Services may be served in the Church from Lazarus Saturday (April 8th) until the Tuesday after Thomas Sunday (April 25th).

Similarly, there are no funerals/burial services served from Holy Thursday (April 13th) through Bright Monday (April 17th).  

Our departed will only be commemorated at the Proskomedia (Liturgy of Preparation).

Click onto the following link to download a copy of this year's Holy Week Schedule:   St. George - 2023 Holy Week Schedule

The Parish is having it's Children's Easter Egg Hunt following the Paschal Vespers on Sunday, April 16th.

We are requesting candy donations to support the Egg hunt. We have plenty of plastic eggs so there is no need to donate those. The candy donations should be brought to church by Good Friday, April 14th. There will be a box in the vestibule for the donations.

Thank you for your continued support!

Below is an invitation from the Teuta Society to the parishioners of St. George

Everyone is invited to celebrate the Feast of St. George next Sunday, April 23rd.

Teuta is hosting, and will serve a complementary light brunch at coffee hour immediately following church service next Sunday.

On April 9th, St. George celebrated Palm Sunday, which marks the Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem. After Divine Liturgy, there was a procession of palms lead by some members of the Church School, and the blessing of the palms which were held high by the parishioners.  This year, due to difficulty acquiring pussy willow branches, a mix of pussy willow branches, boxwood branches, and palm fronds were bundled for blessing.  Thanks to Donna Kerma for providing the pussy willows. Click on the more information link below to view a few photos.

We will be gathering to decorate the Petafi (Christ’s Tomb) on Holy Friday, April 14th, at 10AM.

Everyone is welcome. If you have any questions, contact Pauline Dionis.

With the pronounced scarcity of pussy willows this year, Saint George will follow the practice of the Orthodox Church of France and use boxwood fronds together with palms in celebration of Palm Sunday.

For the month of April, we will be collecting for The Thomas Merton Center which is located in Bridgeport.  They provide “Meals, Shelter, and Support” to those in need in the greater Bridgeport area.

Their stated mission:  “The Thomas Merton Center is committed to providing a loving, safe and hope-filled community atmosphere that responds to the needs of its guests. Respecting the dignity of each person, we reflect to the individual and the community our shared responsibility to love and support one another. We believe the sharing of a hot meal is an invitation to come in and share in a place where one can belong; respect and love are mutually given and received; each person is valued and not to be judged; and healing life’s hurts is possible with people who care. Collaboration with other agencies and people is essential to meeting the needs of those we serve.”

To learn more, click on the following link: https://www.ccfairfield.org/project/thomas-merton-center/

As always, thank you for your generosity!  

St George was saddened to learn that Nancy Peters passed away on March 23rd “after a prolonged illness”.  We offer our condolences to her family. Memory eternal!

As an early reminder, the service start time for Divine Liturgy will change from 10AM to 9:30AM on the first Sunday of April.  For this calendar year (for 2023) that will occur on April 2nd. 
 
Background: 
The Parish Council conducted a start-time survey with parishioners approximately 18 months ago.  That survey resulted in the majority of parishioners preferring a 9:30AM start time, but as part of a compromise, the Council decided to go back to a 10AM start time during the winter months. 
 
This is the current approved Calendar Schedule for Divine Liturgy: 
10AM Divine Liturgy (from the 1st Sunday in November through March)
9:30AM Divine Liturgy (from the 1st Sunday in April through October)
 

There will be a Teuta meeting on April 2nd during Coffee hour.

There are lots of activities in the works. New members are welcome!

This Sunday, April 2nd, the family of Vanjgo ‘Petri’ Konstantini are preparing a brunch for the Coffee Hour after the 40-Day Memorial service for Vanjgo.  They wish to ensure the parish is aware it is invited.

St. George welcomed and thanked Fr. John Jillions who served Divine Liturgy on Sunday, March 12th for us in Fr. Sergei's absence.  Fr. John is recently retired after serving as the pastor at Holy Ghost Church in Bridgeport, and was also a former Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America. 

As a reminder, Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 12th.
 
At 2AM, clocks need to be turned forward 1 hour to 3AM.

Click onto the following link to view a Lenten preparation document in Albanian:   2023 Albanian Lenten Preparation

 Klikoni në lidhjen e mëposhtme për të parë dokumentin e përgatitjes së Kreshmës në Shqip:   2023 Përgatitja e Kreshmës Shqiptare

Based on the success of last year’s late fall/early winter collection of frozen hams and turkeys for local soup kitchens, St. George is setting up a new drive for this spring. We will be collecting frozen hams and turkeys beginning now (mid-March) and will collect continuously over the next 2 -3 months with a target to deliver the foods in early June.  Click onto the following link to view a news update of this past winter collection and delivery of frozen turkeys & hams to two food pantries: https://www.stgeorgetrumbull.org/news_230221_1

From February 19th through March 5th, the St. George parish dedicated its weekly charity collections to support the relief efforts from the February 6th earthquake in Turkey and Syria.  St. George was able to collect $2,600.00 and forwarded those funds to the IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities), an international humanitarian aid agency who will be coordinating relief efforts to their regional partners.  We thank the many for their generosity to assist in helping with this humanitarian crisis.  

Beginning March 12th, St. George will re-start it’s collection for the Bridgeport Rescue Mission which began in February. (St. George suspended collecting for the Bridgeport Rescue Mission in February to hold a special collection to support the Earthquake relief efforts in Turkey and Syria).

As a reminder, the Bridgeport Rescue Mission’s goal is “to fight poverty from the inside out by embracing people with the compassion of Christ, offering hope and healing for a changed life”

Go to the following link to learn more: https://bridgeportrescuemission.org

Thank you for your generosity.

On Sunday, March 5th, after Divine Liturgy on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, some of the children tied this bracelet on their right hand. They will keep it on until Paschal Vespers, when they cut it off, and place it on the bushes for the birds. Veror is an Albanian folk spring-time tradition - whose origin is clouded in time - there was the practice of children wearing string bracelets for a period of time, bracelets that they would cut off and throw on the bushes so that the birds would take them for their nesting material. In our parish, this folk custom was integrated into the church as a Lenten effort/reminder during Great Lent. Some of the adults of the parish wear this bracelet in solidarity with the children. The bracelets are crocheted with red and white yarn - a reminder of the nature of Christ: both God and man.  Thanks go out to Lluiza Tollkuci who made the red & white bracelet material this year.

At several parish meetings in 2022, and at the January 2023 Annual Parish Body meeting, after significant discussion and consensus, the parish body formally approved to focus its efforts on finding a full-time priest.  

The Parish Council, through a letter from Bill Kovachi (Parish Council President) communicated the parish's decision and to set up discussions with the Archdiocese on next steps. 

Click onto the following links to view Bill's email to the Archdiocese, and 2 reply emails: 

Feb 21, 2023 - Bill Kovachi's Letter to Archbishop Mark (Locum tenens of the Albanian Archdiocese) and Archimandrite Nikodhim (Administrator of the Albanian Archdiocese) 

Feb 22, 2023 - Email reply to from Archimandrite Nikodhim (Administrator of the Albanian Archdiocese)

Feb 22, 2023 - Email reply from Fr. Mark Doku (Chancellor of the Albanian Archdiocese)

The photo below is of an icon that represents the Priesthood as an image of Christ.

As we begin our process to move forward to find a full-time priest with the help of the Albanian Archdiocese, this icon will be placed in the kiot (icon case) on the center table of the church during Great Lent.

On Sunday, Feb 26th, St. George learned of the passing of Vangjo “Petri” Kostandini.  We extend our condolences to Vanjgo’s wife Lirika, his sons Redi and Teodor, his brother and sister-in-law Koli & Lluiza Tollkuci, and his extended family. May his memory be eternal!

We are now approaching the season of Great Lent.  This year, Great Lent begins Monday, Feb 27th.

During this time, Orthodox Christians fast and pray in preparation for the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection.

According to the Tradition of the Church, we observe this Fast by abstaining from meat (including poultry and eggs), dairy, fish, olive oil and wine. While many people relax these rules, it is important that we do as much as we can, so that we can properly prepare ourselves spiritually for the Great Feast of our Lord’s Resurrection.  

To read more on Lenten Fasting, click onto the following link:  https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/worship/the-church-year/lenten-fasting

From November 2022 through early February 2023, St. George’s parishioners collected frozen hams and turkeys as a charity project with the goal of distributing them to local soup kitchens when food donations are historically low.  On Tuesday, Feb 21st, those donations were made to the Thomas Merton Center (Bridgeport) who operate a meal program, and to the Beth-El Center (Milford) who operate a soup kitchen. Our thanks go out to Brooke & Sophie Dionis, their grandmother Pauline Dionis, and to Fr. Sergei for making the deliveries.  Also, many thanks to our parishioners who purchased and donated the foods for this charity effort.  Click onto the more information link below to view 2 photos.  

All have heard of the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on the morning of February 6th.  The death toll is over 40,000, and millions of people are in need of shelter, food, and other supplies.  St. George will be collecting donations over the next 3 weeks to assist the relief efforts in these two countries. 

We will be collecting through Sunday, March 5th which is the Sunday of Orthodoxy.  All donations will be forwarded to the IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities), an international humanitarian aid agency who will be coordinating relief efforts to their regional partners. 

We are asking that checks be addressed to St. George.  Please make a note on the check that it is for Earthquake Relief.  One check will be sent from St. George to the IOCC shortly after March 5th.

If you prefer to donate directly to the IOCC, they have a donation page set up for you to make that donation.  It can be reached here:  IOCC 2/6 Earthquake Response

The February Charity tray for the next two Sundays (Feb 19th & Feb 26th) will be postponed so we can focus on the earthquake relief crisis.

For those attending the Sunday of Orthodoxy Pan-Orthodox Vespers service on March 5th at Holy Ghost Church in Bridgeport, all monies collected at that service will also be ear-marked and forwarded for the Earthquake Relief efforts.

As always, your generosity is greatly appreciated.

As a reminder, the monthly Teuta meeting will be held this Sunday, February 19th after Divine Liturgy. The meeting will be a quick one.  

For more information, you may contact Diane Cryna at 203-520-2811, or at cryandb@aol.com

With the warm winter we are experiencing here in February, we are giving an early alert to look out for pussy willow blooms this year.

If you have pussy willow bushes on your property, or know of anyone who has them, please watch for the budding and cut them, storing them in a cool, dark, dry place.
 
They are needed for Palm Sunday which is April 9th this year.

St. George was saddened to learn that Krisanthi Peters passed away on Wednesday, Feb 8th. Krisanthi, who was 101 years old, was our oldest parishioner. We extend our condolences to her sons, Kenneth and Gregory, and their families. Memory Eternal!

Below please find the 2023 Lenten Pan-Orthodox Vespers Schedule  

The following contains the schedule from the Connecticut Deanery (coded CTD) and for the Orthodox Clergy Association of Greater Bridgeport (OCAGB).  Please note that some of the services will be jointly hosted.  Additionally, FORCC (Fellowship of Orthodox Church in Connecticut) is hosting the March 19th Vespers.  

Sunday, March 5th - 1st Sunday of Lent
Sunday of Orthodoxy  
4PM Vespers;  Holy Ghost, East Main St., Bridgeport (CTD & OCAGB)  SPECIAL NOTE: The collection from this service will be earmarked for Earthquake relief in Syria and Turkey.

Sunday, March 12th – 2nd Sunday of Lent
St. Gregory Palamas
4PM Vespers; Christ the Savior, Southbury (CTD)
4PM Vespers; St. Nicholas, Bridgeport (OCAGB)

Sunday, March 19th – 3rd Sunday of Lent
Veneration of the Holy Cross
4PM Vespers;  Holy Trinity, Bridgeport (FORCC)

Sunday, March 26th - 4th Sunday of Lent
St. John Climacus (of The Ladder)  
4PM Vespers; Sts. Cyril and Methodius, Terryville (CTD)
4PM Vespers; St. John the Baptist, Broadbridge Ave, Stratford (OCAGB)

 
Sunday, April 2nd - 5th Sunday of Lent
St. Mary of Egypt
4PM Vespers (Holy Unction Service) Three Saints Church, Ansonia (CTD & OCAGB)

Sunday, April 9th - 6th Sunday of Lent
Palm Sunday  
4PM Bridegroom Matins; Holy Trinity Church, New Britain (CTD)

4PM Bridegroom Matins; St. John the Baptist, Bridgeport (OCAGB)

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

The health safety protocols in response to COVID-19 presently vary from parish to parish. Some parishes have relaxed these protocols almost entirely. Others have not. Therefore, we ask any person choosing to attend any of these events should be prepared to wear a facemask (facial PPE), and to follow any other health safety protocols that may be in place in any given parish. Thank you for your understanding and respectful cooperation.
 
June 18th:  Fr. John Kreta, our Chancellor for the CT Deanery, also invites all our deanery clergy and faithful to join them again at All Saints of North America Mission, in Salisbury.

We congratulate the members of the Teuta Ladies’ Society on their celebration of their Patronal Feast Day, the Meeting of the Lord - "Papandia".  (The celebration of Feast of the Meeting of the Lord was transferred this year from February 2nd to February 5th.)

This year, as in years past, the ladies present were called to stand vigil in prayer around their offerings of bread, wheat, wine and oil, and a boiled wheat-sugar-nut confection (called grure in Albanian) for the health of the parish family.

The Teuta Ladies, who recently celebrated their 90th anniversary, were also recognized and thanked by the parish for all their support to St. George by singing God Grant you Many Years.

Click onto the more information link below to view a photo. 

Click onto the following link to view a "Save the Date" flyer announcement for the 2023 New England Youth Rally. The Youth Rally is scheduled for August 7th -12th.

More information: The Diocese of New England Youth Rally is an event where diocesan youth come together in a camp setting for Orthodox Christian education, fellowship, and worship. It is a time for learning more about our Orthodox Faith and applying it in the world in which we live. It is also a time for making or renewing friendships, and for having fun!  (from the 2022 Diocese of New England Youth Rally website announcement)

CHANGE UPDATE from Feb 15th:  Collections for the last 2 weeks of February (the 19th & 26th) have been postponed as the parish has added a special collection from Feb 19th thru March 5th to support the Earthquake relief efforts in Turkey and Syria. 

In February 2023, St. George will continue to collect for the Bridgeport Rescue Mission. Their mission is “to fight poverty from the inside out by embracing people with the compassion of Christ, offering hope and healing for a changed life”

Go to the following link to learn more: https://bridgeportrescuemission.org

Thank you for your generosity.

If anyone has more than two Holy Water bottles at home, please return them to church. In the last two years we have purchased over 200 bottles and have none in reserve after this year. Please drop them off at the candle desk. Thank you.

Below please find an announcement for a Youth Social event hosted by FORCC (Federation of Orthodox Churches of Connecticut)

Enjoy another get together with other Orthodox youth!  FORCC invites our young people to:

Duckpin Bowling on Sunday, February 12, from 2-4 pm.

Devon Duckpin Bowl

551 Naugatuck Avenue

Milford (Devon)

                        FREE  BOWLING &  ICE CREAM SOCIAL

                                    FUN  FROM  2 THRU TEENS

For more information and reservations please contact:

DANIEL  COWAN (203)996-6165       DANIELCOWAN2@PM.ME 

EVE  NUCIFORA   (203)874-5448   EVECKN@GMAIL.COM            

Cut-off is Sunday, February 5

  *THERE WILL BE A $2 CHARGE FOR SHOE RENTAL  **PLEASE TELL US IF YOU CARE TO DONATE REFRESHMENTS

  ***CAPACITY IS 60,  PARENTS INCLUDED

 VINTAGE ARCADE GAMES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE (QUARTER$)

Congratulations go out to Christopher and Gina Buzi who celebrated the birth of their daughter Elira Joy Buzi on Tuesday, January 24th. She weighed in at 7.1lbs and was 21 inches long.  Congratulations also go out to the grandparents: Greg and Sharon Buzi. 

On Sunday, January 15th, St. George celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Teuta Society with prayers after Divine Liturgy and at our coffee hour. Click onto the more information link to read a short history summary of the founding of the Teuta Society along with a few photos.

St. George was saddened to learn that Shirley Jordan passed away Saturday morning, Jan 14, 2023. We extend our condolences to Shirley’s daughters, Beth Veneri and Susan Batura, and to their families. Memory Eternal!

Year-End 2022 Contribution Statements were emailed to parishioners on Tuesday, January 10th. 

For parishioners who do not have an email address and normally receive a paper statement, those statements were mailed on Tuesday, January 17th.   Assuming normal mail cycle-times, everyone should have their statement by this weekend, January 21st.

If you have any questions, please email or text the Financial Secretary @ luba.csernica@gmail.com  or 203-414-8141.

The parish of St. George extends our heartfelt thanks to the many people who helped to make our Christmas services beautiful and meaningful celebrations, and to those who helped support St. George with their dedicated stewardship work over the past year. Click onto the more information link below to view the details.

Unfortuantely due to illness, Divine Liturgy was not held for the Feast of Theophany on Sunday, January 8th (transferred from Fri, Jan 6th).  In a protective mask, Fr. Sergei did conduct the service for the Great Blessing of Water.  Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos. 

There will be a Parish-body meeting on Sunday, January 29h after Divine Liturgy in the Church Hall.

Please plan to attend and participate! 

The celebration of the Feast of Theophany is being transferred from Friday, Jan 6th to Sunday, Jan 8th. 

Click onto the following link to view a service booklet we will use for this Sunday's Liturgy (service when transferred to a Sunday):  Theophany Liturgy when transferred to a Sunday. 

Booklets will be printed and available for Sunday Liturgy in church, or feel free to print out your own copy. 

Please remember to bring your empty plastic Holy Water bottles to church for Holy Water.  These bottles will be filled during the week and will be available to take home on Sunday, January 15th.   If you still have Holy Water in the bottle from last year, you may water a potted plant. 

Congratulations to Alexis and Peter Dacey who were blessed with the successful arrival of Elizabeth Post Dacey. She was born on December 30th, 2022, weighing 7lbs 2oz and a length of 20.5 inches.

On December 30, 2022, Chelsey O’Brien was married to Hans Lugus in Narragansett, RI. We wish them many happy and healthy years!

Note from the Teuta Society: 

We will be celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Teuta Society on Sunday, January 15th at our coffee hour.

There will also be a Teuta meeting to make plans for the new year. We look forward to seeing everyone there! 

Diane Cryan - President

The following excerpted from St. George's website under  "Parish History"  https://stgeorgetrumbull.org/parish_history

....  The ladies of our community were not idle. Between 1928 and 1930, many wives of the original settlers arrived from Albania. Often they were homesick, missing the relatives and loved ones they had left behind, and lonely as their husbands had to work long hours away from home. The same Thomas L. Tallcouch, who formed the Ylli, organized the Queen Teuta Ladies Society in 1931. 

The Teuta Ladies Society satisfied a deeply felt need for social interaction and provided the opportunity to share concerns and experiences. The first meeting was held at the home of Cornelia Soter in January, 1932. The hostess prepared a delicious byrek for the occasion. [This dish, sometimes referred to as lakror in our community, continues to be the piece de resistance of our parish hospitality.] The first executive committee consisted of Cornelia Soter (president), Dhora Polena (vice-president), Beatrice Tallcouch (secretary), Kaliroi Dionis (treasurer) and Emilia Stephan (trustee). These two societies formed the nucleus of the future church. The Teuta Ladies Society has always been at the heart of all church activities, sponsoring numerous social and religious affairs. Their continued contributions have been a blessing to us all. ....

Sharon Buzi wishes to share the update email and photos she received from Steve and Theophani Sarigianis who are volunteering as missionaries in Albania under the OCMC (Orthodox Christian Mission Center).

Letter from the Sarigianis's

Link to photos from Christmas 

Click onto the following link to download and view a Prayer for the New Year

In January 2023, St. George will be collecting for the Bridgeport Rescue Mission. Their mission is “to fight poverty from the inside out by embracing people with the compassion of Christ, offering hope and healing for a changed life”

Go to the following link to learn more: https://bridgeportrescuemission.org

As always, St. George appreciates your generosity.

As a reminder, from Dec 25th  (the Nativity of Our Lord, or Christmas Day) through Wednesday, January 4th is a fast-free period.  

Christ is born! Glorify Him!   Krishti U-Lind! Lavdërojeni! are the traditional Orthodox Christian Christmas greetings in both English and Albanian.  On the Eve of the Nativity of Christ, the St. George community celebrated with a Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil for the feast of the Nativity of the Lord.

The St. George Parish Family wishes you a joyous celebration of the Nativity of our Lord.  Christ is Born! Glorify Him!  Click onto the more information link below to view the inside of the Community Christmas Card.

St. George wishes to thank Dave Denisevich who built and stained oak frames along with mounting the two icons St. George received as gifts from the former Nativity of the Holy Virgin Mary Church in Waterbury, CT.  The icons, which are of the Mystical celebration of Communion in heaven with Christ as the main celebrant, were mounted in the Altar (their traditional location). The Parish Council appointed a committee of three, Dave Denisevich, Bob Lazar, and Nardi Tollkuci, to oversee the project from beginning to the end. Again, we wish to thank the parish of the Nativity of the Holy Virgin Mary Church for these gifts. Additional thank you's to Joe Galich, Bob Lazar, and Tim Coughlin who helped with the mounting. Click onto the more information link below to learn more and view a few photos.

Please join us during coffee hour and visit our Holiday Pop Up Shop where you can find some unique, hand-crafted last minute gifts. All profits will benefit the Teuta Ladies Society.

The Teuta Ladies Society are towards the end of their Holiday Cookie Sale, having taken orders over the past few weeks.

For those who placed orders, your boxes of cookies and/or pastries will be available to be picked up this Sunday, Dec 18th in the Church Hall.

If you are unable to pick up your orders this Sunday, please contact Diane Cryan to arrange a time to get them.  Diane can be reached by email or mobile: cryandb@aol.com or 203-520-2811

On Sunday, Dec 11th after Divine Liturgy, a group of "St. George Elves" delivered a bag of Christmas Cheer and a Poinsettia plant to some of our senior parishioners who are restricted at home or haven't been able to attend church services due to age or health. The gifts were assembled and delivered to help remind these parishioners that they remain in our thoughts and prayers.  The Christmas Cheer bag contained homemade cookies and treats, some seasonal teas, an icon of St. Nicholas, a decorative cross, a handmade card from one of our church school children, and a 2023 Church calendar.  Our sincere thanks go out to: Sharon Buzi, Laura Chadwick, Laura Coughlin, Diane Cryan, Luba Csernica, Laura Denisevich, Sue Galich, Jennifer Goetz, Karen Masek, and Kim O'Brien. We also wish to thank our Church School children who created the holiday cards. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

On Sunday, Dec 4th after Divine Liturgy, the parish held its St. Nicholas Party during it's Coffee Hour.   This event is held specifically for the parish children, but also for the parish community to gather for fellowship and seasonal joy.  There is a visit from Santa for the children, and all are requested to donate a Christmas gift to donate to local charity drives.  Click on the more information link below to view a few photos. 

In December, for a 2nd consecutive month, St. George is collecting for the CT Epilepsy Foundation in memory of Devin Howard.

Devin was the 10-year-old younger brother of Brooke and Sophie Dionis’ classmate who passed away in September from the disease.

The family asks for all donations to go to Walk to End Epilepsy  “Team Devin” in Devin’s honor. https://www.epilepsyct.com/events/walk/ 

When you click onto the View all Teams button, Team Devin is listed as #12 with fundraising.  Click onto the following like to view the team page:  https://www.epilepsyct.com/events/walk/teams 

Members from the Teuta Ladies Society are sponsoring a Holiday Cookie Sale this December. 

Ethnic favorites such as Kurabie, Kuluraqka (also known as “twisted” cookies), and Baklava will be available to be purchased in prepared boxes.  Click onto the following link to view and download an order form which has the ordering and pricing details of the prepared boxes of cookies or pastries: Teuta Holiday Cookie Sale - Order Form. 

The Teuta Society is asking that orders be placed by Sunday, December 11th, as quantities may be limited.

As always, thanks in advance for your support of this fundraiser!  

On Monday evening, November 28th, as an outreach to the young women and men of our parish, a few members from the Choir gathered in the church hall to make up care packages of cereal, snacks, cookies, hot cocoa mix, and candy for our collegians as they approach their semester final exams.  Click onto the more information link below to view 2 photos.

On Friday, November 25th (the day after Thanksgiving),  St. George wishes to congratulate Fr. Sergei Bouteneff on the 45th anniversary of his ordination into the Priesthood. Many Years! Për Shumë Vjet! to Fr. Sergei, Prifteresha Elisabeth, and his family.

St. George celebrated the feast of the Entrance of the Virgin Mary into the Temple on Sunday, November 20th (this feast was transferred from Nov 21st, the date it is normally celebrated).  After Divine Liturgy, the church school children particpated in a procession with an icon of the feast.  

The Troparion of this feast is: Today is the prelude of the good will of God, / of the preaching of the salvation of mankind. / The Virgin appears in the temple of God, / in anticipation proclaiming Christ to all. / Let us rejoice / and sing to her: / "Rejoice, O Fulfillment of the Creator's dispensation.

Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

The Parish Council and Father Sergei decided to celebrate the feast of the Nativity of Christ (Christmas) with a Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil on Saturday, December 24th, Christmas Eve, at 4:00 PM.

For those planning on taking Communion, in preparation, they should begin their fast by noon of December 24th.

For those following the livestream services, click onto the following link to view the service booklet:  Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil for Christmas

Booklets will be available for those coming for the Vesperal Liturgy at the church.

There will be no church services on December 25th, but the church will be open from 10 to 10:30 AM for those who wish to offer prayers and or put up a candle.

On Sunday, November 20th, Aida (Kalapo) and Kreshink (Niko) Corbaxhi welcomed their second child, a daughter, Valentina. She is welcomed into the family by big brother, Kristo, and grandparents Vasil and Qeti Kalapo. Many Years! Për Shumë Vjet!

Released November 17, 2022:  Below please find is a press release with regard to the recent elevation of Fr. Nikodhim to Archimandrite and appointment as Administrator of the Albanian Archdiocese as well as the designation of Archbishop Mark of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania as the new locum tenens for the Albanian Archdiocese.   

Holy Synod confirms Episcopal nomination of Father Nikodhim
 
“The Holy Synod, at its recent regular fall 2022 session, has received this nomination with joy and looks forward to your ordination to the episcopacy, by the grace of God, next fall. In all ways therefore it is clear that you have already proved yourself able to be an archimandrites: a ruler of the sheepfold. Today the holy Synod recognizes this fact by honoring you with the title Archimandrite.”
 
Concluding the meetings of the Holy Synod and celebrating the tenth anniversary of his own service as Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, addressed Fr. Nikodhim with the above words at last Sunday’s Divine Liturgy. From the heart of the monastery Church of St. Tikhon’s and with his brother hierarchs surrounding him, he admonished the newly elevated archimandrite to continue in his service to the faithful of the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese. By decision of the Holy Synod, Fr. Nikodhim was named administrator of the same.
 
During their time together, the Synod also designated Archbishop Mark of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania as the new locum tenens for the Albanian Archdiocese. With his long experience in both Byzantine and Slavic service practices and a pronounced talent for shoring up the administrative needs of his own diocese, Abp. Mark embraced this new obligation, promising his care and guidance to the clergy and faithful of this diocesan family.
 
To Archbishop Mark, locum tenens of the Albanian Archdiocese, and to Fr. Nikodhim, its new administrator, many years! Për shumë vjet!

Click onto the more information link below to view a larger photo of Fr. Nikodhim and Metropolitan Tikhon (photo on the upper-left)
 

November 21st is a Holy Day - the feast of the Entrance of the Virgin Mary into the Temple.  We are moving the celebration of this feast to Sunday, November 20th

We can say that this feast is a type of “Church School' feast. ”We will have a special procession with prayers at the end of Divine Liturgy with all children participating!

The Feast commemorates when Mary, as a young child, was taken – presented – by her parents Joachim and Anna into the Temple in Jerusalem. Mary was solemnly received into the temple by the High Priest Zacharias. This feast is celebrated annually on November 21st.

The Troparion of this feast is: Today is the prelude of the good will of God, / of the preaching of the salvation of mankind. / The Virgin appears in the temple of God, / in anticipation proclaiming Christ to all. / Let us rejoice / and sing to her: / "Rejoice, O Fulfillment of the Creator's dispensation.

To learn more about the Feast of the Entrance of the Virgin Mary into the Temple, please open the following link: https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/worship/the-church-year/entrance-of-the-theotokos-to-the-temple

Church School News:

We are excited to announce the return of our St. Nicholas celebration during coffee hour on Sunday, December 4th.

It is an annual event specifically for the parish children, but also for the parish community to gather for fellowship and seasonal joy.  There is a visit from Santa for the children, and all participants are encouraged to donate a new, unwrapped Christmas gift to donate to a local charity. 

Please RSVP to Curt Dionis (cpd19@att.net), Pauline Dionis or Sue Galich (susan.galich@snet.net) by Sunday, November 20th, as we need a head count for pizza and presents for the children.
 
 

St. Tikhon’s Seminary Choir comes again to Connecticut for a special Sacred Music Concert!

Three Saints Orthodox Church in Ansonia, CT will again be hosting a Concert of Sacred Music, sung by seminarians from St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, PA on Sunday, December 4th at 4 PM. 

As with last year, to honor our former chancellor and beloved pastor emeritus, we will be funding “The Very Rev. Mitered Archpriest Nicholas Timpko St. Tikhon’s OCA Seminarian Memorial Scholarship”. A further blessing has been offered in the form of a $5,000 matching grant from a donor in our parish. There is no admission fee, but donations will help fund the scholarship, to help prepare priests and leaders within the Orthodox Church. 

Click onto the following link to view the Concert Flyer . 

Donation checks made out to Three Saints Orthodox Church (with STOTS written on your memo line) may be mailed to:
Three Saints Orthodox Church
ATTN: Scholarship
26 Howard Ave,
Ansonia, CT 06401

Don’t hesitate to contact Rdr .Peter Romanovsky at 203-305-5683 or pwromanovsky89@gmail.com for more information or look us up at threesaintschurch.org.

May our good Lord bless you for your generosity!
 

On Sunday, November 13th, St. George recognized our Veterans for their service to our country after Divine Liturgy. Children from our Church School prepared some hand-made Thank you cards which they handed out to the Vets.  Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos. Many Years!

This month’s Charity tray will focus on the CT Epilepsy Foundation in memory of Devin Howard.

Devin was the 10-year-old younger brother of Brooke and Sophie Dionis’ classmate who passed away in September from the disease.

The family asks for all donations to go to Walk to End Epilepsy  “Team Devin” in Devin’s honor. https://www.epilepsyct.com/events/walk/ 

When you click onto the View all Teams button, Team Devin is listed as #12 with fundraising.  Click onto the following like to view the team page:  https://www.epilepsyct.com/events/walk/teams 

St. George was joyed to hear of the birth of Sydney May Gartsu on November 2nd to Crystal and Jason Gartsu., She weighed in at 7 lbs 1 ounce and was 20 inches long. Our congratulations also go out to the happy grandparents Tom and Elsie Gartsu.  Many years!

Everyone is invited to BUNCO night, hosted by Teuta, Friday, November 11 at 7:00 pm. 

No experience is necessary for this fast moving dice game.  Easy to learn and fun for all, including kids who enjoy table games. 

Tickets are $10/person, half going for prizes and half to St George.  BYOB please.  Snacks, ice and game necessities will be provided. 

For tickets contact Diane Cryan (203-520-2811 or cryandb@aol.com) or sign up at the candle desk.

Three Saints Orthodox Church at 26 Howard Ave., Ansonia will hold its “Slavic Festival” on Fri., Nov. 11th  (4 – 7 pm) and Sat., Nov. 12th (9 am – 4 pm, kitchen opens at 10 am). 

Enjoy two days of shopping opportunities and a variety of homemade ethnic foods including: pierogi, holupsi, holushki, borscht, cheese blintzes, baked goods, and more.  Eat in or take out available.  Shop for religious items and tag sale treasures.  Take a chance to win a prize in the Basket Raffle. 

Click onto the following link to view their festival flyer:  Slavic Festival Three Saints Church

Contact:  203-735-0117 for more nformation.

St. George will be collecting any unused Halloween candy from parishioners.

Halloween is this upcoming Monday, October 31st – the Choir will use the unused candy to help fill Care Packages they pack and mail to our collegians around exam time. Additionally any extra candy will be donated to a deserving group in one of our local communities.  

Update - Feb 2nd: 

We are getting close to ending our collection and distributing our collected frozen turkeys and hams  

We will be collecting for 2 more weekends:  the weekend of Feb 4th & 5th and Feb 11th & 12th, and will be distributing them after Valentine's Day (Feb 14th). 

If you wish to contribute a ham or turkey, please do so over the next 2 weekends.  Thank you!

Original Post - October 23, 2022:

Over the next 3 months (from November 2022 through January 2023), St. George will be collecting frozen hams and turkeys.  

This charity project's intent is to donate the hams and turkeys to local soup kitchens during February 2023 - this is typically when food donations are low.

Fr. Sergei has volunteered to distribute the hams and turkeys in February.  If anyone wishes to assist, please contact him. 

Thank you again for your continued support of our various Charity efforts throughout each year!

St. George was saddened to learn that Carmen Costa passed away on Wednesday, Oct 12th.  We extend our condolences to her husband George, sister-in-law Mary DiIulio and her husband John, and their families. Memory Eternal!

As a caution for tomorrow, Sunday, October 16th, there is a problem with the church’s heating system. There will be no heating ability during tomorrow’s Divine Liturgy service.  

The projected outside temperature in Trumbull for the morning will be in the 50’s climbing into the 60’s - so please dress accordingly to keep yourself comfortable.  

On Sunday, October 2nd after Divine Liturgy, Saint George recognized our Choir and Readers as part of the commemoration of “Church Musician Sunday:”

The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America recently designated the Sunday following the commemoration of Saint Romanus the Melodist (October 1st) as “Church Musician Sunday.” This new yearly designation will highlight the essential role of liturgical music in Orthodox Christian worship and the important role of church musicians in the life of the Church.  On this day, parishes are encouraged to recognize those who serve in the various roles involved in Church music: choir directors, singers, chanters, readers, composers, arrangers, and bell-ringers, through a public acknowledgment following the Divine Liturgy.

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 a few photos.
 

It was our joy to receive Alexandra Illyria Michael through the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Chrismation on Saturday, October 1st.   Congratulations to her parents Jonathan Lambi and Sanja (Gerskovic) Michael (in the photo with Alexandra on the left), her sponsors Kelly Marie Coughlin and Leon Gerskovic, grandmother Diana Michael, and aunt and uncle Laura & Tim Coughlin. Alexandra was churched the following day, on Sunday October 2nd. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.
 

St. George was deeply saddened to learn that Fr. Dennis Rhodes's son, Jonathan, died yesterday (Friday, Sept 30th) at the age of 39.  The parish of St. George sends our prayers and condolences to Fr. Dennis and his family. For those looking to mail their condolences directly, Fr Dennis's address is: 48 North School Lane, Souderton, PA 18964-1100. May Jonathan's memory be eternal!

Our October 2022 Charity Tray will be dedicated to The Theological Student Fund of the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America.  

As a reminder, you will find a special envelope in your Offering Envelope box labeled “Seminarian Fund” in the October slot.

Currently the Albanian Archdiocese is supporting Subdeacon Juxhin (Eugene) Shkurti who is at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary in New York.  Additionally, the Archdiocese supported Ananias Ananievski who recently finished his final year at Saint Tikhon’s Seminary in Pennsylvania; Ananias is currently working as a parish/Archdiocesan intern. Juxhin and his wife Livia are from Albania, and Ananias is from Australia.

As always, your generosity is appreciated.
 

Attached below is an email from Fr. Patrick Burns of Three Saints Church in Ansonia on their Fall Youth Party.  Click on the following to view their flyer:  Three Saints Fall Youth Party

Brothers,

Please find the flier and bulletin ready paragraph below for our second annual Fall Youth Party. This is a healthy alternative to Halloween for anyone who would like to attend. 
Please distribute and in the way you see fit.

Fraternally in Christ,

Fr. Patrick 
 
 
Fall Youth Party at Three Saints
 
On Sunday, October 30, at 4 pm, Three Saints in Ansonia will host A friendly alternative to Halloween.
 
We will start in the church with a Moleben followed by games, food, prizes and candy. We need volunteers to help, and donations of candy, or monetary assistance. It’s an open invitation to all but reservations must be made no later than Thursday, the 27th.
 
Please email us at threesaintschurch@gmail.com or call us at 203-735-0117 to offer your time with our youth or to RSVP.
 

AXIOS!  I VYER!  HE IS WORTHY!

Fr. Nikodhim (Preston) was selected to be the candidate of choice to fill the vacant See of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese at the Special Albanian Archdiocesan Assembly of 2022. held at the Saint Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church (Jamaica Estates, NY), The vacancy caused by the untimely death of Archbishop NIKON, of thrice blessed memory.  Representing Saint George at this historic event were Bill Kovachi, Cathy Hotova, and Bob Lazar, with Peter Dacey as alternate.  Father Nikodhim"s name will be submitted shortly to the Holy Synod for their final approval and confirmation.  After that point, the Archdiocese, together Metropolitan TIKHON and the rest of the Holy Synod, will begin to plan for the Episcopal Consecration and Enthronement of Fr.Nikodhim as the Bishop for the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America.  Per shume vjet!  Many years!  Fr. Nikodhim

Click onto the following attachment to view a summary of Fr. Nikodhim's career, qualifications, and education:  Fr. Nikodhim Preston CV

Click onto the more information link below to view a larger photo of Fr. Nikodhim and Metropolitan Tikhon (the photo on the left).

On Sunday, September 18th, after Divine Liturgy, St George celebrated with a Procession of the Cross for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (celebrated on Sept 14th) so the Church school children could participate (Sept 14th was a school day). Click onto the following links to view short videos of the Procession of the Cross and Prostrations before the Cross.

Procession of the Cross:  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MwrAk1Pthf4

Prostrations before the Cross: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVQJXiG8Qeo

St. George was saddened to learn that one of our former parishioners, Esther Darling, passed away Sunday morning, September 18th.  We extend our condolences to her children Kathy and Karen, sister and brother-in-law Mary and John DiIulio, brother George (Carmen) Costa, and their families. Memory Eternal!