Archangel Michael Church Η Εκκλησία του Αρχαγγέλου Μιχαήλ

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1 Archangel Michael Church Η Εκκλησία του Αρχαγγέλου Μιχαήλ 100 Fairway Drive, Port Washington, NY (516) ~ Clergy: Fr. John Lardas, Fr. Joshua Pappas, Fr. Dennis Strouzas 1 st Morning Gospel May 5, 2019 ~ Thomas Sunday Can Doubt Be Good? Do you believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe (John 20:29). Christ s words to Thomas sometimes lead to a strictly negative view of his doubt. But, surprisingly, many of our hymns and saints aren t so critical of Thomas; in fact, his doubt is even praised at times. Thomas is full of instinctive skepticism when he hears about the Resurrection from the other disciples. He knows - just like you and me - that people do not rise from the dead; it s a biological impossibility. In the eyes of Thomas, the disciples look the same physically but radiate a different, otherworldly joy. They re the same but somehow different. We can imagine that Thomas wants to believe at this point, but he s not prepared to devote his entire life - his sense of purpose, his thoughts, his actions - to a Risen Lord whom he hasn t experienced firsthand. He s an honest man with integrity, and he can t be fully convicted without direct experience. Perhaps this should be the continual starting point of all of us. Eager openness the willingness to struggle, doubt, learn, move forward, discern divine light in even the most unexpected places is precisely the disposition God desires us to have throughout our lives. It s essentially a disposition of humility. Without this willingness to live in the gray, stagnation and comfort creep in, bringing with them spiritual death. Christianity is a religion of a person, and personal relationships are mysterious and intimate, not straightforward and mechanical. As Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos (+1995) says: Faith is not something readymade; it is a living thing, and it has its questions, which must be answered by each person for himself, in order to live authentically. Faith without questions is still in its infant stage. Thomas carefully examines Christ s wounds using his inquisitive right hand. Likewise, we should continually examine Christ, our personal Lord, and Orthodoxy offers many opportunities for this examination: Divine Liturgy, Scripture, spiritual reading, the lives of the saints, prayer, daily struggles, the face of every person we encounter. Christ is everywhere, though He s easily missed if we don t keenly seek Him out. Κυριακή του Θωμά: Ο Απόστολος Θωμάς απουσίαζε όταν ο Χριστός, μετά την Ανάστασή Του, επισκέφθηκε τους Μαθητές Του στο υπερώον όπου ήταν συνηγμένοι. Όταν πληροφορήθηκε τα σχετικά με την επίσκεψη του Χριστού, ζήτησε να Τον δη και να ψηλαφίση τις πληγές του Σταυρού στα χέρια και την πλευρά Του. Ο Χριστός όταν επισκέφθηκε και πάλι τους Μαθητές Του μετά από οκτώ ημέρες, κάλεσε τον Απόστολο Θωμά να ψηλαφήση τα σημάδια των πληγών στο Σώμα Του. Τότε ο Απόστολος Θωμάς Τον ανεγνώρισε και Τον ομολόγησε Κύριο και Θεό του. Τον ανεγνώρισε από τις πληγές του Σταυρού, οι οποίες αποτελούν σημάδι της αγάπης Του, αλλά και της δυνάμεώς Του. Την ομολογία του Θωμά οι άγιοι Πατέρες την ονομάζουν σωτήριο. Και πραγματικά οδηγεί στην σωτηρία όλους εκείνους που την απευθύνουν στον Χριστό εκζητώντας ταπεινά το έλεός Του. Το γεγονός ότι ο Απόστολος Θωμάς αρχικά απουσίαζε κατά την εμφάνιση του Χριστού στους Μαθητές Του, φαίνεται ότι ήταν οικονομία Θεού, για να γίνη πιστευτό το θαύμα της Αναστάσεως και να διαλυθή κάθε είδους αμφιβολία. (*Οι πληροφορίες είναι από:

2 Άγιοι και Εορτές Τῇ αὐτῇ ἡµέρᾳ, Κυριακῇ δευτέρᾳ ἀπὸ τοῦ Πάσχα, τὰ ἐγκαίνια ἑορτάζοµεν τῆς Χριστοῦ Ἀναστάσεως, καὶ τὴν τοῦ ἁγίου Ἀποστόλου Θωµᾶ ψηλάφησιν. Tῆς Ἁγίας Μεγαλοµάρτυρος Εἰρήνης. Tῶν Ἁγίων Μαρτύρων Νεοφύτου, Γαΐου καὶ Γαϊανοῦ. Saints and Feasts On this day, the Sunday after Pascha, we celebrate the dedication of Christ's Resurrection, and St. Thomas' handling of the Lord's body; the holy Great Martyr Irene; the holy Martyrs Neophytus, Gaius, and Gaianus. Ἀπολυτίκιον Τῆς Ἑορτῆς Χριστὸς ἀνέστη ἐκ νεκρῶν, θανάτῳ θάνατον πατήσας, καὶ τοῖς ἐν τοῖς µνήµασι, ζωὴν χαρισάµενος. Εἰσοδικόν Ἐν ἐκκλησίαις εὐλογεῖτε τὸν Θεόν, Κύριον ἐκ πηγῶν Ἰσραήλ. Σῶσον ἡµᾶς Υἱὲ Θεοῦ, ὁ ἀναστὰς ἐκ νεκρῶν, ψάλλοντάς σοι, Ἀλληλούϊα. Ἀπολυτίκιον Τῆς Ἑορτῆς Ἐσφραγισµένου τοῦ µνήµατος, ἡ Ζωὴ ἐκ τάφου ἀνέτειλας Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισµένων, τοῖς Μαθηταῖς ἐπέστης, ἡ πάντων ἀνάστασις Πνεῦµα εὐθὲς δι' αὐτῶν ἐγκαινίζων ἡµῖν, κατὰ τὸ µέγα σου ἔλεος. Κοντάκιον Εἰ καὶ ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες Ἀθάνατε, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ᾅδου καθεῖλες τὴν δύναµιν καὶ ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, γυναιξὶ Μυροφόροις φθεγξάµενος, Χαίρετε, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις εἰρήνην δωρούµενος, ὁ τοῖς πεσοῦσι παρέχων ἀνάστασιν. Ὕµνος εἰς τὴν Θεοτόκον Σὲ τὴν φαεινὴν λαµπάδα, καὶ Μητέρα τοῦ Θεοῦ, τὴν ἀρίζηλον δόξαν, καὶ ἀνωτέραν πάντων τῶν ποιηµάτων, ἐν ὕµνοις µεγαλύνοµεν. Κοινωνικόν Ἐπαίνει, Ἰερουσαλήµ, τὸν Κύριον αἴνει τὸν Θεόν σου, Σιών. Ἀλληλούϊα. Hymn of Pascha (Pl. 1 st Mode) Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. Entrance Hymn (2 nd Mode) Bless God in the churches, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia. Hymn of the Feast (Grave Mode) O Life, You rose from the sepulcher, even though the tomb was secured with a seal, O Christ God. And though the doors had been bolted, You came to Your disciples, O Resurrection of all. Through them You renew a right spirit in us, according to Your great mercy. Kontakion of the Feast (Pl. 4 th Mode) Though You went down into the tomb, O Immortal One, yet You brought down the dominion of Hades; and You rose as the victor, O Christ our God; and You called out "Rejoice" to the Myrrh-bearing women, and gave peace to Your Apostles, O Lord who to the fallen grant resurrection. Hymn to the Theotokos (1 st Mode) You, the brightly shining lantern and the Mother of our God,* the conspicuous glory,* you are superior to all creation.* We hymn you and magnify. Communion Hymn Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion. Alleluia.

3 Acts of the Apostles 5:12-20 In those days, many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life." Πράξεων τῶν Ἀποστόλων 5:12-20 Ἐν ταῖς ἡµέραις ἐκείναις, διὰ τῶν χειρῶν τῶν ἀποστόλων ἐγίνετο σηµεῖα καὶ τέρατα ἐν τῷ λαῷ πολλὰ (καὶ ἦσαν ὁµοθυµαδὸν ἅπαντες ἐν τῇ Στοᾷ Σολοµῶντος. Τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν οὐδεὶς ἐτόλµα κολλᾶσθαι αὐτοῖς ἀλλ' ἐµεγάλυνεν αὐτοὺς ὁ λαός µᾶλλον δὲ προσετίθεντο πιστεύοντες τῷ Κυρίῳ πλήθη ἀνδρῶν τε καὶ γυναικῶν ὥστε κατὰ τὰς πλατείας ἐκφέρειν τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς καὶ τιθέναι ἐπὶ κλινῶν καὶ κραβάττων ἵνα ἐρχοµένου Πέτρου κἂν ἡ σκιὰ ἐπισκιάσῃ τινὶ αὐτῶν. Συνήρχετο δὲ καὶ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν πέριξ πόλεων Ἰερουσαλήµ φέροντες ἀσθενεῖς καὶ ὀχλουµένους ὑπὸ πνευµάτων ἀκαθάρτων οἵτινες ἐθεραπεύοντο ἅπαντες. Ἀναστὰς δὲ ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς καὶ πάντες οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ ἡ οὖσα αἵρεσις τῶν Σαδδουκαίων ἐπλήσθησαν ζήλου καὶ ἐπέβαλον τὰς χεῖρας ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀποστόλους καὶ ἔθεντο αὐτοὺς ἐν τηρήσει δηµοσίᾳ. Ἄγγελος δὲ Κυρίου διὰ νυκτὸς ἤνοιξε τὰς θύρας τῆς φυλακῆς ἐξαγαγών τε αὐτοὺς εἶπε Πορεύεσθε καὶ σταθέντες λαλεῖτε ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ τῷ λαῷ πάντα τὰ ῥήµατα τῆς ζωῆς ταύτης. John 20:19-31 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe." Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to Him: "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. Kατὰ Ἰωάννην 20:19-31 Οὔσης ὀψίας τῇ ἡµέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τῇ µιᾷ σαββάτων, καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισµένων ὅπου ἦσαν οἱ µαθηταὶ συνηγµένοι διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ µέσον, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς Εἰρήνη ὑµῖν. καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ. ἐχάρησαν οὖν οἱ µαθηταὶ ἰδόντες τὸν Κύριον. εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν Εἰρήνη ὑµῖν. καθὼς ἀπέσταλκέ µε ὁ πατήρ, κἀγὼ πέµπω ὑµᾶς. καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησε καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς Λάβετε Πνεῦµα ἅγιον ἄν τινων ἀφῆτε τὰς ἁµαρτίας, ἀφίενται αὐτοῖς, ἄν τινων κρατῆτε, κεκράτηνται. Θωµᾶς δὲ εἷς ἐκ τῶν δώδεκα ὁ λεγόµενος Δίδυµος, οὐκ ἦν µετ' αὐτῶν ὅτε ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς. ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄλλοι µαθηταί Ἑωράκαµεν τὸν Κύριον. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ἐὰν µὴ ἴδω ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὸν δάκτυλόν µου εἰς τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὴν χεῖρά µου εἰς τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ, οὐ µὴ πιστεύσω. Καὶ µεθ' ἡµέρας ὀκτὼ πάλιν ἦσαν ἔσω οἱ µαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ Θωµᾶς µετ' αὐτῶν. ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισµένων, καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ µέσον καὶ εἶπεν Εἰρήνη ὑµῖν. εἶτα λέγει τῷ Θωµᾷ Φέρε τὸν δάκτυλόν σου ὧδε καὶ ἴδε τὰς χεῖράς µου, καὶ φέρε τὴν χεῖρά σου καὶ βάλε εἰς τὴν πλευράν µου, καὶ µὴ γίνου ἄπιστος, ἀλλὰ πιστός. καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Θωµᾶς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ὁ Κύριός µου καὶ ὁ Θεός µου. λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς Ὅτι ἑώρακάς µε, πεπίστευκας µακάριοι οἱ µὴ ἰδόντες καὶ πιστεύσαντες. Πολλὰ µὲν οὖν καὶ ἄλλα σηµεῖα ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐνώπιον τῶν µαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, ἃ οὐκ ἔστι γεγραµµένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύσητε ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόµατι αὐτοῦ.

4 PHILOPTOCHOS FEEDS THE HOMELESS On Tuesday, April 30th, our Philoptochos chapter gathered at AMC to cook, prepare, and package over 120 "Greek Easter Dinners" and then delivered them and served them to the homeless at Penn Station. Thank you to the many volunteers and donors who made this possible: Transportation: John and Peter Venetis (Vema Corp.) Volunteers-Cooking and Packing: Chris Arlis, Stella Kokolis, Barbara Mavro, Bessie Ziozis, Marina Vlahos, Josephine Karras, Chrysoula Papaporfiriou, Lisa Glavas, Chris Ioannou, Chris-Marie Tzavelis Servers: Irene Rallis, Stella Biniaris, Elizabeth Zouvekas, Chris Ioannou, Jasmine Baktidy, Emily Kavourias, Efthymios Tzavelis, Chris Biniaris, Stephen Rio, Max Pugliese Food Suppliers -Food Donations: Chris-Marie Tzavelis, Maria Dedousis, Michelle Lascarides, North Shore Farms, Marina Vlahos, Bessie Ziozis, Jasmine Baktidy, Chris Arlis, Patty Tsahas, Eleni Sfiroudis, Eleni Germanakos, Renee Rallis, Demi Psyllos, Rena Philippou, Chris Ioannou Tooth Brush /Hygiene Kits- Helen Maropakis T-shirts Marina Vlahos Crosses Chris Ioannou Many, many thanks to all who helped, donated food, prepared the dinners, traveled to Penn Station to distribute the packaged dinners.

5 AMC Youth Choir Plant Sale Following Divine Liturgy TODAY, MAY 5TH REMEMBER THE SPECIAL WOMEN IN YOUR LIFE! WITH GORGEOUS MOTHER S DAY PLANTS AT THE ANNUAL SPRING FUNDRAISER OF THE AMC BYZANTINE YOUTH CHOIR!

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7 Worship Schedule: Wed, May 8 CHRISTOS ANESTI! CHRIST IS RISEN! ~ Paraklesis to the Theotokos, 10:00 am (followed by Bible Study) ~ Small Vespers, 7:00 pm (followed by Bible Study) Sunday School: Upcoming Events: TODAY May 5th Mon, May 6 Wed, May 8 Fri, May 17 May Tues, May 21 May Sat, June 1 Thurs, June 6 June 7-9 Tues, June 11 Grades 8 though young adults will attend Chapel Service today, May 5th. ~ AMC Byzantine Youth Choir Mother s Day Plant Sale ~ Thank you for your support! ~ Philoptochos Board Meeting (7:30 pm) ~ Bible Study (11:00 & 7:30 pm) ~ Pre-School Dinner Dance ~ GOYA Trip to Philadelphia ~ LIONS Interview Skills Workshop (see flyer) ~ Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan District Olympics (Memorial Day Weekend) ( Olympics@archangelmichaelchurch.org for more info) ~ Free-Style Dance and Greek Night in the Gymnasium (see flyer) ~ AMC Annual Golf Outing (see flyer) ~ St. John Chrysostom National Oratorical Festival hosted here at AMC (see flyer) ~ Graduation Dinner honoring our High School and College Students Philoptochos News: Contact us at philoptochos@archangelmichaelchurch.org Become a member of PHILOPTOCHOS: A Legacy of Hope, Faith, Charity and Love. We invite all women of our church to experience the beauty found in a life of service to others. Please fill out our membership form that has been mailed, or us at Philoptochos@archangelmichaelchurch.org. The tradition continues, become a member today! PHILOPTOCHOS MOTHER'S DAY TEA - Save the date, Saturday - May 11th - for the AMC Philoptochos First Annual Membership "High Tea" Party in honor of Mother's Day at 12 noon. Gather your mothers, grandmothers, daughters, aunts, sisters and favorite females, to enjoy a British style "High Tea". Wear your favorite headpiece or any millinery worthy of the Royal Family. Please contact us to reserve your seat or table. PHILOPTOCHOS AND MANHASSET'S ST. MARY'S CHURCH - The St. Mary's Rosary Society will be hosting the Ladies of Archangel Michael Church Philoptochos Society on Thursday, May 16th. Join us for a prayer service at 11:00 am in St. Mary's Church, followed by a complimentary luncheon for all in the Marian Room. ALL PHILOPTOCHOS MEMBERS are invited! Please contact us with your RSVP. ELECTIONS TODAY for the new Philoptochos Board of Directors term immediately following Liturgy. We invite all inter ested member s in good standing of the par ish and this Philoptochos chapter (for a period of at least one full year prior to the date of election to the Chapter Board) to join in the vote for the new Board of Directors for the upcoming year. May 6th, (Mon) Tomorrow, Philoptochos Board Meeting 7:30 pm. Meetings are open to all members. Women s Health Initiative - You can still come and give Zumba a try. Bring a mat, a water bottle, and your kefi! For more info, please call Marina Vlahos at $20 per class. End-of-Year Philoptochos Dinner Save the Date - Wednesday, June 5th at the Port Washington Yacht Club. Please contact us to RSVP. Cooking Club - Friday, May 31st from 5-7pm. Come learn how to make Greek favorites: Glaktogoureko, Bourekakia & Bougatsa. Donation $20. RSVP to Vickie Giouroukakis at vgiouroukakis@molloy.edu.

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