The water is ready.
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Theophany 2010
(11 images)
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Litya from Great Vespers.
The blessing begins.
Praying over the water.
Breathing on the water.
Submerging the cross.
Blessing the people.
Sue serves the life giving drink.
Blessing the river with salt.
Praying over the water.
Blessing the river with Holy Water.
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Fr. Joseph blesses the palms and pussy willows.
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Great and Holy Week 2009 at St. Philip Orthodox Church
(33 images)
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The blessed palms and willows are distributed to the parishioners.
"The Light of Christ Illuminatith all." Fr. Peter Tutko celebrates the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts on Holy Monday.
Communion is distributed by Fr. Joseph at the last Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts for 2009.
Annointing at the Unction Service on Holy Wednesday.
A parishioner/Air Force member is annointed.
Passing under the open Gospel book to be annointed.
Twelve candles represent the twelve passion gospels.
Fr. Joseph chants a passion gospel on Holy Thursday evening.
The parishioners kneel at the gospel reading.
Fr. Joseph
The final blessing.
The holy shroud is carried out of the Holy Place over Fr. Joseph who carries the Gospel book on Holy Friday.
Incensing the shroud.
Fr. Joseph venerates the shroud.
The parishioners also venerate the shroud.
Fr. Peter begins matins of Holy Saturday on the evening before.
The procession on Friday evening with the shroud begins.
"Christ is Risen!"
The procession begins for Resurrection Matins.
The cross with the risen Christ follows the pascha candle in leading the way.
Arriving at the front doors.
"Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered."
"As smoke vanishes so let them vanish."
"Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life."
Fr. Joseph reads the Paschal sermon of St. John Chrysostom.
The gospel chanted in Greek, Latin, Old Slavonic and English.
The bells are rung between each Gospel verse.
Blessing of the artos.
Distributing red eggs.
Baskets of Paschal foods.
Preparing the baskets to be blessed.
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Welcome to the Fair
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Florida State Fair 2009
PARISH ENDS SUCCESSFUL RUN AT FLORIDA STATE FAIR IN TAMPA 13 hours a day for 12 consecutive days the parish manned its booth in the main exhibition hall at the Florida State Fair in Tampa. Despite the economy, overall attendance ecceeded 425,000. The reception of our display was beyond what we had expected. Thousands of visitors thanked us for "sharing such beautiful things with [them]". As expected, Archbishop Dmitri's miter, which he loaned to us, was the most admired item in our display. We lost track of the number of unchurched Orthodox that we gave directions to for the Orthodox parish near them. Inquirers were given more detailed information and literature and were invited to visit an Orthodox church near them. Innumerable visitors stopped to ask us what is Orthodoxy, and what do we believe. On the final night of the Fair a passerby was heard to say to his companion "All of the [protestant] churches and only the Orthodox are here to witness to Jesus." To Him belongs the glory." We have planted, God will supply the rain. Others may reap but "the reaper and the sower shall rejoice together."
(11 images)
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Part of the finished product.
The booth mocked up at the church.
The finished product at the church
The walls go up at the fair.
The first day Fr. Joseph and Julie man the booth.
Jean and Jan are ready to meet and greet visitors.
The chalice, archbishop's miter and the gospel book get people to stop and look.
The beauty of our exhibit. The mannequin wears a stole embroidered with icons from Greece.
The table covering has a photo of our iconostasis dyed into it.
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Fr.Joseph meets the catechumen Hamilton at the temple door.
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Hamilton Isaac Royal is Third Convert
January 25, 2009 Hamilton Royal was received into the Holy Orthodox Church through Chrismation. Receiving the name Isaac for the heavenly patron Isaac the Syrian, he became our third convert.
(9 images)
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Kneeling before the Gospel Book and the Cross.
Fr. Joseph prays for Hamilton.
Absolution is given.
Hamilton Isaac receives communion for the first time.
Fr. Joseph removes the Chrism.
A gift of an icon of St. Issac the Syrian from the parish.
The newly enlightened Orthodox Christian, Hamilton Isaac Royal.
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Divine Liturgy begins the Assembly
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Diocesan Assembly 2008 - 06/25/08
Diocesan Assembly 2008 Dallas, Texas
(12 images)
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The gifts are brought in.
Archbishop Dmitri prepares for a priestly ordination.
Orthodox Christians of All Ages Attend.
The Iconography is almost complete.
The beauty of God's house.
Archpriest Joseph Fester, Chancery Assistant welcomes the assembly.
Milos Konjevich, Diocesan Treasure delivers the financial report as the Archbishop listens.
Fr. Philip Reese, Metropolitan council representative reports.
Abbot Jonah addresses the assembly having been apporved for Auxilary bishop by Archbishop Dmitri and the Diocesan Council.
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Fr. Joseph meets Catechumen Julie Scott at the door to the church.
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Chrismation of Catherine (Julie) Scott
(8 images)
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Julie with sponsor Sue Finzer kneels in front of the Gospel book and the cross.
Fr. Joseph prays with Julie.
Julie receives absolution.
The Holy Spirit comes upon her at Chrismation.
The new Orthodox Christian, Catherine.
Catherine receives the Body and Blood of Christ.
A gift of a Pentecost icon from the parish family.
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Fr. Joseph reads the twelve passion gospels on the evening of Holy Thursday.
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Holy Week 2008
A wonderful and spiritual Holy Week.
(7 images)
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Fr. Joseph venerates the shroud on Good and Holy Friday.
We return from the evening procession on Good Friday.
Early Pascha morning.
Even the young are awake.
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An Orthodox presence.
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2008 March for Life. - 01/22/08
Fr. Joseph attended the January 22nd March for Life in Washington, D.C. seeking to overturn legalized abortion in our country.
(10 images)
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Washington Monument in the back ground
The Capitol
Metropolitan Herman addresses the crowd.
The primate and the priest.
The hierarchs lead the Orthodox marchers
Fr. Nicholas, a fellow Floridian.
Prayers for the aborted and the aborters.
Bishop Tikon with the Supreme Court in thebackground.
Our banner held high. This photo lead the story in the Washington Times.
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Set up under the oaks.
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Theophany 2008. Blessing the Hillsborough River - 01/05/08
On the eve of Theophany the parish gathered at Sulphur Springs Park to celebrate Great Vespers and the Great Blessing of Waters as well as to bless the Hillsborough River.
(8 images)
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The singers are ready.
Blessing the water
Fr. Joseph blesses the river.
Blessing the people with water.
Filling our bottles to take home.
The beauty of God's house.
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FR. JOSEPH GREETS THE ARCHSHEPHERD
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FR. JOSEPH GREETS THE ARCHBISHOP - 12/15/06
(7 images)
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ARCHBISHOP DMITRI VENERATES THE HOLY TABLE
VLADIKA TALKS WITH FR. JOSEPH OVER LUNCH
LUNCH WITH SOME OF THE ST. PHILIP FAMILY
FR. JOSEPH POINTS OUT ONE OF THE CANDLE BOXES
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ASCENSION
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FESTAL ICONS
HERE ARE A NUMBER OF THE FESTAL ICONS OBTAINED BY THE PARISH THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD AND THE GENEROSITY OF THOSE THAT GAVE TO THE MEMORIAL FUND FOR OUR BELOVED FOUNDER BILL FINZER.
(11 images)
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BAPTISM OF CHRIST
CRUCIFIXION
DORMITION
A WALL OF ICONS ADDS TO THE BEAUTY OF GOD'S HOUSE
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Dema, Sue and Jeanne clean their paint brushes.
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Church Renovation
We renovate our just purchased building into an Orthodox temple and social hall.
(9 images)
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The social hall gets a coat of paint.
The iconostas is framed.
Kevin, the master painter of restrooms and hallways.
The temple takes shape.
Bill builds the Holy Table.
Bill and Ibraham take a break.
Tree removal aftermath.
We clean the chairs that were donated to us.
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 Celebrating the feast of St. Philip. | Celebrating the feast of St. Philip. |
|  New friends and good food. | New friends and good food. |
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