Archangel Michael Church Η Εκκλησία του Αρχαγγέλου Μιχαήλ

Archangel Michael Church Η Εκκλησία του Αρχαγγέλου Μιχαήλ 100 Fairway Drive, Port Washington, NY 11050 (516) 944-3180 - www.archangelmichaelchurch.org Clergy: Fr John Lardas, Fr Joshua Pappas, Fr Dennis Strouzas April 1, 2018 - Palm Sunday Palm Sunday commemorates a rare moment in which Christ is actually understood, praised, and surrounded by all the glory appropriate for a king. Our Lord isn t seeking attention or glory in this particular moment. He s riding into Jerusalem unannounced on a simple donkey, but the people are particularly sensitive to divine presence this day. They sense Jesus power, His truth, His holiness, His authority. They re filled with new hope in the arrival of their king, and they rush out to meet Him in the streets with shouts of consolation: Hosanna!, meaning help us, deliver us, save us. Hosanna! is meaningless for the self-confident, comfortable person. If we don t see our personal poverty - our need for repentance - then we have no urgent need for help, deliverance, and salvation. By extension, we have no need for God and the richness of life He offers. The Jews who greeted Christ in Jerusalem were deeply aware of their need for God, their dependence on Him. Why? They were part of the painful history of the ancient Israelites, God s chosen people. The Old Testament doesn t present God s people favorably; it essentially recounts a prolonged period of suffering. From 400 years of enslavement under the Egyptians to multiple exiles, the Israelites suffered over and over again. They were acutely aware of their frailty, their lack of control, their total dependence on God s mercy and love. However, 1 st century Jews anticipated a Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule and re-establish the Israelite nation as a political powerhouse. In short, they were looking for an earthly king who would initiate a kingdom of success and comfort. And so, they greet Jesus with joy, believing Him to be the Messiah. But the nature of Jesus kingship - His humility that goes all the way to the Cross - ultimately doesn t match their desire. The same challenge exists for us today who call ourselves Christians: We want a king of power and prestige, but Christ offers a kingdom of humility. We want a king of strength, but Christ s strength is in weakness, in being vulnerable in the hands of the Father. We want a king who makes us secure, but Christ offers a path of self-denial and sacrifice. We want a king who suppresses or destroys enemies, but Christ s Kingdom is one of radical love. We want a king respected by all, but Christ is rejected and persecuted. We want a king of earthly triumph, but Christ s triumph is over the ego, sin, and death. We want a king who is elevated, but Christ came not to be served but to serve (Matt. 20:28). Την ημέρα αυτή γιορτάζουμε την πανηγυρική είσοδο του Κυρίου Ιησού Χριστού στην Ιερουσαλήμ. Τότε, ερχόμενος ο Ιησούς από τη Βηθανία στα Ιεροσόλυμα, έστειλε δύο από τους Μαθητές του και του έφεραν ένα γαϊδουράκι. Και κάθισε πάνω του για να μπει στην πόλη. Ο δε λαός, ακούγοντας ότι ο Ιησούς έρχεται, πήραν αμέσως στα χέρια τους βάγια από φοίνικες και βγήκαν να τον υποδεχτούν. Και άλλοι μεν με τα ρούχα τους, άλλοι δε κόβοντας κλαδιά από τα δέντρα, έστρωναν το δρόμο απ όπου ο Ιησούς θα περνούσε. Και όλοι μαζί, ακόμα και τα μικρά παιδιά, φώναζαν: «Ωσαννά ευλογημένος ο ερχόμενος εν ονόματι Κυρίου, ο βασιλεύς του Ισραήλ». Ο Χριστός εισέρχεται στα Ιεροσόλυμα «επί πώλον όνου». Πορεύεται και οι Ισραηλίτες τον υποδέχονται με τιμές ως Βασιλιά. Εκείνος δεν δίνει ιδιαίτερη σημασία στις τιμές, δεν περιορίζεται στο πανηγύρι, στην πρόσκαιρη δόξα, αλλά προχωρεί στο σταυρό και την Ανάσταση. Η είσοδος του Χριστού στα Ιεροσόλυμα είναι τελικά η είσοδος του μαρτυρίου στην επίγεια ζωή του Κυρίου. Σε λίγες ημέρες θα μαρτυρήσει και θα θανατωθεί στο σταυρό, για να θανατώσει το θάνατο και να χαρίσει τη ζωή. (Οι πληροφορίες είναι από: http://www.saint.gr)

Άγιοι και Εορτές Τῇ αὐτῇ ἡµέρᾳ, Κυριακῇ τῶν Βαΐων, τὴν λαµπρὰν καὶ ἔνδοξον πανήγυριν τῆς εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴµ εἰσόδου τοῦ Κυρίου ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἑορτάζοµεν. Tῆς Μαρίας τῆς Αἰγυπτίας. Tοῦ ὁµολογητοῦ Μακαρίου. Tῶν ἁγίων Μαρτύρων Γεροντίου καὶ Βασιλείδου. Tοῦ ὁσίου πατρὸς ἡµῶν Εὐθυµίου Σουζδαλιάς. Saints and Feasts On this day, Palm Sunday, we celebrate the resplendent and glorious feast of the entry of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ into Jerusalem; Saint Mary of Egypt; Saint Makarios the Confessor; the holy martyrs Gerontios and Vasilides; Saint Efthymios of Suzdal, the wonderworker. Ἀντίφωνον Βʹ Σῶσον ἡµᾶς Υἱὲ Θεοῦ, ὁ ἐπὶ πώλου ὄνου καθεσθείς, ψάλλοντάς σοι, Ἀλληλούϊα. Ἀπολυτίκιον Τῆς Ἑορτῆς 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. Εἰσοδικόν Εὐλογηµένος ὁ ἐρχόµενος ἐν ὀνόµατι Κυρίου. Θεὸς Κύριος καὶ ἐπέφανεν ἡµῖν. Σῶσον ἡµᾶς Υἱὲ Θεοῦ, ὁ ἐπὶ πώλου ὄνου καθεσθείς, ψάλλοντάς σοι, Ἀλληλούϊα. Ἕτερον Τῆς Ἑορτῆς 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 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. Antiphon II Save us, O Son of God, who sat on a donkey's colt. we sing to You, Alleluia. Hymn of the Feast (1 st Mode) To confirm the general resurrection before Your Passion, You resurrected Lazarus from the dead, O Christ our God. Therefore imitating the children, carrying the symbols of victory, we cry to You the Victor over death: "Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are You, the One, who comes in the name of the Lord." Entrance Hymn Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. God is the Lord, and He revealed Himself to us. Save us, O Son of God, who sat on a donkey's colt. we sing to You, Alleluia. Another Hymn of the Feast (4 th Mode) We were buried with You through Baptism, O Christ our God, and thus by Your Resurrection we have been granted immortal life, and extolling You we cry aloud, "Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are You, the One who comes in the name of the Lord." Kontakion of the Feast (Pl. 2 nd Mode) In heaven upon the throne, on earth upon the colt, * You were carried, O Christ our God; * and the praise of the Angels, and the hymns of the children, You received as they cried to You, * "Blessed are You, the One, who is coming to call Adam back again." Today s Scripture Readings St Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:4-9 Brethren, rejoice in the Lord always; again I 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. Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me; and the God of peace will be with you.

Πρὸς Φιλιππισίους Ἐπιστολῆς 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. John 12:1-18 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 Lazaros 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. Kατὰ Ἰωάννην 12:1-18 Πρὸ ἓξ ἡµερῶν τοῦ πάσχα ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς Βηθανίαν, ὅπου ἦν Λάζαρος ὁ τεθνηκώς, ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν. ἐποίησαν οὖν αὐτῷ δεῖπνον ἐκεῖ, καὶ ἡ Μάρθα διηκόνει ὁ δὲ Λάζαρος εἷς ἦν ἐκ τῶν ἀνακειµένων σὺν αὐτῷ. ἡ οὖν Μαρία, λαβοῦσα λίτραν µύρου νάρδου πιστικῆς πολυτίµου, ἤλειψε τοὺς πόδας τοῦ Ἰησοῦ καὶ ἐξέµαξε ταῖς θριξὶν αὐτῆς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ ἡ δὲ οἰκία ἐπληρώθη ἐκ τῆς ὀσµῆς τοῦ µύρου. λέγει οὖν εἷς ἐκ τῶν µαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, Ἰούδας Σίµωνος Ἰσκαριώτης, ὁ µέλλων αὐτὸν παραδιδόναι Διατί τοῦτο τὸ µύρον οὐκ ἐπράθη τριακοσίων δηναρίων καὶ ἐδόθη πτωχοῖς; εἶπε δὲ τοῦτο οὐχ ὅτι περὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ἔµελεν αὐτῷ, ἀλλ' ὅτι κλέπτης ἦν, καὶ τὸ γλωσσόκοµον εἶχε καὶ τὰ βαλλόµενα ἐβάσταζεν. εἶπεν οὖν ὁ Ἰησοῦς Ἄφες αὐτήν, εἰς τὴν ἡµέραν τοῦ ἐνταφιασµοῦ µου τετήρηκεν αὐτό. τοὺς πτωχοὺς γὰρ πάντοτε ἔχετε µεθ' ἑαυτῶν, ἐµὲ δὲ οὐ πάντοτε ἔχετε. Ἔγνω οὖν ὄχλος πολὺς ἐκ τῶν Ἰουδαίων ὅτι ἐκεῖ ἐστι, 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 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 ἐστι γεγραµµένον Μὴ φοβοῦ, θύγατερ Σιών ἰδοὺ ὁ βασιλεύς σου ἔρχεται καθήµενος ἐπὶ πῶλον ὄνου. Ταῦτα δὲ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν οἱ µαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ τὸ πρῶτον, ἀλλ' ὅτε ἐδοξάσθη ὁ 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.

There is still time to sign up for our Pilgrimage to the Holy Land!

Easter Pastoral Visits: If you have a family member or loved one who is home-bound, in a hospital or nursing home, who would like to be visited by a priest and/or to receive Holy Communion, please call the Church Office to schedule a pastoral visit. Worship Schedule: Please refer to the bulletin insert for our Holy Week schedule. April 1st is the Feast day of St. Mary of Egypt (also commemorated on the 5th Sunday of Lent). Upcoming Events: April 13-15 (FSS) Sat, April 21 Sun, April 22 Fri, May 11 Thurs, June 7 July 8-17 September 28-30 Fri, November 9 ~ AMC GOYA Boston Retreat ~ Youth Choir Trip to Agia Skepi Monastery ~ Greek Independence Day Parade ~ Preschool Annual Dance at Strathmore Vanderbilt Country Club ~ The AMC 25th Annual Golf Outing ~ Pilgrimage to the Holy Land led by Fr. John (please see the Church website for info) ~ 2018 AMC Greek Festival on the Harbor ~ Save the Date for AMC Annual Nameday Gala Philoptochos News: Our Philoptochos Chapter is bursting with activities! Let us know if you'd like to help. Contact us at: philoptochos@archangelmichaelchurch.org Philoptochos will be selling Tsourekia, after the divine liturgies today, from Agia Skepi Monastery. Please look for us today outside the Fellowship Hall. A heartfelt thank you is extended to Chris-Marie Tzavelis who chaired AMC's First Evangelismos & Greek Independence Day Bakaliaro Luncheon last Sunday which was truly a warm, memorable and delicious success! Thank you to all who attended and supported last Sunday's celebration of the Evangelismos of the the Theotokos as well as Greek Independence Day. Many volunteers helped make this event a success and a warm thank you is extended to: Chris Arlis, Jasmine Baktidy, Argie Chafouleas, Deanna Chantly, Helen Chimos, Kiki Cotronis, Marietta Frangiskatos, Sophia Gaitanis, Magda Gerazounis, Eleni Germanakos, Lisa Glavas, Chris Ioannou, Theodora Lagos, Michele Lascaridis, Barbra Mavro, Rena Philippou, Renee Rallis, Eleni Raptis, Eleni Sfiroudis, Bessie Ziozis; The Gentlemen: Chris Neocleous, Elias Tzavelis and Kevin; The AMC Tweens & Teens: Zoey Apodiacos, Angeline Chantly, Evan Chantly, Sophia Pappas, Sophia Stefanakis, Efthimios Tzavelis, Haralambos Tzavelis, Dimitris Yioupis; our Generous Supporters: AMC Parish Council, AMC Pre-School, Giouroukakis Family, Kaufman Family, Lago Family, Mr. & Mrs. Harry Philippou, Rallis Family, Theodoropoulos Family, Tzavelis Family, North Shore Farms and finally, Mr. Harry Savidis, caterer, who donated his time to prepare what many are saying is to be " The Best bakaliaro they have EVER eaten!" Philoptochos AMC Cooking Club second in the series "Baking Tsourekia with Father John" was a tremendous success and the classes were sold out! Many thanks to Father John for his time, expertise in tsoureki making and his warm and loving instruction. The tsourekia which were baked by the classes will be shared with the community at the Magiritsa celebration following the Anastasi service on Saturday evening. Please look out for our third class in the series which will offer Prosforo Making. Register early; space is limited. Thank you to Vicky Giouroukakis for organizing the AMC Cooking Club Series.