Ann Arbor, MI
Founded 1981 ~ A Parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad
St. Vladimir's Altar Servers Resource Page
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St. Vladimir Russian Orthodox Church Ann Arbor, MI Founded 1981 ~ A Parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad St. Vladimir's Altar Servers Resource Page |
Please direct all questions about serving in the altar to:
Reader John Zroika - Senior Server
734-483-8299
jzrioka@sbcglobal.net
If you cannot reach John you may contact Fr. Gregory
Click Here for Bishop's Service Information
Team Patron Angel Names
Timothy*, Nikita, Savva: Archangel Raphael
Lukas*, Noah, Alexander: Archangel Uriel
*Team Captain
Assignments:
If date of Sunday is an even number: Archangel Raphael
If date of Sunday is an odd number: Archangel Uriel
Practice Dates for 2006^: The Last Saturday of each Month at 5:00 p.m.
^Boys should bring a notepad and something to write with to every practice. Note-taking is sometimes necessary.
St. Vladimir's Altar Server Documents
St. John of San Francisco on Serving in the Altar (Russian)
Divine Liturgy Instructions for Altar Servers
Altar Servers' Tip Sheet (Good for Parents to Go Over with their Boys)
Altar Clean Up Regime (After Services)
Script for Vespers/Vigils at St. Vladimir's
General St. Vladimir's Rules
1. Boys may begin to serve in the altar at St. Vladimir's from the time they begin to go to Confession (usually about 7 years old).
2. Those living in the Ann Arbor area are very, very strongly urged to attend Altar Servers' Practices. Those living further away are urged to attend if at all possible.
3. John Zroika is in charge (judge, jury, and executioner) in the altar. What John says goes. Fr. Gregory IS NOT an avenue of appeal.
4. Other rules are noted in the above "Altar Servers' Tip Sheet". In addition to these rules an altar server must receive John Zroika's blessing following the Divine Services signifying that his duties are complete BEFORE receiving Fr. Gregory's blessing to unvest.
5. Serving in the altar is a right, not a privilege. Please do not forget that in the Old Testament Temple a rope was tied around the High Priest's waist before he entered the Holy of Holies (what corresponds to our altar) so that if he died while in that area of the Temple they would not have to wait until the next year for the new High Priest (who was allowed to enter that area only once per year) to retrieve him. We should behave accordingly in the altar in our days, that is, treating it as a very holy place. Inappropriate behavior will be reported to parents for remedy. Those who continue to behave poorly will be asked to leave the altar.
Note: as the boys progress in age it would be ideal if they begin to learn to read the Epistle and the Hours. A good age to begin to learn to read appropriately is probably 16 or so, perhaps a bit younger for some boys. To arrange for your son to learn to read in church please contact our head Reader:
Reader Bill Wolff
734-354-0867
wolffwj@aol.com
Other Altar Servers' Links
St. Vladimir's Bell Ringing Page
Bishop's Service Documents - Updated for Bishop Peter Visit August 26, 2006 (Saturday Vigil Only)
Crib Sheet for
Bishop's Service
Not all that useful, except for those serving as Subdeacons
Script for Bishop's Service Vigil
Print Double-Sided on Legal Paper and Fold to Make a
Booklet
Script for Bishop's Service Meeting/Vesting
Print Double-Sided and Fold to Make a
Booklet
Script for Bishop's Service Divine Liturgy
Print Double-Sided and Fold to Make a Booklet
Script for Bishop's Service Bell Ringing
Print Double-Sided and Fold to Make a Booklet