Dumitru & Paraschiva

Vasu-Family IMO parents &

grandparents, Viorel &

Paraschiva Sârbu. Always in

our hearts! Memory Eternal!

Time of Decision

Each one of us struggles to

know more about our roots, our ances-

tors and implicitly who we are. This

enables us to better understand our

genetic code and cure our medical

weaknesses. This is true in terms of

the faith. As we pass our Faith to the

next generation, we are either inspired

by the examples of those who remained in the lineage of

the Faith.

On this second Sunday, before the Birth of our

Savior Jesus Christ, the Church commemorates the ances-

tors by faith, whom we embrace as ours. Among them are

the three holy youths (Ananias, Azarias and Misael) from

the book of Daniel, who were burned alive but protected

by God who appeared in the flames. In the harshest of

times, God is also with all those who believe in Him.

Most of the ancestors, by faith, of Christ greatly suffered

for their stance, but God rewarded them and accepted

them into His joy.

On this Sunday, we will read the Gospel from St.

Luke 14, 16-24, of the Great Banquet. This is a reading

that prompts us to decide our ancestry by faith. Who are

our heroes? Whom do we imitate? We are invited to the

Great Banquet of God. Complacency is not the answer.

He expects a Yes or No from us. Christmas is coming

soon. Ask yourself: How will I participate in the grace of

the Birth of Christ? Those who reject God’s calling have

already made their choice, while those who love Him,

know what they have to do. Our ancestors have done their

share and shine like the stars on the walls of our churches.

Those who rejected the invite have no seat at the great

supper. For us, here and today, it is still the time of decision.

Fr. Remus Grama

VOLUME 62 December 13th, 2020 NO. 49

St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Cathedral A parish of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America

Weekly Bulletin

3256 Warren Road Cleveland, Ohio 44111

Phone: (216) 941-5550 Office - Fax: (216) 941-3068

E-mail: st.mary.cathedral@sbcglobal.net - www.smroc.org The Most Reverend Archbishop Nathaniel

The Right Rev. Vicar Andrei, Bishop of Cleveland

Very Rev. Dr. Remus Grama, Dean

Rev. Deacon Nick Neagoe

SPIRITUAL CALENDAR: 28th Sunday after Pentecost (Forefathers of the Lord)

8:30 Matins (Utrenia); Tone 2, Mat. Gos. 5. 9:30 am Divine Liturgy (Sfânta Liturghie). Epistle: Colossians 3:4-11.

Gospel: Luke 14:16-24 (Parable of the great banquet).

ALTAR BOYS: Matthew Muntean, Christopher and Kevin Oancea, David Sumedrea.

Vremea Deciziei

Fiecare dintre noi ne străduim să ne

aflăm rădăcinile, strămoșii și implicit

cine suntem. Acest efort eventual ne ajută

să ne descoperim codul genetic și să

tratăm slăbiciunile medicale. La fel se

întâmplă și în chestiuni de credință.

Atunci când înmânăm bastonul credinței

generației care ne urmează, suntem

inspirați de exemplul celor care ne-au precedat pe făgașul

credinței.

În această a doua Duminică de dinainte de Nașterea

Mântuitorului Iisus Hristos, Biserica pomenește pe

înaintașii Săi prin credință, care sunt și strămoșii noștri.

Între ei sunt cei trei tineri din cartea prorocului Daniel

(Anania, Azaria și Misail), aruncați în cuptorul încins

cărora Fiul lui Dumnezeu le-a apărut în flăcări ocrotindu-i.

În cele mai grele încercări Dumnezeu este alături celor care

se încred în El. Cei mai mulți dintre acești strămoși după

credință au suferit pentru atitudinea lor, iar Domnul i-a răs-

plătit primindu-i în bucuria Sa.

În această Duminică, vom citi Evanghelia de la

Luca 14, 16-24 (A celor poftiți la cină). Această pericopă

ne cheamă să hotărâm starea noastră potrivit credinței: cine

ne sunt eroii și pe cine imităm? Indiferența nu este un

răspuns. Dumnezeu așteaptă de la noi un Da, sau un Nu!

Crăciunul se apropie. Întreabă-te și tu: Cum voi participa la

bucuria Nașterii Domnului? Cei care refuză chemarea lui

Dumnezeu la cină și-au făcut decizia, iar cei care Îl iubesc

știu ce au de făcut. Strămoșii după credință și-au plinit

datoria și strălucesc ca luminătorii pe cer și pe pereții

bisericilor noastre. Cei care au refuzat invitația nu vor avea

loc la marea Cină. Pentru noi, cei de azi și de aici, este încă

vremea deciziei. Să ne ajute Domnul.

Pr. Remus Grama

THE CALENDAR IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE! POT INTERVENI

SCHIMBĂRI ÎN CALENDAR!

Altar Boys for: (Dec. 20th): Daniel Conțiu, Marcus

Durleșteanu, David Popa, Ryan Judele.

Nursing Home

Radu Petrescu .............................................................................................. Greenbrier Angela Netcu ......................................................................................... Eliza Jennings

Assisted Living

Victoria A. Morin ...................................................... Greenfield at Oak Ridge, TN Ruth Lazăr .......................................................................................... Royalton Woods Carlotta Miclău ............................................................................... Brighton Gardens Mary Secue ..................................................... Normandy-Lakeside, Rocky River

Hospitalized

Draga Trifu ................................................................................... Hollywood, Florida

THIS WEEK:

SUN., December 13th: 8:30 am Matins, 9:30 am Divine Liturgy.

TUE., December 15th: Last day to order Nut-Rolls, Stuffed

Cabbage & Meatballs Soup.

WED., December 16th: (F,W,O - P,U,V) 6 pm Akathist &

Confessions.

FRI., December 18th: 9 am Akathist, 10-11 am Confessions by

appointment.

SAT., December 19th: 10 am Parastas IMO Maria Puipetrescu;

5 pm Vespers & Confessions.

NEXT WEEK:

SUN., December 20th: 8:30 am Matins, 9:30 am Divine Liturgy,

11:30 am Nut-Rolls, Stuffed Cabbage & Meatballs Soup pick-up -

Social Hall Lobby.

TH., December 24th: OFFICE CLOSED, 5 pm Great Vespers,

Litia & Confessions.

FRI., December 25th: OFFICE CLOSED, (+) Birth of our Lord,

God & Savior Jesus Christ, 9 am Matins, 10 am Divine Liturgy.

(NO Christmas Reception due to pandemic)

SAT., December 26th: (+) Sinaxis of the Most Holy Birthgiver of

God, 9 am Divine Liturgy.

SUN., December 27th: (+) A & P Stephen the Archdeacon,

8:30 am Matins, 9:30 am Divine Liturgy.

ALTAR BREAD - PRESCURE Simona Cismașiu ÎM tatălui meu Ioan și a tuturor celor decedați din

familie.

Alexandra Rădulescu ÎM mamei, Claudia Stoica.

Daniel & Andreea Salman ÎM mamei, Paraschiva (Vicky) Salman recent

trecută la cele veșnice în România.

Marinica Todoran & Familia ÎM mătușii, Anuica Popa.

Cristian Toth IMO mother Dumitra Florica.

Sonia & Angela Voiculescu IMO those who passed from our family. May

they rest in peace. Memory Eternal!

Dumitru & Paraschiva Vasu-Family IMO parents & grandparents, Viorel

& Paraschiva Sârbu. Always in our hearts. Memory Eternal!

May God rest them in peace! Dumnezeu să-i odihnească!

Lavinia Cozmin-Morris for the good health of brother, Horia.

Alex & Florica Cotrău for the good health of family and grandson

Alexander. (2)

7 DAY VIGIL LIGHTS – NARTHEX

ÎM lui Anuica & Traian Popa.

Marinica Todoran & Familia ÎM mătușii, Anuica Popa.

Simona Cismașiu-Famila ÎM lui Anuica Popa. Dumnezeu să o odihnească

în pace!

Cornelia Bicescu IMO my husband Ovidiu Bicescu.

Simona Cismas ÎM tatălui meu Ioan și a tuturor celor decedaţi din familie.

Afrodita, Irina, Magdalena & Sophia IM părinților Victor şi Paula

Constantinidis.

Cristina Hemsoth & family IMO parents & grandparents, Grigore & Greta

Butoi.

Antoniu Iliaș IMO Lucica & Emilia Iliaș & Lucica Dobrin.

Ioan Bica ÎM mamei, Maria Bica.

Ana Mohan & Familia ÎM soțului George, tată și bunic. Bunul D-zeu să îl

ierte cu drepții să-l odihnească. Veșnic în inimile noastre.

Cornelia Bicescu IMO Nicol Radoiescu. Eternal Memory!

Dumitru & Paraschiva Vasu-Family, IMO parents & grandparents, Viorel

& Paraschiva Sârbu. Always in our hearts. Memory Eternal!

Lucica Fogoroș ÎM părinților, soțului și a tuturor membrilor răposați din

familie. D-zeu să-i ierte și să-i odihnească în pace.

Lavinia Cozmin IMO grandfather, Nicolae.

Alexandra Rădulescu ÎM mamei, Claudia Stoica.

May God rest them in peace! Dumnezeu să-i odihnească!

Simona Cismașiu pentru sănătatea familiei.

Mirela Dobre for the good health of Elena Claudia.

Nick & Marie Avramaut for the good health of all our family and friends.

Oster în onoarea Ninei.

Elena & Petre pentru sănătatea noastră și a copiilor noștri Ionuț-Andreea,

Diana-Bogdan, Iulia-Mike, Landon, Logan, Luca, Aura și examene reușite.

Victor & Elena Muntean for the good health of our family.

Dumitru & Paraschiva Vasu-Family for the good health of our family and

God’s blessings.

Lucica Fogoroș pentru sănătate și ajutor de la D-zeu familiei noastre de

aici și a fam. copiilor mei din România.

Fam. Spânu în onoarea fiului nostru, Nicholas, sănătatea familiei și a

tuturor oamenilor, și mulțumiri pentru toate binecuvântările și ajutorul de

la Dumnezeu.

Alexandra Rădulescu pentru sănătatea fam. Rădulescu & fam. Iancu.

THANKSGIVING CHALLENGE!

Thankful thoughts from...

Marie Sandru is thankful for her daughter for taking such good

care of her to her sickness this past year, even though she had

issues of her own. God bless her!

UPCOMING SPIRITUAL

December 13 - (+) St. Herman of Alaska & Holy Hierarch

Dosoftei metropolitan of Moldova / (+) Sf. Cuv. Gherman

din Alaska & Sf. Ier. Dosoftei mitropolitul Moldovei.

( ) 8:30 am Matins & 9 am Divine Liturgy.

December 25 - (+) Birth of our Lord, God & Savior Jesus Christ /

Nașterea Domnului. 9 am Matins/10 am Divine Liturgy.

December 26 - (+) Sinaxis of the Most Holy Birthgiver of God /

Soborul Maicii Domnului. 9 am Divine Liturgy.

December 27 - (+) A & P Stephen the Archdeacon/ Sf. Ap.,

întâiul Mc. & Arhidiacon Ștefan. 8:30 am Matins & 9 am

Divine Liturgy.

COLLECTION OF GOODS FOR THE

MONASTERIES & FOR THE NEEDY

During every Fast we conduct drives to collect canned and

dry foods, soap and paper products for the needy or for the

benefit of our monasteries. All bags should be placed in the

Cultural Building.

We thank and bless you!

Colecta pentru cei nevoiași și pentru Sfintele Mănăstiri

În fiecare post, îi sprijinim pe cei nevoiaşi și mănăstirile

noastre din apropiere, colectând şi donând produse

nealterabile (conserve, alimente uscate, produse de curățat,

detergenţi). Vă rugăm să depuneţi darurile în clădirea Şcolii

Duminicale.

Vă mulţumim şi vă binecuvântăm!

THE GIVING CHRISTMAS TREE

This year, the bare Giving Christmas Tree that you will

find it in the church lobby, needs our attention more

than ever. The pandemic that hit hard the entire world

has also impacted the donations of Eastern Orthodox

Women’s Guild (EOWG) and the number of needy

women and children has increased. This being said, we

make an appeal to all our members and friends to be

generous and decorate the bare tree with their gifts of love. You can bring your

gifts of hats, gloves, socks, mittens, toys, or any other items for mothers and ba-

bies.

Thank you!

BRĂDUȚUL DĂRNICIEI

Anul acesta, Brăduțul Dărniciei de Crăciun pe care îl veți găsi gol în

vestibulul bisericii, are nevoie de atenția noastră mai mult decât în orice alt an.

Pandemia care a lovit puternic toată lumea a avut, de asemenea, un impact asu-

pra donațiilor organizației EOWG, iar numărul femeilor și a copiilor nevoiași pe

care îi ajută a crescut. Acestea fiind spuse, facem un apel către toți membrii și

prietenii noștri să fie generoși și să împodobească brăduțul cu darurile lor de dra-

goste. Puteți aduce cadouri de căciuli, mănuși, șosete, jucării sau orice alte arti-

cole pentru mame și bebeluși.

Vă mulțumim!

Un singur lucru este necesar

pentru mântuire: credința,

dar credința ca lucrare.

(Sf. Ignatie Briancianinov)

***

”Only one thing is necessary

for salvation: faith, but faith

as a work.”

(St. Ignatie Briancianinov)

WOULD YOU WANT THE WEEKLY

BULLETIN IN THE MAIL NEXT YEAR?

Please let us know before the end of 2020, or send the

payment in by mail, payable to ”St. Mary”

For $50, you receive the weekly bulletin in the mail the

entire 2021 year. It only covers the cost to print and mail

it. Please contact the parish office before the end of the

year.

DORIŢI SĂ PRIMIŢI BULETINUL

SĂPTĂMÂNAL LA DOMICILIU, PRIN

POŞTĂ ANUL VIITOR?

Vă rugăm să contactați biroul parohial înainte de

terminarea anului 2020, sau să trimiteți cecul prin

poștă, pentru suma de $50, pentru tot anul 2021. Cecul

se scrie pentru ”St. Mary”.

IMPORTANT PARISH CONTACTS

Parish Council

President:

Viorel Oancea

(440) 915-9642

Ladies Auxiliary

President:

Aura Petre

(440) 503-0829

Custodian:

Marian Ciuta

(216) 513-5535

Financial Secretary:

Simona Sarsama

(216) 533-4636

Hall Rental:

Italian Creations Church Office

(216) 226-2282 (216) 941-5550 2021 Bulletin

Sponsors

If you would like to sponsor the weekly bulletin, please

call the office at 216-941-5550; or, e-mail us at

st.mary.cathedral@sbcglobal.net

You can do that in honor or in memory of a loved one,

for the good health, or for any other reason, for a $40

donation ($80 New Year, Holy Pascha & Christmas).

Available dates: January 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; February: 7,

14, 21, 28; March 7, 14, 21, 28; April 4, 11, 18, 25;

May: 23, 30; June: 6, 13, 20, 27; July: 11, 18, 25; Au-

gust: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; September: 12, 19, 26; October: 3,

10, 17, 24, 31; November: 7, 14, 21, 28; December: 5,

26.

We thank all who have supported and sponsored our

bulletins over the years. This definitely helps reducing Fiecare copilaș

A primit un îngeraș

Să-l învețe ce e bine

De necazuri să-l aline.

Vezi, și tu, bun copilaș

Să-l asculți pe îngeraș,

Să-L iubești pe Dumnezeu

Cu tot suflețelul tău.

”Poeme din Grădina Luminii” - Florica Bațu-Ichim

Raport Publishing, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Christmas Season Reminders

Calendars are now available from the parish office

during the weekdays or from the Trustees, on Sundays.

We regret, but there will be no Christmas Reception this

year.

All Nativity Services will be held as announced.

On Christmas day, in order to have more space in

church, we invite the younger parishioners to seat in the

church balcony.

There will be No New Year’s Eve Party this year.

Parish Dues Parish dues are to be paid prior to December 31. We thank

you for sending your dues on time. Our dues

are important and enable us to support our

Episcopate. Thank you and may the Lord

Bless You!

Taxa de Membrie Taxa annuală de membrie trebuie plătită

până la 31 decembrie. Mulțumim celor care

plătesc la timp. Această taxă este importantă pentru parohie și

ne ajută să suținem și Episcopia. Vă mulțumim și vă

binecuvântăm!

Saint Spyridon of Tremithus was born towards the end of the

third century on the island of Cyprus. He was a shepherd, and had a

wife and children. He used all his substance for the needs of his

neighbors and the homeless, for which the Lord rewarded him with a

gift of wonderworking. He healed those who were incurably sick,

and cast out demons.

(…)

According to the witness of Church historians, Saint Spyridon

participated in the sessions of the First Ecumenical Council in the

year 325. At the Council, the saint entered into a dispute with a

Greek philosopher who was defending the Arian heresy. The power

of Saint Spyridon’s plain, direct speech showed everyone the impor-

tance of human wisdom before God’s Wisdom: “Listen, philosopher,

to what I tell you. There is one God Who created man from dust. He

has ordered all things, both visible and invisible, by His Word and

His Spirit. The Word is the Son of God, Who came down upon the

earth on account of our sins. He was born of a Virgin, He lived

among men, and suffered and died for our salvation, and then He

arose from the dead, and He has resurrected the human race with

Him. We believe that He is one in essence (consubstantial) with the

Father, and equal to Him in authority and honor. We believe this

without any sly rationalizations, for it is impossible to grasp this

mystery by human reason.”

(…)

At this Council, Saint Spyridon displayed the unity of the Holy

Trinity in a remarkable way. He took a brick in his hand and

squeezed it. At that instant fire shot up from it, water dripped on the

ground, and only dust remained in the hands of the wonderworker.

“There was only one brick,” Saint Spyridon said, “but it was com-

posed of three elements. In the Holy Trinity there are three Persons,

but only one God.”

(…)

Through his prayers, drought was replaced by abundant rains;

(…) the sick were healed and demons cast out; (…) [an] infant [and

his mother were] restored to life; (…) [When a] falsely accused

[friend was] sentenced to death, the saint was hindered on his way

by the unanticipated flooding of a stream. The saint commanded the

water: “Halt! For the Lord of all the world commands that you per-

mit me to cross so that a man may be saved.” The will of the saint

was fulfilled, and he crossed over happily to the other shore. The

judge, apprised of the miracle that had occurred, received Saint

Spyridon with esteem and set his friend free.

Similar instances are known from the life of the saint. Once, he

went into an empty church, and ordered that the lampadas and can-

dles be lit, and then he began the service. When he said, “Peace be

unto all,” both he and the deacon heard from above the resounding of a

great multitude of voices saying, “And with thy spirit.”

Bishop of Tremithus ~ December 12

This choir was majestic and more sweetly melodious

than any human choir. To each petition of the litanies,

the invisible choir sang, “Lord, have mercy.” Attracted

by the church singing, the people who lived nearby has-

tened towards it. As they got closer and closer to the

church, the wondrous singing filled their ears and glad-

dened their hearts. But when they entered into the

church, they saw no one but the bishop and several

church servers, and they no longer heard the singing

which had greatly astonished them.

(…)

Saint Spyridon lived his earthly life in righteousness

and sanctity, and prayerfully surrendered his soul to the

Lord. His relics repose on the island of Corfu (Kerkyra),

in a church named after him (His right hand, however, is

located in Rome).

Paragraph taken and processed from https://

www.oca.org/

Read the story. Find the elements from the above

image in the story and underline them. Then, color

the icon of St. Spyridon.

CHILDREN ACTIVITY

RESPECTAȚI-VĂ APROAPELE,

purtați corect masca facială!

O, CE VESTE MINUNATĂ!

O, ce veste minunată.

În Betleem ni s-arată

Astăzi s-a născut

Cel făr’ de-nceput

Cum au spus prorocii.

Că la Betleem Maria.

Săvârșind călătoria

Într-un mic sălaș

Lâng’-acel oraș

A născut pe Hristos

Pe Fiul în al său nume.

Tatăl L-a trimis în lume

Să se nască și să crească

Să ne mântuiască.

O, MIRACLE WONDER

O, a miracle, a wonder

Seen in Bethlehem far yonder

Haven’s all a glow

Angels look below

Toward a Light so tender

In the fields shepherd resided

By the angels’ words were guided

To a lowly place

In a town of grace

Birth of the Messiah.

Shepherds heard the joyous tidings

To the Holy Place arriving

They beheld the Sight

Child of Wond’rous Light

Highest praise abiding.

O, the Greatest Shepherd, Jesus

Unsurpassed, it was revealed us

Praise surrounding Him

We bow down to Him

And our faith redeemed us.

BE RESPECTFUL

TOWARDS OTHER,

wear properly your facial

mask!

Quan-

tity

Price/

each CASH CHECK TOTAL

$5

$

St. Mary’s Ladies Auxiliary

ORDER FORM Cabbage Rolls (Sarmale) - Freshly Homemade,

with grounded pork meat, ready to eat (cooked)

for your Christmas Dinner Table.

ORDER DEADLINE

Tuesday, December 15

Please complete the order form below and

mail it with your payment made to St.

Mary’s Ladies Auxiliary to:

St. Mary Cathedral,

Attn: Ladies Auxiliary,

3256 Warren Rd., Cleveland, OH 44111

THANK YOU!

NAME ______________________________

PHONE # ____________________________

Paid $ ______ CASH ___CHECK # _______

Orders should be picked up on Sunday,

December 20, after the Divine Liturgy (11:30 am)

in the Social Hall Lobby.

For questions or more information please call:

The Parish Office: (216) 941-5550

PICK-UP REMINDER!

REMEMBER to pick up ___ cabbage rolls

on Sunday. December 20, after Divine

Liturgy (11:30 am) from St. Mary’s Social

Hall, located at 3256 Warren Rd., Cleveland.

Dear Father,

Please accept my Christmas gift for the

church, in honor of the Birth of our Lord and

Savior Jesus Christ as it follows:

Christmas Donation

$________________________

Christmas Flowers & Christmas Tree

$________________________

Community Christmas Card

$__15.00__

Charity

$________________________

Other

$_________________________

Total $____________________

Your gift of love will be credited to your church

account and published in the parish Bulletin.

NAME________________________________

ADDRESS_____________________________

______________________________________

May the Lord bless you and keep you in His

loving care! Happy Holy Days!

Dragă Părinte,

Vă rog să acceptați donația mea de Crăciun,

pentru mărirea Domnului nostru Iisus Hristos,

după cum urmează:

Donație pentru Crăciun

$__________________________

Donație pentru Flori & Brad de Crăciun

$__________________________

Felicitarea Comunitară de Crăciun

$____15.00___

Caritate (Milostenie)

$__________________________

Alte Donații

$__________________________

Total $______________________

Donația Dvs. se va publica în Buletinul

săptămânal al parohiei.

NUMELE______________________________

ADRESA_______________________________

_______________________________________

Dumnezeu să vă binecuvânteze.

Sărbători Fericite!