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Annunciation Church
Publish Date: 2019-12-08
Bulletin Contents
The Week's Upcoming Events
Saints and Feasts
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News
Parish News & Events
Anna
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Annunciation Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (716) 882-9485
  • Fax:
  • (716) 886-9151
  • Street Address:

  • 146 W. Utica St.

  • Buffalo, NY 14222

Contact Information

Presiding Priest Rev. Dr. Christos B. Christakis

frchristos@yahoo.com | cell: 716-319-0099

Church Office


office.hoca@gmail.com | 716-882-9485

Services Schedule

Sundays: Orthros (Matins): 9:00 am - Divine Liturgy: 10:00 am
Sunday School: Begins following Holy Communion
Weekdays: Orthros (Matins): 9:00 am - Divine Liturgy: 10:00 am

For information on our services please contact the Church office at (716) 882-9485 between the hours of 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Past Bulletins


The Week's Upcoming Events

  • Upcoming Events and Services

    December 8 to December 22, 2019

    Sunday, December 8

    9:00AM Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:30AM 40 Day Blessing for the daughter of Maria Hatzipetros & Francisco Hernandez

    12:00PM Philoptochos General Meeting Following Liturgy

    12:30PM Service Activity for Youth & Seniors after Sunday School

    Monday, December 9

    10:00AM Philoptochos Baking

    Tuesday, December 10

    Annual Christmas Senior Luncheon-Columns Banquets

    Wednesday, December 11

    6:30PM Adult Choir Practice

    Thursday, December 12

    7:00PM Bible Study at FLC

    Saturday, December 14

    10:00AM Orthodox Action Soup Kitchen

    10:30AM Greek Language School at FLC

    Sunday, December 15

    40 Day Blessing for the Son of Justin Schifano and Iriny Faltas

    9:00AM Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Saturday, December 21

    10:30AM Greek Language School at FLC

    Sunday, December 22

    Greek School Christmas Party

    9:00AM Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

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Saints and Feasts

Anna
December 09

The Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos

According to the ancient tradition of the Church, since Saint Anna, the Ancestor of God, was barren, she and her husband Joachim remained without children until old age. Therefore, sorrowing over their childlessness, they besought God with a promise that, if He were to grant them the fruit of the womb, they would offer their offspring to Him as a gift. And God, hearkening to their supplication, informed them through an Angel concerning the birth of the Virgin. And thus, through God's promise, Anna conceived according to the laws of nature, and was deemed worthy to become the mother of the Mother of our Lord (see also Sept. 8).

Allsaint
December 09

The Consecration of the Church of the Resurrection (Holy Sepulchre) in the Holy City of Jerusalem

The majestic Church of the Resurrection, built by Saint Constantine the Great and his mother Helen, was consecrated in the year 336. In the year 614, this edifice was destroyed by the Persians, who set fire to it. Modestus, the Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Theodosius, and later Patriarch of Jerusalem, rebuilt the church in 626 and had it reconsecrated. In 637, Jerusalem fell to the Moslems; however, the holy shrines were left intact. But in 934, on the Sunday of Pascha, the Saracens set fire to part of this church. Again in 969, the Moslems set fire to the dome of the church, plundered all the sacred objects that were found therein, and surrendered John IV, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, to the flames. In 1010, the Moslems, under Hakim the Mad, Caliph of Egypt, destroyed the church to its foundations, but in 1028, by the mediation of Emperor Romanus III Argyrus of Constantinople, the church began to be rebuilt on a more modest scale. This third edifice was completed and reconsecrated in 1048. In 1099, the crusaders took Jerusalem and ruled there for eighty-eight years, and during this time they made certain changes in the structure, which, for the most part, has remained unaltered ever since (See also Sept. 13).
Anna
December 09

The Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos

According to the ancient tradition of the Church, since Saint Anna, the Ancestor of God, was barren, she and her husband Joachim remained without children until old age. Therefore, sorrowing over their childlessness, they besought God with a promise that, if He were to grant them the fruit of the womb, they would offer their offspring to Him as a gift. And God, hearkening to their supplication, informed them through an Angel concerning the birth of the Virgin. And thus, through God's promise, Anna conceived according to the laws of nature, and was deemed worthy to become the mother of the Mother of our Lord (see also Sept. 8).

Allsaint
December 10

The Holy Martyrs Menas, Hermogenes, and Eugraphus

Saint Menas, according to the Synaxaristes, had Athens as his homeland. He was a military officer, an educated man and skilled in speech, wherefore he was surnamed Kallikelados ("most eloquent"); Eugraphus was his scribe. Both had Christian parents. The Emperor Maximinus (he was the successor of Alexander Severus, and reigned from 235 to 238) sent Saint Menas to Alexandria to employ his eloquence to end a certain strife among the citizens. Saint Menas, having accomplished this, also employed his eloquence to strengthen the Christians in their faith, which when Maximinus heard, he sent Hermogenes, who was an eparch born to unbelievers to turn Menas away from Christ. But Hermogenes rather came to the Faith of Christ because of the miracles wrought by Saint Menas. Saints Menas, Eugraphus, and Hermogenes received the crown of martyrdom in the year 235.

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal 4th Tone

You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and condescended to be buried for three days, so that from the passions You might set us free. Our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory be to You.
Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν καταδέξω τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ Ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Church Apolytikion in the 1st Tone

Today is the summary of our salvation, and the revelation of the age-old mystery. For the Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin, and Gabriel announces the good news of grace. Therefore, let us join him, and cry aloud to the Theotokos: "Rejoice, Maiden full of grace! The Lord is with you."

Seasonal Kontakion in the 3rd Tone

On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God.
Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν Προαιώνιον Λόγον, ἐν Σπηλαίῳ ἔρχεται, ἀποτεκεῖν ἀπορρήτως. Χόρευε ἡ οἰκουμένη ἀκουτισθεῖσα, δόξασον μετὰ Ἀγγέλων καὶ τῶν Ποιμένων, βουληθέντα ἐποφθῆναι, παιδίον νέον, τὸν πρὸ αἰώνων Θεόν.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal 4th Tone. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 4:1-7.

Brethren, I, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Προκείμενον. Plagal 4th Tone. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 75.11,1.
Εὔξασθε καὶ ἀπόδοτε Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν.
Στίχ. Γνωστὸς ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ ὁ Θεός, ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ μέγα τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἐφεσίους 4:1-7.

Ἀδελφοί, παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς ἐγώ, ὁ δέσμιος ἐν κυρίῳ, ἀξίως περιπατῆσαι τῆς κλήσεως ἧς ἐκλήθητε, μετὰ πάσης ταπεινοφροσύνης καὶ πρᾳότητος, μετὰ μακροθυμίας, ἀνεχόμενοι ἀλλήλων ἐν ἀγάπῃ, σπουδάζοντες τηρεῖν τὴν ἑνότητα τοῦ πνεύματος ἐν τῷ συνδέσμῳ τῆς εἰρήνης. Ἓν σῶμα καὶ ἓν πνεῦμα, καθὼς καὶ ἐκλήθητε ἐν μιᾷ ἐλπίδι τῆς κλήσεως ὑμῶν· εἷς κύριος, μία πίστις, ἓν βάπτισμα, εἷς θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ πάντων, ὁ ἐπὶ πάντων, καὶ διὰ πάντων, καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν ἡμῖν. Ἑνὶ δὲ ἑκάστῳ ἡμῶν ἐδόθη ἡ χάρις κατὰ τὸ μέτρον τῆς δωρεᾶς τοῦ Χριστοῦ.

Gospel Reading

10th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 13:10-17

At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity." And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day." Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

10th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 13:10-17

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ῏Ην δὲ διδάσκων ἐν μιᾷ τῶν συναγωγῶν ἐν τοῖς σάββασι. καὶ ἰδοὺ γυνὴ ἦν πνεῦμα ἔχουσα ἀσθενείας ἔτη δέκα καὶ ὀκτώ, καὶ ἦν συγκύπτουσα καὶ μὴ δυναμένη ἀνακῦψαι εἰς τὸ παντελές. ἰδὼν δὲ αὐτὴν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς προσεφώνησε καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· γύναι, ἀπολέλυσαι τῆς ἀσθενείας σου· καὶ ἐπέθηκεν αὐτῇ τὰς χεῖρας· καὶ παραχρῆμα ἀνωρθώθη καὶ ἐδόξαζε τὸν Θεόν. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ἀρχισυνάγωγος, ἀγανακτῶν ὅτι τῷ σαββάτῳ ἐθεράπευσεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς, ἔλεγε τῷ ὄχλῳ· ἓξ ἡμέραι εἰσὶν ἐν αἷς δεῖ ἐργάζεσθαι· ἐν ταύταις οὖν ἐρχόμενοι θεραπεύεσθε, καὶ μὴ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ σαββάτου. ἀπεκρίθη οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ Κύριος καὶ εἶπεν· ὑποκριτά, ἕκαστος ὑμῶν τῷ σαββάτῳ οὐ λύει τὸν βοῦν αὐτοῦ ἢ τὸν ὄνον ἀπὸ τῆς φάτνης καὶ ἀπαγαγὼν ποτίζει; ταύτην δέ, θυγατέρα ᾿Αβραὰμ οὖσαν, ἣν ἔδησεν ὁ σατανᾶς ἰδοὺ δέκα καὶ ὀκτὼ ἔτη, οὐκ ἔδει λυθῆναι ἀπὸ τοῦ δεσμοῦ τούτου τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ σαββάτου; καὶ ταῦτα λέγοντος αὐτοῦ κατῃσχύνοντο πάντες οἱ ἀντικείμενοι αὐτῷ, καὶ πᾶς ὁ ὄχλος ἔχαιρεν ἐπὶ πᾶσι τοῖς ἐνδόξοις τοῖς γινομένοις ὑπ᾿ αὐτοῦ.

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Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

Archiepiscopal Encyclical for the Feast of St. Nicholas

12/02/2019

The name of Saint Nicholas brings joy to people around the world as nearly a synonym for love and generosity. Even more does his name evoke reverence and delight among Orthodox Christians, who know the wondrous deeds God worked through His servant. By the power of Christ within, Saint Nicholas fought injustice, raised the dead, healed the sick, and supplied the needs of the flock under his care. In these wonders we rejoice.
https://www.goarch.org/-/archiepiscopal-encyclical-for-the-feast-of-st-nicholas
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Parish News & Events

Youth Choir


Youth Choir

This Sunday is Youth Sunday, a time each month  when we offer our young people some experiences in serving their Church and learning to be young stewards. Youth in grades 1st – 12th are singing the hymns of the Liturgy, starting at 10:00 am – please encourage their participation! Other students will be readers of the verses of the day and the Epistle; still others are serving as greeters in the Narthex. We are proud of our young people as they grow in service to their Church!

Please encourage and support your children to be in church to participate in one of these ways. Readers and greeters should contact Nick Malamas for assignments. Singers should be ready at the start of Liturgy to sing in the front left pew area.

 

Grades 1-12 are encourgaed to participate on Youth Sunday's. Grades 1-6 practice the hymns during their Church School lessons. You can sing, you can greet, you can read.

 

Youth Sundays 2019-2020

12/8/19

01/12/20

02/9/20

03/8/20

04/12/20

05/10/20


AHEPA

We are excited to announce that there is an effort to re-activate the historic AHEPA Chapter #91 of Buffalo, founded in 1926. All those interested in joining this AHEPA Chapter and becoming a memeber of the oldest and largest international Hellenic-American organization please contact Steve Eoannou at (716) 432-3071 or seoannou@hotmail.com


Bible Study

Fr. Christos will lead a Bible study on Thursday evenings at 7pm at the Family Life Center.
We will study the Gospel of Mark, one of the earliest and more vivid eyewitness accounts of the words and deeds of Christ.Throughout the Bible study, we will also talk about the faith and practice of the Orthodox Church. The first study will be on September 19. The following dates will be: December 5 and 12. Please join us. 


Greek School

Greek School is held every Saturday at the 10:30AM at the FLC

5992 Genesee Street 

Lancaster , NY 14086


Hellenic Seniors and All others interested

A mailing has gone out to seniors for our Annual Christmas Luncheon on Tuesday, December 10th at Columns Banquets, 2271 Transit Road in Elma, NY.  Doors open at 11:30 am, lunch will be served at 12:30 pm. Please return your reservation form by Tuesday, November 26th.  Reservations can be made after Divine Liturgy in the Demakos Center on Sundays 11/24 and 12/1 . Please call Marge Manos with any questions at 716-649-8478. 


ECCLESIASTICAL ITEMS AVAILABLE TO BE PURCHASED FOR THE HOLY CROSS CHAPEL AT THE FAMILY LIFE CENTER

ONLY ONE MORE MONTH TO DONATE Ecclesiastical Items for the Holy Cross Chapel at the Family Life Center: All the ecclesiastical items for the Holy Cross Chapel will be custom-made, hand-carved, and/or hand-painted in Greece. Therefore, we have a very stringent deadline and all the items must be ordered by January 1, 2020. This will provide the necessary amount of time to prepare and produce all items to be shipped by April 1, 2020 and received and ready for installation beginning on July 6, 2020. More than half the items have been donated and are accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Don’t miss this great opportunity to be part of this historic aspect of our Church Community. Please note that the Iconastasis Wooden Structure, as well as the six (6) Hand-painted Icons, for the Iconostasis are part of the Niarchos Foundation Grant and are not available to be donated. Enclosed is the most Updated List and Donor Commitment Form for the Ecclesiastical Items available to be purchased for the Holy Cross Chapel at the Family Life Center. Please complete the necessary order form and provide at least a 50% payment as soon as possible. Mary Danakas (danakasmary@yahoo.com; (716) 912-8300) will be in the Demakos Community Center during the Coffee Hour to accept your order forms and/or donations.


NAME-DAY SPONSORSHIP

Today’s Coffee Hour is sponsored by parishioners of our Church who celebrate their name-day on the Feast of St. Nicholas.


ORTHODOX ACTION

 

  • 12th ANNUAL CHRISTMAS WITH THE VETS Orthodox Action is collecting items for the homeless and disabled Veterans of the WNY Veterans Housing Coalition on Main & W. Utica. The goal is to collect 115 of each scheduled item. See/call/text Carolyn Skaros 228-0001 or Alexandra Mastoras 907-1674. All Parishioners encouraged to attend!
     
  • Please Note: For your convenience, a donation of $10 will cover the cost of a gift bag of all items for our Veterans.
  • COMMUNITY SERVICE REQUIREMENTS: Orthodox Action’s Soup Kitchens, Thanksgiving and Christmas events are a great way for your children and grandchildren to fulfill community service requirements!

Philoptochos

12/08/2019

**BRIEF GENERAL MEETING TODAY AFTER LITURGY. PLEASE MEET IN THE PARLORS**

SHOEBOX PROJECT  Because of the bad weather last Sunday, if you still have your Shoebox, please drop it off in the Demakos Center today. These will be picked up by Seneca Babcock C.D.C. on Tuesday.

CHRISTMAS BAKED GOODS   **ORDERS MUST BE PLACED TODAY !** 

Baking dates:         12/9 @ 10 AM     12/16  10 AM

Packaging:             12/17 @ 10 AM    12/19 @ 10 AM 

Pick Up Dates:        12/20  10 AM - 2 PM  and  12/22 after Liturgy     

         

 

 


PROSFORO

For today’s Liturgy has been offered by Renie Thanos and Diakonissa Emily Rossiter. 


Volunteers Needed

 The Stewardship and Outreach Committee is instituting a Greeters Program in January. We invite you to volunteer! Greeters will be assigned a Sunday where their role is to welcome those entering the Narthex, provide them with a Bulletin, invite newcomers and visitors to sign the Guest Book, and provide whatever guidance is necessary. In addition, Greeters will “shepherd” newcomers and visitors during the Coffee Hour, speaking with them, introducing them to others, and/or otherwise making them feel welcome.


SERVICE ACTIVITY FOR YOUTH AN SENIORS (December 8)

All youth (JOY/HOPE/GOYA/YAL) and the Hellenic Senior Club will work together to write/decorate Christmas cards to accompany the gifts Orthodox Action is collecting or the residents of the WNY Veterans Housing Coalition (W. Utica & Main St.), for the Annual Orthodox Action Christmas with the Vets event. Please join us after Sunday school at the back of the Demakos Center. This year we are fortunate to have handmade cards prepared and donated by 

LaRussa’s Legacy of Love by Rachel. Since we have 115 cards to write, Sunday School will kick off the card writing on Sunday December 1, during Sunday School, and the youth and seniors will complete it on December 8, after Sunday School.


FOUNDERS OF THE FAMILY LIFE CENTER-50 for 5000

We thank the 46 parishioners who have donated $5000 and become the founders of the Family Life Center. The Capital Campaign Committee would like to conclude this opportunity as soon as possible. There are 4 spots left!!


Library

Stop in the library to peruse our table of books for Lent: cookbooks, devotionals, commentaries, and St. John the Ladders adaptation by Father John Mack, Ascending the Heights (we have many copies). Reading is a great way to prepare and observe Great Lent.

 


Prosforo Donations

Of the many ways of supporting our Church, there are few which stand out as uniquely personal offerings of faith. The offering of Prosforo bread for the Divine Liturgy is one of them. Please contact Fr. Christos if you would like to donate Prosforo for a Divine Liturgy. 


Electronic Option for Stewardship & Capital Campaign is here!

We are pleased to announce the introduction of an electronic option for making regular offerings. Contributions can now be debited automatically from your checking or savings account or processed using your credit or debit card. Our new electronic giving program offers convenience for you and provides much-needed donation consistency for our parish.

Your online gift is completely secure through the external monitoring and protection of Vanco Payment Solutions. Also, as with all offerings given through traditional means, your online gift is kept completely confidential.

Giving online is easy and allows you to set up automatic recurring contributions and view your complete online giving history from anywhere you have access to the Internet. Simply follow these easy steps:

1) Visit the church website at www.greekorthodoxchurchbuffalo.org
2) Click on the “Support our Ministries” button which is located on the right side of the homepage
3) Click on the Create Profile button, then
4) Follow the onscreen instructions to create an online profile and to schedule your recurring contributions for items such as stewardship and the Capital Campaign.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate in contacting the Church Office.


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