The Orthodox Fellowship Group
of St. Seraphim
email: orthodoxfellowship.ithaca@gmail.com
The MISSION AND GOAL OF the Orthodox Fellowship Group of St. Seraphim of Sarov will be to assist one another in the attainment of the fullness of the faith and praxis of the Orthodox Christian spiritual life—in short to incarnate ‘living Orthodoxy’ in our day to day lives.
This Fellowship Group is open to local Orthodox College Students; as well as interested Parishioners of St. Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Ithaca, New York.
It will meet formally and informally for the purposes of worship, fellowship, pilgrimage, spiritual growth, and support.
Suggestions in our attempt further these purposes could include the following:
Worship
The worship of the Holy Trinity is the very heart of Orthodox spiritual life. Besides involving ourselves in the normal rhythm of the Parish’s liturgical life (to the best of our abilities), before formal meetings the group will have a prayer service led by the Priest, or in his absence by the members of the group. Normally the service will be Vespers celebrated in accordance with the Church’s typikon (which varies from day to day). In addition to this we will also occasionally visit other local Orthodox Churches to join them in worship. Also, we will explore the possibility of having occasional night Vigils (probably on Friday) consisting of Great Vespers, Matins, and Divine Liturgy. Those who are interested will also have the opportunity to glorify God through the prayerful discipline of traditional Orthodox Iconography under Master Iconographer Vladislav Andrejev.
Fellowship
Fellowship or Koinonia is rooted in our common sharing of the Eucharist, which unites us one to another as St. Paul stated:
“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).”
The indwelling Holy Spirit [1] is the source of our fellowship with the Father and His Son [2] , as well as with one another provided that we walk in the light [3] . Our oneness in Christ is such that we have become one family in Christ [4] and a new community of friends [5] . As such we should seek at all times the mutual up-building (edification [6] ) of one another. In addition to the fellowship of worship, fellowship could be expressed through informal discussions/conversations, sharing of meals, movie nights (of films having a cultural, religious, or moral significance), etc.
Pilgrimage
Spiritual journeys or trips to Monasteries, Churches, or other holy places for worship, spiritual edification, and fellowship with other Orthodox Christians are some of the possibilities.
Spiritual Growth
St. Peter in his second Catholic Epistle instructs the faithful as follows: “Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).” Spiritual growth and development is essential to what it means to be a Christian. We will seek opportunities to grow spiritually through reading, study, and discussion of essential topics. Our focus and source will be on the writings of the Holy Fathers, especially those dealing with the mystical/ascetical life. In addition the parallel discipline of Iconography/Iconology can be pursued to further the spiritual growth of those so inclined. Also, we will seek opportunities to attend and participate in occasional conferences, retreats, and lectures. We will also investigate the possibility of holding our own retreats.
Support
In view of our fellowship and oneness in Christ it is only natural that we will seek to support one another in a spirit of gentleness through our prayers, compassion, and love for one another—thereby fulfilling that most basic commandment of our Lord “A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another (John 13:34-35).” Furthermore we should strive to fulfill the following injunctions of the Apostle Paul:
“Therefore comfort each other and edify one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11).”
“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another (Romans 12:10).”
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15).”
“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).”
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do (Colossians 3:12).”
[1] 1 Corinthians 12:13: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free -- and have all been made to drink into one Spirit .”
[2] 1 John 1:3: “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”
[3] 1 John 1:7: “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light , we have fellowship with one another.”
[4] Ephesians 2:19: “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”
[5] John 15:14: “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”
[6] Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification , that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Having left the beauty of the world and what is corrupt therein, O Saint, thou didst settle in the Monastery of Sarov. And having lived there an angelic life, thou wast for many the way unto salvation. Wherefore, Christ hath glorified thee, O Father Seraphim, and hath enriched thee with the gift of healing and miracles. And so we cry to thee: Rejoice, O Seraphim, our holy Father.
