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Update
Regarding Indoor Masking From the Archdiocese - 3/4/2022
“Los Angeles County
has lifted the indoor face mask mandates beginning March 4, 2022, to align with California Department of Health orders.
As of today, masking is strongly recommended, but no longer required in most indoor settings, including houses of worship.”
Please take a look at our new "Educational Resources"
page.
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Sun
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22 May
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Sunday of the Blind Man
Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.,
in-person and via livestream.
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Mon
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23 May
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There are no events scheduled for today.
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Tue
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24 May
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The Southern California Christian Forum invites us to participate in their
monthly Ecumenical Bible Study, 7:00 p.m., via Zoom. Register for link at
contact@SoCalForum.net
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Wed
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Leavetaking of Pascha and Eve of the
Ascension of the Lord
Paschal Matins, 8:00 a.m., both in-person and via
Zoom.
Vespers
and Divine Liturgy, 7:30 p.m.
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Thur
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26 May
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Feast of the Ascension of the Lord
Festal
Matins, 8:00 a.m., both in-person and via Zoom.
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Fri
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27 May
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Afterfeast of the Ascension and Feast of Hieromartyr
Therapontes
Matins, 8:00 a.m., both in-person and via Zoom.
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Sat
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28 May
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Father Alexei chairs the quarterly international meeting of the Russian
Greek Catholic Clergy, 6:00 a.m. via Zoom.
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Sun
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29 May
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Sunday of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council
Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m., in-person and via livestream followed by our monthly Charity "Luncheon".
Please see expanded note below.
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Monthly Charity "Luncheon"
The beneficiary of this month’s
Charity “Luncheon” is Get On The Bus (GOTB), the flagship transitional program of the Center for Restorative Justice
Works, uniting children, families, and communities separated by crime. GOTB
provides free transportation during Mother’s Day and Father’s Day for children to visit a parent at California
state prisons. A recent participant writes of GOTB:
“My kids love their father so much, and although what the program offers cannot take the place of actually having
their daddy home with them, it definitely helps boost their level of happiness knowing that there is a
special program that cares, and a daddy who is trying to stay connected even though he is so far away….
An Invitation
The 15th Annual Roman and Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Christian Ecumenical
Service of Prayer for Christian Unity will be held at St. Mary and St. Verena
Coptic Orthodox Church, 5401 Fairmont Blvd, Yorba Linda, CA, on Friday, June 3rd, at 7:00 p.m..
Featured speaker will be Sister Dr. Vassa Larin, and choirs from Saint Justin Martyr Roman Catholic Church, Annunciation
Byzantine Catholic Church, Holy Cross Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Saint Paul Assyrian Church of the East, and Saint Paul
Greek Orthodox Church will participate. A reception will follow the Service.
Restorative Tai Chi
Classes in Restorative Tai Chi are offered Tuesday,
Thursday and Friday evenings at 6:30 p.m., Saturday morning at 11;00 a.m., and Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. Newcomers
are welcome! Classes are small, with proper physical distancing observed. Cost: $15.00 and a food donation for
CASE. Packages are available at reduced rates.
Spread the Word!
Following the theft of the proceeds of our 2017 Yard Sale, which were designated to help fund the repairs
to our blue cupola on the side of our church, we have established a GoFundMe account to not only recoup the stolen proceeds
from the Sale but also to assist in funding the repairs.
Saint Xenia
Charitable Fund
In an effort to assist those members of our parish who
are struggling financially due to the faltering economy, loss of employment or decreased retirement benefits, the parish established
the Saint Xenia Charitable Fund. Father Alexei alone administers this fund, and all disbursements and contributions are
kept strictly confidential. Since its establishment, the Saint Xenia Fund has been able to assist several of our parishioners
with partial rent payments, money for food, purchase of job-related necessities, payment of utility bills and medications.
Should you wish to assist us in helping our own, please place your cash donation (Father will provide you with a receipt
for tax purposes should you desire it) in an envelope marked "Saint Xenia Fund" and give it directly to Father.
Disbursements are made in cash to protect anonymity.
And who is Saint Xenia? Well, here is her story......
 Saint Xenia lived during the eighteenth century,
but little is known of her life or of her family. She passed most of her life in Petersburg during the reigns of the empresses
Elizabeth and Catherine II. Xenia Grigorievna
Petrova was the wife of an army officer, Major Andrew Petrov. After the wedding, the couple lived in St Petersburg. St Xenia
became a widow at the age of twenty-six when her husband suddenly died at a party. She grieved for the loss of her husband,
and especially because he died without Confession or Holy Communion. Once her earthly happiness ended, she did not look for it again. From that time forward, Xenia lost
interest in the things of this world, and followed the difficult path of foolishness for the sake of Christ. The basis for
this strange way of life is to be found in the first Epistle to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 1:18-24, 1 Cor. 2:14, 1 Cor. 3:18-19).
The Lord strengthened her and helped her to bear sorrow and misfortune patiently for the next forty-five years. She started wearing her husband's clothing, and insisted that she
be addressed as "Andrew Feodorovich." She told people that it was she, and not her husband, who had died. In a certain
sense, this was perfectly true. She abandoned her former way of life and experienced a spiritual rebirth. When she gave away
her house and possessions to the poor, her relatives complained to the authorities. After speaking to Xenia, the officials
were conviced that she was in her right mind and was entitled to dispose of her property as she saw fit. Soon she had nothing
left for herself, so she wandered through the poor section of Petersburg with no place to lay her head. She refused all assistance
from her relatives, happy to be free of worldly attachments. When her late husband's red and green uniform wore out, she clothed herself in rags of those colors. After
a while, Xenia left Petersburg for eight years. It is believed that she visited holy Elders and ascetics throughout Russia
seeking instruction in the spiritual life. She may have visited St Theodore of Sanaxar (February 19), who had been a military
man himself. His life changed dramatically when a young officer died at a drinking party. Perhaps this officer was St Xenia's
husband. In any case, she knew St Theodore and profited from his instructions. St Xenia eventually returned to the poor section of Petersburg, where she was mocked and insulted
because of her strange behavior. When she did accept money from people it was only small amounts, which she used to help the
poor. She spent her nights praying without sleep in a field outside the city. Prayer strengthened her, and in her heart's
conversation with the Lord she found the support she needed on her difficult path. When a new church was being built in the Smolensk cemetery, St Xenia brought bricks to the site.
She did this in secret, during the night, so that no one would know. Soon her great virtue and spiritual gifts began to be noticed. She prophesied future events affecting
the citizens of Petersburg, and even the royal family. Against her will, she became known as someone pleasing to God, and
nearly everyone loved her.They said, "Xenia does not belong to this world, she belongs to God." People regarded
her visits to their homes or shops as a great blessing. St Xenia loved children, and mothers rejoiced when the childless widow
would stand and pray over a baby's crib, or kiss a child. They believed that the blessed one's kiss would bring that child
good fortune. St Xenia lived about forty-five
years after the death of her husband, and departed to the Lord at the age of seventy-one. The exact date and circumstances
of her death are not known, but it probably took place at the end of the eighteenth century. She was buried in the Smolensk
cemetery. By the 1820s, people flocked to her
grave to pray for her soul, and to ask her to intercede with God for them. So many visitors took earth from her grave that
it had to be replaced every year. Later, a chapel was built over her grave. Those who turn to St Xenia in prayer receive healing from illness, and deliverance from their
afflictions. She is also known for helping people who seek jobs.
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