Although we cannot enter our physical church, many parishioners have been expressing a desire to have candles lit and prayers said for them. 
Click the "Prayers and Virtual Candles" tab above (it will appear white when you mouse over it.)

1. Request Candles be lit
2. Submit Prayer Requests (confidential between you and Fr George)
3. Make Donations

For additional information click this link for a pdf outlining step by step instructions.

Last Sunday of Pascha - The Church puts a candle in our hand for important occasions of our life, baptisms, weddings and funerals, and in the life of the Church such as midnight on Pascha when we bring one candle into the dark. We are reminded that we are people of the Light and we have these candles that light the darkness of the world. 

Memorial Day Service - We pray for those who fought for our country - both those who were killed while serving and those who returned home.

This Thursday is Ascension of the Lord which is 40 days after Pascha. Fr. George commented that we have spent this whole season - almost all of Lent, all of Holy and Bright Weeks and all of the 40 days after Pascha not being in church. Hopefully during this time we have discovered how valuable and important church is to us.

23-li di Maiu 2020- " YIURTII ALTÂ TURLII"

Vluyii datâ di preftsii armânji di iutsido.

🔸preftulu George Coca dit USA, Bridgeport
🔸preftulu Saso Nakov dit Makidonia din Dzeanâ
🔸preftulu Toma Samara dit Albinushii, Moscopole
🔸preftulu George Dima dit România.

I wish you a lot of love and Armānami you the sweet tongue from dadā... from Preftu George Coca with rādzātina di Pleasa di-ndzeanā...." make us to be with a lie sh-unā heart..."

Our sister in Christ, Brenda J. Bicki, age 81, of Bridgeport, beloved wife of the late Stephen Bicki, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2020, in her cousin, Nancy Frederick's residence surrounded by family, Susan and Mitchell Cascella. Brenda was born on January 29, 1939 in Bridgeport and was the daughter of the late Walter and Marietta Farrace Steggles. She was an active member of St. Dimitrie Romanian Orthodox Church in Easton . In addition to Nancy, Susan and Mitchell, Brenda is survived by her cousins, Mary Beth Peddle and husband Joseph of Fairfield and Jackie Skultetey (Alex) of Bridgeport. Arrangements were entrusted to the Galello-Luchansky Funeral Home, 2220 Main Street, Stratford. To celebrate her life, please visit us at www.galellofuneralhome.com.  Pray for her soul and for the comfort of her family during this difficult time. 

NOTE: Although a funeral at church cannot be held at this time, there will be a graveside service at 10:30 at Lakeview Cemetery on Thursday morning. You may come and sit in your car or join Fr George for the service and keep a safe social distance from each other. 

Special thank you to Rich Scinto for writing an article for Patch.com about the parade held for Fr. George on his nameday - Thursday after Easter. 

"I miss everybody so much ... I keep saying the church is beautiful, but not without the people." quote from Fr George

Click here for a  link to the article.

Celebration of the Feasts of Constantine and Helena:

Click the three links below for our Feast Day Celebrations

• Explanation of the Feast Day of Constantine and Helen
• Celebrating the Feast of Constantine and Helen
• Prayers said for Sts Constantine and Helen

This icon is of St. Corona an early martyr of the Church that gave her life for love of Jesus. She is also known as St. Stephanie (Stephana in Greek is corona/crown). She revealed herself in her icon in a field in Germany outside of Munich where a large church was built and still stands in her honor. Faithful through the years have prayed for her intercessions during times of plague and epidemic. How appropriate now at this time to pray for her help during the corona virus. Her feastday in the Orthodox Church is Nov 11.

We ask for her intercessions before the Lord to bring us out of this pandemic safely. Amen 

The Samaritan Woman came to the well in faith;
She saw You, the Water of Wisdom, and drank abundantly
She inherited the Kingdom on High and is ever glorified!

Sunday, May 10th is 4th Sunday after Pascha - and the Healing of the  Paralytic.

Click here to view our service.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers, grandmothers, godmothers in our community.

and 

Congratulations to all the graduates in our community. We wish you happiness and success in the future.

Special prayers go to our cantor, Justin Puzstay, son of Joe and Maria Puzstay, who graduated from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, Dr. Krystal Scinto, PharmD, daughter of Rich and Karen Scinto, who received her Ph. D. in Pharmacy and Nicholas Cannon, son of Kevin and Elaine Cannon.

Thursday May 7^th, has been designated a Day of Prayer for the whole country. (click here for Fr. George's prayer service)
I know you’ve been saying your prayers especially at 10 A.M. every day. I encourage you to join with believers all over these great United States in solidarity to pray for God’s solution to this horrible virus.

As a suggestion, you can start with the
Trisagion: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal (Sfinte Dumnezeule) 3 times, Glory to the Father… All holy Trinity have mercy on us, Lord cleanse us from our sins, Master pardon our transgressions, Holy One visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake,
Our Father and then this prayer from the
Orthodox Church in America: O God Almighty, Lord of Heaven and earth and all creation visible and invisible, in Your ineffable goodness, look down on us Your people gathered in Your Holy Name. Be our helper and defender in this day of affliction. You know our weakness. You hear our cry in repentance and contrition of heart. O Lord who loves mankind, deliver us from the impending threat of the Coronavirus. Send Your angel to watch over us and protect us. Grant health and recovery to those suffering from this virus. Guide the hands of physicians and nurses, and preserve those who are healthy that we may continue to serve our suffering brothers and sisters in peace, that together we may glorify Your most honorable and majestic name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen


“AND WHATEVER YOU ASK IN MY NAME, THAT I WILL DO, THAT THE FATHER MAY BE GLORIFIED IN THE SON. IF YOU ASK ANYTHING IN MY NAME, I WILL DO IT. IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS. AND I WILL PRAY THE FATHER, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER HELPER, THAT HE MAY ABIDE WIYH YOU FOREVER. THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH WHOM THE WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE, BECAUSE IT NEITHER SEES HIM NOR KNOWS HIM, BUT YOU KNOW HIM FOR HE DWELLS WITH YOU AND WILL BE IN YOU. I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ORPHANS; I WILL COME TO YOU. (John 14:13-18)

Click here for  service:  Third Sunday after Easter- Myrrh Bearing Women

The Myrrh-bearing women are those women who followed the Lord, along with His Mother. They remained with her during the time of the saving Passion, and anointed the Lord's body was with myrrh. Joseph and Nikodemos asked for and received the Lord's body from Pilate. They took it down from the Cross,wrapped it in linen cloths and spices, then they laid it in a tomb, and then they placed a great stone over the entrance of the tomb.

According to the Evangelist Matthew (27:57-61) Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joses (Mark 15:40) were there sitting opposite the sepulchre, and they saw where He had been laid. This other Mary was the Mother of God. Not only were these present, but also many other women, as Saint Luke says (24:10).

Click for more information about the Myrrh Bearing women

Click here for our service  of Sunday of St Thomas (Doubting Thomas - April 26

You were a disciple of Christ
And a member of the divine college of Apostles.
Having been weak in faith you doubted the Resurrection of Christ.
But by feeling the wounds you believed in His all-pure passion:Pray now to Him, O all-praised Thomas to grant us peace and great mercy.

Today is dedicated to the Life-Giving Fount of the Most Holy Theotokos.She is our intercessor and protectress as the Birthgiver of our Lord .May she always be with us !

O most favored by God, you confer on me the healing of your grace from your inexhaustible Spring. Therefore, since you gave birth incomprehensibly to the Word, I implore you to refresh me with the dew of your grace that I might cry to you: Hail, O Water of salvation.

Click for additional information about Bright Friday

We celebrated the feast of St George today.  Blessings to those named George, Georgia, Georgette.

Happy Nameday to those named for St George - especially to our priest, Fr. George

Parish President Van Kolton and his wife Linda organized a "drive by parade" to say Happy Nameday to Fr. George and thank he and his wife for all their hard work, especially during Holy Week, since our church has been shut down due to the 2020 Corona virus

Click here to see the festivities

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Christ is Risen! Hristos a-înviat! Christolu n-hiă! Christos Anesti! Chrishti un-gjal!
Christos Voskresse! Masih Qam! Christo ha Resusitado! Cristus Feldamat! Cristo e Risorto!

No matter how you say it “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down Death by His death, and to those in the tombs, bestowing Life!”

These words, this song, are the Victory Song of all Christians. Without the Ressurection there is no Christianity .
The Apostles and early followers of Christ were locked in their homes from FEAR. Jesus, risen from the dead, came and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be unto you” and “again I say Peace be unto you.” Jesus is reassuring us that he is with us, he offers His peace and His help. You know why? Because He’s the God of Hope and of Life, not the God of Fear and of death. He is the Sovereign – no king, no president, no dictator is above Him - the redeemer and the Savior of us all. Have no fear for He is with us – always.

I hope you all had a Blessed Pascha as unusual as it was. The day was beautiful, the sun was shining and Nature itself proclaimed this special day. Remember Pascha means Passover; our Passover from slavery to sin to forgiven life in Christ and from Death to Eternal Life.
Remember to watch our service on Thursday, April 23 for St. George Day. God bless you all and our whole Community. God bless America!

We announce the Resurrection from the porch of the Church (no people - but some watched from their cars.
Enjoy our videos whenever you can. Have your candles ready and  sing “Christ is Risen “along with Fr George.

Enjoy our Pascha Vespers

 and Great and Holy Saturday

plus

Our UPDATED Community Video Easter Card       

There are two services:  Click here for  Vespers of Good Friday - Descent from the Cross and Placing the Lord's Body in the Tomb

Click here for   Evening Lamentations of Good Friday

Click here for video: Holy Thursday - Reading of 12 Gospels

 The readings on Holy Thursday for you to follow along are
1) St. John 13:31- 14:1-31,15:1-27,16:1-33.17:1-26,18:1 (the High priestly prayer), 
2) St. John 18:1-28. ;  
3) St. Matthew 26:57-75. ;  
4) St. John 18:28-40; 19:1-16. ;  
5) St. Matthew 27:3-33 (Procession with Cross). ;  
6) St. Mark 15:16-32. ;  
7) St. Matthew 27:33-35. ;  
8) St. Luke 23:32-49. ;  
9) St. John 19:25-37. ;  
10) St. Mark 15:43-47 ; 
11) St. John 19:38-42 ; 
12) St. Matthew 27:62-66

Click here for video: Holy Wednesday Service (Excerpts)

O gracious and loving, compassionate and ever merciful Lord, plentiful in mercy, and rich in beneficence, the Father of bounties, and God of all comfort, who through, Thy Holy Apostles has empowered us to heal the infirmities of Thy people by Oil and prayer: Do Thou confirm this Oil unto the healing of those who shall be anointed therewith; unto relief from every ailment, and from every malady; unto deliverance from evils of those who in firm hope await salvation from Thee. Yes, O Master, Lord our God, we beseech Thee, O Almighty One, that Thou will save us all. O Only Physician of souls and bodies, sanctify us all. O Thou, Who heals every infirmity, heal also Thy servants. Raise them up from their sickness, through the mercies of Thy Goodness. Visit them with Thy mercies and Thy bounties. Cast out by Thy Mighty Hand every sickness and malady so that being raised, they may serve Thee with all thanksgiving; and that we also, who now do share Thine inexpressible love towards mankind, many sing praises and glorify Thee, Who performs deeds, great and marvelous, both glorious and transcendent.

For it is Thine to show mercy and to save us, O our God; and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the Ages of Ages.  Amen.

Last year Palm Sunday fell on April 21, 2019. Before we went downstairs for our Annual Fish Dinner - Fr. George waved his palms and began singing "Happy 10th Anniversary" to us!  We marked ten years in our Easton CT home. 
Click here for the video of our celebration

Jesus Our Good Shepard

Three men were playing a game when one of them asked, "What would you do if the world were to end today?”
     One said that he would run to church and pray.

     The second said that he would go to ask forgiveness of everyone he offended.

     They asked the third what he would do and he answered "I would finish the game first.

     "Everyone gave a good answer, we should certainly pray and ask forgiveness from all, but, we also, have to stay in place and "finish the game."

While we're all sheltered in our homes for what is turning out to be a much longer waiting period, don't be discouraged.

Continue with your prayers, communicate with other parishioners and friends (I'm trying to keep in touch with you this way and by phone to check on you) and keep occupied.

Play games with your family, tell stories, look at old photos and remember those events - "finish the game" until this crisis ends. It will end - don't despair and don't let it get you down. Sing songs - church or secular or ethnic. I know that we're all strong and faithful. Look to the Lord our good shepherd who protects us and loves us and guides us through all times of temptation and hardship. Be strong, be careful, be safe.
It seems obvious that we will not be able to be in Church together for PASCHA but we will try to bring the Church to your homes safely.

We all pray for the day that we can worship together side by side and we hope that it will be very soon. May God keep us all in His Grace and loving care and bless us all. Please don't forget the parish during these days of absence. I still go every day and will continue to worship at the appropriate times. Love you all!

Remember the words of St. Paul to the Hebrews 12: "Lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees.....let us throw off everything that hinders us ...and run the race marked out for us” and St. John said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" John 14;27

Van and Linda Kolton

To know and experience the love of GOD –Father, Son and Holy Spirit; to worship Him in spirit and in truth as taught by the Lord through His Apostles; and to welcome and encourage others to know and love Him! 

Our own vegan chef extraordinaire, Linda Soper-Kolton offers her recipe blog to our community.  All her recipes are meat- and dairy-free.  You can even search for recipies by meal or specific ingredient. 

She also has written a vegan cookbook for the Catskill Sanctuary called "Compassionate Cuisine: The Cookbook" .  See her for information about purchasing a copy.

Linda - Thank you for your sharing your gifts with us

Did you know you can make donations, be a festival sponsor or pay your dues by credit card?

Click the Administration/Donation button in the upper left, then click  "Make a Donation" button and follow instructions

You can also go to www.stdimitrie.com

We accept PayPal, MasterCard, Visa and Discover

St. Dimitrie 's new icons are in the Pulse Section of Saturday's (8/31/13) CT Post!  See the article "Creative Gifts, Spirituality Shine in Icon Painter's Art"

http://www.ctpost.com/entertainment/article/Creative-gifts-spirituality-shine-in-icon-4769165.php