Sunday April 7 Greek Independence Day Parade (1:00 pm) Monday April 15 Boston Homeless Veterans Shelter Visit (4:15 pm)

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1 ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY BULLETIN 7 April 2019 Our Righteous Father John Climacus Author of the Ladder Tοῦ Ὁσίου Πατρὸς ἡμῶν Ἰωάννου τοῦ Συγγραφέως τῆς Κλίμακος 4th Sunday of Lent Tone 4 Δ ΤΩΝ ΝΗΣΤΕΙΩΝ Ἦχος δʹ Cathedral: 514 Parker Street, Boston, MA Office/Mailing Address: 162 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA Phone: (617) Fax: (617) Fr. Demetri s cell: (617) Upcoming Events Sunday April 7 Greek Independence Day Parade (1:00 pm) Wednesday April 10 PresancRfied Liturgy/Lenten Meal (6:00 pm/7:30 pm) Friday April 12 Akathist Hymn (7:00 pm) Monday April 15 Boston Homeless Veterans Shelter Visit (4:15 pm) Wednesday April 17 PresancRfied Liturgy/Meal (6:00 pm at Weston) Saturday April 20 Sat. of Lazarus: Orthros & Lit. (8:45/10 am at Chapel) Saturday April 20 Pancake Breakfast & Palm Weaving (at Center Hall) Sunday April 21 Palm Sunday with Youth Procession of Palms Sunday April 21 Palm Sunday Luncheon (A_er Liturgy) Sunday April 21 Bridegroom Service at Cαthedral (7:00 pm) Monday April 22 PresancRfied Liturgy at Chapel (9:00 am)

2 ΚΑΘΕΔΡΙΚΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΝΕΑΣ ΑΓΓΛΙΑΣ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΣΜΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF NEW ENGLAND Rev. Fr. Demetrios E. Tonias, Ph.D., Cathedral Dean ζ Ἀπριλίου,βιθ Δ ΤΩΝ ΝΗΣΤΕΙΩΝ 4th Sunday of Lent 7 April 2019 Ἀπολυτίκια Ἦχος δ Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Ἦχος πλ. δʹ Ταῖς τῶν δακρύων σου ῥοαῖς, τῆς ἐρήμου τὸ ἄγονον ἐγεώργησας, καὶ τοῖς ἐκ βάθους στεναγμοῖς, εἰς ἑκατὸν τοὺς πόνους ἐκαρποφόρησας, καὶ γέγονας φωστὴρ τῇ οἰκουμένῃ, λάμπων τοῖς θαύμασιν Ἰωάννη Πατὴρ ἡμῶν ὅσιε, πρέσβευε Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ, σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἠμῶν. Ἦχος δ Σήμερον τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν τὸ κεφάλαιον, καὶ τοῦ ἀπ αἰῶνος μυστηρίου ἡ φανέρωσις ὁ Υἷός του Θεοῦ, υἱὸς τῆς Παρθένου γίνεται, καὶ Γαβριὴλ τὴν χάριν εὐαγγελίζεται. Διὸ καὶ ἡμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ, τῇ Θεοτόκῳ βοήσωμεν Χαῖρε Κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ Κύριος μετά σοῦ. Κοντάκιον Ἦχος πλ. δʹ. Τῇ ὑπερμάχῳ στρατηγῷ τὰ νικητήρια, ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν εὐχαριστήρια, ἀναγράφω σοι ἡ Πόλις σου Θεοτόκε. Ἀλλ' ὡς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον, ἐκ παντοίων Dismissal Hymns Mode 4 When the women Disciples of the Lord had learned from the Angel the joyful message of the Resurrection and had rejected the ancestral decision, they cried aloud to the Apostles triumphantly: Death has been despoiled, Christ God has risen, granting His great mercy to the world. Mode pl. 4 With the rivers of your tears you made the barren desert bloom; and with your sighs from deep within, you made your labors bear their fruits a hundredfold; and you became a star, illuminating the world by your miracles, O John, our devout father. Intercede with Christ our God, for the salvation of our souls. Mode 4 Today mark s the crow ning of our salvation and the revelation of the mystery before all ages. For the Son of God becomes the son of the Virgin, and Gabriel proclaims the grace. Wherefore, we also cry out with him, "Hail, O full of grace, the Lord is with you. Kontakion Mode pl. 4. O Champion General, I your City now ascribe to you * triumphant anthems as the tokens of my gratitude, * being rescued from the terrors, O Theotokos. * Inasmuch as you have power unassailable, * from all

3 με κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον, ἵνα κράζω σοι Χαῖρε νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε. kinds of perils free me so that unto you * I may cry aloud: * Rejoice, O unwedded Bride. Ἀπόστολος Ἐβρ ς Hebrews 6:13-20 Epistle Ἀδελφοί, τῷ Ἀβραὰμ ἐπαγγειλάμενος ὁ Θεός, ἐπεὶ κατ' οὐδενὸς εἶχε μείζονος ὀμόσαι, ὤμοσε καθ' ἑαυτοῦ, λέγων ἦ μὴν εὐλογῶν εὐλογήσω σε καὶ πληθύνων πληθυνῶ σε καὶ οὕτω μακροθυμήσας ἐπέτυχε τῆς ἐπαγγελίας. Ἄνθρωποι μὲν γὰρ κατὰ τοῦ μείζονος ὀμνύουσι, καὶ πάσης αὐτοῖς ἀντιλογίας πέρας εἰς βεβαίωσιν ὁ ὅρκος ἐν ᾧ περισσότερον βουλόμενος ὁ Θεὸς ἐπιδεῖξαι τοῖς κληρονόμοις τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τὸ ἀμετάθετον τῆς βουλῆς αὐτοῦ, ἐμεσίτευσεν ὅρκῳ, ἵνα διὰ δύο πραγμάτων ἀμεταθέτων, ἐν οἷς ἀδύνατον ψεύσασθαι Θεόν, ἰσχυρὰν παράκλησιν ἔχωμεν οἱ καταφυγόντες κρατῆσαι τῆς προκειμένης ἐλπίδος ἣν ὡς ἄγκυραν ἔχομεν τῆς ψυχῆς ἀσφαλῆ τε καὶ βεβαίαν καὶ εἰσερχομένην εἰς τὸ ἐσώτερον τοῦ καταπετάσματος, ὅπου πρόδρομος ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν εἰσῆλθεν Ἰησοῦς, κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδὲκ, Ἀρχιερεὺς γενόμενος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα Brethren, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. Εὐαγγέλιον Μᾶρκ. θ Mark 9:17-31 Gospel Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἄνθρωπός τις προσῆλθε τῷ Ἰησοῦ γονυπετῶν αὐτῷ καὶ λέγων Διδάσκαλε, ἤνεγκα τὸν υἱόν μου πρὸς σέ, ἔχοντα πνεῦμα ἄλαλον. καὶ ὅπου ἂν αὐτὸν καταλάβῃ, ῥήσσει αὐτόν, καὶ ἀφρίζει καὶ τρίζει τοὺς ὀδόντας αὐτοῦ, καὶ ξηραίνεται καὶ εἶπον τοῖς μαθηταῖς σου ἵνα αὐτὸ ἐκβάλωσι, καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυσαν. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς αὐτῷ λέγει Ὦ γενεὰ ἄπιστος, ἕως πότε πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἔσομαι; ἕως πότε ἀνέξομαι ὑμῶν; φέρετε αὐτὸν πρός με. καὶ ἤνεγκαν αὐτὸν πρὸς αὐτόν. καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν εὐθέως τὸ πνεῦμα ἐσπάραξεν αὐτόν, καὶ πεσὼν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐκυλίετο ἀφρίζων. καὶ At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and saying: "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at Continued on next page

4 ἐπηρώτησε τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ Πόσος χρόνος ἐστὶν ὡς τοῦτο γέγονεν αὐτῷ; ὁ δὲ εἶπε Παιδιόθεν. καὶ πολλάκις αὐτὸν καὶ εἰς πῦρ ἔβαλε καὶ εἰς ὕδατα, ἵνα ἀπολέσῃ αὐτόν ἀλλ' εἴ τι δύνασαι, βοήθησον ἡμῖν σπλαγχνισθεὶς ἐφ' ἡμᾶς. ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ Τὸ εἰ δύνασαι πιστεῦσαι, πάντα δυνατὰ τῷ πιστεύοντι. καὶ εὐθέως κράξας ὁ πατὴρ τοῦ παιδίου μετὰ δακρύων ἔλεγε Πιστεύω, Κύριε βοήθει μου τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ. ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὅτι ἐπισυντρέχει ὄχλος ἐπετίμησε τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἀκαθάρτῳ λέγων αὐτῷ Τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἄλαλον καὶ κωφὸν, ἐγὼ σοι ἐπιτάσσω, ἔξελθε ἐξ αὐτοῦ καὶ μηκέτι εἰσέλθῃς εἰς αὐτόν. καὶ κράξαν καὶ πολλὰ σπαράξαν αὐτόν ἐξῆλθε, καὶ ἐγένετο ὡσεὶ νεκρός, ὥστε πολλοὺς λέγειν ὅτι ἀπέθανεν. ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς κρατήσας αὐτὸν τῆς χειρὸς ἤγειρεν αὐτόν, καὶ ἀνέστη. Καὶ εἰσελθόντα αὐτὸν εἰς οἶκον οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπηρώτων αὐτόν κατ' ἰδίαν, ὅτι ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἠδυνήθημεν ἐκβαλεῖν αὐτό. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Τοῦτο τὸ γένος ἐν οὐδενὶ δύναται ἐξελθεῖν εἰ μὴ ἐν προσευχῇ καὶ νηστείᾳ. Καὶ ἐκεῖθεν ἐξελθόντες παρεπορεύοντο διὰ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν ἵνα τις γνῷ ἐδίδασκε γὰρ τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς ὅτι Ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδίδοται εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων, καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν αὐτόν, καὶ ἀποκτανθεὶς τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστήσεται. the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise." Seeing that his faith was being driven by the waves of unbelief on the rocks which would cause a fearful shipwreck, he asks of the Lord an aid to his faith, saying Lord, help me in my unbelief. So thoroughly did the apostles and those who live in the gospel realize that everything which is good is brought to completion by the aid of the Lord, and not imagine that they could preserve their faith unharmed by their own strength or free will, that they prayed that it might be helped and granted to them by the Lord. St. John Cassian

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7 Δʹ Κυριακὴ τῶν Νηστειῶν Ἰωάννου Κλίμακος 7 Απριλίου Ο άγιος Ιωάννης γεννήθηκε στην Παλαιστίνη γύρω στα 523. Μόνασε από νεαρή ηλικία (16 ετών). Παρακολούθησε ανώτερο κύκλο μορφώσεως. Στην ζωή της ερήμου Σινά αξιοποίησε την σοφία του και ανέβηκε σε υψηλές κορυφές αγιότητας. Είχε και το χάρισμα της θαυματουργίας. Σε μεγά η ηλικία έγινε ηγούμενος της μονής του Σινά. Συνέγραψε τριάντα λόγους περί αρετής, όπου ο καθένας λόγος περιλαμβάνει και μια αρετή, ξεκινώντας από τις πιο πρακτικές και ανεβαίνοντας σαν σκαλοπάτια κατέ ηξε στις θεωρητικά υψηλές. Στη πνευματική ζωή έχουμε βαθμίδες χαμηλές και υψηλές, καταστάσεις κατώτερες και ανώτερες. Γι αυτό και το σύγγραμμα ονομάζεται Κ ίμακα των αρετών. Στο έργο του αυτό ο συγγραφέας παρουσιάζει συστηματικά τις ιδέες του για την κοινοβιακή κυρίως, α ά και για την ερημιτική ζωή, ταξινομώντας αυτές κατά τρόπο που δείχνει πορεία προς την ηθική τελείωση. Είναι γραμμένο σε κομψή ε ηνική γλώσσα, καλοδουλεμένη με χάρη και μελωδικότητα. Έχει διαύγεια, γλαφυρότητα, παραστατικότητα και παρουσιάζει πλούτο εκφράσεως, καλαισθησία και ευγένεια. Στη διακόσμηση του λόγου με εικόνες και παρομοιώσεις ο ιερός συγγραφέας είναι απαράμι ος. Πάσης φύσεως σχήματα λόγου αναδύονται καθώς και ωραίες και επιτυχημένες προσωποποιήσεις. Οι διδασκαλίες του είναι ολοκάθαρα νάματα που προέρχονται από αγιασμένη πηγή. Είναι ένα θεόπνευστο κείμενο. Οι σύγχρονοι ψυχολόγοι θαυμάζουν τον συγγραφέα της Κ ίμακας για την βαθύτητα των ψυχολογικών του γνώσεων και παρατηρήσεων, και διαπιστώνουν ότι τα τελευταία αξιό ογα πορίσματα της ψυχολογίας του Βάθους ήταν γνωστά στους Πατέρες της ερήμου. Ο Άγιος Ιωάννης κοιμήθηκε στις 30 Μαρτίου το 603, σε ηλικία ογδόντα ετών. Από την αρχή της Σαρακοστής το σύγγραμμά του διαβάζεται σε ό α τα ορθόδοξα μοναστήρια. Επειδή είναι παγκόσμιο κειμή ιο αναλύσεως ό ων των παθών και των αρετών, η Εκκλησία τιμά ιδιαίτερα σε αυτή τη πνευματική περίοδο τον συγγραφέα άγιο Ιωάννη της Κ ίμακας και το προτείνει για ανάγνωσμα. Ἀπολυτίκιον. Ἦχος γ. Θείας πίστεως. Θείαν κλίμακα, ὑποστηρίξας, τὴν τῶν λόγων σου, μέθοδον Πάτερ, μοναστῶν ὑφηγητὴς ἀναδέδειξε, ἐκ πρακτικῆς Ἰωάννη καθάρσεως, πρὸς θεωρίας ἀνάγων τὴν ἔ αμψιν. Πάτερ Ὅσιε, Χριστὸν τὸν Θεὸν ἱκέτευε, δωρήσασθαι ἡμῖν τὸ μέγα ἔ εος. Κοντάκιον. Ἦχος α. Χορὸς Ἀγγελικός. Καρποὺς ἀειθαλεῖς, ἐκ τῆς βίβ ου προσφέρων, διδάγματα σοφέ, καθηδύνεις καρδίας, τῶν τούτοις μετὰ νήψεως, προσεχόντων μακάριε Κ ῖμαξ γάρ ἐστι, ψυχὰς ἀνάγουσα γῆθεν, πρὸς οὐράνιον, καὶ διαμένουσαν δόξαν, τῶν πίστει τιμώντων σε. Μεγαλυνάριον. Τὴν οὐρανοδρόμον ἣν Ἰακώβ, κλίμακα προεῖδεν, ἐτεχνήσω πνευματικῶς, Πάτερ Ἰωάννη, συνθήκῃ τῶν σῶν λόγων, δι ἧς πρὸς ἀφθαρσίας, βαίνομεν μέθεξιν.

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9 Feast of our Righteous Father John Climacus 7 April Saint John of the Ladder is honored by Holy Church as a great ascetic and author of the renowned spiritual book called THE LADDER, from which he is also called of the Ladder (Climacus). There is almost no information about St John s origins. One tradition suggests that he was born in Constantinople around the year 570, and was the son of Sts Xenophon and Maria (January 26). John went to Sinai when he was sixteen, submitting to Abba Martyrius as his instructor and guide. After four years, St John was tonsured as a monk. Abba Strategios, who was present at St John s tonsure, predicted that he would become a great luminary in the Church of Christ. For nineteen years St John progressed in monasticism in obedience to his spiritual Father. After the death of Abba Martyrius, St John embarked on a solitary life, settling in a wild place called Thola, where he spent forty years laboring in silence, fasting, prayer, and tears of penitence. It is not by chance that in THE LADDER St John speaks about tears of repentance: Just as fire burns and destroys the wood, so pure tears wash away every impurity, both external and internal. His holy prayer was strong and efficacious, as may be seen from an example from the life of the God-pleasing saint. St John had a disciple named Moses. Once, the saint ordered his disciple to bring dung to fertilize the vegetable garden. When he had fulfilled the obedience, Moses lay down to rest under the shade of a large rock, because of the scorching heat of summer. St John was in his cell in a light sleep. Suddenly, a man of remarkable appearance appeared to him and awakened the holy ascetic, reproaching him, John, why do you sleep so heedlessly, when Moses is in danger? St John immediately woke up and began to pray for his disciple. When Moses returned in the evening, St John asked whether any sort of misfortune had befallen him. The monk replied, A large rock would have fallen on me as I slept beneath it at noon, but I left that place because I thought I heard you calling me. St John did not tell his disciple of his vision, but gave thanks to God. St John ate the food which is permitted by the monastic rule, but only in moderation. He did not sleep very much, only enough to keep up his strength, so that he would not ruin his mind by unceasing vigil. I do not fast excessively, he said of himself, nor do I give myself over to intense all-night vigil, nor lay upon the ground, but I restrain myself..., and the Lord soon saved me. The following example of St John s humility is noteworthy. Gifted with discernment, and attaining wisdom through spiritual experience, he lovingly received all who came to him and guided them to salvation. One day some envious monks reproached him for being too talkative, and so St John kept silence for a whole year. The monks realized their error, and they went to the ascetic and begged him not to deprive them of the spiritual profit of his conversation. Concealing his ascetic deeds from others, St John sometimes withdrew into a cave, but reports of his holiness spread far beyond the vicinity. Visitors from all walks of life came to him, desiring to hear his words of edification and salvation. After forty years of solitary asceticism, he was chosen as igumen of Sinai when he was seventy-five. St John governed the holy monastery for four years. Toward the end of his life, the Lord granted him the gifts of clairvoyance and wonderworking. At the request of St John, igumen of the Raithu monastery (Commemorated on Cheesefare Saturday), he wrote the incomparable LADDER, a book of instruction for monks who wished to attain spiritual perfection. Continued on next page

10 Knowing of the wisdom and spiritual gifts of St John of Sinai, the igumen of Raithu requested him to write down whatever was necessary for the salvation of those in the monastic life. Such a book would be a ladder fixed on the earth (Gen. 28:12), leading people to the gates of Heaven. St John felt that such a task was beyond his ability, yet out of obedience he fulfilled the request. The saint called his work THE LADDER, for the book is a fixed ladder leading from earthly things to the Holy of Holies... The thirty steps of spiritual perfection correspond to the thirty years of the Lord s age. When we have completed these thirty steps, we will find ourselves with the righteous and will not stumble. THE LADDER begins with renunciation of the world, and ends with God, Who is love (1 John 4:8). Although the book was written for monks, any Christian living in the world will find it an unerring guide for ascending to God, and a support in the spiritual life. Sts Theodore the Studite (November 11 and January 26), Sergius of Radonezh (September 25 and July 5), Joseph of Volokolamsk (September 9 and October 18), and others relied on THE LADDER as an important guide to salvation. The twenty-second step of THE LADDER deals with various forms of vainglory. St John writes: When I fast, I am vainglorious; and when I permit myself food in order to conceal my fasting from others I am again vainglorious about my prudence. When I dress in fine clothing, I am vanquished by vanity, and if I put on drab clothing, again I am overcome by vanity. If I speak, vainglory defeats me. If I wish to keep silence, I am again given over to it. Wherever this thorn comes up, it stands with its points upright. A vain person seems to honor God, but strives to please men rather than God. People of lofty spirit bear insult placidly and willingly, but only the holy and righteous may hear praise without harm. When you hear that your neighbor or friend has slandered you behind your back, or even to your face, praise and love him. It is not the one who reproaches himself who shows humility, for who will not put up with himself? It is the one who is slandered by another, yet continues to show love for him. Whoever is proud of his natural gifts, intelligence, learning, skill in reading, clear enunciation, and other similar qualities, which are acquired without much labor, will never obtain supernatural gifts. Whoever is not faithful in small things (Luke 16:10), is also unfaithful in large things, and is vainglorous. It often happens that God humbles the vainglorious, sending a sudden misfortune. If prayer does not destroy a proud thought, we bring to mind the departure of the soul from this life. And if this does not help, let us fear the shame which follows dishonor. For whoever humbles himself shall be exalted, and whoever exalts himself shall be humbled (Luke 14:11). When those who praise us, or rather seduce us, start to praise us, let us recall our many sins, then we shall find that we are not worthy of what they say or do to honor us. In THE LADDER St John describes the ascent toward spiritual perfection, which is essential for anyone who wishes to save his soul. It is a written account of his thoughts, based on the collected wisdom of many wise ascetics, and on his own spiritual experience. The book is a great help on the path to truth and virtue. The steps of THE LADDER proceed gradually from strength to strength on the path of perfection. The summit is not reached suddenly, but gradually, as the Savior says: The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force (Mt.11:12).

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24 STEWARDSHIP REPORT AS OF Stewards pledged this far: 128 Total pledged for 2019: $132,095 Rev. Dr. Demetrios & Pr. Maryann Tonias & Family Mr. & Mrs. Peter A. Alexopoulos Ms. Fotene Fay Andreadis Mr. Arthur C. Anton, Sr. Dr. Marica Arvanites Mr. Peter C. Badavas Mr. & Mrs. Robert P. Badavas Mrs. Christine Bakos Miss Natalie Bassil Mr. & Mrs. Costas L. Belezos Mr. & Mrs. Vangel T. Benno Ms. Maria E. Beno Mr. & Mrs. Triantafillos Blathras Mr. & Mrs. Constintine P. Calliontzis Mr. & Mrs. Stephen T. Caparell Ms. Eugenia M. Carris Miss Mary Cleary Mr. Peter L. Condakes & Dr. Pamela Pappas Ms. Pauline P. Coutlis Mr. & Mrs. Theodore A. Critikos Mr. & Mrs. John E. Dakoyannis Atty. & Mrs. Euripides E. Dalmanieras Mr. & Mrs. James Davis Mr. & Mrs. Angelos Davos Mrs. Mina Davos & Ms. Pauline Berlis Ms. Ellen Marie Demeter Ms. Asemena T. Dodge Mr. Charles J. Doulos Mr. & Mrs. George C. Dukas Mr. Nicolaos Economou Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Eid Mr. & Mrs. Charles P. Eliopoulos Mr. & Mrs. William Evangelakos Mr. & Mrs. John N. Foundas Atty. & Mrs. Peter N. Foundas Dr. Calliope J. Galatis Mrs. Gerasimos Galatis Mrs. Dimitra Gardikas Mr. & Mrs. Peter Gardikas Mrs. Acrive Geanakakis Ms. Susan Georgantas Mr. & Mrs. John A. Georgountzos Mr. & Mrs. Vassilios Georgountzos Drs. Iraklis S. & Sheila Gerogiannis Mr. & Mrs. George Glaropoulos Mr. John Griffin & Ms. Stephanie Harshman Mrs. Mary Guerriero Dr. Christopher G. Gussis Mrs. Stella X. Harris Dr. George A. & Mrs. Evie Hasiotis Miss Mary Hatzis Miss Alice H. Haveles Mr. & Mrs. Martin Harold Huber Mrs. Helen Johnson Mr. & Mrs. James G. Jumes Mr. & Mrs. George M. Kalambokis Mr. Philip S. Kallan Ms. Joanne B. Kalliavas Mr. & Mrs. William Kantaros Mr. Charles G. Kapetanakis Mr. Chris Karys Karatasakis Mr. & Mrs. James Karimbakas Miss Pauline Karistianos Mrs. Annette Kaselis Mr. & Mrs. Andreas Kavaltzis Mr. & Mrs. Constantine T. Kechris Atty. Cynthia B. Keliher Mr. & Mrs. Brian M. Kennedy Mrs. Lula Kiflit Ms. Hrisanthe Kladitis Mr. & Mrs. George P. Klapes Mr. & Mrs. Fotios Kokkotos Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Koumarianos Mr. & Mrs. Christopher G. Kyriakou Mr. & Mrs. Chris J. Lacey Mr. & Mrs. William J. Leahy Atty. & Mrs. Alfred Legelis Ms. Maria Lekkakos & Mr. Marc Harris Mrs. Anna G. Lemonias Mr. Constantine Limberakis Dr. & Mrs. Kamen P. Madjarov Mr. & Mrs. Steven Maniaci Mrs. William F. Manley Mr. & Mrs. Joseph D. Messina Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Milonopoulos Drs. Alex Mitsialis & Stella Kourembanas Continued on next page

25 Dr. Vasilios Mourmoutis & Mrs. Joanna Chanis Mr. Harry M. Nahatis Mr. & Mrs. George J. Niakaros Miss Portia Pantages Ms. Angela Papadopoulos Mrs. Ekaterini Papadopoulos Mr. & Mrs. George Papalambros Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios K. Papaslis Mr. & Mrs. Teddy K. Papaslis Miss Cynthia Pappas Dr. Leon Pappas Ms. Sofia Paraskevas Mr. & Mrs. Tilemachos Pateris Dr. Lewis J. Patsavos Mrs. Andreana Pavlos-Pena Mr. & Mrs. Peter Philipoppoulos Mrs. Maria Ploumis Ms. Irene G. Pontikas Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas P. Racheotes Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas S. Racheotes Mrs. Patricia S. Redmond Mr. & Mrs. Michael Roussas Mr. & Mrs. Peter G. Salidas Mr. & Mrs. Peter Scarlatos Atty. & Mrs. Peter A. Senopoulos Mr. Constantine Sideridis Mr. Andrew M. Spileos Miss Anne Marie Stathis Mr. Louis C. Stathis Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios E. Tassiopoulos Mrs. Maria Theodore Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Theodosakis Mr. & Mrs. Triantos Thomas Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Torski Mr. Christopher J. Trakas Mr. & Mrs. Ross N. Triant Mr. & Mrs. James M. Tringas Mr. & Mrs. Constantine Tsivelekidis Ms. Vasilika D. Tsucalas Mr. & Mrs. Peter Varitimidis Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Woods Miss Mary Zetes If your name is not listed as you wish it to appear, please notify the church office Ὁ Ἅγιος Καλλιόπιος ὁ Μάρτυρας Ὁ Ἅγιος Μάρτυς Κα ιόπιος καταγόταν ἀπὸ τὴν Πέργη τῆς Παμφυλίας καὶ ἔζησε κατὰ τοὺς χρόνους τοῦ βασιλέως Μαξιμιανοῦ ( μ.χ.). Σὲ πολὺ μικρὴ ἡ ικία ἔμεινε ὀρφανὸς ἀπὸ πατέρα καὶ ἡ ἐνάρετη μητέρα του Θεόκλεια τὸν ἀνέθρεψε καὶ τὸν γαλούχησε μὲ τὰ νάματα τῆς Χριστιανικῆς πίστεως. Ἔτσι κατὰ τὴν περίοδο τῶν διωγμῶν ὁ νεαρὸς Κα ιόπιος ὄχι μόνο δὲν φοβήθηκε, ἀ ὰ ἀντιθέτως ἐμψύχωνε καὶ παρηγοροῦσε τοὺς ὀ ιγόψυχους. Ἐνῷ ὁ διωγμὸς εἶχε κηρυχθεῖ, ὁ Ἅγιος ἀναχώρησε γιὰ τὴν Πομπηϊούπολη, ὅπου αὐτοβού ως παρουσιάσθηκε στὸν ἔπαρχο Μάξιμο, τὸν ὁποῖο ἔ εγξε γιὰ τὰ ἐγκλήματά του κατὰ τῶν Χριστιανῶν. Ὀργισμένος ὁ ἔπαρχος διέταξε νὰ τὸν συ άβουν, νὰ τὸν βασανίσουν καὶ νὰ τὸν 7 Απριλίου κλείσουν στὴ φυλακή. Μαζί του εἰσῆ θε στὴ φυλακὴ καὶ ἡ μητέρα του, ἡ ὁποία σπόγγιζε τὸ αἷμα τοῦ υἱοῦ της. Γιατί ἀφοῦ ἔδωσε ὅ ο τὸν πλοῦτο της στοὺς πτωχούς, ἀκολούθησε τὸ παιδί της στὴν πορεία πρὸς τὸ μαρτύριο. Ἀφοῦ ἔβγαλαν ἀπὸ τὴν φυλακὴ τὸν Ἅγιο, τὸν καταδίκασαν σὲ σταυρικὸ θάνατο. Ἔτσι ἔγινε κοινωνὸς μὲ τὸν Χριστὸ ὄχι μόνο στὸ Πάθος ἀ ὰ καὶ στὴν ἡμέρα ἀκόμη. Γιατί ἦταν Μεγά η Παρασκευὴ ὅταν σταυρώθηκε. Ἡ μητέρα του ἔδωσε στοὺς δήμιους πέντε χρυσὰ νομίσματα καὶ τοὺς παρακά εσε νὰ μὴν σταυρώσουν τὸν υἱό της ὅμοια μὲ τὸν Χριστό, ἀ ὰ μὲ τὸ κεφά ι πρὸς τὰ κάτω. Καὶ ἀφοῦ σταυρώθηκε τὴν Τρίτη ὥρα τῆς Παρασκευῆς, παρέδωσε τὸ πνεῦμα. Ἡ δὲ μητέρα του, ἀφοῦ ἔπεσε ἐπάνω στὸν ἐσταυρωμένο υἱό της, παρέδωσε τὴν ψυχή της.

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