Sunday March 6 ApokreaMko Luncheon (AOer Liturgy) Sunday March 13 Forgiveness Vespers at Cathedral (6:30 pm)

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1 ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY BULLETIN 6 March 2016 The Second and Impartial Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ Tῆς Δευτέρας καῖ Ἀδεκάστου Παρουσίας τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ Meat Fare Sunday Tone Grave ΤΗΣ ΑΠΟΚΡΕΩ Ἦχος βαρύς 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 Sunday March 6 ApokreaMko Luncheon (AOer Liturgy) Monday March 7 Philoptochos MeeMng Saturday March 12 Sat. of Souls: Orth/Lit. at Cathedral (8:45/10:00 am) Sunday March 13 St. John Chrysostom Oratorical FesMval (AOer Liturgy) Sunday March 13 Forgiveness Vespers at Cathedral (6:30 pm) Monday March 14 Clean Monday: Great Compline (6:00 pm) Wednesday March 16 PresancMfied Liturgy at Chapel (6:00 pm) Wednesday March 16 Lenten Meal and Lecture at Center Hall (7:30 pm) Friday March 18 SalutaMons (7:00 pm) Saturday March 19 Sat. of Souls: Orth/Lit. at Cathedral (8:45/10:00 am) Sunday March 20 Sunday of Orthodoxy: Procession of Icons

2 ΚΑΘΕΔΡΙΚΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΝΕΑΣ ΑΓΓΛΙΑΣ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΣΜΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF NEW ENGLAND Rev. Fr. Demetrios E. Tonias, Ph.D., Cathedral Dean ς Μαρτίου,βις ΤΗΣ ΑΠΟΚΡΕΩ Meat Fare Sunday 6 March 2016 Ἀπολυτίκια 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. 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 αʹ. Τὸν τάφον σου Σωτήρ. 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. Dismissal Hymns Mode Grave You did abolish death by Your Cross. You opened to the thief paradise. You did transform the myrrhbearers lamentation. And to Your Apostles You did bid to preach. That You are risen O Christ our God, granting to the world great mercy. 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 1. Your tomb O Savior. O God when You come, upon the earth in glory the entire world will shake and tremble. A river of fire will bring all before Your Judgement Seat and the books will be opened and all that is secret revealed. At that time deliver me from the fire that never dies; so I may stand at Your right hand, O Judge most just. Then, in order that you may see in another way also the justice of the sentence, he first praises those who have done right. Note that the judgment is in effect made by their fellow servants. This has happened before, when the virgins are judged by the virgins and in the case of the drunken and gluttonous servant who was judged by the faithful servant. It happened once again in the case of the man who buried his talent, [who was judged] by the actions of those who produced more This is said to bring them to the point of answering, When did we see you hungry? St. John Chrysostom

3 Ἀπόστολος A Κορ. η 8-13, θ Corinthians 8:8-13, 9:1-2 Epistle Ἀδελφοί, βρῶμα ἡμᾶς οὐ παρίστησι 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, δι' ὃν Χριστὸς ἀπέθανεν. Οὕτω δὲ ἁμαρτάνοντες εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς 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 τὸν ἔργον μου ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν Κυρίῳ; Εἰ ἄλλοις οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος, ἀλλά γε ὑμῖν εἰμί ἡ γὰρ σφραγὶς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀποστολῆς ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν Κυρίῳ. 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. Εὐαγγέλιον Ματθ. κε Matthew 25:31-46 Gospel Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος Ὅταν 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 γὰρ καὶ ἐδώκατέ μοι φαγεῖν, ἐδίψησα καὶ ἐποτίσατέ με, ξένος ἤμην καὶ συνηγάγετέ με, γυμνὸς καὶ 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

4 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 γὰρ καὶ οὐκ ἐδώκατέ μοι φαγεῖν, ἐδίψησα καὶ οὐκ ἐποτίσατέ με, ξένος ἤμην καὶ οὐ συνηγάγετέ με, γυμνὸς 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. 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."

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7 STEWARDSHIP REPORT AS OF Stewards pledged this far: 133 Total pledged for 2016 thus far: $86,040 Rev. Dr. Demetrios & Pr. Maryann Tonias & Family Dr. Chris Afendulis & Ms. Claudine Gay Ms. Calliope Andreadis Mrs. Fotene Andreadis Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Anton Dr. Marica Arvanites Mr. & Mrs. Robert P. Badavas Ms. Joanna Bakas Ms. Christine Bakos Ms. Natalie Bassil Ms. Nancy Batsinelas Ms. Tizita Bekele Mr. Charles C. Beretsos Mr. & Mrs. Triantafillos Blathras Ms. Stephanie Bond Mr. & Mrs. James G. Boujoukos Mr. & Mrs. Spiros C. Bourloukas Ms. Helen Cakridas Mr. & Mrs. Constintine Calliontzis Mrs. Mary A. Carris Ms. Doris S. Conomos Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Critikos Mr. Peter L. Condakes & Dr. Pamela Pappas Mr. & Mrs. George E. Danis Mr. & Mrs. Angelos Davos Mrs. Asemena T. Dodge Gov. & Mrs. Michael S. Dukakis Mr. Jason S. Ellis Mr. & Mrs. William Evangelakos Mr. & Mrs. Constantine D. Felis 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. & Mrs. John A. Georgountzos Mr. & Mrs. Vassilios Georgountzos Mr. Iraklis S. Gerogiannis & Mrs. Sheila Borboli Mr. & Mrs. Savvas Gianasmidis Mr. & Mrs. George Glaropoulos Ms. Marianthi Gregoriades Ms. Virginia C. Gregory Ms. Stavroula Hatzios & Mr. Aaron Helfand Ms. Mary Hatzis Ms. Alice H. Haveles Ms. Kyriaki Iatrou Ms. Kaye Jaravinos Mr. & Mrs. George Jeas Mrs. Helen Johnson Mr. Philip S. Kallan Mr. & Mrs. Arthur W. Kanavos Mr. & Mrs. John Karafotis Ms. Elizabeth Karagianis Dr. Miltiades Karamechedis Mr. & Mrs. James Karimbakas Ms. Pauline Karistianos Mr. George Karniadakis & Dr. Helen Christou Mrs. Annette Kaselis Mr. & Mrs. Andreas Kavaltzis Mr. & Mrs. Constantine T. Kechris Ms. Lula Kiflit Mr. & Mrs. George P. Klapes Mr. Louis Kokoros Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios Kolovos Ms. Bessie Kotsakis Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Koumarianos Mr. & Mrs. Pavlos Koutris Mr. Christos Kyriakis Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Kyriakou Mr. Dane Sprague & Ms. Leah Lalos Mr. Joseph Lalos Mr. & Mrs. William J. Leahy Mr. Constantine Limberakis Ms. Eugenia M Carris & Mr. John Livingston Mrs. William F. Manley Mr. Alex Mavradis Ms. Sophia P. McBrine Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Messina Ms. Lindsay Moramarco Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Milonopoulos Mr. & Mrs. George Pagounis Mr. Paul Pagounis Ms. Portia Pantages Mr. Constantine Papademetriou Mr. & Mrs. Alexandros Papadopoulos Ms. Ekaterini Papadopoulos Mr. Peter L. Pappas Mr. & Mrs. Eleftherios Papaslis Mrs. Rhoe Papoulias Atty. Catherine A. Pappas Mr. Peter L. Pappas Ms. Sofia Paraskevas Dr. Lewis J. Patsavos Ms. Andreana Pavlos Mr. & Mrs. Peter Philipoppoulos Mr. Daniel C. Pipilas Mr. Gregorios N. Plakoudas Mr. & Mrs. Michael Psikarakis Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas P. Racheotes Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas S. Racheotes Ms. Patricia S. Redmond Mr. & Mrs. Michael V. Roussas Mr. & Mrs. Peter A. Senopoulos Ms. Desi Sideropoulos Ms. Sodira Sideropoulos Ms. Thalia Sideropoulos Ms. Maria Stata Ms. Pauline A. Stathis Dr. & Mrs. Richard T. Strakus Mr. Peter H. Sutton Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios Tassiopoulos Ms. Maria Thomas Mr. & Mrs. Triantos Thomas Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Torski 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 Mr. Christopher Yuskaitis Ms. Maria Zafferes Ms. Mary Zetes Mr. Peter J. Zetes

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10 (F) Fas?ng Day

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12 ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ «ΤΗΣ ΑΠΟ-ΚΡΕΩ» 6 Μαρτίου Ὅταν δὲ ἔ θῃ 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 ἀ ή ων 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 εὐ ογημένοι 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 περιεβά ετέ με, ἠσθένησα, καὶ ἐπεσκέψασθέ με, ἐν φυλακῇ ἤμην, καὶ ἤ θετε 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 περιεβά ομεν; Πότε δέ σε εἴδομεν ἀσθενῆ ἢ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ ἤ θομεν πρός σε; Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐρεῖ αὐτοῖς ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐφ ὅσον ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου τῶν ἐ αχίστων, ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε. Τότε ἐρεῖ καὶ τοῖς ἐξ εὐωνύμων πορεύεσθε ἀπ ἐμοῦ οἱ κατηραμένοι εἰς τὸ πῦρ τὸ αἰώνιον τὸ ἡτοιμασμένον τῷ διαβό ῳ καὶ τοῖς ἀγγέ οις αὐτοῦ. ἐπείνασα γάρ, καὶ οὐκ ἐδώκατέ μοι φαγεῖν, ἐδίψησα, καὶ οὐκ ἐποτίσατέ με, ξένος ἤμην, καὶ οὐ συνηγάγετέ με, γυμνός, καὶ οὐ περιεβά ετέ 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 ἐ αχίστων, οὐδὲ ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε. Καὶ ἀπελεύσονται οὗτοι εἰς κό ασιν αἰώνιον, οἱ δὲ δίκαιοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Ὀνομάζεται Κυριακὴ τῆς Ἀπόκρεω γιατί στὴ διάρκεια τῆς ἑβδομάδας ποὺ ἀκολουθεῖ ἀρχίζει μιὰ περιορισμένη νηστεία «ἀποχὴ κρέατος» ὅπως παραγγέ ουν τὰ λειτουργικὰ βιβ ία. Ἡ Ἐκκλησία ἀρχίζει νὰ μᾶς «προσαρμόζει» στὴ μεγά η προσπάθεια ποὺ θὰ ἀπαιτήσει ἀπὸ ἐμᾶς ἑπτὰ μέρες ἀργότερα. Σταδιακὰ μᾶς βάζει στὸ μεγά ο ἀγώνα, γιατί γνωρίζει τὴν εὐπάθειά μας καὶ προβ έπει τὴ πνευματική μας ἀδυναμία. Εὐαγγελικὸ ἀνάγνωσμα τῆς μέρας εἶναι ἡ παραβολὴ τοῦ Χριστοῦ γιὰ τὴν Τελευταῖα Κρίση (Ματθ. 25, 31-46). Ὅταν ὁ Χριστὸς θὰ ἔρθει νὰ μᾶς κρίνει ποιὸ θὰ εἶναι τὸ κριτήριό Του; Ἡ παραβολὴ μᾶς δίνει τὴν ἀπάντηση: ἡ ἀγάπη. Ὄχι ἕνα ἁπλὸ ἀνθρωπιστικὸ ἐνδιαφέρον, ἀ ὰ ἡ συγκεκριμένη καὶ προσωπικὴ ἀγάπη γιὰ τὸν ἄνθρωπο, γιὰ κάθε ἀνθρώπινο πρόσωπο μὲ τὸ ὁποῖο ὁ Θεὸς μὲ φέρνει σὲ ἐπαφὴ στὴ ζωή μου. Ἡ χριστιανικὴ ἀγάπη εἶναι ἡ «δυνατὴ ἀδυνατότητα» νὰ β έπω τὸ Χριστὸ στὸ πρόσωπο κάθε ἀνθρώπου, ὁποιοσδήποτε κι ἂν εἶναι αὐτός, καὶ τὸν ὁποῖο ὁ Θεός, μέσα στὸ αἰώνιο καὶ μυστηριῶδες σχέδιό Του, ἔχει ἀποφασίσει νὰ φέρει στὴ ζωή μου ἔστω καὶ γιὰ λίγες στιγμές. Νὰ τὸν φέρει κοντά μου ὄχι σὰν μιὰ εὐκαιρία γιὰ «καλή πράξη» ἢ γιὰ ἐξάσκηση τῆς φιλανθρωπίας μου, ἀ ὰ σὰν ἀρχὴ μιᾶς ἀδιάκοπης συντροφιᾶς μέσα στὸν ἴδιο τὸ Θεό. Ἡ ἀγάπη ξεπερνάει στὸν «ἄ ο» τὴν ἐξωτερική του ἐμφάνιση, τὴν κοινωνική του θέση, τὴν ἐθνική του καταγωγή, τὴν διανοητική του ἱκανότητα καὶ φθάνει στὴν ψυχή του, τὸ ἀ ηθινὸ κομμάτι τοῦ Θεοῦ μέσα του. Εἶναι ἡ ὑπέροχη ἀνακά υψη τοῦ «προσώπου» στὸν «ἄνθρωπο», ἡ ἀνακά υψη τοῦ συγκεκριμένου καὶ μοναδικοῦ προσώπου μέσα στὸ σύνολο γενικά. Ἡ πραγματικὴ ἀποστολὴ τῆς Ἐκκλησίας εἶναι νὰ ὑπενθυμίζει στὸν ἄνθρωπο τὴν προσωπική του ἀγάπη. Ὅ οι οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἔχουν ἀνάγκη ἀπ αὐτὴ τὴ προσωπικὴ ἀγάπη, νὰ τοὺς ἀναγνωρίζεται ἡ μοναδικότητα τῆς ψυχῆς τους στὴν ὁποία ἀντανακλᾶται ὅ η ἡ ὀμορφιὰ τῆς δημιουργίας μ ἕνα ξεχωριστὸ τρόπο. Ξέρουμε ὅτι οἱ ἄνθρωποι βρίσκονται στὴ «φυλακή», εἶναι «πεινῶντες καὶ διψῶντες» ἀκριβῶς γιατί τοὺς λείπει αὐτὴ ἡ προσωπικὴ ἀγάπη. Τέ ος ξέρουμε ὅτι εἴτε ἀγαπήσαμε εἴτε ἀρνηθήκαμε τὴν ἀγάπη, πρόκειται νὰ κριθοῦμε, γιατί «ἐφ ὅσον ἐποιήσατε ἐνὶ τούτων τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου τῶν ἐ αχίστων, ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε» (Ματθ. 25)

13 Names to be read for the Saturday of Souls, March 5, 12, 19, 2016 For the eternal memory and blessed repose of the souls of the servants of God. Υπὲρ ἀναπαύσεως

14 Sunday of the Last Judgement 6 March The Sunday of the Last Judgment is the third Sunday of a three-week period prior to the commencement of Great Lent. During this time, the services of the Church have begun to include hymns from the Triodion, a liturgical book that contains the services from the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, the tenth before Pascha (Easter), through Great and Holy Saturday. On this day, focus is placed on the future judgment of all persons who will stand before the throne of God when Christ returns in His glory. The commemoration for this Sunday is taken from the parable of our Lord Jesus Christ concerning his Second Coming and the Last Judgment of all, both the living and the dead. In Matthew 25:31-46, Christ speaks about what will happen at this specific point in time when He will come in His glor y, and all the holy angels with Him (v. 31). At His coming, He will sit on the throne of His glory, and all of the nations will be gathered before Him. He will separate them as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats (v. 32). The sheep will be placed on His right hand, and the goats on the left. To the sheep, He will say Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (vv ) This kingdom is offered to the sheep because of their compassion and service to those in need. Jesus says,... for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. The sheep, who are the righteous chosen for the kingdom, will ask how this could be so. They will ask Jesus when was He hungry or thirsty, a stranger, naked, and in prison. He will answer them by saying, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to the least of these My brethren, you did it to me (vv ). Christ the King, seated on His throne of judgment, will then turn to the goats on His left and say, Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels (v. 41). He will condemn them because they did not feed Him when He was hungry, give Him drink when He was thirsty, take Him in when He was a stranger, clothe Him when He was naked, visit Him when He was sick or in prison. The goats will ask the Lord, When did we see You hungr y or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You? Then He will answer them saying, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me (vv ). Jesus concludes His words on the Last Judgment by stating that those on the left will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life (v. 46). On the past two Sundays of this pre-lenten period, the focus was placed on God s patience and limitless compassion, of His readiness to accept every sinner who returns to Him. On this third Sunday, we are powerfully reminded of a complementary truth: no one is so patient and so merciful as God, but even He does not forgive

15 those who do not repent. The God of love is also a God of righteousness, and when Christ comes again in glory, He will come as our Judge. Such is the message of Lent to each of us: turn back while there is still time, repent before the End comes. This Sunday sets before us the eschatological dimension of Lent: the Great Fast is a preparation for the Second Coming of the Savior, for the eternal Passover in the Age to Come, a theme that is also the focus of the first three days of Holy Week. But the judgment is not only in the future. Here and now, each day and each hour, in hardening our hearts toward others and in failing to respond to the opportunities we are given of helping them, we are already passing judgment on ourselves. Another theme of this Sunday is that of love. When Christ comes to judge us, what will be the criterion of His judgment? The parable of the Last Judgment answers: love not a mere humanitarian concern for abstract justice and the anonymous poor, but concrete and personal love for the human person the specific persons that we encounter each day in our lives. Christian love is the possible impossibility to see Christ in another person, whoever he or she is, and whom God, in His eternal and mysterious plan, has decided to introduce into my life, be it only for a few moments, not as an occasion for a good deed or an exercise in philanthropy, but as the beginning of an eternal companionship in God Himself. The parable of the Last Judgment is about Christian love. Not all of us are called to work for humanity, yet each one of us has received the gift and the grace of Christ s love. We know that all persons ultimately need this personal love the recognition in them of their unique soul in which the beauty of the whole creation is reflected in a unique way. We also know that people are in prison and are sick and thirsty and hungry because that personal love has been denied them. And, finally, we know that however narrow and limited the framework of our personal existence, each one of us has been made responsible for a tiny part of the Kingdom of God, made responsible by that very gift of Christ s love. Thus, on whether or not we have accepted this responsibility, on whether we have loved or refused to love, shall we be judged. He commended them for doing what was right. He reveals how great is his bond of love for them and has been from the beginning. 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. To what other blessedness could this blessedness be compared? To be blessed of the Father! Why were they counted worthy of such a great honor? I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. What honor! What blessedness! He did not say take but inherit as one s own, as your Father s, as yours, as due to you from the first. For before you were, he says, these things had been prepared and made ready for you, because I knew you would be such as you are. St. John Chrysostom

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18 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: Lula Kiflit, Alex Mavradis; Greeter: Christos Karimbakas, Chris Gussis; Ushers: George Fountas, Charles Eliopoulos, Mary Cleary, Ellen Marie Demeter. Please join us for fellowship immediately following the Liturgy down to the Lower Level Hall. The fellowship hour will be offered by the Parish Council. DONATIONS: In memory of James Kaselis: Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios E. Tassiopoulos, Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. Reardon. In memory of Maria Theophilis: Mr. Philip S. Kallan. APOKREATIKO LUNCHEON: Join us today immediately after the Divine Liturgy for an Apokreatiko (Meatfare) Luncheon in the Davis Hall. Tickets for adults are $25 and for kids under 12, free. The menu includes mezedakia, lamb shanks and chicken tenders for the kids. Music by D.J. Tickets are still available and you can purchase them at the entrance of the Davis Hall. SATURDAY OF SOULS: On Saturday, March 12, we will commemorate the second Saturday of Souls at the Cathedral on Parker Street. Orthros begins at 8:45 am followed by the Liturgy at 10:00 am. Please fill out the form in this week s bulletin with the names of your departed loved ones that you wish to be read. The names will also be read at the following Saturday of Souls service. FORGIVENESS VESPERS: On Sunday, March 13, 2016 at 6:30 pm at the Cathedral, we begin our entry into the Great 40 Days with celebration of the Forgiveness Vespers. Join us as we ask forgiveness of one and other and begin our spiritual journey to the Resurrection of our Lord. GREAT COMPLINE: The Great Compline will be celebrated on Clean Monday, March 14, at 6:00 pm at the Cathedral Chapel. Please join us, as we begin our Lenten Journey. SALUTATIONS: The First Salutation Service will be celebrated on Friday, March 18, at 7:00 pm at the Cathedral on Parker St. Join us as we celebrate the Annunciation on the first five Friday s of Lent. SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY: Sunday, March 20, is the first Sunday of Lent, the Sunday of Orthodoxy, when we commemorate the return of the icons to the church. All of our Sunday School children should be present with a family icon for the procession at the end of the Liturgy. Icons will also be available for the children here at church. SPECIAL REQUEST: We are looking for benefactors to donate veils for the Holy Table, the sacrament tables and icon stands. We are looking for donations for the following colors: blue, gold, green, red and white.

19 Ανακοινώσεις 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: Lula Kiflit, Alex Mavradis, Υποδοχή: Christos Karimbakas, Chris Gussis, Δίσκος: George Fountas, Charles Eliopoulos, Mary Cleary, Ellen Marie Demeter. Παρακαλείσθε όπως παραβρεθείτε μετά το τέλος της Θείας Λειτουργίας στο κάτω χώλ της εκκλησίας μας όπου θα προσφερθούν καφές και εδέσματα από το Ενοριακό συμβούλιο. ΔΩΡΕΕΣ: Εις μνήμη του Δημητρίου Κασέλη: Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios E. Tassiopoulos, Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. Reardon. Εις μνήμη της Μαρίας Θεοφίλη: Mr. Philip S. Kallan. AΠOKΡEATIKO ΓΕΥΜΑ: Σήμερα, αμέσως μετά τη Θεία Λειτουργία σας προσκαλούμε στο Αποκριάτικο Γεύμα που θα γίνει στο Davis Hall. Η τιμή των εισητηρίων για τους ενήλικες είναι $25 και για τα παιδιά κάτω των 12, δωρεάν. Το πλούσιο μενού περιλαμβάνει μεζεδάκια, lamb shanks και chicken tenders για τα παιδιά. Μουσική από D.J. Υπάρχουν διαθέσημα εισητήρια τα οποία μπορείτε να προμηθευτείτε στην είσοδο του Davis Hall. ΨΥΧΟΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ: Το Σάββατο, 12 Μαρτίου θα έχουμε το δεύτερο Ψυχοσάββατο στον Καθεδρικό στην Parker Street. Ο Όρθρος θα αρχίσει στις 8.45 πμ και θα ακολουθήσει η Θεία Λειτουργία στις 10:00 πμ. Παρακαλούμε συμπληρώστε τη φόρμα, που θα βρήτε στο Bulletin, με τα ονόματα των αποβιωσάντων που επιθυμείτε να διαβαστούν. Η λίστα με τα ονόματα θα διαβαστεί και το επόμενο Ψυχοσάββατο. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΗΣ ΣΥΓΧΩΡΗΣΕΩΣ ΕΣΠΕΡΙΝΟΣ / ΚΥΚΛΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΣΥΓΧΩΡΗΣΕΩΣ: Την Κυριακή, 13 Μαρτίου, παραμονή της Μεγάλης Τεσσαρακοστής στις 6:30 μμ καλείστε όλοι όπως παραστείτε στον Εσπερινό της Συγχωρήσεως. Θα ακούσουμε για τη διδασκαλία του Κυρίου σχετικά με τη νηστεία και τη συγχώρεση έτσι ώστε να εισέλθουμε στην εποχή της νηστείας συγχωρώντας και προσευχόμενοι ο ένας για τον άλλο. ΜΕΓΑ ΑΠΟΔΕΙΠΝΟ: Το Μέγα Απόδειπνο θα εορταστεί την Καθαρά Δευτέρα 14 Μαρτίου, και ώρα 6:00 μμ, στο Παρεκκλήσι του Καθεδρικού Ναού στο Μπρουκλάϊν. Παρακαλούμε, όπως παραβρεεθείται, έτσι ώστε όλοι μαζί να αρχίσουμε την νηστεία της Μεγάλης Τεσσαρακοστής. ΠΑΡΑΚΛΗΣΗ: Απευθυνόμαστε στη γενναιοδωρία σας για την απόκτηση καλυμάτων για την Αγία Τράπεζα, τα τραπέζια για τα Μυστήρια και τις βάσεις των εικόνων. Χρειαζόμαστε τα ακόλουθα χρώματα: μπλε, χρυσό, πράσινο, κόκκινο και λευκό.

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