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.

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.

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."

Saints and Feasts

March 13

Sunday of Orthodoxy

For more than one hundred years the Church of Christ was troubled by the persecution of the Iconoclasts of evil belief, beginning in the reign of Leo the Isaurian (717-741) and ending in the reign of Theophilus (829-842). After Theophilus's death, his widow the Empress Theodora (celebrated Feb. 11), together with the Patriarch Methodius (June 14), established Orthodoxy anew. This ever-memorable Queen venerated the icon of the Mother of God in the presence of the Patriarch Methodius and the other confessors and righteous men, and openly cried out these holy words: "If anyone does not offer relative worship to the holy icons, not adoring them as though they were gods, but venerating them out of love as images of the archetype, let him be anathema." Then with common prayer and fasting during the whole first week of the Forty-day Fast, she asked God's forgiveness for her husband. After this, on the first Sunday of the Fast, she and her son, Michael the Emperor, made a procession with all the clergy and people and restored the holy icons, and again adorned the Church of Christ with them. This is the holy deed that all we the Orthodox commemorate today, and we call this radiant and venerable day the Sunday of Orthodoxy, that is, the triumph of true doctrine over heresy.

Parish News

Today - Sunday of Orthodoxy

It is traditional to bring an Icon from home to be blessed during this service which remembers the 7th Ecumenical Council which allowed the use of Icons as an aid to worship. Children with Icons will join in the procession around the Church.

Sunday Collection Basket

We are very thankful for the support of so many families and individuals who financially support the Ministries of our Assumption Church. Your Stewardship Commitment and donations for candles, Feast Days and special offerings help our Church meet the Yearly Budget. Our Parish Council has decided to continue placing the traditional Collection Basket on a table in the Narthex. Parishioners and visitors may offer a donation if they wish following Divine Liturgy and other Services as they exit the Church. Thank you for your gifts that support the many Ministries and programs of our Church. God Bless you.

Special Services

Wednesday, March 16 - 6:00PM Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified Gifts

Friday, March 18 - 6:00PM 2nd Heretismi - Salutations

Lenten Family Potluck Dinner and Lenten Reflection - Following Heretismi/Salutations Service.

All are welcome and encouraged to join us in the Church Hall for a simple meal and reflection.

Take TIME to reflect on your relationship with our Lord.

Bring your children and help them to learn how Jesus loves them.

Come Support our JV Team in the Playoffs

Saturday, 3/12 playoff in Waterbury vs Waterbury at 6:30

If we win the playoff, the championship game is on Sunday, 3/13 at 4:30 in Stamford (Archangels)

Church Life

Sarantismos/Newborn Blessing

Elle Nicole, daughter of Andriana and Daniel Toscano of Long Island, NY.

Long Life and Health/Να Μας Ζήση!!!

Honoring Our Past Event

A Celebration - Saturday, April 2, 2022 - Dinner at 5:00pm

In anticipation of our Consecration celebration in September 2023, we are asking for your help to document and preserve our early Assumption Church history through your personal stories.

All are invited and encouraged to attend an evening of dinner and storytelling in our Church Hall. Join us for this one-time opportunity to tell your family story and ensure that your family history will be recorded in the Assumption Church archives.

Do you remember building our Church? Do you have a story about meeting Fr. Peter in the 1970’s? Is there a story your parents or grandparents often told? Is there a message that you have heard here in our Church, that still guides you in your life?

We need you to participate! Bring your stories. Bring your photos. Help us leave a legacy for our children by sharing your personal perspective.

Here’s how it works:

The event is free and reservations are required to attend. Email office@agoc.us or add your name to the signup sheet in the Parish Hall. Please indicate if you would like to share a story. Plan for no more than 5 minutes at the microphone.

We have a videographer who will film the evening and who will make a short video that will be shown at the Consecration celebration event at the Amber Room. By registering, you agree to be filmed.

Please bring any written materials, photos, videos, etc. that you are willing to loan us to scan for future display and archiving.

If you have any videos on hard copies, please feel free to bring your hard drive, CD, or other device where the videos are stored. If you happen to have videos in digital form, we can provide a link for you to send them directly to us. These materials will be crucial to the creation of the Consecration video.

Your participation is not guaranteed to be included in the Consecration video, but the event will be available for viewing on a new Archive section of our website. Help us preserve our history.

God's Work Can Be a Joyful Labor.

GOARCH Ukraine Relief Fund

Archbishop Elpidophoros Launches GOARCH Ukraine Relief Fund

In response to the tragic humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, and the immediate aid needed there, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America announced a major fundraising effort that will help those most affected by the Russian invasion.

The GOARCH Ukrainian Relief Fund, established in collaboration with the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), aims to raise $1 million for both immediate and long-term support of the Ukrainian people. Early today, His Eminence also donated $100,000 to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, on behalf of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, to support the efforts of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Assumption Church Contributes to the Relief Efforts

Our Assumption Church Giving Committee and Ladies Philoptochos have joined together and pledged a matching gift up to $3,000. Every contribution you make to the GOARCH Ukraine Relief Fund will be matched dollar for dollar up to $3,000, so donate now to double your gift!

Do twice the good with one donation. Even the smallest sum will make a big difference.

A collection basket has been set up in our outer Narthex or can be mailed directly to our Church. Please make out checks to Assumption Church and write “Ukraine Relief" in the memo. All donations will go to the GOARCH Ukrainian Relief Fund in collaboration with the IOCC.

Please share this information with anyone looking for a way to help and double their impact.

To make a direct credit card donation (will not be matched) please click here: www.goarch.org/donate/ukraine

Collection for Ukraine

Saint Joseph Parish and School in Danbury

Donate to packages being shipped to Poland. Click flyer for list of items needed and drop off information.

Ladies Philoptochos Society

Lenten Family Potluck Dinner and Reflection - 03/18 following the 6pm Heretismoi/Salutations Service.All are welcome and encouraged to join us in the Church Hall for a simple meal and reflection.

Please RSVP here: Lenten Family Potluck Dinner and Reflection

The Michael Kallas Memorial Scholarship Fund in association with the Ladies Philoptochos Society is pleased to announce that applications are being accepted for the 2022 Michael Kallas Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is available for any graduating High School boy or girl. Applications have been emailed. Completed applications must be returned to Fevri Gkanatsios, Ladies Philoptochos, by March 31, 2022. Applications received after this date will not be accepted.

Philoptochos Stewardship – January and February are 2022 Stewardship months! You may make online stewardship donations by CLICKING HERE. BE SURE TO CHECK OFF LADIES PHILOPTOCHOS and follow up with an at philoptochos@agoc.us to notify us you have submitted a stewardship offering. You may also mail your offering and your Stewardship Form, available on the church site: https://agoc.us/agoc-organizations/philoptochos/.

SAVE THE DATE: Sunday 05/01, Protomayiatiko Glendi. Tickets will be available beginning of March.

Agape Coffee Fellowship HOSTESSES/HOSTS NEEDED

Thank you to Betsy Ern and Vasiliki Valassis for hosting this Sunday’s fellowship!

We encourage both women and men to sign up; we also encourage families to sign up. We have detailed instructions to help you. If you'd like to be a hostess or host, please sign up via Sign-up Genius by clicking here: Hosting March - April

We truly appreciate the volunteer work of our hosts and hostesses.

Please note, should we not have two people to host on a Sunday, coffee hour will be canceled.

Questions? Please contact Barbara Soldano or Caryn Flannery (philoptochos@agoc.us).

For Agape fellowship Sponsoring opportunities/availability and guidelines please contact Margot Racano at: office@agoc.us.

We invite you to like our Facebook Page “Assumption Ladies Philoptochos, Danbury, CT” at https://www.facebook.com/Assumption-Ladies-Philoptochos-Danbury-CT-101749108195144

Choir News

Calling all singers!

As we pray that the pandemic continues to recede (Thank you God for Your great mercy), the Assumption Adult Choir will soon begin singing again during the Divine Liturgy - and that will be a happy day!

We need voices to sing praises together - experienced or new, men, women, young and old, even families learning hand-in-hand - all raising our voices as we lead the congregation in harmonious worship.

Our first practice will be Sunday, March 6th, in the Choir Loft after regular church services. Please join us and become an active participant as we venerate our God for His great love and mercy!

Questions? Please contact Anne Ktorides at choir@agoc.us

Greek Dance

Registration for the Greek Dance Program will begin Sunday, March 6th through April 10th. Registration forms will be available in our Church Hall.

We encourage all young people, Kindergarten to Young Adult, to be part of our wonderful Dance Troupes and learn the traditional folk dances of Greece. Our Church is known throughout the Archdiocese for our Greek Folk Dance Troupes that provide entertainment at our Greek Festivals.

Dance practices will begin on May 5th.

For more information, please contact Presbytera Maria Karloutsos at: greekdance@agoc.us

Youth Choir

During Lent and Easter Week, the Youth Choir will sing on the following dates:

Friday, Χαιρετισμοί (Salutations) Services: March 18 @ 6:00 pm; and March 25, April 1 and 8 @ 7:00 pm.

Sunday, March 13 [Sunday of Orthodoxy] **Daylight Savings Time begins

Sunday, March 27th [Veneration of the Cross]

Sunday, April 10th [5th Sunday of Lent/ St. Mary of Egypt]

Great and Holy Friday, April 22nd [Lamentations]

Sunday, April 17th [Palm Sunday] *We will sing on Palm Sunday instead of Easter Sunday

Saturday, April 23rd [Ανασταση/Easter]

Sunday, May 8 * we may sing on the 1st and 3rd Sundays in May [TBA]

Sunday, May 22

Youth Ministry

Be the Bee #169 - Why We Venerate Icons (Sunday of Orthodoxy, Triumph of Orthodoxy)

After weeks of learning about forgiveness and pride and judgment, we begin Great Lent with a Sunday dedicated to icons. Why?

On one level, this is the anniversary of the triumph over Iconoclasm in 843 AD. But there's more to this triumph than meets the eye.

So we'll take a deep dive into the theology of icons to learn that God made a promise to His saints. That He would unite heaven and earth. That we could look upon the face of the Lord and live.

And this promise is fulfilled in us. We hold up icons as proof of this promise, the treasures we display in the Triumph of Orthodoxy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amq8rCqV_70

Downloadable Workbook

https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee169

Young Adult Ministry

Breaking Bread Event

To all College Students and Young Adults are invited to share a Lenten Meal on March 15. Click flyer for details.

Links for Livestreaming Services

Pray with us by subscribing to the Assumption YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9tD5mB_u3GgO1J8ikwIW0g

Or by visiting our Assumption page on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pg/assumptiongreekorthodoxchurch/videos/?ref=page_internal

Live events will be streamed on both these services on programmed service hours.

Calendar

Month at-a-Glance

March 13 to April 10, 2022

Sunday, March 13

Sunday of Orthodoxy

8:45AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, March 16

Sabine the Martyr of Egypt

6:00PM Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified Gifts

Thursday, March 17

7:30PM Parish Council Meeting

Friday, March 18

Cyril, Patriarch of Jerusalem

6:00PM 2nd Heretismi - Salutations

7:00PM Lenten Retreat

Sunday, March 20

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

8:45AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

11:30AM Greek School Sponsoring and Hosting Agape Coffee Fellowship

11:30AM March 25th Presentation during Coffee Hour

Wednesday, March 23

The Holy Righteous Martyr Nicon and His 199 Disciples

12:00PM Dorothy Day Sandwiches - parish hall

6:00PM Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified Gifts

Friday, March 25

Annunciation of the Theotokos

8:45AM Orthos

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

7:00PM 3rd Heretismi - Salutations

Sunday, March 27

Sunday of the Holy Cross

8:45AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, March 30

John Climacus the Righteous, author of The Divine Ladder of Ascent

6:00PM Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified Gifts

Friday, April 1

Mary of Egypt

7:00PM 4th Heretismi - Salutations

Sunday, April 3

Sunday of St. John Climacus

8:45AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, April 6

Eutychius, Patriarch of Constantinople

6:00PM Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified Gifts

Friday, April 8

The Holy Apostles of the Seventy Herodion, Agabus, Rufus, Asyncritus, Phlegon, and Hermes

7:00PM The Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos

Sunday, April 10

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

8:45AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins