News

Saint Raphael's News

Holy Week & Pascha Services April 2008 Photos Page-> Click Here

	Events from 2007 & Prior:
Current Events
	Myrrh Bearers Hall Sign Matushka Mary, Judy Besserman and Betty King have been working on a sign for our hall. The work is very detail oriented and time consuming. We thought you'd enjoy seeing some pictures of the sign 'In Progress'. Thank you ladies for your dedicated effort.


	Icon Presentation An icon of Saint George was presented to Saint George's Episcopal church in the Villages as a token of our appreciation for allowing us to use their church for Orthodox vesper services on Tuesday evenings.	Father David, Paul Besserman and Harry Jordhamo, whose wife is a Saint George's church member, are shown below signing the back of the icon.

January & February 2008
	Theophany 2008
	Our new baptismal font was used for the first time for Theophany 2008. A procession around the church followed with parishioners partaking of Holy Water afterwards. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made the purchase of the font possible through their donations.




	A Fund Raiser Concert to Benefit the Homeless in Citrus County was held on January 20, 2008 by parishioner Jim Brennen and his band: Gold Fever. It was a chilly day but as the pictures show, a good time was had by all who attended. Funds raised were greatly appreciated. Thank You Jim for your heart of gold!
January 20, 2008	Fundraiser Concert for the Homeless of Citrus County	A young participant kicking up his heals.
On February 10, 2008, we were blessed to have Fr. David Rucker and his family with us to celebrate Divine Liturgy while Fr. David and Mat. Mary Balmer made a brief trip to Mississippi to see Fr Matthew Jackson and celebrate services there.	The Rucker Family Fr. David, Mat. Roseann & son	Fr. David Rucker is the Associate Director of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) in St. Augustine Florida. He shared with us the good work the OCMC is doing spreading Orthodoxy in developing countries.
	Pictures from our Patron Saints Day Dinner on February 24, 2008 which began with Blessing and Cutting of the Kolach Bread (The Slava) and ended with a tribute hymn sung to St. Raphael







	Our November 11, 2007 coffee hour was also a special day. It was Father David's birthday and a second spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the parish.

Our first customer arrives.	On the evening of October 16, 2007 a spaghetti dinner was held to meet to our friends and neighbors.	Church member volunteers consult with our cook: Helen Kaimer.

	Thank You to all who attended. Our Paul Street neighbors, church members who brought friends; and, others who attended to help make the event a success.


The hostess FINALLY taking a well deserved break to enjoy a meal and the companionship of others from the parish.	On September 9, 2007 an egg and sausage breakfast fundraiser was hosted by Al and Helen Kaimer.	Our Chef

	The food was delicious and a good time was had by all as you can see from their smiling faces.
	Consecration of the Holy Myrrhbearers Hall July 15, 2007


	On May 11, 2007, we helped Helen and Al Kaimer celebrate their 50^th Wedding Anniversary. We wish the happy couple many more years of wedded bliss.

	On May 13, 2007, Phil and Theodora Succarotte were received as Catechumens. Our Parish welcomes them!
On May 23, 2007 the Humanities Class from Beacon College in Leesburg visited our parish.
	The picture on the left shows some of the greenery that decorated the church on Pentecost: May 27^th. In addition, Helen Kaimer prepared a WONDERFUL dinner consisting of baked chicken, yellow rice and green beans.	Other ladies in the parish assisted with salad, rolls and many, many tempting desserts AND the MEN of the parish assisted as servers. Thank you all!
Pictured are Joan Steele with her daughter Lydia who visited us in May. Lydia lives in Texas.		It was a special treat having Lydia add her beautiful voice to our choir during her visit.
April 2007:
	Pascha Services were observed with the traditional burial tomb and red eggs symbolizing the resurrection and rebirth of our Lord.
Father David says a prayer to bid some of our “snow birds” a safe journey on their return to their northern home states. We look forward to their return in the fall and winter months.		Icon of St. Seraphim donated by Betty and Bob King.
	Renown local artist and Saint Raphael church member Tatiana McKinney donated one of her works to the church. We are greatly honored by her donation.	Tatiana McKinney was born in Russia and educated in Riga, Lativa where she studied art with Professor Sergei Vinogradov. After her marriage to Sammuel McKinney, A U.S. State Department official, she traveled extensively and lived in Brazil, Greece, England and the United States. She continued her art studies in the various areas where she lived and has been painting and teaching around Florida since 1963. She has received national and international awards and has had numerous one-man shows both in the United States and abroad. In 1971 she was awarded the prestigious Capa D'Ora Award sponsored by Il Domo, Brussels, Belgium. This was the first time an American had won the honor.
	A beautiful triple candle to be used during Easter service was donated by Helen Rynack and Wedding Crowns were donated by Bob and Claudia Horohoe We thank them for their generous donations.
	Thank you to Steve Zrowka for creating the two beautiful icon stands for each side of the altar.
February 2007
	The Blessing of New Church Candle Stands On February 4, 2007 two beautiful brass candle stands on permanent loan to us from the Deanery were blessed at the same time as the blessing of the candles by Father David.
Pictures from Theophany, January 7, 2007
	The blessing of the waters above and the procession around the church with the recently donated processional cross.

December Events
Traditional bread and salt greeting presented by Milo Chelovitz, council president.	Bishop Dmitri's Visit December 16, 2006 We were greatly honored to have Bishop Dmitri make a stop to visit us and bless the mission when he was in the area.	Bishop Dmitri being presented with icon of our patron saint, St. Raphael, by mission founders: Dolores Lichatz, Nancy Kinley, Ellen Skowronek and Joan Steele.
	Many parishioners were in attendance to welcome him and receive his blessing. It was a momentous day for our mission and one that we will always treasure.
Donation of Processional Cross and Liturgical Items Father David and Nicholas Komernicky are shown with the beautiful processional cross, belled sensor and other liturgical items donated by Mr. Komernicky. We thank him for his generous donation.