Today, we honor the bravery and sacrifice of our fathers and mothers who stood valiantly against the armies of the fascist powers. They proclaimed a resolute “NO” to occupation.
Today, we honor the bravery and sacrifice of our fathers and mothers who stood valiantly against the armies of the fascist powers. They proclaimed a resolute “NO” to occupation.
IF YOU HAVE NOT SENT IN YOUR 2018 STEWARDSHIP PLEASE DO THAT TODAY.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO MADE THIS YEAR'S OOOPA GREEK FOOD FESTIVAL A SUCCESS.
WE WILL HOLDING THE RAFFLE DRAWING AND LUNCHEON ON NOVEBER 11, AFTER THE DIVINE LITURGY. SO PLEASE BUY YOUR RAFFLE TICKETS ASAP!
STARTING ON WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 7, FROM 7:30-8:30 P.M. ST. JOHN'S IS HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THE START OF OUR GREEK DANCE CLASS. PLEASE LET EVERYONE KNOW ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND. THIS IS A FREE OFFERING SO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY.
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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THE NIHILIST!
While I was in my undergraduate years I had the opportunity to study and read many different genres of literature written by authors from all over the world. Some of the most interesting reads were from India, Greece, China, Italy, and Russia. All of these reads gave a different view of their individual societies and daily life that are dissimilar to our Western Civilization. However, it was from Russian authors that I found most interesting and insightful since they dealt with the downfall of the Russian hierarchical system and its societal decay. The total destruction of Russian society gave birth to the crippling effects of full-blown Communism for the good of the people. It was all spawned by a Nihilistic view of society and its norms.
The definition of Nihilism according to the dictionary is as follows: 1. "a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless. 2. Nihilism is a condition in which all ultimate values lose their value. Ronald H. Nash. 3. a doctrine that denies any objective ground of truth and especially of moral truths 4. a doctrine or belief that conditions in the social organization are so bad as to make destruction desirable for its own sake independent of any constructive program or possibility. 5. the program of a 19th century Russian party advocating revolutionary reform and using terrorism and assassination." This is the effects of the destructive nature of a Nihilistic view of society and culture.
Nihilism is a devastating seed that slowly worms it way into the psyche of people who feel that there is no hope. In today’s society in America we hear these same sentiments from young people all around us. In a book written by Monks John Marler and Andrew Wermuth entitled “Youth Of The Apocalypse: And The Last True Rebellion.” They say that today “We are fighting the machine of Nihilism. The mad prophet of Nihilism, Friedrich Nietzsche, defined Nihilism in its absolute form: ‘That there is no truth; that there is no thing in itself.”
Moreover, the above statement by Nietzsche is in itself contradictory. “The statement ‘There is no Truth,’ is itself a metaphysical statement. It is not made from sensible knowledge and cannot be proved. Rather, it is a confession of faith in untruth. That ‘there is no absolute state of affairs’ is itself an absolute statement with its own truth-claim. In claiming its own absolute truth that there is no absolute truth, Nihilism contradicts itself and proves its own utter falsehood.”
On the other hand, people today see the axioms that represent our Judeo-Christian belief as very judgmental and not all-inclusive. What gives our faith based life cohesion is the fact that we know empirically the truth that God exists, because He sent His only begotten Son to save us from ourselves. This gives the faithful an attitude and lifestyle that reflects the love, mercy and values that His Son has shown us in this world.
Finally, those who have lost hope and declare that there is no truth are deluding themselves and are living and believing in a truth that does not exist. Each of us can live as if nothing matters, but that is a fallacy in itself. What we do here on earth will be our judge in the future. All of us will face His love or eternal judgment not matter what we believe. So live your life as if your life depends upon it. AMEN!
Service Schedule
Sunday, October 28, 2018
7th Sunday of Luke
9:15am Orthros / 10:15am Divine Liturgy
-
Thursday, November 1, 2018
6:30 p.m. Bible Study
-
Sunday, November 4, 2018
5th Sunday of Luke
9:15am Orthros / 10:15am Divine Liturgy
-
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Greek Dance Class Starts
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
-
Thursday, November 8, 2018
Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the other Bodiless Powers:
Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Salaphiel, Jegudiel and Barachiel & St. Nektarios the Wonderworker (Nov. 9)
8:30am Orthros / 9:30am Divine Liturgy
-
Thursday, November 8, 2018
6:30 p.m. Bible Study
-
Sunday, November 11, 2018
8th Sunday of Luke
9:15am Orthros / 10:15am Divine Liturgy
-
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Greek Dance Class
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
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Thursday, November 15, 2018
Start of Christmas Advent Lent
6:30 p.m. Bible Study
-
Sunday, November 18, 2018
9th Sunday of Luke
9:15am Orthros / 10:15am Divine Liturgy
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Wednesday, November 21, 2018
The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
8:30am Orthros / 9:30am Divine Liturgy
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Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Greek Dance Class?
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
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Thursday, November 22, 2018
Thanksgiving Day - Church Closed
No Bible Study
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Sunday, November 25, 2018
13th Sunday of Luke
9:15am Orthros / 10:15am Divine Liturgy
-
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Greek Dance Class
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
-
Thursday, November 29, 2018
6:30 p.m. Bible Study
-
Sunday, December 2, 2018
14th Sunday of Luke
9:15am Orthros / 10:15am Divine Liturgy
-
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Greek Dance Class
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
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Thursday, December 6, 2018
Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra
8:30am Orthros / 9:30am Divine Liturgy
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Thursday, December 6, 2018
6:30 p.m. Bible Study
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Sunday, December 9, 2018
10th Sunday of Luke
9:15am Orthros / 10:15am Divine Liturgy
Eleventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:14-25
At that time, Jesus revealed himself to his disciples after he was raised from the dead, and he said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me."
Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" So, the word went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die; but Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
Eleventh Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 21:14-25
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐφανερώθη ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ ἐγερθεὶς ἐκ νεκρῶν, καὶ λέγει τῷ Σίμωνι Πέτρῳ· Σίμων ᾿Ιωνᾶ, ἀγαπᾷς με πλεῖον τούτων; λέγει αὐτῷ· ναί, Κύριε, σὺ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σε. λέγει αὐτῷ· βόσκε τὰ ἀρνία μου. λέγει αὐτῷ πάλιν δεύτερον· Σίμων ᾿Ιωνᾶ, ἀγαπᾷς με; λέγει αὐτῷ· ναί, Κύριε, σὺ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σε. λέγει αὐτῷ· ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά μου. λέγει αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον· Σίμων ᾿Ιωνᾶ, φιλεῖς με; ἐλυπήθη ὁ Πέτρος ὅτι εἶπεν αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον, φιλεῖς με, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Κύριε, σὺ πάντα οἶδας, σὺ γινώσκεις ὅτι φιλῶ σε. λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· βόσκε τὰ πρόβατά μου. ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω σοι, ὅτε ἦς νεώτερος, ἐζώννυες σεαυτὸν καὶ περιεπάτεις ὅπου ἤθελες· ὅταν δὲ γηράσῃς, ἐκτενεῖς τὰς χεῖράς σου, καὶ ἄλλος σε ζώσει, καὶ οἴσει ὅπου οὐ θέλεις. τοῦτο δὲ εἶπε σημαίνων ποίῳ θανάτῳ δοξάσει τὸν Θεόν. καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν λέγει αὐτῷ· ἀκολούθει μοι. ἐπιστραφεὶς δὲ ὁ Πέτρος βλέπει τὸν μαθητὴν ὃν ἠγάπα ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἀκολουθοῦντα, ὃς καὶ ἀνέπεσεν ἐν τῷ δείπνῳ ἐπὶ τὸ στῆθος αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπε· Κύριε, τίς ἐστιν ὁ παραδιδούς σε; τοῦτον ἰδὼν ὁ Πέτρος λέγει τῷ ᾿Ιησοῦ· Κύριε, οὗτος δὲ τί; λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· ἐὰν αὐτὸν θέλω μένειν ἕως ἔρχομαι, τί πρὸς σέ; σὺ ἀκολούθει μοι. ἐξῆλθεν οὖν ὁ λόγος οὗτος εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὅτι ὁ μαθητὴς ἐκεῖνος οὐκ ἀποθνήσκει· καὶ οὐκ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ὅτι οὐκ ἀποθνήσκει, ἀλλ᾽ ἐὰν αὐτὸν θέλω μένειν ἕως ἔρχομαι, τί πρὸς σέ; Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ μαθητὴς ὁ μαρτυρῶν περὶ τούτων καὶ γράψας ταῦτα, καὶ οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἀληθής ἐστιν ἡ μαρτυρία αὐτοῦ. ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἄλλα πολλὰ ὅσα ἐποίησεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς, ἅτινα ἐὰν γράφηται καθ᾽ ἕν, οὐδὲ αὐτὸν οἶμαι τὸν κόσμον χωρῆσαι τὰ γραφόμενα βιβλία. ἀμήν.
Prokeimenon. Plagal First Mode. Psalm 11.7,1.
You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.
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 First Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 11.7,1.
Σὺ Κύριε, φυλάξαις ἡμᾶς καὶ διατηρήσαις ἡμᾶς.
Στίχ. Σῶσον με, Κύριε, ὅτι ἐκλέλοιπεν ὅσιος.
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.
The Feast of the Protection commemorates the appearance of the most holy Theotokos in the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople in the early sixth century, as recorded in the life of Saint Andrew the Fool for Christ's sake. While the multitudes of the faithful were gathered in church, Epiphanius, the friend of Saint Andrew, through the Saint's prayers, beheld the Virgin Mary above the faithful and spreading out her veil over them, signifying her unceasing protection of all Christians. Because of this we keep a yearly feast of gratitude, imploring our Lady never to cease sheltering us in her mighty prayers.
In the Greek tradition, this feast is celebrated on October 28, while in the Slavic tradition, this feast is celebrated on October 1.
Saint Steven passed his life in ascetical discipline in the Monastery of Saint Sabbas, from whence also he received the name Sabbaite. He was consecrated bishop and reposed about the year 790, bequeathing to the Church a number of melismatic troparia.
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