Fathers of the 1st Council

Transcript

1 May 20, Fathers of the 1st Council The Holy Martyr Thalleleus Mark the Hermit, Father Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow, Lydia of Philippi, Equal to the Apostles John, Joseph, and Nikitas the Monks of Chios Epistle: Acts 20:16-18, Gospel: John 17:1-13 Fathers of the 1st Council 937 Chase Parkway Waterbury, CT Phone: (203) Fax: (203) Fr. Perikles Cell: (203) office@holytrinitywaterbury.org MONDAY MAY 21 STS. CONSTANTINE & HELEN - DOXOLOGY 9:20AM, DI VINE LITURGY 9:30AM; AHEPA MEETING - 7:00PM TUESDAY MAY 22 OFFICE CLOSE; GREEK SCHOOL - 5:00PM YOUTH, 6:30PM ADULTS SATURDAY MAY 26 SATURDAY OF SOULS - DOXOLOGY 9:20AM, DIVINE LITURGY 9:30AM SUNDAY MAY 27 HOLY PENTECOST; ORTHROS 8:45AM, DIVINE LITURGY 9:45AM; SUNDAY SCHOOL JEOPARDY MONDAY MAY 28 MEMORIAL DAY - OFFICE CLOSED; MONDAY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - DOXOLOGY & DIVINE LITURGY 9:00AM; PRAYERS AT NEW PINE GROVE - 10:30AM; PRAYERS AT MT. OLIVET IN WATERTOWN - 12:00PM

2 ΙΕΡΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΑΓΙΑΣ ΤΡΙΑΔΟΣ Sundays: Orthros 8:45am, Divine Liturgy 9:45am Office hours: 9:00am 1:00pm Rev. Perikles Kallis, Pastor Rev. Demetri Belsito, Ph.D., Deacon We warmly welcome you to our Holy Trinity Parish! We hope that you will make this your spiritual home. We have ministries and organizations for all ages and walks of life. Connect with us on Facebook and our list to stay up to date on upcoming events. APOLYTIKION OF THE FEAST Apolytikion You ascended in glory, O Christ our God, after You filled the Disciples with joy, by promising to send them the Holy Spirit, and You blessed them and established their faith, that You are the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world. Kontakion When You had fulfilled the dispensation for our sake, and united things on earth with the things in heaven, You were taken up thither in glory, O Christ our God, going not away from any place, but continuing inseparable, and to them that love You crying out: "I am with you, and there is, therefore, none against you. ἈΠΟΛΥΤΊΚΙΟΝ ΤῆΣ ἙΟΡΤῆΣ Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἀνελήφθης ἐν δόξῃ, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, χαροποιήσας τοὺς Μαθητάς, τῇ ἐπαγγελίᾳ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος βεβαιωθέντων αὐτῶν διὰ τῆς εὐλογίας, ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὁ λυτρωτὴς τοῦ κόσμου. Κοντάκιον Τ ὴ ν ὑ π ὲ ρ ἡ μ ῶ ν π λ η ρ ώ σ α ς οἰκονομίαν, καὶ τὰ ἐπὶ γῆς ἑνώσας τοῖς οὐρανίοις, ἀνελήφθης ἐν δόξῃ, Χριστε ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, οὐδαμόθεν χωριζόμενος, ἀλλὰ μένων ἀδιάστατος, καὶ βοῶν τοῖς ἀγαπῶσί σε Ἐγώ εἰμι μεθ' ὑμῶν, καὶ οὐδεὶς καθ' ὑμῶν. EPISTLE - ACTS 20:16-18, ΠΡΑΞΕΙΣ ἈΠΟΣΤΟΛΩΝ 20:16-18, Reader- Blessed are you, O Lord, the G o d o f o u r f a t h e r s. Verse: For you are just in all you have done. The reading is from Acts of the Apostles. IN THOSE DAYS, Paul had decided to sail past Ephesos, so that he might not have to spend time in 2 Κι αυτό, γιατί ο Παύλος αποφάσισε να παρακάμψει την Έφεσο, για να μη χρονοτριβήσει στην επαρχία της Ασίας βιαζόταν να είναι στα Ιεροσόλυμα, αν του ήταν δυνατό, την ημέρα της Πεντηκοστής. Από τη Μίλητο ο Παύλος έστειλε στην Έφεσο και κάλεσε τους πρεσβυτέρους της

3 Asia; for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. And from Miletos he sent to Ephesos and called to him the elders of the church. And when they came to him, he said to them: "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'it is more blessed to give than to receive.' " And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all. εκκλησίας. Όταν ήρθαν και τον συνάντησαν τους είπε: «Εσείς οι ίδιοι ξέρετε πώς συμπεριφέρθηκα απέναντί σας όλον τον καιρό, από την πρώτη μέρα που πάτησα το πόδι μου στην επαρχία της Ασίας. Προσέχετε, λοιπόν, τον εαυτό σας και όλο το ποίμνιο, στο οποίο το Πνεύμα το Άγιο σας έθεσε επισκόπους για να ποιμαίνετε την εκκλησία του Κυρίου και Θεού, που την έκανε δική του με το αίμα του. Εγώ το ξέρω ότι μετά την αναχώρησή μου θα εισβάλουν σ εσάς λύκοι άγριοι, που δε θα λυπηθούν το ποίμνιο. Ακόμα και από ανάμεσά σας θα βγουν πρόσωπα που θα διδάσκουν πλάνες για να παρασύρουν τους πιστούς με το μέρος τους. Γι αυτό να αγρυπνείτε, και να θυμάστε ότι τρία χρόνια συνέχεια δεν έπαψα νύχτα και μέρα να νουθετώ με δάκρυα τον καθένα σας.»τώρα, αδερφοί, σάς εμπιστεύομαι στο Θεό και στο κήρυγμα που σας αποκάλυψε η χάρη του. Αυτός μπορεί να σας κάνει ώριμους στην πίστη και να σας δώσει την επουράνια ζωή μαζί με όλους όσοι είναι δικοί του. Ασήμι ή χρυσάφι ή ιματισμό από κανένα δε ζήτησα. Εσείς οι ίδιοι ξέρετε ότι για τις ανάγκες τις δικές μου και των συνοδών μου δούλεψαν αυτά εδώ τα χέρια. Με κάθε τρόπο σάς έδωσα το παράδειγμα, ότι πρέπει να εργάζεστε έτσι σκληρά, για να μπορείτε να βοηθάτε αυτούς που έχουν ανάγκη. Να θυμάστε τα λόγια του Κυρίου μας Ιησού, που είπε: καλύτερο είναι να δίνεις παρά να παίρνεις». Αφού είπε αυτά τα λόγια, γονάτισε αυτός κι όλοι εκείνοι και προσευχήθηκε. 3

4 GOSPEL - JOHN 17:1-13 ΚΑΤᾺ ἸΩΑΝΝΗΝ 17:1-13 At that time, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you gave me to do; and now, Father, you glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was made. "I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world; yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you; for I have given them the words which you gave me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you did send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are mine; all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me; I have guarded them, and none Αφού τα είπε αυτά ο Ιησούς, σήκωσε τα μάτια του στον ουρανό και είπε: «Πατέρα, έφτασε η ώρα φανέρωσε τη δόξα του Υιού σου, ώστε κι ο Υιός σου να φανερώσει τη δική σου δόξα. Εσύ του έδωσες εξουσία πάνω σε όλους τους ανθρώπους έτσι κι αυτός θα δώσει την αιώνια ζωή σε όλους αυτούς που του εμπιστεύτηκες. Και να ποια είναι η αιώνια ζωή: Ν αναγνωρίζουν οι άνθρωποι εσένα ως τον μόνο αληθινό Θεό, καθώς κι εκείνον που έστειλες, τον Ιησού Χριστό. Εγώ φανέρωσα τη δόξα σου πάνω στη γη, αφού ολοκλήρωσα το έργο που μου ανέθεσες να κάνω. Τώρα λοιπόν εσύ, Πατέρα, δόξασέ με κοντά σ εσένα με τη δόξα που είχα κοντά σου προτού να γίνει ο κόσμος.»εγώ σε έκανα γνωστό στους ανθρώπους που τους πήρες μέσα από τον κόσμο και μου τους εμπιστεύτηκες. Ανήκαν σ εσένα, κι εσύ τους έδωσες σ εμένα, κι έχουν δεχτεί το λόγο σου. Αυτοί τώρα ξέρουν πως όλα όσα μου έδωσες προέρχονται από σένα γιατί τις διδαχές που μου έδωσες, εγώ τις έδωσα σ αυτούς, κι αυτοί τις δέχτηκαν και αναγνώρισαν πως πραγματικά από σένα προέρχομαι, και πίστεψαν πως εσύ με έστειλες στον κόσμο.»εγώ γι αυτούς παρακαλώ. Δεν παρακαλώ για τον κόσμο αλλά γι αυτούς που μου έδωσες, γιατί ανήκουν σ εσένα. Κι όλα όσα είναι δικά μου είναι και δικά σου, και τα δικά σου είναι και δικά μου, και δι αυτών θα φανερωθεί η δόξα μου. Τώρα δεν είμαι πια μέσα στον κόσμο ενώ αυτοί μένουν μέσα στον κόσμο, κι εγώ έρχομαι σ εσένα. Άγιε Πατέρα, 4

5 of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves." διατήρησέ τους στην πίστη με τη δύναμη του ονόματός σου που μου χάρισες, για να μείνουν ενωμένοι όπως εμείς. Όταν ήμουν μαζί τους στον κόσμο, εγώ τους διατηρούσα στην πίστη με τη δύναμη του ονόματός σου. Αυτούς που μου έδωσες τους φύλαξα, και κανένας απ αυτούς δε χάθηκε, παρά μόνο ο άνθρωπος της απώλειας, για να εκπληρωθούν τα λόγια της Γραφής. Τώρα όμως εγώ έρχομαι σ εσένα, και τα λέω αυτά όσο είμαι ακόμα στον κόσμο, ώστε να έχουν τη δική μου τη χαρά μέσα τους σ όλη την πληρότητά της. GOSPEL - GJONI 17:1-13 Si tha këto, Jezui ngriti sytë drejt qiellit e tha: «O Atë, erdhi ora. Përlëvdoje Birin tënd që edhe Biri të të përlëvdojë ty. Ti i ke dhënë pushtet mbi çdo njeri, në mënyrë që edhe ai t'u japë jetën e amshuar të gjithë atyre që ti ua ke dhënë. Kjo është jeta e amshuar: të të njohin ty, të vetmin Perëndi të vërtetë dhe Jezu Krishtin që dërgove. Unë të kam përlëvduar mbi tokë duke kryer veprën që më dhe për të bërë. E tani, më përlëvdo ti, o Atë, në praninë tënde, me lavdinë që kisha pranë teje, përpara se të bëhej bota. Emrin tënd ua shfaqa njerëzve që ti më dhe nga kjo botë. Ishin të tutë, ti m'i ke dhënë dhe e kanë mbajtur fjalën tënde. Tani ata e dinë se gjithçka që më ke dhënë është prej teje, sepse fjalët që më dhe mua ua dhashë atyre. Ata i pranuan, kuptuan se unë kam dalë me të vërtetë prej teje dhe besuan se ti më dërgove. Unë po lutem për ata. Nuk po lutem për botën, po për ata që më ke dhënë, sepse janë të tutë. Gjithçka e imja është e jotja dhe gjithçka e jotja është e imja dhe në ta jam përlëvduar. Unë nuk jam më në botë. Ata janë në botë, ndërsa unë po vij te ti. O Atë i shenjtë, ruaji në emrin tënd, në emrin që më dhe mua, që të jenë një, sikurse ne. Kur isha me ta i ruaja në emrin tënd, në emrin që ti më dhe. I mbrojta dhe asnjë prej tyre nuk humbi, përveç birit të humbjes që të përmbushet Shkrimi i shenjtë. Tani po vij te ti dhe këto gjëra i them në botë, që ta kenë të plotë gëzimin tim në veten e tyre. 5

6 Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, With joy and gratitude, the parishes of our Holy Archdiocese are asked to commemorate AHEPA Sunday and to recognize the service offered by the members of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association and the organizations of the AHEPA family. Each year we designate a Sunday in May for this purpose, primarily to honor the significant work and offering that is being made by AHEPA members in our parishes, communities, nation, and around the world. It is also an annual recognition of a long and cherished relationship between AHEPA and the Greek Orthodox Church in America. For almost a century, our Church in America and AHEPA have shared a history. Guided by faith in God and the ideals of Hellenism, Greek immigrants who came to this land wanted more than opportunity. They nurtured families and built communities, and at the center of those communities were parishes and organizations that strengthened their Orthodox faith, affirmed their Hellenic identity, guided them in service to those in need, and helped them participate in the American experience while contributing to the history and identity of this great nation. We are the heirs of this foundation, a legacy we honor in this commemoration. We also affirm our commitment to this shared ministry and fellowship, a vital work that continues to meet the needs of elderly and veterans, to provide educational scholarships and unique programs for our youth, to support hospitals and relief programs, and to advocate on critical issues around the globe. In recognition of all that we have done and will continue to do together, may we affirm that the AHEPA family is our family as Greek Americans. May we offer our prayers and support for the members and programs of AHEPA. May we give thanks to God for the history we share through our parishes, through AHEPA and all our organizations, and through our faith in Christ, which makes all things possible! With paternal love in Christ, DEMETRIOS Archbishop of America 6

7 COFFEE HOUR today will be downstairs in the Banquet Hall along with Family Feud. PAN GREGORIAN OF CT SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS are now available in the office. For high school seniors, the deadline is May 31, OUR BOOKSTORE IS OPEN DURING COFFEE HOUR! ARCHDIOCESAN CLERGY LAITY Please contact Fr. Perikles if you are interested in attending our Archdiocesan Clergy Laity July 2-5, 2018 in Boston, MA. We are allowed to have three voting representatives in addition to our priest. Representatives must be stewards of our parish. 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. 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 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. There is limited space available in weeks 4 and 5. If you have any questions or need any assistance in registering, please campstpaul@goarch.org. SUNDAY SCHOOL SENIORS will have their final class with Fr. Perry today following Liturgy in his office. 7

8 SUNDAY SCHOOL JEOPARDY will take place on Sunday May 27 during coffee hour. Join us and test your knowledge on our faith! The AHEPA & DOP SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHEON is set for Sunday, June 3rd following Divine Liturgy. Please make reservations with Carrie in the office. $15 for adults, $7 for children. Recipients should plan to attend with their families. OLD TESTAMENT JEREMIAH 3:13-18 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the Lord, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more. At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." «Και να ποια είναι η αιώνια ζωή: Νa αναγνωρίζουν οι άνθρωποι εσένα ως τον μόνο αληθινό Θεό, καθώς κaι εκείνον που έστειλες, τον Ιησού Χριστό.» 8

9 The heresiarch Arius was a Libyan by race and a protopresbyter of the Church of Alexandria. In 315, he began to blaspheme against the Son and Word of God, saying that He is not true God, consubstantial with the Father, but is rather a work and creation, alien to the essence and glory of the Father, and that there was a time when He was not. This frightful blasphemy shook the faithful of Alexandria. Alexander, his Archbishop, after trying in vain to correct him through admonitions, cut him off from communion and finally in a local council deposed him in the year 321. Yet neither did the blasphemer wish to be corrected, nor did he cease sowing the deadly tares of his heretical teachings; but writing to the bishops of other cities, Arius and his followers requested that his doctrine be examined, and if it were unsound, that the correct teaching be declared to him. By this means, his heresy became universally known and won many supporters, so that the whole Church was soon in an uproar. Therefore, moved by divine zeal, the first Christian Sovereign, Saint Constantine the Great, the equal to the Apostles, summoned the renowned First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, a city of Bithynia. It was there that the shepherds and teachers of the Church of Christ gathered from all regions in the year 325. All of them, with one mouth and one voice, declared that the Son and Word of God is one in essence with the Father, true God of true God, and they composed the holy Symbol of Faith up to the seventh article (since the remainder, beginning with "And in the Holy Spirit," was completed by the Second Ecumenical Council). Thus they anathematized the impious Arius of evil belief and those of like mind with him, and cut them off as rotten members from the whole body of the faithful. Therefore, recognizing the divine Fathers as heralds of the Faith after the divine Apostles, the Church of Christ has appointed this present Sunday for their annual commemoration, in thanksgiving and unto the glory of God, unto their praise and honor, and unto the strengthening of the true Faith. 9

10 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. Next meeting date TBA. 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. CALLING PAST ALTAR BOYS FROM MAPLE STREET At our Great Vespers on Saturday November 16, we are asking our past altar boys, specifically those who served in the altar at our Maple Street Church, to serve in the Altar for Great Vespers. Please plan to join us that evening to serve in the holy altar and to assist Fr. Perikles with the service. More details coming soon. BURN THE MORTGAGE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN The time is now! We need your help to 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. 10

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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