St. Demetrios Calendar

SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY, March 20

- Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 8:30 am

- Church School

- Greek Dance

MONDAY, March 21

- Great Compline, 6 pm

TUESDAY, March 22

- Greek School– Greek Independence Day Celebration, 4 pm

WEDNESDAY, March 23

- Prayer Shawl Knitting Ministry, 1-3 pm

- Presanctified Divine Liturgy AT St. Nicholas, Lexington, 6 pm

THURSDAY, March 24

- Great Vespers for Annunciation AT Woburn OR Boston Cathedral IN Boston, 7 pm

FRIDAY, March 25

Annunciation of the Theotokos

- Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 9 am

- Senior Guild Luncheon, following Divine Liturgy

- Salutations to the Theotokos, 7 pm

Sunday of St Gregory Palamas, March 27

- Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 8:30 am

- Church School

Parish News and Events

LENTEN PRE-SANCTIFIED LITURGIES– 6 PM

March 23– St. Nicholas, Lexington

March 30– St. Demetrios, Weston

April 6– Annunciation Cathedral Chapel, Brookline

April 13– St. Demetrios, Weston

April 20– Taxiarchae/Archangels, Watertown

SALUTATIONS TO THE THEOTOKOS

For the remaining Friday’s of Lent, we offer the singing of the Salutations to the Theotokos within the small compline service. Please join us at 7 pm on April 1, 8, 15.

The youth choir will sing on April 8th! All youth are welcome to come, sing and participate!

CHURCH FLOWERS

If you are interested in sponsoring flowers for the icon of the Theotokos for Salutations or flowers for Holy Week, please contact the Church Office.

GREEK SCHOOL CELEBRATION

This Tuesday March 22, the Greek School will have their annual Independence Day Celebration. Join us for music, dancing and poems!

THE SENIOR GUILD

The next meeting of the Senior Guild will be, THIS Friday March 25, 2016 (The Annunciation of the Theotokos).

We will be celebrating Greek Independence Day. Please wear blue and white clothing. If you have any questions please contact Artemis Martakis @ (508)785-0045. The Senior Guild hopes to see you there.

GROUND ZERO CHURCH OF ST. NICHOLAS

Please visit our table during coffee hour to learn more about the rebuilding efforts of St. Nicholas National Shrine in New York City and how you can be a part of history.

CRADLES TO CRAYONS– CHILDREN’S CLOTHING DRIVE

Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth to age 12 who are living in low-income and homeless situations. Please consider donating gently used or new clothing, shoes, backpacks, and school supplies for children ages 0-12. Collections will take place March 27 and April 3. Thank you in advance for your support!

GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE– APRIL 3

Our parish will be marching in the annual parade on Sunday, April 3, at 1PM. Please save this date to honor our church and march with pride. There will be free transportation, but seating is limited and it is on a first-come- first- serve basis. We will also provide a limited number of Greek ethnic costumes. Please join us in the church hall to sign up, all volunteers are welcome. If you have any questions, please contact chairpersons Karen Grontzos 508-369-7893 or kGrontzos@yahoo.com and Art Stameris at artstameris@gmail.com or 617-877- 1007.

PHILOPTOCHOS WOMEN’S RETREAT

Women’s Winter Retreat, April 1-2 at the St. Methodios Faith and Heritage Center. “The Lord is My Shepherd – Understanding, Praying and Receiving Christ as our Shepherd.” Father Nicholas Krommydas - Retreat Leader. Chairpersons: Presbytera Elaine Krommydas & Nikki Stournaras. All women of the Parish are invited to attend a spiritual overnight gathering. Suggested agape donation: $75.00. For more information contact Nikki Stournaras at nstournaras@hchc.edu and/or Evangeline Calivas at ecalivas@gmail.com or (508) 446-6698.

ST. DEMETRIOS BOOKSTORE-NEW ARRIVALS

Beautiful hand-made icons, including silkscreen productions. Lenten books for adults and children. New book, "Awakening the Blank Canvas: A Collection of Essays Continues", by Suzanna Parpos.St. Demetrios gold and silver crosses.

PHILOPTOCHOS SCHOLARSHIPS

Deadline: April 11 for Philoptochos Scholarships

The deadline for Philoptochos Scholarships, which are offered each spring to honor aspiring young people from our community, is April 11.

Criteria reach across a broad spectrum of involvement from dedication to parish, love of the arts, academic achievement, service to others and more. For almost four decades, young people have been recognized with awards given in memory of some of our parish’s most beloved former members. Applications are available: 1) online via the church website; 2) by email request to vlahakes@comcast.net or 3) by calling the church office to have one mailed to you. Any questions: Call Nancy Agris Savage, 508-652-9020.

USHERING

If you are interested in joining the Usher Team please contact Georgia Gefteas at gghome1@verizon.net or 978-973-7476

MAKING A CHANGE…

In an increasingly paperless, digital world, we ask those of you who receive church publications and letters in the mail to consider switching to email and digital distribution. Not only will it help save the environment but it will also cut back on church expenses. If you are interested in making this change, please call the main office or email Georgia Gefteas:
gghome1@verizon.net

CHURCH SCHOOL DISMISSAL REMINDER

We ask that everyone assist us by waiting patiently in your seats for the children to receive Holy Communion first so that they may get to their classes.

In order to facilitate this process as efficiently as possible, we ask that church school teachers, children and their parents be dismissed first for communion. All other parishioners are asked to stay in their seats and wait for the ushers to dismiss their row. We appreciate your patience and your support!

COFFEE HOUR SIGN-UP

Thank you to everyone who has sponsored a coffee hour in the past! For those who are interested, please consider joining with a friend or other family to host. The church provides the coffee, milk and paper products. Please remember that the refreshments do not need to be fancy or costly.

Please contact Pam Brody at 781-864-5327 or Eugenia Kourlos at 508-735-8866.

THANK YOU!!

WWW.GOARCH.ORG

The webpage of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has a great amount of resources for anyone looking to learn more about the faith. You can find the daily readings of the church, information about saints, what we believe, and prayers for any occasion. Additionally, you can stay up to date with news that affects us as Christians. Be sure to check www.goarch.org regularly!

PHILOXENIA HOUSE

Located near HCHC in Brookline, the Philoxenia House offers a home and hospitality to patients and those who accompany them while they are undergoing treatment in the Boston area. For several years a few of us visit the home twice a year to try to brighten their lives by planting flowers. This is a joy for us. For more information regarding this ministry please contact Betty Titus, 781.237.4748, or Eleanor Spiliakos, 978.443.3746.

WHAT IS THE ORTHODOX CHURCH

Being asked this during our festival a number of times — we as Orthodox Christians ought to respond:

“The Orthodox Christian Church is a worldwide body of believers who confess and worship Jesus Christ as the Son of God, as Lord and Messiah. This body has a tangible and continuous history of Christian faith and practice from the time of Christ’s Apostles. The use of the adjective ‘orthodox’ to describe the Church dates back to the earliest centuries and was applied to those Christians who maintained the tradition transmitted by Christ’s Apostles (1 Thess 2:15)”

FR. MANIKAS LIBRARY

Come and visit the Fr. Manikas Library and check out one of our many books on a variety of different topics. After Divine Liturgy, please stop by the library and see what we have to offer. See Cindi Dabrowski in the library for assistance on picking out a selection to take home and further your knowledge of our faith.

DAILY READINGS APP

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has developed and released a Daily Readings App for iOS and Android. It offers the daily Epistle and Gospel readings of the day as well as the saints that are commemorated on that day. Furthermore, it offers prayers, dates of future Feast Days and fasting guidelines.

It’s a great resource that is offered by our Archdiocese. Sign into your app store and download it today!

BE THE BEE WEBSERIES

The National Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries offers a weekly web video series on YouTube called “Be the Bee” each week a question or theme about our faith is answered in just 5 minutes! Check out this new and interesting approach to learning about our faith! Go to: www.youtube.com/user/y2am to see the entire series!

Readings and Information

Today’s Epistle Reading (Hebrews 11: 24-26; 32-40; 12: 1-2) is found on page 136 in your Red Liturgy Book.

Today’s Gospel Reading (John 1: 43-51) is found on page 137 in your Red Liturgy Book.

Resurrectional Apolytikion, “Though the Tomb”, is found on page 172 in your Red Liturgy Book.

Thanksgiving prayers, for after Communion, are found on page 40 in your Red Liturgy Book.

TODAY’S USHERS: George Doukas, Captain; Chris Hadjigeorgiou; Arthur Kalivas; Jack Markis; David Newkirk; Nancy Voudouris; Steve Damaskos.

TODAY’S MEMORIAL: there are no memorials today.

FELLOWSHIP HOUR: is graciously hosted by the family of Matina Psyhogeos.

TODAY’S GREETERS: Carol and Arthur Loridas.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. 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.

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."

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

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Tone

When the stone had been sealed by the Jews and the soldiers were guarding Thine immaculate Body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Saviour, granting life unto the world. Wherefore, the powers of the Heavens cried out to Thee, O Lifegiver: Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ. Glory to Thy Kingdom. Glory to Thy dispensation, O only Friend of man.

Apolytikion for Sun. of Orthodoxy in the Second Tone

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.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Tone

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!"

Saints and Feasts

March 20

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.

March 20

Righteous Fathers slain at the Monastery of St. Savas

The Righteous Martyrs were put to death by the barbarians during the reign of Emperor Heraclius, when Saint Modestus was Patriarch of Jerusalem (632-634).

March 20

Photini the Samaritan Woman

March 20

Saint Cuthbert the Wonderworker, Bishop of Lindisfarne

Saint Cuthbert was born in Britain about the year 635, and became a monk in his youth at the monastery of Melrose by the River Tweed. After many years of struggle as a true priest of Christ, in the service both of his own brethren and of the neglected Christians of isolated country villages, he became a solitary on Farne Island in 676. After eight years as a hermit, he was constrained to leave his quiet to become Bishop of Lindisfarne, in which office he served for almost two years. He returned to his hermitage two months before he reposed in peace in 687. Because of the miracles he wrought both during his life and at his tomb after his death, he is called the "Wonderworker of Britain." The whole English people honoured him, and kings were both benefactors to his shrine and suppliants of his prayers. Eleven years after his death, his holy relics were revealed to be incorrupt; when his body was translated from Lindisfarne to Durham Cathedral in August of 1104, his body was still found to be untouched by decay, giving off "an odour of sweetest fragrancy," and "from the flexibility of its joints representing a person asleep rather than dead." Finally, when the most impious Henry VIII desecrated his shrine, opening it to despoil it of its valuables, his body was again found incorrupt, and was buried in 1542. It is believed that after this the holy relics of Saint Cuthbert were hidden to preserve them from further desecration.

March 20

Myron the New Martyr of Crete

March 21

Thomas I, Patriarch of Constantinople

March 21

James the Confessor

This Saint took up the monastic life from his youth in the Monastery of Studium, where he became a disciple of Saint Theodore the Studite. Later he became bishop and suffered many afflictions and torments at the hands of the Iconoclasts. Saint Theodore composed a homily in honour of this Saint James (PG 99, 1353-1356).

March 22

Basil the Holy Martyr of Ancyra

Saint Basil strove in martyrdom during the short reign of Julian the Apostate, from 361-363. The Saint was denounced as a Christian to Saturninus, Governor of Ancyra, who, when Basil would not deny Christ, had him hanged from a post and scraped on his sides, then beaten, and cast into prison. A few days later, when Julian himself came through Ancyra, the Saint was brought before him and was asked to deny Christ, Whom he rather confessed the more. Julian then had strips cut in his flesh, so that they were left hanging from his body in front and in back. The valiant Martyr tore one of these strips off of his body and cast it into Julian's face. At this Julian commanded that iron spits be heated fiery hot; Saint Basil's belly, his back, and all his joints were pierced with them, and he received the crown of martyrdom.

March 22

Kalliniki & Vassilisa the Martyrs

March 22

Euthemios the New Martyr

March 23

The Holy Righteous Martyr Nicon and His 199 Disciples

Saint Nicon was from Neapolis (Naples) in Italy. His father was an idolater and his mother a Christian. At first he was a soldier, but later he went to the East, where he was baptized and in time became a bishop. After some years, he returned to the West and came to Sicily, where he and many of his disciples were put to death by beheading because they would not worship the idols.

March 23

Anatolios & Protoleon the Martyrs converted by the martyrdom of St. George

March 23

Luke the New Martyr of Mytilene

March 24

Forefeast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos

March 24

Artemon the Presbyter

March 24

Our Holy Father Theonas, Archbishop of Thessolonica

March 24

Zachariah the Recluse

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)

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.

March 26

26 Martyrs in Crimea

March 26

Irenaeus the Hieromartyr of Hungary

March 27

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

This divine Father, who was from Asia Minor, was from childhood reared in the royal court of Constantinople, where he was instructed in both religious and secular wisdom. Later, while still a youth, he left the imperial court and struggled in asceticism on Mount Athos, and in the Skete at Beroea. He spent some time in Thessalonica being treated for an illness that came from his harsh manner of life. He was present in Constantinople at the Council that was convened in 1341 against Barlaam of Calabria, and at the Council of 1347 against Acindynus, who was of like mind with Barlaam; Barlaam and Acindynus claimed that the grace of God is created. At both these Councils, the Saint contended courageously for the true dogmas of the Church of Christ, teaching in particular that divine grace is not created, but is the uncreated energies of God which are poured forth throughout creation: otherwise it would be impossible, if grace were created, for man to have genuine communion with the uncreated God. In 1347 he was appointed Metropolitan of Thessalonica. He tended his flock in an apostolic manner for some twelve years, and wrote many books and treatises on the most exalted doctrines of our Faith; and having lived for a total of sixty-three years, he reposed in the Lord in 1359.

His holy relics are kept in the Cathedral of Thessalonica. A full service was composed for his feast day by the Patriarch Philotheus in 1368, when it was established that his feast be celebrated on this day. Since works without right faith avail nothing, we set Orthodoxy of faith as the foundation of all that we accomplish during the Fast, by celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy the Sunday before, and the great defender of the teachings of the holy Fathers today.

March 27

The Holy Matrona of Thessalonica

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 27

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

St. Demetrios Calendar

Parish News and Events

Readings and Information

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Wisdom of the Fathers

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Tone

Apolytikion for Sun. of Orthodoxy in the Second Tone

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Tone

Saints and Feasts

Sunday of Orthodoxy

Righteous Fathers slain at the Monastery of St. Savas

Photini the Samaritan Woman

Saint Cuthbert the Wonderworker, Bishop of Lindisfarne

Myron the New Martyr of Crete

Thomas I, Patriarch of Constantinople

James the Confessor

Basil the Holy Martyr of Ancyra

Kalliniki & Vassilisa the Martyrs

Euthemios the New Martyr

The Holy Righteous Martyr Nicon and His 199 Disciples

Anatolios & Protoleon the Martyrs converted by the martyrdom of St. George

Luke the New Martyr of Mytilene

Forefeast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos

Artemon the Presbyter

Our Holy Father Theonas, Archbishop of Thessolonica

Zachariah the Recluse

Annunciation of the Theotokos

Synaxis in honor of the Archangel Gabriel

26 Martyrs in Crimea

Irenaeus the Hieromartyr of Hungary

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

The Holy Matrona of Thessalonica

Paul, Bishop of Corinth