Bulletin for Sunday, December 24, 2017 Sunday before Nativity

Transcript

1 337 East 74th Street, New York, NY Rev. Fr. John Vlahos Bulletin for Sunday, December 24, 2017 Sunday before Nativity

2 ANNOUNCEMENTS: Coffee Hour Sponsored by our Cathedral Philoptochos Christmas Worship Schedule Sunday, December 24 Christmas Eve Great Vespers 6:00pm-7:30pm Monday, December 25 Christmas Day Matins 8:45am, Divine Liturgy 10am WELCOME TO ALL VISITORS: For those visiting an Orthodox Church for the first time, we welcome you and thank you for praying with us. When it comes time for the receiving of Holy Communion from the Chalice, please be aware that Holy Communion is a sign of unity of faith and it is only offered to Baptized or Chrismated Orthodox Christians. All present are welcome, however, to partake the antidoro (blessed bread) which is distributed at the end of the service. If you are interested in learning more about the Orthodox Faith, please see Fr. John after service. SUPPORT OUR CATHEDRAL BECOME A STEWARD! As we reflect on and give thanks for our many blessings, we need to remind ourselves that a giving back of our time, talents, and treasure to the Cathedral is greatly needed and truly appreciated. Anyone who has not yet submitted a Stewardship Pledge Card and contributed to the financial needs of our Cathedral by virtue of fulfilling his or her pledge is fervently and prayerfully asked to do so at this time. For more information, please visit or contact the Cathedral office. FROM THE SUNDAY SCHOOL Sunday School will reconvene on Sunday, January 7, 2018 NOTES FROM THE OFFICE: Christmas Poinsettias Sponsorship - Please contact the office if you would like to underwrite any number of plants as a Memorial to be listed in the Sunday Bulletin. To request a Memorial, or to place an announcement in the weekly bulletin for the following Sunday, please contact the office by the prior Wednesday. Introduce your business or service to the entire parish. We have various advertising opportunities in the Cathedral Life Magazine. Our issues are read by thousands of our parishioners and friends who live and operate their businesses in the five boroughs and the Tri- State Area. Please contact the Office for details

3 SCRIPTURE READINGS Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 11:9-10, Ἀδελφοί, πίστει παρῴκησεν Ἀβραὰµ εἰς τὴν γῆν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας ὡς ἀλλοτρίαν, ἐν σκηναῖς κατοικήσας µετὰ Ισαὰκ καὶ Ιακὼβ τῶν συγκληρονόµων τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τῆς αὐτῆς ἐξεδέχετο γὰρ τὴν τοὺς θεµελίους ἔχουσαν πόλιν, ἧς τεχνίτης καὶ δηµιουργὸς ὁ Θεός. Καὶ τί ἔτι λέγω; Ἐπιλείψει γάρ µε διηγούµενον ὁ χρόνος περὶ Γεδεών, Βαράκ τε καὶ Σαµψὼν καὶ Ιεφθάε, 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. St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:9-10; Brethren, by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundation, whose builder and maker is God. 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 armies 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 tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated - 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. Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 1:1-25 Βίβλος γενέσεως Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ, υἱοῦ Δαυῒδ υἱοῦ Αβραάµ. Αβραὰµ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ισαάκ, Ισαὰκ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιακώβ, Ιακὼβ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιούδαν καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ, Ιούδας δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Φαρὲς καὶ τὸν Ζαρὰ ἐκ τῆς Θάµαρ, Φαρὲς δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Εσρώµ, Εσρὼµ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Αράµ, Αρὰµ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Αµιναδάβ, Αµιναδὰβ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ναασσών, Ναασσὼν δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Σαλµών, Σαλµὼν δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Βοὸζ ἐκ τῆς Ραχάβ, Βοὸζ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ωβὴδ ἐκ τῆς Ρούθ, Ωβὴδ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιεσσαί, Ιεσσαὶ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Δαυῒδ τὸν βασιλέα. Δαυῒδ δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐγέννησε τὸν Σολοµῶνα ἐκ τῆς τοῦ Οὐρίου, Σολοµὼν δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ροβοάµ, Ροβοὰµ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Αβιά, Αβιὰ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ασά, Ασὰ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιωσαφάτ, Ιωσαφὰτ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιωράµ, Ιωρὰµ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Οζίαν, Οζίας δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιωάθαµ, Ιωάθαµ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Αχαζ, Αχαζ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Εζεκίαν, Εζεκίας δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Μανασσῆ, Μανασσῆς δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Αµών, Αµὼν δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιωσίαν, Ιωσίας δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιεχονίαν καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς µετοικεσίας Βαβυλῶνος. Μετὰ δὲ τὴν µετοικεσίαν Βαβυλῶνος Ιεχονίας ἐγέννησε τὸν Σαλαθιήλ, Σαλαθιὴλ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ζοροβάβελ, Ζοροβάβελ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Αβιούδ, Αβιοὺδ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ελιακείµ, Ελιακεὶµ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Αζώρ, Αζὼρ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Σαδώκ, Σαδὼκ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Αχείµ, Αχεὶµ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ελιούδ, Ελιοὺδ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ελεάζαρ, Ελεάζαρ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ματθάν, Ματθὰν δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιακώβ, Ιακὼβ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιωσὴφ τὸν ἄνδρα Μαρίας, ἐξ ἧς ἐγεννήθη Ιησοῦς ὁ λεγόµενος Χριστός. Πᾶσαι οὖν αἱ γενεαὶ ἀπὸ Αβραὰµ ἕως Δαυῒδ γενεαὶ δεκατέσσαρες, καὶ ἀπὸ Δαυῒδ ἕως τῆς µετοικεσίας Βαβυλῶνος γενεαὶ δεκατέσσαρες, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς µετοικεσίας Βαβυλῶνος ἕως τοῦ Χριστοῦ γενεαὶ δεκατέσσαρες. Τοῦ δὲ Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἡ γέννησις οὕτως ἦν. µνηστευθείσης γὰρ τῆς µητρὸς αὐτοῦ Μαρίας τῷ Ιωσήφ, πρὶν ἢ συνελθεῖν αὐτοὺς εὑρέθη ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχουσα ἐκ Πνεύµατος Αγίου. Ιωσὴφ δὲ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς, δίκαιος ὢν καὶ µὴ θέλων αὐτὴν

4 ὄναρ ἐφάνη αὐτῷ λέγων Ιωσὴφ υἱὸς Δαυΐδ, µὴ φοβηθῇς παραλαβεῖν Μαριὰµ τὴν γυναῖκά σου τὸ γὰρ ἐν αὐτῇ γεννηθὲν ἐκ Πνεύµατός ἐστιν Αγίου. τέξεται δὲ υἱὸν καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνοµα αὐτοῦ Ιησοῦν αὐτὸς γὰρ σώσει τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἁµαρτιῶν αὐτῶν. Τοῦτο δὲ ὅλον γέγονεν ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ Κυρίου διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος ἰδοὺ ἡ παρθένος ἐν γαστρὶ ἕξει καὶ τέξεται υἱόν, καὶ καλέσουσι τὸ ὄνοµα αὐτοῦ Εµµανουήλ, ὅ ἐστι µεθερµηνευόµενον µεθ ἡµῶν ὁ Θεός. Διεγερθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ιωσὴφ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕπνου ἐποίησεν ὡς προσέταξεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου καὶ παρέλαβε τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐγίνωσκεν αὐτὴν ἕως οὗ ἔτεκε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς τὸν πρωτότοκον, καὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸ ὄνοµα αὐτοῦ Ιησοῦν. The Gospel According to Matthew 1:1-25 The book of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus. Apolytikion for The Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath shined the light of knowledge upon the world; for thereby they that worshipped the stars were instructed by a star to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory be to Thee. Ἡ γέννησίς σου Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡµῶν, ἀνέτειλε τῶ κόσµω, τὸ φῶς τὸ τῆς γνώσεως, ἐν αὐτῇ γὰρ οἱ τοὶς ἄστροις λατρεύοντες, ὑπὸ ἀστέρος ἐδιδάσκοντο, σὲ προσκυνεῖν, τὸν Ἥλιον τῆς δικαιοσύνης, καὶ σὲ γινώσκειν ἐξ ὕψους ἀνατολήν, Κύριε δόξα σοί. Kontakion Today, the Virgin bears Him who is transcendent, and the earth presents the cave to Him who is beyond reach. Angels, along with shepherds glorify Him. The Magi make their way to Him by a star. For a new child has been born for us, the God before all ages. Ἡ Παρθένος σήµερον, τὸν ὑπερούσιον τίκτει, καὶ ἡ γῆ τὸ Σπήλαιον, τῶ ἀπροσίτω προσάγει. Ἄγγελοι µετὰ Ποιµένων δοξολογοῦσι. Μάγοι δὲ µετὰ ἀστέρος ὁδοιποροῦσι. δι ἡµᾶς γὰρ ἐγεννήθη, Παιδίον νέον, ὁ πρὸ αἰώνων Θεός.

5 WE THANK OUR BELOVED PARISHIONERS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THE CATHEDRAL IN 2017 AND HAVE HELPED ENHACE OUR PARISH LIFE. SPONSORS OF A DAY OR MORE Prof. & Mrs. Peter & Marjorie Allan Dr. Macrene Alexiades Mr. George Andreou Dr. Nektarios Antoniou Dr. John Athas & Dr. Monica Tadros Dr. & Mrs. John & Lea Bendo Mr. Justin Bozonelis Mr. & Mrs. Owen Breck & Rhea Tziros Breck Mr. Herbert Butler & Mrs. Effie Doscas-Butler Mr. & Mrs. George & Vasiliki Carleton Mr. & Mrs. John & Diane Chachas Mr. & Mrs. Stephen & Areti Cherpelis Ms. Helen Chiotes Mr. & Mrs. Peter & Vivi Chrisanthopoulos Mr. Constantine Christakos Mrs. Aliki Christie Deacon Eleftherios & Elizabeth Constantine Mr. & Mrs. John & Elena Coumantaros Drs. George & Roxana Dangas Mr. & Mrs. William & Sheila Doscas Mr. Peter Doukas Mrs. Evangeline Douris Mr. & Mrs. George & Maria Douvas Mrs. Sophia Fell Mr. & Mrs. George & Patricia Filopoulos Ms. Elizabeth K. 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John & Pres.Tina Vlahos Dr. & Mrs. George & Maria Yatrakis Mr. Andrew Yiannakos & Mrs. Thalia Comninellis Mr. Nicholas Zoullas & Ms. Susan Bates STEWARDS Mrs. Daphne Abrams Drs. A. Reese & Katerina Tsirilakis Abright Dr. Mir Nicodemus Ali Professor Marina Angel Mr. & Mrs. Arthur C. Anton, Sr. Mr. & Mrs. Milton & Danae Andrews Mr. Paul Angelides & Mrs. Emily Wasco Mr. & Mrs. Steve & Ellie Aniftos Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas & Raegan Apostolatos Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas & Vily Apostolatos Ms. Katie Artemas Ms. Eleni Athanasiadi & Mr. Christos Zoulas Mr. & Mrs. Michael & Helen Bapis Mr. & Mrs. Elias & Pamela Batalias Mrs. Froso Beys Mr. & Mrs. Anthony & Anna Bergamo Mrs. Vene Bolossis Mr. Nicholas S. 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John & Nicole Louras Mrs. Maria Lyras Mr. & Mrs. George & Antonia Makkos Ms. Mary Makrogiannis Mr. & Mrs. James & Janell Mallios Mrs. Maro Manesis Mr. Alexander Michaelis & Ms. Gabrielle Mannino Mr. & Mrs. Angelo & Maria Maragos Dr. & Mrs. George & Olga Maragos Ms. Sylvia Marakas Mr. & Mrs. Chris & Catherine Martin Mr. & Mrs. Alexandros & Constance Mastoras Mr. & Mrs. Dennis & Karen Mehiel Mr. & Mrs. John & Rena Melis Dr. Demetri Merianos Mr. George Patras & Mrs. Eleni Metaxa Dr. & Mrs. Nickolaos & Victoria Michelakis Mr. & Mrs. Rodney & Kimberly Miller Mr. & Mrs. Spiros & Antonia Milonas Assemblyman Matthew Mirones Mr. & Mrs. Anthony & Rene Mitchell Mr. & Mrs. Michail & Helen Molokotos Mr. & Mrs. James & Julie Morakis Ms. Ann Morfogen Mr. Dimitrios Moirogiannis Ms. Michelle Moukios Mrs. Catherine Moutoussis Ms. Georgia Mouzakis Mr. & Mrs. Dimitrios & Lori Nassis Mr. John & Francesca Neamonitis Mrs. Bess Nicholas Mr. & Mrs. Demetrius & Beth Krettecos Nonas Dr. Jerome Norton & Dr. Eleni Marcantonis Ms. & Mrs. Robert & Jennifer Patton Mr. Daniel Salym Padovano Mr. Gregory Panagos Ms. Anna Panayotou Mrs. Argyro Pantazopoulos Father & Diakonissa Panteleimon & Georgia Papadopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Nikolaos & Aspasia Papageorgiou Dr. Apostolos Pappas Mr. & Mrs. Christopher & Josephine Pappas Mr. & Mrs. Spyro & Lisa Papathanasiou Mr. George Parlamas Mr. & Mrs. Markos & Stephanie Parlamas Mr. Steven Parlamas Ms. Toula Patros Ms. Linda L. Paul Mrs. Bessie & Robert B Economou-Pease Mr. Paul Perakis Dr. Marinos Petratos Ms. Stefanie Petropoulos Dr. & Mrs. Michael & Fotini Pettei Mr. & Mrs. Sotirios & Stephanie Plakoudas Mr. Constantinos Podias & Dr. Christine Kakoulas Podias Mr. Christos Polymeropoulos Dr. & Mrs. Mihael & Mahy Polymeropoulos Ms. Paulette Poulos Mr. Peter Poulos Mr. & Mrs. Milan & Christina Prilepok Mrs. Lila Prounis Mr. & Mrs. Haralampos & Halen Rallakis Mrs. Nikoleta Maria Rallis Mr. & Mrs. William & Janice Randolph Mr. & Mrs. Haralampos Rallakis Ms. Nikoleta Maria Rallis Ms. Maria Recachinas Ms. Katherine Relle Mr. Michael Sakellis & Ms. Ifigenia Maris Mrs. Theone Saltis Mr. & Mrs. Thomas & Kathleen Sarakatsannis Ms. Lucia Sarchisian Mrs. Constantina Sarris Ms. Nancy Savaides Ms. Rochelle Ann Serlin Ms. Stella Sfiris Mr. & Mrs. Robert & Ekaterini Shaw Mr. Jason Simos Mr. Jimmy Sirris Ms. Regina K. Skarvelis Mr. & Mrs. Alex & Barbara Sherer Mr. & Mrs. Athanasios & Effie Siamas Dr. Anna Skiandos & Mr. Scott Love Mr. Perry P. & Emily Skoutelas Amb. & Mrs. Michael & Estelle Sotirhos Ms. Georgia Sotiropoulos Ms. Carlene Soumas Mrs. Ourania Soumas Ms. Lindsay Speros Ms. Andreena Stanica Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas & Valerie Stanos Ms. Maria Stefanatos Ms. Mary Stell Ms. Ilya Stephano & Mr. Sean Patrick Griffin Ms. Catherine Tarkas Mr. Georgios Theophanous Mr. & Mrs. Paul & Kali Theofanous Mr. & Mrs. Kosmas Toskos & Claudia Pohorilenko Toskos Mrs. Vasiliki Triandafillou Mrs. Maria Trihas Mr. Demetrios P. Tzoannos Mr. George Tsougarakis & Mrs. Evangelia Poneros Mr. & Mrs. Costa & Afshan Tzotzis Ms. Viola Valvis Mr. & Mrs. Theodore & Georgia Veru Mr. Christopher Vigeland & Mrs. Soula Economou Mrs. Maria Vlock Mr. & Mrs. Christos & Effie Voloudakis Mr. Nikolaos C. Vourkas Mr. Neil Vranis Ms. Sarah Watson Mr. & Mrs. Kevin M. & Stephanie Wilcox Mr. James Winikor & Dr. Maria Karas Mrs. Emilia Wolfe Mrs. Isadora Wolfe & Mr. Joseph Poulson Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin & Chrisanthi White Mr. & Mrs. Michael & Anna Xylas Mr. Vasilios Antonios Yialamas Mrs. Constantina Yanos Mrs. Marie Yatrakis Mr. & Mrs. Spero & Carol Zacharias Dr. Charles G. Zaroulis Mr. & Mrs. Kirk & Christine Zeiner Mrs. Rallou Zervoudakis Mr. & Mrs. Sotiri & Lea Zervoulias Mr. Frank Zisa Mr. & Ms. Nicholas Zoullas & Susan Bates Mr. & Mrs. Loukas & Mary Zoumas Ms. Ellie Zoumberakis KIDNEY DONOR NEEDED THE BIG ASK A r i a n a M a s t r o g i a n n i s i s a 1 9 y e a r o l d c o l l e g e s t u d e n t w i t h c h r o n i c k i d n e y d i s e a s e w h o l e f t s c h o o l l a s t s p r i n g b e c a u s e o f h e r f a i l i n g h e a l t h. W h e n s h e w a s 6 y e a r s o l d, s h e w a s d i a g n o s e d w i t h a r a r e a u t o i m m u n e d i s e a s e t h a t a t t a c k e d h e r o r g a n s. A t t h a t t i m e, h e r m o m d o n a t e d a k i d n e y t o h e r, b u t A r i a n a n o w n e e d s a n o t h e r k i d n e y t r a n s p l a n t. A r i a n a d e s p e r a t e l y w a n t s t o a v o i d d i a l y s i s a n d r e s u m e h e r s t u d i e s a t G e o r g e t o w n U n i v e r s i t y. P l e a s e g i v e h e r t h e g i f t o f a n o r m a l l i f e. TO BE A DONOR, YOU NEED TO BE: O Blood Type (+ or -) years old In good health (free of cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure) Please consider sharing your spare - you only need one! THE BIG GIVE Contact Information: kidneyforariana@gmail.com 1(212)

7 Byzantine Kalanta ΆΆναρχος Θεόός καταβέέβηκεν και εν τη Παρθέένω κατώώκησεν Βασιλεύύς των όόλων και Κύύριος, ήήλθε τον Αδάάµμ αναπλάάσασθαίί Γηγενείίς σκιρτάάτε και χαίίρεσθε, τάάξεις των αγγέέλων ευφραίίνεσθε Δέέξαι Βηθλεεµμ τον Δεσπόότην σου, Βασιλέέα πάάντω και Κύύριον Εξ ανατολώών Μάάγοι έέρχονται, δώώρα προσκοµμίίζοντες άάξια Σήήµμερον η κτίίσις αγάάλλεται και πανηγύύρίίζει κι ευφραίίνεται Hark the Herald Angels Sing Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Joyful, all ye nations, rise. Join the triumph of the skies; With th angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem. Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Εν υψίίστοις άάγγελοι τον θεάάνθρωπον Χριστόόν Ανυµμνουσι παµμπληθεις βασιλέέα νεογνόόν όόξα, όόξα τω Θεω εν υψίίστοις κρατεω νυν ειρήήνη επι γης ευδοκίία τοις λαοις νυν ειρήήνη επι γης ευδοκίία τοις λαοις O Come All Ye Faithful O come, all ye faithful, joyful, and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem! Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels! O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him: Christ, the Lord. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest; O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him: Christ, the Lord. Joy To The World Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room And heaven and nature sing. (3) Ερχετ'ʹ ο Κύύριος ηµμων Ας κάάµμη µμε σπουδήήν Πάάσα καρδίίαν εις αυτόόν, Θερµμήήν ύύποδοχήήν (3)

8 Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios The Feast of the Nativity of Christ 2017 To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, We glorify Christ on this blessed and glorious Feast for having come to us and for revealing the abundant and redeeming grace of God. We glorify Him for entering our humanity for our salvation. We glorify the miracle of His Incarnation and give thanks with great joy for this mighty act of God. We glorify God before all the world, because our Savior has come and the people who sat in darkness, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, Light has dawned. (Matthew 4:16) Today, the Son of God, as Radiance sent by the Father, has come and illuminated all of Creation. As in the darkness of night when the angels appeared to the shepherds, and the glory of the Lord shone all around them (Luke 2:9), Christ enters a world that has fallen into the darkness of sin and in need of the hope of light. Christ is born, and just as the shepherds we will go out glorifying and praising God for all that we have seen in the light of this holy Feast. We glorify Him today, for as the Son of Brightness, as the Live-giving light, Christ illuminates the path to God. As the star led the wise men to Bethlehem so they could worship the newborn King, He reveals to us the way of regeneration and salvation. He is the light that guides us on our way to communion with God on our journey of faith. He is the dawn of a new day of deliverance. Christ is born, and we now see truth. He is the light of divine wisdom, and His radiance dispels the shadows of deception, fulfills the ancient prophecies, and reveals the divine plan for our redemption. All who witness His Holy Nativity glorify Him as being the ultimate light of truth and the sublime wisdom of God. On this holy Feast we proclaim that our Lord and Savior has come. We join with the heavenly hosts in glorifying Him. As His glorious light shines in and through us, we witness to the world that Christ brings light in the darkness. His glory dispels fear and hopelessness. His radiance overcomes hatred and greed. The brilliance of His Incarnation reveals the truth of our life, existence and purpose, freeing us from sin and death. On this blessed day, may the light of Christ and His Holy Nativity shine in your hearts. May you know the assurance of His promises and the joy of His presence. As you cherish this blessed time with your brothers and sisters in the faith, and with family and friends, may His light shine through you so that others will glorify Him and see the way to truth and life eternal. With paternal love in Christ, DEMETRIOS Archbishop of America