Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. 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."

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

Τό φαιδρόν τής Αναστάσεως κήρυγμα, εκ τού Αγγέλου μαθούσαι αι τού Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καί τήν προγονικήν απόφασιν απορρίψασαι, τοίς Αποστόλοις καυχώμεναι έλεγον· Εσκύλευται ο θάνατος, ηγέρθη Χριστός ο Θεός, δωρούμενος τώ κόσμω τό μέγα έλεος.

Το fethron tis Anastaseos kirigma, ek tou Agelou mathouse e tou Kyriou Mathitrie, ke tin progonikin apofasin aporipsase, tis Apostolis kafhomene elegon. Eskilefte o thanatos, igerthi Christos o Theos, doroumenos to kosmo to mega eleos.

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 boasting did they proclaim that death is vanquished evermore and Christ our God has risen from the dead and granted to the world His great mercy.

Apolytikion for Sun. of Orthodoxy in the Second Mode

Before Your most pure icon, O Good One, we bow down, beseeching Your forgiveness of our faltering steps, O Christ our God, for by Your own will you did consent to ascend to the Cross to deliver Your creations from the bondage of the foe. Therefore in thanksgiving we cry aloud to You, our Savior, who has filled all things with joy! For you have come to us to save all creation.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Τi Ipermaho / stratigo ta nikitiria / Os litrothisa / ton dinon eucharistiria / Anagrafo si polis sou Theotoke/ al’ os ehousa kratos aprosmahiton / Ek pantion me kindinon eleftheroson / Ina krazosi / Here nimfi animfefte.

O Champion General, / I, your City, now inscribe to you, / triumphant anthems / as the tokens of my gratitude, / being rescued from the terrors, O Theotokos. / Inasmuch as you have power unassailable, / from all kinds of perils free me so that unto you, / I may cry aloud, rejoice: “O unwedded Bride!”

Saints and Feasts

March 05

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 05

Conon the Gardener

This saint lived during the reign of emperor Decius in 251. He came from the town of Nazareth. He left his hometown and went to the city of Mandron, in the province of Pamphylia. There he stayed at a place called Karmela or Karmena cultivating a garden which he used to water and plant with various vegetables. From this garden he obtained what is necessary for life. He had such an upright and simple mind that, when he met those who wished to arrest him and saw that they greeted him, he also greeted in return from the bottom of his soul and heart. When they told him that governor Publius called the saint to go to him, the saint answered with simplicity: "What does the governor need me, since I am a Christian? Let him call those who think the way he does and have the same religion with him." So, the blessed man was tied and brought to the governor, who tried to move him to sacrifice to the idols. But the saint sighed from the bottom of his heart, cursed the tyrant and confirmed his faith in Christ with his confession, saying that it is not possible to be moved from it even though he might be tortured cruelly. So, for this reason they nailed his feet and made the saint run in front of the governor's coach. But the saint fainted in the street. Having fallen on his knees, he prayed and, thus, he commended his holy soul to the hands of God.

March 05

Mark the Ascetic

Saint Mark the Ascetic lived in the fifth century and according to Nicephorus Callistus was a disciple of Saint John Chrysostom's. Besides his blameless life of asceticism, Saint Mark was distinguished for his writings, some of which are preserved in Volume One of the Philokalia. His writings were held in such great esteem that in old times there was a saying, "Sell all that thou hast, and buy Mark."

March 05

Righteous Father Mark of Athens

Of our righteous Fathers commemorated today, Saint Mark of Athens lived in the fourth century. Born in Athens of pagan parents, he believed in Christ, was baptized, and forsook the world, living the eremitical life in extreme privation in the deep wilderness beyond Egypt. His life is recounted by the monk Serapion, who found Mark in deep old age and about to depart this lfe, not having seen a man for ninety-five years. Serapion gave him burial after his blessed repose, even as Paphnutius had done for Saint Onuphrius (see June 12).

March 05

John the Bulgarian

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 down 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.
Today ~ MNYMOSINO: 5 years for Haralambos Trihas; TRISAGION: 7 years for Lesley Kartson.
Today ~ Coffee social hosted by the Trihas family.
Today ~ As we enjoy the coffee hour every Sunday, let us be mindful to clean up after ourselves. Please throw away cups and plates before you leave the hall each Sunday.
Today ~ Commemorative Albums are available for pick-up during coffee social for those who placed an ad in the album or pre-ordered one. Extra albums available for purchase ($40 each).
Today ~ Luminary sales begin to remember our loved ones on Holy Friday. See one of our GOYAs during the coffee social or purchase through our website.
Monday ~ 5:30 p.m. Greek School.
Tuesday - Thursday ~ Father and Presvytera attend Clergy Family Retreat. Call the church number if there is a pastoral emergency and someone will respond to your need.
Tuesday ~ 10:00 a.m. Women’s Study in Teen Room with Elaine Poulos. “Living the Beatitudes”. Tuesday ~ 6:30 p.m. Philoptochos board meeting.
Tuesday ~ 7:30 p.m. Home Committee meeting.
Thursday ~ 7:00 p.m. Bible Study resumes with Frank Chirakos.
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, Hebrews 1:10-14; 2:1-3; Gospel, Mark 2:1-12.
Next Sunday ~ MNYMOSINO: 40 days for Mary Ann Saridakis; TRISAGIA: for George and Viola Saris; for Sherrie Hostetter; 13 years for Helen Katakos; 6 years for Harry Katakos; 14 years for Nick Giannakis.
Next Sunday ~ Parish Oratorical Festival in the Teen Room following Sunday School. Parishioners are welcome to attend.
March 14 ~ 6:30 p.m. Philoptochos Meeting with speaker from Pettiti’s Garden Center.
March 15 ~ 7:00 p.m. Parish Council monthly meeting.
March 18 ~ 1:00 p.m. Wedding Preparation seminar for all couples getting married this year.
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.
April 1 ~ 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Collection for Habitat for Humanity and the Restore will be held in our parking lot to collectect items that are clean, usable, and complete such as furniture, appliances, sincks, toilets, vanities, plumbing fixtures/materials, bricks, tools, etc.

Lenten Services & Activities

Today ~ We encourage you to participate in “Pray for One Another” during Lent. If you have not done so, you can place your name in the basket as you enter the church, and pick out a name as you exit the church. Pray for this individual throughout Lent and after Pascha you can let them know.
Today ~ 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.
Monday ~ 7:00 p.m. Great Compline Service.
Wednesday ~ Since Fr. Costa will be away, you can attend the Pre-sanctified Liturgy at St. Matthew Antiochian Orthodox Church located at 10383 Albion Road in North Royalton. The Service starts at 6:30 p.m., followed by a potluck meal.
Friday ~ 7:00 p.m. Salutations to the Theotokos.
Saturday ~ 10:00 a.m. St. Gregory Palamas Monastery Pilgrimage. Father Costas will meet anyone interested in attending at Best Buy in Strongsville by 8:00 a.m.
During this Lenten Season, plan to receive the sacrament of Holy Confession. Call Fr. Costas for an appointment.

Events in the Greater Cleveland Area and Beyond…

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, program, and Parade, at Annunciation in Cleveland.
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.