SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON
FOUNDATION SUNDAY (honoring the Saints Constantine & Helen Foundation)
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LITURGY: 9:30 a.m.
PROSFORA: Maria Sikoutris
PANGARI: Team A: Eftihia Tsengas, Dr. Michael Manos, Tom Parras
EPISTLE READING: I Corinthians 6:12-20
GOSPEL: Luke 15:11-32 (GREEK TEXT p. 174, black books)
MEMORIAL:
Martha Mamos
Fifth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:13-35
At that time, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see." And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Prokeimenon. Plagal 1st Tone. 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 First Letter to the Corinthians 6:12-20.
Brethren, "all things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" -- and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh." But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belong to God.
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
The Reading is from Luke 15:11-32
The Lord said this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his belly with the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"
Mon, Mar 1st - 7:30 p.m. - Gamblers Anonymous
Fri, Mar 5th - 7:30 p.m. - Gamblers Anonymous
Sat, Mar 6th - 9:30 a.m. - Liturgy (Sat of Souls)
- 5:00 p.m. - Vespers (& Confessions)
Sun, Mar 7th - 8:15 a.m. - Matins
- 9:30 a.m. - Liturgy
Those wishing to follow the livestreamed services with a written text may do so using the links below.
Electronic Version of Orthros (Matins) on Feb 28:
www.agesinitiatives.com/dcs/public/dcs/p/s/2021/02/28/ma/gr-en/se.m02.d28.ma.pdf
Electronic Version of Divine Liturgy on Feb 28:
www.agesinitiatives.com/dcs/public/dcs/p/s/2021/02/28/li/gr-en/se.m02.d28.li.pdf
Bible Study
Zoom Evening Prayers: Zoom in and participate in Evening Prayers with other parishioners held from 8:30 to 8:50 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday, & Sunday. It is a great way to have fellowship during these challenging times. For a zoom invite, please email peter.poulos@case.edu.
Zoom Bible Study: Zoom in and participate in Bible Study with other parishioners held from 8:30 to 9 p.m. once every few weeks (usually on Thursdays). It is a great way to have fellowship during these challenging times. For a zoom invite, please email peter.poulos@case.edu.
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Prayer Team
If you are interested in joining the prayer team to keep others in your daily prayers, 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. If you have any requests for our prayer team, or if you have questions about other activities, please send them to peter.poulos@case.edu
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St. Herman's Dinner Bag Assembly
We are going to assemble 90 dinner bags for St. Herman's at the Church on Saturday March 13 from 3 to 4 p.m. We follow strict masking and social distancing and will limit the group to a total of 8 to 10 individuals. Below are the items we need in sufficient quantity to make 90 bags:
If you are interested in donating food and/or helping with the assembly, please let us know.
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Thank you and keep the faith!
“Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18)
We have closed our livestreaming service on Facebook in favor of using YouTube for all future livestreaming of services. To continue participating with our livestream services, please visit, subscribe, & bookmark our channel at YouTube.com/stsconstantine.
Everyone is welcome in the Orthodox Church & may receive the blessed bread (antidoron) at the end of the service, but only practicing Orthodox Christians may receive the sacrament of Holy Communion.
The Orthodox Christian tradition presents many opportunities for worship outside of Sunday morning services, especially Liturgies on the feast days of beloved saints. In light of the current crisis, the number will increase to at least one Liturgy per week in addition to the Sunday service. As the restrictions on Sunday attendance are loosening up, those with special concerns may consider attending a weekday service, where the typical attendance is in the range of 10-20.
Between challenges of the pandemic and the logistics of handling carryout in the cold weather, the parish council has opted not to go ahead with our annual event this year. They may decide to do something similar later this spring; please check our website (stsconstantine.com) for updates.
Many thanks to those of you who have been lifelong members of Philoptochos, and a warm welcome to all the new parishioners who have just joined us! If you have not already done so, please join Philoptochos as we start our 2021 year. Forms are now available in the church office or online at http://stsconstantine.com/outreach/philoptochos/ For more updates on the work of Philoptochos, you can visit the Philoptochos, Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Community, Cleveland Ohio Facebook page.
Now in its 37th year, the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival is a speaking program for Junior High and High School Students in our parishes. Each year, approximately 800 young people from grades 7-9, and 10-12, research from one of the approved topics, develop a short speech, and then deliver it at a parish Oratorical Festival. His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros approved the topics for 2021, which were released in September. Our 4th-12th graders will be speaking on March 14th; contact Maria at orthodox_education@stsconstantine.com with any questions.
1) Hellenic College/Holy Cross Ambassadors are offering a virtual Lenten retreat for all GOYAns and youth ages 14 - 18 on Saturday, March 13th from 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. The theme is "Sanitize Your Life," and the event will feature talks, small group discussions, and meeting new people from all over the country. Contact Ted with any questions or to get signed up.
2) Orthodoxy on Tap will have its next young adult event (ages 21 - 35ish) on Thursday, March 11th @ 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. The guest speaker will be all of us. Led by a moderator, this will be a social call where we'll all have a chance to talk, listen, and connect as Orthodox young adults. RSVP by Wednesday, March 10th to gorealcleveland@gmail.com.
3) OCF (college student ministry) will offer a new program called "Spiritual Wake-Up" beginning Tuesday, March 16th. This virtual ministry via Zoom & text message will facilitate prayer, fellowship, and service for college students between the ages of 18 - 25. Registration is required to participate. Sign up at ocf.net, and contact Ted with any questions.
4) Camp Nazareth will host its next young adult retreat the weekend of March 26th - 28th via Zoom. The theme will be: "Adam, where are you?" Questions may be directed either to Ted or to youngadultretreats@gmail.com.
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Orthodox Education classes have resumed as of January 10th. Parents are encouraged to check their email for up to the minute announcements of classes.
Zoom events:
Sun, Feb 28th - 8:00 pm Our Zoom speaker Fr. Andrew Harmon from St. Matthew's Orthodox Church, No. Royalton will speak to 6th-12th graders. He wrote a chapter in Fr. Peter Gilquist's book "Coming Home".)
Sun, March 7th - Class either on zoom or in-person (TBD)
Sun, March 14th – Oratorical Festival (4th-12th graders)
Contact Maria at orthodox_education@stsconstantine.com with any questions or comments.
With recent increases in attendance at the church, we have once again begun collecting forgotten possessions. Hats, umbrellas, masks, toys, and more are filling our unclaimed basket. Please, contact the office if you think we might have something of yours!
March 6, 13 & 20 are designated as Saturdays of the Souls, in which prayers are offered for our departed loved ones. Lists with their names (baptismal names) should be brought to church by 9:30 am on those days. Trays of kolyva are welcome- those wishing to distribute their kollyva to others should bring it already in bags.
Kolyva symbolizes the resurrection. "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." (John 12:24, OSB)
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Cross Press
Your Apostle among the Rulers, St. Constantine, who once beheld in the sky the image of Your Cross, and who like Paul received his calling not from man, once entrusted the Ruling City into Your hand. We entreat You to restore it in peace forever, at the intercession of the Theotokos, O Lord who loves humanity. (Copyright Fr. Seraphim Dedes, used by permission. All rights reserved)
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press