March 24, 2019 Sunday of Saint Gregory Palamas

Transcript

1 March 24, 2019 Sunday of Saint Gregory Palamas Forefeast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos Artemon the Presbyter Our Holy Father Theonas, Archbishop of Thessolonica Epistle: Hebrews 1:10-14, 2:1-3 Gospel: Mark 2:1-12 Saint Gregory Palamas 937 Chase Parkway Waterbury, CT Phone: (203) Fax: (203) Fr. Perikles Cell: (203) Office Sunday Mar 24 Greek Independence Day Program; Vespers at Annunciation, Stamford 7:00pm Monday Mar 25 Annunciation to the Theotokos - Orthros 8:30am, Divine Lit urgy 9:30am; Greek Independence Day Celebration in Hart ford 4:30pm Tuesday Mar 26 Greek School - 5:00pm youth, 6:30pm adults; Greek Dancing 6:30pm Wednesday Mar 27 Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm Thursday Mar 28 Greek Festival Meeting 6:30pm Friday Mar 29 Salutations 6:30pm Sunday Mar 31 Sunday of the Holy Cross - Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy...

2 ΙΕΡΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΑΓΙΑΣ ΤΡΙΑΔΟΣ Sundays: Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:45am Office hours: 9:00am - 4:00pm; Closed Tuesdays Rev. Perikles Kallis, Pastor Rev. Demetri Belsito, Ph.D., Deacon Welcome to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church! We hope that you will make this your spiritual home. We have ministries and organizations for all ages and all walks of life. Connect with us on Facebook and our list to stay up to date on upcoming events. APOLYTIKION Apolytikion for the Forefeast Today is the prelude of the joy of the universe, and it incites us to sing the forefestal hymns. For behold, Gabriel is coming, and he will say to the Virgin: Rejoice, Maiden full of grace; the Lord is with you. Kontakion The Archangel spoke to you, O Theotokos, and the Holy Spirit came on you and thus you did conceive the Father's Son, who is one in throne and one in essence. Through you, thus, was Adam recalled. ἈΠΟΛΥΤΊΚΙΟΝ Ἀπολυτίκιον Προεόρτιον Σήμερον τῆς παγκοσμίου χαρᾶς τὰ προοίμια, τὴν προεόρτιον ᾆσαι προτρέπεται ἰδοὺ γὰρ Γαβριὴλ παραγίνεται, καὶ πρὸς αὐτὴν ἐκβοήσεται Χαῖρε Κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ Κύριος μετὰ σοῦ. Κοντάκιον. Προεόρτιον Ἐπελεύσει Πνεύματος τοῦ Παναγίου, τοῦ Πατρὸς τὸν σύνθρονον, καὶ ὁμοούσιον φωνῇ, τοῦ Ἀρχαγγέλου συνέλαβες, Θεοκυῆτορ, Ἀδὰμ ἡ ἀνάκλησις. EPISTLE - HEBREWS 1:10-14, 2:1-3 ΠΡῸΣ ἙΒΡΑΙΟΥΣ 1:10-14, 2:1-3 Reader - The Lord is my strength and my song. The Lord has chastened me sorely. καί, Σὺ Κύριε εἰς τὴν ἀρχὴν τὴν γῆν ἐθεμελίωσες καὶ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σου εἶναι οἱ οὐρανοί. Αὐτοὶ θὰ 2

3 The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 1:10-14; 2:1-3. "IN THE BEGINNING, Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, 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. κ α τ α σ τ ρ α φ ο ῦ ν, ἀ λλὰ σὺ παραμένεις ὅλοι θὰ παληώσουν σὰν ἔνδυμα, σὰν μανδύαν θὰ τοὺς τυλίξῃς καὶ θὰ ἀλλαγοῦν. Σὺ ὅμως εἶσαι ὁ ἴδιος καὶ τὰ ἔτη σου δὲν θὰ τελειώσουν. Σὲ ποιόν δὲ ἀπὸ τοὺς ἀγγέλους εἶπε ποτὲ ὁ Θεός, Κάθησε εἰς τὰ δεξιά μου, ἕως ὅτου κάνω τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδιῶν σου; Δὲν εἶναι ὅλοι πνεύματα ποὺ ὑπηρετοῦν καὶ ἀποστέλλονται δι ὑπηρεσίαν χάριν ἐκείνων, ποὺ μέλλουν ν ὰ κληρονομήσουν σωτηρίαν; Διὰ τοῦτο πρέπει ἐμεῖς νὰ προσέχωμεν περισσότερον εἰς ὅσα ἀκούσαμε, μὴ τυχὸν ἀπομακρυνθοῦμε ἀπ αὐτά. Διότι ἐὰν ὁ λόγος, ὁ ὁποῖος ἐκηρύχθηκε δι ἀγγέλων, εἶχε κῦρος καὶ κάθε παράβασις καὶ π α ρ α κ ο ὴ ἔ λ α β ε δ ι κ α ί α ν ἀνταπόδοσιν, πῶς θὰ ξεφύγωμεν ἐμεῖς, ἐὰν δείξωμεν ἀμέλειαν διὰ μίαν τόσον μεγάλην σωτηρίαν; Ἡ σωτηρία αὐτὴ ἄρχισε νὰ κηρύττεται ἀπὸ τὸν Κύριον, ἔπειτα μᾶς ἐβεβαιώθηκε ἀπὸ ἐκείνους ποὺ τὴν ἄκουσαν. 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!" 3

4 GOSPEL - MARK 2:1-12 ΚΑΤᾺ ΜᾶΡΚΟΝ 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!" Ὅταν ὕστερα ἀπὸ λίγες ἡμέρες ἦλθε πάλιν εἰς τὴν Καπερναούμ, διαδόθηκε ὅτι βρίσκεται σὲ κάποιο σπίτι. Καὶ ἀμέσως ἐμαζεύθηκαν πολλοί, ὥστε νὰ μὴ τοὺς χωρῇ πλέον οὔτε ὁ χῶρος ἐμπρὸς εἰς τὴν πόρτα, καὶ τοὺς ἐκήρυττε τὸν λόγον. Καὶ ἔρχονται καὶ τοῦ φέρουν ἕνα παραλυτικόν, τὸν ὁποῖον ἐβάσταζαν τέσσερα πρόσωπα. Καὶ ἐπειδὴ δὲν μποροῦσαν νὰ τὸν πλησιάσουν ἐξ αἰτίας τοῦ πλήθους, ἀφήρεσαν τὴν στέγην, ὅπου εὑρίσκετο, ἔκαναν ἕνα ἄνοιγμα καὶ κατέβασαν τὸ κρεββάτι, ὅπου ἤτανε ξαπλωμένος ὁ παραλυτικός. Ὅταν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶδε τὴν πίστιν τους, λέγει εἰς τὸν παραλυτικόν, «Παιδί μου, σοῦ συγχωροῦνται αἱ ἁμαρτίαι». 6Ἐκάθοντο δὲ ἐκεῖ μερικοὶ ἀπὸ τοὺς γραμματεῖς καὶ ἐσκέπτοντο μέσα τους, «Γιατί λέγει αὐτὸς βλασφημίας κατ αὐτὸν τὸν τρόπον; Ποιός μπορεῖ νὰ συγχωρῇ ἁμαρτίας παρὰ μόνον ἕνας, ὁ Θεός;». Ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἀμέσως ἐκατάλαβε μέσα του ὅτι αὐτὰ σκέπτονται καὶ τοὺς λέγει, «Γιατί κάνετε τὶς σκέψεις αὐτὲς μέσα σας; Τί εἶναι εὐκολώτερον νὰ πῶ εἰς τὸν παραλυτικόν, «Σοῦ συγχωροῦνται αἱ ἁμαρτίαι» ἢ νὰ πῶ, «Σήκω ἐπάνω καὶ πάρε τὸ κρεββάτι σου καὶ βάδιζε»; Ἀλλὰ διὰ νὰ μάθετε ὅτι ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἔχει ἐξουσίαν νὰ συγχωρῇ ἁμαρτίας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς» λέγει εἰς τὸν παραλυτικόν, «Σοῦ λέγω, σήκω ἐπάνω καὶ πάρε τὸ κρεββάτι σου καὶ πήγαινε εἰς τὸ σπίτι σου». Καὶ ἐσηκώθηκε ἀμέσως καὶ ἀφοῦ ἐσήκωσε τὸ κρεββάτι ἐβγῆκε ὑπὸ τὰ βλέμματα ὅλων, ὥστε νὰ ἐκπλαγοῦν ὅλοι καὶ νὰ δοξάζουν τὸν Θεὸν καὶ νὰ λέγουν, «Ποτὲ δὲν εἴδαμε τέτοια πράγματα». 4

5 GOSPEL - MARKU 2:1-12 Pas disa ditësh, kur Jezui u kthye në Kafarnaum, u hap fjala se ai ishte në një shtëpi Atje u mblodhën aq shumë njerëz, saqë nuk kishte më ku të rrinin, as edhe te dera. Ai u predikonte fjalën. Atëherë erdhën dhe i sollën një të paralizuar, të cilin e mbartnin katër burra. Meqë nuk mund t'i afroheshin për shkak të turmës, hapën çatinë sipër tij dhe ulën poshtë vigun ku gjendej i paralizuari. Kur pa besimin e tyre, Jezui i tha të paralizuarit: «Biri im, të janë falur mëkatet». Disa skribë që rrinin aty filluan të mendonin në zemrat e tyre: «Përse flet kështu ky njeri? Ai po fyen Perëndinë. E kush tjetër, përveç Perëndisë, mund t'i falë mëkatet?». Jezui e kuptoi menjëherë në shpirtin e tij se ata po mendonin kështu, prandaj u tha: «Përse mendoni kështu në zemrat tuaja? Çfarë është më e lehtë, t'i thuhet të paralizuarit të janë falur mëkatet, apo t'i thuhet ngrihu, merre vigun tënd dhe ec? Mirëpo, që ta dini se Biri i njeriut ka pushtetin të falë mëkatet mbi tokë,» - i tha të paralizuarit - «po të them, ngrihu, merre vigun e shko në shtëpi». Ai u ngrit, mori menjëherë vigun e doli para të gjithëve. Të gjithë u mahnitën dhe përlëvduan Perëndinë e thanë: «Nuk kemi parë asnjëherë diçka të tillë». OLD TESTAMENT - EZEKIEL 18:21-23 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? 5

6 Today s Memorial is in memory of the parents of Alekos Diamantoulis, Vasilios and Efthalia. Also in memory of his family and friends: Georgios, Agorou, Maria, Georgos, Pasoulou, Tana, Alekos, Atha nasios, Panagiotis, Kostas, Mixalis, Anastasia, Georgos, Christos, Georgia, Stefanos, Anastasia. We pray that God may grant them rest where all the saints repose. Αιωνία η Μνήμη αυτών, May their memories be eternal! The Greek School s Program, along with Coffee Hour in honor of Greek Independence Day, will be held in the Banquet Hall following Divine Liturgy. If you d like to read the Epistle Please let Fr. Perry or Nico know. Readers should be in church by 9:45am so that the Epistle can be given to them. Readings can be practiced in advance by visiting Greek Independence Day: In Hartford, the Greek Independence Day Celebration will take place on Monday, March 25th at the State Capitol at 4:30pm. Our next Greek Festival Meeting is scheduled for Thurs, March 28th at 6:30pm here at church. Koulourakia Baking for the Greek Fest will take place on 3 Sundays - please mark your calendars. Feel free to help 1, 2 or even all 3 Sundays! Save the dates of Sunday, March 31, Sunday, April 7, and Sunday, April 14th. Please see Anthony or Cassandra Rinaldi for more info. The Sports Banquet is set for Monday, April 1st at 5:30pm. Please let Carrie know in the office if you ll be attending. Camp St. Paul registration is open. Visit: for more info. Camp Saint Paul is a summer camp for youth ages Palm Sunday: Please make reservations now for the Palm Sunday 6

7 Luncheon, held on April 21st. Fish - $20 per person, pasta - $5 per person. There will be assigned seating, please let us know your table of 10 so we can accommodate. You can contact Mary Peterson or Carrie in the office. Assembly of Bishops I f y o u v e n e v e r v i s i t e d take a peek. The Assembly of Bishops in the US is the organization of canonical Orthodox Christian bishops. On the website you will find information pertaining to the various Orthodox parishes in our country, discussions on theological topics, and more. Of most interesting note is there new work called Fast Questions and Fast Answers on Orthodoxy in America. FQFA has done extensive research pertaining to Orthodoxy in America and offers a distilled version of the data. Check it out. Scholarship Opportunities: There are a few different scholarship applications available in the church office - look for the green folder on the wall in the office. Both AHEPA & Daughters of Penelope scholarships are now available as well as the Pan Gregorian of CT scholarship. CHURCH CALENDAR For the most up-to-date church calendar, please visit: or check out our bulletin board by the office. CHECK OUT THE PODCAST "SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES LIVE! ON AN- CIENT FAITH RADIO Presvytera and Dr. Jeannie Constantinou guides us through Holy Scripture with the eyes of the Church Fathers and answers listener questions in this edition of the Search the Scriptures podcast recorded live. Please join us on Wednesday, April 3rd following Presanctified Liturgy (scheduled at 6:30pm) for soup, salad & a Lenten discussion. Please sign up outside Fr. Perry s office with what you d like to bring. are now available! Pick yours up in the office on top of the black cabinet. 7

8 *Red Dye for Paschal Eggs is now available Non-toxic dye from Greece; each packet dyes up to 30 eggs. Suggested donation - $2.00 *Holy Week Books are also now in the Bookstore - $30 each. I give permission for the following info to be included in the updated Church Directory. I understand it is not to be used for solicitation. Name: Address: Home Phone: Cell Phone: Family includes: Signature: x Please return to the church office ASAP. 8

9 Join us on Sunday, April 14, 2019 as we go to NYC & watch the Greek Independence Day Parade! Departing church immediately following Divine Liturgy (approx. 11:00am); departing from NYC at 6:00pm to return home. The church van is full; however, we can carpool/caravan together. If you are interested, please contact Carrie in the church office. Anyone interested in donating a basket for the Basket Raffle, please contact Barbara Tzepos. Monetary donations towards a basket are also accepted - deadline for submissions is May 1st. No amount is too small. Thank you, thank you, thank you! *Children Helping Children* Please don t forget your Sunday School Weekly Stewardship we will be making a donation to the soup kitchen in June. & OCMC Mission Boxes have been distributed. Please help the children by making a donation to their mission boxes. Mission boxes are due Palm Sunday (April 21st) to your Sunday School teachers. 9

10 Attention Parishioners! Join the $5 more per week Stewardship Club * Membership Has Its Privileges... Membership includes: -weekly church services with a direct line to God -spiritual counseling -education: Sunday School, bible study... -youth groups: GOYA, HOPE & JOY, Mommy and Me -sports: volleyball & basketball -peer bonding activities -group outings, coffee hour... -cultural enrichment - Greek School, Greek Dancing... AND the satisfaction of knowing you are engaged and growing in your support of the church! A steward is typically considered an adult who is 18 years of age or older and making their own income. Our children are introduced to stewardship through our Sunday School program by donating to the soup kitchen and the mission boxes that support international church missionary work. *Not a real club, but you can join! 10

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12 OUR 2019 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN IS NOW UNDERWAY! Stewardship is a free-will offering of our time, talent and treasure to the church. Contributions are tax-deductible. Participating in our Stewardship Program is how individuals/families become active stewards of our church. Your contributions give the church the resources needed to fulfill its mission. We thank God for every good gift that comes from above and we thank you for your support of the work of the church! If you are interested in volunteering your time or talents, please see Fr. Perry or a Parish Council Member to find out how you can make a difference in the various ministries & organizations of our community. WELCOME TO ALL VISITORS! For those visiting an Orthodox Church for the first time, please be aware that Holy Communion is a sign of unity of Faith which is offered to Baptized and/or Chrismated Orthodox Christians. All present are welcome, however, to partake of the Antidoro (blessed bread) which is distributed at the end of the service. All people are welcome to join the Orthodox Church! Those interested in learning more about the Orthodox Christian Faith or becoming a member, please see Fr. Perry after services. 12