Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Churc h of Washington, DC. December 7, th Sunday of Luke

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1 Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Churc h of Washington, DC December 7, th Sunday of Luke We invite all to join us at our new Spiritual Home today, December 7 th, after our "Coffee Hour", to celebrate the progress of our construction. Father Michael will lead us in Prayer and our past Parish Council Presidents have been invited to help us commemorate the event with them leading us all in signing the beam.

2 Let us pray to the Lord, Holy Father, Creator of all, our STRENGTH, We Thank You, We Glorify You, We Praise you always through the setting of this Main Steel Beam and all the strength of steel found in the framework of Your Holy Temple of Sts Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church of Washington, DC We now set Your Word found in 2Samuel 7:1-29 The Lord s Message to David As the true strength that supports this beam. 7:1 King David moved into his new palace, and the Lord let his kingdom be at peace. 2 Then one day, as David was talking with Nathan the prophet, David said, Look around! I live in a palace made of cedar, but the sacred chest has to stay in a tent. 3 Nathan replied, The Lord is with you, so do what you want! 4 That night, the Lord told Nathan 5 to go to David and give him this message: David, you are my servant, so listen to what I say. Why should you build a temple for me? 6 I didn t live in a temple when I brought my people out of Egypt, and I don t live in one now. A tent has always been my home wherever I have gone with them. 7 I chose leaders and told them to be like shepherds for my people Israel. But did I ever say anything to even one of them about building a cedar temple for me? 8 David, this is what I, the Lord All-Powerful, say to you. I brought you in from the fields where you took care of sheep, and I made you the leader of my people. 9 Wherever you went, I helped you and destroyed your enemies right in front of your eyes. I have made you one of the most famous people in the world. 10 I have given my people Israel a land of their own where they can live in peace, and they won t have to tremble with fear any more. Evil nations won t bother them, as they did 11 when I let judges rule my people. And I have kept your enemies from attacking you. Now I promise that you and your descendants will be kings. 12 I ll choose one of your sons to be king when you reach the end of your life and are buried in the tomb of your ancestors. I ll make him a strong ruler, 13 and no one will be able to take his kingdom away from him. He will be the one to build a temple for me. 2

3 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I ll see that he is corrected, just as children are corrected by their parents. 15 But I will never put an end to my agreement with him, as I put an end to my agreement with Saul, who was king before you. 16 I will make sure that one of your descendants will always be king. 17 Nathan told David exactly what he had heard in the vision. David Gives Thanks to the Lord 18 David went into the tent he had set up for the sacred chest. Then he sat there and prayed: Lord All-Powerful, my family and I don t deserve what you have already done for us, 19 and yet you have promised to do even more. Is this the way you usually treat people?[a] 20 I am your servant, and you know my thoughts, so there is nothing more that I need to say. 21 You have done this wonderful thing, and you have let me know about it, because you wanted to keep your promise. 22 Lord All-Powerful, you are greater than all others. No one is like you, and you alone are God. Everything we have heard about you is true. 23 And there is no other nation on earth like Israel, the nation you rescued from slavery in Egypt to be your own. You became famous by using great and wonderful miracles to force other nations and their gods out of your land, so your people could live here.[b] 24 You have chosen Israel to be your people forever, and you have become their God. 25 And now, Lord God, please do what you have promised me and my descendants. 26 Then you will be famous forever, and everyone will say, The Lord God All-Powerful rules Israel, and David s descendants are his chosen kings. 27 After all, you really are Israel s God, the Lord All-Powerful. You ve told me that you will let my descendants be kings. That s why I have the courage to pray to you like this, even though I am only your servant. 28 Lord All-Powerful, you are God. You have promised me some very good things, and you can be trusted to do what you promise. 29 Please bless my descendants and let them always be your chosen kings. You have already promised, and I m sure that you will bless my family forever. 3

4 YMNOI THΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ HYMNS OF THE DAY Αναστάσιμο Aπολυτίκιο. Hχος A Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ στρατιωτῶν φυλασσόντων τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα, ἀνέστης τριήμερος Σωτήρ, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν ζωήν. Διὰ τοῦτο αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐβόων σοι Ζωοδότα Δόξα τῇ ἀναστάσει σου Χριστέ, δόξα τῇ Βασιλείᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ οἰκονομίᾳ σου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε.Του 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. Κοντάκιον. Ηχος Γ Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν προαιώνιον Λόγον, ἐν Σπηλαίῳ ἔρχεται, ἀποτεκεῖν ἀπορρήτως. Χόρευε ἡ οἰκουμένη ἀκουτισθεῖσα, δόξασον μετὰ Ἀγγέλων καὶ τῶν Ποιμένων, βουληθέντα ἐποφθῆναι, Παιδίον νέον, τὸν πρὸ αἰώνων Θεόν. Resurrectional Apolytikion. Mode 1 When the stone had been sealed by the Jews and the soldiers were guarding Thine immaculate Body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Saviour, granting life unto the world. Wherefore, the powers of the Heavens cried out to Thee, O Lifegiver: Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ. Glory to Thy Kingdom. Glory to Thy dispensation, O only Friend of man.. 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. Kontakion. Mode 3 On this day the Virgin Maid * goes to the grotto to give birth * to the pre-eternal Word * in an ineffable manner. * Dance for joy, all the inhabited earth, on hearing. * Glorify along with Angels and with the shepherds * Him who willed that He appear as * a newborn Child, * the preeternal God. 4

5 Πρὸς Ἐφεσίους 5:8-19 Προκείμενον. Ἦχος α. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 32.22,1 Γένοιτο, Κύριε, τὸ ἔλεός σου ἐφ' ἡμᾶς. Στίχ. Ἀγαλλιᾶσθε δίκαιοι ἐν Κυρίῳ ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Ἀδελφοί, ὡς τέκνα φωτὸς περιπατεῖτε - ὁ γὰρ καρπὸς τοῦ πνεύματος ἐν πάσῃ ἀγαθωσύνῃ καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ καὶ ἀληθείᾳ - δοκιμάζοντες τί ἐστιν εὐάρεστον τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ μὴ συγκοινωνεῖτε τοῖς ἔργοις τοῖς ἀκάρποις τοῦ σκότους, μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ ἐλέγχετε τὰ γὰρ κρυφῆ γινόμενα ὑπʼ αὐτῶν αἰσχρόν ἐστιν καὶ λέγειν. Τὰ δὲ πάντα ἐλεγχόμενα ὑπὸ τοῦ φωτὸς φανεροῦται πᾶν γὰρ τὸ φανερούμενον φῶς ἐστίν. Διὸ λέγει, Ἔγειρε ὁ καθεύδων καὶ ἀνάστα ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν, καὶ ἐπιφαύσει σοι ὁ Χριστός. Βλέπετε οὖν πῶς ἀκριβῶς περιπατεῖτε, μὴ ὡς ἄσοφοι, ἀλλʼ ὡς σοφοί, ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιρόν, ὅτι αἱ ἡμέραι πονηραί εἰσιν. Διὰ τοῦτο μὴ γίνεσθε ἄφρονες, ἀλλὰ συνιέντες τί τὸ θέλημα τοῦ κυρίου. Καὶ μὴ μεθύσκεσθε οἴνῳ, ἐν ᾧ ἐστὶν ἀσωτία, ἀλλὰ πληροῦσθε ἐν πνεύματι, λαλοῦντες ἑαυτοῖς ψαλμοῖς καὶ ὕμνοις καὶ ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς, ᾄδοντες καὶ ψάλλοντες ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν τῷ κυρίῳ. St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 5:8-19 Prokeimenon. Mode 1. Psalm 32.22,1 Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us. Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous. EPISTLE Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it is said, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light." Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart. 5

6 10th Sunday of Luke Κατὰ Λουκᾶν ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟ Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, Ην δὲ διδάσκων ἐν μιᾷ τῶν συναγωγῶν ἐν τοῖς σάββασι. καὶ ἰδοὺ γυνὴ ἦν πνεῦμα ἔχουσα ἀσθενείας ἔτη δέκα καὶ ὀκτώ, καὶ ἦν συγκύπτουσα καὶ μὴ δυναμένη ἀνακῦψαι εἰς τὸ παντελές.ἰδὼν δὲ αὐτὴν ὁ Ιησοῦς προσεφώνησε καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ γύναι, ἀπολέλυσαι τῆς ἀσθενείας σου καὶ ἐπέθηκεν αὐτῇ τὰς χεῖρας καὶ παραχρῆμα ἀνωρθώθη καὶ ἐδόξαζε τὸν Θεόν. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ἀρχισυνάγωγος, ἀγανακτῶν ὅτι τῷ σαββάτῳ ἐθεράπευσεν ὁ Ιησοῦς, ἔλεγε τῷ ὄχλῳ ἓξ ἡμέραι εἰσὶν ἐν αἷς δεῖ ἐργάζεσθαι ἐν ταύταις οὖν ἐρχόμενοι θεραπεύεσθε, καὶ μὴ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ σαββάτου. ἀπεκρίθη οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ Κύριος καὶ εἶπεν ὑποκριτά, ἕκαστος ὑμῶν τῷ σαββάτῳ οὐ λύει τὸν βοῦν αὐτοῦ ἢ τὸν ὄνον ἀπὸ τῆς φάτνης καὶ ἀπαγαγὼν ποτίζει; ταύτην δέ, θυγατέρα Αβραὰμ οὖσαν, ἣν ἔδησεν ὁ σατανᾶς ἰδοὺ δέκα καὶ ὀκτὼ ἔτη, οὐκ ἔδει λυθῆναι ἀπὸ τοῦ δεσμοῦ τούτου τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ σαββάτου; καὶ ταῦτα λέγοντος αὐτοῦ κατῃσχύνοντο πάντες οἱ ἀντικείμενοι αὐτῷ, καὶ πᾶς ὁ ὄχλος ἔχαιρεν ἐπὶ πᾶσι τοῖς ἐνδόξοις τοῖς γινομένοις ὑπ αὐτοῦ. GOSPEL 10th Sunday of Luke The Gospel of Luke 13:10-17 At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity." And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day." Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him. 6

7 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 evil. 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 7

8 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. 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, 8

9 Σύλληψη της Αγίας Άννης -9 Δεκεμβρίου SAINTS AND FEASTS Για τη μητέρα της Θεοτόκου Άννα, δεν αναφέρουν τίποτα σχετικό τα Ευαγγέλια, ούτε τα υπόλοιπα βιβλία της Καινής Διαθήκης. Σύμφωνα όμως με την παράδοση της Εκκλησίας, ο Ιερέας Ματθάν, κάτοικος της Βηθλεέμ, απέκτησε τρεις θυγατέρες: τη Μαρία, τη Σοβή και την Άννα. Η Μαρία, αφού παντρεύτηκε στη Βηθλεέμ, γέννησε εκεί την Ελισάβετ, τη μητέρα του Ιωάννη του Βαπτιστή. Η Άννα παντρεύτηκε τον Ιωακείμ από τη Γαλιλαίο. Μετά από πολλά χρόνια ατεκνίας, απέκτησε κόρη, την Παρθένο Μαρία. Η παράδοση αναφέρει ότι οι γονείς της την αφιέρωσαν στην υπηρεσία του Ναού της Ιερουσαλήμ, σε ηλικία τριών ετών. Αυτοί δε μετά από λίγα χρόνια πέθαναν. Την Αγία Άννα τιμούσαν από τα αρχαία χρόνια. Το συμπεραίνουμε αυτό από διάφορους Πατέρες της Εκκλησίας, αλλά και από αρχαίους εκκλησιαστικούς ύμνους, που υπάρχουν προς τιμήν της μητέρας της Θεοτόκου. Επίσης, το έτος 550 μ.χ., ο αυτοκράτωρ Ιουστινιανός, αφιέρωσε ναό στην Κωνσταντινούπολη προς τιμήν της Αγίας Άννας. The Holy Martyrs Menas, Hermogenes, and Eugraphus-10 December Saint Menas, according to the Synaxaristes, had Athens as his homeland. He was a military officer, an educated man and skilled in speech, wherefore he was surnamed Kallikelados ("most eloquent"); Eugraphus was his scribe. Both had Christian parents. The Emperor Maximinus (he was the successor of Alexander Severus, and reigned from 235 to 238) sent Saint Menas to Alexandria to employ his eloquence to end a certain strife among the citizens. Saint Menas, having accomplished this, also employed his eloquence to strengthen the Christians in their faith, which when Maximinus heard, he sent Hermogenes, who was an eparch born to unbelievers to turn Menas away from Christ. But Hermogenes rather came to the Faith of Christ because of the miracles wrought by Saint Menas. Saints Menas, Eugraphus, and Hermogenes received the crown of martyrdom in the year

10 Spyridon the Wonderworker of Trymithous-12 December Spyridon, the God-bearing Father of the Church, the great defender of Corfu and the boast of all the Orthodox, had Cyprus as his homeland. He was simple in manner and humble of heart, and was a shepherd of sheep. When he was joined to a wife, he begat of her a daughter whom they named Irene. After his wife's departure from this life, he was appointed Bishop of Trimythus, and thus he became also a shepherd of rational sheep. When the First Ecumenical Council was assembled in Nicaea, he also was present, and by means of his most simple words stopped the mouths of the Arians who were wise in their own conceit. By the divine grace which dwelt in him, he wrought such great wonders that he received the surname 'Wonderworker." So it is that, having tended his flock piously and in a manner pleasing to God, he reposed in the Lord about the year 350, leaving to his country his sacred relics as a consolation and source of healing for the faithful. About the middle of the seventh century, because of the incursions made by the barbarians at that time, his sacred relics were taken to Constantinople, where they remained, being honoured by the emperors themselves. But before the fall of Constantinople, which took place on May 29, 1453, a certain priest named George Kalokhairetes, the parish priest of the church where the Saint's sacred relics, as well as those of Saint Theodora the Empress, were kept, took them away on account of the impending peril. Travelling by way of Serbia, he came as far as Arta in Epirus, a region in Western Greece opposite to the isle of Corfu. From there, while the misfortunes of the Christian people were increasing with every day, he passed over to Corfu about the year The relics of Saint Theodora were given to the people of Corfu; but those of Saint Spyridon remain to this day, according to the rights of inheritance, the most precious treasure of the priest's own descendants, and they continue to be a staff for the faithful in Orthodoxy, and a supernatural wonder for those that behold him; for even after the passage of 1,500 years, they have remained incorrupt, and even the flexibility of his flesh has been preserved. Truly wondrous is God in His Saints! (Ps. 67:3 5) 10

11 ANNOUNCEMENTS SIGNING OF THE MAIN BEAM SUPPORTING THE DOME: We invite all to join us at our new Spiritual Home today, December 7 th, after our "Coffee Hour", to celebrate the progress of our construction. Father Michael will lead us in Prayer and our past Parish Council Presidents have been invited to help us commemorate the event with them leading us all in signing the beam. GOYA: The GOYAns are selling Chocolate Covered, Cinnamon, and Plain Pecans for $12 a bag! Thank you for your support. YAL: Sunday, December 14th, - YAL meeting and brunch outing after Liturgy. HOPE/JOY: Sunday, December 21st, - Meet in St. Andrew's hall after Liturgy to go Christmas Caroling at an assisted living home in Silver Spring. PHILOPTOCHOS: The Philoptochos Christmas Bake Sale will be Sunday, December 21st! Get your baking skills ready! Finikia, koulourakia, paximathia, galaktoboureko, Christmas cookies and other goodies, we'll take them all, and then some! Please let Harriet Maroules or Helen Thornberg know if you can donate pastry for the bake sale! GREEK SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: The Greek School Christmas Program will take place on December 22 nd at St. Andrews Cathedral church. The program will start at 4:30 p.m. You are all invited to come and enjoy our students as they perform traditional Christmas songs and carols. To Χριστουγεννιάτικο πρόγραμμα του ελληνικού σχολείου των Αγίων Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης θα πραγματοποιηθεί στις 22 Δεκεμβρίου στον Ιερό Ναό του Αγίου Αντρέα. Το πρόγραμμα θα ξεκινήσει στις 4:30 μ.μ. Ελάτε να απολαύσετε τους μικρούς και τους μεγαλύτερους μαθητές του σχολείου που θα τραγουδήσουν παραδοσιακά Χριστουγεννιάτικα τραγούδια και Χριστουγεννιάτικα κάλαντα. CHRISTMAS CONCERT: Come share the spirit of Christmas with our St. George Greek Orthodox family! Our annual Christmas concert, held at St. George on Dec. 13, 2014 at 7pm, will feature Maestro Ed Polochick and the acclaimed Concert Artists of Baltimore. Paul Mavromihilas, our own choir director, will sing in the concert. Reception will be served during intermission followed by a sing-along. Proceeds from this concert will benefit the rebuilding of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Shrine that was destroyed on 911. Come show your support in helping St. Nicholas become a beacon of our faith. Tickets are sold in advance and range from $15 - $50. ($15 for students, $25 for general, $50 for premium) Please call the church office: for ticket information. 11

12 PRAYER LIST If you would like us to remember you or your loved one in our prayers, please contact the church office. Maria, Simeon, Nikitas, Andreas, Constantine, Maria, Andreas, Pavlos, Elena, Elaine, Presbytera Flora, Harry, Maria, Aspasia, Panagiota, Kostas, Chrisanthi, Louis, Katy, Fr. Peter, and Alexi 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. ANNOUNCEMENT FOR FUTURE GOD PARENTS All Orthodox Christians planning to become a God Parent must be able to recite the Creed by memory. You may recite our Symbol of Faith in either English or Greek. 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 the office for an appointment. 12

13 CONFESSION Father Michael is available to you for confession at any time. Please call Father Michael on his cell phone, (301) FUTURE MEMORIALS December 14, 2014 Mr. Christos A. Papageorge 1 Year December 21, 2014 Mr. Athanasios Karadimas 40 Day December 28, 2014 Mrs. Penelope Xeron 6 month January 25, 2015 Mr. Dimitrios Lazaris 3 Years 13

14 Kids and Church by Brenda Weisel Comfort Anyone who has wrangled a screaming two-year old into church, then marched out 10 minutes later to threaten almost bodily harm knows that kids and church mix about as well as kids and family portraits it seems like such a great idea, but the execution is a bear. Sure, anyone can deal with a sleeping infant or an attentive ten year old, but dealing with most other ages presents parents with great amounts of frustration and not a whole lot of satisfaction until much, much later. What makes things extra difficult is that every other parishioner, who at one time or other has been in your shoes, has child-rearing amnesia. Dirty looks, shushing, and ill-timed advice are plentiful; understanding gestures, smiling, and offers of help? Not so 14

15 much. Here are some tips from a mom of six who has been in the bench trenches for 19 years and counting 1.Take them to church and take them frequently. Although it seems counterintuitive, frequency of attendance is the best way to accustom your kids to life in the church. Lots of parents give up because it doesn t seem to be working (ie. the kid is noisy, the kid is obnoxious, the kids is bored ), but in fact when you quit, the kid wins. The more you go to church, the easier it becomes to go to church. 2. Go to bed early. Treat Saturday night like a school night. You wouldn t let your child stay up late on a Wednesday, so why are letting him or her stay up late on a Saturday? Getting up early for church is more difficult when you and the kids are exhausted, so do yourself a favor and get everyone into pjs earlier. 3. Go to Great Vespers (if it s available) and say evening prayers. In the OCA, Great Vespers on Saturday evening is typical, while in other jurisdictions, Matins or Orthros is the norm. If any of these services are an option, and you are able, attempt to be there. Make sure to say evening prayers before the kids go to bed. If possible, add some Pre-Communion prayers at the end. 4. Reduce your activity level the night before. Around here, we try to not watch TV, cruise the web, or play video games on Saturday night (sometimes we fail especially Mel and I). Doing this reduces the noise level in the house and helps us prepare our hearts for receiving Christ the next morning. Reading books, playing board games, and being together as a family can take precedence when screens aren t grabbing our attention. 15

16 5. Dress up for church. Wear your best clothes because you are going to God s house. You can wear your sweats, yoga pants, jeans, and t-shirts anytime, but there aren t many opportunities to dress up. Plus, your attire really does influence your attitude and your kids attitudes. On another note, if I were more organized, the kids would lay out their clothes the night before, but I m not that organized. I am just relieved that they are wearing clean clothes. 6. Pray at home. Since what we do at home is a reflection of what we do at church, it s important to pray with your kids. This allows you to teach them how to make the sign of the cross and when to make the sign of the cross. It also allows you to teach them to stand with their feet facing the icons (or in church, the altar), to hold still, and to focus on the prayers that are being said. Of course, they will fidget and drive you crazy, right up until they go to college, but that s their job. 7. Have realistic expectations. You will spend a lot of time in the narthex or the nursery with your baby, and you will miss almost every Gospel reading because the toddler has to go potty. Sometimes you will have to give up and go home because everything falls apart and there s no redeeming the situation because vomit is involved. You will have to attend school events for your older kids when you would rather be in church. These things happen. Try to be realistic about what you can and can t do, then try not to complain. 8. Leave the toy box and refrigerator at home. Pretty early on, I realized that toys and food just cause trouble. For some reason, the least favorite toy always becomes the most important thing in the universe and must be wrenched from a sibling s hands once Liturgy starts. Eventually, we only brought a kids prayer 16

17 book and some Cheerios. For the longer services, I would bring a pencil and paper, but I usually regretted it. 9. Set an example. Be on time. Read the Gospel the night before. Follow the precommunion fasting guidelines (unless you are pregnant or it s medically necessary to break the fast). Don t get into an argument in the car on the way to church. Love each other and be kind. 10. Help each other. Don t expect your spouse to do all the kid duties in church. Help each other out by taking turns. Between the two of you, you might be present for one half of the church service! According to Mel, we spent the first 13 years of our Orthodox life in the narthex. He s probably right. All these things may seem impossible, but I m here to tell you that it pays off in the long run. Our job as Orthodox parents is to pass our faith and traditions on to our kids. When they leave your home it will be too late to teach them the importance of going to church, so don t give up! That fidgety toddler will one day grow up to be an adult, and will make her choice to be faithful, in large part because you made the choice for her when she was two. 17

18 God has greatly blessed our community to have had such a hard worker gifted with all the attributes exemplified by the Ancient Greeks and one who manifests a true aristocratic phronema. A beautiful gift is now available free of charge about the life of Dr. Theodore Papaloizos. A donation to Nea Zoe would be greatly appreciated. Books available by Dr. Theodore Papaloizos. Phone: ted@greek123.com 18

19 Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Churc h Of Washington, DC Temporary Church Address: St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD Office Address: 701 Norwood Road, Silver Spring, MD Phone: (240) office@schgocdc.org Website: Rev. Michael Eaccarino, Protopresbyter fm@papouli.net Rev. Jason Houck, Presbyter FatherJason@schgocdc.org We welcome all visitors among us always! We hope you find our worship true and reverent and our people here friendly and cordial. If you are seeking a spiritual home, we would be honored by your presence in our family. We are glad you chose to worship with us today. ALTAR BOYS Joe Mayes joem1222@gmail.com STEWARDSHIP Sotirios Nasios snasios@yahoo.com Kathy Matrakas klukia14@gmail.com GREEK LANGUAGE/ MINISTRY Ifigenia Kambanis agkambanis@msn.com Irene Iatrou ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Fr. Jason Houck FatherJason@schgocdc.org CHOIR Dr. Theodore Papaloizos ted@greek123.com Jr. GOYA/Sr. GOYA Alexandra Pittas pittasa@verizon.net GREEK DANCE MINISTRY Elaine Romas eromas@verizon.net Kristina Maria Paspalis YOUNG AT HEART Helen Thornberg bwt602r@aol.com Christina Clifton Christina.Clifton@verizon.net CATECHETICAL MINISTRY Tara Kavadias tarakavadias@yahoo.com Voula Vithoulkas YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY (YAL) Viktoria Taroudaki Victoria.taroudaki@gmail.com PHILOPTOCHOS Paraskevoula Hays voulaphilo@landmark.org HOPE & JOY Elizabeth Scott escott2253@gmail.com 19

20 PARISH LIFE - Dates to Remember Monday Δευτέρα 12/08/14 Fish Allowed Κατάλυση Ιχθύος Tuesday Τρίτη 12/09/14 Fish Allowed Κατάλυση Ιχθύος Wednesday Τετάρτη 12/10/14 Strict Fast Νηστεία The Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos Ἡ σύλληψις τῆς Ἁγίας Ἄννης τῆς μητρὸς τῆς Θεοτόκου 8:30am - 11:00am Orthros & Divine Liturgy - Ορθρος & Θεία Λειτουργία At Sts. Constantine & Helen Chapel - Norwood Property 6:00-7:00pm Paraklesis to the Theotokos - Παράκληση At Sts. Constantine & Helen Chapel - Norwood Property Thursday Πέμτη 12/11/14 Fish Allowed Κατάλυση Ιχθύος Friday Παρασκευή 12/12/14 Wine & Oil Allowed Κατάλυση Οίνου & Ελαίου 6:00-7:00pm Great Vespers - Μέγας Εσπερινός St Spyridon the Wonderworker-Άγιος Σπυρίδων ο Θαυματουργός At Sts. Constantine & Helen Chapel - Norwood Property St Spyridon the Wonderworker-Άγιος Σπυρίδων ο Θαυματουργός 8:30am - 11:00am Orthros & Divine Liturgy - Ορθρος & Θεία Λειτουργία At Sts. Constantine & Helen Chapel - Norwood Property Saturday Σάββατον 12/13/14 Wine & Oil Allowed Κατάλυση Οίνου & Ελαίου 6:00-7:00pm Great Vespers - Μέγας Εσπερινός At Sts. Constantine & Helen Chapel - Norwood Property Sunday Κυριακή 12/14/14 Wine & Oil Allowed Κατάλυση Οίνου & Ελαίου 11th Sunday of Luke 7:00-8:15am Orthros - Ορθρος 8:15-10:00am Divine Liturgy - Θ. Λειτουργία At St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral 20