Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral

Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral December 31, 2017

St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral Church Office 508-791-7326 Mon.-Fri.: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. www.spyridoncathedral.org Reverend Doctor Dimitrios Moraitis Dean Reverend Father Dean N. Paleologos Dean Emeritus Reverend Deacon Andrew Giourelis Georgia Parafestas -Parish Council President Email - frdimitrim@gmail.com Metropolis of Boston WELCOME Welcome to the Saint Spyridon Cathedral in Worcester, Massachusetts. We are honored that you have chosen to worship with us today. It is our hope that your visit here will bring you many blessings from God. Please be sure to tell us if you are visiting or if you are new to our community. 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. Our mission is to live the Holy Gospel in accordance with the Orthodox Faith; towards sanctification through God s grace in worship, the Divine Liturgy and the Sacraments: glorifying God through all joys and struggles; and as a Church Community, in Christian love, we seek to do His will so that through His mercy, we may attain His Kingdom. We are blessed to have the slippers of St. Spyridon, which are located in the narthex of the Church, please be sure to venerate them. We pray you have a blessed day and that you visit with us again soon. Also, please remember that one must be an Orthodox Christian in order to receive Holy Communion. If you would like to embrace the Orthodox Faith, please see Father Dimitrios Moraitis. May God Bless you! December 31, 2017 The Sunday After the Nativity Trisagion Penelopi Basbas-1 year Athanasios Sotiriadis-18 years COFFEE HOUR Coffee hour is sponsored in loving memory of Penelopi Basbas by her family HAPPY NAME DAY Christos, Chrisa, Chrisanthi, Cristina, Emmannuel, Manolis, Theotokos, Stefanos, Stefania, Steven NAME DAY FLOWERS For the entire month of December, Barbara Douka Efstathiou is sponsoring Name Day flowers in honor of her Name Day. SUNDAY SERVICES Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:45am Weekday Services Monday, January 1st St. Basil the Great Orthros 9:30am Divine Liturgy 10:30am Friday, January 5th Eve of Epiphany Vesperal Liturgy 8:30am Saturday, January 6th Epiphany Orthros 9:30am Divine Liturgy 10:30am Saints of the Day Apodosis of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ Melania the Younger, Nun of Rome π δοσις Γενν σεως το Χριστο σία Μελάνη

Entrance Hymns Apolytikion Let us worship the Word, O ye faithful, praising Him that with the Father and the Spirit is co -beginningless God, Who was born of a pure Virgin that we all be saved; for He was pleased to mount the Cross in the flesh that He assumed, accepting thus to endure death. And by His glorious rising, He also willed to resurrect the dead. Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath shined the light of knowledge upon the world; for thereby they that worshipped the stars were instructed by a star to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory be to Thee. Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύματι, τὸν ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθέντα εἰς σωτηρίαν ἡμῶν, ἀνυμνήσωμεν πιστοὶ καὶ προσκυνήσωμεν, ὅτι ηὐδόκησε σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ, καὶ θάνατον ὑπομεῖναι, καὶ ἐγεῖραι τοὺς τεθνεῶτας, ἐν τῇ ἐνδόξῳ Ἀναστάσει αὐτοῦ. Ἡ γέννησίς σου Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ἀνέτειλε τῶ κόσμω, τὸ φῶς τὸ τῆς γνώσεως, ἐν αὐτῇ γὰρ οἱ τοὶς ἄστροις λατρεύοντες, ὑπὸ ἀστέρος ἐδιδάσκοντο, σὲ προσκυνεῖν, τὸν Ἥλιον τῆς δικαιοσύνης, καὶ σὲ γινώσκειν ἐξ ὕψους ἀνατολήν, Κύριε δόξα σοί. O Joseph, proclaim the wonders to David, the ancestor of God. Thou hast seen a Virgin great with child; thou hast given glory with the shepherds; thou hast worshipped with the Magi; and thou hast been instructed through an Angel. Entreat Christ God to save our souls. Saint Spyridon Father, God-bearer, Spyridon, you were proven a champion and Wonder Worker of the First Ecumenical Council. You spoke to the girl in the grave and turned the serpent to gold. And, when chanting your prayers, most sacred One, angels ministered with you. Glory to Him who glorified you; glory to Him who crowned you; glory to Him who, through you, works healing for all. Kontakion On this day the Virgin beareth the Transcendent in essence; * to the Unapproachable, * the earth doth offer a small cave; * Angels join in choir with shepherds * in giving glory; * with a star the Magi travel upon their journey; * for our sakes is born a young Child, * He that existed * before the ages as God. Εὐαγγελίζου Ἰωσήφ, τῷ Δαυῒδ τὰ θαύματα τῷ Θεοπάτορι Παρθένον εἶδες κυοφορήσασαν, μετὰ Mάγων προσεκύνησας, μετὰ Ποιμένων ἐδοξολόγησας, δι' Ἀγγέλου χρηματισθείς. Ἱκέτευε Χριστὸν τὸν Θεόν, σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. Απολυτίκιον του Αγίου Σπυρίδωνος Της Συνόδου της πρώτης ανεδείχθης υπέρμαχος, και θαυματουργός Θεοφόρε, Σπυρίδων Πατήρ ημών, διο νεκρά συ εν τάφω προσφωνείς, και όφιν εις χρυσούν μετέβαλες, και εν τω μέλπειν τας αγίας σου ευχάς, Αγγέλους εσκες συλλειτουργούντας σοι Ιερώτατε, Δοξα τω σε δοξάσαντι, δόξα τω σε στεφανώσαντι, δόξα τω ενεργούντι διά σου πάσιν ιάματα. Kontakion Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν ὑπερούσιον τίκτει, καὶ ἡ γῆ τὸ Σπήλαιον, τῶ ἀπροσίτω προσάγει. Ἄγγελοι μετὰ Ποιμένων δοξολογοῦσι. Μάγοι δὲ μετὰ ἀστέρος ὁδοιποροῦσι. δι' ἡμᾶς γὰρ ἐγεννήθη, Παιδίον νέον, ὁ πρὸ αἰώνων Θεός.

Ο ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Ὑψοῦτε Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν. Στίχ. Ὁ Κύριος ἐβασίλευσεν, ὀργιζέσθωσαν λαοί. ΤΗΕ EPISTLE Exalt the Lord our God. Verse: The Lord reigns; let the people tremble. Πρὸς Τιμόθεον β' 4:5-8 τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, νῆφε ἐν πᾶσιν, κακοπάθησον, ἔργον ποίησον εὐαγγελιστοῦ, τὴν διακονίαν σου πληροφόρησον. Ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤδη σπένδομαι, καὶ ὁ καιρὸς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀναλύσεως ἐφέστηκεν. Τὸν ἀγῶνα τὸν καλὸν ἠγώνισμαι, τὸν δρόμον τετέλεκα, τὴν πίστιν τετήρηκα λοιπόν, ἀπόκειταί μοι ὁ τῆς δικαιοσύνης στέφανος, ὃν ἀποδώσει μοι ὁ κύριος ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ὁ δίκαιος κριτής οὐ μόνον δὲ ἐμοί, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάσιν τοῖς ἠγαπηκόσιν τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν αὐτοῦ. The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 4:5-8 TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

ΤΟ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 1:1-8 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Αρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ, υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ως γέγραπται ἐν τοῖς προφήταις, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου ἔμπροσθέν σου φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν Κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ, ἐγένετο Ιωάννης βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν. Καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ Ιουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ Ιεροσολυμῖται, καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο πάντες ἐν τῷ Ιορδάνῃ ποταμῷ ὑπ αὐτοῦ ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν. Ἦν δὲ ὁ Ιωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐσθίων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον. Καὶ ἐκήρυσσε λέγων ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ ἐγὼ μὲν ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ἐν ὕδατι, αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν Πνεύματι Αγίῳ. THE HOLY GOSPEL The Gospel According to Mark 1:1-8 The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' John was baptizing in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Fasting / Νηστεία No fasting at all this week, except for Friday, which is a strict fast!

PHILOPTOCHOS SOCIETY Next general Meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 CHOIR Choir Practice every Sunday Morning! Every voice matters! LITTLE ANGELS Come join the fun! Little Angels is meeting Tuesday, January 9, 2017 9:30-11:00am GREEK SCHOOL Greek School vacation will be Dec. 25-January 6, 2018 HOLY TRINITY Holy Trinity has RN, LPN and CNA job opportunities on all shifts. For more information, call Michelle Williamson at (508)852-1000, ext. 218 or email mwilliamson@htnr.net, or stop by Holy Trinity and fill out an application. Check out Holy Trinity's newly revamped website at htnr.net and download the newsletter! SUNDAY SCHOOL SUNDAY SCHOOL FAMILY WORSHIP DAY TODAY! Classes will resume January 7, 2018 (No Classes Dec 31) DAUGHTERS OF PENELOPE THEANO CHAPTER 122 WORCESTER, MA GRECIAN FESTIVAL The committee for Grecian Festival 2018 will hold their first meeting on Monday, January 15 at 7pm as a brainstorming session. Everyone is welcome to attend and input their ideas and share their thoughts on how to make this Grecian Festival the most successful ever! Subsequent meetings will be: Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at 7pm Monday March 5, 2018 at 7pm On behalf of Theano chapter of the Daughters of Penelope of Worcester, Ma, we would like to thank our supporters that donated a Poinsettia plant in memory of their loved ones or for the health of their loved ones to adorn St Spyridon Cathedral this Christmas Season. NOTICE The Church office will be closed on Monday, January 1. May you have a blessed and joyous New Year enjoyed with friends and family!

BIBLE STUDY The Last Supper and Betrayal of Christ Wednesday, January 17, 2017 at 7:00pm Come and learn more about the Last Supper, how Christ instituted Holy Communion.

The blessing of our homes with the Holy Water of Epiphany is a meaningful way to begin the New Year. This beautiful tradition of our Orthodox Church allows us to start the year off in a most holy way by sanctifying our homes -the place where we spend most of our time. Please have an icon, a list of the living members of your family, a bowl as well as a spring of Basil or some other plant. We will bring the holy water, the cross and a copy of the service so you can follow along. The following days and times are available for house blessings. We ask that you please contact your neighbors to find a day and a block of time that satisfies all of you. For instance, you should contact your neighbors that live on your block, as well as other parishioners who live within a mile of your home, and schedule them either before or after your blessing. This will help us tremendously, especially since there are so many families, and we are still getting to know the neighborhoods around the Church. Please remember to allow at least 30 minutes for each house blessing. These dates are on a first come first serve basis. Contact the Church office to book your time. The available dates and times are as follows: Saturday, January 6, 11:30 AM to 8 PM Sunday, January 7, 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM Monday, January 8, 8 AM to 8 PM Tuesday, January 9, 11 AM to 6 PM, Wednesday, January 10, 11 AM to 7 PM, Friday, January 12, 10 AM to 8 PM, Saturday, January 13, 3:30 PM to 8 PM, Monday, January 15, 10 AM to 6 PM, Tuesday, January 16, 11 AM to 6 PM, Wednesday, January 17, 11 AM to 6 PM, Thursday, January 18, 11 AM to 8 PM Friday, January 19, 8 AM to 5 PM, Saturday, January 20, 9 AM to 9 PM, Monday, January 22, 9 AM to 9 PM, Tuesday, January 23, 12 PM to 6 PM, Wednesday, January 24, 9 AM to 6 PM, Thursday, January 25, 11 AM to 9 PM, Monday, January 29, 9 AM to 9 PM, Tuesday, January 30th, 12PM to 6 PM, Wednesday, January 31, 9 AM to 6 PM

Saturday, January 13, 2017 The Feeding Ministry is continuing to serve our community with a Luncheon to be served to the Poor and Needy on Saturday, January 13, 2017 at 11:30am in the St. Spyridon Cotsidas Cultural Center. This month s meal is donated by and served by members of the Philoptochos and parish volunteers. The Feeding Ministry will typically be scheduled the 2nd Saturday of each month in conjunction with the Council of Eastern Orthodox Churches of Central Massachusetts and the Food Pantry, and is subject to change if scheduling difficulties should arise. If you would like to volunteer please speak with Fr. Dimitri or contact Maria Kassos. Thank you for participating in the Lord s Work. Το Feeding Ministry συνεχίζει να υπηρετεί την κοινότητά μας με ένα γεύμα που θα σερβιριστεί στους φτωχούς, το Σάββατο 13 2017 στις 11:30 π.μ. στ Αγίου Σπυρίδωνος Το γεύμα αυτό το μήνα δωρίζει και εξυπηρετείται από μέλη του Φιλοπτώχου και εθελοντές ενορίας. Το Feeding Ministry θα προγραμματιστεί το 2ο Σάββατο κάθε μήνα σε συνεργασία με το Συμβούλιο των Ανατολικών Ορθοδόξων Εκκλησιών της Κεντρικής Μασαχουσέτης και το Τροφοθήκη Τροφίμων. Εάν θέλετε να, παρακαλώ μιλήστε με τον Fr. Δημήτρη ή επικοινωνήστε με τη Μαρία Κάσο. Σας ευχαριστώ που συμμετείχατε στο έργο του Κυρίου.

Thank you to all the children participating in the Christmas Pageant. and the member s of our choir. They did a wonderful job!

ST. SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL BURN THE MORTGAGE CAMPAIGN Total Cost of Family Center Renovation $4,100,000 Total raised by our community during first fund drive $2,650,000 Burn the Mortgage $1,450,000 Remaining Loan Balance to be paid $967,000 $483,000.00 pledged Thank You! $212,409.00 received 3 Year Pledge Amount Annually Monthly $15,000 $5,000 $416 $3,000 $1,000 $83 $1,000 $333 $28 How Much Should I Give? This is a question every one of us must answer individually and with our heart. A goal of this magnitude cannot be realized without your generosity and unity. We are asking everyone from our parish and community to participate at any level. No donation is too small nor too large. Little by little we will achieve this daunting task and be rid of this financial burden. Please consider a tax deductible pledge today. Cash or checks accepted at this time. Thank you and may God bless you. Proverbs 3.9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops.

Stewardship of Work. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men (Colossisans 3:23). Your Stewardship Packets were mailed this week.. Please do not forget to fill out your pledge card and return it to the Church. Remember that God loves a cheerful giver

2017 Stewardship Report * GOAL 2017 Week Total 610 pledges received Stewardship Budget $ 481 average/pledge 52 $293,483.60 $330.000.00 * GOAL amount includes the 2017 Stewardship Budget Receipts of $330,000.00. Funds reflect all monies received in 2017 We suggest you budget your Stewardship contribution as you do your monthly home expenses Our Cathedral must meet the Financial needs of its ministries and annual operating budget by way of its Christian Stewardship Program. It is each and everyone's responsibility to accept honor and support your role as a Contributing Steward. Please pledge your Required Stewardship Contribution now, if you have not done so. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.