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Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church
Publish Date: 2020-05-03
Bulletin Contents
Weekly Events
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
This Sunday is celebrated
Wisdom of the Fathers
Myrrbear
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Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (617) 625-2222
  • Fax:
  • (617) 628-4529
  • Street Address:

  • 29 Central Street

  • Somerville, MA 02143

Past Bulletins


Weekly Events

 

  • Live-Streaming Sunday Divine Liturgies
    • 8:30 a.m. Orthros and 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy. Please let us know if you would like to participate and we will find remote participation way via Zoom or other platforms.
    • You can find the link on our website: www.dormitionchurch.org
    • Please help your elderly family members who are not computer savvy stay connected with the church.  It’s important for them to feel a connection to something that has been part of them their entire lives. 
  • Live-Streaming Bible Study with Father Anthony
    • 7:00 p.m.
    • The Zoom Bible Study on Saturday's at 7 p.m.
    • You can find the link on our website: www.dormitionchurch.org 

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 The Service Offered Below will ONLY be Online

Weekend Service

Sunday, May 3, 2020 - SUNDAY OF MYRRH-BEARING WOMEN,

Orthros 8:30 a.m. Div. Liturgy 10 a.m. 

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Dear Member and Friend of Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church,

Thoughtful and generous giving to support the ministry of our church is the true expression of faith. In the Gospel of St. Luke, we learn, “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” (Luke 12:48). The verse reminds us of an important Christian lesson, privilege always brings responsibility. 

We all know the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church needs money to open its doors and run the church programs, even during this shutdown. Even though our doors are closed, the church continues to operate as normal. The services are broadcast, bible classes & children’s corner are streamed online, our Dormition table continues its mission to provide food to those in need, and many of our ministries continue to operate through Zoom (Sunday school, Adult Greek lessons, GOYA & Joy, Greek school). 

In the past, the Parish relied on income from candle and tray collections, events, rentals, and our impressive festival to support the needs of our church; we can no longer count on that income for this year. To operate the Dormition church for one-week costs $10,500 - or $1,500 per day! In the past 30 days, our church is down over $10,000 from the previous year and sustaining our programs and operating is a major challenge without your help.

We understand that this is a challenging time for families, businesses, and churches; it is at times like these that we must all do what we can to support each other to get through these difficult periods. In times of anxiety and collective stress, God uses our community to assure us that it is always darkest before the dawn and healing is here for us, simply for the asking. 

The Stewardship committee asks you to look deep into your heart and let it guide you as to how much this church means to you and to what extent you can support it financially.  If you are a faithful steward and already pledge this year, please consider increasing your pledge. Even a small change makes a big difference. If you have not pledged yet, think about all that God has given you and decide to return to Him your offering.

If everyone does their part individually, then as a whole, we will fund the operations and programs of this church and continue to witness lives being changed for children and adults through spiritual nurturing and growth. Should you have any questions, please always feel welcome to reach out to the church or to Fr. Anthony directly. We always look forward to hearing from you!

With prayerful thanks, in advance.

 Stewardship Committee

 

Αγαπητέ Μέλος και Φίλος της Εκκλησίας Κοίμησης της Παναγίας,

Προσεκτική και γενναιόδωρη προσφορά για την υποστήριξη των Διακονιών της εκκλησίας μας είναι η αληθινή έκφραση της πίστης. Στο Ευαγγέλιο του Αγίου Λουκά μαθαίνουμε: «Από όλους στους οποίους έχουν δοθεί πολλά, θα απαιτηθούν πολλά. και από αυτούς στους οποίους έχουν ανατεθεί πολλά, θα απαιτηθούν ακόμη περισσότερα. " (Λουκάς 12:48). Ο στίχος μας θυμίζει ένα σημαντικό χριστιανικό μάθημα, το προνόμιο φέρνει πάντα ευθύνη.

Όλοι γνωρίζουμε ότι η Εκκλησία της Κοίμηση της Παναγίας χρειάζεται χρήματα για να ανοίξει τις πόρτες της και να εκτελέσει τα προγράμματα της, ακόμη και κατά τη διάρκεια αυτής της διακοπής λειτουργίας.  Παρόλο που οι πόρτες μας είναι κλειστές, η εκκλησία εξακολουθεί να λειτουργεί κανονικά. Οι υπηρεσίες μεταδίδονται, μαθήματα Βίβλων & γωνιά παιδιών μεταδίδονται από το διαδίκτυο, το τραπέζι της Κοιμήσεως συνεχίζει την αποστολή του να παρέχει φαγητό σε όσους έχουν ανάγκη, και πολλές από τίς διακονίες μας συνεχίζουν να λειτουργούν μέσω του Zoom (Κατηχητικό σχολείο, μαθήματα ελληνικών ενηλίκων, GOYA & Joy, Ελληνικό σχολείο).

Στο παρελθόν, η Ενορία βασίστηκε στο εισόδημα από συλλογές κεριών και δίσκων, εκδηλώσεων, ενοικιάσεων και το εντυπωσιακό φεστιβάλ μας για να υποστηρίξει τις ανάγκες της εκκλησίας μας. Δεν μπορούμε πλέον να βασιστούμε σε αυτά τα εισοδήματα για αυτό το έτος. Η λειτουργία της εκκλησίας της Κοίμησης για μία εβδομάδα κοστίζει $10.500  - ή $1.500  την ημέρα! Τις τελευταίες 30 ημέρες, τα έσοδα της εκκλησία μας έχει μειωθεί πάνω από $10.000 σε σύγκριση με τον προηγούμενο χρόνο και η υποστήριξη των προγραμμάτων και της λειτουργίας μας είναι μια μεγάλη πρόκληση χωρίς τη βοήθειά σας.

Κατανοούμε ότι αυτή είναι μια δύσκολη στιγμή για οικογένειες, επιχειρήσεις και εκκλησίες.  Είναι μερικές φορές σαν αυτές που όλοι πρέπει να κάνουμε ό, τι μπορούμε για να υποστηρίξουμε ο ένας τον άλλον για να περάσουμε αυτές τις δύσκολες περιόδους.  Σε καιρούς ανησυχίας και συλλογικού άγχους, ο Θεός χρησιμοποιεί την κοινότητά μας για να μας διαβεβαιώσει ότι είναι πάντα πιο σκοτεινό πριν από την αυγή και η θεραπεία είναι εδώ για εμάς, απλά να την ζητάμε.

Η Διακονία Οικονομικής Επιστασίας σας ζητά να κοιτάξετε βαθιά μέσα στην καρδιά σας και να την αφήσετε να σας καθοδηγήσει για το τι σημαίνει αυτή η εκκλησία για εσάς και σε ποιο βαθμό μπορείτε να την υποστηρίξετε οικονομικά. Εάν είστε πιστός διαχειριστής και έχετε ήδη δεσμευθεί  φέτος, σκεφτείτε το ενδεχόμενο να αυξήσετε τη δέσμευσή σας. Ακόμη και μια μικρή αλλαγή κάνει μεγάλη διαφορά. Εάν δεν έχετε δεσμευτεί ακόμη, σκεφτείτε όλα όσα σας έχει δώσει ο Θεός και αποφασίστε να επιστρέψετε σε αυτόν την προσφορά σας.

Εάν ο καθένας κάνει το ρόλο του ξεχωριστά, τότε στο σύνολο, θα χρηματοδοτήσουμε τις λειτουργίες και τα προγράμματα αυτής της εκκλησίας και θα συνεχίσουμε να βλέπουμε ότι οι ζωές των παιδιών και των ενηλίκων αλλάζουν μέσω της πνευματικής ανατροφής και της ανάπτυξης.  Εάν έχετε οποιαδήποτε ερώτηση, είστε πάντα ευπρόσδεκτοι να επικοινωνήσετε με την εκκλησία ή με τον πατέρα Anthony κατευθείαν. Ανυπομονούμε πάντα να ακούσουμε από σας!

Με ευγνώμονες ευχαριστίες εκ των προτέρων.

Διακονία Οικονομικής Επιστασίας 

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Saints and Feasts

Myrrbear
May 03

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women

About the beginning of His thirty-second year, when the Lord Jesus was going throughout Galilee, preaching and working miracles, many women who had received of His beneficence left their own homeland and from then on followed after Him. They ministered unto Him out of their own possessions, even until His crucifixion and entombment; and afterwards, neither losing faith in Him after His death, nor fearing the wrath of the Jewish rulers, they came to the sepulchre, bearing the myrrh-oils they had prepared to annoint His body. It is because of the myrrh-oils, that these God-loving women brought to the tomb of Jesus that they are called the Myrrh-bearers. Of those whose names are known are the following: first of all, the most holy Virgin Mary, who in Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40 is called "the mother of James and Joses" (these are the sons of Joseph by a previous marriage, and she was therefore their step-mother); Mary Magdalene (celebrated July 22); Mary, the wife of Clopas; Joanna, wife of Chouza, a steward of Herod Antipas; Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee, Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus; and Susanna. As for the names of the rest of them, the evangelists have kept silence (Matt 27:55-56; 28:1-10. Mark 15:40-41. Luke 8:1-3; 23:55-24:11, 22-24. John 19:25; 20:11-18. Acts 1:14).

Together with them we celebrate also the secret disciples of the Saviour, Joseph and Nicodemus. Of these, Nicodemus was probably a Jerusalemite, a prominent leader among the Jews and of the order of the Pharisees, learned in the Law and instructed in the Holy Scriptures. He had believed in Christ when, at the beginning of our Saviour's preaching of salvation, he came to Him by night. Furthermore, he brought some one hundred pounds of myrrh-oils and an aromatic mixture of aloes and spices out of reverence and love for the divine Teacher (John 19:39). Joseph, who was from the city of Arimathea, was a wealthy and noble man, and one of the counsellors who were in Jerusalem. He went boldly unto Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and together with Nicodemus he gave Him burial. Since time did not permit the preparation of another tomb, he placed the Lord's body in his own tomb which was hewn out of rock, as the Evangelist says (Matt. 27:60).

Maura
May 03

The Holy Martyrs Timothy and Maura

The holy Martyrs Timothy and Maura were husband and wife. Timothy was from Penapeis in the Thebaid, a reader in the Church, and had been married to Maura only twenty days when he was betrayed to Arian, the Governor of the Thebaid, as a teacher of the Christians. Arian commanded Timothy to surrender his sacred books, which he refused to do, comparing it to a father's giving up his children to death. For this answer, heated iron spits were thrust through his ears. As he was being put to other tortures, Arian summoned Maura, hoping that she would persuade her husband to worship the idols, but she confessed herself a Christian. The hair of her head was pulled out, her fingers were cut off, then she was lowered into a cauldron of boiling water, but remained unharmed. Finally husband and wife were crucified facing each other, and after nine days, received their martyric end, during the reign of Diocletian (284-305).

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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 Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7.

In those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "it is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochoros, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaos, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

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

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 6:1-7.

Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, πληθυνόντων τῶν μαθητῶν, ἐγένετο γογγυσμὸς τῶν Ἑλληνιστῶν πρὸς τοὺς Ἑβραίους, ὅτι παρεθεωροῦντο ἐν τῇ διακονίᾳ τῇ καθημερινῇ αἱ χῆραι αὐτῶν. Προσκαλεσάμενοι δὲ οἱ δώδεκα τὸ πλῆθος τῶν μαθητῶν, εἶπον, Οὐκ ἀρεστόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς, καταλείψαντας τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ, διακονεῖν τραπέζαις. Ἐπισκέψασθε οὖν, ἀδελφοί, ἄνδρας ἐξ ὑμῶν μαρτυρουμένους ἑπτά, πλήρεις πνεύματος ἁγίου καὶ σοφίας, οὓς καταστήσωμεν ἐπὶ τῆς χρείας ταύτης. Ἡμεῖς δὲ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ διακονίᾳ τοῦ λόγου προσκαρτερήσομεν. Καὶ ἤρεσεν ὁ λόγος ἐνώπιον παντὸς τοῦ πλήθους· καὶ ἐξελέξαντο Στέφανον, ἄνδρα πλήρης πίστεως καὶ πνεύματος ἁγίου, καὶ Φίλιππον, καὶ Πρόχορον, καὶ Νικάνορα, καὶ Τίμωνα, καὶ Παρμενᾶν, καὶ Νικόλαον προσήλυτον Ἀντιοχέα, οὓς ἔστησαν ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀποστόλων· καὶ προσευξάμενοι ἐπέθηκαν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας. Καὶ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ ηὔξανεν, καὶ ἐπληθύνετο ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν μαθητῶν ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ σφόδρα, πολύς τε ὄχλος τῶν ἱερέων ὑπήκουον τῇ πίστει.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
The Reading is from Mark 15:43-47; 16:1-8

At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 15:43-47, 16:1-8

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐλθὼν Ἰωσὴφ ὁ ἀπὸ Ἀριμαθαίας, εὐσχήμων βουλευτής, ὃς καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν προσδεχόμενος τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, τολμήσας εἰσῆλθε πρὸς Πιλᾶτον καὶ ᾐτήσατο τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ. Ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος ἐθαύμασεν εἰ ἤδη τέθνηκε, καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος τὸν κεντυρίωνα ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτὸν εἰ πάλαι ἀπέθανε· καὶ γνοὺς ἀπὸ τοῦ κεντυρίωνος ἐδωρήσατο τὸ σῶμα τῷ Ἰωσήφ. Καὶ ἀγοράσας σινδόνα καὶ καθελὼν αὐτὸν ἐνείλησε τῇ σινδόνι καὶ κατέθηκεν αὐτὸν ἐν μνημείῳ, ὃ ἦν λελατομημένον ἐκ πέτρας, καὶ προσεκύλισε λίθον ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν τοῦ μνημείου. Ἡ δὲ Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία Ἰωσῆ ἐθεώρουν ποῦ τίθεται. Καὶ διαγενομένου τοῦ σαββάτου Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία ἡ τοῦ Ἰακώβου καὶ Σαλώμη ἠγόρασαν ἀρώματα ἵνα ἐλθοῦσαι ἀλείψωσιν αὐτόν. Καὶ λίαν πρωῒ τῆς μιᾶς σαββάτων ἔρχονται ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, ἀνατείλαντος τοῦ ἡλίου. Καὶ ἔλεγον πρὸς ἑαυτάς· Τίς ἀποκυλίσει ἡμῖν τὸν λίθον ἐκ τῆς θύρας τοῦ μνημείου; Καὶ ἀναβλέψασαι θεωροῦσιν ὅτι ἀποκεκύλισται ὁ λίθος· ἦν γὰρ μέγας σφόδρα. Καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον εἶδον νεανίσκον καθήμενον ἐν τοῖς δεξιοῖς, περιβεβλημένον στολὴν λευκήν, καὶ ἐξεθαμβήθησαν. Ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐταῖς· μὴ ἐκθαμβεῖσθε· Ἰησοῦν ζητεῖτε τὸν Ναζαρηνὸν τὸν ἐσταυρωμένον· ἠγέρθη, οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε· ἴδε ὁ τόπος ὅπου ἔθηκαν αὐτόν. Ἀλλ᾿ ὑπάγετε εἴπατε τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ Πέτρῳ ὅτι προάγει ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν· ἐκεῖ αὐτὸν ὄψεσθε, καθὼς εἶπεν ὑμῖν. Καὶ ἐξελθοῦσαι ἔφυγον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου· εἶχε δὲ αὐτὰς τρόμος καὶ ἔκστασις, καὶ οὐδενὶ οὐδὲν εἶπον· ἐφοβοῦντο γάρ.

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Wisdom of the Fathers

They [the women] had followed Him ministering to Him, and were present even unto the time of the dangers. Wherefore also they saw all; how He cried, how He gave up the ghost, how the rocks were rent, and all the rest.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 88 on Matthew 27, 4th Century

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