The Feast of the Ascension: Christ Enthroned in Glory

On the fortieth day after His glorious Resurrection from the dead, our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven in the sight of His disciples (Acts 1:9-11). Celebrated annually on the Thursday of the sixth week of Pascha, the Feast of the Ascension signifies not the conclusion of Christ's earthly mission, but rather the beginning of our shared journey in His divine life.

We recite the Nicene Creed at every Divine Liturgy. According to the Creed, Jesus "ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father…" These statements proclaim a profound mystery. Christ, in His glorified human form, is exalted at the right hand of God the Father. He has carried our human nature—both body and soul—into the celestial realms, paving the way for all who follow Him. Far from being a mere theological concept, this is the cornerstone of our hope. 

In the Ascension icon, we observe the Mother of God standing in tranquility and prayer, encircled by the Apostles, as Christ is elevated into the sky by angels. This moment signifies not abandonment but a promise. As the angels told the disciples, "This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner…" (Acts 1:11). The Ascension anticipates the Second Coming, when Christ will return in glory.

The Church also sees the beginning of Pentecost in the Ascension. Christ tells His followers to wait in Jerusalem for "the promise of the Father"—the Holy Spirit, who will descend ten days later to empower the Church for its mission in the world. The Ascension, then, is about Heaven, but it is also about preparation and empowerment for life on earth.

How is this Feast significant for us today?

The Ascension reminds us that Christ has not left us alone in a world that often feels heavy with suffering and confusion. He is present with us always, even as He reigns in Heaven. His glorified body assures us that our human nature is not meant for destruction but for transfiguration. Heaven is not a distant dream; it is the destiny of those united to Christ.

As we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension, let us lift our hearts to the Lord. Let us seek the things above, where Christ is seated in glory (Colossians 3:1). And let us prepare, with joy and expectation, for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Troparion of the Feast – Tone 4

You have ascended in glory, O Christ our God. You have made Your disciples joyful by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Through the blessing, they were assured that You are the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world.

Paschal Canon Livestream – Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Christ is Risen!

We joyfully welcome you and thank you for joining us in prayer for today’s Paschal Canon livestream on this beautiful Wednesday, May 28. As we chant together the radiant hymns of the Resurrection, our hearts are lifted with the light of Christ’s triumph over death.

As Pascha comes to its liturgical close, we invite you to stay connected with us as we continue our mission to bring the Orthodox Christian faith to nursing homes, senior living communities, and all who seek Christ’s love and healing.

🕊️ Join us again for our next livestream service on Friday, May 30 at 8:00am Eastern as we continue to pray, serve, and walk the path of salvation together.

To learn more about our outreach ministry, livestreams, service booklets, and how you can support or get involved, please visit stpanteleimon.com.

With love in the Risen Christ,
St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach

📿 #ChristIsRisen #Pascha #OrthodoxChurch #StPanteleimon #OrthodoxLivestream #PaschalCanon #FinalDayOfPascha #OrthodoxFaith #SeniorMinistry #OrthodoxOutreach #EasternOrthodox #PrayWithUs #OrthodoxChristian #OnlineChurch

Typica Livestream – Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Christ is Risen!

We are deeply grateful to all who are joining us for our Typica service livestream. Your prayers and presence bring life to our online worship and remind us of the power of faith shared in community, no matter the distance.

Saints Commemorated on May 27

On this day, the Orthodox Church commemorates the following saints:

• Hieromartyr Helladios

• Saint John the Russian and Confessor of Evia

These holy men inspire us through their steadfast faith, service, and devotion to Christ. May we walk in their footsteps with courage and love.

Daily Scripture Readings

The appointed readings for today are:

• Acts 17:19–28 – Saint Paul’s sermon at the Areopagus, declaring the “Unknown God”

• John 12:19–36 – Christ speaks of His impending death and calls all people to walk in the light

Today’s passages challenge us to recognize the presence of God in our midst and to follow Christ, the Light of the world, with unwavering faith.

Join Us for the Next Livestream

We warmly invite you to pray with us again during our next livestream service:

📅 Wednesday, May 28
🕗 8:00 AM Eastern Time
📍 Streaming live from St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach

Let us come together again to renewal through prayer.

To learn more about our ministry, ongoing outreach, and upcoming services, please visit stpanteleimon.com.

Thank you for being a part of our growing Orthodox Christian community online. May the joy of the Risen Christ continue to fill your heart.

#OrthodoxChurch #TypicaService #DailyScriptureReadings #Acts17 #John12 #StPanteleimon #EasternOrthodoxFaith #OnlineOrthodoxCommunity #OrthodoxLivestream #ChristIsRisen #FaithInAction #PrayWithUs #OrthodoxSaints #OrthodoxWorship

The Sixth Sunday of Pascha: The Healing of the Blind Man

As we approach the final days of the Paschal season, the Church gives us one more powerful encounter with Christ's healing power: the story of the blind man (John 9:1–38). Celebrated on the Sixth Sunday of Pascha, this Gospel reading invites us to see with more than just physical eyes. It calls us to spiritual sight.

The man in this account was blind from birth—a condition considered, in his time, to be the result of sin. The disciples ask Jesus, "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" The Lord answers profoundly: "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him." In these words, Christ reframes our understanding of suffering. It is not always a punishment, but sometimes a means through which God reveals His glory.

Christ heals the man by making clay with His spit, anointing the man's eyes, and then telling him to wash in the pool of Siloam. This act echoes the creation of Adam from the dust and reminds us that Christ is the Creator, restoring not only physical sight but also a deeper vision of the truth.

What follows is a confrontation with the Pharisees, who remain spiritually blind despite their physical sight and religious knowledge. The formerly blind man progresses from calling Jesus a prophet to finally worshiping Him as Lord. His journey reflects the path each of us takes—from darkness to light, from ignorance to faith, from blindness to vision.

The Sunday of the Blind Man is not just about a miracle that happened two thousand years ago; it is also about us. It is about our blindness, stubbornness, and resistance to seeing Christ in our lives. It is also about our potential to open our hearts and recognize Him, even in unexpected ways.

As we near the Feast of the Ascension, the Church is preparing us to see beyond the physical—to lift our eyes to Heaven, recognize the presence of the Risen Lord, and bear witness to the Light of Christ who illumines all.

Let us pray for eyes to see—not just the world around us, but the deeper spiritual reality of Christ's presence among us.

Readings for the Week of May 25, 2025

5/25: Acts 16:16-34; John 9:1-38

5/26: Acts 17:1-15; John 11:47-57

5/27: Acts 17:19-28; John 12:19-36

5/28: Acts 18:22-28; John 12:36-47

5/29: Acts 1:1-12; Luke 24:36-53

5/30: Acts 19:1-8; John 14:1-11

5/31: Acts 20:7-12; John 14:10-21

Typica Livestream – Friday, May 23, 2025

Christ is Risen!

Welcome, dear brothers and sisters in Christ! We thank you for joining us in prayer during this morning’s Typica livestream on Friday, May 23, 2025. Your presence, whether in spirit or online, brings great joy to our St. Panteleimon community. We are blessed to walk this spiritual journey with you.

Saints Commemorated Today

On this day, the Orthodox Church honors several beloved saints, including:

• St. Michael the Confessor, Bishop of Synnada

• St. Mary the Myrrh-bearer, wife of Cleopas

• St. Euphrosyne (Princess Eudoxia) of Moscow

• St. Damian of the Monastery of Esphigmenou on Mount Athos

May the lives and intercessions of these holy men and women inspire us to greater faith, humility, and perseverance.

Today's Scripture Readings

The prescribed scripture readings for today’s Typica service are:

• Acts 15:5–34 – The early Church gathers to resolve disputes about the Gentiles, led by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

• John 10:17–28 – Christ proclaims His divine identity and promises eternal life to His sheep, who hear His voice and follow Him.

These powerful passages remind us that unity in the Spirit and unwavering trust in the voice of the Good Shepherd are foundational to the life of the Church.

Next Livestream: Tuesday, May 27 at 8:00 AM Eastern

Please join us again for our next Typica livestream on Tuesday, May 27 at 8:00 AM Eastern. Together, we will continue to lift our voices in prayer and grow deeper in our love for Christ and His saints.

Learn More About Our Mission

To learn more about St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach, including our ministry to senior communities, prayer services, and how to get involved, visit:
🌐 www.stpanteleimon.com

Thank you once again for praying with us today. May the Lord bless and keep you, and may the prayers of St. Panteleimon be with you always.

#OrthodoxChristianity #TypicaService #OrthodoxLivestream #StPanteleimonOutreach #DailyScripture #OrthodoxSaints #Acts15 #John10 #EasternOrthodoxFaith #PrayWithUs #ChristianMinistry #OrthodoxChurch #FaithAndFellowship

Words from the Saints -- May 22, 2025

"When in His compassion for man the Word of God became flesh, He changed neither what He was nor what He became." --St. Thalassios the Libyan

"Just as the Samaritan woman abandoned her water jar to follow the Savior, let us abandon the cares of this world to follow Christ with all our hearts." --St. Seraphim of Sarov:

"The Lord speaks with each of us in the same way He spoke to the Samaritan woman: not to condemn but to reveal the living water that flows from His side." --St. Augustine of Hippo

"The woman at the well represents all of us. We, too, are thirsty for the living water of Christ, which He alone can give, and when we drink of it, we are transformed." --St. Nikolai Velimirovich

"Sometimes people are tested by pleasure, sometimes by distress or by physical suffering. By means of His prescriptions the Physician of souls administers the remedy according to the cause of the passions (spiritual struggles) lying hidden in the soul." --St. Maximos the Confessor

"Try to know yourself, your own wickedness. Think on the greatness of God and your wretchedness. Meditate on the suffering of Christ, the magnitude of whose love and suffering surpass our understanding. Ascribe the good that you do to God alone. Do not think about the sin of a brother but about what in him is better than in yourself .... Flee from glory, honors and praise, but if this is impossible, be sorry that such is your lot. Be benevolent to people of low origin. Be freely and willingly obedient not only to those above you but to those below .... The lowlier we are in spirit, the better we know ourselves, and without humility we cannot see God." --St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

Vespers Livestream – Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Christ is Risen!

Thank you for joining us today in prayer during our livestreamed Vespers service. It is a joy and blessing to gather virtually in worship and reflection as a community united in faith. Your participation helps strengthen our shared journey toward holiness and communion with God.

As we look ahead to the saints commemorated by the Orthodox Church tomorrow, Thursday, May 22, we remember:

• Saint Basil the Confessor, Archbishop of Parium, who courageously defended the Orthodox faith during the iconoclast controversies

• Saints Theodore and Joseph, ascetics who lived lives of humility and prayer

• And many other holy men and women whose examples inspire us.

May their steadfast faith and prayers guide and protect us in our daily lives.

📅 Our next livestreamed service will be on Friday, May 23 at 8:00 AM Eastern Time. We invite you to join us again as we greet the new day with the prayers and praises of the Orthodox Church.

To learn more about St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach, our ministry to the elderly, homebound, and those in need throughout Northeast Ohio, and to access service materials and past livestreams, please visit us at stpanteleimon.com.

Together, let us continue to grow in faith, hope, and love — walking in the light of Christ.

#OrthodoxChristianity #VespersLive #OrthodoxSaints #StPanteleimon #OrthodoxFaith #PrayTogether #LivestreamWorship #EasternOrthodox #FaithCommunity #ChristIsRisen #ClevelandOrthodox #OrthodoxMinistry

If you’d like, I can also help prepare social media posts or an email announcement based on this!

Saints Constantine and Helen—Bringers of Light in a Pagan World

May 21st marks the feast day of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen, two figures whose impact on the Christian world is still profoundly felt today. Their story is one of divine providence, courageous faith, and transforming a pagan empire into fertile ground for the Gospel.

Saint Constantine, the Roman Emperor who ruled in the early 4th century, is best remembered for the Edict of Milan in the year 313 AD. This decree  legalized Christianity and ended centuries of brutal persecution against believers. This was not simply a political maneuver; it was a pivotal moment in Church history. Constantine, moved by a vision of the Cross with the words "In this sign, conquer," led his army to victory and gave public witness to Christ's power. His life exemplifies how God can use worldly authority for eternal purposes.

Saint Helen, Constantine's mother, became a devout Christian later in life. Her pilgrimage to the Holy Land in search of sacred Christian sites led to the discovery of the True Cross of Christ. She funded the construction of many churches, including the original Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Church of the Holy Resurrection) in Jerusalem. Her devotion to Christ and service to the Church earned her the title "Equal to the Apostles."

Saints Constantine and Helen teach us that God's grace is present in every part of life, including politics, empires, and personal change. Their legacy lives on in many churches named after them, the growth of the Christian faith after years of struggle, and the belief that Christ can overcome any darkness with the power of His Cross.

As we celebrate their memory, let us ask their intercessions: for the Church to stand boldly in truth, for our leaders to be guided by faith, and for each of us to carry the Cross of Christ with courage and joy.

Join the St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach Facebook Group

Are you looking for a deeper connection with your Orthodox faith, regular encouragement, and a loving community dedicated to Christ’s command to care for “the least of these”? We invite you to join the official St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach Facebook Group—a vibrant online space where faith, fellowship, and service come together.

Why Join Our Orthodox Christian Facebook Group?

Our mission at St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach is to bring the light of Christ to nursing homes, the elderly, the sick, and the forgotten. But this mission isn’t only lived out in person—it continues online, where we build one another up in prayer, service, and love.

By joining our group, you'll receive:

• 🕯️ Weekly devotionals and reflections based on the Orthodox tradition

• 📖 Service booklets and links to our livestreams

• 🙏 Prayer requests and intercessory support

• 🤝 Updates on outreach events, volunteer opportunities, and ministry needs

• 💬 A place for Orthodox Christian fellowship and encouragement

Who Is This Group For?

Whether you’re a longtime Orthodox Christian, a catechumen, or someone exploring the faith, you’re welcome here. Our Facebook group is especially valuable for:

• Volunteers and supporters of the Outreach

• Family members of nursing home residents

• Orthodox Christians seeking community and spiritual encouragement

• Anyone who believes in the healing power of Christ’s love shared with the vulnerable

How to Join

Joining is easy!
👉 Click here to request access to our Facebook Group

Once inside, take a moment to introduce yourself and let us know how we can be praying for you. We believe God led you here for a reason—and we’re grateful to walk this journey with you.

Stay Connected in Faith

In a world of noise and distraction, our group is a peaceful, prayerful place to stay rooted in Christ and connected to the ministry of St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach. Let’s grow together in compassion, Orthodox faith, and the joy of serving others.

✝️ “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2

Typica Livestream – Monday, May 19

Christ is Risen!

Thank you to everyone for joining us for our Typica service livestream. Your prayers and presence continue to uplift our ministry and remind us that even across distance, we are united as one Body in Christ.

Saints Commemorated on May 19

Today, the Orthodox Church commemorates the following holy saints:

• Saint Patrick the Hieromartyr, Bishop of Prusa, and his companions (3rd century)

• Saint Cornelius the Monk of Komel

• Saint John, Bishop of the Goths in Crimea

• New Martyr Nicholas of Metsovo

Through their prayers and examples, may we grow in faith, humility, and boldness in our Christian walk.

Daily Scripture Readings

The appointed Scripture readings for today are:

• Acts 12:12–17 – Saint Peter’s miraculous escape from prison and his witness to the early Church

• John 8:42–51 – Christ teaches about His divine origin and obedience to the Father

These readings challenge us to deepen our faith, trust in God’s providence, and listen to the voice of Christ who leads us to eternal life.

Join Us for the Next Livestream

We invite you to pray with us again during our next livestream:

📅 Wednesday, May 21
🕡 6:30 PM Eastern Time
📍 Streaming live from St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach

Come and be spiritually refreshed as we continue to draw near to Christ together.

To learn more about our outreach ministry, upcoming services, and how you can get involved, please visit stpanteleimon.com.

Thank you again for being part of our growing online Orthodox community. May the peace of Christ be with you always.

#OrthodoxChurch #TypicaService #DailyReadings #ActsOfTheApostles #GospelOfJohn #StPanteleimon #EasternOrthodox #FaithInChrist #Livestream #OrthodoxSaints #ChristIsRisen #OrthodoxFaith #PrayWithUs

Readings for the Week of May 18, 2025

5/18: Acts 11:19-26, 29-30; John 4:5-42

5/19: Acts 12:12-17; John 8:42-51

5/20: Acts 12:25-13:12; John 8:51-59

5/21: Acts 13:13-24; 26:1-5, 12-20; John 6:5-14; 10:1-9

5/22: Acts 14:20-27; John 9:39-10:9

5/23: Acts 15:5-34; John 10:17-28

5/24: Acts 15:35-41; John 10:27-38

Reflection for the Fifth Sunday of Pascha: The Samaritan Woman

On this Fifth Sunday of Pascha, the Church presents the powerful and personal encounter between our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ and a Samaritan Woman at the well (John 4:5–42). At first glance, it may seem like a simple dialogue about water, but this moment reveals profound truths about worship, repentance, mission, and the living water of divine grace.

Christ meets St. Photini—not by accident, but in divine providence. A woman with a troubled past, isolated from her community, is approached by the very Source of Life. He doesn't shame her but gently exposes the truth of her life to awaken her thirst for something more profound. Their conversation transitions from the physical to the spiritual, from water drawn from a well to the living water that springs up to eternal life.

In this meeting, we see God's mercy and love reaching boundaries of gender, ethnicity, and moral reputation. The Jews had no dealings with Samaritans, yet Christ speaks to her with dignity and honesty. Her sin is not ignored, but neither is it the end of her story. In repentance, St. Photini becomes a believer and a bold evangelist—rushing back to her town to share the good news: "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"

Her witness reminds us that none of us is beyond the reach of God's grace. The Gospel is for the righteous as well as those thirsty for truth, healing, and purpose. Her transformation encourages us to believe our past mistakes do not disqualify us from becoming vessels of God's mercy.

The dialogue at the well also points us toward the nature of true worship: "The hour is coming, and now is, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth." This calls each of us to examine not just what we do externally, but the state of our heart in prayer and in our life with God. Are we worshiping in truth, allowing God to expose our hidden wounds and fill them with His healing love?

During this Paschal season, as we continue to proclaim, "Christ is Risen!" Let us remember that the Risen Christ meets us where we are—at the wells of our own lives, calling us to drink deeply of the water He alone can give. Like the Samaritan Woman, may we allow our encounter with Him to transform us so that we, too, may lead others to the joy of the Resurrection.

Typica Livestream – Friday, May 16, 2025

Christ is Risen!

We warmly welcome you and thank you for joining us in prayer during our Typica livestream on this blessed Friday, May 16, 2025. Whether you are a regular participant or joining us for the first time, we are grateful for your presence and for lifting your hearts with ours in worship.

Saints Commemorated Today

On this day, the Orthodox Church commemorates several saints, including:

• St. Theodore the Sanctified, disciple of St. Pachomius the Great

• St. Alexander, Archbishop of Jerusalem

• St. Brendan the Navigator, Abbot of Clonfert

• New Martyr Nicholas of Metsovo in Epirus

• St. George of Mitylene, Bishop and Wonderworker

May their holy prayers strengthen and inspire us on our journey toward Christ.

Today's Scripture Readings

The prescribed readings for Friday, May 16 are:

• Acts 10:44–11:10 – The Holy Spirit falls upon the Gentiles, confirming God’s call to all peoples.

• John 8:21–30 – Jesus foretells His departure and speaks of His relationship with the Father.

Let these readings encourage us to live with faith and discernment, knowing Christ is ever present, even when misunderstood by the world.

Next Livestream

📅 Mark your calendars!
Our next livestream will be on Monday, May 19 at 8:00 AM Eastern. We hope you’ll join us again as we continue to grow in prayer, scripture, and the life of the Church.

Learn More About Our Ministry

To discover more about St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach, including our nursing home visitations, livestream schedule, and how you can support our work, please visit:
🌐 www.stpanteleimon.com

Thank you again for praying with us today. May the peace of Christ and the prayers of His saints uphold you always.

#OrthodoxChristianity #DailyTypica #OrthodoxLivestream #StPanteleimonOutreach #TypicaService #PrayWithUs #EasternOrthodox #Acts10 #John8 #ChristianMinistry

Words from the Saints -- May 15, 2025

"God has granted us existence - the greatest gift of His goodness, and after we had fallen away from Him, from life into death, He gave us for our regeneration, to bring us back to life, His Son. How small in proportion are all the other gifts which we ask of Him in prayer, and how easy it is for Him to give them to us at the first word of true faith, if they are really necessary for us! Therefore it is perfectly unpardonable in us if we still doubt that we shall obtain what we ask of God in prayer. The Lord said plainly: 'Ask, and it shall be given you.' (Matthew 7:7)." --St. John of Kronstadt

"It is good that we make God's mercy known to all and speak to those close to us of the compassion and inexpressible bounty He has shown us." --St. Symeon the New Theologian

"He who does not make his will agree with God is tripped up by his own schemes and falls into the hands of his enemies." --St. Mark the Ascetic

Vespers Livestream – Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Christ is Risen!

We warmly welcome you and thank you for joining us in prayer during our livestreamed Vespers service this evening, Wednesday, May 14. It is a blessing to pray together with faithful from around the world as we lift up our hearts in prayer and thanksgiving to God.

As we prepare for the next liturgical day in the life of the Orthodox Church, we also remember the saints commemorated on Thursday, May 15, including:

• Saint Pachomius the Great, founder of communal monasticism in Egypt

• Saint Achillius, Bishop of Larissa, known for his steadfast defense of Orthodoxy at the First Ecumenical Council

• Saint Barbarus the Myrrh-gusher, a former soldier who became a fervent Christian martyr

• And other righteous men and women whose lives inspire us to walk in faith, humility, and love.

May their prayers strengthen us as we continue on our journey with Christ.

📅 Our next livestreamed service will be on Friday, May 16 at 8:00am Eastern Time. We invite you to join us once again in prayer and reflection as we greet the new day with the praises of God.

To learn more about our ministry to the elderly, the sick, and the forgotten in Northeast Ohio—and to access service booklets, devotionals, and past livestreams—please visit stpanteleimon.com.

Let us continue to walk in the light of the Risen Christ, united in love and faith.

In Christ,
St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach

#OrthodoxChurch #OrthodoxChristianity #VespersService #StPanteleimon #PrayWithUs #ChristIsRisen #EasternOrthodox #DigitalMinistry #Livestream

Typica Livestream – Monday, May 12

Christ is Risen!

We warmly welcome you and thank you for praying with us during our Typica service livestream on this blessed Monday, May 12. Whether you joined us from near or far, your presence in prayer strengthens our fellowship in Christ and glorifies His holy name.

Saints Commemorated Today

On this day, the Orthodox Church commemorates:

• Saint Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus (403)

• Saint Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinople (740)

We give thanks for the witness of these saints and ask for their intercessions as we continue our spiritual journey.

Daily Scripture Readings

The prescribed readings for today’s Typica service are:

• Acts 10:1–16 – The vision of St. Peter and the call to preach to the Gentiles

• John 6:56–69 – Christ speaks of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, and Peter’s confession of faith

These powerful readings remind us of the transformative call of Christ and our communion with Him in faith and truth.

Join Us for Our Next Livestream

Please mark your calendars and join us again for our next livestream on:

📅 Wednesday, May 14
🕡 6:30 PM Eastern Time
📍 Streaming live from St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach

We look forward to lifting our hearts and voices together again in prayer and worship.

To learn more about our mission, community outreach, and upcoming services, please visit stpanteleimon.com.

Stay connected with us and help spread the word by sharing our ministry!

#OrthodoxChurch #TypicaService #DailyScripture #ChristIsRisen #StPanteleimon #OrthodoxChristian #FaithAndPrayer #EasternOrthodoxy #Livestream #PrayWithUs

Prayer List for the Week of May 11, 2025

For healing: Abbot Tryphon, Fr. Daniel, Fr. Emilian, Fr. Gregory, Fr. Joseph, Fr. Theodore, Hierodeacon Gorazd, Fr. Deacon Jorge, Matushka Katherine, Matushka Myra, Monk Meletios, Subdeacon Nicholas, Justin, Steven, Marian, Patricia, Mark, Nikolai, Anastasia, Alice, Kathleen, Denise, Denise, Pamela, Marianne, Ryan, Joanne, Emily, Charles, Hank, Mary Jane, Mary Jo, Clara, Margaret, Susan, Randall, Danielle, Walter, Andrew, Natalie, Arthur, Nicole, Rene, Jennifer, Michael, Marc, Paul, Michael, Daniel, Gerald, Madeline, Marcella, Darina, Philip, George, Carol, Andrew, Jodi, Ilarion, Rita, Kathleen, Elena, William, Andrew, Nestor, Richard, Anna, Tikhon, Michelle, Daria, Mark, Alexis, Nathan, Ann, Herman, Lillian, Michael, Marihiam, Alexandra, Norma, Heather, Daria, Vera, Ava, Petros, Dionisia, Labrini, Michelle, Christopher, Joan, Jeff, Stephen, Tomas, Kim, Ola, Jaime, María, Gonzalo, Isabel, Alberto, Juan, Paloma, Benjamín, Roberto, Andrea, Julieta, Martha, Jorge, Carolina, Cynthia, Constantin, Edward, Gloria, Martha, Amanda

For God’s protection: all who are missing

For God’s protection: all captives; all persecuted Christians throughout the world

For God’s protection: all those in the military; all emergency medical workers, firefighters and police officers

For God’s mercy and peace: those who are in hospice care

For God’s mercy, direction and protection: those who are unemployed, poor, hungry and/or homeless

*** We pray for: those who love us; those who hate us; those who have no one to pray for them; those who have asked us to pray for them, even though we are unworthy. ***

Departed: Alexander, Bruce

Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Pascha: The Healing of the Paralytic

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

On this Fourth Sunday of Pascha, the Church calls us to contemplate the Gospel account of the healing of the paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1–15). For thirty-eight long years, this man lay helpless, waiting for someone—anyone—to help him into the waters when they were stirred. But none came. Until Christ.

The words of the paralytic ring out with aching loneliness: “Sir, I have no man…” In those few words, we hear not just his personal sorrow, but the cry of all humanity burdened by suffering, sin, and isolation. In a world filled with people, he had no one. Yet, the Lord—God in the flesh—comes not only with healing but with presence. Where there was no man, God Himself becomes “the Man” who answers the cry of the heart.

This Gospel is a profound reminder that Christ meets us where we are: in our paralysis, our spiritual dryness, our weariness, our waiting. He asks a simple but piercing question: “Do you want to be made well?” It is a question not only of desire but of readiness. Are we prepared to rise from the old patterns of life? Are we ready to be changed—not just physically, but spiritually?

The healing of the paralytic is not merely a miracle of the body, but a call to transformation. “Rise, take up your bed, and walk,” Christ commands. And in obedience, the man is made whole. So too must we rise—from sin, despair, and apathy—and walk in the newness of life that the Risen Christ offers. The bed that once held the paralytic becomes the symbol of victory: he carries what once carried him.

As we continue in the joy of the Paschal season, let us remember that we are not alone in our struggles. Christ has come into our world, into our suffering, and He speaks healing into our lives. Let us be attentive to His voice, respond with faith, and walk boldly in the light of His Resurrection.

Kontakion of the Sunday of the Paralytic
"I am grievously paralyzed, O Lord, and I have no man to put me into the healing pool. But as You are compassionate, heal me, O Savior, that I may cry out to You: Glory to You!"

Readings for the Week of May 11, 2025

5/11: Acts 9:32-42; John 5:1-15

5/12: Acts 10:1-16; John 6:56-69

5/13: Acts 10:21-33; John 7:1-13

5/14: Acts 14:6-18; John 7:14-30

5/15: Acts 10:34-43; John 8:12-20

5/16: Acts 10:44-11:10; John 8:21-30

5/17: Acts 12:1-11; John 8:31-42