EPIPHANY PARISHIONERS SERVING IN IRAQ Serving our country in Iraq are two young men, parishioners of Epiphany Byzantine Catholic Church, whose courage, valor and dedication to the defense of our country we commend to our readers as models for us all. First Lieutenant John M. Fuchko, III, age 27 is serving the 122nd ROC, 78th Troop Command [1], and his brother, Specialist David G. Fuchko, age 23 [2] is serving in the 221st Military Intelligence Battalion, 78th Troop Command in Iraq. They are the sons of John M. Fuchko and Linda D. Fuchko. Both have been active in the parish for many years serving as altar boys in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. We urge our parishioners, our readers and all others to pray for them and their comrades in arms, for their safety and salvation and for the success of their mission. See FORTY-TWO MARTYRS OF AMORION, A TRIBUTE TO THE MEN OF AMERICA'S ARMED FORCES FIRST LT. JOHN M. FUCHKO, III SPECIALIST DAVID G. FUCHKO (middle) ST. DEMETRIUS OF THESSALONICA SOLDIER, MARTYR, SAINT [3] PRAYER FOR SOLDIERS GOING OFF TO BATTLE O Holy Master, Almighty Father and Eternal God, Who alone made and directs all things; Who rises up quickly against the evil of the impious ones; Who, by Providence, teaches the people preservation of Justice and the obliteration of the sword on earth; Who condescends to raise up military columns to help the people. … We entreat Thee with compunction who gavest David the power to defeat Goliath, and as Thou didst condescend, through Judas Maccabeus, to seize victory from the arrogant pagans who could not call on Thy Name; so too, grant protection in righteousness and truth to these Thy servants against the enemies rising against them, and by Thy heavenly loving-kindness, strength and might for the preservation of faith and truth. Condescend, out of Thy mercy, O Master, to grant them the fear of Thee, together with humility, obedience and good endurance; that they kill no one unrighteously, but rather preserve all righteousness and truth; that they may fear Thee and honor Justice; that they may run in friendship to those who are scattered, extending Thy love to those near them, serving the elderly with justice; and that their ranks fulfill all things righteously; for Thou art our God, and to Thee do we ascribe glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen ST. GEORGE THE GREAT MARTYR PATRON SAINT OF THE ARMED FORCES COLLECT Almighty, everlasting God in whose hand are the power and the government of every nation; look to the help of the Christian people, that the heathen nations, who trust in their own fierceness, may be crushed by the power of Thy right arm, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God forever and ever. Amen. From Mass Against The Heathen - Tridentine Liturgy   FOOTNOTES: 1) John Fuchko, III is married to Sherie Lipham of Canton, Georgia. They have four children, Sasha, J.J., Hannah Grace, and Michael Owen and are expecting their fifth child later this year. John was recently discharged from active duty in Iraq and now works as an auditor with the Board of Regents and is also affiliated with the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network. He and his wife serve on the Governing Board of the HOPE Center in Woodstock, Georgia. He is a graduate of Kennesaw State University with a B. S. in political science and later obtained a MBA from Georgia State University. 2) Spc David Fuchko completed his tour of duty in Iraq in September 2006 and has returned home. 3) Our Holy & Glorious Great Martyr, Demetrius of Thessalonica, was a soldier & officer in the Roman Army who became a Christian and the source of great inspiration to those about him, drawing many to Christianity. He disclosed his commitment to Christ and suffered death as the result thus earning the martyr's crown around the year 306 AD. The great basilica of St. Demetrius is located in Thessalonica, Greece. For several hundred years the basilica had been desecrated by the Muslims as a mosque. Today it is back in Christian hands and houses his relics. We celebrate his feast day on October 26.   Our Church:  Our Identity  |   Parish History  |  Our Temple  |  Byzantine Metropolia Instruction-Canon Law  |  Greek Catholic Union  |  Four Hierarchs-Four Martyrs Garden of All Saints  |  Parishioners in Iraq Our Traditions: Theophany-Epiphany  |  The Diaconate  |  Our Lady of the Willow Frankincense  |  Water  |  Iconostasis  |  Hagia Sophia  |  St.Nicholas of Myra Pentecost  |  Theotokos  |  Cosmology  |  Ordination of Married Men The Orthodox Brethren: Eternal Memory  |  Mother of Churches  |  Christ the Savior Miscellanous: Islam-Jihad  |  The Chaldean Church  |  Other Sites Home Copyright © 1999 - 2005 by Epiphany Byzantine Catholic Church. All Rights Reserved.