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 3 rd Mode ~ 1 st Morning Gospel September 8, 2019 ~ Sunday Before Holy Cross / Theotokos Nativity The Nativity of the Theotokos (celebrated today) The Feast of the Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, is celebrated on September 8 th each year. It is one of four major Orthodox feasts dedicated to the Mother of God. Interestingly, the birth and early life of the Virgin Mary are not recorded in the Gospels or in any other books of the New Testament. Rather, this information is found in a work that dates to the second century, known as the Book of James or Protoevangelion of James. According to the story found in this book, the Virgin Mary s parents, Joachim and Anna, were unable to conceive a child for many years. They were unwavering in their faithfulness toward God as pious Jews, but their prayers for a child were unanswered. One day, when Joachim visited the Temple to make an offering, he was turned away by the High Priest, who chastised him for his lack of children. To cope with his shame, Joachim retreated to the hill country to live among the shepherds and their flocks. While there, Joachim prayed with great intensity, and at the same time, his wife, Anna, was also praying in their home in Jerusalem. An angel appeared to both of them and announced that Anna would have a child whose name would be known throughout the world. Out of a deep sense of gratitude, Anna promised to dedicate her child as a gift to the Lord. Joachim returned home, and in due time Anna bore a daughter named Mary. (*Adapted from Γέννηση της Υπεραγίας Θεοτόκου: «Ἀποκάλυψον πρὸς Κύριον τὴν ὁδόν σου καὶ ἔλπισον ἐπ αὐτόν, καὶ αὐτὸς ποιήσει» (Ψαλμός λστ' στ. 5). Φανέρωσε στον Κύριο με εμπιστοσύνη το δρόμο και τις επιδιώξεις και τις ανάγκες της ζωής σου και έλπισε σ' Αυτόν και Αυτός θα κάνει εκείνα που ζητάς και χρειάζεσαι. Μ' αυτή την εμπιστοσύνη και ελπίδα, ο Ιωακείμ και η Άννα ικέτευαν προσευχόμενοι το Θεό να τους χαρίσει παιδί, να το έχουν γλυκεία παρηγοριά στα γεράματα της. Και την ελπίδα της ο Θεός έκανε πραγματικότητα. Της χάρισε την Παρθένο Μαριάμ, που ήταν ορισμένη να γεννήσει το Σωτήρα του κόσμου και να λάμψει σαν η πιο ευλογημένη μεταξύ των γυναικών. Ήταν εκείνη, από την οποία έμελλε να προέλθει Αυτός που θα συνέτριβε την κεφαλή του νοητού όφεως. Στην Παλαιά Διαθήκη δόθηκαν της προτυπώσεις της Υπεραγίας Θεοτόκου. Μία είναι και η βάτος στο Σινά, την οποία ενώ είχαν περιζώσει φλόγες φωτιάς, αυτή δεν καιγόταν. Ήταν απεικόνιση της Παρθένου, που θα γεννούσε το Σωτήρα Χριστό και συγχρόνως θα διατηρούσε την παρθενία της. Έτσι, η Άννα και ο Ιωακείμ, που ήταν από το γένος του Δαβίδ, με την κραταιά ελπίδα που είχαν στο Θεό απέκτησαν απ' Αυτόν το επιθυμητό δώρο, που θα συντροφεύει τον κόσμο μέχρι συντέλειας αιώνων. (*Οι πληροφορίες είναι από:

2 Άγιοι και Εορτές Tὸ Γενέθλιον τῆς Ὑπεραγίας Δεσποίνης ἡµῶν Θεοτόκου καὶ ἀείπαρθένου Μαρίας. Oἱ ἅγιοι αὐτάδελφοι, Ῥοῦφος καὶ Ῥουφιανός. O ἅγιος Σεβῆρος. Saints and Feasts The Nativity of our most holy Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary; the holy siblings Rufus and Rufianus; Saint Severus. Απολυτίκιον Τῆς Ἑορτῆς Ἡ γέννησίς σου Θεοτόκε, χαρὰν ἐµήνυσε πάσῃ τῇ οἰκουµένῃ ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἀνέτειλεν ὁ ἥλιος τῆς δικαιοσύνης, Χριστὸς ὁ Θεὸς ἡµῶν, καὶ λύσας τὴν κατάραν, ἔδωκε τὴν εὐλογίαν καὶ καταργήσας τὸν θάνατον, ἐδωρήσατο ἡµῖν ζωὴν τὴν αἰώνιον. 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 ἐῤῥύσατο 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 Ἰωακεὶµ καὶ Ἄννα ὀνειδισµοῦ ἀτεκνίας, καὶ Ἀδὰµ καὶ Εὔα, ἐκ τῆς φθορᾶς τοῦ θανάτου, ἠλευθερώθησαν, Ἄχραντε, ἐν τῇ ἁγίᾳ γεννήσει σου αὐτὴν ἑορτάζει καὶ ὁ λαός σου, ἐνοχῆς τῶν πταισµάτων, λυτρωθεὶς ἐν τῷ κράζειν σοι Ἡ στεῖρα τίκτει τὴν Θεοτόκον, καὶ τροφὸν τῆς ζωῆς ἡµῶν. Hymn of the Feast (4 th Mode) Thy Nativity, O Theotokos, hath proclaimed joy to the whole earth, for from thee hath dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, annulling the curse and bestowing the blessing, abolishing death and granting us life everlasting. Hymn of the Resurrection (3 rd Mode) Let all things above in heaven rejoice, and let all things below on earth be glad. With all the might and strength of His arm, an eternal deed the Lord did perform. Beneath His feet he has trampled down death by death, and first born of the dead has He become. From the womb of Hades has he delivered us, and to all the world has granted His great redeeming 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 (4 th Mode) Both Joachim and Anna from their sterility's stigma, and Adam and Eve from their mortality's ruin have been set free, O immaculate Maid, by your holy nativity. For this do your people hold celebration, redeemed from the guilt of transgression as they cry to you, "The barren one bears the Theotokos, the nourisher of our Life."

3 Πρὸς Γαλάτας 6:11-18 Ἀδελφοί, ἴδετε πηλίκοις ὑµῖν γράµµασιν ἔγραψα τῇ ἐµῇ χειρί. Ὅσοι θέλουσιν εὐπροσωπῆσαι ἐν σαρκί, οὗτοι ἀναγκάζουσιν ὑµᾶς περιτέµνεσθαι, µόνον ἵνα µὴ τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Χριστοῦ διώκωνται οὐδὲ γὰρ οἱ περιτεµνόµενοι αὐτοὶ νόµον φυλάσσουσιν, ἀλλὰ θέλουσιν ὑµᾶς περιτέµνεσθαι ἵνα ἐν τῇ ὑµετέρᾳ σαρκὶ καυχήσωνται. Ἐµοὶ δὲ µὴ γένοιτο καυχᾶσθαι εἰ µὴ ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, δι' οὗ ἐµοὶ κόσµος ἐσταύρωται κἀγὼ τῷ κόσµῳ. Ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ οὔτε περιτοµή τι ἰσχύει οὔτε ἀκροβυστία, ἀλλὰ καινὴ κτίσις. Καὶ ὅσοι τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ στοιχήσουσιν, εἰρήνη ἐπ' αὐτοὺς καὶ ἔλεος, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ Θεοῦ. Τοῦ λοιποῦ κόπους µοι µηδεὶς παρεχέτω ἐγὼ γὰρ τὰ στίγµατα τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώµατί µου βαστάζω. Η χάρις τοῦ Κυρίου ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ µετὰ τοῦ πνεύµατος ὑµῶν, ἀδελφοί ἀµήν. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18 Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen. Kατὰ Ἰωάννην 3:13-17 Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος καὶ οὐδεὶς ἀναβέβηκεν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εἰ µὴ ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καταβάς, ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ὁ ὤν ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ. καὶ καθὼς Μωϋσῆς ὕψωσε τὸν ὄφιν ἐν τῇ ἐρήµῳ, οὕτως ὑψωθῆναι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν µὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ' ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Οὕτω γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν κόσµον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν µονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν µὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ' ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν κόσµον ἵνα κρίνῃ τὸν κόσµον, ἀλλ' ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσµος δι' αὐτοῦ. John 3:13-17 The Lord said, "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."

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6 Please Join us today for Welcome Back Sunday! Representatives of our Church s many ministries are ready to greet you, answer your questions, and assist with signing up for our many beautiful ministries here at AMC. There is something available for everyone in the family! Please be sure to visit the information tables today after services and plan to get involved in the exciting new year ahead! Adult Choir Altar Boys Athletics Bible Study/Book Club Byzantine Youth Choir Challenge Liturgy Festival Garden Club GOYA Greek Dance Troupe Greek Language Institute Greek School PTA HOPE/JOY Little Angels Philoptochos Pre-School / Nursery Special Needs / Family Support Ministry Sunday School

7 Welcome Back Sunday / Sunday School Registration Today! *Please start bringing in some fresh basil that we can bless and distribute on Saturday, September 14th, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Orthros 8:30 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am) Worship Schedule: Wed, Sept. 11th ~ St. Theodora of Alexandria: Orthros 8:30 am, Liturgy 9:30 am Fri, Sept 13th ~ The Exaltation of the Holy Cross: Great Vespers 7:00 pm (*in Whitestone & Bay Ridge) Sat, Sept 14th ~ The Exaltation of the Holy Cross: Orthros 8:30 am, Liturgy 9:30 am Saints of the Week: Mon, Sept 9th - Sts. Joachim & Anna (Parents of the Virgin Mary) Wed, Sept 11 - Sts. Theordora of Alexandria and Euphrosynos the Cook Memorials: Theodora Cachimpanis ~ 2 years Today s coffee hour is being sponsored by Theodora s family in honor of her memory! Sunday School Begins Today! Today is the first day of Sunday School and Registration. Please bring your children directly to their classrooms at 9:30am. We will have ice cream for all the children right after receiving Holy Communion. Philoptochos News: Save the Date - We will be hosting our 3rd Annual Coffee Hour honoring our Adult and Junior Choirs Members on Sunday, October 6th (Church Musicians Weekend). Please join us to pay tribute to our Church musicians who enhance the spiritual experience of our Liturgy. Upcoming Events: ~ Mon., Sept. 9th - Philoptochos Meeting 7:30 pm ~ Mon/Tues., Sept. 9th / 10th - Pre-School begins ~ Thurs., Sept. 12th - PC Meeting 7:00 pm ~ Tues., Sept. 17th - Greek School begins ~ Greek Festival on the Harbor: Sept (see flyer) ~ Fabulous Finds available for sale! Sundays after Liturgy; Tuesday & Thursdays 10am - 12 noon ~ Sun., Oct. 6th - Church Musicians Sunday ~ Sun/Mon., Oct. 8th & 9th - GOYA overnight trip to St. Basil s Academy ~ Mon., Oct. 8th - HOPE / JOY day trip ~ Sun., Oct. 20th - General Assembly and Annual Flu Shots will be available ~ Sat., Oct. 26th - Save the Date: 5K Walk / Run ~ Sun., Oct. 27th - GOYA Pancake Breakfast ~ Thurs/Fri., Nov. 7th / 8th - Feastday of the Archangel Michael ~ Fri., Nov. 8th - Nameday Gala

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