STS. CONSTANTINE & HELEN GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF BROOKLYN ΚΑΘΕΔΡΙΚΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΕΛΕΝΗΣ

STS. CONSTANTINE & HELEN GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF BROOKLYN ΚΑΘΕΔΡΙΚΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΕΛΕΝΗΣ 64 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201 Telephone: (718) 624-0595 Fax Telephone: (718) 624-2228 www.stconstantinecathedral.org Dean: Fr. John K. Lardas fatherjohn@afantis.org *** ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH OF THE WTC ΝΑΟΣ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΝΙΚΟΛΑΟΥ ΤΟΥ WTC First Tone-1st Morning Gospel /Ήχος A Εωθινόν Α *********************************************************************************** Today is known in the church as the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. Now just two weeks from the beginning of Great Lent, we are reminded today of who we are: beloved children of God who need to come to our senses and return to our loving, forgiving Father. No matter what we have done, no matter how we have diminished ourselves, no matter how broken we have made our relationship with God, He patiently awaits our return, runs to greet us, and welcomes us back into His family with joy and celebration. We can be sure that the prodigal son in today s gospel didn t think that his father would react that way to him. After all, he had asked his father for his inheritance, which was like telling the old man that he should drop dead so the son could have his money. The son traveled far away, quickly wasted his money with partying and immorality, ended up as a servant taking care of pigs, and was so hungry that he wished he could eat the pigs slop. Then the young man came to himself, realized how miserable his life was, and decided to return home in hopes of becoming a servant to his father. He realized that he had sinned against his father, that he wasn t worthy to be called his son anymore, and wanted only to be a hired hand. No self-respecting father in that time and place could be expected to do more for such a rebellious and disrespectful son. The young man would have been fortunate to have been taken back into the household even as the lowliest servant. But the father won t hear of it. In a way that must have shocked everyone, he runs to greet his son, embraces and kisses him, gives him fine clothes, slaughters a calf, and throws a big party. The father did not judge, condemn, or reject his son; instead, he rejoices that a beloved child who was lost has returned home, that one who was dead to him has been restored to life. This story of the prodigal son should shape all the repentance that we do in our lives, whether in Lent or not. For it reminds us Who God is and who we are. As in this parable, there are no limits to our Lord s mercy, no restrains on His compassion or forgiveness. Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ was born, baptized, taught, worked miracles, was crucified and resurrected, and ascended into heaven for our salvation. He came as the Second Adam to restore us as the children of God, to put us in our proper place in the family of heaven as those created in the divine image and likeness. Despite what some of us may be tempted to believe, the Father is not a harsh, stern, hateful judge who is out to get us. Likewise, the Son did not come to condemn and punish, but to save. We should have no fears about Him rejecting our repentance, no matter what we have done. He accepted and blessed everyone who came to Him in humble repentance during his earthly ministry, including tax-collectors, a woman caught in adultery, Gentiles, the demon-possessed, and His own apostles who denied and abandoned Him. Christ even prayed for the forgiveness of those who crucified Him. His abundant mercy and compassion extend to us and to all who call upon Him from the depths of our hearts. This story also holds a mirror up to us. It reminds us that, like the prodigal son, we have foolishly rejected our true identity as the beloved children of God. We have chosen our own pride, our own self-centered desires, our habits and preferences, over a healthy relationship with our Heavenly Father. And we have born the consequences of our decisions and actions by making ourselves and others miserable. St. Paul reminded the Corinthians that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. How horrible, then, for them or us to use our bodies in immoral ways for sexual intimacy outside of marriage. Our bodies are members of Christ and destined for the life of the heaven, and we harm and diminish ourselves when we view them simply as instruments for pleasure. The union of man and woman is for growth in holiness and love through the blessed covenant called marriage, which is an image of the relationship between Christ and the Church in which husband and wife wear the crowns of the Kingdom. When man and woman join their bodies in other ways, they choose their passions over holiness and the glory of their identity as God s children. The misery of disease, broken hearts and families, scarred childhoods, and the horror of abortion are often the results. This was also the problem of the prodigal son. He abandoned his father in order to make his life one wild party, and ended up in a pig sty so wild with hunger that he envied the food of the swine. And since the Jews considered pigs to be unclean, the Lord makes clear that this fellow had truly hit rock bottom. No matter what our particular set of temptations may be, we should all admit that we are in the place of the prodigal son continued on pg. 4

Κυριακή 16 Φεβρουαρίου, 2014 Κυριακή του Ασώτου. Παμφιλίου του μάρτυρος και της συνοδίας αυτού. Φλαβιανού, Πατριάρχου Κωνσατνινουπόλεως. Ρωμανού του νέου. Αναστάσιμο Απολυτίκιον Ήχος A Τοῦ λίθουσφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ στρατιωτ ῶν 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. Απολύτίκιον Αγίων Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης Τοῦ Σταυροῦ σου τὸν τύπον ἐν οὐρανῷ θεασάμενος, καὶ ὡς ὁ Παῦλος τὴν κλῆσιν οὐκ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων δεξάμενος, ὁ ἐν βασιλεῦσιν, Ἀπόστολός σου Κύριε, Βασιλεύουσαν πόλιν τῇ χειρί σου παρέθετο ἣν περίσῳζε διὰ παντὸς ἐν εἰρήνῃ, πρεσβείαις τῆς Θεοτόκου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε. Απολυτίκιον Αγίου Νικολάου Κανόνα πίστεως καὶ εἰκόνα πραότητος, ἐγκρατείας Διδάσκαλον, ἀνέδειξέ σε τῇ ποίμνῃ σου, ἡ τῶν πραγμάτων ἀλήθεια διὰ τοῦτο ἐκτήσω τῇ ταπεινώσει τὰ ὑψηλά, τῇ πτωχείᾳ τὰ πλούσια, Πάτερ Ἱεράρχα Νικόλαε, πρέσβευε Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ, σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. Κοντάκιον Ἠχος γʹ-ἡ Παρθένος σήµερον. Τῆς πατρῴας, δόξης σου, ἀποσκιρτήσας ἀφρόνως, ἐν κακοῖς ἐσκόρπισα, ὅν µοι παρέδωκας πλοῦτον ὅθεν σοι τὴν τοῦ Ἀσώτου, φωνὴν κραυγάζω Ἥµαρτον ἐνώπιόν σου Πάτερ οἰκτίρµον, δέξαι µε µετανοοῦντα, καὶ ποίησόν µε, ὡς ἕνα τῶν µισθίων σου. Sunday February 16, 2014 Sunday of the Prodigal Son. Pamphilus the Martyr & his Companions. Flavianos, Patriarch of Constantinople. Romanos the Younger. Resurrectional Apolytikion First Tone When the stone had been sealed by the Jews and the soldiers were guarding Thine immaculate Body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Saviour, granting life unto the world. Wherefore, the powers of the Heavens cried out to Thee, O Lifegiver: Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ. Glory to Thy Kingdom. Glory to Thy dispensation, O only Friend of man. Apolytikion of Sts. Constantine and Helen Having seen the image of Thy Cross in Heaven, and like Paul, having received the call not from men, Thine apostle among kings entrusted the commonwealth to Thy hand, O Lord. Keep us always in peace, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, O only Friend of man. Apolytikion of St. Nicholas The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, an icon of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; for this cause, thou hast achieved the heights by humility, riches by poverty. O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved. Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Tone I revolted senselessly * out of Your fatherly glory; * I have squandered sinfully * all of the riches You gave me.* Hence to You, using the Prodigal's words, I cry out,* I have sinned before You, merciful loving Father.* O receive me in repentance, * I pray, and treat me * as one of Your hired hands. Γένοιτο, Κύριε, τὸ ἔλεός σου ἐφ' ἡμᾶς. Στίχ. Ἀγαλλιᾶσθε δίκαιοι ἐν Κυρίῳ Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 6:12-20 Ἀδελφοί, πάντα μοι ἔξεστιν, ἀλλʼ οὐ πάντα συμφέρει πάντα μοι ἔξεστιν, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐγὼ ἐξουσιασθήσομαι ὑπό τινος. Τὰ βρώματα τῇ κοιλίᾳ, καὶ ἡ κοιλία τοῖς βρώμασιν ὁ δὲ θεὸς καὶ ταύτην καὶ ταῦτα καταργήσει. Τὸ δὲ σῶμα οὐ τῇ πορνείᾳ, ἀλλὰ τῷ κυρίῳ, καὶ ὁ κύριος τῷ σώματι ὁ δὲ θεὸς καὶ τὸν κύριον ἤγειρεν καὶ ἡμᾶς ἐξεγερεῖ διὰ τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ. Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι τὰ σώματα ὑμῶν μέλη Χριστοῦ ἐστιν; Ἄρας οὖν τὰ μέλη τοῦ Χριστοῦ ποιήσω πόρνης μέλη; Μὴ γένοιτο. Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ὁ κολλώμενος τῇ πόρνῃ ἓν σῶμά ἐστιν; Ἔσονται γάρ, φησίν, οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν. Ὁ δὲ κολλώμενος τῷ κυρίῳ ἓν πνεῦμά ἐστιν. Φεύγετε τὴν πορνείαν. Πᾶν ἁμάρτημα ὃ ἐὰν ποιήσῃ ἄνθρωπος ἐκτὸς τοῦ σώματός ἐστιν ὁ δὲ πορνεύων εἰς τὸ ἴδιον σῶμα ἁμαρτάνει. Ἢ οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι τὸ σῶμα ὑμῶν ναὸς τοῦ ἐν ὑμῖν ἁγίου πνεύματός ἐστιν, οὗ ἔχετε ἀπὸ θεοῦ; Καὶ οὐκ ἐστὲ ἑαυτῶν, ἠγοράσθητε γὰρ τιμῆς δοξάσατε δὴ τὸν θεὸν ἐν τῷ σώματι ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐν τῷ πνεύματι ὑμῶν, ἅτινά ἐστιν τοῦ θεοῦ. St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 6:12-20 Brethren, "all things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" -- and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh." But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belong to God.

Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 15.11-32 Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην Ἄνθρωπός τις εἶχε δύο υἱούς. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ νεώτερος αὐτῶν τῷ πατρί πάτερ, δός μοι τὸ ἐπιβάλλον μέρος τῆς οὐσίας. καὶ διεῖλεν αὐτοῖς τὸν βίον. καὶ μετ οὐ πολλὰς ἡμέρας συναγαγὼν ἅπαντα ὁ νεώτερος υἱὸς ἀπεδήμησεν εἰς χώραν μακράν, καὶ ἐκεῖ διεσκόρπισε τὴν οὐσίαν αὐτοῦ ζῶν ἀσώτως. δαπανήσαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ πάντα ἐγένετο λιμὸς ἰσχυρὸς κατὰ τὴν χώραν ἐκείνην, καὶ αὐτὸς ἤρξατο ὑστερεῖσθαι. καὶ πορευθεὶς ἐκολλήθη ἑνὶ τῶν πολιτῶν τῆς χώρας ἐκείνης, καὶ ἔπεμψεν αὐτὸν εἰς τοὺς ἀγροὺς αὐτοῦ βόσκειν χοίρους. καὶ ἐπεθύμει γεμίσαι τὴν κοιλίαν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν κερατίων ὧν ἤσθιον οἱ χοῖροι, καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐδίδου αὐτῷ. εἰς ἑαυτὸν δὲ ἐλθὼν εἶπε πόσοι μίσθιοι τοῦ πατρός μου περισσεύουσιν ἄρτων, ἐγὼ δὲ λιμῷ ἀπόλλυμαι!ἀναστὰς πορεύσομαι πρὸς τὸν πατέρα μου καὶ ἐρῶ αὐτῷ πάτερ, ἥμαρτον εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ ἐνώπιόν σου. οὐκέτι εἰμὶ ἄξιος κληθῆναι υἱός σου ποίησόν με ὡς ἕνα τῶν μισθίων σου. καὶ ἀναστὰς ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ. ἔτι δὲ αὐτοῦ μακρὰν ἀπέχοντος εἶδεν αὐτὸν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐσπλαγχνίσθη, καὶ δραμὼν ἐπέπεσεν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ καὶ κατεφίλησεν αὐτόν.εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ υἱός πάτερ, ἥμαρτον εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ ἐνώπιόν σου, καὶ οὐκέτι εἰμὶ ἄξιος κληθῆναι υἱός σου. εἶπε δὲ ὁ πατὴρ πρὸς τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ ἐξενέγκατε τὴν στολὴν τὴν πρώτην καὶ ἐνδύσατε αὐτόν, καὶ δότε δακτύλιον εἰς τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ὑποδήματα εἰς τοὺς πόδας, καὶ ἐνέγκαντες τὸν μόσχον τὸν σιτευτὸν θύσατε, καὶ φαγόντες εὐφρανθῶμεν, ὅτι οὗτος ὁ υἱός μου νεκρὸς ἦν καὶ ἀνέζησε, καὶ ἀπολωλὼς ἦν καὶ εὑρέθη. καὶ ἤρξαντο εὐφραίνεσθαι. Ην δὲ ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἐν ἀγρῷ καὶ ὡς ἐρχόμενος ἤγγισε τῇ οἰκίᾳ, ἤκουσε συμφωνίας καὶ χορῶν, καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος ἕνα τῶν παίδων ἐπυνθάνετο τί εἴη ταῦτα. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὅτι ὁ ἀδελφός σου ἥκει καὶ ἔθυσεν ὁ πατήρ σου τὸν μόσχον τὸν σιτευτόν, ὅτι ὑγιαίνοντα αὐτὸν ἀπέλαβεν. ὠργίσθη δὲ καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν εἰσελθεῖν. ὁ οὖν πατὴρ αὐτοῦ ἐξελθὼν παρεκάλει αὐτόν. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπε τῷ πατρί ἰδοὺ τοσαῦτα ἔτη δουλεύω σοι καὶ οὐδέποτε ἐντολήν σου παρῆλθον, καὶ ἐμοὶ οὐδέποτε ἔδωκας ἔριφον ἵνα μετὰ τῶν φίλων μου εὐφρανθῶ ὅτε δὲ ὁ υἱός σου οὗτος, ὁ καταφαγών σου τὸν βίον μετὰ πορνῶν, ἦλθεν, ἔθυσας αὐτῷ τὸν μόσχον τὸν σιτευτόν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ τέκνον, σὺ πάντοτε μετ ἐμοῦ εἶ, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐμὰ σά ἐστιν εὐφρανθῆναι δὲ καὶ χαρῆναι ἔδει, ὅτι ὁ ἀδελφός σου οὗτος νεκρὸς ἦν καὶ ἀνέζησε, καὶ ἀπολωλὼς ἦν καὶ εὑρέθη. The Gospel of Luke 15:11-32 The Lord said this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

...We have not lived faithfully as the sons and daughters of the Lord. We have chosen our own will over God s, we have asked for our inheritance namely, whatever good things we can get and then used them however we pleased. In thought, word, and deed, we have often done our best to live as though God is dead, as though He is no longer our Father and we are no longer His children. Lent is the time set aside in the church calendar to come to our senses, to recognize the truth of what we have done to ourselves, and begin the journey back to the Lord. But we have a major advantage over the prodigal son. We know that our Heavenly Father wants nothing more than to restore us to His family. He wants nothing more than to forgive, heal, and bless us; to return us to our proper dignity as sons and daughters of the Most High. You see, Lent is not about getting God to change His mind about us; instead, it is about us changing our minds and lives in order to return to God. No amount of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving will alter anything about the Lord; but these tools are useful in helping us see the truth about our sinfulness and in opening our lives to the mercy which Jesus Christ always extends to repentant sinners. But we have to be careful here. Some of us hear words like sinfulness and repentance and immediately think of God as harsh, unforgiving, and out to punish us. We may be terrified of God and think that He wants us to be miserable. So we obsess about our failings, judge ourselves as hopeless cases when we aren t perfect, and end up taking the joy out of life. The good news is that God did not create us for a joyless life of despair, but to share in the blessedness of His life. The eternal Son of God became one of us to heal our broken humanity and bring us into the joy of the Kingdom. We pray, fast, give alms, and forgive our enemies as ways of embracing His healing, of accepting His gracious transformation of our lives. Like the man in the pig sty, we also need to come to our senses, see the truth about God and ourselves and act accordingly. It is only our own stubborn refusal which holds us back from entering into the joy of the Lord. Let s use this coming Lent to get over that stubbornness, swallow our pride, and return home to a Father who loves us more than we can even imagine. He has sent His only begotten Son to restore us to the dignity of His beloved sons and daughters. This Lent, let us run home to Him. Με την παραβολή του Ασώτου που ακούσαμε σήμερα, ο Χριστός μας απευθύνει μήνυμα ελπίδος δείχνοντας μας τον ωκεανό της αγάπης του και θυμίζοντας μας πως καμιά πτώση και αμαρτία, ακόμη και η πιο εγκληματική, δεν είναι μεγαλύτερη από το δικό του έλεος. Γι αυτό και πολλοί επιμένουν να ονομάζουν την σημερινή Παραβολή, όχι του «Ασώτου υιού» αλλά του «ευσπλαχνικού Πατέρα».Ο άσωτος υιός είναι σύμβολο του ανθρώπου κάθε εποχής, κυρίως όμως τις δικής μας. Στο πρόσωπο του αναγνωρίζουμε τον εαυτό μας και στην φυγή του από το πατρικό σπίτι βλέπουμε τη ζωή μας.συχνά φεύγουμε και εμείς από το σπίτι του Θεού Πατέρα, αποδημούμε μακριά από την Εκκλησία, μακριά από την πνευματική ζωή, μακριά από την Θ. Ευχαριστία, μακριά από τις Χριστιανικές Αρχές και αξίες. Ξεκινούμε για να βρούμε την χαρά μακριά από τον Θεό, νοιώθουμε ότι η ζωή κοντά στην Εκκλησία μας πνίγει, προφασιζόμαστε χίλιες δύο δικαιολογίες για να πείσουμε τον εαυτό μας ότι είναι σωστή αυτή η επιλογή αλλά στο τέλος τρυγούμε μοναξιά και απογοήτευση. Σαν τον άσωτο του Ευαγγελίου και εμείς όσο απομακρυνόμαστε από την Εκκλησία τόσο πλησιάζουμε στην απόγνωση. Όσο κάνουμε αυτό που μας αρέσει τόσο λιγότερο μας αρέσει αυτό που κάνουμε. Το ταξίδι μας αυτό μας φέρνει στην χώρα που τρέχει το μέλι της ευτυχίας, της καλοπέρασης, της απόλαυσης των υλικών αγαθών, τις ικανοποιήσεως των παθών μας και των ηδονών, μας οδηγεί στον βόρβορο των χοίρων όπού προσπαθούμε να ικανοποιήσουμε τις πνευματικές μας αναζητήσεις, τις ικανότητες με τις οποίες μας προίκισε ο Θεός, τον δυναμισμό μας, τα πνευματικά μας χαρίσματα, μακριά από την Εκκλησία. Ο άσωτος του Ευαγγελίου κάποτε συνήλθε, έκανε το μεγάλο βήμα πήρε τον δρόμο της επιστροφής, αποδεικνύοντας πως μέσα στην πληγωμένη ψυχή του δεν είχε πεθάνει ο ήρωας. Ταλαντεύτηκε, δείλιασε για μια στιγμή,αλλά στο τέλος νίκησε. Πιο πολύ από την ντροπή μπροστά στον Πατέρα, τον έκανε να πικραθεί η ειρωνική και γεμάτη κακία ματιά του μεγαλύτερου αδελφού, ο οποίος ενσαρκώνεται και σήμερα με τα σχόλια και την κακότητα με τα οποία πολλοί «Χριστιανοί» αντιμετωπίζουν την επιστροφή ενός αμαρτωλού, κοντά στην Εκκλησία.Το δικό μας δράμα είναι ότι έχει πεθάνει μέσα μας ο ήρωας.ενώ αντιγράφουμε τον άσωτο στον κατήφορο της φυγής, δεν έχουμε την τόλμη και την λεβεντιά να τον μιμηθούμε και στον ανήφορο της επιστροφής. Δεν μπορούμε να καταλάβουμε ότι ο άνθρωπος στην γη είναι αγωνιστής, τραυματίζεται, πέφτει και ματώνει. Αν σηκωθεί, αν θεραπεύσει τις πληγές του και ξαναρχίσει τον αγώνα,σίγουρα θα νικήσει. Κι αν ακόμη νοιώθουμε ασήκωτο το βάρος των αμαρτιών μας, κι αν αισθανόμαστε την πικρή γεύση στα χείλη μας εξ αιτίας των κηλίδων και των πτώσεων μας ας σηκώσουμε με αποφασιστικότητα το κεφάλι, ας οδηγήσουμε τα βήματα μας στο Μυστήριο της Ιεράς Εξομολογήσεως και ας αποθέσουμε στο Πετραχείλι του Πνευματικού μας τις αμαρτίες μας.σε μια εποχή που το έργο της Εκκλησίας συκοφαντείται από εσωτερικούς και εξωτερικούς εχθρούς οι οποίοι διαβάλουν το Μυστήριο και το θεωρούν περιττό,έρχεται η Εκκλησία να μας διαβεβαιώσει ότι η Εξομολόγηση δεν είναι τίποτε άλλο από την αγκαλιά του Χριστού ο οποίος μας περιμένει για να θεραπεύσει τις πληγές μας και να μας προσφέρει το Σώμα και το Αίμα Του.Αυτό διαβεβαιώνουν όσοι απολαμβάνουν την ευεργεσία του Μυστηρίου, νέοι άνθρωποι και ηλικιωμένοι, μορφωμένοι και απλοί, άνδρες, γυναίκες και παιδία,οι οποίοι προσέρχονται στο Πνευματικό Ιατρείο για να θεραπεύσουν τις πληγές τους, να καλυτερέψουν τον χαρακτήρα τους, να στολίσουν την ψυχή τους. Το παράδειγμα των Αγίων που από την ζωή της αμαρτίας με την μετάνοια, πέρασαν στην ζωή της αγιότητας, βεβαιώνει πως ο άνθρωπος «όσο από πιο χαμηλά παίρνει φόρα τόσο πιο ψηλά μπορεί να φτάσει».

Καθημερινές Θείες Ακολουθίες 22 Φεβρουαρίου-1ο Ψυχοσάββατο-Όρθρος 8:30πμ Θεία Λειτουργία 9:30πμ Βαπτίσεις Δημήτριος Βασίλειος Μουζακίτης-2/16/14 Μάξουελ Δαβίδ Γκράμ-2/22/14 Σήμερα, -Ορκωμοσία Συμβουλίου Αθανασία Αποστολάκου, Ηρακλής Αργυρίου, Ιωάννης Αθανίτης, Κωνσταντίνος Βασσιλάκος, Πέτρος Βλήτας, Αλέξανδρος Βανετσανάκος, Πέτρος Γιατράκος, Αντώνιος Κάμμας, Αθανάσιος Καμπέσης,Μαρία Καστάνη, Δημήτριος Κωστόπουλος, Γεράσιμος Ματιάτος, Ευστάθιος Μπάκας, Χαράλαμπος Παλούμπης, Ευάγγελος Παπαδάκος, Παναγιώτης Παπαδόπουλος, Κωνσταντίνος Παράβαλος, Ανδρέας Πούλος, Χρήστος Σοφρώνης, Ισμήνη Σπηλιότη, Πέτρος Στρατηγάκης, Δημήτριος Ταμπάκης, Γεώργιος Φανουράκης, Ανδρέας Χρυσοστόμου -Διανομή ρούχων και φαγητού στους άστεγους Σημαντικές Ημερομηνίες 22 Φεβρουαρίου-Αποκριάτικο Γλέντι 2 Μαρτίου Εσπερινός της Συγχώρησης-5μμ 3 Μαρτίου- Καθαρά Δευτέρα-Αρχή Σαρακοστής Μέγα Απόδειπνο-7μμ 15 Μαρτίου-Σεμινάριο Γάμου-στην αίθουσα της εκκλησσίας-9πμ 16 Μαρτίου-Ετήσιο Γεύμα Φασολάδας της Φιλοπτώχου 30 Μαρτίου- Εθνική Παρέλαση Ανακοινώσεις -Μελέτη Αγίας Γραφής κάθε Τετάρτη στις 7:00μμ Ωράριο για τις Κυριακάτικες Λειτουργιές Όρθρος 9:15πμ Θεία Λειτουργία 10:30πμ Weekday Services February 22-1st Saturday of the Souls Orthros 8:30am - Liturgy 9:30am Baptisms Dimitrios Vasilios Mouzakitis-2/16/14 Maxwell David Graham-2/22/14 Today Board of Trustees Oath of Office Sia Apostolakos, Iraklis Argyriou, John Athanitis, Steve Bacas, Andreas Chrysostomou, George Fanourakis, Anthony Kammas, Athan Kampessis, Maria Kastanis, Dimitri Kostopoulos, Jerry Matiatos, Harry Paloumbis, Angelo Papadakos, Taki Papadopoulos, Dean Paravalos, Andrew Poulos, Christos Sofronis, Ismene Speliotis, Peter Stratigakis, Jimmy Tampakis, Alex Vanech, Dino Vassilakos, Peter Vlitas, Peter Yatrakis. -Midnight Run Important Dates February 22-Apokriatiko Glendi March 2-The Vespers of Forgivenes-5pm March 3- Clean Monday-Beginning of Lent- The Great Compline-7pm March 15-Wedding Seminar-in the church hall- 9am March 16 Philoptochos Fasolada Luncheon March 30- Greek Parade Announcements -Bible Study every Wednesday at 7:00pm Hours for Sunday Divine Liturgy Orthros 9:15am Divine Liturgy 10:30am

St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral 355 State Street, Brooklyn Pan-Orthodox Vespers on the Sunday of Orthodoxy and The Forty Holy Martyrs Sunday, March 9, 2014 Vespers at 6:00 pm His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS will preside and will be guest speaker A Lenten supper will follow THIS IS THE FAITH OF THE APOSTLES, THIS IS THE FAITH OF THE FATHERS, THIS IS THE FAITH OF THE ORTHODOX. THIS IS THE FAITH WHICH HAS ESTABLISHED THE UNIVERSE. FROM THE SYNODIKON OF THE SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY The Community of Sts. Constantine & Helen Cathedral and the A. Fantis Parochial School Cordially invite you to our APOKRIATIKO GLENDI Saturday, February 22, 2014 8 p.m. 64 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Mezedakia Complete Dinner/Wine Music By: Bravo Sounds $40 adults $15 children under 18 GREEK DANCES PERFORMED BY THE A. FANTIS DANCE GROUP Reservations only 718-624-0595 (Space is limited) Come in Costume!! Be Creative! Best costume wins $200 American Express Gift Card!

Sunday School Choir Program 1st & 3rd Sunday of the Month during Sunday School Directed by Choir Masters Maria & Zoe Zollo For Youth of all ages For Further Information Please Contact: Maria Kammas 718-745-2529 Students will be high-lighted in: The Processions of the Palms on Palm Sunday, April 13th & The Procession of the Bride Groom during Holy Week, April 13th-15th Students will also learn hymns of the Divine Liturgy and Τη Υπερμάχω»