March 11, 2018 Sunday of the Holy Cross

Transcript

1 March 11, 2018 Sunday of the Holy Cross Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem Pionios the Presbyter, Theodora the Righteous George the New Wonderworker of Constantinople Trophimos and Thallos the Martyrs Veneration of the Holy Cross Epistle: Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:1-6 Gospel: Mark 8:34-38, 9:1 937 Chase Parkway Waterbury, CT Phone: (203) Fax: (203) Fr. Perikles Cell: (203) Monday March 12 GOYA Meeting - 6:30pm; Parish Council Meeting - 7:00pm Tuesday March 13 Greek School - 5:00pm youth, 6:30pm adults; Greek Dancing - 6:30pm ; AHEPA Calcutta - 6:00pm Wednesday March 14 Presanctified Liturgy - 6:30pm Thursday March 15 Daughters of Penelope Meeting - 6:30pm Friday March 16 Salutations - 6:30pm Saturday March 17 Hosting District Oratorical Festival - 9:00am-1:00pm Sunday March 18 Saint John Climacus - Orthros 8:45am, Divine Liturgy 9:45am; 100th Anniversary Movie Day

2 ΙΕΡΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΑΓΙΑΣ ΤΡΙΑΔΟΣ Sundays: Orthros 8:45am, Divine Liturgy 9:45am Rev. Perikles Kallis, Pastor Rev. Demetri Belsito, Ph.D., Deacon SUNDAY OF THE HOLY CROSS ἈΠΟΛΥΤΊΚΙΟΝ ΤῆΣ ἙΟΡΤῆΣ Apolytikion of the Holy Cross Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting victory to the faithful over the enemy, and by Your Cross protecting Your commonwealth. Kontakion 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 kinds of perils free me, so that unto you I may cry aloud: Rejoice, O unwedded Bride. Ἀπολυτίκιον τῆς Ἑορτῆς Σῶσον, Κύριε, τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου, νίκας τοῖς βασιλεῦσι κατὰ βαρβάρων δωρούμενος, καὶ τὸ σὸν φυλάττων διὰ τοῦ Σταυροῦ σου πολίτευμα. 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. EPISTLE - HEBREWS 4:14-16, 5:1-6 ΠΡῸΣ ἙΒΡΑΙΟΥΣ 4:14-16, 5:1-6 Reader- O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance. Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God. The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews. BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high Ας κρατήσουμε, λοιπόν, σταθερά την πίστη που ομολογούμε. Γιατί έχουμε μέγαν αρχιερέα τον Ιησού, τον Υιό του Θεού που έφτασε ως το θρόνο του Θεού. Δεν έχουμε αρχιερέα που να μην μπορεί να συμμεριστεί τις αδυναμίες μας. Αντίθετα, έχει δοκιμαστεί σε όλα, επειδή έγινε άνθρωπος σαν κι εμάς, χωρίς όμως να αμαρτήσει. Ας πλησιάσουμε, λοιπόν, 2

3 priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek." The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of με θάρρος το θρόνο της χάριτος του Θεού, για να μας σπλαχνιστεί και να μας δωρίσει τη χάρη του, την ώρα που τη χρειαζόμαστε. Κάθε αρχιερέας που προέρχεται από ανθρώπους, εγκαθίσταται για να υπηρετεί το Θεό για χάρη τους και για να προσφέρει δώρα και θυσίες για τις αμαρτίες τους. Είναι σε θέση να δείχνει ανοχή σ όσους ζουν στην άγνοια και στην πλάνη, αφού κι ο ίδιος έχει ανθρώπινες αδυναμίες. Εξαιτίας τους είναι υποχρεωμένος να προσφέρει, όπως για το λαό, έτσι και για τον εαυτό του, θυσίες για τη συγχώρηση των αμαρτιών. Επίσης, κανένας δεν παίρνει μόνος του αυτή την τιμή, αλλά όταν τον καλέσει ο Θεός, όπως ακριβώς κάλεσε τον Ααρών. Έτσι κι ο Χριστός, δεν τίμησε ο ίδιος τον εαυτό του με το αξίωμα του αρχιερέα, αλλά του το έδωσε εκείνος που του είπε: Εσύ είσαι ο Υιός μου, εγώ σήμερα σε γέννησα. Σ ένα άλλο σημείο η Γραφή λέει: Εσύ είσαι ιερέας για πάντα όπως ο Μελχισεδέκ. GOSPEL - MARK 8:34-38, 9:1 ΚΑΤᾺ ΜᾶΡΚΟΝ 8:34-38, 9:1 Ο Ιησούς κάλεσε τότε τον κόσμο μαζί με τους μαθητές και τους είπε: «Όποιος θέλει να με ακολουθήσει, ας απαρνηθεί τον εαυτό του, ας σηκώσει το σταυρό του κι ας με ακολουθεί. Γιατί όποιος θέλει να σώσει τη ζωή του θα τη χάσει όποιος όμως χάσει τη ζωή του εξαιτίας μου και εξαιτίας του ευαγγελίου, αυτός θα τη σώσει. Τι θα ωφεληθεί ο άνθρωπος, αν κερδίσει ολόκληρο τον κόσμο αλλά χάσει τη ζωή του; Τι μπορεί να δώσει ο άνθρωπος αντάλλαγμα για τη ζωή του; Όποιος, ζώντας μέσα σ αυτή τη γενιά την 3

4 man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power." άπιστη κι αμαρτωλή, ντραπεί για μένα και για τη διδασκαλία μου, θα ντραπεί γι αυτόν και ο Υιός του Ανθρώπου, όταν έρθει με όλη τη λαμπρότητα του Πατέρα του, μαζί με τους αγίους αγγέλους». Τους έλεγε ακόμη ο Ιησούς: «Σας βεβαιώνω πως υπάρχουν μερικοί ανάμεσα σ αυτούς που βρίσκονται εδώ, οι οποίοι δε θα γευτούν το θάνατο, πριν δουν να έρχεται δυναμικά η βασιλεία του Θεού». OLD TESTAMENT ISAIAH 42:18-23, GOSPEL - MARKU 8:34-38, 9:1 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord's servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come? 9Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? Dhe thirri pranë vetes turmën bashkë me dishepujt e u tha: «Kush dëshiron të vijë pas meje, le të mohojë veten, të marrë kryqin e vet dhe të më ndjekë. Sepse kushdo që dëshiron ta shpëtojë jetën e vet, do ta humbasë atë dhe kushdo që e humbet jetën e vet për shkakun tim dhe të ungjillit, do ta shpëtojë atë. Çʼdobi do të kishte njeriu po të fitonte mbarë botën, por të humbte jetën e vet? Çfarë do të jepte njeriu në këmbim të jetës së vet? Nëse dikush ka turp për mua dhe për fjalët e mia para kësaj breznie të pafe dhe mëkatare, po ashtu do të ketë turp për ta edhe Biri i njeriut kur të vijë me engjëjt e shenjtë në lavdinë e Atit të tij». Jezui u tha: «Me të vërtetë po ju them se disa nga ata që janë këtu nuk do ta provojnë vdekjen pa e parë mbretërinë e Perëndisë, duke ardhur me fuqi». 4

5 The Coffee Hour today is offered by the Nikas Family in loving memory of George Nikas. We cordially invite all to the Coffee Hour Room, up the ramp, following Divine Liturgy. UPCOMING SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE March 11 March 18 March 25 Shortened Classes after the procession of the Cross Regular Classes No Classes SOUP, SALAD, & LENTEN DISCUSSION will take place on Wednesday, March 21st following Presanctified Liturgy, which is being held at 6:30pm. Please sign up outside Fr. Perry s office if you re planning to come & what item you d like to bring to share. THE PALM SUNDAY LUNCHEON will take place on Sunday, April 1st. Please make reservations now with Janet Gagas or you may also call the church office. Fish - $20 per person, pasta - $5 per person. LUMINARY FUNDRAISER Luminary Bags, sponsored by the Ladies Philoptochos & Daughters of Penelope, are now available. $5 each or five bags for $20, please bring a canned good as well to put inside the bag. The Sunday School students will be decorating luminaries on Palm Sunday. Others are welcome to pay in advance and take their bags home to write their message & decorate. All bags are due back to church by Sunday April 1st. MYROFORES: Any girls interested in being a myrofora during Holy Week, please see Janet Gagas. SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Hellenic University Club of New York scholarship applications are available for high school seniors both online at and in the office. The deadline to apply is April 15, THE AHEPA & DOP DISTRICT 7 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION is now available in the church office. This scholarship is for current college students. The deadline to apply is April 15,

6 AHEPA CHAPTER 48 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS are now available in the church office. The deadline to apply is May 13, OUR BOOKSTORE IS OPEN DURING COFFEE HOUR! Now available - red dye for Paschal eggs. Non-toxic dye from Greece. Suggested donation - $2.00. For special requests, please contact the church office. CALLING ALL BAKERS! We need your help baking for for the Greek Festival! -Daytime bakers: Please contact Nicki Gagas to sign up for daytime baking. Dates to be announced. -Koulourakia: Sunday, April 15th after Church, Saturday, April 21st from 11:00am on and Sunday, April 29th after church. Please contact Cassandra or Anthony Rinaldi for more info. -Evening bakers for finikia & kourambiedes: Monday, April 9th, Weds, April 11th and Friday, April 13th. Wednesday, April 25th and Friday, April 27th. Please contact Margo Ricciardi, Georgia Lacman or Janet Gagas for more info on these dates. GREEK FESTIVAL BASKET RAFFLE Anyone interested in donating a basket for the Basket Raffle, please contact Barbara Tzepos. Monetary donations towards a basket are also accepted - deadline for submissions is May 1st. CARETAKER There is a need for a live-in caretaker for an elderly woman near East Haven, CT. Rent free, would involve some light housework as well. Please contact the church office for more info. CHURCH CALENDAR For the most up-to-date church calendar, please visit: or check out our bulletin board by the office. HAVE A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION? Our church family cares and is here to help. There are helpful resources out there to utilize during this difficult journey. A good first step is to visit Please contact Fr. Perry anytime if you need help finding resources or simply for someone to talk to. You are not alone in this. May God grant us strength! CHECK OUT THE PODCAST "LIVE THE WORD ON ANCIENT FAITH RADIO. Finding the Word of God in the Word of God. The team that brought you Be the Bee is 6

7 back with a new weekly series that will explore the weekly Epistle and Gospel readings. Each episode ends with three questions to help you discover what God has for you in your life. Visit: or search Live the Word in the podcast app. CAMP SAINT PAUL 2018 SUMMER CAMP DATES: June 25th - July 29th. Registration is now open. There is limited space available in weeks 4 and 5. If you have any questions or need any assistance in registering, please us at campstpaul@goarch.org In the middle of Great Lent, the Church gives its faithful a sign of victory, one that can bring strength to them in this time of fasting. The Sunday of the Holy Cross is one that brings everything into perspective, especially with the Gospel reading, the Lord saying to all His disciples: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" With us bearing our crosses during Great Lent, we also come to venerate the Holy Cross of the Lord on this day. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Priest and Altar Boys will process with the Holy Cross (surrounded by beautiful flowers) in the Church. The entire Church will chant the hymn of the Cross when the procession is finished: Lord, save Your people and bless Your in- heritance. Grant victory to our rulers over the enemy, and protect Your commonwealth by the might of Your cross! At the end of the Liturgy, the Priest will give out the flowers by the Holy Cross to the people as a blessing. Because of the commemoration of the Holy Cross today, the hymns are much more happy, having a hint of Resurrection in them (e.g. the Katavasies of the day sound like the Katavasies of Pascha). The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me 7

8 100 TH ANNIVERSARY MOVIE DAY Join us next Sunday, March 18th in the banquet hall following church services. We ll watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Popcorn & candy will be served. ATTENTION! Volunteers needed to help plan the Grand Banquet for the 100th Anniversary (Sunday, November 18, 2018). Anyone interested in helping, please see Margo Ricciardi. There will be a planning meeting after church on Sunday, March 11th. 100TH ANNIVERSARY FAMILY FEUD has been rescheduled to Sunday, May 20th. You can now sign up in the church office - 5 players per family team (can be combined families) will compete to win the Grand Prize of having your family name etched onto the Immigrant Wall at Ellis Island! Space is limited. Even if you don t win, ask us how you can have your family s name inscribed on the wall too. COMMEMORATIVE ALBUM ADS are now due. Forms are available in the church office. Please see Penny Pecka with any questions you may have regarding Ads. ARTIFACTS We are looking for old artifacts to display at the Mattatuck Museum during our 100th Anniversary weekend. We are looking for things like old icons, Hellenic artifacts brought over from Greece, etc. We are especially looking for artifacts with a Waterbury connection. Do you have a historical photo from a restaurant downtown? How about an old menu from your family s restaurant? We are looking for keepsake type items that connect to either our faith or heritage and have a Waterbury connection. If you have a potential item, please contact Penny Albini or the church office to discuss. BURN THE MORTGAGE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN Help us burn our remaining expansion project mortgage by Sunday November 18th at our Grand Banquet. The pledge form is available in the church office. Contact John Gagas (chair), a member of the committee or Fr. Perikles for more info. 8

9 Join us at Waterbury s City Hall on Saturday, March 24th, 10:00am to honor our Greek Mayor for the Day, Mrs. Demetra (Toula) Kaloidis! We will have the flag-raising, followed by speeches & dances performed by our youth inside City Hall along with a reception. Calling all former Mayors for the Day! We are planning to gather at the flagpole on Saturday, March 24th following the flag-raising to take a group photo for our 100th Anniversary Commemorative Album. Please make every effort to attend. Sunday, March 25th, the Greek School will offer their Greek Independence Day program following Divine Liturgy in the banquet hall. Wednesday, March 14 Friday, March 16 Sunday, March 18 Wednesday, March 21 Friday, March 23 Sunday, March 25 Saturday, March 31 Presanctified Liturgy - 6:30pm Salutations - 6:30pm St. John Climacus - Orthros 8:45am, Di vine Liturgy 9:45am Presanctified Liturgy - 6:30pm; Soup, Salad & Lenten Discussion 7:30pm Akathist Hymn - 6:30pm Annunciation to the Theotokos - Orthros 8:45am, Divine Liturgy 9:45am SATURDAY OF LAZAROS - Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am; Palm Cross Making, Lenten Breakfast & Candy Hunt after Liturgy The full calendar is available on our website and in the March Spirit. 9

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11 March Holy Week & Pascha Sat. of Lazaros Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am, Lenten breakfast, Palm Cross Making, & Candy Hunt April 01 Palm Sunday Orthros 8:45am, Divine Liturgy 9:45am, youth procession with the palms & luncheon Bridegroom Service 7:00pm* 02 Holy Monday Bridegroom Service 7:00pm* 03 Holy Tuesday Bridegroom Service 7:00pm* 04 Holy Wednes. Presanctified Liturgy 9:30am Bridegroom Service 5:00pm* Mystery of Holy Unction 6:30pm* 05 Holy Thursday Vesperal Liturgy of the Mystical Supper 7:30am* Holy Passion & Crucifixion of our Lord 7:00pm* 06 Holy Friday Great Hours 9:00am* Holy Friday Retreat 11:00am Unnailing Vespers 3:00pm* Epitaphios Service (Lamentations) 7:00pm* 07 Holy Saturday Vesperal Liturgy of the 1st Resurrection 9:30am* Vigil of Pascha 11:15pm* Divine Liturgy - Resurrection of our Lord, God & Savior Jesus Christ 12:00am* 08 Great & Holy Orthros 10:15am Sun. of Pascha Agape Vespers 11:00am* *Bring Holy Week Book Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Chase Pkwy Waterbury, CT (203)

12 OUR 2018 STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM IS NOW UNDERWAY! Pledge forms are available in the church office or on our website at: Stewardship is a free-will offering of our time, talent and treasure to our church. Participating in our Stewardship Program is how individuals/families become active stewards of our church. We thank God for every good gift that comes from above and we thank you for your support of our beloved Holy Trinity! IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME OR TALENTS, please see Fr. Perikles or a Parish Council Member to find out how you can make a difference in the various ministries & organizations of our community. WELCOME TO ALL VISITORS! For those visiting an Orthodox Church for the first time, please be aware that Holy Communion is a sign of unity of Faith which is offered to Baptized and/or Chrismated Orthodox Christians. All present are welcome, however, to partake of the antidoro (blessed bread) which is distributed at the end of the service. All people are welcome to join the Orthodox Church. Those interested in learning more about the Orthodox Christian Faith or becoming a member, please see Fr. Perry after services. 12