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 March 31, 2019 ~ Sunday of the Holy Cross 3 rd Mode ~ 11 th Morning Gospel The way of God is a daily cross. (St. Isaac the Syrian +700 AD) Where are we looking for God? Sometimes our search is in the wrong places. Whether in literal words or in implicit actions, we pray, Lord, help me to not need You. That is, Give me what I desire; remove this difficulty; make my life secure and comfortable. The ideal in modern America is selfsufficiency - self-empowerment - and this mistaken ideal threatens the integrity of faith. What happens when things don t go our way? We re deflated and at a loss because we weren t really concerned about God in the first place but rather what we can get from Him. If we re not accustomed to the abiding joy of God s presence (even in difficulties), where can we find Him? The cross. God is always there at the cross, waiting for us; the only uncertainty is our willingness to meet Him there. The cross is God s way of turning upside down worldly power. Christ s power comes from powerlessness, from being small and humble and abandoned in His Father s hands. In the Garden of Gethsemane - with His humiliating, painful death just around the corner - Christ prays, Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done (Luke 22:42). That s a radical openness - a willingness to suffer and even die - that comes from submitting to God s will rather than insisting on our own. Where does God s will lead? Not necessarily to an easy life, but always to the unbreakable joy of the Resurrection, a joy that changes us. Today - the 3 rd Sunday of Lent - the Church lifts up the Holy Cross as consolation and encouragement in the middle of our long, Lenten struggle. Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me (Mark 8:34). In our struggle to deny ourselves and follow Christ, we feel stretched during Lent: we re eating less and avoiding certain foods, praying more, increasing our attendance at worship services, reaching out to those in need, reducing mindless entertainment (e.g. phones, television), and implementing a general simplification of our life to focus less on ourselves and more on God. If we feel like this struggle is too great to bear, then we re on the right track. We should feel stretched - just as Christ was stretched in Gethsemane - in our commitment to follow God rather than follow our own will. This is an acceptance of the cross; may God bless this acceptance and give us the joy of His Resurrection. «Η άσκηση των αρετών δεν είναι εύκολη υπόθεση. Πέρα από την προσωπική ισχυρή θέληση, είναι απαραίτητη και η αγιαστική δύναμη της Εκκλησίας μας. Έτσι οι άγιοι Πατέρες όρισαν, καταμεσής της αγίας Τεσσαρακοστής να προσκυνείται ο Τίμιος Σταυρός του Κυρίου, για να λαμβάνουμε οι πιστοί από αυτόν χάρη και δύναμη για να συνεχίσουμε με σθένος τον πνευματικό μας αγώνα. Από φονικό και έχθιστο μέσον εκτέλεσης κακούργων μεταβλήθηκε σε μέσον αγιασμού και νοητή ασπίδα προστασίας από τις επιβουλές του Εωσφόρου και των σκοτεινών πεσόντων αγγέλων του. Άλλοι τον παρομοιάζουν με ισχυρό κυματοθραύστη κατά των κλυδωνισμών της ζωής, που προκαλεί το κακό και η αμαρτία. Η σωματική κόπωση της νηστείας και η ψυχική νωχέλεια του πνευματικού αγώνα είναι δυο βασικοί παράγοντες, οι οποίοι μπορούν να αναστείλουν τη νηπτική πορεία του πιστού. Η αγιαστική δύναμη του Σταυρού είναι το αντίδοτο σ' αυτή την κατάσταση. Ο Σταυρός του Χριστού, εκτός από θείο σύμβολο της Εκκλησίας μας, έχει και ηθική σημασία για τον κάθε πιστό. Όπως ο Κύριος έφερε το δικό Του Σταυρό στο Γολγοθά, έτσι και ο πιστός του Χριστού, φέρει αυτός τον προσωπικό του σταυρό, τον αγώνα για σωτηρία και τελείωση. Ο δρόμος για τη σωτηρία είναι πραγματικός Γολγοθάς και απαιτεί αυταπάρνηση σε όσους τον ανεβαίνουν. Το βεβαίωσε ο Κύριος: «όστις θέλει οπίσω μου ακολουθείν, απαρνησάσθω ευατόν και αράτω τον σταυρόν αυτού και ακολουθήτω μοι» (Μαρκ.8,34). Η αγία περίοδος του Τριωδίου είναι κατ' εξοχήν σταυρική πορεία και νοητή σταύρωση των παθών μας.» (Οι πληροφορίες είναι από:

2 Άγιοι και Εορτές Τῇ αὐτῇ ἡµέρᾳ, Κυριακῇ τρίτῃ τῶν Νηστειῶν, τὴν Προσκύνησιν ἑορτάζοµεν τοῦ τιµίου καὶ ζωοποιοῦ Σταυροῦ. Tοῦ Ἁγίου Ἱεροµάρτυρος Ὑπατίου, Ἐπισκόπου Γαγγρῶν. Tοῦ Ἀκακίου, Ἐπισκόπου Μελιτινῆς, τοῦ Ὁµολογητοῦ. Ἀπολυτίκιον τῆς Ἑορτῆς Σῶσον, Κύριε, τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονοµίαν σου, νίκας τοῖς βασιλεῦσι κατὰ βαρβάρων δωρούµενος, καὶ τὸ σὸν φυλάττων διὰ τοῦ Σταυροῦ σου πολίτευµα. Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἀναστάσιµον Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡµᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσµῳ τὸ µέγα ἔλεος. Απολυτίκιον Των Ταξιαρχών Τῶν οὐρανίων στρατιῶν Ἀρχιστράτηγοι, δυσωποῦμεν ὑμᾶς ἡμεῖς οἱ ἀνάξιοι, ἵνα ταῖς ὑμῶν δεήσεσι, τειχίσητε ἡμᾶς, σκέπῃ τῶν πτερύγων, τῆς ἀΰλου ὑμῶν δόξης, φρουροῦντες ἡμᾶς προσπίπτοντας, ἐκτενῶς καὶ βοῶντας Ἐκ τῶν κινδύνων λυτρώσασθε ἡμᾶς, ὡς Ταξιάρχαι τῶν ἄνω Δυνάμεων. Κοντάκιον Τῇ ὑπερµάχῳ στρατηγῷ τὰ νικητήρια, Ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν εὐχαριστήρια, Ἀναγράφω σοι ἡ Πόλις σου Θεοτόκε. Ἀλλ' ὡς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσµάχητον, Ἐκ παντοίων µε κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον, Ἵνα κράζω σοι Χαῖρε νύµφη ἀνύµφευτε. ΑΝΤΙ ΤΟΥ ΤΡΙΣΑΓΙΟΥ Τὸν Σταυρόν σου προσκυνοῦµεν, Δέσποτα, καὶ τὴν ἁγίαν σου ἀνάστασιν δοξάζοµεν. Ὕµνος εἰς τὴν Θεοτόκον Ἐπὶ σοὶ χαίρει, Κεχαριτωµένη, πᾶσα ἡ κτίσις, ἀγγέλων τὸ σύστηµα, καὶ ἀνθρώπων τὸ γένος, ἡγιασµένε ναέ, καὶ Παράδεισε λογικέ, παρθενικὸν καύχηµα ἐξ ἧς Θεὸς ἐσαρκώθη, καὶ παιδίον γέγονεν, ὁ πρὸ αἰώνων ὑπάρχων Θεὸς ἡµῶν τὴν γὰρ σὴν µήτραν θρόνον ἐποίησε, καὶ τὴν σὴν γαστέρα, πλατυτέραν οὐρανῶν ἀπειργάσατο. Ἐπὶ σοὶ χαίρει, Κεχαριτωµένη, πᾶσα ἡ κτίσις δόξα σοι. Saints and Feasts On this day, the third Sunday of Lent, we celebrate the veneration of the precious and life-giving Cross; the holy hieromartyr Hypatios, Bishop of Gangra; Saint Akakios the Confessor, Bishop of Melitini. Hymn of the Feast (1 st Mode) Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance. * Grant victory to the faithful * against the adversaries of the faith. * And protect Your people * by the power of Your Cross. Hymn of the Resurrection (3 rd Mode) Let the heavens sing for joy, and let everything on earth be glad. For with His Arm the Lord has worked power. He trampled death under foot by means of death; and He became the firstborn from the dead. From the maw of Hades He delivered us; and He granted the world His great mercy. Hymn of the Archangels (4 th Mode) Supreme Commanders of * the armies of Heaven, * we, the unworthy ones, entreat you in earnest, * that with your supplications you encircle us * in the shelter of the wings * of your heavenly glory * guarding us who now fall down * and cry to you with fervor. * Deliver us from dangers of all kinds, * as the great marshals of the hosts on high. Kontakion (Pl. 4 th Mode) O Champion General, I your City now inscribe 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 perils free me, so that unto you * I may cry aloud: * Rejoice, O unwedded Bride. Instead of Holy God We venerate Your Cross, O Master, and we glorify Your Holy Resurrection. Hymn to the Theotokos In you, O Lady full of grace, rejoices all creation, the orders of Angels and the human race together. O hallowed temple and rational Garden of Paradise, the pride of virgins, from you did God become incarnate, and our God who existed before the ages became a child. For He made your womb a throne for himself, and your body He made wider than the heavens. In you, O Lady full of grace, rejoices all creation. Glory to you.

3 Today s Scripture Readings Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6 Brethren, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek." Πρὸς Ἑβραίους Ἐπιστολῆς Παύλου 4:14-16; 5:1-6 Ἀδελφοί, ἔχοντες Ἀρχιερέα µέγαν διεληλυθότα τοὺς οὐρανούς, Ἰησοῦν τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ, κρατῶµεν τῆς ὁµολογίας. Οὐ γὰρ ἔχοµεν ἀρχιερέα µὴ δυνάµενον συµπαθῆσαι ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ἡµῶν, πεπειρασµένον δὲ κατὰ πάντα καθ' ὁµοιότητα χωρὶς ἁµαρτίας. Προσερχώµεθα οὖν µετὰ παρρησίας τῷ θρόνῳ τῆς χάριτος, ἵνα λάβωµεν ἔλεον καὶ χάριν εὕρωµεν εἰς εὔκαιρον βοήθειαν. Πᾶς γὰρ Ἀρχιερεὺς ἐξ ἀνθρώπων λαµβανόµενος ὑπὲρ ἀνθρώπων καθίσταται τὰ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, ἵνα προσφέρῃ δῶρά τε καὶ θυσίας ὑπὲρ ἁµαρτιῶν µετριοπαθεῖν δυνάµενος τοῖς ἀγνοοῦσι καὶ πλανωµένοις, ἐπεὶ καὶ αὐτὸς περίκειται ἀσθένειαν καὶ διὰ ταύτην ὀφείλει, καθὼς περὶ τοῦ λαοῦ, οὕτω καὶ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ προσφέρειν ὑπὲρ ἁµαρτιῶν. Καὶ οὐχ ἑαυτῷ τις λαµβάνει τὴν τιµήν, ἀλλὰ καλούµενος ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ, καθάπερ καὶ ὁ Ἀαρών. Οὔτω καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἑαυτὸν ἐδόξασε γενηθῆναι ἀρχιερέα, ἀλλ' ὁ λαλήσας πρὸς αὐτόν Υἱός µου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήµερον γεγέννηκά σε καθὼς καὶ ἐν ἑτέρῳ λέγει σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδέκ. 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." Kατὰ Μᾶρκον 8:34-38; 9:1 Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος Ὅστις θέλει ὀπίσω µου ἀκολουθεῖν, 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 ὧδε τῶν ἑστηκότων, οἵτινες οὐ µὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου ἕως ἂν ἴδωσι τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐληλυθυῖαν ἐν δυνάµει.

4 The Archangel Michael Church is sponsoring a CPR/AED class on Saturday, April 6th from 9am-12pm. We are fortunate to have in our Church complex, 5 AED s which are located in the Office, Gym, Church narthex, Fellowship Hall, and School hallway. To register for this hands-on training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the user-friendly Automated External Defibrillator (AED) please contact the Church office at or us at info@archangelmichaelchurch.org and provide your name, address and phone number.

5 AMC BOOKSTORE For Great Lent, our featured book this week is Miracle of the Red Egg by Elizabeth Crispina Johnson, which tells the story of how the tradition of dyeing and blessing red eggs, started with St. Mary Magdalene and a miracle that dazzled an emperor. Come take a look during the Fellowship Hour at our book cart that contains more of our favorites.

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7 *Our Church is in need of ongoing Prosphora. Anything you can offer is much appreciated. Memorials: Sophia Delitinas Georgia Tsourounis Emmanouil Paravalos Haralambos Gatzonis ~ 1 year ~ 1 year ~ 2 years (Today s coffee hour is being sponsored by the Paravalou Family in his memory.) ~ 3 years Sunday School: There will be Sunday School today as usual, but no Chapel Service. Worship Schedule: Mon., Apr. 1 Tue/Thu, Apr. 2 & 4 Wed., Apr. 3 Fri., Apr. 5 Upcoming Events: Mon., Apr. 1 Wed., Apr. 3 Fri., Apr. 5 Sat., April 6 Sun., April 14 May May Thurs., June 6 June 7-9 ~ Great Compline: 6:30 pm ~ Great Compline: 4:00 pm ~ Pre-Sanctified Liturgy: 9:30 am (followed by Bible Study) ~ Pre-Sanctified Liturgy: 6:30 pm (followed by Bible Study) ~ Pre-Sanctified Liturgy: 9:30 am ~ 4th Salutations (Xairetismoi) to the Theotokos: 7:00 pm (followed by meal / talk) ~ Philoptochos Meeting (7:30 pm) ~ Bible Study (11:00 am & 7:45 pm) ~ Little Angels (10:30 am) ~ CPR/AED class (9 am - 12 pm; to register, please contact the church office) ~ Greek Independence Day Parade (1:45 pm on Fifth Avenue, NYC) ~ GOYA Trip to Philadelphia ~ Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan District Olympics (Memorial Day Weekend) ( Olympics@archangelmichaelchurch.org for more info) ~ AMC Annual Golf Outing ~ St. John Chrysostom National Oratorical Festival hosted here at AMC 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! Special Tray For Holy Cross Seminary - Today, on the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross, Philoptochos will be passing a special tray for the Holy Cross Seminary, a graduate school of theology that educates and forms Orthodox Christian men and women for service to the Church and society. Please give generously! ELECTIONS for the new Philoptochos Board of Directors term - We invite all interested members in good standing of the parish and this Philoptochos chapter (for a period of at least one full year prior to the date of election to the Chapter Board) to consider joining our Board of Directors for the upcoming term. To qualify, one needs to also be an active member of our chapter through volunteering efforts and with some history of attendance at our General Meetings and/or outreach events. We welcome all interested parties to join our upcoming meetings to express your interest in becoming a candidate: 4/1 Tomorrow- Meeting 7:30pm preceded by Great Compline at 6:30 pm, and 5/6 (Mon) Meeting 7:30pm. In April we will provide written notice of the election meeting to all members of the chapter. Elections shall be conducted in the month of May. More detailed information will be forthcoming as we get closer to the elections. WOMEN'S HEALTH INITIATIVE: Join us as ZUMBA begins a new session 9:30-10:30 am in the AMC gym. Bring a mat, a water bottle, and your kefi! Call Marina Vlahos ( ), for more info. Walk-ins welcome! Summer is approaching; get ready! COOKING CLUB - Join us on Sat., April 13th at 9 am for a lesson in preparing ( FLAOUNES ) with guest chef Christine Michelen. Flaouna is a cheese-filled bread from the island of Cyprus, scented with mahlab, mastic and mint and may include raisins for a sweet/savory flavor. Reserve your spot with Vicky at vgiouroukakis@molloy.edu

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