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St. Demetrios Church
Publish Date: 2024-03-03
Bulletin Contents
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Parish Announcements
Saints and Feasts
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News
Wisdom of the Fathers
Hymns of the Day
Prodson
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. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 6:12-20.

Brethren, "all things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" -- and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh." But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belong to God.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Prodigal Son
The Reading is from Luke 15:11-32

The Lord said this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his belly with the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

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Parish Announcements

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY

3/3

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

Orthros; Divine Liturgy; Sunday School

MONDAY

3/ 4

9:00 a.m.

6:00 p.m.

Make souzoukakia

Movie Monday

TUESDAY

3/5

9:00 a.m.

5:00; 6:45 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Make souzoukakia

Greek School; Teachers’ meeting

Adult Greek Class

WEDNESDAY

3/6

9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

7:00 p.m.

Pickleball

Book Study Group

Choir rehearsal

THURSDAY

3/7

10:30 a.m.

5:00  p.m.

6:45  p.m.

Prayer Group

Greek School

Kyklonas & Kymata Dancers

FRIDAY

3/8

9:00 a.m.

Pickleball

SATURDAY

3/9

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

1st Saturday of Souls Orthros; Divine Liturgy


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., March  2. Contact Linda Glynias (216-469-2663)

~Philoptochos next service date:  Tue., March 12 Contact Joanne Harootunian (440-353-0910)


BABY BLESSING

Elias, son of Nicholas and Brooke Kafantaris 


FESTIVAL PREPARATIONS

Thanks to everyone who helped wrap utensils over the past two weeks! 

Cooking sessions begin at 9 a.m. All encouraged to volunteer!

March 4-5  Souzoukakia;     March 11-12  Dolmades;       March 26-27  Pastitsio


MOVIE MONDAY

This year’s evening film series will explore the full wording, intent and application of The Ten Commandments. 

III Commandment: You shall not misuse the name the Lord  your God.                                  

March 4  at 6 p.m.:  Rasputin (1966;  91 minutes)  Christopher Lee stars as the so-called “monk” who misused the name of the Lord to ingratiate himself with the Tsar’s family,  on the eve of the Russian Revolution.

We will also continue screenings of The Chosen (season 3) March 11, 3 p.m. (Episodes 5 & 6) Simon & Gaius work together; Andrew & Philip find that their mission resulted in devastation.


OPA

Registration forms now available for all three Hellenic Dance groups. Returning and new dancers can receive information about rehearsals as we prepare for our festival.  Aeraki (ages 6-8, as of Jan. 1);  Kymata (ages 9-12, as of Jan. 1);  Kyklonas (ages 13 to young adult)

Rehearsals are now on Thursdays 6:45 -7:30 p.m. for Kymata (gym)  and Kyklonas (hall)


SATURDAY OF SOULS

March 9, 16, 23, 8;20 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy. Those remembering loved ones long gone, should bring plate of kollyva with list of names  by 9: 30 a.m.


MEMORIALS

March 10: Carpadis;  Katzan; Papantoniou; Poulios

March 17:  Pasalis

March 31:  Giolekas 


'A DAY IN ITALY' SPAGHETTI LUNCHEON

Sun., March 10, in the hall after Divine Liturgy. $17/person for dine-in or carry out.  Jars of sauce will also be on sale. Proceeds to benefit our Choir. Tickets on sale during coffee hour and a limited number at the door.


SPIRITUAL LIFE COMMITTEE

MEETING Monday, March 11  6:00 p.m. via Zoom (email alentz@saintdemetriosrr.org to get the link)  We encourage anyone interested in providing input on: 1) Strengthening our Sunday School program; 2) Planning a spiritual retreat later this year


ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATION

Sun., March 17, celebrate his feastday with Divine Liturgy, followed by a family-friendly gathering in the Fellowship Room. Since it is also Cheesefare Sunday, adults can enjoy cheesy charcuterie while children can enjoy mac-n-cheese, and work on a seasonal craft which will illustrate how St. Patrick taught about the Holy Trinity.

To ensure enough craft materials, those bringing a child (ages 5-11) please email office@saintdemetriosrr.org to register. Free will donations accepted to benefit future JOY events.


START OF LENT

Sunday, March 17,  attend Forgiveness Vespers at 6:00 p.m. for the start of Lent (Clean Monday/ Καθαρά Δευτέρα: March 18) 

Mark the first week of the Great Fast be hearing the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete:  March 18, 19 & 21, 6:00 p.m.


2024 LENTEN LECTURES

Pre-Sanctified Liturgies,  Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. in St. Demetrios Church,  followed by a potluck meal and a guest speaker in the Cultural Hall.

Date           Speaker                                   Potluck Host

March 20  Fr. Jim Doukas                                                           Philoptochos 

April 3  Ted Cherpas, Youth Director of Sts. Constantine & Helen   GOYA

April 10  Stacey Stathulis                                                          Yassou Club

April 17  TBA                                                                             Daughters of Penelope

April 24  Alyssa Kyritsis, Metropolis Youth/Young Adult Director      TBA


REJOICE, O LIBERTY!

Sun., March 24, the Balourdas Hellenic Cultural School invites all parishioners to the hall for the annual program celebrating Annunciation and Greek Independence Day with music, drama and folk dances. Starting at 11:30 a.m. Refreshments courtesy of PTO


GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE

The  annual NE Ohio parade will be on Sat., March 30 in Tremont. Doxology at noon in Annunciation Church, 2187 W. 14th St., Cleveland. 1 pm. Kick off from the parking lot. The route will be along W. 11th to Lincoln Park and back up W. 14th. Post-parade festivities in Annunciation hall.

Grand Marshall comedian Yianni Pappas! 

All Hellenic clubs welcome to register (no fee) by March 15 by contacting Emmanuel Ermidis (216-323-4092.) and note if you are marching with a banner or driving a vehicle or float. 

Prizes for the Best Float and Best Participation! 


ORATORICAL FESTIVAL

Sun., March 31, after Liturgy, parishioners are invited to remain in the church for the annual public speaking competition. Students in grades 7-12 will present inspiring speeches which they wrote. For list of topics, go to goarch.org/oratorical  Speakers should register by contacting Kim Veras (kosu100@aol.com) 


STEWARDSHIP

Please take a moment to fill out your 2024 Card and make your payments even more powerful.  All pledged parishioners will be formally thanked for their stewardship and generosity in May. It would be a blessing to have 100% stewardship participation toward our parish goal of $385,000


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.


2024 WALL CALENDARS

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

 


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.


EVENTS ELSEWHERE

FRIDAY FISH FRIES   Support our sister parishes, this week 

-Sts. Constantine and Helen, 3352 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Heights. 5:00-7:30 p.m.

-Annunciation Church, 2187 W. 14th St., Cleveland. 5:00-8:00 p.m. 

GRIEF SHARE Tuesdays  now -May 28,  1-3 p.m. at St. Paul Church, 4548 Wallings Rd., North Royalton. Register at http://tinyurl.com/GriefshareSTP or clal 440-237-8998

FAMILY AND FAITH RETREAT Sat., March 2, at St Paul Church, 4548 Wallings Rd., N Royalton. 10 a.m.-2 pm. $10/person. Child car available. Stpaulgoc.org

GREEK MARDI GRAS PARTY Sat., March 2, at the Sterea Hellas Foundation, 7890 Brookdside Dr., Olmsted Falls. Doors open at 7 p.m. $15/person; cash bar and meat platter for sale.  Greek music by DJ Vasilios. Costumes welcome but optional.  For tickets, call George (440-390-8142.)

 APOKREATIKO GLENDI Sat., March 9, at St. Nicholas Church, 2000 Tower Blvd., Lorain. Doors open at 6 p.m.  Plated traditional Greek dinner; Cash bar. Prizes for best costumes. Dancing to live music by Stigma. $35/ adult; $20/child under 12; children under 5 free. Call 440-960-2992.

 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

ST. KYRANNA COOKING CLASS Sat., March 9, for ages 21 & up, at Sts. Constantine & Helen, 3351 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Hts. 5 pm Vespers; 6 pm Class on preparing octopus, taught by Perry Zohos & George Kappos. RSVP by March 4 to goreadlcleveland@gmail.com

 APOKREATIKO GLENDI Sat., March 9, at St. Nicholas Church, 2000 Tower Blvd., Lorain. Doors open at 6 p.m.  Plated traditional Greek dinner; Cash bar. Prizes for best costumes. Dancing to live music by Stigma. $35/ adult; $20/child under 12; children under 5 free. Call 440-960-2992.

  ANTYPAS’ NORTH AMERICAN TOUR Sat., March 16 at Archangel Michael Church hall in Campbell, Ohio. Tickets at www.antypastour.com

COMING ALIVE: A QUARTER CENTURY OF BYZANTINE ART HISTORY Fri., March 22 , 5 p.m.  at the Cleveland Museum of Art lecture hall. Dr. Helen Evans, Mary & Michael Jaharis Curator Emerita in Byzantine Art will discusse her experience presenting Byzantine art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Free lecture. 

 Sunday of Orthodoxy  March 24   Great Vespers at 4:00 p.m. Hosted by St. Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral, 733 Starkweather Ave., Cleveland.  His Eminence the Most Rev. Nicolae, Metropolitan of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas will preside and offer the homily. This year, donations will be collected for IOCC’s humanitarian relief in Gaza.  If you wish to donate and be listed as a Patron in the program book,  make check payable to “Greater Cleveland Council of Orthodox Clergy”and mail, no later than March 12th,  to: GCCOC, c/o St. Innocent Orthodox Church, PO Box 38208, Olmsted Falls, OH 44138

ANNUNCIATION  Celebrate the feastday of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church,  2187 W. 14th St., Cleveland, on Sun., March 24: 7 p.m. Vespers. Coffee social to follow.

 Mon., March 25: 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy.  Luncheon to follow. For tickets, call 216-861-0116.

 Pilgrimage to St. Gregory Palamas Monastery934 Cr 2256, Perrysville, Ohio. Join Metropolitan Savas and area clergy on Saturday, March 30:  10 a.m. Hierarchal Divine Liturgy. Lenten meal to follow.  If attending, please call 419-368-5335 so they can prepare enough food.


SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

AHEPA District 11 Buckeye: Available to students currently in college or entering college in Fall 2024, who are OR whose parents are active members of the AHEPA, Daughters of Penelope, Sons of Pericles, or Maids of Athena for 3 consecutive years (2 years plus current year.) Application at www.bsf.buckeyedistrict11.org  Submission deadline: March 31, 2024.

 AHEPA #389 / Daughters of Penelope #321: Available to graduating high school seniors whose families are members of AHEPA or Daughters of Penelope 321, or St. Demetrios Church, who are starting their undergraduate studies in the Fall of 2024. To request the application, email office@saintdemetriosrr.org   Submission deadline: April 19, 2024

The John M Manos, Cleveland, AHEPA Chapter #36 is offering college scholarships to graduating high school seniors of Greek descent who are residents of Cuyahoga, Lorain, Summit, Medina or Lake County. Scholarships are awarded upon merit. Contact Alex Rokakis for a scholarship application at alekomon@mac.com. Hard copies also available in the ST. Demetrios Church office.  Scholarship applications must be completed by May 4, 2024, and will be awarded no later than June 1, 2024. 

Joan Lambros Memorial     Available to women who are members of St. Demetrios Church and pursuing   undergraduate or post-grad studies in the Sciences.  To request the  application, email office@saintdemetriosrr.org    Submission deadline: April 26, 2024

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships: 

for the 2024-2025 academic year

•The Gioles and Malta Scholarships are available to Undergraduate Students.
•The Paleologos Scholarship is available to Graduate students.
•The Taylor Scholarship is available to students pursuing a secondary degree.
•The Tembelis Scholarship is available to all students studying at Hellenic College-Holy Cross.
•The Trakatellis Scholarship is available to graduates of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology who are pursuing further academic studies.

Applications at  www.goarch.org/scholarships  Submission deadline for all: May 17, 2024.


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Saints and Feasts

Prodson
March 03

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Through the parable of today's Gospel, our Saviour has set forth three things for us: the condition of the sinner, the rule of repentance, and the greatness of God's compassion. The divine Fathers have put this reading the week after the parable of the Publican and Pharisee so that, seeing in the person of the Prodigal Son our own wretched condition -- inasmuch as we are sunken in sin, far from God and His Mysteries -- we might at last come to our senses and make haste to return to Him by repentance during these holy days of the Fast.

Furthermore, those who have wrought many great iniquities, and have persisted in them for a long time, oftentimes fall into despair, thinking that there can no longer be any forgiveness for them; and so being without hope, they fall every day into the same and even worse iniquities. Therefore, the divine Fathers, that they might root out the passion of despair from the hearts of such people, and rouse them to the deeds of virtue, have set the present parable at the forecourts of the Fast, to show them the surpassing goodness of God's compassion, and to teach them that there is no sin -- no matter how great it may be -- that can overcome at any time His love for man.

Gerasimosjordan
March 04

Gerasimos the Righteous of Jordan

This Saint, who was from Lycia in Asia Minor, lived there for many years as a hermit, and then went to Palestine. There he built the great Lavra by the Jordan River, where a lion served him with great obedience and devotion. One day the lion came looking for Gerasimus that he might feed him, but his disciples took the lion to the place where they had buried the Saint shortly before. The lion fell at the Saint's grave and, after roaring with grief, died at that very place. Saint Gerasimus reposed in 475.

March 05

Konon the Gardener

This saint lived during the reign of emperor Decius in 251. He came from the town of Nazareth. He left his hometown and went to the city of Mandron, in the province of Pamphylia. There he stayed at a place called Karmela or Karmena cultivating a garden which he used to water and plant with various vegetables. From this garden he obtained what is necessary for life. He had such an upright and simple mind that, when he met those who wished to arrest him and saw that they greeted him, he also greeted in return from the bottom of his soul and heart. When they told him that governor Publius called the saint to go to him, the saint answered with simplicity: "What does the governor need me, since I am a Christian? Let him call those who think the way he does and have the same religion with him." So, the blessed man was tied and brought to the governor, who tried to move him to sacrifice to the idols. But the saint sighed from the bottom of his heart, cursed the tyrant and confirmed his faith in Christ with his confession, saying that it is not possible to be moved from it even though he might be tortured cruelly. So, for this reason they nailed his feet and made the saint run in front of the governor's coach. But the saint fainted in the street. Having fallen on his knees, he prayed and, thus, he commended his holy soul to the hands of God.

March 06

42 Martyrs of Amorion in Phrygia

These Martyrs, men of high rank in the Roman (Byzantine) army, were taken captive when the city of Amorion in Phrygia fell to the Moslem Arabs in 838, during the reign of Theophilus the Iconoclast. Among them were Aetius and Melissenus, the generals; Theodore, the chief of the imperial ceremonial bodyguard; Craterus, the eunuch; Callistus, Constantine, Bassoes, and Theophilius, who were military officials; and certain others who held important positions. Because of their experience in war and their virtue, the Moslems did not slay them, but tried by all means to convert them to Islam and have them to fight in their own campaigns. They kept the holy Martyrs shut up in a dark dungeon in the city of Samarra in Syria, threatening and abusing them, making promises of glorious rank and magnificent riches, keeping them in hunger, oppression, and darkness, not for a few weeks, or a few months, but for seven full years. Finally, unable to break the courage and faith of their captives, they beheaded them in the year 845.

March 07

The 7 Hieromartyrs of Cherson

These holy Bishops were sent to Cherson on the Black Sea by Hermon, Bishop of Jerusalem, in the days of Diocletian, about the year 300, to preach the Gospel. Ephraim and Basileus were sent first. Basileus raised to life the dead son of a local ruler, because of which many were baptized. Those who remained in their unbelief, however, dragged him through the streets until he died. Ephraim, refusing to offer sacrifice to idols, was beheaded. After them, Euguene, Agathodorus, Capito, and Elpitius were sent by the Bishop of Jerusalem as heralds of the Faith, but they also were slain by the ungodly. Last of all, the Bishop of Jerusalem sent Aetherius; he was drowned during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great.

March 08

Theophylaktos, Bishop of Nicomedea

Theophylact was from the East; his native city is unknown. In Constantinople he became a close friend of Tarsius, who afterwards became Patriarch of Constantinople (see Feb. 25).Theophylact was made Bishop of Nicomedia. After the death of Saint Tarsius, his successor Nicephorus (see June 2) called together a number of Bishops to help him in fighting the iconoclasm of Emperor Leo the Armenian, who reigned from 813-820. Among them was Euthymius, Bishop of Sardis (celebrated Dec. 26), who had attended the holy Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787 - he was exiled three times for the sake of the holy icons, and for defying the Emperor Theophilus' command to renounce the veneration of the icons, was scourged from head to foot until his whole body was one great wound, from which he died eight days later, about the year 830; Joseph of Thessalonica (see July 14); Michael of Synnada (see May 23); Emilian, Bishop of Cyzicus (see Aug. 8); and Saint Theophylact, who boldly rebuked Leo to his face, telling him that because he despised the long-suffering of God, utter destruction was about to overtake him, and there would be none to deliver him. For this, Theophylact was exiled to the fortress of Strobilus in Karia of Asia Minor, where, after 30 years of imprisonment and hardship, he gave up his holy soul about the year 845. Leo the Armenian, according to the Saint's prophecy, was slain in church on the eve of our Lord's Nativity, in 820.

Lastjudgement1
March 09

1st Saturday of Souls

Through the Apostolic Constitutions (Book VIII, ch. 42), the Church of Christ has received the custom to make commemorations for the departed on the third, ninth, and fortieth days after their repose. Since many throughout the ages, because of an untimely death in a faraway place, or other adverse circumstances, have died without being deemed worthy of the appointed memorial services, the divine Fathers, being so moved in their love for man, have decreed that a common memorial be made this day for all pious Orthodox Christians who have reposed from all ages past, so that those who did not have particular memorial services may be included in this common one for all. Also, the Church of Christ teaches us that alms should be given to the poor by the departed one's kinsmen as a memorial for him.

Besides this, since we make commemoration tomorrow of the Second Coming of Christ, and since the reposed have neither been judged, nor have received their complete recompense (Acts 17:31; II Peter 2:9; Heb. 11:39-40), the Church rightly commemorates the souls today, and trusting in the boundless mercy of God, she prays Him to have mercy on sinners. Furthermore, since the commemoration is for all the reposed together, it reminds each of us of his own death, and arouses us to repentance.

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Wisdom of the Fathers

Thank God every day with your whole heart for having given to you life according to His image and likeness - an intelligently free and immortal life...Thank Him also for again daily bestowing life upon you, who have fallen an innumerable multitude of times, by your own free will, through sins, from life unto death, and that He does so as soon as you only say from your whole heart: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before Thee!' (Luke 15:18).
St. John of Kronstadt
My Life in Christ: Part 1; Holy Trinity Monastery pgs. 104-105, 19th century

But if he had despaired of his life, and, ... had remained in the foreign land, he would not have obtained what he did obtain, but would have been consumed with hunger, and so have undergone the most pitiable death: ...
St. John Chrysostom
AN EXHORTATION TO THEODORE AFTER HIS FALL, 4th Century

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Mode

Angelic powers were above Thy tomb, and they that guarded Thee became as dead. And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine immaculate Body. Thou hast despoiled Hades and wast not tried thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. O Thou Who didst arise from the dead, Lord, glory be to Thee.

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 Third Mode

O Father, foolishly I ran away from Your glory, and in sin, squandered the riches You gave me. Wherefore, I cry out to You with the voice of the Prodigal, "I have sinned before You Compassionate Father. Receive me in repentance and take me as one of Your hired servants."

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


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