St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church

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1 Pastor Assistant Pastor Parish President Stewardship Chairperson Pastoral Assistant Pastor Emeritus Parish Nurse GOYA Advisors Office Manager Secretary CONTACTS Fr. Christopher P. Foustoukos Fr. Anthony Tandilyan Mr. Steve Stephanides Mrs. Pam Katsiris Deacon Michael Fadel Fr. Andrew Demotses Sophia Grevelis, RN Sofya & James Leras Irene Stephanides Chrissa Pissios Office: Tel: Fax: Paleologos Street, Peabody, MA website: St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church 2nd Sunday of luke CANDLE COUNTER (Παγκα/ρι) SCHEDULE SUNDAY, September 30 Dimitri Maistrellis Costa Partaledis Martin Scrivener Phyllis Dragonis SUNDAY, October 7 Steven Anezis Lane Nordquist Ruth Morfis Victor Fanikos ALTAR BOY TEAMS & SCHEDULE George O Donnell Head Captain Sunday, September 30 1st Liturgy Team A 2nd Liturgy Team B Sunday, October 7 1st Liturgy Team C 2nd Liturgy Team D Team A Peter Coufos CC Nikolas Leras Michael Tandilyan Nicholas Park Team B Alex Vlachos CC Leo Vorrias Ioanis Nako Zachary Vlachos Team C Michael Katsiris CC Valantis Christoforos Connor Anezis Daniel Vatousios Team D James Vounessa CC Niko Collins Nikolas Deftos Andony Konstantilakis Hieromartyr Gregory the Bishop of Greater Armenia, Equal of the Apostles and Enlightener of Armenia September 30,

2 Hieromartyr Gregory the Bishop of Greater Armenia, Equal of the Apostles and Enlightener of Armenia Commemorated on September 30 The Hieromartyr Gregory, Enlightener of Greater Armenia, was born in the year 257. He was descended from the line of the Parthian Arsakid emperors. The father of Saint Gregory, Anak, in striving after the Armenian throne, had murdered his kinsman, the emperor Kursar, in consequence of which all the line of Anak was marked for destruction. A certain kinsman saved Gregory: he carried off the infant from Armenia to Caesarea in Cappadocia and raised him in the Christian Faith. At maturity, Gregory married, had two sons, but soon was left a widower. Gregory raised his sons in piety. One of them -- Orthanes, afterwards became a priest, and the other -- Arostanes, accepted monasticism and went off into the wilderness. In order to atone for the sin of his father, who had murdered the father of Tiridates, Gregory entered into the service of the latter and was a faithful servant to him. Tiridates loved Gregory like a friend, but he was intolerant of the Christian confession of faith. After ascending the Armenian throne, he began to demand that Saint Gregory renounce the Christian Faith. The steadfastness of the saint embittered Tiridates, and he gave his faithful servant over to cruel tortures: they suspended the sufferer head downwards with a stone about his neck, for several days they choked him with a stinking smoke, they beat and ridiculed him, and forced him to walk in iron sandals inset with nails. At the time of these sufferings Saint Gregory sang Psalms. In prison the Lord healed all his wounds. When Gregory again stood before the emperor cheerful and unharmed, he was aston- 2 15

3 ished and gave orders to repeat the torments. Saint Gregory endured them, not wavering, with all his former determination and bearing. They then poured hot tin over him and threw him into a pit filled with vipers. The Lord, however, saved His chosen one: the snakes did him no harm. Some pious women fed him with bread, secretly lowering it into the pit. A holy angel, appeared to the martyr, strengthening and encouraging him. Saint Gregory remained in the pit for fourteen years. During this time the emperor Tiridates executed the holy virgin Saint Rhipsime, the aged abbess Gaiana and another 35 virgins from one of the monasteries of Asia Minor. As punishment for this horrible deed, the king s face became disfigured. Saint Gregory was released from the pit, and buried the relics of the holy virgins with honor. Then he began to preach to the people, urging them to turn away from the darkness of idolatry and toward Christ. The people came to believe in Christ, and wished to build a large church. When it was completed, Saint Gregory had the relics of the holy nuns brought into it. Then he brought King Tiridates there before the bodies of the saints whom he had slain. He repented, and immediately his face was made whole once more. Soon all of Armenia was converted to Christ. The temples of the idols were destroyed, and churches for the worship of the true God were built. Saint Gregory ordained priests, established schools, founded monasteries, and provided for the good order of the Church. Saint Gregory went into the wilderness, where he departed to the Lord. His son Aristanes was made a bishop in Cappadocia, and was one of the 318 holy Fathers at the Council of Nicea. 3

4 Sunday, September 30, 2018 Hymns Following the Gospel (Small Entrance) MEN S CLUB NEWS Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First 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 Lifegiver: * Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ; * glory to Your eternal rule; * glory to Your dispensation, only One who loves mankind. Apolytikion for Gregory the Illuminator in the Fourth Mode As a sharer of the ways and a successor to the throne of the Apostles, O inspired of God, thou foundest discipline to be a means of ascent to divine vision. Wherefore, having rightly divided the word of truth, thou didst also contest for the Faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Gregory. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved St. Vasilios 1 st Mode Your message was carried throughout the world. As it received your mighty word, By which you divinely made manifest And clarified the nature of existing things You set in order the customs of men, You who are royal priesthood! Holy Father, intercede with Christ our God To grant us His great mercy. Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee. Apoluti/kion 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. Apoluti/kion Καί τρόπων μέτοχος, καί θρόνων διάδοχος, τών Αποστόλων γενόμενος, τήν πράξιν εύρες Θεόπνευστε, εις θεωρίας επίβασιν, διά τούτο τόν λόγον τής αληθείας ορθοτομών, καί τή πίστει ενήθλησας μέχρις αίματος, Ιερομάρτυς Γρηγόριε, πρέσβευε Χριστώ τώ Θεώ, σωθήναι τάς ψυχάς ημών. Apoluti/kion tou Agi/ou Basilei/ou Eic pa/san th/n gh/n ejh/lqen o` fqo/ggoc sou, wc dejame/nhn ton logon sou, Di ou= qeoprepw/c edogma/tisac, Th/n fu/sin tw/n o;ntwn etra/nwsac. Ta/ tw/n avqrw/ pwn h;qh kateko/smhsa/c,basi/leion iera/teuma Pa/ter o[sie Xristo/n to/n Qeo/n ike/teue dwrh/sasqai h`mi/n to/ Me/ga e;leoc. Konta/kion Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε. Μὴ παρίδῃς ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε.. UPCOMING ENVENTS 10/24 Indoor BBQ at 6:30 pm in the St. Vasilios Educational Center 11/11 Veteran s Day Memorial Service at 10:15 am in the Courtyard 11/28 Monthly Dinner Meeting at 6:30 pm, Angelica s Restaurant Featured Speaker: Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt, Jr. 12/19 Monthly Dinner Meeting at 6:30 pm In the St. Vasilios Educational Center Questions? mensclub@stvasilios.org BLESSING BAGS Thanks to all of you, the students of St Vasilios Church School have filled more than 500 Blessing Bags. These bags are distributed to the homeless in our communities on a monthly basis, throughout the year. During the cold winter months, the following items will be of great use to our most needy neighbors. Please return any donations to boxes set up in the Educational Center foyer or to the Church School office or classrooms. Thank you for your generosity, the students couldn t do this without you. 4 13

5 JOY MEETINGS WELCOME TO OUR VISITORS Everyone is welcome in the Orthodox Church and may receive the blessed bread (antidoron) at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. Sadly, the divisions in the church prompt us all to work towards reunited Christianity. The culmination of this reunion will be the ability of all Christians to receive the Eucharist together. Until that blessed day arrives, only Orthodox Christians who are in good sacramental order are permitted to receive Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church. If you have any questions or concerns please speak with Father Chris. HOSPITAL VISITS JR. GOYA EVENTS Due to HIPAA privacy rules, hospitals no longer provide a list of Orthodox patients to us. Therefore, if you or a loved one are, or will be, in the hospital, please contact the church office for a pastoral visit. Also, please notify the office if a friend or family member is in a rehab center, nursing home, assisted living facility or under hospice care. CEMETERY VISITS Due to the number of sacraments, 40 day blessings and memorials on Sundays it is difficult to make cemetery visits on Sundays after liturgy. If you would like a Trisagion at the graveside during the week you are kindly asked to make an appointment by calling the church office. PLEASE PRAY FOR PLEASE PRAY FOR: Gus, Peter, Theodora, James, Nina, Maria, Delores, William, Amya, Maria, Irene, Stacia, Georgia, Ethel, Maria, Christo, Flora, Yianoula, Dimitri. If you wish to add or remove a name from the list, please call the Church Office. 40 DAY BABY BLESSING 40 Day Baby Blessing We are very happy to do the 40 blessing of infants after the 2 nd Divine Liturgy or week days! Often the clergy have family or sacrament commitments after the liturgy. So in order to ensure that you don t leave disappointed by not having the prayers read please call the church office at to schedule your 40 day blessing thereby ensuring that no one is disappointed. Thank you for your attention and assistance with this matter. 12 5

6 EPISTLE READINGS Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 32.22,1. Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us. Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous. The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 9:6-11. Brethren, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. As it is written, "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever." He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. Προκείμενον. First Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 32.22,1. Γένοιτο, Κύριε, τὸ ἔλεός σου ἐφ' ἡμᾶς. Στίχ. Ἀγαλλιᾶσθε δίκαιοι ἐν Κυρίῳ τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους β' 9:6-11. Ἀδελφοί, ὁ σπείρων φειδομένως, φειδομένως καὶ θερίσει καὶ ὁ σπείρων ἐπʼ εὐλογίαις, ἐπʼ εὐλογίαις καὶ θερίσει. Ἕκαστος καθὼς προαιρεῖται τῇ καρδίᾳ μὴ ἐκ λύπης ἢ ἐξ ἀνάγκης ἱλαρὸν γὰρ δότην ἀγαπᾷ ὁ θεός. Δυνατὸς δὲ ὁ θεὸς πᾶσαν χάριν περισσεῦσαι εἰς ὑμᾶς, ἵνα ἐν παντὶ πάντοτε πᾶσαν αὐτάρκειαν ἔχοντες περισσεύητε εἰς πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθόν καθὼς γέγραπται, Ἐσκόρπισεν, ἔδωκεν τοῖς πένησιν ἡ δικαιοσύνη αὐτοῦ μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. Ὁ δὲ ἐπιχορηγῶν σπέρμα τῷ σπείροντι, καὶ ἄρτον εἰς βρῶσιν χορηγήσαι, καὶ πληθύναι τὸν σπόρον ὑμῶν, καὶ αὐξήσαι τὰ γενήματα τῆς δικαιοσύνης ὑμῶν ἐν παντὶ πλουτιζόμενοι εἰς πᾶσαν ἁπλότητα, ἥτις κατεργάζεται διʼ ἡμῶν εὐχαριστίαν τῷ θεῷ. 6 GREEK DANCE GROUP GOYA FALL CAMP Columbus Day Weekend October 5-8 Fall camp is open to all GOYAns, grades Drop off / registration: 6PM Friday Pickup: 1PM Monday Drop off / registration: 6PM Friday Pickup: 1PM Monday Early Bird Registration- $175 through Tuesday 9/18 $200 on or after Wednesday 9/19 GOYA Fall Camp offers our Campers the faith, fun, and fellowship of summer camp packaged into a weekend retreat program. The weekend will be filled with cabin sessions, camp wide activities, worship, and for the first time a Sunday outing to Canobie Lake Park! 11

7 ST. MAKRINA WOMEN S STUDY GROUP The Sisterhood of St. Makrina women s study group will be on Thursdays at 9:30am in the Parlor Room. Women of all ages are welcome to join as we read and discuss topics about our faith. If you would like more information please contact Pres. Claire at ALTAR DONATIONS LITURGY LIGHTS In loving memory of Michael C. Lignos. TODAY S MEMORIALS We commemorate today the blessed memory of the following members of our parish who have fallen asleep in the Lord: Sofia Deftos 40 day Memorial George Fetsatsidis 6 month Memorial Despina Fetfatsidis 1 yr Memorial COFFEE FELLOWSHIP HOUR Please join us for Coffee Fellowship Hour today, immediately following the first divine liturgy, in the Rev. Andrew J. Demotses Educational Center. Thank you to the Parish Council for volunteering last week! Upcoming Coffee Hour Schedule 10/7 No Sponsor 10/14 No Sponsor CHURCH SCHOOL-OPERATION TROOP SUPPORT DONATIONS This year the Church School is collecting donations early for Operation Troop Support for holiday delivery. Please pick a pumpkin from the basket in the foyer in the Educational Center with the items to be donated. All new items should be returned to the bins in the Educational Center by October 14. Thank you for your support! The price for a full sponsorship is $175 (partial sponsorship $100). To sponsor a coffee hour, please contact sofya.leras@gmail.com 10 GOSPEL READING -2nd Sunday of Luke The Reading is from Luke 6:31-36 The Lord said, "As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 6:31-36 Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος καθὼς θέλετε ἵνα ποιῶσιν ὑμῖν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, ποιεῖτε αὐτοῖς ὁμοίως. καὶ εἰ ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας ὑμᾶς, ποία ὑμῖν χάρις ἐστί; καὶ γὰρ οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας αὐτοὺς ἀγαπῶσι. καὶ ἐὰν ἀγαθοποιῆτε τοὺς ἀγαθοποιοῦντας ὑμᾶς, ποία ὑμῖν χάρις ἐστί; καὶ γὰρ οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσι. καὶ ἐὰν δανείζητε παρ ὧν ἐλπίζετε ἀπολαβεῖν, ποία ὑμῖν χάρις ἐστί; καὶ γὰρ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἁμαρτωλοῖς δανείζουσιν ἵνα ἀπολάβωσι τὰ ἴσα. πλὴν ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν καὶ ἀγαθοποιεῖτε καὶ δανείζετε μηδὲν ἀπελπίζοντες, καὶ ἔσται ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολύς, καὶ ἔσεσθε υἱοὶ ὑψίστου, ὅτι αὐτὸς χρηστός ἐστιν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀχαρίστους καὶ πονηρούς. Γίνεσθε οὖν οἰκτίρμονες, καθὼς καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν οἰκτίρμων ἐστί. 7

8 SOUVENIR JOURNAL AVERTISEMENT Please feel free to make a monetary donation to help defray the cost of supplies for our 2017 St. Vasilios Festival. For your convenience there will be a basket in the Narthex for the next few weeks. Thank you The Parish Council 8 9