Archangel Michael Church Η Εκκλησία του Αρχαγγέλου Μιχαήλ 100 Fairway Drive, Port Washington, NY 11050 Phone: (516) 944-3180 Web Site: www.archangelmichaelchurch.org Clergy: Fr. John Lardas, Fr. Joshua Pappas, Fr. Dennis Strouzas April 2, 2017 Sunday of St Mary of Egypt Plagal 4 th Mode 8 th Morning Gospel What is Stewardship? We offer our time, talent, and treasure for a variety of reasons. Even our secular American society lifts up and praises the dignity of philanthropy. We re often good at giving to a need, but far less often do we sense the need to give - a major principle of the Gospel. Consider the following Orthodox reasons to give: 1. To express our love of God in a concrete way. 2. To help us remember that everything we have comes from God. 3. To express our gratitude to God. 4. To fight against prideful self-love, greed, and all their subtle manifestations (e.g. idolizing comfort, security, success, self-preservation). 5. To support the work of God through the life of the Church. 6. We give because Christ gives us everything. He steps down from royal dignity and joins us in the chaos and confusion of fallen life. How far does He go? All the way to the Cross. He lets go of self-will, pursuits, ambition, comfort, even life itself. If we examine these reasons and act on them honestly and conscientiously, then giving will come naturally to us. Stewardship - using our gifts, both material and otherwise, for God s glory rather than our own - will transform into an act of worship rather than being viewed as a mere obligation: Material justice cannot be accomplished by compulsion, for a change of heart won t follow. The only way to achieve true justice is to change people s hearts first, and then they ll joyfully share their wealth. (St John Chrysostom) God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7). With the proper inward stance before God, our offering of time, talent, and treasure will infuse us with new life new joy and peace through the gift of grace. God will bless our offering. He ll be pleased with our offering, as He was greatly pleased with the seemingly trivial offering of the poor widow: [Christ] sat at the treasury in the Temple and watched; many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said, Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For they contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on (Mark 12:42-44).
Άγιοι και Εορτές Τῇ αὐτῇ ἡµέρᾳ, Κυριακῇ πέµπτῃ τῶν Νηστειῶν, διετάχθηµεν µνήµην ποιεῖσθαι τῆς Ὁσίας Μητρὸς ἡµῶν Μαρίας τῆς Αἰγυπτίας. Tοῦ Ὁσίου Πατρὸς ἡµῶν Τίτου. Tῶν Ἁγίων Μαρτύρων καὶ αὐταδέλφων, Ἀµφιανοῦ καὶ Αἰδεσίου. Tῆς Ἁγίας Παρθενοµάρτυρος Θεοδώρας. Saints and Feasts On this day, the fifth Sunday of Lent, the Church has appointed for us to observe the memory of our devout Mother Mary of Egypt; our devout father Titus; the holy martyrs and brothers Amphianos and Aidesios; he holy virgin martyr Theodora. Α πολυτίκιον Α ναστα σιμον Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν κατεδέξω τριήµερον, ἵνα ἡµᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ Ἀνάστασις ἡµῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι. Α πολυτίκιον Τῆς Ὁσίας Ἐν σοὶ Μῆτερ ἀκριβῶς διεσώθη τὸ κατ' εἰκόνα λαβοῦσα γὰρ τὸν σταυρόν, ἠκολούθησας τῷ Χριστῷ, καὶ πράττουσα ἐδίδασκες ὑπερορᾶν µὲν σαρκὸς παρέρχεται γάρ, ἐπιµελεῖσθαι δὲ ψυχῆς, πράγµατος ἀθανάτου διὸ καὶ µετὰ Ἀγγέλων συναγάλλεται Ὁσία Μαρία τὸ πνεῦµά σου. Απολυτίκιον Των Ταξιαρχών Τῶν οὐρανίων στρατιῶν Ἀρχιστράτηγοι, δυσωποῦμεν ὑμᾶς ἡμεῖς οἱ ἀνάξιοι, ἵνα ταῖς ὑμῶν δεήσεσι, τειχίσητε ἡμᾶς, σκέπῃ τῶν πτερύγων, τῆς ἀΰλου ὑμῶν δόξης, φρουροῦντες ἡμᾶς προσπίπτοντας, ἐκτενῶς καὶ βοῶντας Ἐκ τῶν κινδύνων λυτρώσασθε ἡμᾶς, ὡς Ταξιάρχαι τῶν ἄνω Δυνάμεων. Κοντα κιον Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, µεσιτεία, πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀµετάθετε, µὴ παρίδῃς, ἁµαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡµῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιµώντων σε. Resurrectional Hymn (Pl. 4 th Mode) You came down from on high, O compassionate Lord, accepting for three days to be entombed to liberate us from the passions of the flesh. You, who are our Resurrection and our life, Glory to You O Lord. Hymn of the Saint (Pl. 4 th Mode) In you, O Mother, is preserved undistorted what was made in the image of God; for taking up the cross, you followed Christ and by example taught, that we should overlook the flesh, since it passes away, and instead look after the soul, since it is immortal. And therefore, O devout Mary, your spirit rejoices with the angels. Hymn of the Archangels Supreme Commanders of * the hosts of the Heavens * we, the unworthy, importune and beseech you * that by your supplications you encircle us * in the shelter of the wings * of your heavenly glory * guarding us who now fall down * and cry to you with fervor. * Deliver us from dangers of all kinds * as the great marshals of the heavenly hosts on high. Kontakion of the Feast (2 nd Mode) O Protection of Christians unshamable, mediation with the Creator immovable, we sinners beg you, do not despise the voices of our prayers, but anticipate, since you are good, and swiftly come unto our aid as we cry out to you with faith: Hurry to intercession, and hasten to supplication, O Theotokos who defend now and ever those who honor you.
Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14 Brethren, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Πρὸς Ἑβραίους Ἐπιστολῆς Παύλου 9:11-14 Ἀδελφοί, Χριστὸς παραγενόµενος Ἀρχιερεὺς τῶν µελλόντων ἀγαθῶν διὰ τῆς µείζονος καὶ τελειοτέρας σκηνῆς, οὐ χειροποιήτου, τοῦτ' ἔστιν οὐ ταύτης τῆς κτίσεως, οὐδὲ δι' αἵµα τος τράγων καὶ µόσχων, διὰ δὲ τοῦ ἰδίου αἵµατος εἰσῆλθεν ἐφάπαξ εἰς τὰ Αγια, αἰωνίαν λύτρωσιν εὑράµενος. Εἰ γὰρ τὸ αἷµα ταύρων καὶ τράγων καὶ σποδὸς δαµάλεως ῥαντίζουσα τοὺς κεκοινωµένους ἁγιάζει πρὸς τὴν τῆς σαρκὸς καθαρότητα, πόσῳ µᾶλλον τὸ αἷµα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὃς διὰ Πνεύµατος αἰωνίου ἑαυτὸν προσήνεγκεν ἄµωµον τῷ Θεῷ, καθαριεῖ τὴν συνείδησιν ὑµῶν ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργων εἰς τὸ λατρεύειν Θεῷ ζῶντι; Mark 10:32-45 At that time, Jesus 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 rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." 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 with 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 it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those 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 your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Kατὰ Μᾶρκον 10:32-45 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παραλαµβάνει ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς δώδεκα µαθητὰς αὐτοῦ ἤρξατο αὐτοῖς λέγειν τὰ µέλλοντα αὐτῷ συµβαίνειν, ὅτι Ἰδοὺ ἀναβαίνοµεν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυµα καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθήσεται τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσι καὶ γραµµατεῦσι, καὶ κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτὸν θανάτῳ καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν τοῖς ἔθνεσι, καὶ ἐµπαίξουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ µαστιγώσουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐµπτύσουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν αὐτὸν, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡµέρᾳ ἀναστήσεται. Καὶ προσπορεύονται αὐτῷ Ἰάκωβος καὶ Ἰωάννης υἱοὶ Ζεβεδαίου λέγοντες Διδάσκαλε, θέλοµεν ἵνα ὃ ἐὰν αἰτήσωµεν ποιήσῃς ἡµῖν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Τί θέλετε ποιῆσαί µε ὑµῖν; οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ Δὸς ἡµῖν ἵνα εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύµων σου καθίσωµεν ἐν τῇ δόξῃ σου. ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Οὐκ οἴδατε τί αἰτεῖσθε. δύνασθε πιεῖν τὸ ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ πίνω, καὶ τὸ βάπτισµα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζοµαι βαπτισθῆναι; οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ Δυνάµεθα. ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Τὸ µὲν ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ πίνω πίεσθε, καὶ τὸ βάπτισµα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζοµαι βαπτισθήσεσθε τὸ δὲ καθίσαι ἐκ δεξιῶν µου καὶ ἐξ εὐωνύµων οὐκ ἔστιν ἐµὸν δοῦναι, ἀλλ' οἷς ἡτοίµασται. καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ δέκα ἤρξαντο ἀγανακτεῖν περὶ Ἰακώβου καὶ Ἰωάννου. ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς προσκαλεσάµενος αὐτοὺς λέγει αὐτοῖς Οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ δοκοῦντες ἄρχειν τῶν ἐθνῶν κατακυριεύουσιν αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ µεγάλοι αὐτῶν κατεξουσιάζουσιν αὐτῶν. οὐχ οὕτω δὲ ἔσται ἐν ὑµῖν, ἀλλ' ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ γενέσθαι µέγας ἐν ὑµῖν, ἔσται ὑµῶν διάκονος, καὶ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ ὑµῶν γενέσθαι πρῶτος, ἔσται πάντων δοῦλος καὶ γὰρ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἦλθε διακονηθῆναι, ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν.
Ε Κυριακή των Νηστειών - Οσίας Μαρίας της Αιγυπτίας Η Οσία Μαρία η Αιγυπτία καταγόταν από την Αίγυπτο και έζησε τον 6 ον αιώνα, την εποχή του αυτοκράτορα Ιουστινιανού. Στα νεανικά της χρόνια ζούσε μέσα στην ακολασία και παρέσυρε πολλούς ανθρώπους στην ηθική καταστροφή. Όταν ήταν 12 χρονών ξέφυγε από την προσοχή των γονιών της και πήγε στην Αλεξάνδρεια, όπου επί 17 χρόνια ζούσε άσωτη ζωή. Μετά, από περιέργεια πήγε, με πολλούς άλλους προσκυνητές, στα Ιεροσόλυμα, για να παρεβρεθεί στην ύψωση του Τίμιου Σταυρού. Όταν θέλησε να μπει στο ναό της Ανάστασης, τη μέρα που υψωνόταν ο Τίμιος Σταυρός, ένοιωσε 3 έως 4 φορές κάποιαν αόρατη δύναμη μέσα της, που την εμπόδιζε να μπει, ενώ το πλήθος έμπαινε ανεμπόδιστα. Αφού πληγώθηκε η καρδιά της απ' αυτό, αποφάσισε ν' αλλάξει ζωή και να εξιλεώσει το Θεό με τη μετάνοια. Έτσι βάζοντας σαν εγγυήτριά της την Παναγία, υποσχέθηκε ότι εάν αφήσει να μπει κα να δει τον Σταυρό του Κυρίου, θα ήταν συνετή και φρόνιμη στο μέλλον και δεν θα μόλυνε πια το σώμα της με πονηρές επιθυμίες και ηδονές. Όταν γύρισε μετά στην εκκλησία, αυτή τη φορά μπόρεσε να μπει χωρίς καμιά δυσκολία. Τότε προσκύνησε το Τίμιο ξύλο και χωρίς να λησμονήσει την υπόσχεση που έδωσε, αναχώρησε την ίδια μέρα από τα Ιεροσόλυμα κι' αφού πέρασε τον Ιορδάνη μπήκε στα ενδότερα μέρη της ερήμου, όπου έζησε επί 47 χρόνια μια ζωή πολύ σκληρή και ασυνήθιστη, χωρίς να δει άνθρωπο, αλλά, έχοντας μοναδικό της θεατή τον Θεό, προσευχόταν μόνη σ' Αυτόν. Τόσο δε αγωνίστηκε, ώστε πέρασε την ανθρώπινη φύση και απόκτησε ζωή πάνω στη γη αγγελική και υπεράνθρωπη. Τόσο δε υψώθηκε δια μέσου της απάθειας, ώστε περπατούσε πάνω στα νερά του ποταμού, χωρίς να βυθίζεται. Όταν δε προσευχόταν, σηκωνόταν από τη γη ψηλά και στεκόταν μετέωρη στον αέρα. Περί το τέλος της ζωής της έτυχε να συναντήσει κάποιον ερημίτη, που λεγόταν Ζωσιμάς, που αφού του διηγήθηκε όλη της τη ζωή, τον παρακάλεσε να της φέρει τα άχραντα Μυστήρια για να κοινωνήσει. Εκείνος το έκανε την επομένη χρονιά, την Μεγάλη Πέμπτη. Αλλά τον άλλο χρόνο, ξαναγυρνώντας ο Ζωσιμάς την βρήκε νεκρή, ξαπλωμένη στη γη και κοντά της ένα σημείωμα, που έγραφε: «Αββά Ζωσιμά, Θάψον ώδε το σώμα της Αθλίας Μαρίας. Απέθανον την αυτήν ημέραν, καθ' ην εκοινώνησα των αχράντων Μυστηρίων. Εύχου υπέρ εμού». *Οι πληροφορίες είναι από: http://www.impantokratoros.gr
Worship Services Monday, April 3, 2017 ~ The Great Compline ~ 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, 2017 ~ The Great Compline ~ 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 5, 2017 ~ Pre-Sanctified Divine Liturgy ~ Chapel 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. ~ Followed by Lenten Discussion about The Transfiguration & Spiritual Vision Thursday, April 6, 2017~ The Great Compline ~ 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 7, 2017 ~ Pre-Sanctified Divine Liturgy ~ 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 8, 2017 ~ The Saturday of Lazarus ~ Challenge Liturgy Orthros ~ 8:30 a..m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. Memorials George Kanakaris ~ 40 days Panagiotis Mizeros ~ 1 year Argyro Pappous ~ 1 year Theodosia Zalantis ~ 1 year Peter Zalantis ~ 16 years Helen Zalantis ~ 17 years Everlasting be their memory. Αἰωνία ἡ μνήμη Upcoming Events The Archangel Michael Annual Blood Drive is coming on Tuesday, May 2nd from 2:30 pm 8:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Due to Snow cancellations. NY Blood Center is down 2400 pints of blood. Let's help them recoup their losses. Each blood donation can help save up to three lives because each donation is broken down into parts and given to three different people! Please give the gift of life. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Maryann or Marina Vlahos at 627-7303. Friday, April 14, 2017 ~ Good Friday Youth Retreat for Joy and GOYA starting @ 2:00 p.m. Friday, April 21, 2017~ GOYA Souvlaki Night @ 8:00 p.m. Sunday, May 7, 2017 ~ Youth Choir Fundraiser after the Divine Liturgy Friday, May 19, 2017 ~ Preschool Dinner Dance ~ more info to follow Sunday, May 21, 2017 ~ General Assembly ~ Fellowship Hall Saturday, June 3, 2017 @ 7:30 p.m. ~ GAIA Theater Group presents in the Fellowship Hall H Βασιλοποὑλα πἁει στὁν πὁλεμο
PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS Please join us for our monthly meeting tomorrow, Monday, April 3rd at 7:30pm in the library. EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN US! WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR IDEAS AND FEEDBACK Blessings in a Backpack: Let us not forget the families here in our hometown of Port Washington that count on these weekend backpacks to supplement the weekly hot breakfast and lunch programs that the schools offer. We are committed to filling 55 backpacks each weekend until April 7th. Our Greek Language Institute PTA is coordinating the sign-up genius, the collection of the needed foods and the filling and delivery of the backpacks. Please contact us for details if you would like to participate. Red Eggs needed! Please help us by dyeing an extra couple dozen eggs. You can deliver them to the church starting Holy Wednesday up until and no later than Good Friday morning, when we will be wrapping them in tulle in preparation for Anastasi. TSOUREKIA from Agia Skepi will be for sale ~ $15 for the 1.25lb braid / $20 for the 2lb boxed loaf on Palm Sunday and on Holy Wednesday. Tables will be set up outside the Fellowship Hall. GREEK ZUMBA will resume on Tuesdays again starting in May with morning as well as evening sesions. Please look out for details on class times and fees. The Clothing drive to benefit Dress for Success and Career Gear (professional attire for men and women) has begun and will run thru the end of May. Donations can be dropped off at the Church office Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm and on Sundays during coffee hour. Please place your items in the appropriately labeled bins. Donations should be clean and ready-to-wear. ALL SIZES ARE NEEDED AND WELCOMED! Please clean out your closets for a great cause!