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 29, 2018 - Sunday of the Paralytic 3 rd Mode - 5 th Morning Gospel Today, like many Sundays, the Gospel reading recounts a miracle. We may respond, Well, another miracle story: a strange, supernatural occurrence that has little or nothing to do with my life. But what do we find when we dig beneath the surface? Central are the paralytic s words to Christ: Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled. Needy people surround the pool, waiting in anticipation for the water to be stirred by an angel. Traditionally, the first to enter after the stirring of the water would be healed. The paralytic wants to be healed, but he has no one to help him. He feels helpless because he knows well the power and pervasiveness of human selfishness. That is, I look after myself; I make small sacrifices so long as they don t get too much in the way of my interests. Everyone waits around the pool, and when the water stirs, they rush forward to be healed, forgetting about the others. They don t even look at the others; they re focused only on the pool, only on themselves. We can consider this a metaphor of human society, of human weakness. Of course, there are many people who move beyond self-interest into the realm of goodness and sacrifice. But even when we move beyond the prison of living for ourselves, another more subtle form of imprisonment traps us: categorizing everything in terms of my. I may stop living for myself, but then I still have my family, my friends, my ethnic group, my social class, my political party. I m still defining myself as belonging to a particular category, a particular group. As long as I can say my in any sense, it means I m opposed to someone else. In other words, I ve moved beyond personal self -interest, but I m still imprisoned by collective self-interest. I m still living within comfortable boundaries whether familial, social, ethnic, political, or religious boundaries which Christ sought to tear down. Overly rigid boundaries breed indifference, and this indifference is at the heart of the Gospel passage. The people waiting around the pool are afflicted with terrible physical ailments, but they re sick first and foremost with the disease of selfishness and narcissism. They re looking out only for themselves. How do we heal the fragmentation so common in modern society? Christ seeks out the paralytic, faces him directly, and asks: Do you want to be healed? This is one of the rare occasions in which Christ initiates the healing rather than being sought out by someone in need. Authentic life means coming face-to-face with another person, especially when this person isn t part of my group, part of my collective self-interest. This kind of encounter means looking into another s eyes, taking an active interest in their well-being, joining them in their pain. Though Christ does everything for us, He respects our freedom. Do you want to be healed? This is a question that gives freedom, that respects the other, that is interested in getting to know the other. This is not a question of force or control or persuasion. Do you want to be healed? is a question posed not just to the paralytic but to all of this, and we re free to respond as we please to God s invitation of new life. Κυριακή του Παραλύτου Βιογραφία: Η Κυριακή του Παραλύτου αντλεί το θέμα της από την ευαγγελική περικοπή, που αναγινώσκεται στην θεία λειτουργία. Αυτή περιλαμβάνει τήν διήγηση της ιάσεως του παραλυτικού στην Προβατική κολυμβήθρα, την Βηθεσδά, στα Ιεροσόλυμα (Ιω. 5, 1-15). Το δράμα του επί 38 έτη παραλύτου συγκινεί τον Κύριο και τον θεραπεύει. Ο Χριστός παρουσιάζεται σαν ιατρός ψυχών και σωμάτων. Τον παράλυτο δεν τον θεραπεύει η κολυμβήθρα, αλλά ο πανσθενουργός λόγος του Κυρίου. Κοντάκιον: Τὴν ψυχήν μου Κύριε, ἐν ἁμαρτίαις παντοίαις, καὶ ἀτόποις πράξεσι, δεινῶς παραλελυμένην, ἔγειρον, τῇ θεϊκῇ σου ἐπιστασίᾳ, ὥσπερ καὶ τὸν Παράλυτον, ἤγειρας πάλαι, ἵνα κράζω σεσωσμένος οἰκτίρμον δόξα, Χριστὲ τῷ κράτει σου. (Οι πληροφορίες είναι από: http://www.saint.gr)
Άγιοι και Εορτές Τῇ αὐτῇ ἡµέρᾳ, Κυριακῇ τετάρτῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ Πάσχα, τοῦ Παραλύτου µνείαν ποιούµεθα καὶ ὡς εἰκὸς τὸ τοιοῦτον ἑορτάζοµεν θαῦµα. Tῶν Ἁγίων Ἀποστόλων ἐκ τῶν ἑβδοµήκοντα, Ἰάσονος καὶ Σωσιπάτρου. Tῆς Ἁγίας Κερκύρας. Saints and Feasts On this day, the fourth Sunday of Pascha, we remember the Paralytic and celebrate accordingly the miracle worked on him; the holy Apostles of the Seventy, Jason and Sosipater; the holy Martyr Kerkyra. Ἀπολυτίκιον Τῆς Ἑορτῆς Χριστὸς ἀνέστη ἐκ νεκρῶν, θανάτῳ θάνατον πατήσας, καὶ τοῖς ἐν τοῖς µνήµασι, ζωὴν χαρισάµενος. Εἰσοδικόν Ἐν ἐκκλησίαις εὐλογεῖτε τὸν Θεόν, Κύριον ἐκ πηγῶν Ἰσραήλ. Σῶσον ἡµᾶς Υἱὲ Θεοῦ, ὁ ἀναστὰς ἐκ νεκρῶν, ψάλλοντάς σοι, Ἀλληλούϊα. Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἀναστάσιµον Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡµᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσµῳ τὸ µέγα ἔλεος. Απολυτίκιον Των Ταξιαρχών Τῶν οὐρανίων στρατιῶν Ἀρχιστράτηγοι, δυσωποῦμεν ὑμᾶς ἡμεῖς οἱ ἀνάξιοι, ἵνα ταῖς ὑμῶν δεήσεσι, τειχίσητε ἡμᾶς, σκέπῃ τῶν πτερύγων, τῆς ἀΰλου ὑμῶν δόξης, φρουροῦντες ἡμᾶς προσπίπτοντας, ἐκτενῶς καὶ βοῶντας Ἐκ τῶν κινδύνων λυτρώσασθε ἡμᾶς, ὡς Ταξιάρχαι τῶν ἄνω Δυνάμεων. Κοντάκιον 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. Ὕµνος εἰς τὴν Θεοτόκον Συµφώνως Παρθένε, σὲ µακαρίζοµεν πιστοί. Χαῖρε πύλη Κυρίου, χαῖρε πόλις ἔµψυχε, χαῖρε, δι' ἧς ἡµῖν ἔλαµψε, σήµερον φῶς τοῦ ἐκ σοῦ τεχθέντος, τῆς ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀναστάσεως. Hymn of the Feast (Pl. 1 st Mode) Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. Entrance Hymn Bless God in the churches, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead, we sing to You, Alleluia. Hymn of the Resurrection (3 rd Mode) Let the heavens sing for joy, and let everything on earth be glad. For with His Arm the Lord has worked power. He trampled death under foot by means of death; and He became the firstborn from the dead. From the maw of Hades He delivered us; and He granted the world His great mercy. Hymn of the Archangels (4 th Mode) Supreme Commanders of * the hosts of the Heavens, * we, the unworthy, importune and beseech you, * that by your supplications you encircle us * in the shelter of the wings * of your heavenly glory * guarding us who now fall down * and cry to you with fervor. * Deliver us from dangers of all kinds * as the great marshals * of the heavenly hosts on high. Kontakion of the Feast (Pl. 4 th Mode) 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. Hymn to the Theotokos (1 st Mode) With one voice, O Virgin, we the believers call you blest. * O rejoice, You the Lord's gate; city animate, rejoice. * Lady, rejoice, for today the light * of the resurrection from the dead of the Son * whom You have borne, has shone on us.
Today s Scripture Readings Acts of the Apostles 9:32-42 In those days, as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, rise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Πράξεων τῶν Ἀποστόλων 9:32-42 Ἐν ταῖς ἡµέραις ἐκείναις, ἐγένετο Πέτρον διερχόµενον διὰ πάντων κατελθεῖν καὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἁγίους τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Λύδδαν. Εὗρε δὲ ἐκεῖ ἄνθρωπόν τινα ὀνόµατι Αἰνέαν ἐξ ἐτῶν ὀκτὼ κατακείµενον ἐπὶ κραβάττῳ, ὃς ἦν παραλελυµένος. Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ Πέτρος Αἰνέα, ἰᾶταί σε Ἰησοῦς Χριστός ἀνάστηθι καὶ στρῶσον σεαυτῷ. Καὶ εὐθέως ἀνέστη. Καὶ εἶδον αὐτὸν πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες Λύδδαν καὶ τὸν Σάρωνα, οἵτινες ἐπέστρεψαν ἐπὶ τὸν Κύριον. 'Εν Ἰόππῃ δέ τις ἦν µαθήτρια ὀνόµατι Ταβιθά, ἣ διερµηνευοµένη λέγεται Δορκάς αὕτη ἦν πλήρης ἔργων ἀγαθῶν καὶ ἐλεηµοσυνῶν ὧν ἐποίει. Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡµέραις ἐκείναις ἀσθενήσασαν αὐτὴν ἀποθανεῖν λούσαντες δὲ αὐτὴν ἔθηκαν ἐν ὑπερῴῳ. Ἐγγὺς δὲ οὔσης Λύδδης τῇ Ἰόππῃ οἱ µαθηταὶ ἀκούσαντες ὅτι Πέτρος ἐστὶν ἐν αὐτῇ, ἀπέστειλαν δύο ἄνδρας πρὸς αὐτὸν παρακαλοῦντες µὴ ὀκνῆσαι διελθεῖν ἕως αὐτῶν. Ἀναστὰς δὲ Πέτρος συνῆλθεν αὐτοῖς ὃν παραγενόµενον ἀνήγαγον εἰς τὸ ὑπερῷον, καὶ παρέστησαν αὐτῷ πᾶσαι αἱ χῆραι κλαίουσαι καὶ ἐπιδεικνύµεναι χιτῶνας καὶ ἱµάτια ὅσα ἐποίει µετ' αὐτῶν οὖσα ἡ Δορκάς. Ἐκβαλὼν δὲ ἔξω πάντας ὁ Πέτρος καὶ θεὶς τὰ γόνατα προσηύξατο, καὶ ἐπιστρέψας πρὸς τὸ σῶµα εἶπε Ταβιθά, ἀνάστηθι. Ἡ δὲ ἤνοιξε τοὺς ὀφθαλµοὺς αὐτῆς, καὶ ἰδοῦσα τὸν Πέτρον ἀνεκάθισε. Δοὺς δὲ αὐτῇ χεῖρα ἀνέστησεν αὐτήν, φωνήσας δὲ τοὺς ἁγίους καὶ τὰς χήρας παρέστησεν αὐτὴν ζῶσαν. Γνωστὸν δὲ ἐγένετο καθ' ὅλης τῆς Ἰόππης, καὶ ἐπίστευσαν πολλοὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Κύριον. John 5:1-15 At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your pallet, and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked. Now that day was the sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, "It is the sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet." But he answered them, "The man who healed me said to me, 'Take up your pallet, and walk.' " They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your pallet, and walk'?" Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you." The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. Kατὰ Ἰωάννην 5:1-15 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ἀνέβη ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς Ἱεροσόλυµα. ἔστι δὲ ἐν τοῖς Ἱεροσολύµοις ἐπὶ τῇ προβατικῇ κολυµβήθρα, ἡ ἐπιλεγοµένη Ἑβραϊστὶ Βηθεσδά, πέντε στοὰς ἔχουσα. ἐν ταύταις κατέκειτο πλῆθος τῶν ἀσθενούντων, τυφλῶν, χωλῶν, ξηρῶν, ἐκδεχοµένων τὴν τοῦ ὕδατος κίνησιν. ἄγγελος γὰρ κατὰ καιρὸν κατέβαινεν ἐν τῇ κολυµβήθρᾳ, καὶ ἐταράσσετο τὸ ὕδωρ ὁ οὖν πρῶτος ἐµβὰς µετὰ τὴν ταραχὴν τοῦ ὕδατος ὑγιὴς ἐγίνετο ᾧ δήποτε κατείχετο νοσήµατι. ἦν δέ τις ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖ τριάκοντα καὶ ὀκτὼ ἔτη ἔχων ἐν τῇ ἀσθενείᾳ αὐτοῦ. τοῦτον ἰδὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς κατακείµενον, καὶ γνοὺς ὅτι πολὺν ἤδη χρόνον ἔχει, λέγει αὐτῷ Θέλεις ὑγιὴς γενέσθαι; ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ὁ ἀσθενῶν Κύριε, ἄνθρωπον οὐκ ἔχω, ἵνα ὅταν ταραχθῇ τὸ ὕδωρ, βάλῃ µε εἰς τὴν κολυµβήθραν ἐν ᾧ δὲ ἔρχοµαι ἐγὼ, ἄλλος πρὸ ἐµοῦ καταβαίνει. λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς Ἔγειρε, ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει. καὶ εὐθέως ἐγένετο ὑγιὴς ὁ ἄνθρωπος, καὶ ἦρε τὸν κράβαττον αὐτοῦ καὶ περιεπάτει. ἦν δὲ σάββατον ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡµέρᾳ. ἔλεγον οὖν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι τῷ τεθεραπευµένῳ Σάββατόν ἐστιν οὐκ ἔξεστί σοι ἆραι τὸν κράβαττον. ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς Ὁ ποιήσας µε ὑγιῆ, ἐκεῖνός µοι εἶπεν ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει. ἠρώτησαν οὖν αὐτόν Τίς ἐστιν ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὁ εἰπών σοι, ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει; ὁ δὲ ἰαθεὶς οὐκ ᾔδει τίς ἐστιν ὁ γὰρ Ἰησοῦς ἐξένευσεν ὄχλου ὄντος ἐν τῷ τόπῳ. µετὰ ταῦτα εὑρίσκει αὐτὸν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ἴδε ὑγιὴς γέγονας µηκέτι ἁµάρτανε, ἵνα µὴ χεῖρόν σοί τι γένηται. ἀπῆλθεν ὁ ἄνθρωπος καὶ ἀνήγγειλε τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ ποιήσας αὐτὸν ὑγιῆ.
GREEK FILM EXPO COMING TO MANHASSET! The Bow Tie Cinema on Plandome Rd. in Manhasset will feature three nights of Greek films - May 1-3 at 7:00 pm 9:15 pm. All films with English subtitles. TV personality Spyros Papadopoulos will be there in person on May 1st at 9:15pm to introduce his film, JAMAICA. Full information and tickets available: www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 917 710 3027
$20 pp For tickets email: sofia1973@optonline.net
There is still time to sign up for our our trip to the Holy Land led by Fr. John! $85pp Call 516 944 3148 or preschool@archangelmichaelchurch.org
Memorials: Nicholas Manikas Panagiota Theodosopoulos George Theodosopoulos Demetrios Zervopoulos Panagiotis Zervopoulos ~ 1 year ~ 1 year ~ 10 years ~ 3 years ~ 10 years Worship Schedule: Tuesday, May 1 Wednesday, May 2 Saturday, May 5 Upcoming Events: Tues, May 1 Wed, May 1 May 1-3 (T,W,Th) Friday, May 5 Sunday, May 6 Wed, May 9 Fri, May 11 Sun, May 13 Sun, May 20 Sat, June 2 Thurs, June 7 Tues, June 12 July 8-17 September 28-30 Fri, November 9 ~ Small Blessing of the Waters, 11 am ~ Paraklesis to the Theotokos, 10 am (followed by Bible Study at 11 am) ~ Small Vespers, 7 pm (followed by Bible Study at 7:30 pm) ~ St Irene the Great Martyr: Orthros 8:30 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am ~ Visit to Orthodox residents of Sands Point Nursing Home (11:15 am) ~ Bible Study (11 am and 7:30 pm) ~ Greek Film Expo - The Bow Tie Cinema on Plandome Rd. in Manhasset (7:00-9:15pm) ~ Cinco de Mayo FIESTA GOYA Dance at Holy Resurrection in Brookville (7:00-11:00pm) ~ JOY Basketball event at BOUNCE Syosset 6:00-8:00 pm ~ Youth Choir to see the Broadway play Frozen ~ Preschool Annual Dance at Strathmore Vanderbilt Country Club ~ Philoptochos will be holding a Plant Sale for Mother s Day ~ HOPE/JOY Bowling (5:00-7:00 pm) Sheridan Lanes, Mineola ~ GAIA Theatre Performance at AMC (7:30 pm) ~ The AMC 25th Annual Golf Outing ~ Honoring High School and College Graduates sponsored by the AMC LION s ~ Pilgrimage to the Holy Land led by Fr. John ~ 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 All are invited to support the "Blessings in a Backpack" campaign. It's easy; pick up a backpack on Sunday, April 29th, fill it with the list of items inside, and return it to AMC by Thursday, May 3rd. These backpacks help provide meals on weekends to local children. You would be surprised to know that for many local children, the only meals they receive are the breakfasts and lunches provided by the school when in session. Please help us support this outreach. Please Save the Date, Wednesday, May 1st at 7:30 pm, for a Philoptochos Health Initiative at The Bar Method and experience a signature technique which provides a safe, challenging and graceful workout. We are grateful to The Bar Method for donating class time and studio space. Donations will be accepted for AMC Philoptochos. Join us Saturday morning, May 5th 9:00 am - 11:00 am at the Sands Point Preserve as Stephanie Pappas leads us on our first ever walking group. Meet at the Welcome Center Parking Lot. Best to carpool, as the cost is $10 per car. Join us for Philoptochos AMC Cooking Club - 3rd cooking class in a series. Watch and learn how Kathy Tziazas pre pares Kleftiko (Cypriot meat dish) and Briam (Greek roasted vegetable dish) on Saturday, May 12th, 10:00 am- 12:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Only 15 spots! Please RSVP by 5/2/18 to Vicky at vgiouroukakis@molloy.edu or 917-584-9134. Donation $20. Our Philoptochos chapter is continuing our Feed the Hungry campaign through Help Feeding America. $1 = 11 meals!!...it s a no-brainer! Contact us to find out how you can help! GREEK ZUMBA FITNESS is on TUESDAY mornings 9:30 am - 10:30 am in the AMC gym ($20pp for individual classes, $15pp for a package of 10). This class is being offered as part of Philoptochos' "Get Fit, Get Healthy" initiative to promote women's health. All net proceeds from Zumba will be donated to the American Heart Association. Haven't tried it yet? No worries, try it now! Please support our cause and get healthy!! For more info, call Marina Vlahos (516) 627-7303.