Publish-header
St. George Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2017-01-29
Bulletin Contents
Healcanaanitedaughter
Organization Icon
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 Grave Mode

O Lord by Your sacred Cross You abolished death, and granted unto the thief blessed paradise. The Myrrh-bearers ceased lamenting and turned to joy. The apostles did preach the Good News at Your command, that You had risen from the dead O Christ Our God, bestowing Your mercy upon the world ever more.

Apolytikion for Relics of Ignatius the Godbearer in the 4th Mode

As a sharer of the ways and a successor to the throne of the Apostles, O inspired of God, thou foundest discipline to be a means of ascent to divine vision. Wherefore, having rightly divided the word of truth, thou didst also contest for the Faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Ignatius . Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 1st Mode

Your birth sanctified a Virgin's womb and properly blessed the hands of Symeon. Having now come and saved us O Christ our God, give peace to Your commonwealth in troubled times and strengthen those in authority, whom You love, as only the loving One.
BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

Healcanaanitedaughter
January 29

Sunday of the Canaanite


Ignatiosgodbearer
January 29

Removal of the Relics of Ignatius the God-bearer

Saint Ignatius was a disciple of Saint John the Theologian, and a successor of the Apostles, and he became the second Bishop of Antioch, after Evodus. He wrote many epistles to the faithful, strengthening them in their confession, and preserving for us the teachings of the holy Apostles. Brought to Rome under Trajan, he was surrendered to lions to be eaten, and so finished the course of martyrdom about the year 107. The remnants of his bones were carefully gathered by the faithful and brought to Antioch. He is called God-bearer, as one who bare God within himself and was aflame in heart with love for Him. Therefore, in his Epistle to the Romans (ch. 4), imploring their love not to attempt to deliver him from his longed-for martyrdom, he said, "I am the wheat of God, and am ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found to be the pure bread of God."

Saint John Chrysostom has a homily in honour of the translation of the Saint's relics (PG 50:587).


Allsaint
January 29

Laurence the Recluse of the Kiev Caves


Allsaint
January 29

Ignatius and Nicandrus of Sinai


Allsaint
January 29

Gildas the Wise


BACK TO TOP

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Tenth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:1-14

At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1.

BRETHREN, you are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Canaanite
The Reading is from Matthew 15:21-28

At that time, Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.


BACK TO TOP

Wisdom of the Fathers

She had a great perfection of faith. She had no uncertainty about His divine majesty. She had no small measure of the virtue of patience. Yet the pitying Physician of the pitiful disdained her petitions. He kept her waiting for answer in order to demonstrate to us the perseverence of this woman that we can always imitate. She had the characteristics of constancy and humility. She willingly embraced the indignity she received, and even confirmed the Lord`s statement. This woman rightly signifies the faith and devotion of the Church gathered from the nations
Saint Bede
Hom. I. 22, In Lent, Homilies on the Gospels, Bk. One, 216, 217.

He kept her waiting for an answer in order to declare that the minds of His disciples should also be merciful. As human beings they were ashamed of the clamor of the woman as she pursued them publicly, but He Himself knew the character of His mercy.
St. Bede
Hom. I. 22, In Lent, Homilies on the Gospels, Bk. One, 216

BACK TO TOP

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

Logo

Archbishop Demetrios of America at Presidential Inauguration

01/20/2017

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America invited by the Presidential Inauguration Committee and representing the Greek Orthodox Church in America, attended early this morning the special Inauguration Day Prayer Service at St John’s Episcopal Church in Washington’s Lafayette Square. President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, together with their families and a select group of guests were in attendance.

Archbishop Demetrios Awards the Medal of St Paul to Reince Priebus, Gus Bilirakis and George Gigicos

01/20/2017

Archbishop Demetrios of America bestowed yesterday evening during a Greek-American inaugural reception, the Medal of Saint Paul, the highest honor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, to Reince Priebus, the new Chief of Staff of the White House, to Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and to George Gigicos, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Advance. All three are Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, of the Order of St Andrew the Apostle.

Celebration for Three Hierarchs and the Day of Greek Letters

01/25/2017

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, through its National Department of Greek Education and the Direct Archdiocesan District Office of Education, organizes a series of events in celebration of the Feast of the Three Hierarchs and the Day of Greek Letters.

First Step for New Youth Protection System

01/24/2017

Twenty-two youth and camp workers from across the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America gathered, yesterday Mon., Jan. 23, 2017, to begin three days of intensive youth protection and abuse prevention certification.
BACK TO TOP

Message from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios

Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for the Feast of Three Hierarchs and Greek Letters Day - January 30, 2017

01/26/2017

Today, their examples and teaching guide us in living in a changing and challenging world. They show us how faith and service, grounded in our knowledge of God and our trust in His divine wisdom, can help us navigate our lives and the complexity of the world around us while keeping our focus on our relationship with God and His promises of abundant blessings and salvation.
BACK TO TOP

Fr. Rick's Sermon

What Do You Desire? (2017)

   Just coming off the Christmas and holiday season, some parents may be a little tired of hearing “I want” from their children. “I want this…I want that…” Buying gifts for Christmas often is based on what we think people want. Sometimes it’s about they need but for us relatively rich, affluent people what do we really need? After all, compared to most of the rest of the world, we have everything. We have it so good. But because we live in a society that is so influenced by materialism, it’s often about having more or better, even if we have a lot of good stuff. This reality exists at every level of the socio-economic ladder. No matter if poor or rich, we humans are typically never satisfied with what we already have. It’s almost always about what do I/we desire?

   The only remedy for this problem of acquisitiveness, and it is a problem by the way, is change the question slightly from, “what do I desire?” to “whom do I desire?” Some might say, “well wait a minute; some people desire other persons like you and I might desire a piece of meat,” and they would be right. Some people do desire another person in a way that treats them like an object only to be used for my own selfish desire. But at least we’re talking about a person and not an object. Hopefully, by now, you’re getting the gist of my direction. The person we should desire is God Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. If all our desire is focused on Him, then every other desire in our life will fall into its proper place.

   Look at the person of Zacchaeus in today’s Gospel reading from the 15th Sunday of Luke (19:1-10). What do we know about him? Well he was chief tax collector and rich (v.2). But more importantly we learn that “he sought to see who Jesus was” (v.3). In fact his desire to see Jesus was so great, he climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see over the crowd that had gathered (v.4). He needed to do this because he was not a very tall person (v.3). Zacchaeus’ desire to see Jesus as so great that it must have been something special because Jesus notices him. And out of all the hundreds, if not thousands of people, Jesus not only spots Zacchaeus but He calls out to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” (v.5). We know that Zacchaeus’ desire to see Jesus was sincere because he immediately came down from the tree and welcomed Jesus joyfully into his home (v.6). Understandably, many other people in the crowd were not happy that Jesus picked Zacchaeus to personally visit because tax collectors, who worked for the Roman government, were considered traitors by their fellow Jewish people. That’s why they called him a sinner (v.7).

   And what happened when Christ came to the home of Zacchaeus? Well it seems plainly evident that many of the other desires in heart of Zacchaeus were put into proper order. The transformation was dramatic as Zacchaeus promised Jesus, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” (v.8).

   So the question we should we ask ourselves, especially if we are rich like Zacchaeus, is “whom do I desire?” And how much do I desire him or her? Whether we are rich or poor, let us ask ourselves, “Do I desire Jesus Christ? Do I believe in Him?” Fr. Anthony Coniaris, in his sermon on “The Importance of Desire” (Message from Sunday Gospels vol.1, p.119) says, “There is more evidence that Jesus lived, died and rose from the dead than there is that Julius Caeser ever lived, or that Alexander the Great died at the age of 33. Yet, many accept the scant evidence of the latter and reject the mountain of evidence for Jesus. Thus, the trouble is not with the evidence but with the desire. They don’t want to believe, thus they refuse to accept the evidence. We don’t want to believe because if we do then Jesus makes demands upon us: “Do this, don’t do that.” And we don’t want to be accountable and responsible to Jesus.  We don’t want to feel guilty.”

   Because we are created in the image and likeness of God (Gen.1:26), implanted within us is a desire for our Creator. But God does not make this automatic and instinctual like the rest of animal creation. We are also endowed with freewill to choose to direct that desire towards God or towards something else. God respects our freedom. But where we direct our desire still has implications.

   Fr. Coniaris continues, “Jesus said to the Paralytic (John 5:6), “Do you want to be made well?” Seneca said, “It is part of the cure to wish to be cured.” Research shows that patients undergoing surgery are more likely to heal faster if they have expectant faith and desire to get well. The lesson is that we do what we really want to do. If we don’t know how, we learn. If we don’t have time, we make time. No obstacle can stand in the way if there is a real inner desire. That includes coming to church, finding time for prayer, attending bible study, etc.”

   Furthermore, he adds, “Most of us have desire but the problem is we have too many desires. We desire a new dress, a new car, a new tv, or smart phone or laptop. The desire for God is there, to be sure, but it is buried beneath countless other desires. The other problem is that the desires we have are for the wrong things, sinful things. The ungodly desires are called the passions by the Church Fathers. They include pride, lust, envy, greed, anger. Therefore, we need to prioritize our desires. Jesus said, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful” (Lk.10:42).”

   In conclusion, we must remember that we are all like Zacchaeus in that we are sinners. We are all in need of God’s salvation. And we are all short of stature spiritually in our relationship with God and often to other people. We need to grow and mature. When we hear the Gospel reading about Zacchaeus it is a sign post letting us know that Great and Holy Lent will begin in just a few weeks. Thus, one of the important themes in that the journey towards Lent and Holy Week, our ascetical experience of the Passion and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, that journey begins with the first step of desire; desire turned from objects to persons, and desire turned from persons to a person, the person of Christ Himself.

   When we reduce our life to its absolute bare-essentials, we come up with the one thing that is truly needful: God, His Kingdom, His love, His forgiveness, His peace. When the Lord Jesus becomes our first and greatest desire in life, then all of the other desires in life fall in their proper place/order.

   “You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart” says the Lord (Jeremiah 29:13).

When Jesus sees us up in our prideful sycamore tree, He will call us to be humble and come down and to change our life. And when our desire has its fulfillment in Him, then Jesus will say to us: 9Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.We are lost in our riches and our sins but we are saved by Him who seeks us, when we desire to seek Him. Amen!

 

BACK TO TOP

News and Events

ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

REV. FR. RICHARD DEMETRIUS ANDREWS, PRESBYTER

www.stgeorgegoc.org

January 29, 2017                                                                                 17th SUNDAY OF LUKE

 

TODAY’S EVENTS: Greek School 12pm; Youth Basketball Practice at SPA 12:30pm; Men’s Basketball Practice at St. Mary’s GOC 2:30pm;Serve-a-Meal at FOCUS MN 4:00pm; Greek Dance Practice 4:30pm.

 

Epistle Reader: Stephen Kanavati                                       Prosfora: Theologia Pitsavas

Memorial: Bill Pitsavas (3 years)                                        Fellowship: Theologia Pitsavas Family                                                                                                                               Head Usher: Andrea Walkush

 

Monday        01-30     Catechism Class: Christ I-Incarnation, Theotokos & Saints w/ Fr. Tom Begley      7:00PM

Tuesday       01-31     LOCMP Board meeting at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church                         6:30PM

Wednesday 02-01     VESPERS- MEETING OF OUR LORD                                                                          6:00PM

Thursday     02-02     ORTHROS (8:00 am) & DIVINE LITURGY- MEETING OF OUR LORD                   9:00AM

                                      OCF at University of St. Thomas                                                                          12:00PM

Saturday      02-04     VESPERS                                                                                                               5:00PM

                                      JOY Youth Event at Roller Garden                                                                         7:00PM

Sunday         02-05     ORTHROS (8:15 am) & DIVINE LITURGY –PUBLICAN & PHARISEE                   9:30AM

                                      Godparent & Godchild Sunday

                                      Greek School                                                                                                       12:00PM

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

                                      Greek Dance Practice                                                                                            4:30PM

Monday       02-06     Loaves & Fishes at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church                                                  4:30PM

                                      Catechism Class: Christ II-His Work & Teachings w/ Fr. George Dokos                7:00PM

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Welcome! To Fr. Jason Houck, who is substituting for Fr. Rick today. Fr. Jason and Pres. Alexandra recently had their fourth child, Philip. God bless him and his family!Fr. Rick will return for liturgy this Thursday February 2nd. For pastoral emergencies, call St. Mary Greek Orthodox Church 612-825-9595.

Sympathies: to Pres. Jane Andrews on the falling asleep in the Lord of her mother, Annette Donovan. Visitation 2-5pm today and funeral service tomorrow, Monday, Jan.30th 11am at St. John Catholic Church in Darwin, MN.

Baptism Invitation: The Elioufamily would like to extend an open invitation to members of the parish for the baptism of Eleanore Pendeli Eliou on Saturday, February 18th at 11-1:00 pm. Food and drinks will be served in the social hall following the service. Please RSVP only if attending by calling Pendy & Jeanne at 651- 245-0750 or by emailing jeliou@comcast.net.

Think About It: If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.                                                                                         Mary Engelbreit

Triodion Begins: next Sunday, February 5th and this is a friendly liturgical notice from the Church to let us know that Great Lent is approaching in three weeks. Thus, we should start preparing by planning our schedule around worship services, getting ready for the Sacrament of Confession and fasting according to our Tradition.

Basketball Banquet: Everyone is encouraged to support our sister parish of Holy Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church in Rochester as they host the annual GOYAL Family Basketball tournament. Even if not playing, coaching or parenting, everyone can attend the Grand Banquet of Saturday Feb.11th

Pitsavas Scholarship- congratulations to Matthew Simon, awarded the John Pitsavas Memorial Scholarship for the 2016-2017 school year. Thank you to Mrs. Theologia Pitsavas for generously sponsoring this scholarship.

Youth: JOY will meet at Roller Garden in St Louis Park this Saturday, February 4 at 7pm, immediately following Vespers. GOYA will meet at the Depot in Minneapolis on Saturday, February 18 at 7pm, immediately following Vespers. Our annual Oratorical Festival is February 26, after Divine Liturgy. For materials or questions, please see your child's Sunday School teacher or Nathaniel. Collection baskets have been placed in each Sunday School class for children's participation.

The Church Fathers Speak: Struggle in prayer if you want Christ to dwell in you. And He, the most experienced General, will struggle together with you. He will fight for us and grant us victory.                      St. John Cassian (+435)

Basketball Practice -12:30-3pm Sundays through February 5, at SPA, 1150 Goodrich Ave Campus; everyone is welcome. You do not need to be attending the tournament to participate. Even our Men's team is welcome to warm up/get schooled by our youth prior to their 2:30pm practice at St. Mary's GOC.

Tournament Time! 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. Players can register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2017-greek-bball-player-registration-registration-30563365850. Each player/coach must purchase a weekend meal package at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2017-greek-bball-meal-registration-registration-30647399196; Book your rooms now at Hilton Garden Inn, using discount code GOC. http://greekbball.org/upcoming_tournament.asp

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!

Wisdom from the Church Fathers: Do not demand love from your neighbor because you will suffer if you do not receive it. But better still, you will indicate your love toward your neighbor and you will settle down. In this way, you will lead your neighbor toward love.                                 St. Isaac the Syrian (+700)

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 69 pledge cards for 2017 with a total of $115,561and an average of $1,675. 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%.

Patristic Wisdom: Whenever we enter the church and draw near to the heavenly Mysteries, we ought to approach with all humility and fear, both because of the presence of the angelic powers and out of the reverence due to the sacred oblation/offering.                                  St. Bede the Venerable (+735)

Roselawn Cemetery Lots: are still available for parishioners at a 15% discount off list prices. 2017 discounted prices are: Monument Lot (2 graves) $5,865.00; Flat Lot A (2 graves) $3,485.00; Flat Lot B (1 grave-limited availability) $2,040.00. If interested in learning more or to purchase a lot, please contact the church office.

Program Director Needed: The St. Iakovos Retreat Center in Kansasville, WI is looking for a full-time Program Director to create, staff, fill, and execute programs that will run out of the Center. Resume and cover letter are due by February 8, 2017; see posting in social hall for details.

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

BACK TO TOP

Bulletin Inserts

BACK TO TOP