DORMITION FAST LAUNCHES FESTAL AUGUST

The Fast leading up to the Great Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God begins August 1, and continues up to the eve of the Feast (Aug. 14). This begins the final month of the Orthodox Church's ecclesiastical year, an exceptionally rich period graced with several feasts and saints. We will celebrate the Feast with the Vesperal Divine Liturgy on Friday, August 14 at 6:00pm.

In addittion to the Dormition, the following highlights grace this beautiful month:

TRANSFIGURATION of the LORD (Aug 6) — The second of the Three Feasts of the Savior in August (the others being the Procession of the Cross on August 1, and The Image Not Made By Hands on August 16, our parish's patronal feast), this great feast commemorates the Lord's revealing of his glory to the Apostles Peter, James and John on Mt Tabor, and is recounted in the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Fruits are blessed at this feast.

• Wed. Aug 5, 7:00pm - Festal Vespers
  
• Thu. Aug 6, 9:30am - Divine Liturgy
• Followed by blessing of Fruits

ST HERMAN of ALASKA (Aug 9) — Falling on a Sunday this year enables the most full celebration of the Summer feast of St Herman, which commemorates his glorification in 1970 by the OCA. Explore our expanded resource page on this beloved and humble saint.

BEHEADING OF ST JOHN THE FORERUNNER (Aug 29) — The Evangelists Matthew (Mt.14:1-12) and Mark (Mark 6:14-29) provide accounts about the martyric end of John the Baptist in the year 32 after the Birth of Christ.

Numerous beloved and great saints are commemorated throughout the month, including Hieromartyr Alexander Hotovitsky (Aug 20), who labored in America.

SPECIAL UPDATE ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF OCA AUTOCEPHALY

Dear Parish Faithful,

In the turmoil of the last few months, we may have lost our focus on the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Orthodox Church in America's Autocephaly talking place in this year of 2020. There was to be church-wide celebration, but I believe that the Holy Synod has postponed it until 2021, based on the uncertainty of the extent of the coronavirus carrying into the Fall. The Midwest Diocese is scheduled to have a series of individual deanery-wide celebrations throughout the year. Our own Indianapolis Deanery was scheduled to gather together in our parish over the weekend of October 9-10. Archbishop Paul has still not decided if that event will occur as scheduled, or whether it will be postponed. He just informed me that he needs to make a decision soon. I will keep everyone informed, especially our parish committee in charge of organizing that event.

Be that as it may, His Eminence has directed certain members of our Midwest Diocese - both clergy and lay members - to write a reflective article about the fifty years of being an autocephalous Church here in North America. At our parish-hosted event mentioned above, I am to deliver one of the two papers on this theme. If we do not have the scheduled event in our parish, I will eventually share my reflection with the parish.

Also, our own parishioner, Joe Kormos, was also asked to write a reflection. These different reflections are posted over the course of the year on our Midwest Diocese website. Currently, it is Joe's reflection that is posted there. For your convenience, here is a link to Joe's paper for you to read: 

The OCA & Autocephaly: The 14th All American Church Sobor / 1st All American Council *

As church life continues to slowly normalize, we will try and turn our attention toward this commemoration/celebration.

- Fr. Steven

*  Webservant's Note: This important article by Joe Kormos has since been featured also on the main page of the OCA website.

DIOCESE OF THE MIDWEST LAUNCHES SPECIAL SECTION ON OCA AUTOCEPHALY

From Bishop Paul's announcement:

"Each month starting in January 2020, we will be posting to our Diocesan website a series of reflections on the 50th Anniversary of the Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in America. I mentioned this in my letter dated October 1, 2019 (https://www.midwestdiocese.org/news_191001_1).

"As you read the thoughts of various people who are or have been in our diocese, please remember that they are not speaking as official spokespersons of the Church. They are sharing their own observations and thoughts on how the original vision of the autocephaly has played out over these first 50 years, and the impact the autocephaly itself has had on them and on their own personal experience in the Church..."

Read Bishop Paul's entire message, on the Diocese of the Midwest website, where you will also find links for new Reflections on Autocephaly added each month.

HOLY SYNOD PROCLAIMS 2020 AS YEAR OF ANNIVERSARIES FOR THE OCA

From the Proclamation:

"In 2020, the Orthodox Church in America will celebrate the anniversary of two foundational events in her history: the reception of the Tomos of Autocephaly from the Venerable Russian Orthodox Church, and the canonization of Our Venerable Father Herman, Elder and Wonderworker of Alaska. We, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, give glory to God for these wonderful gifts that have allowed the Church to take root in North America, and invites all Orthodox Christians, indeed, every person of goodwill to join our Church in our celebrations..."

From the Announcement on the OCA website:

In its proclamation, the Holy Synod announced a number of official events that would take place over the course this year to mark these anniversaries, as well as the publication of educational and liturgical materials. All members of the Orthodox Church in America should take note of these plans, and seek to participate in them as they are able. Additionally, following the direction of the Holy Synod, all Churches, Missions, Monasteries, Institutions, indeed, all the faithful of the Orthodox Church in America should seek ways to mark these anniversaries in ways that are appropriate and well-pleasing to God.

Christ the Savior-Holy Spirit will be hosting a special OCA anniversary event in October 2020, in association with the Indianapolis Deanery. Watch this page for further updates.

Read the news announcement and the complete proclamation, with much more info and links, at OCA.org.

NEW! DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS, SAINTS & PROLOGUE ON OUR WEBSITE!

We are very pleased to announce a new feature of our parish website:

Now you can read the Daily Scripture readings, view the lives and icons of the daily saints and feasts (and learn their hymns), and explore the theological and narrative riches of The Prologue of Ochrid, the massive daily compendium compiled and authored by St Nikolai Velimirovich (who served in America in the mid 20th century).

This new page updates automatically each day, and replaces the external links which we used to post, and which pointed (inconveniently) to three different web pages. The new links are a permanent feature on both our Home page and our Worship Schedule page, and make it easier than ever before to keep up with the Daily Readings and harmonize our lives with the Life of the Church, learning and growing in our love for Jesus Christ and His Most Pure Mother and the Saints.

We think you'll love this new feature, and we invite you to try it out!

PHOTO GALLERY UPDATES

Most recent updates include the Great Feast of Theophany 2020, a Bsptism, and visit of Bishop Paul in December 2019, plus Youth Group activities earlier in the Autumn. Plus, be sure to look back through all our extensive galleries for 2019 including the Great Feasts, our Summer Workshops, the 30th Anniversary Celebration of Fr Steven's ministry at Christ the Savior-Holy Spirit, and more. Plus, get to know our many new members, and re-visit 2018 with its many events and feasts in the life of the parish, all on our Photo Gallery Page.

PARISHIONER DELIVERS TALK AT ORTHODOX CONFERENCE

Christ the Savior parishioner Natasha Frasch delivered a talk at the recent conference, Speaking the Truth in Love, held at St Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary in South Canaan PA over the November 7-9 weekend.

The lineup of speakers included Archbishop Michael of New York & New Jersey, well known and prolific writer and speaker Kh. Frederica Mathewes-Green, Archimandrite Sergius (Abbot of St Tikhon's Monastery), and many other scholars and clergy, monastics and laity, and was organized by Drs. David Ford and Mary Ford, who presented a retreat at our parish back in the 1990s.

You can learn more about the conference here, and listen to and download the presentations at Ancient Faith Radio.

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS

On June 30, the parish celebrated Fr Steven & Presvytera Deborah's 30 years of ministry here at Christ the Savior-Holy Spirit. View some wonderful images from the special program and meal, and read some of Father Steven's reflections on this significant anniversary.

AXIOS! and Thank you, Father Steven and Presvytera, and may God grant you Many Years!!!

View photos on our Photo Gallery...

The Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church
Meaning, Preparation & Practice

by Archpriest Steven C. Kostoff

Third Edition, with a new Epilogue by the author...

Seekers, catechumens and Orthodox faithful alike will be blessed by this trustworthy and inspiring guide to the Divine Liturgy and the Life in Christ, composed by our beloved pastor, a faithful presbyter of the Orthodox Church in America.

Paperback, 64 pages, full color cover; $9.99 retail.

Full info here, plus special link to order with a 20% discount!

MONDAY MORNING MEDITATIONS

Fr Steven's most recent book is available through the church office/bookstore, and online.

"For almost twenty years now, parishioners at Christ the Savior-Holy Spirit in Cincinnati, and friends in Christ from places near and far, have been receiving from Father Steven his 'Monday Morning Meditations' via email, or have been visiting his Orthodox Christian Meditations Blog. Now at long last a selection of Father Steven's reflections have been published in book form by Kaloros Press!"

Learn more on this special page, and purchase at the church, or order online here.

PARISH CORNER - A special collection of internal documents for members of Christ the Savior-Holy Spirit. Password protected.

ALL SAINTS OF NORTH AMERICA (June 21)

On the Sunday after Pentecost we commemorate All Saints, those known to us and those known only to God, and the following Sunday, each local Orthodox Church commemorates those saints of their land.

Therefore, we commemorate All Saints of North America on the second Sunday after Pentecost, and as there are now sixteen (16!) glorified holy ones who lived and served in North America, as well as several others not yet glorified, and countless others known only to God, this is a significant assembly of that "great cloud of witnesses" indeed!

Join us as we venerate these righteous ones, and learn about their lives and teachings on our Special Resource Page dedicated to All Saints of North America!

See also our special resource pages for two of America's most beloved saints, St John Maximovitch, Archbishop of Shanghai & San Francisco (July 2), and Ven. Herman, Elder & Wonderworker of Alaska (Aug. 9 and Dec. 13).

ORTHODOX RESOURCES ON THE CORONAVIRUS

As the Coronavirus Emergency is clearly here to stay for the foreseeable future, we have set up a separate page to collect parish updates on schedule and church attendance guidelines, Fr Steven's messages to the parish, statements and guidance from the OCA, and other Orthodox Christian resources for keeping Great Lent in our homes during this time of 'social distancing'.

Proceed to our new Coronavirus Update Page...

PARISH NEWS - If you would like to receive updates on parish life at Christ the Savior-Holy Spirit, please contact Fr. Steven and request to be added to his email list.

ORTHODOX WORLD NEWS - Headline news from around the Orthodox world, plus daily podcasts on the saints and scriptures, updated via RSS Feed.

YOUTH GROUP UPDATE

Upcoming meetings: Feb. 23 (Fellowship & Meal)...

Coming Soon... 

• March 8th Coffee Hour Meeting: Discover your Talents! - Continuing our theme on How Youth can take ownership in Ministry by Discovering their talents.
• March 8th, 5pm: Sunday of Orthodoxy at St. George Serbian Church - It would be awesome if we can get as many youth group families as possible to attend. This pan-orthodox event may remind teens of fond memories at summer camp - worship & fellowship. Let's do our best to support local connections in our teen communities.
• March 22nd: Fellowship & Discussion gathering. The host will send along more information later this month.

Future Fellowship Meetings / Coffee Hour Meetings for 2020:

• April: No Meeting and Fellowship due to Pascha-Bright Week
• May 3rd: 15min Coffee Hour Meeting
• May 31st: End of Year BBQ

Summer Missions & Evangelism Camp for teens/families - Registration for this event is due May 1st. Teens will learn how to be a catalyst for change in their local communities. Volunteers will be working at the Neighborhood Resilience Project, formerly known as FOCUS. The cost is around the same as Antiochian Village and takes place around the same time as camp.

In Christ,
Jennifer Haynes 
YG Ministry

Learn about our Youth Group and how to join here...    More photos posted in our Gallery... 

ORTHODOX FAMILY LIFE

A Special Resource of the Midwest Diocese of the OCA

Dear Parish Faithful — Our Midwest Diocese has developed a Family Life website that His Grace, Bishop Paul is encouraging that our parish families turn to for helpful resources in raising our families in today's world.  —  Fr. Steven

PLAN NOW FOR GUIDED PILGRIMAGE TO ORTHODOX ALASKA IN 2020

Midwest Diocese to sponsor Pilgrimage to Alaska August 19-25, 2020

CHICAGO, IL [MW Diocese Communications] — The faithful of the Diocese of Chicago and the Midwest are invited to participate in a unique pilgrimage to Alaska August 19-25, 2020.

“This very special trip is being offered as part of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of the Granting of Autocephaly and the Glorification of Saint Herman of Alaska,” explains Priest Herman Kincaid, Rector of Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church, Burr Ridge, IL. “Under the guidance of His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West, Chair of the 50th Anniversary Committee for the Orthodox Church in America, each diocese was given the opportunity to select one week in 2020 to plan its pilgrimage to Alaska. This is a unique opportunity for faithful of our diocese to visit the holy sites of Alaska, including Saint Herman’s home on Spruce Island.”

The six day/five night trip is being offered by Culturally Creative Travel for the low price of $2,525.00.

Full info and links available on the OCA Midwest Diocese website.

SPECIAL VIDEO ON OUR ICONOGAPHER, FR. ANDREW TREGUBOV

SUBMIT PRAYER REQUESTS ONLINE - Our Ministries Page now has an easy to use Prayer Request Form, so you may place your prayer requests straight from our website. You can also use the form to have your email address added to our Prayer Chain.

PARISH CALENDAR SYNC — NEVER MISS ANOTHER SERVICE OR EVENT! — This is a wonderful feature of our website, as once you sync our calendar to your iPhone, iPad, Android device, PC or Mac, it will automatically update as we post our parish schedule on our pop-up calendar. Just use the provided sync buttons to enable. Our calendar is featured on our Home page and our Schedule page. Learn more here.