St Michael Orthodox Church Old Forge, PA

St Michael Orthodox Church Old Forge, PA St Michaels Orthodox Church is a parish of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania under the Omophorion

01/30/2025

One of the great things that we do here is Bible study. Sometimes over texting and this morning we were discussing this verse which is one of my favorite.

Matthew 3:9-10 King James Version
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

3:10 The Axe Laid to the Tree’s Root The Axe Laid to the Root. Chrysostom: He did not merely say that the axe was barely “touching the root” but “laid to the root”—it is poised right next to it and shows no sign of delay. Yet even while bringing the axe so near, he makes its cutting depend upon you. For if you turn around and become better persons, this axe will be laid aside without doing any harm. But if you continue in the same ways, it will tear up the tree by the roots. So note well that the axe is neither removed from the root nor too quickly applied to cut the root. He did not want you to become passive, yet he wanted to let you know that it is possible even in a short time to be changed and saved. He first heightened their fear in order to fully awaken them and press them on to repentance. The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 11.3.

The Root. Cyril of Alexandria: He calls Christ an axe “sharper than a two-edged sword,” which was to cut off the unbelieving Jews and dissociate them from the honor and communion of the patriarchs. Those spoken of as “the root” are the fathers of old who remained well pleasing to God, those who with Abraham and as with many people in former times were holy. The unbelievers who sprang from them were cut off as fruitless branches. But the root remained, onto which those of the believing Gentiles were engrafted. And as Irenaeus reminds us, God’s Word is like an axe in accordance with Jeremiah’s saying: the word of the Lord is “like a pickaxe chopping stone.” Why am I saying that you are going to fall away? God did not spare the root. Fragment 24.

The Axe. Anonymous: The axe is the utter wrath of the destruction about to strike down the whole world. If that axe was prepared, why did it not strike down? And if it was not about to strike down, why was it made ready? The trees of which we speak have a rational quality and have the power either to do or not to do good. Since an axe has been laid at their roots they fear being cut down, as they were called to bear fruit. An evildoer is not corrected by fear. But a good person will perish unless he has appropriate fear. Therefore, even if angry denunciation does nothing to change evildoers, it serves to distinguish the bad from the good. Note, however, that the axe is not said to be laid at the branches that they may be cut down and then restored. It is laid at the roots that they may be irretrievably eradicated. Why? Because as long as this world steeped in evil has not come to final judgment, sinners are chastised but not cut away altogether. This is for two reasons. First, it was necessary for people responding to God to have a locus of action in the world, even if the world is full of iniquity. Second, with the world continuing on, there was hope that some just people might be born from the generations of the unjust. But now with the former world ending and the holy world fast approaching, sinners are not being chastised but turned out. There is room for hope that from the generations of the unjust, some just people may possibly be born. But it would be inappropriate in this coming holy world to have people who are not holy, as it is written: The upright of heart shall inhabit the earth, but “the evildoers lie prostrate, they are thrust down, unable to rise.” Incomplete Work on Matthew, Homily 3.

Threat of Divine Judgment. Chromatius: There is no doubt this axe signifies the power of the divine word, for God says through Jeremiah the prophet: “Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer which breaks the rock in pieces?” Therefore this axe which is laid at the very roots of interior faith in this forest of humanity always implies the severe threat of divine judgment. Unfruitful trees or barren people, bearing no fruit of faith, will be cut down and consigned to perpetual fire. Tractate on Matthew 11.1. Faithlessness Destroyed. Hilary: The axe laid at the roots of the trees witnesses to the power present in Christ. The cutting down and burning of the trees signifies the destruction of barren faithlessness that is being prepared for the fire of judgment. On Matthew 2.4.

01/30/2025
01/30/2025

On January 14-16, 2025, the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces (NCMAF), Endorsers Conference for Veterans Affairs Chaplaincy (ECVAC), and the Armed Forces Chaplains Board…

01/29/2025

Dear Faithful,
May the Lord bless you!

This Sunday is the Great Feast of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple. We will also bless candles this Sunday. The blessing of candles is a reminder that the light of God's love can illuminate the hearts of people and banish sin. The candles are also a symbol of the fiery love of the saints for God.

As mentioned before, please sign up and help with the ever needful ministry of prosphora baking. We also have a wonderful coffee hour that continues to grow so we ask that you sign up to assist in our fellowship. The signup sheets are on the counter of the candle room and downstairs.

I will strive to start an evening service on Wednesdays and continue to serve house blessings until the season is over. Great Lent is a very intensive season and let’s continue to prepare for it.

Speaking of Great Lent, it begins on Monday, March 3rd.

I'm excited for this year and I am confidant in the Lord's help and blessing for our community. We are witnessing very steady growth and currently have 5 catechumens and 2 seekers. Let us pray the Lord for a continued, and even increased, harvest of souls! I encourage you to take opportunities to share about our Lord Jesus Christ and invite people to come to His church. Many people are spiritually hungry and we have been gifted with the fullness of Faith!

I truly believe that we will be able to complete the tiling of our altar and have the cupolas painted this year. The completion of these projects within our Heavenly Image program are much needed and very important as we strive to be good stewards of the Lord's church. Not only that, but each one of us will feel the benefit with the completion of these. It will be a very wonderful blessing for our church. It is vital for us to cultivate a vision for our community and city rooted in prayer and working in evangelism and living the faith. The fullness of the Christian faith, Orthodoxy, is for our city of Old Forge, our State of Pennsylvania, and our Nation of America. I hope that you will share my excitement and let's energize ourselves for the work ahead of us this year!

Lastly, I am grateful for the blessing to serve St Michael Orthodox Church Old Forge, PA. We have a wonderful and loving parish with a dedicated parish council that works tirelessly for us all. I couldn’t do it without them and am encouraged for the year to come.

O Lord, we ask for Thy blessing and strength!

His unworthy servant,
Fr Michael

01/29/2025

Judith, the sister of Marie Pasternak, reposed in the Lord yesterday afternoon. Please keep her, her sister Marie, and their family in your prayers. Plans for the funeral and burial are forthcoming. May her memory be eternal!

AXIOS! A beautiful servant and his family.
01/29/2025

AXIOS! A beautiful servant and his family.

Be true as an oak and consistent.
01/29/2025

Be true as an oak and consistent.

01/28/2025

There is something valuable when being consistent in all of our relationships. If we are not true as an oak (which means to have the strength and stability of a faith, and the ability to withstand life's challenges) so as not to waiver in adversity in the changing winds, how much more important to be an oak in our relationship with each other that reflects our relationship with Christ.

James 5:12
"But let your 'yes' be yes and your 'no' be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation”

The lack of constancy is disastrous for spiritual life. When a person sees for the first time the light of the gospel truth shining before him with dazzling brightness, he cannot resist it, as you cannot deny truth once you realize it. With enthusiasm he devotes himself to that new life, where everything is so joyous and so deeply felt. Typically, such a person, burning with “novice’s zeal”, willfully burdens himself with endless rules of fasting, prayer, bows and other exploits of ascetic life. But alas! The enthusiasm of the original inspiration yields to the equally intense disappointment and doubt, creeping painfully into the soul. Instead of recognizing his mistakes, caused by the lack of experience, one tries to explain his failure and disappointment by some “objective” reasons, which the tempter whispers into his ears, until finally he begins to think that he has been deceived. That puts a person on a path to unbelief. Following that path can lead him to completely renounce the gospel life. The final condition of that person is worse than his initial ignorance.

It is constancy to the end that is necessary. We need to remain dedicated until death. It is not enough to simply embark on the Christian path, but we must also reach the goal.

– St. Vasily of Kineshma

Glory to God!
01/28/2025

Glory to God!

Praying for our newly enlisted catechumens! 34 more added to our flock. Pray for our catechumens as they embark on a year long + journey to join the Orthodox Church

"...let no one imagine that humility can be achieved easily and without labor. On the contrary, it needs more effort tha...
01/27/2025

"...let no one imagine that humility can be achieved easily and without labor. On the contrary, it needs more effort than the practice of any other virtue."

-St. Gregory of Nyssa

Address

512 Winter Street
Old Forge, PA
18518

Opening Hours

Wednesday 11am - 1:30pm
5pm - 6pm
Saturday 5pm - 6pm
Sunday 9am - 12pm

Telephone

+15704573503

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