Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Tone

From on high didst Thou descend, O Compassionate One; to burial of three days hast Thou submitted that Thou mightest free us from our passions. O our Life and Resurrection, Lord, glory be to Thee.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Grave Tone

You were transfigured upon the mount, O Christ our God, and Your disciples, in so far as they could bear, beheld Your glory. Thus, when they see You crucified, they may understand Your voluntary passion, and proclaim to the world that You are truly the effulgence of the Father.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Ninth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."

Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Tone. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 3:9-17.

Brethren, we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and that temple you are.

Gospel Reading

9th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 14:22-34

At that time, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying "Take heart, it is I; have no fear."

And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they entered the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

Saints and Feasts

July 29

9th Sunday of Matthew

July 29

The Holy Martyr Callinicus

Saint Callinicus was from Cilicia. Because he preached Christ and turned many pagans away from the idols, he was seized by Sacerdon the Governor, who subjected him to many tortures, then had him shod with shoes in which nails had been fixed upright, and compelled him to run to the city of Gangra, where he was burned alive in a furnace.

July 31

Joseph the Righteous of Arimathea

Saint Joseph of Arimathea was a prominent Jewish leader during the time of Jesus Christ. He is mentioned in the Gospels as being a rich man from Armiathea who was a secret disciple of Christ due to his status in the Sanhedrin. After the crucifixion and death of our Lord, Joseph approached Pontius Pilate out of piety and asked for the body of Jesus so that he might bury it honorably. He, together with Saint Nicodemus, removed the body of Christ from the cross in the presence of the Theotokos and the Myrrh-Bearing Women, wrapped it in a linen shroud, anointed it with spices, and laid it in a new tomb that he owned. This disciple later traveled the world proclaiming the Gospel until he reposed in peace in England. The Church commemorates him individually on July 31^st and along with the Myrrh-Bearing Women and Nicodemus on the 3^rd Sunday of Pascha (the Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-Bearers).

August 01

The Holy Seven Maccabee Children, Solomone Their Mother, and Eleazar Their Teacher

The names of the Holy Maccabees are Abim, Anthony, Guria, Eleazar, Eusebona, Achim, and Marcellus. They were Jews by race and exact keepers of the Laws of the Fathers. They lived during the reign of Antiochus, who was surnamed Epiphanes ("Illustrious"), the King of Syria and an implacable enemy of the Jews. Having subjugated their whole nation and done many evil things to them, not sparing to assail the most sacred matters of their Faith, he constrained them, among other things, to partake of swine's flesh, which was forbidden by the Law. Then these pious youths, on being apprehended together with their mother and their teacher, were constrained to set at nought the Law, and were subjected to unspeakable tortures: wrackings, the breaking of their bones, the flaying of their flesh, fire, dismemberment, and such things as only a tyrant's mind and a bestial soul is able to contrive. But when they had endured all things courageously and showed in deed that the mind is sovereign over the passions and is able to conquer them if it so desires, they gloriously ended their lives in torments, surrendering their life for the sake of the observance of the divine Law. The first to die was their teacher Eleazar, then all the brethren in the order of their age. As for their wondrous mother Solomone, "filled with a courageous spirit, and stirring up her womanish thoughts with a manly wrath" (II Macc. 7:21), she was present at her children's triumph over the tyrant, strengthening them in their struggle for the sake of their Faith, and enduring stout-heartedly their sufferings for the sake of their hope in the Lord. After her last and youngest son had been perfected in martyrdom, when she was about to be seized to be put to death, she cast herself into the fire that they might not touch her, and was thus deemed worthy of a blessed end together with her sons, in the year 168 before Christ.

July 31

Eudocimus the Righteous of Cappadocia

Saint Eudocimus was from Cappadocia, the son of pious and most illustrious parents, patricians in rank. He especially cultivated chastity and mercy, the one by never meeting the gaze of a woman, the other by cheerfully providing the needs of the poor. When he was made military commander of Cappadocia, he continued in his righteous ways, showing mercy and uprightness in all his dealings. Having so lived in piety, quietly and without ostentation, he was called from this life at the age of thirty-three, about the year 840, during the reign of the Iconoclast Theophilus. Not long after his burial, his grave became a fountain of unending miracles, as God revealed the virtue that Eudocimus had striven to hide; when his grave was later opened, his body was found incorrupt. His holy relics were translated to Constantinople.

August 02

Translation of the Relics of Stephen the Protomartyr

After the First Martyr had been stoned to death (see Dec. 27), Gamaliel, his teacher, encouraged certain of the Christians to go by night and take up the Saint's body and bury it in his field, which was at a distance of some twenty miles from Jerusalem and was called by his name, "Kaphar-gamala," that is, "the field of Gamala," where Gamaliel himself was later buried. About the year 427, a certain pious man called Lucian, who was the parish priest of a church near to that field, received from God a revelation in a dream concerning the place where the First Martyr was buried. He immediately made this known to John, the Patriarch of Jerusalem. Thus, coming to the place indicated, and digging there, they found a box with the word "Stephen" in Aramaic letters. On opening it, they took these most sacred relics and transferred them to Jerusalem with great honor and in the company of a very great multitude of the faithful.

August 02

Phocas the Martyr

Saint Phocas was a gardener in a small village on the south coast of the Black Sea. He lived a simple life, carrying out acts of piety and love for all around him, even serving the pagans of the village, some of who left their ways and followed Christ. The local governor heard of this and sent soldiers to kill him. The saint stumbled upon these very soldiers and, without disclosing his name, ministered to them by receiving them into his home, feeding them, and giving them rest. That night he dug a grave for himself in his garden and prepared for all his possessions to be given away after his death.

The next morning, Phocas disclosed to the soldiers that it was he whom they were seeking to kill. The soldiers were distraught, not wanting to kill the saint who had shown them so much kindness. Phocas insisted that they must carry out their mission as he willingly laid his head beneath the sword. They proceeded to execute him and then bury him in the grave he dug in his garden. The site later became a source of miracles, and eventually a Church was erected upon it. Saint Phocas is frequently invoked for those who travel by sea. His life was recorded by Saint Asterius of Amasia (see October 10^th).

August 04

Seven Holy Youths of Ephesus

The Seven Youths hid themselves in a certain cave near Ephesus in the year 250, to escape the persecution of Decius. By divine grace, a sleep came upon them and they slept for 184 years, until the reign of Saint Theodosius the Younger, when the doctrine of the resurrection was being assailed by heretics. They then awoke, that is, were resurrected, confirming in the sight of all the bodily resurrection; and again after a short time, by divine command, they reposed in the Lord in the year 434.

Wisdom of the Fathers

So absolutely nothing does it avail to be near Christ, if not being near Him by faith .... Signifying therefore that not the assault of the wind, but his want of faith had wrought his overthrow, He said, "Wherefore did you doubt, O you of little faith?"

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 50 on Matthew 14, 4th Century

So that if his faith had not been weak, he would have stood easily against the wind also. And for this reason, you see, even when He had caught hold of Him, He suffers the wind to blow, showing that no hurt comes thereby, when faith is steadfast.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 50 on Matthew 14, 4th Century

Christ did not command the winds to cease at that time, but Himself stretched forth His hand and took hold of Peter, because here faith was required of him. When we do not do our part, divine (grace) slows and stands still.. . . it was not the wind that did Peter harm; his lack of faith sank him. Where faith is fruitfu, firm and strong, none of the evils that may befall us can do us any harm.

St. John Chrysostom

The Gospel Commentary edited by Hieromonk German Ciuba, 2002, 4th Century

Fr. Michael Kontogiorgis, Parish Priest

Paraklesis Services

We will be holding some Paraklesis (Supplication) Services to the Virgin Mary (please see Church Services Schedule) during which prayers are offered for the health and well-being of Orthodox Christians. Please use the form available through the link below to submit your names, or use a plain sheet of paper and list FIRST names only (baptismal names if known), with a heading, "For the health and well-being" at the top (no cross...a cross at the top indicates they are deceased).

Paraklesis Form

Greek Festival Photographer Appointed

Help Wanted: Church Photographer and Assistants

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Carol Demery as the Greek Festival Photographer. Carol will be taking pictures on her Nikon camera during the Festival and I will be posting many of them on Facebook and the parish website. Thank you Carol!!!

Do you like to take pictures? Enjoy creatively staging the shot? Would you be interested in taking pictures on occasion for church events to help us memorialize the event?

I would like to create the positions of Church Photographer and Church Photographer Assistants to help us not forgot. If interested in being considered, please let me know. This volunteer position will assist our Church Historian in preserving the memories.

Thank you for considering this important way of serving the parish.

Bring Sweaters/Jackets to Services

Reminder - Church Temperature Will be on the Colder Side

We are still having some temperature variations in different parts of the church. Parts of the church are on the cold side, while the Altar is extremely warm. Until this is resolved the temperature setting will be on the colder side, so you may want to bring a sweater or jacket to services. A solution will be found for this rather abnormal situation. In the meantime, it will be cold in some areas of the church, and warm in others. A potential solution is being explored. In the meantime, bring a sweater or jacket (as you would do to a restaurant or airport or store).

Church Services

Sunday, July 29

Ninth Sunday of Matthew
8:50 am - Matins & Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, August 1

Paraklesis
12:00 noon - Supplication Service to the Virgin Mary

Dormition Fast Begins

Sunday, August 5

Tenth Sunday of Matthew
8:50 am - Matins & Divine Liturgy

Monday, August 6

The Transfiguration of Christ
9:00 am - Matins
10:00 am - Divine Liturgy

Blessing of Grapes

Wednesday, August 8

Paraklesis
12:00 noon - Supplication Service to the Virgin Mary

Friday, August 10

Paraklesis
12:00 noon - Supplication Service to the Virgin Mary

Sunday, August 12

Eleventh Sunday of Matthew
8:50 am - Matins & Divine Liturgy

Parish News

Photos from Last Sunday

Curb Appeal Continues

One of our parishioners last Sunday was so enthused with the flowers, blooming roses, trees, etc. that he took pictures and sent them along late Sunday. He thought things looked wonderful and reflected excellent curb appeal. Many thanks to Bill Sardelis who has been diligently working recently on mulching, pruning and sprucing up. He and Maria Kakouras have been diligent in caring for the flower/tree beds in front of the church as well as the sign by the street. Their efforts have been noticed and appreciated. Have you noticed how our grass is looking better? Compare it to the neighbor's grass behind the church.

Thank you for your efforts.

Pictures from Sunday, July 22, 2018

Festival Baking

Greek Festival Baking Continues

The Greek Festival will be held August 18 & 19. Baking continues on Wednesdays at 10 am at the social hall.

If you are not able to come and bake, the Baking Committee requests that you consider baking something at home and bringing it to the church. Brownies, cookies, Greek pastries, whatever your specialties are will be more than welcome. Thank you!!!

Also, sign-up sheets for workers at the Festival have been posted in the social hall. Take a look and add your name. Thank you!!!

Winchester Greek Festival 2018 Flyer

Holy Communion / Church Etiquette

Receiving Holy Communion / Church Etiquette

Just some reminders about receiving Holy Communion when properly prepared to do so.....

As with all the Greek Orthodox Church's Sacraments, Holy Communion is offered to Orthodox Christians who are sacramentally in good standing with the Church. This would mean among other things that if married the wedding took place in the Orthodox Church, if divorced (and were married in the Orthodox Church) an Ecclesiastical Divorce has been obtained, and that you are not under penance placed by a Father Confessor, etc. The Orthodox Church does not practice open Communion.

When approaching the Chalice, please quietly say your Baptismal name as you take the red cloth and place it under your chin.

Also, please open your mouth to allow the communion spoon to enter, and once it has please close your mouth around the spoon to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Please do not sip, as if sipping soup.

Also, don't forget we have a closed-circuit real-time broadcast, with sound, of the services on the monitor in the Social Hall. If your youngster needs a short break please step into the hall until he/she feels ready to rejoin the congregation, while you continue to be able to participate in the service. Thank you.

Please remember that all movement in the church should be curtailed during all processions, the reading of the Epistle/Gospel, the recitation of the Creed and Lord's Prayer and during the sermon, and whenever the priest is facing the congregation (which indicates he is conveying the blessings of God).

Thank you for your attention to these reminders.

If you are married but have not been married in the Orthodox Church, or if divorced and were married in the Orthodox Church and have not received an Ecclesiastical Divorce, please contact Fr. Michael to discuss the process of restoring you back into the Sacramental life of the Church.

Bring Sweaters/Jackets to Services

Coffee Hour

Everyone is welcome to join in fellowship during the Coffee Hour following the Divine Liturgy on Sundays. If you would like to host a coffee hour, please see the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board next to Father's Study.

The Ladies Philoptochos Society coordinates the hosting of our Coffee Hours. Everyone is welcome to volunteer to host a coffee hour. For more information regarding hosting a Coffee Hour, please contact Kate Conant at (240) 422-0738.

Philoptochos Social Services Outreach

Assistance Needed - Help Us Help You or Those You Know
The Ladies Philoptochos Social Services Committee needs your help. If you need some assistance in getting to medical or other appointments, a ride to church, shopping or financial assistance or would welcome a quick visit just because, or know of anyone who does, the Social Services Committee would like to hear about it. Please let Father Michael know (540-667-1416 or frmichael.dormition@gmail.com) and he will pass it on to the Committee.

This information will be held in the strictest confidence by the Committee and shared with only a select number of Philoptochos members.

Help us reach out to you or those you know who could use a helping hand.

For a comprehensive list of resources in the Metropolitan Winchester area, please click on the link below.

Winchester Community Resources

Altar Servers

Young men between the ages of 10 to 18 are invited to be considered for serving in the Holy Altar. Altar Servers should strive to arrive by 10:00 am. For more information, please see Father Michael.

Cell Phones

Cell phones should be silenced or turned off during Church services. Thank you for remembering.

CCAP (Congregational Community Action Project)

Please help the less fortunate by donating non-perishable foods, pantry items clothing and baby items. Place your donations in the CCAP collection bin in the Social Hall. Thank you.

Lending Library

Did you know the Church has a Lending Library?

The books available for borrowing are in the bookcase next to the Gift Shop by the wall. Most of the books on display are available to be borrowed (those not are on a separate shelf which is marked as reference only). Feel free to check out the available books. If interested in borrowing a book, fill out the card in the back of the book and leave it in the basket in the bottom corner. It's the honor system, so once you have read the book, please don't forget to return it so others may borrow it. Happy reading!!!

Calendars for 2018

Wall calendars and pocket icon calendars for 2018 are available in the social hall. If you cannot come to the church, please let us know and we will mail you one.

Parish Calendar

Upcoming liturgical services, meetings and events can be viewed on the parish’s website calendar and are listed in the Sunday bulletin. To view the Parish Calendar Click here.

All parish organizations are requested to coordinate with Father Michael the date and time of proposed meetings and events to help prevent scheduling conflicts. Email bulletin announcements or updates to frmichael.dormition@gmail.com. Everyone's cooperation is appreciated.

Bulletin Submission Guidelines

Bulletin Announcements

Announcements for the Sunday e-bulletin and printed bulletin may be submitted by e-mail to frmichael.dormition@gmail.com. The deadline for announcements is Monday evenings by 8:00 pm for the upcoming bulletin.

All announcements must be in connection with Parish events, activities, fundraisers or community services. Fundraiser and community service announcements must be for non-commercial/non-profit events and activities. Submitted announcements must be furnished as desired for placement and are subject to editing. Submission does not imply acceptance for publication.

All ministries are requested to coordinate with Father Michael, as early as possible, the date and time of proposed meetings and events to prevent scheduling conflicts. E-mail new postings, updates and changes to Father. Everyone's cooperation is expected.

To ensure the privacy of our Parishioners, announcements for births, baptisms, and weddings are not automatically included. The family should make this request to Fr. Michael.

All announcements should be brief and concise including accurate contact information. All submissions are subject to approval for insertion and to editing.

Directions to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church

We welcome you to worship with us on Sunday and whenever the Divine Liturgy is celebrated. Matins begins at 8:50 am and the Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am.

Click here for Google Map & Specific Driving Directions »

DIRECTIONS TO THE DORMITION CHURCH FROM THE NORTH:

1. Proceed south on Interstate 81 South heading toward Winchester
2. Take exit 317 for VA-37/ US-11 toward US-522 N/ US-50 W/ Winchester/ Stephenson (0.3 mi)
3. Turn right at US-11 S/ VA-37 S/ Martinsburg Pike, Continue to follow VA-37 S (3.8 mi)
4. Take the ramp to US-50 E/ Northwestern Pike (0.2 mi)
5. Turn left at US-50 E/ Northwestern Pike, Continue to follow US-50 E (0.6 mi )
6. Turn left at Omps Dr, Continue to entrance of the Church`s parking lot (100 ft)
7. Turn left into the Church`s parking lot.

DIRECTIONS TO THE DORMITION CHURCH FROM THE SOUTH:

1. Proceed north on Interstate 81North heading toward Winchester
2. Take exit 310 for VA-37 toward US-11/VA-642/ Winchester/ Kernstown/ US-50/ US-522/ Berkely Spgs/ Romney (0.2 mi)
3. Turn left at VA-37 N (5.2 mi)
4. Take the US-50 ramp to Winchester/ Romney (0.3 mi)
5. Turn right at US-50 E/ Amherst St (0.5 mi)
6. Turn left at Omps Dr, Continue to entrance of the Church`s parking lot (100 ft)
7. Turn left into the Church`s parking lot.

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Tone

Seasonal Kontakion in the Grave Tone

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Saints and Feasts

9th Sunday of Matthew

The Holy Martyr Callinicus

Joseph the Righteous of Arimathea

The Holy Seven Maccabee Children, Solomone Their Mother, and Eleazar Their Teacher

Eudocimus the Righteous of Cappadocia

Translation of the Relics of Stephen the Protomartyr

Phocas the Martyr

Seven Holy Youths of Ephesus

Wisdom of the Fathers

Fr. Michael Kontogiorgis, Parish Priest

Church Services

Sunday, July 29

Wednesday, August 1

Sunday, August 5

Monday, August 6

Wednesday, August 8

Friday, August 10

Sunday, August 12

Parish News

Photos from Last Sunday

Festival Baking

Holy Communion / Church Etiquette

Bring Sweaters/Jackets to Services

Coffee Hour

Philoptochos Social Services Outreach

Altar Servers

Cell Phones

CCAP (Congregational Community Action Project)

Lending Library

Calendars for 2018

Parish Calendar

Bulletin Submission Guidelines

Bulletin Announcements

Directions to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church