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St. Gregory of Nyssa Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2017-03-19
Bulletin Contents
Allsaint
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St. Gregory of Nyssa Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • 619-593-0707
  • Street Address:

  • 1454 Jamacha Rd.

  • El Cajon, CA 92019-3752


Contact Information




Services Schedule

Saturday Vespers

5:00 PM

Sunday Liturgies

9:00AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

 

Follow Us on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/StGregoryGOC


Past Bulletins


A Warm Welcome to Our Visitors

It is our hope that we will help you learn more about our parish and the Orthodox Christian faith that we confess.  At St. Gregory of Nyssa, you will discover an ancient, yet dynamic faith, a warm Church family and even perhaps a spiritual home where you can grow roots and a deep relationship with Christ in the Holy Spirit.  Please know that in the Holy Orthodox Church, Holy Communion is given only to those Baptized/Chrismated Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared themselves through prayer, fasting and recent Confession.  You are welcome to come forward at the end of the Liturgy to be given the Blessed Bread(Antidoron), of which all are blessed to partake, & a blessing from the Priest.

Welcome to our Church Home!  We would like to meet you!  Please join us at Coffee Hour following the service.

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

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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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Sixth Tone

When the angelic powers appeared at your tomb and those who guarded You became as though dead, and standing by Your sepulchre was Mary seeking Your pure and sacred body. For You did vanquish Hades and uncorrupted by its touch You came unto the virgin woman, bestowing the gift of life O You who rose from the dead. Lord we give glory to You.

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

Save O Lord, O Lord Your people, and bless Your inheritance. Grant victory to the faithful against the adversaries of the Faith, and protect Your people through Your Holy Cross, Your Holy Cross.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Eighth Tone

To you as champion unto victory invincible, your City offers thanksgiving unto You. From our trials Theotokos have You redeemed us, for as You possess invincible might and power From all dangers Theotokos deliver us, AS we cry unto You Hail of Bride Unwedded
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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
March 19

Demetrios the New Martyr


Chrysanthos
March 19

The Holy Martyrs Chrysanthus and Daria

Saint Chrysanthus, who was from Alexandria, had been instructed in the Faith of Christ by a certain bishop. His father, who was a senator by rank and a pagan, had him shut up in prison for many days; then, seeing the unchanging disposition of his mind, he commanded that a certain young woman named Daria be brought from Athens. She was a very beautiful and learned maiden, and also an idolater, and Chrysanthus' father wedded him to her so that he might be drawn away from the Faith of Christ because of his love for her. Instead of this however, Chrysanthus drew Daria unto piety, and both of them boldly proclaimed Christ and received the crown of martyrdom in 283, during the reign of Numerian, when they were buried alive in a pit of mire.


03_calvary
March 19

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.


Allsaint
March 20

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.


Allsaint
March 20

Myron the New Martyr of Crete


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Prayer List

HEALTH & WELFARE:
Abducted Metropolitan Paul & Archbishop John; Honey, Elias, Nick Koucoumaris, Richie, Margie, Arseny, Paul Lane, Alexi, Ralph Bradley, Dr. Minerva, Sarah, Richard, Stella Angeles, Carl Anthony, Stan, James, Kyriakos, Dora, Julia, Alexandra, Sebastian, Queentina, Diana, Nico, Janet Burgess, John Peters, Dionysios, Haralambos, Lillian Ana Grace, George(Marc's Uncle), Samantha(Marc's friend), Bonnie-Father's mother, Sarah-Betsy's mother, MaryAnn, Gabrielle, Kiki, Michael; Father John Pilafas & family;Virginia, Corey and family;Adrienne & Josef in their short term Mission; George, Maria Hazlaris, Sarah Oftedal and her family, Darin Williams, Marika Stantcheva, Athina Cavelaris,  Dionisios & Eftixia Diakoumeas, Nicky, Michael and Cathy Jean Alexander.
DEPARTED: Memory Eternal; Thomas Munteanu, Steve Kosic, Effie Matsolis, George, Arety, Manny, Archimandrite Paul, Eleni (Kyriako's Sister), Gregory Galanis, Deacon Michael; George and Iris Pilafas, Manuel Dragan, Elizabeth Zogob, Darla Gliptis, George Mastorakos and Fr. Theodore Phillips, Sophia Vourexis, Jason Hyde, Peter Kanelos, Mary Giana, Katherine Armatas; Lana Piliaris; William Piliaris, Katherine Kladouras, Heather Grinnell and Danny Ranglos
FOR OUR CHURCH LEADERS:
Patriarch Bartholomew; Archbishop Demetrios; Metropolitan Gerasimos; Bishop Apostolos; Father Simeon Corona, Presbytera Joy & family; Chris Psillas & the members of the Parish Council; Philoptochos; Pete Shenas and our Building Committee; Chris Kotitsa & our Stewardship Committee; Chanters & our Sunday School teachers, Mothers Victoria, Melania & the Mothers & Sisters of St. Barbara's & Holy Assumption Monasteries. Frs. Dionisie & Neonil of Holy Resurrectuion Monastery in Temecula.

If you would like our community to pray for you or a loved one or have a name removed, please call the Church office 619-593-0707.

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Wisdom of the Fathers

And see how He also makes His discourse unexceptionable: not saying at all, "whether you will, or no, you must suffer this," but how? "If any man will come after me."
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

"I force not, I compel not, but each one I make lord of his own choice; wherefore also I say, 'If any man will.' For to good things do I call you, not to things evil, or burdensome; not to punishment and vengeance, that I should have to compel.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

Nay, the nature of the thing is alone sufficient to attract you." ... For thou oughtest not, O Peter, because thou hast confessed me Son of God, therefore only to expect crowns, and to suppose this enough for thy salvation, and for the future to enjoy security, as having done all. ..."
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

"... For although it be in my power, as Son of God, to hinder thee from having any trial at all of those hardships; yet such is not my will, for thy sake, that thou mayest thyself too contribute something, and be more approved."
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

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

A Christian's . . . duty is to "take up his cross." The word cross means sufferings, sorrows and adversities. To take up one's cross means to bear without grumblings everything unpleasant, painful, sad, difficult and oppressive that ay happen to us in life. . .without expecting any earthly reward in return, but bear it all with love, with joy and with courageous strength.
St. Innocent of Alaska
The Lenten Spring, SVS Press, p. 147, 19th Century

Interior crosses can found at all times, and more easily than exterior ones. You have only to direct your attention to yourself and examine yourself with a sense of repentance, and a thousand interior crosses will at once present themselves to you. . . Interior crosses are sometimes so burdensome that the sufferer can find no consolation whatever in anything. All this can happen to you too! But in whatever position you may be, and whatever sufferings of the soul you may feel, do not despair and do not think that the Lord has abandoned you. NO! God will always be with you and will invisibly strengthen you even when it seems to you that you are on the very brink of perdition.
St. Innocent of Alaska
The Lenten Spring, SVS Press, p. 148, 19th Century

When, on this day, we look at the precious Cross of Christ, in faith let us adore it, let us rejoice, and embrace it ardently, beseeching our Lord, who of His own choice gave Himself to be crucified on it, to make us worthy of adoring His most precious Cross so that, free from all defilement, we may attain the day of Resurrection.
Orthros for the Adoration of the Holy Cross

Nothing comes without effort. The help of God is always ready and always near, but is given only to those who seek and work, and only to those seekers who, after putting all their powers to the test, then cry out with their whole heart: "Lord, help us."
St. Theophan the Recluse
19th Century

If you would be victorious, taste the suffering of Christ in your person, that you may be chosen to taste His glory. For if we suffer with Him, we shall also be glorified with Him. Blessed are you if you suffer for righteousness' sake. Behold, for years and generations the way of God has been made smooth through the Cross and by death. The way of God is a daily Cross. The Cross is the gate of mysteries.
St. Isaac the Syrian
The Orthodox Way: Revised Edition, SVS Press, p. 129

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Calendar

  • Calendar

    March 19 to April 17, 2017

    Sunday, March 19

    Holy Cross

    9:00AM Morning Prayers (Orthros)

    6:00PM Penitential Vespers AT ST. GREGORY

    Monday, March 20

    6:00PM Evening Compline

    6:30PM Parish Council Meeting

    Tuesday, March 21

    Office Closed

    Wednesday, March 22

    5:45PM 9th Hour Prayer

    6:30PM Presanctified Liturgy with Lenten Potluck

    Friday, March 24

    9:00AM Presanctified Liturgy

    6:30PM Vespers for the Eve of the Annunciation

    Saturday, March 25

    9:00AM Matins and Divine Liturgy for the GREAT FEAST of the Annunciation

    4:30PM 9th Hour Prayer

    5:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, March 26

    St. John Climacus

    9:00AM Morning Prayers (Orthros)

    6:00PM Penitential Vespers at St. John of Kronstadt

    Monday, March 27

    6:30PM Evening Compline

    Tuesday, March 28

    Office Closed

    Wednesday, March 29

    5:45PM 9th Hour Prayer

    6:30PM Presanctified Liturgy with Lenten Potluck

    Thursday, March 30

    6:30PM GREATEST Canon/Compline of St. Andrew with the life of St. Mary of Egypt

    Friday, March 31

    9:00AM Presanctified Liturgy

    6:30PM Final and Full Akathist Hymn

    Saturday, April 1

    Mary of Egypt

    9:00AM Matins and Liturgy for St. Mary of Egypt

    4:30PM 9th Hour

    5:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, April 2

    Mary of Egypt

    9:00AM Morning Prayers (Orthros)

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    6:00PM Penitential Vespers

    Monday, April 3

    6:30PM Evening Compline

    Tuesday, April 4

    Office Closed

    Wednesday, April 5

    3:00PM St. Gregory's Particular Night God's Extended Hand Ministry

    5:45PM 9th Hour

    6:30PM Presantified Liturgy with Lenten Potluck

    Friday, April 7

    9:00AM Presanctified Liturgy

    6:30PM Compline for St. Lazarus

    Saturday, April 8

    Lazarus Saturday

    9:00AM Matins and Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM Pancake Breakfast, Palm Crosses and Kids Confessions

    5:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, April 9

    Palm Sunday

    9:00AM Morning Prayers (Orthros)

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:30AM Palm Sunday Fish Luncheon

    4:00PM 9th Hour and Vespers

    6:00PM Bridegroom Matins

    Monday, April 10

    Holy Monday

    9:00AM Presanctified Liturgy

    6:30PM Bridegroom Matins

    Tuesday, April 11

    Holy Tuesday

    9:00AM Presanctified Liturgy

    6:30PM Bridegroom Matins

    Wednesday, April 12

    Holy Wednesday

    9:00AM Presanctified Liturgy

    3:00PM FINAL Bridegroom Matins

    6:30PM Holy Unction

    Thursday, April 13

    Holy Thursday

    9:00AM Vesperal Liturgy of the Mystical Supper

    6:30PM 12 Passion Gospels Matins

    Friday, April 14

    Holy Friday

    9:00AM Royal Hours

    10:00AM Decorating our Lord's Tomb

    3:00PM Removal from the Cross Vespers

    6:30PM Lamentations

    9:00PM All-Night Vigil at the Tomb (Psalm Readers!)

    Saturday, April 15

    Holy Saturday

    9:00AM Vesperal Liturgy of the Myrrh Bearing Women

    11:00PM Vigil of Pascha

    Sunday, April 16

    12:00AM THE Resurrection Liturgy

    PASCHA!!!

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    12:00PM Agape Service

    4:00PM Paschal Compline at the end of the Festal Meal

    Monday, April 17

    Renewal Monday

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