Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
One of the most ancient cities of the Promised Land was Shechem, also called Sikima, located at the foot of Mount Gerazim. There the Israelites had heard the blessings in the days of Moses and Jesus of Navi. Near to this town, Jacob, who had come from Mesopotamia in the nineteenth century before Christ, bought a piece of land where there was a well. This well, preserved even until the time of Christ, was known as Jacob's Well. Later, before he died in Egypt, he left that piece of land as a special inheritance to his son Joseph (Gen. 49:22). This town, before it was taken into possession by Samaria, was also the leading city of the kingdom of the ten tribes. In the time of the Romans it was called Neapolis, and at present Nablus. It was the first city in Canaan visited by the Patriarch Abraham. Here also, Jesus of Navi (Joshua) addressed the tribes of Israel for the last time. Almost three hundred years later, all Israel assembled there to make Roboam (Rehoboam) king.
When our Lord Jesus Christ, then, came at midday to this city, which is also called Sychar (John 4:5), He was wearied from the journey and the heat, and He sat down at this well. After a little while the Samaritan woman mentioned in today's Gospel passage came to draw water. As she conversed at some length with the Lord and heard from Him secret things concerning herself, she believed in Him; through her many other Samaritans also believed.
Concerning the Samaritans we know the following: In the year 721 before Christ, Salmanasar (Shalmaneser), King of the Assyrians, took the ten tribes of the kingdom of Israel into captivity, and relocated all these people to Babylon and the land of the Medes. From there he gathered various nations and sent them to Samaria. These nations had been idolaters from before. Although they were later instructed in the Jewish faith and believed in the one God, they worshipped the idols also. Furthermore, they accepted only the Pentateuch of Moses, and rejected the other books of Holy Scripture. Nonetheless, they thought themselves to be descendants of Abraham and Jacob. Therefore, the pious Jews named these Judaizing and idolatrous peoples Samaritans, since they lived in Samaria, the former leading city of the Israelites, as well as in the other towns thereabout. The Jews rejected them as heathen and foreigners, and had no communion with them at all, as the Samaritan woman observed, "the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans" (John 4:9). Therefore, the name Samaritan is used derisively many times in the Gospel narrations. After the Ascension of the Lord, and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the woman of Samaria was baptized by the holy Apostles and became a great preacher and Martyr of Christ; she was called Photine, and her feast is kept on February 26.
This week’s “How-to” Green Your Parish episode features Hieromonk Michael on “Starting a Parish Garden.”
The Orthodox Theological Society in America (OTSA) is hosting a webinar on “The Two Become One? Mixed Marriages in the Orthodox Church” on May 29, 2021 at 1:00 PM EDT. The webinar will focus on the book “Mixed Marriage: An Orthodox History” by Fr. Anthony Roeber, PhD.
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His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Patriarchal Vicar, visited the Metropolis of New Jersey headquarters today. His Eminence was warmly welcomed by His Grace Bishop Apostolos of Medeia and V. Rev. Archimandrite Christoforos Oikonomidis, Chancellor of the Metropolis.
This morning, the Holy and Sacred Synod elected The V. Rev. Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Athenagoras Ziliaskopoulos, Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod and Chaplain of the Holy Cross Theological School, as the Bishop of Nazianzos, assistant Bishop of His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch, who placed him at the disposal of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America in order that he may continue his current service in the Holy Archdiocese.
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America received Archimandrite Alexander Belya, Rev. Fr. Oleksander Belya of the Slavic Vicariate in his office. Joining the meeting was Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Rev. Protopresbyter Andreas Vithoulkas.
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America received in his office today the Rev. Hieromonk Gedeon Varytimos of Sts. Constantine and Helen Church in Jackson Heights, NY, along with parish council president Fotis Gerasopoulos. Following a tradition from Constantinople, His Eminence received arto on behalf of the Sts. Constantine and Helen community along with an official invitation for him to serve at the Divine Liturgy for their patronal feast on May 21.
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His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros met with the Ministry Directors today at Archdiocesan Headquarters.
In commemoration of the bicentennial of the Greek Revolution, the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith Relations is hosting a one-hour webinar on “The Place and Role of the Greek Revolution in Today’s Greek Identity.”
IV Next is excited to announce Dean and Victoria Tiggas as this year’s Trip Leaders and travel ambassadors. IV Next is the only travel-based program for young adults that combines professional development, international travel, and the Orthodox Faith into one all-inclusive program.
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The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America received with much joy and gratitude the news from the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, that at the recommendation of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Holy and Sacred Synod elected on May 19th, 2021 the Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Athenagoras Ziliaskopoulos, as His Auxiliary Bishop, with the title “Bishop of Nazianzos.”
Have you noticed how judging has become a national pastime lately? Christ is very clear about judging others. What can we do when we are feeling judged or worse yet, judging others? Fr. Timothy Pavlatos, will be on hand to discuss what the church has to say about this important topic and will share practical suggestions as we grapple with this very present judging epidemic. Join us!
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America was presented with the Key to the City of Wilmington, Delaware by Mayor Michael Purzycki on Sunday, May 23, 2021 during a pastoral visit to Holy Trinity Church. In addition to this honor, His Eminence was met by the Governor of Delaware John Carney and presented a gift of his Enthronement Medallion containing an icon of the Hospitality of Abraham to him.
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at Saints Constantine and Helen in Jackson Heights, NY. Following the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence elevated the Proistamenos, Fr. Gedeon Varitimos, to the rank of Archimandrite. AXIOS!!