Sunday Bulletin

November 15, 2026

Sunday, November 15

Orthros at 8:30 am

Divine Liturgy at 9:30 am

Today we commemorate

8th Sunday of Luke 

Nativity Fast Begins 

Guria, Shamuna, and Habib, Martyrs and Confessors of Edessa 

Thomas II the New, Archbishop of Constantinople

Click below to read today's scripture

Matins Gospel

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Philoptochos Collection Tray to Benefit Veterans

We Commemorate a 40-Day Memorial for✝

Dimitri C. Yavis

Coffee Fellowship Sponsored in his Memory

We Commemorate a 1-Year Memorial for✝

Constantine James Ermides

Coffee Fellowship Sponsored in his Memory

May their Memory be Eternal

Remember, O Lord, in kindness Your servant, and whatever in life he/she sinned forgive. For no one is without sin, but You alone. Give rest to him/her who has departed.

Watch our live-streaming services here:

Sunday, Nov. 15 - Veterans Collection Tray

As the philanthropic arm of the church, community outreach continues to be a major component of the Philoptochos mission. In our quest to demonstrate our appreciation to the men and women serving our country, Philoptochos adopted a new and on-going project in support of our veterans via partnership with the Veterans Administration (VA). The project is called “Veterans Assistance” and involves a broad range of initiatives. As an expression of our gratitude toward our men and women in uniform, the Ladies have adopted more than one initiative. Our brave service men and women have made great sacrifices to serve our country and to protect all of us. It is important to show them that we appreciate their sacrifice, that we care and are eager to assist them as they return to civilian life and a new chapter in their lives. Sunday’s collection will go to the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center to support homeless Veterans and their families and the food pantry program.

VA's mission is to fulfill President Lincoln's promise “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s veterans.

Kali Parea

A voice cries, 'in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.' (Isaiah 40:3)

The Season of Advent in the Orthodox Church runs from November 15 through December 24 and is a period of fasting and reflective preparation for the Incarnation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Soufico is a favorite vegetable meal during “Advent” that requires time and patience in its preparation. Soufico is a dish of layered, caramelized veggies and vegetable oil. The word itself comes from the Italian “sofocare” which translates “to smother”.

The Kali Parea group will meet on Thursday, November 19 at 12:30 pm in the AHEPA Room. I do hope many of you will be attending and will also bring challenging and relevant questions for Fr. Neofitos to answer.

Remember, please let Jim know by 11 am on Tuesday, November 17 if you will or will not be attending.

Menu for the day: Soufico, Bread, Dessert, Coffee, Lemonade, Water, and above all “Fellowship”.

Parish Council Elections

At the General Assembly meeting of November 1, 2026 nominations were held to fill the six (6) upcoming vacancies on the Parish Council of Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Church.

Any parishioner wishing to have their name placed in nomination, please complete the form below and return it addressed to the Election Committee, Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, 440 Whitehall Road, Albany, NY 12208, received no later than 10:00 AM today. 

As the Election Committee prepares for the upcoming Parish Council Elections on December 6, 2026, we are providing absentee ballot requests until Friday, December 4, 2026 at 5 pm. Absentee ballots will be mailed, once voter eligibility is verified, (100% stewardship paid) beginning on Monday, November 16, as nominations end at 10 am on Sunday, November 15.

After November 16, absentee ballot requests will be filled when received, with a deadline of Friday, December 4, 2026 at 5 pm.

Please be advised that the Election Committee is not responsible for USPS delays. If you would like an absentee ballot please do so in a timely manner.

Maids of Athena

A little gathering, a lot to be grateful for.

Harvest Dinner Dance

Please join us on November 21 for the Harvest Dinner Dance. Tickets are $60 for adults and $30 for child age 5-18. Kids under 5 are free. Live Greek music by the Aegean Duo! Please click below for tickets, to view the donation & sponsorship form and letter of support & sponsorship. Our online silent auction is now live! Please click below to start bidding.

Sunday School

Registration is open for the 2026-2027 year. Please click the button below. The first day of classes is September 27. We look forward to seeing you!

Greek Language & Culture Academy

Registration is now open for the 2026-2027 Greek School Program for children from preschool through high school. Classes begin on Saturday, September 19. The annual tuition is $350 per child, which includes books and activity fees. Registration and payment may be completed online below or in person at the church office. Checks should be made payable to St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church with "Greek School" in the memo line. For additional information, please e-mail greeklanguageacademy@stsophiaalbany.org.

Community Senior Holiday Dinner

Please use the form below to RSVP or call the church office at (518) 489-4442 by November 25. Please indicate the names and meal selections. Thank you.

New Year's Vasilopita Sale

Ring in 2027 with a delicious Vasilopita made by the Nuns of Agia Skepi. Only 90 loaves available so order NOW!

Vasilopita are 2 pounds and contains a coin. The cost is $20 per loaf. Your Vasilopita will be available for pick up on Sunday, Dec. 20th during coffee hour. You can place your order during coffee hour, by contacting Vasso Potter at (518) 209-3234 or go to the online form below.

2026 Stewardship Pledge Campaign

The church is here for the many Sundays and Feast Days of church services throughout the year because we, as ordinary people, face challenges and stressful times and we need the strength we find in our faith. Of course, we also want to celebrate the blessings in our lives. Baptisms, weddings, and even farewells to loved ones. So much our church offers. If you have not already done so, please make a commitment today to be a steward , a "caretaker" of our church with a pledge of your support. Complete the 2026 green stewardship cards found on the information tables. Or go online. Or call the church office and make a credit card payment over the phone.

November 2026 Calendar

Please click below to view the calendar.

In Memory

Please click below to donate in their memory to the General Fund.

Dolores Bachandouris

Angelo Kontis

Dimitri Yavis

Savas H. Ermides

Opening the Scriptures

Rev. Dr. Eugen J. Pentiuc, Dean of Holy Cross and Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies, will offer a weekly Bible Study every Thursday at 7:00 PM Eastern via Zoom.

Part of The Scriptorium Initiative at Holy Cross, funded by Lilly Endowment, this Bible Study is open to everyone: seminarians, clergy, faithful, seekers, and all who wish to discover more deeply how Scripture is read, interpreted, and lived within the Orthodox tradition.

Coming October 15, 2026. For more information and registration, visit www.thescriptoriuminitiative.org.

OPA-cize

OPA-cize back! Join us this Fall as we dance, laugh, and shout “OPA!” at this high-energy, Greek-inspired fitness class—no experience or RSVP needed. Just $7 and a smile! Classes are Wednesdays at 6:30 PM at St. Sophia’s Church Hall in Albany. We Dance & Donate for local charities. This session proceeds will benefit “To Life!” a local organization that supports people with Breast Cancer. Move your body, lift your spirit, and support a great cause. OPA! Click below to learn more.

Camp Saint Paul 2027

Valentine's Dance

The room block is open at Homewood Suites Crossgates Mall for $199 per night which includes free parking, complimentary breakfast and free Wi-Fi. The deadline is January 9, 2027. Please click below to purchase tickets.

Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

Explore the Spring 2027 online course offerings at Hellenic College Holy Cross!

A diverse range of courses is available, providing opportunities for students and learners around the world to expand their knowledge. Offerings include Greek language courses at various levels, management-related subjects, theological disciplines such as Liturgics, Patrology, Dogmatics, Pastoral Care, and much more.

If you are looking to advance you theological education or strengthen your professional skills, explore the Spring 2027 online courses and discover the opportunities.

New Sunday School Curriculum

Something new and exciting is here — and it was made for your parish! This welcome video introduces the brand-new Sunday School Curriculum and the inspiring vision that brought it to life. Clergy, Sunday School directors, teachers, and families are all invited to dive in and discover a treasure trove of resources carefully crafted to help young people deepen their knowledge of the Orthodox Christian faith and grow in their living relationship with Christ and His Church. This is more than a curriculum. It's a call to ministry! So come with prayer, come with enthusiasm, come with creativity, and get ready to guide the next generation into the fullness of the life of the Church. The journey begins now!

Donations for the Angelo Bousbouras Recovery Fund are still being collected. The road to recovery from his accident presents itself as a very long and tedious journey. Checks may be made out to Philoptochos with a memo that it is for Angelo’s recovery. Note: All monies will be forwarded to Andrea Bousbouras for their many expenses. Philoptochos does not charge administrative fees for its fundraising programs.

There are neighborhoods that, over the passage of time, have just happened to evolve as a “high density senior neighborhoods.” There’s one such neighborhood around our church roughly from Route 85 to Academy Road to Western Avenue. NNORC--Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community is a state-wide program often in partnership with non-profits that coordinate a broad range of health and social services to help support older residents to age, and to age well, in their own homes. St. Sophia is one of several partners in this area. At the present time, two programs of NNORC are held here. One is the Chair Yoga/Nia exercise program for seniors with limited mobility. It provides beneficial and gentle aerobics. The class meets every Tuesday at 11 am. The other is a book club that meets here once a month for discussion and friendships. And there is a bi-monthly newsletter as well as emails that lists upcoming programs, outings, and classes, as well as articles on health and wellness. See the listing of current offerings on our bulletin board. For further information, call (518) 516-1114 or got to nnorc@jfsneny.org.

The Food Pantry truck came and emptied our food collection box. (It was a good collection!) That food and household supplies will be distributed to the many neighborhood food pantries in our area to help those with limited incomes. With your donations, our collection continues to be a successful yearlong project.

Kenya. New Zealand. Mexico. Fiji. OCMC, the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, invites individuals with diverse skills and backgrounds, including teachers, healthcare professionals, skilled tradespeople, and retirees, to participate in missionary work. There are a wide range of opportunities for sharing our faith and also serving communities with limited resources. Visit the OCMC website below to view these many options in countries around the world.

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America announces the newly established National Greek Folk Dance and Cultural Ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Study in Greece!

Please take a look at this opportunity for our children to study in Greece with high quality and at a cost convenient for the family budget.

Semester of Faith

The Semester of Faith program makes it possible for students from other colleges to study at Hellenic College. Students enrolled in the program continue to earn credits toward their bachelor’s degrees while also exploring their faith more deeply through theological study and daily worship on our campus. Semester of Faith students are welcome and encouraged to participate in all other dimensions of our Hellenic College community as well.

Diakonia: A New Weekly Bulletin to Enrich Parish Life 

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is launching an exciting new initiative to strengthen parish ministry and deepen the spiritual life of the faithful: the Diakonia Weekly Bulletin. Diakonia’s content can integrated seamlessly into existing parish publishing efforts or even used as a stand-alone bulletin supplement. 

Diakonia, which means “ministry” in Greek, was developed in response to a request from the Archdiocesan Presbyters Council (APC) for high quality, weekly parish bulletin content. Funded through a generous grant from Leadership 100, Diakonia represents a significant expansion of the Archdiocese’s widely used Bulletin Builder platform. 

An Idea from our Clergy 

For years, clergy and parish administrators have benefited from using Bulletin Builder to streamline the creation of print and digital parish bulletins while saving countless hours and reducing administrative burdens. Yet, one challenge persisted: providing consistent, high-quality, spiritually enriching and educational content for the faithful wrapped in a beautiful design.

Recognizing this need, the APC partnered with the Archdiocesan National Ministries to create a solution that would deliver impactful content every week with ‘point-and-click’ ease. The additional aim was to deliver the theological expertise of our Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology directly into the hands of the faithful each week. 

What’s Inside Diakonia?

Each week, Diakonia will have weekly sections consisting of: 

• Scriptural Meditation: A brief reflection on a theme from the Sunday Gospel or Epistle that will provide readers with greater insight and life application. 

• Insight from the Biblical Greek: A meditation on the original Greek word from the original biblical text, illuminating not only its historical and theological significance, but its implication in the Christian life. 

• Church History Spotlight: A feature that ties the local parish experience to the broader Orthodox Christian tradition. 

• Our Faith in Action: Educational insight on the Orthodox Christian faith and traditions, making the Orthodox faith real at home, and expressions of our Orthodox Christian faith in action. 
  
• Children’s Activity: Fun and engaging content for youth and the young at heart. 

Supporting Parish Ministry 

Diakonia is poised to transform parish communications and ministry. By providing ready-to-use, high-quality content, it frees clergy and administrators from the time-consuming task of sourcing material, allowing them to focus on pastoral care and outreach. For parishioners, it offers consistent, meaningful engagement with Scripture, tradition, and practical faith applications —strengthening their connection to Christ and His Church. 

Moreover, Diakonia reinforces the visibility of Holy Cross Seminary, creating a tangible link between academic theology and everyday parish life. This initiative reflects the Archdiocese’s commitment to equipping ministry leaders and building up the body of Christ (cf. Ephesians 4:12).

PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation

Attention undergraduate students of Hellenic descent - Our 2026/2027 Scholarship Application officially opens October 1st!⁠

⁠

Please click below to sign up for our e-mail list to be the first to hear when the application is released.

Albany Maritime Ministry

The Albany Maritime Ministry is seeking volunteers to welcome seafarers who dock at the Port of Albany. Most of these seafarers have been at sea for many months facing numerous hardships--separation from families, loneliness, dangerous weather conditions, human rights violations, and, from time to time, threats of actual piracy. A shopping trip to a Walmart's is a special outing for these men. The Ministry has a van for transportation but volunteer drivers are needed to take them to the store and then bring them back when finished. For further information, see Shalyn Docous. Volunteer applications are also available at the information table.

The Greek Orthodox Church of St. Sophia is a parish under the spiritual and ecclesiastical shepherding of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.

Ecumenical Patriarchate

Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date!