Hymns Hymn Φῶς ἱλαρὸν ἁγίας δόξης, ἀθανάτουπατρός, οὐρανίου, ἁγίου, μάκαρος, Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, ἐλθόντες ἐπὶ τὴν ἡλίου δύσιν,ἰδόντες φῶς ἑσπερινόν, ὑμνοῦμεν Πατέρα,Υἱόν, καὶ ἅγιον Πνεῦμα Θεόν. Ἄξιόν σε ἐν πᾶσι καιροῖς, ὑμνεῖσθαι φωναῖς αἰσίαις, Υἱὲ Θεοῦ, ζωὴν ὁ διδούς Διὸ ὁ κόσμος σὲ δοξάζει. Gladsome Light of holy glory, of the holy, blessed, heavenly, immortal Father, O Jesus Christ: arriving at the hour of sunset and having seen the evening light, we praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God. It is worthy for You to be praised at all times with happy voices, O Son of God and Giver of life; and therefore the world glorifies You. Hymn for the Theotokos Ἐπὶ σοὶ χαίρει, Κεχαριτωμένη,πᾶσα ἡ κτίσις, ἀγγέλων τὸ σύστημα,καὶ ἀνθρώπων τὸ γένος, ἡγιασμένε ναέ, καὶ Παράδεισε λογικέ, παρθενικὸν καύχημα ἐξ ἧς Θεὸς ἐσαρκώθη, καὶ παιδίον γέγονεν, ὁ πρὸ αἰώνων ὑπάρχων Θεὸς ἡμῶν τὴν γὰρ σὴν μήτραν θρόνον ἐποίησε, καὶ τὴν σὴν γαστέρα, πλατυτέραν All of creation rejoices in you, O full of grace; the assembly of angels and the human race. You are a sanctified temple and a spiritual paradise, the glory from whom God was incarnate and become a child our God existing before all ages. He made your womb a throne, and your body more spacious than the heavens. All of creation rejoices in you, O full of grace. Glory to you.
Epistle - St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 1:1-12 Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 63.11,1 The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord. Verse: Oh God, hear my cry. The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 1:1-12 I N MANY AND VARIOUS WAYS God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has obtained is more excellent than theirs. For to what angel did God ever say, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"? Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"? And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." Of the angels he says, "Who makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire." But of the Son he says, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, the righteous scepter is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, thy God, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness beyond thy comrades." And, "Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end. Προκείμενον. Ήχος βαρύς. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 63.11,1 Εὐφρανθήσεται δίκαιος ἐν Κυρίῳ. Στίχ. Εἰσάκουσον, ὁ Θεός, τῆς φωνῆς μου. Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 1:1-12 τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα Π ολυμερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως πάλαι ὁ θεὸς λαλήσας τοῖς πατράσιν ἐν τοῖς προφήταις, ἐπʼ ἐσχάτου τῶν ἡμερῶν τούτων ἐλάλησεν ἡμῖν ἐν υἱῷ, ὃν ἔθηκεν κληρονόμον πάντων, διʼ οὗ καὶ τοὺς αἰῶνας ἐποίησεν, ὃς ὢν ἀπαύγασμα τῆς δόξης καὶ χαρακτὴρ τῆς ὑποστάσεως αὐτοῦ, φέρων τε τὰ πάντα τῷ ῥήματι τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ, διʼ ἑαυτοῦ καθαρισμὸν ποιησάμενος τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν, ἐκάθισεν ἐν δεξιᾷ τῆς μεγαλωσύνης ἐν ὑψηλοῖς, τοσούτῳ κρείττων γενόμενος τῶν ἀγγέλων, ὅσῳ διαφορώτερον παρʼ αὐτοὺς κεκληρονόμηκεν ὄνομα. Τίνι γὰρ εἶπέν ποτε τῶν ἀγγέλων, Υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε; Καὶ πάλιν, Ἐγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς πατέρα, καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται μοι εἰς υἱόν; Ὅταν δὲ πάλιν εἰσαγάγῃ τὸν πρωτότοκον εἰς τὴν οἰκουμένην λέγει, Καὶ προσκυνησάτωσαν αὐτῷ πάντες ἄγγελοι θεοῦ. Καὶ πρὸς μὲν τοὺς ἀγγέλους λέγει, Ὁ ποιῶν τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ πνεύματα, καὶ τοὺς λειτουργοὺς αὐτοῦ πυρὸς φλόγα πρὸς δὲ τὸν υἱόν, Ὁ θρόνος σου, ὁ θεός, εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος ῥάβδος εὐθύτητος ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου. Ἠγάπησας δικαιοσύνην, καὶ ἐμίσησας ἀνομίαν διὰ τοῦτο ἔχρισέν σε ὁ θεός ὁ θεός σου, ἔλαιον ἀγαλλιάσεως παρὰ τοὺς μετόχους σου. Καί, Σὺ κατʼ ἀρχάς, κύριε, τὴν γῆν ἐθεμελίωσας, καὶ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σού εἰσιν οἱ οὐρανοί αὐτοὶ ἀπολοῦνται, σὺ δὲ διαμένεις καὶ πάντες ὡς ἱμάτιον παλαιωθήσονται, καὶ ὡσεὶ περιβόλαιον ἑλίξεις αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἀλλαγήσονται σὺ δὲ ὁ αὐτὸς εἶ, καὶ τὰ ἔτη σου οὐκ ἐκλείψουσιν.
G O S P E L - L u k e 2 : 1-20 I n those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Εν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις, ἐξῆλθε δόγμα παρὰ Καίσαρος Αὐγούστου ἀπογράφεσθαι πᾶσαν τὴν οἰκουμένην. αὕτη ἡ ἀπογραφὴ πρώτη ἐγένετο ἡγεμονεύοντος τῆς Συρίας Κυρηνίου. καὶ ἐπορεύοντο πάντες ἀπογράφεσθαι, ἕκαστος εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν πόλιν. ἀνέβη δὲ καὶ Ιωσὴφ ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐκ πόλεως Ναζαρὲτ εἰς τὴν Ιουδαίαν εἰς πόλιν Δαυΐδ, ἥτις καλεῖται Βηθλεέμ, διὰ τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐξ οἴκου καὶ πατριᾶς Δαυΐδ, ἀπογράψασθαι σὺν Μαριὰμ τῇ μεμνηστευμένῃ αὐτῷ γυναικί, οὔσῃ ἐγκύῳ. ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἐκεῖ ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ τεκεῖν αὐτήν, καὶ ἔτεκε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς τὸν πρωτότοκον, καὶ ἐσπαργάνωσεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἀνέκλινεν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ φάτνῃ, διότι οὐκ ἦν αὐτοῖς τόπος ἐν τῷ καταλύματι. Καὶ ποιμένες ἦσαν ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ τῇ αὐτῇ ἀγραυλοῦντες καὶ φυλάσσοντες φυλακὰς τῆς νυκτὸς ἐπὶ τὴν ποίμνην αὐτῶν. καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐπέστη αὐτοῖς καὶ δόξα Κυρίου περιέλαμψεν αὐτούς, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ ἄγγελος μὴ φοβεῖσθε ἰδοὺ γὰρ εὐαγγελίζομαι ὑμῖν χαρὰν μεγάλην, ἥτις ἔσται παντὶ τῷ λαῷ, ὅτι ἐτέχθη ὑμῖν σήμερον σωτήρ, ὅς ἐστι Χριστὸς Κύριος, ἐν πόλει Δαυΐδ. καὶ τοῦτο ὑμῖν τὸ σημεῖον εὑρήσετε βρέφος ἐσπαργανωμένον, κείμενον ἐν φάτνῃ. καὶ ἐξαίφνης ἐγένετο σὺν τῷ ἀγγέλῳ πλῆθος στρατιᾶς οὐρανίου αἰνούντων τὸν Θεὸν καὶ λεγόντων δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις Θεῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη, ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκία. καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἀπῆλθον ἀπ αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν οἱ ἄγγελοι, καὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι οἱ ποιμένες εἶπον πρὸς ἀλλήλους διέλθωμεν δὴ ἕως Βηθλεὲμ καὶ ἴδωμεν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο τὸ γεγονός, ὃ ὁ Κύριος ἐγνώρισεν ἡμῖν. καὶ ἦλθον σπεύσαντες, καὶ ἀνεῦρον τήν τε Μαριὰμ καὶ τὸν Ιωσὴφ καὶ τὸ βρέφος κείμενον ἐν τῇ φάτνῃ. ἰδόντες δὲ διεγνώρισαν περὶ τοῦ ῥήματος τοῦ λαληθέντος αὐτοῖς περὶ τοῦ παιδίου τούτου καὶ πάντες οἱ ἀκούσαντες ἐθαύμασαν περὶ τῶν λαληθέντων ὑπὸ τῶν ποιμένων πρὸς αὐτούς. ἡ δὲ Μαριὰμ πάντα συνετήρει τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα συμβάλλουσα ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς. καὶ ὑπέστρεψαν οἱ ποιμένες δοξάζοντες καὶ αἰνοῦντες τὸν Θεὸν ἐπὶ πᾶσιν οἷς ἤκουσαν καὶ εἶδον καθὼς ἐλαλήθη πρὸς αὐτούς.
Welcome Visitors! If you are new to Transfiguration, we would love to get to know you. Please reach out to Eleni Ackerman (eleni_ackerman@yahoo.com) or Pat Gatlin (pgatlin@austin.rr.com) We welcome all new visitors who worshipped with us this morning. We are pleased to have you with us! Please join us next door after service for coffee and fellowship. There is material in the entrance of the Hall regarding ministries and events of Transfiguration. We hope that you will return often to worship with us and grow in Christ! R e c e i v i n g H o l y C o m m u n i o n The sacrament of Holy Communion is reserved for only baptized and/or Chrismated Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared by fasting, prayer and confession. The Orthodox Church is not in sacramental communion with any other church outside the Orthodox Christian Faith. If you are not Orthodox, you are invited with everyone to receive the Antidoron (blessed bread) at the end of service. If you would like information about the Orthodox Church, please see Fr. Vasileios after services. he is always wrestling in prayer for you (Colossians 4:12) Prayers for those in our Armed Forces SGT Jennifer D. Atkinson, SSG John Atkinson, COL Dave Romine, CPT James Alfaro, SSG Deane Anderson, CPT William Willett, MAJ Timothy Ullman, Lt. Col. Chris Chase, SPC Mindy Keys, SPC Andrew Bentzel, MAJ Scot Thornhill, CPT Christopher Gilbert, Major Alexander Stathos, 1st LT Angela Bahlatzis, MIDN 1/C Joseph Barone, LCDR Thomas Uhl, Lt. Lance Shannon, CPT Raphael Regalado, SSG George Graman The Prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16) Prayers for Health Father Justin, Presbytera Aspazia, Gregory, Nicholas Wyatt, John, Kim, Joey, Rebecca, Michael, Panayota, Denis Luke, William, George, Ioanna, Anna, Anna, Jim, Stella, Paul, Rebecca, Kassandra, Simone, Kynlee, Irma, Russ, Christine Adzic, Nici, Adam, Nicky, Peter, Nicky Cumberland, Dr. Erica Suchman, Antonios, Hunter Gray, Katie Calwell, Christin Wallace, Kiriaki, Christos, Chantal, Fr. Damaskinos, Emmanuel, Eleni, Thomas, Maria, Garyfalia, Zoe, Ioannes, Anna, Harikleia, Maria, Marie, Miguel, Constanze, Damon, Maria, Alexander, Les
Contact: PRESS OFFICE Stavros Papagermanos pressoffice@goarch.org Date: December 21, 2018 GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA 8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106 * Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0237 www.goarch.org - Email: communications@goarch.org Prot. No. 1099 ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE PATRIARCHAL PROCLAMATION FOR CHRISTMAS + B A R T H O L O M E W By God s Mercy Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch To the Plenitude of the Church Grace, Mercy and Peace from the Savior Christ Born in Bethlehem Venerable brothers and beloved children in the Lord, We glorify the Most-Holy and All-Merciful God, that we are again deemed worthy this year to reach the festive day of Christmas, the feast of the pre-eternal Son and Word of God s Incarnation for us and for our salvation. Through the eternal mystery and great miracle of the divine Incarnation, the great wound, namely humankind sitting in darkness and shadow, is rendered into children of light and day, [1] while the blessed road of deification by grace is opened for us. In the theandric mystery of the Church and through her holy sacraments, Christ is born and takes shape in our soul and existence. Maximus the Confessor theologizes that the Word of God, though born once in the flesh, is ever willing to be born spiritually in those who desire Him. Thus, He becomes an infant and fashions Himself in us by means of the virtues; indeed, He reveals Himself to the extent that we are capable of receiving Him. [2] God is not an abstract idea, like the god of the philosophers, or an unapproachable God enclosed in absolute transcendence. He is Emmanuel, God with us, [3] closer to us than we are to ourselves, more akin to us than our very own selves. [4] Faith in the inaccessible and fleshless Divinity does not transform our life; it does not remove the polarization between matter and spirit; nor does it bridge the gap between heaven and earth. The Incarnation of the Divine Word is the revelation of truth regarding God and humankind, which saves the human race from the dark labyrinths of materialism and anthropomonism, as well as from idealism and dualism. The Church s condemnation of nestorianism and monophysitism signals the rejection of two broader tendencies of the human soul: on the one hand rendering anthropocentrism absolute, and on the other idolizing an idealistic understanding of life and truth, both of which are especially widespread deviations in our age. Contemporary nestorianism is expressed as a spirit of secularization, as scientism and the absolute prioritization of utilitarian knowledge, as the absolute autonomy of economy, as self-saving arrogance and atheism, as the noncivilization of individualism and eudemonism, as legalism and moralism, as the end of decency and identification of sacrificial love and repentance with the so-called morality of the weak. By the same token, monophysitism is today represented by tendencies to demonize the body and natural man, by puritanism and the syndromes of purity, by fruitless introverted spirituality and various mysticisms, by disregarding the intellect, art and civilization, by denying dialogue and rejecting differences, with the dangerous expresser supposedly in the name of the one and only truth namely a religious fundamentalism nurtured by absolutism and rejections, while feeding violence and division. It is evident that both a nestorianizing deification of the world and a monophysitizing demonization of it leave the world and history, civilizations and cultures, exposed to the powers of the present age, cementing their autonomy and impasses. Christian faith is the certainty of our salvation by the God of love, who graciously assumed our nature and once again granted us the likeness lost through the fall, making us worthy of true life in His Body, the Church. The
theandric mystery is expressed throughout the entirety of life in the Church. The Incarnate Savior received the flesh of the Church [5] and showed, first and alone, the true man, who is perfect on account of both character and life as well as all other aspects. [6] The Church of Christ is the place of common salvation, common freedom and hope in the common kingdom. It is the way of living the liberating truth, the core of which is expressing the truth in love. This love transcends the boundaries of mere human action, because its source and prototype lie in divine philanthropy, which transcends human reason. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. [7] God is present wherever love exists. This saving truth must also be expressed in the way we celebrate the sacred Nativity of our Savior, who visited us from on high. A feast is always a fullness of time, a time of self-knowledge, of thanksgiving for the magnitude of divine philanthropic love, of witness to the truth of the theandric mystery and of freedom in Christ. The Christpleasing celebration of the Divine Word s Incarnation is an act of resistance against secularization, against discoloration of the feast and its conversion into a Christmas without Christ, as well as against a celebration of Having, of consumerism and vanity indeed, into a world filled with social tensions, reversal and confusion of values, of violence and injustice, where the Jesus child is once again faced with the inexorable interests of numerous, multifaceted powers. Honorable brothers and beloved children, Generations come and pass, while forthcoming developments are difficult to foresee. Genuine faith, though, does not face dilemmas. The Word became flesh, the truth has come and darkness has subsided. We already participate in the Kingdom while still on our journey toward the completion of the incarnate Divine Economy. We possess the unshakeable certainty that the future belongs to Christ, Who is the same yesterday and today and forever; [8] that the Church of Christ is and shall remain a place of holiness and godliness, a renewal of man and world, a foretaste of the glory of the Kingdom; that it will continue to give the witness of the Gospel to distribute the gifts of God in the world: His love, peace, justice, and reconciliation, the power of resurrection and expectation of eternity. [9] The contemporary ideology of some post-christian age is baseless. After Christ, everything is and remains in Christ to the ages. We humbly kneel before the Divine Infant of Bethlehem and His All- Holy Mother, who holds Him in her arms, while venerating the Incarnate most perfect God, and bestow upon the children of the Holy and Great Church of Christ throughout the world from the ever-vigilant Phanar our Patriarchal blessing for the Holy Twelve Days of Christmas, wishing you a healthy, fruitful and joyous new year in the Lord s favor. Christmas 2018 + Bartholomew of Constantinople Your fervent supplicant before God [1] 1 Thess. 5:5. [2] Maximus the Confessor, Capita theologica et oeconomica, PG 90, 1181. [3] See Matt. 1:23. [4] Nicholas Cabasilas, The Life in Christ, VI, PG 150, 660. [5] John Chrysostom, Homily on exile, PG 52, 429. [6] Nicholas Cabasilas, The Life in Christ, VI, PG 150, 680. [7] 1 John 4:9-11. [8] Heb. 13:8. [9] Encyclical of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church (Crete 2016), Preamble.
Contact: PRESS OFFICE Stavros Papagermanos pressoffice@goarch.org GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA 8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106 * Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0237 www.goarch.org - Email: communications@goarch.org Date: December 20, 2018 ARCHIEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICAL FOR THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST (2018) Protocol Number 217/18 December 25, 2018 The Nativity of Christ And His name shall be called the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ according to the Flesh is depicted throughout our churches in the familiar and radiant icon of the Nativity. Every element of the Gospel account, historically and theologically, appears before our eyes to inspire wonder, worship, and peace. In every detail, the icon proclaims without words that the Child born this day in Bethlehem is none other than the Prince of Peace. For by His birth, peace entered into a world plagued by hatred, hurt, and conflict. Our Lord came to bring peace between heaven and earth. We see this depicted in the shepherds as they hearken to the voice of an angel. The Evangelist Luke tells us that they were greatly frightened at the angel s appearance (Luke 2:9). But in the icon their faces manifest reverence and attention, not terror or guilt. As the great company of the heavenly host chanted Glory to God in the highest, the shepherds received and believed their message of Peace on earth, goodwill towards mankind (Luke 2:14). In that peace they journeyed to Bethlehem to seek the Child of promise. There, the shepherds witnessed God s answer to sin and death, as forgiveness, reconciliation, and life shone forth from the cave in the face of the Prince of Peace. Our Lord came also to bring peace among the peoples of the earth. We see this depicted in the figures of the Magi. The Evangelist Matthew tells us that these astrologers from the East followed the rising of a star (Matthew 2:2) and left their homes, traversing for many months and long miles to reach the place where the newborn King dwelt. The Magi came in peace, bearing gifts in order to honor the newborn Messiah, even as the prophets had foretold: Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 60:3). Our Lord came to bring peace within the realm of nature. We see this depicted in the animals who kneel in worship before the manger. Strange wonders happen before them; unfamiliar visitors crowd their stable. But the animals neither cower nor flee; they calmly remain to witness the miracle. The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his Master s manger, as was foretold again by Isaiah (1:3). For so many millennia, the story of human development has been a history of cruelty towards animals; but on this night, and by Christ s birth, there was serenity and peace.
Our Lord came to bring peace to our fallen human nature, beset by weakness and mortality. In the center of the icon we behold the Virgin Mother bowed down in adoration before her Son and God. She shows no hint of pain or trauma, even after a long journey and childbirth. For with His entrance into this world, Jesus Christ came only to heal and save, not to harm or destroy. He caused His mother no injury in His birth. In her immaculate body, the destiny for all humanity is revealed: health, restoration, and resurrection. Already at His Nativity, the icon declares, Christ is the master of life and death, and in Him is the ancient curse abolished (cf. Genesis 3:16). The Prince of Peace will destroy the final enemy, which is death (1 Cor. 15:26). Brothers and sisters in Christ, We glorify the Prince of Peace by spreading the peace He granted to us in His Birth. In this Christmas season as we gather with family and friends, as we worship in the house of the Lord, as we break bread and share the bounties of our lives let us also strive to be people of peace. Out of the stable of Bethlehem, peace from heaven shines forth: let us therefore be quick to forgive and ready to reconcile with all those around us. From the lowly manger in Judea, peace prevails over man and beast: let us therefore be diligent as faithful stewards of God s creation, neither exploiting nor misusing His gifts through overconsumption, materialism, or waste. Through the gifts of the Magi, peace for all peoples is foretokened: let us therefore through almsgiving and generosity be strong advocates of justice, equality, and compassion. From the face of the Holy Theotokos, peace overflows, royal and radiant: let us therefore embrace purity and complete dedication to Christ in our minds and bodies and spirits, giving glory to the Prince of Peace who came to save us. May the peace, good will, and glory of the Christmas season be yours today and always, and unto the ages of ages. Christ is Born! Glorify Him! With paternal love and heartfelt wishes in the Incarnate Lord, D E M E T R I O S Archbishop of America
Thank you to all our2018 Stewards Fr. Vasileios & Prsb. Stella Flegas Fr. David & Prsb. Vasiliki Eckley Dn. George & Prsb. Ria Bithos Prsb. Aspazia Bita Dn. Sal & Dnss. Angela Fazio Ackerman, Eleni Adamson, Philip & Rachael Agnos, Peter & Sarah Aldridge, William & Roxanne Ambrose, Rod & Effie Angelo, Dr. Jacob & Diana Apostolakis, Dr. Lou & Ellen Appling, Dan & Gigi Arges, Chris & Allie Athanasiou, Vaios & Madeleine Atkinson, John & Jennifer Ayers, Robert & Magdalene Bainter, James Bakiris, Michalis & MaryKatherine Barcan, Andrei Bennett, Ronald & Christine Benson, Kiki, Maria & Jerry Betondo, George & Zlata Bjeletich, Marko & Elissa Boukadakis, Michael & Pauline Bourgeois, Lynne Boyer, Russell & Christine Bryant, Jason & Katie Burgess, J. T. & Christina Burns, Michael & Evanthia Carabiniero, Sophia Carter Carter, Despina Christie, Dimitrios & Eleni Christou, Christakis & Christina Chronis, Gregory & Marousa Chronis, John & Amy Chronis, Maria Clark, Ron Clay, Marianne Colovas, William & Betty Craus, Constantin & Adina Crawford, Matthew Crenshaw, Brian & Elena Daniello Victor & Hilary Daskalantonakis, Dean & Melissa Daskalantonakis, Emily Daskalantonakis, Michael & Elizabeth Demetriadis, Alex & Joan Demopoulos, Joanna DeRossi, Joseph & Koula Dimarhos, Theoharis Djukich, Rodney & Marlena Dow, Stephen & Diann Draina, Joseph & JoAnn Eagle, Judith Edwards, Rich & Lia Esper, John & Jessica Evgenides, Costas & Ellen Ferrua, Jose & Camelia Fuselier, Kevin & Katie Garwood, Jason & Amity Gatlin, Jack & Patricia Gault, Josh & Dominique Georgakopoulos, Ilias Georgantonis - Keah, Demetra Anna Georgantonis, Mary George, Anthony & Effie George, Thomas Georgilis, Kathy & Bacon David Geranios, Peter & Lillian Gerleman, Victor & Mimi Geuras, Dean Gianakopoulos, George & Crissi Giannopoulos, Demetrios Glarakis, Christina Glaros, Michael & Nyda Gligor, David Gouris, Tom & Allison Gradziel, MaryBeth Graman, George & Krista Hahalis, Roula Haldes, Tula Halter John & Pam Harris, Christopher & Vicki Hasiotis, Thanos & Misty Herescu, Octavian & Oltea Hicks, Vickie Holland, Brian & Susan Horwedel, David & Eleni Howard, Matthew Hrissikopoulos, Eleni Jones, Jerry & Julie Jones, Ralph & Anita Justice Johnny & Argyro Justice, Maria Kalenterides, Theodore Kalogirou, Nici Kalpaxis, Dr. James Kangos, Peter & Linda Karides, George & Georgia Karvelas, Elsie Katsos, Louis & Pat Keah, Demetra Kenyon, Scott & Katina Ketrenos, Christopher & Michelle Keys, Andrew & Dolores King, Neysa Klaras, Panagiota Klaras, Vicki Kolber, Carolyn Kolesnikova, Ksenia Kollias, Ted Korioth, Kevin & Patricia Koulakis, Mihail & Katina Kourkounakis, William Koutsavdis, Evangelos & Mary-Roselie Lamari, Matthew Lambros, Despina Landon, James & Karen LaRue, Keith Leakas, Sophia Leakas, Timothy Leara, William & Michelle Leatherwood, Lee & Elaine Lerman, Nicholas & Juliana Levendakis, Steve Lindsey Robert & Susan Long, Mary Lowe, Josh & Ioana Manthos, Vasilios Margos, Fotini McFalls, David & Mariam Meador, Archie & Dina Menezes, Evandro Mikhail, Samir Milosovich, John Misthos, James & Donna Mitchell, Patricia Morris, Nina & Erik Urdy Morros, Maria Moya, Enrique & Iulia Nelson, Richard & Eleni Nikas, Maria O Brien, Shawn & Stephanie Orr, Terry & Patricia Orthmann, Chris & Summer Osowski, David & Elaine Ousaklidis, Ioannis & Wanda Papageorgakis, Christos Papanikolaou, Nick & Smaranda Pappas, Valli Pavlos, Pete & Toni Peet, Kim Peppas, Nicholas & Lisa Peter, Evan, Carson & Jacob Petropoulos, Elizabeth Petropoulos, Chris & Tina Petty, Ioanna Phillips, John & Cynthia Phocas, Denis & Sonia Pirovolos, Nicholas & Anna Pon, Ken & Mary-Ellen Poulos, Gabe & Lisa Poulos, John & Nina Pozharova, David & Mariya Prasifka, Greg & Marisa Price, Geoffrey & Maria Price, Jordan Price, Peter & Cynthia Qatato, Jamal & Angele Randol, Mark & Jackey Read, Bruce & Anastasia Reeder, Daniel Rigney, Daniel & Maggie Rigney, Thomas Robertson, William & Linda Romell, Peter & Barbara Romine, Dr. David Ross, Terri Rossnagel, Stella Russell, Mary Helen Ryburn, Earl & Michelle Samaras, Vasilis & Florentia Sarinaki, Maria Sarkis, JP & Mary Sewell, Shane & Christa Shotwell, Patricia Sigalos, John & Mara Rivera Skevofilax, Cristina, Costas, Maria Skevofilax, George & Teresa Skevofilax, Ioannis Smith, Alexander & Sandra Sounas, Dimitrios Southwick, Philip Spanos, Kostas & Vasiliki Spiropoulos, Nicholaos & Christiana Spyropoulos, Steve & Nadia Stahlke, Karl & Evangelia Stamatis, Harry & Patrice Stamatopoulos, Athanasios Stathos, Judith Stefos, John & Norris, Meredith Streetman, Kyle & Sophie Suehs, Brandon & Jennifer Suehs, Thomas & Christine Tidd, Simon & Irene Tindle, Debbie Triant, Vasilis & Erin Tsihlas, Stephen & Martha Uritu, Daniel & Marinela Vrentas, Gregory & Andrea Werner, Mark & Maria Burke Willmann, Judd & Carol Willoughby, Walter & Triantafilli Woodruff, Rachel Woodruff, Robert & Debra Wynn, Allen & Julie Xylouris Bowles, Niky & Tom Yentzen, David & Celia Yoder, Stuart & Kori Zachos, Elias & Cynthia Zerdecki, Andrew & Elizabeth Zotis, Efstathios & Vicki
2019 Stewards thus far 12/24/18 Fr. Vasileios & Prsb. Stella Flegas Fr. David & Prsb. Vasiliki Eckley Dn. George & Prsb. Ria Bithos Prsb. Aspazia Bita Dn. Sal & Dnss. Angela Fazio Ackerman, Eleni Athanasiou, Vaios & Madeleine Ayers, Robert & Magdalene Clary, Eric Demetriadis, Alex & Joan DeRossi, Joseph & Koula Dow, Stephen & Diann Gatlin, Jack & Patricia Georgantonis - Keah, Demetra Anna Gouris, Tom & Allison Gradziel, MaryBeth Gressel, Diandra Halter, John & Pam Hareng, Michael & Rachelle Hicks, Vickie Justice, Johnny & Argiro Kalogirou, Nici Kersch, Vana Kolber, Carolyn Korioth, Connor Korioth, Kevin & Patricia Koulakis, Mihail & Katina Leakas, Sophia Lindsey, Robert & Susan Lowe, Josh & Ioana Mariano, Cassandra Maziasz, David Maziasz, Robert & MaryAnn McQueen, Karen-Copas Meador, Dina Mikhail, Samir & Mary Nelson, David Orr, Terry & Patricia Palmer, Daniel Peter, Evan Petropoulos, Elizabeth Phillips, John & Cynthia Phocas, Dionissios & Sonia Pon, Ken & Mary-Ellen Poulos, Gabe & Lisa Price, Peter & Cynthia Reeder, Daniel Robertson, William & Linda Ryburn, Earl & Michelle Saenz, Mark & Gail Shotwell, Pat Sierra, Mary Skevofilax, George Smith, Alexander & Sandra Stamatis, Harry & Patrice Stathos, Judith Stefos, John Uritu, Daniel & Marinela
Thank you to all our Building Expansion Project Pledgers Fr. Vasileios & Prsb. Stella Flegas Dn. George & Prsb. Ria Bithos Ackerman, Eleni Adamson, Philip & Rachel Ambrose, Roderick & Effie Angelo, Dr. Jacob & Diana Apostolakis, Dr. Lou & Ellen Athanasiou, Dr. Vaios & Magda Ayers, Robert & Magdalene Bakiris, Michael & MaryKatherine Bartela, Thomas & Sophia Bell, Gregg & Amy Benson, Kiki Bjeletich, Mark & Elissa Boukadakis, Michael & Pauline Boyer, Russell & Christine Bryant, Jason & Katie Carabiniero, Sophia Khan Carter, Despina Christou, Chris & Christina Chronis, Gregory & Marousa Chronis, John & Amy Colovas, William & Betty Daniello, Victor & Hilary Demetriadis, Alex & Joan DeRossi, Joseph & Koula Djukich, Rod & Marlena Dow, Stephen & Diann Draina, Joseph & JoAnn Esper, John & Jessica Garwood, Duke Garwood, Jason & Amity Garwood, John Gatlin, Pat & Jack Georgantonis, Anna - Keah Georgantonis, Mary George, Anthony & Effie Gianakopoulos, George & Crissi Gouris, Tom & Allison Gradziel, MaryBeth Graman, George & Krista Hahalis, Roula Holland, Brian & Sue Jones, Ralph & Anita Holland, Brian & Sue Kangos, Peter & Linda Karides, George, Georgia & Mia Katsos, Louis & Pat Kenyon, Scott & Katina Keys, Andrew & Dolores Kolber, Carolyn Kostas, Pam & Walker Tim Koulakis, Mihail & Katina Koutelou, Evangelia Landon, James & Karen Leakas, Sophia Leatherwood, Elaine Levendakis, Steve Lindsey, Robert & Susan Long, Mary Lowe, Ioana & Joshua Margos, Fotini McFalls, David & Mariam Meador, Dina Menezes, Evandro Misthos, Jim & Donna Moros, Maria Morris, Nina & Erik Urdy O Brien, Shawn & Stephanie Orr, Terry & Patricia Orthmann, Chris & Summer Osowski, David & Elaine Pappas, Valli Peter, Evan Petropoulos, Chris & Tina Petty, Yanna Phillips, Cynthia Tassos Phocas, Denis & Sonia Pon, Ken & Mary-Ellen Poulos, Gabe & Lisa Poulos, George & Alicia Pozharova, Mariya Price, Pete & Cynthia Price, Wayne Qatato, Jamal & Angie Randol, Mark & Jackey Reeder, Daniel Rigney, Tom Robertson, William & Linda Ross, Terri Russell, MaryHelen Ryburn, Earl & Michelle Shebay, Michael & Georgia Shotwell, Patrice Spanos, Kostas & Vasiliki Spiropoulos, Nicholaos & Christiana Stamatis, Harry & Patrice Stefos, John & Norris Meredith Stiurca, Dan & Ecaterina Streetman, Kyle & Sophie Suehs, Brandon & Jennifer Tindle, Debbie Tracey, Christa & Matthew Uritu, Daniel & Marinela Vrentas, Greg & Andrea Werner, Mark & Maria Burke Willmann, Judd & Carol Woodruff, Rachel Woodruff, Robert & Debra Wynn, Allen & Julie Yediares, Pam & Jason Yoder, Stuart & Kori
TGOCT (TGOC Tykes) A new ministry for Newborns, Infants, Toddlers & Preschoolers. All ages are welcome to attend! Check us out on the church website: http://transfiguration.org/ministries/youth-ministries/tgoc-tykes/ HOPE/JOY (preschool through 5th grade) *Beginning Jan 1, we will need new leadership to run HOPE/JOY. Please let Elissa Bjeletich know if you're interested. GOYA (grades 6th through 12th) Find us on Facebook @TGOC GOYA Levendia Greek Dance Practice: No practices till 1/27/2019 DEC 30: GOYA Basketball Practice, 1pm to 3pm at O Henry Middle School JAN 18-21: Annual Metropolis of Denver Basketball Tournament in Dallas FEB 10: Oratorical Festival GREEK SCHOOL DEC 28: JAN 4: MAR 22: APR 26: MAY 17: EPISTLE READERS DEC 24: DEC 25: DEC 30: YOUTH ACTIVITIES Find us on Facebook @TransfigurationGOC ΝO CLASS - Christmas Break NO CLASS - Winter Break /Epiphany NO CLASS - Spring Break NO CLASS - Good Friday (Greek Easter) Last Day of classes Gabriel Boyer MaryKatherine Randol Alexis Gianakopoulos **For GOYANS interested in reading the Epistle during Liturgy on Sundays, please contact Jackey Randol at: mail4jackey@gmail.com or 512-577-3914.** 2019 Hellenic Professional Society of Texas Scholarship Call for Applications for the 2019 Hellenic Professional Society of Texas Scholarship. Each year since 1977, the Society awards scholarships to qualified high school seniors, undergraduate and graduate full-time students. Over the years, more than one hundred fifty scholarships have been awarded. Applicants are eligible for a scholarship if they: 1) Currently attend or have been accepted to a college or university in Texas, 2) Have shown excellent scholastic performance in their corresponding field of study, and 3) Are of Hellenic heritage The Society also accepts applications from students of non-greek descent that have demonstrated clear, strong and sustained excellence in academic studies related to Greek letters or affairs. The deadline is January 15, 2019. Students may access the application at http://www.hpst.org/pages/scholarship.html, or, contact the HPST Scholarship Chair, Dr. Elena Papadopoulou at HPSTscholarship@gmail.com.
PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS VASILOPITA AUCTION!!! On December 30 after church, during coffee hour we will auction off some fabulous vasilopitas. All the money raised goes to the orphanage at St Basils. Please make sure you get yours for the new year. Yum yum!!! Philoptochos has the very best Christmas stocking stuffers. They have gift cards from $5-$10 Starbucks to $100 Walmart, Target and many for many others. Lots of different kinds. Do your shopping with us and help us help those in need. TRANSFIGURATION GREEK FESTIVAL Memorial Day weekend 2019 Sonia Phocas is heading up the Marketing committee for the upcoming Greek Festival in May and is looking for some enthusiastic volunteers to join her and her team. No marketing experience necessary, just willing to share some ideas and help get the info on the festival out to the community. The website is currently in progress, but they are looking to really starting with all this in the New Year. Please email her if you re interested to: DenisPhocas@aol.com Overflow Parking! Many thanks to COL Tyra Swanson and SGM Jason Morrow and the soldiers at the Texas National Guard Base next door for arranging coverage at the Base to allow us to park on the Base this week. We are hopeful that this will become available to us on a regular basis. If you are able we would encourage you to park over in there big lot in the back in order to allow folks with mobility difficulties to park closer to the Sanctuary. We also plan to shuttle folks from the Base to the Sanctuary and back to your vehicle after the service. If you know someone who may be willing to help shuttle some Sundays, have them contact Tom Gouris at: 512 669-0515 TRANSFIGURATION PARISH APOKREATIKO (MEATFARE) GLENTI SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019 Mt. Tabor Hall 6:30pm