ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL

Norfolk, VA | Rev. Protopresbyter George Bessinas

Sunday Worship Guide

& Weekly News

Please follow our service using the books in the pews, or more comprehensively using Digital Chant Stand of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Of America. Both in English and in Greek.

We will be posting tutorials on how to get to the services of the day in the near future. It's a fantastic resource for all of the services of our Orthodox faith including all Sacraments and daily services.

Orthos (Matins) 8:45 AM

Divine Liturgy (St. Basil the Great) 10:00 AM

Synaxarion

On March 31 was the contest of the holy hieromartyr Hypatios, Bishop of Gangra, our devout father Akakios the Confessor, Bishop of Melitine.the holy martyrs who witnessed in Persia: Audas the bishop, Benjamin the deacon, and nine other martyrs with them, and many other Saints who were imprisoned, and were eaten alive by mice and weasels enclosed with them. The holy martyr Menandros re-posed after being dragged naked over stones. The holy thirty-eight martyrs who were relatives died by the sword. Our devout father Blaise, who was born in Amo-rion, reposed in peace. Our devout father Stephen the wonderworker reposed in peace. On this day, the second Sunday of Lent, we observe the memory of our Father among the Saints Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica.

HYMNS AT THE ENTRANCE WITH THE GOSPEL

Resurrectional Apolytikion, Mode 2.

"Ὅτε κατῆλθες...Ote katilthes/When You decended"

View Hymn: Greek / English

When You descended unto Death, O Lord, You who are immortal Life put Hades to death, by the lightning of Your divinity. And when You raised the dead from the netherworld, all the hosts of heaven sang aloud to You, “O Christ God, Giver of life, glory to You!    

Apolytikion For the Hierarch. Mode pl. 4.

"Ὀρθοδοξίας ὁ φωστήρ...Orthodhoxias o fostir/

Orthodoxy's luminary (Beacon of Orthodox belief)"  

View Hymn: Greek / English 

Beacon of Orthodox belief, the strong support of the Church and her teacher inspired by God, you are the ornament of monks, the unassailable champion of theologians, O Gregory the Wonder-worker and the boast of Thessalonica, the messenger of grace. Forever earnestly entreat for the salvation of our souls

Apolytikion of St. Theodore the Commander, Mode 2.

"Στρατολογια αληθεί αθλοφόρε...Stratologhia alithi athlofore..."

View Hymn: Greek / English

In truth enlisted with the King of the Heavens, you did become for Him a noble commander, O trophy-bearer and Great Martyr Theodore. With the weaponry of faith did you arm yourself wisely and did utterly destroy all the hordes of the demons, as a triumphant athlete of the Lord; wherefore we ever do faithfully call you blessed.

Apolytikion of the Annunciation, Mode 1.

"Σήμερον τῆς Σωτηρίας…Simeron Tis Sotirias"

View Hymn: Greek / English

On this day the crown of our salvation is set for us, and the manifestation of the mystery from the ages. The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin, and Gabriel announces the good tidings of grace. Therefore let us cry out with him unto the Theotokos: Hail to you who are full of grace; the Lord is with you.

Kontakion. Mode pl 4.

"Τῇ ὑπερμάχῳ...Ti ipermacho/O Champion General"

View Hymn: Greek / English

 O Champion General, I your City now inscribe to you * Triumphant anthems as the tokens of my gratitude, * Being rescued from the terrors, O Theotokos.* Inasmuch as you have power unassailable, * From all kinds of perils free me, so that unto you * I may cry aloud: Rejoice, O unwedded Bride

Prokeimenon. Mode 2. Psalm 117.

The Lord is my strength and my song, and He became my salvation.

The Epistle

Second Sunday of Lent

The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews. Heb. 1:10-14; 2:1-3

“In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like clothing; like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never end.” But to what angel has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation? Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him.

Προκείμενον. Ἦχος βʹ. Ψαλμὸς 117.

Ἰσχύς μου καὶ ὕμνησίς μου ὁ Κύριος, καὶ ἐγένετό μοι εἰς σωτηρίαν.

Ὁ Ἀπόστολος

Τῇ Δευτέρᾳ Κυριακῇ τῶν Νηστειῶν

Πρὸς Ἑβραίους Ἐπιστολῆς Παύλου τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα. Εβρ 1:10-14, 2:1-3

Κατʼ ἀρχὰς σύ, Κύριε, τὴν γῆν ἐθεμελίωσας, καὶ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σού εἰσιν οἱ οὐρανοί· αὐτοὶ ἀπολοῦνται, σὺ δὲ διαμένεις· καὶ πάντες ὡς ἱμάτιον παλαιωθήσονται, καὶ ὡσεὶ περιβόλαιον ἑλίξεις αὐτούς, καὶ ἀλλαγήσονται· σὺ δὲ ὁ αὐτὸς εἶ, καὶ τὰ ἔτη σου οὐκ ἐκλείψουσι. πρὸς τίνα δὲ τῶν ἀγγέλων εἴρηκέ ποτε· κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου; οὐχὶ πάντες εἰσὶ λειτουργικὰ πνεύματα εἰς διακονίαν ἀποστελλόμενα διὰ τοὺς μέλλοντας κληρονομεῖν σωτηρίαν; Διὰ τοῦτο δεῖ περισσοτέρως ἡμᾶς προσέχειν τοῖς ἀκουσθεῖσι, μή ποτε παραρρυῶμεν. εἰ γὰρ ὁ δι᾽ ἀγγέλων λαληθεὶς λόγος ἐγένετο βέβαιος, καὶ πᾶσα παράβασις καὶ παρακοὴ ἔλαβεν ἔνδικον μισθαποδοσίαν, πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας; ἥτις ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ Κυρίου, ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη.

The Gospel

Second Sunday of Lent

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark. Mk. 2:1–12

At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – he said to the paralytic – “I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.” And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Τὸ Εὐαγγέλιον

Τῇ Δευτέρᾳ Κυριακῇ τῶν Νηστειῶν

Ἐκ τοῦ κατὰ Μᾶρκον ἁγίου Εὐαγγελίου τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα. Μκ βʹ 1–12

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσῆλθε ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς Καπερναοὺμ δι᾿ ἡμερῶν καὶ ἠκούσθη ὅτι εἰς οἶκόν ἐστι. καὶ εὐθέως συνήχθησαν πολλοί, ὥστε μηκέτι χωρεῖν μηδὲ τὰ πρὸς τὴν θύραν· καὶ ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς τὸν λόγον. καὶ ἔρχονται πρὸς αὐτὸν παραλυτικὸν φέροντες, αἰρόμενον ὑπὸ τεσσάρων· καὶ μὴ δυνάμενοι προσεγγίσαι αὐτῷ διὰ τὸν ὄχλον, ἀπεστέγασαν τὴν στέγην ὅπου ἦν, καὶ ἐξορύξαντες χαλῶσι τὸν κράβαττον, ἐφ᾿ ᾧ ὁ παραλυτικὸς κατέκειτο. ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ· τέκνον, ἀφέωνταί σοι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου. ἦσαν δέ τινες τῶν γραμματέων ἐκεῖ καθήμενοι καὶ διαλογιζόμενοι ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν· τί οὗτος οὕτω λαλεῖ βλασφημίας; τίς δύναται ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ Θεός; καὶ εὐθέως ἐπιγνοὺς ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὕτως αὐτοὶ διαλογίζονται ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί ταῦτα διαλογίζεσθε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν; τί ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν τῷ παραλυτικῷ, ἀφέωνταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, ἢ εἰπεῖν, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει; ἵνα δὲ εἰδῆτε ὅτι ἐξουσίαν ἔχει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀφιέναι ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἁμαρτίας — λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ· σοὶ λέγω, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ ὕπαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου. καὶ ἠγέρθη εὐθέως, καὶ ἄρας τὸν κράβαττον ἐξῆλθεν ἐναντίον πάντων, ὥστε ἐξίστασθαι πάντας καὶ δοξάζειν τὸν Θεὸν λέγοντας ὅτι οὐδέποτε οὕτως εἴδομεν.

The Children's Word

All Altar Boys are welcomed to serve.

Carolyn Papafil, Forty Day

Everlasting be her memory

The community-wide celebration of the Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos 

and Greek Independence Day (see flyer).

Philoptochos 2024 membership/stewardship is now being collected ($30). 

AGORA

is open every Sunday during coffee fellowship hour for all of your shopping needs. Proceeds support the philanthropic ministry of Philoptochos. 

Thank You

The special tray on Sunday, March 24 raised $765 for the Metropolis of New Jersey Social Services. Thank you for your generosity. Philoptochos is—Philanthropy-Fellowship-Faith in Action!

St. Anna Senior Ministry

Tuesday, April 9, 10:30am, Social Hall. Join us for food and fellowship.

Hellenic Woman’s Club

Easter order forms are available on a table outside the bookstore. 

Parish General Assembly

Our Spring General Assembly meeting will be April 21st following the Divine Liturgy in the Hellenic Center. Please make plans to attend and learn about all we have going on in our parish! Lots of great things happening, and Parish Council needs your input!

The Pascha Card is sponsored by GOYA. This initiative not only celebrates our faith but also supports the vibrant activities of our youth group.

OR, print and submit the form below to the Church Office

Upcoming Dates

April 1 - 5pm Open Gym, Compline Reading, Lenten Meal

April 5-7 - Lenten Retreat @ Camp Good Shepherd

April 8 - No Meeting

April 15 - 5pm General GOYA Meeting, Compline Reading, Lenten Meal

April 22 - 5pm GOYA/JOY Open Gym, Compline Reading, Lenten Meal

All GOYA members are asked to attend at least three Lenten services.

Lenten Retreat April 5-7

Transportation: Buses and drivers are being provided by Perry Rempas of LPR. Huge thank you for support of our youth!

Depart: Friday, April 5th, 5:00pm from the parking lot of Annunciation Cathedral.

Return: Buses will pick up from camp at 11:00am and bring everyone back to Annunciation on Sunday, April 7th around 12:15 - 12:30

Chaperones: Counselors, Demetri Cain & Coach Chris Milonas

Location: Camp Piankatank (Same place as Camp Good Shepherd)

Dance Practice for All Dancers.

April 14, 21

Stay tuned for other info.

Check SPOND for updates

For regular communication and notifications, both GOYA and Dance use the Spond app. Click on the link below to download Spond for Apple or Android.

Schedule for Sunday, March 31

Please meet in Social Hall at 11:15am or after Communion

Line up for Doxology at 11:50

Doxology at 12

Pizza for kids after Doxology in Social Hall. Parents please stay and help us serve and clean up afterwards.

The congregation will go to the Hellenic center quickly and get lunch (pasta with marinara and shrimp). As soon as they are seated, we will process in and begin!

As your child finishes their poem, please help them down the stage and have them quickly sit with you so the next child can speak. We would like to avoid having kids playing at the bottom of the stage while the older kids are speaking.

Greek dancers will go after the program is complete.

There is a speaker who should be interesting if families would like to stay! He will start immediately after the dancers finish. 

If you want to return borrowed costumes to me after your child is done, please find me and I'll be happy to take the costume back!

Thank you again to all the parents who helped get the hall set up quickly! Thank you for all the support and see you tomorrow (Sunday)!!

Thank You!

Maria Achilleos

Sign up to Volunteer for the Greek Fest Express!

Your Parish Council at Annunciation Cathedral is here for you, working hard to serve our community. Reach out with your thoughts, concerns, and questions—we're working and listening! In partnership with our Priest, elected by you, we're committed to fostering a vibrant, inclusive parish life through open communication, spiritual growth, and community engagement. Your feedback and ideas are crucial as we strive to create meaningful worship experiences and opportunities for everyone to get involved. Let's make our parish thrive together!

Parish Council Members

Click on a name below to send an email.

John Katsias - President

Cindy Dragas - 1st VP

Peter Matthews - 2nd VP

Garrett Waters - Treasurer

Nate Kinnison - Secretary, AGOC Web Admin

Demetri Cain

Michelle Kastner

Eleni Kopassis

Lia Kopassis

Pete O. Kotarides

George Polizos

Parish Council meets monthly to discuss Cathedral business.

Next PC Meeting: April 18, 6pm

Parish Council Committees are a big part of how our community operates.

Click Here to see the list of 2024 PC Committees and members.

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral

Chapel of St. Theodore the Commander

Image courtesy of Vertical Insights, LLC

We extend to you a warm and heartfelt Orthodox Christian welcome. Our Cathedral is dedicated to imitating the love and faithfulness of Jesus Christ by sharing the Gospel with our words and living it with our lives. It exists to lead the faithful to the worship of the Holy Trinity according to the Faith and Tradition of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. We live and witness our faith by the grace of God through our participation in the sacramental life of the Church, Her holy tradition and stewardship, fellowship, service and Christian education.

Father George: [email protected]

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.AnnunciationVA.org

Office Phone: (757) 440-0500