Saints Constantine & Helen

Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Churc h of Washington, DC Sunday of the Blind Man May 21, 2017 Saints Constantine & Helen Χρόνια Πολλά! Many Years Everyone!

YMNOI THΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἀναστάσιμον./ Ἠχος πλ. αʹ. Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύματι, τὸν ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθέντα εἰς σωτηρίαν ἡμῶν, ἀνυμνήσωμεν πιστοὶ καὶ προσκυνήσωμεν, ὅτι ηὐδόκησε σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ, καὶ θάνατον ὑπομεῖναι, καὶ ἐγεῖραι τοὺς τεθνεῶτας, ἐν τῇ ἐνδόξῳ Ἀναστάσει αὐτοῦ. Τῶν Ἰσαποστόλων./Ἦχος πλ. δʹ. Τοῦ Σταυροῦ σου τὸν τύπον ἐν οὐρανῷ θεασάμενος, καὶ ὡς ὁ Παῦλος τὴν κλῆσιν οὐκ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων δεξάμενος, ὁ ἐν βασιλεῦσιν, Ἀπόστολός σου Κύριε, Βασιλεύουσαν πόλιν τῇ χειρί σου παρέθετο ἣν περίσῳζε διὰ παντὸς ἐν εἰρήνῃ, πρεσβείαις τῆς Θεοτόκου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε. Aπολυτίκιον Αγ. Κωνσταντίνου & Ελένης Τοῦ Σταυροῦ σου τὸν τύπον ἐν οὐρανῷ θεασάμενος, καὶ ὡς ὁ Παῦλος τὴν κλήσιν οὐκ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων δεξάμενος, ὁ ἐν βασιλεύσιν, Ἀπόστολός σου Κύριε, Βασιλεύουσαν πόλιν τὴ χειρί σου παρέθετο ἣν περίσωζε διὰ παντὸς ἐν εἰρήνῃ, πρεσβείαις τῆς Θεοτόκου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε. Κοντάκιον/Ἦχος πλ. δʹ. Εἰ καὶ ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες Ἀθάνατε, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ᾅδου καθεῖλες τὴν δύναμιν καὶ ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, γυναιξὶ Μυροφόροις φθεγξάμενος, Χαίρετε, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις εἰρήνην δωρούμενος, ὁ τοῖς πεσοῦσι παρέχων ἀνάστασιν. HYMNS OF THE DAY Resurrectional Apolytikion./Mode pl 1. Let us worship the Word who is unoriginate with the Father and the Spirit, and from a Virgin was born for our salvation, O believers, and let us sing His praise. For in His goodness He was pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, and to undergo death, and to raise up those who had died, by His glorious Resurrection. For the Equals-to-the-Apostles./Mode pl. 4. Your Apostle among the Rulers, St. Constantine, who once beheld in the sky the image of Your Cross, and who like Paul received his calling not from man, once entrusted the Ruling City into Your hand. We entreat You to restore it in peace forever, at the intercession of the Theotokos, O Lord who loves humanity. Apolytikion of Sts. Constantine & Helen Having seen the image of Thy Cross in Heaven, and like Paul, having received the call not from men, Thine apostle among kings entrusted the commonwealth to Thy hand, O Lord. Keep us always in peace, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, O only Friend of man. Kontakion/Mode pl.4. Though You went down into the tomb, O Immortal One, yet You brought down the dominion of Hades; and You rose as the victor, O Christ our God; and You called out "Rejoice" to the Myrrh-bearing women, and gave peace to Your Apostles, O Lord who to the fallen grant resurrection. 2

Ο ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 26:1, 12-20 3 Epistle Reader: Andrew Nixon Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, Ἀγρίππας πρὸς τὸν Παῦλον ἔφη Ἐπιτρέπεταί σοι περὶ σεαυτοῦ λέγειν. τότε ὁ Παῦλος ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα ἀπελογεῖτο Ἐν οἷς καὶ πορευόμενος εἰς τὴν Δαμασκὸν μετʼ ἐξουσίας καὶ ἐπιτροπῆς τῆς παρὰn τῶν ἀρχιερέων, ἡμέρας μέσης, κατὰ τὴν ὁδὸν εἶδον, βασιλεῦ, οὐρανόθεν ὑπὲρ τὴν λαμπρότητα τοῦ ἡλίου, περιλάμψαν με φῶς καὶ τοὺς σὺν ἐμοὶ πορευομένους. Πάντων δὲ καταπεσόντων ἡμῶν εἰς τὴν γῆν, ἤκουσα φωνὴν λαλοῦσαν πρός με καὶ λέγουσαν τῇ Ἑβραΐδι διαλέκτῳ, Σαούλ, Σαούλ, τί με διώκεις; Σκληρόν σοι πρὸς κέντρα λακτίζειν. Ἐγὼ δὲ εἶπον, Τίς εἶ, κύριε; Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν, Ἐγώ εἰμι Ἰησοῦς ὃν σὺ διώκεις. Ἀλλὰ ἀνάστηθι, καὶ στῆθι ἐπὶ τοὺς πόδας σου εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ ὤφθην σοι, προχειρίσασθαί σε ὑπηρέτην καὶ μάρτυρα ὧν τε εἶδες ὧν τε ὀφθήσομαί σοι, ἐξαιρούμενός σε ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ τῶν ἐθνῶν, εἰς οὓς ἐγὼ σε ἀποστέλλω, ἀνοῖξαι ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν, τοῦ ὑποστρέψαι ἀπὸ σκότους εἰς φῶς καὶ τῆς ἐξουσίας τοῦ Σατανᾶ ἐπὶ τὸν θεόν, τοῦ λαβεῖν αὐτοὺς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν, καὶ κλῆρον ἐν τοῖς ἡγιασμένοις πίστει τῇ εἰς ἐμέ. Ὅθεν, βασιλεῦ Ἀγρίππα, οὐκ ἐγενόμην ἀπειθὴς τῇ οὐρανίῳ ὀπτασίᾳ ἀλλὰ τοῖς ἐν Δαμασκῷ πρῶτον καὶn Ἱεροσολύμοις, εἰς πᾶσάν τε τὴν χώραν τῆς Ἰουδαίας, καὶ τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, ἀπαγγέλλων μετανοεῖν, καὶ ἐπιστρέφειν ἐπὶ τὸν θεόν, ἄξια τῆς μετανοίας ἔργα πράσσοντας. ΤΗΕ EPISTLE Acts of the Apostles 26:1, 12-20 IN THOSE DAYS, King Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: "I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining round me and those who journeyed with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.' And I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and bear witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles-to whom I send you to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' "Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and perform deeds worthy of their repentance." ΤΟ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ- Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 9:1-38 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παράγων εἶδεν ἄνθρωπον τυφλὸν ἐκ γενετῆς. Καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ λέγοντες ῥαββί, τίς ἥμαρτεν, οὗτος ἢ οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ, ἵνα τυφλὸς γεννηθῇ; ἀπεκρίθη Ιησοῦς οὔτε οὗτος ἥμαρτεν οὔτε οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ, ἀλλ ἵνα φανερωθῇ τὰ ἔργα τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ. ἐμὲ δεῖ ἐργάζεσθαι τὰ ἔργα τοῦ πέμψαντός με ἕως ἡμέρα ἐστίν ἔρχεται νὺξ ὅτε οὐδεὶς δύναται ἐργάζεσθαι. ὅταν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ᾦ, φῶς εἰμι τοῦ κόσμου. ταῦτα εἰπὼν ἔπτυσε χαμαὶ καὶ ἐποίησε πηλὸν ἐκ τοῦ πτύσματος, καὶ ἐπέχρισε τὸν πηλὸν ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς τοῦ τυφλοῦ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὕπαγε νίψαι εἰς τὴν κολυμβήθραν τοῦ Σιλωάμ, ὃ ἑρμηνεύεται ἀπεσταλμένος. ἀπῆλθεν οὖν καὶ ἐνίψατο, καὶ ἦλθε βλέπων. Οἱ οὖν γείτονες καὶ οἱ θεωροῦντες αὐτὸν τὸ πρότερον ὅτι τυφλὸς ἦν, ἔλεγον οὐχ οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ καθήμενος καὶ προσαιτῶν; ἄλλοι ἔλεγον ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ἄλλοι δὲ ὅτι ὅμοιος αὐτῷ ἐστιν. ἐκεῖνος ἔλεγεν ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι. ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ πῶς ἀνεῴχθησάν σου οἱ ὀφθαλμοί; ἀπεκρίθη ἐκεῖνος καὶ εἶπεν ἄνθρωπος λεγόμενος Ιησοῦς πηλὸν ἐποίησε καὶ ἐπέχρισέ μου τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς καὶ εἶπέ μοι ὕπαγε εἰς τὴν κολυμβήθραν τοῦ Σιλωὰμ καὶ νίψαι ἀπελθὼν δὲ καὶ νιψάμενος ἀνέβλεψα. εἶπον οὖν αὐτῷ ποῦ ἐστιν ἐκεῖνος; λέγει οὐκ οἶδα. Αγουσιν αὐτὸν πρὸς τοὺς Φαρισαίους, τόν ποτε τυφλόν. ἦν δὲ σάββατον ὅτε τὸν πηλὸν ἐποίησεν ὁ Ιησοῦς καὶ ἀνέῳξεν αὐτοῦ τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς. πάλιν οὖν ἠρώτων αὐτὸν καὶ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι πῶς ἀνέβλεψεν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς πηλὸν ἐπέθηκέ μου ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς, καὶ ἐνιψάμην, καὶ βλέπω. ἔλεγον οὖν ἐκ τῶν Φαρισαίων τινές οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὐκ ἔστι παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι τὸ σάββατον οὐ τηρεῖ. ἄλλοι ἔλεγον πῶς δύναται ἄνθρωπος ἁμαρτωλὸς τοιαῦτα σημεῖα ποιεῖν; καὶ σχίσμα ἦν ἐν αὐτοῖς. λέγουσι τῷ τυφλῷ πάλιν σὺ τί λέγεις περὶ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἤνοιξέ σου τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν ὅτι προφήτης ἐστίν. οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν οὖν οἱ Ιουδαῖοι περὶ αὐτοῦ ὅτι τυφλὸς ἦν καὶ ἀνέβλεψεν, ἕως ὅτου ἐφώνησαν τοὺς γονεῖς αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἀναβλέψαντος καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτοὺς λέγοντες οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς ὑμῶν, ὃν ὑμεῖς λέγετε ὅτι τυφλὸς ἐγεννήθη; πῶς οὖν ἄρτι βλέπει; ἀπεκρίθησαν δὲ αὐτοῖς οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ

καὶ εἶπον οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς ἡμῶν καὶ ὅτι τυφλὸς ἐγεννήθη πῶς δὲ νῦν βλέπει οὐκ οἴδαμεν, ἢ τίς ἤνοιξεν αὐτοῦ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἡμεῖς οὐκ οἴδαμεν αὐτὸς ἡλικίαν ἔχει, αὐτὸν ἐρωτήσατε, αὐτὸς περὶ ἑαυτοῦ λαλήσει. ταῦτα εἶπον οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἐφοβοῦντο τοὺς Ιουδαίους ἤδη γὰρ συνετέθειντο οἱ Ιουδαῖοι ἵνα, ἐάν τις αὐτὸν ὁμολογήσῃ Χριστόν, ἀποσυνάγωγος γένηται. διὰ τοῦτο οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ εἶπον ὅτι ἡλικίαν ἔχει, αὐτὸν ἐρωτήσατε. ἐφώνησαν οὖν ἐκ δευτέρου τὸν ἄνθρωπον ὃς ἦν τυφλός, καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ δὸς δόξαν τῷ Θεῷ ἡμεῖς οἴδαμεν ὅτι ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν. ἀπεκρίθη οὖν ἐκεῖνος καὶ εἶπεν εἰ ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν οὐκ οἶδα ἓν οἶδα, ὅτι τυφλὸς ὢν ἄρτι βλέπω. εἶπον δὲ αὐτῷ πάλιν τί ἐποίησέ σοι; πῶς ἤνοιξέ σου τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς; ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς εἶπον ὑμῖν ἤδη, καὶ οὐκ ἠκούσατε τί πάλιν θέλετε ἀκούειν; μὴ καὶ ὑμεῖς θέλετε αὐτοῦ μαθηταὶ γενέσθαι; ἐλοιδόρησαν αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπον σὺ εἶ μαθητὴς ἐκείνου ἡμεῖς δὲ τοῦ Μωϋσέως ἐσμὲν μαθηταί. ἡμεῖς οἴδαμεν ὅτι Μωϋσεῖ λελάληκεν ὁ Θεός τοῦτον δὲ οὐκ οἴδαμεν πόθεν ἐστίν. ἀπεκρίθη ὁ ἄνθρωπος καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ἐν γὰρ τούτῳ θαυμαστόν ἐστιν, ὅτι ὑμεῖς οὐκ οἴδατε πόθεν ἐστί, καὶ ἀνέῳξέ μου τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς. οἴδαμεν δὲ ὅτι ἁμαρτωλῶν ὁ Θεὸς οὐκ ἀκούει, ἀλλ ἐάν τις θεοσεβὴς ᾖ καὶ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ ποιῇ, τούτου ἀκούει. ἐκ τοῦ αἰῶνος οὐκ ἠκούσθη ὅτι ἤνοιξέ τις ὀφθαλμοὺς τυφλοῦ γεγεννημένου. εἰ μὴ ἦν οὗτος παρὰ Θεοῦ, οὐκ ἠδύνατο ποιεῖν οὐδέν.ἀπεκρίθησαν καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ ἐν ἁμαρτίαις σὺ ἐγεννήθης ὅλος, καὶ σὺ διδάσκεις ἡμᾶς; καὶ ἐξέβαλον αὐτὸν ἔξω. Ηκουσεν ὁ Ιησοῦς ὅτι ἐξέβαλον αὐτὸν ἔξω, καὶ εὑρὼν αὐτὸν εἶπεν αὐτῷ σὺ πιστεύεις εἰς τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ; ἀπεκρίθη ἐκεῖνος καὶ εἶπε καὶ τίς ἐστι, Κύριε, ἵνα πιστεύσω εἰς αὐτόν; εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Ιησοῦς καὶ ἑώρακας αὐτὸν καὶ ὁ λαλῶν μετὰ σοῦ ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν. ὁ δὲ ἔφη πιστεύω, Κύριε καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ. THE GOSPEL The Gospel according to John 9:1-38 At that time, as Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is he"; others said, "No, but he is like him." He said, "I am the man." They said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know." They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes and I washed, and I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself." His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess him to be Christ he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age, ask him." So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciples?" And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you." He said, "Lord, I believe": and he worshiped him. 4

40-DAYS BABY BLESSING For your convenience we are letting you know that you can make an appointment to church your baby on the 40th day after its birth, no matter what day that might be. There is no reason that you have to inconvenience the mom and the baby, waiting in the back of the Narthex until the priest is available on a Sunday ONLY. Make an appointment to come to church when it is convenient for you at a time that will not disrupt the baby's routine. ANY day you would like. 9am through 6pm by appointment. Bring the entire family or come just with your husband and the baby. Whatever you want. No waiting no inconvenience. More private time with the priest to talk about the future baptism if you wish. Call, 301-502-2850 24/7 ARTOKLASIA The Blessing of Five Loaves of Bread is a brief service of thanksgiving through which we express our gratitude for all the blessings of life. Oil, wine, wheat, and the loaves of bread which are used in the service, are viewed as the most basic elements necessary for life. The Blessing reminds us of the miracle of the multiplication of the bread and fish by which Christ fed the multitude. FUTURE MEMORIALS May 28, 2017 Despina & George Papalios May 28, 2017 George Stathopoulos PRAYER LIST If you would like us to remember you or your loved one in our prayers, please contact the church office. Aliyah, Kostas, Irene, Michael, Panagiota, Jennifer, Panayiotis, Vicky, Andrianna, Louis, Maria, Aspasia, Irene, Panagiota, Elias, Eleftheria, Ames, Demetra, Anastasia, Paraskevi, Constantinos, George, Stelios, Agapi and Charlotte. PRAYER FOR A SICK PERSON Heavenly Father, physician of our souls and bodies, who have sent Your only-begotten Son and our Lord Jesus Christ to heal every sickness and infirmity, visit and heal me Your servant from all physical and spiritual ailments through the grace of Your Christ. Grant me patience in this sickness, strength of body and spirit, and recovery of health. Lord, You have taught us through Your word to pray for each other that we may be healed. I pray that You heal me as Your servant and grant me the gift of complete health. For You are the source of healing and to You I give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. 5

SAINTS AND FEASTS St. Constantine the Great and St. Paisios the Great Christ is Risen! I am Constantine the Great I descended from heaven to reveal the glory which monks receive in heaven, and the closeness and boldness they have towards Christ I blame myself and I condemn myself, for not having been granted this great rank of the Monastics I am unable to bear the loss, which I experienced I do not have the same honour as Monastics, nor equal honour towards them. Full account of the vision of St. Constantine the Great by St. Paisios by Neon Eklogion (Νέον Εκλόγιον) translated by Full of Grace and Truth (as is the above statement): Therefore (says the righteous John), desiring to see myself as I was able, his special theoria, and to taste of divine grace, I went to him [St. Paisios], and before I knocked on the door of his cell, I heard him speaking with another man. I was reluctant to knock, so I waited outside. The little sound I made, however, was heard by the precious father, and he came outside. He saw me, and was filled with joy and embraced me, and I him. He took me into his cell, where I didn t see anyone else. I was puzzled, and I wondered: who was in here. The Elder asked me: Why are you looking here and there in bewilderment, as if you were looking at something strange? I replied: Indeed I see something strange, and I don t know what to think, for a short time ago, I heard the voice of another man who was speaking with you, and now I don t see anyone else. What should I think? I beseech your Holiness to reveal to me this strange mystery. The divine father told me: O John, God wishes to reveal to you a strange mystery today, and I must reveal to you the love which the Giver-of-Good-things has for us. He whom you heard speaking with me, my perfect friend, was Constantine the Great, the first King of the Christians, who descended from heaven, being sent by God, and told me: Blessed are you who have been made worthy of the monastic life, for truly unique is the godly blessing of the Savior towards you. I asked him: And who are you, my Lord, who are saying these things, and magnifying us Monks? He replied: I am Constantine the Great, and I descended from the heavens, that I might reveal to you the glory which Monks receive in the heavens, and the closeness and boldness which they have towards Christ. And I magnify you, O Paisios, for you guide them in this holy path of asceticism. I therefore blame and condemn myself, for not being granted this greatest rank of the Monastics, and I cannot bear the loss which I experienced. And again I said: Why, O wondrous one, do you judge yourself? Have you not received that eternal glory, and divine illumination? He replied to me: Yes, I have received them, but I do not have that boldness of the Monks, neither glory equal to theirs, for I saw the souls of some Monks who had been separated from the body, and flew as eagles, and with great daring rise to the heavens. And the rank of demons did not dare approach them at all. Then I saw that the gates of heaven were opened for them, and they entered in, and appeared before the heavenly King, standing with great boldness before the throne of God. For this reason, therefore, I am amazed by you Monks, and I bless you, and I condemn myself for not being made worthy of boldness life this. For I wish that I could have left my passing kingdom, and the royal robe and crown, and to become poor, and to wear sackcloth, and to accept all 6

SAINTS AND FEASTS those things that the monastic life seeks. Again I said to him: You say this well, O most-holy King, and you console us with these words. However, this must be the judgment of our God, and and we are unable to say anything different regarding divine righteousness. For the Righteous Judge grants to each according to his worth in righteousness, and rewards for the works of everyone, for your unique life did not have the same struggles as the life of Monks, for you had a wife to help you, and your children, and your servants, and different rewards and comforts. For the Monks, disdaining all of the joys of this present life, receive God, instead of the good things of the World. And bearing Him with joy, and special richess, and to be made pleasing to Him, they consider Him their food, and their great reward. And they are, according to the Apostle, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated. Therefore it is impossible, my King, for you to be equal to them. And at that point, therefore, you came, O my brother John, and [St. Constantine] straightaway ascended to the heavens. Therefore, now having learned this mystery that has occurred, how good must the pains of asceticism seem. Strengthen the brothers. Through the prayers of St. Constantine the Great, Equal to the Apostles, may the Lord have mercy on us and save us. Amen! Christ is Risen! Οι Άγιοι Κωνσταντίνος και Ελένη Βουλγαρική εικόνα των αγίων Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης Ο Μέγας Κωνσταντίνος γεννήθηκε το 274 μ.χ. Πατέρας του ήταν ο Κωνστάντιος ο Α ο Χλωρός και μητέρα του η Ελένη από το Δρέπανο της Βιθυνίας. Ο Κωνσταντίνος σε ηλικία 18 ετών έγινε στρατιωτικός και χάρη στην ανδρεία του, προάχθηκε γρήγορα στα ανώτατα αξιώματα του στρατού. Ο Κύριος θέλοντας να τον βοηθήσει στον αγώνα του κατά του Μαξεντίου και του Λικίνιου, στη συνέχεια σχημάτισε στον ουρανό το σημείο του Σταυρού με την επιγραφή «Έν τούτω Νίκα», προσφέροντάς του ένα ισχυρότατο όπλο για να κατατροπώσει τους εχθρούς του. Με το χριστιανικό σταυροειδές λάβαρο με το ελληνικό μονόγραμμα «Έν τούτω νίκα», τελικά νίκησε τα στρατεύματα του Μαξεντίου και έπειτα του Λικινίου. Επίσης, ήταν ο πρώτος αυτοκράτορας που ευνόησε την Εκκλησία, μετά από τρεις αιώνες ανελέητου διωγμού. Μετέφερε την πρωτεύουσα του κράτους του στο αρχαίο βυζάντιο, και εκεί έκτισε την βασίλισσα των πόλεων, την Κωνσταντινούπολη. Λίγο πριν πεθάνει, ο Κωνσταντίνος αξιώθηκε και του Αγίου Βαπτίσματος, και αμέσως μετά είπε: «Νυν αληθει λογω μακαριον οιδ εμαυτον, νυν της αθανατου ζωης πεφαναι αξιον, νυν του θειου μετειληφεναι φωτος πεπιστευκα». Τώρα, δηλαδή, σύμφωνα με το λόγο της αληθείας, ξέρω ότι είμαι μακάριος, τώρα έχω γίνει άξιος της αθανάτου ζωής, τώρα έχω πιστέψει πως έλαβα το θείο φως. Εκοιμήθη σε ηλικία 63 ετών, την 21 Μαΐου 327. Η Ιστορία ονόμασε τον Κωνσταντίνο Μέγα και η Εκκλησία τον ανεκήρυξε Άγιο και Ισαπόστολο. Ο Κωνσταντίνος ενδιαφέρθηκε πολύ και για τα ιερά σεβάσματα των χριστιανών, για το λόγο αυτό απέστειλε στα Ιεροσόλυμα την μητέρα του, για να βρει τον Τίμιο Σταυρό. Μετά την εύρεσή του, η Αγία Ελένη, αφού διχοτόμησε τις κεραίες του δημιούργησε δύο Σταυρούς εκ των οποίων τον ένα μετέφερε στην Κωνσταντινούπολη. Η Αγία Ελένη ήταν αυτή η οποία έδωσε στον Μ. Κωνσταντίνο την πρέπουσα διαπαιδαγώγηση. Άλλωστε, και ο ίδιος την τίμησε, όταν στην μεγάλη πλατεία της Κωνσταντινούπολης έκτισε δύο στήλες, μία δική του και μία της Αγίας Ελένης, που έφερε την επιγραφή: «Είς Άγιος είς Κύριος Ιησούς Χριστός, είς δόξαν Θεού Πατρός, Αμήν». Η Αγία Ελένη βοήθησε να χτιστούν οι πρώτοι μεγάλοι ιεροί ναοί της Χριστιανοσύνης. Εκοιμήθη ειρηνικά το 327 μ.χ. σε ηλικία 83 ετών. Πηγή: ΙΧΘΥΣ 7

Constantine the Great as Saint, Bishop and King St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite The famed Dositheos, on p. 80 of his Dodekavivlos, writes how although during the time of Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644) it was requested that the memory of Constantine the Great should be celebrated as a Saint, immediately he said yes. Accordingly, in the area of Calabria in Italy, there appears to be an old church of the Saint. Yet, Constantine the Great always was a Saint and Equal to the Apostles, for so he was called in the Minutes of the Ecumenical Synods, as well as in the common and traditional glory of the Church. Besides, he was anointed Priest and King, through the ministry of his rule, and through the noetic chrism and myrrh of the Priesthood. Thus the Church chants in his doxastikon the following verse: "Receiving the knowledge of the Spirit, you were anointed with oil as Priest and King, supporting the Orthodoxy of the Church of God." Therefore it is written in the Apoca- lypse: "And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth" (Rev. 5:10). Assuredly not everyone who has been baptized in Him is a Priest, as in the nonsense of the Lutherans and Calvinists, but the Orthodox kings are guardians of ecclesiastical affairs and take care of it. The most Christian Constantine was preeminently a King and Bish- op, and one can see in Dositheos, on p. 212 of his Dodeka- vivlos, where it is proved that Constantine the Great, although an Orthodox king, was a Bishop in twentysix ways. On the occa- sion of his entertaining a company of Bishops, the blessed one kindly said to them: "I also am a Bishop. You are Bishops of the inner man, established on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets. I am a Bishop of the outer and inner man. Of the outer because I take care of their education and correct way of life. It is not without purpose that I wear a sword. Of the inner, because I am a co-worker with you of the certification and increase of the Orthodox faith, also established on the same foundation of the Apostles and Prophets" (P. 217 of the Dodekavivlos). Dositheos says at this point that Constantine the Great established a law, not to condemn hereafter anyone to death by crucifixion, so that the instrument of salvation and life should not become once again an instrument of condemnation and death. Thus all kings who call themselves Christians, have kept and keep this law, and do not condemn anyone to death by crucifixion. From The Synaxaristes of the Twelve Months of the Year - May 21. Translated by John Sanidopoulos. SAINTS AND FEASTS 8

GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA 8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106 Protocol 55/17 May 21, 2017 AHEPA Sunday To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Christ is Risen! Χριστός Ἀνέστη! The joy and light of Pascha continue to fill our hearts as we proclaim to the world that our Lord is Risen, our hope is renewed, and the victory of life is ours through the grace of God. This glorious transfiguration from death to life that we celebrate is affirmed in the commemoration of this Sunday after Pascha as the Sunday of the Blind Man. Today we read from the Gospel of John about a man who was blind from birth. In His great compassion, Christ healed the man revealing the power of the grace of God and leading to our Lord s acclamation, I am the light of the world. (John 8:12) This miraculous event guides us to affirm the calling of Christ to be the light of the world, to have compassion for the needs of others and to give honor and glory to God for the marvelous works that are done in His name. For almost a century this has been the focus of the members of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association. Today we honor this legacy of compassion and service by observing AHEPA Sunday and offering our gratitude to the members of the AHEPA family. Throughout our Holy Archdiocese, these faithful servants of God are leaders in their parishes, in the institutions and organizations of the Church, and in using the strength and mission of AHEPA to meet vital needs around the world. Through social services, educational programs and scholarships, medical and philanthropic services, and advocacy, the members of AHEPA bring light to many who need hope, compassion to many in need, and give honor and glory to God through their witness of faith in Him. I ask all of our parishes to observe this day as AHEPA Sunday and to recognize the members of AHEPA. May we continue to offer our prayers and support for the faithful service of AHEPA, and in the light of the Resurrection, may we serve in compassion, rejoice in the power of God s abundant grace, and give Him honor and glory for the great works that are done. With paternal love in our Risen Lord, DEMETRIOS Archbishop of America 9

ARTIFACTS AVAILABLE TO DONATE Who will Donate our Icon Screen? Who Will Donate our Sound System? Who Will Donate our Dome? 10

YOUTH MINISTRY Bullied in 5th Grade Prone to Drug Abuse by High School Posted by: Jim Liebelt *The following is excerpted from an online article posted on BusinessInsider. A child bullied in fifth grade is more likely to show signs of depression in seventh grade, and abuse substances like alcohol, marijuana or tobacco in 10th grade, researchers say. Their study of more than 4,000 kids in Los Angeles, Houston and Birmingham, Ala., suggests a dangerous trajectory between not -uncommon childhood abuse and worrisome behavior in high school. Our study suggests that it s important to take peer victimization seriously, said study co-author Valerie Earnshaw. She s an assistant professor in human development and family studies at the University of Delaware. There s still sometimes this idea that peer victimization and bullying are a normal part of adolescence and that lots of kids will experience it, so it s fine. But, this study adds to a growing body of evidence that peer victimization and bullying are not fine, Earnshaw said. To explore the associations between bullying and its negative effects over time, the research team collected data between 2004 and 2011 from almost 4,300 children in the three cities. Participants were split evenly between boys and girls, and the results indicated that the effects of bullying were the same, regardless of gender. Even though the researchers hypothesized that peer victimization would be associated with substance use over time, Earnshaw wasn t prepared for the results. She said she was surprised to learn that the effects of peer victimization in fifth grade were so lasting that it was associated with substance use in 10th grade. Other experts were less surprised, however. This victimization leads to youth feeling not as hopeful about their lives, youth feeling sadder, and youth feeling they are not as worthwhile, said Andrea Romero, director of the Frances McClelland Institute for Children, Youth, and Families in Tucson, Ariz. The study doesn t directly show cause and effect. Still, those negative emotions may be associated with future risky behaviors like substance use, Romero said. Children who stand out because of obesity, sexual orientation or chronic health conditions are even more likely to be bullied, leading to depression and substance use, according to the study. For youth living with stigmatized characteristics, some of them recognize that if they are being bullied for their race or because they are living with a chronic illness, this isn t something they re going to grow out of, Earnshaw said. Maybe they are seeing this as something they will continue to experience throughout their lives and that may be part of why it s harmful. It s cutting at an aspect of their identity in a way that more general peer victimization does not, she added. The study was published online May 8 in the journal Pediatrics. Source: HealthDay: https:// consumer.healthday.com/kids-health-information-23/bullying-health-news-718/bullied-in-5th-gradeprone-to-drug-abuse-by-high-school-722413.html 15

High School Graduates 2017 Vasilia Adams Colonel Zadok A. Magruder High School New York University Tisch School of Arts Theatre Zack Ferentinos St. John s College High School Mount St. Mary s University Marianthi Georgakopoulos Winston Churchill High School Marist College Fashion Merchandising Austin Kokkinakis Montgomery Blair High School University of South Carolina Business School Business Administration 16

High School Graduates 2017 Victoria Koutras River Hill High School University of South Carolina Nursing Alexander Mantzouranis Rockville High School Montgomery College Building Construction/ Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Andrew Nixon Northwest High School University of Maryland, College Park Scholars Program Biology Dimitrios Sourvinos Albert Einstein High School Montgomery College Kinesiology 17

High School Graduates 2017 Philippos Sourvinos Albert Einstein High School University of Maryland, College Park Honors College Environmental Science & Theatre Stefanos Stathes Quince Orchard High School Pennsylvania State University Construction Management Alexandros Tzamaras Sherwood High School University of Maryland, College Park A. James Clark School of Engineering Aerospace Engineering 18

College Graduates 2017 Peter Koutras University of Maryland Honors College School of Computer, Mathematical & Natural Sciences Bachelor of Science Computer Science Minor Philosophy Eleni Mayes James Madison University Bachelor of Science Kinesiology Constantine Mihailidis University of Maryland Bachelor of Arts Studio Art & Digital Media 19

College Graduates 2017 Vasiliki Mihailidis American University Master of Arts International Peace & Conflict Resolution Master of Arts Teaching Secondary Education Demetra Eleni Tzamaras University of California Berkeley Master of Science Engineering Energy, Civil Infrastructure & Climate Program 20

YOUTH MINISTRY GOYA BOYS- A- BASKETBALL TEAM 21

WEBSITES OF THE WEEK Announcing a new exhibit at the Oasis Gallery!! I'm happy to share that I will be participating in a show at The Oasis Gallery in Bethesda, Maryland. Along with fellow artist Estelle Zorman, I will be exhibiting a collection of works from May 15 - July 7, 2017. The gallery is located at 7125 Democracy Blvd. Bethesda, MD 20817. It is in the rear of the Macy's Home Store, on the second level. I hope to see you there throughout the exhibit. Have you visited my new website? I recently launched a new website that serves as a destination for glimpses at my completed works, news about upcoming exhibits - and an artist's blog! - Pauline http://www.paulinerakis.com/ ****************************************************************** Miraculous Icon of St. Constantine and St. Helen in Plovdiv https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=jrieroq84yy 22

Directory of Ministries Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Churc h of Washington, DC Office Address: 701 Norwood Road, Silver Spring, MD 20905 Phone: (240) 389-1366 Email: admin@schgocdc.org Website: www.schgoc.org Reverend Father Michael J. Eaccarino, Presiding Priest Cell Phone: (301) 502-2850 & Email: fathermichael@schgocdc.org ALTAR BOY MINISTRY Liaisons Spyros & Eleni Loukas loukasspy @yahoo.com (240) 205-2882 CHOIR MINISTRY Dr. Theodore Papaloizos (Choir Director) Ted @greek123.com (301) 681-5648 CATECHETICAL MINISTRY Liaisons Voula Vithoulkas voulavithoulkas @gmail.com (240) 432-3146 & Tara Kavadias tarakavadias @yahoo.com (240) 476-6715 STEWARSHIP MINISTRY Liaison Sotirios Nasios Snasios @yahoo.com (240) 483-7022 YOUTH MINISTRY Sr. High School GOYA Liaison Alexandra Stathes youthministry @schgocdc.org (301) 873-5252 ***************** Jr. High School GOYA Liaison Georgia Ferentinos meyaliyioryia @yahoo.com (301) 613-6260 ***************** HOPE/JOY Liaison Irene Murshed murshed@msn.com (240) 425-3068 & Georgia Nasios georgianasios @gmail.com (301) 646-7897 GREEK LANGUAGE MINISTRY Liaison Lena Petropoulou & (Director) Ifigenia Kambanis Agkambanis @msn.com (240) 478-8240 GREEK DANCE MINISTRY Liaison Kristina-Maria Paspalis kmpaspalis @gmail.com (240) 413-4800 PHILOPTOCHOS Paraskevoula Hays (President) Voulaphilo @gmail.com 301-530-0209 YOUNG AT HEART Liaisons Helen Thornberg bwt602r @aol.com 301-949-1788 & Christina Clifton Christina.Clifton @verizon.net 301-530-5478 OUTREACH & EVANGELISM MINISTRY Liaison Barbara Frangou barbarafrangou@ gmail.com 240-994-0210 24