Εσπερινός της Συγχώρεσης 13 Μαρτίου 5:00 μμ Ελάτε να ενωθούμε καί να αρχίσουμε την Αγια και Μεγάλη Νηστεία αγαπημένοι

Transcript

1 Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Churc h of Washington, DC Judgment Sunday March 6, 2016 March 13th 5:00pm Vespers of Forgiveness...Come and let us reunite... Let us begin the Holy & Great Fast in love Εσπερινός της Συγχώρεσης 13 Μαρτίου 5:00 μμ Ελάτε να ενωθούμε καί να αρχίσουμε την Αγια και Μεγάλη Νηστεία αγαπημένοι

2 MISSION STATEMENT The Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church of Washington DC's mission is to energize, cultivate and guide its faithful by proclaiming the Faith and Gospel of Christ, and teaching and spreading the Orthodox Christian Faith. There are more people on this planet outside the Church than inside it. Millions have been baptized, millions have not. Millions participate in the celebration of the Lord s Supper, but millions do not. The Church as the body of Christ, as Christ living in the world, has a larger task than to support, nurture, and guide its own members. It is also called to be a witness for the love of God made visible in Jesus. Before his death Jesus prayed for his followers, "As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world" (John 17:18). Part of the essence of being the Church is being a living witness for Christ in the world HOW TO FOLLOW THE CHURCH SERVICES ON YOUR SMART PHONE/IPAD Step 1: Open your smart phone/ipad. Step 2: Turn on WiFi. Step 3: Select WiFi name: Greek Orthodox Step 4: Use password: greekwireless Step 5: Launch a browser. Type in Step 6: Select the date of the service. You will see Matins. Tap on GR-EN Text/Music. Step 7: When Matins is completed go back to the Table of Contents and tap on Divine Liturgy. Tap on GR-EN Text/Music. You re done Follow the Divine Liturgy complete in either Greek or English. 2

3 YMNOI THΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ HYMNS OF THE DAY Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἀναστάσιμον/Ἦχος βαρύς Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέῳξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυροφόρων τὸν θρῆνον μετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Aπολυτίκιον Αγ. Κωνσταντίνου & Ελένης Τοῦ Σταυροῦ σου τὸν τύπον ἐν οὐρανῷ θεασάμενος, καὶ ὡς ὁ Παῦλος τὴν κλήσιν οὐκ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων δεξάμενος, ὁ ἐν βασιλεύσιν, Ἀπόστολός σου Κύριε, Βασιλεύουσαν πόλιν τὴ χειρί σου παρέθετο ἣν περίσωζε διὰ παντὸς ἐν εἰρήνῃ, πρεσβείαις τῆς Θεοτόκου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε. Aπολυτίκιον Αγ. Ανδρέα Ὡς τῶν Ἀποστόλων Πρωτόκλητος, καὶ τοῦ Κορυφαίου αὐτάδελφος, τὸν Δεσπότην τῶν ὅλων Ἀνδρέα ἱκέτευε, εἰρήνην τὴ οἰκουμένη δωρήσασθαι, καὶ ταὶς ψυχαὶς ἡ μῶν τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Resurrectional Apolytikion/Grave Mode By means of Your Cross, O Lord, You abolished death. To the robber You opened Paradise. The lamentation of the myrrhbearing women You transformed, and You gave Your Apostles the order to proclaim to all that You had risen, O Christ our God, and granted the world Your great mercy. Apolytikion of Sts. Constantine & Helen Having seen the image of Thy Cross in Heaven, and like Paul, having received the call not from men, Thine apostle among kings entrusted the commonwealth to Thy hand, O Lord. Keep us always in peace, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, O only Friend of man. Apolytikion of St. Andrew As first of the Apostles to be called, O Andrew, brother of him (Peter) who was foremost, beseech the Master of all to grant the world peace and our souls great mercy. Κοντάκιον/Ἦχος αʹ Ὅταν ἔλθῃς ὁ Θεός, ἐπὶ γῆς μετὰ δόξης, καὶ τρέμωσι τὰ σύμπαντα, ποταμὸς δὲ τοῦ πυρὸς πρὸ τοῦ Βήματος ἕλκῃ, καὶ βίβλοι ἀνοίγωνται, καὶ τὰ κρυπτὰ δημοσιεύωνται, τότε ῥῦσαί με, ἐκ τοῦ πυρὸς τοῦ ἀσβέστου, καὶ ἀξίωσον, ἐκ δεξιῶν σου μὲ στῆναι, Κριτὰ δικαιότατε. Kontakion/Mode 1 When You come down to the earth, O God, in Your glory, all things will cower tremulous, and a river of fire will draw before Your Judgment Seat; the books shall be opened up, and public knowledge will things hidden be. Rescue me, then, I pray, from unquenchable fire, and count me worthy to stand at Your right hand, O You, the most righteous Judge. 3

4 Ο ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 8:8-13, 9:1-2 Ἀδελφοί, βρῶμα ἡμᾶς οὐ παρίστησιν τῷ θεῷ οὔτε γὰρ ἐὰν φάγωμεν περισσεύομεν, οὔτε ἐὰν μὴ φάγωμεν ὑστερούμεθα. Βλέπετε δὲ μήπως ἡ ἐξουσία ὑμῶν αὕτη πρόσκομμα γένηται τοῖς ἀσθενοῦσιν. Ἐὰν γάρ τις ἴδῃ σε τὸν ἔχοντα γνῶσιν ἐν εἰδωλείῳ κατακείμενον, οὐχὶ ἡ συνείδησις αὐτοῦ ἀσθενοῦς ὄντος οἰκοδομηθήσεται εἰς τὸ τὰ εἰδωλόθυτα ἐσθίειν; Καὶ ἀπολεῖται ὁ ἀσθενῶν ἀδελφὸς ἐπὶ τῇ σῇ γνώσει, διʼ ὃν Χριστὸς ἀπέθανεν; Οὕτως δὲ ἁμαρτάνοντες εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφούς, καὶ τύπτοντες αὐτῶν τὴν συνείδησιν ἀσθενοῦσαν, εἰς Χριστὸν ἁμαρτάνετε. Διόπερ εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τὸν ἀδελφόν μου, οὐ μὴ φάγω κρέα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ἵνα μὴ τὸν ἀδελφόν μου σκανδαλίσω. Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος; Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐλεύθερος; Οὐχὶ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν ἑώρακα; Οὐ τὸ ἔργον μου ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν κυρίῳ; Εἰ ἄλλοις οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος, ἀλλά γε ὑμῖν εἰμι ἡ γὰρ σφραγὶς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀποστολῆς ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν κυρίῳ. Ο ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Στα Νεα Ελληνικα Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 8:8-13, 9:1-2 Μαθετε, λοιπόν, όλοι ότι το οιανδήποτε φάγητον και τα ειδωλόθυτα, δεν μας δίδουν ηθικήν αξίαν και δεν μας παρουσιάζουν ως εναρέτους και αρεστούς ενώπιον του Θεού. Διότι ούτε εάν φάγωμεν τα ειδωλόθυτα, με την ορθήν πεποίθησιν ότι αυτά είναι κοινά κρέατα, προχωρούμεν και πλεονάζομεν εις αρετήν ούτε εάν δεν φάγωμεν βραδυπορούμεν και καθυστερούμεν εις αυτήν. Προσέχετε όμως μήπως η εξουσία, που σας δίδει η φωτισμένη σας πίστις να τρώγετε και τα ειδωλόθυτα, γίνη πρόσκομμα στους ασθενείς και αδυνάτους κατά την πίστιν. Διότι εάν κανείς από αυτούς ίδη σε, που έχεις την ορθήν γνώσιν και θεωρείσαι προωδευμένος Χριστιανός, να στρογγυλοκάθεσαι και να τρώγης εις κάποιον τραπέζι ειδωλολατρικού ναού, δεν θα ενισχυθή η συνείδησις αυτού του αδελφού, ο οποίος είναι ασθενής κατά την πίστιν, να τρώγη τα ειδωλόθυτα με θρησκευτικήν ευλάβειαν; Και έτσι θα παρασυρθή πάλιν εις την ειδωλολατρείαν και θα χαθή εξ αιτίας της ιδικς σου φωτισμένης γνώσεως ο ασθενής κατά την πίστιν αδελφός, δια τον οποίον εν τούτοις ο Χριστός εθυσιάσθη επάνω στον σταυρόν. Ετσι δε αμαρτάνοντες εναντίον των αδελφών και καταφέροντες κτυπήματα εις την ασθενή συνείδησίν των, αμαρτάνετε ενώπιον του Χριστού, διότι ματαιώνετε το έργον της σωτηρίας των αδελφών. Δι' αυτό εάν το φάγητον γίνεται αφορμή να κλονισθή εις την πίστιν και την χριστιανικήν ζωήν του ο αδελφός μου, δεν θα φάγω ποτέ κανένα είδος κρέατος δια να μη σκανδαλίσω τον αδελφόν μου. (Η θυσία των δικαιωμάτων αποτελεί καθήκον, όταν δι' αυτής προλαμβάνωμεν το σκάνδαλον, υποβοηθούμεν δε εις την αρετήν). Εγώ δεν είμαι Απόστολος όπως και οι άλλοι Απόστολοι; Δεν είμαι ελεύθερος όπως και οι άλλοι Χριστιανοί; Δεν έχω ιδεί και εγώ τον Ιησούν Χριστόν, τον Κυριον μας; Σεις οι Κορίνθιοι δεν είσθε το έργον μου, το οποίον με την χάριν του Κυρίου και εις δόξαν του Κυρίου έχω πραγματοποιήσει; Εάν, έστω, δι' άλλους ανθρώπους δεν είμαι Απόστολος, αλλά δια σας οπωσδήποτε είμαι. Μαρτυρία και απόδειξις και επίσημος σφραγίς του αποστολικού μου αξιώματος και έργου είσθε σεις με την χάριν του Κυρίου. ΤΗΕ EPISTLE St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2 Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall. Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 4

5 ΤΟ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 25:31-46 Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος Ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι ἄγγελοι μετ αὐτοῦ, τότε καθίσει ἐπὶ θρόνου δόξης αὐτοῦ, καὶ συναχθήσεται ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ ἀφοριεῖ αὐτοὺς ἀπ ἀλλήλων ὥσπερ ὁ ποιμὴν ἀφορίζει τὰ πρόβατα ἀπὸ τῶν ἐρίφων, καὶ στήσει τὰ μὲν πρόβατα ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ, τὰ δὲ ἐρίφια ἐξ εὐωνύμων. τότε ἐρεῖ ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῖς ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ δεῦτε οἱ εὐλογημένοι τοῦ πατρός μου, κληρονομήσατε τὴν ἡτοιμασμένην ὑμῖν βασιλείαν ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου. ἐπείνασα γάρ, καὶ ἐδώκατέ μοι φαγεῖν, ἐδίψησα, καὶ ἐποτίσατέ με, ξένος ἤμην, καὶ συνηγάγετέ με, γυμνός, καὶ περιεβάλετέ με, ἠσθένησα, καὶ ἐπεσκέψασθέ με, ἐν φυλακῇ ἤμην, καὶ ἤλθετε πρός με. τότε ἀποκριθήσονται αὐτῷ οἱ δίκαιοι λέγοντες κύριε, πότε σε εἴδομεν πεινῶντα καὶ ἐθρέψαμεν, ἢ διψῶντα καὶ ἐποτίσαμεν; πότε δέ σε εἴδομεν ξένον καὶ συνηγάγομεν, ἢ γυμνὸν καὶ περιεβάλομεν; πότε δέ σε εἴδομεν ἀσθενῆ ἢ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ ἤλθομεν πρός σε; καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐρεῖ αὐτοῖς ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐφ ὅσον ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου τῶν ἐλαχίστων, ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε. τότε ἐρεῖ καὶ τοῖς ἐξ εὐωνύμων πορεύεσθε ἀπ ἐμοῦ οἱ κατηραμένοι εἰς τὸ πῦρ τὸ αἰώνιον τὸ ἡτοιμασμένον τῷ διαβόλῳ καὶ τοῖς ἀγγέλοις αὐτοῦ. ἐπείνασα γάρ, καὶ οὐκ ἐδώκατέ μοι φαγεῖν, ἐδίψησα, καὶ οὐκ ἐποτίσατέ με, ξένος ἤμην, καὶ οὐ συνηγάγετέ με, γυμνός, καὶ οὐ περιεβάλετέ με, ἀσθενὴς καὶ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ οὐκ ἐπεσκέψασθέ με. τότε ἀποκριθήσονται αὐτῷ καὶ αὐτοὶ λέγοντες κύριε, πότε σε εἴδομεν πεινῶντα ἢ διψῶντα ἢ ξένον ἢ γυμνὸν ἢ ἀσθενῆ ἢ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ οὐ διηκονήσαμέν σοι; τότε ἀποκριθήσεται αὐτοῖς λέγων ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐφ ὅσον οὐκ ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων, οὐδὲ ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε. καὶ ἀπελεύσονται οὗτοι εἰς κόλασιν αἰώνιον, οἱ δὲ δίκαιοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον. ΤΟ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ Στα Νεα Ελληνικα Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 25:31-46 Οταν δε έλθη ο υιός του ανθρώπου με όλην την δόξαν αυτού και μαζή με αυτόν όλοι οι άγγελοί του, τότε θα καθίση στον θρόνον του, τον λαμπρόν και ένδοξον. Και θα συναχθούν εμπρός του όλα τα έθνη της γης από της δημιουργίας του Αδάμ μέχρι της συντελείας του κόσμου και θα χωρίση αυτούς μεταξύ των με όσην ευκολίαν χωρίζει ο ποιμήν τα πρόβατα από τα ερίφια. Και θα θέση τα μεν πρόβατα εις τα δεξιά του τα δε ερίφια εις τα αριστερά. Τοτε θα στραφή ο βασιλεύς εις εκείνους που θα ευρίσκωνται εις τα δεξιά του και θα πη ελάτε σεις οι ευλογημένοι του Πατρός μου και κληρονομήσατε την βασιλείαν των ουρανών, η οποία έχει ετοιμασθή για σας από τότε που εθεμελιώνετο ο κόσμος. Διότι επείνασα και μου εδώσατε να φάγω, εδίψασα και με εποτίσατε, ήμουν ξένος που δεν είχα τόπον να μείνω, και με επήρατε στο σπίτι σας. Ημουν γυμνός και με ενεδύσατε, αρρώστησα και με επισκεφθήκατε, εις την φυλακήν ήμουν και ήλθατε να με ιδήτε. Τοτε θα αποκριθούν προς αυτόν οι δίκαιοι και θα πουν Κυριε, πότε σε είδαμε πεινασμένον και σε εθρέψαμε η διψασμένον και σου εδώσαμε νερό; Ποτε δε σε είδαμεν ξένον και σε περιμαζέψαμε η γυμνόν και σε ενεδύσαμεν; Ποτε δε σε είδαμε ασθενή η φυλακισμένον και ήλθαμε εις επίσκεψίν σου; Και θα αποκριθή εις αυτούς ο βασιλεύς Αληθινά σας λέγω, κάθε τι που εκάματε, δια να εξυπηρετήσετε ένα από τους αδελφούς μου, που φαίνονται άσημοι και ελάχιστοι μέσα εις την κοινωνίαν, το εκάματε εις εμέ (Ο Χριστός, ο βασιλεύς, που είναι ο Υιός του Θεού αλλά και υιός του ανθρώπου, τους πάσχοντας, τους πτωχούς και γυμνούς, αυτούς τους οποίους οι ματαιόδοξοι και υπερήφανοι περιφρονούν, τους θεωρεί αδελφούς του, τέκνα του ουρανίου Πατρός και τους περιβάλλει με όλην του την αγάπην. Δι'αυτό και κάθε βοήθειαν που τους προσφέρεται την θεωρεί ως προσφερομένην εις αυτόν τον ίδιον). Τοτε θα πη και εις εκείνους, που στέκονται εις τα αριστερά του φύγετε μακρυά από εμέ σεις οι καταράμενοι και πηγαίνετε στο αιώνιον πυρ, που έχει ετοιμασθή δια τον διάβολον και τους πονηρούς αγγέλους του. Διότι επείνασα και δεν μου εδώσατε να φάγω, εδίψασα και δεν με εποτίσατε. Ξενος ήμουν και δεν με επήρατε στο σπίτι σας, γυμνός και δεν με ενεδύσατε, άρρωστος και φυλακισμένος και δεν με επισκεφθήκατε. Τοτε θα αποκριθούν και αυτοί λέγοντες, Κυριε, πότε σε είδαμε πεινασμένο η διψασμένον η ξένον η γυμνόν η ασθενή η φυλακισμένον και δεν σε υπηρετήσαμεν; Τοτε θα αποκριθή εις αυτούς και θα είπη αλήθεια σας λέγω εφ' όσον δεν εκάματε τα καλά αυτά εις ένα από αυτούς, που ο κόσμος θεωρεί πολύ μικρούς, ούτε εις εμέ εκάματε. Και θα απέλθουν αυτοί μεν εις την αιωνίαν κόλασιν μαζή με τον διάβολον, οι δε δίκαιοι εις την αιωνίαν ζωήν μαζή με τον Θεόν. THΕ GOSPEL Matthew 25:31-46 The Lord said, "When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." 5

6 Συμβολον Της Πίστεως Πιστεύω εἰς ἕνα Θεόν, Πατέρα, Παντοκράτορα, ποιητὴν οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς, ὁρατῶν τε πάντων καὶ ἀοράτων. Καὶ εἰς ἕνα Κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ, τὸν ἐκ τοῦ Πατρὸς γεννηθέντα πρὸ πάντων τῶν αἰώνων φῶς ἐκ φωτός, Θεὸν ἀληθινὸν ἐκ Θεοῦ ἀληθινοῦ, γεννηθέντα οὐ ποιηθέντα, ὁμοούσιον τῷ Πατρί, δι' οὗ τὰ πάντα ἐγένετο. Τὸν δι' ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους καὶ διὰ τὴν ἡμετέραν σωτηρίαν κατελθόντα ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν καὶ σαρκωθέντα ἐκ Πνεύματος Ἁγίου καὶ Μαρίας τῆς Παρθένου καὶ ἐνανθρωπήσαντα. Σταυρωθέντα τε ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἐπὶ Ποντίου Πιλάτου, καὶ παθόντα καὶ ταφέντα. Καὶ ἀναστάντα τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρα κατὰ τὰς Γραφάς. Καὶ ἀνελθόντα εἰς τοὺς οὐρανοὺς καὶ καθεζόμενον ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ Πατρός. Καὶ πάλιν ἐρχόμενον μετὰ δόξης κρῖναι ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς, οὗ τῆς βασιλείας οὐκ ἔσται τέλος. Καὶ εἰς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον, τὸ Κύριον, τὸ ζωοποιόν, τὸ ἐκ τοῦ Πατρὸς ἐκπορευόμενον, τὸ σὺν Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ συμπροσκυνούμενον καὶ συνδοξαζόμενον, τὸ λαλῆσαν διὰ τῶν προφητῶν. Εἰς μίαν, Ἁγίαν, Καθολικὴν καὶ Ἀποστολικὴν Ἐκκλησίαν. Ὁμολογῶ ἓν βάπτισμα εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν. Προσδοκῶ ἀνάστασιν νεκρῶν. Καὶ ζωὴν τοῦ μέλλοντος αἰῶνος. Ἀμήν. The Nicene Creed I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not created, of one essence with the Father through Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And He rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge the living and dead. His kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets. In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come. Amen. Κυριακή Προσευχή Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου. Ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου. Γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου, ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. Τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον. Καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν, ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφίεμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν. Καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν, ἀλλὰ ρῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ. The Lord s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ΕΥΧΕΣ ΠΡΟ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΙΑΣ ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΑΣ Πιστεύω, Κύριε, και ομολογώ ότι συ ει αληθώς ο Χριστός, ο Υιός του Θεού του ζώντος, ο ελθών εις τον κόσμον αμαρτωλούς σώσαι, ων πρώτος ειμί εγώ. Έτι πιστεύω, ότι τούτο αυτό εστί το αχράντον Σώμα σου και τούτο αυτό εστί το τίμιον Αίμα σου. Δέομαι ουν σου, ελέησόν με και συγχώρησον μοι τα παραπτώματά μου, τα εκούσια και τα ακούσια, τα εν λόγω, τα εν έργω, τα εν γνώσει και αγνοία, και αξίωσόν με ακατακρίτως μετασχείν των αχράντων σου μυστηρίων, εις άφεσιν αμαρτιών, και εις ζωήν αιώνιον. Αμήν. Ιδού βαδίζω προς Θείαν Κοινωνίαν, Πλαστουργέ, μη φλέξης με τη μετουσία, Πυρ γαρ υπάρχεις τους αναξίους φλέγον. Αλλ ουν κάθαρον εκ πάσης με κηλίδος. Του Δείπνου σου του μυστικού, σήμερον, Υιέ Θεού, κοινωνόν με παράλαβε, ου μη γαρ τοις εχθροίς σου το μυστήριον είπω, ου φίλημα σοι δώσω, καθάπερ ο Ιούδας, αλλ ως ο Ληστής ομολογώ σοι. Μνήσθητι μου Κύριε, εν τη βασιλεία σου. Θεουργόν Αίμα φρίξον, άνθρωπε βλέπων, Άνθραξ γαρ εστί τους αναξίους φλέγων, Θεού το Σώμα, και θεοί με, και τρέφει, Θεοί το πνεύμα, τον δε νουν τρέφει ξένως. 6

7 Έθελξας πόθω με Χριστέ, και ηλλοίωσας τω θείω έρωτι, αλλά κατάφλεξον πυρί αϋλω τας αμαρτίας μου, και εμπλησθήναι της εν σοι τρυφής καταξίωσον, ίνα τας δύο σκιρτών μεγαλύνω, Αγαθέ, παρουσίας σου. Εν ταις λαμπρότησι των αγίων σου, πως εισελεύσομαι ο ανάξιος; Εάν γαρ τολμήσω συνεισελθείν εις τον νυμφώνα, ο χιτών με ελέγχει. Ότι ουκ έστι του γάμου, και δέσμιος εκβαλούμαι υπό των Αγγέλων, καθάρισον, Κύριε, τον ρύπον της ψυχής μου, και σώσον με, ως φιλάνθρωπος. Δέσποτα φιλάνθρωπε, Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ, ο Θεός μου, μη εις κρίμα μοι γένοιτο τα Άγια ταύτα, δια το ανάξιον είναι με, αλλ εις κάθαρσιν και αγιασμόν ψυχής τε και σώματος, και εις αρραβώνα μελλούσης ζωής και βασιλείας. Εμοί δε το προσκολλάσθαι τω Θεώ αγαθόν εστί, τίθεσθαι εν τω Κυρίω την ελπίδα της σωτηρίας μου. Του Δείπνου σου του μυστικού, σήμερον, Υιέ Θεού, κοινωνόν με παράλαβε, ου μη γαρ τοις εχθροίς σου το μυστήριον είπω, ου φίλημα σοι δώσω, καθάπερ ο Ιούδας, αλλ ως ο Ληστής ομολογώ σοι. Μνήσθητι μου Κύριε, εν τη βασιλεία σου. PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION I believe, Lord, and I confess, that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, Who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. Moreover, I believe that this is Your immaculate Body, and that this is Your precious Blood. Wherefore, I pray to You: have mercy on me, and forgive me my transgressions, those voluntary and involuntary, those in word, those in deed, those in knowledge and those in ignorance; and make me worthy to partake of Your immaculate Mysteries without condemnation, for the remission of sins and life everlasting. Amen. Behold, I approach for divine Communion; Creator, burn me not as I partake; For You are Fire, which burns the unworthy. But, rather, cleanse me from every impurity. Of Your Mystical Supper, Son of God, receive me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of the Mystery to Your enemies; nor will I give You a kiss, as did Judas, but like the thief I confess You: Remember me, Lord, when You come into Your Kingdom! Be awe-stricken, O man, beholding the deifying Blood; For it is a lighted Coal that burns the unworthy. The divine Body both deifies and nourishes me; It deifies the spirit, and wondrously nourishes the mind. You have smitten me with yearning, O Christ, and by Your divine zeal You have changed me; but burn away my sins with immaterial Fire, and make me worthy to be filled with delight in You; that, leaping for joy, O good One, I may magnify Your two comings. Into the brilliant company of Your saints, how shall I the unworthy enter? For if I dare to enter into the bridal chamber, my garment betrays me, for it is not a wedding garment, and I shall be bound and cast out by the Angels; Lord, cleanse my soul of pollution, and save me, for You love mankind. Master, Who loves mankind, Lord Jesus Christ my God, do not let these Holy Things be to me for judgment because of my unworthiness, but rather may they be for the purification and sanctification of soul and body, and as a pledge of the life and Kingdom to come. For it is good for me to cleave to God, to put my hope of salvation in the Lord. Of Your Mystical Supper, Son of God, receive me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of the Mystery to Your enemies; nor will I give You a kiss, as did Judas, but like the thief I confess You: Remember me, Lord, when You come into Your Kingdom! Remember me, Master, when You come into Your Kingdom! Remember me, Holy One, when You come into Your Kingdom! 7

8 SAINTS AND FEASTS Ο ΑΓΙΟΣ JOHN BEVERLEY (Αγγλοσάξωνας) Λεπτομέρειες για τη ζωή αυτού του αγίου της Ορθοδοξίας μπορεί να βρει ο αναγνώστης στο βιβλίο "Οι Άγιοι των Βρεττανικών Νήσων", του Χριστόφορου Κων. Κομμοδάτου, επισκόπου Τελμησσού, Αθήναι ΟΙ ΑΓΙΟΙ ΣΑΡΑΝΤΑ ΜΑΡΤΥΡΕΣ πού μαρτύρησαν στη Σεβάστεια Και οι 40 αυτοί Άγιοι ήταν στρατιώτες στο πιο επίλεκτο τάγμα του στρατού του Λικινίου. Όταν αυτός εξαπέλυσε διωγμό κατά των χριστιανών, οι Άγιοι 40 συλλαμβάνονται αμέσως από τον έπαρχο Αγρικόλα (στη Σεβάστεια). Στην αρχή τους επαινεί και τους υπόσχεται αμοιβές και αξιώματα, για να αρνηθούν την πίστη τους. Τότε ένας από τους 40, ο Κάνδιδος, απαντά: "Ευχαριστούμε για τους επαίνους της ανδρείας μας. Άλλ' ο Χριστός, στον όποιο πιστεύουμε, μας διδάσκει ότι στον καθένα άρχοντα πρέπει να του προσφέρουμε ό,τι του ανήκει. Και γι' αυτό στο βασιλέα προσφέρουμε τη στρατιωτική υπακοή. "Αν, όμως, ενώ ακολουθούμε το Ευαγγέλιο, δεν ζημιώνουμε το κράτος, αλλά μάλλον το ωφελούμε με την υπηρεσία μας, γιατί μας ανακρίνεις για την πίστη πού μορφώνει τέτοιους χαρακτήρες και οδηγεί σε τέτοια έργα;" ο Άγρικόλας κατάλαβε ότι δεν μπορούσε να τους επιβληθεί με ήρεμο τρόπο και διέταξε να τους βασανίσουν. Όποτε, μια παγωμένη χειμωνιάτικη νύχτα, τους ρίχνουν στα κρύα νερά μιας λίμνης. Το μαρτύριο ήταν φρικτό. Τα σώματα άρχισαν να μελανιάζουν. Άλλ' αυτοί ενθάρρυναν ο ένας τον άλλο, λέγοντας: "Δριμύς ο χειμών. αλλά γλυκύς ο παράδεισος. Λίγο ας υπομείνουμε και σε μια νύχτα θα κερδίσουμε ολόκληρη την αιωνιότητα". Ενώ προχωρούσε το μαρτύριο, ένας μόνο λιποψύχησε και βγήκε από τη λίμνη. Τον αντικατέστησε όμως ο φρουρός (Άγλάϊος), πού είδε τα στεφάνια πάνω από τα κεφάλια τους. "Ομολόγησε το Χριστό, μπήκε στη λίμνη και μαζί με τους 39 παίρνει και αυτός το στεφάνι του μαρτυρίου, αφού μισοπεθαμένους τους έβγαλαν το πρωί από τη λίμνη και τους συνέτριψαν τα σκέλη. Κατά τους Παρισινούς Κώδικες 1575 και 1476 τα ονόματα τους ήταν: Κυρίων, Κάνδιδος (ή Κλαύδιος), Δόμνας, Ευτύχιος (ή Ευτυχής), Σεβηριανός, Κύριλλος, Θεόδουλος, Βιβιανός, Άγγίας, Ησύχιος, Ευνοϊκός, Μελίτων, Ήλιάδης (ή Ηλίας), Αλέξανδρος, Σακεδών (ή Σακερδών), Ούάλης, Πρίσκος, Χουδίων, Ηράκλειος, Έκδίκιος, (ή Εύδίκιος), Ιωάννης, Φιλοκτή-μων, Φλάβιος, Ξάνθιος, (ή Ξανθιάς), Ούαλέριος, Νικόλαος, Αθανάσιος, Θεόφιλος, Λυσίμαχος, Γάίος, Κλαύδιος, Σμάραγδος, Σισίνιος, Λεόντιος, Άέτιος, Άκάκιος, Δομετιανός (ή Δομέτιος), 2 Γοργόνιοι, Ιουλιανός, (ή Έλιανός ή Ήλιανός), και Άγλάϊος ο καπικλάριος. (Ορισμένοι Κώδικες αναφέρουν και επιπλέον των 40 ονόματα, όπως αυτά των Αγίων Άειθαλα, άλλου Γοργονίου κ.λ.π The Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebastia These holy Martyrs, who came from various lands, were all soldiers under the same general. Taken into custody for their faith in Christ, and at first interrogated by cruel means, they were then stripped of their clothing and cast onto the frozen lake which is at Sebastia of Pontus, at a time when the harsh and freezing weather was at its worst. They endured the whole night naked in such circumstances, encouraging one another to be patient until the end. He that guarded them, named Aglaius, who was commanded to receive any of them that might deny Christ, had a vision in which he saw heavenly powers distributing crowns to all of the Martyrs, except one, who soon after abandoned the contest. Seeing this, Aglaius professed himself a Christian and joined the Martyrs on the lake, and the number 8

9 SAINTS AND FEASTS of forty remained complete. In the morning, when they were almost dead from the cold, they were cast into fire, after which their remains were thrown into the river. Thus they finished the good course of martyrdom in 320, during the reign of Licinius. These are their names: Acacius, Aetius, Aglaius, Alexander, Angus, Athanasius, Candidus, Chudion, Claudius, Cyril, Cyrion, Dometian, Domnus, Ecdicius, Elias, Eunoicus, Eutyches, Eutychius, Flavius, Gaius, Gorgonius, Helianus, Heraclius, Hesychius, John, Lysimachus, Meliton, Nicholas, Philoctemon, Priscus, Sacerdon, Severian, Sisinius, Smaragdus, Theodulus, Theophilus, Valens, Valerius, Vivianus, and Xanthias. Ο ΑΓΙΟΣ ΣΥΜΕΩΝ ο Νέος Θεολόγος Ήταν από την Παφλαγονία και έζησε τον 10ο αιώνα. ΟΙ γονείς του Βασίλειος και Θεοφανώ, φρόντισαν για την καλή του εκπαίδευση, τις δε σπουδές του συμπλήρωσε στην Κωνσταντινούπολη με την κηδεμονία ισχυρού θείου του στην Αυλή. Με την επιμονή του θείου του, μπήκε και αυτός στην Αυλή. Όταν όμως πέθανε ο θείος του, άφησε την Αυλή του Παλατιού και ζήτησε να εισαχθεί στην περίφημη Μονή του Στουδίου. Δεν τον δέχτηκαν λόγω του νεαρού της ηλικίας του. Αργότερα όμως τον δέχτηκαν. Εκεί μαθήτευσε κοντά στον ομώνυμο προϊστάμενό του Συμεών, με τις οδηγίες του οποίου ευδοκιμούσε στις θεολογικές μελέτες και στην πνευματική ζωή. Συναντάμε κατόπιν τον Συμεών στη Μονή του αγίου Μάμαντα, οπού μηρέ το μοναχικό σχήμα και στη συνέχεια έγινε ηγούμενος της. Επειδή όμως θέλησε να επιβάλει τους μοναστικούς κανόνες του Μεγάλου Βασιλείου, συνάντησε ζωηρή αντίδραση και παραιτήθηκε. Ασχολήθηκε αποκλειστικά με θεολογικές μελέτες και συγγραφές. Κατηγορήθηκε από τον Μητροπολίτη Νικομήδειας Στέφανο ότι, γιόρταζε από μόνος του σαν επίσημο Άγιο τον γέροντα του Συμεών και ή περιπέτεια αυτή του κόστισε έξι χρόνια ταλαιπωρίες. Τελικά, διατάχθηκε να πάει σ' ένα μοναχικό παρεκκλήσι της Άγιας Μαρίνας, στην Ασιατική όχθη της Προποντίδας, όπου και πέθανε σε γεροντική ηλικία (κατά το 1020). Από τις συγγραφές του σώζονται 92 λόγοι, 282 πρακτικά και θεολογικά κεφάλαια, καθώς και θρησκευτικά ποιήματα. Για τη θεολογική του δεινότητα ονομάστηκε: νέος Θεολόγος. Symeon the New Theologian Saint Symeon became a monk of the Studite Monastery as a young man, under the guidance of the elder Symeon the Pious. Afterwards he struggled at the Monastery of Saint Mamas in Constantinople, of which he became abbot. After enduring many trials and afflictions in his life of piety, he reposed in Marvelling at the heights of prayer and holiness to which he attained, and the loftiness of the teachings of his life and writings, the church calls him "the New Theologian." Only to two others, John the Evangelist and Gregory, Patriarch of Constantinople, has the church given the name "Theologian." Saint Symeon reposed on March 12, but since this always falls in the Great Fast, his feast is kept today. 9

10 40-DAYS BABY BLESSING For your convenience we are letting you know that you can make an appointment to church your baby on the 40th day after its birth, no matter what day that might be. There is no reason that you have to inconvenience the mom and the baby, waiting in the back of the Narthex until the priest is available on a Sunday ONLY. Make an appointment to come to church when it is convenient for you at a time that will not disrupt the baby's routine. ANY day you would like. 9am through 6pm by appointment. Bring the entire family or come just with your husband and the baby. Whatever you want. No waiting no inconvenience. More private time with the priest to talk about the future baptism if you wish. Call /7 MEMORIALS Paul George Lyngas, beloved husband of the late Mrs. Bessie Karvounis Lyngas. Loving brother of the late Mr. Christos Lyngas. Adored uncle of many adoring great nieces and nephews. Today s coffee hour is offered in memory of Paul George Lyngas with love from his family. PRAYER LIST If you would like us to remember you or your loved one in our prayers, please contact the church office. Constantine, Andreas, Pavlos, Elena, Elaine, Panayiotis, Maria, Panagiota, Cynthia, Olga, Anthony, Kiriaki and Gregory. PRAYER FOR A SICK PERSON Heavenly Father, physician of our souls and bodies, who have sent Your only-begotten Son and our Lord Jesus Christ to heal every sickness and infirmity, visit and heal me Your servant from all physical and spiritual ailments through the grace of Your Christ. Grant me patience in this sickness, strength of body and spirit, and recovery of health. Lord, You have taught us through Your word to pray for each other that we may be healed. I pray that You heal me as Your servant and grant me the gift of complete health. For You are the source of healing and to You I give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. 10

11 Church News SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ORATORICAL FESTIVAL 2016: Our Parish would like to offer a Special Thanks to the following for sponsoring this years Oratorical Festival: The Ladies of Philoptochos Society Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, WDC Greene Turtle Restaurant-Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD Safeway Briggs Chaney Outlet, Silver Spring, MD Chick-fil-a Tech Road, Silver Spring, MD ShopRite Supermarket Cherry Hill Road, Silver Spring, MD Baskin Robbins Olney, MD Mr. Constantine Zuras Harris Teeter Olney, MD Sardi s Fusion Peruana Olney, MD Mr. Philip Sardelis Papa Johns Pizza Michael Passas PHILOPTOCHOS: The food pantry collection box is ready to be filled again to help those in need. Thank you for your continued support! CONFESSION: Father Michael is available to you for confession at any time. Please call Father Michael on his cell phone at (301) HOUSE BLESSINGS: This is a great opportunity for Father Michael to visit your family and to get to know one another up close and personal. Please call Father Michael DIRECTLY, and schedule a day/time that is convenient for you and your family. May the Newborn continue to bless you and your family! Ο Πατέρ Μιχαήλ θέλει να επισκεφθεί την οικογένειά σας και να γνωρίσετε ο ένας τον άλλο από κοντά και προσωπικά. Σας παρακαλώ καλέστε τον Πατήρ Μιχαήλ στο (301) για να προγραμματίσετε μια ημέρα / ώρα βολική για την οικογένειά σας. Ας συνεχίσει ο Νεογεννηθείς να ευλογεί εσάς και την οικογένειά σας! AHEPA Awards: Attention High School Seniors! Student applications are now available for the Washington Metropolitan Area 46th Annual AHEPA Scholarship Program. Students eligible for an award will be honored at this year's Awards Program on May 15, 2016 held at the Hilton Washington, DC/Rockville Hotel in Rockville, MD. This program has honored 1,559 students and awarded $872,225 in scholarships. Applications are available in the church office or by contacting Ted Sakkos at tedsakkos@yahoo.com -. Completed applications and materials must be submitted by April 1,

12 By Robin Dugall The Power of Forgiveness For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 Do you ever think about how absurd the idea of forgiveness is? When another s actions hurt you, what is the first thing that crosses your mind: forgiveness, or exacting your pound of flesh? Most of us want the people who have caused us pain to experience a bit of their own discomfort or suffering. For most of us, we understand the power of forgiveness, but we get caught up in our own anger or resentment. There is a story about a man in Spain who had a teenage son. Like a lot of relationships with adolescents, this one was strained. It eventually deteriorated to the point where the son ran away from home. His father, though, moved with deep and passionate love, began a desperate search to find his son. After months, he finally decided to put an ad in the personals section of the local newspaper. The ad read, Dear Paco, meet me in front of the newspaper office, Tuesday at noon, all is forgiven. I love you. Your Dad. On Tuesday, the man showed up at the newspaper office to discover that 800 Pacos had come. We are all in some way seeking forgiveness and healing. We might accept and love Jesus for the forgiveness he has extended us. Despite this fact, most still have a hard time accepting the reality that God has called us to be forgiving people. But, Jesus actually said that He would not forgive us if we withhold forgiveness from others. Withholding forgiveness is not the way of the Christ-follower. Jesus calls us to give up our perceived rights and to stop demanding retribution. Jesus calls us to speak the truth in love to ourselves, to the people who have wronged us, and then give the gift of forgiveness. Yes, the recipient doesn t deserve forgiveness, but neither do we. We all have either been hurt or done the hurting. We re all in the same boat together as human beings. Jesus willingly and lovingly gave us the gift of forgiveness. He calls us to do the same. GOING DEEPER: 1. Remember how God has forgiven you. Thank Him for this wonderful gift. 2. Who do you need to forgive in your life today? Will you give this gift? FURTHER READING: Luke 15; Philemon 12

13 By Doug Fields Responding to Anger Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27 (RSV) Some years ago, I asked my family to make a list of times when they ve unjustly been the recipients of my anger. Thankfully, it was a pretty short list, no bigger than a phone book. I thought the list would actually be a lot bigger. Well, come to think about it, the phone book was just my wife s list. The kids lists were so long that we had to go to Kinko s to get more paper. Seriously, there came a point when I became aware that I had an anger problem. I know I m not alone in the struggle to control and express anger. Plenty of people have no idea what to do when they re angry. Maybe this is you too. On the other hand, maybe you believe anger is something you should never feel. Good Christians don t get angry do they? So you stuff your anger deep inside you and never let it out. Either way, whenever we are angry and don t express it appropriately, the anger comes back to hurt us. I ve since learned to deal with anger in more constructive and God-honoring ways. I m not perfect, but I am making progress. If you re stuck in anger, perhaps some of the steps I ve learned along the way can help you as well. Don t deny anger. Make a conscious decision to call an irritation what it is. Something s wrong. It s okay to say that. Delay anger. Put anger on hold. This gives you an opportunity to say to yourself, I could be wrong here, so let me think this through. This simple action requires a depth of maturity. This is where you need to slow the situation down to assess what s really going on. Make a conscious choice to be patient. Define anger, then deliver it to God. Like pulling back the covers on a lumpy bed to see what s hiding underneath, ask yourself the simple question: Why am I really angry? Most people never ask this question, they just immediately react to the trigger of their anger. Take the time to reflect and define. After identifying your anger, talk to God about your hurt. The real reason for your anger is where God wants to meet you. Tell Him all about it, and ask Him for help. Defuse the anger, then respond. The first three steps help to defuse your anger, but you still need to respond. Make it your goal to respond in a way that honors God and promotes peace by making the situation less harmful, potent, intense, just as you would by physically removing a fuse from a bomb. Take to heart the words from the Scriptures, A gentle answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1.) Whenever you do this, you are choosing to seek relationship peace. Anger is a part of life and requires a response. But, remember that whenever we feel angry, we have a choice. We can take the route that leads to pain or the one that leads to peace. With God s help, we can choose peace! GOING DEEPER: 1. What are some things that regularly trigger your anger? 2. Pick a time in the recent past when you got angry and go deeper: what might have been at the root of your anger? FURTHER READING: Romans 12:18; Proverbs 16:32 13

14 What the Last Judgment will be like, when Christ Returns Icon of the Last Judgment Our Lord Jesus Christ who is God's only begotten Son, lived, died, and was risen from the dead for the total healing of man (not just so that man could escape death and hell). He was not trying to appease an angry Father. God the Father was never our enemy. It was us who were in enmity with Him. The Grace of God is experienced by the righteous and the sinners in a different way, even in this life! As we can read in the Book of Daniel, there flows a river of Fire from the throne of God. At the last judgment all mankind will experience God in this Fire. In the Gospel of St Mark 9:49, we read, "For everyone shall be salted with fire", "that is, shall be tested. Paul also says that all things shall be tried by fire, 1 Corinthians 3:13." (Blessed Theophylact of Bulgaria in The Explanation of the Gospel of St Mark p. 80). The righteous, the saved, that is, those who love God and want to be united to Him; will see the Fire as light and blessedness. The sinners and lost, that is, those who love their sin and refuse to repent will experience Fire, Darkness and Torment. Ultimately Heaven and Gehenna are the same Reality, the Uncreated Energy of God; the Grace and Glory of God in Uncreated Light, which will be blessedness for the saved and torment for the lost. Today is the day of salvation. We must repent from our sins, and purify our hearts so that on the day of judgment we may experience God as Light and not as Fire. The biblical basis for this truth is found in the book of Daniel. The Prophet writes in Daniel 7:9-10, "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand of thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." St Basil the Great (see Note) explains, "the nature of the fire will be divided, and the light will be assigned for the pleasure of the just, but also for the painful burning of those punished" This is what the Psalms mean when we read, Psalm 29:7 "The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire." Lord have mercy! We must be prepared, before the Lord comes in His Glory. For more on this subject please read, The River of Fire by Dr Alexander Kalomiros Note: St Mark of Ephesus in Oratio Altera page 59, quotes St Basil's Hexaemeron, 6,"the nature of the fire will be divided, and the light will be assigned for the pleasure of the just, but also for the painful burning of those punished" 14

15 MEAT FARE SUNDAY 1Cor.8: Matthew 25: Meat fare Sunday was consecrated by our Church in order to prepare us for our entry into the Great forty day Lenten period, so that the salvific messages of Passion week and Easter will have a positive influence and benefit our life, as much as in the world we live in daily, as well in the other, eternal life. The entire hymnology and Meatfare Sunday's Epistle and Gospel extracts constitute an attempt on the part of our church to emphasize God's love towards all of us, not only simply to improve our life, but also so that we might be saved, so that we might repent from our sins before they bring about eternal death, that is, our non communion with God. Through the reference that our church makes today to the Second Coming of Christ and our final judgment, it expresses a lively interest in our salvation stressing simultaneously the mercy and compassion of God towards all of us. The name Meatfare Sunday is derived from the fact that from the following days begins our abstinence from eating meat (from - meat). By using this method, our Church wants to help us have a strong desire to discern good from bad. With similar clarity, Meatfare Sunday took on the name of Carnival Sunday from the Christian Nations of Western Europe, with the idea that in Latin, abstaining from eating meat, is expressed as "carnem levare". Carnival. The identity of this festival with its masked balls and fairs and merry making does not have any connection and relevance to meaning of the festival, which our Church wants to stress to us. The custom of the Carnival can be linked to ancient Pagan customs, which create a false, and temporary joy, helping us to momentarily forget the problems with which we are preoccupied. In order to deeply understand the meaning of our life, in today's Gospel extract mention is made of the Day of Judgment during the Second Coming of Christ, where according to Christian teaching, all people will be judged whether they will live eternally in God's blessed Kingdom in Heaven, or in the pain and grief of hell. In reality, God's justice for our judgment can be linked to the content of the choices we make during our life. By choosing to perform good deeds we choose Heaven. By choosing injustice at the expense of our fellow human beings, we choose Hell. In order to have the hope of Paradise, our thoughts and deeds must look to the good of society. Hence, if in our life we choose love we have the hope of Paradise. If we become bearers of indifference and hatred we become worthy of Hell. Love is a state of freedom, responsibility and a testimony of the truth. In contrast, every kind of indifferent performance against goodness, constitutes a form of participation in the performance of evil and in the final analysis is expressed as hatred. Hatred with its increase can lead even to murder. Where pure and non-judgmental love is absent towards all people, hatred begins to develop. Hatred encircles and organizes our life and perverts our personality. Hatred corrupts us, it makes us criminals. Finally hatred kills the hater and the hated with the awakening and vengeance and revenge. Revenge 15

16 never leads to positive results. It always leads to destruction and tragedies. With hatred you never become tranquil. You are always restless and unfortunate. Hatred expresses divided and sick human existence. The life of those who hate can be linked to destruction and misfortune. Whereas hatred makes you ugly; love not only saves you but makes your life beautiful because the source of our love is God's love. The Apostle Paul says that "God is love and he who lives in God's love has God living in him". Hence, today's Gospel extract has as its central theme the Future Judgment. Thus according to the assurance given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ, the criterion of that great moment will be the practice of love, man's love towards other people. We see therefore God's criterion, to be basically dependent on us, from the attitude we have adopted towards our fellow human beings. That is, to what extent we gave water to one that was thirsty, if we gave hospitality to the stranger, if we helped the poor, if we supported the needs of our neighbor, of every person that we meet and that we are able to help. Our compassionate and charitable attitude will stand, according to the testimony of today's Gospel extract, as the only measure and criterion for our judgment. Of course, other people's problems many times are of huge dimensions. But God does not ask us to immediately solve all the problems of the world. The whole world's thirst cannot be quenched from a single tap of water. But those nearby and those passing through can benefit. God asks us to do whatever we are capable of doing. He always asks that the motive for our thoughts and deeds to be our love for our neighbors. When the motive of love exists then means of activity and action are easily found. 16

17 The Baptism and Martyrdom of the Comedic Actor Saint Gelasios St. Gelasios the Actor (Feast Day - February 27) On the twenty-seventh of this month [February], we commemorate the Holy Martyr Gelasios who was formerly a mime, who was ordered to parody Holy Baptism, and was truly baptized and perfected by the sword. Verses Intending to incite laughter through Illumination you laughed at error, Having been washed Gelasios is beheaded. Gelasios, of the village Mariamne near Damascus, was an actor. In a performance at Heliopolis of Syria, he played the part of a catechumen in a dramatized parody of the Christian's Mystery of Holy Baptism. As he was immersed in the waters, the audience laughed. Divine Grace, however, wrought a miracle, and Gelasios emerged from those waters transformed. As the play continued and he was garbed in the white gown of the newly-illumined, he declared before the crowd, "I am a Christian. When I was under those waters, I was awestruck by the glory that I beheld. I am now ready to be slain on behalf of Christ!" The rest of the cast, knowing that these lines were not in the script, were aghast. The audience soon understood that Gelasios was not jesting but instead meant every word of his public confession. Roused to fury, the audience came down upon Gelasios, who was still clad in white, and dragged him out of the theatre and stoned him. Christians who witnessed the stoning, afterward took up his honorable relics and returned with them to their own country. A church was built over the martyrs tomb. Mimes in Ancient Rome The dominant genre in Roman theatre was the mime drama. This was made up of short, simple improvisatory scenes brilliantly portraying the daily round: satirizing people, manners and actions; demythologizing episodes from myth and debunking classical tragedy. Coarse witticisms and untrammeled grossness were the staple of these mimes, their immediate aim being to get a mimics rises, a belly-laugh out of the audience. The mime was both in prose (mimology) and in verse (mimody). The set was plain, and the mime could perform anywhere s/he pleased, from the Forum to the banqueting rooms of private houses. There were no chorus or characters, and the actors usually played barefoot. This was the one theatrical genre in antiquity where women appeared on stage. The mime, which started to flourish in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, is thought to have originated in classical Sicily. It reached its peak with the works of the famous Augustan mime writer, Philistion of Asia Minor, of whom it was said that he quite literally laughed himself to death. The pantomime developed from the mime. The whole play was performed by a single player - a "quickchange" mime dancer. This was a single 'mute' actor - the arch-mime - who, with rhythmic movements and gestures and the help of just one mask with three or five faces, presented every one of the characters and episodes in the play, down to animals, birds and the elements of Nature. The Alexandrians Pylades and Bathyllus are thought to have introduced the danced mime to Rome, the city which embraced it more than any other. But the cultural trends of the Imperial Age favored the ecumenical spread of the 'language of movement', making the mime outstandingly popular throughout the Empire, accessible as was it to the various peoples under Roman dominion, crossing barriers of language and culture. 17

18 A Revelation of the Torments of the Damned to Abba Makarios the Great This image depicts a beneficial story told by Abba Makarios the Great of Egypt (Jan. 19) and recorded in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers. It is from the Cemetery Church of All Saints in the town of Perama of Rethymnos, the seat of the municipality of Mylopotamos of Crete, by the iconographer Emmanuel Sephakis. It illustrates through graphic imagery the torment of those who lived life selfishly, having no communion with God or man in the next life, as well as the alleviation the damned receive when they are prayed for by the righteous. The tale is told as follows: Abba Makarios said, "Walking in the desert one day, I found the skull of a dead man, lying on the ground. As I was moving it with my stick, the skull spoke to me. I said to it, 'Who are you?' The skull replied, 'I was high priest of the idols and of the pagans who dwelt in this place; but you are Makarios, the Spirit-bearer. Whenever you take pity on those who are in torments, and pray for them, they feel a little respite.' The old man said to him, 'What is this alleviation, and what is this torment?' He said to him, 'As far as the sky is removed from the earth, so great is the fire beneath us; we are ourselves standing in the midst of the fire, from the feet up to the head. It is not possible to see anyone face to face, but the face of one is fixed to the back of another. Yet when you pray for us, each of us can see the other's face a little. Such is our respite.' The old man in tears said, 'Alas the day when that man was born!' He said to the skull, 'Are there any punishments which are more painful than this?' The skull said to him, 'There is a more grievous punishment down below us.' The old man said, 'Who are the people down there?' The skull said to him: 'We have received a little mercy since we did not know God, but those who know God and denied Him are down below us.'" Then, picking up the skull, the old man buried it. 18

19 ORTHODOX WEBSITE OF THE WEEK: This is a most wonderful ORTHODOX explanation of the Last Judgement. Brings great comfort to us in light of the many erroneous things we have been taught and burden us in our life as UN-TRUISMS. False teachings. Lighten your journey in life by reading this very important article Dear God, I am so afraid to open my clenched fists! Who will I be when I have nothing left to hold on to? Who will I be when I stand before you with empty hands? Please help me to gradually open my hands and to discover that I am not what I own, but what you want to give me. Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Only Necessary Thing: Living a Prayerful Life Returning to Trust By: Henri Nouwen In my own life I well know how hard it is for me to trust that I am loved, and to trust that the intimacy I most crave is there for me. I most often live as if I have to earn love, do something noteworthy, and then perhaps I might get something in return. This attitude touches the whole question of what is called in the spiritual life, the "first love." Do I really believe that I am loved first, independent of what I do or what I accomplish? This is an important question because as long as I think that what I most need I have to earn, deserve and collect by hard work, I will never get what I most need and desire, which is a love that cannot be earned, but that is freely given. Thus, my return is my willingness to renounce such thoughts and to choose to live more and more from my true identity as a cherished child of God.

20 Living Lent Attentively and Gently By: Henri Nouwen Lent is the most important time of the year to nurture our inner life. It is the time during which we not only prepare ourselves to celebrate the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus, but also the death and resurrection that constantly takes place within us. Life is a continuing process of the death of the old and the familiar, and being reborn again into a new hope, a new trust, and a new love. The death and resurrection of Jesus therefore is not just an historical event that took place a long time ago, but an inner event that takes place in our heart when we are willing to be attentive to it. Lent offers a beautiful opportunity to discover the mystery of Christ within us. It is a gentle but also demanding time. It is a time of solitude but also community, it is a time of listening to the voice within, but also a time of paying attention to other people's needs. It is a time to continuously make the passage to new inner life as well as to life with those around us. When we live Lent attentively and gently, then Easter can truly be a celebration during which the full proclamation of the risen Christ will reverberate into the deepest place of our being Letting Go of Our Fear of God By: Henri Nouwen We are afraid of emptiness. Spinoza speaks about our "horror vacui," our horrendous fear of vacancy. We like to occupy-fill up-every empty time and space. We want to be occupied. And if we are not occupied we easily become preoccupied; that is, we fill the empty spaces before we have even reached them. We fill them with our worries, saying, "But what if..." It is very hard to allow emptiness to exist in our lives. Emptiness requires a willingness not to be in control, a willingness to let something new and unexpected happen. It requires trust, surrender, and openness to guidance. God wants to dwell in our emptiness. But as long as we are afraid of God and God's actions in our lives, it is unlikely that we will offer our emptiness to God. Let's pray that we can let go of our fear of God and embrace God as the source of all love. 20

21 By Jim Burns March 1, 2016 YOUTH MINISTRY The Importance of Being a Faith-focused Family Disturbing findings about teens and faith in recent years reveal that a majority of high school graduates do not attend church the following year. While youth ministry experts point to several reasons for the phenomenon and seek answers that might change this downhill trend, Richard Ross, Ph.D., professor of student ministry at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, found that teens prove three times more likely to stay in church after high school graduation if they encounter regular healthy faith conversations within the home. Faith conversations, including discussions and study about God and the Christian life, most often occur in what feels like a spontaneous conversation. Because kids typically don t initiate regular faith conversations, parents must be proactive in developing family times together to make a difference. In our own family, we found that our kids did better with a short, non-lecture format. Families seem to experience the most success when they keep these times fairly light and combine faith conversations with another aspect of family life like dinnertime or a fun activity. The best faith conversations come when the kids see their parents as fellow learners rather than in the teacher-to-student role. Ideas for your family s faith conversations can come from everyday experiences such as playground behavior, teachers personal points of view in the classroom, a grocery clerk s actions, a neighbor s needs, or an advertisement s meaning. These regular conversations help establish a solid foundation for continued church involvement and spiritual growth beyond high school. Several decades of research have revealed measurable outcomes with young people who have a positive spiritual experience in their teen years. The research affirms that when young people have a healthy spiritual life, they make better decisions about their friendships, school, and sexuality, and they tend to experience much fewer at-risk behaviors. Knowing that the casual conversations you have today greatly impact your child s future, engage your kids on a spiritual level as often as possible, and keep the communication going throughout the teen years. 21

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24 GOYA GREAT LENTEN RETREAT

25 St. Kosmas Aitolos Bookstore 701 Norwood Road, Silver Spring, MD Hours: Monday thru Friday 10am-4pm GREAT LENT By: Father Alexander Schmemann This revised edition of Father Alexander Schmemann's Lenten classic examines the meaning of Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, the Prayer of St Ephraim the Syrian, the Canon of St Andrew of Crete and other neglected or misunderstood treasures of Lenten worship. Schmemann draws on the Church's sacramental and liturgical tradition to suggest the meaning of Lent in our life. The Lenten season is meant to kindle a 'bright sadness' within our hearts. Its aim is precisely the remembrance of Christ, a longing for a relationship with God that has been lost. Lent offers the time and place for recovery of this relationship. The darkness of Lent allows the flame of the Holy Spirit to burn within our hearts until we are led to the brilliance of the Resurrection. HOW TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE By: Metropolitan Gregory Postnikov This pocket-sized book, originally published in Russian in 1904, is a short but comprehensive work offering guidance to the Christian on how to conduct himself through the course of the day. In a eminently straightforward manner the author describes how to conduct oneself in the morning, in relation to God, in common situations of life, in daily work, during meals, during the afternoon rest, in the evening, before sleep, and during sleeplessness. He concludes with a consideration of prayer and guidance and on how to spend Sundays. A biography of the author, Metropolitan Gregory (Postnikov) of St. Petersburg ( ), concludes the work. The cost for this book is: $16.50 The cost for this book is: $

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