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 Phone: (516) Web Site: Clergy: Fr. John Lardas, Fr. Joshua Pappas, Fr. Dennis Strouzas September 10, Sunday Before Holy Cross Pl. 1 st Mode - 3 rd Morning Gospel What is Orthros / Matins? Part 1 Our American culture is built largely around success, and no one disagrees that punctual, reliable commitment is an essential ingredient in any form of success. It is a curious thing, therefore, that many of us struggle to arrive on time for Sunday Liturgy. Worldly success is rather concrete and easy to identify; we all strive for it, though pride easily maneuvers its way into human calculation. Spiritual success is something entirely different; it is subtle, internal, and often unheralded. We go to great lengths to ensure worldly success, but do we tend to our spiritual success - which carries eternal value - with equal or greater intensity? Do we give special attention to our Creator who knows us far better than we know ourselves? There are many legitimate reasons for tardiness, especially in homes with children. However, the issue is much broader than occasional tardiness. For example, the percentage of people committed to worship services outside Sunday Liturgy is low. And again, you will find very few people before Liturgy in Orthros / Matins, an hourlong service containing much of the meat and variable hymns for a given day. Commitment cannot be forced, but education and understanding certainly help in igniting a fire of motivation that produces active faith - full of movement, questioning, seeking, participation, and personal growth. We will devote the next several bulletins to an explanation of the Orthros / Matins service with the hope of encouraging this kind of active faith. With a little attention, we can slowly increase our understanding of Orthodoxy, and with this increase we will experience more concretely the energizing fruits of living with Christ. Like every Orthodox service, Orthros contains an overarching theme along with various sub-themes. On Sundays - the day of the Resurrection - the theme is naturally Resurrectional, though hymns are always included for the particular saint or feast being celebrated. Intended to be a daily morning service, it is as if the Church is telling us: Begin your day with God! Organize your life around Him. He has roused you from the heaviness of sleep; He has given you breath in this new day; He has identified with you intimately in the person and teachings of Christ. Praise God in all things and for all things! These sentiments are particularly strong in Orthros priestly prayers, which are read inaudibly. Orthros begins with reading 6 Psalms: 3, 37, 61, 87, 102, and 142. All the faithful stand upright during this reading, pushing away all thoughts and concentrating acutely to the words of the prayers. These Psalms are considered a brief summary of life, touching on several universal themes: the weight of sin, the sorrow of God s apparent absence, gratitude for God s blessings, unfading hope, and fervent request for help. Then we proceed to a standard set of petitions, all centered on placing our lives trustingly in the hands of God and His mercy. We pray for peace, for those who are suffering, for our public and religious leaders, for assistance in every need, and for all people. After the petitions, the first chanting breaks into what was previously a solemn atmosphere. We hear a verse being chanted from Psalm 117: God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us; blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! This is an Old Testament premonition of what we now experience in Christ. We have a God who reveals Himself to us in the flesh; He identifies with our sorrow, our joy, our longing. But far more profound than simply joining us, Christ has defeated our darkest enemy - death - through the light of His Resurrection. (to be continued...)

2 Άγιοι και Εορτές Tῶν ἁγίων Μαρτύρων γυναικῶν, Μηνοδώρας, Μητροδώρας, καὶ Νυµφοδώρας. H ἁγία Πουχερία ἡ βασίλισσα. Μεθεόρτια τοῦ Γενεθλίου τῆς Θεοτόκου. Ἀπολυτίκιον 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 Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύµατι, τὸν ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθέντα εἰς σωτηρίαν ἡµῶν, ἀνυµνήσωµεν πιστοὶ καὶ προσκυνήσωµεν, ὅτι ηὐδόκησε σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ, καὶ θάνατον ὑποµεῖναι, καὶ ἐγεῖραι τοὺς τεθνεῶτας, ἐν τῇ ἐνδόξῳ Ἀναστάσει αὐτοῦ. 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. Saints and Feasts The holy women martyrs Menodora, Metrodora, and Nymphodora; Saint Pulcheria the Empress; the Afterfeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos. Hymn of the Feast (4 th Mode) Your Nativity, O Theotokos, imparted joy to the entire earth, for out of you has risen the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God. He nullified the curse and instead gave His blessing; and causing death to be neutralized, He granted us eternal life. Resurrectional Hymn (Pl. 1 st Mode) To the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit born of the Virgin for our salvation, let us the faithful give praise and worship. For He willed to be lifted up on the cross in the flesh to endure death and raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection. Hymn of the Archangels Supreme Commanders of * the hosts of the Heavens * we, the unworthy, seek and beseech you * that by 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 heavenly hosts on high. Kontakion (4 th Mode) 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 we hold celebration, redeemed from the guilt of transgression as we cry to you, "The barren one bears the Theotokos, the nourisher of our Life." Today s Scripture Readings 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. Πρὸς Γαλάτας Ἐπιστολῆς Παύλου 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

3 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. 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." Ἐκ τοῦ κατὰ Ἰωάννην ἁγίου Εὐαγγελίου 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. Τι Είναι ο Όρθρος; Μέρος 1 Ποιά είναι τα μέρη του όρθρου σε γενικές γραμμές; Πρόκειται για μια ερώτηση που πραγματικά βοηθάει πολύ στο να κατανοήσουμε τα περί του τυπικού της εκκλησίας μας. Έτσι ακόμα και με μια μόνο ανάγνωση του παρακάτω, την επόμενη Κυριακή που θα εκκλησιαστούμε, θα ξέρουμε σε ποιό σημείο βρίσκεται η ακολουθία εκείνη την στιγμή και με λίγη προσοχή θα μπορούμε να κατανοήσουμε σιγά σιγά το νόημα αλλά και να γευτούμε την πραγματική ωφέλεια που προκύπτει από τον τακτικό εκκλησιασμό. Όρθρος λέγεται η Ακολουθία που τελείται πριν τη Θεία Λειτουργία. Είναι δοξολογία στο Χριστό, που Εκείνος είναι το Φως του κόσμου και ο Ήλιος της Δικαιοσύνης και είναι επίσης παράκληση στον Κύριο του Σύμπαντος με την ανατολή της καινούργιας ημέρας. Συγχρόνως είναι η καλύτερη ψυχική προετοιμασία για τη Θ.Λειτουργία (το Μυστήριο των Μυστηρίων) που θα επακολουθήσει. ΕΞΑΨΑΛΜΟΣ: Κατανυκτική ανάγνωση (όλοι ιστάμεθα όρθιοι) των 6 από τους 150 ψαλμούς του Ψαλτηρίου, τους περισσότερους των οποίων έγραψε ο Δαβίδ: 3ος: εικονίζει τη σταθερή ελπίδα της ψυχής στο Θεό. 37ος: Θρήνος της ψυχής για το βάρος των αμαρτιών. 62ος: Απαλή παρηγορητική πρωινή προσευχή. 87ος: Δέηση ψυχής τσακισμένης από τις συμφορές. 102ος: Προσευχή ευγνωμοσύνης για τις ευεργεσίες του Θεού. 142ος: Θερμή παράκληση βοήθειας. (*Οι πληροφορίες είναι από:

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6 Archangel Michael Church Special Needs Family Support Ministry Tentative Meeting Dates and Topics October 3, 10:30 am: When Life Turns Different Than planned In this session, participants will develop recognition of the initial disappointment or sense of loss of being the parent of a child with special needs. They will identify the differences between hope, dreams and expectations and the reality of their situations. They will create their new vision and goals for their family. October 24, 7:30pm: Diagnosis, Now What? In this session, participants will discuss the steps to take after diagnosis to make sure that their child thrives. We will discuss the steps to getting services, specialist as well as getting the most out of your child s current program. November 14, 7:30pm: Parent Self-Care In this session, participants will identify where in their life they have become overstressed, overwhelmed, and overworked. They will learn the importance that self-care plays on parenting and create a new self-care regimen. December 12th, 10:30 am: The Other Sibling In this session, participants will look at how the siblings of the child with special needs are feeling. We will discuss the benefits and challenges for that sibling. The participants will leave with strategies to support the other child. January 16th, 7:30 pm: The Perfect Parent Trap In this session, participants will discuss the perspectives and expectations we put on ourselves as parents. We will break the myth of the perfect parent and instead look at realistic expectations for ourselves as parents. February 13, 10:30am: Effective IEP Meetings In this session, participants will discuss the steps for a productive IEP meeting. Participants will be given resources to support them in getting the most out of their meeting. March 13, 7:30pm: Response VS Reaction In this session, participants will learn the difference between response and reaction. They will discuss where they have the most difficulty being responsive. Participants will be given tips on how to get to response. April 17, 10:30am: Meltdowns and Tantrums In this session, we will look at the difference between a meltdown and a tantrum and where each of our children might fall into. Participants will be given top strategies to support a meltdown. May 15, 7:30pm: Planning for Summer June 5, 10:30am: Going Out with Our Special Needs Child In this session, par ticipants will discuss difficulties around going shopping, visiting families, and vacationing with the special needs child. Participants will be given strategies and resources for to make it easier to venture out as a family.

7 Festival Appeal: We need your help now! Our Festival is less than 2 weeks away, but there's still time to complete your Festival sponsorships and donations! Stop by our Festival table after today's Liturgy to complete sponsorship, donation, and volunteer forms. We are accepting credit card payments. Also, don't forget your Festival posters and signs to display in your business, yard, or around town. Stop by our table to pick them up! No time to stop by? All Festival forms are on our website. Visit and click on the Festival photo!

8 Worship Schedule: Monday, Sept. 11 ~ St. Theodora of Alexandria ~ Orthros 8:30 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am Wednesday, Sept. 13 ~ Elevation of the Holy Cross ~ Great Vespers 7 pm (*in Whitestone and Bay Ridge) Thursday, Sept. 14 Saturday, Sept. 16 ~ Elevation of the Holy Cross ~ Orthros 8:30 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am ~ Challenge Liturgy (Saturday after Holy Cross) ~ Orthros 9:30 am, Divine Liturgy 10:30 am Upcoming Events: Monday, Sept. 11 ~ Manhasset 9/11 Candlelight Memorial Service (8 pm at Mary Jane Davies Park) Sept ~ AMC Greek Festival on the Harbor 2017 Saturday, Oct. 28 Friday, Nov. 10 ~ Annual 5K Run / Walk-A-Thon ~ Archangel Michael Nameday Gala (Plandome Country Club) Philoptochos News: Contact: philoptochos@archangelmichaelchurch.org From a monthly Feed The Hungry program, to engaging our youth in philanthropic endeavors, to assisting our veterans, our elders at St. Michael's Home, our orphans at St. Basil's Academy, our nuns helping victims of human trafficking, and so much more, the newly-elected Executive Board is ready to work hard in the name of Christ on behalf of our community: President: First Vice President: Second Vice President: Recording Secretary: Corresponding Secretary: Treasurer: Assistant Treasurer: Advisor to the Board: Chris Ioannou Diana Gardianos Eleni Germanakos Michele Lascarides Marina Vlahos Chris Arlis Jasmine Baktidy Eleni Raptis (past president) GOYA News: Congratulations to the newly-elected GOYA Board: Co-Presidents: Co-Vice Presidents: Co-Secretaries: Co-Treasurers: Board Members: Konstantinos Geleris, Themi Pappas, Marika Reynolds Tommy Drenis, Marinos Mihalatos, Christiana Psyllos Elaina Gatanas, Paul Petrakis, Eleana Tsiamtsiouris Annamaria Fazio, Danielle Rallis, Alexia Tsouros Deme Apostolou, Liana Drenis, Christopher Gerazounis, Marie Lolis, Peter Petrakis, Despina Tsiamtsiouris