ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY BULLETIN 12 February 2017 Τhe Prodigal Son Our Father Among the Saints Meletios Τοῦ Ἀσώτου Υἱοῦ Tοῦ ἐν Ἁγίοις Πατρὸς ἡμῶν Μελετίου Seventeenth Sunday of Luke Tone 1 ΙΖ ΛΟΥΚΑ Ἦχος αʹ Cathedral: 514 Parker Street, Boston, MA Office/Mailing Address: 162 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA 02445 Phone: (617) 731-6633 Fax: (617) 730-2978 Fr. Demetri s cell: (617) 955 0126 www.bostoncathedral.org Upcoming Events Sunday February 12 Philopt./Sunday School Visit to Hellenic Nursing Home Saturday February 18 Sat. of Souls: Orthr./Lit. (8:45/10:00 am at Cathedral) Sunday February 19 ApokreaXko Luncheon (AYer Liturgy) Saturday February 25 Sat. of Souls: Orthr./Lit. (8:45/10:00 am at Cathedral) Sunday February 26 Forgiveness Vespers (6:30 pm at Cathedral) Monday February 27 Great Compline (6:00 pm at Chapel) Wednesday March 1 PresancXfied Liturgy/Lenten Meal (6:00 pm/7:30 pm) Friday March 3 SalutaXons (7:00 pm at Cathedral) Saturday March 4 Sat. of Souls: Orthr./Lit. (8:45/10:00 am at Cathedral) Sunday March 5 Sunday of Orthodoxy: Youth Procession of Icons Monday March 6 Philoptochos MeeXng (7:00 pm)
ΚΑΘΕΔΡΙΚΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΝΕΑΣ ΑΓΓΛΙΑΣ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΣΜΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF NEW ENGLAND Rev. Fr. Demetrios E. Tonias, Ph.D., Cathedral Dean ιβ Φεβρουαρίου,βιζ ΙΖ ΛΟΥΚΑ 17th Sunday of Luke 12 February 2017 Ἀπολυτίκια Ἦχος α Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ στρατιωτῶν φυλασσόντων τὸ ἄχραντόν σου Σῶμα, ἀνέστης τριήμερος Σωτήρ, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν ζωήν διὰ τοῦτο αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐβόων σοι ζωοδότα. Δόξα τῇ Ἀναστάσει σου Χριστέ, δόξα τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ οἰκονομίᾳ σου, μόνε φιλάνθρωπε. Ἦχος δ Σήμερον τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν τὸ κεφάλαιον, καὶ τοῦ ἀπ αἰῶνος μυστηρίου ἡ φανέρωσις ὁ Υἷός του Θεοῦ, υἱὸς τῆς Παρθένου γίνεται, καὶ Γαβριὴλ τὴν χάριν εὐαγγελίζεται. Διὸ καὶ ἡμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ, τῇ Θεοτόκῳ βοήσωμεν Χαῖρε Κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ Κύριος μετά σοῦ. Κοντάκιον Ἦχος γʹ. Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον. Τῆς πατρῴας, δόξης σου, ἀποσκιρτήσας ἀφρόνως, ἐν κακοῖς ἐσκόρπισα, ὅν μοι παρέδωκας πλοῦτον ὅθεν σοι τὴν τοῦ Ἀσώτου, φωνὴν κραυγάζω Ἥμαρτον ἐνώπιόν σου Πάτερ οἰκτίρμον, δέξαι με μετανοοῦντα, καὶ ποίησόν με, ὡς ἕνα τῶν μισθίων σου. Dismissal Hymns Mode 1 When the stone had been sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers were guarding Your immaculate body, You rose on the third day, O Savior, granting to the world life; and when the powers of heaven, cried out to You O Giver of Life. Glory to Your resurrection O Christ, glory to your Kingdom, glory to Your dispensation, O lover of mankind. Mode 4 Today mark s the crow ning of our salvation and the revelation of the mystery before all ages. For the Son of God becomes the son of the Virgin, and Gabriel proclaims the grace. Wherefore, we also cry out with him, "Hail, O full of grace, the Lord is with you. Kontakion Mode 3. On this day. I revolted senselessly * out of Your fatherly glory; * I have squandered sinfully * all of the riches You gave me.* Hence to You, using the Prodigal s words, I cry out,* I have sinned before You, merciful loving Father.* O receive me in repentance, * I pray, and treat me * as one of Your hired hands. There are those who interpret the swine as being the flocks of demons, the husks as the lack of virtue of worthless people and the boastful words of those who cannot do good. By the empty allure of philosophy and the noisy applause for eloquence, they show ostentation rather than any usefulness. These cannot be lasting pleasures. St. Ambrose of Milan
Ἀπόστολος A Κορ. ς 12-20 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 Epistle Ἀδελφοί, πάντα μοι ἔξεστιν, ἀλλ' οὐ πάντα συμφέρει πάντα μοι ἔξεστιν, ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐγὼ ἐξουσιασθήσομαι ὑπό τινος. Τὰ βρώματα τῇ κοιλίᾳ καὶ ἡ κοιλία τοῖς βρώμασιν ὁ δὲ Θεὸς καὶ ταύτην καὶ ταῦτα καταργήσει. Τὸ δὲ σῶμα οὐ τῇ πορνείᾳ, ἀλλὰ τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ ὁ Κύριος τῷ σώματι ὁ δὲ Θεὸς καὶ τὸν Κύριον ἤγειρε καὶ ἡμᾶς ἐξεγερεῖ διὰ τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ. Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι τὰ σώματα ὑμῶν μέλη Χριστοῦ ἐστιν; Ἄρα οὖν τὰ μέλη τοῦ Χριστοῦ ποιήσω πόρνης μέλη; Μὴ γένοιτο. Ἢ οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ὁ κολλώμενος τῇ πόρνῃ ἓν σῶμά ἐστιν; Ἔσονται γάρ, φησίν, οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν ὁ δὲ κολλώμενος τῷ Κυρίῳ ἓν πνεῦμά ἐστι. φεύγετε τὴν πορνείαν. Πᾶν ἁμάρτημα ὃ ἐὰν ποιήσῃ ἄνθρωπος ἐκτὸς τοῦ σώματός ἐστιν ὁ δὲ πορνεύων εἰς τὸ ἴδιον σῶμα ἁμαρτάνει. Ἢ οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι τὸ σῶμα ὑμῶν ναὸς τοῦ ἐν ὑμῖν Αγίου Πνεύματός ἐστιν, οὗ ἔχετε ἀπὸ Θεοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐστὲ ἑαυτῶν; ἠγοράσθητε γὰρ τιμῆς δοξάσατε δὴ τὸν Θεὸν ἐν τῷ σώματι ὑμῶν καὶ ἐν τῶ πνεύματι ὑμῶν, ἅτινά ἐστι τοῦ Θεοῦ. Brethren, "all things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food; and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh." But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belong to God. Εὐαγγέλιον Λουκ. ιε 11-32 Luke 15:11-32 Gospel Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τὴν 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 διεσκόρπισεν τὴν οὐσίαν αὐτοῦ ζῶν ἀσώτως. δαπανήσαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ πάντα ἐγένετο λιμὸς ἰσχυρὰ 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 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 fed on the pods Continued on next page
ἤσθιον οἱ χοῖροι, καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐδίδου αὐτῷ. εἰς ἑαυτὸν δὲ ἐλθὼν εἶπε πόσοι μίσθιοι τοῦ πατρός μου περισσεύουσιν ἄρτων, ἐγὼ δὲ λιμῷ ὧδε 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 ἑαυτοῦ. 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 υἱὸς 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 σιτευτόν θύσατε, καὶ φαγόντες εὐφρανθῶμεν, ὅτι οὗτος ὁ υἱός μου νεκρὸς ἦν καὶ ἀνέζησεν, καὶ ἀπολωλὼς ἦν καὶ εὑρέθη. καὶ ἤρξαντο εὐφραίνεσθαι. Ἦν 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 πατρὶ 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 σιτευτὸν. 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. 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.'"
Κυριακὴ τοῦ Ἀσώτου Διαβάζουμε ἀπὸ τὸ Εὐαγγέλιο τὴν παραβολὴ τοῦ Ἀσώτου Υἱοῦ (Λούκ.15, 11-32). Ἡ παραβολὴ αὐτὴ μαζὶ μὲ τοὺς ὕμνους τῆς ἡμέρας, μᾶς παρουσιάζουν τὴ μετάνοια σὰν ἐπιστροφὴ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀπὸ τὴ ἐξορία. Ὁ ἄσωτος γιός, πῆγε σὲ μιὰ μακρινὴ χώρα καὶ ἐκεῖ σπατάλησε ὅ,τι εἶχε καὶ δὲν εἶχε. Μιὰ μακρινὴ χώρα. Εἶναι ὁ μοναδικὸς ὁρισμὸς τῆς ἀνθρώπινης κατάστασης ποὺ θὰ ἔπρεπε νὰ ἀποδεχτοῦμε καθὼς ἀρχίζουμε τὴν προσέγγισή μας στὸ Θεό. Ἕνας ἄνθρωπος ποὺ ποτὲ δὲν εἶχε αὐτὴ τὴν ἐμπειρία, ἔστω καὶ γιὰ λίγο, ποὺ ποτὲ δὲν αἰσθάνθηκε ὅτι εἶναι ἐξόριστος ἀπὸ τὸ Θεὸ καὶ ἀπὸ τὴν ἀληθινὴ ζωή, αὐτὸς ποτὲ δὲν θὰ καταλάβει τί ἀκριβῶς εἶναι ὁ Χριστιανισμός. Αὐτὸ τὸ αἴσθημα τῆς ἀποξένωσης ἀπὸ τὸ Θεό, ἀπὸ τὴν μακαριότητα τῆς κοινωνίας μαζί Του, ἀπὸ τὴν ἀληθινὴ ζωὴ ὅπως τὴ δημιούργησε καὶ μᾶς τὴν ἔδωσε Ἐκεῖνος. Νὰ παραδεχθῶ ὅτι ἔχω ἀμαυρώσει καὶ ἔχω χάσει τὴν πνευματική μου ὀμορφιά, ὅτι εἶμαι πολὺ μακριὰ ἀπὸ τὸ πραγματικό μου σπίτι, τὴν ἀληθινὴ ζωή. Ἔλαβα ἀπὸ τὸ Θεὸ θαυμαστὰ πλούτη: πρῶτα ἀπ' ὅλα τὴ ζωὴ καὶ τὴ δυνατότητα νὰ τὴ χαίρομαι, νὰ τὴν ὀμορφαίνω μὲ νόημα, ἀγάπη καὶ γνώση. Ὕστερα - μὲ τὸ Βάπτισμα - 12 Φεβρουαρίου ἔλαβα τὴ νέα ζωὴ ἀπὸ τὸν ἴδιο τὸ Χριστό, τὰ δῶρα τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος, τὴν εἰρήνη καὶ τὴ χαρὰ τῆς οὐράνιας Βασιλείας. Καὶ ὅλα αὐτὰ τὰ ἔχασα, τὰ χάνω καθημερινά, ὄχι μόνο μὲ τὶς ἁμαρτίες, τὶς παραβάσεις, ἀλλὰ μὲ τὴν ἁμαρτία ὅλων τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν: τὴν ἀπομάκρυνση τῆς ἀγάπης μου ἀπὸ τὸ Θεό, προτιμώντας τὴν μακρινὴ χώρα ἀπὸ τὸ ὄμορφο σπίτι τοῦ Πατέρα. Ἡ Ἐκκλησία ὅμως εἶναι ἐδῶ παροῦσα γιὰ νὰ μοῦ θυμίζει τί ἔχω ἐγκαταλείψει, τί ἔχω χάσει. Καί, καθὼς ἀναλογίζομαι, βρίσκω μέσα μου τὴν ἐπιθυμία τῆς ἐπιστροφῆς καὶ τὴ δύναμη νὰ τὴ πραγματοποιήσω. Αὐτὸ καὶ μόνο αὐτό, εἶναι μετάνοια, νὰ ἀποκτήσω ξανὰ τὸ χαμένο σπίτι. «Θὰ σηκωθῶ καὶ θὰ πάω στὸν πατέρα μου καὶ θὰ τοῦ πῶ. Πατέρα, ἁμάρτησα στὸν οὐρανὸ καὶ σὲ σένα, καὶ δὲν εἶμαι πλέον ἄξιος νὰ ὀνομασθῶ γιός σου». Κοντάκιον. Ἦχος γ. Τῆς πατρῴας δόξης σου, ἀποσκιρτήσας ἀφρόνως, ἐν κακοῖς ἐσκόρπισα, ὅν μοι παρέδωκας πλοῦτον ὅθεν σοι, τὴν τοῦ Ἀσώτου φωνὴν κραυγάζω Ἥμαρτον, ἐνώπιόν σου Πάτερ οἰκτίρμον δέξαι με μετανοοῦντα, καὶ ποιήσόν με ὡς ἕνα τῶν μισθίων σου.
Sunday of the Prodigal Son Introduction The Sunday of the Prodigal Son is the second Sunday of a three-week period prior to the commencement of Great Lent. On the previous Sunday, the services of the Church began to include hymns from the Triodion, a liturgical book that contains the services from the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, the tenth before Pascha (Easter), through Great and Holy Saturday. As with the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, the theme of this Sunday is repentance, and the focus on the parable of the Prodigal Son leads Orthodox Christians to contemplate the necessity of repentance in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Biblical Story The name for this Sunday is taken from the parable of our Lord Jesus Christ found in Luke 15:11-32. The parable is the story of a man and his two sons. The youngest of the sons asks his father to give him his inheritance. The father does this, and soon after the son leaves and journeys to a distant country (vv. 11-13). After the younger son arrives, he squanders all of his possessions with prodigal living. Within a short period of time, he wastes everything. A severe famine comes, but he has nothing and falls into great need (vv. 13-14). He is able to find work feeding swine, but this does not improve his situation. The Scriptures say, He would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, but no one gave him anything (vv. 15-16). The parable says that in the midst of his dire conditions, he came to himself. He realized that 12 February his father s hired servants have enough to eat and food to spare, while he perishes with hunger. He says, I will arise and go to my father and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants (vv. 17-19). He arose and returned to his father. But as he approached, his father saw him at a great distance. The father had compassion on his son, ran to meet him, embraced him, and kissed him. The son admitted his sinfulness and his unworthiness to be called a son, but in his joy at the return of his son, the father called his servants to bring the best robe, a ring for his son s finger, and sandals for his feet. He also called for the fatted calf to be killed for a feast. He exclaimed, For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found (vv. 20-24). While they were feasting and celebrating the return of the prodigal son, the older son comes and inquires about what is happening. He is told that his brother had returned and that his father has received him with a feast. The older brother becomes angry and will not go in to the feast. The father comes out and pleads with him, but the older son answers by saying he has been faithful to his father for many years and yet the father never gave him the opportunity for such feasting. He expresses his anger and jealousy over his brother who was received in such a manner after he squandered his inheritance (vv. 25-30). The father responds by telling his oldest son, You are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry
and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found (vv. 31-32). The parable of the Prodigal Son forms an exact icon of repentance at its different stages. Sin is exile, enslavement to strangers, hunger. Repentance is the return from exile to our true home; it is to receive back our inheritance and freedom in the Father s house. But repentance implies action: I will rise up and go (v. 18). To repent is not just to feel dissatisfied, but to make a decision and to act upon it. In the words of our Lord, we also learn of three things through this parable: the condition of the sinner, the rule of repentance, and the greatness of God s compassion. The reading of this parable follows the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee so that, seeing in the person of the Prodigal Son our own sinful condition, we might come to our senses and return to God through repentance. For those who have fallen into great despair over their sins thinking that there is no forgiveness, this parable offers hope. The Heavenly Father is patiently and lovingly waiting for our return. There is no sin that can overcome His love for us. Finally, this parable offers us insight into the world in which we live. It is a world where the activities of people are disconnected and not ordered toward the fulfillment of God s divine purpose for life. It is a world of incoherent pursuits, of illusory strivings, of craving for foods and drinks that do not satisfy, a world where nothing ultimately makes sense, and a world engulfed in untruth, deceit and sin. It is the exact opposite of the world as created by God and potentially recreated by his Son and Spirit. There is no cure for the evils of our age unless we return to God. The world in which we live is not a normal world, but a wasteland. This is why in the Slavic tradition of the Orthodox Church the reading of Psalm 137 is added to the Matins service for this and the the following two Sundays. This nostalgic lament of the Hebrew exiles states: "By the streams of Babylon we sat and wept as we remembered Zion. On the willows we hung our harps, for how could we sing the Lord s song in a strange land (Psalm 137). Here we can see the challenge of life in this world and the alienation from God that can happen when sin reigns in our lives. As a result of sin in our lives, we lose the joy of communion with God, we defile and lose our spiritual beauty, and we find ourselves far away from our real home, our real life. In true repentance, we realize this, and we express a deep desire to return, to recover what has been lost. On this day the Church reminds us of what we have abandoned and lost, and beckons us to find the desire and power to return. Our Heavenly Father is waiting and ready to receive us with His loving forgiveness and His saving embrace. Icon of the Feast The icon of the Sunday of the Prodigal Son shows the prodigal being received by his father upon his return. We are presented with an image of a warm and loving embrace, the son showing his need for his father, an attitude that represents repentance, love, and hope for renewal and restoration. The father is shown full of compassion for his son, having born the burden of his sin and suffering, but now filled with joy that he has returned.
(F) Fas?ng Day
Names to be read for the Saturday of Souls, Feb 18, 25, & March 4 For the eternal memory and blessed repose of the souls of the servants of God. Υπὲρ ἀναπαύσεως
STEWARDSHIP REPORT AS OF 2-3-2017 Stewards pledged this far: 57 Total pledged for 2017: $38,925 Rev. Dr. Demetrios & Pr. Maryann Tonias & Family Ms. Fotene Fay Andreadis Mr. & Mrs. Arthur C. Anton, Sr. Dr. Marica Arvanites Ms. Christine Bakos Ms. Natalie Bassil Mr. Charles C. Beretsos Mr. & Mrs. James G. Boujoukos Ms. Sophia P. McBrine Ms. Mary A. Carris Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Critikos Mr. & Mrs. Angelos Davos Ms. Christine English Mr. & Mrs. Angelos Fotopoulos Dr. Calliope G. Galatis Mrs. Gerasimos Galatis Drs. Iraklis & Sheila Gerogiannis Ms. Virginia C. Gregory Ms. Marie Hatzis Ms. Alice Haveles Ms. Kaye Jaravinos Mr. & Mrs. George Jeas Mr. & Mrs. James G. Jumes Mr. Philip S. Kallan Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Kyriakou Mr. Constantine Limberakis Mr. Alex Mavradis Ms. Melissa K. Merakis Mr. & Mrs. Joseph D. Messina Ms. Elizabeth Naoum Mr. & Mrs. George Pagounis Mr. & Mrs. Paul Pagounis Mr. & Mrs. Teddy Papaslis Dr. Leon Pappas Ms. Sofia Paraskevas Dr. Lewis J. Patsavos Mr. & Mrs. Peter Philipoppoulos Mr. & Mrs. Peter G. Salidas Atty. & Mrs. Peter A. Senopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Costa Sideridis Ms. Desi Sideropoulos Ms. Sodira Sideropoulos Ms. Thalia Sideropoulos Ms. Bertie Stratis Mr. & Mrs. Triantos Thomas Mr. & Mrs. John Torres Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Torski Mr. Christopher J. Trakas Mr. & Mrs. Ross N. Triant Mrs. Maria Troubalos Ms. Vasilika D. Tsucalas Ms. Bertie Stratis Mrs. Athanasia Tzimorangas Mr. Dimitrios Zferacopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Alexander G. Zedros Ms. Mary J. Zetes Mr. Peter J. Zetes You see that the divine inheritance is given to those who ask. You should not think that the Father was guilty because he gave to the younger son. There is no frail age in the kingdom of God nor is faith weighed down by years. He who made the request surely judged himself worthy. If only he had not departed from his Father, he would not have known the hindrance of age. After he went abroad, he who departed from the church squandered his inheritance. What is farther away than to depart from oneself, and not from a place? Surely whoever separates himself from Christ is an exile from his country, a citizen of the world. We are not strangers and pilgrims, but we are fellow citizens of the saints and of the household of God, for we who were far away have come near in the blood of Christ. Let us not look down on those who return from a distant land, because we were also in a distant land. There is a distant region of the shadow of death, but we, for whom the Spirit before our face is Christ the Lord, live in the shadow of Christ. St. Ambrose of Milan
Announcements WELCOME TO ALL VISITORS: For those visiting an Orthodox Church for the first time, please be aware that Holy Communion is a sign of unity of faith which is only offered to Baptized or Chrismated Orthodox Christians. All present are welcome, however, to partake of the antidoro (blessed bread) which is distributed at the end of the service. Those interested in learning more about the Orthodox Christian faith, please feel free to see Fr. Demetri after the service. This week, to assist you in the Narthex we have at the Pangary: Mary Hanna, Ellen Marie Demeter; Greeter: Constantine Kechris; Ushers: Mary Cleary, Chris Karimbakas, Simone Dodge, George Fountas. MEMORIALS: Memorial service is offered today for the repose of the souls of Harry Chakalis (5 years), Kay Chakalis (5 years) and Mary Pappas (5 years). Memorial prayers are offered for the repose of the soul of Helen Dukas (11 years). May their memory be eternal! Altar flowers are offered in memory of Harry and Kay Chakalis and Mary Pappas by their families. Please join us for fellowship immediately following the Liturgy in the Anastasia and Spiro Davis Hall. The fellowship hour will be offered in memory of Harry and Kay Chakalis and Mary Pappas by their families. DONATION: In memory of Harry and Kay Chakalis and Mary Pappas: Mr. & Mrs. Peter Scarlatos. HELLENIC NURSING HOME VISIT: Today our Sunday School children with their teachers and members of the Ladies Philoptochos will visit our Hellenic Nursing Home in order to give Valentine s Day cards to the residents. SATURDAY OF SOULS: On Saturday, February 18, we will commemorate the 1st Saturday of Souls at the Cathedral on Parker Street. The Orthros begins at 8:45 a.m. followed by the Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am. APOKREATIKO LUNCHEON: Join us on Sunday, February 19, 2016 for an Apokreatiko (Meatfare) Luncheon immediately following the Liturgy in the Davis Hall. Adult tickets are $25.00 and for children under 12 are $10.00. The menu includes mezedakia, Lamb shanks, galaktoboureko and chicken tenders for the kids. Live entertainment and surprise ruffle. Advanced tickets sale preferred due to limited sitting. For reservations and information please call Ms. Mary Cleary (617) 818-7857, Ms. Simone Dodge (617) 695-1683 or Mrs. Maria Theodore (617) 522-7488. ANNUNCIATION CATHEDRAL AND THE BOSTON HOMELESS VETERANS: The next service day at the Homeless Veterans Shelter is on Monday, February 20 at 4:15 pm. All volunteers are welcome. Donations are needed for the expense of the meal. Please contact Mr. Peter Vergados, coordinator of this ministry to become involved with this worthy endeavor. His number is: 617-964-0077. If you have any announcements to be placed in the bulletin, please submit them to the Office no later than Wednesday.
Ανακοινώσεις ΚΑΛΩΣOΡΙΣΜΑ: Για όσους επισκέπτονται την Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία για πρώτη φορά, θα πρέπει να γνωρίζουν ότι η Θεία Κοινωνία είναι το σύμβολο της ενότητας της πίστεως, το οποίο προσφέρεται μόνο σε όσους έχουν βαπτιστεί ή χριστεί Ορθόδοξοι Χριστιανοί. Όλοι οι παρευρισκόμενοι ωστόσο, είναι ευπρόσδεκτοι να λάβουν το Αντίδωρο (ή ευλογημένο ψωμί), το οποίο διανέμεται μετά το τέλος της Θείας Λειτουργίας. Όσοι ενδιαφέρεστε να μάθετε περισσότερα για την Ορθόδοξη Χριστιανική Πίστη, μη διστάσετε να μιλήσετε στον Πατέρα Δημήτριο μετά την Θεία Λειτουργία. Αυτή την εβδομάδα θα βοηθήσουν στο Παγκάρι: Mary Hanna, Ellen Marie Demeter, Υποδοχή: Constantine Kechris, Δίσκος: Mary Cleary, Chris Karimbakas, Simone Dodge, George Fountas. ΜΝΗΜΟΣΥΝΑ: Σήμερα τελούμε επιμνημόσυνη δέηση υπέρ αναπαύσεως των ψυxών των κεκοιμημένων δούλων του Θεού Χαραλάμπους Τσάκαλη (5 έτη), Κυριακής Τσάκαλη (5 έτη), Μαρίας Πάππα (5 έτη), και Τρισάγιον υπέρ αναπαύσεως της ψυχής της δούλης του Θεού Ελένηs Δούκα (11 έτη). Αιωνία αυτών η μνήμη! Τα λουλούδια προσφέρονται εις μνήμη των Χαραλάμπους και Κυριακής Τσάκαλη και Μαρίας Πάππα από τις οικογένειές τους. Παρακαλείσθε όπως παραβρεθείτε μετά το τέλος της Θείας Λειτουργίας στη Αίθουσα Αναστασίας και Σπυρίδωνος Davis όπου θα προσφερθούν καφές και εδέσματα εις μνήμη των Χαραλάμπους και Κυριακής Τσάκαλη και Μαρίας Πάππα από τις οικογένειές τους. ΔΩΡΕA: Εις μνήμη των Χαραλάμπους και Κυριακής Τσάκαλη και Μαρίας Πάππα: Mr. & Mrs. Peter Scarlatos. AΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΗ: Σήμερα, τα παιδιά του Κατηχητικού Σχολείου μαζί με τις δασκάλες τους και μέλη της Φιλοπτώχου θα επισκευθούν το Ελληνικό Γηροκομείο μας και θα δώσουν κάρτες, τις οποίες θα έχουν φιλοτεχνίσει τα ίδια τα παιδιά, στους παππούδες και στις γιαγιάδες. ΨΥΧΟΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ: Το Σάββατο 18 Φεβρουαρίου, θα γίνει το 1ο Ψυχοσάββατο στον Καθεδρικό Ναό στην Parker Street. Ο Όρθρος θα αρχίσει στις 8.45 π.μ. και θα ακολουθήσει η Θεία Λειτουργία στις 10:00 π.μ. APOKΡEATIKO ΓΕΥΜΑ: Σας προσκαλούμε όλους όπως, την Κυριακή, 19 Φεβρουαρίου, αμέσως μετά τη Θεία Λειτουργία παραβρεθείτε στο Αποκριάτικο Γεύμα που θα γίνει στο Davis Hall. Τα εισητήρια για τους ενήλικες είναι $25.00 και για τα παιδιά κάτω των 12, $10.00. Το πλούσιο μενού περιλαμβάνει μεζεδάκια, Lamb shanks, γλυκά και Chicken tenders για τα παιδιά. ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΚΑΘΕΔΡΙΚΟΥ ΓΙΑ ΤΟΥΣ ΑΣΤΕΓΟΥΣ ΒΕΤΕΡΑΝΟΥΣ ΒΟΣΤΩΝΗΣ: Το επόμενο γεύμα για τους Άστεγους Βετεράνους της Βοστώνης είναι τη Δευτέρα, 20 Φεβρουαρίου στις 16:15 μμ. Όλοι οι εθελοντές είναι ευπρόσδεκτοι. Χρειαζόμαστε τη προσφορά σας για τα έξοδα των μηνιαίων γευμάτων. Παρακαλούμε επικοινωνήστε με τον κύριο Περικλή Βεργάδο στο: 617-964-0077.