SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY / FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
MATINS: 8:15 a.m.
LITURGY: 9:30 a.m.
EPISTLE: Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40
GOSPEL: John 1:43-51
GREEK TEXT: p. 186
ACOLYTES: Team B
PROSFORA: Kim Bambakidis
PANGARI: Team C: George Stamatis, Costa Tsatiris, Helen DeMore
OE: 10:30 a.m. - Sunday of Orthodoxy Children's Icon Procession
COFFEE HOSTS: Parish Council
PAN ORTHODOX VESPERS: 5:00 p.m.
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STREAMING SERVICE: youtube.com/stsconstantine
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. 4th Tone. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40.
Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets -- who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated -- of whom the world was not worthy -- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Sunday of Orthodoxy
The Reading is from John 1:43-51
At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."
Mon, Mar 14th - 7:00 p.m. - Great Compline
- 7:30 p.m. - Gamblers Anonymous
Tues, Mar 15th - 7:00 p.m. - Adult Greek, Beginners
Weds Mar 16th - 7:30 p.m. - Adult Greek, Beginners
Thurs, Mar 17th - 10:30 a.m. - Beginner's Online Greek
- 11:30 a.m. - Intermediate Online Greek
Fri, Mar 18th - 7:00 p.m. - Salutations Service
Sat, Mar 19th - 9:00 a.m. - Greek Kindergarten
- 10:00 a.m. - 1st Grade Greek
- 12:00 p.m. - GOYA @ St. Mary Food Bank
- 5:00 p.m. - Vespers (& Confessions)
Sun, Mar 20th - 8:15 a.m. - Matins
- 9:30 a.m. - Liturgy
- 10:45 a.m. - 2 yr Memorial: Michael Tsironis
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.
Those wishing to follow the livestreamed services with a written text may do so using the links below.
Electronic Version of Orthros (Matins) on Mar 13th:
Electronic Version of Divine Liturgy on Mar 13th:
There will be no Presanctified Liturgy this coming week. We will resume this service on Wednesday March 23rd, after which the GOYA will host a potluck supper for all who are in attendance.
Greater Cleveland Council of Orthodox Clergy announces the annual Pan-Orthodox Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers will be held this Sunday, the First Sunday of the Great Fast, Sunday, March 13th, at 5:00 p.m. For the first time, St. Matthew the Evangelist Antiochian Orthodox Church, located at 10383 Albion Rd. in North Royalton, is hosting the event. Orthodox from all the parishes in our area will worship together, celebrating restoration of icons in the 800s after the iconoclast heresy.
Chief Celebrant and Homilist will be His Eminence, the Most Reverend Archbishop Michael of New York (OCA). Let us make this special worship service especially wonderful by all of us attending and filling the church.
We are very happy to announce that the 2022 Fish Fry is back on the schedule! Running for six weeks, through April 8th, from 5:00 - 7:30 pm. Full information, including a link to the menu, is now available at http://stsconstantine.com/fish-fry/.
General help is needed on the front line and also in the kitchen. Please click on the Sign Up Genius link to volunteer to help! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D48A5AD23A4F58-2022
We need volunteers who are willing to take turns running the Sunday livestream for those unable to come to church. The setup is in the balcony; a level of comfort with computers is all that is needed. Hours: 9:00-11:00 AM. Please contact Fr. Stephen at frstephen@stsconstantine.com or Clay White at rcw69@case.edu.
The Orthodox Forum will be returning to the 11:30 am. timeslot this Sunday. This week's speaker will be Ted Cherpas, presenting a video on the Kardiothissa Icon.
Philoptochos would like to thank you for your past support and ask you to join us as a member in 2022. If you aren't already, please become a member today by mailing a check for $30 with the membership form (available on the website or at church) along with your name, address and phone number to the church or to Anne Mitchell. We hope you are blessed with health and happiness in the new year!
Coffee Hour is back in the Cathedral Center. We have several openings for coffee hosts in the weeks ahead. Please send an email to office@stsconstantine.com or call the church office to book your preferred day.
1) GOYA will be visiting St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Food Bank on Saturday, March 19th from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. This will be our 2022 Lenten service project. Send RSVPs and any questions to Ted.
2) Camp Nazareth will be hosting twin Lenten retreats in 2022. The young adult retreat will be the weekend of March 25th - 27th, and the GOYA retreat will be the following weekend of April 1st - 3rd.Ted.
3) GOYA is invited to a 1-day Metropolis volleyball tournament on Saturday, April 9th. The tournament will be hosted by St. Nicholas, Pittsburgh. This is not an overnight event. Let Ted or Coach Jimmy know ASAP if you are interested in participating so we can organize our team and carpools.
4) The annual GOYA Palm Folding Night will take place on Friday, April 15th from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Food and drink will be provided, and the sacrament of Holy Confession will also be available for your Lenten journey. Contact Ted with any questions.
Orthodox Education classes have resumed!
If there are any questions, please email Maria Sikoutris at orthodox_education@stsconstantine.com.
The Annunciation Feast Day Celebration will be held Thursday, March 24th and Friday, March 25th at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, W 14th St, Cleveland. Great Vespers & Artoklasia will be at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, followed by coffee & fellowship in our church banquet hall. Then on Friday, Orthros will be held at 8:15 a.m. and the Divine Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. Following the Divine Liturgy join us for a Light Lenten Lunch sponsored by the Ladies of Philoptochos.
This year the Greek Independence Day Parade will take place on Saturday, March 26th at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 2187 W. 14th St., following the Doxology service at 12 Noon. Contact Emmanuel Ermidis at 216 323-409 or the church at 216 861-0116 for more information.
Bible Study
Online Bible Study sessions are currently being scheduled. If you are interested in an invite, or for current dates and topics, please email dtsengas@yahoo.com.
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Prayer Team
We will be holding prayer sessions every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday of each week at 8:30pm (EST) for all those who are able to participate. Dean Tsengas will be leading the evening prayer sessions on Zoom. Contact him at dtsengas@yahoo.com for the Zoom link.
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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)
Students need to RSVP for the Wednesday in-person classes. Tuesday in-person and online classes will proceed as usual until the week of April 11th which is the last week of classes for this year. If there are any questions, please email Maria Sikoutris at orthodox_education@stsconstantine.com.
Father Andrew Harmon, pastor of St. Matthew Orthodox Church in North Royalton, will be teaching a 6-session course about prayer entitled “Prayer In Our Lives”, through the Baldwin-Wallace Institute For Learning in Retirement program. This class, taught by an Orthodox Christian priest, will look at different types of prayer, at the mystery of how prayer works, and why sometimes it does not seem to work. Class members (and their insights) are welcome from all religious traditions - or none at all.
The 6 classes will be held on Mondays, April 4th-May 9th, from 2:40-4:00 p.m. They will be held in either Berea or Middleburg Heights---the location will be definite by the time registration is under way. There are no age requirements. A person has to join the ILR (annual membership fee of $20) in order to take a course, which costs an additional $15. Registration begins on March 14 by computer only at ilrbw.org. One can join ILR and register for a class at the same time. The deadline is March 27. For help on registering, go to ilrhelpdeskbwu@gmail.com
As the humanitarian relief and development agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, IOCC, International Orthodox Christian Charities, works in cooperation with the Orthodox Church and other partners to serve people in need. With long-standing relationships in the region, including in Romania and Moldova, IOCC has mobilized to serve people affected by the crisis in Ukraine. As refugees flee Ukraine—mostly elderly persons, people with disabilities, and women with infants and young children—and enter neighboring countries, IOCC is working with local partners to make sure their needs are met.
While word on the ground in Romania and Moldova is that even the most basic items—like food, water, and milk products—are in short supply in shops, IOCC and its partners there are purchasing items in bulk and distributing them to people in need. You can support our work today, and together we can help Ukrainians who have fled receive necessities. Visit iocc.org/blog/will-you-respond-to-the-ukraine-crisis to donate or learn more.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Cross Press
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
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