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Annunciation Church
Publish Date: 2020-09-20
Bulletin Contents
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
"Greek To Go" Minifestival
Parish News and Events
Parish Events of the Week
Bulletin Inserts
Archepiscopal Message
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News
Exaltation
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Annunciation Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (978) 465-5757
  • Fax:
  • (978) 465-1793
  • Street Address:

  • 7 Harris St.

  • Newburyport, MA 01950

Contact Information

Proistamenos (Pastor) Rev. Dr. Costin Popescu


fr.costin@gmail.com
Maria Connor
Parish Council President

mariaconnor@comcast.net

Services Schedule

Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am

Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Mode

Angelic powers appeared at Your tomb, and those guarding it became like dead, and at Your grave Mary was standing, seeking Your most pure body. You plundered Hades, not being tempted by it; You encountered the virgin, granting life. O Lord, who rose from the dead, glory to You!
Ἀγγελικαὶ Δυνάμεις ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμά σου, καὶ οἱ φυλάσσοντες ἀπενεκρώθησαν, καὶ ἵστατο Μαρία ἐν τῷ τάφῳ, ζητοῦσα τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα. Ἐσκύλευσας τὸν ᾍδην, μὴ πειρασθεὶς ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, ὑπήντησας τῇ Παρθένῳ, δωρούμενος τὴν ζωήν, ὁ ἀναστὰς ἐκ των νεκρῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Holy Cross in the First Mode

Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting victory to the faithful over the enemy, and by Your Cross protecting Your commonwealth.
Σώσον Κύριε τόν λαόν σου καί ευλόγησον τήν κληρονομίαν σου, νίκας τοίς Βασιλεύσι κατά βαρβάρων δωρούμενος καί τό σόν φυλάττων διά τού Σταυρού σου πολίτευμα.

Apolytikion for Martyr Eustathius and His Companions in the Fourth Mode

Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.
Οι Μάρτυρές σου, Κύριε, εν τή αθλήσει αυτών, στεφάνους εκομίσαντο τής αφθαρσίας, εκ σού τού Θεού ημών, σχόντες γάρ τήν ισχύν σου, τούς τυράννους καθείλον, έθραυσαν καί δαιμόνων, τά ανίσχυρα θράση. Αυτών ταίς ικεσίαις, Χριστέ ο Θεός, σώσον τάς ψυχάς ημών.

Apolytikion of the Annunciation in the Fourth Mode

Today is the beginning of our salvation and the revelation of the mystery of the ages. O the Son of God becomes on this day the Virgin’s Son and Gabriel proclaims this gift from God. Together with him we cry out to the Theotokos singing: Hail to you who are filled with grace. The Lord is with you.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Lifted up on the Cross by Your free will, Christ God, grant mercies to the new commonwealth that bears Your name. Gladden our faithful rulers by Your power, giving them victories over their adversaries. May Your alliance be for them a weapon for peace, an invincible standard.
Ο υψωθείς εν τώ Σταυρώ εκουσίως, τή επωνύμω σου καινή πολιτεία, τούς οικτιρμούς σου δώρησαι, Χριστέ ο Θεός, Εύφρανον εν τή δυνάμει σου, τούς πιστούς Βασιλείς ημών, νίκας χορηγών αυτοίς, κατά τών πολεμίων, τήν συμμαχίαν έχοιεν τήν σήν, όπλον ειρήνης, αήττητον τρόπαιον.
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Saints and Feasts

Exaltation
September 20

Sunday after Holy Cross

Eustathi
September 20

Eustathius the Great Martyr, his wife and two children

The holy Martyr Eustathius before his baptism was an illustrious Roman general named Placidas in the days of the Emperor Trajan. While hunting in the country one day, he was converted to the Faith of Christ through the apparition of an uncommonly majestic stag, between whose antlers he saw the Cross of Christ, and through which the Lord spoke to him with a human voice. Upon returning home, he learned that his wife Tatiana had also had a vision in which she was instructed to become a Christian. They sought out the Bishop of the Christians and were baptized, Placidas receiving the name Eustathius, and Tatiana the name Theopiste; their two sons were baptized Agapius and Theopistus. The family was then subjected to such trials as Job endured. Their servants died, all their goods were stolen, and on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem they were scattered abroad, each not even knowing if the others were still alive. By the providence of God, they were united again after many years, and returned to Rome in glory. Nevertheless, when they refused to sacrifice to the idols-a public sacrifice from which no Roman general could be absent-the Emperor Hadrian, who had succeeded Trajan, had them put into a large bronze device in the shape of a bull, which was heated with fire until they died. When their holy bodies were removed, they were found to be without harm. They suffered martyrdom about the year 126.

Nativitybaptist
September 23

The Conception of St. John the Baptist

This came to pass fifteen months before the birth of Christ, after the vision of the Angel that Zacharias, the father of the Forerunner, saw in the Temple while he executed the priest's office in the order of his course during the feast of the Tabernacles, as tradition bears witness. In this vision, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and said to him, "Thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John" (Luke 1:13). Knowing that Elizabeth was barren, and that both he and she were elderly, Zacharias did not believe what the Angel told him, although he had before him the example of Abraham and Sarah, of Hannah, mother of the Prophet Samuel, and of other barren women in Israel who gave birth by the power of God. Hence, he was condemned by the Archangel to remain speechless until the fulfilment of these words in their season, which also came to pass (Luke 1:7-24).

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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 Galatians 2:16-20.

Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

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 Γαλάτας 2:16-20.

Ἀδελφοί, εἰδότες ὅτι οὐ δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, ἐὰν μὴ διὰ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐπιστεύσαμεν, ἵνα δικαιωθῶμεν ἐκ πίστεως Χριστοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων νόμου· διότι οὐ δικαιωθήσεται ἐξ ἔργων νόμου πᾶσα σάρξ. Εἰ δέ, ζητοῦντες δικαιωθῆναι ἐν Χριστῷ, εὑρέθημεν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἁμαρτωλοί, ἆρα Χριστὸς ἁμαρτίας διάκονος; Μὴ γένοιτο. Εἰ γὰρ ἃ κατέλυσα, ταῦτα πάλιν οἰκοδομῶ, παραβάτην ἐμαυτὸν συνίστημι. Ἐγὼ γὰρ διὰ νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον, ἵνα θεῷ ζήσω. Χριστῷ συνεσταύρωμαι· ζῶ δέ, οὐκέτι ἐγώ, ζῇ δὲ ἐν ἐμοὶ Χριστός· ὃ δὲ νῦν ζῶ ἐν σαρκί, ἐν πίστει ζῶ τῇ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ, τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντός με καὶ παραδόντος ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ.

Gospel Reading

Sunday after Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

Sunday after Holy Cross
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 8:34-38, 9:1

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι. ὃς γὰρ ἂν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν· ὃς δ᾿ ἂν ἀπολέσῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, οὗτος σώσει αὐτήν. τί γὰρ ὠφελήσει ἄνθρωπον ἐὰν κερδήσῃ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον, καὶ ζημιωθῇ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ; ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ; ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν ἐπαισχυνθῇ με καὶ τοὺς ἐμοὺς λόγους ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ τῇ μοιχαλίδι καὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ, καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπαισχυνθήσεται αὐτὸν ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων τῶν ἁγίων. Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι εἰσί τινες τῶν ὧδε ἑστηκότων, οἵτινες οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου ἕως ἂν ἴδωσι τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐληλυθυῖαν ἐν δυνάμει.

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"Greek To Go" Minifestival

Greek_to_go_flyer_-_final_july_30_2020

A Message from the "Greek to Go" Chairperson, Jim Sperelakis


Dear GFF team, thanks again for your hard work in making our inaugural ‘Greek to Go’ (GtG) event, on Aug. 21-22, so successful, and for the excellent feedback you provided on Aug. 31.

Please plan on attending a GFF General Meeting, on Mon. Sept. 21, at 7 PM. It will take place live in Nicholson Hall (with masks/social distancing) and simultaneously via Zoom. A meeting agenda will be sent out in advance.

We’ve held a recent GFF Leadership meeting, and I’d like to highlight the current status of our fall GtG event. The only significant modification we made, versus the discussion on Aug. 31, is the date. Here is a summary:

  • Targeting the ‘Greek to Go’ (GtG) fall event for Fri. Oct. 23 & Sat. Oct. 24.  If anyone has/foresees issues with Oct. 23-24, kindly let me know now, before we lock-in these dates. Thank you. Pls note, on Aug. 31, we had suggested Nov. 6-7. However, upon further examination, we felt that the time change (“fall back”), likelihood of cooler weather (we want to keep Nich. Hall doors open, for optimum ventilation), and uncertainty immediately following the Election – compelled us to move the event up two weeks, to Oct. 23-24. We will focus on one wknd, as opposed to two, for the Fall GtG event. 
  • Follow identical format as Aug. 21/22 trial event, i.e., pre-orders & pick-up only
  • Same menu as Aug. event, targeting 2x (double) quantities, and add a few food items, e.g., grilled souvlaki, loucanico, and ideally a (simplified) pastry/dessert sampler

We have exactly six (6) weeks before the Fall event. For workshop leaders – please begin to schedule your workshop dates, and kindly inform Ed and I. Similarly to last time, our goal is to have all the workshop supplies bought and available, prior to your workshop. For an idea of quantities, please see the attached Greek to Go report, prepared by Ed, Column I, (2x Aug. event). If workshop leaders have other suggestions on quantities, let’s please discuss. Nothing is cast in stone.

Kindest regards and thank you,

Jim Sperelakis

Cell: 978-479-6372

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Parish News and Events

Please pray for our brothers and sisters: Niko, Elias, Christina, Christina, Malina, John, Pete, Vincent, Veronica, Athena, John, Lynne, Deborah, Georgia, Ivana, Mary, Jane, Michael, Kostas, Stephan, Deborah, Nora, Amelia, Joe, Nikki, Jeanine, Anna, Irina, Ava Maria, Paul, Jessica, David, Mary.

Welcoming our Seminarian  Many of you have contributed this spring to our Luminary fundraiser that was directed towards building up our music ministries by hiring a qualified seminarian.  Unfortunately, with the Covid crisis we were unable to complete our Lenten pilot.  We are happy to report now that the seminarian that we selected, Paul Murray, is back on campus and ready to start today with the Paraklesis service.
We remind you the schedule for this evening:
  • 6pm Music rehearsal.  We welcome newcomers!  We will practice the choral set-up for Sunday services as well as briefly review the Paraklesis.  We hope that all of our regular choir members can join us.
  •  6:45pm  Paraklesis, in person and live-stream
  • 7:30pm  Firepit discussion in front of the church on the general theme of the Holy Cross.  Yes, we will light up a real fire!  You are welcome to contribute with your own log and can bring marshmallows to roast!   The Fire Department is allowing us to have an open fire as long as we cook some food (hence the marshmallows...)

The matins (Orthros) service is back:  Orthros at 9am.  Divine Liturgy at 10am.  One sign-up for both services.

Sunday School is Reopening!  We invite all families with children to participate.  In person lessons will take place outdoors, in front of the church (or Nicholson Hall in case of inclement weather), on a rotation basis.  We continue this Sunday with the elementary school (Mrs. Melinda's) class.  Every age group will alternate between one lesson at church and three on line lessons at a time that is chosen by the group. All children are welcome in church every Sunday and we are restarting the children sermons.

Please continue to sign up and be emboldened to participate. As you feel ready to come and enjoy services in person, we joyfully welcome you!  Please sign up today for the rest of the fall at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A45AEAA22A0FD0-annunciation  Livestreaming continues in the event you are continuing to limit outings and sticking closer to home.  We are here for you online and in person!

Sunday livestream services continue this week with Orthros at 9:00am and Divine Liturgy at 10:00am.  Our main form of transmission will be on our YouTube channel, but you will find links on facebook and on our website http://annunciation.ma.goarch.org/   Don’t forget to subscribe to the channel! If you have a newer TV, you can use the YouTube app and watch on the big screen.  You can experiment ahead of time by watching our services from previous Sundays, which can be found on our website under the Worship tab.

Stewardship Outreach and Families in Need Requests You will soon receive a phone call from one of our volunteers.  We want you to feel included in our parish life and to collect any useful feed-back.  Anybody willing to volunteer will be directed to a ministry of their liking in need of help.  Let us know if you need any help with the live-stream or with coming to church.  We are here to help, financially or otherwise.  Any requests for help should be directed to Fr. Costin or to a member of the Families in need Committee (Kimberly Patton, Arthur and John Housianitis).  All such requests will be dealt with the utmost confidentiality.
 
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Parish Events of the Week

Friday, September 18th
  6:00pm - Music rehearsal for Sunday and Paraklesis.  Everyone welcome!
  6:45pm - Paraklesis for the Theotokos (live-stream and in person, same instructions as Sunday.)
  7:30pm - Outdoor fire-pit discussion about the significance of the Cross

Sunday, September 20th
  9:00am - Orthros with choir led by our Seminarian, Paul Murray
  10:00am - Divine Liturgy, with children sermon and in person elementary school class

Instructions at http://www.annunciation.ma.goarch.org/  For participation in the sanctuary please read the guidelines and sign up in advance on our website.

Sunday, September 27th
  9:00am -  Orthros
  10:00am - Divine Liturgy and in person middle school class

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Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

Archbishop Elpidophoros Announces New Appointments

09/16/2020

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America announced four new appointments and assignments at the Archdiocese to coincide with the commencement of the new Ecclesiastical year.
https://www.goarch.org/-/archbishop-elpidophoros-announces-new-appointments-1

Office of Ionian Village Hosts Decades Meeting for Alumni

09/15/2020

Although the Ionian Village Summer Program was cancelled due to COVID-19, many former participants (campers, staff members, former administration, medical volunteers and clergy) were given the opportunity to gather online. Weekly “virtual” reunions were held from mid-July through mid-August. These reunions were organized into decades (1970’s, 80’s,90’s, 2000’s, 2010’s) and were hosted by Fr. Gary Kyriacou, the current Director of Ionian Village.
https://www.goarch.org/-/ionian-village-hosts-alumni-meetings

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros Celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

09/15/2020

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America celebrated the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at the Chapel of the Holy Cross at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA.
https://www.goarch.org/-/elpidophoros-celebrates-exaltation-holy-cross
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