St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church

Pastor Fr. Christopher P. Foustoukos Email: frchris@stvasilios.org Assistant Pastor Fr. Timothy Curren Email: frtimothy@stvasilios.org Parish President Mrs. Pam Katsiris Email: Pam@stvasilios.org Stewardship Chairman Stephen S. Kalivas Email: Steve@stvasilios.org Pastoral Assistant Deacon Michael Fadel Pastor Emeritus Fr. Andrew Demotses Parish Nurse Sophia Grevelis, RN Office Manager Irene Stephanides Secretary Chrissa Pissios Office: Tel: 978-531-0777 Fax: 978-538-9522 website: www.stvasilios.org St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church WWW.STVASILIOS.ORG Sunday After Nativity www.facebook.com/stvasiliospeabody Weekday Services Feast of St. VasiliosThe Great Thursday, January 1 Orthros 9 am Liturgy 10 am Water Blessing Liturgy Monday, January 5 6 pm Divine Liturgy Holy Theophany Tuesday, January 6 8:00 am Orthros 9:00 am Divine Liturgy Synaxis of John The Baptist Wednesday, January 7 8:00 am Orthros 9:00 am Divine Liturgy Vespers of the Feast of the Three Hierachs Thursday, January 29 6:30 pm Feast of the Three Hierachs Friday, January 30 8:00 am Orthros 9:00 am Divine Liturgy KAQHMERINES IERES AKOLOUQIES Me/gac Basi/leioc Pe/mpth, 1 h Ianouari/ou 9:00 p.m. Orqroc 10:00 p.m. Qei/a Leitourgi/a Proe/rtia Twn Fw/twn Deute/ra, 5 h Ianouari/ou 6 m.m. Qei/a Leitourgi/a Agia Qeofa/neia Tri/th, 6 h Ianouari/ou 8:00 p.m. Orqroc 9:00 p.m. Qei/a Leitourgi/a Su/najic tou Timi/ou Iwa/nnou Tou Prodro/mou Teta/rth, 7 h Ianouari/ou 8:00 p.m. Orqroc 9:00 p.m. Qei/a Leitourgi/a Esperino/c Treic Iera/rxec Pe/mpth, 29 h Ianouari/ou 6:30 m.m. Oi Trei/c Iera/rxec Paraskeuh/, 30 h Ianouari/ou 8:00 p.m. Orqroc 9:00 p.m. Qei/a Leitourgi/a December 28, 2014

Sunday, December 28, 2014 Hymns Following the Gospel (Small Entrance) Apolytikion (Fourth Mode) When the women Disciples of the Lord had Apoluti/kion (h/xoc te/tartoc Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, learned from the Angel the joyful message ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου of the Resurrection and had rejected the ancestral decision, they cried aloud to the ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν Apostles triumphantly: Death has been despoiled, Christ God has risen, granting His θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον Ἐσκύλευται ὁ great mercy to the world. δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Apolytikion Apoluti/kion (h/xoc te/tartoc) (Fourth Mode) Ἡ γέννησίς σου Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath shined ἀνέτειλε τῶ κόσμω, τὸ φῶς τὸ τῆς the light of knowledge upon the world; for γνώσεως, ἐν αὐτῇ γὰρ οἱ τοὶς ἄστροις thereby they that worshipped the stars were λατρεύοντες, ὑπὸ ἀστέρος ἐδιδάσκοντο, instructed by a star to worship Thee, the Sun σὲ προσκυνεῖν, τὸν Ἥλιον τῆς of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the δικαιοσύνης, καὶ σὲ γινώσκειν ἐξ ὕψους Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory be to ἀνατολήν, Κύριε δόξα σοί. Thee. Apoluti/kion (h/xoc deu/teroc) Apolytikion (Second Mode) Εὐαγγελίζου Ἰωσήφ, τῷ Δαυῒδ τὰ O Joseph, proclaim the wonders to David, θαύματα τῷ Θεοπάτορι Παρθένον εἶδες the ancestor of God. Thou hast seen a Virgin κυοφορήσασαν, great with child; thou hast given glory with προσεκύνησας, μετὰ μετὰ Mάγων Ποιμένων the shepherds; thou hast worshipped with ἐδοξολόγησας, δι' Ἀγγέλου χρηματισθείς. the Magi; and thou hast been instructed Ἱκέτευε Χριστὸν τὸν Θεόν, σωθῆναι τὰς through an Angel. Entreat Christ God to ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. save our souls.st. Vasilios Apoluti/kion tou Agi/ou Basilei/ou Your message was carried throughout the world. As it received your mighty word, By which you divinely made manifest And clarified the nature of existing things You set in order the customs of men, You who are royal priesthood! Holy Father, intercede with Christ our God To grant us His great mercy. Kontakion (Third Mode) On this day the Virgin gives birth to Him who is beyond existence, and the earth offers a cave t him whom no man can otherwise approach. Angels shepherds give glory, and the Magi journey by a star, for unto to us is born this day, a young child who is our eternal God. Konta/kion (h/xoc tri/toc) Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν Uperou/sion ti/ktei, kai h gh to sph/laion prosa/ gei. /Aggeloi meta/ poime/nwn dojologou/si. Ma/goi de, meta/ aste/roc odoiporou/si. Di hma/c gar egennh/ qh, Paidi/on ne/on, o pro aiw/nwn Qeo/c. 2 15

Prokeimenon. Mode 4. Psalm 67.35,26 God is wonderful among his saints. Verse: Bless God in the congregations. St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 1:11-19 BRETHREN, I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. Προκείμενον. Ἦχος δ. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 67.35,26 Θαυμαστὸς ὁ Θεὸς ἐν τοῖς Ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ. Στίχ. Ἐν Ἐκκλησίαις εὐλογεῖτε τὸν Θεὸν. Πρὸς Γαλάτας 1:11-19 Ἀδελφοί, γνωρίζω δὲ ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τὸ εὐαγγελισθὲν ὑπʼ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν κατὰ ἄνθρωπον. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐγὼ παρὰ ἀνθρώπου παρέλαβον αὐτό, οὔτε ἐδιδάχθην, ἀλλὰ διʼ ἀποκαλύψεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἠκούσατε γὰρ τὴν ἐμὴν ἀναστροφήν ποτε ἐν τῷ Ἰουδαϊσμῷ, ὅτι καθʼ ὑπερβολὴν ἐδίωκον τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ ἐπόρθουν αὐτήν καὶ προέκοπτον ἐν τῷ Ἰουδαϊσμῷ ὑπὲρ πολλοὺς συνηλικιώτας ἐν τῷ γένει μου, περισσοτέρως ζηλωτὴς ὑπάρχων τῶν πατρικῶν μου παραδόσεων. Ὅτε δὲ εὐδόκησεν ὁ θεὸς ὁ ἀφορίσας με ἐκ 14 3

κοιλίας μητρός μου καὶ καλέσας διὰ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ, ἀποκαλύψαι τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐμοὶ ἵνα εὐαγγελίζωμαι αὐτὸν ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, εὐθέως οὐ προσανεθέμην σαρκὶ καὶ αἵματι οὐδὲ ἀνῆλθον εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα πρὸς τοὺς πρὸ ἐμοῦ ἀποστόλους, ἀλλὰ ἀπῆλθον εἰς Ἀραβίαν, καὶ πάλιν ὑπέστρεψα εἰς Δαμασκόν. Ἔπειτα μετὰ ἔτη τρία ἀνῆλθον εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα ἱστορῆσαι Πέτρον, καὶ ἐπέμεινα πρὸς αὐτὸν ἡμέρας δεκαπέντε. Ἕτερον δὲ τῶν ἀποστόλων οὐκ εἶδον, εἰ μὴ Ἰάκωβον τὸν ἀδελφὸν τοῦ κυρίου. Winter Hours Orthros - Greek 8:00 a.m. 1 st Divine Liturgy - English 9:00am 2 nd Divine Liturgy - Greek & English 10:30am Office Hours 9 am - 5 pm XEIMERINES WRES Orqroc - Ellhnika/ 8:00 p.m. 1 h Qei/a Leitourgi/a-Agglika/ 9:00p.m. 2 h Qei/a Leitourgi/a Ellhnika/ kai Agglika/ 10:30 p.m. Ώρες γραφείou 9 π.μ. - 5 μ.μ. 4 13

A Heart Warming Letter The following is a copy of a letter from the Metropolis of Boston Philoptochos that was sent to our Philoptochos and the entire St. Vasilios Community. It highlights the success of one of the many philanthropic activities, ( Operation Housewarming a project for homeless veterans), that we have become involved with. It reads as follows: 12 Sunday Before Nativity The Gospel of Matthew 2:13-23 When the wise men departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son." Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more." But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaos reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene." Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 2.13-23 Αναχωρησάντων δὲ αὐτῶν ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος Κυρίου φαίνεται κατ ὄναρ τῷ Ιωσὴφ λέγων ἐγερθεὶς παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ φεῦγε εἰς Αἴγυπτον, καὶ ἴσθι ἐκεῖ ἕως ἂν εἴπω σοι μέλλει γὰρ Ηρῴδης ζητεῖν τὸ παιδίον τοῦ ἀπολέσαι 5

αὐτό. Ο δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ νυκτὸς καὶ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον,καὶ ἦν ἐκεῖ ἕως τῆς τελευτῆς Ηρῴδου, ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ Κυρίου διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ἐκάλεσα τὸν υἱόν μου. Τότε Ηρῴδης ἰδὼν ὅτι ἐνεπαίχθη ὑπὸ τῶν μάγων, ἐθυμώθη λίαν, καὶ ἀποστείλας ἀνεῖλε πάντας τοὺς παῖδας τοὺς ἐν Βηθλεὲμ καὶ ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ὁρίοις αὐτῆς ἀπὸ διετοῦς καὶ κατωτέρω, κατὰ τὸν χρόνον ὃν ἠκρίβωσε παρὰ τῶν μάγων.τότε ἐπληρώθη τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ Ιερεμίου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος φωνὴ ἐν Ραμᾷ ἠκούσθη,θρῆνος καὶ κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὀδυρμὸς πολύς Ραχὴλ κλαίουσα τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς,καὶ οὐκ ἤθελε παρακληθῆναι, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσίν. Τελευτήσαντος δὲ τοῦ Ηρῴδου ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος Κυρίου κατ ὄναρ φαίνεται τῷ Ιωσὴφ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳλέγων ἐγερθεὶς παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ πορεύου εἰς γῆν Ισραήλ τεθνήκασι γὰρ οἱ ζητοῦντες τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ παιδίου.ὁ δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς γῆν Ισραήλ.ἀκούσας δὲ ὅτι Αρχέλαος βασιλεύει ἐπὶ τῆς Ιουδαίας ἀντὶ Ηρῴδου τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, ἐφοβήθη ἐκεῖ ἀπελθεῖν χρηματισθεὶς δὲ κατ ὄναρ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὰ μέρη τῆς Γαλιλαίας,καὶ ἐλθὼν κατῴκησεν εἰς πόλιν λεγομένην Ναζαρέτ, ὅπως πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ τῶν προφητῶν ὅτι Ναζωραῖος κληθήσεται. 6 11

St. Vasilios to Celebrate Feast of Three Hierarchs This common feast of these three teachers was instituted a little before the year 1100, during the reign of the Emperor Alexis I Comnenus, because of a dispute and strife that arose among the notable and virtuous men of that time. Some of them preferred Basil, while others preferred Gregory, and yet others preferred John Chrysostom, quarreling among themselves over which of the three was the greatest. Furthermore, each party, in order to distinguish itself from the others, assumed the name of its preferred Saint; hence, they called themselves Basilians, Gregorians, or Johannites. Desiring to bring an end to the contention, the three Saints appeared together to the saintly John Mavropous, a monk who had been ordained Bishop of Euchaita, a city of Asia Minor, they revealed to him that the glory they have at the throne of God is equal, and told him to compose a common service for the three of them, which he did with great skill and beauty. Saint John of Euchaita (celebrated Oct. 5) is also the composer of the Canon to the Guardian Angel, the Protector of a Man's Life. In his old age, he retired from his episcopal see and again took up the monastic life in a monastery in Constantinople. He reposed during the reign of the aforementioned Emperor Alexis Comnenus (1081-1118). Please join us as we celebrate the Feast of The Three Hierarchs the Patron Saints of Greek Education Thursday, January 29 6:30 p.m. St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church Followed by a reception in the Rev. Andrew J. Demotses 10 PLEASE PRAY FOR: Nicholas, Penelope, Bill, Nicholas, James, Kassandra, Francine, Persephone, Robert, Alex, Frank, Victoria, Jimmy, Nina, John, Matthew, Eva, Eleni, Christine, Stephen, Ariana, Michael. If you wish to add or remove a name from the list, please call the Church Office. CEMETERY VISITS: Due to the number of sacraments, 40 day blessings and memorials on Sundays it is difficult to make cemetery visits on Sundays after liturgy. If you would like a Trisagion at the graveside during the week you are kindly asked to make an appointment by calling the church HOSPITAL VISITS Due to HIPAA privacy rules, hospitals no longer provide a list of Orthodox patients to us. Therefore, if you or a loved one are, or will be, in the hospital, please contact the church office for a pastoral visit. Also, please notify the office if a friend or family member is in a rehab center, nursing home, assisted living facility or under hospice care. WELCOME TO OUR VISITORS! Everyone is welcome in the Orthodox Church and may receive the blessed bread (antidoron) at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. Sadly, the divisions in the church prompt us all to work towards reunited Christianity. The culmination of this reunion will be the ability of all Christians to receive the Eucharist together. Until that blessed day arrives, only Orthodox Christians who are in good sacramental order are permitted to receive Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church. If you have any questions or concerns please speak with Father Chris. VIGIL LIGHTS Mary Emeromistis in memory of Ethel Caravolas. MEMORIALS: We commemorate today the blessed memory of the following Member of our parish who has fallen asleep in the Lord: 40 day Charles Mavroules PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS: Please join us for coffee hour today. Today's coffee hour is sponsored by the Philoptochos in honor of Fr. Chris' Name Day. All are welcomed. 7

Haven From Hunger Soup Drive The St. Makrina women s study group is asking that you purchase pop top cans of soup in order to help stock the kitchen at the Haven from Hunger. There are many homeless individuals who do not have access to a can opener so we are requesting pop top only. We are accepting donations now through December 31 st. We will be delivering all soup collected the week of January 1, 2015. Thank you in advance for your support of this important mission. RELIGIOUS RESOURCE CENTER Please come by and visit the Religious Resource display today during coffee hour in the Educational Center. We will many beautiful items for sale that are perfect for the Christmas gift-giving season, especially for Godparents, Godchildren, relatives and loved ones. Some examples of what we will have are: Icons of Jesus, Panagia, Angels, and several Saints, many styles of Icon and Prayer rope bracelets, Pendants, Vasilopita Coins, Religious books and bookmarks, Charcoal and incense, Visor clips, night lights and more. It has always been the mission of the Religious Resource Center to provide materials that support the spiritual needs of our parish and beyond. Many books and icons can be ordered if we do not have what you are looking for, so please ask. All inquiries can be made by calling Stephanie Najjar at 978-531-1998 or to stephanienajjar@hotmail.com. Thank you for your support and many blessings to you and your family this Christmas season. Church School Giving Tree The Church School Giving Tree will be in support of Operation Troop Support. Please return new, unwrapped items to the red bins in the foyer of the Educational Center by January 4, 2015. To the St. Vasilios Community, It is with great joy and appreciation that we announce the extremely generous and loving gift of $100,000 made to the St Vasilios Accessibility Fund by the Gerondelis Foundation. There will be forthcoming information regarding a special Parish Assembly some time in February for the community to vote on continuing the project and on the Endowment grant. We are asking that our St. Vasilios family thank Irene Duros and Arthur Kourkoulis, as representatives of the Gerondelis Foundation, for their support and commitment to our Parish. I hope you are as excited as we are to be entering this next phase of our vibrant and fortunate community. Yours in Christ, Pamela Karamas Katsiris PTA Big ticket drawing winners! 50 inch TV -- 0405 Laptop -- 1561 ipad mini -- 1806 Please check your tickets to see if you are a winner!!! Contact stvalspta@gmail.com if you have the winning ticket! 8 9