Sunday, July 14, 2019



On the Sunday that falls from the 13th to the 19th of the present month, we chant the Service to the 630 Holy and God-bearing Fathers who came together for the 4th Ecumenical Council who assembled in Chalcedon in 451, to condemn Eutyches, who taught that there was only one nature, the divine, in Christ after the Incarnation, and Dioscorus, Patriarch of Alexandria, who illegally received Eutyches back into communion and deposed Saint Flavian, Patriarch of Constantinople, who had excommunicated Eutyches.

Father's Message
My Beloved Friends and Parishioners of Saint Spyridon,

In today’s Gospel reading, the Lord declares: “You are the light of the world”. Christ opens the Scriptures as He opens the tomb. To this empty tomb, we went not to receive darkness but light, the light of resurrection, of faith, of love, the “light of light”, Christ Himself. We become this light when, from the darkness of our churches, in the middle of the night, in the silence of the crowd, we hear the hymn “Come, receive the light, from the never-setting light; and glorify Christ who has risen from the dead ."

With Christ' love,

Fr. Nicolas  
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode
Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world.
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.

Apolytikion for Sun. of the Holy Fathers in the Plagal Fourth Mode
Most glorified art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast established our Fathers as luminous stars upon the earth, and through them didst guide us all to the true Faith. O Most Merciful One, glory be to Thee.
Ὑπερδεδοξασμένος εἶ, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ φωστῆρας ἐπὶ γῆς τοὺς Πατέρας ἡμῶν θεμελιώσας, καὶ δι' αὐτῶν πρὸς τὴν ἀληθινὴν πίστιν, πάντας ἡμᾶς ὁδηγήσας· πολυεύσπλαγχνε, δόξα σοι.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode
O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε. Μὴ παρίδῃς ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι· Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε.
Matins Gospel Reading
Fourth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:1-12
On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered in to the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.

Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 24:1-12
Καὶ τὸ μὲν σάββατον ἡσύχασαν κατὰ τὴν ἐντολήν, Τῇ δὲ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων ὄρθρου βαθέος ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμα φέρουσαι ἃ ἡτοίμασαν ἀρώματα, καί τινες σὺν αὐταῖς. εὗρον δὲ τὸν λίθον ἀποκεκυλισμένον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου, καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι οὐχ εὗρον τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Κυρίου ᾿Ιησοῦ. καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ διαπορεῖσθαι αὐτὰς περὶ τούτου καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνδρες δύο ἐπέστησαν αὐταῖς ἐν ἐσθήσεσιν ἀστραπτούσαις. ἐμφόβων δὲ γενομένων αὐτῶν καὶ κλινουσῶν τὸ πρόσωπον εἰς τὴν γῆν εἶπον πρὸς αὐτάς· τί ζητεῖτε τὸν ζῶντα μετὰ τῶν νεκρῶν; οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε, ἀλλ᾿ ἠγέρθη· μνήσθητε ὡς ἐλάλησεν ὑμῖν ἔτι ὢν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ, λέγων ὅτι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθῆναι εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ σταυρωθῆναι, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστῆναι. καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν τῶν ῥημάτων αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὑποστρέψασαι ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου ἀπήγγειλαν ταῦτα πάντα τοῖς ἕνδεκα καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς λοιποῖς. ἦσαν δὲ ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ Μαρία καὶ ᾿Ιωάννα καὶ Μαρία ᾿Ιακώβου καὶ οἱ λοιπαὶ σὺν αὐταῖς, αἳ ἔλεγον πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ταῦτα. καὶ ἐφάνησαν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ λῆρος τὰ ῥήματα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἠπίστουν αὐταῖς. ὁ δὲ Πέτρος ἀναστὰς ἔδραμεν ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ παρακύψας βλέπει τὰ ὀθόνια κείμενα μόνα, καὶ ἀπῆλθε πρὸς ἑαυτόν, θαυμάζων τὸ γεγονός.
  Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 31.11,1.
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous.
Verse: Blessed are they whose transgressions have been forgiven.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 3:8-15.
Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.
When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.
All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Προκείμενον. Plagal Second Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 31.11,1.
Εὐφράνθητι ἐπὶ Κύριον, καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε δίκαιοι.
Στίχ. Μακάριοι, ὧν ἀφέθησαν αἱ ἀνομίαι.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Τίτον 3:8-15.
Πιστὸς ὁ λόγος, καὶ περὶ τούτων βούλομαί σε διαβεβαιοῦσθαι, ἵνα φροντίζωσιν καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι οἱ πεπιστευκότες θεῷ. ταῦτά ἐστιν καλὰ καὶ ὠφέλιμα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις · μωρὰς δὲ ζητήσεις καὶ γενεαλογίας καὶ ἔριν καὶ μάχας νομικὰς περιΐστασο, εἰσὶν γὰρ ἀνωφελεῖς καὶ μάταιοι. αιῥετικὸν ἄνθρωπον μετὰ μίαν καὶ δευτέραν νουθεσίαν παραιτοῦ, εἰδὼς ὅτι ἐξέστραπται ὁ τοιοῦτος καὶ ἁμαρτάνει, ὢν αὐτοκατάκριτος. Ὅταν πέμψω Ἀρτεμᾶν πρὸς σὲ ἢ Τυχικόν, σπούδασον ἐλθεῖν πρός με εἰς Νικόπολιν, ἐκεῖ γὰρ κέκρικα παραχειμάσαι. Ζηνᾶν τὸν νομικὸν καὶ Ἀπολλῶν σπουδαίως πρόπεμψον, ἵνα μηδὲν αὐτοῖς λείπῃ. μανθανέτωσαν δὲ καὶ οἱ ἡμέτεροι καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι εἰς τὰς ἀναγκαίας χρείας, ἵνα μὴ ὦσιν ἄκαρποι. Ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ μετ ᾽ἐμοῦ πάντες. Ἄσπασαι τοὺς φιλοῦντας ἡμᾶς ἐν πίστει. ἡ χάρις μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν.
  Liturgical Gospel Reading
Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council
The Reading is from Matthew 5:14-19
The Lord said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 5:14-19
Εἶπεν ὁ Κὐριος τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ μαθηταῖς· ῾Υμεῖς ἐστε τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου. οὐ δύναται πόλις κρυβῆναι ἐπάνω ὄρους κειμένη· οὐδὲ καίουσι λύχνον καὶ τιθέασι αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τὸν μόδιον, ἀλλ᾿ ἐπὶ τὴν λυχνίαν, καὶ λάμπει πᾶσι τοῖς ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ. οὕτω λαμψάτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὅπως ἴδωσιν ὑμῶν τὰ καλὰ ἔργα καὶ δοξάσωσι τὸν πατέρα ὑμῶν τὸν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς. Μὴ νομίσητε ὅτι ἦλθον καταλῦσαι τὸν νόμον ἢ τοὺς προφήτας· οὐκ ἦλθον καταλῦσαι, ἀλλὰ πληρῶσαι. ἀμὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑμῖν, ἕως ἂν παρέλθῃ ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ, ἰῶτα ἓν ἢ μία κεραία οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου ἕως ἂν πάντα γένηται. ὃς ἐὰν οὖν λύσῃ μίαν τῶν ἐντολῶν τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων καὶ διδάξῃ οὕτω τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, ἐλάχιστος κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν· ὃς δ᾿ ἂν ποιήσῃ καὶ διδάξῃ, οὗτος μέγας κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν.
Summer Donation
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Beloved Friends and Parishioners of Saint Spyridon, 
 
As many of you are getting ready for the summer months, we wanted to thank you for your continuous help and support all year long. We realize it was a particularly busy year and we pray our Almighty God bless you and your loved ones for being such a crucial part of the rebirth of our community.
 
Meanwhile, our mission is to keep Saint Spyridon’s Church up and running during June, July and August. In addition to the regular liturgical services, especially in August, we will continue ministering to the sick and people in need.

In order to keep our doors open, we are once again asking for your support, not only through prayers and love, but also financially. Any donation will allow us to ensure our spiritual  diakonia  in Washington Heights.

We hope and pray that you have a restful and enjoyable summer vacation.
 
With Christ’s love,
 
Fr. Nicolas Kazarian
Parish Priest

Lydia Vagelos Callimanis
Parish Council President
SUNDAY, AUGUST 11
ST. SPYRIDON'S GREAT MIRACLE
On Sunday, August 11, 2019, Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church, in Washington Heights, will celebrate the feast of its Patron Saint, commemorating the great miracle of 1716 in Corfu.

In 1716, the island of Corfu was under Venetian rule but was threatened by the Turks, who managed to gain a beach head and laid siege to the city. St. Spyridon was seen by Turkish soldiers walking through their camp at night holding a torch. This vision sent the Turkish forces into a panic and the siege was lifted after only 22 days. To this day, St. Spyridon is referred to as the Keeper of the City in Corfu.

Orthros will begin at 8.30 a.m., followed by the Divine Liturgy.
Please, join us for coffee immediately after Liturgy in the Community Hall.
Join us for a time of worship and spiritual joy in the middle of Summer!
2019 Stewardship Campaign
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In January, we started our 2019 Stewardship Campaign by reaching out to all of St. Spyridon’s parishioners and friends. We feel blessed and humbled by your enthusiastic response. But there is still a lot to do. To face the uncertainty of the future, we need to build our community here and now based on the embodiment of Christ’s teaching and example. This is why stewardship is so crucial.
 
As you know, Orthodox Christian Stewardship is a way of life that acknowledges our responsibility before God. A primary goal of stewardship is spiritual growth. We become Stewards when we believe in God and begin to act on our beliefs. As Orthodox Christians, we acknowledge that every aspect of our life is a gift from Him. We are called to cheerfully offer back to God a portion of the gifts with which we have been blessed.
 
An Orthodox Christian Steward is an active participant in the life of the Church, as the Body of Christ, in its prayers and services, in its social and philanthropic activities.
 
So, what can we do? Offer Treasury. Sure, we need it to keep our church open. But we can also give of our Time and Talent to the Church. What does that mean? Good question! In an effort to make stewardship more concrete, the Stewardship Committee has decided to dedicate the next four Sundays to stewardship awareness. We will bring in people who will share with the community their experience with stewardship.
The Stewardship Committee

Schedule of Services
Sunday, July 14
Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council
Orthros 8:30am; Divine Liturgy 9:45

Wednesday, July 17
St. Martyr Marina
Orthros 8:30am; Divine Liturgy 9:45

Sunday, July 21
5th Sunday of Matthew
Orthros 8:30am: Divine Liturgy 9:45

Saturday, July 27
St. Panteleimon
Orthros 8:30am: Divine Liturgy 9:45

Sunday, July 28
6th Sunday of Matthew
Orthros 8:30am: Divine Liturgy 9:45
SAINT SPYRIDON PHILOPTOCHOS SOCIETY
Sponsoring Coffee Hour
If you are interested in sponsoring a Coffee Hour after Church Services on Sunday, please call the church office.

Αν ενδιαφέρεστε να γίνετε χορηγός στον καφέ μετά την Θεία Λειτουργία της Κυριακής, παρακαλώ επικοινωνήστε με το γραφείο της εκκλησίας.   

Please Note: There will be no coffee hour during the months of July and August.

 Adult/Professional Ministry
The Saint Spyridon Young Adults and Professionals Ministry started in September. Described by one member as “Goya for grownups,” our monthly meetings are a time both for fellowship and for study and discussion of Orthodoxy.

This is a blessing for our community.

Follow our activities on Facebook and don't hesitate to contact the Church Office for more information.

Hellenic Education Program "Sophia"
Saint Spyridon’s Sophia Hellenic Education Program begins its second year in September 2019 and while the program is targeted for our community’s youth, we welcome everyone in the community to help strengthen this program.

In addition to Greek language instruction, the program includes Greek music and dance, cooking, and arts and crafts.

Curriculum runs from September to June on Sundays from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Come and meet our teachers during our Open House and Registration, on Sunday, September 22 after church.

If you know a child who would benefit from the program or would like personally to contribute to the program with your time, talents or otherwise, please e-mail: office@saintspyridon.net

Please help us spread the word regarding Saint Spyridon’s Hellenic Education Program by forwarding this e-mail to your contacts and posting about it on your social media. 

Thank you in advance for your support!

New Children's Quiet Room
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Please feel free to bring your child to the Quiet Room to read a book if they are restless in church. 
Our Quiet Room is outside the elevator on the church level. There are sofas and a basket with books. 
  Girls Scouts
Sunday School

St. Spyridon is fortunate to have a very strong and thriving Sunday School program. The Sunday School program teaches our children and youth the Orthodox faith through teachings of the Bible as well as materials obtained from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. 
Information:
Curriculum runs from September to June each year Classes begin immediately after Holy Communion and are 45 - 60 minutes in length.
 Seniors
Our Seniors meet every Tuesday and Thursday from 12pm to 2pm at church. Welcome back! God bless you. This ministry's significance for our community goes without saying.

Οι συνταξιούχοι μας ξακίνησαν τις συναντήσεις τους , την Τρίτη 18 Σεπτεμβρίου 2018 και κάθε Τρίτη και Πέμπτη από τις 12 μ.μ. έως τις 2:00 μ.μ. στην εκκλησία. Καλώς ήλθατε πίσω! Ο Θεός να σας ευλογεί. Η σπουδαιότητα αυτού του προγράμματος για   την κοινότητά μας είναι μεγάλη.
 AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association)
We invite you to become a member of the George Papaeleas Chapter 367 of AHEPA, which is associated with the growing St. Spyridon Community. The chapter meets on Sunday’s, at the St. Spyridon Community Center on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. It was founded in 1950 and is named after its founder.
AHEPA is the largest organization of Greek Americans in the country, and internationally too. Its membership consists of Phil-Hellenes as well (friends of Greece). The organization started in 1922 and its mission is to promote Hellenism, Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, Family, and Individual Excellence.

If you are interested in joining our chapter, and for more information, please contact
our Membership Chairman,

George J. Patsalos by E-mail: george@jamaica.net
Summer Hours
Please note that for practical reasons, we are reintroducing our summer hours.

Beginning Sunday, July 7, through Sunday, August 25,
Orthros followed by the Divine Liturgy will start at 8:30 am, and not 9 am.

There will be no coffee hour during the months of July and August.
1st Newsletter - "The Voice"
 News
(Holy Week and Easter 2019 )