A Night with Areti. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral New Orleans, Louisiana

Transcript

1 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral New Orleans, Louisiana MARCH 12, 2017 SUNDAY OF ST. GREGORY PALAMAS Sunday, March 12 ~ 8:45 am Orthros, 10:00 am Divine Liturgy DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS Youth Hymnology and Sunday Church School after Holy Communion Monday, March 13 ~ 6:00 pm Great Compline 7:00 pm ~ Real Estate Committee Meeting in Boardroom Election of Officers Tuesday, March 14 ~ 9:30 am Greek Festival Pastry Workshop 6:00 pm ~ Adult Greek School Beginners in Room 210 6:30 pm ~ Hellenic Dancers Practice in Gymnasium 7:00 pm ~ Adult Greek School Elementary in Room 210 7:00 pm ~ Parish Council Meeting in Boardroom Wednesday, March 15 ~ 9:30 am Greek Festival Pastry Workshop 6:00 pm ~ Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts 7:00 pm ~ Adult Greek School Advanced in Room 210 7:00 pm ~ Potluck Lenten Dinner in Gymnasium Thursday, March 16 ~ 6:30 pm Catechism Class #4 with Father George in Boardroom FRIDAY, MARCH 17 - SUNDAY, MARCH 19 11th Annual Metropolis of Atlanta Philoptochos Spiritual Retreat - Diakonia Center Friday, March 17 ~ 9:45 am CMS Chapel in Cathedral NO VOLLEYBALL PRACTICE 6:00 pm ~ HTC Youth Soccer Practice and Dinner 7:00 pm ~ 3rd Salutations to the Theotokos GOYA Aspile Readers Saturday, March 18 ~ 10:00 am Youth Greek School Intermediate in Room :30 am ~ Junior Neolea Dance Practice Beginners 11:00 am ~ Junior Neolea Dance Practice Advanced 11:00 am ~ Youth Greek School First Grade Primer in Room :15 pm ~ Youth Greek School Level 1 Beginners in Room 210 Sunday, March 19 ~ 8:45 am Orthros 10:00 am Divine Liturgy SUNDAY OF THE HOLY CROSS Youth Hymnology and Sunday Church School after Holy Communion Philoptochos Special Tray for Hellenic College-Holy Cross School of Theology 12:00 pm ~ Daughters Meeting in Coffee Room 1:00 pm ~ Hellenic Dancers Practice in Gymnasium PLEASE SUBMIT ALL INFORMATION FOR THE APRIL ISSUE OF THE FLAME BY MONDAY, MARCH 20. A Night with Areti traditional folk music with a tribute to "American" Rebatiko special concert with Greek musician Areti Ketime 2004 Athens Olympic Games opening ceremony performer Saturday, April 22, :00 pm Loyola University New Orleans - Nunemaker Auditorium 6363 St. Charles Avenue - New Orleans, Louisiana $25 adults - $10 students and children complimentary reception to follow concert For tickets visit areti.eventbrite.com or call Also, call to inquire about special transportation availability for seniors and those with special needs hosted by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral Education, Culture, and Youth Ministries Committee

2 Message from Father George THE COMFORT OF A CHANGELESS GOD In this morning s Epistle reading, the author of Hebrews, who is generally believed to be the Holy Apostle Paul, reminds us of the changelessness of God. At the beginning of this passage, our memory is refreshed with the Genesis account of the creation of the earth and the heavens by the hand of God. As Christians we understand that our Trinitarian God consists of three persons: Father: God, Son: Jesus, and Holy Spirit: the Comforter. This passage of the letter to the Hebrews emphasizes that God existed before the beginning and created everything that exists. We are also reminded that as we enjoy years of use from an old coat or comfortable pair of blue jeans, one day they will wear out and will be no longer useful: they will be changed. The important thing to learn from this is the line: But thou art the same, and thy years will never end. God was, is, and will always be the same. God is permanent, and the character of God will never change. It has been written that: He persistently shows His love to us. He is always fair, just, and merciful. Be thankful that Christ is changeless because He will always help you when you need it and offer forgiveness when you fall. The Hebrews, being addressed in this Epistle, had recently converted to Christianity. They effectively left the old world that they knew and in which they were comfortable. Their world was a changing world, and they were facing challenging events and relationships. The changelessness of Christ offered them a sense of security, and it can do the same for us. There are many changes in our world, but when we turn to God through the Person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are comforted in knowing that He is a loving, merciful, and unchanging God. This is an important component of our Faith turning to Jesus and trusting Him, knowing that He will be there for us. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. [Hebrews 13: 8] GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY LUNCHEON Join Holy Trinity PTA for its annual Greek Independence Day Luncheon on Sunday, March 26, in the gymnasium. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children not in the program. STEWARDSHIP 2017 Now that Great Lent has arrived and our Lord's Holy Pascha approaches, thoughts and inclinations naturally encourage the faithful to be more involved in the life of the Church. This includes praying, fasting, alms giving, attending services, and receiving Holy Communion more frequently. It is also an excellent opportunity to go ahead and make your 2017 pledge, if you have not already done so. For those that have made a pledge, many thanks for your generosity. Κάλι Σαρακοστή! AHEPA RAFFLE At the Palm Sunday Luncheon, AHEPA will raffle a beautiful icon of the Anastasi made by the Kellion of St. John the Baptist on Mount Athos. Tickets are $5 each or $20 for five tickets and will be on sale in the weeks leading up to Palm Sunday. LENTEN FLOWERS SPONSORS The floral decorations that adorned the Panagia icon during the first and second Salutations to the Theotokos were generously donated by Eleni and George Kampitsis and Faith Kyame respectively. The Cathedral family sincerely thanks them for their donations. PASCHA PICNIC Please consider helping with the Pascha Picnic, which will follow the Agape Vespers on Sunday, April 16, on the Cathedral grounds. Assistance is needed, and any member of the community that would like to serve as its chairperson or to help cook or set up is asked to contact the Cathedral office or a Parish Council member. Thank you for your consideration. PHILOPTOCHOS COFFEE Philoptochos will host a coffee after the Akathist Hymn on Friday, March 31. Members who wish to help by bringing Lenten desserts may contact Helen Malachias or Mary Kontos to let them know what will be brought. PHILOPTOCHOS FOOD PANTRY Beginning next Sunday, March 19, and through the end of April Philoptochos will collect nonperishable food items for the needy families within the community. Food items needed are rice, dry cereal, lentils, dry beans, pasta (any type), boxed meals that do not require anything added except water, flour, sugar, canned meat, canned fruit, and canned vegetables. All community members are asked to help with this worth project. Items may be placed in the basket in the Coffee Room. Thank you for your support. YOUTH HYNNOLOGY Parents, please mark these dates on your calendars. April 8 LAZARUS SATURDAY Students will participate in chanting the Divine Liturgy. Families are asked to sit together with their children in the front right side reserved pews. April 9 PALM SUNDAY All students will sit together in the back left side of the church in reserved pews. The group will proceed to the front to chant the Communion Hymn and after Communion will proceed to the Coffee Room for a group class before returning to the Cathedral to receive palm crosses. April 15 - HOLY SATURDAY - 9 AM Students will chant the Hymn of the Three Youths. Their part is close to the beginning, so please be on time. They will sit together as a group in the front pews on the right side.

3 Message from Father George THE COMFORT OF A CHANGELESS GOD In this morning s Epistle reading, the author of Hebrews, who is generally believed to be the Holy Apostle Paul, reminds us of the changelessness of God. At the beginning of this passage, our memory is refreshed with the Genesis account of the creation of the earth and the heavens by the hand of God. As Christians we understand that our Trinitarian God consists of three persons: Father: God, Son: Jesus, and Holy Spirit: the Comforter. This passage of the letter to the Hebrews emphasizes that God existed before the beginning and created everything that exists. We are also reminded that as we enjoy years of use from an old coat or comfortable pair of blue jeans, one day they will wear out and will be no longer useful: they will be changed. The important thing to learn from this is the line: But thou art the same, and thy years will never end. God was, is, and will always be the same. God is permanent, and the character of God will never change. It has been written that: He persistently shows His love to us. He is always fair, just, and merciful. Be thankful that Christ is changeless because He will always help you when you need it and offer forgiveness when you fall. The Hebrews, being addressed in this Epistle, had recently converted to Christianity. They effectively left the old world that they knew and in which they were comfortable. Their world was a changing world, and they were facing challenging events and relationships. The changelessness of Christ offered them a sense of security, and it can do the same for us. There are many changes in our world, but when we turn to God through the Person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are comforted in knowing that He is a loving, merciful, and unchanging God. This is an important component of our Faith turning to Jesus and trusting Him, knowing that He will be there for us. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. [Hebrews 13: 8] GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY LUNCHEON Join Holy Trinity PTA for its annual Greek Independence Day Luncheon on Sunday, March 26, in the gymnasium. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children not in the program. STEWARDSHIP 2017 Now that Great Lent has arrived and our Lord's Holy Pascha approaches, thoughts and inclinations naturally encourage the faithful to be more involved in the life of the Church. This includes praying, fasting, alms giving, attending services, and receiving Holy Communion more frequently. It is also an excellent opportunity to go ahead and make your 2017 pledge, if you have not already done so. For those that have made a pledge, many thanks for your generosity. Κάλι Σαρακοστή! AHEPA RAFFLE At the Palm Sunday Luncheon, AHEPA will raffle a beautiful icon of the Anastasi made by the Kellion of St. John the Baptist on Mount Athos. Tickets are $5 each or $20 for five tickets and will be on sale in the weeks leading up to Palm Sunday. LENTEN FLOWERS SPONSORS The floral decorations that adorned the Panagia icon during the first and second Salutations to the Theotokos were generously donated by Eleni and George Kampitsis and Faith Kyame respectively. The Cathedral family sincerely thanks them for their donations. PASCHA PICNIC Please consider helping with the Pascha Picnic, which will follow the Agape Vespers on Sunday, April 16, on the Cathedral grounds. Assistance is needed, and any member of the community that would like to serve as its chairperson or to help cook or set up is asked to contact the Cathedral office or a Parish Council member. Thank you for your consideration. PHILOPTOCHOS COFFEE Philoptochos will host a coffee after the Akathist Hymn on Friday, March 31. Members who wish to help by bringing Lenten desserts may contact Helen Malachias or Mary Kontos to let them know what will be brought. PHILOPTOCHOS FOOD PANTRY Beginning next Sunday, March 19, and through the end of April Philoptochos will collect nonperishable food items for the needy families within the community. Food items needed are rice, dry cereal, lentils, dry beans, pasta (any type), boxed meals that do not require anything added except water, flour, sugar, canned meat, canned fruit, and canned vegetables. All community members are asked to help with this worth project. Items may be placed in the basket in the Coffee Room. Thank you for your support. YOUTH HYNNOLOGY Parents, please mark these dates on your calendars. April 8 LAZARUS SATURDAY Students will participate in chanting the Divine Liturgy. Families are asked to sit together with their children in the front right side reserved pews. April 9 PALM SUNDAY All students will sit together in the back left side of the church in reserved pews. The group will proceed to the front to chant the Communion Hymn and after Communion will proceed to the Coffee Room for a group class before returning to the Cathedral to receive palm crosses. April 15 - HOLY SATURDAY - 9 AM Students will chant the Hymn of the Three Youths. Their part is close to the beginning, so please be on time. They will sit together as a group in the front pews on the right side.

4 SUNDAY, MARCH 5 ATTENDANCE 210 ~ CANDLE AND TRAY COLLECTIONS $728 Holy Trinity Cathedral Greek Orthodox Community of New Orleans 1200 ROBERT E. LEE BOULEVARD NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA Reverend Father George Wilson, Dean priest@holytrinitycathedral.org PHONE: (504) FAX: (504)

5 12η ΜΑΡΤΙΟΣ 2017 Β ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΩΝ ΝΗΣΤΕΙΩΝ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΓΡΗΓΟΡΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΠΑΛΑΜΑ Ἑωθινόν Ε 12 TH MARCH 2017 SECOND SUNDAY OF THE FAST ST. GREGORY PALAMAS Eothion 5 Ἀπουτίκιον τῆς Ἀνάστασης Ἦχος πλ α Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύµατι, τὸν ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθέντα εἰς σωτηρίαν ἡµῶν, ἀνυµνήσωµεν πιστοὶ καὶ προσκυνήσωµεν, ὅτι ηὐδόκησε σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ, καὶ θάνατον ὑποµεῖναι, καὶ ἐγεῖραι τοὺς τεθνεῶτας, ἐν τῇ ἐνδόξῳ Ἀναστάσει αὐτοῦ. Ἀπολυτίκιον τοῦ Ἁγίου Γρηγορίου τοῦ Παλαμά Ἦχος πλ. δ Ὀρθοδοξίας ὁ φωστὴρ Ἐκκλησίας τὸ στήριγμα καὶ διδάσκαλε τῶν μοναστῶν ἡ καλλονὴ τῶν θεολόγων ὑπέρμαχος ἀπροσμάχητος Γρηγόριε θαυματουργὲ Θεσσαλονίκης τὸ καύχημα κῆρυξ τῆς χάριτος ἱκέτευε διὰ παντός, σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. Ἀπολυτίκιον τῆς Ἁγίας Τριάδας Ἦχος πλ δ Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ πανσόφους τοὺς ἁλιεῖς ἀναδείξας, καταπέμψας αὐτοῖς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, καὶ δι' αὐτῶν τὴν οἰκουμένην σαγηνεύσας, φιλάνθρωπε, δόξα σοί. Κοντάκιον Ἦχος πλ δ Τὴ ὑπερμάχω στρατηγῶ τὰ νικητήρια, ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν, εὐχαριστήρια, ἀναγράφω σοὶ ἡ Πόλις σου, Θεοτόκε, ἀλλ' ὦς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον, ἐκ παντοίων μὲ κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον ἵνα κράζω σοί, Χαῖρε, Νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε. Resurrection Apolytikion Plagal Tone 1 Let us worship the Word who is unoriginate with the Father and the Spirit, and from a Virgin was born for our salvation, O believers, and let us sing His praise. For in His goodness He was pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, and to undergo death, and to raise up those who had died, by His glorious Resurrection. Apolytikion of St. Gregory Palamas Plagal Tone 4 Beacon of Orthodox belief, the strong support of the Church and her teacher inspired by God, you are the ornament of monks, the unassailable champion of theologians, O Gregory the Wonderworker and the boast of Thessalonica, the messenger of grace. Forever earnestly entreat for the salvation of our souls. Apolytikion of the Holy Trinity Plagal Tone 4 Blessed are You, O Christ our God, who made fishermen all-wise, sending upon them the Holy Spirit and, through them, netting the world. O Loving One, glory to You. Kontakion Plagal Tone 4 To you, the Champion Leader, we your servants dedicate hymns of victory and thanksgiving as ones rescued out of sufferings, O Theotokos. Since you are invincible in power, deliver us from all dangers, so that we may cry to you: Rejoice, O Unwedded Bride.

6 ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Ἑβραίους α 10-14, β 1-3 Σύ, Κύριε, φυλάξαις ἡµᾶς καὶ διατηρήσαις ἡµᾶς ἀπὸ τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. Σῶσον µε, Κύριε, ὅτι ἐκλέλοιπεν ὅσιος, ὅτι ὠλιγώθησαν αἱ ἀλήθειαι ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν τῶν ἀνθρώπων. Κατʼ ἀρχάς σύ, Κύριε, τὴν γῆν ἐθεμελίωσας, καὶ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σού εἰσιν οἱ οὐρανοί αὐτοὶ ἀπολοῦνται, σὺ δὲ διαμένεις καὶ πάντες ὡς ἱμάτιον παλαιωθήσονται, καὶ ὡσεὶ περιβόλαιον ἑλίξεις αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἀλλαγήσονται σὺ δὲ ὁ αὐτὸς εἶ, καὶ τὰ ἔτη σου οὐκ ἐκλείψουσιν. Πρὸς τίνα δὲ τῶν ἀγγέλων εἴρηκέν ποτε, Κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου; Οὐχὶ πάντες εἰσὶν λειτουργικὰ πνεύματα, εἰς διακονίαν ἀποστελλόμενα διὰ τοὺς μέλλοντας κληρονομεῖν σωτηρίαν; Διὰ τοῦτο δεῖ περισσοτέρως ἡμᾶς προσέχειν τοῖς ἀκουσθεῖσιν, μήποτε παραρρυῶμεν. Εἰ γὰρ ὁ διʼ ἀγγέλων λαληθεὶς λόγος ἐγένετο βέβαιος, καὶ πᾶσα παράβασις καὶ παρακοὴ ἔλαβεν ἔνδικον μισθαποδοσίαν, πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας; Ἥτις, ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ κυρίου, ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη. THE EPISTLE St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 1:10-14; 2:1-3 You shall guard us, O Lord; You shall preserve us from this generation forever. Save me, O Lord, for the holy man has ceased; the truthful are diminished from among the sons of men. "IN THE BEGINNING, you O Lord, didst found the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?" Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation? Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him. ΤΟ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ Μᾶρκον β 1-12 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσῆλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς Καπερναοὺμ δι ἡμερῶν καὶ ἠκούσθη ὅτι εἰς οἶκόν ἐστι. καὶ εὐθέως συνήχθησαν πολλοί, ὥστε μηκέτι χωρεῖν μηδὲ τὰ πρὸς τὴν θύραν καὶ ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς τὸν λόγον καὶ ἔρχονται πρὸς αὐτὸν παραλυτικὸν φέροντες, αἰρόμενον ὑπὸ τεσσάρων καὶ μὴ δυνάμενοι προσεγγίσαι αὐτῷ διὰ τὸν ὄχλον, ἀπεστέγασαν τὴν στέγην ὅπου ἦν, καὶ ἐξορύξαντες χαλῶσι τὸν κράβαττον, ἐφ ᾧ ὁ παραλυτικὸς κατέκειτο ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Ιησοῦς τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ τέκνον, ἀφέωνταί σοι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου ἦσαν δέ τινες τῶν γραμματέων ἐκεῖ καθήμενοι καὶ διαλογιζόμενοι ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν τί οὗτος οὕτω λαλεῖ βλασφημίας; τίς δύναται ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ Θεός; καὶ εὐθέως ἐπιγνοὺς ὁ Ιησοῦς τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὕτως αὐτοὶ διαλογίζονται ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, εἶπεν αὐτοῖς τί ταῦτα διαλογίζεσθε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν; τί ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν τῷ παραλυτικῷ, ἀφέωνταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, ἢ εἰπεῖν, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει; ἵνα δὲ εἰδῆτε ὅτι ἐξουσίαν ἔχει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀφιέναι ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἁμαρτίας - λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ σοὶ λέγω, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ ὕπαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου καὶ ἠγέρθη εὐθέως, καὶ ἄρας τὸν κράβαττον ἐξῆλθεν ἐναντίον πάντων, ὥστε ἐξίστασθαι πάντας καὶ δοξάζειν τὸν Θεὸν λέγοντας ὅτι οὐδέποτε οὕτως εἴδομεν. THE GOSPEL Mark 2: 1-12 At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he said to the paralytic-"i say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"