WELCOME TO OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY!HOLY RESURRECTION ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL is a parish community of the Diocese of Philadelphia & Eastern Pennsylvania of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). Our bishop, Archbishop MARK (Maymon), provides spiritual oversight for our community. The parish community was founded in 1892 by Fr. Alexis Toth (now a canonized saint in the Orthodox Church).
Check out the lastest from DOEPA posted on 12/03/2021:
Decisions-of-the-Diocesan-Council..pdf (doepa.org)
A warm welcome to our new choir director (Nektaria) Olivia Insignares. Olivia is a recent graduate of St. Tikhon’s Seminary. If you are interested in singing in our choir, please see her for details.
Microsoft Word - Updated Directive Coronavirus Mitigation.docx (doepa.org)
Guidelines for Funerals:
https://doepa.org/files/Policies/CDC-Guidelines/CDC-Funeral-Guidelines.pdf
UPCOMING EVENTS...WORSHIP, PRAYER and SERVICE SCHEDULESaturday- Great Vespers 4:00 p.m.
Sunday- Prayer of the Hours 8:40 am & Divine Liturgy 9:00 a.m.
Eve of Major Feast Days - Great Vespers 6:00 pm (followed by holy Confession), see DOEPA Directive
Major Feast Days - Divine Liturgy 9:00 a.m.
Rector: Fr. Gregory G. White Sr. 570-822-7725 gregory.white@stots.edu
Mitred Archpriest Vladimir Petorak: Pastor Emeritus
Protodeacon: Sergei Kapral
Mr. Michael Pieck: Board of Directors President
Choir Director (Nektaria) Olivia Insignares
Catechism Classes - For those who are interested in finding out more about the Holy Orthodox Church or how to go about joining, classes are offered on a continual / rotating basis. For more information contact Fr. Gregory at 570-822-7725 or email him at: gregory.white@stots.edu
Study Group & Recommended Reading
Our Orthodox Christian study group is currently reading:
A five book series: Revelation, The Seven Golden Seals by Archimandrite Athanasios Mitilinaios ISBN 978-0-9851915-2-8, Zoe Press, Monday nights @ 6:30 p.m. held in the hall of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral 591 N. Main St. Wilkes-Barre, PA. Bring your Orthodox Study Bible! First time visitors should call ahead of time to confirm the weekly schedule.
Many of the following books are rated four to five stars. These books are recommended reading for those who want to know more about the Holy Orthodox Faith and Christs' Church! If you take the time to read you will find out that the Church still exists today. James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and without reproach; and it shall be given him."
Information on Mount Athos
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Athos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mXl8C4-M_4&t=15s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D8OxrSZZU8&t=361s
Thirsting for God in a Land of Shallow Wells by Matthew Gallatin, St. Valdimir's Seminary Press, ISBN 978-1-888212-28
The Truth, What Every Roman Catholic Should Know About the Orthodox Church by Clark Carlton, Regina, Salisbury, MA
The Faith, Understanding Orthodox Christianity, An Orthodox Catechism also by Clark Carlton
The Way, What Every Protestant Should Know About the Orthodox Faith also by Clark Carlton
Knowledge of God by Dr. Harry Boolas, St. Tikhon's Seminary Press ISBN 978-1-878997-83-8
Current members of the Holy Orthodox Faith, or the more advanced inquirer are encouraged to also check out the following titles. They will help with your understanding of who Jesus Christ is... What happened to the early Church? Does it still exist? What's Orthodox Salvation all about?
Matthew The Poor, Orthodox Prayer Life, The Interior Way, by Father Matta El-Meskeen, St. Valdimirs Press, ISBN 978-0-88141-250-5
The Soul's Longing An Orthodox Christian Perspective on Biblical Interpretation by Dr. Mary Ford ISBN 978-0-9905029-6-8
A must read for those that struggle with Biblical Interpretation in this day and age of Denominationalism. Read how the early Church understood the Holy Scripture and it's Tradition.
The Orthodox Study Bible by Thomas Nelson Publishing. Full of commemtary, teachings, references and study articles ISBN 978-0-7180-0359-3
Orthodox Spirituality by Metropolitan Nafpaktos Hierotheos, Birth of the Theotokos Monastery ISBN 978-960-7070-20-3
Passions and Virtues According to St. Gregory Palamas by Anestis Keselopoulos, St. Tikhon's Seminary Press, ISBN 1-878997-75-0
Acquiring the Mind of Christ by Archimandrite Serguis, St. Tikhon's Monastery Press, ISBN 978-0-995029-9-9
https://sttikhonsmonastery.org/
Glory and Honor, Orthodox Christian Resources on Marriage by Dr. David Ford, Dr. Mary Ford and Alfred Kentigern Siewers. Editors, St. Valdimirs Seminary Press, ISBN 9789-0-8841-540-1. A must read before you get married!
Angels and Demons by Dr. Harry Boosalis, ISBN 978-1-878997-83-8
Holy Traditon by Dr. Harry Boosalis, ISBN 978-0-9884574-2-3
Orthodox Spiritual Life According to Saint Silouan the Anthonite by Dr. Harry Boosalas, St. Tikhon's Seminary Press, ISBN 978-1-878997-60-9
Man the Target of God by Archimandrite Zacharias, Mount Tabor Publishing
The following series of titles expand even more on Wisdom and Spirituality inspired by the Holy Spirit by the Monastic life on Mount Athos. The three stages of Orthodox Christian Salvation; Purification, Illumination and Deification are outlined throughout these timeless resources.
Remember Thy First Love by Archimandrite Zacharias, Mount Tabor Publishing
Enlargement of the Heart by Archimandrite Zacharias, Mount Tabor Publishing
The Hidden Man of the Heart by Archimandrite Zacharias, Mount Tabor Publishing
Saint Silouan the Anthonite by Archimandrite Sophrony, Mount Tabor Publishing
Information on Mount Athos, also posted above!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Athos
ABOUT THE UPCOMING FEAST...If you like the example below. Please visit the lives of the Saints @ the bottom on this webpage for the daily commemorations.
New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia
On the Sunday closest to January 25, the Church commemorates the Synaxis of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, remembering all those Orthodox Christians who suffered for Christ at the hands of the godless Soviets during the years of persecution. These include the royal Passion Bearers Tsar Nicholas II and his family, and the Grand Duchess Elizabeth. Countless thousands of martyrs, both clergy and laity also suffered, some of whose names are known, as well as millions of simple believers whose names have been lost to history.
It is estimated that the number of the New Martyrs of Russia, who were glorified by the Russian Orthodox Church at the Jubilee Council of 2000, far exceeds that of all the martyrs who died for Christ during the first three centuries of Christianity. The Russian Church lost millions of its sons and daughters, not only at the hands of external enemies, but also those of their own country. Among those who were murdered and tortured in the years of persecution were countless Orthodox: laity, monks, priests, and bishops, whose only “crime” was their unshakable faith in God.
In the long history of the world, never have so many new heavenly intercessors been glorified by the Church in such a way (more than one thousand New Martyrs were numbered among the saints). Among those who suffered for their faith were some who labored in America before the Russian Revolution: St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (April 7); St. Alexander Hotovitzky (Dec. 4); St. John Kochurov (Oct. 31).
Translation of the relics of Saint John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople
Saint John Chrysostom, the great ecumenical teacher and hierarch, died in the city of Comana in the year 407 on his way to a place of exile. He had been condemned by the intrigues of the empress Eudoxia because of his daring denunciation of the vices of those ruling over Constantinople. The transfer of his venerable relics was made in the year 438, thirty years after the death of the saint, during the reign of Eudoxia’s son emperor Theodosius II (408-450).
Saint John Chrysostom had the warm love and deep respect of the people, and grief over his untimely death lived on in the hearts of Christians. Saint John’s disciple, Saint Proclus, Patriarch of Constantinople (434-447), during services in the Church of Hagia Sophia, preached a sermon praising Saint John. He said, “O John, your life was filled with sorrow, but your death was glorious. Your grave is blessed and reward is great, by the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ O graced one, having conquered the bounds of time and place! Love has conquered space, unforgetting memory has annihilated the limits, and place does not hinder the miracles of the saint.”
Those who were present in church, deeply touched by the words of Saint Proclus, did not allow him even to finish his sermon. With one accord they began to entreat the Patriarch to intercede with the emperor, so that the relics of Saint John might be brought back to Constantinople.
The emperor, overwhelmed by Saint Proclus, gave his consent and gave the order to transfer the relics of Saint John. But those he sent were unable to lift the holy relics until the emperor realized that he had sent men to take the saint’s relics from Comana with an edict, instead of with a prayer. He wrote a letter to Saint John, humbly asking him to forgive his audacity, and to return to Constantinople. After the message was read at the grave of Saint John, they easily took up the relics, carried them onto a ship and arrived at Constantinople.
The coffin with the relics was placed in the Church of Holy Peace (Hagia Eirene). When Patriarch Proclus opened the coffin, the body of Saint John was found to be incorrupt. The emperor approached the coffin with tears, asking forgiveness for his mother, who had banished Saint John. All day and night people did not leave the coffin.
In the morning the coffin was brought to the Church of the Holy Apostles. The people cried out, “Father, take up your throne.” Then Patriarch Proclus and the clergy standing by the relics saw Saint John open his mouth and say, “Peace be to all.” Many of the sick were healed at his tomb.
The celebration of the transfer of the relics of Saint John Chrysostom was established in the ninth century.
