ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 24 ΦΕΒΡΟΥΑΡΙΟΥ 2019 Κυριακή του Ασώτου

SAINT DEMETRIOS CATHEDRAL SS. CATHERINE & GEORGE CHURCH 30-11 30TH DRIVE 22-30 33RD STREET ASTORIA, NY 11102 ASTORIA, NY 11105 TEL: 718-728-1718 TEL: 718-545-4796 FAX: 718-728-0079 ARCHIM. NEKTARIOS PAPAZAFIROPOULOS MR. EMMANUEL DRITSAS DEAN Αγαπητοί Ενορίτες, PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT EMAIL:PRESIDENT@SAINTDEMETRIOSASTORIA.ORG WWW.SAINTDEMETRIOSASTORIA.COM ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 24 ΦΕΒΡΟΥΑΡΙΟΥ 2019 Κυριακή του Ασώτου Η παραβολή του Ασώτου υιού είναι μία από τις σπουδαιότερες και με βαθύ νόημα παραβολές του Κυρίου. Εκφράζει την απόλυτη αγάπη του πατέρα προς τον υιό και συνάμα εκδηλώνει ευσπλαχνία και συγχώρηση προς το χαμένο τέκνο του. Η αμαρτία εύκολα προωθεί τον άνθρωπο στην πτώση και χρειάζεται μεγάλη δύναμη ψυχής για να επανέλθει ο άνθρωπος από την πνευματική πτώση. Ο πατέρας της παραβολής, συμβολίζει τον Ουράνιο Πατέρα που υπομονετικά αναμένει την μετάνοια του κάθε αμαρτωλού και είναι έτοιμος να συγχωρέσει ακόμα και τις πιο χειρότερες αμαρτίες του. Ο πιο νέος υιός επαναστατεί και φεύγει από τον πατέρα, νομίζοντας πως η άσωτη ζωή θα του προσφέρει χαρά και ευτυχία. Δυστυχώς όμως, το μόνο που του φέρνει είναι φθορά σωματική και πνευματική. Όταν όμως ο άσωτος υιός ξόδεψε όλη την περιουσία του, ήρθε αντιμέτωπος με μία άλλη πραγματικότητα, την εγκατάλειψη των πάντων, κυρίως αυτών που νόμιζε ότι ήταν φίλοι του. Μάλιστα γράφει ο Ευαγγελιστής για τον άσωτο υιό, «εκεί διεσκόρπισε την ουσίαν αυτού ζων ασώτως». Η ουσία έχει να κάνει με την περιουσία που έλαβε από τον πατέρα αλλά και ταυτόχρονα η ουσία έχει να κάνει με τον υιό, ο όποιος έδωσε τον εαυτόν στην άσωτη ζωή. Όταν τον άνθρωπο τον κυριεύει η αμαρτία, χάνει κάτι το πιο σημαντικό, χάνει την ψυχή του. Η φθορά της αμαρτίας όμως έχει και άλλες συνέπειες. Χάνει ο άνθρωπος την αγνότητά του. Τον κάνει πιο άγριο, πιο κακό, πιο οξύθυμο και γενικά πιο απομακρυσμένο από τον Θεό. Ένας άνθρωπος εξαγριωμένος με την ζωή, δύσκολα μπορεί να επιτρέψει στον εαυτό του να μαλακώσει η καρδιά του, να ζητήσει έλεος από τον Θεό και να επιστρέψει πίσω. Χρειάζεται πολλή δύναμη ψυχής για να επιστρέψει ο άνθρωπος στον Θεό, όταν έχει απομακρυνθεί με την αμαρτία. Στην σημερινή παραβολή δεν είναι τυχαίο που γίνεται αναφορά στον άσωτο υιό να τρώει με τους

χοίρους. Οι χοίροι από την φύση τους πάνε προς τις ακαθαρσίες και τρώγουν ότι βρουν μπροστά τους και ποτέ δεν σηκώνουν το κεφάλι τους προς τα ουρανό. Έτσι και ο άνθρωπος που κυριεύεται από τα πάθη της αμαρτίας, δεν μπορεί να κοιτάξει επάνω και να δοξάσει τον Θεό όταν είναι βουτηγμένος στο βούρκο της αμαρτίας. Εξηγεί ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Θεοφύλακτος πως όταν, το πάθος κυριεύσει τον άνθρωπο, δεν βρίσκει ικανοποίηση από το πάθος, αλλά του αφήνει ένα κενό στην καρδιά του. Όπως τα ξυλοκέρατα που τρων οι χοίροι είναι γλυκά στην αρχή και μετά αφήνουν την ξινίλα στο στόμα, το ίδιο αποτέλεσμα έχει και η αμαρτία, υπάρχει η αρχική ικανοποίηση και μετά ακολουθεί η απελπισία. Αδελφοί μου, μόνο η μετάνοια, διά μέσου του ελέους του Θεού έχει την δύναμη να απαλλάξει την ψυχή του ανθρώπου από το βάρος της αμαρτίας. Η εξομολόγηση απαλύνει την ψυχή από την αμαρτία και τότε ακολουθεί η άφεση αμαρτιών. Με την παραβολή του ασώτου ο Κύριος μας διδάσκει πως είναι διατεθειμένος να συγχωρέσει κάθε αμαρτία από τον άνθρωπο που έρχεται να ζητήσει μετάνοια. Όπως ετοιμαζόμαστε να προβούμε στην Αγία και Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστή εύχομαι σε όλους καλή μετάνοια. ΑΜΗΝ Αρχιμ. Νεκτάριος Παπαζαφειρόπουλος Ιερατικώς Προϊστάμενος Sunday of the Prodigal Son: Luke 15:11-31 The Return to the Father: This Sunday the Gospel of Luke continues to develop the theme of repentance and forgiveness (from last week the Publican and the Pharisee) with the best known and familiar parable, that of the Prodigal Son. We know very well the content of the parable-the younger son/heir squanders his inheritance to a life of debauchery to the point where he envies even pigs that had cornhusks to eat while he was starving. The center of the parable lies in the repentance of the younger son to return to his father because this required a conscious act of will and acknowledgment of his sinfulness. This makes then the central figure of the parable the person of the Father. The story of the prodigal is our own story-how we departed from Him (Adam and Eve), how we lead sinful lives and as a result, suffer in misery. But we are armed with the weapon of repentance and can make our own conscious act of will to return to our Father in heaven! God rejoices in the return of a sinner to His kingdom. If we take one step towards Him He will take ten towards us-if we let Him abide in our hearts! God does not simply restore a repentant sinner to the grace he might have possessed before sinning; He bestows upon the repentant sinner the greatest Grace he can receive. He restores us to our original glory! Let us therefore make the conscious decision to repent and return to Him! Μαρτίου 2 - Ψυχοσάββατον - Τὴν παραμονὴ τῆς Κυριακῆς τῆς Ἀπόκρεω ἡ Ἐκκλησία μας καλεῖ σὲ μιὰ παγκόσμια ἀνάμνηση ὅλων «τῶν ἀπ' αἰῶνος κοιμηθέντων εὐσεβῶς, ἐπ' ἐλπίδι ἀναστάσεως, ζωῆς αἰωνίου». Γιὰ νὰ καταλάβουμε τὸ νόημα, πρέπει νὰ θυμηθοῦμε ὅτι ὁ Χριστιανισμὸς εἶναι ἡ θρησκεία τῆς ἀγάπης. Ὁ Χριστὸς δὲν ἄφησε στοὺς μαθητές Του μιὰ διδασκαλία ἀτομικῆς σωτηρίας, ἀλλὰ τὴν «καινὴ ἐντολή» τοῦ «ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους». Ἡ ἀγάπη, ποὺ ἀποτελεῖ τὸ θέμα τῆς έπόμενης Κυριακῆς τῶν Ἀπόκρεω, εἶναι τὸ θεμέλιο καὶ ἡ οὐσία τῆς ζωῆς τῆς Ἐκκλησίας. Ἡ προσευχὴ γιὰ τοὺς «κεκοιμημένους» εἶναι μιὰ βασικὴ ἔκφραση τῆς Ἐκκλησίας σὰν ἀγάπης. Ζητᾶμε ἀπὸ τὸ Θεὸ νὰ θυμηθεῖ αὐτοὺς ποὺ καὶ μεῖς θυμόμαστε καὶ τοὺς θυμόμαστε ἀκριβῶς γιατί τοὺς ἀγαπᾶμε. Προσευχόμαστε γι' αὐτοὺς τοὺς συναντᾶμε «ἐν Χριστῷ» ὁ ὁποῖος ἐπειδὴ εἶναι Ἀγάπη, ξεπερνάει τὸ θάνατο. Μέσα στὸ Χριστὸ δὲν ὑπάρχουν ζωντανοὶ καὶ πεθαμένοι γιατί ὅλοι εἶναι «ζῶντες ἐν Αὐτῷ». Αὐτὸς εἶναι ἡ Ζωή. Ἀγαπώντας αὐτοὺς ποὺ εἶναι ἐν Αὐτῷ, ἀγαπᾶμε τὸ Χριστό. Αὐτὸ τὸ Σάββατο λοιπὸν πρὶν τὴν Κυριακὴ τῆς Ἀπόκρεω, τελεῖται ἡ ἀκολουθία γιὰ τὴν ἀνάμνηση τῶν «προαπελθόντων».

ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΟΥ ΑΣΩΤΟΥ ΥΙΟΥ Ἐκ τοῦ 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. Sunday of the Prodigal Son The Gospel According to 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 filled his belly with 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.'" Από την Β Επιστολή Αποστόλου Παύλου Πρὸς Κορινθίους Δ 6-15 Εὐφρανθήσεται δίκαιος ἐν Κυρίῳ. Στίχ. Εἰσάκουσον, ὁ Θεός, τῆς φωνῆς μου. Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεὸς ὁ εἰπὼν ἐκ σκότους φῶς λάμψαι, ὃς ἔλαμψεν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν πρὸς φωτισμὸν τῆς γνώσεως τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν προσώπῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἔχομεν δὲ τὸν θησαυρὸν τοῦτον ἐν ὀστρακίνοις σκεύεσιν, ἵνα ἡ ὑπερβολὴ τῆς δυνάμεως ᾖ τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ μὴ ἐξ ἡμῶν ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι, ἀλλ οὐ στενοχωρούμενοι ἀπορούμενοι, ἀλλ οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι διωκόμενοι, ἀλλ οὐκ ἐγκαταλειπόμενοι καταβαλλόμενοι, ἀλλ οὐκ ἀπολλύμενοι πάντοτε τὴν νέκρωσιν τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι περιφέροντες, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι ἡμῶν φανερωθῇ. Ἀεὶ γὰρ ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες εἰς θάνατον παραδιδόμεθα διὰ Ἰησοῦν, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ φανερωθῇ ἐν τῇ θνητῇ σαρκὶ ἡμῶν. Ὥστε ὁ μὲν θάνατος ἐν ἡμῖν ἐνεργεῖται, ἡ δὲ ζωὴ ἐν ὑμῖν. Ἔχοντες δὲ τὸ αὐτὸ πνεῦμα τῆς πίστεως, κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον, Ἐπίστευσα, διὸ ἐλάλησα, καὶ ἡμεῖς πιστεύομεν, διὸ καὶ λαλοῦμεν εἰδότες ὅτι ὁ ἐγείρας τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν καὶ ἡμᾶς διὰ Ἰησοῦ ἐγερεῖ, καὶ παραστήσει σὺν ὑμῖν. Τὰ γὰρ πάντα διʼ ὑμᾶς, ἵνα ἡ χάρις πλεονάσασα διὰ τῶν πλειόνων τὴν εὐχαριστίαν περισσεύσῃ εἰς τὴν δόξαν τοῦ θεοῦ. St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15 The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord. Verse: Oh God, hear my cry. Brethren, it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believed, and so we speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. The Triodion Period: We begαn this three week period of the Church s calendar on Sunday Feb. 17 th - 10 weeks before the Glorious Feast of Pascha. These three Sundays prepare us for the Great Lent (March 11 th Clean Monday) and are characterized with parables in each of these Gospel readings of those 3 Sundays-The Publican and the Pharisee, The Prodigal Son and Judgment Sunday. But what is a parable? In short, they are wordstories that reveal to us a profound spiritual lesson that we are called to put into practice! We can only do so if we truly listen to its meaning and apply it (put it into practice) to our daily lives. So if we have ears to hear, let us hear their message and be responsive to them! They are as applicable today as they were two thousand years ago Υπενθυμίζουμε τούς εὐσεβεῖς ενορίτες μας ὅτι ὁ Κύκλος μελέτης Ἅγίας Γραφῆς τῆς Πέμπτης καί ὥρα 1:00 μ.μ. συνεχίζεται, στον Ἱερό Καθεδρικό ναό τού Ἁγίου Δημητρίου. Welcome to Hellenic Orthodox Community of St. Demetrios We welcome all our visitors this morning and thank you for praying with us during the Divine Liturgy. While Holy Communion may only be received by prepared and baptized Orthodox Christians, our non- Orthodox guests are welcome to join us in receiving blessed bread (Antidoron) from the priest at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. Youth News: Ten of our Basketball teams in Joy and Goya are preparing for the playoffs that start on March 2nd. Our Joy had a Valentine's Day Social and they made 10 Build-A-Bears for the residents of the Greek Division of the Ronald Macdonald House. On February 15th our Young Adults with Fr. Vasilios went on a Midnight Run bringing food and clothing to the homeless of New York City. We thank all of you who donated to this cause. From Sunday February 17th and returning Wednesday the 20th our Goya and chaperones totaling 38 people visited our Nation's Capital Washington, D.C. They visited the museums, monuments and toured the White House. Our thanks to the chaperones and the organizers Mr. John and Ekaterina Barous. Upcoming events include Pasta Night on March 1st and Koliva/Icon Family Night on March 8th. On behalf of the Clergy we thank the Youth Committee for their exceptional volunteer work and the many hours away from their own families!

ΤΕΛΕΤΟΥΡΓIΚΟΝ ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΙΕΡΩΝ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΩΝ Τρίτη, 26 Φεβρουαρίου, 2019 ΑΓΙΟΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ Σχολική Θεία Λειτουργία Παράκλησης στα Αγγλικά Τετάρτη, 27 Φεβρουαρίου, 2019 Προκοπίου Στεφάνου γηρ. 8:00:10:00π.μ. 6:00-7:00μ.μ. Πολιτ. Κεντρο Ιεράς Αρχιεπ.(27-09 Cres. St.) Ὀρθρος & Θεία Λειτουργία 8:00:10:00π.μ. ΑΓΙΑ ΑΙΚΑΤΕΡΙΝΗ Παράκλησης 7:00-8:00μ.μ. Σάββατο, 2 Μαρτίου, 2019 Α' Ψυχοσαββατο ΑΓΙΟΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ Ὀρθρος & Θεία Λειτουργία 8:00-10:30π.μ. Ἐσπερινός 6:00-7:00μ.μ. ΑΓΙΑ ΑΙΚΑΤΕΡΙΝΗ Ὀρθρος & Θεία Λειτουργία 8:00-10:30π.μ. Κυριακή, 3 Μαρτίου, 2019 Κυριακή της Απόκρεω ΑΓΙΟΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ- ΑΓΙΑ ΑΙΚΑΤΕΡΙΝΗ Ὀρθρος & Θεία Λειτουργία 8:00:11:00π.μ. Μνημόσυνα Σαβ/Κυριακ. Αγιος Δημήτριος Μαγδαληνής Σταματίου Αγγελικής Παπαγεωργίου Δημητρίου Κωστέα Χαραλάμπου Γκάτσιου Δέσποινας Γιαννιώτη Αρτοκλασίες Συλλόγου Κρητών Ομόνοια LITURGICAL SCHEDULE OF DIVINE SERVICES Tuesday, February 26, 2019 SAINT DEMETRIOS Divine Liturgy for the School Paraklisis in English 8:00-10:00 a.m. 6:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 27, 2019 Prokopios Stephen Cultural Center of Arch. (27-09 Crescent Street) Οrthros & Divine Liturgy SAINT CATHERINE Paraklisis 8:00-10:00 a.m. 7:00-8:00 p.m. Saturday, March 2, 2019 1st Saturday of the Souls SAINT DEMETRIOS Orthros & Divine Liturgy 8:00-10:30 a.m. Vespers 6:00 7:00 p.m. SAINT CATHERINE Orthros & Divine Liturgy 8:00-10:30a.m Sunday, March 3, 2019 Meatfare Sunday SAINT DEMETRIOS-SAINT CATHERINE Οrthros & Divine Liturgy 8:00-11:00 a.m. Μνημόσυνα Σαβ/Κυριακ.Αγία Αικατερίνη Φωτεινής Φιγετάκη Μαρίας Ταλιαδούρου Ευάγγελου Πατράκα Παναγιώτη Κόκκινου

St. Demetrios Cathedral of Astoria Philoptochos Society Saint Catherine INVITES YOU TO JOIN US FOR MEMBERSHIP DRIVE WE WELCOME NEW MEMBERS AND FRIENDS JOIN US FOR AN AFTERNOON OF FUN GREEK MOVIE WINE AND CHEESE SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2019 AT 3:00PM Hellenic Culture Center (27-09 Crescent St., Astoria, N.Y.) For Reservations Please call Μrs. Μaroula Froussios: (718)440-9538, or Mrs. Nikie Panagiotakis: (646)932-0920 FREE ADMISSION Η Φιλόπτωχος Αδελφότητα της Κοινότητάς μας προσκαλεί όλα τα Μέλη της, αλλά και νέα Μέλη και φίλους για να περάσουμε ένα ευχάριστο απόγευμα με WINE AND CHEESE και να παρακολουθήσουμε μία ελληνική ταινία. Την Κυριακή 24 Φεβρουαρίου 2019, στις 3:00μμ στο Πολιτιστικό Κέντρο της Ιεράς μας Αρχιεπισκοπής (27-09 Crescent street Astoria, Ν.Υ.) Για κρατήσεις τηλεφωνήστε στις κυρίες Μαρούλα Φρούσσιου:(718)440-9538, ή Νίκη Παναγιωτάκη:(646)932-0920 Είσοδος ελευθέρα

Guidelines as to when Baptisms are Performed and Facts Pertinent to them Baptisms: May be performed throughout the year except Holy Week and any Feast Day of the Lord as well as from December 25 th thru January 6 th. Usually one name is given and that is a Christian one (that of a Saint or Holy Event). The sponsor has to be a baptized Orthodox Christian in good standing with the Church (member of a parish or at least 15 years old (parents are members somewhere) or if the sponsor is married, their Wedding sacrament must have been performed in an Orthodox Church, a politikos gamos is not enough. Children whose parents are Orthodox but were not married in the Church can still be baptized as long as the sponsor meets the qualifications stated above. Φεβρουαρίου 26 Ἁγία Μεγαλομάρτυς Φωτεινὴ Ἡ Ἁγία Μεγαλομάρτυς Φωτεινὴ καταγόταν ἀπὸ τὴν Σαμαρειτικὴ πόλη Σιχάρ. Τὶς πρῶτες πληροφορίες γιὰ τὴν Ἁγία τὶς βρίσκουμε στὸ Δ κεφάλαιο τοῦ κατὰ Ἰωάννη Εὐαγγελίου. Κάθε μεσημέρι πήγαινε ἔξω ἀπὸ τὴν πόλη, στὸ πηγάδι τὸ λεγόμενο τοῦ Ἰακώβ, καὶ γέμιζε τὴν στάμνα της. Ἐκεῖ, μία ἡμέρα, συνάντησε τὸν Ἰησοῦ Χριστό, ὁ Ὁποῖος φανέρωσε σὲ αὐτὴν ὅλη τὴ ζωή της. Ὁ Κύριος εἶπε στὴν Ἁγία, ὅτι Αὐτὸς εἶναι «τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ζῶν», δηλαδὴ ἡ ἀστείρευτη πηγὴ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος. Αὐτὸ τὸ «πνευμνατικὸ ὕδωρ» ἔδωσε ὁ Κύριος στὴ Σαμαρείτιδα, ἡ ὁποία βαπτίσθηκε Χριστιανὴ μεταξὺ τῶν πρώτων γυναικῶν τῆς Σαμάρειας καὶ ὀνομάσθηκε Φωτεινή. Ἀπὸ τότε ἀφιέρωσε τὸν ἑαυτό της στὴν διάδοση τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου στὴν Ἀφρικὴ καὶ στὴ Ρώμη. Ἐκεῖ ἔλαβε καὶ μαρτυρικὸ θάνατο ἀπὸ τὸν αὐτοκράτορα Νέρωνα (54 68 μ.χ.), ὅταν αὐτὸς ἔμαθε ὅτι ἡ Ἁγία Φωτεινὴ ἔκανε Χριστιανὲς τὴν θυγατέρα του Δομνίνα καὶ μερικὲς δοῦλες της. Μαζὶ μὲ τὴν Ἁγία Φωτεινὴ μαρτύρησαν οἱ υἱοί της καὶ οἱ πέντε ἀδελφές της. February 27 - St Raphael of Brooklyn Saint Raphael Hawaweeny was born on November 8th, 1860 A.D., in Damascus, Syria, to pious Christian parents. He studied Arabic grammar and mathematics at the Antiochian Patriarchate parochial school where he was tonsured a reader in 1874. His strong academics served him well throughout his life, providing for him numerous opportunities to succeed and grow. He accepted a position in 1877 as an assistant teacher of Arabic and Turkish, which became full time in 1879. In 1889 he was tonsured a monk while working with Patriarch Hierotheos at the patriarchate, traveling with him on pastoral visits and serving as his personal assistant. Longing to continue his theological studies, Raphael petitioned the Patriarch for permission to study at Halki Theological School, which was the only option for students of the Antiochian Patriarchate as the Balamand Seminary in Lebanon had been closed since 1840. After much persistence, Raphael received the blessing of the Patriarch and enrolled in Halki Seminary where he was ordained a deacon in 1885. After completing his degree at Halki, the young Deacon Raphael studied at the Kiev Theological Academy, working as a liaison between the Moscow and Antiochian patriarchates.

Deacon Raphael was ordained to the holy priesthood in 1889 while in Kiev, continuing to serve that community for many years. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 led to the subsequent collapse of the silk industry in the Middle East, causing many Syrians and others to immigrate to the United States. These new citizens desired to have their religion present in their new homeland and sent letters to their mother churches for pastoral help. A few priests were sent, but none lasted, and so the people asked for Father Raphael Hawaweeny to come to America and serve. Both the Antiochian and Moscow Patriarchs agreed to this idea, and Father Raphael left for America where the people greeted him with great love. Father Raphael then spent many years serving the Syrians in Brooklyn, New York, but he desired to scan the continent for Syrians and other Orthodox Christians who were without spiritual leadership. He traveled by train and carriage across the nation, finding Orthodox Christians, recording their location, and performing liturgies, baptisms, and weddings. Upon his return to Brooklyn, Father Raphael worked to find clergy to send to these dispersed communities, giving them a full time pastor to minister to their needs. In 1909, by the hands of Bishops Tikhon and Innocent of the Moscow Patriarchate, he was the first bishop consecrated in the New World. The now Bishop Raphael continued his ministry to the Christians throughout America. Bishop Raphael worked tirelessly in Brooklyn to mediate disputes between the Orthodox Christians from Syria and Maronite Catholic Christians who often fought violently with one another. Despite numerous outbursts and setbacks, Bishop Raphael continued his ministry serving the Orthodox throughout his vast diocese. One such incident was when an influential leader of the Maronite group was killed and many people accused Bishop Raphael of ordering his murder. This led to many people attempting to harm the bishop, but he endured it all willingly. He was arrested under attempted murder charges, but was eventually cleared and let go after much time and money was spent in his defense. Throughout his time in North America, Bishop Raphael founded 36 parishes to bring the Church to the faithful who were without a priest to guide them. Bishop Raphael truly lived out Gospel in all aspects of his life, striving tirelessly for the people in his care, even to the point of sacrificing his own physical health in order to maintain the spiritual health of his people. Bishop Raphael died on February 27th, 1915, at his home in Brooklyn. His funeral was attended by hundreds of people, including clergy from all ethnic backgrounds, illustrating his love for all of the people of God regardless of where they came from. The sacred relics of Saint Raphael, the good shepherd of the lost sheep in North America, were first interred in a crypt beneath the holy table at his Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn on March 7th, 1915, before being moved to the Syrian section of Mount Olivet Cemetery in Brooklyn on April 2nd, 1922. They were finally translated to the Holy Resurrection Cemetery at the Antiochian Village near Ligonier, Pennsylvania, on August 15th, 1988. His sanctity was officially proclaimed by the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America on March 29th, 2000, and his glorification was celebrated on May 29th of that year at the Monastery of Saint Tikhon in Pennsylvania.