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"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see the good that you do and Glorify their Father who IS in Heaven"
Understanding ourselves not as an isolated Orthodox worshiping community, but indeed far more, and fully aware that the Body of Christ, the Church, extends beyond our four walls, parishes within the Diocese of Eastern Penna. and other local jurisdictions are showing an ever more focused committment toward sharing in the Life of the Church by sharing it with one another. We are encouraged, supported and spurred on in this committment by our humble shepherds, Bishop Tikhon (OCA) and Bishop Thomas (AOCA), who have called on us to redouble our efforts toward this end as a show of unity in fellowship, stewardship and love toward one another and all mankind. This focus encompasses not only those parishes within our local OCA diocese, but those from other jurisdictions within the Orthodox Church here in America.
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The Light of Christ Illumines ALL!" - 02/24/10
His Grace, Bishop Tikhon, celebrated the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy with us in the Wilkes BArre parishes on Wednesday evening. What a joy to have our Vladykho with us and what a good turn out!
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"Who is so great a God ad our God?" - 02/21/10
As the prophets have seen, as the apostles have taught, as the Church has received, as the teachers have set forth in dogmas, as the whole world has understood, as Grace has shone forth, as the truth was demonstrated, as falsehood was banished, as wisdom was emboldened, as Christ has awarded; thus do we believe, thus we speak, thus we preach Christ our true God and His saints, honoring them in words, in writings, in thoughts, in sacrifices, in temples, and in icons, worshipping and respecting the One as God and Master, and honoring the others, and apportioning relative worship to them, because of our common Master for they are His genuine servants, This is the Faith of the apostles, this is the Faith of the fathers, this is the Faith of the Orthodox, this Faith hath established the universe!
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Russian Folk Dancers in Berwick 10/24/09 Check out the video to the left
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| After a year of intense preparation under the dedicated tutelage of Berwick parish's pastor, Fr. Michael Demko, the children perfomed publicy with children throughout the Wilkes Barre Deanery of the Diocese of Eastern PA. The children's performance was a resoundig success and they are preparing to continue appearing regularly at events throughout the region.
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Annunciation Greek Orthodox Parish of Wilkes Barre Sponsors Skating Party - 10/24/09
On Saturday evening, 10/24, children and adults from the Wilkes Barre parishes gathered in Dallas at Roll Away skating rink. Owned by Theodoros "Teddy", a parishioner of Annunciation parish, the rink and the refreshments were offered to the children free of charge for a fun evening on 8 wheels! Some of the children dressed in costume and everyone had a wonderful time, even the first timers. Even some of the clergy took a chance and hit the rink. Parishes represented were Annunciation Greek Orthodox Parish-WB, Holy Trinity -Miners Mills, St. John the Baptist - Edwardsville, and St. John the Baptist - Nanticoke.
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Wilkes Barre Parishes Gather at St. John's to Comemorate the Beheading of the Forerunner - 08/29/09
The priests and parishioners of the Wilkes Barre parishes gathered at St. John the Baptist in Nanticoke to partake of worship and fellowship concentrated around the feast of the beheading of the holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of our Lord, St. John. A most blessed Divine Liturgy and delicious potluck afterward made the day a wonderful success. Parishes represented were Holy Trinity - WB, Holy Resurrection Cathedral -WB, St. John the Baptist - Edwardsville, St. john the Baptist - Nanticoke , and Holy Annunciation - Berwick . We look forward to gathering again soon and often.
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Cathedral's Fr. Joe Martin and Teddy from the Greek community
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Groundbreaking Intra-Jurisdictional Fellowship yields new Commitment to Acting as ONE Orthodox Witness - 08/12/09
From Wednesday, August 12th through Friday, August 14th, Orthodox children of the Wyoming Valley gathered at Holy Trinity in Miners Mills to share fun, fellowship and friendship, all centered around the
Great Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God. Children form 5 parishes; Holy Trinity in Miners Mills (WB), Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Wilkes Barre, Holy Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Wilkes Barre, St. John the Baptist in Edwardsville, and St. John’s in Nanticoke were present and made these three days very much a success. (St. Mary's Antiochian Church could not be present due to a scheduling conflict but shared in the zeal to make this happen.)Throughout this time the children learned about the Feast, learned the tropar and kondak of the feast, painted flowerpots and put plants in them and had them blessed after the Akathist for the Dormition on Friday evening. Some highlights of this week were His Grace, Bishop Tikhon’s visit, the presence of our beloved brothers and sisters from the Greek community in Wilkes Barre, and the Akathist at the Cathedral followed by a pizza party for the children. We look forward to many more opportunities to share fellowship throughout the year.
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the children prepare to paint flower pots
Matushka Gloria Martin with the Children
Coordinator Marina Martin speaking with Christine, the parish starosta from the Greek Orthodox Church in WB
Harry and Dina from Holy Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
Edwardsville's Fr. Browne with some parents
the older children
Nearly 40 kids participated
Vladykha Tikhon with Peter Holoviak
Cathedral's Fr. Joe and Dina Banas from the Holy Annunciation Church - Dina's 14 year old son, John, is the webmaster for their Church website and has done a tremendous job with it. It is a very useful tool for the Church and has enormous potential for evengelization. Visit the site at http://sites.google.com/site/greekorthodoxwb/Home
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Vacation Church School 7/27 - 7/29/2009 - 07/27/09
The Church Schools of St. Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church and St. John's are traveling around the world, seeing the Church that Christ established as it is lived all over the globe, in very familiar and sometimes quite unfamiliar ways. On Monday the children visited Uganda. On Tuesday they visited China, and on Wednesday they visited Brazil. The children enjoyed very much the games, crafts, lessons, prayers, and activities they shared and also liked very much the opportunity to share this time together as ONE CHURCH, even though they belong to different jurisdictions within the American Orthodox Church.
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O Great Unmercinary Healer Panteleimon, Pray to God for Us! - 07/27/09
On Monday evening, 7/27/2009, 14 members of St. John's parish together
with many Christians, both Orthodox and non, joined Vladykha Tilhon and
members of Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church in Berwick to celebrate an
Akathist to St. Panteleimon on his feast day. The faithful were
annointed with holy oil from the monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mt.
Athos. Vladykha delivered the sermon, admonishing the faithful to
understand the way of the Cross in an manner which acknowledges the
positive aspects of sufferring and becoming fonts of God's grace. A
wonderful potluck followed outside on the parish lawn. This healing
service was a tremendous success.
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Take me Out to the Ballgame - 06/02/09
Hearing the message our hierarchs have been sending, we have resolved to BE the Church in unity. On Tuesday evening, June 2nd, 60 Orthodox Christians from 3 jurisdictions and 10 parishes came together to take in a ballgame at our local PNC field and share a fun night out together. Tickets included all you can eat food and drinks and a free Scranton/ Wilkes Barre Yankees ballcap. The weather was perfect, the night was fun and everyone enjoyed spending time together. We can't wait for our next night at the ball park.
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St. Mary's / St. John's Welcome Holy Pascha by Celebrating it Together - 04/18/09
St. Mary's Antiochian Church School invited the children of St. John's to share in their Holy Saturday Egg Hunt. A good showing from both schools made a great time for all the children who enjoyed getting to know each other and look forward to much more such gatherings.
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No one could describe the Word of the Father; but when He took flesh from you, O Theotokos, He accepted to be described, and restored the fallen image to its former beauty. We confess and proclaim our salvation in word and images. - 03/08/09
text here
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Holy Hierarch Raphael, Pray to God For US! - 02/26/09
On Thursday evening, February 26th, members of St. John's here in Nanticoke gathered with members of St. John's in Edwardsville to clebrate the Akathist service to our Holy St. Raphael of Brooklyn. We were joined by members of other prishes, including St. Vladimir's in Lopez, PA
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Fr. Michael Demko & the Centennial Dancers
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Tearin' up the Floor in Berwick! - 10/26/08
The St. John's Church School children as well as those of St. John the Baptist in Edwardsville and Holy Annunciation in Berwick, have journeyed to Berwick nearly every Sunday after liturgy to learn traditional Russian dancing from Fr. Michael Demko. The dancers are preparing to perform at the 100th Anniversary festivities of Holy Annunciation in 2009 as well as Edwardsville's St. John the Baptist in 2010, and Nanticoke's St. John's in 2011. The children enjoy the opportunity to share fellowship and fun with other Orthodox children in our Diocese.
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crab walkin'
Some of us gathered at the rectory for playtime after lessons.
Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church - Berwick, PA
| CLICK HERE to see a video of the children dancing
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Orthodoxy in America
