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Annunciation/Evangelismos Church, Elkins Park, PA
Publish Date: 2021-11-28
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Annunciation/Evangelismos Church, Elkins Park, PA

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (215) 635-0316
  • Fax:
  • (215) 635-8301
  • Street Address:

  • 7921 Old York Road

  • Elkins Park, PA 19027


Contact Information




Services Schedule

We meet for divine worship every Sunday morning and on holy days starting with Orthros (Matins) at 8:30, Divine Liturgy at 9:30-11 AM.

Visit us at www.anngoc.org for information on how to attend church services during the COVIT-19 Pandemic.


Past Bulletins


Weekend Update

COVID & Church Attendance

  • The two outer sections are for those who wish to distance themselves socially. The seating is limited to every other pew.
  • The two middle sections are for those who do not wish to distance themselves socially. Every pew is open.

We strongly encourage everyone to wear masks while in the church building regardless of their vaccination status.

  • For those unable to attend in person, install the GOA Ages Initiatives App on your phone or tablet to see the text and pray with us through our Facebook Livestream.
  • Let us know if you would like for us to light a votive candle for you here.

 

Saturday, November 27, 2021

13th Sunday of Luke, November 28, 2021

  • 8:30am MATINS, 9:30am DIVINE LITURGY
  • (No Catechism classes today).
  • Join us in offering memorial prayers for the peaceful repose of the souls of George Hatziandreou (40-days), Miltos Valais (6-months), and Despina Raggousis (1-year) of blessed memory.
  • 40-day mother & child blessing: Eleni, newborn daughter of Polina and George Vafiadis, and Konstantinos & Michael's little sister. Congratulations!
  • Our Greek School invites all to the fellowship hour after the liturgy.


Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Andrew the First-Called Apostle

  • 8:30am MATINS, 9:30am DIVINE LITURGY.
  • 5 pm Greek School classes.
  • 5 pm The Youth Ministries will decorate the church and church hall for the holiday season.
  • 6:30 pm Intermediate Adult Greek class
  • 7 pm Youth Ministries Council meeting.

Wednesday, December 1, 2021

  • 5 pm Greek School classes.
  • 6 pm Advanced Adult Greek class.
  • 7 pm Bible Study on The Epistles of St. John.

Friday, December 3, 2021

Saturday, December 4, 2021
Barbara the Great Martyr

10th Sunday of Luke, December 5, 2021

  • 8:30am MATINS, 9:30am DIVINE LITURGY.
  • Catechism classes after Holy Communion.
  • Stewardship Sunday.
  • All are invited to our Stewardship Appreciation Luncheon after the liturgy.
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Community News & Events

Church Phone Issue

Comcast had a significant service outage in our area on November 9, affecting our phone system.

If you have called the church since November 9 and no one answered, you got a greeting message from 9 years ago! (it says to call Fr. Christofodis in case of a pastoral emergency).
Would you please ignore the old greeting? You can still leave us a message.
Comcast is still working on this issue.

We appreciate your patience as we are trying to fix this.


Looking Ahead Beyond Next Week…

Saturday, December 11: Holiday Greek Frozen Food Festival. Thank you for supporting your church and it’s ministries.  A portion of OPA’s proceeds are donated to a local charity.  Thus far this year, we have donated $5,200 to Food Cupboard of Jenkintown from our May and September food festivals!.

Sunday, December 12: Angel Tree Project Gift Collection (Matthew 25 Ministry).

Wednesday, December 15: Young at Heart Ministry Christmas Luncheon & Caroling.

Sunday, December 19: PTO Holiday Vasilopita SalePTO Bake Sale.


2021 Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey Delaware Valley Ambassador Awards Banquet

Dear Annunciation Family,

 I have the great pleasure to invite you to the 2021 Greek Orthodox Metropolis    of New Jersey Delaware Valley Ambassador Awards Banquet held on Sunday, December 12, 2021, at 5:30pm,  at "The Merion" in Cinnaminson, NJ.

Our Metropolis established this awards program as a means for the church to recognize young men and women of our Metropolis who significantly personify the attributes of Faith, Love, Hope, and Peace. This program has expanded over the years to also honor adults in a variety of parish roles. 

This year, the adult roles are a Parish Honoree, a Youth Worker Honoree, a Philoptochos Honoree, and an Essential Medical Worker Honoree.

Our Youth Ambassadors and Parish Honorees for this year are: 

  • Youth Ambassador of Love: Ally McNally, Kyra Cardenas
  • Youth Ambassador of Peace: Teddy Dalson, Michael Johns
  • Youth Ambassador of Hope: Ioannis Onassis
  • Youth Ambassador of Faith: Elena Giannoumis
  • Parish Honoree: Aris Pasles
  • Youth Worker: Debbie Sourias
  • Philoptochos: +Debra Exarchos (Posthumous)
  • Essential Medical Worker: Afrodite Patounas

Congratulations to all!

Families and friends, please purchase your Ambassador Awards Banquet tickets here by November 28. 

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. John L. Johns


Homeless Ministry News

Let's Give Thanks, Then Lets Give Back. Glory to God for All Things!

This Thanksgiving, the Homeless Ministry is especially grateful to Father John and our Annunciation church family for your ongoing prayers and support in sharing your time, talent, and treasure to help those in need. In addition, we give thanks for our Sunday School Students and Philoptochos for their leadership in our SOCKTOBER Drive; all those who prepared and donated the food and helped in serving our church family during our coffee fellowship in recognition of National Hunger and Homelessness week; our Matthew 25 Ministry who through the generous donations of our parishioners once again donated turkeys to the Homeless Ministry, our Young at Heart for their donations of tissue packs and Chapstick;­­­ those parishioners who answered the last minute call to serve at Aviator Park in October and our all of our parishioners who continue to offer food donations, help in serving at Aviator Park and clothing donations to help those experiencing homelessness.

Our gratitude, love, and prayers to all for a blessed Thanksgiving and Nativity Fast!

Thank you!

The Homeless Ministry


Help Needed

  1. We need someone with a pickup truck to help us take our snowblower to the repair shop and bring a large tool chest from a parishioner's home to the church. Please call the church office if you can help.
  2. We will be processing our Christmas mailing on Tuesday, November 30, after the liturgy for St. Andrew, from 11 am to 1 pm. Lunch will be provided. Any help would be appreciated!

Have You Noticed We Are Not Passing Offering Trays During the Liturgy?

Please make all your church donations via:

Thank you for your generosity


Parish Council and Endowment Fund Board Elections, Sunday, December 12, 2021

Elections will be conducted in person in the large church hall on Sunday, December 12, 2021, after the divine liturgy until 1:00 pm. You will have the option to request online voting before December 12. Ten days before the elections, we will mail and email you the voting guidelines, the official list of candidates, and information on voting in person or online.

Parish Council Members and Endowment Fund Board Members will be elected for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023


With Winter Approaching, Please Note Our Inclement Weather Policy

The safety and well-being of our congregation are top priorities. Therefore, in the event of extremely bad weather on any given Sunday, the following procedure will be followed:

Based on the local weather forecast and the conditions on the ground at Elkins Park, at approximately 7:00 a.m., the Parish Council President, Vice President, and Fr. John will decide whether or not to

A) open one hour late: Matins at 9:30, Divine Liturgy at 10:30, or

B) cancel the Divine Liturgy and all other scheduled church activities.

Any decision to change the schedule will be communicated by 8:00 a.m. to our parishioners through our Announcer and Facebook page.


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Focus on Our Church Family

Pastoral care: If you or someone you know is sick, homebound elderly, or scheduled for surgery, please call the church office to let us know so Fr. John can make a pastoral visit or add someone to the prayer list.
 
Let us pray to the Lord for the health and salvation of: Suffering and persecuted Christians in the Middle East and the non-Christian world, Virginia, George, Maria, Constantino, Panagiotis, Peter, Zoë, Penelope, Panagiotis, Dimitrios, Konstantinos, Christos, Eleni,  Archondia, Georgia, Efraimia.
 
We will keep the names on this list for approximately 3 months. Please resubmit Names if needed. Fr. John will include the submitted names at the Psokomide “Offering of Gifts” during the first part of the liturgy when he prepares the mystical gifts of bread & wine. Please lift these names to the Lord in your personal prayer life as well.
 
Prayer for healing: Heavenly Father, physician of our souls and bodies, who have sent our Lord to heal every sickness. Visit and heal us. Grant patience in this sickness, strength of body and spirit, and recovery of health. Lord, You have taught us to pray for each other that we may be healed. We pray that You heal, guide, and protect your servant (s) (pray by name for those who are sick) and grant them the gift of complete health. You are the source of healing, and to You, we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
 
Happy wedding anniversary to those celebrating this coming week: Stephanie & Justin Bentz, Connie & Harry Laspee, Christa & Michael Weggel, Argie & Kay Fentross, Kara & Dean Kalogrias.
 
Χρόνια πολλά & ευλογημένα!  God grant you many years!  To those who are celebrating birthdays this coming week: Angela Kotsopoulos, Katerina Koukaras, Evgenia Loiacono, Constantine Metsikas, Charles Papacostas, Ourania Patounas, Voula Sidelsky, Riley Bouikidis, Jodie Dinoulis, Peggy Lambrou, Alexandra McNally, James Paidas, Brian Wittig, Katrina Chiariello, Argiris Fafalios, Melissa Justice, Chris Papakostantinou, John Vellios, Evangelia Warner, Benjamin Worthington, Joyce Zeka, James Chiariello III, Kayla Kontogeorgos, Demetrios Papakirk, Timothy Sutcliffe, Melissa Tsiobikas, Anastasia Bouikidis, Nicholas Kalogrias, Matthew Karagianis, David Sidelsky, Marianna Siokos, Cosmas Trifonidis, Stephen Ferello, Eleni Pappas, Christine Georgiou, Agnes Louridas, Andrew McClintock, Samuel Pasles.
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Stewardship Update

Stewardship 2021 Update

As we are approaching the end of 2021, we offer our gratitude to the 276 parishioners below who have pledged and are supporting stewards in good standing for 2021.

  • Thank you to the 144 stewards who have already completed their 2021 pledge.
  • Thank you also to the additional 31 stewards who completed their 2021 pledge AND contributed over and above what they pledged.
  • The additional 101 stewards are on track to complete their 2021 pledge before December 31, 2021. Please look for your statement in the mail.
  • It is not too late to make a pledge and contribute in 2021. Would you please do so we can include you in the 2021 Stewardship Honor Roll?  Please submit a 2021 pledge with just afew clicks here.

 Stewardship Honor Roll as of November 16, 2021

1. Pablo & Julianna Aguilar
2. Paul & Maria Anagnostakos
3. Kimon & Effi Angelikas
4. Helen Angelos
5. Annunciation Philoptochos
6. Theodore & Victoria Aristoklis
7. John & Catherine Avgiris
8. Harry & Argetta Ballas
9. Harry & Connie Bandy
10. Peter Bandy
11. Christos Bazalekos
12. Michael & Marina Blackton
13. Nina Borras & Alfredo Yiannateli
14. Thomas & Joann Borrell
15. Christos & Maria Botsaris
16. Anastasia Bouikidis
17. Michael & Christine Bouikidis
18. William & Kristina Burch
19. Helen Callas Reiner
20. Mihalis Calliagas
21. Nicholas & Katerina Calliagas
22. Ken & Maria Chin
23. Joseph Colistra II & Colleen Farrell
24. Terry Contoudis
25. Christopher & Andrea Cosmas
26. Angelina Costa
27. Calliope Costalas
28. Dinos & Antoinette Couppas
29. Niki Crits
30. Curtis & Maria Cummings
31. George & Maria Dalagelis
32. Constantine & Anna Dalson
33. Sally Danciu
34. John & Joanne Dell
35. Maritsa Demas
36. Leontios & Demetra Diamantas
37. Anna Doucoure
38. Cornelius & Athena Douris
39. Teri Douris
40. Ryan & Megan Downs
41. Olga Econome
42. Nicholas & Beverly Economopoulos
43. Maria Economou
44. Panagoula Ekonomou
45. Evangelos Exarchos
46. Alexander & Andrea Falbo
47. Stephen & Christine Ferello
48. Chris & Dori Fifis
49. Apostolos & Stella Fisfis
50. George Fisfis
51. Ioannis & Alexzandra Fisfis
52. Harvey & Elpitha Fishman
53. Efstathios & Kyriaki Fragogiannis
54. Maria Frangetis
55. Carl & Helen Freedman
56. Dimitra Ganas
57. George & Angela Gaugler
58. Eric & Elizabeth George
59. Chrysanthos & Eun Georgiou
60. George & Polly Georgiou
61. Peter & Christine Georgiou
62. Koula Gerasklis
63. Panagiotis & Eugenia Giannoumis
64. John & Rosalie Gilliland
65. George Giordas
66. Craig & Angela Godshall
67. Peter & Susan Gouris
68. Evangeline Gouzouasis
69. William & Vickie Grau
70. Costas & Maria Grigorakakis
71. George & Joyce Gutchigian
72. Peter & Christina Hadgimallis
73. Robert & Vasiliki Hadgimallis
74. Andreas & Argero Hagiandreu
75. Irene Halkias
76. Kenneth & Victoria Hartery
77. Terry & Christina Hatzigeorgiou
78. Yiorgos & Angelique Hatzinikolaou
79. Magda Hatzis
80. Chrisanthi Hatzopoulos
81. Thomas & Maria Hatzopoulos
82. Douglas & Angela Heinze
83. Frank & Linda Holberg
84. Christina Iliadis
85. Steven & Eleni Janke
86. Jodi Jasionowicz & Helen Giannakopoulos
87. Francis & Mary Jaxheimer
88. Paul & Mary Ann Jensen
89. Fr. John & Presv. Evangelia Johns
91. Gregory & Roseanne Kaldes
92. John & Zoe Kaldes
93. Dean & Kara Kalogrias
94. Andrew Kanakis
95. John & Francesca Kanakis
96. Argyro Kanellopoulos
97. Dimitrios & Glykeria Karagiannis
98. John & Katherine Karamatsoukas
99. Lazaros & Areti Karasavas
100. Nikos & Patra Karidas
101. Marika Karivalis
102. Constantine & Gail Karmokolias
103. Alex Karras
104. Kevin Kelly & Barbara Crits-Kelly
105. Evangelia King
106. Ryan & Ana Kiscaden
107. Stephen Kolokithias
108. Marina Konstantinidis
109. Eleni Konugres
110. Margo Konugres
111. Georgios & Lila Koskinas
112. Angela Kotsopoulos
113. Speros & Christina Koulouris
114. Georgia Kouskousaki
115. Ioakim & Kimberly Koutsouradis
116. Helen Koutsouros
117. Paul & Mary Koutsouros
118. William Kyriakatos
119. George & Alice Kyriakodis
120. Peter & Jennifer Kyriakodis
121. Stephanos & Helen Kyriakodis
122. Christos & Demetra Kytzidis
123. George Labrinakos
124. Petroula Labrinakos
125. Stacy & Susan Lagakos
126. Peter & Peggy Lambrou
127. Dora Lekas
128. Alex & Penelope Limbanovnos
129. Anthony & Maria Limberakis
130. Anthony & Kathryn Limberakis
131. Virginia Livanos
132. Dimitrios & Dawn Loizos
133. Agnes Louridas
134. Gregory & Barbara Louridas
135. Kevin & Mary Mack
136. Simeon & Galatea Mackrides
137. Vasilios & Faye Mackrides
138. Anastasia Magrini
139. Theodoros & Doreen Makris
140. Anastas & Odeta Malita
141. Spiro & Vojsava Malita
142. Apostolos & Anastasia Malitas
143. Demetrios Malitas
144. Eleftherios & Kyriaki Malitas
145. Fotios & Alexandra Malitas
146. Kalliopi Malitas
147. Mark & Maria Malusa
148. Sophia Mamas
149. John & Marjorie Mantas
150. Christopher & Katrina Maples
151. Ronald & Virginia Markos
152. Marianne Marmarou
153. George & Frederiki Martinos
154. Dennis & Vincenza Matarangas
155. David & Angela McCulloch
156. Stephen & Aspasia McGrath
157. Thomas & Olga McHugh
158. Catherine McNally
159. James & Maria McNally
160. Duglas Mesthos
161. Gregory Mesthos
162. Steve Mesthos
163. Theodora Mikroulis
164. Georgia Mitsas
165. Stamatios & Maria Mountis
166. Philip & Vrisida Nanos
167. Michael & Stephanie Nanz
168. Argyro Neumeister
169. Argiris & Jennie Niamonitos
170. Constantino & Anastasia Niamonitos
171. Peter & Stella Nikolopoulos
172. Ryan & Kristalia Nowlan
173. Dawn Nylander
174. Dennis & Mary O'Hara
175. Jason & Jacinda Ojeda
176. Tina Onassis
177. Stephen & Maria Oratis
178. Elisavet Panagiotidou
179. Antonis & Katherine Pantazopoulos
180. Arthur Papacostas
181. James & Jane Papacostas
182. Chris & Despina Papadeas
183. Afthentia Papadopoulos
184. Demetrios & Rubena Papakirk
185. Chris Papakostantinou & Melissa Kohler
186. Helen Papanicolaou
187. Nikolaos & Maria Papanikolaou
188. Albert & Sophia Pappas
189. Helen K Pappas
190. Nicholas & Urania Pappas
191. Philip Pappas
192. Theodoros & Alexandra Pappas
193. George Pashardis
194. Aris Pasles
195. Achileas & Afrodite Patounas
196. Peter & Paula Pavlis
197. Russell & Sophia Penning
198. John & Anastasia Perry
199. Daniel & Demetra Pithis
200. Alexandros & Heather Pitsakis
201. George & Melinda Pitsakis
202. Andrew & Georgianne Pogas
203. Anthony & Karen Poulos
204. Dr. Andrew & Melissa Prousi
205. Margie Prousi
206. Konstantinos & Marigo Psaroudis
207. Gjergji & Polina Pulia
208. Christopher & Evangelia Ramey
209. Marc Redemann & Adrienne Frangakis
210. Kevin & Joanna Rega
211. Mary Roscioli
212. Dean & Mary Samios
213. Charles & Maria Sandilos
214. William & Elaine Sandilos
215. Alexander & Diane Saphos
216. Nicholas Saphos
217. Dimitria Sfarnas
218. Evangeline Sfarnas
219. Elefteris & Francine Sferedes
220. Kostas & Donna Sfiridis
221. Zachary & Christina Shaw
222. David & Voula Sidelsky
223. Kostas & Stamatia Sklikas
224. James & Maria Skoutelas
225. Vasili & Helen Soultoukis
226. Nikolaos Spiliotis & Dimitra Afthinou
227. Helen Spilliotis
228. Dimitrios & Eugenia Spyrou
229. Dianne Stackhouse
230. John & Despina Stakias
231. Demetrios & Christina Staurinos
232. Paulette Steffa
233. Peter Steffa
234. George & Despina Steiros
235. Jacob & Emily Stine
236. Loukas & Nicky Stylianou
237. Helen Sullivant-Davis
238. Konstantinos Theodorakis
239. Helen Thomas
240. Sotirios & Despina Thomas
241. Eleftherios & Deborah Topakas
242. Emanuel Topakas
243. Iakovos & Kelly Toumbanakis
244. Michael & Kaliopi Triantafellou
245. Cosmas & Shauna Trifonidis
246. Vasiliki Trifonidis
247. Zoe Tripolitis
248. James & Elizabeth Trivelis
249. Michael & Renee Trivelis
250. Nicholas Trivelis
251. Anne Tsatalis
252. Demetrios & Sofia Tsatsanis
253. Dimitrios & Fotini Tsikoudis
254. Stelios & Laurie Tsinontides
255. Shane & Despina Twyman
256. Kurt Ufer & Joanne Epitropou-Ufer
257. George & Polikriti Vafiadis
258. Chrysanthe Vaganos
259. Rizos & Vasiliki Vagelaras
260. John & Aspasia Varoumas
261. Helene Vellios
262. Dimitrios & Katharine Verros
263. Anthony & Elyse Vlahos
264. Chris & Evangelea Vlahos
265. Christine Vlahos
266. Efthymios & Carly Vlahos
267. Gregory & Venetia Voutsinas
268. Frank & Carol Voutsinos
269. Byron & Christina Warner
270. Stephen & Georgia Weiss
271. Benjamin & Angelica Worthington
272. Joseph Wyllie
273. Louise Zervos
274. Argie Zoubroulis
275. Ioannis & Eleftheria Zoubroulis
276. Theodore & Zaffie Zoubroulis


Stewardship 2022 Campaign Starts Now

Look for your 2022 personalized Stewardship Pledge Card of Time, Talent, and Treasure in the mail, including our Sustaining Stewardship Initiative information.

  • December 5, 2021, has been designated as Stewardship Sunday. Would you please return your cards by then? We will commit our 2022 Stewardship offerings to the Lord and enjoy a stewardship appreciation luncheon after the liturgy.
  • If you are already a Sustaining Steward, that is, you have set up regular payments through Vanco or your bank bill payer service:
    1. You do not have to fill out a pledge card!
    2. Use the 2022 Pledge Card information as a guide to update your giving to reflect your current level of commitment and personal/family situation.
    3. Check with your Vanco account or bank bill payer service to ensure that your regular payments continue through 2022.

 


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Bulletin Inserts

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. 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 Ephesians 2:4-10.

Brethren, God who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God: not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Προκείμενον. Plagal Second Mode. 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 Ἐφεσίους 2:4-10.

Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεός, πλούσιος ὢν ἐν ἐλέει, διὰ τὴν πολλὴν ἀγάπην αὐτοῦ ἣν ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς, καὶ ὄντας ἡμᾶς νεκροὺς τοῖς παραπτώμασιν συνεζωοποίησεν τῷ Χριστῷ - χάριτί ἐστε σεσωσμένοι - καὶ συνήγειρεν, καὶ συνεκάθισεν ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ· ἵνα ἐνδείξηται ἐν τοῖς αἰῶσιν τοῖς ἐπερχομένοις τὸν ὑπερβάλλοντα πλοῦτον τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ ἐν χρηστότητι ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ· τῇ γὰρ χάριτί ἐστε σεσῳσμένοι διὰ τῆς πίστεως, καὶ τοῦτο οὐκ ἐξ ὑμῶν· θεοῦ τὸ δῶρον· οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων, ἵνα μή τις καυχήσηται. Αὐτοῦ γάρ ἐσμεν ποίημα, κτισθέντες ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐπὶ ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς, οἷς προητοίμασεν ὁ θεός, ἵνα ἐν αὐτοῖς περιπατήσωμεν.


Gospel Reading

13th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 18:18-27

At that time, a ruler came to Jesus and asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.' " And he said, "All these I have observed from my youth." And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. Jesus looking at him said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

13th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 18:18-27

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἄρχων λέγων· διδάσκαλε ἀγαθέ, τί ποιήσας ζωὴν αἰώνιον κληρονομήσω; εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· τί με λέγεις ἀγαθόν; οὐδεὶς ἀγαθὸς εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ Θεός. τὰς ἐντολὰς οἶδας· μὴ μοιχεύσῃς, μὴ φονεύσῃς, μὴ κλέψῃς, μὴ ψευδομαρτυρήσῃς, τίμα τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τὴν μητέρα σου. ὁ δὲ εἶπε· ταῦτα πάντα ἐφυλαξάμην ἐκ νεότητός μου. ἀκούσας δὲ ταῦτα ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἔτι ἕν σοι λείπει· πάντα ὅσα ἔχεις πώλησον καὶ διάδος πτωχοῖς, καὶ ἕξεις θησαυρὸν ἐν οὐρανῷ, καὶ δεῦρο ἀκολούθει μοι. ὁ δὲ ἀκούσας ταῦτα περίλυπος ἐγένετο· ἦν γὰρ πλούσιος σφόδρα. ἰδὼν δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς περίλυπον γενόμενον εἶπε· πῶς δυσκόλως οἱ τὰ χρήματα ἔχοντες εἰσελεύσονται εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ! εὐκοπώτερον γάρ ἐστι κάμηλον διὰ τρυμαλιᾶς ῥαφίδος εἰσελθεῖν ἢ πλούσιον εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰσελθεῖν. εἶπον δὲ οἱ ἀκούσαντες· καὶ τίς δύναται σωθῆναι; ὁ δὲ εἶπε· τὰ ἀδύνατα παρὰ ἀνθρώποις δυνατὰ παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ ἐστιν.


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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
November 28

Irenarchos & his Companion Martyrs at Sebaste

Saint Irenarchos, who was from Sebastia, lived during the reign of Diocletian. In his youth he ministered to the holy Martyrs during the time of their punishment in prison. Once, on beholding seven women being tormented in behalf of Christ, and marvelling at their courage, and seeing how, although they were weak in body, they nonetheless became like men before the tyrant and put him to shame, the Saint was enlightened by divine grace and confessed Christ with boldness. Tried by fire and water, he was beheaded together with the holy women in the year 298.


Stephennew
November 28

Stephen the New

The righteous Stephen was born in Constantinople in 715 to pious parents named John and Anna. His mother had prayed often to the most holy Theotokos in her church at Blachernae to be granted a son, and one day received a revelation from our Lady that she would conceive the son she desired. When Anna had conceived, she asked the newly-elected Patriarch Germanus (see May 12) to bless the babe in her womb. He said, "May God bless him through the prayers of the holy First Martyr Stephen." At that moment Anna saw a flame of fire issue from the mouth of the holy Patriarch. When the child was born, she named him Stephen, according to the prophecy of Saint Germanus.

Stephen struggled in asceticism from his youth in Bithynia at the Monastery of Saint Auxentius, which was located at a lofty place called Mount Auxentius (see Feb. 14). Because of his extreme labours and great goodness, he was chosen by the hermits of Mount Auxentius to be their leader. The fame of his spiritual struggles reached the ears of all, and the fragrance of his virtue drew many to himself.

During the reign of Constantine V (741-775), Stephen showed his love of Orthodoxy in contending for the Faith. This Constantine was called Copronymus, that is, "namesake of dung," because while being baptized he had soiled the waters of regeneration, giving a fitting token of what manner of impiety he would later embrace. Besides being a fierce Iconoclast, Constantine raised up a ruthless persecution of monasticism. He held a council in 754 that anathematized the holy icons. Because Saint Stephen rejected this council, the Emperor framed false accusations against him and exiled him. But while in exile Saint Stephen performed healings with holy icons and turned many away from Iconoclasm. When he was brought before the Emperor again, he showed him a coin and asked whose image the coin bore. "Mine," said the tyrant. "If any man trample upon thine image, is he liable to punishment?" asked the Saint. When they that stood by answered yes, the Saint groaned because of their blindness, and said if they thought dishonouring the image of a corruptible king worthy of punishment, what torment would they receive who trampled upon the image of the Master Christ and of the Mother of God? Then he threw the coin to the ground and trampled on it. He was condemned to eleven months in bonds and imprisonment. Later, he was dragged over the earth and was stoned, like Stephen the First Martyr; wherefore he is called Stephen the New. Finally, he was struck with a wooden club on the temple and his head was shattered, and thus he gave up his spirit in the year 767.


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Archdiocese News

Sunday Sermon Series Launched by Department of Religious Education

11/19/2021

With new leadership for the Department of Religious Education comes a new initiative. The Department of Religious Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is pleased to announce the launch of the Sunday Sermon Series.

Communique From the Holy Eparchial Synod

11/23/2021

On November 22, 2021, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America convened the Holy Eparchial Synod via video conference for a regularly scheduled meeting.

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America - Remarks US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ General Assembly

11/16/2021

I greet you with a salutation of hope and peace in our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. I would like to share my heartfelt joy to be with you today, my brother bishops of the USCCB, for the first time in the history of our Sister Churches’ relation in this country; I am very grateful to His Excellency, the Most Reverend José H. Gomez Archbishop of Los Angeles, USCCB President, for his fraternal invitation to offer my humble remarks at the end of this session, but also to His Excellency to the Most Reverend David Talley Bishop of Memphis, Chairman of the Bishops’ Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, for facilitating our presence tonight.
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