STS. CONSTANTINE & HELEN GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF BROOKLYN ΚΑΘΕΔΡΙΚΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΕΛΕΝΗΣ 64 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201 Telephone: (718) 624-0595 Fax Telephone: (718) 624-2228 www.stconstantinecathedral.org Dean: Fr. John K. Lardas fatherjohn@afantis.org *** ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH OF THE WTC ΝΑΟΣ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΝΙΚΟΛΑΟΥ ΤΟΥ WTC Ήχος Βαρύς -Εωθινόν Ευαγγέλιο Β *********************************************************************************** Ιησούς Χριστός,όλοι ξέρουμε αυτό το όνομα, όμως πόσοι Τον ξέρουμε; Οι πιο πολλοί δεν Τον κατάλαβαν, δεν μπόρεσαν να αποδεκτούν την ταπείνωσή Του, την ανεξικακία Του, αυτό που πρόσφερε σε όλους αδιακρίτως. Πολλοί είναι αυτοί που ακόμα Τον αμφισβητούν, Τον κατηγορούν, Τον βλασφημούν μη μπορώντας να εννοήσουν την μεγαλωσύνη Του.Δεν μπορούν να καταλάβουν το κέρδος διαμέσου της εκούσιας "ήττας", δεν μπορούν να αποδεκτούν ότι καλούνται και οι ίδιοι να χάσουν ώστε να κερδίσουν, να απολέσουν το καλό τους προφίλ και σαν άσημοι να γίνουν τελικά σημαντικοί.οι περισσότεροι είμαστε χριστιανοί-θεατρίνοι, είμαστε "χριστιανοί των καλλιστείων".μας νοιάζει το προφίλ μας, η εικόνα μας, το κύρος μας, η άποψη της ομήγυρις και όχι η σχέση μας με τον Χριστό, η σχέση μας με τους άλλους.ο Χριστός κατάντησε παρείσακτος της ζωής μας, κατάντησε για άλλη μία φορά ο "βλάσφημος διδάσκαλος" που τόλμά να μιλά για κάτι πιο βαθύ από τα ατομικά μας "πνευματικά κατορθώματα". Μας μιλά για κοινωνία αγάπης, για συγχώρεση, για την απώλεια του "εγώ" μας.ο Χριστός μας προτρέπει να κάνουμε "τούμπα" την ζωή μας. Να φέρουμε τα πάνω κάτω σε σχέση με αυτά που ο εκκοσμικευμένος μας χριστιανισμός μας καλεί να ζήσουμε.κάποιοι ίσως είναι υποψιασμένοι ότι αυτό που ζούν μέσα στην Εκκλησία δεν είναι χριστιανικό, γιατί; Γιατί δεν έχουν χαρά, γιατί ενώ ζούνε μέσα στο Σώμα του Χριστού είναι σαν να ζούνε μέσα στο σώμα της μιζέριας, της σοβαροφάνειας, του καθωσπρεπισμού, της αλαζονείας, του εγωισμού.εγκλωβισμένοι μέσα σε μικροπρέπειες, σε "όχι", σε "πρέπει", σε ηθικούς κανόνες τελειοποίησεις της "έξωθεν καλής μαρτυρίας".δεν είναι εύκολο να αποδεκτείς ότι τόσα χρόνια, αν και ήσουν άνθρωπος της Εκκλησίας, ζούσες χωρίς Χριστό. Δεν είναι εύκολο να αποδεκτεί κανείς ότι ο χριστιανισμός που βίωνε και ίσως ακόμα βιώνει είναι κάποιο κεκαλυμένο ψυχολογικό τρικ για να μεταλλάσσει τις ενοχές του σε τιμωρία-λύτρωση, και τον Χριστό σε τον υπέρτατο δικαστή της ζωής που μπορεί να εξαγοράσει κάνοντας "τα θελήματά" Του.Μερικοί από εμάς Τον ψάχνουμε. Ψάχνουμε όχι κάποιο απομινάρει του Χριστού, αλλά Τον ίδιο. Ψάχνουμε για τον Χριστό των Πατέρων της Εκκλησίας και όχι τον Χριστό του ηθικισμού και της μιζέριας.τον αναζητούμε όχι γιατί "πρέπει" να Τον βρούμε, αλλά γιατί θέλουμε... Νιώθεις την ανάγκη να Τον βρεις. Να κοινωνήσεις μαζί Του, να γίνεις οίκος Του, και ο Οίκος του να γίνει Πατρίδα σου...μερικοί άλλοι Τον έχουνε βρει. Είναι λίγοι... Ασήμαντοι για εμάς. Άνθρωποι που δεν τους "πιάνει το μάτι" σου. Ζουν σε σπηλιές, σε δρόμους, σε σπίτια, σε ερημιές, σε πόλεις. Ζουν παντού αλλά και πουθενά.ζουν στον κόσμο, για τον κόσμο, έχοντας πεθάνει όμως για τον κόσμο... Ιησούς Χριστός. Ποιος δεν ξέρει αυτό το όνομα; Όλος ο κόσμος! Ποιος όμως Τον ξέρει;
Κυριακή 23η Νοεμβρίου, 2014 Κυριακή: Θ ΛΟΥΚΑ. Τῶν ἐν Ἁγίοις Πατέρων ἡμῶν Ἀμφιλοχίου, Ἐπισκόπου Ἰκονίου, καί Γρηγορίου, Ἐπισκόπου Ἀκραγαντίνων. Τοῦ ἐν Ἁγίοις Πατρός ἡμῶν Διονυσίου, Πατριάρχου Κωνσταντινουπόλεως. Αναστάσιμο Απολυτίκιον Ήχος Βαρύς Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέῳξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυροφόρων τὸν θρῆνον μετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας, ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Απολυτίκιον των Εισοδίων Σήμερον τής ευδοκίας Θεού τό προοίμιον, καί τής τών ανθρώπων σωτηρίας η προκήρυξις, Εν Ναώ τού Θεού τρανώς η Παρθένος δείκνυται, καί τόν Χριστόν τοίς πάσι προκαταγγέλλεται, Αυτή καί ημείς μεγαλοφώνως βοήσωμεν, Χαίρε τής οικονομίας τού Κτίστου η εκπλήρωσις. Απολύτίκιον Αγίων Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης Τοῦ Σταυροῦ σου τὸν τύπον ἐν οὐρανῷ θεασάμενος, καὶ ὡς ὁ Παῦλος τὴν κλῆσιν οὐκ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων δεξάμενος, ὁ ἐν βασιλεῦσιν, Ἀπόστολός σου Κύριε, Βασιλεύουσαν πόλιν τῇ χειρί σου παρέθετο ἣν περίσῳζε διὰ παντὸς ἐν εἰρήνῃ, πρεσβείαις τῆς Θεοτόκου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε. Απολυτίκιον Αγίου Νικολάου Κανόνα πίστεως καὶ εἰκόνα πραότητος, ἐγκρατείας Διδάσκαλον, ἀνέδειξέ σε τῇ ποίμνῃ σου, ἡ τῶν πραγμάτων ἀλήθεια διὰ τοῦτο riches by poverty. ἐκτήσω τῇ ταπεινώσει τὰ ὑψηλά, τῇ πτωχείᾳ τὰ πλούσια, Πάτερ Ἱεράρχα Νικόλαε, πρέσβευε Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ, σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. Κοντάκιον Ο καθαρώτατος ναός τού Σωτήρος, η πολυτίμητος παστάς καί Παρθένος, τό Ιερόν θησαύρισμα τής δόξης τού Θεού, σήμερον εισάγεται, εν τώ οίκω Κυρίου, τήν χάριν συνεισάγουσα, τήν εν Πνευματι θείω, ήν ανυμνούσιν Άγγελοι Θεού, Αύτη υπάρχει σκηνή επουράνιος. Sunday November 23rd, 2014 9th Sunday of Luke.Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium.Gregory, Bishop of Agrigentum. Ischyrion, Bishop of Egypt Our Holy Father Dionysios, Patriarch of Constantinople. Resurrectional Apolytikion Grave Tone Thou didst abolish death by Thy Cross; Thou didst open Paradise to the thief; Thou didst transform the myrrh-bearers' lamentation, and didst bid Thine Apostles to preach that Thou art risen, O Christ God, granting great mercy to the world. Apolytikion of the Theotokos Today is the prelude of God's pleasure and the proclamation of man's salvation. The Virgin is clearly made manifest in the temple of God and foretells Christ to all. Let us also cry out to her with mighty voice, "Hail, fulfillment of the Creator's dispensation." Apolytikion of Sts. Constantine and Helen Having seen the image of Thy Cross in Heaven, and like Paul, having received the call not from men, Thine apostle among kings entrusted the commonwealth to Thy hand, O Lord. Keep us always in peace, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, O only Friend of man. Apolytikion of St. Nicholas The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, an icon of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; for this cause, thou hast achieved the heights by humility, O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved. Kontakion Today, the most pure temple of the Savior, the precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the sacred treasure of God, enters the house of the Lord, bringing the grace of the Divine Spirit. The Angels of God praise her. She is the heavenly tabernacle.
Κύριος ἰσχὺν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ δώσει. Στίχ. Ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ υἱοὶ Θεοῦ, ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ δόξαν καὶ τιμήν. Πρὸς Ἐφεσίους 2:14-22 Ἀδελφοί, Χριστός ἐστιν ἡ εἰρήνη ἡμῶν, ὁ ποιήσας τὰ ἀμφότερα ἕν, καὶ τὸ μεσότοιχον τοῦ φραγμοῦ λύσας, τήν ἔχθραν ἐν τῇ σαρκί αὐτοῦ, τὸν νόμον τῶν ἐντολῶν ἐν δόγμασιν, καταργήσας ἵνα τοὺς δύο κτίσῃ ἐν ἑαὐτῷ εἰς ἕνα καινὸν ἄνθρωπον, ποιῶν εἰρήνην, καὶ ἀποκαταλλάξῃ τοὺς ἀμφοτέρους ἐν ἑνὶ σώματι τῷ θεῷ διὰ τοῦ σταυροῦ, ἀποκτείνας τὴν ἔχθραν ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐλθὼν εὐηγγελίσατο εἰρήνην ὑμῖν τοῖς μακρὰν καὶ τοῖς ἐγγύς ὅτι διʼ αὐτοῦ ἔχομεν τὴν προσαγωγὴν οἱ ἀμφότεροι ἐν ἑνὶ πνεύματι πρὸς τὸν πατέρα. Ἄρα οὖν οὐκέτι ἐστὲ ξένοι καὶ πάροικοι, ἀλλὰ συμπολῖται τῶν ἁγίων καὶ οἰκεῖοι τοῦ θεοῦ, ἐποικοδομηθέντες ἐπὶ τῷ θεμελίῳ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ προφητῶν, ὄντος ἀκρογωνιαίου αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἐν ᾧ πᾶσα οἰκοδομὴ συναρμολογουμένη αὔξει εἰς ναὸν ἅγιον ἐν κυρίῳ, ἐν ᾧ καὶ ὑμεῖς συνοικοδομεῖσθε εἰς κατοικητήριον τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν πνεύματι. The Lord will give strength to his people. Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory. St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:14-22 BRETHREN, Christ is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 12.16-21 Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην Ἀνθρώπου τινὸς πλουσίου εὐφόρησεν ἡ χώρα καὶ διελογίζετο ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων τί ποιήσω, ὅτι οὐκ ἔχω ποῦ συνάξω τοὺς καρπούς μου; καὶ εἶπε τοῦτο ποιήσω καθελῶ μου τὰς ἀποθήκας καὶ μείζονας οἰκοδομήσω, καὶ συνάξω ἐκεῖ πάντα τὰ γενήματά μου καὶ τὰ ἀγαθά μου, καὶ ἐρῶ τῇ ψυχῇ μου ψυχή, ἔχεις πολλὰ ἀγαθὰ κείμενα εἰς ἔτη πολλά ἀναπαύου, φάγε, πίε, εὐφραίνου. εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Θεός ἄφρον, ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ τὴν ψυχήν σου ἀπαιτοῦσιν ἀπὸ σοῦ ἃ δὲ ἡτοίμασας τίνι ἔσται; οὕτως ὁ θησαυρίζων ἑαυτῷ, καὶ μὴ εἰς Θεὸν πλουτῶν. The Gospel of Luke 12:16-21 The Lord said this parable: "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." As he said these things, he cried out: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
Winter holidays in the midst of Arab Spring Christ is born, glorify Him sing unto the Lord all the earth and joyfully praise Him all ye nations for He is glorified! It s the liturgical song that expresses the joy of the Church that our Christ Savior was born. The joy that unites heaven and earth, angels and men. A joy that we all felt and we mostly lived it liturgically, ecclesiastically, Eucharistically in the great mystery of the Divine Liturgy. We could say that is something normal and that is how our ancestors lived. In our nation, yes, it s normal. But unfortunately not all Christians had the holy peace that we ve all enjoyed at Christmas. Every time the Gospel is read, on the Sunday after the Nativity of our Lord, we are presented with a family [the Holy family of the Virgin Mary and righteous Joseph] in the Middle East, fleeing [with the baby Jesus] from the human hatred [of Herod]. From infancy, the Holy Child experienced suffering. From the cradle, He began to bear His Cross. But He wasn t alone Immediately it followed the 14,000 innocents, the first martyrs of the Church the infants. And the series of this genocide continues until today This Christmas feast, in the home land of the Christ Child, in the Middle East, Christians celebrated it with tears. Tears for the loved ones who have died, tears for the many which cannot be found, tears for their churches and their cemeteries, tears that Christ was born in a world too cruel. Tears began to flow starting with the eve of the great feast, while in our country, children brought the good news. On December 24, 2013 during Vespers in the Dora neighborhood of Baghdad, a church was mined. 26 Christians that were praying in the church have died and 38 were injured. At the same time, in the Athorien plaza of the same city, two bombs targeted a cafe owned by a Christian family. 11 more dead and 21 wounded were added to those murdered in the church. In Egypt, a little after midnight on December 26, during the Divine Liturgy, a bomb exploded in the nave of the Coptic church: Abba Anthony. There, 23 martyrs were counted and about a hundred were injured. According to the eyewitnesses, there were body parts [of those martyred] spread everywhere, on the streets, outside the church and even in the Holy Altar. The dead were placed before the altar, covered with newspapers and the vigil continued The eyewitnesses also attested that the security forces withdrew an hour before the bombing of the church. These may seem to us like events from a parallel world. But in fact they were acts of ordinary Muslims, trained by a series of fanatical clerics. And if they were attributed to the rebels, we must say that there were also government orders. In most Arab countries, the Muslim government leaders have passed law bills that prohibit Christian liturgical worship during the period of December 6, 2013 to January 7, 2014. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, a government decision was instituted that recommends : the local Christian churches to reduce the pomp for the celebrations of Christmas and New Year, in order not to disturb the days of mourning and self-flagellation of the Shiite Muslims. In Iraq, some teachers from the elementary schools in Baghdad and Mosul have scheduled final exams on December 25, forcing Christian students to attend school on the day of the Nativity. Some Muslim clerics in their sermons insisted that to tell someone Merry Christmas is worse than fornication... and even worse than murder! At home, we enjoyed the caroling, the lights and the Christmas tree, we attended church and we extended this joy into our family homes. With or without the snow we felt it as a magic winter. We lived the holidays, as we desired. In the Middle East however, the winter continued with the Arab Spring, which brought tears and pain. But Christ was also born for them. Perhaps more than He was for us! That He may bring comfort to their souls. There, were the carols were absent, the holy angels sang instead: Christ is born, glorify Him sing the Lord all ye nations and joyfully praise Him, for He is glorified!
Μνημόσυνα -Μνημόσυνο για όλα τα αποβιώσαντα μέλη του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου -Μιχαήλ Γλεζάκος-1 χρόνο -Ελένη & Ηλίας Γριγοράκος-3 χρόνια & 45 χρόνια Καθημερινές Λειτουργίες 25 Νοεμβρίου Η Εορτή της Αγίας Αικατερίνης Όρθρος 8:30πμ Θεία Λειτουργία 9:30πμ Προσεχώς Μνημόσυνο 14 Δεκεμβρίου -Κωνσταντίνος Βλαχάβας 40 ημέρες Ανακοινώσεις 23 Νοεμβρίου Εκλογές για το Διοικητικό Συμβούλιο -Ο Σύλλογος Γονέων και Διδασκάλων θα προσφέρει το ετήσιο γεύμα για την ημέρα των ευχαριστιών 27 Νοεμβρίου Παιχνίδι Football με την GOYA και τα ιερόπαιδα στο Bay Ridge 12 Δεκεμβρίου Χριστουγεννιάτικη Εορτή για τα παιδιά με ιδικές ανάγκες στην αίθουσα της εκκλησίας 13 Δεκεμβρίου Χριστουγεννιάτικο Φεστιβάλ του PTO 21 Δεκεμβρίου-Χριστουγεννιάτικη Γιορτή από τα παιδιά του Κατηχητικού σχολείου και Χριστουγεννιάτικο πάρτι της Φιλοπτώχου μετά από την Θεία Λειτουργία Ωράριο για τις Κυριακάτικες Λειτουργίες Όρθρος 9:15πμ * Θεία Λειτουργία 10:30πμ Memorials -Memorial Service for all the deceased Board Members of our Cathedral -Michael Glezakos-1 year -Eleni & Elias Grigorakos-3 years & 45 years Weekday Liturgies November 25 The Feast of St. Catherine Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am Upcoming Memorial December 14 -Constantin Vlahavas 40 Days Announcements November 23- Election of Candidates for the Board of Trustees -P.T.O. Thanksgiving Brunch November 27- GOYA & Altar Boys Thanksgiving Football Game in Bay Ridge December 12 Christmas Party for Mentally Challenged Adults in our Church Hall December 13 A. Fantis Winter Festival December 21-Sunday School Christmas Pageant & Philoptochos Christmas Party Hours for Sunday Liturgy Orthros 9:15am * Divine Liturgy 10:30am
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 23 Election of Candi- 27 Thanksgiving Day 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 10 11 12 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday dates for the Board of Trustees 24 25 St. Catherine Orthros-8:30am 7 8 9 The Feast of St. Anna Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am 26 Bible Study GOYA & Altar Boys 28 29 Christmas Party for Mentally Challenged Adults in our Church Hall-5:30pm 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Sunday School Christmas Pageant and Philoptochos Christmas Party 28 29 30 31 22 23 24 Christmas Eve, Christmas Recess for A. Fantis school begins 25 Christmas Day 26 27 The Feast of St. Nicholas Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am 13 A. Fantis Winter Festival-9:00am Orthros 8:30am & Divine Liturgy 9:30am-Everyday until Christmas Orthros 8:30am & Divine Liturgy 9:30am Everyday until Christmas
It s that time of year again! Time for our Annual Youth Christmas Party for the residents of AABR. The AABR, (Association for the Advancement of the Blind and Retarded), is a nonprofit organization that assists and houses blind, mentally retarded and autistic adults. HOSTED BY: The Youth from the Sunday School, JOY and GOYA Programs WHEN: Friday, December 12, 2014 from 5:30-9:00p.m. WHERE: Saint s Constantine and Helen Come and share your holiday cheer with the residents of AABR! At 5:00pm the JOY of our Cathedral will be decorating our Christmas Tree in the church. Santa will also be coming by to deliver your gifts to the residents! A pasta dinner and yummy deserts will be served! Questions? Call Tina Papadakos at 917-450-6561 A list of gifts for the residents will be distributed next week! Sts. Constantine & Helen Cathedral T-Ball Basketball Program Boys and Girls 4 6 years of Age Boys and Girls 7-8 years of Age Dates Dec. 5, 12, 19, Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Feb. 6 Contacts Konstantinos Bourmas (917) 536-2462 Gus Sheha 917-742-6072 Place Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church 64 Schermerhorn St. Brooklyn, NY 11201 718-624-0595 Cost $50.00 Checks payable to Sts. Constantine and Helen In Memo write Hope, Includes T- Shirt Goals Fundamentals, Sportsmanship, Skill Sets, Scrimmages
The Philoptochos Society of Saints Constantine and Helen Cathedral is sponsoring our ANNUAL DRIVE in SUPPORT of the CHILD LIFE FUND at SUNY Downstate Medical Center We thank you with deepest appreciation for your generous support. The Child Life Fund is one of the first hospital-based pediatric programs to promote healing through play. Every year, just before Christmas, the dedicated volunteers of the Sts. Constantine and Helen Philoptochos Society present our community s donation to purchase gifts for this program. Together with the medical staff, our combined efforts help provide comfort and joy to chronically ill children and their families. PLEASE MAKE A GENEROUS DONATION to this effort. Please make your donations to Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral Philoptochos Society by December 7, 2014. Donations can be sent to the Church Office: Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral, 64 Schermerhorn St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 or call the office 718-624-0595. Help Decorate our Cathedral this Christmas Season Please make your donation in the donation box at the back of the church or see the church office. Thank You. Merry Christmas!!!