GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA

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PROSFORA: Maria Misthos Cashy
EPISTLE READING: Acts of the Apostles 1:1-8
GOSPEL: John 1:1-17  (Greek text, p. 60, black books)
LITURGY: 12:15 a.m. 

HOLY FRIDAY  -  FRI 17 APR
3:00 pm – Vespers
7:00 pm – Epitaphios Service

HOLY SATURDAY  -  SAT 18 APR
9:30 am – Vespers & Liturgy
11:00 pm – Vigil

PASCHA  -  SUN 19 APR
12:15 am – Liturgy

We regret that the church will not be as accessible as we would like for Holy Week. Parishioners are welcome to visit, to pray and to light candles on Friday, 10:00 AM 'til 2:00 PM.

The worship services are closed to all except the 4-5 people needed to perform the service or to enable the live streaming.

By order of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese we are unable to offer palms, Holy Unction, flowers, antidoron and Easter eggs. We are unable to offer Holy Communion except to those near death or to those physically present at the service.

Instructions for participating in the services by means of live streaming are included in the bulletin today. A revised schedule is also presented herein.

These extreme measures are intended to prevent communal gatherings that might spread the coronavirus. We pray that the crisis end swiftly so that we may return to more normal way of community life.

Live streaming of our services will be available on both Facebook and YouTube. We have worked hard to make improvements to lighting, sound, and video quality as we strive to bring the church into the homes of our community during this unusual time. Our pages/channels are listed here. Please join, like, subscribe, and follow for future services.

(1) You can find, like, and subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/stsconstantine

(2)  the new Facebook page is located at https://www.facebook.com/stsconstantineCLE/live/  Look for the live stream on that page on Sunday mornings and for the rest of Holy Week. 

(3) As a member, you may also see the live stream automatically on your own Facebook feed on Sunday mornings (if you follow the group). 

We are exploring other ways of bringing the service to you while you are confined at home. We do send updates out via email during the week. If you haven't gotten an email from us lately, it may be because we don't have an updated email address for you. You can contact the office at office@stsconstantine.com or by phone at (216) 932-3300 to keep your contact information current.

Parishioners can also take advantage of the following online aids:

- Spend time at the appropriate moments to participate in the services via video. You can find online services at https://www.goarch.org/live-broadcasts

- Those with newer AppleTV devices, Roku, or Amazon Fire can find the Archdiocesan channel: https://www.goarch.org/tv

- Utilize the Archdiocesan Online Chapel for texts of services, daily readings, and lives of the Saints: https://www.goarch.org/chapel

- Utilize the various service texts available on AGES Initiatives:   http://www.agesinitiatives.com/dcs/public/dcs/servicesindex.html,  singing or reading the hymns.

- Replace the litanies of petitions by saying "Lord, have mercy" three times, and replace the Priest's exclamations or blessings with "Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us and save us. Amen."

- There are many edifying bible studies and educational podcasts available via Ancient Faith Ministries ( https://www.ancientfaith.com/ ) or Orthodox Christian Network ( http://myocn.net ) 

- Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis offers a wonderful daily message through his “Prayer Team” ministry. Sign up using the following link: https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin

All Orthodox Education activities have been suspended until further notice. E-ministry will continue to greatest degree possible. Contact Maria at orthodox_education@stsconstantine.com with any questions or suggestions.

FAITH IN ACTION - Activities for April 2020 

A Call to Action - sign up for Instacart and have frozen dinner meals delivered to St. Herman's. You can have Instacart pick up the meals from the Dave's Market located in Ohio City. Even if it is just one dinner meal, it helps. I know the men of St. Herman's would appreciate the meal, whether it be beef, chicken or vegetarian.

Thanks and if you have any questions, please let us know - Peter and Denise Poulos 

Prayer Team - join the prayer team and keep others in your daily prayers. (Prayer Requests - If you have any prayer requests for our prayer team, or if you have questions about other activities, please send them to peter.poulos@case.edu).

Our team has been holding evening prayers via Zoom every other night at 8 p.m.  If you are interested in participating, you should either email pmp17@case.edu or text 216 288 1972 ahead of time to receive the link.  You will need to provide your name and email address to receive the Zoom invite. 

REMEMBER - we are the Church. And we haven’t gone anywhere.

“Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”  (James 2:18)

Coffee Hosting:  For the time being, coffee hours are being cancelled but you can still get on the calendar for hosting coffee and keeping this beautiful tradition of our church going. June 7, July 5, 12, 26, all of August, September, October 11 and October 18, and November 15, 22, and 29 are open.  Host coffee in memory of your loved ones or in honor of your family's birthdays, anniversary, or namedays.  See Christina Callos to sign up for your Sunday or email: ctcallos@gmail.com

The Lenten Retreat has been rescheduled for Sat. Oct. 3. Fr. Nicholas Louh will be the speaker. Please mark your calendars. 

Each week the deadline for entries for the Sunday bulletin will be Wednesday by Noon. Any submissions after that will be included in the bulletin for the following week.

Calling all Chiotes! We are excited to bring Chios to Ohio by hosting the 65th National Chian Convention in Cleveland, Ohio from October 9th-12th. If you are interested in helping, joining a committee, or to learn more please call: Kosta Almiroudis: 216.970.1413, Kelli Almiroudis: 216.798.6150, Despina Matheos: 440.309.6752 or Peggy Kachevas: 440.554.0425.

1) Join the "Search the Scriptures" live call-in show hosted by Dr. Jeannie Constantinou, Professor at the University of San Diego on Monday evenings from 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Link: ancientfaith.com/radio/live. Call in to the show: 1-855-237-2346.

3) Join ""The Whole Counsel of God" online Bible study hosted by Father Stephen de Young on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Link for live stream: facebook.com/TheWholeCounselOfGod/ Podcast Link: ancientfaith.com/podcasts/wholecounsel

4) Join "3 Men & a Bible" livestream show Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Fr. Panagiotis Boznos, Nick Lionas, and Steve Christoforou meet every week to discuss the Sunday Gospel and Epistle readings. Link: goarch.zoom.us/j/249935036

Donations of pure olive oil for the vigil lamp on the Holy Altar.

Candles are one way to express our prayers and our presence in worship. During the crisis, you may make a request to light a candle by (1) calling the church office during regular hours, M-F, 10:00 am-4:00 pm, (2) making an email request to office@stsconstantine.com, no later than 3:00 pm on a day of regular business hours, (3) coming to the church during regular office hours and purchasing a candle to take with you or leaving the candle (lit or not) in the candle stands, or (4) making a request thru the Facebook live stream during a service. This is an honor system in which we trust that you will make a monetary gift for your candle. 

This parish strives "To lead people to God thorugh Orthodox Christianity and to provide ways for them live and share God's love." It does so in good days and in difficult ones, such as we now expeience. Our doors may be closed to the general public, but we endeavor to spread the "good news" as best we can. Any financial help that you might offer is deeply apprciated.