St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church

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1 Pastor Assistant Pastor Parish President Stewardship Chairperson Pastoral Assistant Pastor Emeritus Parish Nurse GOYA Advisors Office Manager Secretary CONTACTS Fr. Christopher P. Foustoukos Fr. Anthony Tandilyan Mr. Steve Stephanides Mrs. Pam Katsiris Deacon Michael Fadel Fr. Andrew Demotses Sophia Grevelis, RN Sofya & James Leras Irene Stephanides Chrissa Pissios Office: Tel: Fax: Paleologos Street, Peabody, MA website: St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church Sunday after holy cross CANDLE COUNTER (Παγκα/ρι) SCHEDULE SUNDAY, September 16 Chuck Antoniou John Pnevmatikos Jim Koumarianos George Glaros SUNDAY, September 23 Dionisios Pissios Ted Stephanides Steve Stephanides John Maihos ALTAR BOY TEAMS & SCHEDULE George O Donnell Head Captain Sunday, September 16 1st Liturgy Team B 2nd Liturgy Team A Sunday, September 23 1st Liturgy Team D 2nd Liturgy Team C Team A Peter Coufos CC Nikolas Leras Michael Tandilyan Nicholas Park Team B Alex Vlachos CC Leo Vorrias Ioanis Nako Zachary Vlachos Team C Michael Katsiris CC Valantis Christoforos Connor Anezis Daniel Vatousios Team D James Vounessa CC Niko Collins Nikolas Deftos Andony Konstantilakis Greatmartyr Euphemia the All-praised September 16,

2 Greatmartyr Euphemia the All-praised Commemorated on September 16 The Holy Great Martyr Euphemia the All-Praised was the daughter of Christians, the senator Philophronos and Theodosia. She suffered for Christ in the year 304 in the city of Chalcedon, on the banks of the Bosphorus opposite Constantinople. The Chalcedon governor Priscus circulated an order to all the inhabitants of Chalcedon and its surroundings to appear at a pagan festival to worship and offer sacrifice to an idol of Ares, threatening grave torments for anyone who failed to appear. During this impious festival, 49 Christians were hidden in one house, where they secretly attended services to the True God. The young maiden Euphemia was also among those praying there. Soon the hiding place of the Christians was discovered, and they were brought before Priscus to answer for themselves. For nineteen days the martyrs were subjected to various tortures and torments, but none of them wavered in their faith nor consented to offer sacrifice to the idol. The governor, beside himself with rage and not knowing any other way of forcing the Christians to abandon their faith, sent them for trial to the emperor Diocletian. He kept the youngest, the virgin Euphemia, hoping that she would not remain strong if she were all alone. Saint Euphemia, separated from her brethren in faith, fervently prayed the Lord Jesus Christ, that He strengthen her in her impending ordeal. Priscus at first urged the saint to recant, promising her earthly blessings, but then he gave the order to torture her. The martyr was tied to a wheel with sharp knives, which cut her body. The saint prayed aloud, and as it happened, the wheel stopped by itself and would not move even with all the efforts of the executioners. An angel of the Lord, came down from Heaven, removed Euphemia from the wheel and healed her of her wounds. The saint gave thanks unto the Lord with gladness. Not perceiving the miracle that had occurred, the torturer ordered the soldiers Victor and Sosthenes to take the saint to a redhot oven. But the soldiers, seeing two fearsome angels in the midst of the 2 15

3 COFFEE FELLOWSHIP HOUR Please join us for Coffee Fellowship Hour today, immediately following the first divine liturgy, in the Rev. Andrew J. Demotses Educational Center. Sunday Upcoming Coffee Hour Schedule Sponsors 9/23 C. Deftos 9/30 OPEN Coffee Hour Volunteers Needed! Please join your St. Val friends who volunteer for the sake of fellowship on Sundays! Coffee hour volunteers needed. Signup sheet and schedule available. Contact Sofya Leras to volunteer or to sponsor a Coffee Hour. Please sofya.leras@gmail.com or call: St. Vasilios 2018 Winter Coat Drive Please help us to spread warmth and joy in our community this coming winter! When: September 29, 2018 November 10, 2018 Where: Coats can be dropped off in the foyer of the Education Center and in all Church School classrooms. Items Needed New or gently used coats in all sizes Hats Gloves or mittens Warm Socks Scarves For more information, please feel free to contact Ashley at (978) , at akrezmien@suffolk.edu or ask any Church School teacher. flames, refused to carry out the order of the governor and became believers in the God Whom Euphemia worshipped. Boldly proclaiming that they too were Christians, Victor and Sosthenes bravely went to suffering. They were sent to be eaten by wild beasts. During their execution, they cried out for mercy to God, asking that the Lord would receive them into the Heavenly Kingdom. A heavenly Voice answered their cries, and they entered into eternal life. The beasts, however, did not even touch their bodies. Saint Euphemia, cast into the fire by other soldiers, remained unharmed. With the help of God she emerged unharmed after many other tortures and torments. Ascribing this to sorcery, the governor gave orders to dig out a new pit, and filling it with knives, he had it covered over with earth and grass, so that the martyr would not notice the preparation for her execution. Here also Saint Euphemia remained safe, easily passing over the pit. Finally, they sentenced her to be devoured by wild beasts at the circus. Before execution the saint began to implore that the Lord deem her worthy to die a violent death. But none of the beasts, set loose at her in the arena, attacked her. Finally, one of the she-bears gave her a small wound on the leg, from which came blood, and immediately the holy Great Martyr Euphemia died. During this time there was an earthquake, and both the guards and the spectators ran in terror, so that the parents of the saint were able to take up her body and reverently bury it not far from Chalcedon. A majestic church was afterwards built over the grave of the Great Martyr Euphemia. At this temple the sessions of the Fourth Ecumenical Council took place in the year 451. At that time, the holy Great Martyr Euphemia confirmed the Orthodox confession in a miraculous manner, and exposed the Monophysite heresy. Details of this miracle are related under July 11.With the taking of Chalcedon by the Persians in the year 617, the relics of the holy Great Martyr Euphemia were transferred to Constantinople (in about the year 620). During the Iconoclast heresy, the reliquary with the relics of Saint Euphemia appears to have been thrown into the sea. Pious sailors recovered them. They were afterwards taken to the Island of Lemnos, and in the year 796 they were returned to Constantinople. 14 3

4 Sunday, September 16, 2018 Hymns Following the Gospel (Small Entrance) FALL OPEN HOUSE AT HELLENIC COLLEGE Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode By means of Your Cross, O Lord, You abolished death. * To the robber You opened Paradise. * The lamentation of the myrrhbearing women You transformed, * and You gave Your Apostles the order to proclaim to all * that You had risen, O Christ our God, * and granted the world Your great mercy. Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Holy Cross in the First Mode Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; grant Thou unto the faithful victory over adversaries. And by the power of Thy Cross do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth. Apolytikion for Great Martyr Euphemia in the Third Mode O Euphemia, Christ's comely virgin, thou didst fill the Orthodox with gladness and didst cover with shame all the heretics; for at the holy Fourth Council in Chalcedon, thou didst confirm what the Fathers decreed aright. O all-glorious Great Martyr, do thou entreat Christ God that His great mercy may be granted unto us. St. Vasilios 1 st Mode Your message was carried throughout the world. As it received your mighty word, By which you divinely made manifest And clarified the nature of existing things You set in order the customs of men, You who are royal priesthood! Holy Father, intercede with Christ our God To grant us His great mercy. Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode Lifted up on the Cross by Your free will, Christ God, grant mercies to the new commonwealth that bears Your name. Gladden our faithful rulers by Your power, giving them victories over their adversaries. May Your alliance be for them a weapon for peace, an invincible standard. Apoluti/kion 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. Apoluti/kion Σώσον Κύριε τόν λαόν σου καί ευλόγησον τήν κληρονομίαν σου, νίκας τοίς Βασιλεύσι κατά βαρβάρων δωρούμενος καί τό σόν φυλάττων διά τού Σταυρού σου πολίτευμα. Apoluti/kion Λίαν εύφρανας τούς ορθοδόξους, καί κατήσχυνας τούς κακοδόξους, Ευφημία Χριστού καλλιπάρθενε, τής γάρ Τετάρτης Συνόδου εκύρωσας, ά οι Πατέρες καλώς εδογμάτισαν, Μάρτυς ένδοξε, Χριστόν τόν Θεόν ικέτευε, δωρήσασθαι ημίν τό μέγα έλεος.. Apoluti/kion tou Agi/ou Basilei/ou Eic pa/san th/n gh/n ejh/lqen o` fqo/ggoc sou, wc dejame/nhn ton logon sou, Di ou= qeoprepw/c edogma/tisac, Th/n fu/sin tw/n o;ntwn etra/nwsac. Ta/ tw/n avqrw/ pwn h;qh kateko/smhsa/c,basi/leion iera/teuma Pa/ter o[sie Xristo/n to/n Qeo/n ike/teue dwrh/sasqai h`mi/n to/ Me/ga e;leoc. Konta/kion Ο υψωθείς εν τώ Σταυρώ εκουσίως, τή επωνύμω σου καινή πολιτεία, τούς οικτιρμούς σου δώρησαι, Χριστέ ο Θεός, Εύφρανον εν τή δυνάμει σου, τούς πιστούς Βασιλείς ημών, νίκας χορηγών αυτοίς, κατά τών πολεμίων, τήν συμμαχίαν έχοιεν τήν σήν, όπλον ειρήνης, αήττητον τρόπαιον. 4 ANNOUNCEMENT: Please join us on Saturday, October 13, 2018, for our Fall Open House at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology! Get an exclusive look at our Orthodox Christian college and graduate school of theology, located just minutes from downtown Boston. Tour the campus, attend a mini-class, meet with faculty and staff, and have lunch with members of the Hellenic College Holy Cross community. Register Now! For more information or to inquire about travel reimbursement, please call or admissions@hchc.edu. PTA ELECTIONS The PTA Elections will be held at the first meeting of next school year. The first meeting will be held on Sept 18, 2018 at the church. The PTA Executive board is stepping down as of October 1, We will continue to support this organization. If you have any interest, please submit your name to Fr. Chris or place a note in our PTA box. We hope you will consider offering your time and talents to this worthy ministry. INTRODUCING DEVON LATZEN My name is Devon Latzen, and I am a seminarian entering my second year at Holy Cross. I have been assigned to St. Vasilios this year in order to learn and help out. A little about me: I grew up in Sacramento, California. I'm 33 years old, having worked as a software designer in San Francisco for a few years before leaving for Holy Cross. I converted to Orthodoxy 7 years ago, along with a quarter of my college fraternity. I am looking forward to meeting you and the parish of St. Vasilios! 13

5 WELCOME TO OUR VISITORS Everyone is welcome in the Orthodox Church and may receive the blessed bread (antidoron) at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. Sadly, the divisions in the church prompt us all to work towards reunited Christianity. The culmination of this reunion will be the ability of all Christians to receive the Eucharist together. Until that blessed day arrives, only Orthodox Christians who are in good sacramental order are permitted to receive Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church. If you have any questions or concerns please speak with Father Chris. HOSPITAL VISITS Due to HIPAA privacy rules, hospitals no longer provide a list of Orthodox patients to us. Therefore, if you or a loved one are, or will be, in the hospital, please contact the church office for a pastoral visit. Also, please notify the office if a friend or family member is in a rehab center, nursing home, assisted living facility or under hospice care. CEMETERY VISITS Due to the number of sacraments, 40 day blessings and memorials on Sundays it is difficult to make cemetery visits on Sundays after liturgy. If you would like a Trisagion at the graveside during the week you are kindly asked to make an appointment by calling the church office. PLEASE PRAY FOR PLEASE PRAY FOR: Amya, Maria, Irene, Stacia, Georgia, Ethel, Maria, Christo, Flora, Yianoula, Dimitri. If you wish to add or remove a name from the list, please call the Church Office. GREEK SCHOOL NEWS The first day of Greek school was Wednesday. Greek school is open to children ages 3-7th grade. The Greek school children will be performing at the East End Veterans Memorial Park at 12:30 at the International Festival today. 12 5

6 EPISTLE READINGS Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 28.11,1. The Lord will give strength to his people. Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory. The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2: Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Προκείμενον. Grave Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 28.11,1. Κύριος ἰσχὺν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ δώσει. Στίχ. Ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ υἱοὶ Θεοῦ, ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ δόξαν καὶ τιμήν. τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Γαλάτας 2: Ἀδελφοί, εἰδότες ὅτι οὐ δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, ἐὰν μὴ διὰ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐπιστεύσαμεν, ἵνα δικαιωθῶμεν ἐκ πίστεως Χριστοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων νόμου διότι οὐ δικαιωθήσεται ἐξ ἔργων νόμου πᾶσα σάρξ. Εἰ δέ, ζητοῦντες δικαιωθῆναι ἐν Χριστῷ, εὑρέθημεν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἁμαρτωλοί, ἆρα Χριστὸς ἁμαρτίας διάκονος; Μὴ γένοιτο. Εἰ γὰρ ἃ κατέλυσα, ταῦτα πάλιν οἰκοδομῶ, παραβάτην ἐμαυτὸν συνίστημι. Ἐγὼ γὰρ διὰ νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον, ἵνα θεῷ ζήσω. Χριστῷ συνεσταύρωμαι ζῶ δέ, οὐκέτι ἐγώ, ζῇ δὲ ἐν ἐμοὶ Χριστός ὃ δὲ νῦν ζῶ ἐν σαρκί, ἐν πίστει ζῶ τῇ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ, τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντός με καὶ παραδόντος ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ. 6 BLESSING BAGS: A Church School Ministry Helping those less fortunate in our communities Bear one another s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 Thanks to all of you, the students of St Vasilios Church School have filled more than 500 Blessing Bags. These bags are distributed to the homeless in our communities on a monthly basis, throughout the year. During the cold winter months, the following items will be of great use to our most needy neighbors. Vitamin C lozenges Cough drops Chapsticks Rain ponchos Men s winter hats, gloves, and socks $5.00 Gift cards: Hand/foot warmers Individual Kleenex packets Dunkin Donuts, Mc Donalds, CVS & Walgreens Please return any donations to boxes set up in the Educational Center foyer or to the Church School office or classrooms. Thank you for your generosity, the students couldn t do this without you. 11

7 GOSPEL READING -Sunday after Holy Cross The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1 The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power." Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 8:34-38, 9:1 Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι. ὃς γὰρ ἂν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν ὃς δ ἂν ἀπολέσῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, οὗτος σώσει αὐτήν. τί γὰρ ὠφελήσει ἄνθρωπον ἐὰν κερδήσῃ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον, καὶ ζημιωθῇ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ; ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ; ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν ἐπαισχυνθῇ με καὶ τοὺς ἐμοὺς λόγους ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ τῇ μοιχαλίδι καὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ, καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπαισχυνθήσεται αὐτὸν ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων τῶν ἁγίων. Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι εἰσί τινες τῶν ὧδε ἑστηκότων, οἵτινες οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου ἕως ἂν ἴδωσι τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐληλυθυῖαν ἐν δυνάμει. 10 7

8 40 DAY BABY BLESSING DON T FORGET TO STOP BY TODAY 40 Day Baby Blessing We are very happy to do the 40 blessing of infants after the 2 nd Divine Liturgy or week days! Often the clergy have family or sacrament commitments after the liturgy. So in order to ensure that you don t leave disappointed by not having the prayers read please call the church office at to schedule your 40 day blessing thereby ensuring that no one is disappointed. Thank you for your attention and assistance with this matter. ALTAR DONATIONS LITURGY LIGHTS In loving memory of Michael C. Lignos. Antoniou family in memory of husband, father, grandfather; Antonios Antoniou. VIGIL LIGHTS Antoniou family in memory of husband, father, grandfather; Antonios Antoniou. SECOND TRAY A second tray will be passed on Sunday, September 17 to benefit the Seminary. Jr. GOYA Weekly Meeting Saturday, September 22, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. in the Youth Room We are starting our Prayer Book project this week! Please join us to learn more about our faith, for fun, and fellowship! RSVP by 9/20 for pizza to: Sofya.Leras@gmail.com / Contact Fr. Anthony for more information: FrAnthony@StVasilios.org Fall schedule available now ~ us to join our distribution list St. Vasilios invites youth ages to Jr. GOYA MEN S CLUB UPCOMING EVENTS 10/24 Indoor BBQ in the St. Vasilios Educational Center at 6:30 pm 11/11 Veteran s Day Memorial Service in the Courtyard at 10:15 am 11/28 Monthly Dinner Meeting - Angelica s Restaurant, Middleton at 6:30 pm Featured Speaker: Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt, Jr. 12/19 Monthly Dinner Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the St. Vasilios Educational Center Questions? mensclub@stvasilios.org 8 9