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St. George Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2017-01-08
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St. George Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (651) 222-6220
  • Fax:
  • (651) 225-9276
  • Street Address:

  • 1111 Summit Avenue

  • Saint Paul, MN 55105


Contact Information












Services Schedule

Sunday Morning Orthros/Matins 8:15am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am; Saturday Great Vespers 5:00pm (October thru May); Weekday Services (see Online Calendar, Sunday Bulletin & Monthly Newsletter); Confession (by appointment).


Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 4th Mode

When the tidings of the resurrection from the glorious angel was proclaimed unto the women disciples and our ancestral sentence also had been abolished to the Apostles with the boasting did they proclaim that death is vanquished ever more and Christ Our God has risen from the dead and granted to the world His great mercy.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Theophany in the 1st Mode

Lord, when You were baptized in the Jordan, the veneration of the Trinity was revealed. For the voice of the Father gave witness to You, calling You Beloved, and the Spirit, in the guise of a dove, confirmed the certainty of His words. Glory to You, Christ our God, who appeared and enlightened the world.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Mode

You appeared to the world today, and Your light, O Lord, has left its mark upon us. With fuller understanding we sing to You: "You came, You were made manifest, the unapproachable light."
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Saints and Feasts

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January 08

George of Hozeva

Saint George lived about the beginning of the ninth century in Palestine, in a certain monastery called Hozeva, which lies in a great ravine between Jerusalem and Jericho.


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January 08

Domnica the Righteous of Constantinople

Saint Domnica was from Carthage. During the reign of the Emperor Theodosius the Great, she came with four other virgins to Constantinople, where she was baptized by Nectarius, the Patriarch of Constantinople. She remained in Constantinople and became known for her extreme asceticism, the miracles that she worked, and the grace of prophecy that adorned her. She lived until the days of the Emperors Leo and Zeno, reposing in peace about the year 474.


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January 08

Atticus and Cyrus, Holy Patriarchs of Constantinople


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January 08

Afterfeast of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ


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January 08

Emilianos the Confessor, Bishop of Cyzikos


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January 08

Sunday after Epiphany


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January 08

Pega the Virgin, Hermitess of Peakirk


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January 08

Gregory of the Kiev Caves


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Seventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:1-10

At that time, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 1st Mode. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 4:7-13.

BRETHREN, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." (in saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.


Gospel Reading

Sunday after Epiphany
The Reading is from Matthew 4:12-17

At that time, Jesus heard that John had been arrested, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth He went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."


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Wisdom of the Fathers

Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when ye assemble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and the destruction at which he aims is prevented by the unity of your faith.
St. Ignatius of Antioch
Epistle to the Ephesians Ch. 13, 2nd century

For as persons not even knowing where to put a step forward, so they sat, overtaken by the darkness.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 14 on Matthew 4, 4th Century

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Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

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Public Schedule of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Jan. 5-18, 2017

01/05/2017

MEDIA ADVISORY

The Feast of Holy Theophany in Tarpon Springs

01/07/2017

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios Geron of America headed the festivities surrounding the Feast of Theophany, the Feast of Lights, which is traditionally celebrated by the large Greek Orthodox Community of St. Nicholas Cathedral in the Epiphany City with thousands of faithful in attendance. Archbishop Demetrios presided at the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy with the host Hierarch, Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, Bishop Sevastianos of Zela and Bishop Cyril of Abydos concelebrating, while assisted by more than a dozen clergy.
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Message from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios

Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for the Feast of Saint Basil and the New Year

12/29/2016

He sends us as His voice into a world that continues to change. At the beginning of each calendar year we are reminded of this rapid change as we survey the events of the last twelve months. We are called as Orthodox Christians to meet this change with grace and truth. We do this as we commit to the timeless mission of the people of God to live and proclaim the Gospel. We also do this as seen in the breadth and substance of our ministries and through expanding and adapting our work to meet contemporary needs. We are sent by Christ with a message of hope and life and with the wisdom to navigate a changing and challenging world while sharing His grace in effective ways.
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Fr. Rick's Sermon

Spiritual Circumcision (1-1-2017)

   Two weeks ago, the Sunday before Christmas, the gospel reading recounted the genealogy of Christ and the numerous names of His ancestors. Today, January 1st is the Feast of Jesus’ name because, according to the ancient Jewish tradition, on the eighth day of birth, each male child would receive his name and would be circumcised. This tradition started when God appeared to Abram in Genesis 17:1-14 (one of three Old Testament passages read at the Vespers of this feast) and proposed a covenant that He would be Abram’s God and would multiply Abram and his descendants if Abram and they would be God’s people. The sign of this covenant would be Abram (which means ‘high father’) receiving a new name, “Abraham” (which means ‘father of a multitude’) and he would receive circumcision, the cutting away of the foreskin which is a physically indelible mark on a very personal and private part of the male body. Many throughout history have misunderstood circumcision as a sign of membership in an ethnic race. This of course is a mistake, for from the beginning it had a religious, moral and universal character.

   Abraham’s new relationship with the one true God expresses the religious nature of the covenant. The moral character is expressed in God’s command to walk before Him and to be blameless (v.1). The universal aspect is expressed in God’s command that Abraham circumcise every male of his household, whether a blood relative, a slave or a foreigner (v.12). The deeper meaning of the moral aspect of circumcision (the Abrahamic Covenant) is reinforced later, after the Law is given to Moses (the Mosaic Covenant). In Deuteronomy 30:6, we read: 6And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul that you may live. The prophet Jeremiah (4:4) also said, 4Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, And take away the foreskins of your hearts, You men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Lest My fury come forth like fire, And burn so that no one can quench it, Because of the evil of your doings.” These passages tell us that even some of the ancient Jews were already practicing circumcision as an empty ritual, devoid of its essential moral character.

   Jesus Christ Himself experienced circumcision and this is the other part of today’s Feast besides His naming. We hear in the first part of the Gospel reading: 21After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the Child; and He was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb (Luke 20:21). However, after Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension, the practice of circumcision is done away with and is replaced by baptism and chrismation as the sign and the seal of God’s new covenant. Just like the ancient people became a part of the synagogue and temple through circumcision, so now people become members of the Body of Christ through baptism and chrismation. The Council of the Apostles in Jerusalem (Acts 15) confirmed the doing away with circumcision and made it official but the debate did not necessarily end there. Much of the Apostle Paul’s letters deal with the Judaizers who still required circumcision in the Christian Church.

   In today’s Epistle reading (Colossians 2:8-12), St. Paul explains this new dynamic. 11In Him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; 12when you were buried with Him in baptism, you were also raised with Him through faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead (vv.11-12). Elsewhere, in arguing against the Judaizers in Rome (chap.2), St. Paul says, 28For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God (vv.28-29). To the Corinthians, St. Paul says the same: 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters (1Cor.7:19). To the Galatians, 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love (Gal.5:6), and 15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation (Gal.6:15).

   In the OT rite of circumcision only a small piece of flesh is removed; in the circumcision of Christ, our baptism, we die to our whole flesh and live to God (OSB, p466). The practice of baptism is even more universal than circumcision because women are now included. Lev Gillet, the author of the book, “The Year of the Grace of the Lord” expresses succinctly the essence of our covenant with God.

Even if we do not have to submit to physical circumcision, we still must submit to a true spiritual circumcision. Our covenant with God, the new covenant in Jesus Christ, must bring about in us the complete submission of our flesh and of its desires to God, the complete consecration and sanctification of our body and of its natural functions…It is not only our flesh, but our heart, before all else, that needs spiritual circumcision. Circumcision of the heart must reach all our thoughts, desires and feelings—excising everything that is in conflict with the search for God. (YGL, pp.75-76)

   Fr. Paul Tarazi says that baptism becomes our circumcision in Christ (Col.2:11) where we cut away our attachment to fleshly desires and then “put-on” or “clothe” ourselves with Christ (Gal.3:27). [see Chrysostom Bible: Colossians & Philemon, pp.62-70].

   The temptation is the same for us present-day Greek Orthodox. We can think, like some ancient Jews thought about circumcision, that our ethnicity, our icons or even the crosses we wear are a sign of our automatic citizenship in heaven. Yet, no outward physical sign of our baptism in Christ exists, nor of our chrismation in the Holy Spirit. The only outward sign would be our edifying speech and our loving deeds and even if we have them, we would still need to circumcise the thoughts and desires of our heart.

   In conclusion, one of the hymns of today’s feast says, “The eighth day, which bears the image of the age to come” (Canon – Ode 1). Let us remember to practice the ritual of naming each of our children on the eighth day of their birth, giving them a name that means something special to us and signifies in some way our relationship to God. Let us help them and each other live the true meaning of our baptism. Let us be ready to partake every Sunday, the Lord’s day, the eighth day of the age to come, to partake of the Eucharist which is the supreme sign of the new covenant in Christ. By regularly and frequently receiving the Lord’s Body and Blood, may we become one body of believers and followers, confessing Christ as our God and becoming over and over, 9But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (1 Peter 2:9).

 

 

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News and Events

ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

REV. FR. RICHARD DEMETRIUS ANDREWS, PRESBYTER

www.stgeorgegoc.org

January 8, 2017                                                                                SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY

 

TODAY’S EVENTS: Parish Council Oath of Office; Vasilopita; Serve-a-Meal at FOCUS MN 4:00pm; Greek Dance Practice 4:30pm.

 

Epistle Reader: Stephen Kanavati                   Prosfora: Theologia Pitsavas, in memory of John & Bill Pitsavas

Fellowship: Philoptochos Vasilopita Sunday   Head Usher: Andrea Walkush

 

Monday       01-09     Catechism Class: Introduction, with Fr Rick                                                            7:00PM

Thursday     01-12     MEOCCA meeting at St. Mary’s OCA                                                                    11:00AM

Friday          01-13     Pan-Orthodox Youth Winter Retreat at Camp St. Croix (ends Jan 16)

                                      OCF Winter Retreat at Karos cabin (thru Jan 15)

                                      Parenting University w/ Fr. John Rallis at St. Mary’s GOC                                       6:30PM

Saturday      01-14     VESPERS                                                                                                                  5:00PM

Sunday         01-15     ORTHROS (8:15 am) & DIVINE LITURGY – 12th SUNDAY OF LUKE                     9:30AM

                                      Greek School                                                                                                          12:00PM

                                      Choir Practice                                                                                                         12:00PM

                                      Youth Ministry meeting                                                                                            12:00PM

                                      Serve-a-Meal at FOCUS MN                                                                                    4:00PM

Monday       01-16     Parish Council meeting                                                                                             6:30PM

                                      Catechism Class: God- Holy Trinity with Fr. George Dokos                                      7:00PM

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Vasilopita Sunday Today: Fr. Rick will cut the St. Basil’s Bread on behalf of the various ministries and volunteers in our parish. The ladies of Philoptochos will receive an offering and auction vasilopita breads. All proceeds will go to St. Basil Academy in New York. Please give generously!

Axios! Fr. Daniel Simon celebrated his 50th Anniversary to the priesthood on December 11th. Congrats also to Presvytera Eileen on 50 years of faithful service supporting her husband’s calling to priestly ministry!

Crown them with Glory & Honor: Marlyse Hirschy and Kostas Gakis were married on Dec 30th, at Holy Cross Holy Trinity Cathedral in Birmingham, AL. Steve and Minda Arsenault are their sponsors/koumbari.

Xronia Polla! Many years to Ingrid Larson who celebrates her 99th birthday tomorrow January 9th!

New Office Hours in 2017: Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm 

Think About It: The foundation of our salvation is repentance (sorrow for and turning away from sin).    St. Nikon of Optina (+1931)

Thank you! to everyone who made stewardship contributions in 2016 and helped us exceed our goal of $237,000. Let us continue to grow and mature in our personal giving to God and His Church!

Save the Date! The 2017 Western Region Family Basketball Tournament will be held the weekend of February 10-12, 2017, hosted by Holy Anargyroi Sts. Cosmas and Damianos Greek Orthodox Church in Rochester, MN.

Intro to Orthodoxy- the cooperative catechism program of classes begins tomorrow, January 9th and will continue on Monday evenings 7-9pm for twelve weeks. This is an excellent opportunity to refresh the knowledge of our Orthodox Christian Faith. Classes are open to everyone but required for those planning to convert. For more info and to register online, visit www.meocca.org. See insert for details

Youth News: St. Mary's OCA is accepting applications for a weekend retreat at Camp St. Croix. If interested, please see Nathaniel for details to sign up. Our annual Oratorical Festival will be February 26. Please look forward to incoming information on topics and categories. Please save the date for our next GOYA event on January 21; details coming soon! Have a question you would like to ask Fr Rick in our newsletter? Please see Nathaniel.

The Church Fathers Speak: Faith consists not only in being baptized into Christ, but in fulfilling His commandments.                  St. Mark the Ascetic (+5th cent.)

Basketball Scholarships: The parish council approved the family’s request to create the "Christ Kontenakos Memorial Basketball Scholarship Fund" to help needy kids and families participate in the basketball programs of St. George Greek Orthodox Church. The memorials given in his name will be placed in the fund. Christ was very dedicated to our basketball programs including serving as the girls’ team basketball coach for many years. Thank you to everyone who gave donations in his memory. May his memory be eternal!

Stewardship 2017: Our theme is You are the Voice of Christ in a Changing World: As the Father Has Sent Me, So I Send You (John 20:21). We have received 59 pledge cards for 2017 with a total of $98,501and an average of $1,670. When pledging be sure to increase your pledge, even if only a few dollars. This reflects spiritual growth and overcomes stagnation. We encourage everyone to give a minimum of 2% pledge of gross yearly income to become a self-sustaining community. This is far less than the biblical ideal of tithing, giving 10%.

Wisdom from the Church Fathers: Christians, have we understood the great responsibility that we have taken on before God through baptism? Have we come to know how to conduct ourselves as children of God? That we must align our will with the will of God? That we must remain free from sin? That we must love God with all our hearts and always patiently await union with Him? We must struggle for this. Let none of us lose our boldness, nor neglect our duties, nor be afraid of the difficulties of spiritual struggle. For we have God has our helper, who strengthens us in the difficult path of virtue.                            St. Nectarios of Aegina (+1920)

Giving Options w/ Tax Advantage: There are some simple ways to make stewardship contributions with significant tax savings. One is to transfer appreciated stock to the church claiming full value of donation and avoiding capital gains tax. 2016 has been a very good year in the market and this may be a simple, easy way to fulfill your stewardship pledge early in the year. Transfer forms are available by request. We recommend that everyone consult an accounting and/or tax professional for the best personal advice. Thank you!

Patristic Wisdom: Pray without ceasing on behalf of others. For there is in them the hope of repentance that they may reunite with God. See that they are instructed by your works, if in no other way.                  St. Ignatius the Godbearer of Antioch (+107)

Spiritual Capitalism: Acquire the grace of the Holy Spirit by practicing all the virtues for Christ’s sake. Trade spiritually with them; trade with those which give you the greatest profit. Accumulate capital from the superabundance of God’s grace, deposit it in God’s eternal bank which will bring you immaterial interest, not four or six percent, but one hundred percent (100%) for one spiritual ruble, and even infinitely more than that.

                                                                                                 St. Seraphim of Sarov (+1833)

Game Night: St. George will host the next Orthodox Game League event on Saturday, January 28th at 7pm. Adults 18 and older may bring a munchie and/or dessert to share. Contact Nikki Beauchamp at 612.910.2943.

Welcome Visitors Thank you for joining with us in prayer and fellowship. The worship of the Orthodox Church is deeply rooted in and very similar to that of the early Christian Church. Unique sensory stimuli and mystery are elements that go back even to the liturgy of the Jewish temple. Everything in an Orthodox Christian church communicates the majestic presence of God the Holy Trinity with His Saints. It is literally heaven on earth. It is a sad consequence of the divisions in Christianity that we cannot extend a general invitation to receive Holy Communion. Visitors are invited to receive the blessed bread (antithoron) at the conclusion of the liturgy. We pray and work for the reconciliation and unity of all Christians. If you are interested in learning more about Orthodoxy, please contact Fr. Rick at fatherrick@stgeorgegoc.org. We are proud of our Greek heritage but one does not have to be of Greek descent, nor speak Greek to be a Greek Orthodox Christian.

Note to Orthodox about Holy Communion: Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ is one of the most Holy experiences for a Christian in order to be granted the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. We are never worthy to partake of Divine Nature. Yet, it is essential that we prepare ourselves for this sacred Communion by constant prayer, reading the Scriptures, regular fasting and periodic Confession. At a minimum, we should fast all morning before Communion, arrive at the beginning of Liturgy, and come for Confession at least once a year. In addition, we should not have separated ourselves from the Church through serious sin. Otherwise, please refrain from Communion to avoid “judgment…not discerning the Lord’s body” (1Cor. 11:29). Contact Fr. Rick for pastoral guidance.

Glad Tidings deadline: The 10th of each month. Glad Tidings email: gladtidings@stgeorgegoc.org  Sunday Bulletin Deadline: Wednesday Noon each week.  Email: office@stgeorgegoc.org

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Bulletin Inserts

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