Rev. Nicholas Pastrikos, Protopresbyter Sunday, October 11th, 2015 Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council 4th Sunday of Luke
HOLY FATHERS OF THE 7TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL On the Sunday that falls on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we chant the Service to the 350 holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which gathered in Nicaea in 787 under the holy Patriarch Tarasius and during the reign of the Empress Irene and her son, Constantine Porphyrogenitus, to refute the Iconoclast heresy, which had received imperial support beginning with the Edict issued in 726 by Emperor Leo the Isaurian. Many of the holy Fathers who condemned Iconoclasm at this holy Council later died as Confessors and Martyrs for the holy Icons during the second assault of Iconoclasm in the ninth century, especially during the reigns of Leo the Armenian and Theophilus. *** ΑΓΙΟΙ ΠΑΤΕΡΕΣ ΤΗΣ 7ΗΣ ΟΙΚΟΥΜΕΝΙΚΗΣ ΣΥΝΟΔΟΥ Την Κυριακή που πέφτει στις 11 του μηνός ή την αμέσως επόμενη μετά από αυτή την ημερομηνία, γιορτάζουμε τους 350 Άγιους Πατέρες της Έβδομης Οικουμενικής Συνόδου, οι οποίοι συνεδρίασαν στη Νίκαια το έτος 787 σύμφωνα με τις ενδείξεις του Πατριάρχη Ταρασίου, και κατά τη διάρκεια της βασιλείας της Αυτοκράτορος Ειρήνης και του υιου της, Κωνσταντίνου του Πορφυρογέννητου, προκειμένου να πολεμήσουν την Εικονολατρεία, η οποία είχε ανθίσει ήδη από το έτος 726 κατά τη διάρκεια της κυριαρχίας του Αυτοκράτορα Λεόντος. Πολλοί από τους Πατέρες οι οποίοι τάχθηκαν εναντίον της Εικονολατρείας πέθαναν αργότερα ως μάρτυρες των Αγίων Εικόνων κατά τη δεύτερη Εικονομαχία τον 9ο αιώνα, και ιδιαίτερα κατά τη διάρκεια της βασιλείας των αυτοκρατόρων Λεόντου του Αρμένιου και Θεόφιλου. JOY & HOPE - LOVE & FAITH NEWS We are looking forward to a great year with Joy & Hope, as well as Love & Faith. To accommodate all of our young parishioners, and make it easier for families who have children of mixed ages, we have decided to run these programs together. All children up to 6 th grade will fit into this program. If you have older ones who want to join, we always welcome them to come and help with the activities. November 6 th Welcome: Join us at the church for question and answers about our religion. After we will make a thanksgiving craft and play some games. Please bring a can of food to donate. Dec 13 th Christmas Celebration: Communion Breakfast In conjunction with the PTO celebration, please join us for breakfast, a craft and a surprise visit. Jan 8 th It s a Playdate! Get away from winter blues and meet up with some of your friends from the church. Location TBD (Tentative idea: Bounce Factory, Imagine That Museum, Roller Skating). Feb 5 th Share some Love: Come bake and decorate cookies for Valentine s day that will be shared with the local nursing home. March 19 th - Spring is coming. Join us for a fun day at the park and mini golfing. (TBD based on weather) Colonial Park - mini golf and park playdate April 17 th - Join us after church where Father Nick will tell the children about the Easter Holiday and Traditions. After we will decorate Easter eggs and there may even be a surprise visit. May 13 th - Church Cleanup and Plantings June (Date TBD) End of Year Picnic A formal evite will be sent out before each program confirming the details. If you have not received an email about this program, please reach out to Christen Heiden at spiro1478@gmail.com to be added to the distribution list. If you have any questions, please reach out to Christen Heiden at spiro1478@gmail.com (908)-331-2120 or Anna Lorino anna_lemberis@hotmail.com (732)672-7312.
ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΕΙΣ Τα παιχνίδια ποδοσφαίρου του Rutgers έχουν ήδη ξεκινήσει, και χρειαζόμαστε για άλλη μία χρονιά εθελοντές για το παρκάρισμα των αυτοκινήτων. Το επόμενο παιχνίδι είναι το Σάββατο 24Οκτωβρίου 2015. Καλέστε στο 732-463-1642 για να δηλώσετε συμμετοχή. Εάν δεν έχετε πληρώσει ήδη την οικονομική σας εισφορά για το 2015, παρακαλούμε όπως το τακτοποιήσετε το συντομότερο δυνατό. Μπορείτε να βρείτε σχετικές κάρτες στο Νάρθηκα, ή μπορείτε να αποτανθείτε σε έναν από τους Επιτρόπους μας προκειμένου να σας βοηθήσει σχετικά. Παρακαλούνται όσοι έχουν αφήσει αντικείμενά τους στην ιματιοθήκη ή και αλλού, όπως τα παραλάβουν άμεσα έως 30 Νοεμβρίου, ειδάλλως θα δοθούν σε φιλανθρωπικές οργανώσεις. Προς ενημέρωσή σας, τα καντήλια των εικόνων έχουν αποσταλεί για επιδιόρθωση. Η Επιτροπή για την επέτειο των 100 χρόνων του Αγίου Γεωργίου χρειάζεται τη βοήθειά σας! Παρακαλούμε στείλτε μας με e-mail ο,τι φωτογραφίες έχετε σχετικές με τον Άγιο Γεώργιο (Φέστιβαλ, Μυστήριο, κοινωνική εκδήλωση κ.α.) προκειμένου να παρατεθούν σε μία φωτογραφική έκθεση καθώς και στο αναμνηστικό λεύκωμα και DVD για τα 100 χρόνια. Παρακαλούμε όπως οι φωτογραφίες σταλούν στο stgeorge1916@gmail.com σε μορφή JPEG. Τελευταία ημέρα υποβολής η 1η AS PART OF THE 100 th ANNIVERSARY OF OUR COMMUNITY THE St. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX IS SEEKING TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR PAST/PRESENT PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY WHO SERVED IN THE U.S. ARMED FORCES. IF YOU ARE AMONG THOSE, OR ARE AWARE OF ANYONE, PLEASE CONTACT: Manny Manioudakis e-mail: emanioudakis@verizon.net Phone: 201-523-1364 St. George Church Office e-mail: sggoc@optonline.net Phone: 732-463-1642 On October 11th, 2015, Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council and also Fourth Sunday of Luke we celebrate Philip, the Apostle of the 70, one of the 7 Deacons; Theophanes the Confessor, Bishop of Nicaea; Holy Martyrs Zenais and Philonilla HYMNS Είσοδος του Ευαγγελίου (Το σημείο τούτο της Θείας Λειτουργίας συμβολίζει την έλευση του Χριστού, ο οποίος είναι η Σοφία του Θεού στη γη. Ο Χορός ψάλλει εν των Αναστασίμων Απολυτικίων - Ο ιερεύς εξέρχεται από το Άγιο Βήμα, κρατών το Ευαγγέλιο. Εμπρός πηγαίνουν τα παιδιά του Ιερού με λαμπάδες. Προ της Αγίας Πύλης του Εικονοστασίου, υψώνει το Ευαγγέλιο και λέει:) Σοφία, Ὀρθοί. Δεύτε προσκυνήσωμεν καὶ προσπέσωμεν Χριστώ. Σώσον ἠμάς, Υιέ Θεού, ό άναστάς έκ νεκρών, ψάλλοντάς Σοὶ: Άλληλούια. Entrance with Gospel (This act of worship symbolizes the coming of Christ, who is God s wisdom on earth. The Choir sings one of the dismissal hymns of the Resurrection - The Priest comes forth from the Sanctuary, bearing the Gospel. He is preceded by the Altar boys holding candlesticks. Facing the Royal gate of the Iconostasion, he elevates the Gospel and chants:) Wisdom! Let us rise! Come, let us worship and bow unto Christ. Save us, O Son of God, Who didst rise from the dead; sace us who sing unto Thee: Alleluia. Ἀπολυτίκιον τῆς Εἰσόδου Ὅτε κατῆλθες πρὸς τὸν θάνατον, ἡ Ζωὴ ἡ ἀθάνατος, τότε τὸν ᾅδην ἐνέκρωσας τῇ ἀστραπῇ τῆς Θεότητος, ὅτε δὲ καὶ τοὺς τεθνεῶτας ἐκ τῶν καταχθονίων ἀνέστησας, πᾶσαι αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν ἐπουρανίων ἐκραύγαζον Ζωοδότα Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν δόξα σοι.
Today s Entrance Hymn When Thou didst descend unto death, O Life Immortal, then didst Thou slay Hades with the lightning of Thy Divinity. And when Thou didst also raise the dead out of the nethermost depths, all the powers in the Heavens cried out: O Life-giver, Christ our God, glory be to Thee. Τροπάριον τῶν Πατέρων Ὑπερδεδοξασμένος εἶ, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ φωστῆρας ἐπὶ γῆς τοὺς Πατέρας ἡμῶν θεμελιώσας, καὶ δι' αὐτῶν πρὸς τὴν ἀληθινὴν πίστιν, πάντας ἡμᾶς ὁδηγήσας πολυεύσπλαγχνε, δόξα σοι. Hymn Commemorating the Holy Fathers You are greatly glorified, O Christ our God, who established our Fathers as luminaries upon the earth, and through them led us all to the true Faith. O Most compassionate, glory to You. Ἀπολυτίκιον τοῡ ναοῡ μας Ὡς τῶν αἰχμαλώτων ἐλευθερωτὴς καὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ὑπερασπιστής, ἀσθενούντων ἰατρός, βασιλέων ὑπέρμαχος, Τροπαιοφόρε Μεγαλομάρτυς Γεώργιε, πρεσβεῦε Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ, σωθῆναι τάς ψυχὰς ἠμῶν. Hymn Commemorating our Patron Saint As liberator of prisoners, and the protector of those in poverty, physician of the sick, and defender of ruling kings. O George Triumphant Great Martyr, intercede with Christ our God, that our souls may be saved. Κοντάκιον τῆς Ἐορτῆς Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε. Μὴ παρίδῃς ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε. Benedictal Hymn O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee. ANNOUNCEMENTS CHURCH NEWS The Rutgers football season is here and there are several more home games. Again we are parking cars in our lot. Volunteers needed to help. Next home game is Saturday, October 24th. Please call the church office at 732-463-1642 to participate. If anyone has left any clothing in the coat room or elsewhere within the community, you have until November 30th to remove it, after that they will be given to charity. Thank you. On October 4, the Sunday closest to the name day of St. Romanos, the patron Saint of Church Musicians, parishes throughout the Archdiocese of America observed Church Music Sunday. On behalf of the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians and the Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians, we thank all of you for your dedication, commitment and service. Whether you are a chanter, choir director, choir member, organist, or religious educator, your service is valued and appreciated. CALL FOR PHOTOS: The St. George 100th Anniversary Committee needs your help! Please email us any photos that reflect our beautiful community over the last 100 years. These photos will be used to enhance the 100th Anniversary activities through an exhibition for our community to enjoy and reminisce, as well as for the 100th Anniversary Dance Journal and the 100th Anniversary DVD. Please send your photos as JPG's to stgeorge1916@gmail.com. Please DO NOT mail any hardcopy photos to the church. Please scan them and send by email. Photos are due by February 1, 2016. Thank you! Saint George Community Annual Dinner Dance Honoring Mr. & Mrs. Kostas Hantsoulis Saturday, October 17, 2015, 6:30 p.m. Last chance to reserve your table and enjoy a night with dinner, music and dancing! PLEASE VISIT OUR TABLE AT THE AHEPA HALL AFTER THE DIVINE LITURGY, TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATION
proclaims the power and great wisdom of God. A mysterious power dwells inside the seed and under the right conditions, the seed develops into a plant, or a tree. A seed is a secret chemical factory, and one seed is enough to prove that there is a God. STEWARDSHIP Dear faithful, the end of the year is approaching rapidly and out Stewards of the church are very few. The Church needs everyone to support her operations, so that she does not experience difficulties. If we, as members of St. George, neglect our financial support to our Church, then St. George will experience very grave consequences. Please become a STEWARD!!! ΜΗΝΥΜΑ ΠΑΤΕΡΑ ΝΙΚΟΛΑΟΥ Ο σπόρος είναι ένα μικροσκοπικό πραγματάκι, πολλάκις όχι μεγαλύτερο από το κεφάλι μιας καρφίτσας! Ας υποθέσουμε πως ένας εξωγήινος επισκέπτεται τη γη για πρώτη φορά και κάποιος γήινος του δείχνει μερικούς σπόρους λέγοντας «Βλέπεις αυτά τα σποράκια; Όταν τα βάλεις μέσα στη γη και αποσυνδεθούν, ένα λουλούδι, ένα φυτό, ή ένα δέντρο θα βγει απ αυτά». Θα φαινόταν απίστευτο στον εξωγήινο πως τα μικρά αυτά σποράκια μπορούν να δώσουν πράσινα σπαρτά, να σκεπάσουν τα βουνά με δέντρα και να γεμίσουν τους κήπους με όμορφα ευωδιαστά λουλούδια! Κάθε σπόρος είναι ένα θαύμα που διακηρύττει τη δύναμη και τη σοφία του Θεού. Μια μυστηριώδης δύναμη κατοικεί μέσα στο μικρό σπόρο που με τις κατάλληλες συνθήκες μεταβάλλεται σε φυτό, δέντρο ή λουλούδι. Ο σπόρος είναι ένα μυστικό χημικό εργοστάσιο και ένας σπόρος είναι αρκετός για να αποδείξει πως υπάρχει Θεός! Αγαπητοί πιστοί, το τέλος της χρονιάς πλησιάζει και τα μέλη του Αγίου Γεωργίου που έχουν πληρώσει για τη συνδρομή τους είναι πολύ λίγα! Η Εκκλησία χρειάζεται τη βοήθεια όλων μας για να επιζήσει και για να μην αντιμετωπίσει σοβαρά οικονομικά προβλήματα. Αν εμείς σαν μέλη του Αγίου Γεωργίου παραμελήσουμε την οικονομική μας ενίσχυση, τότε σύντομα θα προκύψουν σοβαρά επακόλουθα. Σας παρακαλούμε να στείλετε την συνδρομή σας σύντομα!!! EPISTLE READING Προς Τίτον 3.8-15 Πιστὸς ὁ λόγος, καὶ περὶ τούτων βούλομαί σε διαβεβαιοῦσθαι, ἵνα φροντίζωσιν καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι οἱ πεπιστευκότες θεῷ. ταῦτά ἐστιν καλὰ καὶ ὠφέλιμα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις μωρὰς δὲ ζητήσεις καὶ γενεαλογίας καὶ ἔριν καὶ μάχας νομικὰς περιΐστασο, εἰσὶν γὰρ ἀνωφελεῖς καὶ μάταιοι. αιῥετικὸν ἄνθρωπον μετὰ μίαν καὶ δευτέραν νουθεσίαν παραιτοῦ, εἰδὼς ὅτι ἐξέστραπται ὁ τοιοῦτος καὶ ἁμαρτάνει, ὢν αὐτοκατάκριτος. Ὅταν πέμψω Ἀρτεμᾶν πρὸς σὲ ἢ Τυχικόν, σπούδασον ἐλθεῖν πρός με εἰς Νικόπολιν, ἐκεῖ γὰρ κέκρικα παραχειμάσαι. Ζηνᾶν τὸν νομικὸν καὶ Ἀπολλῶν σπουδαίως πρόπεμψον, ἵνα μηδὲν αὐτοῖς λείπῃ. μανθανέτωσαν δὲ καὶ οἱ ἡμέτεροι καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι εἰς τὰς ἀναγκαίας χρείας, ἵνα μὴ ὦσιν ἄκαρποι. Ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ μετ ἐμοῦ πάντες. Ἄσπασαι τοὺς φιλοῦντας ἡμᾶς ἐν πίστει. ἡ χάρις μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν. St. Paul s letter to Titus, 3.8-15 TITUS, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned. When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful. All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
GOSPEL READING Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 8.5-15 Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην Ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρων τοῦ σπεῖραι τὸν σπόρον αὐτοῦ. καὶ ἐν τῷ σπείρειν αὐτὸν ὃ μὲν ἔπεσε παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν, καὶ κατεπατήθη, καὶ τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατέφαγεν αὐτό καὶ ἕτερον ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν, καὶ φυὲν ἐξηράνθη διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν ἰκμάδα καὶ ἕτερον ἔπεσεν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἀκανθῶν, καὶ συμφυεῖσαι αἱ ἄκανθαι ἀπέπνιξαν αὐτό. καὶ ἕτερον ἔπεσεν εἰς τὴν γῆν τὴν ἀγαθήν, καὶ φυὲν ἐποίησε καρπὸν κατονταπλασίονα. ταῦτα λέγων ἐφώνει ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω. Επηρώτων δὲ αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ λέγοντες τίς εἴη ἡ παραβολὴ αὕτη; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν ὑμῖν δέδοται γνῶναι τὰ μυστήρια τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ Θεοῦ, τοῖς δὲ λοιποῖς ἐν παραβολαῖς, ἵνα βλέποντες μὴ βλέπωσι καὶ ἀκούοντες μὴ συνιῶσιν. ἔστι δὲ αὕτη ἡ παραβολή ὁ σπόρος ἐστὶν ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ οἱ δὲ παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν εἰσιν οἱ ἀκούσαντες, εἶτα ἔρχεται ὁ διάβολος καὶ αἴρει τὸν λόγον ἀπὸ τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν, ἵνα μὴ πιστεύσαντες σωθῶσιν. οἱ δὲ ἐπὶ τῆς πέτρας οἳ ὅταν ἀκούσωσι, μετὰ χαρᾶς δέχονται τὸν λόγον, καὶ οὗτοι ῥίζαν οὐκ ἔχουσιν, οἳ πρὸς καιρὸν πιστεύουσι καὶ ἐν καιρῷ πειρασμοῦ ἀφίστανται. τὸ δὲ εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας πεσόν, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἀκούσαντες, καὶ ὑπὸ μεριμνῶν καὶ πλούτου καὶ ἡδονῶν τοῦ βίου πορευόμενοι συμπνίγονται καὶ οὐ τελεσφοροῦσι. τὸ δὲ ἐν τῇ καλῇ γῇ, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἵτινες ἐν καρδίᾳ καλῇ καὶ ἀγαθῇ ἀκούσαντες τὸν λόγον κατέχουσι καὶ καρποφοροῦσιν ἐν ὑπομονῇ. ταῦτα λέγων ἐφώνει ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω. The Gospel of Luke 8.5-15 The Lord said this parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold." And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience." As he said these things, he cried out "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." MEMORIALS Βασιλεία - Vasilia Statis (2 years) Βασίλειος - Vasilios Kopanakis (15 years) MEMORIAL SERVICES FELLOWSHIP Today s coffee hour is offered by the Kopanakis family. PRIEST MESSAGE May their memory be eternal FATHER NICHOLAS MESSAGE A seed is a tiny thing, sometimes no larger than the head of a pin. Assume that someone visited our planet for the first time, and someone showed him the seeds and said, Do you see these? When they are sowed into the earth and they decay, a flower, a plant, a tree will come out of them. It would seem unbelievable that from those small seeds the valleys turn green with crops, the mountains are covered with trees, and the gardens are filled with beautiful flowers. Each seed is a miracle that