ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 3 ΦΕΒΡΟΥΑΡΙΟΥ 2013

Saint Demetrios Cathedral Ss. Catherine & George Church 30-11 30th Drive 22-30 33rd Street Astoria, ny 11102 Astoria, NY 11105 Tel: 718-728-1718 Tel: 718-545-4796 Fax: 718-728-0079 ARCHIM. NEKTARIOS PAPAZAFIROPOULOS DEAN Αγαπητοί Ενορίτες, Mr. GARY SIDERIS Parish Council President www.saintdemetriosastoria.com ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 3 ΦΕΒΡΟΥΑΡΙΟΥ 2013 Το Σάββατο, 2 Φεβρουαρίου, εορτάσαμε την Δεσποτική εορτή της Υπαπαντής του Κυρίου. Στην εορτή της Υπαπαντής εορτάζουμε τον σαραντισμό του Κυρίου, σαράντα μέρες μετά την γέννησή Του από την Παναγία. Ο Ιησούς Χριστός, ως Υιός και Λόγος του Θεού, ενσαρκώθηκε για να μας προσφέρει την σωτηρία μας. Όμως, ήταν απαραίτητο να περάσει από όλα τα στάδια της ανθρώπινης υπάρξεως για να μην υπάρχει κανένα περιθώριο για να αμφισβητηθεί η ανθρώπινη φύση Του. Η Παναγία, λοιπόν, κατά τον νόμο τον Ιουδαϊκό, ήταν υποχρεωμένη να φέρει τον Ιησού εις το Ναό για τον σαραντισμό. Εκεί τον περίμενε στον Ναό ο δίκαιος Συμεών. Ο Συμεών ήταν ένας πιστός άνθρωπος, που είχε ζητήσει από τον Θεό να μην γνωρίσει τον θάνατο πριν δει τον Μεσσία, που έμελλε να έρθει να σώσει τον κόσμο. Διαβάζοντας τους προφήτες της Παλαιάς Διαθήκης, επιθυμούσε να γνωρίσει το Ιησού Χριστό. Ο Θεός βλέποντας την ειλικρινή επιθυμία του, του επέτρεψε να ζήσει σε μεγάλη ηλικία έως ότου ήρθε αυτή η στιγμή. Με την Χάρη του Θεού, βρέθηκε στο Ναό την στιγμή που η Παναγία έφερνε τον Ιησού Χριστό να τον σαραντήση. Έχοντας βαθιά πίστη εις τον Θεό, γνώρισε το βρέφος πως ήταν ο Μεσσίας, Αυτός ο Οποίος θα λυτρώσει όλο τον κόσμο. Τα μάτια της ψυχής του Συμεών, έλαμψαν αντικρίζοντας απέναντί του τον Σωτήρα του κόσμου. Ο πόθος της ζωής του πραγματοποιήθηκε και τότε προσευχόμενος προς τον Κύριο λέει, "Νῦν ἀπολύεις τόν δοῦλόν σου, Δέσποτα, κατά τό ρῆμα σου ἐν εἰρήνῃ, ὅτι εἷδον οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου τό σωτήριόν σου, ὅ ἡτοίμασας κατά πρόσωπον πάντων τῶν λαῶν, φῶς εἰς ἀποκάλυψιν ἐθνῶν καί δόξαν λαοῦ σου Ἰσραήλ". Ήταν πιά έτοιμος ο δίκαιος Συμεών, να παραδώσει την ψυχή του

εις τον Κύριο, αφού ο Θεός του εκπλήρωσε την επιθυμία του. Η πίστη του ήταν τόσο δυνατή ώστε ο Θεός του χάρισε την επιθυμία του. Αδελφοί μου, ο Σωτήρας του κόσμου ήρθε. Το πιστεύουμε ή δεν μας απασχολεί; Αυτή την ελπίδα του δίκαιου Συμεών πρέπει να την αποκτήσουμε και εμείς. Πολλοί αμφισβήτησαν τον Ιησού Χριστό ως Μεσσία, στην εποχή του και σε κάθε εποχή. Ακόμα και στις ημέρες μας αμφισβητήθηκε ο Ιησούς Χριστός ως Μεσσίας. Από εμάς εξαρτάται να τον πιστέψουμε και να τον ακολουθήσουμε. Πολλοί τον αγάπησαν μέχρι θανάτου και θα ζήσουν αιώνια και πολλοί τον αρνήθηκαν και βρήκαν τον πνευματικό θάνατο. Ας επιλέξουμε τον Χριστό εις την ζωή μας για να ζήσουμε και εμείς την αληθινή ζωή που μπορεί να μας προσφέρει μόνο ο Θεός. Ας έχουμε την πίστη και τον πόθο του δίκαιου Συμεών, για να μείνουμε και εμείς ακλόνητοι εις την πίστη μας, για να έρθει να κατασκηνώσει εις την καρδιά μας ο Ιησούς Χριστός. ΑΜΗΝ Αρχιμ. Νεκτάριος Παπαζαφειρόπουλος Ιερατικώς Προϊστάμενος Youth News The Goya BB league is on a two week break and our Joy BB teams are doing well in all divisions and age groups. The highlight of last week end was the DAD Goya Religious Retreat which we hosted in the Patrides Center. We had approximately 200 participants/coaches/volunteers and 6 Seminarians from our beloved Holy Cross Seminary that led the Retreat whose theme was "The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple". Ten parishes were present from Westchester, New York City's 5 Boroughs and Long Island. There were two sessions and we all had lunch together in the Patrides Center. It was a great opportunity for our young people to gather in fellowship and to share their thoughts about this great Feast Day of the Church. Goya is on their annual ski trip this week end and basketball playoffs will start in mid February. Save the date-the next Youth Liturgy and fellowship breakfast will be on Sunday, February 17th.

ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ IΕ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΥ Κατὰ Ματθαῖον ΚΒ 35-46 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐπηρώτησεν εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν νομικὸς πειράζων αὐτόν, Διδάσκαλε, ποια είναι η πιο μεγάλη εντολή στο νόμο; Αυτός του απάντησε: Ν' αγαπάς τον Κύριο το Θεό σου μ' όλη την καρδιά σου, μ' όλη την ψυχή σου και μ' όλο το νου σου. Αυτή είναι η πρώτη και πιο μεγάλη εντολή. Δεύτερη, εξίσου σπουδαία με αυτήν: ν' αγαπάς τον πλησίον σου όπως τον εαυτό σου. Σ' αυτές τις δύο εντολές συνοψίζονται όλος ο νόμος και οι προφήτες. Εκεί που ήταν συγκεντρωμένοι οι Φαρισαίοι, τους ρώτησε ο Ιησούς: Τι νομίζετε για το Μεσσία; Ποιανού απόγονος είναι; Του Δαβίδ, του απαντούν. Τους λέει: Πώς τότε ο Δαβίδ, οδηγημένος από το Πνεύμα, τον ονομάζει "Κύριο"; Λέει: Ο Κύριος είπε στον Κύριό μου: κάθισε στα *δεξιά μου ώσπου να υποτάξω τους εχθρούς σου κάτω απ' τα πόδια σου. Αν, λοιπόν, ο Δαβίδ τον ονομάζει "Κύριο", πώς είναι απόγονός του; Κανένας δεν μπορούσε να του απαντήσει, ούτε τολμούσε πια κανείς από κείνη τη μέρα να του θέσει ερωτήματα. 15th Sunday of Matthew The Gospel of Matthew 22:35-46 At that time, a lawyer asked him a question, to test him. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets." Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying "What do you think of Christ? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." He said to them, "How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, 'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I put your enemies under your feet'? If David thus calls him Lord, how is he his son?" And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. Από την Β Επιστολή Αποστόλου Παύλου Πρὸς Κορινθίους Δ 6-15 Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου. Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου. Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεὸς ὁ εἰπὼν ἐκ σκότους φῶς λάμψαι, ὃς ἔλαμψεν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν πρὸς φωτισμὸν τῆς γνώσεως τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν προσώπῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἔχομεν δὲ τὸν θησαυρὸν τοῦτον ἐν ὀστρακίνοις σκεύεσιν, ἵνα ἡ ὑπερβολὴ τῆς δυνάμεως ᾖ τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ μὴ ἐξ ἡμῶν ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι, ἀλλ οὐ στενοχωρούμενοι ἀπορούμενοι, ἀλλ οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι διωκόμενοι, ἀλλ οὐκ ἐγκαταλειπόμενοι καταβαλλόμενοι, ἀλλ οὐκ ἀπολλύμενοι πάντοτε τὴν νέκρωσιν τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι περιφέροντες, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι ἡμῶν φανερωθῇ. Ἀεὶ γὰρ ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες εἰς θάνατον παραδιδόμεθα διὰ Ἰησοῦν, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ φανερωθῇ ἐν τῇ θνητῇ σαρκὶ ἡμῶν. Ὥστε ὁ μὲν θάνατος ἐν ἡμῖν ἐνεργεῖται, ἡ δὲ ζωὴ ἐν ὑμῖν. Ἔχοντες δὲ τὸ αὐτὸ πνεῦμα τῆς πίστεως, κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον, Ἐπίστευσα, διὸ ἐλάλησα, καὶ ἡμεῖς πιστεύομεν, διὸ καὶ λαλοῦμεν εἰδότες ὅτι ὁ ἐγείρας τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν καὶ ἡμᾶς διὰ Ἰησοῦ ἐγερεῖ, καὶ παραστήσει σὺν ὑμῖν. Τὰ γὰρ πάντα δι ὑμᾶς, ἵνα ἡ χάρις πλεονάσασα διὰ τῶν πλειόνων τὴν εὐχαριστίαν περισσεύσῃ εἰς τὴν δόξαν τοῦ θεοῦ.

St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15 O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance. Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God. Brethren, it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believed, and so we speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. Υπενθυμίζουμε τούς εὐσεβεῖς παροίκους μας ὅτι ὁ Κύκλος μελέτης Ἁγίας Γραφῆς τῆς Πέμπτης καί ὥρα 1:00 μ.μ. συνεχίζεται, μέ τόν π. Ἰωάννη στον Ἱερό Καθεδρικό Ναό τοῦ Ἁγίου Δημητρίου. Welcome to Hellenic Orthodox Community of St. Demetrios We welcome all our visitors this morning and thank you for praying with us during the Divine Liturgy. While Holy Communion may only be received by prepared and baptized Christians, our non-orthodox guests are welcome to join us in receiving blessed bread (Antidoron) from the priest at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. Ο Κύκλος της Νεολαίας Ανακοινώνουμε στους ευσεβείς μας χριστιανούς ότι η επόμενη συνάντηση του κύκλου νεολαίας θα είναι αυτή την πατέρα Βασίλειο. Πέμπτη και ώρα 7:00μ.μ. στην αίθουσα της εκκλησίας του Αγίου Δημητρίου, με τον Young Adults Discussion Group We are pleased to announce to our Community s Young Adults that we will meet at 7:00p.m. this Thursday in the St. Demetrios Church Hall to discuss topics that concern us as Orthodox Christians. The discussion group will be led by Fr. Vasilios.

ΤΕΛΕΤΟΥΡΓIΚΟΝ ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΙΕΡΩΝ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΩΝ LITURGICAL SCHEDULE OF DIVINE SERVICES Κυριακή, 3 Φεβρουαρίου, 2013 Ὀρθόδοξος Μαρτυρία 6:00μ.μ. Sunday, February 3, 2013 Orthodoxos Martyria 6:00 p.m. Τετάρτη, 6 Φεβρουαρίου, 2013 Βουκούλου Σμύρνης Πολιτ. Κεντρο Ιεράς Αρχιεπ.(27-09Cresc. St.) Ὀρθρος & Θεία Λειτουργία 8:00:10:00π.μ. Παράκλησης 7:00-8:00μ.μ. Σάββατο, 9 Φεβρουαρίου 2013 Νικηφόρου, Παγκρατίου επισκ. ΑΓΙΟΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ Ὀρθρος & Θεία Λειτουργία Ὀρθρος & Θεία Λειτουργία Ἐσπερινός 8:00-10:00π.μ. 8:00-10:00π.μ 6:00-7:00μ.μ. Κυριακή, 10 Φεβρουαρίου 2013 ΙΣΤ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΥ ΧΑΡΑΛΑΜΠΟΥΣ ΙΕΡΟΜΑΡΤΥΡΟΣ ΑΓΙΟΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ 1.Όρθρος & Θ. Λειτουργία 7:30-10:30π.μ. 2.Θεία Λειτουργία 10:45-12:30μ.μ. Ὀρθρος & Θεία Λειτουργία 8:00-11:00π.μ. Ὀρθόδοξος Μαρτυρία 6:00μ.μ. Wednesday, February 6, 2013 Bucolos of Smyrna Cultural Center of Archdiocese (27-09 Cresc. St.). Paraklisis 8:00-10:00 a.m. 7:00-8:00 p.m. Saturday, February 9, 2013 Nikiforos Pagratios the Bishop SAINT DEMETRIOS Vespers 8:00-10:00 a.m. 8:00-10:00 a.m. 6:00-7:00 p.m. Sunday, February 10, 2013 16 TH Sunday of Luke HARALAMBOS THE HIEROMARTYR SAINT DEMETRIOS 1. 2.Divine Liturgy Orthodoxos Martyria 7:30-10:30a.m. 10:45-12:30pm. 8:00-11:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m.

ΕΟΡΤΗ Αγίου ΧΑΡΑΛΑΜΠΟΥΣ Ιερομάρτυρος Σαββάτο, 9 Φεβρουαρίου 2013 Στον ιερό Ναό της Aγίας Αικατερίνης και Γεωργίου στις 6:00 μ.μ., θα τελεστή Μέγας εσπερινός μετ Αρτοκλασίας και Λιτανεία του Ιερού Λειψάνου του Μεγαλομάρτυρoς Χαραλάμπους, το οποίο είναι πολύτιμος θησαυρός της Κοινότητάς μας. February 10 Haralambos the Holy Martyr This Saint was a priest of the Christians in Magnesia, the foremost city of Thessaly, in the diocese having the same name. He contested during the reign of Alexander Severus (222-235), when Lucian was Proconsul of Magnesia. At the time of his martyrdom the Saint was 103 years of age. St. Haralambos is commemorated on February 10th, with the exception when this date falls on the Saturday of the Souls preceding Lent or on Clean Monday (the first day of Lent), in which case the feast is celebrated on February 9th.

February 6 Photios, Patriarch of Constantinople St. Photios was a great and most resplendent Father and teacher of the Church, the Confessor of the Faith and Equal to the Apostles. He lived during the years of the emperors Michael (the son of Theophilos), Basil the Macedonian, and Leo his son. He was the son of pious parents, Sergios and Irene, who suffered for the Faith under the Iconoclast Emperor Theophilos. He was also a nephew of Saint Tarasios, Patriarch of Constantinople (commemorated Feb. 25). He was born in Constantinople, where he excelled in the foremost imperial ministries, while ever practicing a virtuous and godly life. An upright and honorable man of singular learning and erudition, he was raised to the apostolic, ecumenical, and patriarchal throne of Constantinople in the year 857. The many struggles that this saintly man undertook for the Orthodox Faith against the Manichaeans, the Iconoclasts, and other heretics, and the attacks and assaults that he endured from Nicholas I, the bold and ambitious Pope of Rome, and the great persecutions and distresses he suffered, are beyond number. Contending against the Latin error of the filioque, that is, the doctrine that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son, he demonstrated clearly with his Mystagogy on the Holy Spirit how the filioque destroys the unity and equality of the Trinity. He has left us many theological writings, panegyric homilies, and epistles, including one to Boris, the Sovereign of Bulgaria, in which he set forth for him the history and teachings of the Seven Ecumenical Councils. Having tended the Church of Christ in holiness and in an evangelical manner, and with fervent zeal having rooted out all the tares of every alien teaching, he departed to the Lord in the Monastery of the Armenians on February 6, 891. February 8 Theodore the Commander & Great Martyr- The holy Martyr Theodore was from Euchaita of Galatia and dwelt in Heraclea of Pontos. He was a renowned commander in the military, and the report came to the Emperor Licinius that he was a Christian and abominated the idols. Licinius therefore sent certain men to him from Nicomedia, to honor him and ask him to appear before him. Through them, however, Saint Theodore sent back a message that it was necessary for various reasons that Licinius come to Heraclea. Licinius, seeing in this a hope of turning Saint Theodore away from Christ did as was asked of him. When the Emperor came to Heraclea, Saint Theodore met him with honor, and the Emperor in turn gave Theodore his hand, believing that through him he would be able to draw the Christians to the worship of his idols. Seated upon his throne in the midst of the people, he publicly bade Theodore offer sacrifice to the gods. But Theodore asked that the emperor entrust him with the most venerable of his gods, those of gold and silver, that he might take them home and himself attend upon them that evening, promising that the following day he would honor them in public. The Emperor, filled with joy at these tidings, gave command that Theodore's request be fulfilled. When the Saint had taken the idols home, he broke them in pieces and distributed the gold and silver to the poor by night. The next day a centurion named Maxentios told Licinius that he had seen a pauper pass by carrying the head of Artemis. Saint Theodore, far from repenting of this, confessed Christ boldly. Licinius, in an uncontainable fury, had the Saint put to many torments, then crucified. While upon the cross, the holy Martyr was further tormented -- his private parts were cut off, he was shot with arrows, his eyes were put out, and he was left on the cross to die. The next day Licinius sent men to take his corpse and cast it into the sea. But they found the Saint alive and perfectly whole. Through this, many believed in Christ. Then seeing his own men turning to Christ, and the city in an uproar, Licinius had Theodore beheaded, about the year 320. The Saint's holy relics were returned to his ancestral home on June 8, which is also a feast of the Great Martyr Theodore.