10748 E. 116th Street • Fishers, Indiana 46037 (317) 845-7755 • www.stgindy.org

V. Rev. Father Nabil L. Hanna, Pastor (317) 919-0841 • pastor@stgindy.org

Rev. Joseph S. Olas, Deacon (317) 201-8151 • dnjoseph@stgindy.org

A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America • Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America

His Grace Bishop ANTHONY, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Toledo

TONE 4 MARCH 1, 2020 EOTHINON 4

FORGIVENESS SUNDAY (‘CHEESEFARE’ SUNDAY)

VENERABLE-MARTYR EUDOKIA OF HELIOPOLIS; VENERABLE DOMNINA OF SYRIA; MARTYRS MARKELLOS AND ANTHONY OF PAMPHYLIA; VENERABLE AGAPIOS OF VATOPEDI

MONASTERY ON ATHOS; VENERABLE DAVID OF WALES, BISHOP OF MENEVIA

The Sunday of Forgiveness, the last of the preparatory Sundays before Great Lent, has two

themes: it commemorates Adam’s expulsion from Paradise, and it accentuates our need for

forgiveness. There are obvious reasons why these two things should be brought to our

attention as we stand on the threshold of Great Lent. One of the primary images in the Triodion is that of the return to Paradise. Lent is a time when we weep with Adam and Eve before the

closed gate of Eden, repenting with them for the sins that have deprived us of our free

communion with God. But Lent is also a time when we are preparing to celebrate the saving

event of Christ’s death and rising, which has reopened Paradise to us once more (Luke

23:43). So sorrow for our exile in sin is tempered by hope of our re-entry into Paradise.

LITURGY VARIATIONS

THIRD ANTIPHON: TROPARION OF THE RESURRECTION (TONE 4)

Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, the women dis-ciples of the Lord cast from them their pa-rental condemnation and proudly broke the

news to the Disciples, saying: Death hath been spoiled; Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy.

APOLYTIKIA AFTER THE ENTRANCE

Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 4)

Having learned the joyful message….

Schedule of Regular Weekly Services

Sundays: Matins, 8:50 AM

Divine Liturgy, 10 AM

Wednesdays: Vespers, 6:30 PM

Saturdays: Great Vespers, 5 PM

Confession: After Saturday Vespers

During Sunday Matins

Or by Appointment Remember to turn cell phones off!

See Calendar for Feast Days and Other Weekday Services Scheduled

Order for Holy Communion Members of the Orthodox Church age seven and above must prepare for Holy Communion with a recent confession, prayer, fasting from all food and drink from midnight (unless medical condition preclude it), being in church before the Epistle and Gospel readings, and being at peace with everyone.

CHILDREN going to church school and their teachers should come down the center aisle first. (Small children may need to be assisted by their parents.)

ALL OTHERS should wait until an usher dismisses your row from the center aisle. Then return to your place by a side aisle for the prayers of thanksgiving and the final blessing and dismissal. Please let choir members pass when they come down for Communion.

A Warm Welcome to Our Guests We are glad you are worshipping with us. Please note that participation in Holy Communion is limited to members of the Orthodox Church in good standing, who have prepared through prayer, fasting and confession.

For all others: though we cannot share Communion with you—since it is an expression of membership and full unity in faith—you are welcome to come forward after the dismissal, receive a blessing and partake of the blessed bread (from the large bowls). Please also sign our guest book, and introduce yourself to Fr. Nabil during the coffee hour. You may inquire with him how you can become a member.

Troparion of St. George (Tone 4; Russian)

As Deliverer of captives and Defender of the poor, Healer of the infirm, Champion of kings, victorious Great-Martyr George,

intercede with Christ, our God, for our souls’ salvation.

Kontakion of Forgiveness Sunday (Tone 6)

O Thou Who guidest to wisdom and givest understanding and intelligence, Instructor of the ignorant and Helper of the poor, strengthen my heart, and grant it

understanding, O Master. Give me word, O Word of the Father, for I shall not refrain my lips from crying to Thee, O merciful One: Have mercy upon me who am fallen.

THE SCRIPTURE LESSONS

Prokeimenon (Psalm 46.6, 1 LXX; Tone 3)

Sing praises to our God, sing praises. Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.

St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans (13.11-14.4; Forgiveness Sunday)

BRETHREN, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

As for the man who is weak in faith, wel-come him, but not for disputes over opin-ions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who ab-stains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has wel-comed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Master is able to make him stand.

Gospel according to St. Matthew (6.14-21; Forgiveness Sunday)

THE LORD SAID: “If you forgive men their tres-passes, your heavenly Father also will for-give you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

“And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head, and

wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father Who is in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and

where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

HOLY OBLATIONS AND PRAYER REQUESTS

• By Subdeacon Michael and Janine Ashanin and family for the health of Natalie Ashanin, and in memory of Bozidar Charles Ashanin (20-year memorial)

• By Tony and Janis Saliba in memory of Joseph Pertile Sr

A sign-up sheet for baking and offering the prosphora (altar bread) is posted on the bulletin board, next to the elevator. You can also contact Thelma Hoover at (317) 782-1633.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

JOIN US FOR FELLOWSHIP AFTER LITURGY

Coffee hour is hosted today by the Wesley family

Sign up for hosting coffee hour on the bulletin board next to the elevator. (Something simple is all that’s expected, though you may do more, if you want, for a special occasion.)

CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL

This year's theme: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17

Open to all our students from Pre-K through High School. Students will be given opportunities to work on and complete their projects at church, during Sunday School and Coffee Hour, but they are also welcomed to work on projects at home.

March 1--All Entries Due! Gallery display during coffee hour.

Contact Ann Clough with any questions: anncoreyclough@gmail.com

Date: Sunday, March 1, Cheesefare Sunday

Time: 6:00 PM, just before Forgiveness Vespers

Cost: donation to support our youth going to camp

Come enjoy your last ice cream cone before Lent served by our youth who are going to summer camp at Antiochian Village

ST. THEODORE LITURGY AND MEMORIAL SATURDAY

We commemorate the Miracle of the Boiled Wheat with the final All-Souls Memorial of the season this Saturday: Matins 9 am • Liturgy 10 am. Bring with you a list of the names of the departed.

LOOKING FOR A SPECIAL MISSION TEAM

We are now forming a team to go to Alaska in August. Our parish and the Central Indiana Mission Teams have formed a special relationship with St. Herman’s Seminary and Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Kodiak (where St. Herman’s relics are housed). We are being given the privi-lege of being the only mission team to go at the time of the 50th Anni-versary of the Canonization of St. Herman.

Our task this time will be to help the local community prepare for and host the large number of dignitaries and pilgrims expected for the commemoration (unlike previous mission trips to Alaska, which had focused on carpentry and painting). The pilgrimage will take place on

August 7-9, so our mission team needs to be there several days before and remain through a couple of days after. Exact dates will be announced soon. Contact Brad Tingwald at dbt-ingwald@sbcglobal.net or (317) 306-8467 for more information and to sign up. Space is limited.

FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE

As we fast, we always need to remember the poor. Please take a Food for Hungry People offering box from the narthex, and make it a practice to put something into it as you sit down for every meal.

2020 DIOCESE OF TOLEDO PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE

We will be hosting the Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest Parish Life Conference June 24-28, 2020 at the Embassy Suites in Noblesville. This event will be welcoming our brothers and sister from all over the diocese. There will be speakers, workshops, Bible Bowl, Oratori-cal Festival, and of course social activities. Along with Bishop An-thony, Bishop John of Worcester will be with us.

We need everyone’s help to make this a success. Committee chair-people will be approaching you to work with them, please say yes.

Father will shortly about what we need from you, and then in the hall Christy Roberts, our conference chair, will go into more details.

THE ICONOGRAPHERS ARE COMING!

Visas have finally been approved for Dr. Kordis and his team members! We expect them to arrive in the second week of Lent. As we prepare for them by bringing in scaffolding, prim-ing the walls, etc., we also need to finalize the saints we will ask them to paint.

This is the last chance to select/sponsor iconography that will be a legacy for hundreds of years to come! Perhaps your own patron saint or a saint from an ancestral land—perhaps in honor or memory of a loved one. Please see Duke Haddad, Ron Freeman or Fr. Nabil for more information.

RECOGNIZING OUR LADIES

March is Women’s Month in the Archdiocese. During this month we ask our ladies to serve as ushers, read-ers, etc., in order to highlight the indispensable role our women have served throughout Christian history up to and including the present.

STEWARDSHIP

Thanks and blessings on all who already stepped up and made their stewardship commitments for 2020. This is the pledge we make to continue the operational support of our new church for the com-ing year and is separate from the building fund pledge.

If you haven’t done so yet, please place your pledge card in the offering box at the candle stand, or re-turn it by mail. You will find extra pledge cards in the narthex, or you can enter your pledge as a recurring donation online yourself at www.stgindy.org/donate

NOT EVERYTHING ON THE INTERNET IS TRUE

ALERT: There is an article being passed around from OrthroChristian dot com (we would rather not link it and increase its popularity) with the title “GREEK ARCHBISHOP OF AMERICA DECLARES OPEN COMMUNION FOR NON-ORTHODOX SPOUSES”. This is a highly misleading headline—fake news, as it were.

Archbishop Elpidophoros has never declared or suggested anything of the sort, and even the quotes the article cites (from a speech His Eminence recently gave) clearly show instead that the Archbishop was speaking about welcoming non-Orthodox spouses into parish com-munities, yet saying nothing about participating in the Sacraments. One such quote:

“Every faithful marriage is a miracle marriage—a miracle of God’s love and a Mystery to be celebrated with joy and embraced with thanksgiving. Whether or not the spouse joins the Church in a formal way through Chrismation, they are still 100% part of our community, and should be embraced as such. If we are to be a Church that truly serves and embraces our young people who live in a technologically advanced and pluralistic world, we must embrace the strangers in our midst—make them strangers no more, and embrace all the members of our community and our Country.”

Clearly, Archbishop Elpidophoros was speaking of peace and inclusion, not doing violence to Holy Tradition. Feel free to share this so that slanderous false claims like this article can be snuffed out. May God have mercy on us all..

Summary of LENTEN SERVICES 2020 In Addition to the regular, weekly services: Saturday Vespers and Confession, 5 p.m. Sunday Matins: 8:50 a.m. • Sunday Divine Liturgy: 10 a.m.

Lent starts with Forgiveness — We start Lent at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 1. We celebrate the rite of mutual forgiveness as we start the journey to the Resurrection.

Mondays — On Mondays in Lent we will serve Great Compline at 7 p.m.

• The first week of Lent, Great Compline is served on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights with portions of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.

Wednesdays — Join us at 6:30 p.m. for the Presanctified Liturgy. Bring one Lenten item to share for a pitch-in after Liturgy, so we can break bread together after fasting from all food and drink at least from noon. A short spiritual discussion will follow, and we’ll have you out by 8:45.

• On March 25, we celebrate the Great Feast of the Annunciation with Liturgy that evening.

Fridays — Little Compline with the Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos at 7 p.m. This will be preceded by a Lenten Supper at 6 p.m. prepared by one of our organizations or families.

• On March 13, we will join the clergy and faithful at Holy Trinity Cathedral for dinner and the service, and the homily will be given by our retreat speaker.

Sunday Evenings — Vespers will be held at 5 p.m. at a different church each week (see the calendar for location).

• The First Sunday, March 8, is the Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers at Holy Trinity, with Bishop Neophytos from Kenya presiding and preaching. A dinner reception will follow.

The First Saturday, March 7 — On the first Saturday of Lent, we serve the Liturgy in commemoration of St. Theodore and the miracle of the boiled wheat, including a memorial for All Souls: Matins 9 a.m./Liturgy and Memorial at 10:00 a.m. You are invited to bring koliva and a list of the names of your departed to be remembered.

The Second Saturday, March 14 — Lenten Retreat co-hosted by the Ladies of St. George and the Holy Trinity Philoptochos. For both men and women, we are hosting the retreat, here at St. George, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, with Thomaida Hadanish as guest speaker.

The Fifth Thursday, April 2 — We serve the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete and Life St. Mary of Egypt at 7 pm.

Mark your calendars, so you won’t miss any part of our journey to the Holy Pascha.

PATRIARCH DANIEL SENDS PASTORAL MESSAGE TO

STRENGTHEN FAITH AND EUCHARISTIC COMMUNION The Press office of the Romanian Patriar-chate published a communiqué on February 27, 2020, in the context of excessive media coverage of the epidemic caused by Corona-virus (CoViD–19) and following requests from some state institutions that the Church should take measures to prevent the spread of the virus and to reduce the population’s fear of this phenomenon.

For this reason, the communique addressed es-pecially those who are too afraid of illness when they kiss the holy icons or when they take Communion from the same Holy Eucharistic Chalice, as the priest uses a collective spoon.

This attention given especially to those “whose faith is weak” (Romans 14: 1) has caused fear elsewhere, more precisely among clerics and believers who consider that an excep-tional and temporary measure (economy) in favour of those more frightened and weaker in faith can be transformed into a new liturgical rule of receiving Holy Communion that applies to all believers.

In order to overcome polarization and polemics that weaken Orthodox unity, hasty judg-ments must be avoided, and we must firmly reaffirm the Orthodox belief that the Holy Eu-charist is not and can never be a source of sickness and death, but a source of new life in Christ, of forgiveness of sins, for the healing of the soul and the body.

That is why, while believers receive Holy Communion, we chant: “Receive the Body of Christ, taste the Fountain of Immortality.“

Therefore, the rule of distributing Holy Communion to the clergy and believers from the same Holy Chalice remains unchanged, and the priests will explain to all believers that this way of partaking of the Eucharist has never been for anyone a danger and will not be to them either.

The believers, who are still afraid of partaking of the same Holy Chalice with the same spoon, will ask the counsel of their spiritual father to strengthen their faith and increase in Church communion.

Also, in the case of kissing the holy icons, the believers who have a strong and living faith are not afraid that they will become ill, but they enjoy the prayer and the blessing of the saints depicted in the icons.

As faith unites freedom with love, it is through faith that people express their love of God and His saints freely.

For this reason, Orthodox believers kiss holy icons and freely partake of the Holy Chalice, not because they would be compelled to do so.

Therefore, the ministers of the Holy Altars will urge all believers to strengthen themselves in the faith and cultivate the Eucharistic Communion in the Church, to gain salvation through the union with Christ the Lord, the source of eternal life (John 11:25).

We wish all servants of the Holy Altars and believers of the Romanian Orthodox Church good health and salvation, as well as much help from God during this Great Lent, as a pro-gress to the light and joy of the Resurrection!

Your fervent intercessor before Christ the Lord,

† Daniel

Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church

Return to Paradise: The How and Why of Fasting

Fr. Steven Ritter Meatfare Sunday marks the last time we as Orthodox Christians eat meat products, and the week following we dismiss dairy as well. Why is this? There are many and learned treatises on this topic far superior to what I will say here, but perhaps we can put some things into perspective.

Fasting is, according to St. John Chrysostom, the third most important element in our spir-itual practices outside the worship of God in community. What are the other two? They are almsgiving, which indicates a mature spiritual Christian's willingness to help others, even at the expense of his or her own well-being, and prayer, which should be self-evident as the primary means by which we commune with God and He forms His will in us. However, what we normally hear about most at this time of the year is fasting, and in fact our Lenten season also bears the name of the Holy and Great Fast.

If St. John puts fasting in third place, why this emphasis? There are three reasons that come to mind, though there are of course many more. First of all, fasting is a primal marker of our return to God. As the services remind us, it was by food that our ancestors Adam and Eve were led to their ancient fall from the grace and glory of God to which they were called to participate, and the results of that choice have affected all of us ever since. Our stomachs are,

as St. John Climacus calls them, "a clamorous mistress" that demand everything of us, lead-ing us down wrong paths, and continually deceiving us into thinking that our bodily needs are far more than they really are. This translates into other desires as well—we pamper our-selves and continually seek to satisfy that most fickle of masters, the human will. Fasting helps to remind us that we are putting off the things that separate us from God in order to slowly climb back to the Paradise that we lost.

Secondly, fasting disrupts our normal routine and self-centered wills. As creatures of tre-mendous habit, and often bad habit at that, we need something to serve as a "circuit breaker" to interrupt this process of continuous self-regard. Fasting makes us think twice about the high favor we have for our persons by depriving us of those things that we take to ourselves too often and easily. This includes all facets of our lives as well as that of pure in-take of food. We must be cognizant of our need to reach out of ourselves and help others, to dedicate an increased amount of time to spiritual reading and conversation, especially that involving the Holy Scriptures, and to make every effort to attend the extra services offered during this season as a sacrifice to God of prayer and praise. He doesn't need this, but we do, and those who neglect this are missing a great opportunity for a quick injection of spiritual growth.

Lastly, fasting is a way of practicing obedience. That's right! The one thing that we all talk about as being important in the spiritual life is probably the one thing that we hate most of all! Many complain about the lack of genuine spiritual leaders in the world today (a very old complaint by the way, going back centuries) saying that there is no one to whom they can place their trust and submit to in obedience. This argument is a canard, for obedience can be practiced anywhere and any place, if we would just to humble ourselves. Additionally, there is a wise a spiritual elder to whom we can all submit at any time. As Tito Colliander asks in his marvelous book The Way of the Ascetics, "since the time of the Apostles [the Church] has given us a teacher who surpasses all others and who can reach us everywhere, wherever we are and under whatever circumstances we live...Do you wish to know his name? It is holy fasting."

By being obedient to the rules of the Church rather than our own re-interpretation of them, we are practicing the purest form of spiritual and bodily obedience possible, and it's a fact of life that if we cannot do this then the instructions of the most saintly elder would prove im-possible for us!

Yet the Fathers of the Church also encourage moderation in how we keep the fast. I have seen the strictest adherence prove to be most harmful to someone because of the poisonous disposition that resulted from it. I have also seen someone who hardly kept the fast at all be-cause of illness or medical issues profit greatly because of sorrow at not being able to keep it more fervently, and even the little done was to them a mountain of great height.

Here are a few things to remember about fasting:

• Challenge yourself—you can probably do much more that you do. It's the old thing about pampering the flesh again. Find a way of fasting that is within your means, that makes you stretch a bit, but that doesn't frustrate so much that you give up. We are all on different spiritual levels and practical abilities.

• Once you find your level, stick to it—nothing disrupts obedience more than variance and making excuses.

• Make your fast a broad-based effort. Find time for reading and extra attendance at the services. The excuse of not having enough time will not suffice, since we all find time for those things we really want to do, no matter how crowded the schedule.

• Always remember to repent for your failings. God is not there to strike you down, but to lift you up, and nothing reaches his heart like sincere repentance.

• Remember that breaking the fast, or failing to keep it as well as you might is not a sin, but failing to keep the spirit of the fast in mind, or denying its importance as a precept of the church, certainly is. And no matter how we might ignore this time of the year, it is still a holy one whether we pay attention or not, and the evil one cer-tainly knows what time of the year it is, and will increase his attacks whether you are prepared for them or not!

• Most of all, approach the fast with joy and anticipation, a time of year that the church gives us to draw closer to God, and to achieve true and genuinely heartfelt reconcili-ation and forgiveness with and for our family, friends, neighbors, congregation, na-tion, and the world at large.

May God grant us all a blessed Great Lent!

Father Steven Ritter is the priest at St. James Orthodox Mission in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and host of The Life of the Church Today podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

PRACTICING COURTESY

We all know not to park in a designated handicapped spot unless we have a special license plate or placard, but we can do more:

For those who are older or have difficulty walking but don’t actually have handicapped license plates or placards, let’s give them the courtesy of parking near the entrance, so please leave for them all the spaces across from the

front of the church. Everyone else is asked to park in the main lot.

PARISH PRAYER LIST

Please include in your daily prayers the following—those struggling with acute illness and those newly departed this life—from our parishioners and those for whom they have requested our prayers. (Names are kept for 40 days, the date indicated after the name, and may be renewed upon request.)

LIVING Newborn Josiah Vazquez, Arnett Hosp. NICU,

3/31

Michael Jeffrey Campbell, Community North, 3/28

Maria Caroline Vine and child she is carrying, 3/27

S. John Nasser, 3/22

Christopher Saba, IU Medical Center, 3/18

Helen Nasser Johnson, Avon Rehab., 3/18

Michael Matly, 3/9

Randall George Sr., 3/5

Samantha Langdon, 3/2

Rachel Allison Tingwald, 2/26

Youssry Iskander, Fr. Nabil’s uncle, 4/6

John Gardener, friend of Jeff George, 3/31

Thomas Sankey, Jeff’s brother, 3/25

Gil Foster, uncle of Stephanie Haines, 3/18

Jo Trakimas, Shelbi George’s mother, 3/13

John Maddex, Ancient Faith Director, 3/13

Alice Capshaw, Chris’ mother, 2/27

Christina Nash, daughter of Jamise Kafoure, 2/25

All those suffering from illness, violence or want in this country and throughout the world

DEPARTED Fr. David Buss, Fr. Nabil’s spiritual father 4/7

Frederick Corey, 3/24

Joseph Pertile Sr., 3/13

Thomas Sankey, Jeff’s brother, 4/5

Mary Lou Saikley, Margaret Sankey’s aunt, 3/24

The victims of illness and violence throughout the world

ST. GEORGE PARISH CALENDAR

March 2020

Sun. 1

Forgiveness Sunday

Matins, 8:50 am

Choir practice, 9 am

Divine Liturgy, 10 am

• Church School classes

Teen SOYO meeting, 4 pm

Pre-Lent Ice Cream Social, 6 pm

Forgiveness Vespers – Start of Lent, 7 pm

Mon. 2 First Day of Lent

Great Compline, 7 pm

Tue. 3 Great Compline, 7 pm

Wed. 4

Presanctified Liturgy, 6:30 pm

• Lenten Pitch-in dinner

Gospel of John reflections

Thur. 5 Great Compline, 7 pm

Fri. 6 Lenten Supper, 6 pm

Little Compline with Akathist, 7 pm

Sat. 7

St. Theodore Tyro

Matins, 9 am

Divine Liturgy and Last All-Souls Memorial, 10 am

Great Vespers, 5 pm

Confessions heard

Sun. 8

Sunday of Orthodoxy

Matins, 8:50 am

Choir practice, 9 am

Hierarchal Divine Liturgy, 10 am

• Church School & Ladies Meeting

Orthodoxy Vespers, 5 pm at Holy Trinity (3500 W. 106th Street, Carmel)

See the full calendar and latest additions and updates at www.stgindy.org/calendar