SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
* Saturday, June 7 - 9:30 AM - Liturgy for the Departed // Confessions: 9 AM - 9:20 AM
* Saturday, June 7 - 4:30 PM - Vespers (Litiya): “Pentecost” // Confessions: 4 PM - 4:20 PM
* Sunday, June 8 - 9:30 AM - Liturgy (with special Pentecost Prayers): “Holy Pentecost”
* Monday, June 9 - 9:30 AM - Liturgy: “Day of the Holy Spirit” / “Second Day of Holy Pentecost”
* Friday, June 13 - 6 PM - Chrismation (Service of Orthodox Conversion): Alexandra Greenleaf / Devin Pillar
* Saturday, June 14 - 4:30 PM - Vespers // Confessions: 4 PM - 4:20 PM
* Sunday, June 15 - 9:30 AM - Liturgy (Father’s Day Commemoration): “All-Saints Sunday”
+ The week of June 8 - June 14, TRINITY WEEK, is a fast-free week as we celebrate the giving of the Gift of the Holy Spirit upon us as Orthodox Christians on the Great Feast of Pentecost.
+ We resume KNEELING in prayer with the chanting of the “Pentecost Kneeling Prayers” during the Pentecost Liturgy this Sunday.
+ The PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT (“O Heavenly King”) is once again used in our prayer life and liturgically in our services beginning with the celebration of Pentecost Vespers Saturday evening.
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SUNDAY LITURGY LAITY FUNCTIONS
* JUNE 8 - THIRD HOUR: M.D. Stahoviak
* JUNE 8 - EPISTLE: M.D. Stahoviak
* JUNE 8 - COLLECTION: P. Evans / R. Grano
* JUNE 15 - THIRD HOUR: D. Neill
* JUNE 15 - EPISTLE: D. Ilchuk
* JUNE 15 - COLLECTION: A. Lauer / P. McKeown
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* There are two talks coming up that might be of interest to you - click on the links to see more info.
* The next ORTHODOX BIBLE STUDY is tentatively scheduled to take place downstairs in the church hall on Thursday, June 12 (6:30 PM). Please let me know by Tuesday evening, June 10th if you can attend that session. Non-parish attendees are always welcome to join us!
* FATHER’S DAY is Sunday, June 15! The Parish Life Committee warmly invites everyone to come to our parish’s annual FATHER’S DAY BRUNCH downstairs in the church hall immediately following that morning’s Liturgy. Special prayers for our deceased and living fathers will be included in the June 15th Liturgy as well.
* Written reports for the PARISH COUNCIL MEETING on JUNE 16 (6:30 PM) should be forwarded to me no later than Thursday, June 12, so they can be collated and distributed to the council in advance of the meeting. Any council member unable to attend this June 16th meeting should notify Council President Nicole Domitrovic or me in advance of the meeting time.
* THANKS to everyone who attended this past week’s SIMPLY SOCIAL GATHERING at Dee-Jay’s Restaurant in Wexford - - we had a nice turn-out of 23 people! Watch for announcements of future Simply Socials in coming weeks of summer!
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PENTECOST! THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLS WITHIN US!
[Selected Liturgical Hymns for Pentecost]
The Holy Spirit provides all things:
He pours forth prophecies,
He leads priests to perfection,
He teaches unschooled people wisdom,
He reveals fishermen as theologians,
He confirms the Church.//
O Comforter, one in essence and enthroned with the Father and the Son, glory to Thee!
When Thou didst send Thy Spirit
on the waiting Apostles, O Lord,
the Hebrews were amazed at the wonder;
for they heard them speak in foreign tongues,
which the Spirit gave.
They were common people, but Thou madest them wise;
and as they proclaimed the things of God,
they caught the nations for the life of faith.
Therefore, we also cry aloud to Thee://
“O Lord, Who didst appear on earth and save us from error, glory to Thee!”
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Fr. Bill
Laity Liturgy Functions
DATE THIRD HOUR EPISTLE__ COLLECTION_______
JUNE 1 M. Soroka Mat. D. Evansky A. Wiglesworth/ I. Yakich
JUNE 8 M.D. Stahoviak M.D. Stahoviak P. Evans/ R. Grano
JUNE 15 D. Neill D. Ilchuk A. Lauer/ P. McKeown
JUNE 22 D. Ilchuk Mat. D. Evansky R. Markvan/ O. Mycyk
JUNE 29 C. Schulte C. Schulte B. Nelko/ S. Yakich
^ Please notify Fr. Bill in advance if you are unable to perform your liturgical function so that a substitute can be found in an orderly manner. Please mark your calendar since we do not send individual reminders.
^ Please contact Fr. Bill if you have any questions about these ministries. New participants are encouraged as well!
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Pastoral Reminders from Fr. Bill
~ Wednesday, June 3, and Friday, June 6, are both the usual weekly DAYS OF ASCETICAL FASTING.
~ The week of June 8, TRINITY WEEK, is a fast-free week as we rejoice at the coming of the Holy Spirit upon us in the Holy Orthodox Faith on the Great Feastday of Holy Pentecost.
~ June 16 through June 28 (inclusive) are days of ascetical fasting as we commemorate one of the four fasting periods on the Orthodox calendar - the SAINTS PETER AND PAUL FAST (i.e., APOSTLES FAST.)
~ We resume KNEELING in both our liturgical worship and private prayer once the special prayers are chanted during the PENTECOST LITURGY on June 8. Likewise, the “Prayer to the Holy Spirit (i.e. O Heavenly King)” is once again used.
~ Eucharist participation general guideline for the parish: individuals who do not receive Holy Eucharist for more than two consecutive Sunday Liturgies should return for a Private Confession before approaching the Holy Chalice. Please contact Fr. Bill about this since there is always the possibility of an extenuating circumstance.
~ The GENERAL CONFESSION service scheduled on June 1 (9 AM) is only for those parish members who have participated in Private Confession since the beginning of Great Lent 2025, others desiring to receive Holy Communion should come to Private Confession first. Communicants unable to attend the General Confession should see Fr. Bill for a Private Confession before approaching the chalice, unless they have already participated in a recent Private Confession.
~ Except for individuals required to eat or drink small amounts for medical conditions (i.e., with medications, etc.), Communion recipients are expected to conduct a EUCHARISTIC FAST prior to Holy Communion. This means refraining from eating or drinking from midnight until receiving Holy Eucharist. Individuals who find it necessary to eat or drink “larger” amounts on Liturgy days should refrain from receiving Communion that day. The Eucharistic fast for evening Presanctified Liturgies begins following a (light) lunch, continuing until the time of the Liturgy. Children who have not come to First Holy Confession are, of course, exempt from this guideline. Individuals with medical conditions that require a modification of the Eucharist fast should discuss it privately with Fr. Bill.
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^ Please forward your preferred email address to Fr. Bill if you are not receiving the parish E-BULLETINS and other parish informational updates but would like to receive them. Please note that email addresses are not shared. A limited number of copies of each week’s electronic bulletin are put in the vestibule wall pamphlet rack for those individuals wanting a paper copy with the same being true for the monthly newsletter. This e-bulletin is prepared in lieu of a Sunday paper bulletin.
PARISH ON-LINE GIVING
No envelope, no checks, no cash? No problem! ON-LINE giving is always available! Go to our website under “Online Giving” (https://www.holyghostoca.org/onlinegiving) and make your donation today. You even have the option to donate to the General Fund or Memorial Fund, and we will add Special Projects as opportunities arise. There is even an option to make a recurring donation so you can set it and forget it! Please note there is a small credit card processing fee to donate online. Please contact Nicole Domitrovic or Fr. Bill if you have any questions about this on-line method of stewardship
^ Please contact Fr. Bill any time throughout the year when you know of a parish member HOSPITALIZED for more than a single night so he can visit that person’s hospital room and administer the Holy Sacraments (either Holy Unction or Communion) “…for the healing of soul and body.”
^ The Parish Life Committee warmly invites everyone to attend our parish’s annual FATHER’S DAY BRUNCH downstairs in the church hall immediately following the June 15 Liturgy. Special prayers will be offered that day during the Liturgy for our departed and living mothers as well.
^ (Mark your planner!) ORTHODOX BIBLE STUDY is tentatively scheduled to take place downstairs in the church hall on Thursday, June 12 – 6:30 PM. Please inform Fr. Bill if you plan to attend no later than Tuesday evening, June 10, to make sure there will be sufficient attendance to proceed with the discussion. Come and learn! Guests are warmly welcomed, too!
PLEASE NOTE
While personal information of individuals is never used,
images of our parish’s services and group events may be used on
social media from time to time. Anyone having an objection
to their image being used should privately contact
Fr. Bill or Nicole Domitrovic to opt-out of this usage.
^ There will be a meeting of the LADIES ALTAR SOCIETY downstairs in the church hall immediately following the 9:30 AM Liturgy on June 29. Both current and prospective L.A.S. are encouraged to attend.
^ Fr. Bill will be on a FAMILY VACATION in June. He will leave for vacation during the afternoon of Sunday, June 22, and return Friday evening, June 27. As is the case throughout the year, please call his cell phone number in the event of an emergency requiring immediate pastoral care - he will contact an area Orthodox clergyman to response in his stead. Please leave a voice message should he not be able to immediately take your call. Please also note he will have limited access to his email while on vacation.
^ You are invited to attend a rather unique experience on Tuesday, June 17 (5:20 PM), when Fr. Bill will be the celebrant at a DAILY VESPERS SERVICE here in our parish. What it makes it “unique” is Archbishop MELCHISEDEK and St. Tikhon’s Seminary Dean Fr. John Parker will be hosting approximately 75 guests at our parish - the Anglican Church of North America’s College of Bishops (and their wives) - as part of an ecumenical dialogue on behalf of the Orthodox Church in America and the ACNA. The responses will be sung by a diocesan choir assembled on behalf of Fr. Parker. Please come!
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THE GREAT FEAST OF PENTECOST - June 8
After the Savior’s Ascension into the Heavens, the eleven Apostles and the rest of His disciples, the God-loving women who followed after Him from the beginning, His Mother, the most holy Virgin Mary, and His brethren-all together about 120 souls returned from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem. Entering into the house where they gathered, they went into the upper room, and there they persevered in prayer and supplication, awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit, as their Divine Teacher had promised them. In the meanwhile, they chose Matthias, who was elected to take the place of Judas among the Apostles.
Thus, on this day, the seventh Sunday of Pascha, the tenth day after the Ascension and the fiftieth day after Pascha, at the third hour of the day from the rising of the sun, there suddenly came a sound from Heaven, as when a mighty wind blows, and it filled the whole house where the Apostles and the rest with them were gathered. Immediately after the sound, there appeared tongues of fire that divided and rested upon the head of each one. Filled with the Spirit, all those present began speaking not in their native tongue, but in other tongues and dialects, as the Holy Spirit instructed them.
The multitudes that had come together from various places for the feast, most of whom were Jews by race and religion, were called Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and so forth, according to the places where they dwelt. Though they spoke many different tongues, they were present in Jerusalem by divine dispensation. When they heard that sound that came down from Heaven to the place where the disciples of Christ were gathered, all ran together to learn what had taken place. But they were confounded when they came and heard the Apostles speaking in their own tongues. Marveling at this, they said one to another, "Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" But others, because of their foolishness and excess of evil, mocked the wonder and said that the Apostles were drunken.
Then Peter stood up with the eleven, and raising his voice, spoke to all the people, proving that that which had taken place was not drunkenness, but the fulfilment of God's promise that had been spoken by the Prophet Joel: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that I shall pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy" (Joel 2:28), and he preached Jesus of Nazareth unto them, proving in many ways that He is Christ the Lord, Whom the Jews crucified but God raised from the dead. On hearing Peter's teaching, many were smitten with compunction and received the word. Thus, they were baptized, and on that day about three thousand souls were added to the Faith of Christ.
[Continued - next page]
Such, therefore, are the reasons for the Feast: the coming of the All-holy Spirit into the world, the completion of the Lord Jesus Christ's promise, and the fulfilment of the hope of the sacred disciples, which we celebrate today. This is the final feast of the great mystery and dispensation of God's incarnation. On this last, and great, and saving day of Pentecost, the Apostles of the Saviour, who were unlearned fishermen, made wise now of a sudden by the Holy Spirit, clearly and with divine authority spoke the heavenly doctrines. They became heralds of the truth and teachers of the whole world. On this day they were ordained and began their apostleship, of which the salvation of those three thousand souls in one day was the comely and marvelous first fruit.
That which came to pass at Pentecost, then, was the ordination of the Apostles, the commencement of the apostolic preaching to the nations, and the inauguration of the priesthood of the new Israel. Saint Cyril of Alexandria says that "Our Lord Jesus Christ herein ordained the instructors and teachers of the world and the stewards of His divine Mysteries ... showing together with the dignity of Apostleship, the incomparable glory of the authority given them ... Revealing them to be splendid with the great dignity of the Apostleship and showing them forth as both stewards and priests of the divine altars . . . they became fit to initiate others through the enlightening guidance of the Holy Spirit" (PG 74, 708-712). Saint Gregory Palamas says, "Now, therefore ... the Holy Spirit descended ... showing the Disciples to be supernal luminaries ... and the distributed grace of the Divine Spirit came through the ordination of the Apostles upon their successors" (Homily 24, 10). And Saint Sophronius, Bishop of Jerusalem, writes, "After the visitation of the Comforter, the Apostles became high priests" (PG 87, 3981B).
Therefore, together with the baptism of the Holy Spirit which came upon them who were present in the upper chamber, which the Lord had foretold as recorded in the Acts, "ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence" (Acts 1:5), the Apostles were also appointed and raised to the high priestly rank, according to Saint John Chrysostom (PG 60, 21). On this day commenced the celebration of the Holy Eucharist by which we become "partakers of the Divine Nature" (II Peter 1:4). For before Pentecost, it is said of the Apostles and disciples only that they abode in "prayer and supplication" (Acts 1:14); it is only after the coming of the Holy Spirit that they persevered in the "breaking of bread," that is, the communion of the Holy Mysteries-"and in prayer" (Acts 2:42).
The feast of holy Pentecost, therefore, determined the beginning of the priesthood of grace. Henceforth, the Apostles proclaimed the good tidings "in country and town," preaching and baptizing and appointing shepherds, imparting the priesthood to them whom they judged were worthy to minister, as Saint Clement writes in his first Epistle to the Corinthians (I Cor. 42).
Tone 8 Troparion
Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God,
Who hast revealed the fishermen as most wise
by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit,
and through them Thou didst draw the world into Thy net.//
O Lover of Man, glory to Thee
Tone 6
O heavenly King,
the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth,
Who art everywhere and fillest all things;
Treasury of blessings
and Giver of life,
come and abide in us,
and cleanse us from every impurity,//
and save our souls, O Good One!
Today, as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Holy Ghost Orthodox Church in Ambridge, we should pause in our festivities and reflect thoughtfully on its beginnings.
Shortly after the turn of the century, many Europeans sought to escape the religious and cultural persecutions of the Austro-Hungarian rulers by sailing to America.
Approximately 14 families, including those of John Bowan Sr., Wasil Blishak, Constantine Dzubinsky, Samuel Evans Sr., Daniel Holovach, A. Kohan, Nicholas Kraynak, Theodore Kushnir, Wasil Kuhta, Wasil Towcimak, Michael Turko, and John Zawoysky, settled in the North Side and South Side of Pittsburgh, where they attended St. Alexander Nevsky and St. Michael's Orthodox Churches.
However, these pioneers soon moved on to Ambridge where employment opportunities were greater. The American Bridge Company, which erected its first plant in Ambridge in 1902, offered such security.
Although settled in Ambridge, they continued to attend church in Pittsburgh. Each Sunday morning they walked the railroad tracks, more accessible than the unpaved roads, to Leetsdale, where they boarded a train to Pittsburgh. This continued until the group established a makeshift altar in May's Hall, Third and Merchant Streets, Ambridge. There, under the guidance of the Rev. J. Sechinsky, they continued their religious devotions. A little later, services were conducted in the residence of Samuel Evans, Sr., and still later in a little shelter on a vacant lot near Third and Merchant Streets. The reverends J. Sechinsky, P. Kohanik and Nicholas Koshevich were among the early pastors.
In October of 1907, guided by Fr. Nicholas Koshevich, this determined group purchased two lots at Second and Maplewood Avenue for $1,650. With their hands, they laid the foundation of their long-awaited church. It took them two months and cost approximately $6,000 -- lots, construction and materials included. The American Bridge Co donated steel for the foundation. This contribution so overwhelmed the group that they gathered on the grounds of the American Bridge plant with their icons and glorified the donors with prayers and singing.
On November 27, 1907, the first Divine Liturgy was served in the newly built church basement. Named trustees of the fledgling church were Wasil Blishak, John Bowan Sr. Samuel Evans Sr. and Daniel Holovach. Others who contributed their services were families of Timko Romanov, Paul Romanov, Dimitri Skomsky, Theodore Lapihuska, Timko Guch, Harry Kohanik, Stephen Felk, John Evans Sr., A. Zbigley, Nicholas Kuhta, Theodore Fecik, Wasil Liseyko, Joseph Hafiez, Anton Shpak, Nicholas Kulavchik, N. Polovischak, E. Polovischak, Timko Blishko, Harry Shepella, Michael Roman, John Towcimak, Wasil Zawoysky Sr., Wasil Guch, Michael Psinka and Wasil Hritzik.
On August 21, 1911, the parish was incorporated as the Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Ghost. The congregation adopted as its patron, the Descent of the Holy Ghost (Spirit) upon the Apostles.
The first recorded christening was that of Nicholas Kuhta on October 27, 1907. The first marriage solemnized in the church was that of Theodore Hopta and Anna Hnath on February 8, 1908.
The parish grew steadily, and soon plans were being formulated for completion of the church. In 1912 a building committee was established. The church was completed in December 1914 at a cost of $14,000. The Rev. Andrew Ivanishin officiated at the first Divine Liturgy in the new edifice. The cornerstone, donated by Samuel Evans Sr., and the newly built church were consecrated by the Most Rev. Archbishop Alexander, assisted by Fr. Ivanishin and visiting clergy. The dream had become a reality. Just one year later, a parish home next to the new church was purchased for $5,100.
Now thoughts turned to the church interior. In 1927, led by the Rev. Damian Krehel, the church commissioned Michael Kupetz, a parishioner, to paint the murals for $2,200.
Two years later the present three bells were purchased. Metropolitan Platon blessed them.
The Great Depression ruled out further improvements until November 27, 1941, when, under the leadership of the Rev. Emilian Skuby, a new iconostas and newly renovated church interior were blessed by the Rt. Rev. Benjamin, Bishop of Pittsburgh and West Virginia. The new iconostas was designed and erected by the famous architect-artist Gennady Gordeyev.
That same year saw the outbreak of World War II, and 1950 brought with it the Korean conflict. Twelve young men of the parish were killed in those wars: Michael Chaykowsky, Edward Chumak, Peter Dudenich, Paul Durniak, John Kucer, Michael Kucer, Frank Pastrick, Steve Pastrick, Nicholas Sapovchak, Michael Sudik, George Torhan and Dimitri Wrobleski.
On November 21, 1954, a crystal chandelier was installed and dedicated to the memory of twelve young men from the parish that gave their lives to the service of their country in World War II and the Korean conflict.
In July 1974 a new parish home was purchased on Pilgrim Drive, Leet Township. The old parish home next to the church was converted into an educational center. There the church school organization, which was initiated by the Senior R Club (FROC) during the presidency of Mildred Erdelyn Mitcheil in 1947, continues to meet.
In February 1975 a fire started in the front of the church, severely damaging one corner of the interior. Fr. Vladimir Soroka and Church Council President Irene Bell led the ensuing restoration.
In 1975 The Holy Ghost Orthodox Youth Center began as a gift. The merged Russian Community Society and Russian Society of St. Michael donated the empty building at 405 Maplewood Avenue that formerly housed the Russian Community Society. A building committee was appointed, led by co-chairmen Frank Markvan and Ted Hritsko. The former building was mostly razed and a new structure erected under the guidance of architect George Ruscitto and builder Jerry Steinmetz Construction Corporation. In 1977, two years after the ownership was transferred to the congregation, the transformed building was opened as a center for both parochial events and public events. Today the Center is a hub our Annual Slavic Festival and other church related activities.
In the early 1990's, the parishioners of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Aliquippa were welcomed as members of the Holy Ghost congregation when their parish was closed.
In November 1996 the congregation undertook one of the most ambitious renovation projects since the founding of the church in 1907. Cupolas of reinforced gold fiberglass replaced the four deteriorating copper cupolas. This project was the centerpiece of a series of renovation projects that included the complete repainting of the interior of the church, enhanced internal and external lighting, and re-pointing the brick exterior of the church. All of these major projects were completed prior to the congregation's celebration of its 90th anniversary in 1997.
The congregation has just completed a 10-year capital improvements plan in time for the parish's 100th anniversary. These projects included all new iconography in the altar, including a new Platitera icon in the apse over the sanctuary, the total refurbishment of the chandelier, renovated restrooms in the church basement, new wall-to-wall carpeting, and new iconography on the proscenium arch above the iconostas.
From the original 14 families the parish has grown to over 200 adults and 30 children.
From those hard working immigrant families who formed the nucleus, to the present pastor, V. Rev. William Evansky, church council, church organizations and congregation, we are deeply indebted. To those now deceased -- May God grant them eternal rest. To those still in our midst--thank you for a job well done! God bless you and guide you in your continued efforts.