The Holy & Righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna
Today, the day following the Nativity of the most holy Theotokos, we celebrate the synaxis of Saints Joachim and Anna, honouring them as her parents.
IF YOU HAVE NOT SENT IN YOUR 2018 STEWARDSHIP PLEASE DO THAT TODAY.
OUR OOOPA GREEK FOOD FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD ON OCTOBER 13, 2018! PLEASE LET YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS KNOW SO WE CAN HAVE ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL FESTIVAL FOR THE NEEDS OF OUR CHURCH. WE STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH THE FESTIVAL. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL THE CHURCH.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO BECOME MEMBERS OF OUR PARISH COUNCIL. PLEASE THINK ABOUT HELPING ST. JOHN IN A DEEPER AND MORE GIVING WAY!
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WEEPING ICON HOAX!
There are many mystical phenomenon that hundreds of thousands of people around the world have experienced. Each event will act as a catalyst to believers by strengthens their faith. On the other hand, many will see these events as hoaxes that will reinforce their skepticism by claiming that they go against relational thought and reason. The following is a true story that happened years ago in Florida, and was witnessed by Archbishop Iakovos. Enjoy!
"Thousand of people of all faiths have made a special pilgrimage to see the Weeping Icon of St. Nicholas in the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Tarpon Springs, FL, but as of today, no one can explain the strange phenomenon.
St. Nicholas is the Patron Saint of the large sponge fishing community in Tarpon Spring on Florida’s gulf coast. A woman cleaning the Church first noticed the tears December 5, 1970. She discovered the drops of moisture around the eyes of the St. Nicholas Icon, which is tightly enclosed in a glass frame. Over the next several days parishioners also reported seeing the "'crystal-like' droplets. It was not until December 14th that Fr. Elias, the Church Priest, became an eyewitness t this phenomenon.
During a gathering of the Jr. GOYA, a youth fellowship, John Xipolitas watched with amazement as the mysterious 'crystal droplets' developed on the Icon and he called FR. Elias. The group knelt in prayer before the Icon of St. Nicholas and from that day, the intermittent 'tears' began to increase in a steady flow. On December 15th, a still skeptical Fr. Elias, called in a carpenter to examine to examine he case. When the carpenter announced it was airtight, they exposed the Icon to the strong rays of the sun and still the 'tears' continued to develop.
Fr. Elias said he could offer no explanation for the 'tears' and he could not say if it was a good or bad sign. On December 17th, he notified the Archdiocese in New York City, which replied it was a 'phenomenon beyond human comprehension.'
His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of North& South America, instructed Fr. Elias to continue prayer services until he arrives in Tarpon Spring for the Epiphany Day celebration, to observe the unusual phenomenon . . . During his visit to the Cathedral, Archbishop Iakovos said, 'This may be a sign of the way Eternal God conveys His message to the believer.' After closely examining the Icon of St. Nicholas, the Archbishop instructed the Parish Priest, Fr. Elias Kalariotes, to invite qualified person to examine the Icon and state their findings so that belief may be strengthened or disbelief established. Fr. Elias has been asked, what is the message? He replied, 'Only time will reveal the message. Our Church authorities are very cautious to make an official statement. They will not come to any conclusion until they have gathered all the facts and after the Icon has stopped weeping. Presently, it is a message from God.' People continue to come from all over the country to observe the Icon. Of the many people who have seen the Weeping Icon, many have made personal comments. The Icon weeps during the Christmas Season. December 8th, 1973 was the last time it was observed weeping." The end!
I personally have witnessed many during my life so far, and they always being me peace for some reason. The skeptic will see them as a way for the Church to defraud people and to raise money. The following is from a blog entitled "VENITISM," Venitism is a free-content business blog by Basil Venitis, venitis@gmail.com. You will read what non-believers think about these miraculous events.
"Iconolatry is the veneration of images. Weeping icon is an easy way for a church to drastically increase its revenue. Many priests use olive oil to form drops on icons. A Madonna owned by a couple in Messina of Sicily was weeping blood. The house had since then been visited by thousands of pilgrims. Finally, the police determined the blood was human and that the DNA belonged to one of the owners. The couple was charged of abuse of popular credulity.
Holy hoaxes are the main source of church income. That’s why all clergy promote them in a frantic way. Main hoaxers are rewarded with sainthood, fame, and wealth. Magnificent shrines are erected where the hoaxes first appear, bringing in myriads of pilgrims, reinforcing the god delusion, and generating tremendous cash flows. There are many Marian hoaxes. Mother of Jesus is the greatest mother lode of all!
The Roman Catholic Church is selling indulgences, the Orthodox Church is selling absolution certificates (συγχωροχάρτια – synchorochartia), and the European Commission is selling pollution allowances! God delusion is a paranormal neurosis of hoi polloi, a magnificent tool to fool the voters towards your direction. Faith is retarded thinking, opposite of reason."
I could have posted the entire article, but I will spare you the many words and details Mr. Basil uses against God and His Church. In essence he is a blasphemer and we all need to intercede and pray for him to a God that he believes does not exist. AMEN!
Service Schedule
Sunday, September 2, 2018
14th Sunday of Matthew
9:00am Orthros / 10:00am Divine Liturgy
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Thursday, September 6, 2018
6:30 p.m. Bible Study
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Sunday, September 9, 2018
Sunday Before Holy Cross
9:00am Orthros / 10:00am Divine Liturgy
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Thursday, September 13, 2018
6:30 p.m. Bible Study
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Friday, September 14, 2018
The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross
8:30am Orthos / 10:00am Divine Liturgy
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Sunday, September 16, 2018
Sunday After Holy Cross - End of Summer Schedule.
9:15am Orthros / 10:15am Divine Liturgy
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Thursday, September 20, 2018
6:30 p.m. Bible Study
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Sunday, September 23, 2018
1st Sunday of Luke
9:15 am Orthros / 10:15 am Divine Liturgy
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Thursday, September 27, 2018
6:30 p.m. Bible Study
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Sunday, September 30, 2018
2nd. Sunday of Luke
9:15 am Orthros / 10:15 am Divine Liturgy.
Fr. Robert Stephanopoulos will celebrate.
Fr. Vasilios will be away at Vietnam Reunion this week.
Returning on October 6, 2018
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Thursday, October 4, 2018
NO BIBLE STUDY 6:30 p.m. Bible Study.
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Sunday, October 7, 2018
3rd. Sunday of Luke
9:15am Orthros / 10:15am Divine Liturgy.
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Thursday, October 11, 2018
6:30 p.m. Bible Study
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018
OOOPA GREEK FOOD FESTIVAL AT ST. JOHN"S
Please come and join us for music, dance, fun, and food!
12 noon - 7:00 p.m.
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Sunday, October 14, 2018
Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council.
9:15am Orthros / 10:15am Divine Liturgy.
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Thursday, October 18, 2018
6:30 p.m. Bible Study
Fourth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:1-12
On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered in to the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.
Fourth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 24:1-12
Καὶ τὸ μὲν σάββατον ἡσύχασαν κατὰ τὴν ἐντολήν, Τῇ δὲ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων ὄρθρου βαθέος ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμα φέρουσαι ἃ ἡτοίμασαν ἀρώματα, καί τινες σὺν αὐταῖς. εὗρον δὲ τὸν λίθον ἀποκεκυλισμένον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου, καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι οὐχ εὗρον τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Κυρίου ᾿Ιησοῦ. καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ διαπορεῖσθαι αὐτὰς περὶ τούτου καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνδρες δύο ἐπέστησαν αὐταῖς ἐν ἐσθήσεσιν ἀστραπτούσαις. ἐμφόβων δὲ γενομένων αὐτῶν καὶ κλινουσῶν τὸ πρόσωπον εἰς τὴν γῆν εἶπον πρὸς αὐτάς· τί ζητεῖτε τὸν ζῶντα μετὰ τῶν νεκρῶν; οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε, ἀλλ᾿ ἠγέρθη· μνήσθητε ὡς ἐλάλησεν ὑμῖν ἔτι ὢν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ, λέγων ὅτι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθῆναι εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ σταυρωθῆναι, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστῆναι. καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν τῶν ῥημάτων αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὑποστρέψασαι ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου ἀπήγγειλαν ταῦτα πάντα τοῖς ἕνδεκα καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς λοιποῖς. ἦσαν δὲ ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ Μαρία καὶ ᾿Ιωάννα καὶ Μαρία ᾿Ιακώβου καὶ οἱ λοιπαὶ σὺν αὐταῖς, αἳ ἔλεγον πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ταῦτα. καὶ ἐφάνησαν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ λῆρος τὰ ῥήματα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἠπίστουν αὐταῖς. ὁ δὲ Πέτρος ἀναστὰς ἔδραμεν ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ παρακύψας βλέπει τὰ ὀθόνια κείμενα μόνα, καὶ ἀπῆλθε πρὸς ἑαυτόν, θαυμάζων τὸ γεγονός.
Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18.
Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Προκείμενον. Plagal Second Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1.
Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου.
Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Γαλάτας 6:11-18.
Ἀδελφοί, ἴδετε πηλίκοις ὑμῖν γράμμασιν ἔγραψα τῇ ἐμῇ χειρί. Ὅσοι θέλουσιν εὐπροσωπῆσαι ἐν σαρκί, οὗτοι ἀναγκάζουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, μόνον ἵνα μὴ τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Χριστοῦ διώκωνται. Οὐδὲ γὰρ οἱ περιτετμημένοι αὐτοὶ νόμον φυλάσσουσιν, ἀλλὰ θέλουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, ἵνα ἐν τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ σαρκὶ καυχήσωνται. Ἐμοὶ δὲ μὴ γένοιτο καυχᾶσθαι εἰ μὴ ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ· διʼ οὗ ἐμοὶ κόσμος ἐσταύρωται, κἀγὼ τῷ κόσμῳ. Ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ οὔτε περιτομή τι ἰσχύει, οὔτε ἀκροβυστία, ἀλλὰ καινὴ κτίσις. Καὶ ὅσοι τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ στοιχήσουσιν, εἰρήνη ἐπʼ αὐτούς, καὶ ἔλεος, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ θεοῦ. Τοῦ λοιποῦ, κόπους μοι μηδεὶς παρεχέτω· ἐγὼ γὰρ τὰ στίγματα τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματί μου βαστάζω. Ἡ χάρις τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμῶν, ἀδελφοί. Ἀμήν.
Sunday before Holy Cross
The Reading is from John 3:13-17
The Lord said, "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."
Sunday before Holy Cross
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 3:13-17
Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· καὶ οὐδεὶς ἀναβέβηκεν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εἰ μὴ ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καταβάς, ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ὁ ὤν ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ. καὶ καθὼς Μωϋσῆς ὕψωσε τὸν ὄφιν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, οὕτως ὑψωθῆναι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ' ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Οὕτω γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ' ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἵνα κρίνῃ τὸν κόσμον, ἀλλ' ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ.
Today, the day following the Nativity of the most holy Theotokos, we celebrate the synaxis of Saints Joachim and Anna, honouring them as her parents.
Saint Severian, a senator from Sebastia, was both an illustrious man of wealth and a fearless Christian. Because he encouraged the holy Forty Martyrs of Sebastia to stand fast in their confession, he was given over to terrible torments, and received his own crown during the reign of Licinius and Lysius the Duke, about the year 315.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press - Northridge, CA