Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church 8306 NC HWY 751, Durham NC 27713 919-484-1600 fatherstavroforos2012@gmail.com, www.stbarbarachurchnc.org News & Announcements March 20, 2016 Sunday of Orthodoxy Righteous Fathers slain at the Monastery of St. Savas Saint Cuthbert the Wonderworker, Bishop of Lindisfarne Myron the New Martyr of Crete Photini the Samaritan Woman NEWCOMERS AND VISITORS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! Sunday Worship Schedule: Matins 9:00 am & Divine Liturgy 10:00 am To Our Visitors and Guests We welcome you to worship with us today, whether you are an Orthodox Christian or this is your first visit to an Orthodox Church, we are pleased to have you with us. Although Holy Communion and other Sacraments are offered only to baptized and chrismated (confirmed) Orthodox Christians in good standing with the Church, all are invited to receive the Antidoron (blessed bread) from the priest at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. The Antidoron is not a sacrament, but it is reminiscent of the agape feast that followed worship in the ancient Christian Church. After the Divine Liturgy this morning please join us in the Church hall for fellowship and refreshments. Please complete a Visitor's Card before you leave today and drop it in the offering tray, or give it to one of the parishioners after the service, or mail it to the church Office. St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40 Today's Readings: Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets -- who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and 1
goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated -- of whom the world was not worthy -- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 11:24-26, 32-40 Ἀδελφοί, πίστει Μωϋσῆς μέγας γενόμενος ἠρνήσατο λέγεσθαι υἱὸς θυγατρὸς Φαραώ, μᾶλλον ἑλόμενος συγκακουχεῖσθαι τῷ λαῷ τοῦ θεοῦ ἢ πρόσκαιρον ἔχειν ἁμαρτίας ἀπόλαυσιν μείζονα πλοῦτον ἡγησάμενος τῶν Αἰγύπτου θησαυρῶν τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἀπέβλεπεν γὰρ εἰς τὴν μισθαποδοσίαν. Καὶ τί ἔτι λέγω; Ἐπιλείψει γὰρ με διηγούμενον ὁ χρόνος περὶ Γεδεών, Βαράκ τε καὶ Σαμψών καὶ Ἰεφθάε, Δαυίδ τε καὶ Σαμουὴλ καὶ τῶν προφητῶν οἳ διὰ πίστεως κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας, εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην, ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν, ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων, ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρός, ἔφυγον στόματα μαχαίρας, ἐνεδυναμώθησαν ἀπὸ ἀσθενείας, ἐγενήθησαν ἰσχυροὶ ἐν πολέμῳ, παρεμβολὰς ἔκλιναν ἀλλοτρίων. Ἔλαβον γυναῖκες ἐξ ἀναστάσεως τοὺς νεκροὺς αὐτῶν ἄλλοι δὲ ἐτυμπανίσθησαν, οὐ προσδεξάμενοι τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν, ἵνα κρείττονος ἀναστάσεως τύχωσιν ἕτεροι δὲ ἐμπαιγμῶν καὶ μαστίγων πεῖραν ἔλαβον, ἔτι δὲ δεσμῶν καὶ φυλακῆς ἐλιθάσθησαν, ἐπρίσθησαν, ἐπειράσθησαν, ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρας ἀπέθανον περιῆλθον ἐν μηλωταῖς, ἐν αἰγείοις δέρμασιν, ὑστερούμενοι, θλιβόμενοι, κακουχούμενοι - ὧν οὐκ ἦν ἄξιος ὁ κόσμος - ἐν ἐρημίαις πλανώμενοι καὶ ὄρεσιν καὶ σπηλαίοις καὶ ταῖς ὀπαῖς τῆς γῆς. Καὶ οὗτοι πάντες, μαρτυρηθέντες διὰ τῆς πίστεως, οὐκ ἐκομίσαντο τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν, τοῦ θεοῦ περὶ ἡμῶν κρεῖττόν τι προβλεψαμένου, ἵνα μὴ χωρὶς ἡμῶν τελειωθῶσιν. The Gospel according to John 1:43-51 At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 1:44-52 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἠθέλησεν ὁ Ιησοῦς ἐξελθεῖν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν καὶ εὑρίσκει Φίλιππον καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ἀκολούθει μοι. ἦν δὲ ὁ Φίλιππος ἀπὸ Βηθσαϊδά, ἐκ τῆς πόλεως Ανδρέου καὶ Πέτρου. εὑρίσκει Φίλιππος τὸν Ναθαναὴλ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὃν ἔγραψε Μωϋσῆς ἐν τῷ νόμῳ καὶ οἱ προφῆται, εὑρήκαμεν, Ιησοῦν τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ Ιωσὴφ τὸν ἀπὸ Ναζαρέτ. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ ἐκ Ναζαρὲτ δύναταί τι ἀγαθὸν εἶναι; λέγει αὐτῷ Φίλιππος ἔρχου καὶ ἴδε. εἶδεν ὁ Ιησοῦς τὸν Ναθαναὴλ ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει περὶ αὐτοῦ ἴδε ἀληθῶς Ισραηλίτης, ἐν ᾧ δόλος οὐκ ἔστι. λέγει αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ πόθεν με γινώσκεις; ἀπεκρίθη Ιησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ πρὸ τοῦ σε Φίλιππον φωνῆσαι, ὄντα ὑπὸ τὴν συκῆν εἶδόν σε. ἀπεκρίθη Ναθαναὴλ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ῥαββί, σὺ εἶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, σὺ εἶ ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ Ισραήλ. ἀπεκρίθη Ιησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὅτι εἶπόν σοι, εἶδόν σε ὑποκάτω τῆς συκῆς, πιστεύεις; μείζω τούτων ὄψει. καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀπ ἄρτι ὄψεσθε τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνεῳγότα, καὶ τοὺς ἀγγέλους τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀναβαίνοντας καὶ καταβαίνοντας ἐπὶ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. Excerpt from No Graven Image: Icons and Their Proper Use by Fr. Jack N. Sparks, Ph.D. An Explanation of Today's Feast: In A.D. 787, the leadership of the entire Christian Church convened what is called the Seventh Ecumenical Council. After a thor ough and lengthy examination of the Holy Scriptures and a consideration of the tradition bearing on the making and use of icons, this body decreed: We, therefore, following the royal pathway and the divinely inspired authority of our Holy Fathers and the traditions of the Church (for, as we all know, the Holy Spirit indwells her), define with all certainty and accuracy that just as the figure of the precious and life-giving Cross, so also the venerable and holy images, as well in painting and mosaic as of other fit materials, should be set forth in the holy Churches of God, and on the 2
sacred vessels and on the vestments and on hangings and in pictures both in houses and by the wayside, to wit, the figure of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, of our spotless Lady, of the honorable Angels, of all Saints, and of all pious people. For by so much more frequently as they are seen in artistic representation, by so much more readily are people lifted up to the memory of their prototypes, and to a longing after them; and to these should be given due salutation and honorable reverence, not indeed that true worship of faith which pertains alone to the divine nature; but to these, as to the figure of the precious and life-giving Cross and to the Book of the Gospels and to the other holy objects, incense and lights may be offered according to ancient pious customs. For the honor which is paid to the image passes on to that which the image represents, and he who reveres the image reveres in it the subject represented. Thus, the icon is a true image, a window to heaven and a light which guides us there. In that sense it takes the same role as the pillar of fire which guided Israel through the wilderness to the Promised Land and the star which led the Wise Men to Christ. The icon is not intended to serve as a photo graph of an earthly scene. Nor does it merely awaken in us the sense of ages past. Rather, the icon is there to lead our hearts to the King of Kings, to the brilliant glory of the Age to Come. The icon is a holy image, a door to heaven. It tells us that our Lord Jesus Christ and His great cloud of witnesses are present, on hand, on high, with us. Therefore, it is indispensable for those who sincerely pursue and desire the fullness of Christian worship. As the prophets beheld, as the apostles have taught, as the Church has received, as the teachers have declared, as the world has agreed, as grace has shown forth, as truth has been revealed, as falsehood has been dispelled, as wisdom has become manifest, as Christ awarded; thus we declare; thus we affirm; thus we proclaim; Christ our true God, and honor His saints in words, writings, thoughts, sacrifices, Churches, and Holy Icons; on the one hand, worshiping and reverencing Christ as God and Lord, on the other hand, honoring the saints as true servants of the same Lord of all, offering then proper veneration. This is the faith of the apostles. This is the faith of the fathers. This is the faith of the Orthodox. This the faith on which the world is established. Greek School Excerpts of the Synodikon to be Repeated by All: Today's Events: Philoptochos Meeting There will be a Philoptochos General membership meeting following today's service in the conference room. March 25th Presentation - in the social hall after church services - Lentil Soup and Homemade Bread for Sale "Let us do some of the cooking for you during the Lenten Season...starting March 13, we will be selling in the Social Hall (16-oz at $8) containers of hardy Bean Soup, Lentil Soup as well as loaves of homemade bread at $2 each. You're not only giving your family a nutritious meal but also benefitting the Church's Building Fund, so check us out!" 3
Easter flower orders begin today Return forms to eve kantner FLowers are Given In Memory of or For the Health of Make Checks Payable to: saint barbara philoptochos society $15 per Arrangement LAST DAY TO ORDER flowers sunday april 10 PAN-ORTHODOX VESPERS FOR SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY TONIGHT AT 6:30 P.M. Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church in Durham is hosting the Sunday of Orthodoxy vespers service for all Orthodox Christians in the Triangle area at 6:30 pm this evening. The combined voices and prayers of several Orthodox priests and their parishioners will add a special dimension to this beautiful ecumenical Pan-Orthodox service. Following the service, a light Lenten meal will be served in the Fellowship Hall for a free will donation to International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC). Offering the homily for the evening will be special guest speaker Daniel Christopulos, who is the U.S. Representative of IOCC, which is the official humanitarian relief agency of Orthodox Christians in the United States. SAINT BARBARA SOCIAL CLUB EVENT Silverspot Cinema 201 S Estes Drive #100 Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Date: Sunday March 27th Phone: (919) 357-9887 We will be going to the 2:00 pm showing. Those that want to meet beforehand can join us at the Silverspot restaurant at 12:30. Tickets for My Big Fat Greek Wedding can be purchased online at MovieTickets.com. 4
FUNDRAISING PROJECTS TO DATE: 2015 February 7 June 6-7 July 18 September 12 September 26 October 3 November 6 November 20-21 December 6 December 12 January 16 January 30 February 20 October 1 September 24 Gyro Day Greek Festival Gyro Feast Yard Sale Fashion Show Chicken Dinners To-go Evening of Music Joint Philoptochos/PC Fundraiser Saint Barbara Celebration Banquet Holiday Greek Pastries 2016 Evening of Music Spaghetti Event Gyro Event Chicken Event Evening of Jazz Blessings, Donna Looking ahead to Lent and Easter, I wanted to set up some rehearsal times as the church calendar is full with activities. These will be primarily on Saturday mornings. We may have to add/subtract as we get closer to Easter but I will let you know any changes.plan to come to all or as many as you can. Saturday, March 12...Rehearsal from noon to 1:30 This rehearsal will be preparation for the Sunday of Orthodoxy service on March 20. Saturday, April 2...11:30-1:00 Saturday, April 9...11:30-1:00 Saturday, April 16...11:30-1:00 Palm Sunday...April 24, Holy Week...April 25-29, Resurrection Service,...April 30, Spanakopita Preparation Saturday, March 26, 2016 10 AM A large crew of volunteers is needed on Saturday, March 26 beginning at 10 AM, to assemble 90 large pans of spanakopita for our St. Barbara June Festival. Please bring a small bowl or pan with a pastry brush so that everyone has the necessary equipment. Please let Dena Paliouras, 919-929-2047 or Theky Pappas, tedtheky@aol.com know the hours of your availability that day. We truly appreciate your help. Many thanks. Dena Paliouras, Cindy Paliouras, Theky Pappas and Evelyn Panos 5
St. Barbara Dancers, We're planning our practice schedule for the Festival and wanted to see if you plan to join us this year, or if there are others that you know that may be interested. As with last year practices will be immediately following church on Sundays. Our tentative practice schedule is follows: Feb 21, 28 Mar 6, 13, 20 Apr 3, 10, 17 (No dance practice from Saturday of Lazarus, April 23 until Easter on May 1). May 8, 15, 22, 29 Festival on June 4 & 5 Like last year we plan to have two groups, with the younger group starting at age 5. We'll do some of the old dances (Syrtos, Kalamatiano, etc.) and some new. Some of our experienced dancers keep threatening to teach us something fast and exciting...so stay tuned for more :-) Please let us know one way or the other so we can update our e-mail distribution list accordingly. Thanks, Keith Rheinhardt 919-435-6689 Philoptochos News and Updates: February Sunday 14: Social Service Collection Wednesday 17: Pediatric Bone Marrow Unit Dinner Saturday 20: Blanket Workshop 1-3 Sunday 21: General Membership Meeting Saturday 27: Membership Tea 2-4 March Wednesday 2: Board Mtg 7pm Sunday 13: Cheesefare Luncheon Friday to Sunday 18-20 Philoptochos Spiritual Retreat at the Diaknonia Center Saturday 19: Blanket Workshop 1-3 Sunday 20 General Membership Mtg ( IOCC Health Kits?) Sunday 20: Easter Flower Orders Begin April Wednesday 6: Board Mtg 7pm Sunday 10: Autism Collection Sunday 10: General Membership Mtg Saturday 16: Blanket Workshop 1-3 Friday 29: (after am Church service) Decorating the Kouvouklion Wrapping Dyed Easter Eggs May Wednesday 4: Board Mtg 7pm Saturday 14: Blanket Making 1-3 Sunday 15/22: General Membership Mtg (*depends on last day of Sunday School*) Sunday * : Sunday School Award and Recognition Day* June Saturday 18: Blanket Making 1-3 Dues:for the current year are $30.00, checks should be made payable to St. Barbara Philoptochos 6
DUKE OCF News The Duke Students will meet with Fr. Stavroforos on the First and Third Mondays of the Month at the Mosaic Space, Keohane 4B (4th Floor) Here is a map for you to find it. I recommend taking a few seconds to orient yourselves before the walk. http://maps.duke.edu/map/?id+21&mrklid=49051. The room is near the walking bridge over Wannamaker Lane. For more information contact Andrew Katsohirakis at andrew.katsohirakis@duke.edu Meeting Times: 5:00 to 7:00 pm Meeting Dates: Monday, February 15 Monday March 7 Monday, March 21 Monday, April 4 Monday, April 18 Monday, May 2 SERVICES FOR THE VIRGIN MARY DURING GREAT LENT Services of Salutations to the Theotokos on Friday Evenings throughout Great Lent at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 18th Friday, March 25th Friday, April 1st Friday, April 8th The Akathist to the Theotokos Friday, April 15th at 6:30 p.m. Why should I go to the church and participate in this service? First, it is always good to make an effort to go to the church and pray. Second, it is always good to pray together with my parish priest and my fellow parishioners; my daily prayers are essential, but no less important are my corporate prayers. Third, it is good to offer thanksgiving to the Virgin Mary for all the many prayers and intercessions she has made to her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for me and my family. I cry out to her in my need - but I seldom pause to thank her for her prayers. Fourth, it is good to participate in these services which only take place during Great Lent. Besides, the hymns and melodies are some of the most-beautiful and most-beloved in the Orthodox Church. Holy Worship Services of the Week Wednesday, March 23 Pre-Sanctified Liturgy at 6:30 pm Friday Morning, March 25 Feast of the Annunciation 9:00 am Friday Evening, March 25 2nd Salutation to the Theotokos 6:30 pm 7
Pre-sanctified Liturgies During Great Lent Pre-Sanctified Liturgies offered on Wednesday Evenings throughout Great Lent at 6:30 p.m. Dates that the Pre-Sanctified will be offered: Wednesdays March 16, 23 Wednesdays April 6, 13, 20 Explanation of the Service: The Eucharistic Divine Liturgy is not celebrated in the Orthodox Church on Lenten weekdays because of its celebratory nature. In order for the faithful to sustain their Lenten effort by participation in Holy Communion, the Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts is served. The Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts is usually an evening service. It is the solemn Lenten Vespers with the administration of Holy Communion added to it. There is no consecration of the Eucharistic gifts at the Pre-sanctified Liturgy. Holy Communion is given from the Eucharistic gifts sanctified on the previous Sunday at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. Fasting Guidelines for Receiving Holy Communion at the Evening Service: So that the Body and Blood of our Lord may be the first thing to pass our lips on the day of communion, we abstain from all food and drink from the time that we retire (or midnight, whichever comes first) the night before. Married couples should abstain from sexual relations the night before communion. When communion is in the evening, as with Presanctified Liturgies during Lent, this fast should if possible be extended throughout the day until after communion. For those who cannot keep this discipline, a total fast beginning at noon is sometimes prescribed. ATTENTION SAINT BARBARA PARISH! Celebrate with your Church Family yournext special occasion! Consider sponsoring a coffee hour in the social hall after Liturgy on Sundays to commemorate a birthday, graduation, nameday, anniversary, or even for the pleasure of just hosting for your Parish. Signing up is easy...just place your name on the 'signup coffee hour' sheet located on the table in the hallway nearest the social hall. For details or questions, contact Helen Paliouras at: 919-942-4229 or elenipali@att.net Philoptochos is sponsoring a clothes drive for Dress for Success. We would like for you to donate your gently used business attire from now until April 3, in order to help women get back on their feet. The clothes will be used for interviews and once jobs are attained. Thank you for your help. Please see Lia Christakos or Catherine Constantinou if you have questions. 'Dress for Success is a nonprofit organization that assists women to enter the workforce. There is a location in the back hall for storage of donations. 8
March Religious Calendar for 2016 5-1st Saturday of Souls - 9:00 am 6 - Meat Fare Sunday - 9:00 am 12-2nd Saturday of Souls - 9:00 am 13 - Cheese Fare Sunday - 9:00 am 14 - Strict Fast Monday Great Compline- 6:30 pm 16 - Pre-Sanctified for the 1st Wednesday of Lent - 6:30 pm 18-1st Salutation Service - 6:30 pm on Friday 19-3rd Saturday of Souls - 9:00 am 20 - Sunday of Orthodoxy - 9:00 am 20 - Sunday of Orthodoxy Pan-Orthodox Vespers 6:30 pm 23 - Pre-Sanctified for the 2nd Wednesday of Lent - 6:30 pm 24 - Great Vespers of the Annunciation at Winston Salem 25 - Feast of the Annunciation - 9:00 am Friday 27 - St. Gregory of Palamas - 2nd Sunday of Lent - 9:00 am 30 - Pre-Sanctified for the 3rd Wednesday of Lent - 6:30 pm. READING ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE SATURDAY NIGHT LENTEN BOOK CLUB text Pavel Florensky's "Iconostasis" St. Vladimir Press 1996 Session 1 (March 5): The Spiritual Structure of Dreams -pages 33-44 Session 2 (March 12): Spiritual Sobriety and the Iconic Face - pages 44-59 Session 3 (March 19): Orthodox Services and the Icon-pages 59-70 Session 4 (March 26): The Councils on the Icon and the Iconpainter's Canonic Life -pages 70-98 Session 5 (April 2): The History of Artistic Technique, Western and Iconic-pages 98-115 Session 6 (April 9): Iconic Clothes and the Meaning of Gold - pages 115-131 Session 7 (April 16): The Ontology of Making the Icon -pages 131-154 Session 8 (April 23): The Metaphysics of Light and St. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians & Conclusion-pages 154-167 9
AHEPA SCHOLARSHIPS : Please note that the following AHEPA scholarships are available to students who qualify : 1) AHEPA National [ahepa.org] undergraduates and graduates may apply by latest March 31 st ; 2) District 3 [ahepa district 3] high school grads and undergraduates may apply by Apriol 15; 3) Chapter 277 local scholarships St. Barbara parish high school grads may apply by latest April 15, 2016; hard-copy applications for all scholarships are also on the AHEPA table. 10
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