Hymns Resurrection Hymn Χρıστòς aνέστη έκ νεκρων, θανάτω θάνατον πατήσας, καì τοĩς έν τοĩς μνήμασı, ζωήν χαρισάμενος. Christós anésti ek nekrón, thanáto thánaton patísas, ke tis en tis mnímasi zoin harisámenos. Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death, and to those in the tombs He has granted Life. Hypakoe Προλαβοῦσαι τὸν ὄρθρον αἱ περὶ Μαριάμ, καὶ εὑροῦσαι τὸν λίθον ἀποκυλισθέντα τοῦ μνήματος, ἤκουον ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου Τὸν ἐν φωτὶ ἀϊδίῳ ὑπάρχοντα, μετὰ νεκρῶν τί ζητεῖτε ὡς ἄνθρωπον; βλέπετε τὰ ἐντάφια σπάργανα δράμετε, καὶ τῷ κόσμῳ κηρύξατε, ὡς ἠγέρθη ὁ Κύριος, θανατώσας τὸν θάνατον ὅτι ὑπάρχει Θεοῦ Υἱός, τοῦ σῴζοντος τὸ γένος τῶν ἀνθρώπων. When they who were with Mary came, anticipating the dawn, and found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre, they heard from the Angel: Why seek ye among the dead, as though He were mortal man, Him Who abideth in everlasting light? Behold the graveclothes. Go quickly and proclaim to the world that the Lord is risen, and hath put death to death. For He is the Son of God, Who saveth the race of man. Kontakion 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. 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. Megalynarion Hymn Ὁ Ἀγγελος ἐβόα τὴ κεχαριτωμένη, Ἁγνὴ Παρθένε, χαῖρε, καὶ πάλιν ἐρῶ, χαῖρε, ὁ σὸς Υἱὸς ἀνέστη τριήμερος ἐκ τάφου. Φωτίζου, φωτίζου ἡ νέα Ἱερουσαλήμ ἡ γὰρ δόξα Κυρίου ἐπὶ σὲ ἀνέτειλε. Χόρευε νῦν καὶ ἀγάλλου, Σιών, σὺ δέ, ἁγνή, τέρπου, Θεοτόκε, ἐν τῇ ἐγέρσει τοῦ τόκου σου. The Angel cried to her who is Full of Grace, O pure Virgin rejoice, and again I say rejoice, for your Son has risen from the grave on the third day. Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem, for the Glory of the Lord is risen upon you. Dance now and be glad Zion, and do you rejoice O pure Theotokos, in the arising of Him whom you did bear. Special Communion Hymn Σῶμα Χριστοῦ μεταλάβετε, πηγῆς ἀθανάτου γεύσασθε. Soma Christu metalavete pigis athanatu gevsasthe. Alleluia. Body of Christ receive, the fountain of life, taste the source of immortal life.
Epistle - Acts of the Apostles 1 : 1-8 IN THE FIRST BOOK, O Theophilos, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit." So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of lsrael?" He said to them, "it is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth." Τὸν μὲν πρῶτον λόγον ἐποιησάμην περὶ πάντων, ὦ Θεόφιλε, ὧν ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς ποιεῖν τε καὶ διδάσκειν, ἄχρι ἧς ἡμέρας, ἐντειλάμενος τοῖς ἀποστόλοις διὰ πνεύματος ἁγίου οὓς ἐξελέξατο, ἀνελήφθη οἷς καὶ παρέστησεν ἑαυτὸν ζῶντα μετὰ τὸ παθεῖν αὐτὸν ἐν πολλοῖς τεκμηρίοις, διʼ ἡμερῶν τεσσαράκοντα ὀπτανόμενος αὐτοῖς, καὶ λέγων τὰ περὶ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ. Καὶ συναλιζόμενος παρήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων μὴ χωρίζεσθαι, ἀλλὰ περιμένειν τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ πατρός, Ἣν ἠκούσατέ μου ὅτι Ἰωάννης μὲν ἐβάπτισεν ὕδατι, ὑμεῖς δὲ βαπτισθήσεσθε ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ οὐ μετὰ πολλὰς ταύτας ἡμέρας. Οἱ μὲν οὖν συνελθόντες ἐπηρώτων αὐτὸν λέγοντες, Κύριε, εἰ ἐν τῷ χρόνῳ τούτῳ ἀποκαθιστάνεις τὴν βασιλείαν τῷ Ἰσραήλ; Εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς, Οὐχ ὑμῶν ἐστιν γνῶναι χρόνους ἢ καιροὺς οὓς ὁ πατὴρ ἔθετο ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ. Ἀλλὰ λήψεσθε δύναμιν, ἐπελθόντος τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς καὶ ἔσεσθέ μοι μάρτυρες ἔν τε Ἱερουσαλήμ, καὶ ἐν πάσῃ τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ καὶ Σαμαρείᾳ, καὶ ἕως ἐσχάτου τῆς γῆς. The Prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16) Prayers for Health JoGeo, Konstantinos, Shelly, Ruthie, Barbara, Samantha, Maria, Efstathia, Tony, Rouba, Sarah, Emily, Kynlee, Wesley, Afrodite, Nick, Nicholas Wyatt, Cameren, Helen, Chrissy, Nancy, MaryAnn, Marian, Tina, Salin, George-Panagiotis, Raphael, Marta, Guadalupe, Caroline, John, Lili, Archie, Kelsey, Eva, Virginia, Makena, Dolly, Afrodite, Alexandros, Lou, Thomas, Greg, Bill, Kathryn, John, Kathy, Nakis, Maggie, Rosemary, Mindy, Pat, Louella, Steve, Marie, Clifford, Tina, Cynthia, Chad, Douglas, Mat. Sissy Yerger, Fr. Paul, Katerina, Vasili, Harry, Angie, Francis, Petya, Thomas, Romeo, John, John, Brenda, Georgie, Dale, John, Dale, Anna, Brenda, Carol, Jan, Nick, Damon, Afrodite, Nick, Alex,, John, Fr. Jason and family, Presv. Tiffany, Maria, David, Boyd, Chris, Jennifer, Jay, Dede, Michael, Jason, Ling, Josh, Chrissy, Bradley, Jim, Patricia, Argyre-Lisa, Rick, Milton, Fred, Gregg, Aphrodite, Carol, Lisa, Johanna, Candace, Kyle, Nicholas, Alex, Boriska, Judith, Dominique, Stephen, Irenaeus, Alexander, Mike, Lori, Annie, Anesti, Efstathia, Hannah, Papoulas, Wiley he is always wrestling in prayer for you (Colossians 4:12) Prayers for those in our Armed Forces SGT Jennifer D. Atkinson, SSG John Atkinson, COL Dave Romine, CPT James Alfaro, SSG Deane Anderson, CPT William Willett, MAJ Timothy Ullman, MAJ Chris Chase, SPC Mindy Keys, SPC Andrew Bentzel, MAJ Scot Thornhill, CPT Christopher Gilbert, CPT. Alexander Stathos, 1st LT Angela Bahlatzis, MIDN 1/C Joseph Barone, SGT Walter Hurbert ( Nikolaos ) Willoughby IV, LCDR Thomas Uhl, 2nd Lieutenant Lance Shannon
Gospel - John 1 : 1-17 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'") And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ Λόγος, καὶ ὁ Λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, καὶ Θεὸς ἦν ὁ Λόγος. Οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν. πάντα δι αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἓν ὃ γέγονεν. ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων. καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν. Εγένετο ἄνθρωπος ἀπεσταλμένος παρὰ Θεοῦ, ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ιωάννης οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς μαρτυρίαν, ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός, ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσι δι αὐτοῦ. οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς, ἀλλ ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός. Ην τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον. ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἦν, καὶ ὁ κόσμος δι αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ ὁ κόσμος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἔγνω. εἰς τὰ ἴδια ἦλθε, καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι αὐτὸν οὐ παρέλαβον. ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν, ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα Θεοῦ γενέσθαι, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, οἳ οὐκ ἐξ αἱμάτων, οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος σαρκός, οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος ἀνδρός, ἀλλ ἐκ Θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν. Καὶ ὁ Λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐθεασάμεθα τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, δόξαν ὡς μονογενοῦς παρὰ πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας. Ιωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ κέκραγε λέγων οὗτος ἦν ὃν εἶπον, ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν. Καὶ ἐκ τοῦ πληρώματος αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς πάντες ἐλάβομεν, καὶ χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος ὅτι ὁ νόμος διὰ Μωϋσέως ἐδόθη, ἡ χάρις καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια διὰ Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐγένετο. Receiving Holy Communion The sacrament of Holy Communion is reserved for only baptized and/or Chrismated Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared by fasting, prayer and confession. The Orthodox Church is not in sacramental communion with any other church outside the Orthodox Christian Faith. If you are not Orthodox, you are invited with everyone to receive the Antidoron (blessed bread) at the end of service. If you would like information about the Orthodox Church, please see Fr. Vasileios after services. Welcome Visitors! We welcome all new visitors who worshipped with us this morning. We are pleased to have you with us! Please join us next door after service for coffee and fellowship. There is material in the entrance of the church regarding ministries and events of Transfiguration. We hope that you will return often to worship with us and grow in Christ!
PLEASE FOLLOW ALONG WITH US AS WE CHANT THE PASCHAL ODES COME RECEIVE THE LIGHT Come receive the Light from the Light! That is never overtaken by night and glorify Christ Who is risen from the dead! ANGELS IN HEAVEN Angels in heaven sing praises of Your Resurrection O Christ our Saviour. Make us worthy on earth to glorify You in Purity of heart. CHRIST IS RISEN Christ is risen from the trampling down death by death and to those in the tombs He has granted life. ODE I This is the day of Resurrection let us be radiant O people, Pascha the Lord s Pascha. For Christ our God has passed us from death to life and from earth to heaven we who sing the song of victory. Glory to Your Holy Resurrection O Lord! Let us cleanse our senses that we may behold Christ, Who gleams like lightning in the unapproachable light of the Resurrection. And we shall clearly hear Him say rejoice as we sing the hymn of victory. Glory to Your Resurrection o Lord! It is worthy for the heavens to rejoice and the earth to be glad. The whole world visible and invisible celebrates, for Christ our everlasting joy is risen from the dead. Christ is risen from the dead by death He has trampled upon death and on those in the tombs He is bestowing life. Jesus having risen from the grave as He foretold has bestowed on us eternal life and great mercy! ODE III THE ORTHROS SERVICE OF HOLY PASCHA Come let us drink a new drink not one wondrously brought forth from a barren rock, but from the fount of incorruption which springs forth from the tomb of Christ in Whom we are established. Glory to Your Holy Resurrection O Lord! Yesterday I was buried with You O Christ, today I arise in Your Resurrection. Yesterday I was crucified with You, O Saviour glorify me with Yourself in Your Kingdom. HYPAKOE When they who with Mary came, anticipating the dawn, and found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre, they heard from the angel: Why seek you among the dead, as though He were mortal man, Him who abides in everlasting light? Behold the grave-clothes. Go quickly and proclaim to the world that the Lord is risen, and has put death to death. For He is the Son of God, Who saved the race of man. ODE IV The inspired prophet Habakuk now stands with us in Holy vigil, he is like a shining angel who cries with a piercing
voice. Today salvation has come to the world for Christ is risen as all powerful. Glory to Your Holy Resurrection O Lord! Christ our blessed crown as a yearling lamb was sacrificed for us according to His free will. The Pascha of purification and once again from the grave, the beautiful Son of righteousness, has shown on us. Glory to Your Holy Resurrection O Lord! ODE V Let us rise early at the break of dawn and offer a hymn instead of Myrrh to the Master. And let us behold Christ the Son of righteousness who causes life to rise for all. Glory to Your Holy Resurrection O Lord! Let us who carry bright lights go forth and meet Christ Who comes as the Bridegroom from the tomb. And let us celebrate the saving Pascha of God with all those who love this feast. ODE VI You descended into the depths of the earth and shattered the everlasting bars which kept the dead captive. And like Jonah from the whale You arose O Christ from the tomb on the third day. Glory to Your Holy Resurrection O Lord! You preserved the seals intact O Christ when You arose from the grave as You did not break the seal of the Virgin in Your birth. And You opened for us the gates of paradise. Glory to Your Holy Resurrection O Lord! Christ is risen from the dead by death He has trampled upon death and on those in the tombs He is bestowing life. Jesus having risen from the grave as He foretold has bestowed on us eternal life and great mercy! KONTAKION Even though You descended into the grave, O Immortal One, You overthrew the power of Hades, Christ our God and rose victorious. You greeted the myrrhbearers, gave peace to Your apostles, and granted resurrection to the fallen! And granted resurrection to the fallen! OIKOS Early in the morning before sunrise, as if it were already day, myrrhbearing maidens sought the Son, who previously descended into the grave. And they cried to one another: Come friends, let us anoint with fragrant spices the lifegiving and buried body of Christ who has resurrected fallen Adam. Let us hasten, as did the Magi, and adore Christ and bring our myrrh as a gift to Him who is wrapped not in swaddling clothes but in a shroud. Let us weep and exclaim: Arise, Master, and granting resurrection to the fallen! Granting resurrection to the fallen! SYNAXARION On Holy and Great Sunday of Pascha, we celebrate the life bearing resurrection of our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Having gone down alone to struggle with Hades, Christ ascended bringing with Him many spoils of victory. To Him be glory and dominion to the ages of ages. Amen. Having beheld the resurrection of Christ, let us worship the Holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless One. We venerate Your cross, O Christ, and we praise and glorify Your holy resurrection. You are our God. We know no other than You, and we call upon Your name. Come, all you faithful, let us venerate the holy resurrection of Christ. For behold, through the cross joy has come to all the world. Ever praising the Lord, let us praise His resurrection. For enduring the cross for us, He has destroyed death by death. Having risen from the grave as He foretold, Jesus has granted us eternal life and great mercy. ODE VII He who saved the three children in the furnace becomes man and suffers as a mortal. That through suffering He may clothe mortality with incorruption. He alone is blessed and most glorious the God of our fathers. Glory to Your Holy Resurrection O Lord! How truly sacred and most festive is this bright night of salvation which now proclaims the radiant day of Resurrection. On this night the timeless light arose bodily from the tomb and has shone forth on all. We Praise, we bless and we worship the Lord. ODE VIII This is the chosen and holy day, the first of Sabbaths, the King and Lord. It is the feast of all feasts and festival of
festivals in which we bless Christ unto all the ages. Glory to your Holy Resurrection O Lord! Father Almighty Word and Spirit one nature in three hypostasis. In You we have been baptized, O transcending, essence, supremely divine, we bless You unto all the ages! Christ is risen from the dead by death He has trampled upon death and on those in the tombs He is bestowing life. Jesus having risen from the grave as He foretold has bestowed on us eternal life and great mercy! ODE IX Magnify O my soul Him Who suffered willingly and was buried and arose from the grave on the third day. Shine, shine O New Jerusalem for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you; dance now and be glad Zion and do you exult O pure Theotokos in the arising of Him Whom you did bear. Magnify O my soul, Christ the Giver of life, Who arose from the grave on the third day. Your divine and beloved and most sweet voice; You have truly promised that you would be with us unto the end of the world O Christ and we faithful rejoice, having this as an anchor of hope. Christ is the new Pascha, the living sacrificial victim, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. O great and most sacred Pascha Christ; O Wisdom and Word and Power of God! Grant that we partake of You fully in the unwaning day of Your Kingdom. The angel cried to her who is full of grace: O pure Virgin, rejoice, and again, I say: Rejoice; for your Son has risen from the grave on the third day. Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you; dance now and be glad Zion, and do you exult O pure Theotokos, in the arising of Him Whom you did bear. Christ is risen from the dead by death He has trampled upon death and on those in the tombs He is bestowing life. Jesus having risen from the grave as He foretold has bestowed on us eternal life and great mercy! EXASPOSTEILARION In the flesh You fell asleep O King and Lord as a mortal man On the third day You arose raising Adam from corruption and abolished death, Pascha of incorruption. Salvation of the world! (3 times) LAUDS Let every breath praise the Lord, praise the Lord from the Heavens. Praise Him in the highest. To You belongs hymns of praise O God. Praise Him all you His angels. Praise Him all you His powers to You belongs hymns of praise O God. THE PRAISES To bring upon them the written judgement, this is the glory of all His Holy ones. We praise in song Your saving passion O Christ and we glorify Your Resurrection. Praise God in His Saints, Praise Him in the firmament of His power. O Lord you endured the cross and abolished death and were resurrected from the dead. Grant peace to our lives for You are the only all powerful One. Praise Him for His mighty acts, praise Him according to the greatness of His majesty. O Christ You have destroyed Hades and in Your Resurrection You have resurrected humanity. Make us worthy in purity of heart to praise You, glorifying You with song. Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet, praise Him with chanting and the harp. As we glorify Your God befitting condescension we praise You in song O Christ. You were born from the Virgin without separation from the Father. You suffered as a man and of Your own free will You endured the cross. Glory to You O Lord who has risen from the tomb as one who comes forth from a bridal chamber that You may save the world! Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered and let those who hate Him flee before His face. Today the sacred Pascha is revealed to us. The new and holy Pascha, the mystical Pascha. The all venerable Pascha. The Pascha which is Christ the Redeemer. The spotless Pascha. The great Pascha. The Pascha of the faithful. The Pascha which has
opened unto us the gates of Paradise. The Pascha which sanctifies all faithful. As smoke vanishes so let them vanish as wax melts before the fire. Hasten from that vision O women bearers of good news and say unto Zion receive from us the tidings of joy of the Resurrection of Christ. Dance and celebrate and rejoice now O Jerusalem. For you beheld Christ your King as a bride groom coming forth from the tomb. Let the sinners perish before the face of God but let the righteous rejoice. When the Myrrh-bearing women very early in the morning came and stood before the tomb of the Life Giver, they found an angel sitting upon the stone. And He cried out these words to them saying: Why do you seek the Living among the dead? Why do you mourn the incorruptible among those subject to decay? But go and proclaim the good news unto His disciples! This is the day which the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. The Pascha of delight, Pascha the Lord s Pascha. The all venerable Pascha has dawned for us today. Let us embrace each other with joy for it is Pascha. O Pascha delivered from sorrow. For Christ has shone forth today from the tomb as from a bridal chamber and filled the women with joy saying: Proclaim this unto my Apostles. Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. This is the day of resurrection let us be radiant in the festival, let us embrace one another. Let us call brothers even those who hate us and forgive all things in the resurrection. And therefore let us proclaim: Christ is risen from the dead by death He has trampled upon death and to those in the tombs He has granted Life.
GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA 8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106 * Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0237 www.goarch.org - Email: communications@goarch.org Apr 27, 2016 Prot. No. 450 + B A R T H O L O M E W By God s Mercy Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch To the Plenitude of the Church Grace, Peace and Mercy from Christ, who has Risen in Glory *** Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, We wholeheartedly address you from the See of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the joyous greeting Christ is risen! The resurrection of Christ is the center of our Orthodox faith. Without the resurrection, our faith is in vain (1 Cor. 15:14). Through His resurrection, the divine Word rendered humanity created in the image of God but wounded and stained by sin incorrupt and deified, granting us once again the possibility of achieving divine likeness, of which we were deprived through disobedience. However, what does the feast of Pascha signify as the victory of life over death in a world of violence and war, especially in the name of religion and God? Many philosophers endeavored to find a solution to the problem of death and to overcome death with various theories. We Orthodox Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ from the dead and boldly declare the destruction of death. We know that it is the Word of God who bestows life and in whom was life (John 1:4). We have the joyful experience of the Church, that death was conquered through the resurrection of Christ. All things have been filled with joy, having received the experience of resurrection. This faith brightens all expressions of church life and culminates in the divine Eucharist. The fact that, in the Christian world, it is especially the Orthodox Church that preserved the divine Eucharist as the center of its life and spirituality is inseparably related to the fact that the resurrection is the nucleus of our faith, worship and ecclesiastical ethos. For this reason, the Eucharistic liturgy is always festive, joyous, and primarily linked with the Lord s day as the day of the resurrection. The most striking expression and interpretation of the resurrection as well as of its regenerative power is the image of the descent of our Lord Jesus Christ to Hades, as this is wonderfully depicted at the Chora Monastery in Constantinople. The Lord of glory descends to the depths of Hades, destroying its gates, arising victorious and resurrecting Adam and Eve in Himself, and in so doing resurrects the entire human race from beginning to end. Now, all things have been filled with light, heaven and earth and all things beneath the earth. Creation rises from the dark realm of death to the heavenly kingdom, whose light has no evening. The faithful, as participants in the resurrection, are called to declare the Gospel of freedom in Christ to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8).
The Mother Church, which lives the mystery of the cross and the resurrection simultaneously, today invites us to approach with lit candles and together to celebrate the salvific Pascha of God. Through the resurrection of our Savior, all of humanity has become one people, united in one body. Through His cross and resurrection, Christ definitively destroyed all existing hatred. Thus, the Orthodox Church, as the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, is the Church of the reconciliation of all, the Church of love toward all, friends and enemies. Reconciled, filled with new life, filled with true life, we all become fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God (cf Eph. 2:15-20). Unfortunately terrorism, war, and bloodshed continue to this day. The lament and agony of victims, particularly as these are rapidly disseminated through modern technological means, tear the world apart and break our heart. This is why the world s leaders political, religious and church are obliged and compelled by love to do everything that is possible to avoid such unacceptable conditions. In the midst of this modern irrational world, we Orthodox Christians are called to offer a positive witness of love and sacrifice to our fellow human beings. For us as Orthodox faithful, Pascha is not a fleeting moment of escape from the ugly reality of evil in the world; it is the unwavering conviction that Christ, who trampled down death by death and rose from the dead, is with us always, to the close of the age (Matthew 28:20). Beloved brothers and sisters, such is once again this year the message of the resurrection from the most holy Apostolic and Patriarchal Ecumenical Throne, the sacred center of Orthodoxy, to all people: that Christ has risen and the power of death was abolished; the authority of the powerful over the weak has been destroyed. Life reigns and the nurturing love, profound mercy, and endless grace of the risen Christ cover the whole world, from one end to the other. It is sufficient for us to realize that Jesus Christ is the true light, that in Him is life, and that this life is the light of all people (cf John 1:3-4). This is our message to all political and religious leaders of the world. Therefore, approach and receive the light from the unfading light of the Phanar, which as the light of Christ and the light of love shines upon all; in Him there is no darkness (cf 1 John 1:5). Let us hear this Gospel of joy and light; and let us Orthodox alleviate the pain of today s world with our own love and sacrifice. Glory be to Him who bestows life, who has shown the light and love and peace to the world as well as to each one of us. Glory to Jesus Christ, the king of glory, the conqueror of death and champion of life. At the Phanar, Holy Pascha 2016 Your fervent supplicant before the risen Christ, + Bartholomew Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch
GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA 8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106 * Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0237 www.goarch.org - Email: communications@goarch.org Apr 27, 2016 Protocol 69/16 May 1, 2016 Holy Pascha The Feast of Feasts He is not here; for He is risen as He said! Matthew 28:6 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, Χριστός Ἀνέστη! Christ is Risen! On this glorious and holy Feast of our Lord s Resurrection, we shine in the brilliant light and exhilarating joy of His presence and grace. We sing hymns of praise to the One who gives us new life. We proclaim the defeat of death and triumph over the tomb, as Christ is risen, resplendent and victorious. In our worship on this Feast of feasts and highest holy day of the year, we hear in our hymns the story of those who went to the tomb: The myrrh-bearing women at deep dawn drew nigh to the tomb of the Giver of Life. (Hymn of Matins) In the Gospel of Luke we read how they found the stone rolled away but did not find a body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how He told you that the Son of man must be crucified and on the third day rise. (Luke 24:4-7) One focal point in this passage and as it is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark is on remembering the voice of Christ. He is risen as He said (Matthew28:6); there you will see Him, as He told you (Mark 16:7); and remember how He told you (Luke 24:6). The angels called the women and the disciples to remember His voice and His words; to reflect on all that had happened and to recognize that the promises of the Lord had been fulfilled, death and the tomb could not hold the Son of God, and just as He said, He is the resurrection and the life! For the disciples the voice of Christ was a very real experience. They were present for all of the miraculous events and His teaching. Following His Resurrection and Ascension, they could not but speak of all the things they had seen and heard for those full years being with Him. (Acts 4:20) In receiving the Gospel by faith, we affirm and proclaim the power and truth of His Passion and Resurrection as well. Through our worship and His power and presence in our midst, we hear His voice, we affirm the ful-
fillment of His promises, and we proclaim to the world the salvation and abundant life found in Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. We see and hear, and we become the voice of Christ! Today, in our festival of joy, light and life, we proclaim to the world a sacred Pascha. We sing of a new and holy Pascha, a Pascha that has opened unto us the gates of Paradise. We see a new dawn as the bridegroom comes forth from the tomb, abolishing the power of death, lifting us up from corruption, ransoming us from sorrow, so that we chant joyously the hymns of salvation and life everlasting. We see the glorious Resurrection of our Lord. And as the angels said to the women who marveled at the empty tomb, we hear Him say, Go quickly and proclaim to the world that the Lord is risen! Christ is risen indeed! With paternal love in the Risen Lord, DEMETRIOS Archbishop of America
ATTENTION ALL GRADUATING STUDENTS! Fr. Vasileios will be honoring High School and College/University graduates on Sunday, May 22nd, so please email the office at office@transfiguration.org with the following information no later than May 15: The correct spelling of your name, as you d like it to appear in the bulletin The school you will attend next Fall The high school (or college) from which you are graduating A digital copy of your senior portrait or another nice photo A note about hobbies or activities in high school (i.e. band, theater, soccer, etc.) A note about future plans, if known Philoptochos News FESTIVAL OF TABLES MAY 7TH 11:00AM - ENJOY A BLESSED PASCHA!!! This spring event promises to be so much fun! Come join us see some very creative table decors, enjoy a beautiful fashion show by Chico s, a delicious lunch, Champaign, a fabulous auction, not to mention door prizes and raffles Bring your mom! What a great mother s day gift! Don t be left out. Single tickets are still available only $25
Denis & Eleni Ackerman AHEPA Jacob & Diana Angelo Lou & Ellen Apostolakis Vaios & Madeleine Athanasiou Robert & Madgalene Ayers Michalis & MaryKatherine Bakiris Gregg & Amy Bell Jerry S. III Benson Kiki Benson Maria Benson Dn George & Prsv Ria Bithos Marko & Elissa Bjeletich Gene & Lynne Bourgeois Russell & Christine Boyer Rick Brooks Jason & Katherine Bryant Maria Burke Michael & Evanthia Burns Despina Carter Jeff & Kathy Civins John & Ann Charchalis Christos & Christina Christou Gregory & Marousa Chronis James & Georgia Coclin Bill & Betty Colovas Minas & Melissa Constantinides Ted & Katerina Costouros Dean Daskalantonakis Emily Daskalantonakis Michael & Elizabeth Daskalantonakis Dean & Julie Davenport Alex & Joan Demetriadis Peter & Joanna Demopoulos Joseph & Koula DeRossi Stephen & Diann Dow Jo & JoAnn Draina John & Lili Dracopoulos Drew & Ana Dudley Judith Eagle Fr. David & Prsv Vasiliki Eckley John & Jessica Esper Chris & Olga Falkowski Fr Vasileios & Prsv Stella Flegas Edward F. Frontera Jason & Amity Garwood Jack & Pat Gatlin Ilias Georgakopoulos Mary Georgantonis Anthony & Effie George James & Elizabeth George Thomas George Kaliope Gialusis George & Crissi Gianakopoulos Demitris Giannopoulos Michael & Nyda Glaros MaryBeth Gradziel Tom & Allison Gouris George & Krista Graman Roula Hahalis John & Pam Halter Jennie Hardy Christopher & Vicki Harris Paul Hatgil Octavian & Oltea Herescu Vickie Hicks Nick & Ruth Hildom James Hitt Brian & Sue Holland Tom Holley David & Eleni Horwedel Eleni Hrissikopoulos Tryfon & Georgia Hristopoulos Douglas & Margaret Hunt Juliann Hunter Lucas & Jenny Jacomides Nick Jannes Gwen Elizabeth Jerome Ralph & Anita Jones Johnny & Argyro Justice Maria Justice Ted Kalenterides Nici Kalogirou James Kalpaxis Peter & Linda Kangos George & Georgia Karides Mia Karides Scott & Katina Kenyon Vana Kersch Drew & Dolores Keys Tahseen & Sophia Khan Spyros & Cynthia Kinnas Patricia Klaras Kevin & Tricia Korioth Lillian Koultukis Sotirios Koultukis George Kutsunis Despo Lamas Despina Lambros James & Karen Landon Emilio & Victoria Lara William & Michelle Leara Lee & Elaine Leatherwood Tonya Leora Steve Levendakes Georgene Nicas Lindsey Robert & Susan Lindsey Mary Long Fotini Margos David & Mariam McFalls David Maziasz Robert & Mary Maziasz Archie & Dina Meador Samir & Mary Mikhail Maria Miller & Geoffrey Price Patricia Mitchell Vasilia Mitropoulos Nina Morris Chris & Angele Moyseos Blair & Heather Mulholland Maria Nikas Jim & Kellie Norman Shawn & Stephanie O'Brien Chris & Summer Orthmann Nicole Deana Xylouris Osborne David & Elaine Osowski Nick & Smaragda Papanikolaou Kim Peet Irene Perez Paul & Larissa Petrogeorge Chris & Tina Petropoulos Takis & Irini Petropoulos Ioanna Petty John & Cynthia Phillips Philoptochos Dionysios & Sonia Phocas Ken & Mary-Ellen Pon Gabe & Lisa Poulos Raleigh Poulos Greg & Marisa Prasifka Jordan Price Nicole Price Peter & Cynthia Price Zachary Price Jamal & Angie Qatato Mark & Jackey Randol Daniel Reeder Tom Rigney William & Linda Robertson Peter & Barbara Romell Charles & Phyllis Romine Terri Ross Stella Rossnagel Maria Sarinaki Max & Nicki Schoolar Shane & Christa Sewell Leonie Sewell Linward & Beverly Shivers Pat Shotwell George & Teresa Skevofilax John & Cristie Skevofilax Kostas & Vasiliki Spanos Athanasios & Georgia Spiropoulos Nick & Christiana Spiropoulos Karl & Evangelia Stahlke Harry & Patrice Stamatis Theone Stateson Kyle & Sophie Streetman Michael & Liz Strong Brandon & Jennifer Suehs Michele S. Suehs Thomas & Christine Suehs Mays (Mia) Tannous Marsha & James Thurman Matthew & Christa Tracey Transfiguration Greek School Stephen & Martha Tsihlas Daniel Uritu Dr. Demetri & Dena Vacalis James Vacalis Radu & Antoanela Vasilescu Gregory & Andrea Vrentas Jason & Jenica Welch Mark Werner Walter & Triantafillia Willoughby Judd & Carol WIllmann Tyler WIllmann Allen & Julie Wynn Stuart & Kori Yoder Elias & Cynthia Zachos Stathis & Vicki Zotis Name in Dark Red: Submissions for the Scroll of Names form not submitted SUBMISSIONS FOR THE SCROLL OF NAMES Don t forget to email or mail to the office your submissions for the scroll of names that will be placed in the Altar with the relics. Forms are online or you can pick one up at the Consecration table in Mt. Tabor Hall
Services for this Week Great and Holy Pascha, May 1 - Agape Vespers - 1pm Bright Monday, May 2 - Bright Tuesday, May 3 - Bright Friday, May 6 - Saturday, May 7 - WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS: Pascha Sunday, May 1, 2016 Great Martyr George - Orthros 9am Divine Liturgy 10am. Holy Fathers of Daou Pentelis - Orthros 9am Divine Liturgy 10am Theotokos of the Life-Giving Font - Orthros 9am Liturgy 10am NO VESPERS Pascha Greetings During the forty-day period from Pascha to Ascension, Orthodox Christians throughout the world greet one another with the Paschal Greeting: English - Christ is Risen / Truly He is Risen or Indeed He is Risen Greek - Christos Anesti / Alithos Anesti Spanish - Cristo ha resucitado / En verdad ha resucitado Ukrainian - Khristos Voskres / Voistynu Voskres Romanian - Hristos a Inviat / Adevarat a Inviat Slavonic - Khrystos Voskrese / Voistyne Voskrese Arabic - Al masi h qam / Hakan qam Swahili - Kristo Amefufukka / Kweli amefufukka A L L M E N A R E I N V I T E D To our annual Men s bright week steak night on Bright Wednesday May 4th at 7:00pm at Mt. tabor hall Please RSVP with nick spiropoulos at: Nickspiropoulos@yahoo.com Thank you to last week s Luncheon Sponsors: ENCORE Agape Picnic Sponsors: TGOC Community Next week s Coffee Hour Sponsors: Petropoulos, Petropoulos, Petty, Phillips, Phocas, Poulos Thank you to last week s ushers: Tom Suehs (PCM) Kevin Korioth, Tricia Korioth, Stella Rossnagel Thank you to today's ushers: All Parish Council Next week s ushers are: Harry Stamatis (PCM) Dan Appling, Gigi Appling, Nyda Glaros