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Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America ~ www.aoaa.orgSS Peter and Paul Albanian Orthodox Church ~ sspeterpaulphila.org9230 Old Bustleton Avenue ~ Philadelphia, PA 19115 ~ Church Phone: 215-676-3311

Pastor: Father Stephen Siniari ~ Phone: 609-385-3757 ~ Email: frsiniari@gmail.com

FATHER STEPHEN’S MESSAGE TO THE FAITHFUL

In the language of the text of Genesis, the distinctions between good and evil refers to life and to death -- not to categories of behavior, not to regulative/moral rules, not to keeping or breaking some law.

In the imagery used by Genesis, God does not forbid the first couple to eat of "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."

He simply warns them: all the other fruits are a gift, and their consumption consti-tutes a relationship with Him.

The consumption of the fruit of the knowl-edge of good and evil is not a gift, is not a relationship; but is an open possibility.

It is a possibility of life not as relation, not as the reception of a gift but as an event of autonomy.

Existence is realized as something rendered independent of its Creator, as existence-in-itself -- It is an attempt of the creature to exist as if it itself possessed its cause and its purpose (by its own right).

God's warning about the eating of that sig-nifies death does not offer any knowl-edge; it simply presents information with-out anything empirical corresponding to it.

The warning could have elicited man's faith/trust in the love that warns him; trust could have replaced immediate expe-riential knowledge as experience of re-lation.

So long as good means life without limit and evil means existential finitude and death, the knowledge of good and evil can only be experiential, can only be ascertained in actual experience.

The freedom granted to Man -- to every human being of every epoch -- is recapitu-lated in these two existential possibilities: that life should be realized as relation (self-transcendence and self-offering) bring-ing with it knowledge of the potentialities of existence as faith (trust exercised in communion): or that knowledge should be sought as individually possessed cer-tainty, and life as a finite but individually managed existential event.

-- From Christos Yannaras: The Enigma of Evil

The Whole of Creation Functions Continua"y for Humankind as the Tree of the Knowledgeof Good and Evil (St Maximus the Confessor)

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SS Peter & Paul Sunday School - starts Sunday, September 15

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE ~ AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013Events and Announcements

Holy Transfiguration - Tuesday, August 6 - Divine Liturgy, 9 AM

Dormition of the Theotokos - Thursday, August 15 - Divine Liturgy, 9 AM

Exaltation of the Holy Cross - Saturday, September 14 - Divine Liturgy, 9 AM

SCHEDULE OF OTHER SERVICESBible Study - Every Wednesday - 7 PM - 8:30 PM in the Church Hall - Led by Fr. Dn. Gregory

NO BIBLE STUDY ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28TH

CHURCH NEWS AND REMINDERSMembership Dues 2013 are $125 - Dues

can be paid at any time to our treasurer, James Schaeffer.

Coffee Hour - The Coffee Hour sign up sheet is lo-cated upstairs in the Church Hall by the door to the kitchen. Please write your name, email address and phone number by the date you sign up for. Questions, see Linda Biando.

Special Services If you are planning to have a spe-cial service in the Church, please be considerate and notify either Father Stephen or the Church Committee one week in advance.

When you are planning for a Baptism, Wedding, Funeral, or any other Prayer Service in the Church, please speak with Father

Stephen in advance to determine if there is any way you can contribute to help the Church in helping others. Thank you.

Please note: if the services of the Church Choir are re-quired, please notify the Choir Director, Christina Murianka, as soon as possible.

No Smoking/No Cell Phones Please remem-ber that SS Peter & Paul has a no smoking policy in the building and that ringers on cell phones should be off during the Divine Liturgy.

Church Council Meeting - Monday, August 5, 7 PM. All Parishioners are welcome to attend.

PLEDGES & DONATIONS Pledges for our New Lift - The projected total cost will be $70,000. We have received pledges totaling $11,000 thus

far. We ask that you prayerfully consider a pledge or donation (which can be fulfilled over a 2 year period) towards completion of the Lift Project which will benefit many in our community for years to come. Contact our Parish Treasurer, James Schaeffer, or any member of the Parish Board to make your pledge and support the community of SS Peter & Paul. Thank you for your generosity! Now is the perfect time to make your pledge for this much needed addition to our Church! Please be generous and pledge as soon as possible. Thank you for your generosity!

Collection Sundays - 1st Sunday - Collection for the Poor; 2nd Sunday - IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Chari-ties); 3rd Sunday - Pastoral Fund. May God bless you for your gen-erosity!

Other Donations: Church LibraryPop Tab Collections for Ronald McDonald House Wine: Altar wine: Manischewitz Concord Grape (please do

not donate any other brand of concord grape)Oil: Virgin Olive Oil (not needed at this time)

THE JOY OF GIVING

Please note: this is a curtailed Service Schedule due to our recovering priest. Any changes to the schedule (specifically Holy Days falling on weekdays) will be announced in Church, emailed to you & posted on our website.

SS Peter & Paul Annual Clam Bake - Saturday, September 21 Save the date! More information to follow soon!

UPCOMING EVENTS AT SS PETER & PAUL

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Events and Announcements (Continued)

UPCOMING EVENTS AT OTHER LOCATIONS

GENERAL INTEREST

MISCELLANEOUS

E-mails: New Bulletins are available online by Saturday 8 PM on the last Saturday of the month. If you would like to be kept up-to-date by e-mail or to be removed from our “paper” mailing list, please e-mail Alicia at: aliciaj17@me.com

SS Peter & Paul Church Store - Open Sun-days at 9:30 AM (1/2 hour before Divine Liturgy) Items available: SS Peter & Paul 90th Year Celebration DVD ($15); Divine Lit-urgy Books, Icons; Crosses (Baptismal, lapel pins, Georgian style, orthodox); Prayerbooks (English); Censors; CDs and cassettes; Religious Books. Also available: In Their Own Tongue, a documentary chronicling the Albanian Archdiocese in America.

Daily Bread - Suspended until further noticeWeekly Devotional Lights - Envelopes are avail-

able at the Church Store counter for special prayers to be said dur-ing the week in conjunction with the burning of the Seven-Day Vo-tive Light hanging above the Royal Doors. Suggested offering: $10, which will go towards building up our Pastoral Fund with the ulti-mate goal of supporting a full time priest.

Announcements/News about Parishioners - If you have any items to include in next month’s Bulletin, please see Al ic ia o r ca l l he r a t 215-530-0118 o r ema i l : aliciaj17@me.com The deadline for the next Bulletin is Sun-day, August 18. Parishioners will be able to pick up the Bulletin at the Church on Sunday 8/25/13. Bulletins will be mailed to any Parishioners unable to attend.

Please remember to let Alicia know the names of our mem-bers who are ill or in need of prayer so that they can be in-cluded in our Bulletins. ***Please note: You cannot arbi-trarily be removed from the Prayer List. You must let Alicia know to remove your name. Thank you.

Thank You to all members of the Parish who have helped out or volunteered in any way with their time and efforts, and a very special thank you to anyone whose name was inadvertently omitted from the Bulletin.

NEW Change your Electricity Provider & Benefit Our Church - Switch through this web-site (http://www.sspeterpaul.joinambit.com) & help the church in 2 ways: 1) after the 1st 15 accounts switch over (and 1st month’s bill is paid), the church will become eligible for the electricity portion of the monthly electric bill to be FREE or deeply discounted; 2) The church will receive a monthly check based on the # of ac-counts switched. You save up to 3 ways: 1) Save on our electric bill (or gas in some areas); 2) by referring at least 15 people to switch, you become eligible for your bill to be FREE or discounted; 3) receive a certificate for a FREE 2-night stay at 3-star hotels in the US, Canada or Mexico. A flier with complete information is posted on our bulletin board and a direct link is on our website on: “Current Announcements” page. Or contact Sophia De-mas: 215-382-4222 or email demas@usa.net

Make a Purchase through Amazon and Help St George Cathedral in South Boston - Go to the Cathedral website: www.saintgeorgecathedral.com and scroll down to “Shop Amazon” on the left side.

Ancient Faith Radio 24 hour a day internet Orthodox radio station: http://ancientfaithradio.com

Visitation Schedule of the Myrrh-Streaming Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of God (http://eadiocese.org/News/2013/july/hawaiianicon.en.htm) - 7/28 - St Vladimir Memorial Church (Jackson, NJ) 9 AM; 7/28 - St Spiridon Church (Perth Amboy, NJ) 6:30 PM; 7/29 - Holy Trinity Church (Vineland, NJ) 6 PM; 7/30 - Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia Church (Brooklyn, NY) 7 PM; 7/31 - St John the Bap-tist Church (Passaic, NJ) 6:30 PM; 8/1 - St Seraphim Memorial Church (Sea Cliff, NY) 9 AM; 8/1 - St Demetrios Greek Church (Upper Darby, PA) 6 PM; 8/2 - St John the Baptist Cathedral (Mayfield, PA) 6:30 PM; 8/3 - Holy Protection Greek Convent (White Haven, PA) 9 AM; 8/3 - St George’s Church (Howell, NJ) 6 PM; 8/4 - St George’s Church (Howell, NJ) 9 AM

Philadelphia Orchestra: From Russian Romance to Revolution - Wednesday, July 31 at the Mann Center. Performance includes Rimsky-Korsakov’s Russian Easter Overture, Rachmaninoff’s Paganini Rhapsody and Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. Cheapest lawn tickets are $12.50. Tickets on sale via TicketPhiladelphia.org, 215-893-1999, MannCenter.org, Ticketmaster.com, 800-745-3000, AEGLive.com, or the Mann Box Office.

St Stephen Orthodox Cathedral Vacation Church School - Tuesday, August 20 to Thursday, August 22. Details not confirmed. More information to follow soon.

St John Chrysostom Gregory E. Costa Golf Outing - Sunday, September 22. Save the date!

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A Very Happy Birthday is wished to the following parishioners and friends who are cele- brating August Birthdays: Al Antony, Sophie Bacon, Imogene Costas, Rdr. Daniel Dro-bish, Denise Gormley, Catherine Hondros, Anna Jeka, Marion Merkle, Eteri Ok-ropiridze, Oleg Petrenko, Christina Reeves, Christina Schaeffer, Rdr. Gregory Shaloka, Jayne Siniari, Sandy Speero, John Vesho, Connie Vrato, Valentina Xali

May God grant them all many, many years!

Parishioner’s Corner

Anyone with Email Access (who is not currently receiving email Bulletin notifications from Alicia) - please email Alicia at aliciaj17@me.com to be put on the list to receive a pdf version of the Bulletin and no paper Bulletin. Please help us conserve paper and expenses! Thank you!

Please continue to pray for the full and speedy recovery of: Gregory Vrato, Sr., Matthew Murianka, Joyce Dorsey, Mary Palmerick, Thimi Daka, Sophie Bacon, Margot Craig, Eteri Okropiridze, Mary Ann Clark, Alexandra Pana, Nicholas Desloges, Martha Murianka, Anthony Sarris, Jeannie Rifkin, Nick Zeo, His Eminence Archbishop Nikon, Eurania (Elaine) Quirias, Lester Speero, Lester Paul Speero, Sandy Speero, Fr Stephen Siniari, Ruth RifkinGod knows the names and ages of all who need His love and mercy...

Let Us Keep Them in our Prayers

Greeting Card Recycling Project - Please bring in any Nativity, Pascha or Icon greeting cards. The Sunday School chil-dren are “recycling” them into postcards and sending them to our Parishioners who are “shut-ins”. We want them to know that they are still loved and remembered. The cards will be sent during the respective holiday seasons.

The Following Items Are Needed - 1) Unwanted tools in good condition; 2) Empty honey jars for holy water. Thank you!

Volunteers Needed for Clean Up after Coffee Hour - The sponsoring of Coffee Hour has worked out well (sponsors are still needed). We need volunteers to help with the clean up after Coffee Hour. Please volunteer to help. Thank you!

Donate An Item a Month Campaign - We are in need of the following items: paper coffee cups, paper towels. Your continued help is truly appreciated! No styrofoam, please! A sincere “Thank You” to all parishioners who so kindly donated any requested items.

Gregory Vrato, Sr., is at the John Neumann Nursing Home, Room 729, at the intersection of Haldeman & Tomlinson Road (make a right on Tomlinson and the parking lot is immediately on your right). Visitors are welcome anytime from noon to 8 PM

Please continue to keep Gregory in your prayers. May God grant him good health!

Special Request from Fr Stephen: We have enough olive oil for now, but we do need Manischewitz Concord Grape Wine. Thank you for your donations!

Special Request from Covenant House for DonationsIf you are able to donate any of the following items, please bring them to Church and given them to Fr. Stephen:

Food Items: canned spaghetti, soup, chocolate chip granola bars, tuna fish, jelly, pasta noodles (angel hair, penne, etc.), spaghetti sauce, oatmeal Baby Items: Enfamil (Premium), baby bottles, receiving blankets, pacifiers, wipes, size 5 diapersHygiene Items: white t-shirts (small, medium), socks (boys’, girls’, any color), underwear (teens 18, 19, 20 years old)

Thank you for your continued generosity!

Special Announcements from Fr. StephenFather Stephen may be reached at 609-385-3757, Monday - Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM or by email:

frsiniari@gmail.com. Please remember that all confessions and consultations on Sunday mornings shall take place from 9 AM to 10 AM before the Divine Liturgy. Thank you.

Father Dudash may be reached at 484-552-8079 or by email: ghiggee@yahoo.com

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Connie Vreto’s Trip to Albania 2013 I recently traveled to Albania, the country where my parents were born. My father was from Berat and my mother from Vlora. In my travels (14 days) I visited many towns and cities (including Macedonia). I took 60 pictures and would like to share some of them with you. I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I enjoyed taking them. Albania is truly a beautiful country, and I’m glad I got to see it. It was a worthwhile and educational trip. -- Connie Vreto

More pictures are posted on our website. From any page on the left hand side, click on “2013 Trip to Albania”

Orthodox Church, Tirana Church Altar, Tirana

Albanian woman & her fruit stand... deli-cious fruit... I bought some apricots

New Albanian friendship

A Visit to Fr Stephen’s Office

Ever Wonder What Fr Stephen Is Doing during the Week When You Call to Chat?Having worked to establish shelters in Atlantic City (91) and Philadelphia (98) for Covenant House, we now invite you to take a trip with Fr Stephen and friends through the streets of Camden, NJ, where he is part of a store-front start-up effort to establish a shelter for homeless and at-risk teens. He asks for any contribution you may be able to afford and especially for your prayers.

Covenant House Camden (YouTube Link):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbkMrnHSN3w

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Connie Vreto’s Trip to Albania 2013 (continued)

View of Vlora from the mountain top Streets of Berat... busy place

Mountains of Berat National Ethnographic Museum, BeratHouses in background, very old structure

Pogradec beach... water very blue, beautiful view Kruje... large mountains in background

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Memory Eternal +Archpriest Michael Kovach +Archpriest Dr. Michael G. Kovach, 94, who in retirement was attached to Christ the Saviour Church, Harrisburg, PA, fell asleep in the Lord on July 12, 2013 at Mount Joy Hospice and Community Care.

Born to the late George and Mary Fatula Kovach in St Clair, PA, he was a 1942 graduate of Columbia University, NY, and the last surviving member of the 1st graduating class of St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 1943. After his mar-riage to the former Olga A. Hubiak, who fell asleep in the Lord on March 8, 2011, he was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood, going on to serve the Orthodox Church of America for 69 years. He also spent 26 years on the fac-ulty at Millersville University.

In early 1944, he served as chaplain in the U.S. Army for 2 and 1/2 years. 10 years after WWII, while serving Holy Ghost Church, Ambridge, PA, he earned his PhD in American History from the University of Pittsburgh. He came to Millersville College in 1959, and as the local co-chairperson, he en-gineered the conversion of Millersville from a state teacher’s college to a liberal arts college in 1962. In this conversion, he personally established 2 degree programs: Philosophy and Russian studies. At the time of his retire-ment from Millersville University, he was serving as Dean of the Graduate School.

Other community involvement included 20 years of service on Channel 12’s board of trustees, 2 terms on Gov. Thornburg’s PA Heritage Commis-sion, and 2 years as president of the now defunct Cliosophic Society of Lan-caster, PA. For 14 years, he served as spiritual advisor for the Orthodox Soci-ety of America and regularly wrote articles for the fraternal’s publications. He received numerous Church-related honors, including the prestigious St Innocent Award, in recognition of his outstanding ministry.

Survivors include his daughter, Helene Dmochowski; his grandson, Ivan and his wife Jane and their 2 children, Oliver and Penelope; his granddaughter, Sasha Dmochowski; a sister, Verna Papinchak; sisters-in-law, Marge and Jean Kovach; brother-in-law, Archpriest Daniel Hubiak and his wife Duna; sisters-in-law Ann and Eva Hubiak; and several nieces, nephews, and godchildren.

Visitation and Divine Liturgy were held on July 14th and 15th at Christ the Saviour Church, Harrisburg, PA. Interment followed at St Tikhon’s Monastery Cemetery, South Canaan, PA.

In lieu of flowers, contributions for the establishment of a religious education fund may be sent to Christ The Saviour Church, 5501 Locust Lane, Harrisburg, PA 17109.

May +Fr Michael’s memory be eternal!-- From the OCA Website Announcement

Fr Michael served SS Peter & Paul quite a number of times, especially during periods of Fr Antony Bassoline’s illness. Fr Antony struggled with bouts of illness for perhaps 5 to 6 years before his death in October 1993. His condition could suddenly worsen without warning, and SS Peter & Paul would have to look for a substitute priest on short notice. Martha Murianka recalls that once, this occurred on the eve of Nativity (Christmas). Although Fr Michael and his wife were leaving for vacation, he adjusted his plans, and came to serve Nativity Vesperal Liturgy at SS Peter & Paul.

While a credentialed historical scholar, he was a very down to earth person, easy to converse with one-to-one. He served in the altar with humility and sense of awesome majesty, but when Fr Michael preached, he was on broadcast. No one could doze off or ignore him. He was on point with the gospel message, and brought home is point right to our daily lives. He often said that he truly enjoyed serving Liturgy at SS Peter & Paul, and despite the 2 hour travel time, never turned us down when we were in need. For an extended period of time, Fr Michael also served at St John Chrysostom’s when they were without a priest.

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HOLY DAYS AND NAME DAYS IN AUGUST

ST TIKHON, BISHOP OF VORONEZH ,WONDERWORKER OF ZADONSK AND ALL OF RUSSIA(Commemorated on August 13)

St Tikhon of Zadonsk, Bishop of Voronezh (in the world Timothy), was born in 1724 in the village of Korotsk (Novgorod diocese). His father died when he was a child, leaving the family in poverty. Timothy often worked a whole day with the peasants for a single piece of black bread.

At 13, he was sent to a clergy school and earned his keep by working with the vegetable garden-ers. In 1740, he was accepted under a state grant for the Novgorod seminary. Upon finishing in 1754, he became a teacher there, first in Greek, and later in Rhetoric and Philosophy. In 1758, he was tonsured with the name Tikhon and ap-pointed to be prefect of the seminary.

In 1759, he was transferred to Tver, elevated to be archimandrite of the Zheltikov monastery. Later, he was appointed rector of the Tver seminary and, at the same time, head of the Otroch monastery. On May 13, 1761 he was consecrated Bishop of Keksgolma and Ladoga (i.e., a vicar bishop of the Novgorod diocese).

In 1763, St Tikhon was transferred to the See of Voronezh. During his 4 1/2 years there, he pro-vided constant edification, both by his life and by his numerous pastoral guidances and soul-saving books and a series of works for pastors.

In 1765, St Tikhon transformed the Voronezh Slavic-Latin school into a seminary. He invited experienced instructors from Kiev and Khark-hov, and planned the courses. He exerted much attention and effort to build up both the churches and the school, and to guide pastors to understand the need for education.

The saint was unflagging in his efforts to admin-ister the vast diocese, and he often spent nights without sleep. In 1767, poor health compelled

him to give up running the diocese and with-draw for rest to the Tolshevsk monastery, at a distance 40 versts from Voronezh.

In 1769, the saint transferred to the monastery of the Theotokos in the city of Zadonsk, where he became a great teacher of the Christian life. With deep wisdom he set forth the ideal of true monasticism in his Rule of Monastic Living and his Guidances to Turn from the Vanity of the World, and in his own life he fulfilled this ideal.

The fruition of all his spiritual life were the books that the saint wrote while in retirement: A Spiritual Treasury, Gathered from the World (1770), and On True Christianity (1776).

The saint lived in very simple circumstances: he slept on straw, covered by a sheepskin coat. The workers laughed at him but he used to say, “It is pleasing to God that even the monastery work-ers mock me, and I deserve it because of my sins.” He often said, “Forgiveness is better than revenge.”

All his life the saint “in troubles, and sorrows, and insults... joyfully endured, mindful that there can be no crown without the victory, nor victory without effort, nor effort without struggle, nor struggle without enemies” (Ode 6 of the Canon).

St Tikhon especially loved the common folk, and comforted them in their grievous lot, inter-ceding with the landowners, and moving them to compassion. He gave away his pension, and gifts from admirers, to the poor.

By his deeds of self-denial and love of soul, the saint foresaw the future. St Tikhon prophesied much about the future, particularly the victory of Russia over the French in 1812.

For 3 years before his repose he prayed each day, “Tell me, O Lord, of my end.” And a quiet voice in the morning dawn said, “It will be on a Sun-day.” In that same year, he saw in a dream a beautiful meadow with wondrous palaces. He wanted to go inside, but they said to him: “In three years, you may enter. For now, continue your labors.” After this the saint secluded him-self in his cell and admitted only a few friends.

A year and three months before his death, in a dream, the saint that he was standing in the monastery church. A priest was carrying the Divine Infant. The saint kissed the Infant on the right cheek, and he felt himself stricken on the left. Awakening, the saint sensed a numb-ness in his left cheek, his left leg, and a trem-bling in his left hand. He accepted this illness with joy. Shortly before his death, the saint saw in a dream a high and twisting ladder and he heard a command to climb it. “At first, I was afraid because of weakness,” he told his friend Cosmas. “But when I started to go climb, the people standing around the ladder lifted me higher and higher, up to the very clouds.” “The ladder,” said Cosmas, “is the way to the Heav-enly Kingdom. Those who helped were those you have helped by your advice, and they re-member you.” The saint said with tears, “I thought so, too. I feel that my end is near.”

St Tikhon died, as was revealed to him, on Sun-day August 13, 1783, at the age of 59. The first uncovering of his relics occurred on May 14, 1846. St Tikhon’s glorification took place on Sunday, August 13, 1861.

Reading & Icon Courtesy of OCA Website

August 1 - Procession of Life-Giving CrossAugust 6 - Holy Transfiguration of Our LordAugust 9 - Ven Herman of Alaska; Apostle MatthiasAugust 12 - Martyrs Anicletus & PhotiusAugust 13 - St Tikhon of Zadonsk; St Maximus, Confessor; Ven Maximus of MoscowAugust 15 - Dormition of the Most-Holy TheotokosAugust 16 - Image of Christ “Not Made by Hands”August 18 - Martyrs Florus & Laurus; Ven. John of RilaAugust 20 - Prophet SamuelAugust 21 - Apostle Thaddeus of the 70August 24 - St Kozma of Berat; St Cosmas of AetoliaAugust 25 - Relics of Apostle Bartholomew; Apostle Titus of the 70August 26 - Martyrs Adrian & NataliaAugust 27 - Ven. Poemen the GreatAugust 28 - Ven Job of Pochaev; Ven Moses the Black; Righteous Prophetess AnnaAugust 29 - Beheading of St John the BaptistAugust 30 - St Alexander NevskyAugust 31 - Sash of the Theotokos; Hieromartyr Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage