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St. Demetrios Church
Publish Date: 2024-04-07
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. 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 Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6.

BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

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Parish Announcements

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY

4/7

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

Orthros; Divine Liturgy; Sunday School

General Assembly / Loukoumades sale

MONDAY

4/8

1:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Offices close for solar eclipse

Philoptochos Meeting

TUESDAY

4/9

4:30 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Philoptochos serving at St. Herman’s

Greek School

Adult Greek Class

WEDNESDAY

4/10

9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

6:00 p.m.

Pickleball

Book Study Group

Pre Sanctified Liturgy/ Lenten Lecture

THURSDAY

4/11

10:30 a.m.

5:00  p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Prayer Group

Greek School

Choir rehearsal /  Dance Rehearsals

FRIDAY

4/12

9:00 a.m.

6:00 p.m.

Pickleball

Salutations to the Theotokos

SATURDAY

4/13

11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Greek Language Festival


SALUTATIONS

Fridays, April 5, 12, 19 at6 p.m.

 


GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sun., April 7, in the hall after Liturgy. Quorum of 25 members in Good Standing required. Agenda includes reports from the Audit, Festival, Mission Trip, Home & Stewardship committees, appointment of Election Committee and Clergy Laity rep &  more.

 


LOUKOUMADES SALE

SUnday, April 7, during coffee,  the Daughters of Penelope invite you to enjoy these delicious treats here or to go. Proceeds will benefit the 2024 Scholarship Fund.

We will also be collecting blank  journals and drawing notebooks for victims of human trafficking undergoing therapy at MetroHealth. Bring April 7 or to the April 17 Lenten Lecture.


ECLIPSE HOURS

Mon., April 8, the church will close at 1:00 p.m. for safety purposes.


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 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


MEMORIALS

Coming up… April 14: Ladopoulos;    April 21: Richards; Lemanowicz; Diamond


FESTIVAL PREPARATIONS

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

April 15*-16: Spanakopita;                April 22*-23: Tiropita 

*Note: there are additional evening work sessions on Mondays, April 15 and 22.


FRIENDS OF THE POOR

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

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

~FOCUS Friends next service date: Sat.,  May 4   Contact Linda Glynias (216-469-2663)


PHILOPTOCHOS CORNER

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

 


MOVIE MONDAY

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


OPA

No rehearsals this week. Rehearsals are on the following Thursdays, 6:45 -7:30 p.m.:

Kymata:  April 11, 18 & 25  in the gym.

Kyklonas: April 11 & 18 in the hall


HIERARCHAL VISIT

Sun., April 14,  we welcome His Eminence Metropolitan Savas to our parish. Please note that on this day, Orthros will begin at 8 a.m. However, Divine Liturgy will begin at 9:30 a.m.  as always.


PALM SUNDAY LUNCHEON

Sun, April 28,  luncheon following Divine Liturgy, sponsored by the St. Demetrios Legacy Fund.  Traditional Fish Plaki or Lenten Pasta (Adult and/or child).  Free to Parishioners.  Reservations required no later than Sunday April 21st.  Please call the church office at (440) 331-2246, or visit the Legacy table during coffee hour. 


DYING RED EGGS

Holy Thursday, May 2, starting at 11 a.m., Come help prepare the red eggs to  be distributed at Anastasi.  Call Toula Pyros at  440-333-5560 for more info.


MYRRH-BEARERS

Holy Friday, May 3, girls ages 6-11 who can serve the 6 pm. Lamentations, contact Antonia at 440-225-6056. 


HOLY WEEK

Saturday of Lazarus, April 27: 8:20 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy; Artoklasia

Palm Sunday, April 28:  8:20 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy;  6 p.m. Bridegroom Service

Holy Monday, April 29:   6 p.m. Bridegroom Service

Holy Tuesday, April 30:   6  p.m. Bridegroom Service

Holy Wednesday, 1: 9 am PreSanctified Liturgy;   3 pm Holy Unction; 6 pm Orthros with Unction

Holy Thursday, May 2:   9 am Vesperal Divine Liturgy;  6 p.m.  Holy Passion (12 Gospels)

Holy Friday, May 3 :  9 a.m. Royal Hours; 3 p.m. Un-nailing Service;  6 p.m.  Lamentations

Holy Saturday, May 4:  9 a.m. Vesperal Liturgy / 10 p.m. Anastasi Vigil; 12 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Pascha Sunday,   May 5:   11 a.m. Agape Vespers


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!

 


BOOK & BIBLE STUDY

Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. in the library. All welcome. For Lent, we will be reading about the Jesus Prayer in a book titled A Friend of God by Fr Dan Rogich.

 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.


EVENTS ELSEWHERE

ICON INSPIRED CONCERT Fri, April 12, 7:30-9:30 p.m. site-specific concert by Serbian Orthodox composer Alexandra Vrebelov, inspired by the Virgin Eleousa icon in Gallery 105 at the Cleveland Museum of Art.  Admission to the concert is free and open to the public.

 AFRICA & BYZANTIUM April 14-July 21, at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Exhibit featuring 160 works of sacred and secular art. Go to Clevelandart.org for ticket information.

 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

YOUNG ADULT SPRING RETREAT 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

CAMP NAZARETH Registration for the Metropolis summer camp now open at https://y2am.pittsburgh.goarch.org/en/summercamp   Children of St. Demetrios Stewards in Good Standing for 2024, may contact the office to get the code for a full-ride scholarship.  

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 #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.


2024 WALL CALENDARS

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

 


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Saints and Feasts

03_calvary
April 07

Sunday of the Holy Cross

With the help of God, we have almost reached the middle of the course of the Fast, where our strength has been worn down through abstinence, and the full difficulty of the labour set before us becomes apparent. Therefore our holy Mother, the Church of Christ, now brings to our help the all-holy Cross, the joy of the world, the strength of the faithful, the staff of the just, and the hope of sinners, so that by venerating it reverently, we might receive strength and grace to complete the divine struggle of the Fast.

April 08

Agavos, Rouphos, Asynkritos, Phlegon, Herodion, and Hermes of the 70 Apostles

The Apostle Herodion, whom Saint Paul mentions in his Epistle to the Romans (16:11) and calls his "kinsman," was ordained presbyter and then Bishop of New Patras, where he was slain by Jews and pagans. Saint Agabus is mentioned in Acts 21:10-11, where he prophesied Saint Paul's arrest in Jerusalem at the hands of the Jewish leaders. In Acts 11:27-28 it is mentioned also that this Saint foretold the great famine that would come to pass in the time of Claudius Caesar. Having preached the Gospel throughout various regions, he departed to the Lord. The Apostle Rufus became Bishop of Thebes in Greece. The Apostles Asyncritus and Phlegon preached Christ in many places, suffered many afflictions at the hands of the pagans and Jews, and departed unto the Lord. The Apostle Hermes is mentioned with them in the Epistle to the Romans (16:13-14).

April 09

Eupsychios the Martyr

This holy Martyr was from the parts of Cappadocia, and lived a blameless life with his wife. During the reign of Julian the Apostate, this blessed one was filled with divine zeal and, with other Christians, destroyed the pagan temple dedicated to Fortune. Because of this he received the crown of martyrdom by beheading in the year 362.

April 10

Gregory V, the Holy Martyr and Patriarch of Constantinople

Georgios Aggelopoulos was born in Dimitsana, Arcadia prefecture in 1746 to poor parents. A studied in Athens for two years and continued his education in the theological school at Smyrna. Having been raised in the hesychastic environment around the Monastery of Philosophou he turned to a monastic life and was tonsured a monk in Strophades with the name Gregory. He continued his education in theology and philosophy at the School of Patmos.

He was ordained a deacon in 1775 by Metr. Procopius of Smyrna and subsequently became an archdeacon; later  he was ordained a priest and a protosyncelos. In 1785, he was elected  Bishop of the Metropolis of Smyrna succeeding Procopius who had become Patriarch of Constantinople. In what was becoming a volatile political atmosphere, Gregory was elected to the patriarchal throne of Constantinople in May 1797. In a year he was deposed and deported to the Monastery of Iviron on Mount Athos where he lived an ascetic life of study. On September 23, 1806, the synod recalled him to the patriarchal see. With the shifting Turkish politics and the revolt of the Genitsars, Gregory’s second stint as patriarch ended in 1810 when he was expelled first to Pringiponisos, and then again to Mount Athos, where he stayed for nine years. On December 15, 1818, for the third time Gregory was called to the patriarchal see, this time at a crucial and tense time in the Greek struggle for independence.

In 1818, Gregory became a member of the Filiki Eteria (Friendly Society) that was preparing for a revolt against the Turkish rule. However, when Alexander Ypsilantis crossed the Prut River, starting the Greek revolt in Romania, Gregory felt it necessary to excommunicate him to protect the Greeks of Constantinople from reprisals by the Ottoman Turks. The reprisals did come during Holy Week in April 1821 after the Greeks revolted in the Peloponnesus. During celebration of the divine liturgy, with eight hierarchs, on the night of Pascha of April 10, Gregory was arrested and, by order of Sultan Mahmud II, hanged on the front gate of the Patriarchate compound in his full Patriarchal vestments. The gate has been closed, locked, and not used since. After hanging for three days and being mocked by the passing crowds, his body was taken down and given to a group of Jews who dragged it through the streets of Constantinople before throwing it into the Bosphorus.

Gregory’s body was recovered from the sea by a Greek seaman, Nicholas Sklavos, and secreted to Odessa, then in Southern Russia, where it was buried with honors at the Church of the Holy Trinity. Later his relics were enshrined in the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens. His statue, along with that of Rigas Feraios, stands outside the University of Athens as great martyrs of the Greek Revolution.

Antipas
April 11

Hieromartyr Antipas, Bishop of Pergamum

Saint Antipas was a contemporary of the holy Apostles, by whom he was made Bishop of Pergamum. He contested during the reign of Domitian, when he was cast, as it is said, into a bronze bull that had been heated exceedingly. The Evangelist John writes of him in the Book of Revelation, and says (as it were from the mouth of Christ, Who says to the Angel [that is, the Bishop] of the Church of Pergamum): "I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is; and thou holdest fast My Name, and hast not denied My Faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful Martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth" (Rev. 2:13). The faithful pray to this Saint for ailments of the teeth.

April 12

Basil the Confessor, Bishop of Parios

This Saint lived during the time of the Iconoclasts, and because of his exceptional and virtuous life became Bishop of Parium. He suffered many hardships, afflictions, and persecutions from the heretics his whole life long, and finally reposed in peace.

April 13

Martin the Confessor, Pope of Rome

Saint Martin was born in Tuscany. He had been the papal delegate at Constantinople; upon the death of Pope Theodore, Saint Martin was elected his successor. At this time the Emperor Constans II, also known as Constantine Pogonatus (reigned 641-668), was seeking support of his confession of faith called the Typos, which espoused the Monothelite heresy, that is, that there is only one will and energy in the Incarnate Son of God. But the newly-consecrated Pope not only did not accept the Typos, but convened the Lateran Council of 649 (attended by 105 of his bishops, and Saint Maximus the Confessor, who was then in Rome), which anathematized the Typos and the Monothelite heresy. Because of this Saint Martin was seized by an imperial force in 653 and brought to Constantinople, where he was charged with sending money to the Saracens and conspiring with them, and blaspheming against the most holy Mother of God. Though innocent of these accusations, he was exiled to Cherson on the Black Sea, where, after many sufferings and privations, he received the crown of his courageous confession in the year 655.

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Wisdom of the Fathers

The key to knowledge is the humility of Christ. The door of the Kingdom of Heaven is open, not to those who only know in their learned minds the mysteries of faith and the commandments of their Creator, but to those who have progressed far enough to live by them.
St. Bede the Venerable
Unknown, 8th century

To deny oneself means to give up one's bad habits; to root out of the heart all that ties us to the world; not to cherish bad thoughts and desires; to suppress every evil thought; to avoid occasions of sin; not to desire or to do anything out of self-love, but to do everything out of love for God. To deny oneself, according to St. Paul means "to be dead to sin. . . but alive to God."
St. Innocent of Alaska
The Lenten Spring, SVS Press, p. 147, 19th Century

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world.

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


Apolytikion for Sun. of the Holy Cross in the First Mode

Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; grant Thou unto the faithful victory over adversaries. And by the power of Thy Cross do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.

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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