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Sunday Bulletin
April 28, 2024
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Watch our live-streaming services here: | | |
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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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Schedule & Revised Services & Events
Thur., April 25, 2024
Greek School
5:30 PM
Fri., April 26, 2024
Youth Retreat
6:00 PM
Sat., April 27, 2024
Saturday of Lazarus
Divine Liturgy
9:30 AM
Youth Breakfast & Palm Making
11:00 AM
Sun., April 28, 2024
Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
9:30 AM
Palm Sunday Luncheon
12:00 PM
Bridegroom Service
6:30 PM
Mon., April 29, 2024
Bridegroom Service
6:30 PM
Tues., April 30, 2024
Bridegroom Service
6:30 PM
Wed., May 1, 2024
Holy Unction
6:00 PM
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
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
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Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
We are pleased to welcome His Grace Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos for Palm Sunday today. Please join us!
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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. | |
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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Palm Sunday Luncheon
Today is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. We are pleased to welcome His Grace Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos who will celebrate the Divine Liturgy with us. Following church services, we invite everyone to enjoy our traditional Palm Sunday Luncheon. Tickets are $15 for adults; $10 for youth ages 6-17; free for children age five and under.
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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
She entered into eternal rest on April 19, 2024 a few days shy of her ninety-fifth birthday. She died peacefully at her home in Guilderland surrounded by her family.
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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. | |
If you do not have a copy of the “Holy Week-Easter” service book, brand new “anniversary editions” are now available at the Pangari. Each and every service of Holy Week is offered in both Greek and English for an in-depth understanding beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with the Resurrection and Agape Services. The cost is $30. Also available is the service book for the beautiful Akathist Hymn. The cost is $15. | |
Tsoureki can be picked up in the Philoptochos room following church services. Please see Dora Mokhiber if you have any questions. | |
DOP Easter Lantern Sale
Every Easter do you worry "Will I get my Easter Flame home safely?" Worry no more! New this year for Easter, the Daughters are selling Easter Lanterns, "Fanarakia" to bring your Easter flame home safely after Anastasi. Lanterns are $10 each and come with a tea candle. Come check them out Sunday during coffee hour, we'll have them on display and available for purchase. They will be on sale up until Holy Week.
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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
We're looking for volunteers for this year's Festival. Please complete the form below which is fillable and return it to the Church Office.
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2024 FESTIVAL BAKING SCHEDULE | |
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Finikia
April 23rd (Tues 6-8 pm) (prep); April 24th (Wed 9 am-3 pm) (bake);
April 25th (Thurs 9 am-3 pm) (dip/package)
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 District 6 Scholarship
Please click below to view the 2024 AHEPA District 6 Scholarship application. Please note that it is a fillable PDF. We prefer that the responses are typed in. The deadline is May 1. If you have any questions, please contact our Scholarship Secretary, Brother Chris Pappis at ahepascholarshiped6@gmail.com.
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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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Rev. Deacon John Kokenis Lieutenant of the United States Navy is Welcomed to the Archdiocese Headquarters
Today, April 16, 2024, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America received the Rev. Deacon John Kokenis, Lieutenant of the United States Navy, at the Archdiocese headquarters.
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Ordination of His Grace Bishop Anthony of Synada
Today, Saturday, April 20, 2024, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America ordained Bishop Anthony of Synada at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Axios! His Grace's family, fellow hierarchs, local clergy, and many Greek Orthodox faithful gathered for this special ordination.
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Address by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America at the Ordination of Bishop-Elect Anthony of Synada
Today, Your Grace, you are elevated into the ranks of the Episcopacy of our Holy Orthodox Church. Hierarchs, clergy and friends from across the country have gathered to welcome you with the cry: AXIOS! As I consider this most significant transition in your life, I would like to reflect for a moment on your late and ever-memorable predecessor in the Titular and once-shining See of Synada, because I knew him at the Phanar for many, many years.
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Greek Independence Day Parade in New York City
Sunday, April 14, 2024, Greek Americans, Hellenes, and Philhellenes marched down Fifth Avenue for the New York City Greek Independence Day Parade. It was a beautiful day in New York City with the sun shining, a stark contrast from Friday's Flag Raising at Bowling Green, where participants, led by the Εὔζωνες, the elite Presidential Guard of the Hellenic Republic, proudly marched in a downpour of rain to honor the Greek Flag and to celebrate Greek Independence.
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Homily at Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Corona, NY for the Akathist Hymn | |
Greek Presidential Guard at Bowling Green - April 12, 2024 | |
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Solicitations
Solicitations of any kind are not allowed anywhere on Church property without
Parish Council approval.
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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! | | | | |
