This Week

9th Sunday of Luke, November 18
9:00 AM - Orthros, Divine Liturgy & Memorial Service; Sunday School; 12:00 PM - Philoptochos

Entrance of the Theotokos, Wednesday, November 21
9:00 AM - Divine Liturgy

Saturday, November 24
5:00 PM - Great Vespers

Great-Martyr Katherine, Sunday, November 25
9:00 AM - Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Fasting This Week
Fri: Strict Fast; All Other Days: Fish Allowed

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal 4th Mode

From on high You descended, Most Merciful; for us You condescended to a three-day burial to set us free from the passions. O Lord, our Resurrection and our life, glory to You!

Apolytikion for Great Martyr Plato in the 4th Mode

Your Martyr, O Lord, was worthily awarded by You the crown of incorruption, in that he contested for You our immortal God. Since he possessed Your power, he defeated the tyrants, dashing the demons' powerless displays of defiance. O Christ God, at his fervent entreaties, save our souls.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Mode

The Savior's most pure and immaculate temple, the very precious bridal chamber and Virgin, who is the sacred treasure of the glory of God, on this day is introduced into the House of the Lord, and with herself she brings the grace in the divine Spirit. She is extolled by the Angels of God. A heavenly tabernacle is she.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

9th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 4:1-7

Brethren, I, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Gospel Reading

9th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 12:16-21

The Lord said this parable: "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." As he said these things, he cried out: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Announcements & Future Events

WELCOME VISITORS — WE ARE PLEASED THAT YOU HAVE JOINED US TODAY! The Orthodox Church teaches that Holy Communion is a sign of unity. In order to receive Holy Communion in the Greek Orthodox Church, you must have been baptized or chrismated in the Christian Orthodox Faith. If you are interested in learning more about Christian Orthodoxy, please contact our Parish Priest, Father Andreas. Communicants should prepare themselves through fasting, prayer and confession. All Christians are invited to come forward at the end of Divine Liturgy to receive the Antidoron, holy bread, which is offered to all as a blessing.

On Wednesday, we commemorate The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple - Τα Εισόδια της Θεοτόκου. This is one of the 12 Great Feasts of Orthodox Christianity: Divine Liturgy will be served at 9:00 AM that day. As the next day is Thanksgiving Day, how appropriate it would be to offer thanks for our nation, our families and our Holy Orthodox Church by attending Liturgy, and "giving thanks" in the context of the Divine Liturgy - the Holy Eucharist! Τα Εισόδια is the traditional day for unwedded women named for the Panagia to celebrate their nameday: Χρόνια πολλά - Many Years!

Philoptochos Food Drive ends today. This morning is the last opportunity to bring in non-perishable items for donation to the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. Last year, our drive brought in 387 lbs!

The Memorial Service this morning is offered for Presvytera Susan Maheras, departed seven years. The Maheras-Austin family is providing refreshment in here memory.

Due to a last-minute scheduling change, we were not able to have Father's Forum (Questions and Answers with the Priest) last Sunday, after Liturgy - however, after multiple requests to coninue the series, we will be able to hold this informative adult education forum this morning.

The Parish Office will only be open on Monday this week, as Fr Andreas will be at the Metropolis of Boston on Tuesday, and Thursday and Friday are Archdiocesan holidays.

Saints and Feasts

November 18

Plato the Great Martyr of Ancyra

Saint Plato contested in martyrdom in 266, when Agrippinus was proconsul. He was from the city of Ancyra in the province of Galatia.

November 21

The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

According to the tradition of the Church, the Theotokos was brought to the Temple at three years of age, where she was consecrated to God and spent her days until she was fourteen or fifteen years old; and then, as a mature maiden, by the common counsel of the priests (since her parents had reposed some three years before), she was betrothed to Joseph.

Wisdom of the Fathers

Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when ye assemble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and the destruction at which he aims is prevented by the unity of your faith.

St. Ignatius of Antioch

Epistle to the Ephesians Ch. 13, 2nd century

And when he came to himself, he begged us all to leave him immediately. And he built up the door of his cell, and he stayed in it for twelve years without ever uttering a word to anyone, and without eating anything but bread and water.

St. John Climacus

Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century

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