Bulletin for Sunday, February 21, 2021

SAINT SPYRIDON

GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

124 Wadsworth Avenue, New York, NY 10033

Tel: (212) 795 - 5870 * www.saintspyridon.net

Rev. Fr. George Kazoulis, Parish Priest

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee

Sunday, February 21, 2021

Orthros 9:00 AM * Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM

COMPLIMENTARY VALET PARKING AVAILABLE

Fast Free | No fasting restrictions.| All foods are allowed the week that follows this Sunday.

Today we commemorate

Timothy the Righteous

John III, Patriarch of Constantinople

Eustathius, Bishop of Antioch

LIGHT A VIRTUAL CANDLE

AND SAY A PRAYER

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Stewardship 2021 Online Payment

The Beginning of the Triodion: The Publican and the Pharisee

The Pharisees were an ancient and outstanding sect among the Jews known for their diligent observance of the outward matters of the Law. Although, according to the word of our Lord, they "did all their works to be seen of men" (Matt. 23:5), and were hypocrites (ibid. 23: 13, 14, 15, etc.), because of the apparent holiness of their lives they were thought by all to be righteous, and separate from others, which is what the name Pharisee means. On the other hand, Publicans, collectors of the royal taxes, committed many injustices and extortions for filthy lucre's sake, and all held them to be sinners and unjust. It was therefore according to common opinion that the Lord Jesus in His parable signified a virtuous person by a Pharisee, and a sinner by a Publican, to teach His disciples the harm of pride and the profit of humble-mindedness. Since the chief weapon for virtue is humility, and the greatest hindrance to it is pride, the divine Fathers have set these three weeks before the Forty-day Fast as a preparation for the spiritual struggles of virtue. This present week they have called Harbinger, since it declares that the Fast is approaching; and they set humility as the foundation for all our spiritual labors by appointing that the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee be read today, even before the Fast begins, to teach, through the vaunting of the Pharisee, that the foul smoke of self-esteem and the stench of boasting drives away the grace of the Spirit, strips man of all his virtue, and casts him into the pits of Hades; and, through the repentance and contrite prayer of the Publican, that humility confers upon the sinner forgiveness of all his wicked deeds and raises him up to the greatest heights. All foods are allowed the week that follows this Sunday.

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America: Saints and Feasts

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to the world.

Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον· Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for the Church in the First Mode

O Father, God-bearer, Spyridon, you were proven a champion and Wonder Worker of the First Ecumenical Council. You spoke to the girl in the grave and turned the serpent to gold. And, when chanting your prayers, most sacred One, angels ministered with you. Glory to Him who glorified you; glory to Him who crowned you; glory to Him who, through you, works healing for all.

Τῆς Συνόδου τῆς πρώτης ἀνεδείχθης ὑπέρμαχος, καὶ θαυματουργὸς θεοφόρε, Σπυρίδων Πατὴρ ἠιμῶν, διὸ νεκρὰ σὺ ἐν τάφῳ προσφωνεῖς, καὶ ὄφιν εἷς χρυσοῦν μετέβαλες, καὶ ἐν τῷ μέλπειν τὰς ἁγίας σου εὐχάς, Ἀγγέλους ἔσχες συλλειτουργούντάς σοὶ Ἱερώτατε, Δόξα τῶ σὲ δοξάσαντι, δόξα τῶ σὲ στεφανώσαντι, δόξα τῶ ἐνεργοῦντι διὰ σοῦ πάσιν ἰάματα.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Let us flee from the boasting of the Pharisee and learn through our own sighs of sorrow the humility of the Publican. Let us cry out to the Savior, "Have mercy on us, for through You alone are we reconciled."

Φαρισαίου φύγωμεν ὑψηγορίαν, καὶ Τελώνου μάθωμεν, τὸ ταπεινὸν ἐν στεναγμοῖς, πρὸς τὸν Σωτῆρα κραυγάζοντες· Ἵλαθι μόνε ἡμῖν εὐδιάλλακτε.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Fourth Orthros Gospel

The Reading is from Luke 24:1-12

On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered in to the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.

Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 24:1-12

Καὶ τὸ μὲν σάββατον ἡσύχασαν κατὰ τὴν ἐντολήν, Τῇ δὲ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων ὄρθρου βαθέος ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμα φέρουσαι ἃ ἡτοίμασαν ἀρώματα, καί τινες σὺν αὐταῖς. εὗρον δὲ τὸν λίθον ἀποκεκυλισμένον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου, καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι οὐχ εὗρον τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Κυρίου ᾿Ιησοῦ. καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ διαπορεῖσθαι αὐτὰς περὶ τούτου καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνδρες δύο ἐπέστησαν αὐταῖς ἐν ἐσθήσεσιν ἀστραπτούσαις. ἐμφόβων δὲ γενομένων αὐτῶν καὶ κλινουσῶν τὸ πρόσωπον εἰς τὴν γῆν εἶπον πρὸς αὐτάς· τί ζητεῖτε τὸν ζῶντα μετὰ τῶν νεκρῶν; οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε, ἀλλ᾿ ἠγέρθη· μνήσθητε ὡς ἐλάλησεν ὑμῖν ἔτι ὢν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ, λέγων ὅτι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθῆναι εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ σταυρωθῆναι, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστῆναι. καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν τῶν ῥημάτων αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὑποστρέψασαι ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου ἀπήγγειλαν ταῦτα πάντα τοῖς ἕνδεκα καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς λοιποῖς. ἦσαν δὲ ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ Μαρία καὶ ᾿Ιωάννα καὶ Μαρία ᾿Ιακώβου καὶ οἱ λοιπαὶ σὺν αὐταῖς, αἳ ἔλεγον πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ταῦτα. καὶ ἐφάνησαν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ λῆρος τὰ ῥήματα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἠπίστουν αὐταῖς. ὁ δὲ Πέτρος ἀναστὰς ἔδραμεν ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ παρακύψας βλέπει τὰ ὀθόνια κείμενα μόνα, καὶ ἀπῆλθε πρὸς ἑαυτόν, θαυμάζων τὸ γεγονός.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.

O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.

Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 3:10-15.

TIMOTHY, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at lconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Προκείμενον. Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 103.24,1.

Ὡς ἐμεγαλύνθη τὰ ἔργα σου Κύριε, πάντα ἐν σοφίᾳ ἐποίησας.

Στίχ. Εὐλόγει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν Κύριον.

Πρὸς Τιμόθεον β' τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα 3:10-15.

Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, παρηκολούθηκάς μου τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ, τῇ ἀγωγῇ, τῇ προθέσει, τῇ πίστει, τῇ μακροθυμίᾳ, τῇ ἀγάπῃ, τῇ ὑπομονῇ, τοῖς διωγμοῖς, τοῖς παθήμασιν, οἷά μοι ἐγένετο ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ, ἐν Ἰκονίῳ, ἐν Λύστροις, οἵους διωγμοὺς ὑπήνεγκα· καὶ ἐκ πάντων με ἐρρύσατο ὁ κύριος. Καὶ πάντες δὲ οἱ θέλοντες εὐσεβῶς ζῇν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ διωχθήσονται. Πονηροὶ δὲ ἄνθρωποι καὶ γόητες προκόψουσιν ἐπὶ τὸ χεῖρον, πλανῶντες καὶ πλανώμενοι. Σὺ δὲ μένε ἐν οἷς ἔμαθες καὶ ἐπιστώθης, εἰδὼς παρὰ τίνος ἔμαθες, καὶ ὅτι ἀπὸ βρέφους τὰ ἱερὰ γράμματα οἶδας, τὰ δυνάμενά σε σοφίσαι εἰς σωτηρίαν διὰ πίστεως τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.

Gospel Reading

The Reading is from Luke 18:10-14

The Lord said this parable, "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 18:10-14

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἄνθρωποι δύο ἀνέβησαν εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν προσεύξασθαι, ὁ εἷς Φαρισαῖος καὶ ὁ ἕτερος τελώνης. ὁ Φαρισαῖος σταθεὶς πρὸς ἑαυτὸν ταῦτα προσηύχετο· ὁ Θεός, εὐχαριστῶ σοι ὅτι οὐκ εἰμὶ ὥσπερ οἱ λοιποὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ἅρπαγες, ἄδικοι, μοιχοί, ἢ καὶ ὡς οὗτος ὁ τελώνης· νηστεύω δὶς τοῦ σαββάτου, ἀποδεκατῶ πάντα ὅσα κτῶμαι. καὶ ὁ τελώνης μακρόθεν ἑστὼς οὐκ ἤθελεν οὐδὲ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἐπᾶραι, ἀλλ᾿ ἔτυπτεν εἰς τὸ στῆθος αὐτοῦ λέγων· ὁ Θεός, ἱλάσθητί μοι τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ. λέγω ὑμῖν, κατέβη οὗτος δεδικαιωμένος εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ ἢ γὰρ ἐκεῖνος· ὅτι πᾶς ὁ ὑψῶν ἑαυτὸν ταπεινωθήσεται, ὁ δὲ ταπεινῶν ἑαυτὸν ὑψωθήσεται.

2021 Stewardship

Stewardship 2021 online payment

Orthodox Christian Stewardship Program

Dear Saint Spyridon Steward,

The love that Saint Paul describes in his letter to the Christians at Corinth is an expression of stewardship. Love and stewardship are inseparable when we consider God’s blessings in our life and the way we use these gifts with love and compassion for others and to honor, worship and give thanks to God.

2021 is a special year for our community: the 90th anniversary of its establishment. Our church building is nearly 70 years old and has not looked this beautiful in many, many years, thanks to the restoration of the iconography. It is a great example of what we can accomplish when we work together for the betterment of our community.

2020 has been one of the most difficult years for all of us. Yet our community persevered as we welcomed our new priest, Father George Kazoulis, installed new boilers and continued with activities as best we could. 2021 can be better. St. Spyridon has always honored our Orthodox faith and Hellenic heritage and will continue to do so, but only with your prayers and financial support.

We have so much to be grateful for, yet we have so much that must be done to help our community grow:

Outreach: A social media campaign to help inspire new parishioners; Special events; the establishment of a Greek language school.
Ministries: Grow our Young Adult ministry; expand our Sunday School and Altar Boy ministries; enhance the spiritual life of our community through Liturgical presence and opportunities for worship and prayer; encourage a love and appreciation for our Liturgical musical heritage through our School of Byzantine Music; maintain our Senior Citizen Fellowship; develop philanthropic efforts to care for our local community and beyond; foster collaborative relationships with organizations to help others in need; and create educational opportunities such as Bible Study and Lectures to cultivate intellectual and spiritual growth.
Maintenance: Upkeep of a 70 year old building, including exterior pointing, replacement of 13 fire doors, restoration of the church pews, and installation of LED light bulbs throughout the building to reduce our electricity usage.

The Parish Council has been a careful steward of our church’s finances by controlling expenses. But our operating costs are $1,100 per day and only a small portion of that is covered by stewardship; 80% of our stewards contribute less than $500 per year. It is difficult to sustain, let alone grow, our church this way.

Our 2021 Parish Council goal is to have 100% of our parishioners increase their stewardship contribution by 15% over 2020.

Stewardship means the giving of time, talent AND treasure. It is a commitment one makes after prayerful consideration and in gratitude for all the blessings that our Lord and Savior has freely given us.

Would you consider offering the cost of a single day? That translates to just $21 per week. Setting-up a monthly online contribution of just $92 is easy…just click here.

Alternatively, you can download and complete the pledge form, and then return it to the church office in person or send it via mail to [email protected]. Download Stewardship Pledge Form

If you are unable to contribute that amount, please consider increasing your stewardship from last year. Whatever you are able to contribute is greatly appreciated.

We ask you to support the worthy ministries of St. Spyridon and seek your participation in helping us realize the vision of our community. We are to give, St. Paul says, “as God has prospered you” (I Cor. 16:2). He teaches us clearly, “He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." Every investment we make today will help sow the seeds of prosperity and growth in the future.

Giving to His Church is a way to thank God for His grace and generosity and to show our gratitude. Every day we should proclaim from the depths of our heart “Glory to God” and ask our benevolent Lord to hear our humble prayers and bless our homes, our hearts, and our lives. The question, therefore, is not, “What are the dues?” but “How can I thank God for my many blessings?”

Your contribution is most meaningful when accompanied by your presence, by your willingness to serve, by your prayers, and by your commitment. Giving is not a substitute for commitment – it is an expression of your commitment and an expression of thanks for the many blessings in your life.

Offering our thanks for your dedication to our parish and your participation in Christ’s work of salvation, we remain,

With love in Christ,

Rev. Fr. George Kazoulis

Parish Priest

Lydia Vagelos Callimanis

Parish Council President

Steve Hantzarides

Stewardship Chair

"... μείζον δε τούτων η αγάπη. " Κορινθίους Α’ 13:13

Ορθόδοξο Χριστιανικό Πρόγραμμα Προσφοράς

Ιανουάριος 2021

Ο Απόστολος Παύλος, στην προς Κορινθίους επιστολή του, περιγράφει την αγάπη ως μια έκφραση προσφοράς. Η αγάπη και η προσφορά είναι δύο αχώριστες αρετές. Η μία προϋποθέτει την άλλη. Όταν αναγνωρίζουμε τις ευλογίες του Θεού στη ζωή μας και δείχνοντας την ευγνωμοσύνη μας στο Θεό αλλά και όταν τις διαχειριζόμαστε με αγάπη και συμπόνια προς τους συνανθρώπους μας.

Το 2021 είναι μια ιδιαίτερη χρονιά για την κοινότητά μας. Εορτάζουμε την 90ή επέτειο από την ίδρυσή της. Το κτίριο της εκκλησίας μας, μια ιστορία 70 ετών, δεν έχει φανεί τόσο όμορφο όσο εδώ και πολλά χρόνια, χάρη στην αποκατάσταση της εικονογραφίας. Είναι ένα μεγάλο παράδειγμα του τί μπορούμε να επιτύχουμε όταν εργαζόμαστε, όλοι μαζί, για την πρόοδο της κοινότητάς μας.

Το 2020 ήταν μία δύσκολη χρονιά για όλους μας. Ωστόσο, η κοινότητά μας δεν υπέκυψε στις δυσκολίες αλλά συνεχίζοντας προοδευτικά, καλωσορίσαμε τον νέο μας ιερατικώς προϊστάμενο, π. Γεώργιο Καζούλη, εγκαταστήσαμε νέους λέβητες και συνεχίσαμε τις δραστηριότητες όσο το δυνατόν καλύτερα. Η κοινότητα του Αγίου Σπυρίδωνα ανέκαθεν έχει τιμήσει την Ορθόδοξη πίστη και την ελληνική κληρονομιά και θα συνεχίσει να το κάνει, με συμμάχους τις προσευχές σας και την οικονομική σας υποστήριξη.

Έχουμε τόσα πολλά που μας κάνουν να είμαστε ευγνώμονες, αλλά έχουμε και τόσα άλλα που πρέπει να γίνουν για να βοηθήσουμε την κοινότητά μας να αναπτυχθεί:

Προγράμματα Ενημέρωσης, Προβολής και Εκπαίδευσης: Μια κοινωνική εκστρατεία σύγχρονων μέσων ενημέρωσης των ενοριτών μας, αλλά, και μία ευκαιρία έμπνευσης σε περισσότερους ανθρώπους οι οποίοι θα θαυμάσουν και θα επιθυμήσουν να ασπαστούν την Χριστιανική μας πίστη. Επίσης, οργάνωση ειδικών εκδηλώσεων και ίδρυση Ελληνικού Απογευματινού Σχολείου.
Προγράμματα Ποιμαντικής Διακονίας: Βοηθήστε στην ανάπτυξη της ομάδας των νέων, του Κατηχητικού Σχολείου και της ομάδας των Ιεροπαίδων μας. Στόχος μας, να ενισχυθεί η πνευματική ζωή και η καθημερινή παρουσία στην κοινότητάς μας μέσω περισσότερων Ιερών Ακολουθιών. Ενθαρρύνετε τα παιδιά σας να αγαπήσουν την εκκλησιαστική μουσική μέσω της Βυζαντινής Μουσικής Σχολής μας. Βοηθήστε να διατηρήσουμε την ομάδα των ηλικιωμένων μας. Υποστηρίξτε την ανάπτυξη των φιλανθρωπικών προσπαθειών μας για τη φροντίδα της τοπικής μας κοινότητας και όχι μόνο, να καλλιεργούμε σχέσεις συνεργασίας με οργανώσεις για να βοηθήσουμε τους αδελφούς και τις αδελφές μας που έχουν ανάγκη και τέλος συμμετάσχετε στις εκπαιδευτικές ευκαιρίες όπως στην μελέτη της Αγίας Γραφής και στις διαλέξεις για την πρόοδο της πνευματικής μας ζωής.
Συντήρηση: Αρμολόγηση λιθοδομής εξωτερικών τοιχίων της εκκλησίας και του σχολείου, όπως απαιτείται από την πολεοδομία της Νέας Υόρκης. Αντικατάσταση 13 πορτών πυρασφάλειας. Ανακατασκευή των στασιδιών της εκκλησίας, και αντικατάσταση νέων LED λαμπτήρων σε όλο το κτίριο για τη μείωση κατανάλωσης της ηλεκτρικής ενέργειας.

Το εκκλησιαστικό συμβούλιο παρ’ όλο που κάνει μια προσεκτική διαχείριση των οικονομικών της εκκλησίας μας, τα λειτουργικά έξοδα της κοινότητας ανέρχονται σε $1,100 ανά ημέρα! Μόνο ένα μικρό μέρος των εξόδων καλύπτεται από την προσφορά σας. Σχεδόν το 80% των ενοριτών μας συνεισφέρουν λιγότερο από $500 ανά έτος. Είναι δύσκολο να διατηρηθεί η εκκλησία, πόσο μάλλον να αναπτυχθεί με αυτόν τον τρόπο.

Ο στόχος μας, για το 2021, είναι να έχουμε μια αύξηση 15% της ετήσιας προσφοράς όλων των ενοριτών σε σχέση με το 2020.

Προσφορά σημαίνει τη διάθεση του χρόνου σας, της εθελοντικής εργασίας σας, αναλόγως των ικανοτήτων του καθενός και της οικονομικής συνεισφοράς σας. Είναι μια δέσμευση την οποία αποφασίζει κανείς μετά από προσευχή, δείχνοντας με αυτό τον τρόπο, την ευγνωμοσύνη για όλες τις ευλογίες που μας έχει δώσει πλουσιοπάροχα ο Θεός.

Θα επιθυμούσατε να προσφέρετε το κόστος μίας ημέρας ως ετήσια προσφορά; Αυτό συνεπάγεται $21 την εβδομάδα ή $92 μηνιαίας συνεισφοράς μέσω του συνδέσμου PayPal

Απλά συμπληρώστε το συνημμένο έντυπο δελτίο προσφοράς και επιστρέψτε το στο γραφείο της εκκλησίας προσωπικά ή μέσω ηλεκτρονικού ταχυδρομείου στο [email protected].

Αν δεν μπορείτε να συνεισφέρετε αυτό το ποσό, τότε σας παρακαλούμε να εξετάσετε την αύξηση της προσφοράς σας από το προηγούμενο έτος. Η κάθε συμβολή σας στο έργο της κοινότητας εκτιμάται ιδιαίτερα.

Σας παρακαλούμε να στηρίξετε τα αξιόλογα προγράμματα του Αγίου Σπυρίδωνα και να επιδιώξετε τη συμμετοχή σας βοηθώντας μας να υλοποιήσουμε το όραμα μας. Όπως μας διδάσκει ο Απόστολος Παύλος, πρέπει να δίνουμε όπως μας έχει ευημερήσει ο Θεός. «Αυτός που σπέρνει με αφθονία, θα θερίσει επίσης με μεγάλη επιτυχία». Κάθε επένδυση που κάνουμε σήμερα θα βοηθήσει την ευημερία και την ανάπτυξη για το μέλλον.

Το να δίνεις στην Εκκλησία είναι ένας τρόπος να δείξεις την ευγνωμοσύνη σου και να ευχαριστήσεις τον Θεό για τη γενναιοδωρία Του. Κάθε μέρα θα πρέπει να διακηρύττουμε από τα βάθη της καρδιάς μας «Δοξολογία στον Θεό» και να ζητάμε από τον Κύριό μας να ακούει τις ταπεινές προσευχές μας και να ευλογεί τα σπίτια μας, την καρδιά μας και τη ζωή μας. Το ερώτημα, επομένως, δεν είναι "Πόσα χρωστάω ή πόσα πρέπει να πληρώσω;" Αλλά, "Πώς μπορώ να ευχαριστήσω τον Θεό για τις πολλές ευλογίες Του στη ζωή μου;"

Η συμβολή σας είναι πιο δυνατή και σημαντική όταν συνοδεύεται με την παρουσία σας, με την προθυμία σας να υπηρετήσετε και από τις προσευχές σας.

Εκφράζουμε τις θερμές μας ευχαριστίες για την αφοσίωσή σας, την αγάπη σας και τη συμμετοχή σας στην ενορία μας για το θεάρεστο έργο του Χριστού.

Με την εν Χριστώ αγάπη,

π. Γεώργιος Καζούλης

Ιερατικώς Προϊστάμενος

Λυδία Βαγέλου-Καλλιμάνης Πρόεδρος Εκκλησιαστικού Συμβουλίου

Σωτήριος Χατζαρίδης

Επικεφαλής Επιτροπής Προσφορών

Announcements

Memorial Service

Sunday, February 21, 2021

Tatiana (40 days)

Athanasios (Arthur) Jiavaras

13 years

CHRISMATION

Welcome to our Orthodox Faith

Katerina Pantazis!

May the Lord's blessings be with you and your family and may your patron saint, St. Catherine the Great Martyr intercede for you always!

Wisdom of the Fathers

It is possible for those who have come back again after repentance to shine with much luster, and oftentimes more than those who have never fallen at all, I have demonstrated from the divine writings. Thus at least both the publicans and the harlots inherit the kingdom of Heaven, thus many of the last are placed before the first. -St. John Chrysostom

When lately we made mention of the Pharisee and the publican, and hypothetically yoked two chariots out of virtue and vice; we pointed out each truth, how great is the gain of humbleness of mind, and how great the damage of pride. -St. John Chrysostom

SAINTS OF THE WEEK

February 23

Polycarp the Holy Martyr & Bishop of Smyrna

This apostolic and prophetic man, and model of faith and truth, was a disciple of John the Evangelist, successor of Bucolus (Feb. 6), and teacher of Irenaeus (Aug. 23). He was an old man and full of days when the fifth persecution was raised against the Christians under Marcus Aurelius. When his pursuers, sent by the ruler, found Polycarp, he commanded that they be given something to eat and drink, then asked them to give him an hour to pray; he stood and prayed, full of grace, for two hours, so that his captors repented that they had come against so venerable a man. He was brought by the Proconsul of Smyrna into the stadium and was commanded, "Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and say, 'Away with the atheists.'" By atheists, the Proconsul meant the Christians. But Polycarp, gazing at the heathen in the stadium, waved his hand towards them and said, "Away with the atheists." When the Proconsul urged him to blaspheme against Christ, he said: "I have been serving Christ for eighty-six years, and He has wronged me in nothing; how can I blaspheme my King Who has saved me?" But the tyrant became enraged at these words and commanded that he be cast into the fire, and thus he gloriously expired about the year 163. As Eusebius says, "Polycarp everywhere taught what he had also learned from the Apostles, which also the Church has handed down; and this alone is true" (Eccl. Hist., Book IV, ch. 14,15).

February 24

First & Second Finding of the Venerable Head

of John the Baptist

The first finding came to pass during the middle years of the fourth century, through a revelation of the holy Forerunner to two monks, who came to Jerusalem to worship our Saviour's Tomb. One of them took the venerable head in a clay jar to Emesa in Syria. After his death it went from the hands of one person to another, until it came into the possession of a certain priest-monk named Eustathius, an Arian. Because he ascribed to his own false belief the miracles wrought through the relic of the holy Baptist, he was driven from the cave in which he dwelt, and by dispensation forsook the holy head, which was again made known through a revelation of Saint John, and was found in a water jar, about the year 430, in the days of the Emperor Theodosius the Younger, when Uranius was Bishop of Emesa.

February 25

Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople

This Saint was the son of one of the foremost princes in Constantinople, and was originally a consul and first among the Emperor's private counselors. Then, in 784, he was elected Patriarch of Constantinople by the Sovereigns Irene and her son Constantine Porphyrogenitus. He convoked the Seventh Ecumenical Council that upheld the holy icons, and became the boast of the Church and a light to the clergy. He reposed in 806.

February 26

Porphyrius, Bishop of Gaza

Saint Porphyrius had Thessalonica as his homeland. He became a monk in Scete of Egypt, where he lived for five years. He went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, after which he spent five years in much affliction in a cave near the Jordan. Stricken with a disease of the liver, he departed to Jerusalem, where he was ordained presbyter and appointed Keeper of the Cross at the age of 45. Three years later he was made Bishop of Gaza. He suffered much from the rulers and pagans of Gaza; but with the friendship of Saint John Chrysostom, and the patronage of the Empress Eudoxia, he razed the temple of the idol Marnas in Gaza and built a great church to the glory of God. He reposed in 450.

February 27

Procopius the Confessor of Decapolis

Saints Procopius and Basil, fellow ascetics, lived about the middle of the eighth century, during the reign of Leo the Isaurian (717-741), from whom they suffered many things for the sake of the veneration of the holy icons. They ended their lives in the ascetical discipline.