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Annunciation/Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-03-31
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
Beyond Annunciation
Bulletin Inserts
Archdiocese News

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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

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas, March 31, 2024
Κυριακή Β΄ Νηστειών. Γρηγορίου Ἀρχ. Θεσσαλονίκης, 31 Μαρτίου, 2024. Το κήρυγμα εδώ

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

Monday, April 1, 2024

  • 6 pm-Great Compline

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

  • 5 pm-Greek School classes.

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

  • 9 am-Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Thursday, April 4, 2024

  • 11 am-We will host the monthly Pan-Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood of Philadelphia meeting.
  • 7 pm-Philoptochos Board meeting.

Friday, April 5, 2024

Saturday, April 6, 2026

Third Sunday of Lent. Veneration of the Holy Cross, April 7, 2024


Looking Ahead Beyond Next Week


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Second Mode. Psalm 117.14,18.
The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 1:10-14; 2:1-3.

IN THE BEGINNING, Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?" Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?

Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him.

Προκείμενον. Second Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 117.14,18.
Ἰσχύς μου καὶ ὕμνησίς μου ὁ Κύριος.
Στίχ. Παιδεύων ἐπαίδευσέ με ὁ Κύριος.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 1:10-14, 2:1-3.

Κατʼ ἀρχάς, Κύριε, τὴν γῆν ἐθεμελίωσας, καὶ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σού εἰσιν οἱ οὐρανοί· αὐτοὶ ἀπολοῦνται, σὺ δὲ διαμένεις· καὶ πάντες ὡς ἱμάτιον παλαιωθήσονται, καὶ ὡσεὶ περιβόλαιον ἑλίξεις αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἀλλαγήσονται· σὺ δὲ ὁ αὐτὸς εἶ, καὶ τὰ ἔτη σου οὐκ ἐκλείψουσιν. Πρὸς τίνα δὲ τῶν ἀγγέλων εἴρηκέν ποτε, Κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου; Οὐχὶ πάντες εἰσὶν λειτουργικὰ πνεύματα, εἰς διακονίαν ἀποστελλόμενα διὰ τοὺς μέλλοντας κληρονομεῖν σωτηρίαν; Διὰ τοῦτο δεῖ περισσοτέρως ἡμᾶς προσέχειν τοῖς ἀκουσθεῖσιν, μήποτε παραρρυῶμεν. Εἰ γὰρ ὁ διʼ ἀγγέλων λαληθεὶς λόγος ἐγένετο βέβαιος, καὶ πᾶσα παράβασις καὶ παρακοὴ ἔλαβεν ἔνδικον μισθαποδοσίαν, πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας; Ἥτις, ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ κυρίου, ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
The Reading is from Mark 2:1-12

At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he said to the paralytic-"I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 2:1-12

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσῆλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς εἰς Καπερναοὺμ δι᾿ ἡμερῶν καὶ ἠκούσθη ὅτι εἰς οἶκόν ἐστι. καὶ εὐθέως συνήχθησαν πολλοί, ὥστε μηκέτι χωρεῖν μηδὲ τὰ πρὸς τὴν θύραν· καὶ ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς τὸν λόγον. καὶ ἔρχονται πρὸς αὐτὸν παραλυτικὸν φέροντες, αἰρόμενον ὑπὸ τεσσάρων· καὶ μὴ δυνάμενοι προσεγγίσαι αὐτῷ διὰ τὸν ὄχλον, ἀπεστέγασαν τὴν στέγην ὅπου ἦν, καὶ ἐξορύξαντες χαλῶσι τὸν κράβαττον, ἐφ᾿ ᾧ ὁ παραλυτικὸς κατέκειτο. ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ· τέκνον, ἀφέωνταί σοι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου. ἦσαν δέ τινες τῶν γραμματέων ἐκεῖ καθήμενοι καὶ διαλογιζόμενοι ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν· τί οὗτος οὕτω λαλεῖ βλασφημίας; τίς δύναται ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ Θεός; καὶ εὐθέως ἐπιγνοὺς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὕτως αὐτοὶ διαλογίζονται ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί ταῦτα διαλογίζεσθε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν; τί ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν τῷ παραλυτικῷ, ἀφέωνταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, ἢ εἰπεῖν, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει; ἵνα δὲ εἰδῆτε ὅτι ἐξουσίαν ἔχει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀφιέναι ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἁμαρτίας - λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ· σοὶ λέγω, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ ὕπαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου. καὶ ἠγέρθη εὐθέως, καὶ ἄρας τὸν κράβαττον ἐξῆλθεν ἐναντίον πάντων, ὥστε ἐξίστασθαι πάντας καὶ δοξάζειν τὸν Θεὸν λέγοντας ὅτι οὐδέποτε οὕτως εἴδομεν.

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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

From the Parish Council

Hello, everyone,

As you know, our Church facilities are over 50 years old and require regular maintenance and repairs.   Therefore, we wanted to update you on 2 key repair projects and our facility expansion plans. 

Roof & Interior Dome Repairs

First, you may have noticed water damage to the icon of Mark the Evangelist on the arch under the Church dome.  There is also water damage to plaster in that area and other areas under the dome.  In March, we completed the necessary repairs to the roof flashing and exterior masonry around the dome, so water is no longer seeping into the walls under the dome.  The next steps are to schedule the repairs to the icon, repair the plaster, and then repaint as needed. We appreciate your patience as this work will occur over the next several months. 

Parking Lot Lighting

The second project is upgrading our parking lot lighting. We currently have temporary lighting in the main lot, and the lights in the back lot work intermittently. Over the next several weeks, all the lighting will be replaced with energy-efficient LED fixtures, which will address all the problems.

Expansion Plans

Also, on April 21, you are invited to join us after Liturgy for a meeting to review facility improvement and expansion plans.  We presented these at the Spring General Assembly meeting and want to share them with more people than we were at that meeting.  We will review a phased approach to improving our facilities and beautifying our Church. 

Please join us in understanding and providing your comments and input on the plans.  A light lunch will be provided.

Thank you,

Dean Dalson, PC President


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


Young at Heart News

Join us for coffee, tea, and conversation after the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (stats at 9 am) on Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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: Stephanie & Matthew Tsolakis, Alexandra & John Metzger.

Χρόνια Πολλά & Ευλογηµένα! God Grant You Many Years! To Those Who are Celebrating Birthdays this Coming Week:  Lucy Dufresne, Gianni Gouvakis, Ashley Hatzigeorgiou, Chris Zoubroulis, Calliope Damian, John Koutsouros, Maria Louvaris, Alphonso Sisto, Nicholas Vlachos, Ashley Kagiavas, Marc Klebanoff, Haris Martinos, Tara Pinto, Anastasia Vlachos, Paul Koutsouros, Steve McDermott, George Prousi, Theodore Steiros, Nicholas Marmarou, Dimitrios Spyrou, Anne-Marie Voutsinos, Doreen Makris, Peter Nikolopoulos, Katerina Rigalos.

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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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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Bulletin Inserts

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Archdiocese News

SUNDAY SERMON SERIES Sunday of Saint Gregory Palamas March 31

03/27/2024

https://www.goarch.org/-/sunday-sermon-series-sunday-of-saint-gregory-palamas-march-31?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss

This week, find insights about the upcoming Gospel reading, where we learn how Christ heals a man with paralysis. But why did Christ choose to forgive his sins before physically healing him? What is the link between God and our healing? And why did people think it was blasphemous that Jesus forgave his sins?


Greek Education Department Excited to Announce the Revival of the Summer Training Program for Greek Language Teachers in Cyprus

03/26/2024

https://www.goarch.org/-/greek-education-department-excited-to-announce-the-revival-of-the-summer-training-program-for-greek-language-teachers-in-cyprus?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss

The Department of Greek Education is thrilled to announce a specialized summer school program organized by the Ministry of Education of Cyprus, exclusively designed for 15 Greek language teachers from the USA.


His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros Homily at the Great Vespers of the Annunciation March 24, 2024

03/25/2024

https://www.goarch.org/-/his-eminence-archbishop-elpidophoros-homily-at-the-great-vespers-of-the-annunciation-march-24-2024?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss

Tonight we sang:

Ἀπεστάλη ἐξ οὐρανοῦ Γαβριὴλ ὁ Ἀρχάγγελος…

From Heaven the Archangel Gabriel was sent forth…[1]

We know the story, which informs every aspect of our Feast. And we know the words that this Mighty Commander of the Heavenly Host spoke to the Virgin:

Χαῖρε, κεχαριτωμένη· ὁ Κύριος μετὰ σοῦ· εὐλογημένη σὺ ἐν γυναιξίν.


Archepiscopal Encyclical on Greek Independence Day

03/25/2024

https://www.goarch.org/-/archepiscopal-encyclical-on-greek-independence-day?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss

Unto the Most Reverend and Right Reverend Hierarchs, Pious Priests and Deacons, Monks and Nuns, Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils, Honorable Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Members of Leadership 100, Day and Afternoon Schools, Philoptochos Societies, Youth, Greek Orthodox Organizations, and entirety of the Christ-loving Plenitude of the Sacred Archdiocese of America:

Onward, children of Greece … now is the fight for everything! (The Persians, Aeschylus)


National Sisterhood of Presvyteres Holds Meeting at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in West Babylon, NY

03/22/2024

https://www.goarch.org/-/national-sisterhood-of-presvyteres-holds-meeting-at-st.-nicholas-greek-orthodox-church-in-west-babylon-ny?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss

The Board of the National Sisterhood of Presvyteres (NSP) held their meeting at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in West Babylon, NY, on March 16, 2024, to discuss important issues relevant to the needs impacting presvyteres and diakonissas, and their families.


DID YOU KNOW? Salutations To the Theotokos March 20

03/22/2024

https://www.goarch.org/-/did-you-know-salutations-to-the-theotokos-march-20?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss

The Service of the Salutations to the Theotokos is celebrated to give us strength and joy during this time of prayer, fasting, repentance, and spiritual transformation. The Mother of our God and Savior Jesus Christ is our mother too. And there is no better person to lead us to Christ than the one who gave us Christ — the one who birthed, nurtured, and raised Him, and who stood by Him when He was crucified. In fact, it was from the Cross that Christ said to the Apostle John (representing the Church): “Behold your mother,” (John 19:27) and to the Theotokos: “Behold your son” (John 19:26) — representing the Church, which is the Body of Christ.


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