Holy Protection Orthodox Church, Austin, Texas - Russian Orthodox - Protection of the Holy Theotokos

We are a parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. Liturgy Sundays 9:30 a.m. at 1701
Peridot Rd., a few blocks north of Austin in Pflugerville, Tx. We welcome you for services and Bible study.

MEMORIAL SERVICE (RADONITSA) TUES., MAY 14, 2013, AT 9:30 a.m.

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

We had a wonderful, glorious Pascha (Easter), celebrating the resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ from the dead. Attendance at Easter services was over 120 (counting people who did not stay the whole time), with 65 communions at the midnight Liturgy.

Next service is Vigil, for Thomas Sun., Saturday, May 11, 5 p.m.

Bible study on Wed. 10 a.m. and Fri. 6 p.m.

Many thanks to all who helped sing, read, mow, beautify the yard and temple--everything needed for holy Pascha. God bless you.

Photos of Palm Sunday, Pascha, Christmas and Theophany.

MAY 2013

Pascha has arrived. We enter on Bright Week, which is entirely fast-free.

May 14 is Radonitsa, 9:30 a.m. memorial service.

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PASCHA 2013

Lent is over and once again we have celebrated with great rejoicing the true bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Diocesan statement on marriage.

Central Texas ROCOR: San Antonio pics. Regular services at Ft. Hood; contact Fr. Paul.

Updated wishlist here. Below: pics of services on our parish feast, Oct. 2012; more pics here.



Cross-procession around the church.	Sunday attendance 70. For detail, click the pic.

Announcements:
- We are asking for additional volunteers for Sunday School for May 2013.
- Catechesis (faith class) Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. and Fridays 6:00 p.m.
- Confessions Saturdays about 7:30 pm.
- Sunday Liturgy starts 9:30 am.
- There are many new plants, flowers, and beds around the church. Beautiful.
- When contractor delays are over, we will install the cupola and cross over the church.

Above right: picture of choir, Andrew Longway directing (click for detail). The singing is sounding beautiful. If you want to sing, let Andrew know.

Joining the Church: Baptisms are in English, Russian, or Spanish, as needed. Adult baptisms follow a testing and prayer called the catechumenate. Five adults are undergoing this process currently. Orthodox Christians may simply attend and belong. If you want to enter the Orthodox Church, call Fr. Aidan (512) 696-6890.

E-mail us with names of people you want prayers for. They will be specially commemorated at the next Divine Liturgy.

Dear parishioners, donors, and benefactors of Holy Protection Church, thank you for your support, whether with your time, effort, resources, or prayers! Your help is very important to our parish. May the Lord God remember you in His kingdom!

Now you can make a secure donation online to Holy Protection, using Paypal's secure server. You can complete your payment with just a few clicks. You don't need to have a PayPal account to donate in this way.

Yes, I wish to donate to Holy Protection Church. Just click the button below, to send us your donation.

Remember, Lord, those who bear fruit and do good in Thy holy churches; grant them their petitions which lead to salvation and give them eternal life.


Pictures of Divine Services and Feasts from 2013 back to 2009


Pascha 2012 here.	Holy Week 2012 here.	Pics March 2012 here.	Bp. Peter Visit, Jan. 2012, here.	Nativity Jan. 2012 here.
				Pascha 2011 here.
Dormition 2011 here.		Kursk Root Visit here.	Iconostas Jan. 2, 2012 here.	State of the Church address Jan '12.
Holy Fri. 2011 here.	Hieromonk Aidan	Easter 2010 here.	Palm Sunday 2011 here.	Nativity Jan. 2010 here.

To hear Russian Orthodox singing, click here.


		Trinity-Pentecost 2009 here.
Above: Bishop PETER of Cleveland. Vladyka was head of the Jordanville Seminary, then the Jerusalem Mission, before his consecration as Bishop. He speaks many languages and is a true monk. He is our "father of fathers," and our prayers are raised for him always. God grant our Vladyka many years!

Church name. Our church is called Holy Protection, for the Virgin Mary's protective prayers. Over 1000 years ago, at the Christian capital Constantinople, pagan Russian forces attacked by sea. She was seen in the air, praying to Almighty God for the Christian population.	Suddenly, the enemy forces scattered, and the Christians were spared. Soon after, the Russians converted to Christ. Still later, Russians brought Orthodox Christianity to the Far East, Americas, Africa, Australia, and Western Europe (which lost it). Glory to God.

History. In 2001 the church was begun by Russian Orthodox believers with the help of Fr. Ljubomir Kupec. Services were held a few times a year. Dmitri Mercier and Luda Voskov played a vital role (thank you). Fr. Cassian Sibley began monthly Liturgies in July 2007.	In Sept. 2008, Fr. Hieromonk Aidan was assigned, and weekly Liturgies began. In 2011 services began at the new church location. Attendance increased greatly. In Jan. 2012, Bishop Peter blessed our new church and celebrated the Hierarchical Liturgy.

Priest: Rev. Fr. Aidan (Keller), cell (512) 696-6890, hieromonk of the Eastern America diocese, is Rector with the blessing of Bishop Peter of Cleveland.

Choir: Andrew Longway (choirmaster); Natasha Ponomareva; Alexandra Boston; Natasha Longway; Dominica, Katherine, and Sarah McGinnis; Tatiana Larina; Rr. Anesti Pochi;	Marcella Andreasen; Cynthia Manning; John Alëshin; and others. The music is sounding beautiful. If you want to sing with us, contact Andrew.

Sisterhood: The Myrrh-bearers are devoted to service: cleaning, sewing, painting, landscaping, education, meals, prosfora baking, and beautification for feasts.	To join the Sisterhood, help in any way, or volunteer refreshments for a particular Sunday, please contact Sisterhood president Ilona.

Officers: Sergei Larin, warden; Tatiana Saturn, treasurer; Lena Larina, secretary; Barry Spikes, member; Olga Ponomareva, member; Julia Gavrilova, member; Vera Mityushina, member. Hieromonk Aidan Keller is council President.	Elected auditors are Natasha Boston, Anna Spikes, and Evgeny Gavrilov. Officers elected Feb. 24, 2013, await confirmation by Bishop Peter.

Why the Russian Church? The Orthodox Church has different church administrations for different world regions. The Greek Church serves people in Greece, the Russian those in Russia, and so on. In America these administrations overlap, plus there have been many English-speaking Americans converting to the faith of the Eastern Orthodox Church. But what is this Church? The Orthodox Church is the oldest of all Christian churches. She was active in the world prior to the writing of the New Testament books, and is alive and well today, faithful to Christ's teachings, the original Bible, and the ancient Christian way of life. In the 20th century the Russian Orthodox Church endured heavy persecution. The people suffered "on Golgotha" together with their Lord, Jesus Christ.	Therefore the Russian Church has a special contribution, or witness, of self-sacrifice and joy in the midst of trouble. In Russia today, atheism is vanishing and Christian faith constantly growing. This witness is good for America, where Christianity is often watered down, where people tend to pick and choose their prayers, morals, and truth. Instead of seeking to match popular trends, our church seeks fidelity to a 2,000-year-old way. Large numbers of Americans have found that they can make the Russian Orthodox tradition their own, and that they too can take up the "cross" of struggle, follow Christ, leave sin behind, and get transformed by His grace, in hope of eternal life. We invite you to make that journey together with us.

We invite all people in the area to prayer and worship, and to browse our Orthodox books and icons.
To schedule a service or presentation for your group, contact Fr. Aidan at (512) 696-6890 or hieromonachusaidanus@yahoo.com.

We are a parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. Liturgy Sundays 9:30 a.m. at 1701 Peridot Rd., a few blocks north of Austin in Pflugerville, Tx. We welcome you for services and Bible study.