CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED, HE IS RISEN!
A wonderful Holy Week was had at St. Philip. A full schedule of services left everyone spiritually refreshed. This was our third Paschal season in Tampa and it seems that each year the singing gets even sweeter, the flowers more fragrant, the eggs redder and the parishioners and visitors more joyful. We continue to be blessed here at St. Philip. Click here for more Holy Week photos.
NEW AUDIO SERMON AVAILABLE
ORTHODOX FUNERALS IN THE NEW AGE.
A new sermon from Fr. Joseph is available in audio format. It was given on the Sunday of the Myrrh Bearers, May 11,2008. The subject matter deals with the Orthodox treatment of bodies of the deceased as well as Orthodox funerals in our times. To listen to the sermon or to down load to your Ipod click here.
RELIC OF ST. ALEXIS TOTH, CONFESSOR AND DEFENDER OF ORTHODOXY IN NORTH AMERICA, ENTHRONED AT ST. PHILIP PARISH.
Through the assistance of our beloved Archshepard, Archbishop Dmitri, we were able to obtain a relic of St. Alexis Toth. We had the reliquary encased behind glass with a proper plaque and installed it under the icon of St. Alexis. St. Alexis is beloved by all of the parishioners, especially the missionaries who founded St. Philip parish.
FR. JOSEPH'S SERMONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON LINE.
The weekly sermons preached at St. Philip can now be heard online, either streaming or in pod cast format for down loading to your ipod. Fr. Joseph's sermons may be heard by clicking on our "Audio Sermons" page.
PARISH REPRESENTED BY FR. JOSEPH AT 2008 MARCH FOR LIFE
IN WASHINGTON, D. C.
January 22 marked the 35th anniversary of the infamous U.S. Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade. Since its decree almost 50 million unborn children have been aborted in America. Every year on the 22nd of January a rally and march are held in Washington seeking the overturning of this decision. This year Fr. Joseph traveled to our nation's capitol to participate in the march and to represent St. Philip parish in this effort.
A crowd estimated at between 300 and 500 thousand people took part in the march and rally. The temperature at the start of the rally was 29 degrees but "warmed" to about 40 by the time of the march from the mall to the Supreme Court.
There was a large Orthodox presence led by Metropolitan Herman and which included seminarians from both St. Vladimir and St. Tikon. All in attendance were moved by the tremendous number of children present, especially high school aged. They lent an upbeat air of hope and promise. As Fr. Chad, chancellor of St. Vladimir Orthodox Seminary, observed regarding this vast number of young people: "the opposition has destroyed its future, we continue to produce ours". More photos are available in our "Photo Album"
HILLSBOROUGH RIVER BLESSED FOR THEOPHANY
On January 5th, the eve of Theophany, the parish gathered on the banks of the Hillsborough river for vespers and the Great Blessing of Water. The river itself was also blessed. Throwing salt into the river as was done by Elisa to purify the waters at Jericho and adding to the river, water brought by Fr. Joseph from the Jordan as well as some of the newly blessed water, Fr. Joseph blessed this river that is so important to the City of Tampa.
God provided a beautiful temperate day. The parish gathered under large oaks at the rivers edge, while birds added their voices to those of the parishioners singing the hymns of vespers and fish occasionally broke the river waters giving a glimpse of God's bounty.
A reporter and photographer were present and a story with pictures appeared in the Sunday, June 6th, edition of the Tampa Tribune. To read the article click here. More photos in our "Photo Album."
PARISH FEATURED IN DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
The latest issue of the Diocese of the South newspaper, The Dawn, carries a full page story about St. Philip the Apostle parish. Fr. Joseph was asked to author an article featuring the use of technology by the mission for both iconography and evangelization. The article may be viewed in the online edition of The Dawn by double clicking here and scrolling to page 3.
BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY
Our dream of a Christian bereavement ministry for all of Tampa has begun. In July our Sue Finzer, herself a widow, attended a week long bereavement ministry facilitator course in Massachusetts. If you or someone you know has lost a loved one and could use some help dealing with the loss please call Sue at (727) 692-9227.
PRAYER MINISTRY
Please click on our "Prayer Ministry" at left and if possible print the list of intentions and pray for them daily. This is a wonderful way to serve Jesus by serving the needs of those listed through prayer. We have recently received a number of urgent requests dealing with the health and welfare of children as well as several of our parishioners. Please pray daily for all of these intentions.
SEE WHAT ORTHODOXY IS DOING FOR THE SANCTITY OF LIFE
Click on "Orthodox Pro Life" at left. It also contains a link to the Zoe website which is the Orthodox pro life ministry.
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St. Philip the Apostle is a mission parish of the Orthodox Church in America and is under the authority of His Eminence Dmitri, Archbishop of Dallas and the Diocese of the South. Its purpose is threefold; to bring the true faith of Orthodoxy to Tampa in a parish where all services are in English, to seek out those Orthodox Christians in Tampa who have fallen away from the practice of their faith, and to bring Orthodoxy to all citizens of Tampa.
On Nov. 6th, 2005 we celebrated our first Divine Liturgy in our new church at 9100 El Portal Drive. We are located just south of Chamberlain High School behind the North Branch Library.
If you are looking for the church that was founded by Christ, where the truth has been taught unchanged for 2,000 years, then visit us. If you want to hear the gospel proclaimed without fear or apology, then visit us. If you are looking for a loving spiritual home, then visit us. As St. Philip said to Nathaniel: "Come and see."
Sunday Divine Liturgy begins at 9:30 am.
Saturday evening vespers begins at 6 pm.
Bible Study is on Wednesday evenings following vespers which begins at 7 PM. All are welcome and can join the class at any time.
All Liturgies and services are in English. Inquirers and visitors are always welcome as our guests.
Fr. Joseph can be contacted at the numbers and address provided at the left under "contact information". We look forward to worshiping and growing in the faith with you.
