Palm Sunday. Κυριακή των Βαΐων

Palm Sunday Κυριακή των Βαΐων Όρθρος Κυριακής στις 8:45 π.μ. και Θ. Λειτουργία στις 10:00 π.μ. Sunday Orthros at 8:45 a.m. and D. Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. Presiding Priest: Fr. Nicholas Dassouras 9 Απριλίου 2017 9 April 2017

Την σημερινή Κυριακή εορτάζουμε την λαμπράν καί ἔνδοξον πανήγυριν τῆς εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ Εἰσόδου τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ και την μνήμην του Αγίου Μάρτυρος Ευψυχίου του εν Καισαρεία και των Αγίων νεοφανών Οσιομαρτύρων Ραφαήλ, Νικολάου και Ειρήνης των εν Λέσβω. This Sunday we celebrate the glorious and triumphant Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem and the memory of the Holy Martyr Eupsihios of Caesarea and of the Holy New-Martyrs Raphael, Nicholas and Irene of Lesbos.

ΝΕΑ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ / NEWS OF THE DAY Παραδοσιακό γεύμα βακαλάου της Φιλοπτώχου, μετά την Θεία Λειτουργία. Traditional Vakalaos/Cod Palm Sunday Lunch from our Philoptohos, following the Divine Liturgy.

ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΩΝ ΜΕΓΑΛΗΣ ΕΒΔΟΜΑΔΟΣ & ΠΑΣΧΑ 2017 Σάββατο 8 Απριλίου: 8:00 π.μ. Όρθρος & Θ. Λειτουργία (Αγ. Λαζάρου) Κυριακή 9 Απριλίου: 8:30 π.μ. Όρθρος & Θ. Λειτουργία (των Βαΐων) 7:00 μ.μ. Όρθρος Μ. Δευτέρας (Ακολουθία Νυμφίου) Μ. Δευτέρα 10 Απριλίου: 7:00 μ.μ. - Όρθρος Μ. Τρίτης (Ακολουθία Νυμφίου) Μ. Τρίτη 11 Απριλίου: 9:00 π.μ. - Προηγιασμένη Θ. Λειτουργία 7:00 μ.μ. - Όρθρος Μ. Τετάρτης (Ακολουθία Νυμφίου) Χοροστατούντος του Θεοφιλεστάτου Επισκόπου Ζήλων κ. Σεβαστιανού Μ. Τετάρτη 12 Απριλίου: 6:00 μ.μ. Ιερόν Ευχέλαιον & Όρθρος Μ. Πέμπτης (Ακολουθία του Νιπτήρος) Μ. Πέμπτη 13 Απριλίου: 8:00 π.μ. Εσπερινός & Θ. Λειτουργία Μ. Βασιλείου 7:00 μ.μ. Όρθρος Μ. Παρασκευής (Ακολουθία των Παθών) Μ. Παρασκευή 14 Απριλίου: 9:00 π.μ. Μ. Ώραι της Μεγάλης Παρασκευής 5:00 μ.μ. Μέγας Εσπερινός Αποκαθηλώσεως 7:00 μ.μ. Όρθρος Μ. Σαββάτου (Επιτάφιος Θρήνος) Μ. Σάββατο 15 Απριλίου: 8:00 π.μ. Μ. Εσπερινός & Θ. Λειτουργία Μ. Βασιλείου (1 η Ανάσταση) 11:00 μ.μ. Ακολουθία προ της Αναστάσεως 12:00 μ. μ. Ακολουθία Αναστάσεως, Όρθρος & Θ. Λειτουργία του Πάσχα (Μεσάνυχτα) Κυριακή, Πάσχα 16 Απριλίου: 11:00 π.μ. Μ. Εσπερινός Αγάπης & Άγιον Φως

PROGRAM OF CHURCH SERVICES FOR HOLY WEEK AND EASTER OF 2017 Saturday, April 8 th : 8:00 a.m. Orthros & Divine Liturgy (St. Lazarus) Palm Sunday, April 9 th : 8:30 a.m. Orthros & Divine Liturgy 7:00 p.m. - Orthros for Holy Monday (Bridegroom Service) Holy Monday, April 10 th : 7:00 p.m. - Orthros for Holy Tuesday (Bridegroom Service) Holy Tuesday, April 11 th : 9:00 a.m. - Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 7:00 p.m. - Orthros for Holy Wednesday (B Bridegroom Service) presided by his Grace Bishop Sebastian of Zela Holy Wednesday, April 12 th : 6:00 p.m. - Holy Unction and Orthros for H. Thursday (Nipter Service) Holy Thursday, April 13 th : 8:00 a.m. - Vespers & Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great 7:00 p.m. - Orthros for Good Friday (Service of the Passion 12 Gospels) Good Friday, April 14 th : 9:00 a.m. Great & Royal Hours of Good Friday 5:00 p.m. Great Vespers of the Descending of Christ from the Cross 7:00 p.m. - Orthros for Holy Saturday (The Praises on the Tomb) Holy Saturday, April 15 th : 8:00 a.m. - Great Vespers & Divine Liturgy of St. Basil (1 st Resurrection) 11:00 p.m. - Pre-Resurrection Service 12:00 p.m. - Resurrection Service, Paschal Orthros & D. Liturgy (Midnight) Holy Pascha, April 16 th : 11:00 a.m. Great Vespers of Love & lighting of candles

Ἀπολυτίκιον της Εορτής, Ἦχος α' Τὴν κοινὴν Ἀνάστασιν, πρὸ τοῦ σοῦ Πάθους πιστούμενος, ἐκ νεκρῶν ἤγειρας τὸν Λάζαρον Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός ὅθεν καὶ ἡμεῖς ὡς οἱ Παῖδες, τὰ τῆς νίκης σύμβολα φέροντες, σοὶ τῷ Νικητῇ τοῦ θανάτου βοῶμεν Ὡσαννὰ ἐν τοῖς ὑψίστοις, εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος, ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου Ἕτερον Ἀπολυτίκιον της Εορτής,Ἦχος δ. Συνταφέντες σοι διὰ τοῦ Βαπτίσματος, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, τῆς ἀθανάτου ζωῆς ἠξιώθημεν τῇ Ἀναστάσει σου, καὶ ἀνυμνοῦντες κράζομεν Ὡσαννὰ ἐν τοῖς ὑψίστοις, εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος, ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου. Κοντάκιον,Ἦχος πλ. β' Τῷ θρόνῳ ἐν οὐρανῷ, τῷ πώλῳ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ἐποχούμενος Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, τῶν Ἀγγέλων τὴν αἴνεσιν, καὶ τῶν Παίδων ἀνύμνησιν προσεδέξω βοώντων σοι Εὐλογημένος εἶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος, τὸν Ἀδὰμ ἀνακαλέσασθαι.

Αpolytikion of the Feast, First Tone O Christ our God, before Your Passion, You raised Lazarus from the dead to confirm the common Resurrection for all. Therefore, we carry the symbols of victory as did the youths, and we cry out to You, the victor over death, "Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Other Αpolytikion of the Feast, Fourth Tone O Christ, Our God, we have been Buried with You through Baptism, and by Your Resurrection made worthy of Life immortal. Praising You, we cry out, "Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Kontakion, Tone Plagal Second In Heaven, He is seated upon a Throne and on earth He rides upon a foal. O Christ our God, accept the praise of the Angels and the hymn of the Children who cry out to You, "Blessed are You who comes to recall Adam.

Αποστολικόν Ανάγνωσμα: Εκ της προς Φιλιππησίους Eπιστολής του Αποστόλου Παύλου 4:4-9 Ἀδελφοί, χαίρετε ἐν κυρίῳ πάντοτε πάλιν ἐρῶ χαίρετε. Τὸ ἐπιεικὲς ὑμῶν γνωσθήτω πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις. ὁ κύριος ἐγγύς. Μηδὲν μεριμνᾶτε ἀλλ ἐν παντὶ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ δεήσει μετὰ εὐχαριστίας τὰ αἰτήματα ὑμῶν γνωριζέσθω πρὸς τὸν θεόν. Καὶ ἡ εἰρήνη τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ ὑπερέχουσα πάντα νοῦν φρουρήσει τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Τὸ λοιπόν ἀδελφοί ὅσα ἐστὶν ἀληθῆ ὅσα σεμνά ὅσα δίκαια ὅσα ἁγνά ὅσα προσφιλῆ ὅσα εὔφημα εἴ τις ἀρετὴ καὶ εἴ τις ἔπαινος ταῦτα λογίζεσθε ἃ καὶ ἐμάθετε καὶ παρελάβετε καὶ ἠκούσατε καὶ εἴδετε ἐν ἐμοί ταῦτα πράσσετε καὶ ὁ θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης ἔσται μεθ ὑμῶν.

The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:4-9 BRETHREN, rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.

Ευαγγελικόν Ανάγνωσμα: Eκ του κατά Ιωάννην 12:1-18 Πρὸ ἓξ ἡμερῶν τοῦ πάσχα ἦλθεν εἰς Βηθανίαν ὅπου ἦν Λάζαρος ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν Ἰησοῦς. Ἐποίησαν οὖν αὐτῷ δεῖπνον ἐκεῖ καὶ ἡ Μάρθα διηκόνει ὁ δὲ Λάζαρος εἷς ἦν ἐκ τῶν ἀνακειμένων σὺν αὐτῷ. Ἡ οὖν Μαριὰμ λαβοῦσα λίτραν μύρου νάρδου πιστικῆς πολυτίμου ἤλειψεν τοὺς πόδας τοῦ Ἰησοῦ καὶ ἐξέμαξεν ταῖς θριξὶν αὐτῆς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ ἡ δὲ οἰκία ἐπληρώθη ἐκ τῆς ὀσμῆς τοῦ μύρου. Λέγει δὲ Ἰούδας ὁ Ἰσκαριώτης εἷς τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ ὁ μέλλων αὐτὸν παραδιδόναι Διὰ τί τοῦτο τὸ μύρον οὐκ ἐπράθη τριακοσίων δηναρίων καὶ ἐδόθη πτωχοῖς; εἶπεν δὲ τοῦτο οὐχ ὅτι περὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ἔμελεν αὐτῷ ἀλλ ὅτι κλέπτης ἦν καὶ τὸ γλωσσόκομον ἔχων τὰ βαλλόμενα ἐβάσταζεν. Εἶπεν οὖν ὁ Ἰησοῦς Ἄφες αὐτήν ἵνα εἰς τὴν ἡμέραν τοῦ ἐνταφιασμοῦ μου τηρήσῃ αὐτό τοὺς πτωχοὺς γὰρ πάντοτε ἔχετε μεθ ἑαυτῶν ἐμὲ δὲ οὐ πάντοτε ἔχετε. Ἔγνω οὖν ὁ ὄχλος πολὺς ἐκ τῶν Ἰουδαίων ὅτι ἐκεῖ ἐστιν καὶ ἦλθον οὐ διὰ τὸν Ἰησοῦν μόνον ἀλλ ἵνα καὶ τὸν Λάζαρον ἴδωσιν ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν. Ἐβουλεύσαντο δὲ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς ἵνα καὶ τὸν Λάζαρον ἀποκτείνωσιν ὅτι πολλοὶ δι αὐτὸν ὑπῆγον τῶν Ἰουδαίων καὶ ἐπίστευον εἰς τὸν Ἰησοῦν. Τῇ ἐπαύριον ὁ ὄχλος πολὺς ὁ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν ἑορτήν ἀκούσαντες ὅτι ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς

Ἱεροσόλυμα ἔλαβον τὰ βαΐα τῶν φοινίκων καὶ ἐξῆλθον εἰς ὑπάντησιν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐκραύγαζον Ὡσαννά εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ Ἰσραήλ. Εὑρὼν δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὀνάριον ἐκάθισεν ἐπ αὐτό καθώς ἐστιν γεγραμμένον Μὴ φοβοῦ θυγάτηρ Σιών ἰδοὺ ὁ βασιλεύς σου ἔρχεται καθήμενος ἐπὶ πῶλον ὄνου. Ταῦτα οὐκ ἔγνωσαν αὐτοῦ οἱ μαθηταὶ τὸ πρῶτον ἀλλ ὅτε ἐδοξάσθη Ἰησοῦς τότε ἐμνήσθησαν ὅτι ταῦτα ἦν ἐπ αὐτῷ γεγραμμένα καὶ ταῦτα ἐποίησαν αὐτῷ. Ἐμαρτύρει οὖν ὁ ὄχλος ὁ ὢν μετ αὐτοῦ ὅτε τὸν Λάζαρον ἐφώνησεν ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου καὶ ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὑπήντησεν αὐτῷ ὁ ὄχλος ὅτι ἤκουσαν τοῦτο αὐτὸν πεποιηκέναι τὸ σημεῖον.

The Gospel Reading is from John 12: 1-8 Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazaros was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazaros was one of those at table with him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, "Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me." When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazaros, whom he had raised from the dead. So, the chief priests planned to put Lazaros also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet

him, crying, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it; as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!" His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.

Αποστολικό Ανάγνωσμα: Εκ της προς Φιλιππησίους επιστολής του Αποστόλου Παύλου 4:4-9 Αδελφοί μου, Να χαίρεστε πάντοτε με τη χαρά που δίνει η κοινωνία με τον Κύριο. Θα το πω και πάλι: να χαίρεστε. Σ όλους να δείχνετε την καλοσύνη σας. Ο Κύριος έρχεται σύντομα. Για τίποτε να μη σας πιάνει άγχος, αλλά σε κάθε περίσταση τα αιτήματά σας να τα απευθύνετε στο Θεό με προσευχή και δέηση, που θα συνοδεύονται από ευχαριστία. Και η ειρήνη του Θεού, που είναι ασύλληπτη στο ανθρώπινο μυαλό, θα διαφυλάξει τις καρδιές και τις σκέψεις σας κοντά στον Ιησού Χριστό. Τέλος, αδερφοί μου, ό,τι είναι αληθινό, σεμνό, δίκαιο, καθαρό, αξιαγάπητο, καλόφημο, ό,τι έχει σχέση με την αρετή και είναι άξιο επαίνου, αυτά να έχετε στο μυαλό σας. Αυτά που μάθατε, παραλάβατε κι ακούσατε από μένα, αυτά που είδατε σ εμένα, αυτά να κάνετε κι εσείς. Και ο Θεός που δίνει την ειρήνη θα είναι μαζί σας. Ευαγγελικό Ανάγνωσμα: Kατά Ιωάννην 12:1-18 Έξι μέρες πριν από το Πάσχα, ήρθε ο Ιησούς στη Βηθανία, όπου έμενε ο Λάζαρος, που είχε πεθάνει και ο Ιησούς τον ανέστησε από τους νεκρούς. Ετοίμασαν, λοιπόν, εκεί για χάρη του δείπνο, και η Μάρθα υπηρετούσε, ενώ ο Λάζαρος ήταν ένας απ αυτούς που παρακάθονταν μαζί με τον Ιησού στο δείπνο. Τότε η Μαρία πήρε μια φιάλη από το πιο ακριβό άρωμα της

νάρδου κι άλειψε τα πόδια του Ιησού. Έπειτα σκούπισε με τα μαλλιά της τα πόδια του, κι όλο το σπίτι γέμισε με την ευωδιά του μύρου. Λέει τότε ο Ιούδας ο Ισκαριώτης, ένας από τους μαθητές του, αυτός που σκόπευε να τον προδώσει: «Γιατί να μην πουληθεί αυτό το μύρο για τριακόσια αργυρά νομίσματα, και τα χρήματα να διανεμηθούν στους φτωχούς;» Αυτό το είπε όχι γιατί νοιαζόταν για τους φτωχούς, αλλά γιατί ήταν κλέφτης και, καθώς διαχειριζόταν το κοινό ταμείο, συχνά κρατούσε για τον εαυτό του από τα χρήματα που έβαζαν σ αυτό. Είπε τότε ο Ιησούς: «Άφησέ την ήσυχη αυτό που κάνει είναι για την ημέρα του ενταφιασμού μου. Οι φτωχοί πάντοτε θα υπάρχουν κοντά σας, εμένα όμως δε θα με έχετε πάντοτε».

The Week Called Holy Hard as it is to believe how Lent's flown... church, welcome to Holy Week. In these days, the Christian world stops and goes on pilgrimage, recalling, reliving and giving thanks for its very reasons for being -- the Cross, the Eucharist, the Paschal Mystery, the glory of Redemption... a new life born from things below -- betrayal, cruelty, suffering and death... the definitive, eternal proof that things above -- love, hope, sacrifice, God -- are even stronger than these. All other things fade away in these days... at least, they should. Because as things go, nothing can be allowed to overshadow or distract from this, and to think or act otherwise is to betray its power and import before a hungry, hurting world that needs its witnesses more in our own day than, quite possibly, it ever has.

Lazarus Saturday By Fr. Lev Gillet Strictly speaking, Lent ends on the Friday which follows the fifth Sunday of Lent: the period of forty days is then over. The time of the Passion lasts from the end of Lent until the Resurrection, anticipated on Holy Saturday. It therefore comprises the Saturday which follows the fifth Sunday of Lent, called Lazarus Saturday, and the first six days of Holy Week. Lazarus Saturday has a very special place in the liturgical calendar. It is not included in the forty days of Lenten penitence; it is not included in the harrowing days of Holy Week which are counted from the Monday to the Friday. Together with Palm Sunday, it forms a short and joyous prelude to the days of grief which follow. A topographical link unites it to Palm Sunday: Bethany is the place of Lazarus s resurrection, and it is also the point of departure for Jesus s entry into Jerusalem. Lazarus s resurrection, which this

Saturday commemorates, is an event that, as we shall see, carries a very deep meaning. It is mysteriously linked to the resurrection of Christ himself; in relation to that event it is like prophesy in action. One could say that Lazarus raised from the dead is shown to us, at the threshold of the Easter feasts, as the precursor of Jesus Christ triumphant over death, in the same way that, on the threshold of Epiphany, John when he baptized was the precursor of the Messiah who was about to be revealed. But, as well as its principal significance in relation to the resurrection of Christ, the raising of Lazarus has secondary aspects which will be useful to stop and meditate on. The epistle read at the liturgy (Heb. 12. 28 13. 8) has no direct bearing on the raising of Lazarus. All the same, one of the verses Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body could, by a spiritual exegesis, be applied to the compassion shown to Lazarus by Jesus. The epistle contains various moral precepts: to continue in brotherly love, to practice hospitality, to honour marriage, and to obey our superiors. Those who may be tempted to pass fleetingly over these ethical recommendations, judging them to be important, of course, but really rather elementary, should read with attention the three verses in which they are set, one at the beginning, another in the middle, and a third at the end: Our God is a consuming fire For he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. For the highest spiritual truths cannot be isolated from these very simple practical imperatives which form their daily currency. The gospel (John 11. 1-45) gives an account of the raising of Lazarus. The interpretation of this event given to us by the Church is contained in the chants for matins. Let us listen to them. When Thou didst wish.o my Saviour, to establish the truth of Thy glorious Resurrection, Thou didst deliver Lazarus from Hades. Here we find

expressed the principal meaning of the raising of Lazarus. It was, as the sacred poem says in language that is a little strange, but striking: anticipation, establishing the truth of the resurrection of Christ, a preliminary proof of Jesus s power over death. Through Lazarus, O Death, Christ has released thy captives...before Thy death, Thou hast shaken the power of death. The Church establishes a certain link between this victory of Christ s over death, and the triumphal entry into Jerusalem which will be celebrated the next day. O Death, where is thy victory? We offer Him the palms of triumphant victory Like the children, we carry tokens of victory and acclaim Thee, who art the conqueror of death. In the second place the raising of Lazarus announces the resurrection of the dead which is a consequence of Jesus s resurrection: O Christ, when Thou didst bring back Lazarus to life from amongst the dead, Thou didst establish the principle of universal resurrection Thou didst raise him, Thou the giver of life, thus confirming the resurrection of the world Through Thy friend as intermediary Thou didst predict that humanity was released from corruption. Lazarus Saturday is, in a way, the feast of all the dead. It gives us the opportunity to confirm and give precision to our faith in the resurrection. Our Lord, in correcting Martha s state of mind, gives us precious teaching about our own dead, for when he had said to her: Thy brother shall rise again, she had replied, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day, and Jesus said, I am the resurrection. Martha s faith was insufficient in two ways: she thought of her brother s resurrection in terms of the future, and only of the future, and then she could not conceive of this resurrection except in relation to some sort of general law. But Jesus indicates that the resurrection is a fact which is already actual, because he himself is (and does not bring about) resurrection and life. Our dead live through and in Christ. Their life is bound up with the personal presence of Jesus, and is manifested in it. If we seek to unite ourselves in spirit with someone who is dead that we love, let us not try to revive him in our imagination, but enter into contact with Jesus, and in Jesus we shall find him.

Thirdly, the resurrection of Lazarus is a wonderful illustration of Christological dogma. It shows us how, in the person of Jesus, human and divine nature are united without confusion: O Christ, by Thy presence at the tomb of Lazarus Thou hast confirmed our faith in Thy two natures For, on the one hand, in Jesus, man can give way to emotion and grieve for the loss of a friend: Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! On the other hand, God, in Jesus, can command death with authority: He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth Finally, the resurrection of Lazarus allows a sinner to hope that, even though he seems spiritually dead, he could come alive again So I pray to Thee, O Thou lover of mankind, to raise me to life, I, who through my passions am dead Sometimes this spiritual resurrection seems as impossible as that of Lazarus: Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days For all things are possible to Jesus the conversion of the most hardened sinner as much as the raising of the dead: Jesus said, Take ye away the stone This is what we shall learn if, on this Saturday, we go to Bethany, to Lazarus s tomb. We want to meet Jesus at Bethany and to start Holy Week with him, close to him. Jesus invites us to be there and waits for us. Martha goes to say, in secret, to her sister: The Master is come and calleth for thee. And Mary, as soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came unto him. The Master calls me. He wants me to stay with him, not to leave him throughout the days of his Passion. During these days he wants to reveal himself to me- who perhaps, already stink - newly and overwhelmingly. Master I come. Source: L An de Grâce du Seigneur, translated from the French by Deborah Cowen.

The Triumphal Entry Palm Sunday By Robert Arakaki Palm Sunday is a familiar event for many Christians but it is a profound multi-layered event that has much to teach us about our God and Savior Jesus Christ. In Matthew s Gospel we read a quote from the prophet Zechariah: Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. (Matthew 21:5; Zechariah 9:9, OSB) Early Christians viewed Jesus death and resurrection from the standpoint of Christus Victor (Christ the Conqueror). But all too often we forget or overlook that Jesus Christ is unlike worldly conquerors.

Unlike Roman emperors who entered triumphantly riding a chariot drawn by war horses, Jesus enters Jerusalem riding a donkey a sign of humility. Cyril of Jerusalem in his Catechetical Lectures used Zechariah 9:9 to drive home the point the uniqueness of Christ s kingship. Kings are many; of which do you speak, O Prophet? Give us a sign which other Kings have not. If you say, A king clad in purple, the dignity of the apparel has been anticipated. If you say, Guarded by spear-men, and sitting in a golden chariot, this also has been anticipated by others. Give us a sign peculiar to the King whose coming you announce. And the Prophet makes answer and says, Behold! Your King comes unto you, just, and having salvation: He is meek, and riding upon an ass and a young foal, not on a chariot. You have a unique sign of the King who came. Jesus alone of kings sat upon an unyoked foal, entering into Jerusalem with acclamations as a king. (Lecture 12.10) The Orthodox Matins Service for Palm Sunday has an interesting allegorical interpretation of Jesus riding the foal. O Thou who ridest on the cherubim and art praised by the seraphim, Thous hast sat, O gracious Lord, like David on a foal, and the children honored Thee with praise fitting for God; but the Jews blasphemed

unlawfully against Thee. Thy riding on a foal prefigured how the Gentiles, as yet untamed and uninstructed, were to pass from unbelief to faith. Glory be to Thee, O Christ, who alone art merciful and lovest mankind. (Lenten Triodion p. 492) Thus, there is in Jesus entry into Jerusalem a missionary message that Christ came to save not only the Jews but also the Gentiles. With Christ s entry into Jerusalem the Old Covenant of Moses reaches its conclusion and a New Covenant commences. The Old Israel is superseded by the New Israel: Let us also come today, all the new Israel, the Church of the Gentiles, and let us cry with the Prophet Zechariah; Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem; for behold, thy King comes unto thee.... (Lenten Triodion p. 489) In his Catechetical Lectures Cyril also sees Jesus entry into Jerusalem as fulfilling another prophecy in Zechariah 14:4, a favorite verse among Evangelicals who view it in light a literal 7 year Tribulation, the Antichrist, and the Second Coming.

Cyril of Jerusalem in his Catechetical Lecture notes: But He might perchance even sit upon a foal: give us rather a sign, where the King that enters shall stand. And give the sign not far from the city, that it may not be unknown to us: and give us the sign plain before our eyes, that even when in the city we may behold the place. And the Prophet again makes answer, saying: And His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives which is before Jerusalem on the east. Does any one standing within the city fail to behold the place? (Lecture 12.11) An Invitation Palm Sunday is an invitation to worship Jesus Christ. Just as the Jews and the city of Jerusalem were given the opportunity to receive Christ as King so too the opportunity is given to all today. We find in Canticle One Palm Sunday viewed from the Christus Victor motif: Out of the mouth of Thy servants, the innocent babes and sucklings, Thou hast received praise. Thou hast overthrown the adversary and by Thy Passion on the Cross Thou hast avenged Adam s fall of old; with the Tree Thou hast raised him up, and he sings to Thee, O Lord, a hymn of victory.

Η Φιλόπτωχος Αδελφότης συλλέγει δωρεές για τον στολισμό του Επιταφίου. Παρακαλούμε όλους να βοηθήσουν. The Philoptohos Society is collecting donations for the flower decorations of the Epitafios. We, kindly, ask everyone to help us.

The Services of the Bridegroom Sunday Evening through Tuesday Evening Introduction Beginning on the evening of Palm Sunday and continuing through the evening of Holy Tuesday, the Orthodox Church observes a special service known as the Service of the Bridegroom. Each evening service is the Matins or Orthros service of the following day (e.g. the service held on Sunday evening is the Orthros service for Holy Monday). Background The Orthros of each of these days is called the Service of the Bridegroom (Akolouthia tou Nimfiou). The name comes from the central figure in the well-known parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). The title Bridegroom suggests the intimacy of love. It is not without significance that the kingdom of God is compared to a bridal feast and a bridal chamber. The Christ of the Passion is the divine Bridegroom of the Church. The imagery connotes the final union of the Lover and the beloved. The title Bridegroom also suggests the Parousia. In the patristic tradition, the aforementioned parable is related to the Second Coming; and is associated with the need for spiritual vigilance and preparedness, by which we are enabled to keep the divine commandments and receive the blessings of the age to come. The troparion "Behold the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night ", which is sung at the beginning of the Orthros of Great Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, relates the worshiping community to that essential expectation: watching and waiting for the Lord, who will come again to judge the living and the dead.

SAINT GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 238 West Rocks Road Norwalk, CT 06851 Phone: 203-849-0611 Fax: 203-750-0138 www.stgeorgect.org Fr. Nicholas Dassouras, Presiding Priest Email: Fr.Nick@stgeorgect.org Office Hours: Monday Friday 9:30am - 5:30pm PARISH COUNCIL Mr. Jimmy Erotopoulos, President Mrs. Debbie Taiyanides, 1 st V. P. Ms. Penny Pampoukidis, 2 nd V. P. Mrs. Dina Shanazu, Secretary Mrs. Nicole Kazantzidis, Asst. Secr. Mr. Chris Papadopoulos, Treasurer Mr. Lefty Tsiropoulos, Asst. Treas. Mr. Nicholas Afentoulides Mrs. Melina Andronikidis Mr. John Aslanidis Mr. Evangelos Kutrubis Mr. Markos Manos Dr. Reese Morales Mr. Charlie Vado SUNDAY SCHOOL Presv. Penelope Dassouras, ALTAR BOYS Mr. Demetri Dassouras, CHOIR Dr. Timothy Bookas CANTOR Mr. George Kathrakis PHILOPTOCHOS Mrs. Sophia Stefanides YOUTH MINISTRIES Presv. Penelope Dassouras GREEK SCHOOL Mr. George Argyratos, Principal AHEPA Mr. Theologos Demetriadis CUSTODIAN Mr. Andreas Manos

Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord