News Archive

• The latest scrip order form is available: scrip20081108.pdf. (posted 11/15/08.)

• The annual parish meeting was held Sunday, November 2, with 19 more people than required for quorum. In addition to approving the 2009 Proposed Financial Plan, Wayne Hajos (Vice Chairman), Selma Allen (Secretary), Bob Garrett and Eugenia Ordynsky were elected to the Council of Stewards. Thank you to John Hudak and Michael Jancarek for their dedicated service to the Church by serving faithfully on the Council fo the last four years: Many Years! (posted 11/15/08.)

• Bishop Jonah of Fort Worth Elected Metropolitan of All America and Canada at the 15th All-American Council. Read more here. (posted 11/13/08.)

• Our Patronal Feast Day Vigil will be celebrated on Saturday, November 15^th at 6pm. As is the custom in the Baltimore Area, the local Orthodox clergy and their faithful are invited to come and celebrate our patronal feast with us. The V. Rev. Fr. Ernest Arambiges, Pastor Emeritus of St. Demetrios Church will be our guest homilist. Also, in keeping with our local custom, there will be a reception for everyone following the service in our banquet hall.

  Our Patronal Feast Day Liturgy will be celebrated on Sunday, November 16^th with our customary luncheon and program to follow.

  Mark your calendar and plan to attend Saturday evening's and Sunday's worship and fellowship! (posted 11/02/08.)

• The Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Sunday November 2, 2008 at 12:00pm at church. Mark your calendar and plan to attend! Everyone's participation is encouraged. (posted 10/23/08.)

• An Icon Painting Class is being offered by Wayne Hajos on Saturdays November 1 through December 6th (but not on November 29th). The class is limited to 10 students. See flyer for more information: icon_painting_2008.pdf. Update: the class is now full. (posted 10/23/08.)

• Introduction to Orthodoxy Seminar. Classes for those interested in learning about Orthodoxy and preparation for those desiring reception into the Church will begin on Monday, October 20th at 7:30pm and will run on Monday evenings (except on November 10th) through November 24th. We will cover such topics as: the Church, the Trinity, the Mysteries (Sacraments), Holy Traditions & Scriptures, salvation and other foundational teachings. The classes will be held at church. (posted 10/23/08.)

• An inaugural Fall Festival with wonderful international foods, entertainment and church tours will be held on Saturday October 4th, 11am to 10pm, and Sunday October 5th, 1pm to 7pm. For more information and if you would like to volunteer to be a part of this First Annual St. Matthew Fall Festival, please contact Sharon Cross or Robin Zahor. Proceeds will go to the building fund and with Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ's blessings, we will have fun with the festival as we continue the growth of our beloved church family.

  For more information see: flyer (PDF), menu & schedule and silent auction. (posted 10/01/08.)

• Life in Christ Seminar with Fr. Ray will be held this Tuesday, September 23^rd at 7:00pm at the church. This seminar, a lecture format, deals with our relationship with the Lord and each other in the Spirit. The purpose of this seminar is to offer us yet another opportunity for growth in our life as Christians. (posted 9/22/08.)

• Stewardship! If you have not already done so, please take some time this week to prayerfully decide how you will offer your time, abilities and material resources in the building up of your parish family of St. Matthew in 2009. If you did not receive the stewardship information in the mail, please email or call Fr. Ray. (posted 9/22/08.)

• September Services: (other than Divine Liturgy on Sundays)

  • Vigil: 6:00pm Saturday 9/6, 9/13, 9/20 & 9/27.

  • Divine Liturgy for the Birth of the Theotokos: 9am Monday 9/8.
  (posted 9/04/08.)

• Our parish history updated on the About Us page. (posted 9/02/08.)

• Fall Festival flyer updated. (posted 8/25/08.)

• IOCC's Orthodox Taste of Baltimore: The Third Annual Orthodox Taste of Baltimore is scheduled for Saturday, October 11^th at Annunciation Cathedral. Details are available on the IOCC web site. (posted 8/07/08.)

• You are invited on a fishing trip on the bay, Tuesday August 12^th, 7am – 3pm, on Miss Gracer Charters, leaving out of Deale, Maryland. If you would like to go or want more information please contact Michael Jancarek. (posted 8/07/08.)

• August Services: (other than Divine Liturgy on Sundays)

  • Tue, August 5: Vesperal Liturgy for the Feast of Transfiguration.

  • Thu, August 14: Vesperal Liturgy for the Feast for Dormition.
  (posted 8/07/08.)

• An updated scrip order form is now available: scrip20080711.pdf (PDF 120kbytes). (posted 7/27/08.)

• Some consecration photos have been posted on our own web site. (posted 7/25/08.)

• Photos from the consecration have been posted on the OCA website. (posted 6/07/08.)

• June Services: (other than Divine Liturgy on Sundays)

  • Wed, June 4th, 7pm: Vesperal Liturgy for the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord

  • Sat, June 21, 6pm: Vigil.

  • Sat, June 28, 6pm: Vigil.
  (posted 6/01/08.)

• The Annual Parish Picnic will be held at Lake Elkhorn on Sunday, June 8th at 1pm. If you would like to help with the picnic please contact Fr. Duane. (posted 6/01/08.)

• The Columbia Bridge Club has rented our banquet hall on Monday evenings from 6:30pm to 11:00pm. (posted 6/01/08.)

• There is an error in the monthly calendar for May. There is no Vigil service on Saturday May 31. Carole Yunkunis will be using the temple for a previously scheduled concert for her students. (posted 5/12/08.)

• On Friday afternoon (May 9th), Galina Ordynsky fell asleep in the Lord after complications from pneumonia, COPD, and congestive heart failure. May her memory be eternal. We wish her the Kingdom of Heaven.

  Services:

  In Maryland: A viewing will be held at the Slack Funeral Home (3871 Old Columbia Pike, Ellicott City, Maryland 21043) on Monday May 12, 2008 between 6 and 7:30 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 7:30 p.m. Friends are invited to a mini-wake at the home of her daughter, Eugenia Ordynsky at 8:15 p.m.

  In California: Russian Orthodox funeral services will begin with a memorial service (ponikhida) on Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 7 p.m. at the Holy Transfiguration Russian Orthodox Church in Los Angeles. The funeral service will be held on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 11 a.m. followed by the burial at the Hollywood Forever Memorial Park. The family invites everyone to a wake in the Church hall after the burial.

  Holy Transfiguration Russian Orthodox Church
  5432 Fernwood Ave. (Fountain & Western)
  Los Angeles, California 90027
  

  Hollywood Forever Memorial Park
  6000 Santa Monica Blvd
  Los Angeles, California 90038
  

  (posted 5/11/08.)

• More email addresses from the parish directory have been added to the parish mailing list. (posted 5/03/08.)

• May Services: (other than Divine Liturgy on Sundays)

  • Vigil: Saturday May 3, 6pm.

  • Consecration Vespers: Friday May 9, 7pm.

  • Consecration Liturgy: Saturday May 10, 9am.

  • Vigil: Saturday May 24, 6pm.

  Note: the Vigil service previously listed on Saturday May 31, 6pm was a error. There is no Vigil service on Saturday, May 31. (posted 5/03/08.)

• We have a new fax number: 410-381-3737. (posted 4/18/08.)

• Fr. Ray's mother, Anna Velencia, 89, fell-asleep in the Lord on Thursday, April 3 at the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore. Upon returning to Fr. Ray and Debbie's home following the Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesday she fell while attempting to take the first up to their home. The fall resulted in severe trauma to her brain. She was air lifted to University Hospital Shock Trauma Center where she had neurosurgery in an attempt to save her life. The surgery revealed far greater brain damage than the CT scan revealed. With all six of her children at her bedside shortly after noon on Thursday, she very peacefully died. She is the widow of Peter Velencia, Sr., who died in May 2002. She is survived by her children in addition to Fr. Ray: Marcia, Sylvia, Peter, Anne, and Paul all of Pennsylvania, twelve grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and a sister, Lucille Buchart of Baton Rouge, LA.

  Her funeral will be on Monday, April 7, 2008 at St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church, 601 South Harrisburg St., Steelton, PA 17113, where she was a life-long member. The family will be receiving friends at the Church from 12 noon – 2pm on Monday. The Funeral Service will begin at 2:00pm. Burial will follow the service in the Oberlin Cemetery, next to the Church. A meal will follow her interment in the Church Social Hall. Memorial gifts may be made in her memory to the St. Matthew Church Building Fund. Memory Eternal!

  The website for St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Steelton, PA is: www.stnicholassteelton.com. (posted 4/04/08.)

• The forms for placing an ad in the Commemorative Book for the Consecration of our Temple is available in PDF: CommemorativeAdForm.pdf. (posted 3/31/08.)

• Consecration of our new Temple will take place on Saturday morning, May 10^th by His Beatitude Metropolitan Herman.

  For tickets to the Consecration & 20^th Anniversary Banquet contact or see Mark Bailey. The Banquet will be held at the Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville from 1-5pm. There is plenty of room for everyone. The Ballroom can hold 400 persons. Come and celebrate this wonderful once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of the parish family. (posted 3/30/08.)

• April Services: (other than Divine Liturgy on Sundays)

  • Souls Saturday Liturgy: Saturday April 5, 9am.

  • Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified Gifts: Wednesdays 7pm, April 2, 9, & 16.

  • Vigil & Confession: Saturdays 6pm, April 5, 12 & 19.

  • Vespers: Friday April 18, 7pm (followed by Church School Students' First Confession).

  • Lazarus Saturday Divine Liturgy: Saturday April 19, 9am (followed by breakfast).

  • Holy Week
    • Wednesday April 23, 7pm: Holy Unction.
    • Thursday April 24, 10am: St. Basil's Divine Liturgy.
    • Thursday April 24, 7pm: Twelve Passion Gospels.
    • Friday April 25, 10am: Royal Hours.
    • Friday April 25, 2pm: Vespers.
    • Friday April 25, 7pm: Matins/Lamentations.
    • Saturday April 26, 10am: St. Basil's Divine Liturgy.
    • Saturday April 26, 11pm: Resurrection Matins & Paschal Liturgy (Blessing of the Baskets and Community Agape Meal follow).
    • Sunday April 27, 12noon: Agape Vespers (at St. Nicholas Cathedral, Washington DC).
  (posted 3/30/08.)

• Our community is saddened to learn of the falling-asleep in the Lord of dear friend and visitor to our beloved parish, the V. Rev. Fr. George Kalpaxis. Father Kalpaxis last visited us in January with his two sons. Father George fell-asleep in the Lord on Saturday, March 8 while visiting his two sons in Houston, TX. Fr. George served St. Nicholas Church in Highlandtown from 1971-1991 when he retired. He will be missed. May his memory be eternal.

  Father George Kalpaxis will be viewed at St. Nicholas Church, 520 Ponca Street.

  • Thursday, March 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Trisaghion will be chanted every hour on the hour.
  • Friday, March 14: Orthros 9:00 a.m.
  • Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.
  • Funeral Service 11:00 a.m.

  Update: Fr. Kalpaxis' obituary in the Baltimore Sun is here.
  (posted 3/10/08.)

• Sunday of Orthodoxy Great Vespers will be held at our new building on Sunday, March 16th at 6:00pm. Following the service there will be a reception. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this Baltimore area Pan-Orthodox event celebrating the victory over the iconoclasts. Deacon Nicholas will be preaching. (posted 2/03/08.)

• Annual One-Day Lenten Retreat: All are invited to join the Women's Group for their annual one-day retreat! Father Ray will speak on the theme, "Entering into the Kingdom: Tradition and Grace" on Saturday, March 22nd. Registration with coffee and pastries will begin at 8:30am. The retreat will begin at 9:30am. Please contact Melissa Edens, Selma Allen or Jean Byrnes for more information.

  Lunch: As a Project Mexico Mission Trip fund-raiser, the youth group will be selling Panera Bread boxed lunches for $15. For lunch tickets, please contact Jeremy Sheppard (410-313-8550) by March 18th. (posted 3/02/08.)

• March Services: (other than Divine Liturgy on Sundays)

  • Souls Saturday Liturgy: Saturday March 1, 10am.

  • Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified Gifts: Wednesdays 7pm, March 12, 19, & 26.

  • Vigil & Confession: Saturdays 6pm, March 15, 22 & 29.

  • Orthodoxy Sunday Vespers & Reception: Sunday March 16, 6pm.

  • Vesperal Liturgy for the Feast of the Annunciation: Monday March 24, 7pm.

  (posted 3/02/08.)

• Introductory Seminars on Orthodoxy will be held on Monday evenings at 7:30pm during the six weeks of Great Lent at the church. The seminar will begin on the first Monday of Great Lent, March 10th. It is a survey of the Church, its beliefs, life and history. Although it is designed primarily for the uninitiated in the faith, it is open to all. If you plan to attend, please email or call Fr. Ray or Fr. Duane to register. (posted 3/02/08.)

• A Call for Parish Photos. What's in your scrapbook? A picture show presentation is being prepared to be first shown at the May 10th St. Matthew consecration banquet. A wide variety of photos — the older the better — depicting parish life, people & events and the history of St. Matthew are needed. A special request is made for photos of weddings at St. Matthew, loved ones who have fallen asleep in the Lord for a special memorial section and any Church School or parish youth related photos.

  Please pass on your photos to John Hudak or Melissa Edens for copying. Hard copies, digital photos and negatives are accepted. The original materials will be returned to you. (posted 2/06/08.)

• An Inaugural Fall Festival with wonderful international foods, entertainment and church tours will be held on October 4th and 5th. For more information and if you would like to volunteer to be a part of this First Annual St. Matthew Fall Festival, please contact Sharon Cross or Robin Zahor. Proceeds will go to the building fund and with Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ's blessings, we will have fun with the festival as we continue the growth of our beloved church family. (posted 3/02/08.)

• One of our founding members, Anne Davidoff, widow of Col. James Davidoff, fell-asleep in the Lord at the age of 90 just a few weeks shy of her 91st birthday, on Monday, February 4th in Florida. May her memory be eternal!

  There will be a viewing at the Fleck Funeral Home www.dignitymemorial.com, at 7601 Sandy Spring Road in Laurel, MD 20707 on Friday, February 8th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM and at St. Matthew Church on Saturday, February 9th from 1:00 - 2::00 PM. On Friday evening at 7 PM at the funeral home, there will be a brief memorial service for Anne. On Saturday, the funeral service will begin at 2:00 PM followed by a luncheon in the Church's Banquet Hall.

  Interment will be at the Arlington National Cemetery on Friday, February 22 at 3:00 PM. For those who would like to attend the graveside services and interment please be at the Fleck Funeral Home in Laurel no later than 1 PM on Friday, February 22nd.

  In lieu of flowers, Anne wished that any contributions be made to her church's building fund. They may be sent to the Orthodox Church of St. Matthew, P.O. Box 2003, Columbia, Maryland 21045.

  Also, if you would like to bring a dish or dessert for the luncheon, please contact Valerie Foster or Denise Royal to let them know what you are bringing as they are coordinating the luncheon. Thank you for your consideration and generosity. (posted 2/06/08.)

• OCA & Diocesan Assessment: Our stewardship to the national church and diocese is $145 per adult member in 2008. Thus, for a couple, the first $290 contributed to the parish's general fund goes out of the parish in support of the diocesan and central church's ministries. This an envelope in your stewardship packet for a contribution towards this parish commitment. Any and all gifts made above and beyond ins's stewardship commitment are greatly appreciated! (posted 1/20/08.)