Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral March 5, 2017
St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral Church Office 508-791-7326 Mon.-Fri.: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. www.spyridoncathedral.org Reverend Doctor Dimitrios Moraitis Dean Reverend Father Dean N. Paleologos Dean Emeritus Reverend Deacon Andrew Giourelis Georgia Parafestas -Parish Council President Email - frdimitri@spyridoncathedral.org Metropolis of Boston WELCOME Welcome to the Saint Spyridon Cathedral in Worcester, Massachusetts. We are honored that you have chosen to worship with us today. It is our hope that your visit here will bring you many blessings from God. Please be sure to tell us if you are visiting or if you are new to our community. Our Church Family worships the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and every Sunday, the Lord s Day, we commemorate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our mission is to live the Holy Gospel in accordance with the Orthodox Faith; towards sanctification through God s grace in worship, the Divine Liturgy and the Sacraments: glorifying God through all joys and struggles; and as a Church Community, in Christian love, we seek to do His will so that through His mercy, we may attain His Kingdom. We are blessed to have the slippers of St. Spyridon, which are located in the narthex of the Church, please be sure to venerate them. We pray you have a blessed day and that you visit with us again soon. Also, please remember that one must be an Orthodox Christian in order to receive Holy Communion. If you would like to embrace the Orthodox Faith, please see Father Dimitrios Moraitis. May God Bless you! March 5th, 2017 Sunday of Orthodoxy Sunday of Orthodoxy The Feast of Orthodoxy (also known as the Sunday of Orthodoxy or the Triumph of Orthodoxy) is celebrated on the first Sunday of Great Lent (six Sundays before Pascha) in the liturgical calendar of the Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Church (Eastern Catholics of Byzantine rite). The Feast is kept in memory of the final defeat of Iconoclasm and the restoration of the icons to the churches. SUNDAY SERVICES Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:45am WEEKDAY SERVICES Wednesday, March 8 Pre-sanctified Liturgy 6:00pm Holy Trinity, Fitchburg, MA Fr. Dimitri will serve and speak on Addictions & the Passions Friday, March 10 2nd Stanza Salutations to the Theotokos 7:00pm HAPPY NAME DAY Theodoros, Theodora Saints of the Day CONON THE GARDENER MARK THE ASCETIC RIGHTEOUS FATHER MARK OF ATHENS ΚΟΝΩΝ ὉΣΙΟΜΑΡΤΥΣ ΜΑΡΚΟΣ Ὁ ἈΣΚΗΤΗΣ ΠΑΤΗΡ ΜΑΡΚΟΣ ΤῆΣ ἈΘΗΝΑΣ
Entrance Hymns Apolytikion Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to the world. O Christ our God, begging forgiveness of our sins, we venerate Your Pure Image, O Good One. Of your own will you condescended to ascend upon the Cross in the flesh and deliver those You created from the bondage of the enemy. Wherefore, thankfully, we cry out, "When You came to save the world, Your filled all things with joy, O Our Savior." Saint Spyridon Father, God-bearer, Spyridon, you were proven a champion and Wonder Worker of the First Ecumenical Council. You spoke to the girl in the grave and turned the serpent to gold. And, when chanting your prayers, most sacred One, angels ministered with you. Glory to Him who glorified you; glory to Him who crowned you; glory to Him who, through you, works healing for all. Kontakion To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!" Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Τὴν ἄχραντον Εἰκόνα σου προσκυνοῦμεν Ἀγαθέ, αἰτούμενοι συγχώρησιν τῶν πταισμάτων ἡμῶν, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός βουλήσει γὰρ ηὐδόκησας σαρκὶ ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ, ἵνα ῥύσῃ οὓς ἔπλασας ἐκ τῆς δουλείας τοῦ ἐχθροῦ ὅθεν εὐχαρίστως βοῶμέν σοι Χαρᾶς ἐπλήρωσας τὰ πάντα, ὁ Σωτὴρ ἡμῶν, παραγενόμενος εἰς τὸ σῶσαι τὸν Κόσμον. Απολυτίκιον του Αγίου Σπυρίδωνος Της Συνόδου της πρώτης ανεδείχθης υπέρμαχος, και θαυματουργός Θεοφόρε, Σπυρίδων Πατήρ ημών, διο νεκρά συ εν τάφω προσφωνείς, και όφιν εις χρυσούν μετέβαλες, και εν τω μέλπειν τας αγίας σου ευχάς, Αγγέλους εσκες συλλειτουργούντας σοι Ιερώτατε, Δοξα τω σε δοξάσαντι, δόξα τω σε στεφανώσαντι, δόξα τω ενεργούντι διά σου πάσιν ιάματα. Τὴ ὑπερμάχω στρατηγῶ τὰ νικητήρια, ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν εὐχαριστήρια, ἀναγράφω σοὶ ἡ Πόλις σου Θεοτόκε, Ἀλλ' ὡς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον, ἐκ παντοίων μὲ κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον, ἵνα κράζω σοί, Χαῖρε νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε.
Ο ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 11:24-26, 32-40 Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν. Στίχ. Ὅτι δίκαιος εἶ ἐπὶ πᾶσιν, οἷς ἐποίησας ἡμῖν. ΤΗΕ EPISTLE St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40 Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers. Verse: For you are just in all you have done. 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. 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 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.
ΤΟ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ 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. THE HOLY GOSPEL Sunday of Orthodoxy 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." Fasting / Νηστεία The fast for Great Lent has begun. Please abstain from meat, dairy, and fish. Oil and wine are allowed on the weekend.
St. Spyridon Seniors The Seniors are planning 2 trips: Majestic Maine Cruise, Tuesday, June 27 Essex Valley Steam Train and CT Riverboat, Friday, September 15 Cost $95/pp each trip Sign up sheet on church bulletin board HOLY TRINITY The St. Spyridon Ladies Philoptochos will be hosting a coffee social at Holy Trinity on Thursday, March 9 @ 2:00pm. Volunteering at Holy Trinity is a rewarding way you can make a difference in the lives of the residents by donating your time and talent. To inquire about volunteer opportunities, contact Gina Metras, Director of Activities, 508-852-1000, gmetras@htnr.net,or Serena Shields, Director of Community Relations, 508-852-1000, shields@htnr.net. ST. SPYRIDON PRESCHOOL Registration opens for Preschool Monday, February 6th for the 2017-2018 school year. www..stspyridonpreschool.com Little Angels 2016-2017 Tuesday afternoons 2:30 to 4:00 March, 7th & 21st, April 4th & 18th, May 2nd & 16th, June 6th NOT TO BE MISSED! Thursday, March 30,2017 at 7:00pm PSALTIKON- The Song of Chant An ensemble of nine male voices performing Byzantine chant from all periods and presented in the St. Spyridon Cathedral. The director will give a description of each performance piece. Hellenic Arts Society members and their guests also invited to a members reception. Things all Church Members Should Think About You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.
PRESANCTIFIED LITURGIES 2017 Wednesday, March 8 th Pre-sanctified Liturgy 6:00 p.m. at Holy Trinity, Fitchburg, MA. Father Dimitri will serve at Holy Trinity, Fitchburg, MA and he will speak about Addiction & Patient. Pot Luck Lenten meal will follow. People are encouraged to bring something to share with others. Free Bus Transportation will be provided to Holy Trinity. Meet at St. Spyridon parking lot at 5:00pm Wednesday, March 15 th Pre-sanctified Liturgy at St. Spyridon Cathedral, Worcester, MA. Father Dimitri will speak about the Journey through Great Lent. Pot Luck Lenten meal will follow. People are encouraged to bring something to share with others. March 22 nd Pre-sanctified Liturgy 6:00 p.m. at St. Nicholas Church, Clinton, MA. Father Greg and Father Dimitri will serve. Pot Luck Lenten meal will follow. People are encouraged to bring something to share with others. March 29 th, Pre-sanctified Liturgy 6:00 p.m.at St. Spyridon Cathedral, Worcester, MA. Father Luke Veronis, from Sts. Constantine & Helen Church, Webster, MA will serve and speak about Orthodox Missions. Pot Luck Lenten meal will follow. People are encouraged to bring something to share with others. April 5 th Pre-sanctified Liturgy 6:00pm. St. Spyridon Cathedral, Worcester, MA. Father Dimitri will speak about the Meaning of Holy Week. Pot Luck Lenten meal will follow. People are encouraged to bring something to share with others.
Saturday, March 11, 2017, 11:30pm-1:00pm The Feeding Ministry is continuing to serve our community with a Luncheon to be served to the Poor and Needy on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 11:30pm in the St. Spyridon Cotsidas Cultural Center. This month s meal is donated by and served by members of the Philoptochos and parish volunteers. The Feeding Ministry will be scheduled the 2nd Saturday of each month in conjunction with the Council of Eastern Orthodox Churches of Central Massachusetts and the Food Pantry. If you would like to volunteer please speak with Fr. Dimitri or contact Maria Kassos. Thank you for participating in the Lord s Work.
ST. SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL BURN THE MORTGAGE CAMPAIGN Total Cost of Family Center Renovation $4,100,000.00 Total raised by our community during first fund drive $2,650,000.00 Burn the Mortgage $1,450,000,000 Remaining Loan Balance to be paid $1,400,000.00 $269,500.00 pledged $50,500.00 3 Year Pledge Amount Annually Monthly $15,000 $5,000 $416 $3,000 $1,000 $83 $1,000 $333 $28 How Much Should I Give? This is a question every one of us must answer individually and with our heart. A goal of this magnitude cannot be realized without your generosity and unity. We are asking everyone from our parish and community to participate at any level. No donation is too small nor too large. Little by little we will achieve this daunting task and be rid of this financial burden. Please consider a tax deductible pledge today. Thank you and may God bless you. Proverbs 3.9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops.
Free bus transportation will be provided by Foxy Bus Tours, donations accepted. We will meet at the St. Spyridon parking lot at 5:00 pm. Please contact the office for more information, 508-791-7326.
We have entered the period of Great Lent and we pray that you will have a wonderful and Holy Easter season. The decoration of the Cathedral and Holy Icons is a wonderful way to give back to our church. Thank you for your donations.
JOY The Junior Orthodox Youth (JOY) group of our Cathedral is open to children between 3rd - 6 th grades. The group is based on four characteristics of Orthodox Christianity: Worship, Fellowship, Witness, and Service. JOY is an Orthodox Christian youth group that helps our children experience and explore the orthodox faith. Is a group, to enjoy fellowship, and to have FUN! The events are geared to not only bring the youth of Saint Spyridon together in a fun and educational way, but also to start to plant the seeds of giving back to the community through charity projects. We look forward to seeing your child in our youth group and helping them to grow closer to our Lord Jesus Christ. HOPE The Hellenic Orthodox Primary Education group (HOPE) is a ministry for children from Kindergarten through second grade. Some of the activities include meetings with Fr. Dimitri; faith-learning crafts and snack time; field trips; and seasonal activities. Parents with children in K-6 th grades are encouraged to become active in these ministries Please check our Weekly Bulletin for upcoming parish and regional HOPE & JOY events. For further information please welcome, and contact our new JOY/HOPE ministry leader Anna Coulouras @508-887-1828 JOY and HOPE will meet on Friday, March 3, 2017 at 5:30pm
2017 Stewardship Report * GOAL 2017 Week Total 168 pledges received $443 average/pledge 9 $74,401.00 Stewardship Budget $330.000.00 * GOAL amount includes the 2016 Stewardship Budget Receipts of $330,000.00. Funds reflect all monies received in 2017 We suggest you budget your Stewardship contribution as you do your monthly home expenses Our Cathedral must meet the Financial needs of its ministries and annual operating budget by way of its Christian Stewardship Program. It is each and everyone's responsibility to accept honor and support your role as a Contributing Steward. Please pledge your Required Stewardship Contribution now, if you have not done so. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.