St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church BULLETIN St. Paul, MN
ST. MARY ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
854 Woodbridge Street, St. Paul, MN 55117 www.saintmarymn.org
Parish priest: Mircea Vasiu - home (651) 489-561
- office (651) 488-5669 / cell (734) 497-4544
- email: [email protected]
CRĂCIUNUL LUMINĂRII SUFLETULUI
În preajma Crăciunului, multe din colindele
noastre străbune ni-L binevestesc pe "Hristos,
Mesia chip luminos". Acest fapt nu este rodul
intâmplării. Există deopotrivă atât un temei
teologic profund, cât si o necesitate reală în ceea ce
ne priveşte, pe care se întemeiază acest vers.
Pe de-o parte, vorbim despre Întruparea Celui
ce este "Lumina din Lumina, Dumnezeu adevărat
din Dumnezeu adevărat", iar pe de alta, despre
nevoia de lumină pe care o resimţim toţi cei care
întâmpinăm Naşterea Sa având chipul umbrit de
păcate, de grijile cotidiene, de monotonia vieţii etc.
"Cu noi este Dumnezeu"
Profetul Isaia i-a dat Domnului, cu peste 700
de ani înainte de întruparea Sa, numele de
Emanuel: "Iată, Fecioara va avea in pântece si va
naşte Fiu, si vor pune numele lui Emanuel (7, 14).
Acest nume înseamnă "cu noi este Dumnezeu".
In cântarea cu acelaşi nume din slujba
Pavecernitei, mărturisim cum "Poporul cel ce
locuia in întuneric si in umbra morţii a văzut
lumina mare. Căci cu noi este Dumnezeu". Altfel
spus, Dumnezeu Cuvântul se intrupează pentru a-l
scoate pe om din întunericul cel mai din afară si a-l
face partaş luminii Sale.
Noi cei de astăzi am pierdut acea bucurie dată
de trăirea conştienta a prezenţei dumnezeiesti.
Creştinul care nu mărturiseşte doar la nivel
declarativ "cu noi este Dumnezeu", ci mai ales
existenţial, are întotdeauna chipul luminos. Acesta
cunoaşte că este chemat de Hristos să vieţuiască in
veşnicie întru lumina Sa.
"Răsărit-a lumii lumina cunoştinţei"
Dacă citim pericopele evanghelice in care ni se
relatează evenimentul Naşterii Domnului, dacă
privim icoana sau dacă ascultăm imnurile
praznicului si colindele, constatăm cum toate ne
vorbesc, sub o formă sau alta, despre prezenţa si
însemnătatea luminii.
Dar in toate acestea este subliniată mai ales
natura duhovnicească a luminii. Lumina lui Hristos
nu este cea fizică. Este lumina Sa necreată,
Naşterea Domnului, prin unirea celor două firi, in
persoana lui Hristos, oferind omului posibilitatea
impărtăşirii de energiile dumnezeieşti in chip
nemijlocit.
In acest sens, troparul praznicului, nu face
decât să ne vorbească despre cunoşterea lui
Dumnezeu întru lumina: "Naşterea Ta Hristoase
Dumnezeul nostru, răsarit-a lumii lumina
cunoştinţei, că întru ea cei ce slujeau stelelor, de
la stea s-au învăţat să se închine Ţie, Soarelui
dreptăţii, si să te cunoască pe Tine, Răsăritul cel
de sus, Doamne, slavă Ţie".
Acesta este si motivul pentru care in Taina
Botezului, "taina luminării omului" sau taina
naşterii celei de-a doua, Biserica cere de la Hristos
in numele celui nou botezat veşmânt de lumina:
"Dă-mi mie haină luminoasă cela ce Te îmbraci cu
lumina ca si cu o haină".
"Întru lumina Ta vom vedea lumină"
Tot despre lumina lui Hristos ne vorbeşte
"Doxologia Mare", o cântare a Bisericii ce se
intemeiază pe binevestirea Naşterii Domnului
făcută de îngeri păstorilor din preajma
Betleemului. Doxologia începe după ce preotul
St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church BULLETIN St. Paul, MN
proclamă: "Slavă Ţie, Celui ce ne-ai arătat nouă
lumina!".
Apoi strana răspunde cântând imnul: "Slava
întru cei de sus lui Dumnezeu si pe pământ pace,
între oameni bunăvoire. Lăudămu-Te, bine Te
cuvântăm, închinămu-ne Ţie, slăvimu-Te,
mulţumim Tie pentru slava Ta cea mare. [...] Ca la
Tine este Izvorul Vietii, intru lumina Ta vom vedea
lumina. [...]”
Sfinţii Părinti si intreaga Traditie a Bisericii, ne
adeveresc faptul că vederea luminii dumnezeiesti
este ultima treaptă a urcuşului duhovnicesc în viaţa
aceasta, ce nu este posibilă fără purificarea de
patimi si dobândirea iubirii curate.
Crăciunul luminării şi impodobirii sufletului
Constatăm cu tristeţe cum omul contemporan,
în preajma Crăciunului, tinde să reducă
însemnătatea luminii, doar la nivel exterior,
rezumându-se la a cumpăra instalatii luminoase cât
mai complexe si lumănari cât mai originale etc.
Acesta depune tot efortul să împodobească strazile,
magazinele, casele, bradul, cu riscul de a da uitării
propriul suflet.
Pierdem din vedere esentialul, faptul ca
Naşterea Domnului este o sărbătoare a chipurilor
scăldate in lumina lui Hristos, o sărbătoare a
împodobirii sufletului.
Biserica ne arată însă de fiecare dată calea către
lumina cea adevarată si către podoabele care se
cuvin a le dobândi. In Biserică ne luminăm sufletul
prin post, ni-l împodobim prin dar, însă devenim
cu adevărat “lumină si poboabă” numai prin
Spovedanie si Împărtăşanie si prin celelalte Sfinte
Taine ale Bisericii.
La început spuneam că nu este deloc
intâmplător faptul că există colinde care ni-L
binevestesc pe "Hristos, Mesia chip luminos".
Chipul Pruncului Hristos scăldat in lumină, nu este
altceva decât o prevestire a Schimbării Sale la
Faţă, o prevestire a descoperirii Slavei Sale si a
posibilităţii noastre de a "ne lumina", altfel spus,
de a-L cunoaşte împărtăşindu-ne de ea.
Why we keep the Sabbath (Sunday) day holy?
In Genesis 2:3, we are told that after God created the world, he rested on the seventh day.
Exodus 20:9-11 tells us “Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a
Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work… For in six days the Lord made
heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the
Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
After Christ’s resurrection, the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, designated Sunday as the
Sabbath, in honor of God’s day of rest and Christ’s Holy Resurrection. We are to keep the sabath
holy by attending the Divine Liturgy and refraining from unnecessary work.
“Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us
encourage one another…” (Hebrew10:25)
THE PASTOR SAYS: “Isn’t it remarkable how the apostles covered so much territory and accomplished
so much in spreading the Good News without cars, television, cell-phones, texting tweeting or the internet?!”
“Postul stă nu numai în a mânca rar, ci în a mânca puțin; și nu numai în a mânca o dată, ci în a nu mânca mult. Nechibzuit este postitorul care așteaptă până la ceasul mesei ca atunci să se dedea mâncatului cu nesaț atât cu trupul, cât și cu mintea.”
Sfântul Serafim de Sarov, Rânduieli de viață creștină,
St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church BULLETIN St. Paul, MN
MAKING OF ROMANIA – 95 years
December 1, 1918 – Romania National Holiday
Despite the hostility and open
opposition of some of its powerful
neighbors, Romania managed to
achieve the centuries-old dream of
reunification. It was not an easy road;
there were two world wars, political
instability, authoritarian regimes, more
foreign occupations and finally, the
darkest years of the Communism.
King Carol I died in the fall of 1914,
and his nephew Ferdinand I came to the
throne. He was married to Queen Mary, a
niece of Queen Victoria of England.
After maintaining neutrality (1914-
1916) during the first two years of World
War I, Romania joined the Allied Powers,
declaring war on the Empire of Austria-
Hungary. The aim was to win back
Transylvania. The campaign was not easy,
two-thirds of the country, including
Bucharest, were occupied by the armies of
Germany and Empire of Austria-Hungary,
and in 1918 it was obliged to negotiate a
peace treaty with Germany.
Five months later, Romania rejoined the
war and soon the Greater Romania was
created. The international peace treaties
of 1919-1920 signed at Neuilly, Saint-
German, Trianon and Paris, established
the new European realities and also
certified the union of the Romanian
provinces into one single state. The
national Romanian holiday, on
December 1st, celebrates the unification of
the country on December 1st, 1918.
King Ferdinand I and Queen Mary were crowned sovereigns of Greater Romania at Alba Iulia in
October 15, 1922, thereby making the unification of the Romanian territories official.
St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church BULLETIN St. Paul, MN
The period that followed the end of
the First World War is remembered in
Romania for the economic and cultural
advances and also for the major reforms
such as the universal ballot (1918), the
land reform (1921) and the Constitution
(1923) who was an updating of that of
1866.
The inter-war period was among the
most flourishing for Romania, a period
when cities developed – including
Bucharest, which was then called the
Little Paris and compared to the French
capital, many of the Romanian literature
masterpieces were written.
Compared with Romania before the
First World War, Greater Romania was
another country. It had more than twice
the area: 295,000 sq/km compared with
137,000 sq/km in 1914. In 1912, its
population had been barely more than 7
million; in 1930 it was 18 million.
When King Ferdinand died in 1927,
he was not followed to the throne by his
son, Prince Carol who had given up his
right to the succession. Instead, the new
king was Carol’s under-aged son Mihai
(Michael), in whose name regency was
established from 1927-1930.
In 1930, Carol returned from exile and
proclaimed himself king, with the name
of Carol II. In February 1938, Carol II
established his own dictatorship and in
1940 appointed Ion Antonescu as prime
minister. However, the king was forced
to abdicate in favor of his son, Mihai, but
power was effectively taken over by
General Ion Antonescu. On 1 September
1939, the Second World War broke
out.
World War II also began with
Romania being one of the neutral
countries, but this situation didn’t last for
too long. By June 1941, the Romanian
troops were fighting alongside of Nazi
Germany in the invasion of USSR.
Romania surrendered when soviet troops
entered the country in 1944 and
Antonescu was overthrown and
eventually executed at the end of the
war.
Romania turned their weapons against
Germany and placed its whole military
and economic capability at the service of
Russia’s Red Army. After the war, the
Paris Peace Treaty (1947) had re-
established Romania’s sovereign rights
over Transylvania, but Basarabia,
northern Bucovina and the Herta area
were passed under Soviet occupation.
The Russian occupation of Romania at
the end of the Second World War saw
the abdication and exile of King Mihai
and the establishment of a Communist
People’s Republic in 1947.
St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church BULLETIN St. Paul, MN
CANDLES IN THE FRONT AND INSIDE THE ALTAR
On 11/24/ 2013 - donated by Ardeleanu Family for their daughter Katherine’s 21st
birthday - La mulţi ani!
On 11/30/ 2013 - donate de Andreea Grigore pentru sănătate şi binecuvâtare de la
Dumnezeu;
On 12/06/ 2013 - donated by Carmen & Viorel Herea pentru sănătate si iertare;
On 12/08/ 2013 - donate de familia Grigore pentru sănătate şi binecuvântare de la
Dumnezeu cu ocazia zilei de naştere a lui Laurenţiu si ziua
onomastică a d-lui Nicolae – La mulţi ani!
On 12/25/ 2013 - donated by Hoolihan Family for good health and blessing from God;
MONTHLY OFFERINGS
Ioan Osvar $ 60 - IMO Vasilica Osvar
Daniela & Viorel Gheorghe $ 50
Ronald Bongard $ 60 - Anniv. Donation
Cătălina Morăraşu $ 100
Liliana Badea $ 25
Mike & Paula Pascutoi $ 40 - Nov.& Dec. pledge donation
Anca Zamfirescu $ 25
Andreea Tudosie $ 125 - 2013 membership
Anca Zamfirescu $ 125 - 2013 membership
Amelia Taut $ 125 - 2013 membership
Dorin Vasin $ 125 - 2013 membership
Ştefan Radu $ 125 - 2013 membership
Romell & Maria Alaman $ 250 - 2013 membership
PLEASE, make an effort and send your parish dues, today! May God see your love and reward you abundantly!
2013 membership is $125 ($55 are going to our Episcopate and $5 to department of Missions)
November 14, 2013 Online Donations –Thank You
Carolyn Manciu $100 Eugenia Cerghizan $20
anonymous $10 Fr. Mircea Vasiu $50
Dan Luca $100 anonymous $100
Doina Neculescu $300 anonymous $25
anonymous $25 Maria Golden $150
Tudor Felea $25 Dorina Vincze Turcean $50
Irinel Ardeleanu $100 Silvia Antonescu $30
Ecaterina G. Jancik $40 Georgia M. Omorean $40
Veronica Ivans $100 Derek Dickinson $25
Amelia Taut $20 Stephen Thompson $50
St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church BULLETIN St. Paul, MN
COMING EVENTS
1. Friday, Nov. 15, 2013 Începe Postul Nasterii Domnului/ Beginning of the Nativity Fast.
During NATIVITY FAST it is permitted to eat fish as follow: all Saturdays and Sundays, and on
Nov. 21 & 25, and Dec. 3, 5, 6 & 12.
In timpul POSTULUI NASTERII DOMNULUI este dezlegare la peşte după cum urmează: în
fiecare Sambată si Duminică, şi în 21 & 25 Nov. si 3, 5, 6 & 12 Dec.
2. Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013 – St. Nicholas Fish Dinner – right after Divine Liturgy
3. Saint Mary Romanian Orthodox Church in collaboration with an independent group of
dispensers is organizing a free hearing aid screening at the Church Hall on Sunday
December 8th, 2013 between 12:00pm - 3:00pm. Because of the nature of the event, we
kindly ask you to RSVP by calling Tudor Felea @ 773-290-3804 or send an e-mail to
[email protected]. We will be trying to schedule all requests if possible. Seniors and
people with hearing loss will have priority.
We thank you for your understanding. Donations are welcomed.
4. On Sunday, December 22, 2013 after Divine Liturgy, by order only, Ladies Auxiliary will have
for sale: 1. Cabbage rolls / Sarmale, $15/dozen or 4 sarmale for $5;
2. Pound cake with walnuts or raisins /cozonac, $12 /piece;
3. Roll nut /Rulada cu nuca, $12 /piece.
5. On Sunday, Dec. 15 & 22 we will have homemade “sausage sale” - $10 (1bag /2.5 lb.)
6. Rehearsal for Christmas program – Sunday 15 & 22 after Divine Liturgy. Dragi parinti VA
RUGAM, sa aduceti copiii la repetiile pentru SERBAREA DE CRACIUN - Nasterea Domnului
(care va avea loc Miercuri, 25 Decembrie 2013).
7. “PRIMIŢI COLINDA” Fr. Mircea & the Youth group are caroling during Christmas season.
If you want to receive the good news of Nativity from us, please contact Fr. Mircea Vasiu at
734-497-4544 or [email protected];
8. Wednesday, December 25, 2013 - Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am and Christmas Program &
Potluck Reception at 12:00 pm. Please bring some food and pastries to share with the
others.
9. Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013 – New Year’s Eve Party – 8:00 pm.
NEW YEAR’ S EVE BALL 2014 You are invited to participate at the New Year’s Eve Party with
traditional food and music at our Parish Hall.
TICKETS: $ 45 – Adults & $ 25 – older than 65, students & children (12-18).
Free - children under age of 12.
Tickets must be purchased (paid) by Dec. 26. At the door tickets are $ 60 Please contact Mrs. Constanta Korolchuk to purchase the tickets
@ 651-453-1885 or Fr. Mircea Vasiu 734-497-4544
LIMITED SEATING.
10. House blessing – starting on Saturday, January 4, 2014. To schedule the date and time
please call Fr. Mircea at 734-497-4544 or 651-489-5618 or via email – [email protected]
11. St. John Dinner at 12:30 pm – Sunday, January 26, 2014. More details in next bulletin.
12. General Assembly at 11:30 am –Sunday, February 9, 2014.Divine Liturgy at 9:30 am.
St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church BULLETIN St. Paul, MN
NEWLY BAPTIZED
Congratulations to:
Andreea Maria Grochowski si Daniel Scott Grochowskion the Baptism of their sons
Derek Scott and David Anthony on November 30, 2013. Naşi - Cosmina Ramona &
Robert Strain. May God grant them many years!
SUNDAY SCHOOL
We are starting a new Sunday School class for children of ages 9 & up.
The classes will take place every two (2) weeks.
First class will be on December 8 and next one on Dec. 22 after Divine Liturgy.
PLEASE BRING YOUR CHILDREN TO SUNDAY SCHOOL THAT WILL BEGIN
EVERY SUNDAY AT 11:30AM (RIGHT AFTER COMMUNION). WE ALSO NEED HELP
for Sunday school. We need a person or two to help the teacher during the classes. Anyone who is
interested, please contact Fr. Mircea Vasiu at 651-489-5618 or 734-497-4544. Thank you.
COLINDE / CAROLS
La Vifleem colo-n jos
La Vifleem colo-n jos
Cerul arde luminos,
Preacurata naşte astăzi pe Hristos.
Naşte-n ieslea boilor,
Pe-mpăratul tuturor,
Preacurata stă şi plânge-ncetişor.
N-are scutec de-nfăşat,
nici hăinuţe de-mbrăcat,
Preacurata pentru pruncul de-
mpărat.
Nu mai plânge maica mea,
Scutecele noi ţi-om da,
Preacurata pruncul Sfânt de
înfăşat.
La Vifleem colo-n jos.
There, in Bethlehem, down in the valley
There, in Bethlehem, down in the valley,
The sky is burning brightly,
The Holy Virgin is giving birth to Christ.
She is giving birth in the manger
To the King of the world,
The Holy Virgin sits and silently weeps.
She has no swaddling clothes for the
baby
No clothes for Him,
The Holy Virgin for the Holy Infant.
Do not cry my mother,
We shall give you new swaddling clothes
So that The Holy Virgin would wrap the
Holy Infant.
There, in Bethlehem, down in the valley
St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church BULLETIN St. Paul, MN
CENTENNIAL PLAQUE
YOU will have an additional opportunity to have your Name on a
permanent plaque – centennial plaque (this image is an example) who
will be expose on parish hall. For more details please contact Georgia M.
Omorean or Fr. Mircea Vasiu
- $100 dollars per name plate. Examples / Exemple:
Please limit your text to 40 letters.
We have a few plates left, so we will receive donation for Centennial
plaque until is full
Veţi avea ocazia unică să vă puteţi înscrie numele pe o placă aniversară – centenară . In
general, fiecare dintre dumneavoastră va dona $100 (in memoria… sau pentru familie… etc) şi
numele va apărea pe aceasta placă, ce va fi apoi pusă în sala parohială.
Pentru detalii va rugăm să contactaţi pe Georgia Omorean sau Pr. Mircea Vasiu.
Name
Address
City State Zip/Post Code
Phone Email
PAYMENT:
Please send your check and text to: St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church and mention at Memo – For
Centennial Plaque or Ad-Book, and sent them to - 854 Woodbridge St., Saint Paul, MN 55117
THANK YOU!
FUNAR MARIA & Family
IMO her grandparents
POPESCU GHEORGHE
Pentru sănătatea familiei
WRITE YOUR TEXT IN THIS BOX / Vă rugăm să scrieţi textul aici: