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St. Demetrios Church
Publish Date: 2024-02-04
Bulletin Contents
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Parish Announcements
Saints and Feasts
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News
Wisdom of the Fathers
Hymns of the Day
Allsaint
Organization Icon
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


alentz@saintdemetriosrr.org | 440-331-2246 x1

Office Manager Eleni Papouras-Jenks


office@saintdemetriosrr.org | 440-331-2246 x2

Operations Manager Byron T. Spooner


opsmgr@saintdemetriosrr.org | 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. Second Mode. Psalm 117.14,18.
The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15.

Brethren, it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Gospel Reading

15th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 22:35-46

At that time, a lawyer came up to Jesus and asked him a question, to test him. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying, "What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." He said to them, "How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, 'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I put your enemies under your feet'? If David thus calls him Lord, how is he his son?" And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

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Parish Announcements

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY

2/4

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

Orthros; Divine Liturgy; Sunday School

GOYA @ tournament [N. Royalton]

MONDAY

 

2/5

3:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m. 

Movie Monday

GOYA boys basketball

TUESDAY

2/6

5:00;  6:45 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Greek School;  Teachers mtg (Board Room)

Festival meeting  (Hall) / Adult Greek (Class)

WEDNESDAY

2/7

9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

6:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Pickleball

Book Study Group

GOYA boys basketball

Choir rehearsal

THURSDAY

2/8

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

3:00 p.m.

5:00  p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Orthros; Divine Liturgy for St. Theodore

Prayer Group

Stewardship committee meeting

By-Laws committee meeting

Greek School  

GOYA girls basketball

FRIDAY

2/9

9:00 a.m.

Pickleball

SATURDAY

2/10

Noon-5:00 p.m.

Journey to Marriage seminar

GOYA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS

 Feb. 2-4  This weekend, our GOYA will be participating in a basketball tournament hosted by St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church of North Royalton. Parishioners would like to attend and cheer on our GOYAns can come to Saturday’s games at the Blossom Hill Fieldhouse, 3500 Oakes Rd. Brecksville. (See the Church's Facebook group for the brackets/times.) 

Feb. 16-18. At Holy Trinity in Pittsburgh.


2024 WALL CALENDARS

More copies have been delivered! Pick up on Sundays in the Narthex and weekdays in the office lobby.  

 


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., Feb. 3. Contact Linda Glynias (216-469-2663)

~Philoptochos next service date:  Tue., Feb. 13. Contact Joanne Harootunian (440-353-0910)


COFFEE = LOVE

Philoptochos will kick off "Valentine's" month at coffee hour on Sun., Feb. 4th

Also, all those who are celebrating a nameday for St. Photios, St. Theodore or St. Haralambos are invtited to bring something to coffee hour to share. 


MOVIE MONDAY

This year’s evening film series will explore the full wording, intent and application of The Ten Commandments. We will also continue matinee screenings of The Chosen. Free and open to all!

 Feb. 5 , 3:00 p.m.  The Chosen (Season 3, Episodes 1 & 2) Jesus gives the Sermon on the Mount; the Disciples continue to wrestle with His teachings, as Jesus give them their next mission.  

Feb. 12, 3;00 p.m. The Chosen (Episodes 3 & 4) Jesus returns to His childhood home for Jewish new year; the disciples carry out Jesus’ mission to heal and preach, but struggle with understanding. 

February 26, 6 p.m.  All About Eve (1950; 2 hours & 18 minutes)  Eve Harrington idolizes a talented Broadway star (Bette Davis.) But when the flattered actress takes the young woman under her wing, she sees that Eve’s true idol may be the Oscar statuette itself…


FESTIVAL PREPARATIONS

Tue., Feb. 6 at  7:00 p.m.  those chairing a festival booth or interested in volunteering should meet in the Cultural Hall for volunteer lists and equipment needs.

Feb. 12-13 and 19*-20, we begin wrapping the napkins and utensils for the festival, at 9 am (*10:30 am on Feb. 19 after St Philothei service.) Coffee and donuts for the volunteers!


FEBRUARY HOLIDAYS

8:20 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy.

Thu., Feb. 8: St Theodore the General  (Αγ. Θεόδωρος ο Στρατηλάτης)  You Can read his hagiography below.

Mon., Feb. 19:   St. Philothei  (Αγ. Φιλοθέη) note: this service will be held in the chapel


JOURNEY TO MARRIAGE

Sat., Feb 10 , 12-5 p.m. Mandatory Pre-Cana seminar for couples planning a 2024 or early 2025 wedding. $25/couple for  workbooks. Contact the church office to pick up the materials. 


SOUPER-BOWL OF CARING

Sun., Feb. 11, Help St Demetrios defeat ....hunger! We will collect monetary donations for IOCC’s worldwide humanitarian relief  efforts and/or non-perishable food items for local distribution.


UPCOMING MEMORIALS

Feb. 11: Andromahi Papouras; 

Feb. 18: Harriet Asimakis; Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis


SUPERBOWL CHILI SALE

Sun., Feb. 11 during coffee hour. Proceeds to support our GOYA. Enjoy in the hall or take-out for your Superbowl party.  


ICONOGRAPHY OF ST PHILOTHEI

Wed., Feb. 21 at  6:00 p.m. the Daughters of Penelope  invite you to come hear Effie Fillis, iconographer of St. Philothei Chapel, speak on the process of ‘writing’ an icon and the design of our chapel. We will learn more about this inspiring female saint, enjoy hot cocoa, and color an icon to take home!


GODPARENTS SUNDAY

Feb. 25, plan to attend and take Communion with your godparent/ godchild. Coffee hour hosted by all three dance groups. Photo booth fun in the hall!


'A DAY IN ITALY' SPAGHETTI LUNCHEON

Sun., March 10, in the hall after Divine Liturgy. $17/person. Proceeds to benefit our Choir. Tickets on sale during coffee hours this month. 


STEWARDSHIP

Thanks to those who pledged for 2024  and those that have fulfilled and/or exceeded their pledge for 2023. Each household will receive a letter this week with your 2023 year end statement -  please take an opportunity to review the information and if you have not already, fulfill your 2023 pledge and complete your 2024 pledge. Pledges for 2024 can be completed by scanning the QR code within the letter, accessing your account online, returning the enclosed commitment card, or by calling the Church office. It would be a blessing if the 78 families that supported our church financially in 2023, but did not complete a formal pledge, would become pledged members in good standing! We may then reach our parish goal of 100% Stewardship Participation and our Church can plan responsibly with financial engagement and commitment.


BOOK & BIBLE STUDY

We are reading Engaged:The Call to Be Disciples, Reflection on what it means to be a Christian. By Fr. Stavros Akrotinianakis.  

Please note that each chapter is only a couple of pages and  always begins with a reading from the Scriptures and concludes with appropriate prayers from the Orthodox Church. We will read  four chapters a week.

 In addition to the readings, we also watch videos on YouTube to stimulate discussion. (For Example: Fr. Barnabas Powell, and presentations from reliable Orthodox Christian resources.) We deeply love our Faith. We are a group that enjoys praying, discussing scripture and readings that stimulate discussion.  All our welcome. If you have questions please contact Angie Giallourakis or Maggie Steffas.


PRAYER GROUP

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


PARISH PICKLEBALL

Now on Wednesdays and Fridays , 9:00 a.m. in the Zapis Activity Center.


BATHROOM REMODEL

During construction of the main restrooms, when you are visiting the church, you may use the restrooms in the Zapis Activity Center or lower Narthex.

Greek School drop-off and pick up will continue at the lower Narthex doors until the completion of the project . 

Meetings of Yassou Club and Bible Study to take place in the Library. 


EVENTS ELSEWHERE

 ST. PHOTIOS  Tue. Feb. 6,  Liturgy 9:30 a.m.  Holy Trinity Church, 4705 Fairhaven Ave NW, Canton, will host this year’s celebration of the patron saint of the Metropolis of Pittsburgh.  (Read his hagiography below)

FRIDAY FISH FRIES   Support our sister parishes, starting February 16:

-Sts. Constantine and Helen, 3352 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Heights. 5:00-7:30 p.m. All you can eat Whitefish dinner $17;  College students $15. Shrimp, kids meal, and a la carte menu also available.

-Annunciation Church, 2187 W. 14th St., Cleveland.

COMEDY NIGHT Thu., Feb. 22, Angelo Tsarouchas and Arianna Papalexopoulos will appear at the Event Center of St. Josaphat, 5720 State Road, Parma. Doors open at 7 p.m. and show starts at 8 p.m. Call 440-390-0549 for tickets. Benefits Annunciation Church.

 YOUNG ADULT RETREAT Feb. 23-25 hosted by St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Tremont. Those 21 & up invited to explore Developing Spiritual Maturity. Leaders Fr. John Ojami & Fr. Mark Hagan.   

 A NIGHT IN GREECE Sat., Feb. 24, at Mercury Music Lounge, 18206 Detroit Ave., Lakewood. Live music by Stigma with guest singer Katerina Papadopoulos and George Antonopoulos on bouzouki. $25/person. Doors open at 8 pm; show at 9 pm. Call George Gountis (216-965-1867)

SWEETHEARTS BALL Sat., Feb. 24, 7:30-11:30 p.m. hosted by ΣΕΦ of OSU, at the Columbus Athenaeum, 32 N. 4th Street, Columbus, Ohio. $45 presale until Feb. 22; $50 at the door. Cash, check or Venmo @Sigma-Finance. Call 740-391-4293 for more info.  

 GOYA SPRING RETREAT March 8-10, at Camp Nazareth, Mercer, PA. St Demetrios Parish Council & Philoptochos are offering a full ride scholarship to this retreat to GOYA teens whose family is a 2024 steward in good standing. Contact the church office to be approved and get the scholarship code. Registration now open at Y2AM.Pittsburgh.goarch.org/Retreat

 HERITAGE GREECE National Hellenic Society’s complementary 2-week cultural immersion odyssey for accomplished Greek American college students  to connect with their faith, heritage, roots and Greek identity, at the American College of Greece (Athens) OR at the American College of Thessaloniki. Session A: June 8-23, 2024; Session B: July 6 - 21, 2024. www.hellenicsociety.org

Early-Bird Application Deadline: January 31. Regular Admissions Deadline: March 1.  

 

 IONIAN VILLAGE The summer camping ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America 2024 dates: Session One: June 25 – July 14, 2024; Session Two: July 23 – August 11, 2024. $6,000/camper. Registration opens Feb. 1, 2024 at  IonianVillage.org

  CROSSROAD  This 10-day immersive summer program is designed for high school juniors & seniors preparing to make big life decisions and start new adventures. Connect with the Orthodox Christian theological and spiritual tradition in a deep and meaningful way, you will find a place to form authentic and lifelong friendships, ask hard questions, and explore what it means to be a modern Orthodox Christian.   Application Deadline: February 10.   Sessions: Boston  June 8-19;  N. California June 18-28;  Boston  June 22-July 2;  Chicago July 6-16.


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Saints and Feasts

February 04

Isidore of Pelusium

This Saint was from Alexandria and was a disciple of Saint John Chrysostom. He struggled in asceticism in a monastery at Mount Pelusium, and became abbot of the monks struggling in that monastery. He wrote a great many epistles replete with divine grace, wisdom, and much profit. Over 2,000 of them are preserved in Volume 78 of Migne's Patrologia Graeca (PG 78:177-1646); according to some, he wrote over 3,000 epistles, according to others, 10,000. He reposed on February 4, 440.

Agatha
February 05

Agatha the Martyr

This Martyr, who was from Panormus (that is, Palermo) or perhaps Catania of Sicily, was a most lovely and chaste virgin. After many exceedingly harsh torments, she gave up her spirit in prison at Catania in 251, because she did not consent to the seductions of Quintian, the Governor of Sicily. At her burial, an Angel placed a stone tablet on her grave inscribed with the words, "A righteous mind, self-determining, honor from God, the deliverance of her father-land." The following year this was fulfilled when Mount Etna erupted, spewing forth violent fire from which Catania was manifestly saved by Saint Agatha's prayers. The holy Martyr Agatha, the protectress and chief patroness of Sicily, is, with perhaps the exception of Saint Agnes of Rome, the most highly venerated Virgin Martyr of the West. Saint Damasus, Pope of Rome, and Saint Ambrose of Milan both wrote in praise of her.

Photiosgreat
February 06

Photios, Patriarch of Constantinople

As for the thrice-blessed Photius, the great and most resplendent Father and teacher of the Church, the Confessor of the Faith and Equal to the Apostles, he lived during the years of the emperors Michael (the son of Theophilus), Basil the Macedonian, and Leo his son. He was the son of pious parents, Sergius and Irene, who suffered for the Faith under the Iconoclast Emperor Theophilus; he was also a nephew of Saint Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople (see Feb. 25). He was born in Constantinople, where he excelled in the foremost imperial ministries, while ever practicing a virtuous and godly life. An upright and honorable man of singular learning and erudition, he was raised to the apostolic, ecumenical, and patriarchal throne of Constantinople in the year 857.

The many struggles that this thrice-blessed one undertook for the Orthodox Faith against the Manichaeans, the Iconoclasts, and other heretics, and the attacks and assaults that he endured from Nicholas I, the haughty and ambitious Pope of Rome, and the great persecutions and distresses he suffered, are beyond number. Contending against the Latin error of the filioque, that is, the doctrine that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son, he demonstrated clearly with his Mystagogy on the Holy Spirit how the filioque destroys the unity and equality of the Trinity. He has left us many theological writings, panegyric homilies, and epistles, including one to Boris, the Sovereign of Bulgaria, in which he set forth for him the history and teachings of the Seven Ecumenical Councils. Having tended the Church of Christ in holiness and in an evangelical manner, and with fervent zeal having rooted out all the tares of every alien teaching, he departed to the Lord in the Monastery of the Armenians on February 6, 891.

Royalfamily
February 07

The Synaxis of the New Martyrs of Russia

On the Sunday that falls nearest to January 25 (o.s.) / February 7 (n.s.), we commemorate all the faithful throughout the former Russian Empire who died at the hands of the atheists, beginning in the year 1917. Among them are the Royal Family (see July 4 / 17), followed by Patriarch Tikhon the Confessor (see March 24 / April 7), and an innumerable multitude of clergy, monastics, and layfolk who confessed the Name of Christ in the face of every conceivable mockery, torment, and bitter death.

Theostratateles
February 08

Theodore the Commander & Great Martyr

The holy Martyr Theodore was from Euchaita of Galatia and dwelt in Heraclea of Pontus. He was a renowned commander in the military, and the report came to the Emperor Licinius that he was a Christian and abominated the idols. Licinius therefore sent certain men to him from Nicomedia, to honor him and ask him to appear before him. Through them, however, Saint Theodore sent back a message that it was necessary for various reasons, that Licinius come to Heraclea. Licinius, seeing in this a hope of turning Saint Theodore away from Christ did as was asked of him.

When the Emperor came to Heraclea, Saint Theodore met him with honor, and the Emperor in turn gave Theodore his hand, believing that through him he would be able to draw the Christians to the worship of his idols. Seated upon his throne in the midst of the people, he publicly bade Theodore offer sacrifice to the gods. But Theodore asked that the emperor entrust him with the most venerable of his gods, those of gold and silver, that he might take them home and himself attend upon them that evening, promising that the following day he would honor them in public. The Emperor, filled with joy at these tidings, gave command that Theodore's request be fulfilled.

When the Saint had taken the idols home, he broke them in pieces and distributed the gold and silver to the poor by night. The next day a centurion named Maxentius told Licinius that he had seen a pauper pass by carrying the head of Artemis. Saint Theodore, far from repenting of this, confessed Christ boldly. Licinius, in an uncontainable fury, had the Saint put to many torments, then crucified. While upon the cross, the holy Martyr was further tormented -- his privy parts were cut off, he was shot with arrows, his eyes were put out, and he was left on the cross to die. The next day Licinius sent men to take his corpse and cast it into the sea; but they found the Saint alive and perfectly whole. Through this, many believed in Christ. Seeing his own men turning to Christ, and the city in an uproar, Licinius had Theodore beheaded, about the year 320. The Saint's holy relics were returned to his ancestral home on June 8, which is also a feast of the Great Martyr Theodore.

February 09

Nicephoros the Martyr of Antioch

This Martyr, who was from Antioch in Syria, contested during the reign of Gallienus, about the year 260. Through the working of the evil one, his friendship with a certain Christian priest named Sapricius was turned to bitter hatred. Nicephoros, repenting of his enmity, tried both through intermediaries and in person to be reconciled with Sapricius, but to no avail. Later, when the persecution broke out under Valerian and Gallienus, Sapricius was seized as a Christian. When Saint Nicephoros learned that Sapricius had been arrested by the pagans and was enduring torments for Christ, he sent intermediaries to Sapricius, begging his forgiveness; but Sapricius would not forgive him. Later, as Sapricius was being taken to beheading, Nicephoros, hoping that Sapricius, at his end, in such a holy hour, would at last forgive him, met him on the way, fell before him, and fervently asked his forgiveness; but Sapricius forgave him not. Wherefore, though Sapricius had passed through many sufferings, and the crown of martyrdom was now awaiting him, because he disdained the chief commandments of love and forgiveness, the grace of God, which had been strengthening him in his torments, departed from him, and he told his executioners he would sacrifice. Nicephoros immediately confessed Christ before them, and being himself beheaded, took the crown that Sapricius had cast away.

Should the Apodosis of the Feast of the Meeting in the Temple fall on this day the service to Saint Nicephoros is chanted on the 8th.

10_charalambos1
February 10

Haralambos the Holy Martyr

This Saint was a priest of the Christians in Magnesia, the foremost city of Thessaly, in the diocese having the same name. He contested during the reign of Alexander Severus (222-235), when Lucian was Proconsul of Magnesia. At the time of his martyrdom the Saint was 103 years of age.

St. Haralambos is commemorated on February 10th, with the exception when this date falls on the Saturday of the Souls preceding Lent or on Clean Monday (the first day of Lent), in which case the feast is celebrated on February 9th.

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Wisdom of the Fathers

He who truly wishes to believe in God must be lifted above himself, his mind, and even the whole world. For this reason, the value of faith is considered higher than the value of man. It is even higher than the value of the whole world. Therefore, the reward of faith should be higher than all of man's possessions along with the glories of this world. The reward of faith is God.
Fr. Matthew the Poor
Orthodox Prayer Life: The Interior Way, p. 74, 20th century

What is it that I love when I love you? Not the beauty of a body or the comeliness of time. Nor the luster of the light pleasing to the eyes, nor the sweet melodies of all manner of songs, nor the fragrance of flowers, ointments and spices, not manna and honey, nor limbs welcome to the embrace of the flesh - I do not love these when I love my God. And yet there is a kind of light, a kind of voice, a kind of fragrance, a kind of foods, a kind of embrace, when I love my God, who is the light, voice, fragrance, food, embrace of the inner man, where there shines into the soul that which no place can contain, and there sounds forth that which time cannot end, where there is fragrance which no breeze disperses, taste which eating does not make less, and a clinging together which fulfillment does not terminate. It is this that I love when I love my God.
St. Augustine
Confessions 10.6 in The Confessions of St. Augustine, p. 244, 5th century

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Mode

When Thou didst descend unto death, O Life Immortal, then didst Thou slay Hades with the lightning of Thy Divinity. And when Thou didst also raise the dead out of the nethermost depths, all the powers in the Heavens cried out: O Life-giver, Christ our God, glory be to Thee.

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery


Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Presentation in the First Mode

Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, O Virgin Theotokos, for from thee hath risen the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, enlightening those in darkness. Rejoice, thou also, O righteous Elder, as thou receivest in thine arms the Redeemer of our souls, Who also granteth unto us the Resurrection.

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery


Apolytikion for the Church in the First Mode

Μέγαν εύρατο εντοίς κινδύνοις,  σε υπέρμαχον η οικουμένη, αθλοφόρε τα έθνη τροπούμενον. Ως ουν Λυαίου καθείλες την έπαρσιν εν τω σταδίω θαρρύνας τον Νέστορα. Ουτως άγιε μεγαλομάρτυς Δημήτριε, Χριστόν τον Θεόν ικέτευε δωρήσασθε ημίν το μεγαέλεος.


Seasonal Kontakion in the First Mode

Your birth sanctified a Virgin's womb and properly blessed the hands of Symeon. Having now come and saved us O Christ our God, give peace to Your commonwealth in troubled times and strengthen those in authority, whom You love, as only the loving One.

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press


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