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Sunday Bulletin
May 5, 2024
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Watch our live-streaming services here: | |
On behalf of Father Pat, Father Dennis, our Parish Council, the altar boys, the choir, our many organizations and staff, we wish everyone a blessed Easter. Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen! | | |
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Light a Candle
Light a candle for health or in memory of a loved one.
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Coffee Hour
Please support St. Sophia by sponsoring coffee fellowship for memorials. Please click the button below.
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Archepiscopal Encyclical on Great and Holy Pascha, 2024
My beloved sisters and brothers in the Risen Lord, Χριστὸς Ἀνέστη! Christ is Risen!
On Pascha night, the gilded voice of the legendary Archbishop of Constantinople cries out in every church throughout the Orthodox Christian world. In this only sermon ever preached on this “first of Sabbaths” (μία τῶν Σαββάτων) and “feast of feasts” (ἑορτῶν ἑορτή), the Holy Chrysostom invites one and all to partake of “the banquet of faith” (τὸ συμπόσιον τῆς πίστεως).
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Schedule & Revised Services & Events
Thur., May 2, 2024
Divine Liturgy
7:30 AM
Crucifixion Service
6:00 PM
Fri., May 3, 2024
Hours
8:30 AM
Epitaphios Decorating
10:00 AM
Service of the Unnailing
3:30 PM
Lamentations
6:00 PM
Sat., May 4, 2024
Divine Liturgy
9:30 AM
Resurrection Service & Divine Liturgy
11:00 PM
Sun., May 5, 2024
Great & Holy Pascha
Agape Service
11:00 AM
Easter Egg Hunt
12:00 PM
Mon., May 6, 2024
Feast of St. George
Divine Liturgy - Schenectady, NY
9:30 AM
Men's Basketball
6:30 PM
AHEPA
7:00 PM
Tues., May 7, 2024
Senior Program
12:00 PM
Wed., May 8, 2024
Knitters
12:15 PM
Thur., May 9, 2024
Greek School
5:30 PM
Fri., May 10, 2024
Life-giving Font
Divine Liturgy
9:30 AM
Sat., May 11, 2024
Greek School
9:00 AM
Mon., May 13, 2024
Men's Basketball
6:30 PM
Tues., May 14, 2024
Senior Program
12:00 PM
Wed., May 15, 2024
Knitters
12:15 PM
Fri., May 17, 2024
Greek Festival
6:00 PM
Sat., May 18, 2024
Greek Festival
12:00 PM
Sun., May 19, 2024
Greek Festival
12:00 PM
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We were honored for His Grace Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos to join us on
Palm Sunday.
Hierarchical Divine Liturgy - April 28, 2024
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Please note that when the Divine Liturgy begins only the Parish Council members are permitted to bring the votive candles to the icons. | There will be a special Easter fellowship today as we celebrate Easter and also Father Pat’s nameday. In addition, there will be the Easter candy hunt for Sunday School children ages 12 and younger. | |
2024 Stewardship
Stewardship Commitment cards for 2024 have been coming in at a steady pace. But, if you have not made your commitment yet for this year, please find the 2024 Commitment cards on the table in the exonarthex or the information table by the church office. And because of the increase in church expenses, please consider increasing your support as best you can. But know that whatever you can offer, your support is always appreciated.
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Luminaries
Luminaries honor the memory of a deceased loved one and light the path for the Procession of the Epitaphios on Good Friday evening around the Church grounds. The donation is $10.
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Marie D. Takes
Please click below to donate in her memory to the St. Sophia General Fund.
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John C. Googas, Jr.
Please click below to donate in his memory to the St. Sophia General Fund.
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Please click below for the Spring 2024 Calendar. For more information, please contact Theodosia Legato at sundayschool@stsophiaalbany.org. | |
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Epitaphio Flower Collection
Donations of flowers and other specialty items are needed for the many services for Lent and Easter including “flower wreaths” for the icon of our Panagia for Salutation Services and the Akathist Hymn. See the complete listing on the information table or the spring copy of the Testament.
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2024 Greek Festival
Coming soon. Our annual Greek Festival weekend, May 17, 18, 19. If you would like to volunteer and be part of the “army” of parishioners helping to make our major fundraiser a successful event, please see Peter Melas or call the church office. Please complete the form below which is fillable.
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2024 FESTIVAL BAKING SCHEDULE | |
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Spanakopita/Tiropita
May 8th (Wed 9 am-1 pm) (prep); May 9th/10th (Thurs/Fri 9 am-3 pm) (make pitas)
NYC Pastry Packaging
May 13th/May 14th (Mon/Tues 3-7 pm)
To volunteer, please text or e-mail either:
Mary Patelos at (518) 429-5510 – marepat19@gmail.com or
Marie “Nana” McCullough at (518) 369-2313 – mmccullough11@verizon.net
Thank you!!
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HCHC Diaconate Program
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology is now accepting applications for its Certificate for the Diaconate. It is important that potential candidates begin the application as soon as possible to become involved in the regular meetings and training of the Diaconate Program throughout the year. Please click below for more information.
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Study Abroad in Greece
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Hellenic American University announce their partnership with a mission to facilitate educational opportunities in the US and Greece. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on March 22, 2023, outlining the common scope that includes the support of a Greek language initiative, Hellas Alive, and the development of study abroad, civic engagement, faculty, and student exchange opportunities. Please click below for more information.
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Greek Language & Culture Academy | |
The St. Sophia Greek Language & Culture Academy is looking for an enthusiastic part time Greek teacher for the 2024-2025 school year on Saturday mornings. The student’s ages range from 3 years old to middle school. Grade levels are flexible with competitive hourly wage.
For more information, please call or text Eleni at (518) 669-7293 or e-mail greeklanguageacademy@stsophiaalbany.org.
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CrossRoad 2024
Open to all High School Juniors and Seniors
CrossRoad is a ten-day academic summer institute that prepares High School Juniors and Seniors to make big life decisions and invites them to connect with the Orthodox Christian theological and spiritual tradition in a deep and meaningful way. CrossRoad offers a space for young people to form authentic and lifelong friendships, ask hard questions, and explore their calling as an Orthodox Christian in the 21st century.
The CrossRoad Summer Program is designed for High School Juniors and Seniors who are interested in exploring their faith and purpose from an Orthodox Christian perspective. It is open to young people from all walks of life, regardless of their background or level of religious education. Whether you are new to the Orthodox Christian faith or were baptized as an infant of the community, the CrossRoad Summer Program is a welcoming and supportive environment where you can deepen your understanding of your faith and connect with other young Orthodox Christians from across the country.
CrossRoad is designed to best meet the needs of Orthodox teens in their Junior or Senior year of High School who desire to deepen their faith in an Orthodox setting. For this reason, applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 18 years old, and should not have graduated high school prior to April of the year they apply. For CrossRoad 2024, we will accept students in the high school class of 2024 or 2025 (Juniors and Seniors).
Please click below for more information or to fill out an application.
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Choir
The choir will be participating in the Divine Liturgy. New members are welcome to join anytime. Please contact me by e-mail or text with info.
Harry Ermides: (518) 573-7003 or hermides92@gmail.com
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CYO Youth Basketball
The CYO Youth Basketball program held here after school has openings for both boys and girls from 3rd grade to 8th grade. The cost is $145 for registration and player’s jersey. E-mail is ballersacademy32@gmail.com. Please click below to view the flyer.
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Food Pantry
“Food Insecurity” is a new catch phrase used to describe people who have limited means and often suffer from hunger. We have a Food Pantry Collection box located near the coatroom. Donations are needed and accepted all year long. When this box is full, a truck from the Food Pantries will pick up our collection to be dispersed to neighborhood food pantries. Last year they delivered 4,139,525 pounds (yes, over 4 million pounds) of food and the need continues to grow. Donations of non-perishable food items, paper supplies, and baby supplies are always needed. Please be a part of this effort to address hunger issues and donate when you can.
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Cookbook
A very nice gift idea for anyone who likes to cook. The Philoptochos “Treasured Greek Recipes” features a great selection of family recipes that fit into today’s focus on eating healthy— the Mediterranean diet -- healthy but also delicious. See Maria Sokaris on Sunday or the church office during the week. The cost is $20 and makes for a lovely hostess gift.
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5th Annual The Eleftheria Capital Region AHEPA Golf Outing
Please join Albany Chapter 140, Trojan Chapter 306 and Schenectady Chapter 125 who are sponsoring the 5th Annual The Eleftheria Capital Region AHEPA Golf Outing. This outing promises to be a fun-filled day complete with great food, prizes, raffles and challenging golf. All proceeds will benefit the local AHEPA Chapter scholarship funds and philanthropic programs, as well as Night Out For You. The outing will take place on Wednesday, June 12 at Normanside Country Club in Delmar. There are several levels of sponsorships available. Please click below for more information. Thanks for the support!
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AHEPA Chapter 140 Scholarship
Please click below to view the Albany AHEPA Chapter 140 Scholarship application. The deadline is June 30. If you have any questions, please contact George Gregory at gregorikis@aol.com.
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2024-2025 Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships Available
Applications and instructions for six (6) scholarships administered by the Office of the Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America are available for awards to be made for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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Secretary General Dimitris Koutsoumpas of the Greek Communist Party (KKE) is Welcomed to the Archdiocese Headquarters
Today, Friday, April 26, 2024, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America welcomed Secretary General Dimitris Koutsoumpas of the Greek Communist Party (KKE) to the Archdiocese Headquarters.
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His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros Homily for Lazaros Saturday
O Word of God, by your word Lazaros now leaps forth, taking up again the path to life….
Indeed, my beloved Christians, today the Lord Jesus Christ reveals His complete identity as the Logos of God and Lord of the living and the dead, when He calls forth Lazaros from his four-day tomb.
He calls for His friend, whom He left to bring His disciples to faith.
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Archbishop Elpidophoros of America Celebrates the Challenge Liturgy at Archangel Michael Church Port Washington, NY
Today, Saturday of Lazarus, April 27, 2024, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America celebrated the Challenge Liturgy at Archangel Michael Church in Port Washington, NY with Archdeacon Dionysios. Created in 1990, the Challenge Liturgy reaches out to Orthodox Christians with intellectual and developmental disabilities, bringing them into the full life of the parish.
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Archbishop Elpidophoros of America Presides over the Divine Liturgy for Palm Sunday at Holy Trinity Church in Hicksville, NY
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over the Divine Liturgy for Palm Sunday at Holy Trinity Church in Hicksville, NY on Sunday, April 28, 2024. Presiding priest Fr. Theofanis Papantonis, parish council members and faithful welcomed the Archbishop for this important day in the life of the Orthodox Church, the commemoration of the Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem following His glorious miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead.
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Solicitations
Solicitations of any kind are not allowed anywhere on Church property without
Parish Council approval.
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Homily on Palm Sunday - April 28, 2024 | | |
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Spring 2024
Please click below to view the current issue of the Testament including Fr. Pat's Insights, Parish Council, Youth Ministries and more!
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Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date! | | | | |
