Schedule of Services | About Our Parish | Directions | Copyright Notice
Great Vespers - Saturdays 5:00 PM
Church School - Sundays 9:00 AM
Choir Rehearsal - Sundays 9:00 AM
Divine Liturgy - Sundays 10:00 AM
Great Vespers - Saturdays 5:00 PM
Divine Liturgy - Sundays 9:30 AM
Vespers - 6:30 PM
Divine Liturgy - 9:30 AM
Please contact us at 978-897-7695 to check on these times to make sure there hasn't been a schedule change or additional services added to the schedule.
It all began in Maynard in 1915, at the home of Julian Chutoransky. A small group of Orthodox Christians from Russia, Austria-Hungary and Poland assembled to celebrate the Divine Liturgy together with Fr Jacob Grigorieff, a priest from the Russian Orthodox Church. At many "house-church" gatherings like this, the idea of Holy Annunciation Church took root and grew.
In 1916 the dream became a reality with the beautiful church on Prospect St, incorporating the best of rural Russian Church architecture. Today, this church still stands firm--a steadfast witness to the Faith of our Fathers with their hope, determination, and love.
Holy Annunciation Church began as a parish of the Russian Orthodox Church in America. The language used in the Church was Slavonic, and the Church provided fulfillment for the spiritual lives of the immigrant Russian Orthodox Christians living in Maynard and the surrounding communities. Unfortunately, the Church held no attraction for its English-speaking neighbors. Others also regarded it merely as an expression of ethnic beauty or as an exotic curiosity.
English was first introduced into the Services in 1938. In 1944, a new generation entered into active service in the parish with Nadia Hurachko and Mary Bobritsky serving as Dues Collectors. In 1946 Zennia Chutoransky (now Dejevsky) became the first American-born member of the Parish Committee when she was elected Secretary. In 1954, the entire Divine Liturgy was celebrated in English rather than Slavonic for the first time. The beautiful melodies and harmonies of chant developed over the centuries in Russia and can still be heard today in their translations from Slavonic to English.
In 1968 Fr Thomas Edwards became pastor of Holy Annunciation Church. He was the first pastor to be an American-born convert to the Orthodox Faith. Because his native tongue was English and his Slavonic limited, Fr Thomas celebrated the Divine Liturgy completely in English. From this time on, English became the dominant language of the parish, although occasional Slavonic is still used.
In 1970, the Russian Orthodox Church in America received its autocephaly (right to self-government) from the Mother Church in Russia. Thus, in accordance with the Canons and ecclesiastical practices of the Orthodox Church around the world, the Russian Orthodox Church in America became the "Orthodox Church in America." As a member parish of the Orthodox Church in America, Holy Annunciation Church is now dedicated solely to the inhabitants of this continent, with no restrictions to particular ethnic groups or nationalities.
The parish is currently undergoing a metamorphosis. A shift in parish demographics to a younger population forced us to consider, and then act, to enlarge and renovate the church building. This exciting and challenging project has surely begun a new chapter in the life of this parish.
As Holy Annunciation Church looks forward to the future in our new building,
we rededicate ourselves to two primary tasks: to continually renew ourselves
in the Christian life by the grace of God; and to daringly spread the Good News
of Christ to all, inviting them to unite with the Holy Orthodox Church in order
to truly know Christ and His Truth.
From a village of less than two thousand population in 1871 to a community
of approximately ten thousand at present, the town of Maynard remains a small
vibrant town. Area wise, it is the smallest town in Massachusetts with a radius
of only five miles in any direction. The town was incorporated on April 19,
1871 and named after its founder and most prominent citizen Amory Maynard.
The old Assabet Mills dominated the area and attracted immigrants from many
parts of the world who came to this country looking for work and a "new"
life (i.e. Irish, Finns, Lithuanians, Italians, Polish, Russians, English, German,
etc.). It was and still remains a so-called "Blue Collar" community
with continued life and activity.
Written by: Retired Deacon Andre Beshta, former resident of Maynard, Massachusetts.
Visit the Maynard, MA Town Web site for more information.
Commemorated on March 25
THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS
The Feast of the Annunciation is one of the earliest Christian feasts, and was already being celebrated in the fourth century.
...
The Greek and Slavonic names for the Feast may be translated as "good tidings." This, of course, refers to the Incarnation of the Son of God and the salvation He brings. The background of the Annunciation is found in the Gospel of St Luke (1:26-38). The troparion describes this as the "beginning of our salvation, and the revelation of the eternal mystery," for on this day the Son of God became the Son of Man.
There are two main components to the Annunciation: the message itself, and the response of the Virgin. The message fulfills God's promise to send a Redeemer (Genesis 3:15): "I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed; he shall crush your head, and you shall lie in wait for his heel." The Fathers of the Church understand "her seed" to refer to Christ. The prophets hinted at His coming, which they saw dimly, but the Archangel Gabriel now proclaims that the promise is about to be fulfilled.
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The Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth in Galilee. There he spoke to the undefiled Virgin who was betrothed to St Joseph: "Hail, thou who art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."
In contrast to Eve, who was readily deceived by the serpent, the Virgin did not immediately accept the Angel's message. In her humility, she did not think she was deserving of such words, but was actually troubled by them. The fact that she asked for an explanation reveals her sobriety and prudence. She did not disbelieve the words of the angel, but could not understand how they would be fulfilled, for they spoke of something which was beyond nature.
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" (Luke 1:34).
"And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: therefore also that which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.' And Mary said, 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.' And the angel departed from her" (Luke 1: 35-38)."
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The icon of the Feast shows the Archangel with a staff in his left hand, indicating his role as a messenger. Sometimes one wing is upraised, as if to show his swift descent from heaven. His right hand is stretched toward the holy Virgin as he delivers his message.
The Virgin is depicted either standing or sitting, usually holding yarn in her left hand. Sometimes she is shown holding a scroll. Her right hand may be raised to indicate her surprise at the message she is hearing. Her head is bowed, showing her consent and obedience. The descent of the Holy Spirit upon her is depicted by a ray of light issuing from a small sphere at the top of the icon, which symbolizes heaven. In a famous icon from Sinai, a white dove is shown in the ray of light.
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The Annunciation falls during Lent, but it is always celebrated with great joy. The Liturgy of St Basil or St John Chrysostom is served, even on the weekdays of Lent. It is one of the two days of Great Lent on which the fast is relaxed and fish is permitted (Palm Sunday is the other).
Sections of text taken from the OCA Web Site.
View the full-text version and icon at:
http://www.oca.org/FSLivesAllSaints.asp?SID=4&M=3&D=25
Take Route 2 East to Rt. 27 - Exit 42 - toward Maynard / Sudbury.
Follow Rt. 27 for approximately 0.2 miles.
Turn Slight Right on Main Street / Rt. 27. Continue for 3.0 miles.
You will pass a Cumberland Farms Gas Station on your right. Prospect Street
is your very next left, across from Nason Street on your right.
Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church is at the top of the hill.
Take Route 2 West past Emerson Hospital on your left.
Turn left on Rt. 62. Follow for 0.6 miles.
You will come to a Ninety Nines Restaurant ahead of you at the forked intersection.
Turn left on the fork onto Main Street / Rt. 62. Follow for 3.4 miles.
You will go through a 3-way traffic light intersection with a Stop n Shop plaza
on your right. Go straight through this intersection.
Turn right at the next traffic-light intersection onto Waltham Street / Rt.
27 / Rt. 62.
You will see a McDonald's on your left at the next intersection. Take a slight
right at this intersection onto Rt. 27 / Acton Street.
Turn right onto Prospect Street just before the Cycle Loft on your left. Holy
Annunciation Orthodox Church is at the top of the hill.
Take I-495 South to Rt. 2 East - Exit 29A - toward Boston.
Follow Rt. 2 for 4.4 miles to Rt. 27 - Exit 42 - toward Maynard / Sudbury.
Follow Rt. 27 for approximately 0.2 miles.
Turn Slight Right on Main Street / Rt. 27. Continue for 3.0 miles.
You will pass a Cumberland Farms Gas Station on your right. Prospect Street
is your very next left, across from Nason Street on your right.
Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church is at the top of the hill.
Take I-95 N toward Boston to I-495 N - Exit 6B - toward Worcester.
Follow I-495 N for 37.4 miles.
Take Route 117 E - Exit 27 - toward Stow / Maynard.
Turn left onto 117 / Main Street. Continue for 6 miles.
Turn left onto Pompositticut Road. Follow for approximately 0.3 miles.
You will stop at a traffic light intersection. You will see downtown Maynard
on your right. Take a left at the intersection onto Nason Street.
At the next stop sign, cut across Acton Road onto Prospect Street.
Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church is at the top of the hill.
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