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Transfiguration Of Our Savior Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2023-01-15
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Transfiguration Of Our Savior Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • 843-662-5471
  • Street Address:

  • 2990 S. Cashua Drive

  • Florence, SC 29501
  • Mailing Address:

  • 2990 S Cashua Drive

  • Florence, SC 29501


Contact Information



Services Schedule

Sunday Orthros/Matins 8:45am

Sunday Divine Liturgy 10:00am

 


Past Bulletins


Metropolitan of Pisidia Sotirios

Metropolitan of Pisidia Sotirios

In today’s reading, among the other things St. Paul the Apostle is talking about, references the sorrows and persecutions he was suffering (but never was defeated by). The matter of tribulation is a very important one for us all. Who doesn’t face sorrows in their life? Jesus prepared us with these words: “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). Paul also was preparing those who were becoming members of the Church, in that “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). It is the universal rule that we are all going to face hardship. Even the best of humanity, and the saints themselves have gone through adversity. Even the Holy Mother of our Lord felt the pain going through her being, like a double-edged sword, as she looked at Him who is her Son and her God suffering on the Cross. It happened exactly as the Righteous Symeon had warned her, when she brought into the temple in Jerusalem the 40-day old holy Infant (see Luke 2:35). As long as we live, we must know that we are going to have sorrows, great and small, depending on each one’s endurance.

What is left to each of us is to learn how to face any pain that comes to us. To simply ask “Why has this happened to me?” when a serious illness comes, doesn’t improve the situation. The world suffers much, so what then is more natural than for something big or small to happen to me? How many illnesses have well known contemporary Saints such as Saint Porphyrios Kavsokalyvitis and Saint Paisios the Athonite suffered? As well as so many other Saints? If it happens to them, why not expect them to come to us as well? Let us listen to how the great Apostle of the nations, Paul, faced his trials, so that we may follow his example. We heard him say today:

* “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed;” (verse 8). The two Greek verbs in this verse, “I am in sorrow” and “I am in sadness”, appear as having the same meaning. But according to the Fathers’ interpretation, Paul makes an important distinction. The sorrows have their origin in external factors: when we are deprived of basic necessities; assaults coming from enemies; from hatred, injustice, insults and so many other things, which originate not only from enemies but also from friends, even from members of our own family. All these things are due to the actions of others. However, the anguish we feel is our own creation, when we let these trials overwhelm us and we surrender to them. This is precisely the crucial point where must become vigilant. This is something on which Paul was successful. He was facing tribulations in a way that did not become the cause of agony and sorrow for him. Not only did he not feel sorrow but on the contrary he was joyful. From the prison in Rome, he writes the following amazing words to the Colossians: “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you” (Colossians 1:24).

* “we are perplexed, but not in despair;” Paul the Apostle adds in his Epistle (verse 8). In other words, sometimes we find ourselves in a dead end, but we do not lose heart. We try to find other ways to eliminate and be saved from difficulties. For all the adversities we have to deal with, we can find the proper way of dealing with them with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

* “persecuted, but not forsaken;” (verse 9). The persecutions, which Paul the Apostle was facing everywhere he went, were frequent. He was beaten with rods, he was stoned, he was taken to the courts, he was put in jail … However, he never lost his courage. He was always feeling Christ’s presence next to him, supporting and strengthening him; Such as in the prison in Philippi where he was wounded, because of the beatings with the rod to which he had been subjected earlier. He was praying and giving glory to God along with Silas who was his companion! God at times performs even miracles in order to protect the people who hope in Him. Wasn’t it with a miracle that God set free Paul and Silas from the prison in Philippi on that night? As these two Apostles were singing hymns to God, a strong earthquake took place, the prison gates were opened and the chains of all prisoners were broken. (see Acts 16:5-26).

* “struck down, but not destroyed”, Paul adds in verse 9. Here Paul uses the image of wrestlers, each one of whom tries to strike down his adversary so that he may fall and touch the ground. The Apostle says that we fall down, but we resist and do not lose the fight.

Let St. Paul the Apostle, therefore, be for us the example as to how to face every kind of sorrow caused by any lack of the necessary things in life, enmities, persecutions, injustices, illness and any other causes. Let us face all sad events in this life with courage and faith in our Almighty Lord; with persistent effort and a continuous struggle towards the final victory; with patience and dynamic prayer. Let us not forget also that God will not allow us to suffer sorrows beyond what we are able to endure, but rather, “with the temptation He will also make the way of escape, so that we may be able to bear it.” (see 1st Corinthians 10:13).

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Saints and Feasts

Lepers
January 15

12th Sunday of Luke


Jkalyvitispaulthebes
January 15

John the Hut-Dweller

Saint John, who was from Constantinople, was the son of illustrious parents -- Eutropius the Senator and Theodora. At twelve years of age he departed secretly from his home and went to the Monastery of the Unsleeping (see Dec. 29). Aflame with longing for his parents, he returned after six years to his father's home in the guise of a pauper and beggar. Living in a small hut at the gates of his parents' house (wherefrom he is called "hut-dweller"), he remained unknown therein for many years, and suffered mockery at the hands of those who had been his own servants. Foreknowing his death, he revealed himself to his parents, and within a few moments reposed, about the year 450.


Jkalyvitispaulthebes
January 15

Paul of Thebes

Saint Paul, first among hermits, was born about 227 in the Thebaid of Egypt. In 250 he fled into the wilderness because of the persecution raging at that time under Decius. Having lived a solitary life in a certain cave for ninety-one years, he reposed in 341, at the age of 114, and was buried by Anthony the Great, who had been directed thither by God several days before the Saint's repose.


Allsaint
January 15

Pansophios the Martyr of Alexandria


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Tone

Angelic powers were above Thy tomb, and they that guarded Thee became as dead. And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine immaculate Body. Thou hast despoiled Hades and wast not tried thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. O Thou Who didst arise from the dead, Lord, glory be to Thee.
Ἀγγελικαὶ Δυνάμεις ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμά σου, καὶ οἱ φυλάσσοντες ἀπενεκρώθησαν, καὶ ἵστατο Μαρία ἐν τῷ τάφῳ, ζητοῦσα τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα. Ἐσκύλευσας τὸν ᾍδην, μὴ πειρασθεὶς ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, ὑπήντησας τῇ Παρθένῳ, δωρούμενος τὴν ζωήν, ὁ ἀναστὰς ἐκ των νεκρῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for John the Hut-Dweller in the Fourth Tone

Since thou hadst with fervour longed after the Lord from thy youth, * thou leftest the world with its delights and nobly didst strive in valiant ascetic deeds. * Thou didst pitch thy hut before the gates of thy parents; * thou didst break the demons' snares, O all-blessed Father. * And therefore, as is meet, hath Christ God glorified thee, O John.
Ἐκ βρέφους τὸν Κύριον, ἐπιποθήσας θερμῶς, τὸν κόσμον κατέλιπες, καὶ τὰ ἐν κόσμῳ τερπνά, καὶ ἤσκησας ἄριστα, ἔπηξας τὴν καλύβην, πρὸ πυλῶν σῶν γονέων, ἔθραυσας τῶν δαιμόνων, τὰς ἐνέδρας Παμμάκαρ, διὸ σε Ἰωάννη Χριστός, ἀξίως ἐδόξασεν.

Apolytikion for the Church in the Grave Tone

When You were transfigured on the mountain, O Christ our God, You showed Your disciples Your glory as far as they could bear. So now, for us sinners also, let this same eternal light shine forth, through the prayers of the Theotokos. O Giver of light, glory to You.

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Tone

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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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Ninth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe." Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered Him, "My Lord and My God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in His name.

Ninth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 20:19-31

Οὔσης ὀψίας τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τῇ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων, καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων ὅπου ἦσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ συνηγμένοι διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ· ἐχάρησαν οὖν οἱ μαθηταὶ ἰδόντες τὸν Κύριον. Εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν, καθὼς ἀπέσταλκέ με ὁ πατήρ, κᾀγὼ πέμπω ὑμᾶς. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησε καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Λάβετε Πνεῦμα Ἅγιον. Ἄν τινων ἀφῆτε τὰς ἁμαρτίας, ἀφιένται αὐτοῖς, ἄν τινων κρατῆτε, κεκράτηνται. Θωμᾶς δέ, εἷς ἐκ τῶν δώδεκα, ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος, οὐκ ἦν μετʼ αὐτῶν ὅτε ἦλθεν Ἰησοῦς· ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄλλοι μαθηταί· Ἑωράκαμεν τὸν Κύριον. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἐὰν μὴ ἴδω ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὸν δάκτυλόν μου εἰς τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὴν χεῖρά μου εἰς τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ, οὐ μὴ πιστεύσω. Καὶ μεθʼ ἡμέρας ὀκτὼ πάλιν ἦσαν ἔσω οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ Θωμᾶς μετʼ αὐτῶν. Ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων, καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον καὶ εἶπεν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Εἶτα λέγει τῷ Θωμᾶ· φέρε τὸν δάκτυλόν σου ᾧδε, καὶ ἴδε τὰς χεῖράς μου. καὶ φέρε τὴν χεῖρά σου καὶ βάλε εἰς τὴν πλευράν μου, καὶ μὴ γίνου ἄπιστος ἀλλὰ πιστός. Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη ὁ Θωμᾶς, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ὁ Κύριός μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ὅτι ἑώρακάς με πεπίστευκας, μακάριοι οἱ μὴ ἰδόντες, καὶ πιστεύσαντες. Πολλὰ μὲν οὖν καὶ ἄλλα σημεῖα ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐνώπιον τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, ἃ οὐκ ἔστιν γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ· ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύσητε ὅτι ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες, ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Tone. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians 3:4-11.

Brethren, when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.

Προκείμενον. Plagal Second Tone. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1.
Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου.
Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κολοσσαεῖς 3:4-11.

Ἀδελφοί, ὅταν ὁ Χριστὸς φανερωθῇ, ἡ ζωὴ ἡμῶν, τότε καὶ ὑμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ φανερωθήσεσθε ἐν δόξῃ. Νεκρώσατε οὖν τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, πορνείαν, ἀκαθαρσίαν, πάθος, ἐπιθυμίαν κακήν, καὶ τὴν πλεονεξίαν, ἥτις ἐστὶν εἰδωλολατρεία, διʼ ἃ ἔρχεται ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῆς ἀπειθείας· Ἐν οἷς καὶ ὑμεῖς περιεπατήσατέ ποτε, ὅτε ἐζῆτε ἐν αὐτοῖς. Νυνὶ δὲ ἀπόθεσθε καὶ ὑμεῖς τὰ πάντα, ὀργήν, θυμόν, κακίαν, βλασφημίαν, αἰσχρολογίαν ἐκ τοῦ στόματος ὑμῶν· μὴ ψεύδεσθε εἰς ἀλλήλους, ἀπεκδυσάμενοι τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον σὺν ταῖς πράξεσιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐνδυσάμενοι τὸν νέον, τὸν ἀνακαινούμενον εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν κατʼ εἰκόνα τοῦ κτίσαντος αὐτόν· ὅπου οὐκ ἔνι Ἕλλην καὶ Ἰουδαῖος, περιτομὴ καὶ ἀκροβυστία, βάρβαρος, Σκύθης, δοῦλος, ἐλεύθερος· ἀλλὰ τὰ πάντα καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν Χριστός.


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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Announcements/Upcoming Events

Prosfora Schedule

01/15 - (12th Sunday of Luke) Maria Leris

01/22 - (15th Sunday of Luke) Effie Kremidas

01/29 - (Sunday of the Canaanite) Ellie Bakis


Altar Flowers

Contact Presvyter to donate altar flowers


Coffee Hour

01/29 - hosted by Jimmy & Noemi Tassios & Family

Contact Karan Davis via call or text at 843.472.2901 to schedule coffee hour


Stewardship Pledge

Stewardship Pledge: Every family is invited to submit a 2023 Stewardship Commitment Card. Cards were mailed to each household. Extra cards are available upon request. Please return your card by Stewardship Sunday, January 29. Please help the Parish Council plan for this year's ministries.


GOYANS

GOYA will be going snow tubing on January 21 to Black Bear Mountain in Hendersonville NC. Please contact Costa Perivolaris (843) 230-4202 if you are interested in going.

Tickets are limited so please reach out ASAP. Thank you.

 

for more info: https://blackbearsnowtubing.com/

 


Saint Polycarp Seniors Ministry Activities

Sunday, January 22: Florence Little Theater matinee performance of Always a Bridesmaid. Show begins at 3:00pm. Contact Jimmy Tassios if you would like tickets.


Save the Date!

Save the Date! Let’s Party! Mardi Gras is BACK! 

 

      Saturday, February 11

            6pm until 11pm


Prayer List

Let’s remember in prayer these members of our community and others for their heath and healing. (* = newly added)

Krystal Gioldasis Athens

Angela Averette

Donna Bonnett

Sebastian Brown

Jackie Bridges

George Carros

Sterling Carter

Willie Carter

Dino Chavis

Myrtle Conder

Pauline Costas

Jim Ellis

Dean Fafoutis

Georgia Hambris

Jim Hinkle

Charlene Jacobs

Sandra Kazilieris

Cindy Kokenes

Bob Lachey

Jane Lachey

Jimmy Leris

Joanna Mathes

Dawson McKimmey*

Helen Mourounas

Roxanne Poulos

Fred Sansbury

Betty Sims

Elaine Smith

Angelo Stabolities

Jessica Ventura*


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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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Bulletin Inserts

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