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Annunciation/Evangelismos Church, Elkins Park, PA
Publish Date: 2021-12-12
Bulletin Contents
Weekend Update
Youth Activities and News
Community News & Events
Focus on Our Church Family
Stewardship Update
Bulletin Inserts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Archdiocese News
Allsaint
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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

Presiding Priest: Rev. Fr. John L. Johns


frjohn@anngoc.org | (215) 635-0316

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.

11th Sunday of Luke, December 12, 2021
Κυριακὴ ΙAʹ τοῦ Λουκᾶ, 12 Δεκεμβρίου, 2021. Το κήρυγμα εδώ.

  • 8:30am MATINS, 9:30am DIVINE LITURGY
  • Stewardship Sunday.
  • Catechism classes after Holy Communion.
  • Join us in offering memorial prayers for the peaceful repose of the soul of Violet Louridas of blessed memory (40-days).
  • “Ask Father” (5th-6th grades).
  • We invite everyone to our Stewardship Appreciation Luncheon after the liturgy.
  • Last day to return your Angel Tree gifts.
  • Elections for the 2022 Parish Council after the divine liturgy will occur in the church library.
  • 4:30 pm Metropolis of New Jersey 2021 Ambassadors Banquet at The Merion, Cinnaminson, NJ.

Monday, December 13, 2021

  • 6 pm Christmas Youth Celebration with Archbishop Elpidophoros of America at St. Thomas Church, Cherry Hill, NJ.

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

  • 5 pm Greek School classes.
  • 6:30 pm Intermediate Adult Greek class.
  • 7 pm Parish Council meeting.

Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Eleutherios the Hieromartyr, Bishop of Illyricum, and his mother, Anthia

Friday, December 17, 2021

  • 5 pm Greek School classes.
  • 6:30 pm JOY dance practice.
  • 7 pm Beginners Adult Greek class.
  • 7:30 pm GOYA dance practice.

Sunday before the Nativity of Christ, December 19, 2021

  • Youth Sunday
  • 8:30am MATINS, 9:30am DIVINE LITURGY (all in English)
  • Catechism classes after Holy Communion.
  • Greek School students will present Christmas carols/kalanda during fellowship hour.
  • PTO bake sale & vasilopita pick up.
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Youth Activities and News

A Note from Sunday School

Dear Annunciation Families, 
 
I'm excited to introduce to you "The Children's Word," a weekly Sunday bulletin written by Presvytera Houck and published online by the Orthodox Christian Network.
The newsletter is geared towards making our Faith more accessible to our youth and in each newsletter you'll find a message on Sunday's Gospel reading, a lesson on a Saint, and a word search and coloring activity. We hope you'll share this wonderful resource with your children!
Many Blessings, 
Jacinda Ojeda,
Sunday School Director.

Greek School News

"The best way to spread holiday cheer is singing loud for all to hear!"

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Elkins Park Greek School requests the honor of your presence to our Kalanda Program on Sunday, December 19th, 2021, in our church hall following the divine liturgy.


Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music (ASBM) Reopens

Online Registration Opens 

NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is pleased to announce the official reopening of the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music (ASBM) and the beginning of online registration for the 2022 new year.

Under the direction of Georgios Theodoridis, Archon Music Instructor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, ASBM has been re-imagined in order to train competent cantors to better serve the contemporary musical and liturgical needs of parishes within the context of the divine services.

With new leadership and fresh offerings, ASBM will now provide classes in a virtual setting, which will greatly improve access to students from all over the Archdiocese. Through a refreshed curriculum and an innovative virtual learning program, ASBM is designed to meet the various needs of its students regardless of their prior musical knowledge or experience, while still following the same model as traditional music conservatories in both Greece and the United States. 

In anticipation of increased student enrollment, ASBM has also expanded its faculty with expert instructors who hold either a degree or certificate in Byzantine Music. Classes are scheduled to commence on January 3, 2022, and all are welcome to join! 

For further information concerning registration and the school itself, please visit the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music website at: https://asbm.goarch.org/  


PTO News & Events


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Community News & Events

Looking Ahead Beyond Next Week…

Thursday, December 30: The Homeless ministry is serving at Aviator Park.

Arriving at your home soon via postal mail is the Christmas package which includes:


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!

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. John L. Johns


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

Please make all your church donations via:

Thank you for your generosity


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.


Our Church’s New Mobile App is Here!

We are pleased to announce we have an upgraded mobile app! 

Vanco, our eGiving provider, has launched an updated mobile app called Vanco Mobile.
This new mobile app will be replacing GivePlus Mobile. With Vanco Mobile, you can send one-time donations or set recurring gifts.

How Do You Download Vanco Mobile?

It’s easy! Head over to the App Store or Google Play to download Vanco Mobile for free.

Be sure o download this app soon, as GivePlus Mobile will be retired as of December 31, 2021.

Current GivePlus App users will receive an email from Vanco with instructions on how to switch to the new app.

To give using Vanco Mobile, follow these five easy steps:

1. Search for our church by name.
2. Select your gift amount, fund, and frequency.
3. Enter your payment method. (You can save this information for future use!).
4. Choose whether you want to cover processing fees.
5. Click Submit to complete your donation.

You can also check out this Vanco Mobile How-To Guide for step-by-step instructions.

Please stop by the church office or call us if you have questions or need assistance.


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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.
 
Χρόνια πολλά & ευλογημένα!  God grant you many years!  To those who are celebrating birthdays this coming week: Paula Pavlis, Christine Robertson, Chrysovalanti Rodgers, Kay Fentross, Katrina Ferrino, Andrew Kanakis, Margie Prousi, Jean Soulsby, Vasiliki Hadgimallis, Brian Holahan, Danny Koukaras, Michael Nanz, Stamatios Nikolis, George Sardis, Yeorgia Giannos, Debra Karagianis, Angela Koutsouros, Nicholas Matarangas, George Moustakas, Dimitri Sfiridis, Nikolaus Freedman, Toula Romas, Evgenia Kavadias, Emily Scanlon, Sophia Topakas, Elias Trotter, Alexsandra Wrigley.
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Stewardship Update

Stewardship 2022 Campaign is Under Way

You should have received your 2022 personalized Stewardship Pledge Card of Time, Talent, and Treasure in the mail, including our Sustaining Stewardship Initiative information.

Today, Sunday December 12, 2021, is Stewardship Sunday. If you haven't mailed your card in, please return it at the offering basket at the pangari.  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:

  • You do not have to fill out a pledge card!
  • Use the 2022 Pledge Card information as a guide to update your giving to reflect your current level of commitment and personal/family situation.
  • Check with your Vanco account or bank bill payer service to ensure that your regular payments continue through 2022.

Stewardship 2021 Update

As we are approaching the end of 2021, we offer our gratitude to the 287 parishioners below who have pledged and are supporting stewards in good standing for 2021.

  • Thank you to the 172 stewards who have already completed their 2021 pledge.
  • Thank you also to the additional 36 stewards who completed their 2021 pledge AND contributed over and above what they pledged.
  • The additional 79 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 December 8, 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. George & Karla Ballas
  9. Harry & Argetta Ballas
  10. Harry & Connie Bandy
  11. Peter Bandy
  12. Stamatoula Bastas
  13. Efthimia Bastas-christie
  14. Christos Bazalekos
  15. Michael & Marina Blackton
  16. Nina Borras & Alfredo Yiannateli
  17. Thomas & Joann Borrell
  18. Christos & Maria Botsaris
  19. Anastasia Bouikidis
  20. Michael & Christine Bouikidis
  21. William & Kristina Burch
  22. Helen Callas Reiner
  23. Mihalis Calliagas
  24. Nicholas & Katerina Calliagas
  25. Geovanny & Maria Cardenas
  26. Ken & Maria Chin
  27. Joseph Colistra II & Colleen Farrell
  28. Terry Contoudis
  29. Christopher & Andrea Cosmas
  30. Angelina Costa
  31. Calliope Costalas
  32. Dinos & Antoinette Couppas
  33. Niki Crits
  34. Curtis & Maria Cummings
  35. George & Maria Dalagelis
  36. Constantine & Anna Dalson
  37. Sally Danciu
  38. John & Joanne Dell
  39. Maritsa Demas
  40. Leontios & Demetra Diamantas
  41. Thomas & Sofia Dinneen
  42. Anna Doucoure
  43. Cornelius & Athena Douris
  44. Teri Douris
  45. Ryan & Megan Downs
  46. Dimitrios & Lambrini Econome
  47. Olga Econome
  48. Nicholas & Beverly Economopoulos
  49. Maria Economou
  50. Panagoula Ekonomou
  51. Evangelos Exarchos
  52. Alexander & Andrea Falbo
  53. Stephen & Christine Ferello
  54. Chris & Dori Fifis
  55. Apostolos & Stella Fisfis
  56. George Fisfis
  57. Ioannis & Alexzandra Fisfis
  58. Harvey & Elpitha Fishman
  59. Efstathios & Kyriaki Fragogiannis
  60. Maria Frangetis
  61. Carl & Helen Freedman
  62. Dimitra Ganas
  63. George & Angela Gaugler
  64. Eric & Elizabeth George
  65. Chrysanthos & Eun Georgiou
  66. George & Polly Georgiou
  67. Peter & Christine Georgiou
  68. Koula Gerasklis
  69. Panagiotis & Eugenia Giannoumis
  70. John & Rosalie Gilliland
  71. George Giordas
  72. Craig & Angela Godshall
  73. Peter & Susan Gouris
  74. Evangeline Gouzouasis
  75. William & Vickie Grau
  76. Costas & Maria Grigorakakis
  77. George & Joyce Gutchigian
  78. Peter & Christina Hadgimallis
  79. Robert & Vasiliki Hadgimallis
  80. Andreas & Argero Hagiandreu
  81. Irene Halkias
  82. Kenneth & Victoria Hartery
  83. Terry & Christina Hatzigeorgiou
  84. Yiorgos & Angelique Hatzinikolaou
  85. Magda Hatzis
  86. Chrisanthi Hatzopoulos
  87. Thomas & Maria Hatzopoulos
  88. Douglas & Angela Heinze
  89. Frank & Linda Holberg
  90. Christina Iliadis
  91. Steven & Eleni Janke
  92. Jodi Jasionowicz & Helen Giannakopoulos
  93. Francis & Mary Jaxheimer
  94. Paul & Mary Ann Jensen
  95. Rev Fr. John & Presv. Evangelia Johns
  96. Gregory & Roseanne Kaldes
  97. John & Zoe Kaldes
  98. Dean & Kara Kalogrias
  99. Andrew Kanakis
  100. John & Francesca Kanakis
  101. Argyro Kanellopoulos
  102. Dimitrios & Glykeria Karagiannis
  103. John & Katherine Karamatsoukas
  104. Lazaros & Areti Karasavas
  105. Nikos & Patra Karidas
  106. Marika Karivalis
  107. Constantine & Gail Karmokolias
  108. Alex Karras
  109. Kevin Kelly & Barbara Crits-Kelly
  110. Evangelia King
  111. Ryan & Ana Kiscaden
  112. Stephen Kolokithias
  113. Marina Konstantinidis
  114. Eleni Konugres
  115. Margo Konugres
  116. Gregory Kosiras
  117. Georgios & Lila Koskinas
  118. Angela Kotsopoulos
  119. Speros & Christina Koulouris
  120. Georgia Kouskousaki
  121. Ioakim & Kimberly Koutsouradis
  122. Helen Koutsouros
  123. Paul & Mary Koutsouros
  124. William Kyriakatos
  125. George & Alice Kyriakodis
  126. Peter & Jennifer Kyriakodis
  127. Stephanos & Helen Kyriakodis
  128. Panagiotis & Konstantina Kyriakou
  129. Christos & Demetra Kytzidis
  130. George Labrinakos
  131. Petroula Labrinakos
  132. Stacy & Susan Lagakos
  133. Peter & Peggy Lambrou
  134. Dora Lekas
  135. Alex & Penelope Limbanovnos
  136. Anthony & Maria Limberakis
  137. Anthony & Kathryn Limberakis
  138. Elizabeth Limberakis
  139. Virginia Livanos
  140. Dimitrios & Dawn Loizos
  141. Agnes Louridas
  142. Gregory & Barbara Louridas
  143. Kevin & Mary Mack
  144. Simeon & Galatea Mackrides
  145. Vasilios & Faye Mackrides
  146. Anastasia Magrini
  147. Theodoros & Doreen Makris
  148. Anastas & Odeta Malita
  149. Spiro & Vojsava Malita
  150. Apostolos & Anastasia Malitas
  151. Demetrios Malitas
  152. Eleftherios & Kyriaki Malitas
  153. Fotios & Alexandra Malitas
  154. Kalliopi Malitas
  155. Mark & Maria Malusa
  156. Sophia Mamas
  157. John & Marjorie Mantas
  158. Christopher & Katrina Maples
  159. Dr. Ronald & Virginia Markos
  160. Marianne Marmarou
  161. George & Frederiki Martinos
  162. Dennis & Vincenza Matarangas
  163. David & Angela McCulloch
  164. Stephen & Aspasia McGrath
  165. Thomas & Olga McHugh
  166. Catherine McNally
  167. James & Maria McNally
  168. Duglas Mesthos
  169. Gregory Mesthos
  170. Steve Mesthos
  171. Theodora Mikroulis
  172. Georgia Mitsas
  173. Stamatios & Maria Mountis
  174. Philip & Vrisida Nanos
  175. Michael & Stephanie Nanz
  176. Argyro Neumeister
  177. Argiris & Jennie Niamonitos
  178. Constantino & Anastasia Niamonitos
  179. Peter & Stella Nikolopoulos
  180. Ryan & Kristalia Nowlan
  181. Dawn Nylander
  182. Dennis & Mary O'Hara
  183. Jason & Jacinda Ojeda
  184. Tina Onassis
  185. Stephen & Maria Oratis
  186. Elisavet Panagiotidou
  187. Antonis & Katherine Pantazopoulos
  188. Arthur Papacostas
  189. James & Jane Papacostas
  190. Chris & Despina Papadeas
  191. Afthentia Papadopoulos
  192. Demetrios & Rubena Papakirk
  193. Chris Papakostantinou & Melissa Kohler
  194. Helen Papanicolaou
  195. Nikolaos & Maria Papanikolaou
  196. Albert & Sophia Pappas
  197. Helen K Pappas
  198. Nicholas & Urania Pappas
  199. Philip Pappas
  200. Theodoros & Alexandra Pappas
  201. George Pashardis
  202. Aris Pasles
  203. Achileas & Afrodite Patounas
  204. Peter & Paula Pavlis
  205. Russell & Sophia Penning
  206. John & Anastasia Perry
  207. Daniel & Demetra Pithis
  208. Alexandros & Heather Pitsakis
  209. George & Melinda Pitsakis
  210. Andrew & Georgianne Pogas
  211. Anthony & Karen Poulos
  212. Andrew & Melissa Prousi
  213. Margie Prousi
  214. Konstantinos & Marigo Psaroudis
  215. Gjergji & Polina Pulia
  216. Christopher & Evangelia Ramey
  217. Marc Redemann & Adrienne Frangakis
  218. Kevin & Joanna Rega
  219. Mary Roscioli
  220. Dean & Mary Samios
  221. Charles & Maria Sandilos
  222. William & Elaine Sandilos
  223. Alexander & Diane Saphos
  224. Nicholas Saphos
  225. Dimitria Sfarnas
  226. Evangeline Sfarnas
  227. Elefteris & Francine Sferedes
  228. Kostas & Donna Sfiridis
  229. Zachary & Christina Shaw
  230. David & Voula Sidelsky
  231. Kostas & Stamatia Sklikas
  232. James & Maria Skoutelas
  233. Vasili & Helen Soultoukis
  234. Nikolaos Spiliotis & Dimitra Afthinou
  235. Helen Spilliotis
  236. Dimitrios & Eugenia Spyrou
  237. Dianne Stackhouse
  238. John & Despina Stakias
  239. Demetrios & Christina Staurinos
  240. Paulette Steffa
  241. Peter Steffa
  242. George & Despina Steiros
  243. Jacob & Emily Stine
  244. Loukas & Nicky Stylianou
  245. Helen Sullivant-Davis
  246. Konstantinos Theodorakis
  247. Helen Thomas
  248. Sotirios & Despina Thomas
  249. Eleftherios & Deborah Topakas
  250. Emanuel Topakas
  251. Iakovos & Kelly Toumbanakis
  252. Michael & Kaliopi Triantafellou
  253. Cosmas & Shauna Trifonidis
  254. Vasiliki Trifonidis
  255. Janie Tripolitis
  256. Zoe Tripolitis
  257. James & Elizabeth Trivelis
  258. Michael & Renee Trivelis
  259. Nicholas Trivelis
  260. Anne Tsatalis
  261. Demetrios & Sofia Tsatsanis
  262. Dimitrios & Fotini Tsikoudis
  263. Stelios & Laurie Tsinontides
  264. Shane & Despina Twyman
  265. Kurt Ufer & Joanne Epitropou-Ufer
  266. George & Polikriti Vafiadis
  267. Chrysanthe Vaganos
  268. Rizos & Vasiliki Vagelaras
  269. John & Aspasia Varoumas
  270. Helene Vellios
  271. Dimitrios & Katharine Verros
  272. Anthony & Elyse Vlahos
  273. Chris & Evangelea Vlahos
  274. Christine Vlahos
  275. Efthymios & Carly Vlahos
  276. Gregory & Venetia Voutsinas
  277. Frank & Carol Voutsinos
  278. Byron & Christina Warner
  279. Stephen & Georgia Weiss
  280. Benjamin & Angelica Worthington
  281. Richard & Alexsandra Wrigley
  282. Joseph Wyllie
  283. Gerard & Marie Zeman
  284. Louise Zervos
  285. Argie Zoubroulis
  286. Ioannis & Eleftheria Zoubroulis
  287. Theodore & Zaffie Zoubroulis

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Bulletin Inserts

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 149.5,1.
The saints shall rejoice in glory.
Verse: Sing to the Lord a new song.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 5:8-19.

Brethren, walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it is said, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light." Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart.

Προκείμενον. Grave Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 149.5,1.
Καυχήσονται ὅσιοι ἐν δόξῃ
Στίχ. Ἄσατε τῷ Κυρίῳ ᾆσμα καινόν.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἐφεσίους 5:8-19.

Ἀδελφοί, ὡς τέκνα φωτὸς περιπατεῖτε - ὁ γὰρ καρπὸς τοῦ πνεύματος ἐν πάσῃ ἀγαθωσύνῃ καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ καὶ ἀληθείᾳ - δοκιμάζοντες τί ἐστιν εὐάρεστον τῷ κυρίῳ· καὶ μὴ συγκοινωνεῖτε τοῖς ἔργοις τοῖς ἀκάρποις τοῦ σκότους, μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ ἐλέγχετε· τὰ γὰρ κρυφῆ γινόμενα ὑπʼ αὐτῶν αἰσχρόν ἐστιν καὶ λέγειν. Τὰ δὲ πάντα ἐλεγχόμενα ὑπὸ τοῦ φωτὸς φανεροῦται· πᾶν γὰρ τὸ φανερούμενον φῶς ἐστίν. Διὸ λέγει, Ἔγειρε ὁ καθεύδων καὶ ἀνάστα ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν, καὶ ἐπιφαύσει σοι ὁ Χριστός. Βλέπετε οὖν πῶς ἀκριβῶς περιπατεῖτε, μὴ ὡς ἄσοφοι, ἀλλʼ ὡς σοφοί, ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιρόν, ὅτι αἱ ἡμέραι πονηραί εἰσιν. Διὰ τοῦτο μὴ γίνεσθε ἄφρονες, ἀλλὰ συνιέντες τί τὸ θέλημα τοῦ κυρίου. Καὶ μὴ μεθύσκεσθε οἴνῳ, ἐν ᾧ ἐστὶν ἀσωτία, ἀλλὰ πληροῦσθε ἐν πνεύματι, λαλοῦντες ἑαυτοῖς ψαλμοῖς καὶ ὕμνοις καὶ ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς, ᾄδοντες καὶ ψάλλοντες ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν τῷ κυρίῳ.

Gospel Reading

11th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 14:16-24

The Lord said this parable: "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time of the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for all is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and there is still room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. For many are called, but few are chosen.'"

11th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 14:16-24

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἄνθρωπός τις ἐποίησε δεῖπνον μέγα καὶ ἐκάλεσε πολλούς· καὶ ἀπέστειλε τὸν δοῦλον αὐτοῦ τῇ ὥρᾳ τοῦ δείπνου εἰπεῖν τοῖς κεκλημένοις· ἔρχεσθε, ὅτι ἤδη ἕτοιμά ἐστι πάντα. καὶ ἤρξαντο ἀπὸ μιᾶς παραιτεῖσθαι πάντες. ὁ πρῶτος εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἀγρὸν ἠγόρασα, καὶ ἔχω ἀνάγκην ἐξελθεῖν καὶ ἰδεῖν αὐτόν· ἐρωτῶ σε, ἔχε με παρῃτημένον. καὶ ἕτερος εἶπε· ζεύγη βοῶν ἠγόρασα πέντε, καὶ πορεύομαι δοκιμάσαι αὐτά· ἐρωτῶ σε, ἔχε με παρῃτημένον. καὶ ἕτερος εἶπε· γυναῖκα ἔγημα, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο οὐ δύναμαι ἐλθεῖν. καὶ παραγενόμενος ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος ἀπήγγειλε τῷ κυρίῳ αὐτοῦ ταῦτα. τότε ὀργισθεὶς ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης εἶπε τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ· ἔξελθε ταχέως εἰς τὰς πλατείας καὶ ῥύμας τῆς πόλεως, καὶ τοὺς πτωχοὺς καὶ ἀναπήρους καὶ χωλοὺς καὶ τυφλοὺς εἰσάγαγε ὧδε. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ δοῦλος· κύριε, γέγονεν ὡς ἐπέταξας, καὶ ἔτι τόπος ἐστί. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ κύριος πρὸς τὸν δοῦλον· ἔξελθε εἰς τὰς ὁδοὺς καὶ φραγμοὺς καὶ ἀνάγκασον εἰσελθεῖν, ἵνα γεμισθῇ ὁ οἶκος μου. λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτι οὐδεὶς τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐκείνων τῶν κεκλημένων γεύσεταί μου τοῦ δείπνου. Πολλοί γὰρ εἰσιν κλητοί, ὀλίγοι δέ ἐκλεκτοί.

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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
December 12

Holy New Martyr Peter the Aleut

The holy New Martyr Peter suffered martyrdom in San Francisco at the time that California belonged to Spain. An Aleut from Alaska, he and his companions were captured in California by the Spaniards. When he refused to abandon Orthodoxy to accept Latinism, which they wished to force upon him, the Spaniards submitted him to a martyrdom like that suffered by Saint James the Persian, cutting him apart joint by joint. He died from loss of blood in steadfast confession of the Faith in 1815.

Forefathers
December 12

11th Sunday of Luke

On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we commemorate Christ's forefathers according to the flesh, both those that came before the Law, and those that lived after the giving of the Law.

Special commemoration is made of the Patriarch Abraham, to whom the promise was first given, when God said to him, "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 22:18). This promise was given some two thousand years before Christ, when Abraham was seventy-five years of age. God called him and commanded him to forsake his country, parents, and kinsmen, and to depart to the land of the Canaanites. When he arrived there, God told him, "I will give this land to thy seed" (Gen. 12:7); for this cause, that land was called the "Promised Land," which later became the country of the Hebrew people, and which is also called Palestine by the historians. There, after the passage of twenty-four years, Abraham received God's law concerning circumcision. In the one hundredth year of his life, when Sarah was in her ninetieth year, they became the parents of Isaac. Having lived 175 years altogether, he reposed in peace, a venerable elder full of days.

Spyridon
December 12

Spyridon the Wonderworker of Trymithous

Spyridon, the God-bearing Father of the Church, the great defender of Corfu and the boast of all the Orthodox, had Cyprus as his homeland. He was simple in manner and humble of heart, and was a shepherd of sheep. When he was joined to a wife, he begat of her a daughter whom they named Irene. After his wife's departure from this life, he was appointed Bishop of Trimythus, and thus he became also a shepherd of rational sheep. When the First Ecumenical Council was assembled in Nicaea, he also was present, and by means of his most simple words stopped the mouths of the Arians who were wise in their own conceit. By the divine grace which dwelt in him, he wrought such great wonders that he received the surname 'Wonderworker." So it is that, having tended his flock piously and in a manner pleasing to God, he reposed in the Lord about the year 350, leaving to his country his sacred relics as a consolation and source of healing for the faithful.

About the middle of the seventh century, because of the incursions made by the barbarians at that time, his sacred relics were taken to Constantinople, where they remained, being honoured by the emperors themselves. But before the fall of Constantinople, which took place on May 29, 1453, a certain priest named George Kalokhairetes, the parish priest of the church where the Saint's sacred relics, as well as those of Saint Theodora the Empress, were kept, took them away on account of the impending peril. Travelling by way of Serbia, he came as far as Arta in Epirus, a region in Western Greece opposite to the isle of Corfu. From there, while the misfortunes of the Christian people were increasing with every day, he passed over to Corfu about the year 1460. The relics of Saint Theodora were given to the people of Corfu; but those of Saint Spyridon remain to this day, according to the rights of inheritance, the most precious treasure of the priest's own descendants, and they continue to be a staff for the faithful in Orthodoxy, and a supernatural wonder for those that behold him; for even after the passage of 1,500 years, they have remained incorrupt, and even the flexibility of his flesh has been preserved. Truly wondrous is God in His Saints! (Ps. 67:3 5)

Elefther
December 15

Eleutherios the Hieromartyr, Bishop of Illyricum, and his mother Anthia

This Saint had Rome as his homeland. Having been orphaned of his father from childhood, he was taken by his mother Anthia to Anicetus, the Bishop of Rome (some call him Anencletus, or Anacletus), by whom he was instructed in the sacred letters (that is, the divine Scriptures). Though still very young in years, he was made Bishop of Illyricum by reason of his surpassing virtue, and by his teachings he converted many unbelievers to Christ. However, during a most harsh persecution that was raised against the Christians under Hadrian (reigned 117-138), the Saint was arrested by the tyrants. Enduring many torments for Christ, he was finally put to death by two soldiers about the year 126. As for his Christ-loving mother Anthia, while embracing the remains of her son and kissing them with maternal affection, she was also beheaded.

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Archdiocese News

Advent Resources

12/03/2021

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Department of Internet Ministries has updated the Advent Resources section of GOARCH.org.
https://www.goarch.org/-/advent-resources-2021

Homily at the Vespers of the Feast of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker

12/06/2021

Tonight, we come together as the People of God, to celebrate the Victory of the People: Nicholas! Whom we praise as: Ἱεραρχῶν τὴν καλλονήν, καὶ τῶν Πατέρων κλέος, τὴν βρύσιν τῶν θαυμάτων, καὶ τῶν πιστῶν ἀντιλήπτορα μέγιστον…. The adornment of hierarchs, the glory of the Fathers, the well-spring of miracles and great defender of the faithful….
https://www.goarch.org/-/homily-st-nicholas-vespers-2021
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