ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL Norfolk, VA Rev. Presbyter George Bessinas, Dean Rev. Protopresbyter Constantine Rogakos, Associate SUNDAY BULLETIN AND WEEKLY NEWS 2nd Sunday of Lent: Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas Sunday, March 16, 2014
Sunday, March 16, 2014 2nd Sunday of Lent: Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas Orthros: 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy of St. Basil: 10:00 AM On March 16, On this day, the second Sunday of Lent, we observe the memory of our Father among the Saints Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica; we commemorate the holy Martyr Sabine of Egypt; the holy Martyr Papas; holy Martyr Julian of Cilicia; Saint John of Rufinianae died in peace; the holy Martyr Romanos of Parium died by the sword; the holy Ten Martyrs of Phoenicia died by the sword; Saint Alexandrion, Pope of Rome, died in peace; our devout father Aninas the Wonder-worker; our devout father Christodoulos the Wonder-worker, who lived in asceticism in the holy Monastery of John the Theologian, where his precious relic also lies. RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION In the First Tone Let us worship the Word, O ye faithful, praising Him that with the Father and the Spirit is co-beginning less 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. SEASONAL KONTAKION In the Fourth Tone To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"
THE EPISTLE READING St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 1:10-14; 2:1-3 "IN THE BEGINNING, Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?" Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation? Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him. Ο ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 1:10-14; 2:1-3 Κατʼ ἀρχάς, Κύριε, τὴν γῆν ἐθεμελίωσας, καὶ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σού εἰσιν οἱ οὐρανοί αὐτοὶ ἀπολοῦνται, σὺ δὲ διαμένεις καὶ πάντες ὡς ἱμάτιον παλαιωθήσονται, καὶ ὡσεὶ περιβόλαιον ἑλίξεις αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἀλλαγήσονται σὺ δὲ ὁ αὐτὸς εἶ, καὶ τὰ ἔτη σου οὐκ ἐκλείψουσιν. Πρὸς τίνα δὲ τῶν ἀγγέλων εἴρηκέν ποτε, Κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου; Οὐχὶ πάντες εἰσὶν λειτουργικὰ πνεύματα, εἰς διακονίαν ἀποστελλόμενα διὰ τοὺς μέλλοντας κληρονομεῖν σωτηρίαν; Διὰ τοῦτο δεῖ περισσοτέρως ἡμᾶς προσέχειν τοῖς ἀκουσθεῖσιν, μήποτε παραρρυῶμεν. Εἰ γὰρ ὁ διʼ ἀγγέλων λαληθεὶς λόγος ἐγένετο βέβαιος, καὶ πᾶσα παράβασις καὶ παρακοὴ ἔλαβεν ἔνδικον μισθαποδοσίαν, πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας; Ἥτις, ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ κυρίου, ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη.
THE GOSPEL READING Mark 2:1-12 At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he said to the paralytic-"i say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!" ΤΟ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 2.1-12 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσῆλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς εἰς Καπερναοὺμ δι ἡμερῶν καὶ ἠκούσθη ὅτι εἰς οἶκόν ἐστι. καὶ εὐθέως συνήχθησαν πολλοί, ὥστε μηκέτι χωρεῖν μηδὲ τὰ πρὸς τὴν θύραν καὶ ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς τὸν λόγον. καὶ ἔρχονται πρὸς αὐτὸν παραλυτικὸν φέροντες, αἰρόμενον ὑπὸ τεσσάρων καὶ μὴ δυνάμενοι προσεγγίσαι αὐτῷ διὰ τὸν ὄχλον, ἀπεστέγασαν τὴν στέγην ὅπου ἦν, καὶ ἐξορύξαντες χαλῶσι τὸν κράβαττον, ἐφ ᾧ ὁ παραλυτικὸς κατέκειτο. ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Ιησοῦς τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ τέκνον, ἀφέωνταί σοι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου. ἦσαν δέ τινες τῶν γραμματέων ἐκεῖ καθήμενοι καὶ διαλογιζόμενοι ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν τί οὗτος οὕτω λαλεῖ βλασφημίας; τίς δύναται ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ Θεός; καὶ εὐθέως ἐπιγνοὺς ὁ Ιησοῦς τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὕτως αὐτοὶ διαλογίζονται ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, εἶπεν αὐτοῖς τί ταῦτα διαλογίζεσθε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν; τί ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν τῷ παραλυτικῷ, ἀφέωνταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, ἢ εἰπεῖν, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει; ἵνα δὲ εἰδῆτε ὅτι ἐξουσίαν ἔχει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀφιέναι ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἁμαρτίας - λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ σοὶ λέγω, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ ὕπαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου. καὶ ἠγέρθη εὐθέως, καὶ ἄρας τὸν κράβαττον ἐξῆλθεν ἐναντίον πάντων, ὥστε ἐξίστασθαι πάντας καὶ δοξάζειν τὸν Θεὸν λέγοντας ὅτι οὐδέποτε οὕτως εἴδομεν.
ALTAR SERVERS John Clare, Michael Clare, Landon Clay, Matthew Clare, Alexander Wise, Demetri Cain, Emilios Chrysostomides, Nickolas Webb, Michael Wise, Seth Douklias EPISTLE READER Matthew Clare MEMORIAL SERVICES George Ashikis Four Year Memorial Serafem Loucas One Year Memorial WORSHIP SERVICES FOR THIS WEEK Monday, March 17 Great Compline-6:30pm Chapel Bible Study to follow Wednesday, March 19 Presanctified Liturgy-6:30pm Chapel Friday, March 21 3rd Salutations-6:30pm Cathedral Reception sponsored by AHEPA CONFESSIONS will be by APPOINTMENT ONLY. Father George will not hear confessions during HOLY WEEK. TODAY AGORA STORE: The Agora Store, sponsored by the Philoptochos Society of the Annunciation Cathedral, is opened every Sunday, during the coffee fellowship hour, for all of your edible needs. Proceeds of the store support the needy and indigent of the Tidewater Area. UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS 2014 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN: Please take a few moments and complete a stewardship card which you will find in the pews. You may place it in one of the trays. Your support is vital to our Cathedral and greatly appreciated.
GOLDEN YEARS: Tuesday, March 18, at 10:30 am in the Social Hall. SUMMER CAMP: Don t forget to Save the Date for the annual Annunciation Youth Camp on June 23 rd June 27 th. Camp & registration details are coming soon! Interested in volunteering in some way? Contact Linda Meares at 424-9662 or email the Youth Camp team at agocyouthcamp@gmail.com BOOKSTORE: A new shipment of Gold and Silver Crosses have arrived. Come check out a recommended book by Fr. George to prepare ourselves for Lent, Great Lent by Alexander Schmemann for $9. We also have The Kathisma Psalter, the book for Presbytera Chrysanthie s prayer circle, available for $11. SALUTATION BOOKS: The Service of the Akathist Hymn To The Most Holy Theotokos for the Salutation Services. The Cathedral Bookstore has these in stock for only $19. HELLENIC WOMAN S CLUB: Pre-Orders are being taken now through March 28 for the Easter Bake Sale. Please fill out and return the enclosed form and check to Patty Leondaridis. Scholarship Applications are now available. They are located on the table outside the altar and on our website. Scholarships are due no later than March 31 to the Cathedral Office. 100TH ANNIVERSARY ALBUM: If you submitted any pictures for the 100th Anniversary Souvenir Album, please pick them up from Carolyn Papafil in the Hellenic Center. LIBRARY: Starting March 10, the Annunciation Cathedral Library will be open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10am to 1pm. On Sundays, it will be available for use by the upper Sunday School classes. Mrs. Martha Pantelides, the Sunday School Director, will be responsible for ensuring proper use of the Library by the Sunday School teachers and students. This revised use of the Library will make it more accessible to members of all ages in our community. The Library has a variety of books available in both English and Greek, including books on religion, history, arts, and poetry, biographies, reference books, fiction and more. Please make use of our Library and its wonderful resources. CULTURAL COMMITTEE BOOK CLUB: The Book Club will meet Tuesday March 18, 11:00 am at the Cathedral library. We will discuss the book "A New Earth" Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle. The book club meets once a month and it is open to everyone that likes to read. CULTURAL COMMITTEE MOVIE NIGHT: The Cultural Committee will be showing Ostrov (The Island) on April 1 at 6:30pm. All are welcome.
WELCOME Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Chapel of St. Theodore the Commander We extend to you a warm and heartfelt Orthodox Christian welcome. Our Cathedral is dedicated to imitating the love and faithfulness of Jesus Christ by sharing the Gospel with our words and living it with our lives. It exists to lead the faithful to the worship of the Holy Trinity according to the Faith and Tradition of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. We live and witness our faith by the grace of God through our participation in the sacramental life of the Church, Her holy tradition and stewardship, fellowship, service and Christian education. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral 7220 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23505 Tel: 757-440-0500 Fax: 757-423-6929 Email: elizabeth@annunciationva.org Web: www.annunciationva.org Visit our website for updated news and information