Sunday April 24 Palm Sunday with Youth Procession of Palms. Sunday April 24 Palm Sunday Luncheon at the Center in Brookline

Transcript

1 ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY BULLETIN 17 April 2016 Our Righteous Mother Mary of the Egypt Tῆς Ὁσίας Μητρὸς ἡμῶν Μαρίας τῆς Αἰγυπτίας 5th Sunday of Lent Tone Pl 1 E ΤΩΝ ΝΗΣΤΕΙΩΝ Ἦχος πλ αʹ Cathedral: 514 Parker Street, Boston, MA Office/Mailing Address: 162 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA Phone: (617) Fax: (617) Fr. Demetri s cell: (617) Upcoming Events Wednesday April 20 PresancNfied Liturgy at Watertown, MA (6:00 pm) Saturday April 23 Sat. of Lazarus: Orth./Lit. at Chapel (8:45/10:00 am) Saturday April 23 Pancake Breakfast & Cross Weaving (Brookline) Sunday April 24 Palm Sunday with Youth Procession of Palms Sunday April 24 Palm Sunday Luncheon at the Center in Brookline Sunday April 24 Bridegroom Service at Cathedral (7:00 pm) Monday April 25 PresancNfied Liturgy at Chapel (9:00 am) Monday April 25 Bridegroom Service at Cathedral (7:00 pm) Tuesday April 26 PresancNfied Liturgy at Chapel (9:00 am) Τuesday April 26 Bridegroom Service at Cathedral (7:00 pm) Wednesday April 27 PresancNfied Liturgy at Chapel (9:00 am)

2 ΚΑΘΕΔΡΙΚΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΝΕΑΣ ΑΓΓΛΙΑΣ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΣΜΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF NEW ENGLAND Rev. Fr. Demetrios E. Tonias, Ph.D., Cathedral Dean ιζ Ἀπριλίου,βις Ε ΤΩΝ ΝΗΣΤΕΙΩΝ 5th Sunday of Lent 17 April 2016 Ἀπολυτίκια Ἦχος πλ. α Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύματι, τὸν ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθέντα εἰς σωτηρίαν ἡμῶν, ἀνυμνήσωμεν πιστοὶ καὶ προσκυνήσωμεν ὅτι ηὐδόκησε σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ, καὶ θάνατον ὑπομεῖναι, καὶ ἐγεῖραι τοὺς τεθνεῶτας, ἐν τῇ ἐνδόξῳ Ἀναστάσει αὐτοῦ. Ἦχος πλ. δʹ Ἐν σοὶ Μῆτερ ἀκριβῶς διεσώθη τὸ κατ' εἰκόνα λαβοῦσα γὰρ τὸν σταυρόν, ἠκολούθησας τῷ Χριστῷ, καὶ πράττουσα ἐδίδασκες ὑπερορᾶν μὲν σαρκὸς παρέρχεται γάρ, ἐπιμελεῖσθαι δὲ ψυχῆς, πράγματος ἀθανάτου διὸ καὶ μετὰ Ἀγγέλων συναγάλλεται Ὁσία Μαρία τὸ πνεῦμά σου. Ἦχος δ Σήμερον τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν τὸ κεφάλαιον, καὶ τοῦ ἀπ αἰῶνος μυστηρίου ἡ φανέρωσις ὁ Υἷός του Θεοῦ, υἱὸς τῆς Παρθένου γίνεται, καὶ Γαβριὴλ τὴν χάριν εὐαγγελίζεται. Διὸ καὶ ἡμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ, τῇ Θεοτόκῳ βοήσωμεν Χαῖρε Κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ Κύριος μετά σοῦ. Κοντάκιον Ἦχος πλ. δʹ. Τῇ ὑπερμάχῳ στρατηγῷ τὰ νικητήρια, ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν εὐχαριστήρια, ἀναγράφω σοι ἡ Πόλις σου Θεοτόκε. Ἀλλ' ὡς Dismissal Hymns Mode pl. 1 The Co-Eternal Logos with Father and Spirit, * who from the Virgin was born for the salvation of us, * let us sing a hymn of praise and worship. * For He suffered in the flesh, * being raised upon the Cross and death He endured; * and raising the dead, * in the glory of His Resurrection. Mode pl. 4 In you, O Mother, is preserved undistorted what was made in the image of God; for taking up the cross, you followed Christ and by example taught, that we should overlook the flesh, since it passes away, and instead look after the soul, since it is immortal. And therefore, O devout Mary, your spirit rejoices with the angels. Mode 4 Today mark s the crow ning of our salvation and the revelation of the mystery before all ages. For the Son of God becomes the son of the Virgin, and Gabriel proclaims the grace. Wherefore, we also cry out with him, "Hail, O full of grace, the Lord is with you. Kontakion Mode pl. 4. O Champion General, I your City now ascribe to you * triumphant anthems as the tokens of my gratitude, * being rescued from the terrors, O Theotokos.

3 ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον, ἐκ παντοίων με κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον, ἵνα κράζω σοι Χαῖρε νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε. * 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. Ἀπόστολος Ἐβρ θ Hebrews 9:11-14 Epistle Ἀδελφοί, Χριστὸς παραγενόμενος Ἀρχιερεὺς τῶν μελλόντων ἀγαθῶν διὰ τῆς μείζονος καὶ τελειοτέρας σκηνῆς, οὐ χειροποιήτου, τοῦτ' ἔστιν οὐ ταύτης τῆς κτίσεως, οὐδὲ δι' αἵμα τος τράγων καὶ μόσχων, διὰ δὲ τοῦ ἰδίου αἵματος εἰσῆλθεν ἐφάπαξ εἰς τὰ Αγια, αἰωνίαν λύτρωσιν εὑράμενος. Εἰ γὰρ τὸ αἷμα ταύρων καὶ τράγων καὶ σποδὸς δαμάλεως ῥαντίζουσα τοὺς κεκοινωμένους ἁγιάζει πρὸς τὴν τῆς σαρκὸς καθαρότητα, πόσῳ μᾶλλον τὸ αἷμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὃς διὰ Πνεύματος αἰωνίου ἑαυτὸν προσήνεγκεν ἄμωμον τῷ Θεῷ, καθαριεῖ τὴν συνείδησιν ὑμῶν ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργων εἰς τὸ λατρεύειν Θεῷ ζῶντι; Brethren, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Εὐαγγέλιον Μᾶρκ. ι Mark 10:32-45 Gospel Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παραλαμβάνει ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς δώδεκα μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ ἤρξατο αὐτοῖς λέγειν τὰ μέλλοντα αὐτῷ συμβαίνειν, ὅτι Ἰδοὺ ἀναβαίνομεν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθήσεται τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσι καὶ γραμματεῦσι, καὶ κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτὸν θανάτῳ καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν τοῖς ἔθνεσι, καὶ ἐμπαίξουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ μαστιγώσουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐμπτύσουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν αὐτὸν, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστήσεται. Καὶ προσπορεύονται αὐτῷ Ἰάκωβος καὶ Ἰωάννης υἱοὶ Ζεβεδαίου λέγοντες Διδάσκαλε, θέλομεν ἵνα ὃ ἐὰν αἰτήσωμεν ποιήσῃς ἡμῖν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Τί θέλετε ποιῆσαί με ὑμῖν; οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ Δὸς ἡμῖν ἵνα εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύμων σου καθίσωμεν ἐν τῇ δόξῃ σου. ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Οὐκ οἴδατε τί αἰτεῖσθε. δύνασθε πιεῖν τὸ ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ πίνω, καὶ τὸ At that time, Jesus taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am Continued on next page

4 βάπτισμα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθῆναι; οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ Δυνάμεθα. ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Τὸ μὲν ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ πίνω πίεσθε, καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθήσεσθε τὸ δὲ καθίσαι ἐκ δεξιῶν μου καὶ ἐξ εὐωνύμων οὐκ ἔστιν ἐμὸν δοῦναι, ἀλλ' οἷς ἡτοίμασται. καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ δέκα ἤρξαντο ἀγανακτεῖν περὶ Ἰακώβου καὶ Ἰωάννου. ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς προσκαλεσάμενος αὐτοὺς λέγει αὐτοῖς Οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ δοκοῦντες ἄρχειν τῶν ἐθνῶν κατακυριεύουσιν αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ μεγάλοι αὐτῶν κατεξουσιάζουσιν αὐτῶν. οὐχ οὕτω δὲ ἔσται ἐν ὑμῖν, ἀλλ' ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ γενέσθαι μέγας ἐν ὑμῖν, ἔσται ὑμῶν διάκονος, καὶ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ ὑμῶν γενέσθαι πρῶτος, ἔσται πάντων δοῦλος καὶ γὰρ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἦλθε διακονηθῆναι, ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν. baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." They were expecting him to enter into [the kingdom], but not to go to the cross and death. Even though they had heard it ten thousand times, they could not clearly understand. Since they had not gotten a clear and certain knowledge of his teachings, they thought that he was going to this visible kingdom and would rule in Jerusalem. They had broken away from the throng of the disciples and, just as if the whole situation had turned out exactly as they wanted, they asked about the privilege of the first seats and about being first among the others. They asked for this because they assumed that everything was finished and the whole business was over and done with. Do you see? They did not understand what they were asking for when they were talking to him about crowns and rewards and the privilege of the first seats and honors even before the contest had begun. Christ was communicating with them on two levels when he said: You do not know what you are asking for. One was that they were talking about an earthly kingdom and he had said nothing about this. The other was that, when they sought at this time the privilege of the first seats and the honors of heaven, when they wished to be seen as more illustrious and splendid than the others, they were not asking for these things at the right time. The timing was precisely wrong. For this was not the right time for crowns or prizes. It was the time for struggles, contests, toils, sweat, wrestling rings and battles. St. John Chrysostom

5

6

7

8 STEWARDSHIP REPORT AS OF Stewards pledged this far: 187 Total pledged for 2016 thus far: $118,750 Rev. Dr. Demetrios & Pr. Maryann Tonias & Family Dr. Chris Afendulis & Ms. Claudine Gay Ms. Bessie V. Andersen Ms. Calliope Andreadis Mrs. Fotene Andreadis Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Anton Mr. Dean Arnaoutakis Dr. Marica Arvanites Ms. Krystal E. Babalas Mr. & Mrs. Robert P. Badavas Ms. Joanna Bakas Ms. Christine Bakos Ms. Natalie Bassil Ms. Nancy Batsinelas Ms. Tizita Bekele Mr. & Mrs. Costas Belezos Mr. Charles C. Beretsos Mr. & Mrs. Triantafillos Blathras Ms. Stephanie Bond Mr. & Mrs. James G. Boujoukos Mr. & Mrs. James G. Boulogiane Mr. Nicholas Bouritsas Mr. & Mrs. Spiros C. Bourloukas Ms. Christina Bowles Ms. Helen Cakridas Mr. & Mrs. Constintine Calliontzis Mr. & Mrs. Stephen T. Caparell Mrs. Mary A. Carris Mr. & Mrs. Ioannis Chatzizisis Mrs. Peter Collatos Ms. Doris S. Conomos Ms. Pauline P. Coutlis Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Critikos Mr. Peter L. Condakes & Dr. Pamela Pappas Mr. & Mrs. Euripides Dalmanieras Mr. & Mrs. George E. Danis Mr. & Mrs. Angelos Davos Ms. Ellen Marie Demeter Mrs. Asemena T. Dodge Mrs. Nuala Doherty Mr. Charles J. Doulos Gov. & Mrs. Michael S. Dukakis Mr. & Mrs. Nicolaos Economou Mrs. Maria Efteriades Mr. Jason S. Ellis Mr. & Mrs. William Evangelakos Mr. & Mrs. Constantine D. Felis Ms. Penelope Flessas Mr. Theodore Flessas Mr. Peter N. Foundas Dr. Calliope G. Galatis Mrs. Gerasimos Galatis Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas K. Galatis Atty. Cristina Galica Ms. Dimitra Gardikas Mr. & Mrs. Peter M. Gardikas Mrs. Acrive Geanakakis Ms Susan Georgantas Mr. Charles Georgenes Mr. & Mrs. John A. Georgountzos Mr. & Mrs. Vassilios Georgountzos Mr. Iraklis S. Gerogiannis & Mrs. Sheila Borboli Mr. Lazaros Giannakopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Savvas Gianasmidis Mr. & Mrs. George Glaropoulos Ms. Marianthi Gregoriades Ms. Virginia C. Gregory Mr. & Mrs. Chris Guerriero Dr. Christopher Gussis Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd Hanna Ms. Stavroula Hatzios & Mr. Aaron Helfand Ms. Mary Hatzis Ms. Alice H. Haveles Atty. & Mrs. George N. Heos, Jr. Ms. Kyriaki Iatrou Ms. Kaye Jaravinos Mr. & Mrs. George Jeas Mrs. Helen Johnson Mr. Philip S. Kallan Mr. & Mrs. Arthur W. Kanavos Mr. Gary Kanavos Mrs. Maria Kapsaskis Mr. & Mrs. John Karafotis Ms. Elizabeth Karagianis Dr. Miltiades Karamechedis Mr. Christos Karatasakis (Karys) Mr. Christos Karimbakas Mr. & Mrs. James Karimbakas Ms. Pauline Karistianos Mr. George Karniadakis & Dr. Helen Christou

9 Mrs. James Kaselis Mr. & Mrs. Andreas Kavaltzis Mr. & Mrs. Constantine T. Kechris Ms. Lula Kiflit Ms. Chrisanthe Kladitis Mr. & Mrs. George P. Klapes Mr. Louis Kokoros Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios Kolovos Mrs. Popy Koshivos Ms. Bessie Kotsakis Dr. Maria Koulmanda Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Koumarianos Mr. & Mrs. Pavlos Koutris Mr. Christos Kyriakis Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Kyriakou Mr. Dane Sprague & Ms. Leah Lalos Mr. & Mrs. Chris Lacey Mr. Joseph Lalos Mr. & Mrs. William J. Leahy Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Legelis Mrs. Anna G. Lemonias Mr. Constantine Limberakis Ms. Eugenia M Carris & Mr. John Livingston Mr. Costandine Machakos Mrs. William F. Manley Mr. Alex Mavradis Ms. Sophia P. McBrine Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Messina Ms. Lindsay Moramarco Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Milonopoulos Mr. & Mrs. John Moriarty Mr. & Mars. George J. Niakaros Mr. & Mrs. George Pagounis Mr. Paul Pagounis Ms. Portia Pantages Mrs. Athanasia Papadakis Mr. Constantine Papademetriou Mr. & Mrs. Alexandros Papadopoulos Ms. Ekaterini Papadopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios K. Papaslis Mr. & Mrs. Eleftherios Papaslis Mrs. Rhoe Papoulias Atty. Catherine A. Pappas Ms. Cynthia Pappas Mr. Peter L. Pappas Ms. Sofia Paraskevas Dr. Lewis J. Patsavos Ms. Andreana Pavlos Mr. Nicholas Phelps & Ms. Elizabeth Kalemos Mr. & Mrs. Peter Philipoppoulos Ms. Katherine A. Phillips Mr. Daniel C. Pipilas Mr. Gregorios N. Plakoudas Mr. & Mrs. Nick Ploumis Mr. & Mrs. Michael Psikarakis Ms. Georgia Racheotes Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas P. Racheotes Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas S. Racheotes Mr. & Mrs. Peter N. Racheotes Ms. Patricia S. Redmond Mr. & Mrs. Michael V. Roussas Mr. & Mrs. Peter G. Salidas Mr. & Mrs. Peter A. Senopoulos Ms. Desi Sideropoulos Ms. Sodira Sideropoulos Ms. Thalia Sideropoulos Ms. Maria Stata Ms. Anne Marie Stathis Mr. Louis C. Stathis Ms. Pauline A. Stathis Dr. & Mrs. Richard T. Strakus Mr. Peter H. Sutton Mr. & Mrs. John Tamvakologos Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios Tassiopoulos Ms. Maria Tassiopoulos Ms. Bessie K. Thomas Ms. Maria Thomas Mr. & Mrs. Triantos Thomas Mr. & Mrs. John Torres Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Torski Ms. Aleka Towers Mr. Christopher J. Trakas Mr. & Mrs. Ross N. Triant Ms. Marigoula Troubalos Ms. Theodosia Tzimorangas Mrs. Pauline V. Valavanis Mr. & Mrs. Peter Varitimidis Ms. Georgia Varvitsiotis Mr. Sokrates Vrattos Mr. & Mrs. Charles Williams Ms. Stephanie Woods Dr. & Mrs. Chris Yuskaitis Ms. Maria Zafferes Ms. Mary Zetes Mr. Peter J. Zetes Mr. & Mrs. Vasileios Zikopoulos

10 Εʹ Κυριακὴ τῶν Νηστειῶν Ὁσίας Μαρίας τῆς Αἰγυπτίας Αυτή τη Κυριακή τιμάμε τη μνήμη της οσίας Μητέρας μας η οποία εορτάζεται και κατά την 1η Απριλίου. Το «Ωρολόγιο» γράφει ότι «Π ησιάζοντας το τέ ος της αγίας Σαρακοστής, τάχθηκε να εορτάζεται σήμερα η αγία προς τόνωση των ραθύμων και αμαρτωλών σε μετάνοια. Όταν ήταν δώδεκα ετών η αγία, έφυγε μακριά από τους γονείς της και πήγε στην Α εξάνδρεια όπου έζησε για 17 χρόνια ασώτως. Έπειτα από περιέργεια ξεκίνησε με πο ούς προσκυνητές για τα Ιεροσό υμα, να παραβρεθεί στην ύψωση του Τιμίου Σταυρού, όπου όμως συνέχισε την ακολασία και παρέσυρε πο ούς στην απώ εια. Θέ ησε μά ιστα να μπει στην Εκκλησία τη μέρα της υψώσεως του Τιμίου Σταυρού, α ά αισθάνθηκε τέσσερις φορές κάποια αόρατο δύναμη να την εμποδίζει να εισέ θει στο Ναό, ενώ ό οι οι ά οι έμπαιναν ανεμπόδιστα. Π ηγώθηκε αφάνταστα η καρδιά της από το γεγονός αυτό και παρεκά εσε τη Παναγία να της επιτρέψει και ότι θα α άξει ζωή. Αμέσως μπήκε μέσα, προσκύνησε το Τίμιο Ξύ ο και έφυγε από τα Ιεροσό υμα, πέρασε τον Ιορδάνη και προχώρησε στα βάθη της ερήμου, προσευχομένη και ζώντας σκληρή ζωή μετανοίας για 47 χρόνια. Όταν έφθασε το τέ ος της ζωής της συνάντησε ένα ερημίτη που τον έ εγαν Ζωσιμά στον οποίο ζήτησε και εξομολογήθηκε ό η τη ζωή της και τον παρεκά εσε να τη κοινωνήσει των Αχράντων Μυστηρίων. Αυτό έκανε εκείνος ο ερημίτης το επόμενο έτος τη Μεγά η Πέμπτη. Το μεθεπόμενο έτος επανή θε ο Ζωσιμάς να την ξανακοινωνήσει, α ά την βρήκε νεκρή και με ένα σημείωμα που έγραφε: «Αββά Ζωσιμά, θάψε μου εδώ το σώμα της αθ ίας Μαρίας. Πέθανα την ίδια μέρα που με κοινώνησες των Αχράντων Μυστηρίων. Να εύχεσαι για μένα.» Πρέπει να ήταν τότε το έτος 378 ή κατ ά ους το 437.» Η οσία Μαρία είναι ζωντανό παράδειγμα της δυνάμεως της μετανοίας. Παρά το ότι βυθίσθηκε μέχρι το κεφά ι στη λάσπη της αμαρτίας, έπειτα μετανοήσει και με τη Χάρη του ελέους του Θεού, έφθασε στη καθαρότητα των Αγγέ ων. Μπορούμε να γίνουμε ό οι κατά ευκοι, όπως ήμασταν προ του βαπτίσματος, αρκεί να μετανοήσουμε. Η Εκκλησία μας ψά ει σήμερα για την οσία Μαρία το ακό ουθο τροπάριο: Αφού διέφυγες από το σκότος της αμαρτίας και φωτίσθηκες από το φώς της μετανοίας, προσέφερες, ω δοξασμένη αγία Μαρία, τη καρδιά σου στο Χριστό. Εκείνος δε τη δέχθηκε, γιατί εσύ έβαλες να μεσιτεύσει προς Αυτόν η ακηλίδωτος και αγία Μητέρα Του, η γεμάτη από συμπάθεια. Γι αυτό όχι μόνο απα άχθηκες από τις αμαρτίες σου, α ά και ευφραίνεσαι αιώνια μαζί με τους Αγγέ ους. Ἀπολυτίκιον. Ἦχος γ. Θείας πίστεως. Φωτισθεῖσα ἐνθέως Σταυροῦ τῇ χάριτι, τῆς μετανοίας ἐδείχθης φωτοφανὴς λαμπηδών, τῶν παθῶν σου τὸν σκοτασμὸν λιποῦσα πάνσεμνε ὅθεν ὡς ἄγγελος Θεοῦ, Ζωσιμᾷ τῷ ἱερῷ, ὡράθης ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ Μαρία Ὁσία Μῆτερ μεθ οὗ δυσώπει ὑπὲρ πάντων ἡμῶν. Κοντάκιον. Ἦχος δ. Τῆς ἁμαρτίας τὴν ἀχλὺν ἐκφυγοῦσα, τῆς μετανοίας τῷ φωτὶ αὐγασθεῖσα, τὴν σὴν καρδίαν ἔνδοξε προσῆξας τῷ Χριστῷ, τούτου τὴν Πανάμωμον, καὶ ἁγίαν Μητέρα, πρέσβυν συμπαθέστατον, προσενέγκασα ὅθεν, καὶ τῶν πταισμάτων εὗρες ἀποχήν, καὶ σὺν Ἀγγέ οις, ἀεὶ ἐπαγγέ εσαι.

11

12 (F) Fas?ng Day

13

14 Our Righteous Mother Mary of Egypt 17 April Mary was born probably about 344 and died about 421. At the early age of twelve Mary left her home and came to Alexandria, where for upwards of seventeen years she led a life of public prostitution. At the end of that time, on the occasion of a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, she embarked for Palestine, not however with the intention of making the pilgrimage, but in the hope that life on board ship would afford her new and abundant opportunities of gratifying an insatiable lust. Arrived in Jerusalem she persisted in her shameless life, and on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross joined the crowds towards the church where the sacred relic was venerated, hoping to meet in the gathering some new victims whom she might allure into sin. And now came the turning-point in her career. When she reached the church door, she suddenly felt herself repelled by some secret force, and having vainly attempted three or four times to enter, she retired to a corner of the churchyard, and was struck with remorse for her wicked life, which she recognized as the cause of her exclusion from the church. Bursting into bitter tears and beating her breast, she began to bewail her sins. Just then her eyes fell upon a statue of the Blessed Virgin above the spot where she was standing, and in deep faith and humility of heart she besought Our Lady for help, and permission to enter the church and venerate the sacred wood on which Jesus had suffered, promising that if her request were granted, she would then renounce forever the world and its ways, and forthwith depart whithersoever Our Lady might lead her. Encouraged by prayer and counting on the mercy of the Mother of God, she once more approached the door of the church, and this time succeeded in entering without the slightest difficulty. Having adored the Holy Cross and kissed the pavement of the church, she returned to Our Lady s statue, and while praying there for guidance as to her future course, she seemed to hear a voice from afar telling her that if she crossed the Jordan, she would find rest. That same evening Mary reached the Jordan and received Holy Communion in a church dedicated to the Baptist, and the day following crossed the river and wandered eastward into the desert that stretches towards Arabia. Here she had lived absolutely alone for fortyseven years, subsisting apparently on herbs, when a priest and monk, named Zosimus, who after the custom of his brethren had come out from his monastery to spend Lent in the desert, met her and learned from her own lips the strange and romantic story of her life. As soon as they met, she called Zosimus by his name and recognized him as a priest. After they had conversed and prayed together, she begged Zosimus to promise to meet her at the Jordan on Holy Thursday evening of the following year and bring with him the Blessed Sacrament. When the appointed evening arrived, Zosimus, we are told, put into a small chalice a portion of the undefiled Body and the precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ and came to the spot that had been indicated. After some time Mary appeared on the eastern bank of the river, and having made the sign

15 of the cross, walked upon the waters to the western side. Having received Holy Communion, she raised her hands towards heaven, and cried aloud in the words of Simeon: Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace, because my eyes have seen thy salvation. She then charged Zosimus to come in the course of a year to the spot where he had first met her in the desert, adding that he would find her then in what condition God might ordain. He came, but only to find the poor saint s corpse, and written beside it on the ground a request that he should bury her, and a statement that she had died a year before, on the very night on which he had given her Holy Communion, far away by the Jordan s banks. Aided, we are told, by a lion, he prepared her grave and buried her, and having commended himself and the Church to her prayers, he returned to his monastery, where now for the first time he recounted the wondrous story of her life. Saturday of Lazarus 23 April On the Saturday before Holy Week, the Orthodox Church commemorates a major feast of the year, the miracle of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when he raised Lazarus from the dead after he had lain in the grave four days. Here, at the end of Great Lent and the forty days of fasting and penitence, the Church combines this celebration with that of Palm Sunday. In triumph and joy the Church bears witness to the power of Christ over death and exalts Him as King before entering the most solemn week of the year, one that leads the faithful in remembrance of His suffering and death and concludes with the great and glorious Feast of Pascha. The Saturday of Lazarus is celebrated with the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, which is preceded by the Matins service. On Friday before the feast, the Vespers is done either in conjunction with the Presanctified Liturgy or if this is not held, according to the order of the Triodion. The day and commemoration receives its name from the miracle of Christ recorded in the Gospel. Both this feast and Palm Sunday are joyous festivals of the Church, and thus bright colors are used for vestments and the Holy Table. Scripture readings for the Saturday of Lazarus are: At the Orthros (Matins): No reading of the Gospel. At the Divine Liturgy: Hebrews 12:28-13:8; John 11:1-45. At the Divine Liturgy of Lazarus Saturday, the baptismal verse from Galatians ("As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" Galatians 3:27) replaces the Thrice-Holy Hymn, thus indicating the resurrectional character of the celebration, and the fact that Lazarus Saturday was once among the few great baptismal days in the Orthodox Church Year.

16

17

18

19

20

21

22 Announcements WELCOME TO ALL VISITORS: For those visiting an Orthodox Church for the first time, please be aware that Holy Communion is a sign of unity of faith which is only offered to Baptized or Chrismated Orthodox Christians. All present are welcome, however, to partake of the antidoro (blessed bread) which is distributed at the end of the service. Those interested in learning more about the Orthodox Christian faith, please feel free to see Fr. Demetri after the service. This week, to assist you in the Narthex we have at the Pangary: Christos Karimbakas, James Karimbakas; Greeter: Charles Eliopoulos, Maria Theodore; Ushers: George Fountas, Mary Hanna, Mary Cleary, Constantine Kechris. MEMORIALS: Memorial service is offered today for the repose of the souls of Amelia Pagounis (1 year), James Aliferis (54 years) and Paro Aliferis (60 years). Memorial prayers are offered for the repose of the souls of John Speare (1 year), Albert Smith (1 year) and Mary Themo. May their memory be eternal! Altar flowers are offered in memory of Amelia Pagounis by her family. Please join us for fellowship immediately following the Liturgy in the Anastasia and Spiro Davis Hall. The fellowship hour will be offered in memory of Amelia Pagounis by her family. DONATION: In memory of John Landers: by Mrs. Kay Geanakakis. PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY: On Wednesday, April 20, at 6:00 pm we will celebrate the Presanctified Liturgy at the Taxiarchae Church in Watertown at 6:00 pm followed by a Lenten meal and lecture. ANNUNCIATION CATHEDRAL AND THE BOSTON HOMELESS VETERANS: The next service day at the Homeless Veterans Shelter is on Monday, April 18 at 4:15 pm. All volunteers are welcome. Donations are needed for the expense of the meal. Please contact Judge Thomas S. and Alison Kaplanes, coordinators of this ministry to become involved with this worthy endeavor. Their number is: SATURDAY OF LAZARUS PANCAKE BREAKFAST: On April 23, the Saturday of Lazarus, we will celebrate the Orthros at 8:45 am followed by the Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am at the Chapel in Brookline. All of our families are invited to stay after the liturgy for a Pancake breakfast as we prepare the palm crosses for Palm Sunday. All children should be present as we prepare for the Great and Holy Week. PALM SUNDAY LUNCHEON: On Sunday, April 24, after the Divine Liturgy we will have our Palm Sunday Luncheon at the Center Hall in Brookline. Please talk to Ms. Lula Kiflit and Mrs. Mary Hanna and make your reservations today! SPECIAL REQUEST: We are looking for benefactors to donate veils for the Holy Table, the sacrament tables, and icon stands. The following remaining colors needed are: green and red.

23 ΚΑΛΩΣOΡΙΣΜΑ: Για όσους επισκέπτονται την Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία για πρώτη φορά, θα πρέπει να γνωρίζουν ότι η Θεία Κοινωνία είναι το σύμβολο της ενότητας της πίστεως, το οποίο προσφέρεται μόνο σε όσους έχουν βαπτιστεί ή χριστεί Ορθόδοξοι Χριστιανοί. Όλοι οι παρευρισκόμενοι ωστόσο, είναι ευπρόσδεκτοι να λάβουν το Αντίδωρο (ή ευλογημένο ψωμί), το οποίο διανέμεται μετά το τέλος της Θείας Λειτουργίας. Όσοι ενδιαφέρεστε να μάθετε περισσότερα για την Ορθόδοξη Χριστιανική Πίστη, μη διστάσετε να μιλήσετε στον Πατέρα Δημήτριο μετά την Θεία Λειτουργία. Αυτή την εβδομάδα θα βοηθήσουν στο Παγκάρι: Christos Karimbakas, James Karimbakas, Υποδοχή: Charles Eliopoulos, Maria Theodore, Δίσκος: George Fountas, Mary Hanna, Mary Cleary, Constantine Kechris. ΜΝΗΜΟΣΥΝΑ: Σήμερα τελούμε επιμνημόσυνη δέηση υπέρ αναπαύσεως των ψυxών των κεκοιμημένων δούλων του Θεού Αμαλίας Παγούνη (1 έτος), Δημητρίου Αλιφέρη (54 έτη), Παρασκευής Αλιφέρη (60 έτη) και Τρισάγιον υπέρ αναπαύσεως των ψυχών των κεκοιμημένων δούλων του Θεού Ιωάννου Σπυριδάκη (1 έτος), Albert Smith (1 έτος) και Μary Themo από τις οικογένειές τους. Αιωνία αυτών η μνήμη! Τα λουλούδια προσφέρονται εις μνήμη της Αμαλίας Παγούνη από την οικογένειά της. Παρακαλείσθε όπως παραβρεθείτε μετά το τέλος της Θείας Λειτουργίας στην Αίθουσα Αναστασίας και Σπυρίδωνος Davis όπου θα προσφερθούν καφές και εδέσματα εις μνήμη της Αμαλίας Παγούνη από την οικογένειά της. ΔΩΡΕΑ: Εις μνήμη του John Landers από την κυρία Kay Geanakakis. Ανακοινώσεις ΠΡΟΗΓΙΑΣΜΕΝΗ ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ: Η Προηγιασμένη Θεία Λειτουργία θα εορταστεί την Τετάρτη, 20 Απριλίου στην εκκλησία των Ταξιαρχών στο Watertown, στις 6:00 μμ. Μετά τη Θεία Λειτουργία θα προσφερθεί Νηστίσιμο γεύμα και αμέσως μετά θα ακολουθήσει Διάλεξη σχετική με τη νηστεία. ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΚΑΘΕΔΡΙΚΟΥ ΓΙΑ ΤΟΥΣ ΑΣΤΕΓΟΥΣ ΒΕΤΕΡΑΝΟΥΣ ΒΟΣΤΩΝΗΣ: Το επόμενο γεύμα για τους Άστεγους Βετεράνους της Βοστώνης είναι τη Δευτέρα, 18 Απριλίου στις 16:15 μμ. Όλοι οι εθελοντές είναι ευπρόσδεκτοι. Χρειαζόμαστε τη προσφορά σας για τα έξοδα των μηνιαίων γευμάτων Παρακαλούμε επικοινωνήστε με το Δικαστή Thomas S. Kaplanes και την κυρία Alison Kaplanes, στο: ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ ΤΟΥ ΛΑΖΑΡΟΥ «ΠΡΩΙΝΟ ΜΕ PANCAKES»: Στις 23 Απριλίου, Σάββατο του Λαζάρου ο Όρθρος θα αρχίσει στις 8:45 πμ και θα ακολουθήσει η Θεία Λειτουργία στις 10:00 πμ στο παρεκκλήσι στο Μπρουκλάϊν. Όλες οι οικογένειες καλούνται να παραμείνουν μετά τη Θεία Λειτουργία για ένα πρωϊνό με pancakes και για να φτιάξουμε τους καθιερωμένους σταυρούς για την Κυριακή των Βαΐων. Όλα τα παιδιά θα πρέπει να είναι παρόντα, καθώς προετοιμαζόμαστε για την Αγία και Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα.

24