Second Sunday of Lent - Gregory Palamas. Matrona of Thessalonica. Paul, Bishop of Corinth NEWCOMERS AND VISITORS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!

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1 Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church 8306 NC HWY 751, Durham NC News & Announcements March 27, 2016 Second Sunday of Lent - Gregory Palamas Matrona of Thessalonica Paul, Bishop of Corinth NEWCOMERS AND VISITORS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! Sunday Worship Schedule: Matins 9:00 am & Divine Liturgy 10:00 am To Our Visitors and Guests We welcome you to worship with us today, whether you are an Orthodox Christian or this is your first visit to an Orthodox Church, we are pleased to have you with us. Although Holy Communion and other Sacraments are offered only to baptized and chrismated (confirmed) Orthodox Christians in good standing with the Church, all are invited to receive the Antidoron (blessed bread) from the priest at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. The Antidoron is not a sacrament, but it is reminiscent of the agape feast that followed worship in the ancient Christian Church. After the Divine Liturgy this morning please join us in the Church hall for fellowship and refreshments. Please complete a Visitor's Card before you leave today and drop it in the offering tray, or give it to one of the parishioners after the service, or mail it to the church Office. Today's Readings: St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 1:10-14; 2:1-3 "IN THE BEGINNING, Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?" Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation? Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him. 1

2 Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 1:10-14, 2:1-3 Κατʼ ἀρχάς, Κύριε, τὴν γῆν ἐθεμελίωσας, καὶ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σού εἰσιν οἱ οὐρανοί αὐτοὶ ἀπολοῦνται, σὺ δὲ διαμένεις καὶ πάντες ὡς ἱμάτιον παλαιωθήσονται, καὶ ὡσεὶ περιβόλαιον ἑλίξεις αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἀλλαγήσονται σὺ δὲ ὁ αὐτὸς εἶ, καὶ τὰ ἔτη σου οὐκ ἐκλείψουσιν. Πρὸς τίνα δὲ τῶν ἀγγέλων εἴρηκέν ποτε, Κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου; Οὐχὶ πάντες εἰσὶν λειτουργικὰ πνεύματα, εἰς διακονίαν ἀποστελλόμενα διὰ τοὺς μέλλοντας κληρονομεῖν σωτηρίαν; Διὰ τοῦτο δεῖ περισσοτέρως ἡμᾶς προσέχειν τοῖς ἀκουσθεῖσιν, μήποτε παραρρυῶμεν. Εἰ γὰρ ὁ διʼ ἀγγέλων λαληθεὶς λόγος ἐγένετο βέβαιος, καὶ πᾶσα παράβασις καὶ παρακοὴ ἔλαβεν ἔνδικον μισθαποδοσίαν, πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας; Ἥτις, ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ κυρίου, ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη. The Gospel according to Mark 2:1-12 At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he said to the paralytic-"i say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!" Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 2:1-12 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσῆλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς εἰς Καπερναοὺμ δι ἡμερῶν καὶ ἠκούσθη ὅτι εἰς οἶκόν ἐστι. καὶ εὐθέως συνήχθησαν πολλοί, ὥστε μηκέτι χωρεῖν μηδὲ τὰ πρὸς τὴν θύραν καὶ ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς τὸν λόγον. καὶ ἔρχονται πρὸς αὐτὸν παραλυτικὸν φέροντες, αἰρόμενον ὑπὸ τεσσάρων καὶ μὴ δυνάμενοι προσεγγίσαι αὐτῷ διὰ τὸν ὄχλον, ἀπεστέγασαν τὴν στέγην ὅπου ἦν, καὶ ἐξορύξαντες χαλῶσι τὸν κράβαττον, ἐφ ᾧ ὁ παραλυτικὸς κατέκειτο. ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Ιησοῦς τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ τέκνον, ἀφέωνταί σοι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου. ἦσαν δέ τινες τῶν γραμματέων ἐκεῖ καθήμενοι καὶ διαλογιζόμενοι ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν τί οὗτος οὕτω λαλεῖ βλασφημίας; τίς δύναται ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ Θεός; καὶ εὐθέως ἐπιγνοὺς ὁ Ιησοῦς τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὕτως αὐτοὶ διαλογίζονται ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, εἶπεν αὐτοῖς τί ταῦτα διαλογίζεσθε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν; τί ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν τῷ παραλυτικῷ, ἀφέωνταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, ἢ εἰπεῖν, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει; ἵνα δὲ εἰδῆτε ὅτι ἐξουσίαν ἔχει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀφιέναι ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἁμαρτίας - λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ σοὶ λέγω, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ ὕπαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου. καὶ ἠγέρθη εὐθέως, καὶ ἄρας τὸν κράβαττον ἐξῆλθεν ἐναντίον πάντων, ὥστε ἐξίστασθαι πάντας καὶ δοξάζειν τὸν Θεὸν λέγοντας ὅτι οὐδέποτε οὕτως εἴδομεν. Today's Commemoration Planting the doctrines of Orthodoxy, uprooting the thistles of wicked opinion, O blessed one, and growing well the plant of faith with the rain of thy sayings, thou didst offer to God, like a good farmer, ears a hundred fold. + Orthros of the Feast, Tone 1 On the second Sunday of Lent, we celebrate the teachings of St. Gregory Palamas, who upheld the Orthodox doctrine that humans can know God not only through the intellect but through experience of His uncreated energies.... every day we should stand in awe of Him, as He is with us, and do what is pleasing before Him. If we are unable now to perceive Him with our physical eyes, we can, if we are watchful, see Him continuously with the eyes of our understanding, and not just see Him, but reap great benefits from Him. This vision destroys all sin, demolishes all evil, and drives away everything bad. It gives birth to purity and dispassion, and bestows eternal life. + St. Gregory Palamas 2

3 Today's Events: TODAY'S SAINT BARBARA SOCIAL CLUB EVENT : MY FAT GREEK WEDDING 2 MOVIE Silverspot Cinema 201 S Estes Drive #100 Chapel Hill, NC Date: Sunday March 27th Phone: (919) We will be going to the 2:00 pm showing. Those that want to meet beforehand can join us at the Silverspot restaurant at 12:30. Tickets for My Big Fat Greek Wedding can be purchased online at MovieTickets.com. Easter flower orders begin today Return forms to eve kantner FLowers are Given In Memory of or For the Health of Make Checks Payable to: saint barbara philoptochos society $15 per Arrangement LAST DAY TO ORDER flowers sunday april 10 FUNDRAISING PROJECTS TO DATE: 2015 February 7 June 6-7 July 18 September 12 September 26 October 3 November 6 November December 6 December 12 January 16 January 30 February 20 October 1 September 24 Gyro Day Greek Festival Gyro Feast Yard Sale Fashion Show Chicken Dinners To-go Evening of Music Joint Philoptochos/PC Fundraiser Saint Barbara Celebration Banquet Holiday Greek Pastries 2016 Evening of Music Spaghetti Event Gyro Event Chicken Event Evening of Jazz 3

4 Looking ahead to Lent and Easter, I wanted to set up some rehearsal times as the church calendar is full with activities. These will be primarily on Saturday mornings. We may have to add/subtract as we get closer to Easter but I will let you know any changes.plan to come to all or as many as you can. Saturday, March 12...Rehearsal from noon to 1:30 This rehearsal will be preparation for the Sunday of Orthodoxy service on March 20. Saturday, April :30-1:00 Saturday, April :30-1:00 Saturday, April :30-1:00 Palm Sunday...April 24, Holy Week...April 25-29, Resurrection Service,...April 30, Blessings, Donna St. Barbara Dancers, We're planning our practice schedule for the Festival and wanted to see if you plan to join us this year, or if there are others that you know that may be interested. As with last year practices will be immediately following church on Sundays. Our tentative practice schedule is follows: Feb 21, 28 Mar 6, 13, 20 Apr 3, 10, 17 (No dance practice from Saturday of Lazarus, April 23 until Easter on May 1). May 8, 15, 22, 29 Festival on June 4 & 5 Like last year we plan to have two groups, with the younger group starting at age 5. We'll do some of the old dances (Syrtos, Kalamatiano, etc.) and some new. Some of our experienced dancers keep threatening to teach us something fast and exciting...so stay tuned for more :-) Please let us know one way or the other so we can update our distribution list accordingly. Thanks, Keith Rheinhardt DUKE OCF News The Duke Students will meet with Fr. Stavroforos on the First and Third Mondays of the Month at the Mosaic Space, Keohane 4B (4th Floor) Here is a map for you to find it. I recommend taking a few seconds to orient yourselves before the walk. The room is near the walking bridge over Wannamaker Lane. For more information contact Andrew Katsohirakis at andrew.katsohirakis@duke.edu Meeting Times: 5:00 to 7:00 pm Meeting Dates: Monday, February 15 Monday March 7 Monday, March 21 Monday, April 4 Monday, April 18 Monday, May 2 4

5 Philoptochos News and Updates: February Sunday 14: Social Service Collection Wednesday 17: Pediatric Bone Marrow Unit Dinner Saturday 20: Blanket Workshop 1-3 Sunday 21: General Membership Meeting Saturday 27: Membership Tea 2-4 March Wednesday 2: Board Mtg 7pm Sunday 13: Cheesefare Luncheon Friday to Sunday Philoptochos Spiritual Retreat at the Diaknonia Center Saturday 19: Blanket Workshop 1-3 Sunday 20 General Membership Mtg ( IOCC Health Kits?) Sunday 20: Easter Flower Orders Begin April Wednesday 6: Board Mtg 7pm Sunday 10: Autism Collection Sunday 10: General Membership Mtg Saturday 16: Blanket Workshop 1-3 Friday 29: (after am Church service) Decorating the Kouvouklion Wrapping Dyed Easter Eggs May Wednesday 4: Board Mtg 7pm Saturday 14: Blanket Making 1-3 Sunday 15/22: General Membership Mtg (*depends on last day of Sunday School*) Sunday * : Sunday School Award and Recognition Day* June Saturday 18: Blanket Making 1-3 Dues:for the current year are $30.00, checks should be made payable to St. Barbara Philoptochos SERVICES FOR THE VIRGIN MARY DURING GREAT LENT Services of Salutations to the Theotokos on Friday Evenings throughout Great Lent at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 18th Friday, March 25th Friday, April 1st Friday, April 8th The Akathist to the Theotokos Friday, April 15th at 6:30 p.m. 5

6 Why should I go to the church and participate in this service? First, it is always good to make an effort to go to the church and pray. Second, it is always good to pray together with my parish priest and my fellow parishioners; my daily prayers are essential, but no less important are my corporate prayers. Third, it is good to offer thanksgiving to the Virgin Mary for all the many prayers and intercessions she has made to her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for me and my family. I cry out to her in my need - but I seldom pause to thank her for her prayers. Fourth, it is good to participate in these services which only take place during Great Lent. Besides, the hymns and melodies are some of the most-beautiful and most-beloved in the Orthodox Church. Holy Worship Services of the Week Wednesday, March 30 Pre-Sanctified Liturgy at 6:30 pm Friday Evening, April 1 3rd Salutation to the Theotokos 6:30 pm Pre-sanctified Liturgies During Great Lent Pre-Sanctified Liturgies offered on Wednesday Evenings throughout Great Lent at 6:30 p.m. Dates that the Pre-Sanctified will be offered: Wednesdays March 16, 23, 30 Wednesdays April 6, 13, 20 Explanation of the Service: The Eucharistic Divine Liturgy is not celebrated in the Orthodox Church on Lenten weekdays because of its celebratory nature. In order for the faithful to sustain their Lenten effort by participation in Holy Communion, the Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts is served. The Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts is usually an evening service. It is the solemn Lenten Vespers with the administration of Holy Communion added to it. There is no consecration of the Eucharistic gifts at the Pre-sanctified Liturgy. Holy Communion is given from the Eucharistic gifts sanctified on the previous Sunday at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. Fasting Guidelines for Receiving Holy Communion at the Evening Service: So that the Body and Blood of our Lord may be the first thing to pass our lips on the day of communion, we abstain from all food and drink from the time that we retire (or midnight, whichever comes first) the night before. Married couples should abstain from sexual relations the night before communion. When communion is in the evening, as with Presanctified Liturgies during Lent, this fast should if possible be extended throughout the day until after communion. For those who cannot keep this discipline, a total fast beginning at noon is sometimes prescribed. ATTENTION SAINT BARBARA PARISH! Celebrate with your Church Family yournext special occasion! Consider sponsoring a coffee hour in the social hall after Liturgy on Sundays to commemorate a birthday, graduation, nameday, anniversary, or even for the pleasure of just hosting for your Parish. Signing up is easy...just place your name on the 'signup coffee hour' sheet located on the table in the hallway nearest the social hall. For details or questions, contact Helen Paliouras at: or elenipali@att.net 6

7 Philoptochos is sponsoring a clothes drive for Dress for Success. We would like for you to donate your gently used business attire from now until April 3, in order to help women get back on their feet. The clothes will be used for interviews and once jobs are attained. Thank you for your help. Please see Lia Christakos or Catherine Constantinou if you have questions. 'Dress for Success is a nonprofit organization that assists women to enter the workforce. There is a location in the back hall for storage of donations. March Religious Calendar for st Saturday of Souls - 9:00 am 6 - Meat Fare Sunday - 9:00 am 12-2nd Saturday of Souls - 9:00 am 13 - Cheese Fare Sunday - 9:00 am 14 - Strict Fast Monday Great Compline- 6:30 pm 16 - Pre-Sanctified for the 1st Wednesday of Lent - 6:30 pm 18-1st Salutation Service - 6:30 pm on Friday 19-3rd Saturday of Souls - 9:00 am 20 - Sunday of Orthodoxy - 9:00 am 20 - Sunday of Orthodoxy Pan-Orthodox Vespers 6:30 pm 23 - Pre-Sanctified for the 2nd Wednesday of Lent - 6:30 pm 24 - Great Vespers of the Annunciation at Winston Salem 25 - Feast of the Annunciation - 9:00 am Friday 27 - St. Gregory of Palamas - 2nd Sunday of Lent - 9:00 am 30 - Pre-Sanctified for the 3rd Wednesday of Lent - 6:30 pm. 7

8 READING ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE SATURDAY NIGHT LENTEN BOOK CLUB text Pavel Florensky's "Iconostasis" St. Vladimir Press 1996 Session 1 (March 5): The Spiritual Structure of Dreams -pages Session 2 (March 12): Spiritual Sobriety and the Iconic Face - pages Session 3 (March 19): Orthodox Services and the Icon-pages Session 4 (March 26): The Councils on the Icon and the Iconpainter's Canonic Life -pages Session 5 (April 2): The History of Artistic Technique, Western and Iconic-pages Session 6 (April 9): Iconic Clothes and the Meaning of Gold -pages Session 7 (April 16): The Ontology of Making the Icon -pages Session 8 (April 23): The Metaphysics of Light and St. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians & Conclusion-pages AHEPA SCHOLARSHIPS : Please note that the following AHEPA scholarships are available to students who qualify : 1) AHEPA National [ahepa.org] undergraduates and graduates may apply by latest March 31 st ; 2) District 3 [ahepa district 3] high school grads and undergraduates may apply by Apriol 15; 3) Chapter 277 local scholarships St. Barbara parish high school grads may apply by latest April 15, 2016; hard-copy applications for all scholarships are also on the AHEPA table. 8

9 FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO PARTICIPATE : A Palm Cross Maker After Services for the Saturday of Lazarus Contact Evelyn Zehia ezehia@att.net or Cleo Papanikas cleopatrazp@aol.com A Holy Week Reader Contact Pete Marinos pnm1@yahoo.com An Epitaphio Decorator After the Royal Hours on Good Friday Contact Dina Paliouras via cindy.paliouras@gmail.com A Parent with Child who Receives the Body of Christ from the Cross. In the middle of the 3:00 service of Good Friday Contact Cleo Papanikas cleopatrazp@aol.com Participating in the Choir Contact Donna Trohanis donnatro@bellsouth.net Participating in the Reading of the Gospel in a Language other than English or Greek at the Agape Service Contact Pete Marinos pnm1@yahoo.com or Larry Odzak larryodzak@gmail.com Easter Eggs for Toole Wrapping Should be dyed at home and brought to church on Good Friday to be wrapped on the premises. Contact Catherine Mariakakis at mariakakis@frontier.com Volunteering in the Narthex and Ushering Parishioners Contact Johnny Mariakakis mariakakis@att.net Being a Pall-bearer that carries the Epitaphio Contact Nicholas Paliouras nickpali82@yahoo.com Being a Myrrh-bearer at our Lord's Tomb Contact Cleo Papanikas cleopatrazp@aol.com Being an Altar Boy Contact Burt Keener bkeener@nc.rr.com or Gus Megaloudis gusmegaloudis@hotmail.com Adorning the Church with an Easter Lily that your Purchased Hope Odzak hdodzak@gmail.com Contributing a food item for the International Easter Pot Luck After the Midnight Service Let Helen Paliouras Know What Your Bringing. elenipali.@att.net. All Covered Dishes Should be taken directly to the Church Hall. Everyone is invited to offer a cover dish. Watching your child Enjoy the Easter Egg Hunt Activities on Thomas Sunday May 8 Contact Person Christi Kleoudis ckleoudis@gmail.com 9

10 PHOTOS FROM PAN-ORTHODOX VESPERS AT SAINT BARBARA BENEFITTING IOCC - MARCH 20, 2016 (Left to Right) Deacon Gavrilo Milkovich, Deacon David Keim, Fr. Stavoforos Mamaies, Fr. Edward Rommen, Fr. James Guirguis Once again, over 100 Orthodox Faithful of the Triangle area in central North Carolina united in attendance for Sunday of Orthodoxy vespers services March 20 at Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church in Durham, North Carolina, which hosted the Pan-Orthodox event with host priest, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Father Stavroforos Mamaies. A light Lenten meal for a free will offering followed the beautiful ecumenical service in the Church s Fellowship Hall a total of $3500 was raised for International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC)! Mr. Daniel Christopulos, U.S. Country Representative of IOCC was our special guest, offering an inspiring and uplifting homily describing the magnanimous efforts by this highlyrated humanitarian relief agency that operates so diligently and effectively on behalf of all Orthodox Christians worldwide. Priests attending were: Rev. Fr. Edward Rommen of Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church in Morrisville, NC; Father James Guirguis and Deacon David Keim of All Saints Antiochian Orthodox Church in Raleigh, NC ; and Deacon Gavrilo Milkovich of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Raleigh, NC. Submitted by: Helen Paliouras, IOCC representative for eastern NC elenipali@att.net (home) (Left to Right) Dan Christopulos of IOCC, Father Peter Murtos, Dr. Peter Marinos, Panayiotis Mavroides 10