Spring Work Day, May 22

Join us for a day of work projects (mostly outdoor), prayer, food and fun at the monastery on Saturday, May 22. Volunteers of all ages and abilities are welcome! The day begins at 10 a.m., includes lunch, and closes with vespers at 5 p.m. followed by a cookout. Come whenever available, and bring a side dish to share if you can. The monastery is located at 17485 Mumford Rd. Burton, Ohio. Please RSVP* by Monday, May 17, to christthebridegroom@gmail.com or 440-834-0290, so that the appropriate amount of food can be prepared.

*Please RSVP with:

1. The number of adults (include teens) and the number of kids (12 and under)

2. Will you be here for lunch or dinner or both?

3. The dish you plan to bring

Christ is Risen!

"O Women, be the heralds of good news and tell what you saw; tell of the vision and say to Zion: 'Accept the good news of joy from us, the news that Christ has risen.' Exult and celebrate and rejoice, O Jerusalem, seeing Christ the King coming from the tomb like a bridegroom." (from the Paschal Hymns)

As we continue to celebrate this 40-day Paschal season, we hope that you are rejoicing in the gift of eternal life that has been opened to us by the death and resurrection of Christ! May this hope penetrate all of your sorrows and sufferings and help you to turn your gaze to eternity, which begins even now in your relationship with God who desires to give Himself to you at every moment!

For a little taste of the joy of our celebration on the morning of Pascha (Easter), here is a short clip from Resurrection Matins.

Recording of "The Noble Joseph"

We hope you enjoy this beautiful choral piece we learned this year! This version of "The Noble Joseph," which is sung during the procession with the burial shroud during Vespers for Great & Holy Friday, is one of Mother Cecilia's favorite pieces that she remembers the choir singing at her home parish, St. Joseph in Brecksville, Ohio. We hope it draws you into prayer!

(Arranged by Fr. Michael Staurovsky when he was serving at St. Joseph church in 1966; adapted into English by Michael Karaffa, former choir director of the St. Joseph parish choir)