Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. First 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 First Letter to the Corinthians 6:12-20.

Brethren, "all things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" -- and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh." But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belong to God.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Prodigal Son
The Reading is from Luke 15:11-32

The Lord said this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode

Τού λίθου σφραγισθέντος υπό τών Ιουδαίων, καί στρατιωτών φυλλασόντων, τό άχραντόν Σου σώμα, ανέστης τριήμερος Σωτήρ, δωρούμενος τώ κόσμω τήν ζωήν. Διά τούτο αι Δυνάμεις τών ουρανών εβόων σοι Ζωοδότα· δόξα τή Αναστάσει σου Χριστέ, δόξα τή βασιλεία σου, δόξα τή οικονομία σου μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε.

Τu lithou sfragisthentos ipo ton Ioudeon, ke stratioton filasonton to ahranton sou soma, anesti triemeros Sotir, doroumenos ton kosmo tin zoin. Dia touto e dinamis ton ouranon evon si Zoodota, doxa ti Anastasi sou Hriste, doxa ti vasilia sou, doxa ti ikonomia sou mone Filanthrope.

The stone that had been sealed before Your tomb by the Jews and the soldiers guarding did watch o’er Your pure and sacred body O Savior the third day You arose, and unto all the world did You give life where by all the heavenly powers did proclaim that You are the giver of life. Glory unto our resurrected Christ. Glory unto Your Kingdom. Glory to Your dispensation O You alone who loves all.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode

I revolted senselessly / out of Your fatherly glory; / I have squandered sinfully / all of the riches You gave me. / Hence to You, using the Prodigal’s words, I cry out, / I have sinned before You, merciful loving Father. / O receive me in repentance, / I pray, and treat me / as one of Your hired hands.

Saints and Feasts

February 12

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Through the parable of today's Gospel, our Saviour has set forth three things for us: the condition of the sinner, the rule of repentance, and the greatness of God's compassion. The divine Fathers have put this reading the week after the parable of the Publican and Pharisee so that, seeing in the person of the Prodigal Son our own wretched condition -- inasmuch as we are sunken in sin, far from God and His Mysteries -- we might at last come to our senses and make haste to return to Him by repentance during these holy days of the Fast.

Furthermore, those who have wrought many great iniquities, and have persisted in them for a long time, oftentimes fall into despair, thinking that there can no longer be any forgiveness for them; and so being without hope, they fall every day into the same and even worse iniquities. Therefore, the divine Fathers, that they might root out the passion of despair from the hearts of such people, and rouse them to the deeds of virtue, have set the present parable at the forecourts of the Fast, to show them the surpassing goodness of God's compassion, and to teach them that there is no sin -- no matter how great it may be -- that can overcome at any time His love for man.

February 12

Meletius, Archbishop of Antioch

This holy Father, who was from Melitene of Armenia, was a blameless man, just, reverent, sincere, and most gentle. Consecrated Bishop of Sebastia in 357, he was later banished from his throne and departed for Beroea of Syria (this is the present-day Aleppo). After the Arian bishop of Antioch had been deposed, the Orthodox and the Arians each strove to have a man of like mind with themselves become the next Bishop of Antioch. Meletius was highly esteemed by all, and since the Arians believed him to share their own opinion, they had him raised to the throne of Antioch. As soon as he had taken the helm of the Church of Antioch, however, he began preaching the Son's consubstantiality with the Father. At this, the archdeacon, an Arian, put his hand over the bishop's mouth; Meletius then extended three fingers towards the people, closed them, and extended one only, showing by signs the equality and unity of the Trinity. The embarrassed archdeacon then seized his hand, but released his mouth, and Meletius spoke out even more forcibly in defense of the Council of Nicaea. Shortly after, he was banished by the Arian Emperor Constantius, son of Saint Constantine the Great. After the passage of time, he was recalled to his throne, but was banished again the third time by Valens. It was Saint Meletius who ordained Saint John Chrysostom reader and deacon in Antioch (see Nov. 13). He lived until the Second Ecumenical Council in 381 (which was convoked against Macedonius, Patriarch of Constantinople, the enemy of the Holy Spirit), over which he presided, being held in great honor as a zealot of the Faith and a venerable elder hierarch.

Some time before, when the Emperor Gratian had made the Spanish General Theodosius commander-in-chief of his armies in the war against the barbarians, Theodosius had a dream in which he saw Meletius, whom he had never met, putting upon him the imperial robe and crown. Because of Theodosius's victories, Gratian made him Emperor of the East in Valens' stead in 379. When, as Emperor, Saint Theodosius the Great convoked the Second Ecumenical Council in Constantinople two years later, he forbade that anyone should tell him who Meletius was; and as soon as he saw him, he recognized him, ran to him with joy, embraced him before all the other bishops, and told him of his dream.

While at the Council, Saint Meletius fell ill and reposed a short while after. Saint Gregory of Nyssa, among others, gave a moving oration at his funeral; bewailing the loss of him whom all loved as a father, he said, "Where is that sweet serenity of his eyes? Where that bright smile upon his lips? Where that kind right hand, with fingers outstretched to accompany the benediction of the mouth?" (PG 46:8-6). And he lamented, "Our Elias has been caught up, and no Elisseus is left behind in his place." (ibid., 860). The holy relics of Saint Meletius were returned to Antioch and were buried beside Saint Babylas the Martyr (see Sept. 4), in the Church dedicated to the Martyr which Meletius, in his zeal for the Martyr's glory, had helped build with his own hands.

February 12

Antonius, Archbishop of Constantinople

February 12

Christos the New Martyr

February 12

Meletios of Ypseni

Welcome

This Weeks Announcements

We extend greetings and a warm welcome to all visitors worshipping with us today. Please fill out a“visitor information card” located in the narthex and hand to one of the greeters. Following the Liturgy, please join us in our social hall for the coffee social.
Holy Communion in our Church is offered only to Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves through the disciplines of our faith. Speak to Fr. Costas for further details.

We kindly ask everyone to Please silence cell phones and pagers while in Church

Today ~ please remember to leave your Stewardship envelopes in the basket before heading to Sunday School.
Today ~ Coffee and Conversationfor parents of children from birth – 6^th grade following Holy Communion in the Hellenic Center. Taught by Jonathan and Kristi Tartara.
Today ~ Adult Catechism with Elaine Poulos in the Teen room following Holy Communion. The current book being studied is “God and You/Person to Person: Developing a Daily Personal Relationship with Jesus.” Purchase of book is optional.
Today ~ TRISAGIA: 6 months for Mary Collaros; 6 years for Bill Pontikos; 31 years for George Valantasis; 23 years for Despina Pontikos; for Stamatis Pontikos;for Stamatia Packis.
Today ~ Philoptochos collects new or gently used bedding, pillows, towels, outerwear, socks, scarves, etc. Items to be given to St. Mary of Egypt to help the needy fight cold-weather elements!
Today ~ GOYA meeting following Sunday School.
Today ~ Dance practice for Beginners and Seniors groups following Sunday School.
Monday ~ 5:30 p.m. Greek School.
Monday ~ 7:00 p.m. Catering/Leasing and Home Committee meeting.
Tuesday ~ 10:00 a.m. Women’s Study in Teen Room with Elaine Poulos. “Living the Beatitudes”.
Wednesday ~ 6:00 p.m. Family Ministry meeting
Thursday ~ 6:30 p.m. GOYA basketball practice at St. Michael’s on Mill Road in Broadview Hts.
Thursday ~ 7:00 p.m. A Journey to Fullness, in lieu of the Bible Study, which will resume again March 9^th. Taught by Fr. Costas and George Athanasiou.
Saturday ~ 1^st Saturday of Souls; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy. Submit FIRST names of your departed loved ones to be read each week by using the form in The Messenger or on our website.
Stewardship ~ Thank you to all those who completed and returned their 2017 Stewardship card.
Pave the Way ~ Please take time to review the mailing that was sent to your home regarding our parking lot. Please be generous and help us reach our goal of a new parking lot.

Upcoming Events in Our Parish – Respond Early

Next Sunday ~Epistle Reading, I Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2; Gospel, Matthew 25:31-46.
Next Sunday ~ MNYMOSINO: 6 months for Ioanna Payamgis; 1 year for Kostas Sevastis; TRISAGIA: 14 years for Maxine Shinas.
February 20 ~ 5:30 p.m. Philoptochos cooking class will make a tray filled with Spanakopitas and Tiropitas. RSVP required during coffee social or website by February 12^th. Cost for ingredients $15.
February 20 ~ 9:00 p.m. Metropolis Live Video Cabin Talk for High School Seniors with Fr. Anastasios & Pres. Lena Athanasiou, George Athanasiou, and Ted Cherpas. RSVP required ASAP (only 45 spots available) https://goo.gl/forms/WpS171IYzuCmzFTo1.
February 21 ~ 5:00 p.m. Senior Fellowship Agape Potluck Dinner. Main dish provided; bring your favorite covered dish or dessert to share. RSVP to Helen Dadas, Maria Regan, or Sophie Steffas.
February 25 ~ 5:00 p.m. Apokriatiko Nite Fundraiser hosted by Greek Corner. $10 adults / $5 children under 10. All proceeds to benefit the Pave the Way parking lot campaign.
February 25, and March 4 ~ Saturday of Souls; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy.
February 26 ~ Dance practice for all dancers in all levels following Sunday School.
February 26 ~ 6:00 p.m. Forgiveness Vespers.
February 27 ~ Clean Monday; Great Lent begins; 7:00 p.m. Great Compline Service.
March 1 ~ 5:00 p.m. Pre-sanctified Liturgy followed by Lenten Dinner hosted by Philoptochos.
March 3 ~ 7:00 p.m. Salutations to the Theotokos.
March 4 ~ 12:00 p.m. Dance practice for all dancers in Senior level.
March 28 ~ 5:30 p.m. Philoptochos cooking class will make tray (approximately 60 pieces) of Chocolate Baklava. RSVP required during coffee social or on website. Cost is $25.
March 31 ~ Eat Like a Greek Two. Philoptochos will be taking orders for a half or full tray of Pastitsio or Moussaka to be picked up on April 8^th.

Events in the Greater Cleveland Area and Beyond…

Friday – Next Sunday ~ GOYAns attend last basketball tournament for the year in Canton.
Saturday ~ 9:30 a.m. Annunciation Akron Retreat with Dr. John Fotopoulos. FREE, but reservations required. Contact the church office at 330.434.0000.
March 5 ~ 5:00 p.m. Sunday of Orthodoxy Great Vespers at St. Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral on Starkweather Ave. in Cleveland with Chief Celebrant and Homilist Metropolitan SAVAS. Contributions which support the Orthodox ministries that serve our area can be made out to GCCOC and can be given to the church office. Your name will be included in the handout given at Vespers.
March 24 ~ 7:00 p.m. Great Vespers for the feast of Annunciation at Annunciation Cleveland.
March 25 ~ feast of Annunciation; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy followed by luncheon and Parade.
April 22 ~ 11:00 a.m. Fifth Annual Greek Language Festival at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Pittsburgh. For more details, contact Kathy Glaros at 216.524.1766.