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Saint George Church Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2017-07-16
Bulletin Contents
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Hymns of the Day
Services and Activities
Hlyfthrs
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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

Very Reverend Father Michael A. Kouremetis
Protopresbyter

fathermichaelk@icloud.com | 845-616-2574

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

Hlyfthrs
July 16

Sunday of the Holy Fathers

On the Sunday that falls from the 13th to the 19th of the present month, we chant the Service to the Holy and God-bearing Fathers who came together in the Seven Ecumenical Councils, that is: the First Council, of the 318 Fathers who assembled in Nicaea in 325 to condemn Arius, who denied that the Son of God is consubstantial with the Father; the Fathers of the First Council also ordained that the whole Church should celebrate Pascha according to the same reckoning; the Second Council, of the 150 Fathers who assembled in Constantinople in 381 to condemn Macedonius, Patriarch of Constantinople, who denied the Divinity of the Holy Spirit; the Third Council, of the 200 Fathers who assembled in Ephesus in 431, to condemn Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, who called Christ a mere man and not God incarnate; the Fourth Council, of the 630 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; the Fifth Council in 553, of the 165 who assembled in Constantinople for the second time to condemn Origen and Theodore of Mopsuestia, the teacher of Nestorius; the Sixth Council in 680, of the 170 who assembled in Constantinople for the third time, to condemn the Monothelite heresy, which taught that there is in Christ but one will, the divine; and the Seventh Council in 787, of the 350 who assembled in Nicaea for the second time to condemn Iconoclasm.

Allsaint
July 16

Helier the Hermit, Martyr of Jersey

Allsaint
July 16

Athenogenes the Holy Martyr of Heracleopolis

This Saint was from Sebastia of Cappadocia and , according to the Synaxaristes, became Bishop of Pidachthoa. He and ten of his disciples were tortured and beheaded by the Governor of Philomarchus in the times of Diocletian. There is a second Martyr Athenogenes commemorated today, mentioned by Saint Basil in Chapter 29 of his treatise "On the Holy Spirit"; it is said that as this Athenogenes approached the fire, wherein he was to die a martyric death, he chanted the hymn O Joyous Light in praise of the Holy Trinity (see also Mar. 11).

Allsaint
July 16

Julia the Virgin-martyr of Carthage

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

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.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Holy Fathers
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."

Sunday of the Holy Fathers
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.

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Wisdom of the Fathers

"But whosoever shall do and teach," said He, "shall be called great." For not to ourselves alone, should we be profitable, but to others also; since neither is the reward as great for him who guides himself aright, as for one who with himself adds also another.
St. John Chrysostom
Homilies 15 and 16 on Matthew 5, 4th Century

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal First Mode

Let us worship the Word, O ye faithful, praising Him that with the Father and the Spirit is co-beginningless God, Who was born of a pure Virgin that we all be saved; for He was pleased to mount the Cross in the flesh that He assumed, accepting thus to endure death. And by His glorious rising, He also willed to resurrect the dead.
Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύματι, τὸν ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθέντα εἰς σωτηρίαν ἡμῶν, ἀνυμνήσωμεν πιστοὶ καὶ προσκυνήσωμεν, ὅτι ηὐδόκησε σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ, καὶ θάνατον ὑπομεῖναι, καὶ ἐγεῖραι τοὺς τεθνεῶτας, ἐν τῇ ἐνδόξῳ Ἀναστάσει αὐτοῦ.

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.

Hymn of Saint George in the Fourth Mode

'Ως των αιχμαλωτων ελευθερωτης, και των πτωχων υπεραπιστης, ασθενουντων ιατρος, βασιλεων υπερμαχος, Τροπαιοφορε Μεγαλομαρτυς Γεωργιε, πρεσβευε Χριστω τω Θεω, σωθηναι τας ψυχας ημων.

Liberator of captives, defender of the poor, physician of the sick, and champion of kings, O trophy-bearer, Great Martyr George, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

 

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.
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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

 The Holy Martyr Markella of Chios

Commemorated July 22

Beloved In Christ,

Saint Markella was born in the small village of Volissos, Chios in the fourteenth century. Her parents were Christians, and among the wealthiest citizens of Volissos; her father was the mayor of the village. The Saint’s mother died when she was young, and so her father saw to her education.

She had been taught by her mother to be respectful and devout, and to safeguard her purity. She avoided friendships with other girls who were more outgoing than she was; the reason for this was so that she would not come to spiritual harm or scandal through such company. Her objective was to attain the Kingdom of Heaven, and to become a bride of Christ.

Saint Markella increased in goodness, as she grew older, she tried to keep the commandments, she fasted, prayed fervently, attended the Holy Church Services and lead others to Christ through her kindness and example. Markella loved and respected her father, and comforted his sorrow when her mother died. She told him she would take care of him in his old age, and would not abandon him.

As an adult, everyone loved her for her beauty, compassion and for her spirituality. Satan tempted her trying to lure her into sin by inserting evil thoughts in her mind. She resisted these temptations with all her heart, and so the devil turned to her father and instilled in his mind an unnatural desire for his daughter.

Markella’s father changed in his behavior toward her. He became depressed and prohibited her to speak with the neighbors. Markella could not understand the change in her father. She prayed before an icon of the Mother of God, asking Her to help her father. 

One day, her father openly professed the nature of his feelings for her. The saint was horrified and tried to avoid him as much as she could. Even the neighbors realized that there was something wrong with the man and avoided any contact with him.

One morning a shepherd was tending his sheep near the beach, he was leading his flock to a shady area to avoid the hot July sun. As he was about to lie down and rest, he heard a noise. He saw a young woman with a torn dress running down the hill, she hid in a nearby thorny bush.

The shepherd wondered who was chasing her; he then heard the sound of a horse coming towards him, he recognized the mayor of the village as the horseman. He asked the shepherd if he had seen his daughter. He said that he had not seen her, but pointed to her hiding place with his finger.

The mayor demanded Markella to come out but she refused; he then set the bush on fire in order to force her out. She emerged and ran toward the rocky shore, calling out to the Theotokos for help. The Saint continued to run, even though blood was running from her face and hands. Feeling a sharp pain in her leg, she saw that she had been shot with an arrow. She pulled it out and continued to run.

She rushed over the rocky shore staining the rocks with her blood, she heard her father getting closer, she prayed that the earth would open up and swallow her. As the Saint fell to her knees a miracle took place, the rock split open and swallowed her body up to the waist.

Her father came to the spot where his daughter was, he drew his sword and butchered his own daughter, and he seized her by the hair and cut off her head, throwing it into the sea. At once a storm arose and large waves crashed on the rocks where her father stood. He fled from the sea immediately thinking that the sea was going to drown him because of his dastardly deed. His ultimate fate is not known.

Many years later devout Christians built a church on the spot where Saint Markella hid in the bush. The actual place where she was killed became known as “The Martyrdom of Saint Markella,” and the rock that opened to receive her is still there. The rock appears to be a large stone that broke off from a mountain and rolled into the sea. Soil from the mountain covers the spot on the side facing the land. On the side facing the ocean is a small hole, about the size of a finger. A healing water flows from the opening, which cures illness.

The water is clear, but some of the nearby rocks have been stained with a reddish-yellow color. According to tradition, the lower extremities of Saint Markella’s body are concealed in the rock.

The most astonishing thing about the rock is not the warmth of the water, nor the discoloration of the other rocks, but what happens when a priest performs the Blessing of Water (Αγιασμο). Steam rises up from the water near the rock, and the entire area is covered with a mist. The sea returns to normal as soon as the service is over. Many miracles have occurred at the spot, and faithful pilgrims flock there from all over the world.

In His Love,

Father Michael

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Week Day Services

 Tuesday, August 1st, Paraclesis to the Theotokos, 7:00pm

Wednesday, August 2nd, Paraclesis to the Theotokos, 7:00pm

Friday, August 4th, Paraclesis to the Theotokos, 7:00pm

Monday, August 7th, Paraclesis to the Theotokos, 7:00pm

Wednesday, August 9th, Paraclesis to the Theotokos, 7:00pm

Friday, August 11th, Paraclesis to the Theotokos, 7:00pm

Monday, August 14, Great Vesper Service for the Feast of the Kimisis of the Theotokos, Windham, NY. 6:30pm and 7:00pm at Poughkeepsie, NY.

Tuesday, August 15th, Feast of the Kimisis of the Theotokos, Divine Liturgy, 10:00am

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All Altar Boys Are Invited To Serve Every Sunday During The Summer 

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 Prayer List

 We ask you to please pray for the health and welfare of the following Brothers and Sisters; Alexandra, Harry, Katerina, Danny, Lukea, Costas, Ekaterini, Vasili, Fotini, George, Voula, Spiros, Nicholas, Eleni, Voula, Zoe, Billy,  Mary, Helen, Antonea, Nectarios, Leonidas, Katherine,  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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