The funeral service of Mr.Joy will be started in his house (Kureekattil House) at Kizhavalloor, Pathanamthitta on Monday the 29th morning and will be buried at St.Peter’s Orthodox Church Cemetery, Kizhavalloor.

The Northeast American Diocese conveys prayers and heartfelt condolences to the bereaving family.

Please continue to uphold Achen and family, especially the departed one, in your prayers.

The ordination services were be led by Their Graces, Mathews Mar Barnabas, Diocesan Metropolitan, and Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, Assistant Metropolitan.

Rev. Fr. Abraham (Abi) Chacko currently assists in the various ministries in St. Gregorios Orthodox Church of Oak Park, Illinois and has served as the MGOCSM General Treasurer of the American Diocese and the MGOCSM Council member of the Queens/Long Island/Brooklyn Area.

Father Abraham Chacko is married to Mrs. Sibyl Thomas Chacko from St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Church, Oak Park.

Father Abraham is a graduate of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, New York and a graduate of the liturgical studies program at Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam, Kerala, India.

Written by Tenny Thomas

Sixth Sunday of Fifty Days Lent

Blind Man

Evening

• St. Mark 10 : 46 – 52

Morning

• St. Matthew 9 : 27-31

Before Holy Qurbana

• Deuteronomy 25: 13- 16, 26:1 – 13
• Job 42: 1-10

Holy Qurbana

• I Peter 4: 12-19
• II Corinthians 9 : 6-15

or

• Ephesians 5: 1-14
• St. John 9: 1-41

Monday before Hosanna

Morning

• Genesis 49: 8-12
• I Kings 17: 10-16
• Zechariah 9 : 9 – 14
• Acts 2: 37-47
• I Thessalonians 4: 1-12
• St. Luke 18: 31-34, 19: 1-10

Tuesday before Hosanna

Evening

• St. Luke 9: 18-27

Morning

• Genesis 41: 38 – 52
• I Samuel 17: 34-51
• Acts 21: 1-14
• Romans 8: 12-27
• St. Mark 10: 32-45

Wednesday before Hosanna

Evening

• St. Matthew 8: 23-9: 1

Morning

• Genesis 46 : 1-7
• Isaiah 63: 7-19
• Daniel 7: 9-18
• Acts 14: 8 -19
• Galatians 5: 13-26
• St. Mark 4: 35-41

Thursday before Hosanna

Annunciation to St. Mary (March 25)

Evening

• St. Matthew 7: 1 – 12
• St. Luke 8 : 16-21

Morning

• Exodus 15: 19 -21
• Joshua 6: 1-5
• Isaiah 51: 1-8
• Acts 16: 23- 40
• II Corinthians 6: 1-10
• St. Mark 3: 31-35
• St. Mark 8: 22-27
• St. Matthew 20: 17-19

Before Holy Qurbana

• Deuteronomy 26: 16-27: 10
• Judges 13: 2-14
• Zechariah 2: 10-13, 4: 1-7, 8: 3
• Isaiah 63: 15-64: 5

Holy Qurbana

• I John 3: 2-17
• Hebrews 6: 13-7: 10

Friday before Hosanna (40th Friday)

Evening

• St. Luke 4: 1-13

Morning

• St. Matthew 4: 1-11

Before Holy Qurbana

• Deuteronomy 1: 3 – 14
• II Samuel 24: 18-25
• Isaiah 58: 1-8

Holy Qurbana

• I Peter 1: 13 – 22
• Romans 13: 11 – 14: 9
• St. Matthew 4: 1-11

Saturday before Hosanna (St. Lazarus)

Evening

• St. Luke 10 : 38 – 42

Morning

• St. John 11: 1 – 8, 11 – 27

Before Holy Qurbana

• Leviticus 27 : 30 – 33
• Isaiah 61: 1-9

Holy Qurbana

• I Peter 2: 6-10
• Ephesians 1: 15-2: 7
• St. John 11: 28-46

His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, Assistant Metropolitan of the Northeast American Diocese, was the main speaker for the meeting. His Grace presented the theme: ‘Redefining Ecclesiology in the Post-Modern World’.

Hierarchs and priests from the Orthodox, Jacobite, Marthoma, C.S.I, Episcopalian and Evangelical were present for the gathering.

Father Paul, a graduate of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, New York, has rendered his dedicated service and leadership in various capacities of the Diocese and Chruch such as, MGOCSM General Secretary, MGOCSM Missions Coordinator, coordinator for the MGOCSM of the Bronx/Westchester area, and youth delegate, representing the Malankara Church at the World Council of Churches.

May God grant His choicest blessings upon the newly ordained priest and his family, and may the Holy Spirit lead him in the ministry God has entrusted him.

The ordination services will be led by Their Graces, Mathews Mar Barnabas, Diocesan Metropolitan, and Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, Assistant Metropolitan.

Dn. Abi Chacko currently assists in the various ministries in St. Gregorios Orthodox Church of Oak Park, Illinois and has served as the MGOCSM General Treasurer of the American Diocese and the MGOCSM Council member of the Queens/Long Island/Brooklyn Area. Dn. Abi Chacko is married to Mrs. Sibyl Thomas Chacko from St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Church, Oak Park.

Dn. Abi Chacko is a graduate of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, New York and a graduate of the liturgical studies program at Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam, Kerala, India.

His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos offered the introductory remarks followed by the retreat message by Rev. Fr. Philip C. Abraham, Vicar of St. Gregorios Orthodox Church of Bronx, New York. Following Achen’s message, the Diocesan Metropolitan, His Grace Mathews Mar Barnabas offered closing remarks followed by noon prayer. The retreat came to close with holy confession and a luncheon prepared by the host parish.

The Metropolitans and Clergy Association Secretary, Very Rev. Dr. Yohannan Sankarathil Chor Episcopos offered their sincere gratitude for the hard work of the vicar and members of the host parish.

As announced at the clergy retreat, the Annual Clergy Conference will be held from Thursday, September 30, 2010, to Saturday, October 2, 2010 at the new diocesan center in Muttontown. More details to follow as the conference approaches.

Please see the pictures below. (Photo Credit – Prakash of St. George Malankara Orthodox Church of Staten Island)

Written by Rev. Dn. Philip Mathew

Throughout the Sundays of the Great Lent, the Church has held up to us for our consideration several accounts of people miraculously healed by Christ. All of them have something in common: there was an effort on the part of the sick person as well as on the part of our Lord, a cooperation of human and divine–synergy–which brought about the healing. In one case, it was the sick person himself; in another, the sick person’s friends; and in yet another, the sick person’s mother. In each case, we see this synergy at work.

In today’s Gospel (Luke 13.10-17), however, there is no evident effort on the part of the crippled woman. She does not approach the Lord for healing, nor does she have anyone speaking up for her. At the beginning of St Luke’s account, the evangelist notes that Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, and there just happened to be this woman. She had a “spirit of infirmity” for the past eighteen years, and was bent over and could not raise herself up at all. Think of the sort of life this woman had. We don’t know how old she was, and so we don’t know when the “spirit of infirmity” entered her. She probably was going about her normal life, and then, one fine day, something suddenly changed, and her body was bent over. She could no longer walk normally. Normal chores required a lot more effort. No longer could she look around and see the trees, the mountains, the sun, the sky, the birds, the animals, the flowers, and so on. The only thing she could see without any trouble was the earth she was walking on. For eighteen years, all she saw around her was dirt. And not only did she see dirt all around, but she probably felt like dirt. She was no longer able to simply blend in with normal society, but became a spectacle in the sight of others. People would gawk, look, stare, make comments, giggle, and so on. Perhaps they would even talk about what a horrible sinner she must’ve been to have been taken over by a “spirit of infirmity”. What could she say to defend herself? At the end of the day, she was just a hunchback. She was just dirt.

The English word “humility” is derived from the Latin word for “dirt”. Humility is the recognition that we are made of dust, and unto dust we shall return, and if this is true, then there is no room for pride, for arrogance, for boasting of any sort. It is the honest acceptance of who we really are. The woman in today’s Gospel was confronted with “who she really was” every day of those eighteen years, when she looked day in and day out at the dust of the earth. Perhaps that’s why she’s such an ordinary character. She never says or does anything to distinguish herself. She lives her life content with what God has given her and with whom God has created her to be. With regard to her health, she probably shared Job’s sentiment “The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord”, choosing to make the hard decision to trust God rather than surrendering to complaints and bitterness. And it was likely this unassuming, hopeful humility which attracted the healing grace of Jesus Christ, who loosed the woman from her infirmity so that she stood upright and praised God.

Humility can heal and transform us. It helps us move past the pre-conceived notions we have about what our life should be, those illusions which cripple us and prevent us from true growth. Humility helps us perceive clearly the reality of our situation so that we can begin to live properly. Only in this way can we hope to be noticed by our Lord, who humbled himself even unto death, so that he can see our lowliness and raise us up with himself by his transforming grace and power, to the glory of God.

“As much as you subtract from the body, so much will you add to the strength of the soul.” – St. Basil the Great

“Fasting is wonderful, because it tramples our sins like a dirty weed, while it cultivates and raises truth like a flower.” – St. John Chrysostom

“Do not neglect the Forty Days; it constitutes an imitation of Christ’s way of life.” – St. Ignatius of Antioch

Fifth Sunday of Fifty days Lent

Sunday of the Bent Woman

Evening

• St. Luke 10: 25-37

Morning

• St. Luke 7: 11-17

Before Holy Qurbana

• Genesis 9: 1 -7
• Jeremiah 51: 1-9
• Isaiah 50: 1 – 5
• Barazeera 51: 13 – 30

Holy Qurbana

• I Peter 3: 8-16
• Romans 12: 1-15
• St. Luke 13: 10-17

Fifth Monday of Fifty days Lent

Morning

• Genesis 20: 8-18
• II Kings 2: 19-25
• Acts 19: 13-22
• Romans 9: 14-21
• St. Luke 4: 31-41

Fifth Tuesday of Fifty days Lent

Evening;

• St. Mark 3: 1-12

Morning

• Exodus 14: 21-31
• Isaiah 40: 12-24
• Acts 18: 18 -28
• Romans 1: 26-32
• St. Mark 5: 1 -20

Fifth Wednesday of Fifty days Lent

Evening

• St. Mark 6: 30-46

Morning

• Deuteronomy 31: 16-23
• Isaiah 41: 8-17
• Acts 5: 1 – 6
• I Corinthians 10: 1-13
• St. Matthew 14: 14-23

Fifth Thursday of Fifty days Lent

Evening

• St. Matthew 14: 23 -36

Morning

• Genesis 50: 14-22
• Isaiah 42: 1-9
• Colossians 3: 1-17
• St. Mark 6: 47-56

Fifth Friday of Fifty days Lent

Evening

• St. Mark 5: 21-43

Morning

• Deuteronomy 27: 16-28: 2
• II Kings 4: 32-37
• Hosea 6: 1-6
• Acts 16: 16 – 23
• I Timothy 1: 1-20
• St. Matthew 9: 18-31

Fifth Saturday of Fifty days Lent

Before Holy Qurbana

• Deuteronomy 27: 16 – 28; 8
• II Kings 4 : 32 – 37
• Hosea 6: 1 – 6

Holy Qurbana

• Acts 5: 33 – 42
• I Thessalonians 2 13-20
• St. Luke 6: 1 – 11

Registration Options

• Online Registration for stay at the University Apartment
• Online Registration for stay at the Marriott Hotel

Conference Souvenir Form Available

• Submit your Souvenir Compliment Online

For more information about the Family and Youth Conference, visit dioceseconference.org.

Tenny, a graduate student of Union Theological Seminary, will be presenting his paper on The Mysteries of the Eucharist in the Thought of Ephrem the Syrian.

Please read the abstract to Tenny’s paper below:

“Ephrem the Syrian was born into a Christian family in Nisibis in about 306 A.D. He was Christianity‘s most important Syriac speaking representative and uniquely succeeded in reconciling the vocations of theologian and poet. He was educated and grew up beside James, Bishop of Nisibis (303-338), and with him founded the theological school in his city. He was ordained a deacon and was intensely active in local Christian community life until 363, the year when Nisibis fell into Persian hands. Ephrem then emigrated to Edessa, where he continued his activity as a preacher. He died in Edessa in 373.

In this paper, I will analyze the most important madrashe (hymn) ―The Mysteries of the Eucharist where Ephrem considers the Eucharistic Mysteries. To speak of the Eucharist, Ephrem used various images, chief among them being: medicine of life, embers or burning coal and the pearl.

The burning coal theme was taken from the Prophet Isaiah (cf. 6: 6). It is the image of one of the seraphim’s who picks up a burning coal with tongs and simply touches the lips of the Prophet with it in order to purify them; the Christian, on the other hand, touches and consumes the Burning Coal which is Christ himself:

- In your bread hides the Spirit who cannot be consumed; in your wine is the fire that cannot be swallowed. The Spirit in your bread, fire in your wine: behold a wonder heard from our lips.

- The seraph could not bring himself to touch the glowing coal with his fingers, it was Isaiah‘s mouth alone that it touched; neither did the fingers grasp it nor the mouth swallow it; but the Lord has granted us to do both these things.‖ ―The fire came down with anger to destroy sinners, but the fire of grace descends on the bread and settles in it. Instead of the fire that destroyed man, we have consumed the fire in the bread and have been invigorated. (Hymn De Fide 10: 8-10).

Here again is an example of St Ephrem‘s hymns, where he speaks of the pearl as a symbol of the riches and beauty of faith:
-I placed (the pearl), my brothers, on the palm of my hand, to be able to examine it. I began to look at it from one side and from the other: it looked the same from all sides. (Thus) is the search for the Son inscrutable, because it is all light. In its clarity I saw the Clear One who does not grow opaque; and in his purity, the great symbol of the Body of Our Lord, which is pure. In his indivisibility I saw the truth which is indivisible. (Hymn On the Pearl 1: 2-3).

I will briefly compare Ephrem‘s description of the Eucharist with the description of the Eucharist in the Byzantine tradition as well.”