U ovom broju / In This Issue:

• Христос се роди! Ваистину се роди! Christ is Born - Indeed, He is born!
• Badnje Vece/Christmas Eve Service - Wednesday, January 6th at 7:30 p.m.
• Bozic/ Christmas - Thursday, January 7th Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.
• PROSLAVA SRPSKE NOVE GODINE / SERBIAN NEW YEAR CELEBRATION - Saturday, January 16th at 8:00 p.m.
• SVETI SAVA – PROSLAVA/ ST. SAVA – CELEBRATION - Sunday, January 31st after the Divine Liturgy
• Kolo Sestre Sastanak/Meeting - January 24th, 2010, Generalna Skupstina/ General Assembly - February 21st, 2010
• The Fasting Rules for Nativity Fast
• ХРИСТОС СЕ РОДИ! - Свети Николај Жички, РОЂЕЊЕ ГОСПОДА ИСУСА ХРИСТА – БОЖИЋ
  Химна Светом Сави, СВЕТИ ОЦИ О ПОКАЈАЊУ, ВЈЕРСКИ ЖИВОТ У ПРАКСИ: О строгости поста, О потреби покајања
• Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer, bishop of Antioch (107) Commemorated on December 20/January 2, Feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Commemorated on December 25/January 7, Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos Commemorated on December 26/January 8, Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen (34) Commemorated on December 27/January 9, The Circumcision (Obrezanie) of the Lord Commemorated on January 1/January 14, St. Basil the Great, archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia (379) Commemorated on January 1/January 14, The Holy Theophany of Our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ (Baptism of the Lord) Commemorated on January 6/January 19, Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John Commemorated on January 7/January 20, St. Sava I, enlightener and first archbishop of Serbia (1235) Commemorated on January 14/January 27, Veneration of the Precious Chains of the Holy and All-glorious Apostle Peter Commemorated on January 16/January 29
• Манастири - Цркве/ Monasteries and churches
• This Month in Orthodoxy
• Church Calendar for January 2010
• Church Board / Kolo Sestre

Христос се роди!  Ваистину се роди!
Christ is Born - Indeed, He is born!

PROSLAVA SRPSKE NOVE GODINE

Dragi Parohijani,
Nasa parohija organizuje proslavu Srpske Nove Godine 16. januara sa pocetkom u 20. casova. Proslava ce se odrzati u ASTORIA EURO RESTAURANT u SUWANEE.
Adresa mjesta gdje cemo odrzati proslavu je:

ASTORIA EURO RESTAURANT
95 CRESTRIDGE DRIVE SUITE 600
SUWANEE, GA 30024
http://www.astoriaeurorestaurant.com/contact.html

Pripremicemo pecenje sa raznja i selekciju pica. Do kasno u noc ce nas zabavljati muzicki bend iz Tampe, Ranko i Dijana.

Ulaz sa vecerom za odrasle - $15
Za tinejdzere 11-19 godina - $10
Djeca od 10 godina i ispod - besplatno

SERBIAN NEW YEAR CELEBRATION

Dear Parishioners,
Our Parish is organizing the celebration of the Serbian New Year on January 16th starting at 8 PM. The location is ASTORIA EURO RESTAURANT in SUWANEE. The address:

ASTORIA EURO RESTAURANT
95 CRESTRIDGE DRIVE SUITE 600
SUWANEE, GA 30024
http://www.astoriaeurorestaurant.com/contact.html

We will serve the roasting by the spit and selection of different drinks. We will have wonderful entertainment provided by Ranko and Dijana from Tampa FL. Tickets include dinner.

Adults:  $15.00
Ages 11-19:  $10.00
Ages 10 & Under:  FREE

Kolo Sestre Sastanak/Meeting - January 24th, 2009
- All Sisters are invited to the short meeting on 1/24/2010 at the church, after the Divine Litrurgy. Please come and partcipate.
- Sve Sestre su pozvane na kratak sastanak u nedelju 24. januarau crkvi odmah posle Svete Liturgije. Molimo Vas da dodjete i prisustvujete sastanku.

Kolo Sestre Generalna Skupstina/ General Assembly - February 21st, 2010
- Serbian Sister Circle will organize General Assembly on February 21st at the church, after the Divine Litrurgy. We are asking all ladies from our Parish to attend, especially registered Kolo Sisters in good standing and help us elect new Kolo Board. All ideas and recommendations are welcome.
- Kolo Srpskih Sestara nase zajendice ce takodje odrzati Godisnju skupstinu u nedelju 24. januarau crkvi odmah posle Svete Liturgije. Molimo sve zene nase parohije, a posebno registrovane clanice Kola Srpskih Sestara da dodju da izaberemo Upravu Kola za narednu godinu.

The Fasting Rules for Nativity Fast

November 27 - Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
November 28, 29 - Fish Allowed
November  30 - Food without Oil

December 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 26, 27 - Fish Allowed
December 2, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30 - Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
December 7, 14, 21, 28 - Food without Oil
December 22, 24, 29, 31 - Food with Oil

January 1, 4 - Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
January 2, 3, 6 - Food with Oil
January 5 - Food without Oil

ХРИСТОС СЕ РОДИ! - Свети Николај Жички
Христос се роди, љубазна браћо и децо!
Где се роди Христос? Не у царским дворовима, да не кажу подвлашћени: Он је с царевима а није с нама!
И не у богаташкој раскоши, да не кажу сиромаси: Он је с богаташима а није с нама!
И не у великом граду, где бедни људи тешко долазе до стана, да се на каже: Стеснио нас је!
И не у топлој соби, да не кажу страдалници по хладним избама: лако је њему!
И уопште не међу људима, да не кажу људи: тежак нам је!
Него се благи Господ родио међу овцама, које му ништа нису замериле. Родио се на месту ничијем, у пећини хладној, између града и села, између својина и присвојених баштина. Родио се на стопи земље ничије, Божије. Ту стопу земље нико није искоришћавао, осим овце, и оне сасвим ретко. И овце му нису замериле, што се родио код њих, на камену застртом сламом.
Ми поклоници православни били смо на том месту о Васкрсу ове године. Нас 65 удостојили смо се спустили се у ону пештеру, у коју се он спустио са престола небеског ради спасења људи.
У ту пештеру не улазе више овце бесловесне него само словесне. Ту је сада олтар, и многа кандила, ту молитве и службе, ту сузе и покајања, ту олакшање душама људским.
Свакога Божића у тој пештери служи Патријарх Јерусалимски врло свечану службу Божју. И ове године на данашњи дан он ће служити и појати са свештеницима и народом: Рођење твоје Христе Боже наш - засија светлост свету! И још ће се у тој пештери понављати као и увек она анђелска песма, коју су ангели певали около пештере оне ноћи када се Господ родио: Слава Богу на висини, мир на земљи, добра воља међу људима.
Певајте и ви ту песму. Њоме је изречен смисао доласка и рођења Сина Божјег на земљи. Цео устав живота нашег. Да се слави Бог, да буде мир на земљи, да се зацари добра воља мећу људима. То је било онда најпотребније. То је данас најпотребније свему роду људском.
Стојећи оборених глава у пећини благословеној ми поклоници дивили смо се, где се велики Господ и Спас наш родио. Родио се на камену ничијем, да свима буде прав, и да свима понуди спасење. Родио се у мраку, као да покаже да је дошао у мрак овога света - Он, велика Светлост.
Па смо се онда питали оборених глава: када се Господ јавио свету? Јавио се у мучно време, када се Бог није славио, када није било мира на земљи, и када је место добре воље владала зловоља мећу људима.
Он се није јавио у време каквога праведнога цара, да се не каже: помагао му је тај цар!
Нити се Он јавио у време поштења и правде мећу људима, да се не каже: лако је било наговорити поштене на поштење и праведне на правду!
Нити се Он јавио у време радости и светлости у срцима људским, да се на каже: што је морао доћи да радује радосне и светли просвећенима!
Него се кротки Господ јавио у време цара крволока у Јерусалиму, и царева тирана по свим народима и племенима.
Јавио се он у време упрљаног поштења и погажене правде мећу људима.
Јавио се усред свеопште жалости и очајања и мрака у душама свију људи.
У то време родио се Син Божји свету, баш у то време када је најпотребнији био свету, и када људима није могао помоћи нико осим Њега.
Зато су Га поздравили добродошлицом и ангели и људи, и сиромашни и богати, цареви и мудраци са Истока.
О, како би Га и ми данас поздравили, да се јави! О, како је он данас потребан завађеним народима, огрубелим људима, отупелим савестима, заслепљеним душама! Као насушни хлеб гладноме, и као изворска вода жедноме!
Народима и људима нашега времена нико није потребнији од Њега. Нико им, уопште, данас није ни потребан осим Њега.
Без Њега су многи заборавили славити Бога на висини. Без Њега су народи вођени из рата у рат, из несреће у несрећу. Без Њега је зловоља узела маха међу људима и распламтила огањ пакости и саможивости.
Он једини је потребан свету. Нико други. О, кад би се Он опет јавио! Но зар се Он не јавља? Зар Он није обећао следбеницима Својим: Ево ја сам с вама у све дане до свршетка вијека. Амин.
Амин, Господе! Буди с нама, јер тонемо. Јављај се што чешће и у што више срца људских. Осветли нас умом Твојим и загреј нас љубављу Твојом. Осветли и загреј тамне и хладне пештере срца људских, као што си негда осветлио и загрејао пештеру Витлејемску присуством Својим. Да би опет оживело славље Бога, да би се установио мир међу народима, и зацарила добра воља међу људима.
Простримо душе наше под ноге Његове као сламу. Нека Он гази. Нисмо достојни ни Његовог гажења а камоли љубави Његове. Но, Он и кад би хтео газити газио би да излечи а не да убије. Јер, Он је сав Љубав, сав Милост, сав Разум и чистота. Он нас неће згазити, иако смо то заслужили више него црви под ногама нашим. Он ће нас помиловати, и опростити покајницима. И миловаће, и праштаће, све до Последњега Суда. Но знајте, да је проречено, да ће Дан Суда Христовог гранути изненадно.
Похитајмо стога сви да се покајнички поклонимо Господу, који се јавља. Да, и који ће се на крају јавити у сили и слави великој, да суди свим живим и мртвим. Похитајмо, браћо и децо, да прославимо песмом и правдом Господа Исуса и Његову Свету Матер, Он тиме не добија ништа. Шта би и могао добити Најбогатији од најсиромашнијих? Но тиме ми добијамо све: и живот, и здравље, и мир, и добру вољу, и разум и - царство бесмртно.
Теби Господе, Спаситељу и Препородитељу наш, слава и хвала, са Оцем и Духом Светим, сада и навек. Амин.
Спомените, браћо, у молитвама својим православни народ руски. Нека би Господ благи ускоро помиловао тај велики народ и учинио крај његовим тешким страдањима. Многострадални народ руски, и многострадалну цркву руску православну, да помилује и спасе Господ Бог. Амин.
Божићна посланица - Охрид 1930. г.

РОЂЕЊЕ ГОСПОДА ИСУСА ХРИСТА – БОЖИЋ
Дође вријеме и посла Бог Сина Свог Јединородног ( Гал.4,4) да спасе род људски. Када прође девет мјесеци од Благовјести, коју јави арханђел Гаврил Пречистој Дјеви у Назарету са ријечима: ''Радуј се благодатна.. ево зачећеш и родићеш Сина '' (Лк. 1, 28, 27). У Витлејемској пећини роди Пречиста Дјева Сина, који би зачет без гријеха у безгрешном тијелу, и рођен без бола. Пови га сама у ланене пелене, поклони му се као Богу и положи га у јасле. Затим приђе и праведни Јосиф обручник њен и он Му се поклони, као Божанском плоду дјевичанске утробе. Чувши за овај радосни догађај дођоше пастири, упућени од анђела Божијих и поклонише Му се. Свуда се чула пјесма анђела: ''Слава на висину Богу и на земљи мир, међу људима добра воља'' (Лк. 2,14). Дођоше и три мудраца са Истока, вођени чудесном звијездом са даровима; златом, ливаном и измирном и поклонише Му се, као Цару над царевима (Мт.2,11).
Тропар Рођења Христова ( глас 4.) - Рођење Твоје, Христе, Боже наш, засија свету светлост разума, јер у њему они који звездама служаху од звезде се научише да се клањају Теби, Сунцу Правде (Истине), и Тебе да познају с висота Истока, Господе, слава Теби.

Химна Светом Сави
Ускликнимо с љубављу
Светитељу Сави
Српске цркве и школе
Светитељској глави.
Тамо венци тамо слава
Где нас српски пастир Сава.
Појте му Срби,
Песму и утројте!

С неба шаље благослов
Свети отац Сава;
Са свих страна сви Срби
С мора и Дунава
К небу главе подигните
Саву тамо угледајте.
Саву српску славу,
Пред престолом Творца!

Благодарна Србијо,
Пуна си љубави
Према своме пастиру
Светитељу Сави.
Босна и Херцеговина
Светог Саве дедовина
С тобом славе славу
Светитеља Саву.

Здраво Среме, Банате
И Србијо Стара
Раванице, чувај нам
Тело Кнез Лазара;
Црна Горо, сестро мила,
Здраво и ти с нама била
Да славимо славу
Светог оца Саву.

Милешево слави се
Телом Светог Саве
Кога славе сви Срби
С обе стране Саве;
Синан-паша ватру пали
Тело Светог Саве спали,
Ал‘ не спали славе,
Нити спомен Саве.

Да се српска сва срца
С тобом уједине,
Сунце мира, љубави,
Да нам свима сине,
Да живимо сви у слози,
Свети Саво, ти помози.
Почуј глас свог рода,
Српскога народа!

СВЕТИ ОЦИ О ПОКАЈАЊУ
Покајање је обнова крштења, завјет са Богом да ће се водити нови живот. Покајање је помирење са Господом ... Покајање је почетак спасења (Јован Лествичник).
Покајање – то су врата која човјека изводе из таме и уводе у свјетлост ... Ко се не каје – гријеши ... (Симеон Нови Богосл.)
Покајање није ништа друго до васкрсење духовно. Док човјек живи у гријесима, он је тијелом жив, а духом мртав; јер нема у својој души Бога, који је живот и извор живота (Тихон Задонски)

ВЈЕРСКИ ЖИВОТ У ПРАКСИ
О строгости поста
Многи вјерници постављају питање о строгости поста. Треба знати да се велики постови, као и дани у седмици разликују по значају. Према строгости постоје три степена или врсте поста, а то су: Строги пост (без употребе рибе и уља), умјерени пост (са употребом уља) и благи пост (са употребом уља и рибе). Најстрожи пост је пред Васкрсење Христово. Током истог треба строго постити сриједу и петак, затим дане Велике седмице ... Најстрожи пост се примењује на Вел. петак, а строги у данима припреме за св. причешће. Крсне славе, Благовјести и недјеље се никада не посте строго, већ се увијек примјењује благи пост. Строгост поста се може везати за здравствено стање, физички напор ...
О потреби покајања
Многи вјерници постављају питање о потреби покајања – исповјести за причешће. Света литургија је основни услов за примање св. тајне причешћа, а припрема за примање исте треба да траје цијелог живота, а нарочито у дане пред причешће. Припрема се састоји у извршавању воље Божије, чињењу добрих дјела, молитви, покајању, исповјести, посту ... Покајање и исповјест су овдје формално раздвојени, јер је покајање сјећање на гријех и кајање за исти, а исповјест је казивање истог пред свештеним лицем, по чему добијамо отпуштење – опроштај од Господа. ''Покајање је почетак спасења'' па га треба схватити као прво средство које крштеном служи за добијање Царства Божијег. Наравно, покајање и исповјест треба бити упражњена и ван припреме за причешће тј. по потреби. Непокајани и неисповјеђени гријех лишава грешника Божије милости, па и причешће може бити ''на суд и осуду''. Гријех је и избјегавање исповјести парохијском свештенику, јер је свештеник духовник и посредник у светој тајни.

Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer, bishop of Antioch (107) Commemorated on December 20/January 2
This holy man is called ``the God-bearer'' because he constantly bore the name of the Living God in his heart and on his lips. According to tradition, he was thus named because he was held in the arms of God Incarnate, Jesus Christ. On a day when the Lord was teaching His disciples humility, He took a child and placed him among them, saying: Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:4). This child was Ignatius. Later, Ignatius was a disciple of St. John the Theologian, together with Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna. As Bishop of Antioch, Ignatius governed the Church of God as a good shepherd and was the first to introduce antiphonal chanting in the Church, in which two choirs alternate the chanting. This manner of chanting was revealed to St. Ignatius by the angels in heaven. When Emperor Trajan was passing through Antioch on his way to do battle with the Persians, he heard of Ignatius, summoned him and counseled him to offer sacrifice to the idols. If Ignatius would do so, Trajan would bestow upon him the rank of senator. As the counsels and threats of the emperor were in vain, St. Ignatius was shackled in irons and sent to Rome in the company of ten merciless soldiers, to be thrown to the wild beasts. Ignatius rejoiced in suffering for his Lord, only praying to God that the wild beasts would become the tomb for his body and that no one would prevent him from this death. After a long and difficult journey from Asia through Thrace, Macedonia and Epirus, Ignatius arrived in Rome, where he was thrown to the lions in the circus. The lions tore him to pieces and devoured him, leaving only several of the larger bones and his heart. This glorious lover of the Lord Christ suffered in the year 106 in Rome at the time of the Christ-hating Emperor Trajan. Ignatius has appeared many times from the other world and worked miracles, even to this day helping all who call upon him for help.


Feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Commemorated on December 25/January 7
Introduction
The Feast of the Nativity of Jesus is one of the most joyful days of the Orthodox Church. It ranks next to the greatest holiday, the Resurrection of Jesus. The Feast of the Birth of Jesus is also known as the "Incarnation of Christ." This means that Jesus became a man and came into the world to save us. We also refer to this joyous feast as Christmas.
Biblical Story
The story of the Nativity of Christ is beautifully told in the Holy Scriptures. The story is found in Matthew 1:18-25 and in Luke 2:1-20 . No matter how often the Birth of Jesus is told, we realize that it is an important event.
As the story is told by the Apostles, the Roman Empire was powerful. The Romans had conquered much of the then known world. Judea and Samaria, what we know today as Israel, were included in their conquests. Emperor Augustus ordered that a census be taken in all his lands. He needed to know how many people lived in the empire so he could tax them. Everyone had to go to the town of their family's origin to register for the census. This meant that Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem. They were descendants of King David and Bethlehem was the City of David.
Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth and it was a great distance from Bethlehem. It was about 100 miles over very rugged roads. Moreover, Mary was expecting the baby and it was almost time for her to give birth. Bethlehem was a small town and there were many descendants of David who had come to register for the census. By the time Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem there was no place for them to stay. Joseph tried very hard to find a place to sleep that evening. There was no room at the inn. Finally, Joseph found a cave-like place where they could rest. This place was used by shepherds to protect their sheep in stormy weather. It was here that Mary gave birth to Jesus. The baby was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in the straw in the manger.
Now, that night the shepherds were out in the fields guarding their sheep. Suddenly, there was a bright light which startled the shepherds. The light was so bright that it turned the night into daylight. Of course, the shepherds were frightened. Nothing such as this had ever happened. Soon an angel appeared and calmed them. The angel said:
"Fear not for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior; which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger" (Luke 2:11-12). Then a larger group of angels appeared. They praised and glorified God and sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and good will toward men" (Luke 2:14). When the angels finished singing, they disappeared and the light began to fade. It became dimmer and dimmer until it was dark again. The shepherds were awed. They didn't know what to do. Finally, they decided to leave their flocks of sheep and go to Bethlehem. They decided that they wanted to see for themselves what the angels had told them. When they got to Bethlehem, they found Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus. They fell to their knees and adored Jesus.
Some Wise Men came from the East for they knew of the coming of Jesus. They had seen a star that told them that a new king had been born to the Jews. They followed the star and were looking for the child. At this time the governor of Judea was King Herod. He was a wicked man and was feared and hated by the people. When Herod heard about the Wise Men looking for the child, he invited them to his palace. Herod asked the Wise Men to find the child so that he, too, could worship Him. But Herod was lying. He did not want anyone to take his place. The Wise Men went on to look for Jesus. The Star led them to Jesus and Mary. When the Wise Men found Jesus, they fell to their knees and worshipped Him. They gave Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Wise Men left but did not return to Herod. They had a dream that warned them that Herod wanted to harm Jesus. Instead, they returned to their native country by a different route. Hymns of the Feast
Apolytikion: (Fourth Tone)
Your birth, O Christ our God, dawned the light of knowledge upon the earth. For by Your birth those who adored stars, were taught by a star, to worship You, the Sun of Justice and to know You, Orient from on High. O Lord, glory to You.
Kontakion: (Third Tone)
Today, the Virgin bears Him who is transcendent, and the earth presents the cave to Him who is beyond reach. Angels, along with shepherds glorify Him. The Magi make their way to Him by a star. For a new child has been born for us, the God before all ages.

Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos Commemorated on December 26/January 8
The Sabor-Assemblage of the MostHoly Mother of God: On the day after the Nativity of Christ is celebrated the Sobor-Assemblage of the MostHoly Mother of God, commemorating together with Her also Saint Joseph the Betrothed, King David (an ancestor by flesh of the Lord Jesus Christ), and Saint James the Brother of the Lord, a son of the first marriage of Saint Joseph the Betrothed. Saint James accompanied his father Joseph and the Mother of God and the Divine-Infant Jesus on the Flight into Egypt.

 

Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen (34) Commemorated on December 27/January 9
The Holy Disciple (from the Seventy) First-Martyr and ArchDeacon Stephen was the eldest among the Seven Deacons, established by the Apostles themselves, and therefore he is called "archdeacon". He was the Christian First-Martyr, and he suffered for Christ at about age 30. In the words of Asterias, he was "the starting-point of the martyrs, the instructor of suffering for Christ, the foundation of righteous confession, in that Stephen was first to shed his blood for the Gospel". Being filled of the Holy Spirit, Saint Stephen with daring persuasively preached the Christian teaching and defeated Jewish teachers of the Law in disputation. For this the Jews maligned Saint Stephen, saying that he had uttered blasphemy against God and against Moses. Under such charges, Saint Stephen came before the Sanhedrin and the high-priest. He spoke a fiery speech, in which he expounded the history of the Jewish nation, and he boldly denounced the Jews for persecuting the prophets and also the execution by them of the awaited Messiah, Jesus Christ. During the time of his speaking, Saint Stephen suddenly saw the heavens opened and Jesus Christ in glory, standing at the right side of God. He exclaimed loudly about this. Then the Jews, covering over their ears, rushed upon him, dragged him out of the city and stoned him, but the holy martyr prayed for his murderers. Afar off on the heights stood the Mother of God with the holy Apostle John the Theologian, and She prayed fervently for the martyr. Before death Saint Stephen uttered: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, wherein O Lord, impute this not to them in sin", – and then with joy he gave up his pure soul to Christ. The body of the holy First-Martyr Stephen, left for devouring by beasts, was secretly taken up by the illustrious Jewish teacher Gamaliel and his son Habib, and given burial on his estate. And afterwards these both believed in Christ and accepted holy Baptism.

The Circumcision (Obrezanie) of the Lord Commemorated on January 1/January 14
The Circumcision (Obrezanie) of the Lord: On the eighth day after His Nativity, our Lord Jesus Christ – in accordance with the Old Testament Law, accepted circumcision, which was decreed for all infants of the male gender as a sign of the Covenant of God with the Forefather Abraham and his descendants (Gen. 17: 10-14, Lev. 12: 3). Upon the performing of this ritual the Divine Infant was given the name Jesus, which had been announced by the Archangel Gabriel on the day of the Annunciation (Blagoveschenie) to the MostHoly Virgin Mary (Lk. 1: 31-33, 2: 21). According to the explanation of the fathers of the Church the Lord, the Creator of the Law, accepted circumcision, giving example for people how faithfully the Divine ordinances ought to be fulfilled. The Lord accepted circumcision for this reason – so that later on no one should be in doubt that He was truly Man, rather than merely being the bearer of illusion-seeming flesh as certain heretics (Docetism) happened to teach. In the New Testament (Covenant) the ritual of circumcision gave way to the sacrament of Baptism, which it pre-figured (Col. 2: 11-12). Accounts about the feastday of the Circumcision of the Lord in the Eastern Church continue right up through the IV Century. The Canon of the feast was written by the Monk Stephen Savvaites (Comm. 28 October and 13 July). Together with the Circumcision, accepted by the Lord as a sign of the Covenant of God with mankind, He received also the Name Jesus (Saviour) as the seal of His service – the deed of the Salvation of the world (Mt. 1: 21; Mk. 9: 38-39, 16: 17; Lk. 10: 17; Acts 3: 6, 16; Phil. 2: 9-10). These two events, the Circumcision and Naming, remind Christians that they have entered into a New Covenant (Testament) with God and "are circumcised with a circumcision not done by hand, in putting off the sinful body of the flesh, by the Circumcision of Christ" (Col. 2: 11). The very name "Christian" witnesses to an entrance of mankind into a New Covenant with God

St. Basil the Great, archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia (379) Commemorated on January 1/January 149
Basil was born during the reign of Emperor Constantine. While still unbaptized, Basil spent fifteen years in Athens where he studied philosophy, rhetoric, astronomy and all other secular sciences of that time. His colleagues at that time were Gregory the Theologian and Julian, later the apostate emperor. In his mature years he was baptized in the river Jordan along with Euvlios his former teacher. He was Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia for almost ten years and completed his earthly life fifty years after his birth. He was a great defender of Orthodoxy, a great light of moral purity, a religious zealot, a great theological mind, a great builder and pillar of the Church of God. Basil fully deserved the title "Great." In liturgical services, he is referred to as the "bee of the Church of Christ which brings honey to the faithful and with its stinger pricks the heretics." Numerous works of this Father of the Church are preserved; they include theological, apologetical, ascetical and canonical writings as well as the Holy and Divine Liturgy named after him. This Divine Liturgy is celebrated ten times throughout the year: the First of January, his feast day; on the eve of the Nativity of our Lord; on the eve of the Epiphany of our Lord; all Sundays of the Honorable Fast [Lenten Season], except Palm Sunday; on Great and Holy Thursday and on Great and Holy Saturday. St. Basil died peacefully on January 1, 379 A.D., and was translated into the Kingdom of Christ.


The Holy Theophany of Our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ (Baptism of the Lord) Commemorated on January 6/January 19
When our Lord reached thirty years from His physical birth, He began His teaching and salvific work. He Himself signified this "beginning of the beginning" by His baptism in the Jordan river. St. Cyril of Jerusalem says, " The beginning of the world - water; the beginning of the Good News - Jordan." At the time of the baptism of the Lord in water, that mystery was declared to the world: that mystery which was prophesied in the Old Testament; the mystery about which in ancient Egypt and India was only fabled; i.e., the mystery of the Divine Holy Trinity. The Father was revealed to the sense of hearing; the Spirit was revealed to the sense of sight, and in addition to these, the Son was revealed to the sense of touch. The Father uttered His witness about the Son, the Son was baptized in the water, and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove hovered above the water. When John the Baptist witnessed and said about Christ, "Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world" (St. John 1:29), and when John immersed and baptized the Lord in the Jordan, the mission of Christ in the world and the path of our salvation was shown. That is to say: The Lord took upon Himself the sins of mankind and died under them [immersion] and became alive again [the coming out of the water]; and we must die as the old sinful man and become alive again as cleansed, renewed and regenerated. This is the Savior and this is the path of salvation. The Feast of the Epiphany [Theophany in Greek] is also called the Feast of Illumination. For us, the event in the Jordan river illuminates, by manifesting to us God as Trinity, consubstantial and undivided. That is one way. And, the second: everyone of us through baptism in water is illumined by this, that we become adopted by the Father of Lights through the merits of the Son and the power of the Holy Spirit.


Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John Commemorated on January 7/January 20
Because John's main role in his life was played out on the day of the Epiphany (Theophany), the Church from earliest times dedicated the day following Epiphany to his memory. To this feast is also linked the incident with the hand of the Forerunner. The Evangelist Luke desired to remove the body of John from Sebaste, where the great prophet was beheaded by Herod, to Antioch his place of birth. He succeeded though, in acquiring and translating only one hand which was preserved in Antioch until the tenth century after which it was transferred to Constantinople from where it disappeared during the time of the Turks. Feasts of St. John are celebrated several times throughout the year, but this day, January 7, has the most Svecara. [That is, those Orthodox Serbs who honor St. John the Baptist as their Krsna Slava - Patron Saint. The Krsna Slava is the day that the Orthodox Serbs commemorate the baptism of their ancestors into Christianity]. Among the Gospel personalities who surround the Savior, John the Baptist occupies a totally unique place by the manner of his entry into the world as well as by the manner of his life in this world, by his role in baptizing people for repentance and for his baptizing the Messiah and, finally, by his tragic departure from this life. He was of such moral purity that, in truth, he could be called an angel [messenger] as Holy Scripture calls him rather than a mortal man. St. John differs from all other prophets especially in that he had that privilege of being able, with his hand, to show the world Him about Whom he prophesied. It is said that every year on the feast of the saint, the bishop brought the hand of St. John before the people. Sometimes the hand appeared open and other times the hand appeared clenched. In the first case it signified a fruitful and bountiful year and, in the second case, it meant a year of unfruitfulness and famine.

St. Sava I, enlightener and first archbishop of Serbia (1235) Commemorated on January 14/January 27
Sava was born in 1169 A.D. He was the son of Stephen [Stefan] Nemanja the Grand Zupan of the Serbs. As a young man, Sava yearned for the spiritual life for which he fled to the Holy Mountain [Mt. Athos] where he was tonsured a monk and with rare zeal lived according to the ascetical rule. Stefan Nemanja followed the example of his son and came to the Holy Mountain where he was tonsured a monk and died as Simeon, the monk. Sava obtained the independence of the Serbian Church from the [Byzantine] emperor and patriarch and became the first Archbishop of the Serbs. Together with his father, he built the Monastery Hilendar and, after that, many other monasteries, churches and schools throughout the Serbian lands. On two occasions, he made a pilgrimage to the sacred places in the Holy Land. He restored peace between his two brothers who were estranged because of a struggle for power. He restored peace between the Serbs and their neighbors. In establishing the Serbian Church, he was, through that, establishing the Serbian State and culture. He instilled peace between all the Balkan peoples and worked for the benefit of all for which he was loved and respected by all the Balkan peoples. To the Serbian people he gave a Christian soul which did not perish with the collapse of the Serbian State. Sava died in Trnovo, Bulgaria, during the reign of Emperor Asen, having become ill following the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of the Epiphany on January 12, 1236 A.D. King Vladislav translated his body to the Mileshevo Monastery from which Sinan Pasha removed it and burned it on Vracar in Belgrade, April 27, 1595 A.D.

Veneration of the Precious Chains of the Holy and All-glorious Apostle Peter Commemorated on January 16/January 29
The Veneration of the Venerable Shackles of the Holy and All-Praiseworthy Apostle Peter: On the orders of Herod Agrippa, in about the year 42 the Apostle Peter was thrown into prison for preaching about Christ the Saviour. In prison he was held secure by two iron chains. By night, on the eve of his trial, an Angel of the Lord removed these chains from the Apostle Peter and miraculously led him out from the prison (Acts 12: 1-11). Christians who learned of the miracle took the chains and kept them as precious keepsakes. Those afflicted with illness and approaching them with faith received healing. The Chains of the holy Apostle Peter were kept at Jerusalem until the time of Patriarch Juvenalios, who presented them to Eudocia, spouse of the emperor Theodosius the Younger, and she in turn transferred them from Jerusalem to Constantinople in either the year 437 or 439. Eudocia sent one Chain to Rome to her daughter Eudoxia, who built a church in the name of the Apostle Peter and put within it the Chain. At Rome were also other Chains, in which the Apostle Peter found himself before his death under the emperor Nero. On 16 January the Chains of the Apostle Peter are brought out for veneration by the people.

Манастири - Цркве/ Monasteries and churches

The Monastery of St. Barnabas

The Monastery of St. Barnabas is at the opposite side of the Salamis-Famagusta road, by the Royal Tombs. You can easily tell it by its two fairly large domes. It was built to commemorate the foremost saint of Cyprus, whose life was so intertwined with the spread of the Christian message in the years immediately following the death of Christ.
The monastery which bears Barnabas' name was originally built in the last part of the fifth century, to commemorate the discovery of his body, and the dignity and the seniority it brought to the early Christian Church of Cyprus. Parts of the early building have been preserved in the more recent churh which was built by Archbishop Philotheos in 1756. The money for the purchase of the land on which the monastery was built, is supposed to have been provided by the Byzantine Emperor at the time Barnabas' body was found.

Donskoy monastery

Donskoy Monastery (Russian: Донско́й монасты́рь) is a major monastery in Moscow, founded in 1591. in commemoration of Moscow's deliverance from an imminent threat of Khan Kazy-Girey’s invasion. Commanding a highway to the Crimea, the monastery was intended to defend southern approaches to the Moscow Kremlin.
The monastery was built on the spot where Boris Godunov's mobile fortress and Sergii Radonezhsky's field church with Theophan the Greek's icon Our Lady of the Don had been located. Legend has it that Dmitry Donskoy had taken this icon with him to the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380. The Tatars left without a fight and were defeated during their retreat.
Initially, the cloister was rather poor and numbered only a few monks. As of 1629, the Donskoy Monastery possessed 20 wastelands and 16 peasant households (20 peasants altogether). In 1612, it was taken for one day by the Polish-Lithuanian commander Jan Karol Chodkiewicz. In 1618, Russian Streltsy defeated the Ukrainian Cossacks of Petro Konashevych under the monastery walls.
In the mid-17th century the monastery was attached to the Andreyevsky Monastery. In 1678, however, its independence was reinstated and the cloister received rich donations, including more than 1,400 peasant households. In 1683, the Donskoy Monastery was elevated to the archmandrite level and given 20 desyatinas of the nearby pasturelands. Vidogoshchsky, Zhizdrinsky, Sharovkin, and Zheleznoborovsky monasteries were attached to the Donskoy Monastery between 1683 and 1685.
Since 1711, the Great Cathedral's vault was used for burials of Georgian tsarevichs of the Bagrationi family and Mingrelian dukes of the Dadiani family.
In 1724, the monks and the property of the Andreyevsky Monastery were transferred to the Donskoy Monastery. By 1739, it had already possessed 880 households with 6,716 peasants, 14 windmills, and a few fisheries. In 1747, the authorities wanted to transfer the Slavic Greek Latin Academy to the Donskoy Monastery, but the cloister confined itself to paying salaries to the academic staff from its own treasury.
Archbishop Ambrosius was killed within the monastery walls during the Plague Riot in 1771. In 1812, the French army ransacked the Donskoy Monastery, the most valuable things having been moved to Vologda prior to that. There had been 48 monks and 2 novices in the monastery by 1917.
After the October Revolution, the Donskoy Monastery was closed. In 1922–1925, Patriarch Tikhon was detained in this cloister after his arrest. He chose to remain in this monastery after his release. Saint Tikhon's relics were discovered following his canonization in 1989. They are exhibited for veneration in the Great Cathedral in summer and in the Old Cathedral in winter.
In 1924, some of the facilities of the Donskoy Monastery were occupied by a penal colony for children. In 1934, the Donskoy Monastery was transferred under the care of the Museum of Architecture of the Soviet Academy of Architecture. In 1964, the cloister became an affiliate of the Shchusev's Museum of Architecture.
The Soviets moved the remnants of many demolished monasteries and cathedrals to the Donskoy Monastery, including the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Church of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker in Stolpy, Church of the Assumption on Pokrovka Street in Moscow, Sukharev Tower, and others.

Martvili Monastery

Martvili-Chkondidi Cathedral was built late in the 7th century. Revered as the gem of Georgian masonry, this cathedral rests on the roots of the old oak tree.
During the 10th century, King of Abkhazia Giorgi II, designated Martvili-Chkondidi Monastery as episcopal center. Cathedral retained its name.
Martvili Monastery was considered a major educutional center. It is the final resting place of King Bagrat IV, whose contributions to the cultural and educational development of Georgia are immense.
As a cultural and educational center for the entire western Georgia, this center not only created original literary works, but also translated many pieces to and from georgian. Some of the most famous Georgian Religious philosphers and educators who worked and lived at the Martvili Monastery.
Among them the most famous was Giorgi Chkondideli who was a mentor and trusted advisor to King David the Builder.
Martvili Monasterial Complex has a strategic geographic location from where most of western Georgia can be seen. The main Cathedral is named "Blessed Vergin Repose Cathedral". During the Turkish-Arabic invasions it was almost completely destroyed, but in the 10th century Giorgi II rebuit it.
Some of 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th century frescos are still preserved in the main Cathedral and they represent some of the highest quality craftsmaship in the Georgian history.
To the north of the Catherdral there is a miniature stone church which is called Holy Christmas Cathedral or Church of Chikvanebi
Off to the west there is a tall tower which was place of prayer and worship for many receive blessings from the mesveti monks as late as the beginning of the 20th century.
Martvili Monastery remained active until Soviet Union anexed Georgia. After several decades of inactivity, in 1998 Georgian Patriarch Ilia II reopened Martvili.
In 2007, with the prayer of Leading Episcopos Peter of Chkondidi, Matrivili became a monasterial complex again. Patriarchial residence was built on the Cathedral grounds. Monastery established St. Andrew's Monastery of Fathers and St. Nino's Monastery of Mothers. Leaders revived monastic community living for both the monks and mothers. Parts of the monasterial complex are still undergoing construction - including brand new buildings and restorative works on existing buildings.

Tserakvi monastery

Tserakvi (Georgian: წერაქვი) is a Georgian Orthodox monastic complex in Kvemo Kartli, Georgia, dating from the 12th-13th century. The monument is located near the eponymous village in the Marneuli district, flanked by the Shulaveri river. The complex includes the churches of the Assumption and of St. George as well as a bell tower, a wine cellar, and fragments of a defensive wall. The church of the Assumption is a three-nave hall church and contains a wall inscription from the 15th century.

Calendar

Divine Liturgies on Sundays and Feastdays at 10am. Svete liturgije pocinju svake nedelje i praznikom u 10am.

Vespers Services on Saturdays at 6pm - Vecernje Molitve svake Subote pocinju u 6 PM

There might be slight changes in the calendar. Please, call Father Sasa to verify the schedule.

This Month in Orthodoxy
http://www.atlantaserbs.com/learnmore/ThisMonthInOrthodoxy-January.htm

CHURCH BOARD 2009 Church Board President Carol Chatham 1st Vice President Dragan Opacic 2nd Vice President Slavko Kapetanovic Secretary Marijana Surla Financial Secretary Manuela Mileta Treasurer Olivera Ninkovic MEMBERS AT LARGE Miroslav Misic Momir Mrsic Sinisa Ninkovic Borislav Grba

SERBIAN SISTERS CIRCLE - BOARD 2009 President: Jovanka Loncaric Vice President: Milana Vujic Saulnier Secretary: Maja Radovic Treasurer: Dafina Caribrodska NADZORNI ODBOR Member: Danijela Culum Member: Vesna Gambiroza Member: Ankica Misic