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Saint George Church Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2017-04-09
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Palmsunday
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Saint George Church Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (845)331-3522
  • Street Address:

  • 294 Greenkill Avenue

  • Kingston, NY 12401


Contact Information




Services Schedule

Sunday Orthros, 9:00 am

Divine Liturgy, 10:00 am

Sunday School, 10:00 am

Week Day Liturgies, 10:00 am

Evening Services, 7:00 pm


Past Bulletins


Saints and Feasts

Palmsunday
April 09

Palm Sunday

On Sunday, five days before the Passover of the Law, the Lord came from Bethany to Jerusalem. Sending two of His disciples to bring Him a foal of an ass, He sat thereon and entered into the city. When the multitude there heard that Jesus was coming, they straightway took up the branches of palm trees in their hands, and went forth to meet Him. Others spread their garments on the ground, and yet others cut branches from the trees and strewed them in the way that Jesus was to pass; and all of them together, especially the children, went before and after Him, crying out: "Hosanna: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel" (John 12:13). This is the radiant and glorious festival of our Lord's entry into Jerusalem that we celebrate today.

The branches of the palm trees symbolize Christ's victory over the devil and death. The word Hosanna means "Save, I pray," or "Save, now." The foal of an ass, and Jesus' sitting thereon, and the fact that this animal was untamed and considered unclean according to the Law, signified the former uncleanness and wildness of the nations, and their subjection thereafter to the holy Law of the Gospel.


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 117.26,1.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Verse: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His mercy endures forever.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:4-9.

BRETHREN, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.

Προκείμενον. Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 117.26,1.
Εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου.
Στίχ. Στίχ. Ἐξομολογεῖσθε τῷ Κυρίῳ ὅτι ἀγαθὸς, ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Φιλιππησίους 4:4-9.

Ἀδελφοί, χαίρετε ἐν κυρίῳ πάντοτε· πάλιν ἐρῶ, χαίρετε. Τὸ ἐπιεικὲς ὑμῶν γνωσθήτω πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις. Ὁ κύριος ἐγγύς. Μηδὲν μεριμνᾶτε, ἀλλʼ ἐν παντὶ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ δεήσει μετὰ εὐχαριστίας τὰ αἰτήματα ὑμῶν γνωριζέσθω πρὸς τὸν θεόν. Καὶ ἡ εἰρήνη τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ ὑπερέχουσα πάντα νοῦν, φρουρήσει τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Τὸ λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί, ὅσα ἐστὶν ἀληθῆ, ὅσα σεμνά, ὅσα δίκαια, ὅσα ἁγνά, ὅσα προσφιλῆ, ὅσα εὔφημα, εἴ τις ἀρετὴ καὶ εἴ τις ἔπαινος, ταῦτα λογίζεσθε. Ἃ καὶ ἐμάθετε καὶ παρελάβετε καὶ ἠκούσατε καὶ εἴδετε ἐν ἐμοί, ταῦτα πράσσετε· καὶ ὁ θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης ἔσται μεθʼ ὑμῶν.


Gospel Reading

Palm Sunday
The Reading is from John 12:1-18

Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazaros was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazaros was one of those at table with him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, "Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."

When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazaros, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazaros also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it; as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!" His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazaros out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.

Palm Sunday
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 12:1-18

Πρὸ ἓξ ἡμερῶν τοῦ πάσχα ἦλθεν Ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἰς Βηθανίαν, ὅπου ἦν Λάζαρος ὁ τεθνηκώς, ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν. ἐποίησαν οὖν αὐτῷ δεῖπνον ἐκεῖ, καὶ ἡ Μάρθα διηκόνει· ὁ δὲ Λάζαρος εἷς ἦν τῶν ἀνακειμένων σὺν αὐτῷ. ἡ οὖν Μαρία, λαβοῦσα λίτραν μύρου νάρδου πιστικῆς πολυτίμου, ἤλειψε τοὺς πόδας τοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ καὶ ἐξέμαξε ταῖς θριξὶν αὐτῆς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ· ἡ δὲ οἰκία ἐπληρώθη ἐκ τῆς ὀσμῆς τοῦ μύρου. λέγει οὖν εἷς ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, ᾿Ιούδας Σίμωνος ᾿Ισκαριώτης, ὁ μέλλων αὐτὸν παραδιδόναι· διατί τοῦτο τὸ μύρον οὐκ ἐπράθη τριακοσίων δηναρίων καὶ ἐδόθη πτωχοῖς; εἶπε δὲ τοῦτο οὐχ ὅτι περὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ἔμελεν αὐτῷ, ἀλλ᾽ ὅτι κλέπτης ἦν, καὶ τὸ γλωσσόκομον εἶχε καὶ τὰ βαλλόμενα ἐβάσταζεν. εἶπεν οὖν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· ἄφες αὐτήν, εἰς τὴν ἡμέραν τοῦ ἐνταφιασμοῦ μου τετήρηκεν αὐτό. τοὺς πτωχοὺς γὰρ πάντοτε ἔχετε μεθ᾽ ἑαυτῶν, ἐμὲ δὲ οὐ πάντοτε ἔχετε.

῎Εγνω οὖν ὄχλος πολὺς ἐκ τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων ὅτι ἐκεῖ ἐστι, καὶ ἦλθον οὐ διὰ τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν μόνον, ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα καὶ τὸν Λάζαρον ἴδωσιν ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν. ἐβουλεύσαντο δὲ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς ἵνα καὶ τὸν Λάζαρον ἀποκτείνωσιν, ὅτι πολλοὶ δι᾽ αὐτὸν ὑπῆγον τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων καὶ ἐπίστευον εἰς τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν.

Τῇ ἐπαύριον ὄχλος πολὺς ὁ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν ἑορτήν, ἀκούσαντες ὅτι ἔρχεται ᾿Ιησοῦς εἰς ῾Ιεροσόλυμα, ἔλαβον τὰ βαΐα τῶν φοινίκων καὶ ἐξῆλθον εἰς ὑπάντησιν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἔκραζον· ὡσαννά, εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου, ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ. εὑρὼν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ὀνάριον ἐκάθισεν ἐπ᾽ αὐτό, καθώς ἐστι γεγραμμένον· μὴ φοβοῦ, θύγατερ Σιών· ἰδοὺ ὁ βασιλεύς σου ἔρχεται καθήμενος ἐπὶ πῶλον ὄνου.

Ταῦτα δὲ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ τὸ πρῶτον, ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε ἐδοξάσθη ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς, τότε ἐμνήσθησαν ὅτι ταῦτα ἦν ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ γεγραμμένα, καὶ ταῦτα ἐποίησαν αὐτῷ. ᾿Εμαρτύρει οὖν ὁ ὄχλος ὁ ὢν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ ὅτε τὸν Λάζαρον ἐφώνησεν ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου καὶ ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν. διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὑπήντησεν αὐτῷ ὁ ὄχλος, ὅτι ἤκουσαν τοῦτο αὐτὸν πεποιηκέναι τὸ σημεῖον.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

But observe the wisdom of the Evangelist, how he is not ashamed to parade their former ignorance. That it was written they knew, that it was written of Him they knew not. For it would have offended them if He being a King were about to suffer such things, and be so betrayed.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 66 on John 12, 2. B#58, p.245., 4th Century

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Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion for Palm Sunday in the First Mode

In confirming the common Resurrection, O Christ God, Thou didst raise up Lazarus from the dead before Thy Passion. Wherefore, we also, like the children, bearing the symbols of victory, cry to Thee, the Vanquisher of death: Hosanna in the highest; blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Τὴν κοινὴν Ἀνάστασιν πρὸ τοῦ σοῦ Πάθους πιστούμενος, ἐκ νεκρῶν ἤγειρας τὸν Λάζαρον, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός· ὅθεν καὶ ἡμεῖς ὡς οἱ Παῖδες, τὰ τῆς νίκης σύμβολα φέροντες, σοὶ τῷ Νικητῇ τοῦ θανάτου βοῶμεν· Ὡσαννὰ ἐν τοῖς ὑψίστοις, εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος, ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου.

Apolytikion for Palm Sunday in the Fourth Mode

As by baptism we were buried with Thee, O Christ our God, so by Thy Resurrection we were deemed worthy of immortal life; and praising Thee, we cry: Hosanna in the highest; blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Συνταφέντες σοι διὰ τοῦ Βαπτίσματος, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, τῆς ἀθανάτου ζωῆς ἠξιώθημεν τῇ Ἀναστάσει σου, καὶ ἀνυμνοῦντες κράζομεν· Ὡσαννὰ ἐν τοῖς ὑψίστοις, εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος, ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Second Mode

In Heaven, He is seated upon a Throne and on earth He rides upon a foal. O Christ our God, accept the praise of the Angels and the hymn of the Children who cry out to You, "Blessed are You who comes to recall Adam."
Τῷ θρόνῳ ἐν οὐρανῷ, τῷ πώλῳ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ἐποχούμενος Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, τῶν Ἀγγέλων τὴν αἴνεσιν, καὶ τῶν Παίδων ἀνύμνησιν προσεδέξω βοώντων σοι· Εὐλογημένος εἶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος, τὸν Ἀδὰμ ἀνακαλέσασθαι.
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Services and Activities

"Our Mission Statement"

As Giving To Us By Our Lord and Savior

 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."

Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, "Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothed You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?" And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me".

Matthew 25: 34-40

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 Church Is Not Something You Go To,

 It's a Family You Belong To

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 From the Office of Father Michael

Venerable Joseph the Hymnographer

Commemorated April 3

 Come, let us acclaim the divinely inspired Joseph, the twelve-stringed instrument of the Word, the harmonious harp of grace and lute of heavenly virtues, who lauded and praised the assembly of the saints. And now he is glorified with them.

Troparion Chanted In Tone 2

Your divinely inspired tongue was the pen of a ready scribe, according to the words of David. You sang of the contests of the saints and described the grace they received through their labors. Therefore, we cry to you: “Rejoice, O blessed harp of holy melody!”

Kontakion Chanted In Tone 3

Beloved In Christ,

Saint Joseph the Hymnographer, was born in Sicily in 816 to a pious Christian family. Joseph’s parents, Plotinus and Agatha, moved their family to Peloponnesos to avoid the barbaric Arab invasions of the time. At the age of fifteen Saint Joseph went to Thessalonica and entered the monastery of Latomos. He was known for his piety, work ethic, humbleness, and gained the respect of all the brothers of the monastery.

During the reign of the Emperor Leo the Armenian, Saint Gregory the Dekapolite, visited the monastery and was impressed by the young monk. The Saint took Joseph to Constantinople, and assigned him to the Church of the Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, during the time of fierce iconoclastic persecution.

Saints Gregory and Joseph fearlessly defended the veneration of the Holy Icons. They preached to the people publicly and visited the homes of the Orthodox Christians, encouraging them to stand strong against the heretics. The Holy Church of Constantinople was in a difficult position because the Emperor and the Patriarch were iconoclast heretics.

The Roman Bishops, that were in communion with the Eastern Church, and Pope Leo III, who was not under the authority of the Byzantine Emperor, was able to offer help to the Orthodox Church. The Orthodox monks chose Saint Joseph, who was unwavering in his faith and an articulate speaker to be the messenger to the Pope. Saint Gregory blessed his travel to Rome to report the plight of the Church of Constantinople, the atrocities and the dangers threatening Orthodoxy.

During his voyage, the Arab brigands, who were loyal to the iconoclasts and who received monies from them, captured Saint Joseph. They took him to the Island of Crete; the iconoclasts locked him in prison for six years. Even though suffering much, Joseph encouraged the other prisoners that were also in peril. By his prayers, an Orthodox Bishop, that was imprisoned with him and who had begun to waver in his faith, was strengthened in spirit and courageously accepted martyrdom.

On Christmas Eve in 820 Saint Joseph saw a vision of Saint Nicholas the Great of Myra, who told him about the death of the iconoclast Leo the Armenian, and the end of the persecution. Saint Nicholas then gave him a paper scroll and said, “Take this scroll and eat it.” On the scroll was written: “Hasten, O Gracious One, and come to our aid if possible and as You will, for You are the Merciful One.” The Saint after reading the scroll, ate it and said, “How sweet are your prophecies to my throat” (Psalms 118/119:103). Saint Nicholas directed Joseph to chant these words. After chanting these psalms the chains, that bound him, fell off and the doors of the prison opened, and he emerged from prison. He was then transported through the air and placed on a road that lead into the Imperial City of Constantinople.

Upon reaching Constantinople, Saint Joseph found that Saint Gregory the Dekapolite had been martyred, leaving behind his disciple John who died soon after. Saint Joseph built a church dedicated to Saint Nicholas and placed the relics of Saints Gregory and John in the church. Joseph also founded a monastery near the church.

Some time later Saint Joseph received a portion of the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew and constructed a church in memory of the Holy Apostle. He honored and respected Saint Bartholomew, and was upset that there wasn’t Canon (Service) glorifying the Apostle. He wanted to embellish the Feast of Saint Bartholomew with hymns, but he did not want to compose them himself.

For forty days Saint Joseph fasted and prayed in preparing for the Feast of the Holy Apostle. On the eve of the Feast, Saint Bartholomew appeared to him in the altar and gave Joseph the Holy Gospel Book to venerate, he then blessed him to write church hymns, “May the right hand of the Almighty God bless you, may your tongue pour forth waters of heavenly wisdom, may your heart be a temple of the Holy Spirit, and may your hymnody delight the entire world.” He then arranged the Canon to the Saint Bartholomew, thus Joseph began to compose hymns and Canons to the Mother of God, the Saints, and in honor of Saint Nicholas, who liberated him from prison.

During the reign of the Emperor Theophilus the iconoclast heresy was revived and again Saint Joseph suffered from the heretics. He was exiled to Chersoneses (an ancient Greek colony founded in the southwestern part of the Crimean Peninsula)for eleven years. The veneration of Holy Icons was restored under the Empress Theodora 842, and Saint Joseph was called and assigns him as keeper of Sacred Vessels (Skevofelax) at the Great Cathedral of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.

Joseph did not fear persecution or threats, he boldly denounced Bardas the brother of the Empress for unlawful cohabitation; the Saint was again sent into exile and returned only after Bardas died in 867.Patriarch Photios restored him to his former position and appointed him Father Confessor for all the clergy of Constantinople.

On Holy Friday in 863, Saint Joseph fell ill, the Lord came to him in a dream, and told him that he would soon be called to Heaven. Being that Saint Joseph was the official overseer of the religious articles in Hagia Sophia, he took an inventory of these articles and sent it to Patriarch Photios. He then prayed deeply for several days, preparing for his death. He prayed for peace for the Church, and that God have mercy on his soul. Having received the Holy Sacraments of the Church, Saint Joseph blessed all who came to him, and joyfully fell asleep in the Lord. The Saints, whom Saint Joseph had worshiped in his hymnology, accompanied his humble soul to Heaven.

In 890, Deacon John of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the official biography of Saint Joseph, wrote about the power of Saint Joseph’s Canons: “When he began to write verses, then the hearing was taken with a wondrous pleasantness of sound, and the heart was struck by the power of the thought. Those who strive for a life of perfection find a respite here. Writers, having left off with their other versification, from this one treasure-trove, from the writings of Saint Joseph, began to scoop out his treasure for their own songs, or better to say, daily they scoop them out.

And finally, all the people carry it over into their own language, so as to enlighten with song the darkness of night, or staving off sleep, to continue with the vigil until sunrise. If anyone were to peruse the life of a saint of the Church on any given day, they would see the worthiness of Saint Joseph’s hymns and acknowledge his glorious life. Actually, since the lives and deeds of almost every saint are adorned with praises, is not he worthy of immortal glory, who has worthily and exquisitely known how to glorify them? Now let some saints glorify his meekness, and others his wisdom, and others his works, and all together glorify the grace of the Holy Spirit, Who so abundantly and immeasurably has bestow his gifts on him.”

Most of the Canons in the Menaion, the 12 Books, which contain the Services for each day of the month, are Saint Joseph’s work. He also composed many of the hymns in the Parakleteke, the Book containing the Byzantine Church Hymns in the Eight Tones.

We ask Saint Joseph to pray for us.

Have a Blessed Pascha!

Καλο Πασχα!

In His Love,

Father Michael 

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Holy Week Services 

Saturday, April 8th, Saturday of Lazarus, Divine Liturgy 10:00am; Communion Breakfast, Cleaning and Decorating of Church following Divine Liturgy

Sunday, April 9th, Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday, Children's Easter Egg Hunt, Following Divine Liyurgy  

Palm Sunday Evening, Bridegroom Service, 7:00pm

Holy Monday Evening, Bridegroom Service, 7:00pm

Holy Tuesday Evening, Bridegroom Service, 7:00pm

Holy Wednesday Evening, Holy Unction, 7:00pm

Holy Thursday, Divine Liturgy, 9:00am

Holy Thursday, Reading of the Twelve Gospels, 7:00pm

Holy Friday Afternoon, “Apokathelosis”, 2:00pm

Holy Friday Evening, Chanting of the Lamentations, 7:00pm

Holy Saturday Morning, Divine Liturgy, 10:00am

Holy Saturday Night, Pre-Resurrection Service, 11:00pm. Holy Resurrection Service and Divine Liturgy of the Resurrection, 12 Mid-Night

Easter Sunday, Agape Vesper Service, 11:00am

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Save The Dates

Saturday, April 22nd, Great Vesper Service of Saint George, 5:30pm; Feast Day Reception to follow

Sunday, April 23rd, Feast of Saint George the Great Martyr

Sunday, April 30th, Annual Saint George Dinner Dance, “The Chateau”, 5:00pm

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Altar Boy Holy Week Schedule 

9:45am, Saturday of Lazarus, Nicholas, Phillip, Wayne and Andreas

 9:45am, Palm Sunday Morning, All Altar Boys On Duty

 6:45pm, Palm Sunday Evening, Bari, Andrea and Wayne

 6:45pm, Holy Monday Evening, Zach and Nicholas

 6:45pm, Holy Tuesday Evening, Bari and Kostas

 6:45pm, Holy Wednesday Evening, Dean, Nicholas, Kostas and Zach

 8:45am, Holy Thursday Morning, Phillip, Wayne and Kostas

 6:45pm, Holy Thursday Evening, Dean, Bari, Andreas, Zach and Nicholas

 1:45pm, Holy Friday Afternoon, All Altar Boys On Duty

6:45pm, Holy Friday Evening, All Altar Boys On Duty

9:45am, Holy Saturday Morning, Dean, Zach, Bari and Phillip

 11:00pm, Holy Saturday Evening, All Altar Boys On Duty

  All Altar Boys Are Welcome To Serve At Any and All Service That Are Listed Even If You’re Not Scheduled.

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 Prayer List

 We ask you to please pray for the health and welfare of the following Brothers and Sisters; Alexandra, Ekaterini, Vasili, Fotini, George, Voula, Spiros, Nicholas, Eleni, Voula, Zoe, Billy,  Mary, Helen, Antonea, Nectarios, Leonidas, Katherine, Lukea, Ιωαννα, Katina, Costa, George, Litsa, Penny, Athena, Dean, Paul, Demetra, Victoria, Chrysoula, Konstantina, George, Fr. Theodore, Fr. Joachim.

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 *Special Note: Please have your family and friends submit their email addresses to Father Michael at, fathermichaelk@icloud.com, so that they can receive the weekly bulletin directly.

 

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