A BLESSED & HAPPY MOTHER S DAY to all the Mothers and Mother-figures of our Church Family

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1 Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Reverend Father Dean J. Dimon Proistamenos 2187 West 14th Street, Cleveland, OH May 13, 2018 Sunday of the Blind Man Mother s Day Χριστός Ανέστη! Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! A BLESSED & HAPPY MOTHER S DAY to all the Mothers and Mother-figures of our Church Family Today we celebrate a special day dedicated to our mothers. Of course, there are many reasons why we should honor them - for their sacrificial and unselfish love they have given us, for the loving care they have given us throughout our lives, and for all of their prayers. In all aspects of our lives - our character, our sense of responsibility, good and bad habits, our ability to cope with difficulties, and our faith, is formed by our mothers. From our mothers and our extended mothers in our church family we learn our religious beliefs, our morals and ethical principles. It is true that mothers have an absolutely vital role in bringing up children and teaching them the Christian faith. We remember that St. Paul reminded Timothy (2Tim. 1:5) of the faith he received from his own mother and grandmother; When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. The mother s faith - or lack of it - will affect many, not just her own children but also grandchildren and other children within the extended family. In order to educate our children we must be educated in the Faith ourselves. This is the parents responsibility to involve ourselves in the life of the Church, and to strive to be a holy example both at home and in public for our children to follow. We should pray together as a family and bring our children to the Divine Liturgy often. By doing so, we make it possible for our children to receive God s spiritual grace in prayer and worship. This is the greatest gift we can give to them. With these thoughts, I wish all of you XPRONIA POLLA and a blessed and joyous Mother s Day! It is a wonderful day to honor all of you, both living and reposed with gratitude and love. I pray that the Most Holy Theotokos, the Mother of our Lord and the Mother of us all, Intercede for our mothers today and for us all with Her Son and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Parish Council Members Emmanuel Ermidis President Konstantinos Almiroudis Vice President Jim Ganotis Treasurer Panagiota Petratos Secretary Eleni Karadaglis Michael Manak Irene Scordos Christopher Sheely.Athanasios Anagnostos Sam Zizis +Fr. Dean

2 Epistle Prokeimenon. Mode Plagal 1. Psalm 11.7,1 You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us. Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed. The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 16:16-34 Ἀπόστολος Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 16:16-34 Π ρ ο κ ε ί μ ε ν ο ν. Ή χ ο ς π λ. α '. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 11.7,1 Σὺ Κύριε, φυλάξαις ἡμᾶς καὶ διατηρήσαις ἡμᾶς. Στίχ. Σῶσον με, Κύριε, ὅτι ἐκλέλοιπεν ὅσιος. Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 16:16-34 τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα είναι απο IN THOSE DAYS, as we apostles were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by soothsaying. She followed Paul and us, crying, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." And this she did for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the rulers; and when they had brought them to the magistrates they said, "These men are Jews and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or practice." The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one's fetters were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, "Men, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family. Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God. Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, ἐγένετο δὲ πορευομένων ἡμῶν εἰς προσευχὴν παιδίσκην τινὰ ἔχουσαν πνεῦμα πύθωνος ἀπαντῆσαι ἡμῖν, ἥτις ἐργασίαν πολλὴν παρεῖχε τοῖς κυρίοις αὐτῆς μαντευομένη.αὕτη κατακολουθήσασα τῷ Παύλῳ καὶ τῷ Σίλᾳ ἔκραζε λέγουσα οὗτοι οἱ ἄνθρωποι δοῦλοι τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου εἰσίν, οἵτινες καταγγέλλουσιν ἡμῖν ὁδὸν σωτηρίας. τοῦτο δὲ ἐποίει ἐπὶ πολλὰς ἡμέρας. διαπονηθεὶς δὲ ὁ Παῦλος καὶ ἐπιστρέψας τῷ πνεύματι εἶπε παραγγέλλω σοι ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐξελθεῖν ἀπ αὐτῆς. καὶ ἐξῆλθεν αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ. Ιδόντες δὲ οἱ κύριοι αὐτῆς ὅτι ἐξῆλθεν ἡ ἐλπὶς τῆς ἐργασίας αὐτῶν, ἐπιλαβόμενοι τὸν Παῦλον καὶ τὸν Σίλαν εἵλκυσαν εἰς τὴν ἀγορὰν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας, καὶ προσαγαγόντες αὐτοὺς τοῖς στρατηγοῖς εἶπον οὗτοι οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἐκταράσσουσιν ἡμῶν τὴν πόλιν Ιουδαῖοι ὑπάρχοντες, καὶ καταγγέλλουσιν ἔθη ἃ οὐκ ἔξεστιν ἡμῖν παραδέχεσθαι οὐδὲ ποιεῖν Ρωμαίοις οὖσι. καὶ συνεπέστη ὁ ὄχλος κατ αὐτῶν. καὶ οἱ στρατηγοὶ περιρρήξαντες αὐτῶν τὰ ἱμάτια ἐκέλευον ῥαβδίζειν, πολλάς τε ἐπιθέντες αὐτοῖς πληγὰς ἔβαλον εἰς φυλακήν, παραγγείλαντες τῷ δεσμοφύλακι ἀσφαλῶς τηρεῖν αὐτούς ὃς παραγγελίαν τοιαύτην εἰληφὼς ἔβαλεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν ἐσωτέραν φυλακὴν καὶ τοὺς πόδας αὐτῶν ἠσφαλίσατο εἰς τὸ ξύλον. Κατὰ δὲ τὸ μεσονύκτιον Παῦλος καὶ Σίλας προσευχόμενοι ὕμνουν τὸν Θεόν ἐπηκροῶντο δὲ αὐτῶν οἱ δέσμιοι. ἄφνω δὲ σεισμὸς ἐγένετο μέγας, ὥστε σαλευθῆναι τὰ θεμέλια τοῦ δεσμωτηρίου, ἀνεῴχθησάν τε παραχρῆμα αἱ θύραι πᾶσαι καὶ πάντων τὰ δεσμὰ ἀνέθη. ἔξυπνος δὲ γενόμενος ὁ δεσμοφύλαξ καὶ ἰδὼν ἀνεῳγμένας τὰς θύρας τῆς φυλακῆς, σπασάμενος μάχαιραν ἔμελλεν ἑαυτὸν ἀναιρεῖν, νομίζων ἐκπεφευγέναι τοὺς δεσμίους. ἐφώνησε δὲ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ὁ Παῦλος λέγων μηδὲν πράξῃς σεαυτῷ κακόν ἅπαντες γάρ ἐσμεν ἐνθάδε. αἰτήσας δὲ φῶτα εἰσεπήδησε, καὶ ἔντρομος γενόμενος προσέπεσε τῷ Παύλῳ καὶ τῷ Σίλᾳ,καὶ προαγαγὼν αὐτοὺς ἔξω ἔφη κύριοι, τί με δεῖ ποιεῖν ἵνα σωθῶ; οἱ δὲ εἶπον πίστευσον ἐπὶ τὸν Κύριον Ιησοῦν Χριστόν, καὶ σωθήσῃ σὺ καὶ ὁ οἶκός σου. καὶ ἐλάλησαν αὐτῷ τὸν λόγον τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ αὐτοῦ. καὶ παραλαβὼν αὐτοὺς ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ τῆς νυκτὸς ἔλουσεν ἀπὸ τῶν πληγῶν, καὶ ἐβαπτίσθη αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ αὐτοῦ πάντες παραχρῆμα, ἀναγαγών τε αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ παρέθηκε τράπεζαν, καὶ ἠγαλλιάσατο πανοικὶ πεπιστευκὼς τῷ Θεῷ. 2

3 Gospel Sunday of the Blind Man The Gospel According to John 9:1-38 At that time, as Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is he"; others said, "No, but he is like him." He said, "I am the man." They said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know." They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes and I washed, and I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself." His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess him to be Christ he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age, ask him." So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciples?" And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you." He said, "Lord, I believe"; and he worshiped him. 3

4 Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 9:1-38 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παράγων εἶδεν ἄνθρωπον τυφλὸν ἐκ γενετῆς. Καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ λέγοντες ῥαββί, τίς ἥμαρτεν, οὗτος ἢ οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ, ἵνα τυφλὸς γεννηθῇ; ἀπεκρίθη Ιησοῦς οὔτε οὗτος ἥμαρτεν οὔτε οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ, ἀλλ ἵνα φανερωθῇ τὰ ἔργα τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ. ἐμὲ δεῖ ἐργάζεσθαι τὰ ἔργα τοῦ πέμψαντός με ἕως ἡμέρα ἐστίν ἔρχεται νὺξ ὅτε οὐδεὶς δύναται ἐργάζεσθαι. ὅταν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ᾦ, φῶς εἰμι τοῦ κόσμου. ταῦτα εἰπὼν ἔπτυσε χαμαὶ καὶ ἐποίησε πηλὸν ἐκ τοῦ πτύσματος, καὶ ἐπέχρισε τὸν πηλὸν ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς τοῦ τυφλοῦ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὕπαγε νίψαι εἰς τὴν κολυμβήθραν τοῦ Σιλωάμ, ὃ ἑρμηνεύεται ἀπεσταλμένος. ἀπῆλθεν οὖν καὶ ἐνίψατο, καὶ ἦλθε βλέπων. Οἱ οὖν γείτονες καὶ οἱ θεωροῦντες αὐτὸν τὸ πρότερον ὅτι τυφλὸς ἦν, ἔλεγον οὐχ οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ καθήμενος καὶ προσαιτῶν; ἄλλοι ἔλεγον ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ἄλλοι δὲ ὅτι ὅμοιος αὐτῷ ἐστιν. ἐκεῖνος ἔλεγεν ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι. ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ πῶς ἀνεῴχθησάν σου οἱ ὀφθαλμοί; ἀπεκρίθη ἐκεῖνος καὶ εἶπεν ἄνθρωπος λεγόμενος Ιησοῦς πηλὸν ἐποίησε καὶ ἐπέχρισέ μου τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς καὶ εἶπέ μοι ὕπαγε εἰς τὴν κολυμβήθραν τοῦ Σιλωὰμ καὶ νίψαι ἀπελθὼν δὲ καὶ νιψάμενος ἀνέβλεψα. εἶπον οὖν αὐτῷ ποῦ ἐστιν ἐκεῖνος; λέγει οὐκ οἶδα. Αγουσιν αὐτὸν πρὸς τοὺς Φαρισαίους, τόν ποτε τυφλόν. ἦν δὲ σάββατον ὅτε τὸν πηλὸν ἐποίησεν ὁ Ιησοῦς καὶ ἀνέῳξεν αὐτοῦ τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς. πάλιν οὖν ἠρώτων αὐτὸν καὶ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι πῶς ἀνέβλεψεν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς πηλὸν ἐπέθηκέ μου ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς, καὶ ἐνιψάμην, καὶ βλέπω. ἔλεγον οὖν ἐκ τῶν Φαρισαίων τινές οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὐκ ἔστι παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι τὸ σάββατον οὐ τηρεῖ. ἄλλοι ἔλεγον πῶς δύναται ἄνθρωπος ἁμαρτωλὸς τοιαῦτα σημεῖα ποιεῖν; καὶ σχίσμα ἦν ἐν αὐτοῖς. λέγουσι τῷ τυφλῷ πάλιν σὺ τί λέγεις περὶ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἤνοιξέ σου τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν ὅτι προφήτης ἐστίν. οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν οὖν οἱ Ιουδαῖοι περὶ αὐτοῦ ὅτι τυφλὸς ἦν καὶ ἀνέβλεψεν, ἕως ὅτου ἐφώνησαν τοὺς γονεῖς αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἀναβλέψαντος καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτοὺς λέγοντες οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς ὑμῶν, ὃν ὑμεῖς λέγετε ὅτι τυφλὸς ἐγεννήθη; πῶς οὖν ἄρτι βλέπει; ἀπεκρίθησαν δὲ αὐτοῖς οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπον οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς ἡμῶν καὶ ὅτι τυφλὸς ἐγεννήθη πῶς δὲ νῦν βλέπει οὐκ οἴδαμεν, ἢ τίς ἤνοιξεν αὐτοῦ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἡμεῖς οὐκ οἴδαμεν αὐτὸς ἡλικίαν ἔχει, αὐτὸν ἐρωτήσατε, αὐτὸς περὶ ἑαυτοῦ λαλήσει. ταῦτα εἶπον οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἐφοβοῦντο τοὺς Ιουδαίους ἤδη γὰρ συνετέθειντο οἱ Ιουδαῖοι ἵνα, ἐάν τις αὐτὸν ὁμολογήσῃ Χριστόν, ἀποσυνάγωγος γένηται. διὰ τοῦτο οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ εἶπον ὅτι ἡλικίαν ἔχει, αὐτὸν ἐρωτήσατε. ἐφώνησαν οὖν ἐκ δευτέρου τὸν ἄνθρωπον ὃς ἦν τυφλός, καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ δὸς δόξαν τῷ Θεῷ ἡμεῖς οἴδαμεν ὅτι ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν. ἀπεκρίθη οὖν ἐκεῖνος καὶ εἶπεν εἰ ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν οὐκ οἶδα ἓν οἶδα, ὅτι τυφλὸς ὢν ἄρτι βλέπω. εἶπον δὲ αὐτῷ πάλιν τί ἐποίησέ σοι; πῶς ἤνοιξέ σου τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς; ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς εἶπον ὑμῖν ἤδη, καὶ οὐκ ἠκούσατε τί πάλιν θέλετε ἀκούειν; μὴ καὶ ὑμεῖς θέλετε αὐτοῦ μαθηταὶ γενέσθαι; ἐλοιδόρησαν αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπον σὺ εἶ μαθητὴς ἐκείνου ἡμεῖς δὲ τοῦ Μωϋσέως ἐσμὲν μαθηταί. ἡμεῖς οἴδαμεν ὅτι Μωϋσεῖ λελάληκεν ὁ Θεός τοῦτον δὲ οὐκ οἴδαμεν πόθεν ἐστίν. ἀπεκρίθη ὁ ἄνθρωπος καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ἐν γὰρ τούτῳ θαυμαστόν ἐστιν, ὅτι ὑμεῖς οὐκ οἴδατε πόθεν ἐστί, καὶ ἀνέῳξέ μου τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς. οἴδαμεν δὲ ὅτι ἁμαρτωλῶν ὁ Θεὸς οὐκ ἀκούει, ἀλλ ἐάν τις θεοσεβὴς ᾖ καὶ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ ποιῇ, τούτου ἀκούει. ἐκ τοῦ αἰῶνος οὐκ ἠκούσθη ὅτι ἤνοιξέ τις ὀφθαλμοὺς τυφλοῦ γεγεννημένου. εἰ μὴ ἦν οὗτος παρὰ Θεοῦ, οὐκ ἠδύνατο ποιεῖν οὐδέν.ἀπεκρίθησαν καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ ἐν ἁμαρτίαις σὺ ἐγεννήθης ὅλος, καὶ σὺ διδάσκεις ἡμᾶς; καὶ ἐξέβαλον αὐτὸν ἔξω. Ηκουσεν ὁ Ιησοῦς ὅτι ἐξέβαλον αὐτὸν ἔξω, καὶ εὑρὼν αὐτὸν εἶπεν αὐτῷ σὺ πιστεύεις εἰς τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ; ἀπεκρίθη ἐκεῖνος καὶ εἶπε καὶ τίς ἐστι, Κύριε, ἵνα πιστεύσω εἰς αὐτόν; εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Ιησοῦς καὶ ἑώρακας αὐτὸν καὶ ὁ λαλῶν μετὰ σοῦ ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν. ὁ δὲ ἔφη πιστεύω, Κύριε καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ. 4

5 MEMORIALS Haralambos and Panagiotis Vourlis Trisagio For all the Departed Mother s of the Community Eudoxia Halkia Kosta Tasiouras May their memory be eternal Artoklasia for the Good Health of all the Mother s of our Community We welcome baby Maria Anastasia Proud Parents: Lefteris & Kleoniki Mavarakis Congratulations! Μνημόσυνα Χαράλαμπος και Παναγιώτης Βούρλης Τρισάγιό Για τις μητέρες τις Κοινότητας μας που δεν είναι πια μαζί μας. Ευδοξία Χαλκιά Κώστας Τασιουρας Αιωνία αυτών η μνήμη Αρτοκλασία Υπερ Υγείας Για τις μητέρες τις Κοινότητας μας 40 ημερών ευλογία Μαρία Αναστασία Γονείς Λεύτερης και Κλεονίκη Μαυράκης Να σας ζήσει! May 13th Sixth Sunday of the Paschal Season, the Man Born Blind: Hymn of the Feast Apolytikion of the Feast Χριστός ἀνέστη ἐκ νεκρῶν, θανάτῳ θάνατον πατήσας, καί τοῖς ἐν τοῖς μνήμασι ζωήν χαρισάμενος. Christ has risen from the dead, by trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs has bestowed life. Resurrectional Apolytikion Plagal First Tone Τόν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρί καί Πνεύματι, τόν ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθέντα εἰς σωτηρίαν ἡμῶν, ἀνυμνήσωμεν πιστοί καί προσκυνήσωμεν ὅτι ηὐδόκησε σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ καί θάνατον ὑπομεῖναι, καί ἐγεῖραι τούς τεθνεῶτας, ἐν τῇ ἐνδόξῳ Ἀναστάσει αὐτοῦ. The Word who with the Father and Spirit is cobeginningless, the one born from a Virgin for our salvation, let us praise and worship we the faithfull; for he was pleased to ascend in the flesh upon the Cross, and death for us to endure, and raise all the departed, in his Resurrection glorious. Apolytikion of the Church Σήμερον τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν τό κεφάλαιον, καί τοῦ ἀπ' αἰῶνος μυστηρίου ἡ φανέρωσις ὁ υἱός τοῦ Θεοῦ, υἱός τῆς Παρθένου γίνεται, καί Γαβριήλ τήν χάριν εὐαγγελίζεται. Διό καί ἡμεῖς σύν αὐτῷ, τῇ Θεοτόκῳ βοήσωμεν Χαῖρε Κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ Κύριος μετά σοῦ. To-day is the crown of our Salvation and the manifestation of the Eternal Mystery. The Son of God becometh the son of the Virgin, and Gabriel announceth the good tidings of grace. Wherefore let us also with him cry to the Mother of God: Hail! Thou that art full of grace; the Lord is with thee. Kontakion Εἰ καί ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες, Ἀθάνατε, ἀλλά τοῦ Ἅδου καθεῖλες τήν δύναμιν καί ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής, Χριστέ ὁ Θεός, γυναιξί μυροφόροις φθεξάμενος, Χαίρετε, καί τοῖς σοῖς ἀποστόλοις εἰρήνην δωρούμενος, ὁ τοῖς πεσοῦσι παρέχων Ἀνάστασιν. Though you descended in the grave, O Immortal one, yet you destroyed the power of Hades; and you rose as victor, O Christ our God ; to the Myrrhbearing Women you said: Rejoice! And to your Apostles you granted your peace, the One who grants resurrection to the fallen ones. 5

6 TIME WORSHIP All Sunday Services begin 8:30AM Orthros / 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy ************* Κάθε Κυριακή 8:30 π.μ. Όρθρος 9:30 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία This Week Monday, May 14th Greek School Final Test 5:30 7:30 p.m. Bible Study. Tues. & Wed. May 15th & 16th Festival Preparations 9am 3pm Thurs., May 17th Holy Ascension Orthros 8:30 a.m. Div. Lit. 9:30 a.m. Greek School 5:30-7:30 p.m Parent Teacher Confrences Journey to Fullness Saturday, May 19th Youth Ministries Picnic Sunday, May 20th First Ecumenical Council Memorials George Verikakis The Fallen Pontian Greeks from Asia Minor Sunday School End Year Program Greek School End of Year Program PTA Bake Sale RITE AID MARATHON Sun., May 20th 7:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. some roads may be closed in Cleveland. The race beings and ends in Downtown Cleveland there will be a Approximately 20,000 runners. Many of the streets will be closed and you may need to take an alternate route to our church. For details please visit www,clevelandmarathon.com Κυριακή 20 Μαΐου Θα γίνουν Αγώνες του Cleveland Marathon. Θα κλίσουν μερικούς δρόμους στο κλήβελαν μέχρι να περάσουν. Εάν δείτε μεγάλη κίνηση μπορείτε να έρθετε στην εκκλησία από τους τριγύρω δρόμους του W 14. Memorial Tray If you would like to order a tray of Koliva please contact: Vivian Kyriazis TEAM A Anastasios Ermidis Panagiotis Ermidis Simon Skoutas Athanasios Kotsanis Demetri Anagnostos Kosta Kafantaris Victor Kafantaris Dimitri Genin Constantine Kotsanis Dimitri Rousakis George Sisamis Nikolaos Anagnostos Georgio Almiroudis TEAM A May 13 May 27 June 10 June 24 TEAM B Konstantinos Ermidis George Ermidis Efstratios (Charlie) Hliatzos Michael Hliatzos Joey Sheely Constantine Sheely Jonathan Walsh Angelo Semertsidis George Skoutas George Coutris Gregory Sisamis Antoni Makris Yiannis Tsambounieris TEAM B May 6 May 20 June 3 June 17 6

7 Please Join us for our Youth Ministries Picnic Saturday, May 19th, :30pm 6:00pm Lakewood Women s Club Pavilion (Lakewood Park) Lake Ave. Lakewood, Hot dogs and burgers will be provided. We ask that you visit the Sign Up Genius link below to sign up for a side dish, dessert, or drinks to share. To RSVP and for any questions please contact Despina Semertsidis

8 GIVING ONLINE: ENJOY THE CONVENIENCE OF ELECTRONIC GIVING!!! The Annunciation Church reminds you that we offer electronic giving as a way to automate your weekly offerings. Electronic giving provides much needed donation consistency. You may give towards Stewardship, Sunday Candles and Tray, Christmas and Easter Offerings, Epitaphios Offerings and much more. Additional information is available from the church office or by a accessing our church website: Click on EasyTithe THE SPIRIT OF STEWARDSHIP As the father has sent Me, so I send you. John 20:21 According to the Bible, Stewards manage their gifts for Our Lord s work. When we support our Church, we give back to God His rightful portion. Is Stewardship merely a token donation? Or is your Stewardship pledge a meaningful response to Christ? Christian Stewardship is Orthodox! It is not just giving our time or our talents or our treasures. It is, rather, all three! Stewardship is koinonia fellowship sharing together in the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Stewardship is also martyria witnessing. Christian Stewardship is all three elements -time, talent, and treasure. It s our gift as Christ instructed, as caretaker and defender of His Church with all of our energy and ability. LIFE HAPPENS IN COMMUNITY! Thank you to all our faithful stewards for you support of our Annunciation Stewardship Program! 8

9 The Stewardship Committee would like to thank everyone who submitted their pledge cards for Listed below are the pledged cards we have received. If you have not done so yet, please send in your pledge card to the church office. Extra cards are available at the Pangari (Candle Stand). I can do all things in Him Who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13) Ευχαριστούμε όλους που επέστρεψαν τις κάρτες των οικονομικών εύφορων (stewardship) Εάν δεν τα έχετε στείλει σας παρακαλούμε να τα στείλετε η να τα δώσετε στην εκκλησία για το Η κάρτες βρίσκονται στο Παγκάρι Agelidakis, Georgios & Victoria Alex, George & Becky Alex, Stefo & Loula Alex, Taso & Eleni Alexandrou, Angie Allison, John & Nancy Almiroudis, Konstantinos & Kelli Ameres, Kostas & Markia Anagnostos, Athanasios & Linsey Antonaklas, Steve & Evangelia Arabian, Allen & Agnes Baker, John & Vicky Benicos, Ecaterini Bibidakis, Evangelos & Eftychia Boukis, Constantine Boukis, Gary & Mary Boyeas, Mike & Christine Boyeas, Stelios & Judy Bozas, Pete & Maria Cimino, Vincent & Chrisafo Ciolfi, Maria Coutris, Stephen & Penelope Croff, Maro Dallas, Maria Davis, Lambrini Del Vecchio, Giuseppe & Angela Demopoulos, William Diamantis, Arygro Dimarhos, Konstantinos & Maria Dimarhos, Sofia Dimon, Fr. Dean J. & Presvytera Efpraxias, Georgio Ermidis, Christina Ermidis, Emmanuel & Marina Ermidis, John & Yulia Ermidis, Venizelos & Bessie Foradis, Militsa Fourtounis, Emmanuel & Marika Fourtounis, Mark Ganotis, Dimitrios & Aphrodite Geanneses, Antoinette Georgekopoulos, George & Effie Georgiadis, Debbie Gountis, Vasilios & Audolina Griveas, Peggy Gromek, Stanley & Angie Harris, Despina Hatzis, Kiki Hatzopoulos, Kriti Haverty, Lester & Patricia Hlepas, James & Kathy Hliatzos, Peter & Katina Kafantaris, George & Sophia Kakias, Michael & Vicky Kalevakis, George & Vicki Kalevakis, Mike & Dora Kamenos, Stella Kanaris, Anna Kanaris, Nick & Artie Kanis, Gus & Vaso Kantzios, George & Eleni Kapolis, Thanos & Anthie Karadaglis, Elias & Eleni Karadimas, Chris & Vivian Karadimas, George Karadimas, John & Linda Karakostas, Konstantinos & Lisa Karakoudas, Eleni Karavokirakis, Dimitra Karavokirakis, Gramatiki Karnavas, Sophia Karras, Adam & Jackie Karras, John & Ismini Katakos, Cynthia Katsantonis, George & Sandra Keating, Dale & Helen Kefalos, Panayiotis & Fotini Klonaris, Joanne Kolidakis, Nikitas & Alessandra Konstantinos, Nikolaos & Vasiliki Konstas, Evangelos & Fani Kontos, Spiros & Areti Kopasakis, John Kosmas, Christos & Chryssa Kostakis, Alex & Irene Kostakis, Tom & Eleni Kotsanis, Nicholas & Christina Koukouras, Nikolaos & Evangelia Koukouvitakis, Stratis & Argiro Kowalsick, Ruby Kutrubs, Nick Kyriazis, Dimitri Kyriazis, Vivian Likos, Eugenia Lombardo, Tyler & Matina Makris, Bessie Makris, Ilias & Koula Makris, Thomas Makroglou, Thal & Lisa Manak, Michael Maroulis, Kathy Maroulis, Paraskevas & Cassandra Marountas, George & Agnieska Marountas, Nick & Denna Matheou, Demetrios & Lillian Matheou, Georgia Mathews, James & Mary Mathiellis, Paul & Carol Mavrakis, Bill & Zoe Mavrakis, Lefteris & Kleoniki McDonald, James & Anastasia Mitsionis, Athanasios Moshos, Shawn Moulagianis, Vasalios & Stamatia Neumeyer, Ryan & Margarita Nicholas, Irene 9

10 Nickas, Vasiliki Nimorakiotakis, George & Maria Nimorakiotakis, Nick & Antigoni Paliobeis, Irini Panos, Eleni Panos, Pete & Mary Pantelatou, Sophia Papadakis, Adamandios & Despina Papadatos, Pavlos &Toula Papadopoulos, Alex Papakonstantinou, Fotios & Spyroulla Pappas, Georgia Pappas, William & Susan Pateras, Steve & Maria Paul, Barbara Petratos, Kosmas & Panagiota Petsas, Demetra Petsas, Dimitri & Deanna Pikakos, Mary Piperis, Fotini Pipinias, Stephan & Koula Plataniotis, Eleni Plataniotis, Nick & Elisavet Rakopoulos, Stella Regas, Alex & Thea Regas, George & Soula Regas, Strates Riedel, Joseph & Popi Roff, Jeff & Irene Rokas, Efthihia Rokas, John & Lucy Sack, David & Katherine Salamalekis, Evangelos Salamalekis, Gus & Kristen Salloumis, Paul Salouros, Paul & Maria Sarantopoulos, Athanasios & Despina Saridakis, Frank & Anastasia Sboukis, Peter Scordos, John & Irene Semertsidis, Niko & Despina Sevastos, Gust & Jane Sheely, Christopher & Panagiota Shinas, Dean Siakantaris, Stella Sisamis, John G. & Irene Skantzos, Emanuel & Evdoxia Skantzos, Pete & Maria Skoutas, Mike & Ellie Smith, Robert & Eugenia Spano, John Spanos, Kostantina Spillas, Christ & Dorothy Stefanopoulos, Polixeni Stefanopoulos, Sokratis & Ourania Stefou, Antonios & Stella Tasiouras, Evanthia Thanos, Athanasios & Anna Theodore, Neste & Artemis Trihas, Ermioni Trihas, John A. & Suzanne Tsakon, Hrisafo Tsambounieris, Manoli & Sofia Tsambunieris, Vasilis & Sophia Tsardoulias, Aris & Stella Tsardoulias, Elizabeth Tsardoulias, John & Kurannio Tsigas, Angie Tsigas, Demetrios & Shelly Tsiourtsiouris, Maria Tsirambidis, Tim & Julie Tzagournis, Adam Valsamidis, Chris & Eleni Maria Vangelos, Zenos & Julie Vaselakis, John & Kiki Vassilakis, Freda Vassilakis, George & Irene Vassilaras, Plousia Velkos, Joseph & Maria Velkos, Nick & Irene Verikakis, Georgia Verikakis, John Vianos, John & Diamanto Vianos, Nicholas & Eleni Vitakis, Helen Voiklis, Emmanuel & Janet Vourlis, Antonetta Walsh, Edward & Calliope Whitlock, Marie & Adrian Young, Kevin Zachopoulos, Katherine Zeleniuch, Christina Zeleniuch, Mary Ellen Zembillas, Antoni & Mikhaila Zizis, Stamatios & Ellen If we have mistakenly left your name off the STEWARDSHIP ROSTER, Please contact the Church Office. 10

11 Other Events: HOSPICE OF THE WESTERN RESERVE WAREHOUSE SALE Donations are needed for Fri., May 18, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sat., May 19, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at St. Clair Ave., Cleveland. Proceeds support patients and families of Hospice of Western Reserve. Accepting gently used indoor and outdoor furniture, other household items, collectibles, framed artwork, and holiday items. To donate, contact the team at orwarehousesaledonations@hospicewr.org GYRO DRIVE-THRU May at St. Nicholas Church, 2000 Tower Blvd., Lorain. Traditional & chicken gyros, souvlakia, Greek salad, fries & pastries. LUNG WALK Sat., May 19, 9:30 am at Burke Lakefront Airport. Contact Elaine Campbell at (440) , if you are interested in walking in honor or memory of someone with lung disease. There is no registration fee; free team t-shirts will be provided if registered by April 23. IOCC ANNUAL BANQUET Sun., June 3, at St. Michael Woodside Event Center, 5025 Mill Rd., Broadview Heights. Doors open at 4 p.m.; Dinner at 5 p.m. Special guest speaker Lou Zagami, IOCC Development Officer. Tickets $40. Proceeds to benefit the worldwide humanitarian aid programs of the International Orthodox Christian Charities. RSVP by May 25th to Paul Svilar at paulasvilar@gmail.com or ST. HERMAN GOLF CLASSIC Mon., June 18, Noon at Tanglewood Club in Chagrin Falls to benefit St Hermans House FOCUS Cleveland. For more info go to LITURGICAL ARTS ACADEMY May 20-26, Chanting and Iconography intensive workshops at the Diakonia Center in Salem, SC, where the Church of the Panagia overlooks a mountain lake. $500 includes week s lodging, meals, materials and instruction from talented artists and instructors. The event is made possible by a grant overseen by the G.O. Metropolis of Atlanta. For more details, go to call , or info@ilicons.us CAMP NAZARETH The Metropolis of Pittsburgh s summer camp at Mercer, PA, dates are : Session 1 (Grades 2-4) Sun., June 17-Sat., June 23 Session 2 (Grades 5-7*) Sun., June 24- Sat., June 30 Session 3 (Grades 7*-9) Sun., July 1 Sat., July 7 Session 4 (Grades ) Sun., July 8 Sat., July 14 For information visit: Pittsburgh.goarch.org/camp SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES DEAN NAKIS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Available to students who are active members of one of the Greek Orthodox Churches of Northeastern Ohio, who are entering college, or are doing undergrad work. Recipients are selected according to scholastic achievement and financial need. Applications available at the candle stand. Deadline: May 1, 2018 AHEPA JOHN M. MANOS CHAPTER 36 SCHOLARSHIP Available to graduating high school seniors of Greek heritage. at scholarship-application/ Deadline for submission is May 4. Awards will be presented on a June. THE NAFPAKTIAN CULTURAL FOUNDATION $ scholarships to High School Seniors and to College students who are of Greek ancestry and permanent residents of Northeast Ohio. We are also excited to present a new $1, scholarship for students majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math or Medical (STEMM). The scholarships can also be downloaded from : Nafpaktian Cultural Foundation, Inc. : Scholarships 11

12 As you all know, our 2018 Annunciation Tremont Greek Festival will be held on Friday May 25th, through Monday, May 28th. Putting this event together is a massive undertaking requiring 100's of volunteers each hour the festival is open! This is our largest fundraiser of the year and we need your help! Monday May 14 th 6:00pm- Cleaning; we will be meeting about the gyro booth and help to start cleaning it up to prepare for our festival and organizing the gyro booth - MEETING; we will be meeting and training on the cash and credit card registers. All bar volunteers (regardless of past training and use) training is needed to work these areas. If you cannot make training and have plans to work the bar please reach out to Tim Tsirambidis as he will be managing all the bars so he can get you trained ( ). Thursday May 17 th 5;30pm ~ AFTER CHURCH (we ask that you bring a change of clothes), we ask all YOUTH MINISTRIES (Goya, dance, altar boys etc) to help volunteer their time to paint the wooden fence in the entrance parking lot, as well as help clean up some landscape in front of the Greek school facing the street. Thursday May 17 th 5:30pm; we ask volunteers and Greek School parents to help us cup tzatziki. We will also be continue to clean up Gyro Booth. Sunday, May 20 th ~ After Church/Greek School Program; set up Hall, set tables with tablecloths, we will also set up the registers. Monday, May 21 st ~ we need to cup remaining Tzatziki, continue setting up the tables and chairs in the hall for vendors and guests. Move items from basement to hall. Start Cutting Gyro in the Gyro Booth Tuesday, May 22 nd ~ MORNING and AFTERNOON...Tents, tables and chairs will be delivered. We need help setting these items up as well as the vendor spaces outside. Tuesday, May 22 nd ~ EVENING...We will continue setting up and stocking. We will start slicing gyro cones to be cooked off and ready to go for the weekend. Wednesday, May 23 rd ; MORNING/AFTERNOON ~ We will receiving the pop and wine orders and need help to store and stock these items. Wednesday, May 23 rd 4:00 pm. ~ We will need to get everything in order. The Kitchen will be in full swing getting things cooked off. We will also start cooking off cones of gyro and need volunteers for this. We need a few people helping to decorate any final areas. We also well need help in the kitchen preparing some of the food and pulling things from freezers. We need to cut onions and tomatoes for Gyros and get beer and pop into the coolers. Thursday May 24 th ~Continue prepping gyro, load soda, beer and bars. Help set up the pastry booth, hall food lines and other areas...any finishing touches. We ask all YOUTH MINISTRIES (Goya, dance, and our Annunciation school students etc) to be present to set up their vendor stations (stock and decorate their areas) For volunteering and to schedule a sign up please see or contact Popi Coutras, Irene Roff or Tim Tsirambidis. Please visit the link and sign up for the area you would like to work. The link and sign up can be found on our Tremont Greek Fest Facebook Page. Remember, many hands make for little work, so let s all plan now to volunteer some of our time to our church. Young and old volunteer for this event, if you have teenagers please encourage them to volunteer as well. Thank you for all you do and God Bless, 12

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15 It is the practice of our Church to give the name of a Saint to the newborn child. By assuming the name of a Saint, we not only honor and express our gratitude to a Holy Person for his exceptional contribution to the Orthodox Faith, but provide the new Christian with an example worthy of emulation. The Saint then becomes the Patron of the child protecting it from all danger. Through his prayer, God will grant the child necessary illumination to become a zealous member of the Church and an ardent follower of Christ. Each month we will be acknowledging those celebrating their name day in our monthly bulletin. If by chance we accidentally miss someone s name day, we ask that you please contact the Church Office so that we may correct our records. We extend our prayers to all those celebrating their Name day and beseech out heavenly Father to grant them many years. May 5, St. Irene the Great Martyr Ioulia Regas Irene Vitakis Irene Velkos Irene Sisamis Irene Scordos Irene Soeder Irene Roff Irene Nicholas Irene Vassilakis Irene Efstathiou Irene Kostakis Irini Paliobeis May 9, St. Christopher Christopher Hoffman Christopher Sheely Christopher Ciacchi Christopher Hoff Christopher Stellinos Ciacchi May 11th Olympia (Olimpia) May 13th Mother s Day May 16, St. Alexandros Alex Asser Alex Kostakis Alex Papadopoulos Alexander Kostakis Alexander Del Vecchio Alexandra Karadimas Alexandria Papadopoulos Alexandros Velkos Alexandros Filipou Alexandros Regas Alexia Maria Skantzos May 21, Sts. Constantine & Helen Fr. Dean Dimon Dean Shinas Gus Kanis Gus Pyros Gus Salamalekis Gust Sevastos Konstadina Spanos Konstantino Almiroudis Konstantinos Almiroudis Konstantinos Pagonis Konstantinos Dimarhos Konstantinos Karakostas Konstantinos Stavrou Konstantinos Agelidakis Konstantinos Ermidis Kosta Kalevakis Kostadina Kozanas Kostandina Marountas Kostantino Smith Kostas Ameres Constantine Kotsanis Constantine Kafantaris Constantine Vianos Constantine Boukis Constantine Sheely Dino E. Konstantinou Helen Vitakis Helen Karakostas Helen Keating Eleni Kostakis Eleni Alex Eleni Vitakis Eleni Karnavas Eleni Jamison Eleni Vianos Eleni Hatzis Eleni Manouselis Eleni Mastrokostas Eleni Kantzios Eleni Karadaglis Eleni Panos Ellie Skoutas Eleni Karakoudas Eleni Plataniotis Eleni Kasamias Eleni Valsamidis Eleni Anastasia Vianos Eleni Ekaterini Karakostas Elenny Tuleta May 30, St. Emilia Emely Baltas Emilia Trihas 15

16 Saturday of Souls ΨΥΧΟΣΑΒΒΑΤΟΝ May 26, 2018 Orthros 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. Give rest, O Christ, among the Saints to the souls of Your servants, where there is no pain, no sorrow, no grieving, but life everlasting. Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone Following the Divine Liturgy, we will offer a memorial service for the repose of the souls of our brothers and sisters in Christ who have fallen asleep. You are encouraged to bring koliva and a list of names of those who have passed away to be memorialized. If you are unable to make koliva and would like Vivi Kyrazis or Angie Tsigas to make you a plate, please call. Ψυχοσάββατο ~ Παρακαλούμε να φέρετε τα ονόματα και ένα πάτο κόλλυβο. Επικοινωνήσετε με την Παρασκευή Κυριαζή η την Ευαγγελία Τσίγκα Memorial Day May 28, 2018 St. Theodosius Cemetery Trisagion Services will begin at 7am Fr. Dean will start from the back of the cemetery Δευτέρα 29 Μαΐου Memorial Day Νεκρών Τρισάγιο στο Νεκροταφείο ο Πάτερ Κωνσταντίνος θα αρχίσει στις 7πμ 16

17 The Feast itself commemorates when, on the fortieth day after His Resurrection, Jesus led His disciples to the Mount of Olives, and after blessing them and asking them to wait for the fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit, He ascended into heaven. Historical Background The story of the Ascension of our Lord, celebrated as one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Church, is found in the book of the Acts of the Apostles 1:3-11. It is also mentioned in the Gospels of Mark (16:19) and Luke (24:50-53). The moment of the Ascension is told in one sentence: "He was lifted up before their eyes in a cloud which took Him from their sight" (Acts 1:9). Christ made His last appearance on earth, forty days after His Resurrection from the dead. The Acts of the Apostles states that the disciples were in Jerusalem. Jesus appeared before them and commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the "Promise of the Father". He stated, "You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now" (Acts 1:5). After Jesus gave these instructions, He led the disciples to the Mount of Olives. Here, He commissioned them to be His witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). It is also at this time that the disciples were directed by Christ to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). Jesus also told them that He would be with them always, "even to the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20). As the disciples watched, Jesus lifted up His hands, blessed them, and then was taken up out of their sight (Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9). Two angels appeared to them and asked them why they were gazing into heaven. Then one of the angels said, "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him going into heaven" (Acts 1:11). Icon of the Feast The icon of The Ascension of Our Lord is a joyous icon. It is painted with bright colors. Christ is shown ascending in His glory in a mandorla A mandorla is a design which is almond-shaped or round. Inside the mandorla is the figure of a holy person. Christ blesses the assembly with His right hand. In His left is a scroll. The scroll is a symbol of teaching. This icon shows that the Lord in heaven is the source of blessing. In addition, Jesus is the source of knowledge. The icon reminds us that Christ continues to be the source of the teaching and message of the Church, blessing and guiding those to whom He has entrusted his work. The Theotokos occupies a very special place in this icon. She is in the center of the icon, immediately below the ascending Christ. The gesture of her hands is gesture of prayer. She is clearly outlined by the whiteness of the garments of the angels. The Theotokos is depicted in a very calm pose. This is quite different from the appearance of the Disciples. They are moving about, talking to one another and looking and pointing towards heaven. The entire group, the Theotokos and the disciples represent the Church. The icon of the Ascension includes some who did not witness the Ascension. St. Paul is shown to the left of the Theotokos, but we know that he was not present at the Ascension. At that time, St. Paul did not yet believe in Jesus. But he became a Christian and one of the greatest Apostles and missionaries of Church. The icon expresses the sovereignty of Christ over His Church; He is its Head, its guide, its source of inspiration and teaching; it receives its commission and ministry from Him, and fulfils it in the power of the Holy Spirit. Orthodox Christian Celebration of the Feast of the Ascension This Feast of our Lord is celebrated with the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, which is conducted on the day of the Feast and preceded by the Matins service. A Great Vespers is conducted on the evening before the day of the Feast. Scripture readings for the Feast are the following: At Vespers: Isaiah 2:2-3, 62:10-63:9; Zechariah 14:1,4,8-11. At the Orthros (Matins) Mark 16:9-20; At the Divine Liturgy: Acts 1:1-12; Luke 24: blessing assured them that You are the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world. 17

18 Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Event/Liturgy Calendar 2018 All Sunday & Week Day 8:30 AM Orthros / 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy May 2018 Sun. 13 Sunday of the Blind Man (Mothers Day) Mon. 14 Greek School Final Exams Thurs. 17 5:30-7:30p.m. Holy Ascension Greek School Parent Teacher Conferences/Report Cards Sat. 19 Youth Ministries Picnic at Lakewood Park Sun. 20 Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council Constaintine & Helen Vespers at St. Constantine Mon. 21 Sts. Constantine & Helen Feast Day Greek School Year End Program Fri. May 25 thru Mon. May 28th Tremont Festival Sat. 26 Saturday of Souls Sun. 27 Holy Pentecost Mon. 28 Memorial Day/Holy Spirit June 2018 Sun. 3 Sunday of all Saints Thurs. 7 Parish Council Meeting 7:00 p.m. Sun. 10 2nd Sunday of Matthew Sun. 17 3rd Sunday of Matthew Father s Day Sun. 24 Nativity of John the Baptist Wed. 28 Vespers of St. Peter & Paul North Royalton Thurs. 29 FEAST DAY Saints Peter & Paul North Royalton Fri. 30 Synaxis of the Holy Apostles July 2018 Sun 1 5th Sunday of Matthew Sun 8 6th Sunday of Matthew Sun 15 Sunday of the Holy Fathers Sun 22 8th Sunday of Matthew Sat. 24 Greek Day Kennywood Summer Camp Reunion Sun 29 9th Sunday of Matthew August 2018 Wed. 1 Parakelesis to the Theotokos 7:00 pm Sun. 5 10th Sunday of Matthew Great Vespers for the Feast of the Holy Transfiguration 7:00 p.m. Mon. 6 Holy Transfiguration Wed. 8 Paraklesis to the Theotokos 7:00 p.m. Sun th Sunday of Matthew Mon. 13 Paraklesis to the Theotokos 7:00 p.m. Tues. 14 Great Vespers of the Dormition to the Theotokos Artoklasia 7:00 p.m. Wed. 15 Dormition of the Theotokos Artoklasia Sun th Sunday of Matthew Sun th Sunday of Matthew Tues 28 Great Vespers of the Beheading of John the Baptist 7:00 p.m. Wed. 29 Beheading of John the Baptist If you have not been receiving church material/mailing /phone messages or s, please contact the church office at or office@annunciationcleveland.net. Thank you. Αν δεν λαμβάνετε τις επιστολές η ότι ενημέρωση της εκκλησίας έχει για σας ή τηλεφωνικά μηνύματα, παρακαλούμε επικοινωνήστε με το γραφείο της εκκλησίας στο ή στο office@annunciationcleveland.net. Please visit our website: 18

19 Dear Friends of the Community, In an effort to defray the cost of publishing our Weekly Bulletin, & Vision, the Parish Council would like to invite anyone who wishes to support the Community to offer a small donation of $ for a business card sized ad which will be placed on the back inside pages of each publication for the calendar year, We generally publish a Weekly Bulletin as well as a Quarterly Newsletter, and with this program, hope to cut our publication cost in half by gathering 36 ads which will take up the last four pages of the Vision & Bulletin. If you are interested in this program, please send a business card that we will reproduce. Please also enclose a check made out to The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church for $

20 Dear Friends of the Community, In an effort to defray the cost of publishing our Weekly Bulletin, & Vision, the Parish Council would like to invite anyone who wishes to support the Community to offer a small donation of $ for a business card sized ad which will be placed on the back inside pages of each publication for the calendar year, We generally publish a Weekly Bulletin as well as a Quarterly Newsletter, and with this program, hope to cut our publication cost in half by gathering 36 ads which will take up the last four pages of the Vision & Bulletin. If you are interested in this program, please send a business card that we will reproduce. Please also enclose a check made out to The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church for $ office@annunciationcleveland.net HARSOULAS GARAGE DOORS Service & Installation Garage Doors & Openers Saki Harsoulas