ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL AND THE CHAPEL OF SAINT THEODORE

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1 ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL AND THE CHAPEL OF SAINT THEODORE WEEKLY BULLETIN 7220 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA Phone: Fax: Web: Very Rev. Archimandrite, Ambrose Bitziadis-Bowers, Dean Rev. Protopresbyter Constantine Rogakos, Priest Today is: Sunday, January 26, th Sunday of Luke (Zacchaeus) Xenophon and his Companions / Symeon the Elder

2 ALTAR SERVERS Chris Katsias, Theo Malamatos, Donald Black, Harry Coureas, Alexander Sarris, Nicholas Sarris, Christopher Sarris, Michael Rea, Nicholas Neskis, Costas Delidakis, Phillip Malamatos MEMORIAL SERVICES Emmanuel Delidakis Steve Vastardis Michael Ruddloff One Year Memorial Forty Day Memorial Three Year Memorial EPISTLE READER Emilios Chrysostomides LITURGICAL SCHEDULE Thursday, January 30 The Three Hierarchs Orthros 8:30 am D. Liturgy 9:30 am Chapel TODAY THREE HIERARCHS CELEBRATION FATHER AMBROSE FAREWELL RECEPTION UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS ORTHODOX LIFE - ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION : This Tuesday, January 28, at 6:30 pm in the Bible Study room. The theme for this semester is The History of Ancient Christianity from the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles to 1054, the time of the Great Schism. This is the last lecture Father Ambrose will address to the congregation before his reassignment.

3 WELCOME LUNCHEON: Please join us next Sunday, February 2 in welcoming Fr. George and Presbytera Chrysanthie Bessinas to our community. GOLDEN YEARS: The Seniors will meet on Tuesday, January 28 at 11am. CULTURAL COMMITTE: Please join us on Saturday for the Mikrokosmos Concert. Tickets purchased in advance will be $15; $20 at the door. DANCERS: If any families have Amalia costumes that they no longer need/wear and would like to donate them to AGAPE Dance Troop, please bring them to the office or contact Stacey Narlis to arrange pickup. AGORA STORE: The Agora Store, sponsored by the Philoptochos Society of the Annunciation Cathedral, is opened every Sunday, following the Divine Liturgy, for all of your edible needs. Proceeds of the store support the needy and indigent of the Tidewater Area. ORDER of AHEPA: Adult members of our community are invited to join the brothers of the Order of AHEPA on Saturday evening, February 22, beginning at 7pm at the AHEPA House, as we celebrate "Apokries" (the Orthodox tradition of the preparation period prior to Great Lent), as we host our 2nd Annual "Apokriatiko Glendi" or Masquerade Party. The evening will include: a light dinner, salad, appetizers, dessert and a Cash Bar of wine and beer. We will also have Live Greek Music and Greek Dancing throughout the night. We will have a costume contest so costumes are preferred and encouraged. Get your tickets now since space is limited to the first 120 people. Tickets prices are $20 for Adults and $15 for Students. For tickets information you can contact Evan Almyrantis, , or ahepach122@gmail.com. Tickets will also be available after church on Sundays in the Hellenic Center. HWC: The Hellenic Woman s Club will be baking on Wednesdays. Our Valentines Luncheon meeting will be held on February 9. Spouses are invited as well. Please contact Connie McMahon at or Chris Bachas at Cost $10 per person.

4 THE EPISTLE READING 1st Timothy 4:9-15 Timothy, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Till I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.

5 Ο ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Πρός Τιμόθεον Πρώτης Ἐπιστολῆς Παῦλου 4:9-15 Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, πιστὸς ὁ λόγος καὶ πάσης ἀποδοχῆς ἄξιος εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ κοπιῶμεν καὶ ὀνειδιζόμεθα, ὅτι ἠλπίκαμεν ἐπὶ Θεῷ ζῶντι, ὅς ἐστι σωτὴρ πάντων ἀνθρώπων, μάλιστα πιστῶν. Παράγγελλε ταῦτα καὶ δίδασκε. μηδείς σου τῆς νεότητος καταφρονείτω, ἀλλὰ τύπος γίνου τῶν πιστῶν ἐν λόγῳ, ἐν ἀναστροφῇ, ἐν ἀγάπῃ, ἐν πνεύματι, ἐν πίστει, ἐν ἁγνείᾳ. ἕως ἔρχομαι πρόσεχε τῇ ἀναγνώσει, τῇ παρακλήσει, τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ. μὴ ἀμέλει τοῦ ἐν σοὶ χαρίσματος, ὃ ἐδόθη σοι διὰ προφητείας μετὰ ἐπιθέσεως τῶν χειρῶν τοῦ πρεσβυτερίου. ταῦτα μελέτα, ἐν τούτοις ἴσθι, ἵνα σου ἡ προκοπὴ φανερὰ ᾖ ἐν πᾶσιν. ἔπεχε σεαυτῷ καὶ τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ, ἐπίμενε αὐτοῖς τοῦτο γὰρ ποιῶν καὶ σεαυτὸν σώσεις καὶ τοὺς ἀκούοντάς σου.

6 THE GOSPEL READING Fifteen Sunday of Luke (Zacchaeus) Luke 19:1-10 At that time, Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost."

7 ΤΟ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ Δεκάτη Πέμπτη Κυριακή του Λουκά (Τοῦ Ζακχαίου) Ἐκ τοῦ κατά Λουκάν 19:1-10 Τῶ καιρῶ ἐκείνω Ἰησούς εἰσελθὼν διήρχετο τὴν Ἰεριχώ καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ ὀνόματι καλούμενος Ζακχαῖος, καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν ἀρχιτελώνης, καὶ οὗτος ἦν πλούσιος, καὶ ἐζήτει ἰδεῖν τὸν Ἰησοῦν τίς ἐστι, καὶ οὐκ ἠδύνατο ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄχλου, ὅτι τῇ ἡλικίᾳ μικρὸς ἦν. καὶ προδραμὼν ἔμπροσθεν ἀνέβη ἐπὶ συκομορέαν, ἵνα ἴδῃ αὐτόν, ὅτι δι' ἐκείνης ἤμελλε διέρχεσθαι. καὶ ὡς ἦλθεν ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον, ἀναβλέψας ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶδεν αὐτόν καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν Ζακχαῖε, σπεύσας κατάβηθι σήμερον γὰρ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου δεῖ με μεῖναι. καὶ σπεύσας κατέβη, καὶ ὑπεδέξατο αὐτὸν χαίρων. καὶ ἰδόντες πάντες διεγόγγυζον λέγοντες ὅτι παρὰ ἁμαρτωλῷ ἀνδρὶ εἰσῆλθε καταλῦσαι. σταθεὶς δὲ Ζακχαῖος εἶπε πρὸς τὸν Κύριον Ἰδοὺ τὰ ἡμίση τῶν ὑπαρχόντων μου, Κύριε, δίδωμι τοῖς πτωχοῖς, καὶ εἴ τινός τι ἐσυκοφάντησα, ἀποδίδωμι τετραπλοῦν. εἶπε δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὅτι σήμερον σωτηρία τῷ οἴκῳ τούτῳ ἐγένετο, καθότι καὶ αὐτὸς υἱὸς Ἀβραάμ ἐστιν ἦλθε γὰρ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ζητῆσαι καὶ σῶσαι τὸ ἀπολωλός.

8 SAINTS AND FEASTS COMMEMORATED Saint Ephraim the Syrian January 28 Saint Ephraim was born in Nisibis of Mesopotamia some time about the year 306, and in his youth was the disciple of Saint James, Bishop of Nisibis, one of the 318 Fathers at the First Ecumenical Council. Ephraim lived in Nisibis, practicing a severe ascetical life and increasing in holiness, until 363, the year in which Julian the Apostate was slain in his war against the Persians, and his successor Jovian surrendered Nisibis to them. Ephraim then made his dwelling in Edessa, where he found many heresies to do battle with. He waged an especial war against Bardaisan; this gnostic had written many hymns propagating his errors, which by their sweet melodies became popular and enticed souls away from the truth. Saint Ephraim, having received from God a singular gift of eloquence, turned Bardaisan's own weapon against him, and wrote a multitude of hymns to be chanted by choirs of women, which set forth the true doctrines, refuted heretical error, and praised the contests of the Martyrs. Of the multitude of sermons, commentaries, and hymns that Saint Ephraim wrote, many were translated into Greek in his own lifetime. Sozomen says that Ephraim "Surpassed the most approved writers of Greece," observing that the Greek writings, when translated into other tongues, lose most of their original beauty, but Ephraim's works "are no less admired when read in Greek than when read in Syriac" (Eccl. Hist., Book 111, 16). Saint Ephraim was ordained deacon, some say by Saint Basil the Great, whom Sozomen said "was a great admirer of Ephraim, and was astonished at his erudition." Saint Ephraim was the first to make the poetic expression of hymnody and song a vehicle of Orthodox theological teachings, constituting it an integral part of the Church's worship; he may rightly be called the first and greatest hymnographer of the Church, who set the pattern for these who followed him, especially Saint Romanos the Melodist. Because of this he is called the "Harp of the Holy Spirit." Jerome says that his writings were read in some churches after the reading of the Scriptures, and adds that once he read a Greek translation of one of Ephraim's works, "and recognized, even in translation, the incisive power of his lofty genius" (De vir. ill., ch. CXV). Shortly before the end of his life, a famine broke out in Edessa, and Saint Ephraim left his cell to rebuke the rich for not sharing their goods with the poor. The rich answered that they knew no one to whom they could entrust their goods. Ephraim asked them, "What do you think of me?" When they confessed their reverence for him, he offered to distribute their alms, to which they agreed. He himself cared with his own hands for many of the sick from the famine, and so crowned his life with mercy and love for neighbor. Saint Ephraim reposed in peace, according to some in the year 373, according to others, 379.

9 WISDOM FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS For Christ's presence is like that of some life-giving, scented balsam which restores health, enriches life and gives savor to the soul, the thoughts, the words of a man. In brief, distance from Christ means corruption and death, and closeness to Him means salvation and life. Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic, Prolog, 4 February As long as he is in the crowd, Zacchaeus does not see Christ; he climbs above the crowd and sees Him, namely, having transcended base ignorance, he deserved to perceive Him for Whom he longed. St. Cyril of Alexandria, The Orthodox New Testament, The Holy Gospels, Volume 1 APOLYTIKION of this Sunday O Christ, the angelic powers appeared at Your tomb, the guards were as dead, and Mary stood by the sepulcher, seeking Your sacred body. You destroyed Hades yet remained untouched by it. You encountered the Virgin and through her, bestowed Life. Glory to You who has risen from the dead! Ἀγγελικαὶ Δυνάμεις ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμά σου, καὶ οἱ φυλάσσοντες ἀπενεκρώθησαν, καὶ ἵστατο Μαρία ἐν τῷ τάφῳ, ζητοῦσα τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα. Ἐσκύλευσας τὸν ᾍδην, μὴ πειρασθεὶς ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, ὑπήντησας τῇ Παρθένῳ, δωρούμενος τὴν ζωήν, ὁ ἀναστὰς ἐκ των νεκρῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι. KONTAKION of this Sunday Your birth sanctified a Virgin's womb and properly blessed the hands of Symeon. Having now come and saved us O Christ our God, give peace to Your commonwealth in troubled times and strengthen those in authority, whom You love, as only the loving One. Ὁ μήτραν παρθενικὴν ἁγιάσας τῷ τόκῳ σου, καὶ χεῖρας τοῦ Συμε vν εὐλογήσας ὡς ἔπρεπε, προφθάσας καὶ νῦν ἔσωσας ἡμᾶς Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός. Ἀλλ' εἰρήνευσον ἐν πολέμοις τὸ πολίτευμα, καὶ κραταίωσον Βασιλεῖς οὓς ἠγάπησας, ὁ μόνος φιλάνθρωπος.

10 SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS The Healing of the Soul The reading about Zacchaeus in today s Gospel according to Luke immediately follows the story of the healing of the ten lepers that was heard last Sunday. Great Lent, as you know, is a time of repentance. The story of Zacchaeus concerns precisely this. In our daily church life we almost do not distinguish between Confession and repentance. But the Savior did not speak with Zacchaeus one on one; He did not read any prayer of absolution over him. It was not Confession, but repentance did occur. A change took place in life, in consciousness, in intentions, and in actions. It is precisely this change that is precious in God s eyes. The entire Gospel is about this: Repent you, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repent, change internally, strive upwards! Indeed, those sinful actions that have remained in our past, those evils that we have inflicted on our neighbors often none of this has been corrected. Yet any person can begin life with a clean slate, and former transgressions and sins will not be held against him. Such is the power of repentance. The opposite is also true. One can also perform as many good deeds as one wants, but if all the while there is no movement forward and upwards, if there is no inner transformation, if over time one grows accustomed to one s own correctness and begins to look down on the people around one, then we are dealing with one of those righteous people whom the Savior exposed so ruthlessly. If we are to employ the language of mathematics, the state of our soul and the degree of our proximity to God are not determined by integrals the sum of good or evil deeds but by differentials, derived from where we are headed at a given moment: up or down. Zacchaeus, as today's Gospel story tells us, was small of

11 stature. It is possible that this created an inferiority complex in his soul. Perhaps he was suspicious and irritable. We know nothing about his character. Moreover, we know nothing this truly remains the secret of this man s soul! about why Zacchaeus so desired to see Jesus. But he desired this passionately! Therefore, forgetting about his position of authority, even around people who despised him, he climes a sycamore tree like a child for, as Zacchaeus knew well, Jesus was to pass by there. Thus does Zacchaeus begin his upward ascent. How this movement was born in his heart remains unknown to us, but it continued quite literally: he climbed on high to rise above the crowd. Of course, he did not stay in the tree he came down but his desire to see the Teacher was fulfilled and the path to a new life was thereby opened to him. Zacchaeus did not call Jesus to himself. On the contrary, He Himself said commandingly: today I must abide at your house. The God-Man entered Zacchaeus home and the life of the chief among the publicans was transformed. Such a transformation takes place in the life of each person who receives Baptism. The blessing of a home is meant to help us recall this singular event (yet one which requires daily reaffirmation in practice) by which our souls were transformed by grace. The reasons why the story of Zacchaeus is read as one of the seven Gospel readings at the service of Holy Unction are less obvious. It appears that here no healing is described and no miracle is seen like that of the healing of the man born blind or the paralytic. Yet we know well that the body is closely connected to the soul. In the rite of Holy Unction we pray not only for bodily health, but also for our healing from spiritual passions and for the forgiveness of sins. And the case of Zacchaeus is a vivid example of such forgiveness and healing.

12 We extend to you a warm and heartfelt Orthodox Christian welcome. Our Greek Orthodox Cathedral is dedicated to imitating the love and faithfulness of Jesus Christ by sharing the gospel with our words and living it with our lives. It exists to lead the faithful to the worship of the Holy Trinity according to the Faith and Tradition of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Our witnessing to our Faith is accomplished through the Sacramental life of the Church, its values and traditions, stewardship, fellowship, service, and Christian education. Published by: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral 7220 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA Contact Information: Elizabeth Miller Tel: Fax: churchadmin@agoc.hrcoxmail.com