Sundays 8:30 a.m. Orthros and 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy
Special weekday feastday services to be announced in the bulletin.
Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Luke 1: 46-48.
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Verse: For he has regarded the humility of his servant.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:1-7.
BRETHREN, the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties; but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people.
4th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 8:5-13
At that time, as Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress." And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; be it done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.
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SUNDAY |
7/2 |
8:30; 9:30 a.m. |
Orthros; Divine Liturgy |
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MONDAY |
7/3 |
9:30 a.m.-1 pm |
Morning Office hours only |
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TUESDAY |
7/4 |
Office Closed |
Independence Day |
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WEDNESDAY |
7/5 |
9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. |
Morning office hours only Yassou Club steering committee meeting Parish Council meeting |
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THURSDAY |
7/6 |
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FRIDAY |
7/7 |
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SATURDAY |
7/8 |
5:00 p.m. |
FOCUS Friends serving dinner @ St. Herman |
Families, individuals, and couples are encouraged to check out #soakuptheson, a summer program to assist us in deepening our relationship to Christ and His Church- even when on vacation! Visit bit.ly/soak-up-the-son to download videos and guides, or check out and share weekly content from www.facebook.com/centerforfamilycare
Also check out Ancient Faith Radio's special feature of interviews, reflections, and narratives that encourage and strengthen family life. Upcoming podcasts include topics on growing in Christ with our kids, teenage depression, Forgiveness in Marriage, and gerontology. www.ancientfaith.com
The recent General Assembly approved the kick off of a fundraising campaign for the church restoration project in two phases from 2017-18. The external phase includes installment of a new roof and replacement of the HVAC systems. The internal phase includes duct work, new lighting fixtures, painting, carpet replacement and pew replacement.
Donor forms available in the office and Narthex.
~St Paisios- Wed., July 12, come celebrate the feastday of one of the most recently canonized saints. 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy, in the chapel.
~Feast of the Transfiguration- Sun., Aug. 6. Regular Sunday service times. Traditionally celebrated by the bringing of the first harvest of grapes to church. We invite all the faithful to bring fruit to the coffee hour.
~Dormition Lent Join us for Paraclesis services at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, Aug. 2 &9 and Fridays, Aug. 4 & 11.
~Falling Asleep of the Virgin Mary - Mon., Aug. 14, Vespers celebrated at Annunciation Church, 2187 W. 14th Street, Cleveland.
Tue., Aug. 15 , 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy in St. Demetrios Church.
On Sun., August 20th, we invite all our Marias, Panayotis & Panayotas, and Despinas to bring something to coffee hour and celebrate your nameday with the whole community.
~St. Phanourios-Sun., Aug. 27. Regular Sunday service times. At the coffee hour to follow, we will serve any Phanouropitas that are brought in by those who lost/ found something.
~The Beheading of St. John the Baptist, Tue., Aug. 29. 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy.
SUMMER SERVING AT ST. HERMAN’S
~FOCUS Friends! will serve dinner at St. Herman’s on Saturdays, July 8 & Aug. 5. For more info, contact Linda Glynias (lglynias@gmail.com)
~Philoptochos will serve dinner on Tue., Aug. 1. Contact Maggie Steffas (440-871-6362)
St. Herman, located at Franklin and W. 45th, is the only Orthodox homeless shelter in Cleveland. They serve 3 meals a day/ 365 days.
ST. PAUL FESTIVAL July 20-23, 4548 Wallings Rd., North Royalton. www.stpaulgoc.org
CHOIR CONVENTION The Mid-Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Choirs (MEFGOX) is having their 70th annual convention this year in Monessen, Penn., July 20-23. www.mefgox.org
ST. ELIAS FEASTDAY Thu., July 20, 9 a.m. Divine Liturgy at St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church, 3256 Warren Rd., Cleveland.
JULY FEASTDAYS ON THE EAST SIDE Sts. Constantine & Helen Cathedral, 3352 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Heights, invites you to join them at the following feastdays:
St. Markella Sat., July 22, 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy for the patron saint of Chios. The Chios Society of Cleveland will hold a Memorial for its departed members, followed by coffee hour.
St. Panteleimon – Thu., July 27, 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy.
St. Irene Chrysovalantou – Fri., July 28, 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy.
IOCC BASEBALL NIGHT Sat., July 22, , 7:05 p.m. at Progressive Field. Cleveland Indians vs. Toronto Blue Jays. $30 Mezzanine seats, fireworks, and Jason Kipnis Bobbleheads. Call Connie Zimmerman (216-347-3123) for tickets. Donations accepted if unable to attend. Proceeds to benefit the humanitarian work of the International Orthodox Christian Charities.
GREEK DAY AT KENNYWOOD Tue., July 25 Greek Folk Dance groups from around the Metropolis are invited to perform between 5:00-6:00 p.m. next to the Greek Food Pavilion. Dancer groups will be allotted 15 minutes, singers & instrumentalists five minutes. Performers will gain free admission for a full day of rides. Family & friends of dancers can purchase discounted tickets ($26/adult and $16/seniors) by calling Ypapanti at 412-824-9188.
EAST SIDE GREEK FEST Aug. 24-27 at Sts. Constantine & Helen Cathedral, 3352 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Heights.
NATIVITY OF THE THEOTOKOS BENEFIT Sat., Sept. 9, is the 4th annual dinner in memory of Gerontissa Taxiarchia at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Pittsburgh. 3 p.m. Vesper service; 4 p.m. banquet. $100/ticket (fish or chicken entrees) RSVP: 2017DinnerBanquet.eventbrite.com
YOUNG ADULT CONFERENCE Sept. 1-4, Orthodox young adults (ages 19-32) from across the US will gather in Houston, Texas. Kick off on Friday with a comedy show by SoTiri, Saturday workshops and fun western event. Sunday Divine Liturgy, followed by a pool party and then a grand banquet with Basil the Comedian. For information, registration, and hotel accommodations, visit: http://youth.denver.goarch.org/events/2017-events/2017-national-young-adult-conference; or share: Facebook.com/2017NGOYAC/ ~ Twitter.co/ngoyac2017 ~Instagram.com/ngoyac2017
‘ZOE’ NEEDS YOU ZOE for Life! is expanding services offered to women in crisis pregnancies. If you have a few hours a week this summer to volunteer, please contact Despina at: despina@mavrakisfamily.com
Contact the office (sdgoc@ohiocoxmail.com or 440-331-2246 ext.2) if your family or group/ministry can host a simple coffee hour on: July 23 or August 13.
Save the dates. Aug. 15-17. All families with children 5-17 are invited for three evenings of fellowship, learning what it means ‘When Jesus said, “I am…”
Head’s up for the 10th annual St.Demetrios Golf Outing on Fri., Sept. 1 at Sweetbriar Golf Club in Avon Lake. Registration now open. $135/golfer or $450/foursome, Contact Manuel Steffas (440-821-6095) or pay online at www.saintdemetriosrr.org
Did you miss the spring photo sessions? We want all our parish families included in the upcoming Parish Directory, so here is your last chance! We have scheduled four more days: Thu., Sept. 7, Fri., Sept. 8, Sat., Sept 9, Sun., Sept. 10.
Each session lasts abut 20 minutes and participants will receive a free 8x10 Photo and complimentary directory. Schedule your session today by Calling Diane Missirlis
Sun., Sept. 10, come meet local Greek-American authors Paula Kalamaras, Thalia Marakas, Vanessa Pasiadis, Kristina Tartara as they talk about their books and inspirations. $25/person. Advance sale only. Contact Jeanne Burpulis: 440 356-1746 or Jan Voiklis (440-503-3946)
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Following last week's fire at theNativty of the Theotokos Monastery which was caused by lighting, the insurance adjuster just updated the status of the damage, from the local level to the national level, because the repair costs will exceed $250,000. The entire second floor and attic will have to be gutted down to the studs, and it will take a minimum - with all the smoke and water damage on top of that - of seven months before the sisters can again move into the building.
Even though the insurance will cover the majority of the damage, it will not cover their temporary housing. The immediate goal is to acquire a mobile home to house the sisters for now, and then it can later be used as work rooms or guest rooms. Therefore, they have a critical need for funds to purchase that facility.
Gerontissa Theophano and the Sisters are most grateful for all of your prayers and support. There will be an ongoing update on the progress of the restoration at the Monastery’s website: .nativityofthetheotokos.org
Donations for the fire project can be best sent directly to the monastery at:
Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery, 121 St. Elias Lane, Saxonburg, PA 16056
If you prefer to make an on line donation, there are two, the first one having been set up specifically for the mobile home purchase and other immediate needs of the Sisterhood:
crowdrise.com/fire-at-nativity-of-the-theotokos-greek-orthodox-monastery
https://www.gofundme.com/NativityMonastery
May our Most Beloved Panaghia keep all of you and your family under her constant protection!
See attachment to this email.
Saint Juvenal was (together with Saint Herman; see Dec. 12) a member of the first mission sent from Russia to proclaim the Gospel in the New World. He was a priest-monk, and a zealous follower of the Apostles, and baptized hundreds of the natives of Alaska. He was martyred by enraged pagans in 1796.
The Martyr Hyacinth, who was from Caesarea of Cappadocia, was the chamberlain of the Emperor Trajan. On being constrained by the Emperor to partake of the sacrifices offered to idols and not wishing to do so, he was shut up in prison without food, where he gave up his spirit to God in the year 108.
Tsar Nicholas II was the son of Alexander III, who had reposed in the arms of Saint John of Kronstadt. Having been raised in piety, Tsar Nicholas ever sought to rule in a spirit consonant with the precepts of Orthodoxy and the best traditions of his nation. Tsaritsa Alexandra, a grand-daughter of Queen Victoria of England, and a convert from Lutheranism, was noted for her piety and compassion for the poor and suffering. Their five children were beloved of all for their kindness, modesty, and guilelessness.
Amidst the political turmoil of 1917, Tsar Nicholas selflessly abdicated the throne for what he believed was the good of his country. Although he had abdicated willingly, the revolutionaries put him and his family under house arrest, then sent them under guard to Tobolsk and finally Ekaterinburg. A letter written from Tobolsk by Grand Duchess Olga, the eldest of the children, shows their nobility of soul. She writes, "My father asks that I convey to all those who have remained devoted to him ... that they should not take vengeance on his account, because he has forgiven everyone and prays for them all. Nor should they avenge themselves. Rather, they should bear in mind that this evil which is now present in the world will become yet stronger, but that evil will not conquer evil, but only love shall do so."
After enduring sixteen months of imprisonment, deprivation, and humiliation with a Christian patience which moved even their captors, they and those who were with them gained their crowns of martyrdom when they were shot and stabbed to death in the cellar of the Ipatiev house in Ekaterinburg in 1918.
Together with them are also commemorated those who faithfully served them, and were either slain with them, or on their account: General Elias Tatishchev; Prince Basil Dolgorukov; the physician Eugene Dotkin; the lady-in-waiting Countess Anastasia Hendrikova; the serving-maid Anna Demidova; the cook John Kharitonov; and the sailors Clement Nagorny and John Sednev.
Grand Duchess Elizabeth, a grand-daughter of Queen Victoria of England and elder sister of Empress Alexandra of Russia (see July 4), was one of the most illustrious women of her day, known throughout Europe not only for her high birth and graceful beauty, but also for her modesty and goodness of heart. After marrying Grand Duke Sergius Alexandrovich, she converted to Orthodoxy, although this was not required of her by her position. After the assassination of her husband in 1905, Grand Duchess Elizabeth withdrew from public life, founding the convent of Saints Martha and Mary, of which she became the superior. There she dedicated herself to prayer, fasting, tending the sick, and caring for the poor. After the Bolsheviks seized power, she was exiled to the Urals, where she and those with her were martyred in 1918 when they were cast alive into an abandoned mine. The Novice Barbara followed Saint Elizabeth into exile. When she was separated from the Grand Duchess, Barbara asked to be allowed to join her again; to terrify her, the Bolsheviks told her that she would be allowed to do this, but only if she were prepared for unheard-of torments and a violent death. To their amazement, she consented, and was deemed worthy of martyrdom with the Grand Duchess. Their holy relics were recovered and taken through Russia to China, and came to rest in the Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem. When their reliquaries were opened in 1981, their bodies were found to be partially incorrupt, and sweet with the odour of sanctity. With them are also commemorated their fellow Martyrs: Grand Duke Sergius Mikhailovich; Princes John, Constantine, and Igor, the brethren; Prince Vladimir Paley; and Theodore Remez.
This Saint, great and renowned among the ascetics of Egypt, lived in the fourth century in Scete of Nitria. After the death of Saint Anthony the Great, he left Scete to live in Saint Anthony's cave; he said of this, "Thus in the cave of a lion, a fox makes his dwelling." When Sisoës was at the end of his long life of labours, as the Fathers were gathered about him, his face began to shine, and he said, "Behold, Abba Anthony is come"; then, "Behold, the choir of the Prophets is come"; his face shone yet more bright, and he said, "Behold, the choir of the Apostles is come." The light of his countenance increased, and he seemed to be talking with someone. The Fathers asked him of this; in his humility, he said he was asking the Angels for time to repent. Finally his face became as bright as the sun, so that the Fathers were filled with fear. He said, "Behold, the Lord is come, and He says, 'Bring Me the vessel of the desert,'" and as he gave up his soul into the hands of God, there was as it were a flash of lightning, and the whole dwelling was filled with a sweet fragrance.
Saint Kyriake was the daughter of Christian parents, Dorotheus and Eusebia. She was given her name because she was born on Sunday, the day of the Lord (in Greek, Kyriake). She contested in Nicomedia during the reign of Diocletian, in the year 300. After many bitter torments she was condemned to suffer beheading, but being granted time to pray first, she made her prayer and gave up her holy soul in peace.
The holy Martyr Procopius was born of a pious father named Christopher, but his mother Theodosia was an idolater. After Christopher's death, she presented Neanias - for this was the Saint's name before - to Diocletian, who was at Antioch in Syria. Diocletian made him Duke of Alexandria, and sent him there to punish the Christians. On the way to Alexandria, our Lord spoke to Neanias as once He had to Saul, and turned this new persecutor to faith in Him. Neanias turned back to Scythopolis, and preached Christ. He was betrayed by his own mother, and was arrested and tormented in Caesarea of Palestine. While he was in prison, the Lord appeared to him again and gave him the new name of Procopius (which is derived from the Greek word meaning "progress, advancement"). He was brought out of prison and taken to worship the idols, but at his prayer, the idols fell; many then believed in Christ and suffered martyrdom, among them certain soldiers, twelve women of senatorial rank, and the Saint's own mother, Theodosia. Saint Procopius, after further torments and imprisonment, was beheaded about the year 290.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Our annual commemoration of the 4th of July, Independence Day in the United States of America, provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the blessings of liberty and to express our gratitude to our forbearers for the freedom that has been advanced and sustained throughout the history of this country. We have and experience a multitude of social, political and economic freedoms because many sacrificed courageously to protect the highest ideals, others engaged in challenging debate and decisions over the shape of governance and society, and countless more have cherished freedom by respecting the rights and liberties of others.
The Center for Family Care of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese will host its second family ministry conference, The Orthodox Family in a Changing World, in an effort to explore critical issues in the family life-cycle and practical methods to address them in the parish and the home.