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Bulletin for Sunday, March 24, 2024
Sunday of Orthodoxy
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Sunday of Orthodoxy
For more than one hundred years the Church of Christ was troubled by the persecution of the Iconoclasts of evil belief, beginning in the reign of Leo the Isaurian (717-741) and ending in the reign of Theophilus (829-842). After Theophilus's death, his widow the Empress Theodora (celebrated Feb. 11), together with the Patriarch Methodius (June 14), established Orthodoxy anew. This ever-memorable Queen venerated the icon of the Mother of God in the presence of the Patriarch Methodius and the other confessors and righteous men, and openly cried out these holy words: "If anyone does not offer relative worship to the holy icons, not adoring them as though they were gods, but venerating them out of love as images of the archetype, let him be anathema." Then with common prayer and fasting during the whole first week of the Forty-day Fast, she asked God's forgiveness for her husband. After this, on the first Sunday of the Fast, she and her son, Michael the Emperor, made a procession with all the clergy and people and restored the holy icons, and again adorned the Church of Christ with them. This is the holy deed that all we the Orthodox commemorate today, and we call this radiant and venerable day the Sunday of Orthodoxy, that is, the triumph of true doctrine over heresy.
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We are calling on our congregation, and friends, to contribute to this important cause. Your donation will help us create a welcoming and inspiring space where we can gather for worship, fellowship, and community events. With your help, we can build a facility that reflects our values and meets the needs of our growing community.
Every contribution counts, and we welcome donations of any size. Whether you can give a little or a lot, your support is greatly appreciated. Together, we can make this dream a reality and build a new home for our community. Thank you for your generosity and support!
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Hymns of the Day
Apolytikion of the Feast.Mode 2.
We venerate Your immaculate icon, O good Lord, and entreat You to forgive our offenses, O Christ our God. By Your own choice you were pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, to deliver us, whom You created, from our slavery to the foe. Therefore we cry to You with gratitude: You have filled all things with joy, O our Savior, by coming to save the world.
Resurrectional Apolytikion. Mode 1.
The stone having been sealed by the Pharisees and chief priests, * and Your all-immaculate body being guarded by soldiers, * You rose on the third day, O Lord and Savior, granting life unto the world. * Then the powers of the heavens cried out to You, O Giver of Life, and shouted, * “Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ! * Glory to Your eternal rule! * Glory to Your plan for saving us, only benevolent God!”
Apolytikion for the Church, St. John Chrysostom, Mode pl. 4.
The grace that from your mouth shone forth like a torch illumined the universe. It deposited in the world the treasures of the absence of avarice. It showed us the height that is attained by humility. Now you instruct us by your words, Father John Chrysostom. Intercede with Christ God, the Word Himself, entreating Him to save our souls.
Kontakion. Mode pl. 4.
O Champion General, I your City now inscribe to you Ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν εὐχαριστήρια, Triumphant anthems as the tokens of my gratitude, Ἀναγράφω σοι ἡ Πόλις σου Θεοτόκε. Being rescued from the terrors, O Theotokos. Ἀλλʼ ὡς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον, Inasmuch as you have power unassailable, Ἐκ παντοίων με κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον, From all kinds of perils free me, so that unto you I may cry aloud: Rejoice, O unwedded Bride.
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The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews.
Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered abuse suffered for the Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked to the reward. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets — who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated — of whom the world was not worthy — wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Gospel Reading
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The reading is from the holy Gospel according to John.
At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”
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“Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which He hath given thee.” Deuteronomy (16:17) | | |
We are stewards of the Gospel and the stewards of our parish. We see our church, not as it is, but as it could be. We offer our treasure and ourselves sacrificially, so that, as members of the Body of Christ, we may reach our full potential in Him. | |
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MARCH 2024 SCHEDULE OF SERVICES AND MEETINGS
March 22nd Friday, 1st Heretismoi (Salutations) to the Virgin Mary, 6PM
March 24th Sunday, (of Orthodoxy-Icon Sunday), Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 9-11:30AM, 5 year memorial for Kathleen Flynn, sister of Posie Pappas. A memorial luncheon will be served after church sponsored by Posie and Steve.
March 25th Monday, ANNUNCIATION OF THE VIRGIN MARY AND GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY, Orthros and Divine Liturgy 9:30 – 11:45AM
March 27th Wednesday, Presanctified Liturgy, 5PM
March 29th Friday, 2nd Heretismoi (Salutations) to the Virgin Mary, 6PM
March 31st Sunday of Gregory Palamas, Orthros and Divine Liturgy, 9- 11:15AM
40 Day Memorial for Dimitrios Peroulakis
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St. JOHN’S CHURCH PRAYER CIRCLE
Please include the following names of our brothers and sisters in our parish and families, along with others who are in need of our prayers. If you have or know of someone who needs to be included in our regular prayers, please let us know. If you know of someone whose name should be on our list, (a relative, friend or an acquaintance), please feel free to submit their name (s) to Father Andrew.
Katerina, Helen, Woody, Deborah, Vie, Sophie, Kathy, Dimitri, Voula, Helen, Ted, Mary, Joel, Connie, Mary, Alfred, William, Maryanne, Elizabeth, Leo, Yanni,Pauline, Diana, Dionysios, Saadia, Peter, Pauline, John Nikki and Rachael.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you
trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the
power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)
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