Celebrating the Feast of Saint Andrew

On November 29 and 30, the parishioners of Saint Andrew’s Orthodox Church celebrated the patronal feast of their temple’s heavenly protector, the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called. The feast was made all the greater by the presence of many visiting friends and fellow faithful, all together gathering around their archpastor, His Grace Bishop Michael.

For a number of reasons, the parish’s celebration of its Patronal Feast had fallen on hard times in the past. But in a small sign of the renewal we see all across our diocese, by the Grace of God and with the constant encouragement and presence of our beloved Bishop Michael, it has begun to flourish again. This year marked the first time the parish was able to celebrate the feast as it is appointed to be served – with a Vigil on the eve and the Divine Liturgy on the feast itself – in at least a decade.

It was a great joy for the choir to join with visiting singers to reacquaint the parish with the beautiful hymnography celebrating Saint Andrew, particularly during the festal Matins. The services proved to be a feast of faith, spiritually enriching all those who took time from their busy Thanksgiving Day weekend to offer true thanksgiving to Our Lord and His first-called apostle, Andrew. The festive meals shared afterwards allowed everyone to continue the joy and fellowship throughout the weekend.

The parish is deeply grateful to Bishop Michael for his ministry, presence, patience, and prayers with our community on this occasion. Likewise, the parish extends its gratitude to Fr. Seraphim Joa, Fr. John and Matushka Doreen Bartholomew, Fr. Nathan Preston, Subdeacon David Lucs, and Reader Robert and Kamelia Sirico – along with all of our guests, and all those who helped organize the services, reception, and beautiful dinner. We prayerfully anticipate joining together in unity again as one Orthodox community on Long Island, this upcoming Theophany – as we join together with Bishop Michael to bless the Island’s Great South Bay and the waters of the Atlantic.

Photographs can be viewed here.
 Photo credits: Edna Fetkowitz, Keti Kvetenadze, Andrew Alexandrovich.

Memory Eternal: Olga Petorak

Olga pictured with some of her beautiful artwork on exhibit at our parish Art Show last fall.

We are very sad to announce that +Olga Petorak, a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother in our parish community, reposed in Our Lord on Monday evening. We ask you to please keep the newly-departed Olga, and her family, in your prayers. May the newly-departed +Olga’s memory be eternal! The funeral arrangements are as follows:

Continue reading Memory Eternal: Olga Petorak

Memory Eternal: Charles Kaczinski

We ​were very saddened to learn that Charles Kaczinski, a beloved friend of our community, ​reposed in Our Lord yesterday afternoon, with his children and sister-in-law Barbara Kosko at his bedside. ​

​​We hope to post more about Charlie and his life at St. Andrew’s on our website as we are able to.

For the present time, please find the arrangements for his wake and funeral below:

Wake
Friday​,​ Nov​.​ 8​,​ 2-4​ PM​​ &​ 7-9​ PM​
Jacobsen Funeral Home
1380 New York Ave, Huntington Station
​​Fr. John​ Klingel​ will lead a memorial service at 8pm​

Funeral
Saturday​, Nov. 9,​ 10:30​ AM
St. Elizabeth R​oman ​Catholic Church
175 Wolf Hill Rd, Melville, NY
The burial will follow at Calverton Nat​ional Cemetery

​Charlie was a treasured part of our parish family, and a great supporter of everything we did at St. Andrew’s. We hope many of you will be able join in praying for Charlie, holding him up before God in anticipation of the Life and Kingdom that are to come. May the newly-departed Charles’ memory be eternal!​

The Great Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos

From the OCA Website:
A Sermon by St. John of Kronstadt

“Magnify O my soul, the honorable Translation of the Mother of God from earth to heaven.” (Refrain for the 9th Ode of the Canon)

Let us be happy, beloved brothers and sisters that we belong to the Holy Orthodox Church, worthily and rightly glorifying the Most Holy Sovereign Theotokos on this eminent day out of all the days of the year with special solemnity. There exists on earth many societies and entire governments that do not consider the need nor the obligation to call upon and glorify the Queen of heaven and earth, the Mother of Our Divine Lord Jesus Christ, and other saints and angels; to submissively serve Her lovingly, as the true Mother of God. Sadly in Russia nowadays we have heretics (among us) who actively dishonor the Mother of God, the saints, their icons, their relics and their festivals. O, if only they also unanimously with us glorified the worthy Queen of heaven and earth! Continue reading The Great Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos

Memory Eternal: Deacon John Protopapas

Reverend Deacon John Protopapas

This morning, we received the sad news that the Deacon John Protopapas reposed in the Lord around 5:00 AM.  We received this sad news from Fr. Jonathan Ivanoff, rector of St. John the Theologian Church in Shirley, where Fr John was attached and ministered for many years as a subdeacon and deacon.

We remember that Fr John and his family were very involved in the creation of our parish.  Before being ordained to the Diaconate, John served as a leader in our community in many ways, not the least of which was as head of the building committee, during which time he led the design and construction of our present temple.

Funeral arrangements are as follows:

  • Wake: Tuesday, 2-4 PM, at Jacobsen Funeral Home.
    1380 New York Avenue, Huntington Station, NY 11746
     
  • Wake: Tuesday, 7-9 PM, at St. Andrew’s Church.
    A Memorial Service (Panikhida) will be served at 8 PM.
     
  • Funeral: Wednesday, 11 AM, at St. Andrew’s Church
    celebrated by His Grace Bishop Michael with local clergy.

May the memory of the servant of God, the Deacon John, be eternal!