Welcome to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Stamford, CT

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. Welcome to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Stamford, CT Your Pastoral Team Presiding Priest: Fr. Evan Evangelidis, Fr.Evan@annunciationofstamford.org Parish Council President (also in charge of Hall Rentals): Larry Karipides, Presdent@annunciationofstamford.org School Committee President: Vicky Seremetis, vickys@optonline.net Philoptochos President: Stacey Karipides, skaripides@optonline.net Greek School Director: Popi Venetsanos, Kladielias@yahoo.com Sunday School Director: Patty Bakes Servos, pattybakesservos@yahoo.com GOYA: Gina Christakos, gina2c@optonline.com HOPE & JOY: Stacey Karipides, skaripides@optonline.net P.T.A. Co Presidents: Nia Thomas, niaeli@aol.com Helen Vlahakis, helen.vlahakis@gmail.com BINGO: Jamie Philippopoulos, wg@windsor-grey.com THE GOOD NEWS: Kirsten Ziotas, kdeconti@hotmail.com Church Webpage: Paul Poulos, ppoulos@yahoo.com Church Bulletin: Fr. Evan Evangelidis, Fr.Evan@annunciationofstamford.org Parish Secretary: Kate Hopkins, Secretary@annunciationofstamford.org Saints of the Day August 27th, 2017 Holy Martyr Phanurius ( Φανούριος Μεγαλομάρτυς) Pimen the Great ( Ποιμήν ὁ Μέγας) Schedule of Liturgical Hours Summer Schedule June, July, August and Labor Day Weekend Sunday Orthros at 8:30 AM Sunday Divine Liturgy 9:30 AM 11:00 AM Weekday Divine Liturgy 9:30 AM 10:30 AM Paraclesis & Great Vespers 7 PM 8:30 PM Office Hours : Monday Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Tel. 203-322-2093 www.annunciationofstamford.org

Welcome to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church August 27th, 2017 What s Happening This Week! Mon 8/28 Tue 8/29 Wed 8/30 Thur 8/31 Fri 9/1 Sat 9/2 Sun 9/3 9 AM 4:30PM ZUMBA 7PM 8PM 9: AM 4:30 PM Orthros & Liturgy for Beheading of St. John the Baptist 9:00AM - 10:30AM 9 AM until 430 PM, 7PM 9:45 PM 9 AM 430 PM 9 AM 430 PM ZUMBA 8:30-9:30 AM 13th Sunday of Matthew Orthros & Divine Liturgy 8:30AM 11:00AM...K i d s K o r n e r... What do you do when somebody makes fun of you? What do you say? Usually we say something back that is hurtful too, don t we? In the epistle reading today, we hear about what Saint Paul did when people made fun of him and the other apostles. Remember, the apostles went everywhere, telling people about Christ. Lots of times people were mean to them, hating them, and even hurting them! But Saint Paul wrote, Being reviled (hated), we bless; being persecuted, we endure. So, when people hated them and made fun of them and put them down, what did Saint Paul and his helpers do? They blessed those enemies. They gave them the love of God. One of the saints of our Church, Saint Augustine, once said, Every sin is more injury to him who does, than to him who suffers it. That means that when somebody does something wrong to us, it hurts him even more than it hurts us! Saint Paul knew that too. Always remember, it s better to give back love than to give back something hurtful!

Ο ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Πρὸς Ἐφεσίους (6:10-17) THE EPISTLE St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians (6:10-17) Ἀδελφοί, ἐνδυναμοῦσθε ἐν κυρίῳ, καὶ ἐν τῷ κράτει τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ. Ἐνδύσασθε τὴν πανοπλίαν τοῦ θεοῦ, πρὸς τὸ δύνασθαι ὑμᾶς στῆναι πρὸς τὰς μεθοδείας τοῦ διαβόλου. Ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἡμῖν ἡ πάλη πρὸς αἷμα καὶ σάρκα, ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὰς ἀρχάς, πρὸς τὰς ἐξουσίας, πρὸς τοὺς κοσμοκράτορας τοῦ σκότους τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου, πρὸς τὰ πνευματικὰ τῆς πονηρίας ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις. Διὰ τοῦτο ἀναλάβετε τὴν πανοπλίαν τοῦ θεοῦ, ἵνα δυνηθῆτε ἀντιστῆναι ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ πονηρᾷ, καὶ ἅπαντα κατεργασάμενοι στῆναι. Στῆτε οὖν περιζωσάμενοι τὴν ὀσφὺν ὑμῶν ἐν ἀληθείᾳ, καὶ ἐνδυσάμενοι τὸν θώρακα τῆς δικαιοσύνης, καὶ ὑποδησάμενοι τοὺς πόδας ἐν ἑτοιμασίᾳ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου τῆς εἰρήνης ἐπὶ πᾶσιν ἀναλαβόντες τὸν θυρεὸν τῆς πίστεως, ἐν ᾧ δυνήσεσθε πάντα τὰ βέλη τοῦ πονηροῦ τὰ πεπυρωμένα σβέσαι. Καὶ τὴν περικεφαλαίαν τοῦ σωτηρίου δέξασθαι, καὶ τὴν μάχαιραν τοῦ πνεύματος, ὅ ἐστιν ῥῆμα θεοῦ Brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Epistle in Modern Greek Tέλος, αδελφοί μου, να ενδυναμώνεστεστον Kύριο, και στην κυριαρχική εξουσία τής δύναμής του ντυθείτε την πανοπλία τού Θεού, για να μπορέσετε να σταθείτε ενάντια στις μεθοδείες τού διαβόλου επειδή, η πάλη μας δεν είναι ενάντια σε αίμα και σάρκα, αλλά ενάντια στις αρχές, ενάντια στις εξουσίες, ενάντια στους κοσμοκράτορες του σκότους τούτου τού αιώνα, ενάντια στα πνεύματα της πονηρίας στα επουράνια. Γι αυτό, πάρτε στα χέρια σας την πανοπλία τού Θεού, για να μπορέσετε να αντισταθείτε κατά την πονηρή ημέρα, και αφού καταπολεμήσετε τα πάντα, να σταθείτε. Nα σταθείτε, λοιπόν, περιζωσμένοι τη μέση σας με αλήθεια, και ντυμένοι τον θώρακα της δικαιοσύνης, και έχοντας φορεμένα στα πόδια τα υποδήματα με την ετοιμασία τού ευαγγελίου τής ειρήνης πάνω δε απ όλα, πάρτε στα χέρια σας την ασπίδα τής πίστης, με την οποία θα μπορέσετε να σβήσετε όλα τα πυρωμένα βέλη τού πονηρού και πάρτε τήν περικεφαλαία τής σωτηρίας, και τη μάχαιρα του Πνεύματος, που είναι ο λόγος τού Θεού

ΤΟ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Ματθαῖον (19:16-26) THE GOSPEL 13th Sunday of Matthew (Matt.19:16-26) Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, νεανίσκος τις προσῆλθε τῷ Ἰησοῦ, γονυπετῶν αὐτόν, καὶ λέγων Διδάσκαλε ἀγαθέ, τί ἀγαθὸν ποιήσω ἵνα ἔχω ζωὴν αἰώνιον; O δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ τί με λέγεις ἀγαθόν; οὐδεὶς ἀγαθὸς εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ Θεός. εἰ δὲ θέλεις εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν ζωήν, τήρησον τὰς ἐντολάς. λέγει αὐτῷ ποίας; ὁ δὲ Ιησοῦς εἶπε τὸ οὐ φονεύσεις, οὐ μοιχεύσεις, οὐ κλέψεις, οὐ ψευδομαρτυρήσεις, τίμα τὸν πατέρα καὶ τὴν μητέρα, καὶ ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν. λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ νεανίσκος πάντα ταῦτα ἐφυλαξάμην ἐκ νεότητός μου τί ἔτι ὑστερῶ; ἔφη αὐτῷ ὁ Ιησοῦς εἰ θέλεις τέλειος εἶναι, ὕπαγε πώλησόν σου τὰ ὑπάρχοντα καὶ δὸς πτωχοῖς, καὶ ἕξεις θησαυρὸν ἐν οὐρανῷ, καὶ δεῦρο ἀκολούθει μοι. ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ νεανίσκος τὸν λόγον ἀπῆλθε λυπούμενος ἦν γὰρ ἔχων κτήματα πολλά. Ο δὲ Ιησοῦς εἶπε τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι δυσκόλως πλούσιος εἰσελεύσεται εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν. πάλιν δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν, εὐκοπώτερόν ἐστι κάμηλον διὰ τρυπήματος ῥαφίδος διελθεῖν ἢ πλούσιον εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰσελθεῖν. ἀκούσαντες δὲ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἐξεπλήσσοντο σφόδρα λέγοντες τίς ἄρα δύναται σωθῆναι; ἐμβλέψας δὲ ὁ Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς παρὰ ἀνθρώποις τοῦτο ἀδύνατόν ἐστι, παρὰ δὲ Θεῷ πάντα δυνατά ἐστι. At that time, a young man came up to Jesus, kneeling and saying, "Good Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?" And he said to him, "Why do you call me good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Gospel in Modern Greek Kαι ξάφνου, πλησιάζοντας κάποιος τού είπε: Δάσκαλε αγαθέ, τι καλό να πράξω για να έχω αιώνια ζωή; Kαι εκείνος τού είπε: Tι με λες αγαθό; Δεν υπάρχει κανένας αγαθός, παρά μονάχα ένας, ο Θεός. Aλλά, αν θέλεις να μπεις μέσα στη ζωή, φύλαξε τις εντολές. Tου λέει: Ποιες; Kαι ο Iησούς είπε: Tο «Mη φονεύσεις Mη μοιχεύσεις Mη κλέψεις Mη ψευδομαρτυρήσεις. Tίμα τον πατέρα σου και τη μητέρα» και: «Θα αγαπάς τον πλησίον σου σαν τον εαυτό σου». Tου λέει ο νεανίσκος: Όλα αυτά τα φύλαξα από τη νιότη μου τι μου λείπει ακόμα; Tου είπε ο Iησούς: Aν θέλεις να είσαι τέλειος, πήγαινε, πούλησε τα υπάρχοντά σου, και δώσ' τα στους φτωχούς και θάχεις θησαυρό στον ουρανό και έλα, ακολούθα με. Aκούγοντας δε ο νεανίσκος τον λόγο, αναχώρησε λυπούμενος επειδή, είχε πολλά κτήματα. Kαι ο Iησούς είπε στους μαθητές του: Σας διαβεβαιώνω ότι, δύσκολα ένας πλούσιος θα μπει μέσα στη βασιλεία των ουρανών. Kαι σας ξαναλέω: Eυκολότερο είναι να περάσει μία καμήλα από μία βελονότρυπα, παρά ένας πλούσιος να μπει μέσα στη βασιλεία τού Θεού. Kαι όταν το άκουσαν οι μαθητές του, εκπλήττονταν υπερβολικά, λέγοντας: Ποιος μπορεί, λοιπόν, να σωθεί; Kαι ο Iησούς, κοιτάζοντάς τους καλά, τους είπε: Για τους ανθρώπους αυτό είναι αδύνατον, για τον Θεό, όμως, όλα είναι δυνατά.

Memorials & Church Services Upcoming Memorials: September 10th Katina Perdikis (1 Year) September 17th Leonidis Zaharis (40 Days) Upcoming Services: August 29th, Beheading of the Prophet and Forerunner St. John The Baptist. Orthros at 9AM, Liturgy at 9:30AM Church Announcements ATTENTION PARENTS, Returning & New Greek School Students. Greek School registration forms are available on our website and have been mailed out. Please register on or before September 10th, 2017. Registration will also take place on the first three Sunday s of September after church. If you have any questions please email Kyria Popi at Kladielias@yahoo.com. Hospital Visitations. Privacy laws prevent hospitals and nursing homes from informing us about patients in their care. We no longer allowed to view the patient rosters. If you, a loved one or friend are in need of a pastoral visit, PLEASE CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE to tell us. Please contact us if you or someone you know is homebound and wishes to receive the Holy Sacraments of Anointing or Communion. VOLUNTEEERS are NEEDED for our 2017-2018 Sunday School Program,we are in need of three teachers and a substitute. If you love o teach or are interested in sharing your knowledge of our faith PLEASE CONTACT Mrs. Patty Bakes Servos. TAG SALE. Our Ladies Philoptochos Society is having its annual tag sale on September 16th, 9AM until 5PM. Please show your support by donating your lightly used clothing, furniture, toys, children s apparel and furnishings, jewelry, artwork, books, cutlery, and household items by September 14th. Saint of the Day The holy, glorious and right-victorious Great-martyr Phanourios (also Fanurius, Fanourios, Phanurius, Phanourius) the Newly Appeared of Rhodes, the Miracle-Worker, is commemorated by the Church on August 27. There is no literature available in the church prior to discovering his little church in Rhodes so not much is known about St. Phanourios's life other than the images of his martyrdom on his icon. The only literary evidence that supports a historical date, relating to this saint, is documented in the book Lives of the Saints, which testifies that the icon in Rhodes was discovered, around 1500 AD. Some sources support the opinion that the icon was discovered in Cyprus and not in Rhodes. A 2008 research paper on folklore[1] suggests that there are two manuscripts. The first is the mention of a miracle included in the Cod. Vat. Gr. 1190 (dating from 1452 and written in Crete) and was published in the Acta Sanctorum. The second manuscript originates from Heraklion, dating from 1600-1640 (Vassilakes- Mavrakakes 1980-81, p. 226). Both of these manuscripts describe a miracle that took place in Rhodes which caused the saint's fame to spread from Rhodes to Crete. In the Church we have the tradition of patron saints. St. Phanourios has become famous for assisting the faithful in revealing lost or hidden spiritual matters of the heart, objects, directing or revealing actions that should be taken, restoring health and similar situations. He is then honoured by the faithful through a symbolic cake, called the "Phanouropita" which can be brought to the church, at any time, for a blessing.

Laughter is the hand of God on the shoulder of a troubled world. Anonymous Things God won't ask on THAT day 1. God won't ask what kind of car you drove. He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation. 2. God won't ask the square footage of your house. He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home. 3. God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet. He'll ask how many you helped to clothe. 4. God won't ask what your highest salary was. He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it. 5. God won't ask what your job title was. He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability. 6. God won't ask how many friends you had. He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend. 7. God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived. He'll ask how you treated your neighbors. 8. God won't ask about the color of your skin. He'll ask about the content of your character. From Father s Desk One wintery afternoon I happened to walk past the federal courthouse when many people were leaving the building. All of them were smiling and from what I could tell many were dressed in their Sunday best. Some paused in the chilly weather to have their picture taken with friends. I soon discovered the source of their joy. These folks had just become US citizens and received the rights, security and privileges of citizenship in this great country of ours. People from many different countries now share one allegiance. From many other cultures, they now share one homeland. From many other backgrounds Thought of the week: Every day is joy for citizens of God s Kingdom. they came seeking a better life for themselves and their children. The Church and its family of believers offer a similar unity. We are an assembly of many, a community with one Lord, people who share hope for a better life now and the eternal life to come. Congratulations On behalf of the Church of the Annunciation we congratulate the newly elected officers of The Philoptochos Society: President; Rebecca Boutsikoudis, Vice President; Toula Varvitsiotis, Treasurer; Aliki Recanatini, Recording Secretary; Tina Scarpelli, Correspondence Secretary; Cathy Zamboulis, and Advisor; Stacey Karipides. Wishing you all of you a successful and great year! Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Daniel and Caroline Theodoridis on their wedding, August 26th, 2017! Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for Jesus through whom we now enjoy the many benefits of being a part of Your Kingdom, Amen.

Weekly Candles, Trays and Stewardship Collections Candles, week of 8/20/17 $ 1303.00 Candles - this time last year $ 683.00 Trays, week of 8/20/17 $ 399.00 Trays, this time last year $ 80.00 Stewardship, week of 8/20/17 $ 1330.00 Stewardship, this time last year $ 1250.00

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. - Prayer of St. Francis