Publish-header
Annunciation/Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-03-24
Bulletin Contents
Welcome to Annunciation/Evangelismnos Church!
Gospel and Epistle Readings
2024 Guide to Lenten Weekday Services
Youth Ministries
Community News & Events
Focus on Our Church Family
Stewardship News
Beyond Annunciation
Archdiocese News
Bulletin Inserts

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Annunciation/Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

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

  • 7921 Old York Rd.

  • Elkins Park, PA 19027

Contact Information

Presiding Priest: Rev. Fr. John L. Johns


frjohn@anngoc.org

Services Schedule

We invite you to worship with us on Sundays and on holy days to Matins at 8:30 and Divine Liturgy at 9:30-11 a.m. Join us for coffee fellowship afterwards.

Past Bulletins


Welcome to Annunciation/Evangelismnos Church!

For Our Guests & Visitors

OUR MISSION is to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, sanctify the faithful through the liturgy and the Holy Sacraments, grow the church by receiving new members, live the Orthodox Christian Faith, and serve humanity through Christ-centered ministries.

OUR VISION is to be a loving, caring, and welcoming Christian community where all belong and grow in the Orthodox Christian Faith through worship, witness, fellowship, and service to others.

HOLY COMMUNION is offered to those baptized and confirmed in the Eastern Orthodox Christian Faith who have prepared according to the Orthodox Tradition. Guests and visitors are welcome to worship with us and receive the antidoron (“instead of the gifts”) blessed bread at the dismissal.
Please allow Catechism School children to receive Holy Communion first, followed by the newly baptized infants. When you approach the chalice, please give your baptismal name to the priest.

GUESTS AND VISITORS: Enter your contact information in the Guest Book at the narthex if you want us to contact you and join us for fellowship hour in our church hall following the liturgy.


Weekend Update

Friday, March 22, 2024

First Saturday of Lent, March 23, 2024 

Sunday of Orthodoxy, March 24, 2024
Κυριακή Α΄ τῶν Νηστειών (της Ὀρθοδοξίας), 24 Μαρτίου, 2024. Το κήρυγμα της Κυριακής εδώ

  • 8:30 am Matins, 9:30 Divine Liturgy.
  • Catechism classes following Holy Communion. Holy Icons Procession.
  • Collection by Philoptochos to benefit the Metropolis Philoptochos Social Services.
  • Greek School will host the coffee fellowship hour.
  • GOYA Sights & Sounds dress rehearsal.
  • 6 pm Great Vespers of Annunciation. Our Philoptochos will offer a reception following vespers.

Monday, March 25, 2024

The Annunciation of the Theotokos ~ O Εὐαγγελισμός τῆς Θεοτόκου

  • 8:30 am Matins, 9:30 Divine Liturgy with the Thanksgiving Doxology for the Liberation of Greece. Our Philoptochos will host a luncheon following the divine liturgy.

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

  • 5 pm Greek School classes.

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Friday, March 29, 2024

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas, March 30, 2024
Κυριακή Β΄ Νηστειών Γρηγορίου Ἀρχ. Θεσσαλονίκης, 30 Μαρτίου, 2024

  • 8:30 am Matins, 9:30 Divine Liturgy
  • Catechism classes following Holy Communion.
  • The Spiritual Life Ministry will host the coffee fellowship hour.

Looking Ahead Beyond Next Week


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. 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. He considered abuse suffered for the Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked to the reward.

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.

Προκείμενον. Fourth Mode. Δανιήλ 3.26-27.
Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν.
Στίχ. Ὅτι δίκαιος εἶ ἐπὶ πᾶσιν, οἷς ἐποίησας ἡμῖν.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 11:24-26, 32-40.

Ἀδελφοί, πίστει Μωϋσῆς μέγας γενόμενος ἠρνήσατο λέγεσθαι υἱὸς θυγατρὸς Φαραώ, μᾶλλον ἑλόμενος συγκακουχεῖσθαι τῷ λαῷ τοῦ θεοῦ ἢ πρόσκαιρον ἔχειν ἁμαρτίας ἀπόλαυσιν· μείζονα πλοῦτον ἡγησάμενος τῶν Αἰγύπτου θησαυρῶν τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ· ἀπέβλεπεν γὰρ εἰς τὴν μισθαποδοσίαν. Καὶ τί ἔτι λέγω; Ἐπιλείψει γὰρ με διηγούμενον ὁ χρόνος περὶ Γεδεών, Βαράκ τε καὶ Σαμψών καὶ Ἰεφθάε, Δαυίδ τε καὶ Σαμουὴλ καὶ τῶν προφητῶν· οἳ διὰ πίστεως κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας, εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην, ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν, ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων, ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρός, ἔφυγον στόματα μαχαίρας, ἐνεδυναμώθησαν ἀπὸ ἀσθενείας, ἐγενήθησαν ἰσχυροὶ ἐν πολέμῳ, παρεμβολὰς ἔκλιναν ἀλλοτρίων. Ἔλαβον γυναῖκες ἐξ ἀναστάσεως τοὺς νεκροὺς αὐτῶν· ἄλλοι δὲ ἐτυμπανίσθησαν, οὐ προσδεξάμενοι τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν, ἵνα κρείττονος ἀναστάσεως τύχωσιν· ἕτεροι δὲ ἐμπαιγμῶν καὶ μαστίγων πεῖραν ἔλαβον, ἔτι δὲ δεσμῶν καὶ φυλακῆς· ἐλιθάσθησαν, ἐπρίσθησαν, ἐπειράσθησαν, ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρας ἀπέθανον· περιῆλθον ἐν μηλωταῖς, ἐν αἰγείοις δέρμασιν, ὑστερούμενοι, θλιβόμενοι, κακουχούμενοι - ὧν οὐκ ἦν ἄξιος ὁ κόσμος - ἐν ἐρημίαις πλανώμενοι καὶ ὄρεσιν καὶ σπηλαίοις καὶ ταῖς ὀπαῖς τῆς γῆς. Καὶ οὗτοι πάντες, μαρτυρηθέντες διὰ τῆς πίστεως, οὐκ ἐκομίσαντο τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν, τοῦ θεοῦ περὶ ἡμῶν κρεῖττόν τι προβλεψαμένου, ἵνα μὴ χωρὶς ἡμῶν τελειωθῶσιν.

Gospel Reading

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."

Sunday of Orthodoxy
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 1:44-52

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἠθέλησεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐξελθεῖν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν· καὶ εὑρίσκει Φίλιππον καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ἀκολούθει μοι. ἦν δὲ ὁ Φίλιππος ἀπὸ Βηθσαϊδά, ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ᾿Ανδρέου καὶ Πέτρου. εὑρίσκει Φίλιππος τὸν Ναθαναὴλ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ὃν ἔγραψε Μωϋσῆς ἐν τῷ νόμῳ καὶ οἱ προφῆται, εὑρήκαμεν, ᾿Ιησοῦν τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ᾿Ιωσὴφ τὸν ἀπὸ Ναζαρέτ. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ· ἐκ Ναζαρὲτ δύναταί τι ἀγαθὸν εἶναι; λέγει αὐτῷ Φίλιππος· ἔρχου καὶ ἴδε. εἶδεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τὸν Ναθαναὴλ ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει περὶ αὐτοῦ· ἴδε ἀληθῶς ᾿Ισραηλίτης, ἐν ᾧ δόλος οὐκ ἔστι. λέγει αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ· πόθεν με γινώσκεις; ἀπεκρίθη ᾿Ιησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· πρὸ τοῦ σε Φίλιππον φωνῆσαι, ὄντα ὑπὸ τὴν συκῆν εἶδόν σε. ἀπεκρίθη Ναθαναὴλ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ῥαββί, σὺ εἶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, σὺ εἶ ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ. ἀπεκρίθη ᾿Ιησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ὅτι εἶπόν σοι, εἶδόν σε ὑποκάτω τῆς συκῆς, πιστεύεις; μείζω τούτων ὄψει. καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀπ᾽ ἄρτι ὄψεσθε τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνεῳγότα, καὶ τοὺς ἀγγέλους τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀναβαίνοντας καὶ καταβαίνοντας ἐπὶ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.

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2024 Guide to Lenten Weekday Services

Great Compline - Απόδειπνο. Five consecutive Mondays starting Momday 18, at 6 pm

Great Compline is prayed in monasteries on a daily basis before one retires for sleep. It is prayed in our churches during Great Lent.  This 45 minute-long service consists mostly of Psalm readings and prayers and ends with the very powerful hymn, “Lord of the Powers, be with us” The service allows us an opportunity to pray and reflect, seek God’s mercy and forgiveness, and to acknowledge that all our hopes and salvation must be placed in God’s hands.

Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts - Λειτουργία των Προηγιασμέμων Δώρων. Five consecutive Wednesdays starting March 20 and alternating 9 am and 6 pm, every other week.

Since the Divine Liturgy is a festive and joyous celebration, it is not celebrated on weekdays during Lent, except on the Saturdays of the Souls and the Feast of the Annunciation. However, because Lent is a period of fasting, it should also be a period of more frequent reception of Holy Communion. There is no consecration of the Gifts at this Liturgy (hence the name Pre-sanctified). They have been consecrated on the preceding Sunday at a regular Divine Liturgy. It lasts just over an hour and contains the service of the Ninth Hour and the Vespers, with Holy Communion added at the end. Those who choose to keep the fast are encouraged to attend this service and to receive Holy Communion as a way of sustaining the fast by receiving the Body and Blood of Christ even more frequently during this period of spiritual discipline.

The Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God - Ο Ακάθιστος Υμνος εις την Υπεραγία Θεοτόκο. Five consecutive Fridays starting March 22, at 6 pm.

This service consists of hymns and prayers addressed to Christ and the Theotokos. It is a beautiful poem of praise and devotion to the Mother of our Lord. It was sung in the year 626 in the Church of the Theotokos in Constantinople on the occasion of the deliverance and freedom of the City from the barbarians. It is comprised of 24 stanzas, each beginning with a letter of the Greek alphabet from Alpha to Omega. It is divided into four parts, one part sung on each of the Fridays of Lent (Salutations), and on the fifth Friday, the Hymn is sung in its entirety. It is called "Akathist" (Gr. for standing) because the people, out of love and gratitude to the Theotokos, stood during the entire Hymn.

Readers Welcomed

The Readers Ministry is open to all parishioners who wish to offer their gift of reading during these services.

Please let George Dalagelis know the date and service you want to participate.

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Youth Ministries

Sunday School News


GOYA Activities

  • IONIAN VILLAGE 2024. The Office of Ionian Village, with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, is pleased to announce applications for need-based scholarships for those wishing to attend Ionian Village 2024. Ionian Village Scholarships Here


PTO Events


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Community News & Events

Our 2023 Annual Report is Here

We are pleased to offer you the 2023 Annual Report to our Community!

We publish the Annual Report to accomplish two things: to provide a concise and transparent report of the state of our Parish and to celebrate our church community's many good works.

You may view the 2023 Annual Report as a flipbook HERE or as a continuous PDF HERE.

Our reports from previous years can be viewed HERE.


Philoptochos News


Understanding Byzantine Chant Class

We are pleased to offer introductory lessons to Byzantine Chant. The lessons are a combination of in-person, virtual, self-study, and practicum during the services of Great Lent.

Open to all parishioners, especially the young. The only requirement is a willingness to learn. We will focus on the following:

  1. The structure of the liturgical services and cycles of the Eastern Orthodox Church: when, how, and why we do what we do in church.
  2. The history and purpose of our hymnology: what are the eight Modes? Psalms? Troparion? Apolytikion? Kontakion? Triodion?
  3. Sight reading neumes - the distinctive musical notation of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Please let George Dalagelis know if you are interested (215) 635-0316, office@anngoc.org. If Friday night does not work for you, the group can decide on a different date.


Pray Together the Church Services on Your Smartphone!

1. Download the AGES Initiatives app on your smartphone.
2. Click on the Service Calendar. The app defaults to the current date.
3. Choose the bilingual service (Compline, Akathist, Vespers, Matins, Divine Liturgy, etc.).

EvangelismosWifi
Password: aoc12345


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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.

In Our Prayers: “Pray for one another that you might be healed.” (James 5:16): Josephine, Emma, Paulette, Virginia, Effie, James, Grace, Hollie, Valerie, Virginia, Rizos, Brad, Elaine, Diane, Evangelia, Vaitsa, Donna, Anastasia, Michael, Kyriaki, Olga, Angela.

Names will be kept 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 up 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 Week: 

Χρόνια Πολλά & Ευλογηµένα! God Grant You Many Years! To Those Who are Celebrating Birthdays this Coming Week:  Paul Anagnostakos,  Georgia Evangelatos, Eleni Konugres, Andrea Merrick, Stamatia Pries, Pablo Vargas, Marina Blackton, Michael Price, Arianna Ricks, Janie Tripolitis, Nicholaos Diamantas, Christopher Gardner, Zoe Holahan, Theodore Makris, Kevin Nikolas Mckendry, Michele Klebanoff, Harry Laspee, Regina Rodenhausen, Emily Moscow, Leontios Diamantas, George Millili, John Stine, Niko Stoupakis.

Do We Have Your Birthday and Anniversary Dates?

We include upcoming birthdays and anniversaries in our bulletin to help us celebrate each other's milestones and get to know each other better.
If you notice that your birthday or anniversary is not included in our weekly bulletin, it means that we do not have that information from you. We ask you kindly to contact the parish office and provide us with those dates.
This information also gives us a better understanding of our community's demographics, which helps us improve our ministries and how we serve you.
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Stewardship News

Monthly Stewardship Communication

February 2024 Stewardship Communication

Vanco Giving Updates

Vanco Mobile App 

We have updated some features, so please refresh it.  If you haven't downloaded it yet, please do so now! You can make all your church offerings and donations in one convenient and safe location:

  1. Download the free Vanco Mobile App here:  iPhone or Android
  2. Make one-time or recurring donations using your debit/credit card or checking/savings account.
  3. Login to your Vanco account or donate as a guest.
  4. You can also check out this Vanco Mobile How-To Guide for step-by-step instructions.

Vanco Online

We have also updated the Vanco Faith Page on our website. Please login with your existing Vanco account and check out the new easy-to-use giving features.

You can now edit your recurring transactions from within your Vanco profile. To make edits to your recurring transactions,  log into your profile, navigate to scheduled transactions, and click the edit button on the recurring transaction you wish to update. Once you have selected the edit option, you can make changes to your gifts:  

  • Frequency 
  • (Next) start date 
  • End date 
  • Transaction amount 
  • Payment method 
  • Tile/Fund choice 

This feature is currently available on the online version, and it will also be available in the mobile app soon.  

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


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Beyond Annunciation

  • EXPERIENCE ORTHODOX AND GOSPEL MUSIC TOGETHER. Our faith is for all! Our friends at Cappella Romana are offering their recent concert online for you. “How Sweet the Sound: Black Voices in Orthodox Music” features selections from the "Jubilee Divine Liturgy" based on spirituals by Abbess Katherine and Greek Orthodox Vespers infused with Gospel and Jazz by Shawn Wallace. You'll hear "O Gladsome Light" (Phos hilaron) and Psalm 103 chanted as you've never heard them: accompanied by Hammond B3 organ in Gospel style. This very moving concert is available until the end of October, with video samples and interviews, at cappellaromana.org/sweetsound
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Archdiocese News

AHEPA Educational Foundation Announces Newly Established Scholarship

03/13/2024

https://www.goarch.org/-/ahepa-educational-foundation-announces-newly-established-sscholarship?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss

Washington—George Vorkas, Chairman of the AHEPA Educational Foundation announced today that the Foundation has agreed to establish the Zavaras-Angelidou Scholarship for Greek Studies.


PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT: An IOCC Frontliner Reflects

03/13/2024

https://www.goarch.org/-/program-highlight-an-iocc-frontliner-reflects?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss

Our US program focuses on disaster prep, response, and recovery, and we've done a lot the last few years to help communities impacted by hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. Frontliner Fr. Stephen Mathewes recently shared his experience following an IOCC training in Florida, where participants also had a chance to help rebuild post Hurricane Ian.


Registration Is Now Open to "UNIFY" Young Adults at the 2024 National YAL Conference in San Diego, CA

03/13/2024

https://www.goarch.org/-/registration-is-now-open-to-unify-young-adults-at-the-2024-national-yal-conference-in-san-diego-ca-1?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss

Parish Highlight: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral Bethlehem, PA

03/11/2024

https://www.goarch.org/-/parish-highlight-st.-nicholas-greek-orthodox-cathedral-bethlehem-pa?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss

The first Orthodox Christians to arrive from Greece in hopes of a new life in the Lehigh Valley came to Bethlehem in 1911, opening restaurants or working at Bethlehem Steel. By 1916 these immigrants, realizing the need and importance of maintaining their faith and culture, purchased the former St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church at 1224 East Fourth Street, on the South Side of Bethlehem. From its founding in 1916 until 1955, this church served the Greek Orthodox population.


Women's History Month Highlight: Niki Devaris Morgulis, Founding Coordinator of the Archdiocese Program: GOA Girl Delegates to the United Nations

03/21/2024

https://www.goarch.org/-/women-s-history-month-highlight-niki-devaris-morgulis-founding-coordinator-of-the-archdiocese-program-goa-girl-delegates-to-the-united-nations?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss

March is International Women’s History Month, and it would only be proper to celebrate it by honoring the women of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. We want to showcase the wonderful women who work for our beloved Archdiocese and its Affiliated Institutions this March to celebrate their contributions and the talents they bring to our Church. This week we present the resilient women of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.


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Bulletin Inserts

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