Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral

Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral February 26, 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! February 26th, 2017 Cheesefare Sunday FORGIVENESS SUNDAY CHEESEFARE At Vespers on Sunday evening, people may make a poklon (bow) before one another and ask forgiveness. Another name for Forgiveness Sunday is "Cheesefare Sunday", because for devout Orthodox Christians it is the last day on which dairy products may be consumed until Easter. SUNDAY SERVICES Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:45am WEEKDAY SERVICES Tonight, Sunday, February 26 Forgiveness Vespers 7:00pm Monday, February 27 Great Compline 7:00pm Wednesday, March 1 Presanctified Liturgy 6:00pm Friday, March 3 1st Salutations 7:00pm 3rd Saturday of Souls Saturday, March 4, 2017 Orthros 8:45am Divine Liturgy 9:30am Saints of the Day Porphyrius, Bishop of Gaza The Holy Great Martyr Photine, the Samaritan Women Πορφύριος, Ἐπίσκοπος Γάζης Φωτεινή Μάρτυς HAPPY NAME DAY Anthi

Entrance Hymns Apolytikion Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world. Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. For The Memorials Keep Thy servants in remembrance, O Lord, since Thou art good; and do Thou forgive every sin in this life; for no man is without sin, except for Thee Who art able to grant rest even unto him who has departed hence. 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. 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. Kontakion O Master, Prudence, Guide of Wisdom, Instruction to the foolish and Defender of the poor, strengthen my heart and grant it discernment. Give me words, Word of the Father, for behold, I shall not keep my lips from crying out to You, "O Merciful One, have mercy on me who has fallen." Τῆς σοφίας ὁδηγέ, φρονήσεως χορηγέ, τῶν ἀφρόνων παιδευτά, καὶ πτωχῶν ὑπερασπιστά, στήριξον, συνέτισον τὴν καρδίαν μου Δέσποτα. Σὺ δίδου μοι λόγον, ὁ τοῦ Πατρός Λόγος ἰδοὺ γὰρ τὰ χείλη μου, οὐ μὴ κωλύσω ἐν τῷ κράζειν σοι Ἐλεῆμον, ἐλέησόν με τὸν παραπεσόντα.

Ο ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Πρὸς Ρωμαίους 13:11-14, 14:1-4 Εὔξασθε καὶ ἀπόδοτε Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν. Στίχ. Γνωστὸς ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ ὁ Θεός, ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ μέγα τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ. Ἀδελφοί, νῦν ἐγγύτερον ἡμῶν ἡ σωτηρία ἢ ὅτε ἐπιστεύσαμεν. Ἡ νὺξ προέκοψεν, ἡ δὲ ἡμέρα ἤγγικεν ἀποθώμεθα οὖν τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους, καί ἐνδυσώμεθα τὰ ὅπλα τοῦ φωτός. Ὡ ς ἐ ν ἡ μ έ ρ ᾳ, ε ὐ σ χ η μ ό ν ω ς περιπατήσωμεν, μὴ κώμοις καὶ μέθαις, μὴ κοίταις καὶ ἀσελγείαις, μὴ ἔριδι καὶ ζήλῳ. Ἀλλʼ ἐνδύσασθε τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, καὶ τῆς σαρκὸς πρόνοιαν μὴ ποιεῖσθε, εἰς ἐπιθυμίας. Τὸν δὲ ἀσθενοῦντα τῇ πίστει προσλαμβάνεσθε, μὴ εἰς διακρίσεις διαλογισμῶν. Ὃς μὲν πιστεύει φαγεῖν πάντα, ὁ δὲ ἀσθενῶν λάχανα ἐσθίει. Ὁ ἐσθίων τὸν μὴ ἐσθίοντα μὴ ἐξουθενείτω, καὶ ὁ μὴ ἐσθίων τὸν ἐσθίοντα μὴ κρινέτω ὁ θεὸς γὰρ αὐτὸν προσελάβετο. Σὺ τίς εἶ ὁ κρίνων ἀλλότριον οἰκέτην; Τῷ ἰδίῳ κυρίῳ στήκει ἢ πίπτει. Σταθήσεται δέ δυνατὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς στῆσαι αὐτόν. ΤΗΕ EPISTLE St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4 Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them. Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel. Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.

ΤΟ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 6:14-21 Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος Εὰν γὰρ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, ἀφήσει καὶ ὑμῖν ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, οὐδὲ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ἀφήσει τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν. Οταν δὲ νηστεύητε, μὴ γίνεσθε ὥσπερ οἱ ὑποκριταὶ σκυθρωποί ἀφανίζουσι γὰρ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ὅπως φανῶσι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύοντες ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἀπέχουσι τὸν μισθὸν αὐτῶν. σὺ δὲ νηστεύων ἄλειψαί σου τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν σου νίψαι,ὅπως μὴ φανῇς τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύων, ἀλλὰ τῷ πατρί σου τῷ ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ, καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ ἀποδώσει σοι ἐν τῷ φανερῷ. Μὴ θησαυρίζετε ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅπου σὴς καὶ βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται διορύσσουσι καὶ κλέπτουσι θησαυρίζετε δὲ ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐν οὐρανῷ, ὅπου οὔτε σὴς οὔτε βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται οὐ διορύσσουσιν οὐδὲ κλέπτουσιν ὅπου γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θησαυρὸς ὑμῶν, ἐκεῖ ἔσται καὶ ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν. THE HOLY GOSPEL Forgiveness Sunday The Gospel according to Matthew 6:14-21 The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Fasting / Νηστεία The fast for Great Lent begins tomorrow. 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 Please see fliers HOLY TRINITY Holy Trinity is in need of new or gently used IPODS and ITUNE gift cards for the residents' Music and Memory Program. Please contact Gina Metras, Activity Director, 508-852-1000 or gmetras@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 We don t change the message, the message changes us.

PRESANCTIFIED LITURGIES 2017 Wednesday, March 1 st Pre-sanctified Liturgy 6:00pm at St. Spyridon Cathedral, Worcester, MA. Father Paul Bebis from Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Fitchburg, MA will serve and speak. Pot Luck Lenten meal will follow. People are encouraged to bring something to share with others. 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. 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.

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 $1,411,000.00 $229,000.00 pledged $39,300.00 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.

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.

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

3rd Saturday of Souls Saturday, March 4, 2017 Orthros 8:45 Divine Liturgy 9:45 Please bring in the names of your deceased loved ones to be read in prayer by Fr. Dimitri. You may also bring in koliva to memorialize and honor your loved ones.

Transportation will be provided by Foxy Bus Tours, $25pp to cover costs. We will meet at the St. Spyridon parking lot at 5:00 pm. Please contact the office for more information, 508-791-7326.

St. Spyridon Seniors The St. Spyridon Senior Parishioners are offering 2 trips The Majestic Maine Cruise on Tuesday, June 27, 2017 and the Essex Valley Steam Train and Connecticut Riverboat on Friday, September 15, 2017. Cost: $95/pp each trip The Majestic Maine Cruise includes: Sightseeing Lunch at Cook s Lobster House on Bailey Island Freeport Shopping (L.L. Bean) Transportation on Luxury Silver Fox Coach Essex Valley Steamtrain and Ct Riverboat Lunch at Go Fish Restaurant Scenic Steam Train ride Connecticut River valley sightseeing Connecticut Riverboat cruise

What is Christian Stewardship?

2017 Stewardship Report * GOAL 2017 Week Total 163 pledges received $451 average/pledge 8 $73,516.00 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.