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Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church
Publish Date: 2021-01-31
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Unmercenaries
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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

  TRISAGION

On Sunday, a 40 day Trisagion service will be offered for the repose of the soul of  Fr. John Govostes.

 ΤΡΙΣΑΓΙΟΝ

Την Κυριακή, θα τελεσθεί 40ήμερο Τρισάγιον υπέρ αναπαύσεως της ψυχής του πάτερ Ιωάννη Γκοβόστη.

   ________________________________________

WEEKDAY SERVICES

THE THREE HIERARCHS - Saturday, January 30, 2021

Orthros at 8:30 a.m. and Divine Liturgy at 9:30 a.m.

PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD— Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Orthros at 8:30 a.m. and Divine Liturgy at 9:30 a.m.

ST. PHOTIOS—Saturday, February 6, 2021

Orthros at 8:30 a.m. and Divine Liturgy at 9:30 a.m.

   ΚΑΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΕΣ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΕΣ

ΟΙ ΤΡΕΙΣ ΙΕΡΑΡΧΕΣ -Σάββατο, 30 Ιανουαρίου, 2021

Ορθρος στίς 8:30 π.μ. καί Θεία Λειτουργία στίς 9:30 π.μ.

ΥΠΑΠΑΝΤΗ ΤΟΥ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ—Τρίτη, 2 Φεβρουαρίου, 2021

Ορθρος στίς 8:30 π.μ. καί Θεία Λειτουργία στίς 9:30 π.μ.

ΑΓΙΟΣ ΦΩΤΙΟΣ, Σάββατο, 6 Φεβρουαρίου, 2021

Ορθρος στίς 8:30 π.μ. καί Θεία Λειτουργία στίς 9:30 π.μ.

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Saints and Feasts

Unmercenaries
January 31

Cyrus & John the Unmercenaries

These Saints lived during the years of Diocletian. Saint Cyrus was from Alexandria, and Saint John was from Edessa of Mesopotamia. Because of the persecution of that time, Cyrus fled to the Gulf of Arabia, where there was a small community of monks. John, who was a soldier, heard of Cyrus' fame and came to join him. Henceforth, they passed their life working every virtue, and healing every illness and disease freely by the grace of Christ; hence their title of "Unmercenaries." They heard that a certain woman, named Athanasia, had been apprehended together with her three daughters, Theodora, Theoctiste, and Eudoxia, and taken to the tribunal for their confession of the Faith. Fearing lest the tender young maidens be terrified by the torments and renounce Christ, they went to strengthen them in their contest in martyrdom; therefore they too were seized. After Cyrus and John and those sacred women had been greatly tormented, all were beheaded in the year 292. Their tomb became a renowned shrine in Egypt, and a place of universal pilgrimage. It was found in the area of the modern day resort near Alexandria named Abu Kyr.


Preslord
February 02

The Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple

When the most pure Mother and Ever-Virgin Mary's forty days of purification had been fulfilled, she took her first-born Son to Jerusalem on this, the fortieth day after His birth, that she might present Him in the temple according to the Law of Moses, which teaches that every first-born male child be dedicated to God, and also that she might offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons, as required by the Law (Luke 2:22-24; Exod. 13:2; Lev. 12:6-8). On this same day, a just and devout man, the greatly aged Symeon, was also present in the temple, being guided by the Holy Spirit. For a long time, this man had been awaiting the salvation of God, and he had been informed by divine revelation that he would not die until he beheld the Lord's Christ. Thus, when he beheld Him at that time and took Him up into his aged arms, he gave glory to God, singing: "Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, O Master. . ." And he confessed that he would close his eyes joyfully, since he had seen the Light of revelation for the nations and the Glory of Israel (Luke 2:25-32). From ancient times, the Holy Church has retained this tradition of the churching of the mother and new-born child on the fortieth day and of the reading of prayers of purification.

The Apodosis of the Feast of the Meeting in the Temple is usually on the 9th of February. This, however, may vary if the Feast falls within the period of the Triodion. Should this occur, the Typicon should be consulted for specific information concerning the Apodosis of the Feast.


Photiosgreat
February 06

Photius the Great, Patriarch of Constantinople

As for the thrice-blessed Photius, the great and most resplendent Father and teacher of the Church, the Confessor of the Faith and Equal to the Apostles, he lived during the years of the emperors Michael (the son of Theophilus), Basil the Macedonian, and Leo his son. He was the son of pious parents, Sergius and Irene, who suffered for the Faith under the Iconoclast Emperor Theophilus; he was also a nephew of Saint Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople (see Feb. 25). He was born in Constantinople, where he excelled in the foremost imperial ministries, while ever practicing a virtuous and godly life. An upright and honorable man of singular learning and erudition, he was raised to the apostolic, ecumenical, and patriarchal throne of Constantinople in the year 857.

The many struggles that this thrice-blessed one undertook for the Orthodox Faith against the Manichaeans, the Iconoclasts, and other heretics, and the attacks and assaults that he endured from Nicholas I, the haughty and ambitious Pope of Rome, and the great persecutions and distresses he suffered, are beyond number. Contending against the Latin error of the filioque, that is, the doctrine that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son, he demonstrated clearly with his Mystagogy on the Holy Spirit how the filioque destroys the unity and equality of the Trinity. He has left us many theological writings, panegyric homilies, and epistles, including one to Boris, the Sovereign of Bulgaria, in which he set forth for him the history and teachings of the Seven Ecumenical Councils. Having tended the Church of Christ in holiness and in an evangelical manner, and with fervent zeal having rooted out all the tares of every alien teaching, he departed to the Lord in the Monastery of the Armenians on February 6, 891.


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to Timothy 4:9-15.

Timothy, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and suffer reproach, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Till I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.

Προκείμενον. First Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 32.22,1.
Γένοιτο, Κύριε, τὸ ἔλεός σου ἐφ' ἡμᾶς.
Στίχ. Ἀγαλλιᾶσθε δίκαιοι ἐν Κυρίῳ

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Τιμόθεον α' 4:9-15.

Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, πιστὸς ὁ λόγος καὶ πάσης ἀποδοχῆς ἄξιος. Εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ κοπιῶμεν καὶ ὀνειδιζόμεθα, ὅτι ἠλπίκαμεν ἐπὶ θεῷ ζῶντι, ὅς ἐστιν σωτὴρ πάντων ἀνθρώπων, μάλιστα πιστῶν. Παράγγελλε ταῦτα καὶ δίδασκε. Μηδείς σου τῆς νεότητος καταφρονείτω, ἀλλὰ τύπος γίνου τῶν πιστῶν ἐν λόγῳ, ἐν ἀναστροφῇ, ἐν ἀγάπῃ, ἐν πνεύματι, ἐν πίστει, ἐν ἁγνείᾳ. Ἕως ἔρχομαι, πρόσεχε τῇ ἀναγνώσει, τῇ παρακλήσει, τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ. Μὴ ἀμέλει τοῦ ἐν σοὶ χαρίσματος, ὃ ἐδόθη σοι διὰ προφητείας μετὰ ἐπιθέσεως τῶν χειρῶν τοῦ πρεσβυτερίου. Ταῦτα μελέτα, ἐν τούτοις ἴσθι, ἵνα σου ἡ προκοπὴ φανερὰ ᾖ ἐν πᾶσιν.


Gospel Reading

15th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 19:1-10

At that time, Jesus was passing through Jericho. And there was a man named Zacchaios; he was a chief collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaios, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." And Zacchaios stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost."

15th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 19:1-10

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, διήρχετο τὴν ῾Ιεριχώ· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ ὀνόματι καλούμενος Ζακχαῖος, καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν ἀρχιτελώνης, καὶ οὗτος ἦν πλούσιος, καὶ ἐζήτει ἰδεῖν τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν τίς ἐστι, καὶ οὐκ ἠδύνατο ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄχλου, ὅτι τῇ ἡλικίᾳ μικρὸς ἦν. καὶ προδραμὼν ἔμπροσθεν ἀνέβη ἐπὶ συκομορέαν, ἵνα ἴδῃ αὐτόν, ὅτι ἐκείνης ἤμελλε διέρχεσθαι. καὶ ὡς ἦλθεν ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον, ἀναβλέψας ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶδεν αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· Ζακχαῖε, σπεύσας κατάβηθι· σήμερον γὰρ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου δεῖ με μεῖναι. καὶ σπεύσας κατέβη, καὶ ὑπεδέξατο αὐτὸν χαίρων. καὶ ἰδόντες πάντες διεγόγγυζον λέγοντες ὅτι παρὰ ἁμαρτωλῷ ἀνδρὶ εἰσῆλθε καταλῦσαι. σταθεὶς δὲ Ζακχαῖος εἶπε πρὸς τὸν Κύριον· ἰδοὺ τὰ ἡμίση τῶν ὑπαρχόντων μου, Κύριε, δίδωμι τοῖς πτωχοῖς, καὶ εἴ τινός τι ἐσυκοφάντησα, ἀποδίδωμι τετραπλοῦν. εἶπε δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ὅτι σήμερον σωτηρία τῷ οἴκῳ τούτῳ ἐγένετο, καθότι καὶ αὐτὸς υἱὸς ᾿Αβραάμ ἐστιν. ἦλθε γὰρ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ζητῆσαι καὶ σῶσαι τὸ ἀπολωλός.


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This Sunday is celebrated

Topics for the Sunday sermons in a form of a catechism in question and answer format / Θέματα για τα κηρύγματα της Κυριακής σε μορφή κατήχησης σέ μορφή ερωτήσεων και απαντήσεων

 Dear brothers and sisters in Christ

              Last year we established a great custom of “question and answer” in the church held every third Sunday of the month. During the COVID period, we stopped doing it for no good reason. I urge you to send me your questions and we will try to restart this beautiful dialogue. 

 I offer you aspects of Church life you may consider to ask questions about. The answers will certainly be beneficial for you and the rest of the community.

 Αγαπητοί αδελφοί και αδελφές εν Χριστό

 Πέρυσι, καθιερώσαμε μια μεγάλη συνήθεια «ερωτήσης και απαντήσης» στην εκκλησία που πραγματοποιήθηκε κάθε τρίτη Κυριακή του μήνα. Κατά τη διάρκεια της περιόδου COVID, σταματήσαμε να το κάνουμε χωρίς καλό λόγο. Σας  παρακαλώ να μου στείλετε τις ερωτήσεις σας και θα προσπαθήσουμε να επανεκκινήσουμε αυτόν τον όμορφο διάλογο.

 Σας προσφέρω πτυχές της εκκλησιαστικής ζωής για τις οποίες μπορεί να εξετάσετε το ενδεχόμενο να κάνετε ερωτήσεις. Οι απαντήσεις σίγουρα θα είναι επωφελείς για εσάς και την υπόλοιπη κοινότητα.

  ➢ Communion / ➢ Κοινωνία—Fr.

➢ Repentance / ➢ Μετάνοια—Fr.

➢ Confession / ➢ Εξομολόγηση—Fr.

➢ Forgiveness of sins / ➢ Συγχώρεση αμαρτιών—Fr.

➢ Forgiveness of the others / ➢ Συγχώρεση των άλλων—Fr.

➢ Loving enemies  / ➢ Αγαπώντας τους εχθρούς—Fr.

➢ 40-day blessing / ➢ Ευλογία 40 ημερών—Fr.

➢ Blessing houses and other material things / ➢ Ευλογία σπιτιών και άλλων υλικών— Fr.

➢ Trust in God vs. believing in God / ➢ Εμπιστοσύνη στον Θεό έναντι πίστης στον Θεό—Fr.

➢ Introduction to the Bible / ➢ Εισαγωγή στη Βίβλο—Fr.

➢ Introduction to Baptism and it’s parts / ➢ Εισαγωγή στο βάπτισμα και τα μέρη της—Fr.

➢ What is a holy Icon / ➢ Τι είναι μια Iερή Eικόνα - Fr.

➢  The meaning of blood sacrifice in the Old and New Testament / ➢ Η έννοια της θυσίας αίματος στην Παλαιά και την Καινή Διαθήκη—Fr.

➢ Different parts of the Church building / ➢ Διαφορετικά τμήματα του κτηρίου της Εκκλησίας—Fr.

➢ Membership/Stewardship / ➢ Σύνθεση / Διαχείριση—

 Was presented by Angela Sherman, Dec. 6, 2020

 ➢ The orthodox worship music / ➢ Η μουσική της ορθόδοξης λατρείας—

Was presented by Richard Barrett, Dec. 13, 2020

➢ Reconciliation and Unity / ➢ Συμφιλίωση και Ενότητα—

Was presented by Narge Sparages, Dec. 20, 2020

 ➢ Finance in the Church  / ➢ Οικονομικά στην Εκκλησία—

Was presented by Bill Galatis, On Sunday, Jan. 03, 2021

 ➢ Leadership in the Church / ➢ Ηγεσία στην Εκκλησία—

 Was presented by Diane Karavitis, this Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021 

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Wisdom of the Fathers

For Christ's presence is like that of some life-giving, scented balsam which restores health, enriches life and gives savor to the soul, the thoughts, the words of a man. In brief, distance from Christ means corruption and death, and closeness to Him means salvation and life.
Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic
Prolog, 4 February

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