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1 SAINT DEMETRIOS CATHEDRAL SS. CATHERINE & GEORGE CHURCH TH DRIVE RD STREET ASTORIA, NY ASTORIA, NY TEL: TEL: FAX: ARCHIM. NEKTARIOS PAPAZAFIROPOULOS MR. EMMANUEL DRITSAS DEAN PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 27 ΔΕΚΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ 2015 ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ 2015 Ἀγαπητοί ἐν Χριστῷ ἀδελφοί, Ἡ Γέννηση τοῦ Θεανθρώπου Ἰησοῦ εἶναι τό σπουδαιότερο καί σημαντικότερο γεγονός στήν Ἱστορία τοῦ κόσμου. Ὁ λόγος εἶναι ἁπλός: ὁ Ὑπερούσιος Θεός καταδέχεται νά προσλάβει τήν ἀνθρώπινη φύση γιά νά σώσει τόν ἄνθρωπο ἀπό τήν ἁμαρτία καί τόν θάνατο στόν ὁποῖο αὐτή ὁδηγεῖ. Κατά θεϊκή συγκατάβαση, ὁ ἀχώρητος παντί καί προαιώνιος Λόγος «ἐγένετο σάρξ» καί συντελεῖται ἔτσι Δεσποτικό δώρημα ἀνήκουστο καί ἀνεκτίμητο τό ἔλαττον ὑπό τοῦ κρείττονος εὐλογεῖται: «ἑαυτόν ἐκένωσεν μορφήν δούλου λαβών, ἐν' ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος» (Φιλ. 2:7). Μέσα από αὐτήν τήν ἕνωσή Του με το δημιούργημά Του, ὁ Θεός φανερώνει τήν ἄπειρη ἀγάπη Του πρός τόν ἄνθρωπο, «οὕτω γάρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ Θεός τόν κόσμον, ὥστε τόν υἱόν αὐτοῦ τόν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν» (Ιω. 3:16). Ἡ κατά σάρκα Γέννηση τοῦ Υἱοῦ καί Λόγου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἦλθε γιά νά φέρει τήν πολυπόθητη εἰρήνη εἰς τόν κόσμο. Μέ τήν ἐτήσια ἔλευση τῶν Χριστουγέννων, αἰσθανόμαστε ἔστω καί γιά λίγο, καί ἄς εἶναι ἐπιφανειακά αὐτήν τήν θεόσταλτη εἰρήνη στήν ζωή μας. Διακόπτουμε τήν καθημερινή ρουτίνα μας καί συνέρχεται ἡ οἰκογένεια γιά νά βιώσουμε τήν Χάρη τοῦ Θεοῦ μέσα ἀπό τήν «μητρόπολιν τῶν ἑορτῶν», ὅπως τήν ἀποκαλεῖ ὁ Ἱερὸς Χρυσόστομος. Καί ἐάν, στήν συνέχεια, νοιώθουμε τήν γλυκειά αὐτή χαρά καί εἰρήνη νά χάνονται μέσα στίς μέριμνες τοῦ βίου, εἶναι ἐπειδή δέν βιώνουμε τά Χριστούγεννα μέ τά πνευματικά μας αἰσθητήρια. Ἁπλά συμμετέχουμε συναισθηματικά μέν, πρόσκαιρα δέ. Εἶναι ὅμως στό χέρι μας νά ἀνοίξουμε τήν καρδιά μας, νά γίνη ἕνα δεύτερο θεοδέγμον σπήλαιο, γιά νά δεχθῆ τό Θεῖο Βρέφος. Καί ἀτενίζοντες τό φῶς τῆς θεογνωσίας, πού πηγάζει ἀπό τόν «νοητό ἥλιο τῆς Δικαιοσύνης» καί

2 σεσαρκωμένο Λόγο τοῦ Θεοῦ, θά μπορέσουμε νά ἀπολαύσουμε τήν πραγματική εἰρήνη, τῆς ὁποίας «οὐκ ἔστιν ὅριον». Εὔχομαι να ὑποδεχθοῦμε τό Θεῖο Βρέφος μέ τήν ἁπλότητα τῶν ποιμένων καί νά προσκυνήσουμε τόν Σαρκωθέντα Θεό μέ τήν εὐλάβεια τῶν Μάγων, γιά νά λαμπρύνει τόν νοῦ καί τήν καρδιά μας μέ τίς θεϊκές Του ἀκτῖνες, πού ἦλθαν νά διαλύσουν ἅπαξ καί διαπαντός τήν κυριαρχία τοῦ σκότους καί νά φωτίσουν τήν οἰκουμένη. Εὐχόμενος χρόνια πολλά και καλή Χρονιά σέ σᾶς καί τούς οἰκείους σας ἐν ὄψει τοῦ Ἁγίου Δωδεκαημέρου, διατελῶ, My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, Μετά τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ τεχθέντι ἀγάπης, Ἀρχιμ. Νεκτάριος Παπαζαφειρόπουλος Ἱερατικῶς Προϊστάμενος CHRISTMAS 2015 The birth of the God-man Jesus is the greatest and most important event in world history. The reason is simple: God condescends to assume human nature in order to save humanity from sin and death which we inherited from Adam and Eve's disobedience. In divine condescension, the word "was made flesh" and as such providing all of humanity an invaluable blessing rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (Phil. 2:7). Through this union with His creation, God reveals His infinite love for man, For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son (Jn. 3:16). The purpose of the Incarnation of the Son and Word of God was to bring the much desired peace in the world. The annual arrival of Christmas brings feelings - even for a moment and for some superficially - of this providential peace in our lives. We interrupt our daily routine and invite our family to experience the Grace of God through this Metropolis of Feasts, as it is called by St. John Chrysostom. And if later we feel this sweet joy and peace to get lost within the cares of life, it is because we do not experience Christmas with our spiritual sensors. We simply engage emotionally but only temporarily. It is in our hands to open our hearts, and allow them to become a second nativity cave to receive the Holy Child. While we stare in awe at the light and the knowledge of God, which comes from the conceivable Sun of Justice and incarnated Word of God, we can enjoy then real peace, in which there "exists no limits". My Paternal and sincere wish for all is to receive the Godly child with the simplicity of the shepherds and to worship the incarnate God with reverence of the Magi, to brighten our mind and hearts with His divine rays, who came to dispel once and for all the rule of darkness and to highlight the Universe. Wishing to you and your relatives a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in view of these holy twelve days, I remain, With the love of our newborn Jesus Christ, Archim. Nektarios Papazafiropoulos Dean

3 ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΜΕΤΑ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ ΓΕΝΝΗΣΙΝ Κατὰ Ματθαῖον Β:13-23 Αναχωρησάντων δὲ αὐτῶν ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος Κυρίου φαίνεται κατ ὄναρ τῷ Ιωσὴφ λέγων ἐγερθεὶς παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ φεῦγε εἰς Αἴγυπτον, καὶ ἴσθι ἐκεῖ ἕως ἂν εἴπω σοι μέλλει γὰρ Ηρῴδης ζητεῖν τὸ παιδίον τοῦ ἀπολέσαι αὐτό. Ο δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ νυκτὸς καὶ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον, καὶ ἦν ἐκεῖ ἕως τῆς τελευτῆς Ηρῴδου, ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ Κυρίου διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ἐκάλεσα τὸν υἱόν μου. Τότε Ηρῴδης ἰδὼν ὅτι ἐνεπαίχθη ὑπὸ τῶν μάγων, ἐθυμώθη λίαν, καὶ ἀποστείλας ἀνεῖλε πάντας τοὺς παῖδας τοὺς ἐν Βηθλεὲμ καὶ ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ὁρίοις αὐτῆς ἀπὸ διετοῦς καὶ κατωτέρω, κατὰ τὸν χρόνον ὃν ἠκρίβωσε παρὰ τῶν μάγων. τότε ἐπληρώθη τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ Ιερεμίου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος φωνὴ ἐν Ραμᾷ ἠκούσθη, θρῆνος καὶ κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὀδυρμὸς πολύς Ραχὴλ κλαίουσα τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελε παρακληθῆναι, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσίν. Τελευτήσαντος δὲ τοῦ Ηρῴδου ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος Κυρίου κατ ὄναρ φαίνεται τῷ Ιωσὴφ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳλέγων ἐγερθεὶς παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ πορεύου εἰς γῆν Ισραήλ τεθνήκασι γὰρ οἱ ζητοῦντες τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ παιδίου. ὁ δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς γῆν Ισραήλ. ἀκούσας δὲ ὅτι Αρχέλαος βασιλεύει ἐπὶ τῆς Ιουδαίας ἀντὶ Ηρῴδου τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, ἐφοβήθη ἐκεῖ ἀπελθεῖν χρηματισθεὶς δὲ κατ ὄναρ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὰ μέρη τῆς Γαλιλαίας, καὶ ἐλθὼν κατῴκησεν εἰς πόλιν λεγομένην Ναζαρέτ, ὅπως πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ τῶν προφητῶν ὅτι Ναζωραῖος κληθήσεται. Sunday after Nativity The Gospel according to Matthew 2:13-23 When the wise men departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son." Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more." But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaos reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

4 Από τις Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 6:8-15, 7:1-5, Εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἐξῆλθεν ὁ φθόγγος αὐτῶν. Στίχ. Οἱ οὐρανοὶ διηγοῦνται δόξαν Θεοῦ. Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, Στέφανος δὲ πλήρης πίστεως καὶ δυνάμεως ἐποίει τέρατα καὶ σημεῖα μεγάλα ἐν τῷ λαῷ. Ἀνέστησαν δέ τινες τῶν ἐκ τῆς συναγωγῆς τῆς λεγομένης Λιβερτίνων, καὶ Κυρηναίων, καὶ Ἀλεξανδρέων, καὶ τῶν ἀπὸ Κιλικίας καὶ Ἀσίας, συζητοῦντες τῷ Στεφάνῳ. Καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυον ἀντιστῆναι τῇ σοφίᾳ καὶ τῷ πνεύματι ᾧ ἐλάλει. Τότε ὑπέβαλον ἄνδρας λέγοντας ὅτι Ἀκηκόαμεν αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος ῥήματα βλάσφημα εἰς Μωϋσῆν καὶ τὸν θεόν. Συνεκίνησάν τε τὸν λαὸν καὶ τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους καὶ τοὺς γραμματεῖς, καὶ ἐπιστάντες συνήρπασαν αὐτόν, καὶ ἤγαγον εἰς τὸ συνέδριον, ἔστησάν τε μάρτυρας ψευδεῖς λέγοντας, Ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος οὐ παύεται ῥήματα βλάσφημα λαλῶν κατὰ τοῦ τόπου τοῦ ἁγίου καὶ τοῦ νόμου ἀκηκόαμεν γὰρ αὐτοῦ λέγοντος ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος οὗτος καταλύσει τὸν τόπον τοῦτον, καὶ ἀλλάξει τὰ ἔθη ἃ παρέδωκεν ἡμῖν Μωϋσῆς. Καὶ ἀτενίσαντες εἰς αὐτὸν ἅπαντες οἱ καθεζόμενοι ἐν τῷ συνεδρίῳ, εἶδον τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ πρόσωπον ἀγγέλου. Εἶπεν δὲ ὁ ἀρχιερεύς, Εἰ ἄρα ταῦτα οὕτως ἔχει; Ὁ δὲ ἔφη, Ἄνδρες ἀδελφοὶ καὶ πατέρες, ἀκούσατε. Ὁ θεὸς τῆς δόξης ὤφθη τῷ πατρὶ ἡμῶν Ἀβραὰμ ὄντι ἐν τῇ Μεσοποταμίᾳ, πρὶν ἢ κατοικῆσαι αὐτὸν ἐν Χαρράν, καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν, Ἔξελθε ἐκ τῆς γῆς σου καὶ ἐκ τῆς συγγενείας σου, καὶ δεῦρο εἰς γῆν ἣν ἄν σοι δείξω. Τότε ἐξελθὼν ἐκ γῆς Χαλδαίων κατῴκησεν ἐν Χαρράν κἀκεῖθεν, μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ, μετῴκισεν αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν γῆν ταύτην εἰς ἣν ὑμεῖς νῦν κατοικεῖτε καὶ οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ κληρονομίαν ἐν αὐτῇ, οὐδὲ βῆμα ποδός Σολομῶν δὲ ᾠκοδόμησεν αὐτῷ οἶκον. Ἀλλʼ οὐχ ὁ ὕψιστος ἐν χειροποιήτοις ναοῖς κατοικεῖ, καθὼς ὁ προφήτης λέγει, Ὁ οὐρανός μοι θρόνος, ἡ δὲ γῆ ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν μου ποῖον οἶκον οἰκοδομήσετέ μοι; λέγει κύριος ἢ τίς τόπος τῆς καταπαύσεώς μου; Οὐχὶ ἡ χείρ μου ἐποίησεν ταῦτα πάντα; Σκληροτράχηλοι καὶ ἀπερίτμητοι τῇ καρδίᾳ καὶ τοῖς ὠσίν, ὑμεῖς ἀεὶ τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἁγίῳ ἀντιπίπτετε ὡς οἱ πατέρες ὑμῶν, καὶ ὑμεῖς. Τίνα τῶν προφητῶν οὐκ ἐδίωξαν οἱ πατέρες ὑμῶν; Καὶ ἀπέκτειναν τοὺς προκαταγγείλαντας περὶ τῆς ἐλεύσεως τοῦ δικαίου, οὗ νῦν ὑμεῖς προδόται καὶ φονεῖς γεγένησθε οἵτινες ἐλάβετε τὸν νόμον εἰς διαταγὰς ἀγγέλων, καὶ οὐκ ἐφυλάξατε. Ἀκούοντες δὲ ταῦτα, διεπρίοντο ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν, καὶ ἔβρυχον τοὺς ὀδόντας ἐπʼ αὐτόν. Ὑπάρχων δὲ πλήρης πνεύματος ἁγίου, ἀτενίσας εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν, εἶδεν δόξαν θεοῦ, καὶ Ἰησοῦν ἑστῶτα ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ εἶπεν, Ἰδού, θεωρῶ τοὺς οὐρανοὺς ἀνεῳγμένους, καὶ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐκ δεξιῶν ἑστῶτα τοῦ θεοῦ. Κράξαντες δὲ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ, συνέσχον τὰ ὦτα αὐτῶν, καὶ ὥρμησαν ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐπʼ αὐτόν καὶ ἐκβαλόντες ἔξω τῆς πόλεως, ἐλιθοβόλουν καὶ οἱ μάρτυρες ἀπέθεντο τὰ ἱμάτια παρὰ τοὺς πόδας νεανίου καλουμένου Σαύλου. Καὶ ἐλιθοβόλουν τὸν Στέφανον, ἐπικαλούμενον καὶ λέγοντα, Κύριε Ἰησοῦ, δέξαι τὸ πνεῦμά μου. Θεὶς δὲ τὰ γόνατα, ἔκραξεν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ, Κύριε, μὴ στήσῃς αὐτοῖς τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ταύτην. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐκοιμήθη. Acts of the Apostles 6:8-15; 7:1-5, Their voice has gone out into all the earth. Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God. IN THOSE DAYS, Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the

5 Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated men, who said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and set up false witnesses who said, "This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us." And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. And the high priest said, "Is this so?" And Stephen said: "Brethren and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, 'Depart from your land and from your kindred and go into the land which I will show you.' Then he departed from the land of the Chaldeans, and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living; yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him in possession and to his posterity after him, though he had no child. "But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands; as the prophet says, 'Heaven is my throne, and earth my footstool. What house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?' "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it." Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth against him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God." But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together upon him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Welcome to Hellenic Orthodox Community of St. Demetrios We welcome all our visitors this morning and thank you for praying with us during the Divine Liturgy. While Holy Communion may only be received by baptized prepared Orthodox Christians, our non- Orthodox guests are welcome to join us in receiving blessed bread (Antidoron) from the priest at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy.

6 ΤΕΛΕΤΟΥΡΓIΚΟΝ ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΙΕΡΩΝ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΩΝ LITURGICAL SCHEDULE OF DIVINE SERVICES Τρίτη, 29 Δεκεμβρίου, 2015 ΑΓΙΟΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ Παράκληση στα Αγγλικά 6:00-7:00 μ.μ. Tuesday, December 29, 2015 SAINT DEMETRIOS Paraklisis in English 6:00-7:00 p.m. Παρασκευή, 1 η Ιανουαρίου 2016 Η ΚΑΤΑ ΣΑΡΚΑ ΠΕΡΙΤΟΜΗ ΤΟΥ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ ΗΜΩΝ ΙΗΣΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ. Μνήμη του εν Αγίοις Πατρός ημων Βασιλείου του Μεγάλου ΑΓΙΟΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ - ΑΓΙΑ ΑΙΚΑΤΕΡΙΝΗ Όρθρος και Θεία Λειτουργία του Μ. Βασιλείου & Δοξολογία 8:00-11:00π.μ. Σάββατο, 2 Ιανουαρίου 2016 Σιλβέστρου Πάπα Ρώμης ΑΓΙΟΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ Ὄρθρος καί Θεία Λειτουργία 8:00-10:00 π.μ. Eσπερινός 6:00-7:00 μ.μ. ΑΓΙΑ ΑΙΚΑΤΕΡΙΝΗ Ὄρθρος καί Θεία Λειτουργία 8:00-10:00 π.μ. Κυριακή, 3 Ιανουαρίου, 2016 ΠΡΟΕΟΡΤΙΑ των ΦΩΤΩΝ ΑΓΙΟΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ-ΑΓΙΑ ΑΙΚΑΤΕΡΙΝΗ Ὄρθρος καί Θεία Λειτουργία 8:00-11:00 π.μ. Μνημόσυνα Κυριακής Αγιος Δημήτριος Friday, January 1 st, 2016 THE CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD FEAST OF ST. BASIL THE GREAT SAINT DEMETRIOS - SAINT CATHERINE Orthros & Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great and Doxology 8:00-11:00a.m. Saturday, January 2, 2016 Sylvester of Rome SAINT DEMETRIOS Οrthros & Divine Liturgy 8:00-10:00a.m. Vespers 6:00-7:00 p.m. SAINT CATHERINE Οrthros & Divine Liturgy 8:00-10:00a.m. Sunday, January 3, 2016 SUNDAY BEFORE THEOPHANY SAINT DEMETRIOS - SAINT CATHERINE Οrthros & Divine Liturgy 8:00-11:00a.m. Μνημόσυνα Κυριακής Αγία Αικατερίνη Παναγιώτης Χαρτοφίλης Φώτιος Γιαννακόπουλος

7 EK MEΡΟΥΣ ΤΟΥ ΙΕΡΑΤΕΙΟΥ ΤΗΣ ΚΟΙΝΟΤΗΤΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ ΑΣΤΟΡΙΑΣ, ΤΟΥ ΠΡΟΕΔΡΟΥ ΜΕΤΑ ΤΟΥ ΚΟΙΝΟΤΙΚΟΥ ΣΥΜΒΟΥΛΙΟΥ, ΤΗΣ ΦΙΛΟΠΤΩΧΟΥ ΑΔΕΛΦΟΤΗΤΑΣ, ΤΩΝ Ρ.Τ.Α.ΤΟΥ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟΥ ΜΑΣ, ΤΟΥ ΚΟΙΝΟΤΙΚΟΥ ΜΑΣ ΓΡΑΦΕΙΟΥ & ΟΛΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΟΡΓΑΝΙΣΜΩΝ ΤΗΣ ΕΥΧΟΜΑΣΤΕ ΣΤΟΥΣ ΕΥΣΕΒΕΙΣ ΜΑΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΟΥΣ ΕΥΤΥΧΙΣΜΕΝΟ & ΕΥΛΟΓΗΜΕΝΟ ΤΟ ΝΕΟ ΕΤΟΣ 2016

8 Midnight Run Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, We are reminded by our Lord and God Jesus Christ of the obligation of philanthropy and love towards our neighbor. This is a reoccurring and of paramount importance theme and teaching in Scripture. To this end, our YAL Bible study group Goya and boys and Girl Scouts is collecting the following items to be distributed during our MIDNIGHT RUN Campaign on FRIDAY, January 15th. This is a program that provides us with six spots in Manhattan were we can go and distribute these necessities to our homeless brothers and sisters. We will be renting 3 vans (donors welcome -$150 each) for transportation and the distribution is ABSOLUTELY SAFE. All we need is your PRAYERS, LOVE and the following items which can dropped off at our St. Demetrios Church office Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1p.m. Checks can be mailed to St. Demetrios Church or brought in person and be made to out St. Demetrios Cathedral, with a notation for the Midnight Run May God bless you and your families and reward your love and generosity with every Heavenly blessing. + Rev. Fr. Nektarios, Anastasios, Vasilios, Dionysios Clothing: Light coats. Large and extra large sizes, as even small men and women like to layer. Dark colors are preferred. Durable pants. Again, large sizes are preferred, but sort into waist sizes between 32 and 40 and above, with inseam size marked. Blue jeans are preferred over khakis. Mostly men's sizes but bring five or so pairs of women's pants as well. Socks. Tube socks, rolled in pairs. White or dark. New Underpants. Jockey style. Sizes 32 through 42. New women's briefs as well. Sweatshirts and long-sleeve shirts. Large and extra large. Dark colors preferred. ******Hooded sweatshirts are very popular. Draw strings bags are also popular. T-shirts. Medium through extra large. Any color. Hats. Baseball caps for summer. ****Shoes. Sizes 9 through 12 and above. Lightly worn sneakers, soft-soled shoes and work boots are preferred. Belts.Thank you for your Support.... December 31 - St. Melania the Younger Nun of Rome - Saint Melania the Younger, who was born in 388, was the grand-daughter of Saint Melania the Elder (commemorated on June 8). Her father Publicola was an Eparch of Rome. She was joined in wedlock to a husband and became the mother of two children, both of which she lost shortly thereafter. Thus, having agreed with her husband to pass the rest of their lives in abstinence and chastity, and taking her mother Albina with her, she went off to Africa. They ransomed 8,000 captives; furthermore, they built two monasteries - one for men and one for women - in the city of Tagaste, which was in the district of Tunis. After seven years they moved to Jerusalem. Thereafter Melania shut herself up in a small and narrow hermitage by the Mount of Olives, and wearing away her body with fasting and vigil, she reposed in 434. Because of the Apodosis of the Feast of the Nativity on the 31st of this month, the hymns of Saint Melania the Younger are transferred to December 30th along with the Martyr Anysia.

9 December 28 - Οἱ Ἅγιοι Δισμύριοι (20.000) Μάρτυρες οἱ ἐν Νικομηδείᾳ καέντες - Τὸν 4ο αἰώνα μ.χ., ἐπὶ Διοκλητιανοῦ καὶ Μαξιμιανοῦ, οἱ χριστιανοὶ τῆς Νικομήδειας ἦταν ἀρκετὰ πολυπληθείς. Ὁ ἐπίσκοπος Ἄνθιμος, ἄνδρας ἄξιος καὶ μὲ αὐταπάρνηση, κοπίαζε νύχτα μέρα γιὰ τὶς ψυχὲς τῶν πιστῶν. Ἡ πρόοδος αὐτὴ τῶν χριστιανῶν κέντρισε τὸ φθόνο τῶν εἰδωλολατρῶν ἀρχόντων καὶ θέλησαν νὰ ἐξοντώσουν τὴν χριστιανικὴ Ἐκκλησία, προπάντων στὰ μεγαλύτερα καὶ πολυπληθέστερα κέντρα της. Σχεδίασαν λοιπόν, ἀνήμερα Χριστούγεννα νὰ κάνουν γενικὴ σφαγὴ τῶν χριστιανῶν τῆς Νικομήδειας. Οἱ χριστιανοὶ εἶχαν μαζευτεῖ καὶ πανηγύριζαν τὸ κοσμοσωτήριο γεγονὸς τῆς γεννήσεως τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ὁ ἐπίσκοπος, μόλις πληροφορήθηκε ὅτι τοὺς εἶχαν περικυκλώσει στρατὸς καὶ ὄχλος εἰδωλολατρῶν μὲ ὄπλα καὶ ρόπαλα, διέταξε νὰ γίνει γρήγορα ἡ κοινωνία τῶν Ἀχράντων Μυστηρίων. Ἔπειτα, βάπτισε τοὺς κατηχουμένους, γιὰ νὰ ἔχουν ἀσφαλὴ ἐφόδια στὴν αἰώνια σωτηρία. Τότε οἱ εἰδωλολάτρες ἔβαλαν φωτιὰ στὸ ναό, μὲ ἀποτέλεσμα νὰ καοῦν χιλιάδες πιστοί. Τὸ τραγικὸ αὐτὸ γεγονός, ἀντὶ νὰ μειώσει τὸν ἀριθμὸ τῶν μελῶν τῆς Ἐκκλησίας, ἀντίθετα τὸν πολλαπλασίασε καὶ χαλύβδωσε ἀκόμα περισσότερο τὸ ἠθικὸ τῶν πιστῶν. Ἔτσι καὶ στὴν περίπτωση αὐτὴ ἀποδείχθηκε περίτρανα αὐτὸ ποὺ εἶπε ἡ κεφαλὴ τῆς Ἐκκλησίας, ὁ Ἰησοῦς Χριστός: «καὶ πύλαι ἅδου οὗ κατισχύσουσιν αὐτῆς». Ὁ θάνατος δηλαδὴ καὶ οἱ ὀργανωμένες δυνάμεις τοῦ κακοῦ, δὲ θὰ ὑπερισχύσουν, οὔτε θὰ κατανικήσουν τὴν Ἐκκλησία, ποὺ εἶναι αἰώνια καὶ ἀθάνατη. (Συναξαριακὴ πηγή, μαζὶ μὲ τὴν μνήμη τῶν πιὸ πάνω Μαρτύρων, ἀναφέρει καὶ τὴν μνήμη τῶν Ἁγίων Δημοσθένους, Δημοκλέους καὶ Δημοκρίτου. Ἡ ὕπαρξη ὅμως τῶν Ἁγίων αὐτῶν εἶναι ἀμφίβολη, διότι τὰ ὀνόματά τους καθὼς καὶ βιογραφικὰ στοιχεῖα γι αὐτοὺς δὲν ἀναφέρονται ἀπὸ καμία Ἁγιολογικὴ πηγή. Ἴσως εἶναι οἱ ἴδιοι καὶ συγχέονται μὲ τοὺς ὁμώνυμούς τους Μάρτυρες τῆς 10ης Ἀπριλίου). December 27 - St. Stephen the Archdeacon and Protomartyr - Saint Stephen was a Jew, by race, and, as some say, a disciple of Gamaliel, the teacher of the Law mentioned in Acts 5:34 and 22:3. He was the first of the seven deacons whom the Apostles established in Jerusalem to care for the poor, and to distribute alms to them. Being a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, he performed great signs and wonders among the people. While disputing with the Jews concerning Jesus, and wisely refuting their every contradiction, so that no one was able to withstand the wisdom and the spirit whereby he spake, he was slandered as a blasphemer and was dragged off to the Sanhedrin of the elders. There with boldness he proved from the divine Scriptures the coming of the Just One (Jesus), of Whom they had become the betrayers and murderers, and he reproved their faithless and hardheartedness. And finally, gazing into Heaven and beholding the divine glory, he said: "Lo, I see the Heavens opened and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God." But when they heard this, they stopped up their ears, and with anger cast him out of the city and stoned him, while he was calling out and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then, imitating the long-suffering of the Master, he bent his knees and prayed in a loud voice for them that were stoning him, and he said, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge," And saying this, he fell asleep (Acts 6, 7), thus becoming the first among the Martyrs of the Church of Christ. December 29 - Τὰ Ἅγια Νήπια (περίπου ) ποὺ ἐσφάγισαν μὲ διαταγὴ τοῦ Ἡρώδη - Ὅταν οἱ Μάγοι δὲν ἐπέστρεψαν στὸν Ἡρώδη νὰ τοῦ ποῦν ποῦ εἶναι ὁ Χριστός, ὁ πονηρὸς αὐτὸς βασιλιὰς μηχανεύθηκε ἄλλο σχέδιο γιὰ νὰ ἐξοντώσει τὸ Θεῖο Βρέφος. Εἶχε ἀκούσει ὅτι, σύμφωνα μὲ τὶς Γραφές, τόπος γέννησης τοῦ Χριστοῦ θὰ ἦταν ἡ Βηθλεέμ. Ἐπειδὴ ὅμως δὲ γνώριζε ποιὸς ἦταν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἂν βρισκόταν μέσα στὴ Βηθλεὲμ ἢ στὰ περίχωρά της καὶ ἐπειδὴ συμπέρανε ὅτι τὸ παιδὶ θὰ ἦταν κάτω ἀπὸ δυὸ χρονῶν, ἔδωσε διαταγὴ νὰ σφαγοῦν ὅλα τὰ παιδιὰ τῆς Βηθλεὲμ καὶ τῶν περιχώρων της, μέχρι τῆς ἡλικίας τῶν δύο ἐτῶν. Ἡ σφαγὴ ἔγινε ξαφνικά, ὥστε νὰ μὴ μπορέσουν οἱ οἰκογένειες νὰ ἀπομακρυνθοῦν μὲ τὰ βρέφη τους. Καὶ οἱ δυστυχισμένες μητέρες εἶδαν νὰ σφάζονται τὰ παιδιά τους μέσα στις ἴδιες τὶς ἀγκαλιές τους. Ἡ χριστιανικὴ Ἐκκλησία, πολὺ σωστὰ ἀνακήρυξε Ἅγια τὰ σφαγιασθέντα αὐτὰ παιδιά, διότι πέθαναν σὲ μία ἀθώα ἡλικία καὶ ὑπῆρξαν κατὰ κάποιο τρόπο οἱ πρῶτοι μάρτυρες τοῦ χριστιανισμοῦ. Μπορεῖ βέβαια νὰ μὴ βαπτίσθηκαν ἐν ὕδατι, βαπτίσθηκαν ὅμως, μέσα στὸ ἴδιο εὐλογημένο αἷμα τοῦ μαρτυρίου τους.