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Paschal festivities at Nativity of Saint John the Baptist Church began at 11pm on Holy Saturday with Paschal Nocturnes. After the Shroud of Christ was returned to the altar, at midnight, the Paschal procession began around the church building. Afterwards Paschal Matins followed with the reading of the Sermon of Saint John Chrysotom. As is the tradition on Pascha, at the Divine Liturgy, the Gospel was read in various languages. This year the Gospel was read in English, Russian, Ukrainian, Belorussian, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, and Polish. The night Liturgy was served by Priest Anton Kurakevich. On Sunday morning, Father Mark served the Morning Liturgy followed by Easter basket blessings, coffee hour, and an Easter Egg Hunt.
Vesperal Divine Liturgy and blessing of the Easter baskets at Nativity of Saint John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Church. On Holy and Good Friday the shroud of Christ was brought out during vespers of Holy Friday. That evening, Matins of Holy Saturday were served. At the end of the service, the shroud of Christ was processed with around the church. Upon returning, the faithful walked underneath the shroud before entering the church. On Lazarus Saturday, after Divine Liturgy, parishioners took part in our annual parish clean-up. The church buildings were prepared for the feast of Pascha, the Resurrection of Christ. On Sunday, the day the Lord entered Jerusalem, the morning began with a Sunday School procession. the Children carried banners, palms and willow branches. After Liturgy, Fr Mark congratulated Anna Sunden on her birthday and wished Gregory and Carol Levitsky a happy wedding anniversary. During coffee hour, a few parishioners took part in Easter egg painting class "Pysanky" hosted by Maryann Bacsik.  It is with great sadness that we share the news of the falling asleep of our life-long parishioner, Leonard Shark (Lenny). Lenny was known by everyone in Little Falls. Whether it be in our church or as a volunteer firefighter, he dedicated his life to serving others and we thank him for that. May the Lord rest his soul. Memory eternal. We will have a short memorial service for Lenny tonight after Presanctified Liturgy and on Friday evening during the scheduled parastas. Funeral details :
The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday, April 13, 2025 from 4-8 p.m. at Gaita Memorial Home, 154 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Little Falls. Parastas will be offered at 6:00 p.m. Funeral Services will take place on Monday, April 14 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist R.O. Church, Little Falls. Kindly meet directly at the church. Interment will follow at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa, N.J. Memories and condolences may be shared at gaitamh.com. On Saturday evening, April 5, 2025, the eve of the 5th Sunday of Great Lent and the Forefeast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, and the feast of St. Tikhon, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA & Canada, officiated Great Vespers in St. John the Baptist Church in Little Falls, NJ. In commemoration of the beginning of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the repose of St. Tikhon, the archpastor brought to the church an icon of the saint with a particle of his holy relics for veneration of the faithful.
Concelebrating with His Grace were parish rector & Vice-Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes, Priest Mark Rashkov, Priest Anthony Kurakevich, Hieromonk Seraphim (Balagtas; cleric of Sts. Peter & Paul Cathedral in Passaic, NJ), Hieromonk Stephen (Bushman), Deacon Alexis Golubov (cleric of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City) and Deacon Stephen Boyd (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky OCA Cathedral in Pittsburgh, PA. The parish choir sung the responses under the direction of Alla Kerko. At the end of the service, the archpastor was warmly greeted by the rector of the church, Father Mark, who, on behalf of all the parishioners, thanked Bishop Matthew for visiting the parish and for the opportunity to glorify Saint Tikhon with the icon containing a particle of his holy relics. In turn, the bishop addressed the parishioners with a sermon and also expressed gratitude to the rector, the parish president and the parish council, benefactors, the choirmaster and singers, volunteers and all the parishioners for their work for the good of the Church and love for their parish. The archpastor presented all the participants of the service with an icon of the Iveron icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. After the sermon, the bishop served a short moleben to Saint Tikhon and read a prayer to the saint before his holy icon. Interaction continued over a fraternal meal in the parish hall, prepared by the parish sisterhood during the annual Saint Anna's Altar Society Salmon Dinner. The annual Salmon Dinner has a long-standing tradition in Saint John's parish, bringing together people from within and outside of the regular parish congregation. The dinner is takes takes place on the nearest Saturday to the Annunciation of the Theotokos. https://mospatusa.com/news_250406_1 |
