THE PROOF OF FASTING. For what good is it if we abstain from birds and fishes, but bite and devout our brothers? -St.

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1 SUNDAY OF ST. MARY OF EGYPT APRIL 2, 2017 THE PROOF OF FASTING Do You Fast? Give me proof of it by your works. If you see a poor man, take pity on him. If you see a friend being honored, do not envy him. Do not let only your mouth fast, but also the eye, and the ear, and the feet, and the hands, and all the members of our bodies. Let the hands fast, by being free of avarice. Let the feet fast, by ceasing to run after sin. Let the eyes fast, by disciplining them not to glare at that which is sinful... Let the ear fast...by not listening to evil talk and gossip... Let the mouth fast from foul words and unjust criticism For what good is it if we abstain from birds and fishes, but bite and devout our brothers? -St. John Chrysostom ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH REV. FR. CHRISTOS P. KANAKIS, PROISTAMENOS frchristos@assumptionlb.org 5761 EAST COLORADO STREET, LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA PHONE FAX Web Site: office@assumptionlb.org Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9am - 5pm Sunday Services: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am WELCOME HOME We thank God that you have chosen to celebrate Divine Liturgy with us today. Please feel free to participate in the Prayers and hymns of the Eastern Orthodox Church. There are Divine Liturgy books in the pews that are written in both English and Greek so you can follow along. Please be aware that Holy Communion is for Christians that have been baptized in the Orthodox faith. At the end of the Liturgy everyone is welcome to go forward to receive the "Antidoron" (blessed bread) and blessing. Your children are welcome to attend our Sunday School. If you have small children we also have a "Baby" room (with a changing table) on the left when entering the Narthex. We would love to meet you! There are cards that you can fill out and return to one of our church greeters. Information about Orthodoxy is available in the Narthex (on the left side as you exit the church) and in our book store that has display during our Fellowship Coffee Hour located in the Betty Reckas Cultural Hall (to the left of the church as you leave the church). Please join us for our Fellowship Coffee Hour. HAVE A GREAT WEEK, SEE YOU NEXT SUNDAY! Altar Boys/Acolytes (7+) are expected to serve on time at 10:00 am when Divine Liturgy begins and no later than 10:15 am. We ask for women to remove their lipstick before approaching for Holy Communion Παρακαλούνται όλες οι κυρίες να σκουπίζουν το κραγιόν τους όταν προσέρχονται για Θεία Κοινωνία.

2 Commemoration Today Titus the Wonderworker. Theodora of Palestine Worship Services, Meetings and Activities Sunday, 4/2 Ε Νηστειών (Μαρίας Αιγυπτίας) Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10 am Sunday school Goya Basketball: Assumption vs St. Basil (Home) Wednesday, 4/5 Προηγιασμένη Λειτουργία. Pre-sanctified Liturgy 10 am Panagia s Little Lambs 10:30 am - 11:30 am Adult Orthodoxy class & Bible study 6pm - 7pm Greek school 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Friday, 4/7 Holy Week Retreat and Palm Crosses folding 6:00 pm GOYA: Basketball practice 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm Saturday, 4/8 Έγερσις του Λαζάρου Saturday of Lazarus Orthros 9:30 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am Philoptochos: Baking Tsourekia and other goodies. Sunday, 4/9 Των Βαΐων. Palm Sunday. Orthros 8:45 am. Divine Liturgy 10:00 am 1st Bridegroom Service 7:00 pm. Philoptochos is selling Tsourekia ****************************************************************************************************** Announcements Memorial Service/Μνημόσυνo: Today we pray for the repose of the soul of the departed servant of God Fred (Panagiotis) Hennig (3 years). May his memory be eternal. *********************************************************************************************************** Σήμερα προσευχόμαστε υπέρ αναπαύσεως της ψυχής του κεκοιμημένου δούλου του Θεού Φρεντ (Παναγιώτου) Χεννιγκ (3 χρόνια). Αιωνία σου η μνήμη αξιομακάριστε και αείμνηστε αδελφέ ημών. Social Hour: Sponsored by Vickie Hennig and family. FLOWERS FOR THE PANAGIA ICON: We would like to have our icon of the Panagia decorated with flowers for the Salutation Services each Friday. Also, with your help, Katy Georgedes and the ladies will adorn our church. Flowers needed for Nymphios, Crucifixion, the Epitaphios (Christ s tomb), the Resurrection icons and decorate the Church for Easter. Thank you for your generosity. If you would like to donate please send your donation to the office. Thank you April Prosforo: Prosforo for the month of April is donated by Vickie Hennig & Mary Lambrou. Thank you ladies. page 2 page 11

3 Announcements cont. GOYA Basketball: The Assumption basketball Practices for the month of March and April will be the following Fridays: 4/7, 4/21 & 4/28 at our Assumption Gym from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. No practice on Good Friday, 4/14. Easter Baking - Tsourekia: The Philoptochos ladies will be baking Tsourekia for Easter on Saturday, April 8. They need hands. Please come and help them. Tsourekia will be sold that day and Palm Sunday, April 9. Place your order now! (flyer is posted on page 4). Good Friday Luminaries (Lambades) Let s light our path around the church with the names of οur loved ones who have passed on and our wishes for the health of our family and friends. The bags will be lined around the church along the path of the Epitaphio. (flyer is posted on the last page) Bookstore: Come one...come all...we are back and better than ever. Pascha is just around the corner so get ready to shop for your icons, one of a kind gifts, cards, egg dye with wraps and books, charcoal & incense, etc. Get all your Easter baskets filled on time so don't wait. EASTER EGG DYING: We will be dying the eggs on Holy Thursday after morning church services. All are welcome to join. Please come and fellowship with us. Lunch will be provided. Please note that the services and events posted in the monthly news letter s calendar are subject to change; please refer to weekly bulletin for current schedule info. ********************************************************************************************* page 10 THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT - ST. MARY OF EGYPT The Fifth Sunday of Lent (March 29) recalls the memory of Saint Mary of Egypt, the repentant harlot. Mary tells us, first of all, that no amount of sin and wickedness can keep a person from God if he truly repents. Christ himself has come "to call sinners to repentance" and to save them from their sins (Lk 5:32). In addition, Saint Mary tells us that it is never too late in life -- or in Lent -- to repent. Christ will gladly receive all who come to him even at the eleventh hour of their lives. But their coming must be in serious and sincere repentance. *********************************************************************************************************** Ε ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΩΝ ΝΗΣΤΕΙΩΝ - ΟΣ. ΜΑΡΙΑΣ ΑΙΓΥΠΤΙΑΣ Μια από τις πιο εξαίρετες γυναικείες ασκητικές μορφές είναι και της οσίας Μαρίας της Αιγυπτίας. Κάθε χριστιανός που θα διαβάσει τη ζωή της θα αντλήσει πολύ ωφέλιμα διδάγματα. Επί 17 χρόνια ζούσε άσωτα μέσα στην ακολασία και την αμαρτία. Από μικρή παρασύρθηκε από το κακό της αμαρτίας και παρέσυρε κι' άλλους σ αυτή. Στα Ιεροσόλυμα με Θεϊκήν επέμβαση αλλάζει σκέψεις και παίρνει νέες αποφάσεις που τις εκτελεί. Αποβάλλει τον παλαιόν άνθρωπο και φορά τον καινούργιο. Η αμαρτία της δημιούργησε πολλά ψυχικά τραύματα κι' έτσι έφυγε στην έρημο για να κλείσει και να αποβάλλει τις κακίες των πράξεων και να εξαφανίσει το ρύπο που της προκάλεσε η ακολασία. Μετανόησε, έκλαψε, πόνεσε, νήστεψε και προσευχήθηκε. Μεγάλοι οι αγώνες της κα σκληρή η πάλη εναντίον των παθών της. Πολλές οι δυσκολίες, οι ταλαιπωρίες της μέσα στην έρημα, μα τις αντιμετώπισε όλες με ηρωισμό. Τους πολλούς πειρασμούς τους εξουδετέρωσε με αυτοθυσία. Και ο Κύριος άκουσε τους στεναγμούς και τα δάκρυά της, και δέχτηκε τη μετάνοιά της κι έγινε η οσία Μαρία που πρεσβεύει για τη δική μας σωτηρία. page 3

4 HOLY WEEK SERVICES (ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΗΣ ΕΒΔΟΜΑΔΑΣ) Sunday, 4/9 + Των Βαΐων. Palm Sunday. Orthros 8:45 am. Divine Liturgy 10:00 am + Του Νυμφίου. 1st Bridegroom Service 7:00 pm. Holy Monday, 4/10 + Του Νυμφίου. 2nd Bridegroom Service 7:00 pm Holy Tuesday, 4/11 (Των 10 Παρθένων) + Του Νυμφίου. 3rd Bridegroom Service 7:00 pm Holy Wednesday, 4/12 (Της Αλειψάσης Τον Κύριον) + Sacrament of Holy Unction 3:00 pm + Orthros for Mystical Supper 7:00 pm (Sacrament of Holy Unction) Holy Thursday, 4/13 (Ο Μυστικός Δείπνος) + Liturgy of St. Basil 10:00 am + Ακολουθία των Παθών (12 Ευαγγέλια). + Service of Passion 7:00 pm Holy Friday, 4/14 (Τα Άγια Πάθη Του Κυρίου) + Reading of the Royal Hours 1:00 pm + Αποκαθήλωσις. Decent from the Cross 2:30 pm + Επιτάφιος. Lamentations Service 7:00 pm Holy Saturday, 4/15 (Η Ταφή Του Κυρίου) + Liturgy of St. Basil 10:00 am + The Canon 11:15 pm + Ακολουθία της Αναστάσεως. Resurrection Service and Liturgy 12 midnight. Supper to follow Liturgy Easter Sunday, 4/16 + ΤΟ ΑΓΙΟΝ ΠΑΣΧΑ, HOLY EASTER. Agape Service 11:30 am page 4 page 9

5 The Gospel Reading is from Mark 10:32-45 At that time, Jesus taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 10:32-45 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παραλαβάνει ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς δώδεκα μαθητάς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἤρξατο αὐτοῖς λέγειν τὰ μέλλοντα αὐτῷ συμβαίνειν, ὅτι ἰδοὺ ἀναβαίνομεν εἰς Ιεροσόλυμα καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθήσεται τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσι καὶ γραμματεῦσι, καὶ κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτὸν θανάτῳ καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν τοῖς ἔθνεσι, καὶ ἐμπαίξουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ μαστιγώσουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐμπτύσουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν αὐτόν, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστήσεται. Καὶ προσπορεύονται αὐτῷ Ιάκωβος καὶ Ιωάννης υἱοὶ Ζεβεδαίου λέγοντες διδάσκαλε, θέλομεν ἵνα ὃ ἐὰν αἰτήσωμεν ποιήσῃς ἡμῖν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς τί θέλετε ποιῆσαί με ὑμῖν; οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ δὸς ἡμῖν ἵνα εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν σου καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύμων σου καθίσωμεν ἐν τῇ δόξῃ σου. ὁ δὲ Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς οὐκ οἴδατε τί αἰτεῖσθε. δύνασθε πιεῖν τὸ ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ πίνω, καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθῆναι; οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ δυνάμεθα. ὁ δὲ Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς τὸ μὲν ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ πίνω πίεσθε, καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθήσεσθε τὸ δὲ καθίσαι ἐκ δεξιῶν μου καὶ ἐξ εὐωνύμων οὐκ ἔστιν ἐμὸν δοῦναι, ἀλλ οἷς ἡτοίμασται. Καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ δέκα ἤρξαντο ἀγανακτεῖν περὶ Ιακώβου καὶ Ιωάννου. ὁ δὲ Ιησοῦς προσκαλεσάμενος αὐτοὺς λέγει αὐτοῖς οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ δοκοῦντες ἄρχειν τῶν ἐθνῶν κατακυριεύουσιν αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ μεγάλοι αὐτῶν κατεξουσιάζουσιν αὐτῶν οὐχ οὕτω δὲ ἔσται ἐν ὑμῖν, ἀλλ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ γενέσθαι μέγας ἐν ὑμῖν, ἔσται ὑμῶν διάκονος, καὶ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ ὑμῶν γενέσθαι πρῶτος, ἔσται πάντων δοῦλος καὶ γὰρ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἦλθε διακονηθῆναι, ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι, καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν. page 8 The Epistle Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14 BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 9:11-14 Ἀδελφοί, Χριστὸς δὲ παραγενόμενος ἀρχιερεὺς τῶν μελλόντων ἀγαθῶν, διὰ τῆς μείζονος καὶ τελειοτέρας σκηνῆς, οὐ χειροποιήτου, τοῦτʼ ἔστιν, οὐ ταύτης τῆς κτίσεως, οὐδὲ διʼ αἵματος τράγων καὶ μόσχων, διὰ δὲ τοῦ ἰδίου αἵματος εἰσῆλθεν ἐφάπαξ εἰς τὰ ἅγια, αἰωνίαν λύτρωσιν εὑράμενος. Εἰ γὰρ τὸ αἷμα ταύρων καὶ τράγων, καὶ σποδὸς δαμάλεως ῥαντίζουσα τοὺς κεκοινωμένους, ἁγιάζει πρὸς τὴν τῆς σαρκὸς καθαρότητα, πόσῳ μᾶλλον τὸ αἷμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὃς διὰ πνεύματος αἰωνίου ἑαυτὸν προσήνεγκεν ἄμωμον τῷ θεῷ, καθαριεῖ τὴν συνείδησιν ὑμῶν ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργων, εἰς τὸ λατρεύειν θεῷ ζῶντι; Μετάφραση της Αποστολικής Περικοπής στη Νεοελληνική Ἀλλ ὅταν ἦλθε ὁ Χριστὸς ὠς ἀρχιερεύς, τῶν μελλοντικῶν ἀγαθῶν, ἐμπῆκε διὰ τῆς μεγαλυτέρας καὶ τελειοτέρας σκηνῆς, ἡ ὁποία δὲν εἶναι χειροποίητη, δὲν εἶναι δηλαδὴ ἀπὸ τὸν κόσμον τοῦτον ἐμπῆκε μιὰ γιὰ πάντα εἰς τὰ Ἅγια τῶν ἁγίων ὄχι μὲ αἷμα τράγων καὶ μόσχων ἀλλὰ μὲ τὸ δικό του αἷμα καὶ ἐξησφάλισε αἰωνίαν λύτρωσιν. Διότι ἐὰν τὸ αἷμα τράγων καὶ ταύρων καὶ τὸ ράντισμα μὲ στάχτην ἀπὸ δαμάλι, ἁγιάζῃ τοὺς μολυσμένους, ὅσον ἀφορᾷ τὴν ἐξωτερικὴν καθαρότητα, πόσον περισσότερον τὸ αἷμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ ὁποῖος, διὰ τοῦ αἰωνίου Πνεύματος, προσέφερε τὸν ἑαυτόν του ἄμωμον θυσίαν εἰς τὸν Θεόν, νὰ καθασίσῃ τὴν συνείδησίν σας ἀπὸ νεκρὰ ἔργα, ὥστε νὰ λατρεύωμεν τὸν ζωντανὸν Θεόν. page 5

6 (DURING SMALL ENTRANCE) (1.) Resurrectional Dismissal Hymn Ἦχος πλ. δʹ Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν κατεδέξω τριήµερον, ἵνα ἡµᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ Ἀνάστασις ἡµῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι. You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and condescended to be buried for three days, so that from the passions You might set us free. Our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory be to You. (3.) Memorial Hymn: Ἠχος πλ. δʹ Μνήσθητι, Κύριε, ὡς ἀγ αθὸς τ... δούλ... σου, καὶ ὅσα ἐν βίῳ ἥμαρτ... συγχώρησον οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀναμάρτητος, εἰ μὴ σὺ ὁ δυνάμενος, καὶ τω μεταστάντι (τη μεταστάση, τοις μεταστάσι) δοῦναι τήν ἀνάπαυσιν. Remember your servant(s) good and loving Lord, and forgive every sin he (she, they) may have committed in life, for no one is without sin. O mighty One grant your departed servant(s) who has fallen asleep, everlasting rest. (4.) Hymn of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Ἦχος α (AFTER SMALL ENTRANCE) (1.) Resurrectional Dismissal Hymn Ἦχος πλ. δʹ Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν κατεδέξω τριήµερον, ἵνα ἡµᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ Ἀνάστασις ἡµῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι. You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and condescended to be buried for three days, so that from the passions You might set us free. Our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory be to You. (2.) For the Devout Woman Ἦχος πλ. δʹ Ἐν σοὶ Μῆτερ ἀκριβῶς διεσώθη τὸ κατ' εἰκόνα λαβοῦσα γὰρ τὸν σταυρόν, ἠκολούθησας τῷ Χριστῷ, καὶ πράττουσα ἐδίδασκες ὑπερορᾶν µὲν σαρκὸς παρέρχεται γάρ, ἐπιµελεῖσθαι δὲ ψυχῆς, πράγµατος ἀθανάτου διὸ καὶ µετὰ Ἀγγέλων συναγάλλεται Ὁσία Μαρία τὸ πνεῦµά σου. In you, O Mother, is preserved undistorted what was made in the image of God; for taking up the cross, you followed Christ and by example taught, that we should overlook the flesh, since it passes away, and instead look after the soul, since it is immortal. And therefore, O devout Mary, your spirit rejoices with the angels. Ἐν τῇ Γεννήσει τὴν παρθενίαν ἐφύλαξας, ἐν τῇ Κοιμήσει τὸν κόσμον οὐ κατέλιπες Θεοτόκε μετέστης πρὸς τὴν ζωήν, μήτηρ ὑπάρχουσα τῆς ζωῆς, καὶ ταῖς πρεσβείαις ταῖς σαῖς λυτρουμένη, ἐκ θανάτου τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. In the birth, you preserved your virginity; in death, you did not abandon the world, O Theotokos. As mother of life, you departed to the source of life, delivering our souls from the death by your intercessions. (5.) Κοντάκιον: Ἦχος βʹ Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, µεσιτεία, πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀµετάθετε, µὴ παρίδῃς, ἁµαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡµῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιµώντων σε. O Protection of Christians unshamable, mediation with the Creator immovable, we sinners beg you, do not despise the voices of our prayers, but anticipate, since you are good, and swiftly come unto our aid as we cry out to you with faith: Hurry to intercession, and hasten to supplication, O Theotokos who defend now and ever those who honor you. Sunday April 2, 2017 (translation courtesy of Narthex Press)