Archangel Michael Church Η Εκκλησία του Αρχαγγέλου Μιχαήλ March 25, Annunciation of the Theotokos 1st Mode - 9th Morning Gospel

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1 Archangel Michael Church Η Εκκλησία του Αρχαγγέλου Μιχαήλ 100 Fairway Drive, Port Washington, NY (516) Clergy: Fr John Lardas, Fr Joshua Pappas, Fr Dennis Strouzas March 25, Annunciation of the Theotokos 1 st Mode - 9 th Morning Gospel On the 5 th Sunday of Lent, we usually lift up St Mary of Egypt as our foremost model of repentance. Her transformation - from enslavement to sin to extraordinary holiness in Christ - is probably the most remarkable turnaround in our Church s history. However, since today is March 25 th, the Feast of Annunciation takes precedence. Below is an excerpt from one of Fr Alexander Schmemann s (+1983) sermons on the Annunciation: I don t pretend to understand what an angel is, nor, using the limited language of human reason, can I explain the event that occurred almost 2000 years ago in a tiny Galilean town. But it strikes me that humankind has never forgotten this story, that these few verses have repeatedly been incorporated into countless paintings, poems, and prayers, and that they have inspired and continued to inspire. This means, of course, that people heard something infinitely important to them in these words, some truth which apparently could be expressed in no other way than in the childish, joyful language of Luke s Gospel. What is this truth? What happened when the young woman, barely past childhood, suddenly heard - from what profound depth, from what transcendent height! - that wonderful greeting: Rejoice! For that is indeed the angel s message to the Theotokos: Rejoice! The world is filled with countless books on struggle and competition, each attempting to show that the road to happiness is hatred, and in none of them will you find the word joy. People don t even know what the word means. But the very same joy announced by the angel remains a pulsating force that still has power to startle and shake the human heart. But what is this joy about? Above all we rejoice in the very presence of this woman herself, whose face is known throughout the world, who gazes upon us from icons, and who became one of the most sublime and purest figures of art and human imagination. We rejoice in her response to the angel, to her faithfulness, purity, wholeness, to her total self-giving and boundless humility, all of which forever ring out in her words: Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word. The joy of Annunciation is about the angel s glad tidings, that the people had found grace with God and that soon, very soon, through her, through this totally unknown Galilean woman, God would begin to fulfill the mystery of the world s redemption. There would be no thunder and no fear in His presence, but He would come to her in the joy and fullness of childhood. Through her a Child will now be King: a Child, weak, defenseless, yet though Him all the powers of evil are to be forever stripped of power. Ευαγγελισμός της Υπεραγίας Θεοτόκου «Σήμερα η εκκλησία μας γιορτάζει το χαρμόσυνο μήνυμα της θείας ενσάρκωσης, που με τόσο σαφή τρόπο μας το παρουσιάζει ο ευαγγελιστής Λουκάς στο Ευαγγέλιο του (κεφ. Α' στίχ ). Την ήμερα αυτή, ο θεόσταλτος αρχάγγελος Γαβριήλ παρουσιάζεται στην Παρθένο Μαρία, στη Ναζαρέτ και της ανήγγειλε ότι θα γεννήσει το Σωτήρα του κόσμου, τον Ιησού Χριστό. Και Όταν η Παρθένος αναρωτήθηκε πώς ήταν δυνατό να συλλάβει χωρίς άνδρα, ο αρχάγγελος της απάντησε ότι «το Άγιο Πνεύμα θα έλθει σε σένα και η δύναμη του Υψίστου θα σε επισκιάσει» Τότε η σεμνή κόρη, η Παρθένος Μαρία, του απάντησε ταπεινά. «Ιδού λοιπόν, η δούλη του Κυρίου. Ας γίνει το θέλημα Εκείνου». και καθώς ο Γαβριήλ εξαφανίστηκε από μπροστά της, συντελέστηκε το μεγαλύτερο μυστήριο της ανθρωπότητας. με τρόπο υπερφυσικό, η Παρθένος συνέλαβε στην άχραντη κοιλιά της, τον Υιό και Λόγο του Θεού. Εκείνον πού με την εκούσια θυσία του επάνω στο Σταυρό, έσωσε το ανθρώπινο γένος από τον αιώνιο θάνατο και την καταστροφή στην οποία είχε οδηγηθεί μετά την πτώση των πρωτοπλάστων από τον παράδεισο και την εμφάνιση της αμαρτίας στον κόσμο.» (Οι πληροφορίες είναι από:

2 Άγιοι και Εορτές Ὁ Εὐαγγελισµὸς τῆς Ὑπεραγίας Δεσποίνης ἡµῶν Θεοτόκου καὶ ἀειπαρθένου Μαρίας. Τῇ Κυριακῇ πέµπτῃ τῶν Νηστειῶν, διετάχθηµεν µνήµην ποιεῖσθαι τῆς Ὁσίας Μητρὸς ἡµῶν Μαρίας τῆς Αἰγυπτίας. Saints and Feasts On March 25, we celebrate the Annunciation of our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary; on this day, the fifth Sunday of Lent, we observe the memory of our devout Mother Mary of Egypt. Ἀντίφωνον Βʹ Σῶσον ἡµᾶς Υἱὲ Θεοῦ, ὁ δι' ἡµᾶς σαρκωθείς, ψάλλοντάς σοι, Ἀλληλούϊα. Εἰσοδικόν Εὐαγγελίζεσθε ἡµέραν ἐξ ἡµέρας τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡµῶν. Σῶσον ἡµᾶς Υἱὲ Θεοῦ, ὁ ἀναστὰς ἐκ νεκρῶν, ψάλλοντάς σοι, Ἀλληλούϊα. Ἀπολυτίκιον τῆς Ἑορτῆς 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 τῇ Θεοτόκῳ βοήσωµεν Χαῖρε Κεχαριτωµένη, ὁ Κύριος µετὰ σοῦ. Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἀναστάσιµον Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ στρατιωτῶν φυλασσόντων τὸ ἄχραντόν σου Σῶµα, ἀνέστης τριήµερος Σωτήρ, δωρούµενος τῷ κόσµῳ τὴν ζωήν διὰ τοῦτο αἱ Δυνάµεις τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐβόων σοι ζωοδότα. Δόξα τῇ Ἀναστάσει σου Χριστέ, δόξα τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ οἰκονοµίᾳ σου, µόνε φιλάνθρωπε. 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. Ὕµνος εἰς τὴν Θεοτόκον (ᾨδὴ θʹ. Ὁ Εἱρµός.) Ὡς ἐµψύχῳ Θεοῦ κιβωτῷ, ψαυέτω µηδαµῶς χεὶρ ἀµυήτων, χείλη δὲ πιστῶν τῇ Θεοτόκῳ ἀσιγήτως, φωνὴν τοῦ Ἀγγέλου ἀναµέλποντα, ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει βοάτω Χαῖρε Κεχαριτωµένη, ὁ Κύριος µετὰ σοῦ. Antiphon II Save us, O Son of God, who were incarnate for us. We sing to You, Alleluia. Entrance Hymn Proclaim from day to day the salvation of our God. Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia Hymn of the Feast (4 th Mode) Today is the summary of our salvation, and the revelation of the age-old mystery. For the Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin, and Gabriel announces the good news of grace. Therefore, let us join him, and cry aloud to the Theotokos: "Rejoice, Maiden full of grace! The Lord is with you." Resurrectional Hymn (1 st Mode) The stone had been secured with a seal by the Judeans, * and a guard of soldiers was watching Your immaculate body. * You rose on the third day, O Lord * and Savior, granting life unto the world. * For this reason were the powers of heaven crying out to You, O Life-giver: * Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ; * glory to Your kingdom; * glory to Your dispensation, only One who loves mankind. Kontakion (Pl. 4 th Mode) O Champion General, I your City now inscribe 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 perils free me, so that unto you * I may cry aloud: * Rejoice, O unwedded Bride. Hymn to the Theotokos (Ode ix. Heirmos.) Now let no uninitiated hand * approach the living Ark of God to touch it. * Rather let believers' lips sing out in exultation * the Angel's salutation unceasingly * to the Theotokos and cry out: * Rejoice, Maiden full of grace! The Lord is with you.

3 Today s Scripture Readings Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 2:11-18 Brethren, he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, "I will proclaim thy name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee." And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Here am I, and the children God has given me." Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage. For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. Πρὸς Ἑβραίους Ἐπιστολῆς Παύλου 2:11-18 Ἀδελφοί, ὅ ἁγιάζων καὶ οἱ ἁγιαζόµενοι ἐξ ἑνὸς πάντες δι' ἣν αἰτίαν οὐκ ἐπαισχύνεται ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοὺς καλεῖν, λέγων "Ἀπαγγελῶ τὸ ὄνοµά σου τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς µου, ἐν µέσῳ ἐκκλησίας ὑµνήσω σε" καὶ πάλιν "Ἐγὼ ἔσοµαι πεποιθὼς ἐπ' αὐτῷ" καὶ πάλιν "Ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ καὶ τὰ παιδία ἅ µοι ἔδωκεν ὁ Θεός". Ἐπεὶ οὖν "τὰ παιδία" κεκοινώνηκε σαρκὸς καὶ αἵµατος, καὶ αὐτὸς παραπλησίως µετέσχε τῶν αὐτῶν, ἵνα διὰ τοῦ θανάτου καταργήσῃ τὸν τὸ κράτος ἔχοντα τοῦ θανάτου, τοῦτ ἔστι τὸν διάβολον, καὶ ἀπαλλάξῃ τούτους, ὅσοι φόβῳ θανάτου διὰ παντὸς τοῦ ζῆν ἔνοχοι ἦσαν δουλείας. Οὐ γὰρ δήπου ἀγγέλων ἐπιλαµβάνεται, ἀλλὰ "σπέρµατος Ἀβραὰµ" ἐπιλαµβάνεται. Ὅθεν ὤφειλε κατὰ πάντα τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ὁµοιωθῆναι, ἵνα ἐλεήµων γένηται καὶ πιστὸς ἀρχιερεὺς τὰ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, εἰς τὸ ἱλάσκεσθαι τὰς ἁµαρτίας τοῦ λαοῦ. Ἐν ᾧ γὰρ πέπονθεν αὐτὸς πειρασθείς, δύναται τοῖς πειραζοµένοις βοηθῆσαι. Luke 1:24-38 In those days, Elizabeth the wife of Zacharias conceived and for five months she hid herself, saying, "Thus the Lord had done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men." In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible." And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. Kατὰ Λουκᾶν 1:24-38 Ἐν ταῖς ἡµέραις ἐκείναις συνέλαβεν Ἐλισάβετ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ, καὶ περιέκρυβεν ἑαυτὴν µῆνας πέντε, λέγουσα ὅτι οὕτω µοι πεποίηκεν ὁ Κύριος ἐν ἡµέραις αἷς ἐπεῖδεν ἀφελεῖν τὸ ὄνειδός µου ἐν ἀνθρώποις. Ἐν δὲ τῷ µηνὶ τῷ ἕκτῳ ἀπεστάλη ὁ ἄγγελος Γαβριὴλ ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰς πόλιν τῆς Γαλιλαίας, ᾗ ὄνοµα Ναζαρέτ,πρὸς παρθένον µεµνηστευµένην ἀνδρί, ᾧ ὄνοµα Ἰωσήφ, ἐξ οἴκου Δαυΐδ, καὶ τὸ ὄνοµα τῆς παρθένου Μαριάµ. καὶ εἰσελθὼν ὁ ἄγγελος πρὸς αὐτὴν εἶπε Χαῖρε, κεχαριτωµένη ὁ Κύριος µετὰ σοῦ εὐλογηµένη σὺ ἐν γυναιξίν. Ἡ δὲ ἰδοῦσα διεταράχθη ἐπὶ τῷ λόγῳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ διελογίζετο ποταπὸς εἴη ὁ ἀσπασµὸς οὗτος. Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἄγγελος αὐτῇ Μὴ φοβοῦ, Μαριάµ εὗρες γὰρ χάριν παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ. Καὶ ἰδοὺ συλλήψῃ ἐν γαστρὶ καὶ τέξῃ υἱόν, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνοµα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν. Οὗτος ἔσται µέγας καὶ υἱὸς ὑψίστου κληθήσεται, καὶ δώσει αὐτῷ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τὸν θρόνον Δαυῒδ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ βασιλεύσει ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον Ἰακὼβ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, καὶ τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔσται τέλος. Εἶπε δὲ Μαριὰµ πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον Πῶς ἔσται µοι τοῦτο, ἐπεὶ ἄνδρα οὐ γινώσκω; Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἄγγελος εἶπεν αὐτῇ Πνεῦµα Ἅγιον ἐπελεύσεται ἐπὶ σὲ καὶ δύναµις ὑψίστου ἐπισκιάσει σοι διὸ καὶ τὸ γεννώµενον ἅγιον κληθήσεται υἱὸς Θεοῦ. Καὶ ἰδοὺ Ἐλισάβετ ἡ συγγενής σου καὶ αὐτὴ συνειληφυῖα υἱὸν ἐν γήρει αὐτῆς, καὶ οὗτος µὴν ἕκτος ἐστὶν αὐτῇ τῇ καλουµένῃ στείρᾳ ὅτι οὐκ ἀδυνατήσει παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ πᾶν ῥῆµα. Εἶπε δὲ Μαριάµ Ἰδοὺ ἡ δούλη Κυρίου γένοιτό µοι κατὰ τὸ ῥῆµά σου. Καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ἀπ' αὐτῆς ὁ ἄγγελος.

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6 JOIN US TODAY!! Hosted by the AMC Ladies Philoptochos Society $25 adults ~ $15 (12 and under) pasta lunch Proceeds to benefit Hellenic Relief Easter Lamb Raffle - 3 tickets for $20 Drawing to be held on 3/29 at Palm-Making Looking for a Philanthropic endeavor during Lent? Help Philoptochos' HOPE Project and prepare Emergency Care Bags for Female Survivors of Human Trafficking. Mission Statement: The Hope Project is a mission of All Saints Monastery committed to providing support to survivors of human trafficking through housing, education, occupation and health care. Needed: 50 Completed Duffel Bags consisting of the following items: Please drop off all bags by March 30 in front of the main office. Please purchase NEW items. Yes, this increases the cost. It also sends a message that the receiver is worthy of beautiful new things. Please purchase all clothing items in the same size. (IE: All mediums, or all larges, etc.) Please purchase basic colors to appeal to any taste. (Darker colors work well.) Have fun and enjoy the process. You are truly providing hope! When a child or young adult has been through a traumatic experience and they are given a bag with fresh clean clothes, hygiene items, a journal or comfort item, and a meal-- imagine the hope this gives to them! Duffel Bag 1 facial wash 2 sports bras 1 package razors 1 package bikini briefs 1 package maxipads or tampons 1 pair dark sweat pants 1 hairbrush 1 pair yoga pants 1 journal 1 t-shirt 1 pen 1 tank top 1 $15 fast food gift card 1 package ankle socks 1 $15 Dunkin Donut or Starbuck card 1 hooded sweatshirt 1 $15 gift card to Walmart or Target 1 deodorant 1 shampoo full size & 1 conditioner full size 1 toothbrush 1 toothpaste 1 body wash 1 body lotion

7 Easter Pastoral Visits If you have a family member or loved one who is home-bound, in a hospital or nursing home, who would like to be visited by a priest and/or to receive Holy Communion, please call the Church Office to schedule a pastoral visit. Worship Schedule: Mon, March 26 Tues, March 27 Wed, March 28 Thurs, March 29 Sat, March 31 Upcoming Events: Sun, March 25 Tues, March 27 Wed, March 28 Thurs, March 29 Thurs, March 29 Fri, March 30 April (FSS) Sat, April 21 Sun, April 22 Fri, May 11 Thurs, June 7 July 8-17 September Fri, November 9 ~ Great Compline, 4:00 pm ~ Great Compline, 4:00 pm ~ Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, 9:30 am (followed by Bible Study at 11:00 am) ~ Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, 6:30 pm (followed by Bible Study at 7:45 pm) ~ Great Compline, 6:30 pm (followed by Family Night & Palm Cross Making) ~ Saturday of Lazarus & Challenge Liturgy (w/ His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios) ~ Orthros 8:30 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am (followed by a reception; see flyer) ~ Bakaliaro Luncheon for the Feast of Annunciation TODAY! (see flyer for details) ~ Special Needs Family Support Ministry Meeting (7:30 pm) ~ Bible Study (11 am and 7:45 pm) ~ Altar Boy Retreat (after School) ~ Family Fellowship Night & Palm Cross Making (beginning at 6:30 w/ Compline) ~ Rolling Confessions for Goyans and all parishioners (7:30-10:30 pm) ~ AMC GOYA Boston Retreat ~ Youth Choir Trip to Agia Skepi Monastery ~ Greek Independence Day Parade ~ Preschool Annual Dance at Strathmore Vanderbilt Country Club ~ The AMC 25th Annual Golf Outing ~ Pilgrimage to the Holy Land led by Fr. John (please see the Church website for info) ~ 2018 AMC Greek Festival on the Harbor ~ Save the Date for AMC Annual Nameday Gala Philoptochos News: Contact us at: philoptochos@archangelmichaelchurch.org Philoptochos would like to extend a warm welcome to new members: Toula Reynolds, Katherine Ferentinos and Frances Sotiriou. Our Philoptochos Chapter is bursting with activities! Let us know if you'd like to help. Philoptochos AMC Cooking Club ~ Next in the series: Baking Tsourekia with Father John. We will have 2 sessions - come to one or both! Wednesday, March 28th 5-8 pm (to prepare the dough) and/or Thursday, March 29th, 9 am - 12 pm (to shape and bake tsourekia). Space is limited! Please RSVP to Vicky@ vgiouroukakis@molloy.edu or Donation $20. Philoptochos will be selling Tsourekia to our parishioners after Divine Liturgy on the Saturday of Lazarus, and on Palm Sunday. Please us for more information. Our Philoptochos chapter is continuing our Feed the Hungry campaign through Help Feeding America. Our research has shown that this organization is the most efficient at maximizing your donation dollars to "Set The Table" for those most in need. $1 = 11 meals. Please type the following link into your browser for more information: GET FIT! GREEK ZUMBA FITNESS is on TUESDAY mornings 9:30 am - 10:30 am in the AMC gym ($20pp for individual classes, $15pp for a package of 10). This class is being offered as part of Philoptochos' "Get Fit, Get Healthy" initiative to promote women's health. All net proceeds from Zumba will be donated to the American Heart Association. Haven't tried it yet? No worries, try it now! Please support our cause and get healthy!! Walk-ins welcome! For more information call Marina Vlahos (516) Join us and bring your friends!

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