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St. Demetrios Church
Publish Date: 2025-09-14
Bulletin Contents
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Parish Announcements
Saints and Feasts
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

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St. Demetrios Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (440) 331-2246
  • Fax:
  • (440) 331-8407
  • Street Address:

  • 22909 Center Ridge Road

  • Rocky River, OH 44116
  • Mailing Address:

  • 22909 Center Ridge Road

  • Rocky River, OH 44116

Contact Information

Priest Fr. Andy Lentz


[email protected] | 440-331-2246 x1

Office Manager Eleni Papouras-Jenks


[email protected] | 440-331-2246 x2

Operations Manager Byron T. Spooner


[email protected] | 440-331-2246 x3

Services Schedule

Sundays 8:30 a.m. Orthros and 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Special weekday feastday services to be announced in the bulletin.

Past Bulletins


Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 98.9,1.
Exalt the Lord our God.
Verse: The Lord reigns; let the people tremble.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 1:18-24.

Brethren, the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Gospel Reading

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross
The Reading is from John 19:6-11, 13-20, 25-28, 30

At that time, when the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no crime in him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he has made himself the Son of God."

When Pilate heard these words, he was the more afraid; he entered the praetorium again and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the greater sin." When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called the Pavement, and in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek.

But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. Then when Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished"; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

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Parish Announcements

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY

9/14

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

Orthros; Divine Liturgy; Artoklasia; Sunday School

GOYA meeting

MONDAY

9/15

6:00 p.m.

Movie Monday

TUESDAY

9/16

5:00 p.m.

Greek School

WEDNESDAY

9/17

10:30  a.m.

5:00 p.m.

Book Study

Kyklonas Dancers

THURSDAY

9/18

10: 30 a.m.

5:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Prayer Group

Greek School

Choir rehearsal / Adult Greek Class

 


ELEVATION OF HOLY CROSS

 Fr. Tom Drenen will celebrate the Liturgy on Sept. 14. Fr. Andy returns on Sept. 15. 

Artoklasia for the Elevation of Holy Cross offered by Georgia Salamalekis. 

Happy Nameday to our Stavros & Stavroulas! 

 

 


FELLOWSHIP CUP

Sept. 14  Coffee Hour is co-hosted by the Book Study, Bookstore, Prayer Group and the Salamalekis family in honor of their Stavros. 

Any ministry or family that can host coffee hour on Sept. 28, please use the Sign-up Genius on the church’s Facebook group or contact the office.


GOYA NEWS

GOYA is preparing to welcome back teens in grades 7-12. Save the dates for:

Sept. 14 - GOYA & parents kick off meeting

Oct. 5 - Officers swearing-in; staff pangari; meeting

To learn more about joining GOYA, contact advisor Lia Fresty (330-715-1704 or [email protected]) 


MOVIE MONDAY

Sept 15, 6:00 p.m. A Touch of Spice (Πολίτικη Κουζίνα)  

(2003, 1 hour & 48 minutes) This year is the 70th anniversary of  the September 1955 pogrom against the Greek community  of Constantinople, orchestrated by the Turkish government. (“Τα Σεπτεμβριανά”) After the violent attacks on lives and properties, a Greek family flees for a new life in Greece, where a young boy keeps alive memories of his grandfather thru food. Based on the real-life experiences of Tassos Boulmetis, writer/director of this award-winning and highest-grossing Greek movie of all time. In Greek and Turkish, with English subtitles. It will be screened in the GOYA room. Rated R for adult situations.

Next Sun., Sept 21, a Trisagion will be read for the genocide victims in Constantinople (Sept. 1955,) Smyrna (Sept. 1922,) and Pontos (1919.)


BACK TO SCHOOL

BACK TO SCHOOL Registration now open. Forms available at www.saintdemetriosrr.org and at the Ministry Fair

 

Balourdas Hellenic Cultural School  Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:00-6:30 p.m. See registration for tiered tuition costs. Open to children who are in Grade 1 or above of their day school. Our complete curriculum offers instruction in speaking, reading and writing modern Greek, Music, Greek Orthodoxy and History from Level Alpha to Level Theta.  Graduates eligible for scholarship and may be eligible for credits toward graduation. Contact [email protected] 

 

We also offer an optional class for Kindergarteners that meets just on Thursdays from 5-6:30 p.m.

  

·         Kids Levels Alpha-Eta Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:00-6:30 p.m., starting Tue., Sept. 16

·         Adult/teen Byzantine History Class, Tuesdays, 7:00-8:00 p.m., starting Tue., Sept. 16

·         Adult/teen Language Class, Thursdays, 7:00-8:00 p.m., starting Thu., Sept. 18.

·         Kindergarten, Thursdays 5:00-6:30 p.m., starting Thu., Sept. 18

 

- Adult & Teen Classes (12 weeks):

-Saints, Sinners and Soldiers – Hold on to your hats for a whirlwind survey class on Byzantine History from Alexander to the fall of Constantinople. Taught in English, but supplemental reading materials at the intermediate level of modern Greek, will be available upon request for those who wish to also improve their Greek reading skills.  Tuesdays 7:00-8:00 p.m. starting Sept. 16.

 

-Beginners Greek I – Learn the basics of Modern Greek. No previous instruction required. Class will continue into the 2nd semester.  Thursdays at 7:00 -8:30 p.m. starting Sept. 18.


KYKLONAS FALL EVENTS

The Kyklonas Hellenic Dancers will kick-off the fall season with rehearsals on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. in the Cultural Hall, starting Sept. 17. We are preparing for shows on:

Sat., Sept 27 - 2:30 p.m. International Festival at St Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Fairview Park

Nov. 14-16 - MEtropolis of Pittsburgh Greek Folk Dance Festival (registration info will be available at rehearsals.) 


ORTHODOX BOOK STUDY

We have resumed meeting on Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. in the library. We will be discussing 6 Hours, 7 Lessons: How Christ’s Light Transcends Our Darkness by Rev. Nicholas and Dr. Roxanne Louh. You can purchase a copy thru Amazon.


EVENING BIBLE STUDY

Anyone interested in taking part and/or leading a Bible Study on a weeknight evening (TBD), please contact [email protected]. If there is enough interest, we will  schedule and announce meeting times.


PRAYER GROUP

Thursdays at 10:30  a.m. in St Philothei Chapel. Contact Diakonissa Amy ([email protected] or 330-519-3100) to join, or to submit names for whom we can pray.

 


FRIENDS OF THE POOR

SERVING DINNER AT ST. HERMAN’S Volunteer to feed the homeless with your parish family:

~FOCUS Friends’ next service date: Sat.,  Oct. 4.  Contact Christina Trillis (440) 665-1494.

~Philoptochos’ next service date:  Tue.,  Oct. 14 Contact Joanne Harootunian (440) 353-0910.

 


CLAMBAKE FUNDRAISER

Sun., Oct. 12 in St Demetrios Cultural Hall, to benefit Research in Neuroendocrine Cancer, sponsored by the Dean Paras Foundation. $75/adult; $20/child.  Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Contact Jeanne at 216-554-3955  or  [email protected]


YASSOU POTLUCK

Thu., Oct. 16 at noon in the hall. Main course will be provided but please bring a side dish or dessert to share. RSVP to Maggie (440-821-6054) by Oct. 3.


NEW DIRECTORY

It’s time for an updated parish directory! Universal Church Directories will have photography sessions at St Demetrios GOYA room on Thu., Oct. 16, 2:00-8:30 pm.; Fri., Oct. 17, 2:00-8:30 p.m. and Sat., Oct. 18,  10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.  Everyone photographed will receive a free 8x10 portrait and a copy of the directory. The more people who participate, the more credits our parish will receive for various upgrades, so feel free to invite non-parish friends and family (even if they will not be part of the directory.) To schedule your time slot,  go to www.ucdir.com and use Church Code: OH2842 and Password: photos  

Please make sure that we have your updated contact information via your 2025 pledge card, or let Eleni in the church office know if you prefer to be unlisted.

 


ANNIVERSARY & FEASTDAY

Save the dates: 

Fri., Oct. 24 for a Glendi in the Cultural Hall celebrating our parish's 65th Anniversary. Reunite with your parish family, classmates and friends! Music by Stigma. $60/adult, $50 / senior 65+ and young adults ages 12/18; $30/child under 12; $40 for dance only (after 10 p.m.) Ticket includes food stations, beer, wine, soft drinks. Fundraising baskets. Contact Kelly Steffas (216-410-2068) and Lilly Anitas (440-477-1237) by Oct. 17

Sat., Oct. 25 - 6:00 p.m. Vespers for St. Demetrios. 

Sun., Oct. 26 - 8:20 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy for St. Demetrios; feastday luncheon to follow, sponsored by Philoptochos. Tickets on sale soon. 


EVENTS ELSEWHERE

EASTERN ORTHODOX WOMEN’S GUILD Sat., Sept. 13, 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 6822 Broadview Rd., Parma. Assembly of IOCC Kid’s school kits. Learn about the plans for the new ecclesiastic year. Bring a friend and receive a small gift.

 

CHIOS PICNIC  Sat., Sept. 13,  at St. Sava Picnic Pavilion, 2151 W. Wallings Rd., Broadview Heights. $10/adult; $5/child, ages 6-10; free under 5; at the door.  Last names A-L bring a side dish; M-Z- bring a dessert. Fundraiser to benefit the firefighters in Chios and forest fire relief efforts.

 

ST. KYRANNA COOKING CLASS Sat., Sept. 13 at Sts. Constantine & Helen Cathedral, 3352 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Heights. Young Adults (21 & up) invited to Vespers at 5 p.m. followed by a cooking class (recipe tba) Bring your favorite bottle of wine and/or board game.

 

GREEK FESTIVAL Sept. 18-20  Annunciation Church, 129 S. Union St., Akron. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

 

PONTIAN PANOIR Sat., Sept. 20, starting at 5 p.m. at  St. Sava Picnic Grove, 2506 W. Ridgewood Dr, Parma. Live music by Dimitri Stefanidis & Sokratis Togridis. $20/adult; Kids under 12 free. Greek food & drinks for sale. For tickets, call Manoli Ermidis 216-323-4092.

NESTORIO CENTENNIAL Sun., Sept. 21, the Nestorio Philanthropic Association invites those who trace their heritage to the villages of Kastoria to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the club’s founding in Ohio! Picnic at the Metroparks’ Chestnut Shelter, 2944 River Rd., Willoughby Hills, starting at 11:30 a.m. RSVP at: https://nestorio.org/picnic

METROPOLIS OF PITTSBURGH CLERGY-LAITY Thu., Sept. 25 – Sat., Sept. 27, at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 555 N High St, Columbus. Each parish may send 4 voting delegates. There will also be Youth Worker meetings for any number of religious educators & advisors as are interested. Contact the office if interested in representing our parish.

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL  Sat., Sept. 27, at St. Mary Magdalene Byzantine Catholic Church, 5390 W. 220th St., Fairview Park. Our Kyklonas Dancers will represent Greece at 2:30 p.m.  Beer garden, ethnic food & pastries, polka band in the evening. 

HELLENIC DANCE Sat., Sept. 27, 7:00 p.m.-midnight at the Sterea Hellas Foundation, 7890 Brookside Dr., Olmsted Falls. $20/person; children under 13 free. Full cash bar & mezethakia platters. For tickets, call George Mastrokostas (440-390-8142.)

VIRTUE & ADORNMENT IN BYZANTIUM  Sun., Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. the Cleveland Museum of Art. The Collis Lecture presents Art History Professor Alicia Walker discussing attitudes toward women’s adornment in the Byzantine era. Free lecture ticket, but reservation required by calling 216-421-7350.  HPS Reception to follow; go to www.hpsneo.org for $25 reception tickets. 

 MEN WHO COOK Sat., Oct. 4, 5:30-8:00 p.m. Philoptochos of Sts. Constantine & Helen Cathedral, 3352 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Hts, presents an evening of culinary delights of guest chefs’ signature dishes. Purchase voting tickets to choose your favorite dish and the winner of the “Golden Spoon.” $35/person before 9/28; $40 at the door. Cash bar. https:///form.jotform.com/2521113594246152

CRAFT FAIR Sat., Oct. 11, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. St. Paul, 4548 Wallings Rd., N. Royalton presents 70 unique vendors & artisans, Greek food & pastries. $2 entry to benefit Philoptochos Society charities.


PARISH PICKLEBALL

Wednesdays 9-11 a.m.

Meeting in Morton Park in Fairview Park on sunny days; Zapis Activity Center in case of rain. 


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Saints and Feasts

September 14

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross

Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place.

Rest from labour. A Fast is observed today, whatever day of the week it may be.

September 15

Nikitas the Great Martyr

This Saint was of high birth among the Goths beyond the Danube River. He was taken by Athanaric, pagan ruler of the Goths, and after being tortured, was burned to death for his confession of Christ. According to some, this took place during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great; according to others, under the Emperor Gratian.

September 16

Euphemia the Great Martyr

Saint Euphemia was from Chalcedon and lived in virginity. According to some, she suffered martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian, in 303; according to others, in 307. Her sacred relics are preserved in the Patriarchate in Constantinople.

September 17

Sophia & her three daughters: Faith, Hope, and Love

These Saints were from Italy and contested for the Faith about the year 126, during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. Faith was twelve years old, Hope, ten, and Love, nine; each was tormented and then beheaded, from the eldest to the youngest. Their mother Sophia mourned at their grave for three days, where she also fell asleep in peace; because of her courageous endurance in the face of her daughters' sufferings, she is also counted a martyr. The name Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek; as for her daughters' names, Faith, Hope, and Love (Charity), they are Pistis, Elpis, and Agape in Greek, and Vera, Nadezhda, and Lyubov in Russian.

September 18

Ariadne the Martyr

The Holy Martyr Ariádnē was a slave of Tertullus, a prominent official of the city of Promissia, Phrygia in the reign of Emperor Hadrian (117–161). Although she was only a slave, Saint Ariádnē was wiser than many noble ladies, who were enslaved by worldly vanities and “every defilement of flesh and spirit" (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Once, on his son's birthday, when her master offered sacrifice to the pagan "gods," his Christian slave Ariádnē refused to participate in the wicked celebration. As a result, she was beaten and, after hanging her up, they raked her body with sharp iron hooks. Then the martyr was thrown into prison and starved for a long time in order to make her worship the idols. Saint Ariádnē, however, persisted in her confession of Christ, and it was impossible to convince her to offer sacrifice.

Realizing that the Saint would not change her mind, they released her. To avoid further pressure, she fled the city, but Tertullus sent men to follow her. Seeing that she was being pursued, the Holy Martyr ran, begging God to protect her from her enemies.

Suddenly, by her prayers, a crevice formed in the mountain, and Saint Ariádnē disappeared into it, and surrendered her soul to God. Other sources say that she fell off a cliff and was killed.

September 19

Trophimos, Sabbatios, & Dorymedon the Martyrs

In 278, during the reign of Probus, Saints Trophimus and Sabbatius came to Antioch, and seeing the city celebrating the festival of Apollo at Daphne lamented the blindness of the people, and presented themselves as Christians to Atticus the Governor. Saint Trophimus was stripped of his clothing, and was stretched out and beaten until the earth was red with his blood. Then he was hung up, scraped on his sides, and imprisoned in torments. Saint Sabbatius was tortured so savagely that he gave up his spirit in his sufferings. Trophimus was sent to Synnada, wearing iron shoes fitted with sharp iron nails within; he was further tormented without mercy, then cast into prison. Dorymedon, a counsellor, and a pagan, came to the prison and cared for Trophimus. When a certain feast came, Dorymedon was asked why he did not sacrifice to the idols; he proclaimed himself a Christian, for which he was imprisoned, pierced with heated spits, frightfully punished, and finally beheaded with Saint Trophimus.

September 20

Eustathios the Great Martyr, his wife and two children

The holy Martyr Eustathius before his baptism was an illustrious Roman general named Placidas in the days of the Emperor Trajan. While hunting in the country one day, he was converted to the Faith of Christ through the apparition of an uncommonly majestic stag, between whose antlers he saw the Cross of Christ, and through which the Lord spoke to him with a human voice. Upon returning home, he learned that his wife Tatiana had also had a vision in which she was instructed to become a Christian. They sought out the Bishop of the Christians and were baptized, Placidas receiving the name Eustathius, and Tatiana the name Theopiste; their two sons were baptized Agapius and Theopistus. The family was then subjected to such trials as Job endured. Their servants died, all their goods were stolen, and on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem they were scattered abroad, each not even knowing if the others were still alive. By the providence of God, they were united again after many years, and returned to Rome in glory. Nevertheless, when they refused to sacrifice to the idols-a public sacrifice from which no Roman general could be absent-the Emperor Hadrian, who had succeeded Trajan, had them put into a large bronze device in the shape of a bull, which was heated with fire until they died. When their holy bodies were removed, they were found to be without harm. They suffered martyrdom about the year 126.

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