ST. NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH April 2016 Volume 44 Issue 4 Philoptochos Annual Plaki Dinner Palm Sunday April 24, 2016 Following the Plaki Dinner $16 Spaghetti Dinner $7 (Dinners include Dessert and Beverages) Please make your reservations no later than Tues, April 19th THE CANON On the last Sunday of Great Lent, the gospel reading at the Liturgy tells us of Jesus and His disciples going up to Jerusalem. And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, He began to tell them what was to happen to Him, saying, Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and spit upon Him, and scourge Him, and kill Him; and after three days He will arise (Mk. 10:32-34) The first time that Jesus told the apostles that He was to suffer and die was immediately after Peter confessed him for the first time to be the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus then announced that the Messiah was the Suffering Servant, the One rejected and crucified in order to be raised and glorified by the Father. When Peter rebelled at his revelation, the Lord rebuked him with harsh words, even calling him Satan. Then, in the course of the festival of booths, Jesus took Peter, James and John to the mountain and was transfigured before them in glory, speaking with Moses and Elijah about the exodus that He was going to make in Jerusalem. Coming down from the mountain, He spoke again about His impending betrayal, suffering, death and resurrection of the third day. LENTEN MESSAGE When the disciples were going up to Jerusalem with Jesus, it is recorded that they were amazed and afraid. Their amazement, no n doubt was from the strange and marvelous character of what was happening. Their fear was certainly from Jesus predictions about His fate, soon to be fulfilled, for they know that the Lord s enemies were really seeking to kill Him. As they went their way, they continued to ask about their place in the kingdom. And their amazement and fear must have been more greatly magnified at the Master s response: But Jesus said to them, You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink, the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? And they said to Him, We are able. And Jesus said to them, The cup that I drink, you will drink. And the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at My right hand or at My left is not Mine to grant, but is for those fo whom it has be prepared. And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James ad John. And Jesus called them to Him and said to them, You know that hose who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be our servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mk. 10:38-45) (Continued on page 3)
11 April 2016 [Community É NEWS] Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 3 Veneration of the Holy Cross 10 17 G.O.Y.A Meeting 24 Palm Sunday 4 5 11 12 18 19 A.H.E.P.A. 6:30 PM Philoptochos A.H.E.P.A 6:30 PM 6 7 13 14 SENIORS 5:00 PM Parish Council HOLY WEEK AND EASTER (SEE SCHEDULE) 1 Salutations to the Theotokos 8 Salutations to the Theotokos 15 Akathist Hymn 20 21 22 23 Saturday of Lazarus Orthros 9:30 AM 10:15 AM 25 26 27 28 29 30 2 9 16 Sympathy: Our deepest sympathy to Honey Barbaresso upon the death of her husband Nicholas who fell asleep in the Lord on February 27, 2016. +May God rest is soul and grant peace and comfort to her and her family + Seniors: Our next Senior Gathering will be Thursday March 3 rd at 5:00 here at the church. PLEASE BRING A SIDE DISH TO SHARE WITH OUR MEAL. G.O.Y.A. MARK YOUR CALENDARS: -G.O.Y.A. meeting every third Sunday of the Month after church Up coming plans: Lenten Retreat: Friday April 22 at 6:00 p.m. Lenten talk, Making Prayer Rope and Palms. Mother s Day Breakfast (to be discussed) Χαιρετισμοί: 7:00 μ.μ. Μαρτίου 18, 25 Απριλίου 1, 8 Ακάθιστος Ήμνος 15 Easter Eggs: As you dye your Easter Eggs on Holy Thursday (Konkini Pempti), anyone wishing to do an extra 1 or 2 dozen of dyed red Easter Eggs and give them to the church for the Easter service (Needed by Holy Saturday Morning) will be greatly appreciated!!! Items needed for Holy Week and Easter Flowers : Stavroproskiniseos ( April 3 rd ) Flowers for Nymphios Icon (Palm Sunday, Holy Monday and Tuesday) Wreath for the Holy Cross (Holy Thursday) Candles for the Holy Cross (Holy Thursday) Rose Water (Holy Friday) Rose Petals (Holy Friday) Flowers for the Resurrection Banner Flowers for Resurrection Icon Flower for Resurrection Icon Thank You: The families of Demetria Christo would like to sincerely thank all those who generously gave to St Nicholas in her memory and who also helped with baking and serving for her Makaria and 40 day Memorial. God bless you all and especially the Ladies of Philoptochos who tirelessly serve the needs of our parish. Easter Bunny: The Easter Bunny will visit the Sunday School classrooms on Palm Sunday. Please give the office a call and lets us know if your child will be participating. Plaki Dinner Sunday, April 24th
3 (Continued from page 1) Make us worthy, O Lover of Mankind, Proceeds to go to Camp I.D.E.A.S. Sponsored by Philoptochos Light a Luminary In honor or memory of a Loved one. Donation $5 each (Please submit your donation and names by April 24th) Whatever happens during the forty days of Great Lent, whether we think, according to our limited understanding, that we have done well, or whether we learn once more the bitter but most blessed lesson of our incapability to accomplish even the smallest of our good intentions, the result if we are yet the least bit alive will be the same every year: We go up to Jerusalem with Jesus, like His very first disciples, amazed and afraid! We are filled with wonder and awe at what the Lord brings to pass for the sake of our salvation. If this be so (and may the Lord grant it!) the Lenten spring will not have shone forth upon us in vain. To behold the week of Your Passion, For we have finished the forty days of the fast. May we glorify Your mighty acts, Your unspeakable plan of salvation for our sake. O Lord, glory to You. We have completed the forty days which profit our souls. Now let us beg of the Lover of Mankind: Enable us to see the Holy Week of Your Passion, That we may glorify Your mighty work, Your wonderful plan of salvation for us, Singing with one heart and one voice: O Lord, glory to You! Greek Pontian Dance Tranon Horon Come for a night of music, food dancing and nonstop fun! Saturday, May 14, 2016 7:00PM-2:00AM Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Hall 2187 W. 14th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 440113 Featuring Dimitios Stefanidis Panagiotis Skoupas and Karizma Donation- Adults $25 21 and under $15 12 and under Free Reservations: Emmanuael Ermidis 216.323.4092 Ulie Tsirambidis 216.276.0530 Pre-Purchase Tickets with Pay Pal at emmanuelred@hotmail.com Τί είναι η εν Χριστώ ελπίς: Άς δούμε κατ αρχήν τί είναι η κατα Χριστόν ελπίδα. Ελπίζω στόν Χριστό σημαίνει ότι εμπιστεύομαι απόλυτα στήν αγαπιτική πρόνιά Του γία τήν ζωή μου. Παραδίδω στήν αγάπη τού Χριστού ολόκληρη τήν ζωή μου μέ εμπίστοσύνη στήν αγάπη Τού. «Η ελπίδα είναι νά πιστεύη κανείς χωρίς δισταγμό καί μέ όλη του τήν ψυχή, ότι οπωσδήποτε θά επιτύχη εκείνο πού ελπίζει,». Ο όσιος Ιωάννης τής Κλίμακος γράφει,: «Η ελπίδα είναι πλούτος ενός πλούτου πού δέν φαίνεται. Είναι ασφαλής απόκτηση θησαυρού πρίν από τήν απόκηστή του. Η ελπίδα είναιναι ανάπαυση καί ανακούφιση από τούς κόπους. Ειναι η θύρα τής αγάπης. Φονεύει τήν απόγνώση... Η ελπίδα γεννιέται από τήν γεύση καί τήν εμπειρία τών δώρων τού Κυρίου. Διότι αυτός πού δέν τά γεύθηκε, θά έχη δισταγμούς». Ο χρυσορρήμων άγιος Ιωάννης λέγει ότι «η ελπίδα στόν Θεό είναι αθάνατη, αμετάτρεπτη, αμετακίντη, αμετάβλήτη, δημιουργεί κάθε ασφάλεια καί κάνει ακαταμάχητο εκείνον πού τήν χτησίμοποιεί μέ ακρίβεια καί μέ τήν πρέπουσα διάθεση». «Η ελπίδα τότε πρό πάντων υπάρχει, όταν, ενώ τά φαινόμενα μάς οδηγούν σέ απόγνώση, αυτή μάς ετοιμαζει νά έχουμε θάρροςγιά τό μέλλον». Καί ο όσιος Σεραφείμ τού Σάρωγ λέγει: «Ελπίδα αληθινή έχει ο άνθρωπος πού γιά τήν ασγάπη τού Θεού δέν μεριμναάγιά τόν εαυτό του, πιστεύει ότι μεριμνά γι αυτόν ο Θεός... Ο ποιός έχει τήν αληθινή ελπίδα ζητά μόνο τήν βασιλεία τού Θεού. Ότι γιά τά απαραίτητα αγαθά τής πρόσκαιρής ζωής είναι σίγουρος πώς θά δοθούν».
9 ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΕΒΔΟΟΜΑ Holy Friday Evening Lamentations: Engomia Epitaphios A somber, sad atmosphere pervades this service, well attended by parishioners wearing dark clothing appropriate for mourning. Sorrowful funeral dirges, the Engomia are similar to those sung in ancient times. Young girls dressed in white stand at the Epitaphios, like the women who guarded Christ s tomb. During the evening, the congregation joins the choir in singing one of the most famous Orthodox hymns, Lamentations presented in three stanzas: I Zoe en tafo (Life in the Tomb), Axion esti Megalinin se ton Zoothotin (It is Meet t Magnify Thee, the Giver of Life) and E yenee pase imnon ti tafi sou. (All generations offer hymn at Your Tomb.) (Note: On Friday afternoon, the Crucified Lord was removed from the Cross and His body was wrapped in a white sheet and prepared for burial. The Epitaphios- which is a cloth depicting the Icon of the burial of Christ is then carried around the church in solemn procession (re-enacting His burial.) The Epitaphios is then placed in the tomb the Kouvouklion which is decorated with flowers. (Many times the Cloth and the tomb are referred together as the Epitaphios.) The procession with the Epitaphios through the church is the high point, a solemn but extraordinary spectacle. Some churches old the procession outside as the congregation follows with lit candles. The Kovouklion is brought to the entrance of the church and raised high above everyone s head as the parishioners file underneath to receive God s blessing. To symbolize the death of Christ, the candles are extinguished and rose water, representing tears, is sprinkled on the congregation. At the end of the service, people receive flowers from the Epitaphios and place them in their homes with the icons on their ikonstasia. Holy Saturday Morning The First Resurrection I Proti Anastasi The first service of Saturday morning is called the First Resurrection the Proti Anastasi. This morning service breaks this solemn spell. The Holy Altar and other parts of the church which had been draped in purple this past week are now adorned in white and gold clothes. This is the time that after His burial, our Lord first descended into Hades where He preached His message to the dead and those who believed in Him were resurrected and received eternal life and salvation. (1 Peter 3: 18-19) The heavy sorrow of Good Friday begins to lift when the Priest, wearing a bright robe, chants, Arise O God, and judge Thou the earth; for thou shall take all heathen to Thine inheritance. While throwing lemon leave throughout the church to joyfully proclaim Christ s glorious and triumphant entry into Hades and celebrating His triumph over death. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 24 ΑΠΡ ΝΥΜΦΙΟΣ 7:00 ΜΜ. ΔΕΥΤΕΡΑ 25 ΑΠΡ ΝΥΜΦΙΟΣ 7:00 Π.Μ. ΤΡΙΤΗ 26 ΑΠΡ ΝΥΜΦΙΟΣ 7:00 Μ.Μ. ΤΕΤΑΡΤH 27 ΑΠΡ ΕΥΧΕΛΑΙΟΝ 7:00 Μ.Μ. ΠΕΜΠΤΗ 28 ΑΠΡ ΘΕΙΑ ΚΟΙΝΟΝΙΑ 6:30-8:30 Π.Μ. ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙA 10:00 Π.Μ. ΔΩΔΕΚΑ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΑ 7:00 Μ.Μ. ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗ 29 ΑΠΡ ΘΑ ΣΤΟΛΙΣΟΜΕ ΤΌΝ ΕΠΙΤΑΦΙΟΝ 9:00 Π.Μ. ΑΠΟΚΑΘΙΛΩΣΙΣ 2:30 Π.Μ. ΕΝΓΩΜΙΑ 7:00 Μ.Μ. ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ 30 ΑΠΡ ΘΕΙΑ ΚΟΙΝΟΝΙΑ 6:30-8:30 Α.Μ. ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΊA 10:00 Α.Μ. ΑΝΑΣΤΑΣΙΣ 11:00 Μ:Μ ΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΠΑΣΧΑ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΑ Κ1 ΜΑΙΟΥ ΤΗΣ ΑΓΑΠΗΣ 11:00 Π.Μ.
5 FOR HOLY FRIDAY ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗ HOLY UNCTION SERVICE! GREAT & HOLY WEDNESDAY FOR THE REPOSE ΥΠΕΡ ΑΝΑΠΑΥΣΕΩΣ APRIL 27, 2016 St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church 2000 Tower Blvd., Lorain, OH. 7:00 p.m. Participating churches: St. Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Church St. George Serbian Orthodox Church SS. Cyril & Methodius Orthodox Church SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Our Holy Orthodox Church as always viewed the body and soul as inseparable, for that reason has stressed the necessity or preserving both in good health. That is why the Church provides the Sacrament of Holy Unction. Following Jesus exhortation to His disciples to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. If you have family members to be prayed for at this service, please give the names to your parish priest prior to this service. LET US COME TO JESUS FOR HEALING AND FORGIVINESS!
7 FOR HOLY WEDNESDAY ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΤΕΤΑΡΤΗ HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE Sunday, April 24 Bridegroom Service 7:00 pm Monday, April 25 Bridegroom Service 7:00 pm FOR GOOD HEALTH ΥΠΕΡ ΥΓΕΙΑΣ Tuesday, April 26 Bridegroom Service 7:00 pm Wednesday, April 27 Holy Unction 7:00 pm Thursday, April 28 Friday, April 29 Holy Communion 12 Gospels Decorate Epitaphios 6:30-8:30 am 10:00 am 7:00 pm 9:30 am Saturday, April 30 Un-nailing from the Cross Lamentations Holy Communion 2:30 pm 7:00 pm 6:30-8:30 am 10:00 am The Resurrection 11:00 pm Easter Sunday, May 1 The Agape Service 11:00 am G Y R O D R I V E T H R U FRIDAY, MAY 20TH SATURDAY, MAY 21 10 AM 9 PM 11 AM 9 PM BAKLAVA BAKING SATURDAY, MAY 7TH STARTING A T 9 AM SETUP THURSDAY, MA Y 19TH @ 5 PM EQUIPMENT, FILL SAUCE CUP S ETC.