Epiphany - Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Tarpon Springs, Florida + Sunday, March 5, 2017

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1 Epiphany - Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral Tarpon Springs, Florida + Sunday, March 5, 2017 Sunday of Orthodoxy, March 5, 2017

2 WEEKLY MESSAGE Synodikon From the proceedings of the Seventh Ecumenical Council read on the Sunday of Orthodoxy (All) As the prophets beheld, as the Apostles have taught, as the Church has received, as the teachers have dogmatized, as the universe has agreed, as grace has illumined, as truth has revealed, as falsehood has been dispelled, as wisdom has presented, as Christ has triumphed; this we believe, this we declare, this we preach: Christ our true God, and His saints we honor in words, in writings, in thoughts, in sacrifices, in temples, in icons, on the one hand bowing down and worshipping Christ as God and Master, on the other hand honoring the saints as true servants of the Master of all, and offering to them due veneration. This is the faith of the Apostles! This is the faith of the Fathers! This is the faith of the Orthodox! This is the faith which has established the Universe! Therefore with fraternal and filial love we praise the heralds of the faith, those who with glory and honor have struggled for the faith, and we say: for the champions of Orthodoxy, faithful emperors, most-holy patriarchs, hierarchs, teachers, martyrs and confessors: may their memory be eternal. (Sing) Eternal be their memory; Eternal be their memory; Eternal be their memory. Let us beseech God that we may be instructed and strengthened by the trials and struggles of these saints, which they endured for the Faith even unto death, and by their teachings, entreating that we may to the end imitate their godly life. May we be deemed worthy of obtaining our requests through the mercy and grace of the great and First Hierarch, Christ our God, through the intercessions of our glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, the divine Angels and all the saints. Amen.

3 TODAY S SPECIAL SERVICES NO MEMORIALS UNITY LUNCHEON TODAY Please join us today at the Community Center for our monthly Unity Luncheon following Divine Liturgy. We would like to thank the following businesses for donating the foods for this month s event: The Original Mama Maria's - spaghetti Blue Oyster - spaghetti Seminole Subs - salads National Bakery - bread 40-DAY PRAYER LIST Mary, Kostas, Maria, Irene, Panagiotis, Vissarion Prayer for a Sick Person Heavenly Father, physician of our souls and bodies, who have sent Your only-begotten Son and our Lord Jesus Christ to heal every sickness and infirmity, visit and heal me Your servant from all physical and spiritual ailments through the grace of Your Christ. Grant me patience in this sickness, strength of body and spirit, and recovery of health. Lord, You have taught us through Your word to pray for each other that we may be healed. I pray that You heal me as Your servant and grant me the gift of complete health. For You are the source of healing and to You I give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Names will be taken off the list after 40 days. To keep or add your loved ones names, please contact Soultana via (soultana@stnicholastarpon.org) or telephone ( ) by Monday at 5:00 pm.

4 ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 11:24-26, Ἀ δελφοί, πίστει Μωϋσῆς μέγας γενόμενος ἠρνήσατο λέγεσθαι υἱὸς θυγατρὸς Φαραώ, μᾶλλον ἑλόμενος συγκακουχεῖσθαι τῷ λαῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἢ πρόσκαιρον ἔχειν ἁμαρτίας ἀπόλαυσιν μείζονα πλοῦτον ἡγησάμενος τῶν Αἰγύπτου θησαυρῶν τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἀπέβλεπε γὰρ εἰς τὴν μισθαποδοσίαν. Καὶ τί ἔτι λέγω; Ἐπιλείψει γάρ με διηγούμενον ὁ χρόνος περὶ Γεδεών, Βαράκ τε καὶ Σαμψὼν καὶ Ἰεφθάε, Δαυΐδ τε καὶ Σαμουὴλ καὶ τῶν Προφητῶν οἳ διὰ πίστεως κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας, εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην, ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν, ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων, ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρός, ἔφυγον στόματα μαχαίρας, ἐνεδυναμώθησαν ἀπὸ ἀσθενείας, ἐγενήθησαν ἰσχυροὶ ἐν πολέμῳ, παρεμβολὰς ἔκλιναν ἀλλοτρίων ἔλαβον γυναῖκες ἐξ ἀναστάσεως τοὺς νεκροὺς αὐτῶν ἄλλοι δὲ ἐτυμπανίσθησαν, οὐ προσδεξάμενοι τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν, ἵνα κρείττονος ἀναστάσεως τύχωσιν ἕτεροι δὲ ἐμπαιγμῶν καὶ μαστίγων πεῖραν ἔλαβον, ἔτι δὲ δεσμῶν καὶ φυλακῆς ἐλιθάσθησαν, ἐπρίσθησαν, ἐπειράσθησαν, ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρας ἀπέθανον, περιῆλθον ἐν μηλωταῖς, ἐν αἰγείοις δέρμασιν, ὑστερούμενοι, θλιβόμενοι, κακουχούμενοι, ὧν οὐκ ἦν ἄξιος ὁ κόσμος, ἐν ἐρημίαις πλανώμενοι καὶ ὄρεσι καὶ σπηλαίοις καὶ ταῖς ὀπαῖς τῆς γῆς. Καὶ οὗτοι πάντες μαρτυρηθέντες διὰ τῆς πίστεως οὐκ ἐκομίσαντο τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν, τοῦ Θεοῦ περὶ ἡμῶν κρεῖττόν τι προβλεψαμένου, ἵνα μὴ χωρὶς ἡμῶν τελειωθῶσι. ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ Κατὰ Ἰωάννην αʹ Τ ῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἠθέλησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐξελθεῖν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, καὶ εὑρίσκει Φίλιππον καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ Ἀκολούθει μοι. ἦν δὲ ὁ Φίλιππος ἀπὸ Βηθσαϊδά, ἐκ τῆς πόλεως Ἀνδρέου καὶ Πέτρου. εὑρίσκει Φίλιππος τὸν Ναθαναὴλ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ Ὃν ἔγραψε Μωϋσῆς ἐν τῷ νόμῳ καὶ οἱ προφῆται, εὑρήκαμεν, Ἰησοῦν τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ Ἰωσὴφ τὸν ἀπὸ Ναζαρέτ. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ Ἐκ Ναζαρὲτ δύναταί τι ἀγαθὸν εἶναι; λέγει αὐτῷ Φίλιππος Ἔρχου καὶ ἴδε. εἶδεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὸν Ναθαναὴλ ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει περὶ αὐτοῦ Ἴδε ἀληθῶς Ἰσραηλίτης ἐν ᾧ δόλος οὐκ ἔστι. λέγει αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ Πόθεν με γινώσκεις; ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Πρὸ τοῦ σε Φίλιππον φωνῆσαι, ὄντα ὑπὸ τὴν συκῆν εἶδόν σε. ἀπεκρίθη Ναθαναήλ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ Ραββί, σὺ εἶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, σὺ εἶ ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ Ἰσραήλ. ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ὅτι εἶπόν σοι, εἶδόν σε ὑποκάτω τῆς συκῆς, πιστεύεις; μείζω τούτων ὄψῃ. καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀπ' ἄρτι ὄψεσθε τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνεῳγότα, καὶ τοὺς ἀγγέλους τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀναβαίνοντας καὶ καταβαίνοντας ἐπὶ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. Η ΘΕΙΑ ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΑ Η Θεία Κοινωνία είναι ένα από τα Μυστήρια της Ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας και προσφέρεται αποκλειστικά σε βαπτισμένους ή/και χρισμένους Ορθόδοξους Χριστιανούς, οι οποίοι έχουν προετοιμαστεί να λάβουν το Σώμα και το Αίμα του Κυρίου ημών Ιησού Χριστού. Καθώς προσέρχεστε να κοινωνήσετε, σας παρακαλούμε να ακολουθείτε τις οδηγίες των Συμβούλων της Ενορίας και λοιπών ταξιθετών. Σας θυμίζουμε επίσης πως το Αντίδωρο προσφέρεται στο τέλος της Θείας Λειτουργίας και μπορούν να το λάβουν όλοι.

5 EPISTLE Hebrews 11:24-26, B rethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, illtreated of whom the world was not worthy wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. GOSPEL John 1:43-51 A t that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." HOLY EUCHARIST (HOLY COMMUNION) Holy Communion is a Sacrament within the Orthodox Church and is only offered to Baptized and/or Chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves to receive the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As you come to receive, please follow the direction of the Parish Council Members, Ushers, and Acolytes. We remind everyone that the Blessed Bread (Antidoron) offered at the end of the Divine Liturgy may be received by all.

6 Variable Sunday Liturgy Hymns Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἀναστάσιμον Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Τῆς Ἑορτῆς Τὴν ἄχραντον Εἰκόνα σου, προσκυνοῦμεν ἀγαθέ, αἰτούμενοι συγχώρησιν τῶν πταισμάτων ἡμῶν, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός βουλήσει γὰρ ηὐδόκησας σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ, ἵνα ῥύσῃ οὓς ἔπλασας, ἐκ τῆς δουλείας τοῦ ἐχθροῦ ὅθεν εὐχαρίστως βοῶμέν σοι Χαρᾶς ἐπλήρωσας τὰ πάντα ὁ Σωτὴρ ἡμῶν, παραγενόμενος εἰς τὸ σῶσαι τὸν κόσμον. Τοῦ Ναοῦ Κανόνα πίστεως και εικόνα πραότητος, εγκρατείας διδάσκαλον, ανέδειξέ σε τη ποίμνη σου, η των πραγμάτων αλήθεια δια τούτο εκτήσω τη ταπεινώσει τα υψηλά, τη πτωχεία τα πλούσια, Πάτερ Ιεράρχα Νικόλαε, πρέσβευε Χριστώ τω Θεώ, σωθήναι τας ψυχάς ημών. 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. Resurrectional Apolytikion When the tidings of the Resurrection from the glorious Angel was proclaimed unto the Women Disciples and our ancestral sentence also had been abolished, to the Apostles with boasting did they proclaim that death is vanquished evermore and Christ our God has risen from the dead and granted to the world His great mercy. For the Feast We venerate Your immaculate icon, O good Lord, and entreat You to forgive our offences, O Christ our God. By Your own choice you were pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, to deliver us, whom You created, from our slavery to the foe. Therefore we cry to You with gratitude: You have filled all things with joy, O our Savior, by coming to save the world. Of the Church An example of the Faith, and a life of humility, as a teacher of abstinence You did inspire and lead Your flock and through the truthfulness of Your deeds were exalted by greatness through Your humility, uplifting all and by poverty gaining wealth. Father and Hierarch Saint Nicholas, intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved. Kontakion O Champion General, I your City now ascribe 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 kinds of perils free me so that unto you I may cry aloud: Rejoice, O unwedded Bride. PASCHAL SEASON DECORATIONS If you would like to contribute to the floral decoration of our Cathedral for Great Lent and Holy Week, kindly drop off your monetary gift at the parish office. You may also contact Mr Kenneth Henderson, who graciously volunteered to help us collect funds, by calling him at

7 Saints and Feasts of the Week SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY For more than one hundred years the Church of Christ was troubled by the persecution of the Iconoclasts of evil belief, beginning in the reign of Leo the Isaurian ( ) and ending in the reign of Theophilus ( ). After Theophilus's death, his widow the Empress Theodora (celebrated Feb. 11), together with the Patriarch Methodius (June 14), established Orthodoxy anew. This ever-memorable Queen venerated the icon of the Mother of God in the presence of the Patriarch Methodius and the other confessors and righteous men, and openly cried out these holy words: "If anyone does not offer relative worship to the holy icons, not adoring them as though they were gods, but venerating them out of love as images of the archetype, let him be anathema." Then with common prayer and fasting during the whole first week of the Forty-day Fast, she asked God's forgiveness for her husband. After this, on the first Sunday of the Fast, she and her son, Michael the Emperor, made a procession with all the clergy and people and restored the holy icons, and again adorned the Church of Christ with them. This is the holy deed that all we the Orthodox commemorate today, and we call this radiant and venerable day the Sunday of Orthodoxy, that is, the triumph of true doctrine over heresy. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΗΣ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΙΑΣ Την αγία αυτή ημέρα ποιούμε ανάμνηση της αναστηλώσεως των ιερών εικόνων, το οποίο επισυνέβη το 843 μ.χ. στο Βυζάντιο, χάρις στην αποφασιστική συμβολή της βασιλίσσης Θεοδώρας, συζύγου του αυτοκράτορα Θεοφίλου ( μ.χ.). Αναφερόμαστε στη μεγάλη εικονομαχική έριδα, η οποία συντάραξε την Εκκλησία μας για περισσότερα από εκατό χρόνια. Το 726 μ.χ. ο αυτοκράτωρ Λέων ο Γ' ο Ίσαυρος ( μ.χ.) αποφάσισε να επιφέρει στο κράτος ριζικές μεταρρυθμίσεις. Μια από αυτές ήταν η απαγόρευση προσκύνησης των ιερών εικόνων, επειδή πίστευε πως η χριστιανική πίστη παρέκλινε στην ειδωλολατρία. Στην ουσία όμως εξέφραζε δικές του ανεικονικές απόψεις, οι οποίες ήταν βαθύτατα επηρεασμένες από την ιουδαϊκή και ισλαμική πίστη. Η αυτοκρατορία χωρίστηκε σε δύο αντιμαχόμενες ομάδες, τους εικονομάχους και τους εικονολάτρες. Στα 787 μ.χ. συγκλήθηκε η Ζ' Οικουμενική Σύνοδος, η οποία διατύπωσε με ακρίβεια την οφειλόμενη τιμή στις ιερές εικόνες. Σε αυτή επίσης διευκρινίστηκαν και άλλα δυσνόητα σημεία της χριστιανικής πίστεως, ώστε να έχουμε πλήρη αποκρυστάλλωση του δόγματος και να ομιλούμε για θρίαμβο της Ορθοδοξίας. Η εικόνα στην Ορθοδοξία μας δεν αποτελεί αντικείμενο λατρείας, αλλά λειτουργεί αποκλειστικά ως μέσον τιμής του εικονιζόμενου προσώπου. Ακόμα και ο Χριστός μπορεί να εικονισθεί, διότι έγινε άνθρωπος. Μάλιστα όποιος αρνείται τον εικονισμό του Χριστού αρνείται την ανθρώπινη φύση Του! Οι μεγάλοι Πατέρες και διδάσκαλοι της Εκκλησίας μας, διατύπωσαν το ορθόδοξο δόγμα με προσοχή και ευλάβεια. Η προσκύνηση της ιερής εικόνας του Χριστού και των άλλων ιερών προσώπων του Χριστιανισμού δεν είναι ειδωλολατρία, όπως κατηγορούνταν από τους εικονομάχους, διότι η τιμή δεν απευθύνεται στην ύλη, αλλά στο εικονιζόμενο πρόσωπο. Η ευλογία και η χάρη που λαμβάνει ο πιστός από την προσκύνηση των ιερών εικόνων δίνεται από το ζωντανό ιερό πρόσωπο και όχι από την ύλη της εικόνας. Βεβαίως η ηρεμία δεν αποκαταστάθηκε, διότι εξακολουθούσαν να βασιλεύουν εικονομάχοι αυτοκράτορες. Στα 843 η ευσεβής αυτοκράτειρα Θεοδώρα, επίτροπος του ανήλικου γιου της Μιχαήλ του Γ, έθεσε τέρμα στην εικονομαχική έριδα και συνετέλεσε στο θρίαμβο της Ορθοδοξίας.

8 Αρ. Πρωτ. 03/17 14 Φεβρουαρίου 2017 ΕΥΧΕΛΑΙΟ Στην Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία πολλές παραδόσεις και έθιμα είναι άρρηκτα συνδεδεμένα με τις εκκλησιαστικές λειτουργίες. Κάποια από αυτά τηρούνται και ενθαρρύνονται από την ίδια την Εκκλησία. Δυστυχώς, κάποια έθιμα δεν συμβαδίζουν με τις παραδόσεις της Εκκλησίας και διαστρεβλώνουν τις ορθές διδαχές της. Αυτό ισχύει ιδιαίτερα με το Μυστήριο του Ευχελαίου. Πολλές Μητροπόλεις, καθώς και η Διοίκηση της Ιεράς Αρχιεπισκοπής Αμερικής, έχουν ήδη υιοθετήσει κανονισμούς, αναγνωρίζοντας έτσι την ιερότητα του Μυστηρίου και το γεγονός πως, όπως συμβαίνει και με άλλα Μυστήρια της Εκκλησίας, πρέπει να τελείται μόνο από κληρικούς. Είναι λοιπόν καιρός να κάνουμε κι εμείς το ίδιο. Όπως δε δίνουμε Αγία Κοινωνία στους πιστούς για να την πάρουν στο σπίτι τους, έτσι δεν δίνουμε Ευχέλαιο για τη χορήγησή του είτε στους ίδιους είτε σε συγγενείς. Όπως γνωρίζουμε, πάντα τα Μυστήρια τελούνται αποκλειστικά από τους κληρικούς. Ενδεχομένως κάποιοι πιστοί να μπερδεύουν το Ευχέλαιο με το «άγιο λάδι» που συχνά παίρνουμε από τα καντήλια, τα οποία κρέμονται μπροστά από εικονίσματα ή ιερά λείψανα των αγίων. Αυτό το λάδι, καθώς και ο Αγιασμός, μπορούν να πάνε στα σπίτια μας και να χορηγηθούν σε μέλη της οικογενείας μας που έχουν προβλήματα υγείας. Η συνήθεια του να βάζουμε βαμβάκι (ή κάτι παρόμοιο) σε πλαστικό σακουλάκι/δοχείο για να το πάρουμε σπίτι μας δεν είναι πρέπουσα, διότι αφ ενός, το Μυστήριο πρέπει να το χορηγεί ο κληρικός, και αφ ετέρου το βαμβάκι βουτηγμένο πλέον στο Άγιο Ευχέλαιο πολλές φορές πετιέται στην άκρη, ή, ακόμα χειρότερα, στα σκουπίδια. Έχουμε την υποχρέωση να διδάξουμε με σαφήνεια στους πιστούς τη διαφορά μεταξύ Ευχελαίου και άλλων αγίων ελαίων που μπορεί να λαμβάνουμε από διάφορα ιερά προσκυνήματα. Το πρώτο πρέπει να το βλέπουμε σαν Αγία Κοινωνία, ενώ τα άλλα σαν τον Αγιασμό. Ζητούμε από τις κατά τόπους εκκλησίες της Μητροπόλεως να τονίσουν στα ποιμνία πως το Ευχέλαιο ΔΕΝ ΘΑ ΔΙΝΕΤΑΙ ΓΙΑ ΤΟ ΣΠΙΤΙ. Σας παρακαλούμε όπως δημοσιοποιηθεί αυτή η εγκύκλιος μέσω περιοδικών και εκτάκτων εντύπων, διαδικτυακές σελίδες, σελίδες κοινωνικής δικτύωσης, κτλ, ούτως ώστε οι πιστοί να είναι πλήρως ενημερωμένοι πριν το Μυστήριο λάβει χώρα. Αυτό το πρωτόκολο θα εφαρμοστεί χάριν ομοιομορφίας στην Αγία και Θεοσκέπαστη Μητρόπολη της Ατλάντας. Όπως γράφει ο Άγιος Ιάκωβος, «ἀσθενεῖ τις ἐν ὑμῖν; προσκαλεσάσθω τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους τῆς ἐκκλησίας, καὶ προσευξάσθωσαν ἐπ' αὐτὸν ἀλείψαντες αὐτὸν ἐλαίῳ ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ Κυρίου» (ε 14).

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11 Please note that the starting time for the weekly Salutations to the Theotokos services has changed to 7:00 pm.

12 OUR PRIESTS ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU Fr. Athanasios Haros ( , and Fr. Sampson Kasapakis ( , are here to serve you. Please call, text or them for any spiritual needs. Kindly do not use the priests social media sites (e.g. Facebook) for emergencies, as your message might be inadvertently overlooked. Ο Πατήρ Αθανάσιος και ο Πατήρ Σαμψών είναι καθημερινά στην διάθεσή σας. Παρακαλούμε να τους καλείτε στα κινητά τους τηλέφωνα για πνευματικές ανάγκες. ST NICHOLAS KITCHEN St Nicholas Kitchen is an outreach ministry which provides a hot meal and fellowship to those in need. Volunteers for cooking, serving meals and cleanup between 8:00 am and 1:00 pm - along with monetary donations for the purchase of food - are welcome and needed. Remember the book of Matthew 25:35-36:...For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Your assistance helps feed approximately 100 people every Monday. Thank you for your support. Please call Chris Palaidis at for further information. LETTERS OF GOOD STANDING Are you participating in a sacrament and need to prove you are an active member of St Nicholas Cathedral? Letters of good sacramental & financial standing are provided following a meeting with the Dean of the Cathedral; please plan your appointment with Fr Athanasios well in advance in order to meet all deadlines prior to the scheduled sacrament. You may contact Fr Athanasios by calling or e -mailing frathanasios@stnicholastarpon.org. SAVE THE DATE! St. Nicholas Dance Ministry annual dinner dance: May 13, 2017

13 ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΗ Η Επιτροπή Παρελάσεως της Tampa Bay σας προσκαλεί όπως με την παρουσία σας τιμήσετε τις εορταστικές εκδηλώσεις προς τιμή των ηρώων της 25Μαρτίου 1821, οι οποίοι θυσιάστηκαν για να ζούμε εμείς ελεύθεροι. ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ Σάββατο, 18 Μαρτίου 7:00 μ.μ. Mεγάλη χοροεσπερίδα της Επιτροπής Παρελάσεως για τον Εορτασμό της 25 ης Μαρτίου στο Community Center του Αγίου Νικολάου, με τη συμμετοχή της Προεδρικής Φρουράς και επισήμων καλεσμένων. Τιμή εισιτηρίου: $50 μετά δείπνου Κυριακή, 19 Μαρτίου 8:00 π.μ. Όρθρος, Καθεδρικός Ναός Αγίου Νικολάου 9:30 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 11:30 π.μ. Δοξολογία 12:00 μ.μ. Έπαρση των σημαιών στο προαύλιο της εκκλησίας 1:00 μ.μ. Έναρξη παρελάσεως (Lemon Street Dodecanese Street) 2:30 μ.μ. Ελληνικοί παραδοσιακοί χοροί από τα χορευτικά μας συγκροτήματα στο Community Center του Αγίου Νικολάου και Mini-Festival από τον Σύλλογο Χάλκης Για περισσότερες πληροφορίες, καλέστε τον Πρόεδρο της Επιτροπής Κώστα Σισώη στο NOTICE The Parade Committee of Tampa Bay, Inc. requests the honor of your presence at the Greek Independence Day celebration in Tarpon Springs, in remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives so that we can live in freedom. SCHEDULE Saturday, March 18 7:00 pm Independence Day Parade Committee dance, St Nicholas Community Center. Special guests, the Hellenic Presidential Guard & dignitaries. Tickets: $50 per person, including dinner Sunday, March 19 8:00 am Orthros, St Nicholas Cathedral 9:30 am Divine Liturgy 11:30 am Doxology 12:00 pm Raising of the flags, St Nicholas churchyard 1:00 pm Parade (Lemon Street Dodecanese Street) 2:30 pm Traditional Greek dances by St Nicholas dance ministries and Mini-Festival by Halki Society, St Nicholas Community Center For more information, please call Committee Chairman Costas Sisois at

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16 AFGLC DEMETRIOS HALKIAS SCHOLARSHIP Two scholarships are given annually to two college graduate or undergraduate college students majoring in the sciences and/or enrolled in a pre-medical program of study. To be considered, applicants or parents must be Orthodox Christians and must submit their complete application and official transcripts of their academic work by March 25, The scholarships will be awarded at the exclusive discretion of the Scholarship Committee, not by the Halkias Family, and evaluations will be based on: Course work during the semester prior to the Application (Fall 2016) Complexity of courses taken Grade point average, for the course work completed and overall Time spent outside the classroom, working to pay for own expenses Membership and time spent in school related organizations Volunteer work in school or church activities Commitment to & participation in Church organizations Proof of financial need (if appropriate) Application checklist: Completed application form (contact St Nicholas Office at ) Official transcripts of academic work from Fall semester (High School transcripts ONLY if you are a first-year college student). A letter of recommendation from your parish priest. A letter of character reference from a competent authority. A paragraph explaining why you should be awarded the scholarship. You may only be awarded this scholarship once. All documents must be received by or on March 25, INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE REVIEWED. Scholarships will be awarded on April 1, 2017 at the AFGLC conference.

17 ΨΥΧΟΧΑΡΤΙ PRAYER SHEET ΥΠΕΡ ΑΝΑΠΑΥΣΕΩΣ FOR THE DECEASED Write full baptismal name - not nicknames. Example: Haralambos, not Bobby. \\\Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Tarpon Springs, Florida

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24 ST NICHOLAS PHILOPTOCHOS Monday: 9:00-10:00 am; Tue-Wed: 10:00 am - noon Mission Statement To aid the poor, the destitute, the hungry, the aged, the sick, the unemployed, the orphaned, the imprisoned, the widowed, the handicapped, the victims of disasters, to undertake the burial of impoverished persons and to offer assistance to anyone who may need to help of the Church through fund-raising efforts. Thank you to all those who attended & supported the Heart of Gold Fashion Show on Sunday, February 26. God s work can only be accomplished through your love and support. Congratulations to the 2017 Heart of Gold recipient Maria Maillis Upcoming Events Sunday, March 5: Sunday of Orthodoxy Please bring a Lenten dish ready to be served to Fr Tryfon Hall by 5:00 pm. We will need help setting up and cleaning up. St Nicholas Philoptochos, 18 Hibiscus St (directly behind St. Nicholas Cathedral) Mailing address: P.O. Box 2043, Tarpon Springs, FL Tel:

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26 ST NICHOLAS BOOKSTORE Monday - Friday: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm; Sunday: 10:00 am - noon Tel The perfect place to purchase meaningful gifts and support our Cathedral. A large selection of children's books and activities is available to prepare our young Orthodox Christians for their journey to Pascha. A variety of Lenten cookbooks & other books is also available to enrich your Lenten experience. Open a book to a world of light! Great Lent $16.00 This Lenten classic expounds on all the richness and depth of the liturgical experience of Great Lent in the Church. A variety of other books are also available to enrich your Lenten experience. Fasting in the Orthodox Church $12.00 Fasting in preparation for Pascha was universal in the early Church. This classic book, drawing from the Fathers of the Church and Scripture, provides the historical background and defense of traditional fasting practices, as well as an essential weapon in the struggle for spiritual self-transformation. Christina Learns the Sacraments $16.00 A child s introduction to the seven Sacraments. Includes notes for parents who wish to initiate discussions about God with young children. Just one of the many beautifully illustrated books in the Christina series that helps children in their religious identification with the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Service of the Great Compline $10.00 The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts $20.00 Greek text with English translation on opposing pages. Other service books that are all in Greek and all in English are also available. FOLLOW ST NICHOLAS CATHEDRAL BOOKSTORE ON FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM!

27 MARCH 6-12 SCHEDULE On-call for emergencies this week: Fr Sampson Kasapakis, LITURGICAL SERVICES OFFICE AND MINISTRIES OFFICE, M-F, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday Δευτέρα MARCH 6 Tuesday Τρίτη MARCH 7 Wednesday Τετάρτη MARCH 8 Thursday Πέμπτη MARCH 9 Friday Παρασκευή MARCH 10 Saturday Σάββατο MARCH 11 Orthros 8:00 am Great Compline 6:00 pm Orthros 8:00 am Great Compline 6:00 pm Orthros 8:00 am Presanctified Liturgy 6:00 pm Orthros 8:00 am Great Compline 6:00 pm Presanctified Liturgy 8:00 am Second Salutations to Theotokos 7:00 pm Vespers 6:00 pm Bookstore, M-F 10:00 am-2:00 pm Dance Ministry, 4:00 pm, Community Center Parents Night-In, 5:00 pm, Community Center Conf. Room Boy Scouts, 7:00 pm, Fr Tryfon Hall Little Lambs, 10:00 am, Sunday School Room on Hibiscus Greek School, 4:30 pm Lenten Dinner following Liturgy, Fr Tryfon Hall Men s Ministry, 7:30 pm, Fr Tryfon Hall Greek School, 4:30 pm Choir, 6:30 pm Coffee Hour following Salutations, Fr Tryfon Hall Special Treasures Ministry Welcome Event, 11:00 am, Fr Tryfon Hall Sunday Κυριακή MARCH 12 Orthros / Όρθρος 7:20 am Divine Liturgy / Θεία Λειτουργία 8:45 am Divine Liturgy / Θεία Λειτουργία 10:45 am Bookstore 10:00 am-noon GOYA meeting, 5:00 pm, Fr Tryfon Hall

28 SAINT NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL 17 E Tarpon Ave, Tarpon Springs, FL Tel: Fax: CATHEDRAL OPEN FOR PRAYER: Monday-Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Dean: Rev Fr Athanasios Haros Assistant Priest: Rev Fr Sampson Kasapakis Parish Council President: Nikitas Manias Administrative Assistant: Soultana Kalligas Bookkeeper: Jocelyn Chapman Property Manager / Hall Rentals: Costas Sisois PARISH MINISTRIES & DEPARTMENTS ALTAR SERVERS J. Theophilopoulos BOOKSTORE Vasilis Panageotou BOY SCOUTS Theodora Genduso & Antonino Genduso BYZANTINE ARTS ACADEMY -- Fr Sampson Kasapakis CHANTER Theofanis Katsiklis CHOIR, 1 st DL Katie Faklis CHOIR, 2 nd DL DeRose Andropoulos DANCE MINISTRY Maria Kouskoutis & Eva Athanasatos EDUCATION, CULTURE & YOUTH Karen Markopulos EPIPHANY COMMITTEE Emmanuel Gombos & Johanna Kossifidis GOYA (6th-12th grade) Theodora Stathakis & Emmanuel Gombos & Penny Lambrianos GREEK SCHOOL Chris Palaidis HOPE (Pre-K-5th grade) -- Melissa Tsongranis LITTLE LAMBS (40 days-3 years old)-- Presvytera Mallory Kasapakis ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ORATORICAL -- Maria Angeliadis PHILADELFIA MEN S MINISTRY -- George Tsongranis PHILOPTOCHOS Tina Chagaris PRESCHOOL Jane Malone STEWARDSHIP Charles Samarkos SUNDAY SCHOOL Galatiani Leadbetter YOUNG ADULT LEADERS (YAL) -- Fr Sampson Kasapakis YOUTH CHOIR -- Diane Anastasiades ORGANIZATIONS & SOCIETIES AHEPA Tim Keffalas DAUGHTERS OF PENELOPE Margo Filley ATHENIAN SOCIETY Helen Kariofilis CHIOS SOCIETY Chrysanthi Psoras CRETAN SOCIETY Angelo Sakis EPIRUS SOCIETY -- Bessie Mandelos HALKI SOCIETY Michele Manousos HELLENIC BENEV. ASSN Maria Keramas ICARIAN SOCIETY -- Linda Tripodis Murray KALYMNIAN SOCIETY Litsa Ikonomou KARPATHIAN SOCIETY -- Minas Liristis, LACONIAN SOCIETY Theodore Tsafatinos PANCYPRIAN SOCIETY Angela Georgiadis PROMETHEAS SOCIETY Effie Vassiliou SYMIAN SOCIETY Michael Faklis COUNCIL MEMBERS ON DUTY TODAY George Stamas Nikitas Manias Themis Fountotos Tezza Em. Gombos Irene Karavokiros Chris Palaidis John Stamas