On Friday, December 26 the community of Christ the Saviour welcomed clergy and faithful from our local Orthodox parishes to celebrate Liturgy for the Synaxis of the Theotokos. 

The faithful of Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church gathered for the Nativity Eve Vigil (Wed, Dec 24), and the Divine Liturgy on Christmas Day (Thurs, Dec 25). Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

(Troparion) Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, has shone to the world the Light of wisdom! For by it, those who worshipped the stars, were taught by a Star to adore Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Orient from on High. O Lord, glory to Thee!

A special thanks to our beloved parish family who once again participated in the “Angel Tree” project this year. Over seventy (70+) wrapped presents were distributed to children in our community whose parents are incarcerated or are in some financial hardship. We are thankful to be partnering with the Society of Volunteer Women to bring a small measure of joy to these children and their families! Merry Christmas! Christ is born! Glorify Him!

Each Nativity fast the adult education ministry of our community offers a series of talks for our spiritual nourishment. This year's theme was "The Incarnation Changed Everything". To watch a recording of each of these talks, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWU2C24Nz30&list=PLU7cSdb14NPfb8tdcrpEazJVy8bi5tLWC

On Sunday, December 21 the faithful of Christ the Saviour were over-joyed to receive Stephen Lum, Elizabeth "Jane" Tabone, and Gregory Beckley into the Orthodox Church through the Sacrament of Chrismation. May the Holy Spirit continue to “lead them into all Truth” and grant them many blessed years!

In the afternoon on Sunday, December 14 the community of the Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church welcomed neighbors, family and friends for our annual Christmas Concert featuring our parish choir under the direction of Rdr. James Kushlan. A special thanks to the Altar Guild for hosting a light reception following the program.

You can view a recording of the concert at this link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8zghsKLQpw

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

Thank you to the faithful of our community for their generosity in supporting our annual food drive for Thanksgiving. Several turkeys, and boxes of dry and canned goods were delivered to our community partners in Harrisburg. Glory to God for all things!

On Sunday, November 16 the community of Christ the Saviour welcomed seven new catechumens. 

Missionary Jesse Brandow offered the homily, and following the Divine Liturgy gave us updates on his missionary activities in Guatemala. We were also blessed to have his wife Juanita and son Matthew with us, especially as Matthew was celebrating his namesday!

On Sunday, November 9 the community of Christ the Saviour was once again blessed to share in the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of two of the many cultures that constitute our ethnically diverse parish family at the Annual Eritrean and Ethiopian Fellowship. A special thanks to those who prepared and served the meal, as well as those that prepared the special coffee and tea that was enjoyed by all - thank you!

"Thank you" in Tigrinya (Eritrean)
የቐንየለይ! - Yeken-yeley! 

"Thank you" in Amharic (Ethiopian)
አመሰግናለሁ - Ameseg-inalehugn!

NOTE: this event is held annually, the Sunday before the beginning of the Nativity Fast.

On Sunday, November 9th the community of Christ the Saviour honored the veterans of our parish community - thanking them for their service in defence of our country and our freedom. May God grant them many blessed years!

On Monday, October 27 clergy and faithful from South Central PA gathered for the first celebration of the feast of St. Olga of Alaska. Fr. Timothy Hojnicki offered a beautiful homily about the humility of St. Olga, and how God chose to magnify her humility through making her an example and intercessor for the whole Church. We were especially blessed by the presence of His Eminence Archbishop Mark, who presided from the throne. At the fellowship hour Fr. Timothy and Rdr. Nicholas Hojnicki shared a powerpoint presentation on the life of St. Olga and their participation in the services of her glorification this past summer in Alaska. Saint Olga, pray to God for us!

On Sunday, October 26 the Parish Council and Altar Guild made a special presentation to our parish clergy in honor of Clergy Appreciation Month. We are grateful for our dedicated clergy! Glory to God for all things! 

On Saturday, October 18 the community of Christ the Saviour welcomed parishioners, neighbors, and guests for a retreat entitled "Am I praying right?" with special guest Fr. Paul Truebenbach from Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Salt Lake City, Utah. Fr. Paul is well known for his YouTube videos on the Orthodox Christian faith, and has also published a series of Orthodoxy 101 talks that are used to help those who are inquiring to learn more about the Faith. The talks were recorded and will be available in early November on our parish YouTube channel.

On Sunday, October 19 Fr. Paul was our guest homilist (listen here). At the conclusion of the homily he helped us enroll nine new catechumens. It was especially joyful as Fr. Paul's instruction (via videos) has been instrumental in their formation. Glory to God for all things! 

Throughout the month of October, Simeon Jekel led our bible study in a series entitled "The Life of David: A Man After God's Own Heart". To watch a recording of each of these talks, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5cs2T8ZZtU&list=PLU7cSdb14NPfb8tdcrpEazJVy8bi5tLWC&index=9

Christ is risen! On Sunday, May 25 the community of Christ the Saviour celebrated the final Sunday of Pascha with a festive Divine Liturgy, and one final procession to proclaim the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! This Sunday also marked the beginning of the renewal leave for Fr. Stephen who will be on sabbatical until after Labor Day. Fr. Daniel Kovalak offered travel prayers for the Vernak family, and the parish presented Fr. Stephen with a journal to document his travel experiences. Over the summer Fr. Nicholas Solak (Director of the OCA Office of Pastoral Life) will serve at CTS on the weekends, and pastoral coverage will be coordinated by Fr. Timothy Hojnicki (Rector of Holy Apostles Orthodox Church). Glory to God for all things!

Christ is risen! On Sunday, May 18 the community of Christ the Saviour welcomed three new catechumens (John & Sara Pipa; and Nicholas Jones).  At the conclusion of the Liturgy we also honored our Sunday School Director and Teachers who sacrificially offer themselves in service to our parish youth. Sunday School Students enjoyed a Hawaiian themed end of school year celebration. Glory to God for all things! 

Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen! On Sunday, April 27 the community of Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church welcomed our archpastor, His Eminence Archbishop Mark to celebrate our parish feast day (St. Thomas Sunday).  At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy we made a festal procession around the church and stopped at the bell tower to dedicate, through the anointing with the All Holy Chrism, our refurbished bell, along with two new bells cast in memory of our beloved former pastor, the Mitred Archpriest Daniel Ressetar (link). May his memory be eternal. The bells are named after the Three Great Hierarchs - Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom. 

On Saturday, April 26 several members of the Christ the Saviour community partnered together with Hummelstown UCC as part of the Rebuilding Together Harrisburg service day - http://rtgh.org/ . This was a wonderful way for us to offer "love in action" to neighbors in need. In a few short hours, much was accomplished by God's grace. Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!

Christ is Risen! Христос Воскресе! Χριστός Ανέστη!

Late Saturday evening (April 19), and “while it was still dark” into Sunday (April 20), our community gathered for the “Feast of feasts, and Holy Day of holy days” - Great and Holy Pascha!

Ode 1 - Canon of Holy Pascha: It is the day of Resurrection, let us be illumined O ye people, Pascha, the Pascha of the Lord, from death unto Life and from earth unto Heaven has Christ our God led us singing the song of Victory! Let us purify our senses, and we shall behold Christ, radiant with the light ineffable of the Resurrection, and shall hear Him say in accents clear, rejoice as we sing the song of victory. For meet it is that the Heavens should rejoice, and that the earth should be glad, and the whole world, visible and invisible, should keep the feast, for Christ, the everlasting joy is Risen!

Great and Holy Saturday Vesperal Liturgy with 15 Old Testament Readings (Harrisburg, PA) led by His Eminence Archbishop Mark.

"Arise O God and judge the earth, for to Thee belong all the nations!"

Burial Vespers & Lamentations

"Joseph, together with Nicodemus, took Thee down from the Tree, Who clothe Thyself with light as with a garment. He gazed on Thy body – dead, naked, and unburied, and, in grief and tender compassion, he lamented: “Woe is me, my sweetest Jesus! A short while ago, the sun beheld Thee hanging on the Cross, and it hid itself in darkness. The earth quaked in fear at the sight. The veil of the Temple was torn in two. Lo, now I see Thee willingly submit to death for our sake. How shall I bury Thee, O my God? How can I wrap Thee in a shroud? How can I touch Thy most pure body with my hands? What songs can I sing for Thy Exodus, O compassionate One? I magnify Thy Passion. I glorify Thy burial, and Thy holy Resurrection, crying, ‘O Lord, glory to Thee!’”

Twelve Passion Gospels - "Glory to Thy longsuffering O Lord!"

(Troparion) When the glorious disciples were enlightened at the washing of their feet before supper, then the impious Judas was darkened ailing with avarice, and to the lawless judges he betrayed Thee, the Righteous Judge. Behold, O lover of money, this man because of avarice hanged himself. Flee from the greed soul which dared such things against the Master! O Lord who art good towards all men, glory to Thee!

On Great and Holy Wednesday (April 16) the community of Christ the Saviour celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Unction - interceding the Lord’s mercy, and the healing of soul and body.

(Excerpt from the Third Prayer of Holy Unction) Yes, Lord, send forth from heaven your healing power; touch the body, quench the fever, calm the suffering and chase away every lurking infirmity. Be the physician of your servants; raise them up from their bed of pain and their couch of distress; give them to your Church safe and sound, well-pleasing to you and doing your will.

Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us!

On Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13 the faithful of Christ the Saviour (Harrisburg) celebrated the Great Feast of the Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday). At Liturgy we welcomed Gregory Woodbridge into the Orthodox Church through the Mystery of Holy Chrismation, and we enrolled Greg Beckley into the Catechumenate.  At the conclusion of the service we recognized several of our youth who participated in their first confession. A special thanks to Eleanor Herman and Marie Reba for teaching the class. May God grant them all many years!

(Troparion) By raising Lazarus from the dead before Thy passion, Thou didst confirm the universal resurrection, O Christ God! Like the children with the branches of victory, we cry out to Thee, O Vanquisher of Death: Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord!

The community of Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church (Harrisburg, PA) hosted four talks for our 2025 Great Lent Adult Education Series - How to have a good Great Lent: Getting Right with God, your neighbor, and yourself. Each of the talks was preceded by Lenten Compline. Glory to God for all things!

To watch recordings please visit: https://www.ctshbg.org/greatlent2025

To watch/listen to recordings of previous series visit: https://www.ctshbg.org/lectures 

On April 6, St. Mary of Egypt Sunday, the St. Tikhon Seminary Mission Choir, visited the community of Christ the Saviour and sang the responses at the Divine Liturgy. Fr. John Parker (Seminary Dean) offered an inspiring homily (listen), and the choir lifted our hearts as they sang not only beautifully - but prayerfully! Our faithful especially enjoyed learning more about the seminarians at the fellowship hour. Glory to God for all things!

On Saturday, March 8th, our community joined the Orthodox parishes of South Central PA for the Pan-Orthodox Vespers at St. John Chrysostom Antiochian Orthodox Church in York, PA. The homilist was His Grace Bishop John (Abdalah) of the Diocese of Worcester and New England (Antiochian). What a blessing to witness the unity of our Orthodox Christian faith!

On Sunday, March 9th the community of Christ the Saviour celebrated the first Sunday of Great Lent (the Triumph of Orthodoxy) in thanksgiving to God for His many blessings. At the Liturgy the faithful participated in a procession commemorating the restoration of the holy icons. Finally, with the blessing of Archbishop Mark, we administered the oath of office to our newly elected parish council. Glory to God for all things!

This is the Faith of the Apostles.
This is the Faith of the Fathers.
This is the Faith of the Orthodox.
This is the Faith which has established the Universe.

On Saturday, Jan 18 the community of Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church celebrated the Baptism of Thomas (Luke) Keiper. On Sunday, Jan 19 he was joined by his fiancé Jessica Gaydos, as they were both received through the Sacrament of Holy Chrismation, and partook of the Holy Eucharist. May God grant them "many years" as faithful members of the Body of Christ!

On Sunday, January 12 the community of Christ the Saviour continued its celebration of the feast of Theophany, and participated in the Great Blessing of Water at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. Glory to God for all things!