PENTECOST BRINGS A NEW CONVERT
SERAPHIM OBERST ENTERS THE CHURCH

On Pentecost Sunday we were blessed to welcome our fourth convert into Holy Orthodoxy and the parish of St. Philip. William Lawrence Oberst, husband of our parish council vice-president, Tandova Xenia Ecenia, completed his studies with Fr. Joseph and was fittingly Chrismated on the feast commemorating the decent of the Holy Spirit. Seraphim has been a faithful church attendee for several years and is known for giving generously of his time and talents for the benefit of the parish. His sponsor was Sue Finzer, treasurer and a founder of the parish. A fitting luncheon was enjoyed and then it was back to the Temple for Vespers with kneeling prayers. God grant Seraphim many years.
To listen to the audio of the actual Chrismation with explanatory commentary by Fr. Joseph click here.

A PARTY FOLLOWED THE CHRISMATION
THEN IT WAS VESPERS WITH KNEELING PRAYERS

Following Liturgy and the Chrismation a luncheon was served and the highlight was a cake that proclaimed: "Welcome Seraphim." Following lunch we all returned to the Temple for Pentecost Vespers which features the three kneeling prayers.

CHRIST IS RISEN!           INDEED HE IS RISEN!

PASCHA 2010

At 11:30pm we began our celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! At the end of a 1/2 hour prayer service the Holy Shroud icon was taken from the grave and placed on the Holy Table. There it will remain for the next forty days. During that time the chalice and discos are placed on it during the Divine Liturgy.

We then began our procession from the dimly lit church symbolizing the myrrh bearing women going to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body. At the front of the church the Gospel passage that tells of this was read. Then Fr. Joseph using the censer, knocked on the closed front doors. Then the verses, "Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered", etc., were sung. At the conclusion with the people singing "Christ is risen", etc we entered the now brightly lit church and the celebration of Matins and the Divine Liturgy continued. At the conclusion we blessed a special paschal bread called an Artos and then we went into the social hall where baskets of food brought by the parishioners were blessed. Finally we all enjoyed the foods that we had been fasting from for the last forty seven days.

HOLY SATURDAY MORNING OFFERS OLD TESTAMENT READINGS
AND A FORETASTE OF THE FEAST OF FEASTS.

On Saturday morning we celebrated a Vesperal Liturgy which was highlighted by the reading of 15 selections from the Old Testament. 15 parishioners, including many of the children, served as readers. During the service the priestly vestments were changed from black to white and a ressurrection gospel passage was read as a foretaste of the coming celebration of Holy Pascha.

HOLY FRIDAY EVENING WE IMMITATED THE NOBLE JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA.

On Holy Friday evening all returned for a service that included a procession with the Holy Shroud Icon. The weather was a beautiful Florida spring evening and the singing during the outside procession added to the joy of the service.

HOLY FRIDAY VESPERS

At 3 pm the faithful gathered for the Vespers service of Good and Holy Friday. The highlight was the placing of the winding sheet in the tomb. This icon of Christ laid in the tomb is placed on a stand adorned with flowers and meant to portray the original tomb of Jesus. All present reverenced the icon with prostrations and kisses.

HOLY WEEK CONTINUES WITH HOLY ANOINTING ON WEDNESDAY EVENING
AND WITH READING OF THE TWELVE PASSION GOSPELS ON THURSDAY EVENING.

On Wednesday evening of Holy Week we celebrated the service of Holy Anointing. With the reading of seven gospels and with the recitation of seven prayers the oil was prepared. At the end of the service all came forward. Passing under the open Gospel book each was anointed with the blessed oil.

On Thursday evening we celebrated, in anticipation, the matins service for Good and Holy Friday. In a service lasting well over 2 1/2 hours the passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ was proclaimed. The highlight of the service was the selected Gospel readings from the four evangelists. Before an icon of Christ the Bridegroom were twelve lit burgundy candles. After the reading of each Gospel a candle was extinguished by different parishioners.

A BUSY BEGINNING TO HOLY WEEK

Holy Week began with Liturgy on Lazarus Saturday morning, followed by a Lenten lunch. Then cleaning of the church building began. Since we have no custodial staff we maintain the building ourselves. With joy and comradery we set to work cleaning chandeliers, oiling the wood on the iconostasis, cleaning all of the votive glasses and doing the many tasks necessary to keeping the house of the Lord fit and clean. In the social hall deep cleaning of the kitchen and bathrooms as well as the hall itself was done by the many parishioners who came for this necessary but fun undertaking. Meanwhile in one of the classrooms two of our youth fashioned palm crosses to be added to the palms and pussy willows that would be blessed and distributed the next day. At the end of the cleaning we all gathered for Vespers and then returned home joyful that we had spent a good day in service to the Lord.

The following day being Flowery Sunday, we blessed the palms and pussy willows and distributed them to the parishioners who, in imitation of the crowd that welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem, held them throughout the Divine Liturgy.

SPRING PLANTING AT THE PARISH.

After record cold destroyed most of the plantings at the church, spring has finally arrived. On Saturday, March 13th, several parishioners joined to replant and mulch the beds across the side and front of the church. It was a chance not only to beautify God's house but to also enjoy the spring weather and each other's company.

PARISH HOSTS SUNDAY LENTEN VESPERS.

On the second Sunday of the Great Fast St. Philip parish hosted the 2nd of 5 Sunday night lenten vespers sponsered by the Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood of Greater Tampa Bay. Orthodox Christians from all over the Tampa Bay area were in attendance. Following vespers, a light lenten dinner was served. We were honored to show hospitality to our fellow Orthodox.

SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY IS A DOUBLE BLESSING.

On Sunday the 21st of February, the parish celebrated not only the triumph of icons over the movement to banish them from our churches, which is commemorated each year on the first Sunday of the Great Fast, but also we rejoiced at the entrance into the catechumenate of our long time attendee William Lawrence Oberst. The husband of our parish council vice-president Tandova Ecenia, William has been a great joy to know and to be friends with. Likewise, he has given freely of his time and talents to the parish. We all look forward to that time when he is received fully into Holy Orthodoxy.

CLERGY HOLD MEETING IN FORT WORTH.

During the second week of January clergy from throughout the Diocese of the South gathered for their annual mid-winter meeting. This year St. Barbara parish in Fort Worth, Texas hosted the priests and deacons. A combination retreat and workshops, the meeting also allows time for the clergy to fellowship and to exchange experiences and ideas regarding parish life and the needs of the Orthodox Christians entrusted to them. This year Metropolitan Jonah presided as locum tenens of the diocese. While the search for a new diocesan bishop continues there are no concrete developments. We pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit that a worthy successor to our beloved Archbishop Dmitri be found.

CHRIST IS BAPTIZED!         IN THE JORDAN!

Record cold temperatures forced the Great Blessing of Waters inside. Anticipating temperatures in the 30s the Great Vespers and the Blessing of Water was moved inside rather than at Lowry Park in Tampa. The next morning after Divine Liturgy, the parishioners traveled 1-1/4 miles to Lowry Park in Tampa. At the boat ramp the Hillsborough River was blessed. Hopefully next year we will have more seasonable weather. But we are thankful for clear skies and for the joy of celebrating the manifestation of our Triune God. For a slide show of both blessings click here.

CHRIST IS BORN!    GLORIFY HIM!

PARISHIONERS VISIT ORTHODOX MONASTERIES

   On Saturday the 12th of December, ten parishioners joined Fr. Joseph in a visit to the two Orthodox monasteries located near Ocala, Florida. After less than a two hour drive, the group first visited the women's monastery, Annunciation of the Holy Theotokos. Some quiet time was had in the church followed by group prayer. Then a trip to the icon store was a great delight. Part of the support of the monastery comes from the sale of icon prints prepared and mounted by the nuns. Then it was time for a delicious Lenten lunch prepared for us by the sisters. Our visit was concluded with a talk by the Abbess who described a typical day in the life of the monastery.
   Then it was off to Panagia Valhernon Greek Orthodox Monastery. We were graciously met by one of the monks and took part in a previously scheduled Panakhida. We wrote out the names of our departed for commemoration and enjoyed the chanting of the monks. A tour of the grounds and a visit to the bookstore followed. Then it was back to Tampa in time for vespers. All agreed that this short pilgrimage to these wonderful monastic communities added to the spiritual joy and benefit of the Nativity fast.

PARISH CELEBRATES 4TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS FOUNDING,
FOUNDERS DAY AND THE FEAST OF ITS PATRON SAINT.

On Sunday, November 8th, a triple commemoration was celebrated. Four years ago, on November 6, 2005, St. Philip parish celebrated its first Divine Liturgy. Also commemorated on the 8th were the founders of the parish and also its patron St. Philip. A wonderful luncheon was had and then Panagia, one of our parishioners, entertained with her accordion. We thank God for the many blessings that he has showered upon the parish.

OCMC COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR VISITS PARISH

On Sunday, October 4th, at Fr. Joseph's invitation, OCMC Communications Director Alex Goodwin addressed the parish regarding mission activity of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center. A veteran of several mission trips to Africa, Alex encouraged the parishioners to seek to determine if God was calling them to participate in mission activity. Enlivening his talk with anecdotes of his missionary travels Alex gave an interesting and well received presentation at the end of Liturgy. Several parishioners have expressed an interest in participating in a mission trip and will make further inquiry regarding this. We pray that Jesus will use our parish for the continued spread of His Gospel.

DIOCESAN TREASURER VISITS PARISH

On Saturday, October 3rd, Diocesan Treasurer Milos Konjevich visited St. Philip parish. Milos spend a half hour discussing financial matters with a number of parishioners. He observed that St. Philip parish has done well in its handling of its finances and that it is continuing on a path of financial stability.  He then attended parish great vespers. We are all greatful to the Diocese of the South for its continued support, its interest in the parish and for sending Treasurer Milos to visit and to encourage us.