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St. John The Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2019-01-20
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St. John The Baptist Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (212) 473-0648
  • Street Address:

  • 143 East 17th Street

  • New York, NY 10003
  • Mailing Address:

  • 143 East 17th Street

  • New York, NY 10003


Past Bulletins


Assembly of Bishops News

OCN Sunday: Share the Light Sunday

01/15/2019

During the Orthodox Christian Network’s 23rd Anniversary, the Assembly asks every Orthodox parish in America to participate in a Share the Light Sunday. Please spread the word about this ministry, and remember OCN in your parish’s charitable giving.
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Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

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Archons to Hold Virtual Town Meeting on Ukraine Autocephaly Saturday, January 26

01/16/2019

NEW YORK – On Saturday, January 26, 2019, (1-3 p.m. EST), the Order of Saint Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, is hosting the first-ever nationwide call-in Virtual Town Meeting. The Archons are prominent and dynamic members of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and are organizing this meeting on the very important issue of autocephaly (independence) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the prerogatives and responsibilities of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Thirty Thousand Celebrate Epiphany in Tarpon Springs

01/08/2019

Tarpon Springs, Fla. – Jan 6, 2019 – The Feast of Epiphany is the most important day for this city of the Tampa Bay area, known around the country and the world, as “Epiphany City.” His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, once again presided at the annual 113th celebration of Theophany (Epiphany), the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy, the the Great Blessing Service of the Waters and the Dive for the Cross in Spring Bayou, while some thirty thousand pilgrims and visitors attended the festivities, according to estimates from the local authorities.
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Father Vasilios' Message!

IF YOU HAVE NOT SENT IN THIS YEAR'S STEWARDSHIP PLEASE DO THAT TODAY.

WE WILL SOON HAVE OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING IN OUR UNDERCROFT. ALL STEWARDS ARE ASKED TO ATTENDING. A MAILING WILL GO OUT SOON WITH ALL THE INFORMATION AND AGENDA.

THE GREEK DANCE CLASS HAS STARTED ALONG WITH BIBLE STUDY. PLEASE CALL THE CHURCH OR ASK ANYONE AT THE CANDLE STAND FOR INFORMATION. 

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

What was once the foundation for a healthy, spiritual, and virtuous society has now become something frowned upon.  The Ten Commandments were proudly displayed on facades of public buildings, in courtrooms, and schools all around the United States. These ten divinely written commandments by God on Mount Sinai were given to Moses to be the glue that holds societies and civilizations together. Ten simple commandments that modernity and our secular society have a hard time comprehending their importance and value.

The ethics and respect for our Creator that the Ten Commandments hope to inculcate within each person in society is monumental. Why? Because these simple Commandments teach humanity how to interact with each other and with God.  It is not by chance that the Ten Commandments were written on two separate slates. These two slates contain 5 commandments each. Moreover, each slate contains principles appropriate to two specific relationships. 

Furthermore, these relationships contain not only God’s laws but His love for Humanity.  Each of the ten is a road map of what is expected from each of us as human beings.  The first 5 indicate our relationship with God. It is a vertical relationship that we have with God.  In other words, it is a very important relationship that God demands from His beloved humanity. 

However, its importance and significance do not override or supersede the next 5 Commandments.  This may sound strange because they refer to God and our relationship with Him. It is for this reason that each of the Ten is specific to an individual’s health and wellbeing both spiritually and physically.

Likewise, the next five pertain to Man’s relationship with Man. These Five Commandments instruct and guide humanity on how to interact with one another and are not more important than the first five.  They are referred to so a horizontal relationship with humanity and the importance of a moral and ethical interaction with them for a stable and loving society.

More importantly, both the vertical and horizontal relationships contained in the Ten Commandments are a gift that God has bestowed upon creation for their benefit. The love of God and Man are our duty if we wish to achieve the most basic human principles in our life.  Unfortunately, if one decides to practice only the first five commandments, and love God more than Man they are capable of horrific actions against humanity.  

On the other hand, if they only care about their relationship with Man, they are considered humanists.  Both practices are considered distortions and breaking all the Commandments. Only when we practice all Ten Commandments are we on the road to Theosis and God’s grace. That is why Christ gave us His Great Commandment when asked, “which is the greatest  commandment in the Law?” He answers, “. . . thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, and with all thy soul, and with all they mind,” and again,  “. . . Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” 

Finally, what Christ does above is He reduces the ten into two, one from Man’s relationship with God, and one from Man’s relationship with Man.  These are what all of humanity are called to do, and especially Christians. If we all lived by them this world would be a better place and God’s love would abound. AMEN!

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New and Events at St. John's

 Service Schedule

Sunday, January 20, 2019

12th Sunday of Luke

9:15am Orthros/10:15am Divine Liturgy

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Wednesday, January 23, 2019

7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Greek Dance Class.

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Thursday, January 24, 2019

6:30 p.m. Bible Study.

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Sunday, January 27, 2019

15th Sunday of Luke

9:15am Orthros/10:15am Divine Liturgy

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Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Synaxis of The Three Hierarchs

8:30am Orthros/9:30am Divine Liturgy

7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Greek Dance Class

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Thursday, January 31, 2019

6:30 p.m. Bible Study.

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Saturday, February 2, 2019

The Presentation of Our Lord

8:30am Orthros/9:30am Divine Liturgy

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Sunday, February 3, 2019

16th Sunday of Matthew

9:15am Orthros/10:15am Divine Liturgy

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Wednesday, February 6, 2019

7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Greek Dance Class.

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Thursday, February 7, 2019

6:30 p.m. Bible Study.

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Sunday, February 10, 2019

Sunday of the Canaanite

9:15am Orthros/10:15am Divine Liturgy

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Wednesday, February 13, 2019

7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Greek Dance Class.

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Thursday, February 14, 2019

6:30 p.m. Bible Study.

 

Sunday, February 17, 2019

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee

9:15am Orthros/10:15am Divine Liturgy

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Wednesday, February 20, 2019

7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Greek Dance Class.

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Thursday, February 21, 2019

6:30 p.m. Bible Study.

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Sunday, February 24, 2019

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

9:15am Orthros/10:15am Divine Liturgy

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Wednesday, February 27, 2019

7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Greek Dance Class.

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Thursday, February 28, 2019

6:30 p.m. Bible Study.

 

Saturday, March 2, 2019

1st. Saturday of Souls

8:30am Orthros/9:30am Divine Liturgy

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Sunday, March 3, 2019

Judgement Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)

9:15am Orthros/10:15am Divine Liturgy

 

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

First Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Matthew 28:16-20

At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Amen."

First Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 28:16-20

Οἱ δὲ ἕνδεκα μαθηταὶ ἐπορεύθησαν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, εἰς τὸ ὄρος οὗ ἐτάξατο αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς. καὶ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ, οἱ δὲ ἐδίστασαν. καὶ προσελθὼν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς λέγων· ἐδόθη μοι πᾶσα ἐξουσία ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς. πορευθέντες μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ῾Αγίου Πνεύματος, διδάσκοντες αὐτοὺς τηρεῖν πάντα ὅσα ἐνετειλάμην ὑμῖν· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν εἰμι πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ἕως τῆς συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος. ἀμήν.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 149.5,1.
The saints shall rejoice in glory.
Verse: Sing to the Lord a new song.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15.

Brethren, it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Προκείμενον. Grave Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 149.5,1.
Καυχήσονται ὅσιοι ἐν δόξῃ
Στίχ. Ἄσατε τῷ Κυρίῳ ᾆσμα καινόν.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους β' 4:6-15.

Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεὸς ὁ εἰπὼν ἐκ σκότους φῶς λάμψαι, ὃς ἔλαμψεν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν πρὸς φωτισμὸν τῆς γνώσεως τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν προσώπῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἔχομεν δὲ τὸν θησαυρὸν τοῦτον ἐν ὀστρακίνοις σκεύεσιν, ἵνα ἡ ὑπερβολὴ τῆς δυνάμεως ᾖ τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ μὴ ἐξ ἡμῶν· ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐ στενοχωρούμενοι· ἀπορούμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι· διωκόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐγκαταλειπόμενοι· καταβαλλόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἀπολλύμενοι· πάντοτε τὴν νέκρωσιν τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι περιφέροντες, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι ἡμῶν φανερωθῇ. Ἀεὶ γὰρ ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες εἰς θάνατον παραδιδόμεθα διὰ Ἰησοῦν, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ φανερωθῇ ἐν τῇ θνητῇ σαρκὶ ἡμῶν. Ὥστε ὁ μὲν θάνατος ἐν ἡμῖν ἐνεργεῖται, ἡ δὲ ζωὴ ἐν ὑμῖν. Ἔχοντες δὲ τὸ αὐτὸ πνεῦμα τῆς πίστεως, κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον, Ἐπίστευσα, διὸ ἐλάλησα, καὶ ἡμεῖς πιστεύομεν, διὸ καὶ λαλοῦμεν· εἰδότες ὅτι ὁ ἐγείρας τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν καὶ ἡμᾶς διὰ Ἰησοῦ ἐγερεῖ, καὶ παραστήσει σὺν ὑμῖν. Τὰ γὰρ πάντα διʼ ὑμᾶς, ἵνα ἡ χάρις πλεονάσασα διὰ τῶν πλειόνων τὴν εὐχαριστίαν περισσεύσῃ εἰς τὴν δόξαν τοῦ θεοῦ.


Gospel Reading

12th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 17:12-19

At that time, as Jesus entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said: "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus's feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus: "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" And he said to him: "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."

12th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 17:12-19

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσερχομένου αὐτοῦ εἴς τινα κώμην ἀπήντησαν αὐτῷ δέκα λεπροὶ ἄνδρες, οἳ ἔστησαν πόρρωθεν, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἦραν φωνὴν λέγοντες· ᾿Ιησοῦ ἐπιστάτα, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς. καὶ ἰδὼν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· πορευθέντες ἐπιδείξατε ἑαυτοὺς τοῖς ἱερεῦσι. καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ὑπάγειν αὐτοὺς ἐκαθαρίσθησαν. εἷς δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν, ἰδὼν ὅτι ἰάθη, ὑπέστρεψε μετὰ φωνῆς μεγάλης δοξάζων τὸν Θεόν, καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον παρὰ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ εὐχαριστῶν αὐτῷ· καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν Σαμαρείτης. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν· οὐχὶ οἱ δέκα ἐκαθαρίσθησαν; οἱ δὲ ἐννέα ποῦ; οὐχ εὑρέθησαν ὑποστρέψαντες δοῦναι δόξαν τῷ Θεῷ εἰ μὴ ὁ ἀλλογενὴς οὗτος; καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἀναστὰς πορεύου· ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέ σε.


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Saints and Feasts

Lepers
January 20

12th Sunday of Luke


Euthymio
January 20

Righteous Euthymius the Great

This Saint, who was from Melitene in Armenia, was the son of pious parents named Paul and Dionysia. He was born about 377. Since his mother had been barren, he was named Euthymius-which means "good cheer" or "joy"-for this is what his parents experienced at his birth. He studied under Eutroius, the Bishop of Melitene, by whom he was ordained and entrusted with the care of the monasteries of Melitene. Then, after he had come to Palestine about the year 406, he became the leader of a multitude of monks. Through him, a great tribe of Arabs was turned to piety, when he healed the ailing son of their leader Aspebetos. Aspebetos was baptized with all his people; he took the Christian name of Peter, and was later consecrated Bishop for his tribe, being called "Bishop of the Tents." Saint Euthymius also fought against the Nestorians, Eutychians, and Manichaeans. When Eudocia, the widow of Saint Theodosius the Younger, had made her dwelling in Palestine, and had fallen into the heresy of the Monophysites which was championed in Palestine by a certain Theodosius, she sent envoys to Saint Symeon the Stylite in Syria (see Sept. 1), asking him his opinion of Eutyches and the Council of Chalcedon which had condemned him; Saint Symeon, praising the holiness and Orthodoxy of Saint Euthymius near whom she dwelt, sent her to him to be delivered from her error (the holy Empress Eudocia is commemorated Aug. 13). He became the divine oracle of the Church, or rather, "the vessel of divine utterance," as a certain historian writes. He was the instructor and elder of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified. Having lived for ninety-six years, he reposed in 473, on January 20.


Allsaint
January 20

Zacharias the New Martyr of Patra


Allsaint
January 21

Neophytos the Martyr of Nicaea

The Martyr Neophytos, who was from Nicea in Bithynia, was the son of pious parents, Theodore and Florence. Led by grace from his childhood, he took up his dwelling in a cave upon Mount Olympus at the age of nine and lived there in asceticism and prayer. At the age of fifteen, during the reign of Diocletian about the year 290, he presented himself to the local Governor named Decius. Roused to fury by his unexpected boldness, Decius had him scourged, then laid out on a bed of fire. When he had been preserved by grace through these torments, he gave him up to wild beasts. But since the Saint remained unharmed, a certain pagan fell on him with a sword and slew him.


Allsaint
January 20

John the Hieromartyr


Allsaint
January 21

Martyrs Neophytos, Agnes, Patroclus, Maximus the Greek and Eugene of Trebizond


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode

When the stone had been sealed by the Jews and the soldiers were guarding Thine immaculate Body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Saviour, granting life unto the world. Wherefore, the powers of the Heavens cried out to Thee, O Lifegiver: Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ. Glory to Thy Kingdom. Glory to Thy dispensation, O only Friend of man.
Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ στρατιωτῶν φυλασσόντων τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα, ἀνέστης τριήμερος Σωτήρ, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν ζωήν. Διὰ τοῦτο αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐβόων σοι Ζωοδότα· Δόξα τῇ ἀναστάσει σου Χριστέ, δόξα τῇ Βασιλείᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ οἰκονομίᾳ σου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε.

Apolytikion for Euthymius the Great in the Fourth Mode

Be glad, O barren one, that hast not given birth; be of good cheer, thou that hast not travailed; for a man of desires hath multiplied thy children of the Spirit, having planted them in piety and reared them in continence to the perfection of the virtues. By his prayers, O Christ our God, make our life peaceful.
Εὐφραίνου ἔρημος ἡ οὐ τίκτουσα, εὐθύμησον ἡ οὐκ ὠδίνουσα, ὅτι ἐπλήθυνέ σοὶ τέκνα, ἀνὴρ ἐπιθυμιῶν τῶν τοῦ Πνεύματος, εὐσεβεία φυτεύσας, ἐγκρατεία ἐκθρέψας, εἰς ἀρετῶν τελειότητα. Ταὶς αὐτοῦ ἱκεσίαις, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, εἰρήνευσον τὴν ζωὴν ἡμῶν.

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Mode

Your birth sanctified a Virgin's womb and properly blessed the hands of Symeon. Having now come and saved us O Christ our God, give peace to Your commonwealth in troubled times and strengthen those in authority, whom You love, as only the loving One.
Ὁ μήτραν παρθενικὴν ἁγιάσας τῶ τόκω σου, καὶ χείρας τοῦ Συμεὼν εὐλογήσας ὡς ἔπρεπε, προφθάσας καὶ νὺν ἔσωσας ἡμᾶς Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός. Ἀλλ' εἰρήνευσον ἐν πολέμοις τὸ πολίτευμα, καὶ κραταίωσον Βασιλεῖς οὓς ἠγάπησας, ὁ μόνος φιλάνθρωπος.
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Wisdom of the Fathers

Having met the Savior, therefore, the lepers earnestly besought Him to free them from their misery, and called Him Master, that is. Teacher. No one pitied them when suffering this malady, but He Who had appeared on earth for this very reason, and had become man that He might show pity to all, He was moved with compassion for them, and had mercy on them.
St. Cyril of Alexandria
Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homilies 113-116. B#42, pp. 465-466, 4th Century

And why did He not rather say, I will, be you cleansed; as He did in the case of another leper, but commanded them rather to show themselves to the priests? It was because the law gave directions to this effect to those who were delivered from leprosy (Lev. 14-2); for it commanded them to show themselves to the priests, and to offer a sacrifice for their cleansing.
St. Cyril of Alexandria
Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homilies 113-116. B#42, pp. 465-466, 4th Century

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