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St. Demetrios Church
Publish Date: 2024-03-24
Bulletin Contents
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Parish Announcements
Saints and Feasts
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News
Wisdom of the Fathers
Hymns of the Day
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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


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. Fourth Mode. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40.

Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered abuse suffered for the Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked to the reward.

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets -- who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated -- of whom the world was not worthy -- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of Orthodoxy
The Reading is from John 1:43-51

At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

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Parish Announcements

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY

3/24

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

 

 

Orthros; Divine Liturgy; Sunday School

Icon Procession

March 25th Program

MONDAY

3/25

 

Annunciation [services in Tremont]

TUESDAY

3/26

9:00 a.m.

5:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Pastitsio

Greek School

Adult Greek Class

WEDNESDAY

3/27

9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

6:00 p.m.

Pastitsio /  Pickleball

Book Study Group

Human Trafficking Awareness talk

THURSDAY

3/28

10:30 a.m.

5:00  p.m.

6:45  p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Prayer Group

Greek School

Kyklonas Dancers

Choir rehearsal

FRIDAY

3/29

9:00 a.m.

6:00 p.m.

Pickleball

Salutations to the Theotokos

SATURDAY

3/30

Noon; 1:00 p.m.

Greek Independence Parade [in Tremont]

SALUTATIONS

Fridays, March 22, 29, April 5, 12, 19 at6 p.m.

Those who are able to read the prayers or decorate the icon, please contact the church office.


FINAL SATURDAY OF SOULS

March 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.


SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY

Sun., March 24,   bring your children and their favorite icon to St. Demetrios' annual celebration of the restoration of Icons. The Procession of Icons at ST. Demtrios will be at the end of Divine Liturgy. Please arrive for Divine Liturgy at 9:30am so you and your children can hear from the hymns and sermon why this celebration is so important. 

4:00 p.m. Great Vespers at ST. Theodosius Cathedral, 733 Starkweather Ave., Clevleand. Chief celebrant and homilist MEtropolitan Nicolae of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis. All encouraged to bring Holy Icons and the children will carry them in the procession. Refreshments to follow. Free will donations for humantarian relief efforts in Gaza. 

 


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


OFFICE SCHEDULE

Fr. Andy will be attending the Metropolis Clergy Retreat March 26-28. Contact the Office Manager with any pastoral emergencies on those days.


HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS

Wed., March 27, 6 p.m. in the  Cultural Hall, join Daughters of Penelope to learn more about this serious issue from Guest speaker Anna Beck, RN from MetroHealth.  Open to women and men in our community .


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, resuming on April 11)  and Kyklonas (hall, weekly)


FESTIVAL PREPARATIONS

 March 26-27:  Pastitsio    (please note this is a Tuesday and Wednesday. We are NOT working on Monday, March 25 due to Annunciation) 

April 1-2: Moussaka

April 15-16: Spanakopita (note on Mon., April 15, there are morning AND evening work sessions)


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! 

The Pan-Icarian Brotherhood's annual Independence Day dance will take place at Annunciation ballroom later that evening.  Dance 9:30 a.m. $25 at the door. Live music by Stigma. 


MEMORIALS

coming up:   March 31: Giolekas; Theodosion      April 14: Ladopoulos


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) 


MOVIE MONDAY

 This year’s film series explores thewording and application of the 10 Commandments. II Commandment says “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the 7th day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.” 

April 1, 6:00 p.m. The Bishop’s Wife (1947; 1 hour & 49 minutes) Amidst intense fundraising for a new church building, an Episcopalian bishop (David Niven) and his wife (Loretta Young) struggle to take a day off and keep a holiday holy. A debonair angel- who looks a lot like Cary Grant- may or may not be the answer to the bishop’s prayer for rest. Join us in the hall to see it on the big screen.

The Chosen   April 15, 3 p.m. in the Library(Conclusion of Season 3) 


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

April 3     “#1 Priority: Our Relationship with God”- Ted Cherpas          GOYA

April 10    "Stewardship during the Great Fast"  Stacey Stathulis                                                                    Yassou Club

April 17    "The Curtain"  - Deacon John Pantelis             Daughters of Penelope

April 24    “Women in the Church” -Alyssa Kyritsis                               Choir


PHILOPTOCHOS CORNER

Sat., April 6,11 a.m. The Metropolis Philoptochos Daffodil LUncheon is hosted by Holy Trinity of Ambridge, at  Marriot PIttsburgh Airport, 777 Aten Rd., Coraopolis, PA. For reservations visit https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted...button...id=NDJKRNGH5HXWW

Sun., April 14 - we are hosting a Baby Shower for Zoe House. Wish list includes diapers (newborn to size 6), wipes, baby wash, shampoo, lotion, receiving blankets, washclothes & towels, bottles, baby clothes (0-24 months), strollers, high chairs, infant car seats, pack & plays. Bring items to the hall after Liturgy. There will also be bottles on each table to collect loose change donations.

Artistis & crafts people, please consider supporting our sister chapter in North Royalton at their Autumn Craft Fair (SAt., Oct. 12) by purchasing booth space (8x10') $60 before April 15; $70 after April 15. Must supply own table (2 chairs will be provided) or rent of the limited available tables for $10.  Limited spaces available with electricty ($5) All vendor registration subject to approval. Email StPaulPhiloFundraising@gmail.com

 


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., April 6 Contact Linda Glynias (216-469-2663)

~Philoptochos next service date:  Tue., April 9. Contact Joanne Harootunian (440-353-0910)


FLOWER DONORS

Anyone who can donate the daffodils for Holy Cross Sunday (April 7),  for the Epitaphio, or any of the Holy Week icons, please call Eleni at 440-331-2246 ext. 2


CHOIR NOTES

Rehearsals during Lent will be on Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the church. Anyone wishing to join in order to sing the beautiful hymns of the season leading up Pascha, is welcome!

 


STEWARDSHIP

As of 3/11/24, we have:

480 active members. 230 contributing families.

190 pledged families have pledged $201,921.60  and 40 non-pledged paying families have paid $10,275.

Average pledge $877; Median pledge $500.

Stewardship goal is $385,000. $122, 325 outstanding pledges. 55 families have fulfilled their pledge! 


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.


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

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. 

 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.  Plaki fish Luncheon to follow. $25/person. 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.

YOUNG ADULT SPRING REATREAT April 12-14 at Camp Nazareth for ages 18-35. Keynote speaker Fr. Jonathan Tobias "Why do bad things happen to good people?"  Registration at https://y2am.pittsburgh.goarch.org/2024-young-adult-spring-retreat

YOCAMA MISSION TRIP  July 13-19, Join others from St. Demetrios on a mission trip to the Navajo Nation in Gallup, New Mexico, through YOCAMA (Young Orthodox Christian American Mission Adventure) Learn more at www.yocama.com/missiontrips and contact Jake Trotter (trotterjake@gmail.com) for more details about our trip.


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

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March 24

Sunday of Orthodoxy

For more than one hundred years the Church of Christ was troubled by the persecution of the Iconoclasts of evil belief, beginning in the reign of Leo the Isaurian (717-741) and ending in the reign of Theophilus (829-842). After Theophilus's death, his widow the Empress Theodora (celebrated Feb. 11), together with the Patriarch Methodius (June 14), established Orthodoxy anew. This ever-memorable Queen venerated the icon of the Mother of God in the presence of the Patriarch Methodius and the other confessors and righteous men, and openly cried out these holy words: "If anyone does not offer relative worship to the holy icons, not adoring them as though they were gods, but venerating them out of love as images of the archetype, let him be anathema." Then with common prayer and fasting during the whole first week of the Forty-day Fast, she asked God's forgiveness for her husband. After this, on the first Sunday of the Fast, she and her son, Michael the Emperor, made a procession with all the clergy and people and restored the holy icons, and again adorned the Church of Christ with them. This is the holy deed that all we the Orthodox commemorate today, and we call this radiant and venerable day the Sunday of Orthodoxy, that is, the triumph of true doctrine over heresy.

Annuncia
March 25

Annunciation of the Theotokos

Six months after John the Forerunner's conception, the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth, a town of Galilee, unto Mary the Virgin, who had come forth from the Temple a mature maiden (see Nov. 21). According to the tradition handed down by the Fathers, she had been betrothed to Joseph four months. On coming to Joseph's house, the Archangel declared: "Rejoice, thou Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." After some consideration, and turmoil of soul, and fear because of this greeting, the Virgin, when she had finally obtained full assurance concerning God's unsearchable condescension and the ineffable dispensation that was to take place through her, and believing that all things are possible to the Most High, answered in humility: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." And at this, the Holy Spirit came upon her, and the power of the Most High overshadowed her all-blameless womb, and the Son and Word of God, Who existed before the ages, was conceived past speech and understanding, and became flesh in her immaculate body (Luke 1:26-38).

Bearing in her womb the Uncontainable One, the blessed Virgin went with haste from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea, where Zacharias had his dwelling; for she desired to find Elizabeth her kinswoman and rejoice together with her, because, as she had learned from the Archangel, Elizabeth had conceived in her old age. Furthermore, she wished to tell her of the great things that the Mighty One had been well-pleased to bring to pass in her, and she greeted Elizabeth and drew nigh to her. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, she felt her six-month-old babe, Saint John the Baptist, prophesied of the dawning of the spiritual Sun. Immediately, the aged Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and recognized her as the Mother of her Lord, and with a great voice blessed her and the Fruit that she held within herself. The Virgin also, moved by a supernatural rejoicing in the spirit, glorified her God and Savior, saying: "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour," and the rest, as the divine Luke hath recorded (1:39-55)

Gabriel1
March 26

Synaxis in honor of the Archangel Gabriel

This festive Synaxis is celebrated to the glory of the Archangel Gabriel, since he ministered to the marvelous mystery of God's incarnate dispensation.

Matrona
March 27

Martyr Matrona of Thessaloniki

This martyr was the servant of a certain Jewish woman named Pantilla, the wife of the Governor of Thessalonica. When Matrona refused to follow her mistress into the synagogue Pantilla beat her so severly that she died in a few days, and thus received the crown of her confession.

March 28

Hilarion the New

Saint Hilarion took up the monastic life from his youth and lived in seclusion. Later, as Abbot of the Monastery of Pelecete in Asia Minor (believed to be in Bithynia, not far from Triglia), he suffered much from the Iconoclasts, and reposed in the year 754.

March 29

Mark, Bishop of Arethusa

Saint Mark was Bishop of Arethusa in Syria. In the days of Saint Constantine the Great, Saint Mark, moved with divine zeal, destroyed a temple of the idols and raised up a church in its stead. When Julian the Apostate reigned, in 361, as the pagans were now able to avenge the destruction of their temple, Saint Mark, giving way to wrath, hid himself; but when he saw that others were being taken on his account, he gave himself up. Having no regard to his old age, they stripped him and beat his whole body, cast him into filthy sewers, and pulling him out, had children prick him with their iron writing-pens. Then they put him into a basket, smeared him with honey and a kind of relish of pickled fish, and hung him up under the burning sun to be devoured by bees and wasps. But because he bore this so nobly, his enemies repented, and unloosed him.

Iconclimacus
March 30

John Climacus the Righteous, author of The Divine Ladder of Ascent

This Saint gave himself over to the ascetical life from his early youth. Experienced both in the solitary life of the hermit and in the communal life of cenobitic monasticism, he was appointed Abbot of the Monastery at Mount Sinai and wrote a book containing thirty homilies on virtue. Each homily deals with one virtue, and progressing from those that deal with holy and righteous activity (praxis) unto those that deal with divine vision (theoria), they raise a man up as though by means of steps unto the height of Heaven. For this cause his work is called "The Ladder of Divine Ascent." The day he was made Abbot of Sinai, the Prophet Moses was seen giving commands to those who served at table. Saint John reposed in 603, at eighty years of age. See also the Fourth Sunday of the Fast.

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Wisdom of the Fathers

Peter, when after so many miracles and such high doctrine he confessed that, "Thou art the Son of God" (Matt. xvi. 16), is called "blessed," as having received the revelation from the Father;
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 21 on John 1, 1. B#58, pp. 72, 73, 4th Century

... while Nathanael, though he said the very same thing before seeing or hearing either miracles or doctrine, had no such word addressed to him, but as though he had not said so much as he ought to have said, is brought to things greater still.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 21 on John 1, 1. B#58, pp. 72, 73, 4th Century

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode

Although the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers guarded Your most pure body, You arose on the third day, O Savior, giving life to the world. For this reason, the heavenly powers cried out to you, O Giver of Life: Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Your kingdom! Glory to Your dispensation, only Lover of Mankind!

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America


Apolytikion for Sun. of Orthodoxy in the Second Mode

We worship Thine immaculate icon, O Good One, asking the forgiveness of our failings, O Christ our God; for of Thine own will Thou wast well-pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, that Thou mightest deliver from slavery to the enemy those whom Thou hadst fashioned. Wherefore, we cry to Thee thankfully: Thou didst fill all things with joy, O our Saviour, when Thou camest to save the world.

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


Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"

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


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