St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church

Serving Emmaus and the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania

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St. Paul’s Welcomes Fr. Joseph Landino and Family

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With his assignment by His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph, beginning August 1, 2020, St. Paul’s will welcome our fourth pastor, the Rev. Fr. Joseph Landino along with his wife Kh. Mary and their five children: Gabriella, Katerina, Mario, Rosalia and Sophia.

Fr. Joseph was born to Italian immigrant parents in 1968 in Brooklyn, New York, with the name Giuseppe (“Joseph”) Mario Landino. When he was nine years of age, after several moves, Giuseppe’s family finally settled in San Jose, California. He graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1986.  Following high school, he spent six years serving in the United States Marine Corps.  

Giuseppe was raised Roman Catholic, but felt strongly that the church of his youth lacked something.  Eventually, he began reading the Bible on his own and started to attend Protestant churches.  After some years attending those churches he realized something was missing there, too — 1500 years of history.  He was searching for the historic Church and its worship, where Christians were first called “Christians.”

By God’s grace, Giuseppe met some Orthodox Christians from the Antiochian Orthodox Church of the Redeemer in Los Altos, California, where he eventually met Fr. Thomas Ruffin (of blessed memory) and His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph, in 1995.  The Christians he met at this parish had something he truly desired — true, unbroken continuity with the ancient Church in both doctrine and practice. This brought about his entrance into the Orthodox Church.  Giuseppe was joyfully chrismated by Fr. Thomas Ruffin on Holy Saturday in 1997.  

In fall of 2000, Giuseppe met Mary Sabbagh (daughter of V. Rev. Anthony and Kh. Minerva Sabbagh) and decided to leave the family Italian restaurant business to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies.  Giuseppe and Mary married on June 24, 2001.
He graduated from Hellenic College in Brookline, Massachusetts, in 2003 with valedictorian honors. His wife Mary graduated with a Masters in Theological Studies from Holy Cross. At that time, he was the father of two young daughters — Gabriella and the soon to be born Katerina.

Following graduation they moved back to California to help his father successfully operate a pizzeria restaurant business. It was there where they became the parents of two more children — Mario and Rosalia.  In 2010, Giuseppe decided with his family to leave their home, family and careers to petition His Eminence, Metropolitan Philip (of blessed memory) for a blessing to attend St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, Pennsylvania.

In May 2011, Giuseppe was granted a blessing to attend seminary for the purpose of preparing for ordination to the holy priesthood. During his studies, Giuseppe and Mary brought another daughter, Sophia Theodora, into the world on March 23, 2013. During seminary, the Landino family were assigned to St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

On July 7, 2013, Metropolitan Joseph ordained Giuseppe to the holy diaconate through the laying on of hands.   And on January 12, 2014, he was ordained to the holy priesthood at St. George Church in Allentown by Metropolitan Joseph, with the assistance of His Grace, Bishop Nicholas.  After seminary graduation in May 2014, Fr. Joseph was assigned as assistant pastor at St. George Church.

He and his family look forward to becoming part of the St. Paul’s community this August.

Christ is risen! The Paschal Sermon of St. John Chrysostom

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holy-fire

The Paschal Sermon of St. John Chrysostom

If any man be devout and love God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast.
If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord.
If any have labored long in fasting, let him now receive his recompense.

If any have wrought from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward.
If any have come at the third hour, let him with thankfulness keep the feast.
If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall in no wise be deprived therefore.
If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing.
If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; for the Lord, who is jealous of his honor, will accept the last even as the first; he gives rest unto him who comes at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who has wrought from the first hour.

And he shows mercy upon the last, and cares for the first; and to the one he gives, and upon the other he bestows gifts.
And he both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honors the acts and praises the offering.
Wherefore, enter you all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward, both the first, and likewise the second.

You rich and poor together, hold high festival.
You sober and you heedless, honor the day.
Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast.
The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously.
The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away.
Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness.

Let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon has shown forth from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Savior’s death has set us free.
He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it. By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive.

He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry:
Hell, said he, was embittered, when it encountered Thee in the lower regions.
It was embittered, for it was abolished.
It was embittered, for it was mocked.
It was embittered, for it was slain.
It was embittered, for it was overthrown.
It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains.
It took a body, and met God face to face.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.

O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory?
Christ is risen, and you are overthrown!
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life reigns!
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave!
For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.

Exploring Orthodox Christianity: A Lenten How-To Series

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EXPLORING ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY is a six-week experience for anyone interested in understanding better the faith, teachings, history, worship and practices of the Orthodox Christian Church. This Lent Unit (Saturdays Mar. 7 – Apr. 11) is complemented by an Advent Unit held in the Fall.

This evening program begins with 5pm Vespers on Saturday night, followed by a common potluck fasting meal (roughly 6pm, no meat or dairy, please), a short presentation and discussion. One or more church members will give the presentation(s) and moderate the discussion. Each evening’s program should wrap up by 7-7:30pm.

This program is recommended for all interested (including Orthodox Christians, non-Christians or non-Orthodox Christians) and is also part of the standard preparation for formally enrolled catechumens of the parish (those who have made a commitment to become Orthodox Christians).

TOPIC SCHEDULE FOR LENT 2020 (subject to adjustment as needed):

March 7: How to Interact with Your Priest
When should you call the priest? What is the proper relationship with your priest? What are realistic expectations of him? What are the major life events where he needs to be notified and asked for help? What does healthy obedience to a father-confessor look like?

March 14: How to Fast
What is the purpose of fasting? What kind of fasting is normal for most Orthodox Christians? What are the foods one can and cannot have during a fast? How do the fasts throughout the year differ? What if you have a medical condition that makes it hard to fast?

March 21: How to Be a Good Steward
What does it mean to tithe? What is really expected of a Christian by God? How do we love one another? How do you find your ministry in the church community? What is the right amount to give of one’s time, talent and treasure?

March 28: No class this evening due to the Lenten retreat happening all day

April 4: How to Interact with Saints and Angels
Who are the heavenly hosts? What is the Divine Council of God? How does someone become a saint? How do you venerate saints and angels? Do we pray to them or pray with them?

April 11: How to Pray at Home and Church
What is prayer? What is a prayer rule? (Is it necessary to have one?) How do you make Christ’s presence apparent at home? How do you keep from getting distracted during prayer? How do you pray the Jesus Prayer? (Is it necessary to have a prayer rope?) What does it mean to meditate?

Lenten Retreat Mar. 28: The Gospel of the Kingdom

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What is *A* Gospel? What is *THE* Gospel? And how do we respond?

The answers might not be what you think.

On Saturday, Mar. 28, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick will explore these questions in a Lenten retreat in a series of 4 talks. Each talk is about 45 minutes, followed by a 15 minute Q&A.

There is no cost for the retreat, and it is open to all who may be interested.

SCHEDULE:

9am: Welcome & Coffee

9:30am: Talk #1: What is A Gospel?

10:30am: Break

11am: Talk #2: What is THE Gospel? (Part 1)

12pm: Lunch (Lenten Potluck — bring a dish to share!)

1pm: Talk #3: What is THE Gospel? (Part 2)

2pm: Break

2:30pm: Talk #4: How do we respond to the gospel?

3:30pm-4:30pm: Break

5pm: Great Vespers

Jan. 18 – Feb. 29: The Early Church (Saturday Night Class)

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On Saturday evenings at St. Paul’s, a 7-week educational series on the earliest years of the Church — from the first through third centuries — is being taught by Dr. Cyril (Gary) Jenkins, Van Gorden Professor in History at Eastern University and Director of the St. Basil Center for Orthodox Thought and Culture.

The schedule for each evening is as follows:

    5pm Great Vespers
    5:45pm Potluck Meal (bring a dish to share)
    6pm Short Lecture with Discussion

Syllabus

18 Jan: The Church of the First Century I
Sources and the Apostolic Church

25 Jan: The Church of the First Century II
The Church of the Late First Century and the Ferment of Heresy

1 Feb: The Church of the Second Century I
Martyrdom and Apologists

8 Feb: The Church of the Second Century II
Gnosticism and Catholicity

15 Feb: The Church of the Third Century I
Athens and Jerusalem: Montanism, Origen, and the Greeks

22 Feb: The Church of the Third Century II
The Emergence of Latin Theology: Hippolytus, Cyprian, and Tertullian

29 Feb: The Church of the Third Century III
The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church

Resources

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St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church

Planting the Seeds of Orthodoxy,
Cultivating Christian Community

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Emmaus, PA 18049

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