Saint Spyridon - December 12

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 Grave Tone-2nd Morning Gospel /Ήχος Bαρύς Εωθινόν B *********************************************************************************** Saint Spyridon - December 12 Ο Άγιος Σπυρίδωνας - 12 Δεκεμβρίου

Κυριακή 8 Δεκεμβρίου, 2013 Κυριακή: Ι ΛΟΥΚΑ. Προεόρτια τῆς Συλλήψεως τῆς Ἁγίας Ἄννης. Τοῦ Ὁσίου Πατρός ἡμῶν Παταπίου καί τῶν Ἁγίων Ἀποστόλων Σωσθένους, Ἀπολλώ, Κηφᾶ, Τυχικοῦ, Ἐπαφροδίτου, Καίσαρος καί Ὀνησιφόρου, ἐκ τῶν Ἑβδομήκοντα. Αναστάσιμο Απολυτίκιον Ήχος Bαρύς Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέῳξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυροφόρων τὸν θρῆνον μετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας, ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. 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 Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν Προαιώνιον Λόγον, ἐν Σπηλαίῳ ἔρχεται, ἀποτεκεῖν ἀπορρήτως. Χόρευε ἡ οἰκουμένη ἀκουτισθεῖσα, δόξασον μετὰ Ἀγγέλων καὶ τῶν Ποιμένων, βουληθέντα ἐποφθῆναι, παιδίον νέον, τὸν πρὸ αἰώνων Θεόν. Sunday December 8, 2013 10th Sunday of Luke Forefeast of the Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos Patapius the Righteous of Thebes Apollo, Tychikos, Sosthenes, Cephas, Epaphroditos, Caesar, & Onesiphoros, Apostles of the 70 Ressurectional Apolytikion Grave Tone Thou didst abolish death by Thy Cross; Thou didst open Paradise to the thief; Thou didst transform the myrrh-bearers' lamentation, and didst bid Thine Apostles to preach that Thou art risen, O Christ God, granting great mercy to the world. 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 On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God.

Κύριος ἰσχὺν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ δώσει. Στίχ. Ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ υἱοὶ Θεοῦ, ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ δόξαν καὶ τιμήν. Πρὸς Ἐφεσίους 2:14-22 Ἀδελφοί, Χριστός ἐστιν ἡ εἰρήνη ἡμῶν, ὁ ποιήσας τὰ ἀμφότερα ἕν, καὶ τὸ μεσότοιχον τοῦ φραγμοῦ λύσας, τήν ἔχθραν ἐν τῇ σαρκί αὐτοῦ, τὸν νόμον τῶν ἐντολῶν ἐν δόγμασιν, καταργήσας ἵνα τοὺς δύο κτίσῃ ἐν ἑαὐτῷ εἰς ἕνα καινὸν ἄνθρωπον, ποιῶν εἰρήνην, καὶ ἀποκαταλλάξῃ τοὺς ἀμφοτέρους ἐν ἑνὶ σώματι τῷ θεῷ διὰ τοῦ σταυροῦ, ἀποκτείνας τὴν ἔχθραν ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐλθὼν εὐηγγελίσατο εἰρήνην ὑμῖν τοῖς μακρὰν καὶ τοῖς ἐγγύς ὅτι διʼ αὐτοῦ ἔχομεν τὴν προσαγωγὴν οἱ ἀμφότεροι ἐν ἑνὶ πνεύματι πρὸς τὸν πατέρα. Ἄρα οὖν οὐκέτι ἐστὲ ξένοι καὶ πάροικοι, ἀλλὰ συμπολῖται τῶν ἁγίων καὶ οἰκεῖοι τοῦ θεοῦ, ἐποικοδομηθέντες ἐπὶ τῷ θεμελίῳ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ προφητῶν, ὄντος ἀκρογωνιαίου αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἐν ᾧ πᾶσα οἰκοδομὴ συναρμολογουμένη αὔξει εἰς ναὸν ἅγιον ἐν κυρίῳ, ἐν ᾧ καὶ ὑμεῖς συνοικοδομεῖσθε εἰς κατοικητήριον τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν πνεύματι. The Lord will give strength to his people. Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory. St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:14-22 BRETHREN, Christ is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 13.10-17 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, Ην δὲ διδάσκων ἐν μιᾷ τῶν συναγωγῶν ἐν τοῖς σάββασι. καὶ ἰδοὺ γυνὴ ἦν πνεῦμα ἔχουσα ἀσθενείας ἔτη δέκα καὶ ὀκτώ, καὶ ἦν συγκύπτουσα καὶ μὴ δυναμένη ἀνακῦψαι εἰς τὸ παντελές.ἰδὼν δὲ αὐτὴν ὁ Ιησοῦς προσεφώνησε καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ γύναι, ἀπολέλυσαι τῆς ἀσθενείας σου καὶ ἐπέθηκεν αὐτῇ τὰς χεῖρας καὶ παραχρῆμα ἀνωρθώθη καὶ ἐδόξαζε τὸν Θεόν. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ἀρχισυνάγωγος, ἀγανακτῶν ὅτι τῷ σαββάτῳ ἐθεράπευσεν ὁ Ιησοῦς, ἔλεγε τῷ ὄχλῳ ἓξ ἡμέραι εἰσὶν ἐν αἷς δεῖ ἐργάζεσθαι ἐν ταύταις οὖν ἐρχόμενοι θεραπεύεσθε, καὶ μὴ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ σαββάτου. ἀπεκρίθη οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ Κύριος καὶ εἶπεν ὑποκριτά, ἕκαστος ὑμῶν τῷ σαββάτῳ οὐ λύει τὸν βοῦν αὐτοῦ ἢ τὸν ὄνον ἀπὸ τῆς φάτνης καὶ ἀπαγαγὼν ποτίζει; ταύτην δέ, θυγατέρα Αβραὰμ οὖσαν, ἣν ἔδησεν ὁ σατανᾶς ἰδοὺ δέκα καὶ ὀκτὼ ἔτη, οὐκ ἔδει λυθῆναι ἀπὸ τοῦ δεσμοῦ τούτου τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ σαββάτου; καὶ ταῦτα λέγοντος αὐτοῦ κατῃσχύνοντο πάντες οἱ ἀντικείμενοι αὐτῷ, καὶ πᾶς ὁ ὄχλος ἔχαιρεν ἐπὶ πᾶσι τοῖς ἐνδόξοις τοῖς γινομένοις ὑπ αὐτοῦ. The Gospel of Luke 13:10-17 At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity." And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day." Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

Μνημόσυνα Χαράλαμπος Βανδόρος-1 χρόνο Άννα Γκαβρίλης-1 χρόνο Καθημερινές Ακολουθίες 12 Δεκεμβρίου- Του Αγίου Σπυρίδωνος 13 Δεκεμβρίου- Του Αγίου Ευστρατίου 14 Δεκεμβρίου- Του Αγίου Θύρσου Όρθρος 8:30πμ Θεία Λειτουργία 9:30πμ Βάπτιση-12/7/2013 Ιωάννα ΝτεΣέτα Σήμερα-Γενική Συνέλευση Σημαντικές Ημερομηνίες 13 Δεκεμβρίου- Εορτή για τα παιδιά με ιδικές ανάγκες 14 Δεκεμβρίου- Πρωινό με τον Άγιο Βασίλη 22 Δεκεμβρίου- Εκλογές Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου μετά τη Θεία Λειτουργία -Χριστουγεννιάτικη Γιορτή από τα παιδιά του Κατηχητικού σχολείου και Χριστουγεννιάτικο πάρτι της Φιλοπτώχου μετά από την Θεία Λειτουργία 5 Ιανουαρίου, 2014-Αγιασμός των υδάτων στο Battery Park στο Μανχάταν 12 Ιανουαρίου, 2014 -Γεύμα Φιλοπτώχου, Βασιλόπιτα. Θα τιμήσουμε τον Θεοφιλέστατο Επίσκοπο Φιλόθεο 17-19 Ιανουαρίου, 2014-Τα παιδιά του GOYA θα πάνε εκδρομή για σκι. Ωράριο για τις Κυριακάτικες Λειτουργίες Memorials Haralambos Vandoros 1 year Anna Gavrilis 1 year Weekday Services December 12- The Feast of St. Spyridon December 13- St. Eustratios December 14- St. Thyrsos Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am Baptism-12/7/13 Joanna Grace DeSeta Today- General Assembly December 13 Christmas Party for Mentally Challenged Adults in our Church Hall December 14 Breakfast with Santa December 22 -BOT Elections after Liturgy -Sunday School Christmas Pageant & Philoptochos Christmas Party January 5, 2014- Blessing of the waters at Battery Park, Manhattan January 12, 2014 Annual Philoptochos Vasilopita Luncheon honoring Bishop Philotheos January 17-19, 2014- GOYA ski trip Hours for Sunday Divine Liturgy Orthros 9:15am Divine Liturgy 10:30am Όρθρος 9:15πμ Θεία Λειτουργία 10:30πμ

Ἅγιος Σπυρίδων Σύμφωνα με τις μαρτυρίες που υπάρχουν ο άγιος Σπυρίδων έλαβε μέρος στις εργασίες της Α Οικουμενικής Συνόδου, πού συνεκλήθη στη Νίκαια της Βιθυνίας το έτος 325, από τον Μέγα Κωνσταντίνο. Είναι η εποχή κατά την οποία διάφοροι εκκλησιαστικοί άντρες ασχολούνταν με το ζήτημα της θεότητας του Ιησού Χριστού. Ο πλέον συστηματικός πολέμιος της θεότητας του Χριστού υπήρξε ο Άρειος, πρεσβύτερος της Εκκλησίας της Αλεξάνδρειας. Αν και ο Άρειος καθαιρέθηκε από τον Αλεξανδρείας Αλέξανδρο και η διδασκαλία του αποδοκιμάστηκε από τοπική Σύνοδο, ο ίδιος και οι οπαδοί του συνέχισαν να αναστατώνουν την Εκκλησία με τις αιρετικές απόψεις τους. Έτσι ο Μέγας Κωνσταντίνος συγκάλεσε την Α οικουμενική Σύνοδο, στην οποία μεταξύ των 318 πατέρων ήταν και ο άγιος Σπυρίδων, ο οποίος μάλιστα διεκρίθη. Και να πως η χάρη και ο φωτισμός του Θεού χρησιμοποίησαν τον χωρίς σπουδαία μόρφωση άγιο Σπυρίδωνα να υποστηρίξει τη θεότητα του Ιησού Χριστού: Ο Άρειος και όσοι τον ακολουθούσαν, χρησιμοποιούσαν τη λογική και τη φιλοσοφία προκειμένου να στηρίξουν τα κατά της θεότητας του Χριστού επιχειρήματα τους. Τότε ο άγιος Σπυρίδων, ο απλός και ταπεινός αυτός επίσκοπος, θέλοντας να αποδείξει ότι ο Θεός είναι τριαδικός και ο Υιός είναι «ὁμοούσιος τῷ Πατρί», και ότι «ἐγεννήθη ἐκ τοῦ Πατρός πρό πάντων τῶν αἰώνων», άρα δεν είναι κτίσμα του, πήρε στα χέρια του ένα κεραμίδι. Κάνοντας δε το σημείο του σταυρού, σφίγγει το κεραμίδι λέγοντας! «Εις το όνομα του Πατρός», και από το κεραμίδι βγαίνει μία φλόγα «Και του Υιού», και από το κεραμίδι στάζει νερό «Και του Άγιου Πνεύματος», και στο χέρι του μένει το χώμα. Και μπροστά στα έκπληκτα μάτια όλων εξηγεί με λόγια απλά: Το χώμα, το νερό και η φωτιά, δηλαδή τρία υλικά στοιχεία, έκαναν το ένα κεραμίδι. Το ίδιο συμβαίνει και με την Άγια Τριάδα. Είναι ένας Θεός, αποτελείται όμως από τρία Πρόσωπα τον Πατέρα, τον Υιό και το Άγιο Πνεύμα, ομοούσια μεταξύ τους. Άρα ο Υιός δεν είναι κτίσμα του Πατρός. Έτσι η Α οικουμενική Σύνοδος, με τη συμβολή και του αγίου Σπυρίδωνος, θέσπισε την ομοουσιότητα του Χριστού με τον Θεό Πατέρα και αναθιμάτισε τον Άρειο και όσους υποστήριξαν τις αιρετικές του απόψεις. Ο άγιος Τριμυθούντος έλαβε μέρος και στις εργασίες της Συνόδου που συνεκλήθη το 342-43 στη Σαρδική (σημερινή Σόφια) και υπέγραψε τα Πρακτικά της, όπως αναφέρει στη Β Απολογία του ο Μέγας Αθανάσιος. ********************************************** St.Spyridon In 1716 the Turks had the island of Corfu under a tight siege. They had 50,000 troops and a good number of ships surrounding the island, cutting its lifeline from land and sea.the barbarian armies had been concentrated at the far walls of the city. Pizani, a general of the forces of the Venetian Republic, was anxiously anticipating the oncoming enemy attack (since Corfu and the nearby islands were occupied by Italy at the time).at daybreak on August 11, 1716, St. Spyridon, the patron Saint of the island, appeared in front of the enemy lines holding a glistening sword in his right hand. His austere and grandiose appearance horrified the aggressors who began to recede. The Hagarenes, panic-stricken by the most awesome presence and fearless attack of the Saint, abandoned weapons, machinery and animals, running for their lives. This great miracle became known throughout the island. The Turks had left behind 120 cannons, a large number of weapons, ammunition, animals and food.after this powerful, surprising and most obvious miracle, the Venetian ruler Andrew Pizani, who was a Papist, wanted to erect a Papist altar inside the Orthodox Church of St. Spyridon (forever pushing for this was also the Papist Cardinal of the island). However, St. Spyridon appeared to Pizani in a dream saying: Why are you bothering me? The altar of your faith is unacceptable in my Temple! Naturally, Pizani reported this to the Papist Cardinal who answered that it was nothing but an evil fantasy of the devil who wanted to nullify the noble deed. After this, Pizani was much encouraged, so he ordered the necessary materials to commence construction of the altar. The materials were piled up outside of the temple of St. Spyridon. When the Orthodox priests of the temple and the Greek leaders of the island realised what was going on, they were greatly grieved. They asked to meet with Pizani to ask him to put a stop to this. Pizani s response was quite disheartening. He said quite bluntly, As a ruler I will do whatever I please! At that moment, the Orthodox community of the island turned their eyes to their Saint, beseeching him to put a stop to this abomination. That same night, St. Spyridon appeared to Pizani as a monk and told him, I told you not to bother me. If you dare to go through with your decision, you will surely regret it, but by then it will be too late. The next morning, Pizani reported all this to the Papist Cardinal who now accused him of being not only faithless but also of being yellow. Again, after this, the ruler mustered up enough courage to order the construction of the altar. The Papists of the island were celebrating their triumph while the Orthodox were deeply grieved. Their grief could not be comforted and with tears they begged for the Saint s intervention to save them from the Papist abomination. The Saint heard their prayers and intervened dynamically. That evening, a terrible storm broke out, unleashing a barrage of thunderbolts on Fort Castelli, Pizani s base and his ammunition barracks. The entire fort ended up in a holocaust. 900 Papist soldiers and civilians were instantly killed from the explosion, but not a single Orthodox was harmed (as they were not allowed inside the fort after dark). Pizani was found dead with his neck wedged between two wooden beams. The body of the Papist Cardinal was found thrown a great distance from the fort. But the most incredible fact was that the same night and at the same hour, another thunderbolt struck in Venice, targeting the compound of Pizani, burning his portrait that hung on the wall. Strangely enough, nothing else was damaged. Also, the guard of the ammunition barracks saw the Saint draw near him with a lit torch. He was carried by the Saint near the church of the Crucified without a single scratch.

The Philoptochos Society of Saints Constantine and Helen Cathedral is sponsoring our ANNUAL DRIVE in SUPPORT of the CHILD LIFE FUND at SUNY Downstate Medical Center We thank you with deepest appreciation for your generous support. The Child Life Fund is one of the first hospital-based pediatric programs to promote healing through play. Every year, just before Christmas, the dedicated volunteers of the Sts. Constantine and Helen Philoptochos Society present our community s donation to purchase gifts for this program. Together with the medical staff, our combined efforts help provide comfort and joy to chronically ill children and their families. PLEASE MAKE A GENEROUS DONATION to this effort. Please make your donations to Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral Philoptochos Society by December 1, 2013. Donations can be sent to the Church Office: Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral, 64 Schermerhorn St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 or call the office 718-624-0595.

Bible Study Every Wednesday at 7pm Starting November 13th, 2013 Μελέτη Αγίας Γραφής Kάθε Τετάρτη στις 7:00μμ Πρώτη Συνάντηση θα είναι 13 Νοεμβρίου, 2013 Deadline to submit forms and payment for the G.O.Y.A. Ski Trip 2014 December 6th Congratulations and thank you to Harry Paloumbis, our entire G.O.Y.A., and everyone who helped make possible a very successful Thanksgiving Food Drive!!!

It s time for our Annual Christmas Party for the residents of AABR! HOSTED BY: The Youth from our Sunday School, JOY and GOYA Programs WHEN: Friday, December 13, 2013 from 5:30pm-9:00p.m. WHERE: Saint s Constantine and Helen Come and share your holiday cheer with the residents of AABR! Santa will also be coming by to deliver your gifts to the residents! A pasta dinner and yummy deserts will be served! List of Gifts to Follow.. Questions? Call Tina Papadakos at 917-450-6561 The AABR, (Association for the Advancement of the Blind and Retarded), is a non-profit organization that assists and houses blind, mentally retarded and autistic adults. G.O.Y.A. Trip to Barclays Center Saturday January 4 TH @ 7:30PM CaValiers vs. Nets St. Demetrios, Astoria, NY G.O.Y.A. will join our G.O.Y.A. to the Brooklyn Nets We will meet at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral @ 5:30pm 64 Schermerhorn Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 Tickets: $40.00 There is a possibility that we will play on the court of the Barclay Center after the game. More information forthcoming. Contact: Church Office- 718-624-0595