`Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral

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1 `Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Proto-Cathedral of the Denver Metropolis 3511 Yoakum Boulevard Houston agoc.org + find us on facebook: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Rev. Economos Michael J. Lambakis, Dean Rev. Economos Demetrios Tagaropulos, Associate Priest Rev. Presbyter Thomas Newlin, Associate Priest Rev. Presbyter Gabriel Gadah, Associate Priest Rev. Deacon Iakovos Varcados Sunday Bulletin December 17, th Sunday of Luke Daniel the Prophet & Ananias, Azarias, & Misail, the Three Holy Youths Dionysius of Zakynthos Third Mode + Sixth Eothinon PLEASE NOTE: During the Cathedral Expansion construction period, Sunday Services will be held in the Martel Hall. Sunday Service Schedule Orthros 7:45 am + Divine Liturgy 9:00 am Sunday Church School immediately following the Divine Liturgy, until 12 pm Welcome to all our visitors worshipping with us today! We re glad you re here! Please join us at our Fellowship Coffee immediately following the Divine Liturgy. Visit the Welcoming Committee table to meet fellow parishioners and learn more about our community. Please silence all mobile devices while in the Holy Sanctuary. Thank you.

2 Special Hymns at Liturgy: Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world. Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Apolytikion for 11th Sunday of Luke in the Second Mode By faith didst Thou justify the Forefathers, when through them Thou didst betroth Thyself aforetime to the Church from among the nations. The Saints boast in glory that from their seed there is a glorious fruit, even she that bare Thee seedlessly. By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls. Ἐν πίστει τοὺς Προπάτορας ἐδικαίωσας, τὴν ἐξ Ἐθνῶν δι' αὐτῶν προμνηστευσάμενος Ἐκκλησίαν. Καυχῶνται ἐν δόξῃ οἱ Ἅγιοι, ὄι ἐκ σπέρματος αὐτῶν, ὑπάρχει καρπός εὐκλεής, ἡ ἀσπόρως τεκοῦσά σε. Ταῖς αὐτῶν ἱκεσίαις, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, σῶσον τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. Apolytikion of the Church On this day when our salvation is crowned for eternity and the revelation of the mystery of the ages. The Son of God becomes on this day the Virgin s Son, with Gabriel proclaiming the tidings of God s Grace. And we also join in the cry unto the Theotokos singing: Hail to You who are filled with grace; the Lord is with You. Σήμερον τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν τὸ Κεφάλαιον, καὶ τοῦ ἀπ' αἰῶνος Μυστηρίου ἡ φανέρωσις, ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, Υἱὸς τῆς Παρθένου γίνεται, καὶ Γαβριὴλ τὴν χάριν εὐαγγελίζεται. Διὸ καὶ ἡμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ τὴ Θεοτόκω βοήσωμεν, Χαῖρε Κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ Κύριος μετὰ σοῦ. Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to God the Word ineffably, Who was before all the ages. Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing the gladsome tidings; with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him Who is willing to be gazed on as a young Child Who before the ages is God. Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν Προαιώνιον Λόγον, ἐν Σπηλαίῳ ἔρχεται, ἀποτεκεῖν ἀπορρήτως. Χόρευε ἡ οἰκουμένη ἀκουτισθεῖσα, δόξασον μετὰ Ἀγγέλων καὶ τῶν Ποιμένων, βουληθέντα ἐποφθῆναι, παιδίον νέον, τὸν πρὸ αἰώνων Θεόν

3 Appointed Scripture Readings: Matins (Orthros) Gospel Luke 24:36-53 t that time, Jesus, having risen from the dead, stood in the midst of his disciples and said to A them, "Peace to you." But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high." Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God. Epistle Reading St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians 3:4-11 RETHREN, when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and B covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away; anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all. τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κολοσσαεῖς 3:4-11. δελφοί, ὅταν ὁ Χριστὸς φανερωθῇ, ἡ ζωὴ ἡμῶν, τότε καὶ ὑμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ φανερωθήσεσθε ἐν A δόξῃ. Νεκρώσατε οὖν τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, πορνείαν, ἀκαθαρσίαν, πάθος, ἐπιθυμίαν κακήν, καὶ τὴν πλεονεξίαν, ἥτις ἐστὶν εἰδωλολατρεία, διʼ ἃ ἔρχεται ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῆς ἀπειθείας Ἐν οἷς καὶ ὑμεῖς περιεπατήσατέ ποτε, ὅτε ἐζῆτε ἐν αὐτοῖς. Νυνὶ δὲ ἀπόθεσθε + 3 +

4 καὶ ὑμεῖς τὰ πάντα, ὀργήν, θυμόν, κακίαν, βλασφημίαν, αἰσχρολογίαν ἐκ τοῦ στόματος ὑμῶν μὴ ψεύδεσθε εἰς ἀλλήλους, ἀπεκδυσάμενοι τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον σὺν ταῖς πράξεσιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐνδυσάμενοι τὸν νέον, τὸν ἀνακαινούμενον εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν κατʼ εἰκόνα τοῦ κτίσαντος αὐτόν ὅπου οὐκ ἔνι Ἕλλην καὶ Ἰουδαῖος, περιτομὴ καὶ ἀκροβυστία, βάρβαρος, Σκύθης, δοῦλος, ἐλεύθερος ἀλλὰ τὰ πάντα καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν Χριστός. Gospel Reading 11 th Sunday of Luke Luke 14:16-24 he Lord said this parable: "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the T time of the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for all is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and there is still room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. For many are called, but few are chosen.'" Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 14:16-24 ἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην Ἄνθρωπός τις ἐποίησε δεῖπνον μέγα καὶ ἐκάλεσε E πολλούς καὶ ἀπέστειλε τὸν δοῦλον αὐτοῦ τῇ ὥρᾳ τοῦ δείπνου εἰπεῖν τοῖς κεκλημένοις ἔρχεσθε, ὅτι ἤδη ἕτοιμά ἐστι πάντα. καὶ ἤρξαντο ἀπὸ μιᾶς παραιτεῖσθαι πάντες. ὁ πρῶτος εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἀγρὸν ἠγόρασα, καὶ ἔχω ἀνάγκην ἐξελθεῖν καὶ ἰδεῖν αὐτόν ἐρωτῶ σε, ἔχε με παρῃτημένον. καὶ ἕτερος εἶπε ζεύγη βοῶν ἠγόρασα πέντε, καὶ πορεύομαι δοκιμάσαι αὐτά ἐρωτῶ σε, ἔχε με παρῃτημένον. καὶ ἕτερος εἶπε γυναῖκα ἔγημα, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο οὐ δύναμαι ἐλθεῖν. καὶ παραγενόμενος ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος ἀπήγγειλε τῷ κυρίῳ αὐτοῦ ταῦτα. τότε ὀργισθεὶς ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης εἶπε τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ ἔξελθε ταχέως εἰς τὰς πλατείας καὶ ῥύμας τῆς πόλεως, καὶ τοὺς πτωχοὺς καὶ ἀναπήρους καὶ χωλοὺς καὶ τυφλοὺς εἰσάγαγε ὧδε. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ δοῦλος κύριε, γέγονεν ὡς ἐπέταξας, καὶ ἔτι τόπος ἐστί. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ κύριος πρὸς τὸν δοῦλον ἔξελθε εἰς τὰς ὁδοὺς καὶ φραγμοὺς καὶ ἀνάγκασον εἰσελθεῖν, ἵνα γεμισθῇ ὁ οἶκος μου. λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτι οὐδεὶς τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐκείνων τῶν κεκλημένων γεύσεταί μου τοῦ δείπνου. Πολλοί γὰρ εἰσιν κλητοί, ὀλίγοι δέ ἐκλεκτοί

5 11th Sunday of Luke (December 17) + On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we commemorate Christ's forefathers according to the flesh, both those that came before the Law, and those that lived after the giving of the Law. Special commemoration is made of the Patriarch Abraham, to whom the promise was first given, when God said to him, "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 22:18). This promise was given some two thousand years before Christ, when Abraham was seventy-five years of age. God called him and commanded him to forsake his country, parents, and kinsmen, and to depart to the land of the Canaanites. When he arrived there, God told him, "I will give this land to thy seed" (Gen. 12:7); for this cause, that land was called the "Promised Land," which later became the country of the Hebrew people, and which is also called Palestine by the historians. There, after the passage of twenty-four years, Abraham received God's law concerning circumcision. In the one hundredth year of his life, when Sarah was in her ninetieth year, they became the parents of Isaac. Having lived 175 years altogether, he reposed in peace, a venerable elder full of days. Holy Communion is reserved for those who have been Baptized and/or Chrismated in the Eastern Orthodox Faith. The Communion Prayers are our final preparation to receive the Sacrament, along with fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays each week, and in the morning prior to the Divine Liturgy. (We, of course, continue to take prescribed medications.) We also prepare ourselves through regular confession. Please follow the directions of an usher to invite you to join the Communion line. When you approach the chalice, please give your Baptismal name to the priest. The order of communion is the newly baptized (with lit candles) and the congregation, pew by pew, beginning from the front of the nave

6 Altar Group for December 17 Saint Gerasimos Jacob Bass, Luke Bass, Charles Butta, Stavros Cotsoradis, Stephano Cotsoradis, Chrysanthos Fetokakis, Vasilis Germanides, Chris Hoekel, Nicholas Krasnosky, Aidan Paek, Nicholas Strickler, Nichols Sullo, Diamantis Zavitsanos Altar Group for December 24 - Saint Kosmas Ari Mangos, Christian Mangos, Constantine Mathews, Jonathan Mathews Charlie McGee, Zack Nicolaou, Diego Padilla, Manoli Pappas, Nicholas Rougas, Socrates Strafkos Parish News And Events What s Being Taught in the Adult Sunday Church School Classes, that begin immediately following the 9 am Divine Liturgy and end at 12 pm? Adult Bible Study. Facilitator: Fr. Gabriel Gadah, frgabriel@agoc.org, Room 226. Please join us for our Adult Sunday Bible Study as we review the Old Testament Book of Jonah. The purpose of this book is to show that God is a merciful and gracious God. Although the wicked city of Nineveh deserved to be crushed immediately, God was patient towards them. A reluctant prophet, Jonah originally ran from God before delivering a message of repentance to the nation of Nineveh. Join us as we continue our journey through the Books of the Old Testament. Inquirer s Class, Orthodoxy 101, Facilitator: Nancy Nalence (nnalence@comcast.net), Room 224. Topic: What We Believe About Prayer. Prayer is a central part of our Orthodox faith. St. Paul tells us to "pray without ceasing," and to "be in constant prayer." How is this possible? Today we'll discuss how prayer can transform us, what part it plays in our spiritual life, and why prayer is essential to a continuing, deepening relationship with God. Living the Liturgy. Facilitator: Fr. Demetri Tagaropulos, fatherdemetri@agoc.org. Room 228. We will continue with the Clementine Liturgy which characterizes the rite of Antioch from that of Constantinople is derived. Following this, St John Chrysostom s life and Liturgy will be introduced. Readings: Wyberg, 40-44; Gregorios, Philoptochos General Meeting & Christmas Social + 6 +

7 Philoptochos general meeting on Tuesday, December 19th, meet at Cleburne Cafeteria, Dutch Treat through the line dinner, followed by meeting in the dining room. Please bring a book or small gift for a child, and an ornament to exchange. Our membership tea will be held on January 28th, at the home of Kris and Richard McGee, save the date! "BREAKFAST WITH SANTA" pictures are ready. Please pick up your pictures at the Santa table today in the coffee area. For questions, please contact Linda Makris. linda@makrislaw.com ( ). Merry Christmas from the Daughters of Penelope! Houston Athens Marathon Exchange Pastitchio Dinner The Pastitchio Dinner will be held in the Martel Hall, January 11, 2018 at 7 PM. Please visit our table after the Divine Liturgy for details. Tickets will be available for purchase: Adult pre-sale $35.00; at the door-$40.00; Children under twelve $ Thank you for supporting our endeavor. Save the Date! 100th AGOC Anniversary Glendi - February 3, 2018, sponsored by the Ladies Philoptochos Society of Annunciation Cathedral in the Martel Hall. Please REGISTER YOUR CHILDREN for SUNDAY CHURCH SCHOOL FOR THE School Year. ADULTS contemplating conversion to the Orthodox Church, also register and attend the ORTHODOXY 101 class in Room 224 in the Polemanakos Building. Did you know you can register on your fancy phone? Link to register:

8 December 2017 Dear Friends, We hope you are having a healthy and happy holiday season! As we close out 2017, we wish to express our most heartfelt thanks to you for giving us the pleasure of serving as your Stewardship Chairs for the past two years. We thank you for your incredible generosity, and to date, we have raised $1,365,072 from 870 families. The Parish goal remains at $1,600,000. If you wish to increase your current pledge, please contact Betti Self at or bettiself@agoc.org. If you haven t yet made your commitment, here are several convenient ways to do so: By text: Simply send a text to with the amount you would like to contribute. Make sure to include the dollar sign before the amount (example: $25). Within a few minutes, you will be sent a text with a link to register. Click on the link and enter your cardholder name and credit or debit card information. Once your registration is complete, you will receive a text verification and a receipt via . For future giving, simply send a text with the amount you wish to give, and it will process automatically. Pledge online at By mail: Complete a pledge card with this letter and use the enclosed self-addressed envelope to mail your pledge to our administration office. By phone: Call Betti Self at Through the AGOC mobile app: Download GivePlusChurch for free from the App Store or Google Play. Search for GivePlusChurch to download the app and make a donation from your smartphone using your debit/credit card or checking/savings account. You can also choose to donate as a guest or set up an account that allows you to securely and conveniently schedule recurring donations and manage and review your giving history. The Parish Council has selected Dean Pappas as the new Stewardship Chair for 2018, and we are enthusiastic about the success that his leadership will bring. In the meantime, the needs of the Cathedral require all of us to give sacrificially, and we pray that all parishioners will keep our Church as their philanthropic priority at yearend. We thank you for your support and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Gratefully, Ellen and Paige M. Cokinos 2017 Stewardship Chairs + 8 +

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12 Sacred Service Schedule December 24, January 7, 2018 (All Services in the Martel Hall, unless noted otherwise) Sunday, December 24 - SUNDAY BEFORE NATIVITY 8:15 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy 5:00 pm Great Vespers - EVE OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST Monday, December 25 - NATIVITY OF CHRIST 8:15 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy Sunday, December 31 - SUNDAY BEFORE THEOPHANY 8:15 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy Monday, January 1 - ST. BASIL / CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD 9:00 am Divine Liturgy at St. Basil the Great Greek Orthodox Church, 1100 Eldridge Parkway (77077) Saturday, January 6 - HOLY THEOPHANY 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy & Service of the Greater Blessing of the Waters Sunday, January 7 - ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST 7:45 am Orthros 9:00 am Divine Liturgy Sunday Church School Philoptochos Vasilopita & Auction, Boozalis Festival Center, following Divine Liturgy

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14 The 100 th Anniversary of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Houston, Texas, is quickly approaching. Histories about Greek immigrants to Houston and how they established our church were written for the 65 th Anniversary ( This Precious Legacy), the 75 th Anniversary ( Let Brotherly Love Continue), and the 90 th Anniversary ( Christ Is in our Midst). As we celebrate our 100 th Anniversary, stories and photographs of families, Greek and non- Greek, who have called Annunciation home since 2007 will make our history complete. Tell us what brought you to Houston and why you chose Annunciation as your spiritual family. Some of the stories will be incorporated into a book commemorating the 100 th Anniversary of the Cathedral; some will go into the Archives of Annunciation, and a few will be shared with the congregation, in whole or in part, at the end of the Divine Liturgy. If you are interested in contributing to this landmark in our history, please submit your 250-word story to Irene Cassis at irenecassis@agoc.org by January 31,

15 The story of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral began 100 years ago, but we did not formally record it until 1982 as part of the 65 th Anniversary celebration. The 75 th and 90 th Anniversaries saw additional histories and, in 2013, Greeks in Houston, was published by Arcadia Publishers. Our story has grown and, as we prepare to celebrate 100 years, we will publish reflections on our faith journey as a community in our weekly bulletin. 100 Years of Keeping the Faith The Women s Church Society formed shortly after Annunciation was built in Raising much needed money gave the members a greater role in the church. In November, 1931, Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I, who was serving as Archbishop of North and South America, established the Ladies Philoptochos Society. Fr. Chris Nanopoulos founded Philoptochos at Annunciation in The Women s Church Society turned over its treasury to the parish council and joined Philoptochos to concentrate the efforts of the women in the parish on church endeavors. The Greek Orthodox Youth of America (GOYA) was founded during the 1950s as an Archdiocesan program under the direction of Metropolitan Michael of Corinth, who succeeded Archbishop Athenagoras. The Houston chapter was founded in 1951 as an year-old young adult group that later evolved into a teenage youth group. The Young Adult League, with members between the ages of 18-35, was formed in the 1970s. Members of these organizations participate in church and community activities, but they all come together to dance in the annual Greek Festival. (Greeks in Houston by Irene Cassis and Dr. Constantina Michalos)

16 Today at the Cathedral: Memorial Service is offered at the Divine Liturgy for Anastasia Kostas Papavassiliou (40 days), John A. Fotinos (3 years), Margaret K. Fotinos (5 years), and Sean Steve Kostef (16 years). Join us for the Fellowship Coffee in the Trophy Room, following the Divine Liturgy. The coffee today is sponsored by the Families of Anastasia Kostas Papavassiliou, Margaret and John Fotinos, and Sean Steve Kostef. Parish Elections - following the Divine Liturgy, until 3:00 pm, Martel Hall FOYER. 12:00 pm - All Parent Basketball Meeting, Room 224. Basketball Practice Schedule today, Sunday, December 17: Jr. Boys 12:15 1:45 AOS Jr. Girls 12:15 1:45 AGOC Sr. Boys 1:45 3:45 AOS Sr. Girls 1:45 3:45 AGOC 5:30 pm - Jr. & Sr. GOYA Caroling and Christmas Party, Colonial Oaks, 7800 S. Stadium Dr. This week at the Cathedral: Tuesday, December 19 10:15 am Sr. Citizens Meeting & Lunch 6:30 pm Philoptochos General Meeting, Cleburne Cafeteria