ST. GREGORY’S DIVINE SERVICES FOR THE WEEK Tuesday, October 1 The Protection of the Theotokos 9:30 A.M. Divine Liturgy Thursday, October 3 Hieromartyr Dionysius the Areopagite 7:00 P.M. Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God “Healer of Cancer” (Mother of God Chapel) Friday, October 4 Hieromartyr Hierotheus, Bishop of Athens 7:00 P.M. Blessing of Animals (Church Hall Entrance) Saturday, October 5 Martyr Charitina 5:00 P.M. Vigil Divine Liturgy Supplications will be offered for +Rosemarie Zifchak, given by the Greco Family Sunday, October 6 Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost 9:10 A.M. Third Hour 9:30 A.M. Divine Liturgy The Epistle Reading will be Galatians 1:11-19 and the Gospel Luke 7:11-16. Supplications will be offered for +Francesco Ferrera, given by the Wolfe Family. Please join us in the Church hall following the Divine Liturgy for a time of fellowship and refreshments and to view the slide show presented by Fr. Valerian on his recent trip/pilgrimage to Rome.

According to our venerable father Poemen, Abba John said that the saints are like a group of trees, each bearing different fruit, but watered from the same source. The practices of one saint differ from those of another, but it is the same Spirit that works in all of them. He also said, “Humility and the fear of God are above all virtues.”

Blessing of Animals In our Holy Church we have a number of Blessings which are associated with the needs, events, and tasks of human life. In celebrating these various Blessings, the Church is constantly bearing witness to the presence and action of God in our lives.. The Blessings also serve to remind us that all of life is important, and that the many events and gifts of life can be directed toward God and receive their

fulfillment in Him. The Church blesses individuals, events such as trips, and objects such as icons, churches, flowers, fields, animals, and food. In so doing, the Church is not only expressing our thanks giving, but also affirming that no gift, event, or human responsibility is secular or detached from God. For Christians all good things have God as their origin and goal. Nothing is outside of God’s love and concern. On this upcoming Friday, October 4th, we will have the Blessing of Animals in our parish family. This event reminds us that as stewards of God’s creation we are called to care for, nurture and bless each other, our environment and the animal kingdom. In our Eastern Church we have a number of Saints who are concidered Patron Saints of animals and livestock: St. Modestus, St. Mammas or St. George. This year we will have the Blessing of Animals as we commemorate the life of St. Francis of Assisi (October 4th). For centuries St. Francis has been recognized as Patron of Animals and the Environment. As a Friar he lived simply and felt a kinship with all of creation. He regarded the animals and other things in nature as his brothers and sisters in Christ. He is credited with creating the first Christmas manger scene, using live animals to help people better understand the Nativity of Our Lord. There are countless stories of how St. Francis being a protector of animals tamed the wild beasts, grew kinship with birds or paid homage to flowers and referred to Brother Sun (or life itself) and Sister Moon (the night or a direct referral to his friend and fellow patron St. Clare of Assisi.) Many stories of St. Francis of Assisi were gathered in the “Little Flowers of Saint Francis” written by Brother Ugolino. On Friday evening please come and bring your pet for this special blessing. In my priestly ministry I have often wittnessed how special the bond between someone and their pet(s) can be. Make this an opportunity to invite a relative or friend to be part of this parish event. We will be happy to welcome all in celebration of all God’s creatures.

Announcements Sunday: Meeting for the Dinner and Mystery Play Following the Sunday Divine Liturgy a short meeting for the upcoming Ethnic Dinner and Mystery Play will take place in the Church hall. If you wish to assist/be part of this upcoming event, please make sure to join us for this important meeting ***Mark your calendars and plan to attend our Ethnic Dinner and Mystery Show which will take place in our Church hall on Saturday, October 12th. Please invite your friends, neighbors and family to attend our ethnic dinner and mystery play at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for this upcoming event are being sold after the Saturday and Sunday Divine Liturgies. You can also reserve tickets by calling our parishioners Dorothy Mayernik (412-276-1832) and Sylvia Bender (724-255-6222). Tickets are $25.00. Tuesday: Protection of the Mother of God

On Tuesday, October 1st, we will celebrate the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God. To celebrate this special day on which we honor Virgin Mary as the special protectress, Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Please come to honor our Blessed Lady and ask her intercession. October: Cancer Awareness During the upcoming month of October we will be celebrating on Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. the Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God “Healer of Cancer.” Since the month of October is dedicated in our country to the National Breast Cancer Awareness, we invite all to this Prayer Service who are in need of the healing touch of the Queen of Heaven. The hymns of this particular Akathist Service will console anyone who is suffering from cancer, or who has loved ones that are ill. Come and bring a friend for this Divine Service that gives strength and hope during a time of suffering and pain. Friday: Blessing of Animals In our Holy Church we have prayers of blessing for just about everything. From religious articles such as icons and vestments, to things like fields, flowers, houses, vehicles and even animals! On this upcoming Friday, October 4th, when we commemorate the life of St. Francis of Assisi, who is honored as one of the patron saints of animals and livestock, we will have the blessing of animals in our parish family. This blessing will take place outside at 7:00 p.m. in front of the Church hall. Bring your pet and plan to come and to be part of this prayerful event.

Presentation on Rome Next Saturday & Sunday, October 5th & 6th, following the Divine Liturgy we will have a coffee social in our Church hall during which a slideshow will be presented on Fr. Valerian’s trip/pilgrimage to Rome. Please plan to attend to learn more about Rome and the strong presence of the Eastern Church in this what is called “Eternal City”. Class: Being Byzantine Catholic

During the month of October (15-22-29) and November (5-12), we will be offering on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. a class titled “Being Byzantine Catholic”. Often visitors to our city comment on the beautiful skyline of Pittsburgh that includes golden domes. These “golden domes” are the spiritual homes of many Eastern Christians who preserve centuries old eastern liturgical, devotional and theological traditions. But do we know who we are? What does it mean to be Byzantine Catholic? In order to answer these and many other questions, these classes will be offered to enrich our knowledge. Mark your calendars and plan to be part of these upcoming classes. Helping SHIM During these upcoming weeks we will be reaching out to assist South Hills Interfaith Ministries. For many years SHIM has been dedicated to providing the resources necessary for struggling families to achieve self-sufficiency. As a parish family we will be collecting items for the food pantry: Canned Fruit, Hamburger Helper Products, Specialty Soups (Progresso, Campbell’s Chunky, etc.), Juice (Non-Refrigerated), Canned Chicken/Chili/Stew, Jelly, Pasta Sauce, Cereal, Boxed Potatoes (Mashed, Scalloped, etc.), Beans (Dried or Canned), Canned Pasta (Spaghetti-O’s, Ravioli, etc.) and Grocery store gift cards. They also collect paper products for their offices and operations (paper-all colors, paper products such as plates, cups, napkins, towels, toilet paper, and plastic utensils). Donations are being collected in the Mother of God Chapel. We ask that you please check your donations to be sure that food items are not expired. Collection- May God bless you…

The total for Sunday, September 22, 2013 was $2282.88. (Envelopes: $1911.00; Loose: $39.00; Candles: $26.00; Debt: $35.00; Prayer Trail: $85.00; Flea Market: $71.00; Phone Reimbursement: $115.88) Envelopes: 1@100=$100; 1@80=$80; 1@ 75=$75; 8@50=$400; 8@40=$320; 2@35=$70; 5@30=$150; 13@25=$325; 11@20=$220; 1@15=$15; 15@10=$150; 1@6=$6. Total: 67 envelopes=$1911.00 Average envelope: $28.50 Debt: 1@35=$35

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Lord said, “And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same…” This Sunday calls us to receive the words which we have heard today with the directness with which they were spoken by Christ: “And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.” It’s something which we have seen repeated all the time; but is it the way in which we live? We want from people around us understanding, patience, compassion, support, friendship and all the simplicity of this world. We don’t expect from us heroic deeds, because we are not in heroic times and situations. But that is what we expect to receive. And if we ask ourselves: what do we do about the people who surround us, can we say that we are fulfilling this simple and direct commandment, this advice of Christ in which He says: “If you do these things you will be truly human?” Let us reflect on that, because we think very often of things great, of things heroic, and when we think these great thoughts we must find the simplest things that we could do. When we read in the Gospel that we should give our lives for one another, we think that we can’t do it, because there is no attempt at an attack on the life of our neighbor, certainly of our closest. And yet to give one’s life means to devote one’s life, to devote all one’s energy, all one’s understanding, all the patience, all the concern, all the sympathy, to all those who surround us. To do, in other words, as Christ put it, to others what we wish that others do to us. Today we are called to reflect on this very, very simple commandment, and see that we bring it at every moment; because we expect everything, and we give so little. We give indeed to those who are dear to us, naturally dear, but even they must put up, so often, with our lack of understanding and patience and compassion. Let us reflect on these simple and direct words of Christ and stand in judgment before them; ask ourselves how can I stand

before Christ when He will say to me, “You have heard these words, you have understood them, you have repeated them… and what have YOU done?”