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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2021-03-28
Bulletin Contents
Parish News & Events
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Wisdom of the Fathers
02_palamas2
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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (919) 781-4548
  • Fax:
  • (919) 781-4568
  • Street Address:

  • 5000 Lead Mine Road

  • Raleigh, NC 27612

Contact Information

Proistamenos Fr. Paul N. Christy


HTRaleighFr@gmail.com | 919-781-4548

Deacon Gavrilo Milkovich


deacongavrilo@gmail.com | 919-781-4548

Manager Parish Office

htraleighoffice@gmail.com | 919-781-4548

Services Schedule

Orthros/ Matins: Sunday: 8:30 a.m.


Liturgy: Sunday: 10:00 a.m. ;  Weekday: Please see Parish Newsletter.


Vespers: See Parish Bulletin.


Bible Study: Please see Sunday Bulletin for details.


Other Parish Info: Book Club, please see Sunday Bulletin for details.

Past Bulletins


Parish News & Events

 

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Raleigh, NC

SUNDAY OF ST. GREGORY PALAMAS

MARCH 28, 2021 

We invite you to join us this Sunday to celebrate the Divine Liturgy whether in person or virtually. We also extend a special welcome to all newcomers. 

 

MEMORIALS THIS SUNDAY

This Sunday, March 28TH following Divine Liturgy, Fr Paul will offer a 40-day memorial prayer in beloved memory of our dear Artemis Sarayiotes, loving mother of Diane Filler, Dinos Sarayiotes and Stephanie Radford, loving grandmother to Verilee Vasilakos, Samantha & Alex Radford, and great grandmother to Gabriel Salem.

May the Lord rest her soul in the land of the living and in the company of His Saints. 

A second memorial prayer will be offered in beloved memory Fotini Tsoumbos, loving friend of Lelia Tagaris.  You are missed and loved by all your friends. May the Lord rest her soul in the land of the living and in the company of His Saints.

May the memories of these wonderful women be eternal.

 

ATTEND LITURGY VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON

Online Registration is required!

Due to the continued impact of COVID-19 and the decision to practice precaution for everyone, we are maintaining, but slightly increasing, the number of attendees at any given service to 70 parishioners.  While we have increased the attendance to 70 parishioners/visitors, we ask that everyone remain diligent in social distancing and wearing masks. We request that facemasks be worn regardless of vaccine status.  Instructions for registering to attend in person are provided below.

Reminder: If for some reason, you cannot attend service after signing up, PLEASE remove your name(s) from the signup at the website.  

For all who do not attend in-person, please join in with us on YouTube, the link can be found here:  http://www.holytrinityraleigh.org/community/parish-ministries/audio-visual-broadcasting. 

Please arrive early to Sunday service, before 9:45, giving time for check in. When attending the service, please wear a mask at all times, sign in upon entering, allow your temperature to be taken, and maintain proper distance with those attending.   

Check in will include answering the COVID-19 questions below.

If you answer “yes” to any of the following COVID-19 questions, we ask that you not sign up for a church service at this time.

  1. Do you have any of the following symptoms that are new or worsening: cough, congestion, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, sore throat,
  2. fever or feeling feverish, chills, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea?
  3. Have you had close contact with a person with confirmed COVID-19 in the last 21 days?
  4. Have you tested positive in the last 21 days for COVID-19?
  5. If you have any difficulty signing up, please email: htgocrsignup@gmail.com
  6.  

SIGN UP FOR SERVICES 

Please click here to register for 2ND SALUTATIONS TO THE THEOTOKOS

Friday, March 26 at 6:30 P.M. 

Please click here to register for Liturgy, SUNDAY OF ST. GREGORY PALAMAS

Sunday, March 28 at 10:00 A.M. 

Please click here to register for 3RD PRE-SANCTIFIED LITURGY

Wednesday, March 31 at 6:00 P.M. 

Please click here to register for 3rd SALUTATIONS TO THE THEOTOKOS

Friday, April 2 at 6:30 P.M. 

Please click here to register for Liturgy, SUNDAY OF THE HOLY CROSS

Sunday, April 4 at 10:00 A.M. 

Please click here to register for 4TH PRE-SANCTIFIED LITURGY

Wednesday, April 7 at 6:00 P.M. 

Please click here to register for 4th SALUTATIONS TO THE THEOTOKOS

Friday, April 9 at 6:30 P.M.

 

2021 VIRTUAL LENTEN SERIES

JOIN US THIS WEEK!

The third of six consecutive virtual Lenten Lectures will begin Tuesday, March 30 at 7:00 pm via Zoom, with Fr Michael Platanis.  He will speak “On Detachment”. To attend this Zoom meeting, beginning at 6:55 p.m., please click this link:

https://goarch.zoom.us/j/91784768722 

Here is the Lenten Series line up for the weeks to follow:

  • Fr Robert Lawrence – April 6, “On Discernment”
  • Fr Hieromonk Polycarp Strosnider – April 13, “On Fear”
  • Fr Demetri Kangelaris – April 20, “On Vainglory/Humbling Ourselves”

The link will be provided each week here in the bulletin.

Please plan to attend these excellent sessions!

 

2021 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN

Thank you to those of you who have submitted your commitment forms and pledges for this year’s campaign. We appreciate everyone being engaged and loyal in this critical ministry, especially during these extraordinary times. THANK YOU! 

SPECIAL REQUEST: When you complete your commitment cards, please fill out the section on volunteer interests. As Covid vaccines are being distributed each and every day, and our state begins opening up, our many ministries will also open up and get back on schedule. When this wonderful time comes, we’d love to have member’s talent & interests documented so we can contact you for appropriate outreach and involvement. Thank you! 

Members can now submit their 2021 Commitment Cards ONLINE! For those of you who would like to remotely handle your stewardship this year, please click on the box that is titled Submit 2021 Stewardship Commitment Form Online –on either the church home page (http://www.holytrinityraleigh.org/community/parish-ministries/stewardship-ministry/) or stewardship page (http://www.holytrinityraleigh.org/), and it will take you to a Google Document to capture all the information that is on the typical paper commitment card. This active link can also be accessed at:(https://forms.gle/wMYzun2vQciEmrew6). 

Now that this new feature is enabled, members can turn in their commitment cards electronically and use our online giving portal, Abundant Giving, (https://abundant.co/holytrinityraleigh/give), to set up your pledge and payment schedule online for the pledge component for the 2021 Stewardship Campaign. 

Outside of this new online submit/online process, you can still of course also submit your commitment card and pledge support via usual methods: 

BY MAIL your stewardship commitment card with pledge amount to Judy’s attention at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox  Church, 5000 Lead Mine Road, Raleigh, NC 27612 

BY EMAIL your scanned commitment card with pledge amount to Judy athtraleighoffice@gmail.com 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns regarding the 2021 campaign, the new online commitment card submission process, or your stewardship in general, please contact Angela Georgallis, Stewardship Co-Chair, at 919-339-3169 or acgeorgallis@gmail.com.

 

ORATORICAL FESTIVAL

We are proud of you!

Lillian Jaho and Paul Dombalis, from our junior division, and Eirena Klemes and Emilia Tropsha, from our senior division, will advance to the Regional Oratorical Festival on Saturday, April 3. We are so proud of all our presenters this year. Our judges were challenged by all our great talent and would have liked to award all our participants: Sophia Manuel, Grace Brunk, Alba Bica, Evan Byers, Theodora Tsikentzoglou, Chrissoula Tsikentzoglou, Rebecca Demos, Maxwell Noffsinger, and Mary Hatch.

You all did an amazing job on your speeches! 

We have a gift for you in the church office along with your certificates.

Please pick them up during office hours (M-F 9 am – 4 pm) or on Sunday during Church.

If you have questions, please contact Shae Noffsinger: shaejn@yahoo.com. 

 

DONATIONS FOR EASTER FLOWERS

If you would like to donate money for Easter flowers this year, there will be a form to complete in the church office beginning this Sunday as well as a list of choices for your donations.  Please make checks out to: HTGOC Easter Flowers.  If you have any questions, please contact: Elham Flaherty at (704) 408-5463

Thanks in advance for your donations.

 

2021 HOLY TRINITY SCHOLARSHIPS 

High School Senior, College and Graduate Students

Parish families have offered many wonderful scholarships for our students. These scholarships are open to High School Seniors, College and Graduate students from our parish. The application is on holytinirtyraleigh.org under Resources. The deadline is April 9. Please contact Penny Gallins at pgb0728@gmail.com with questions.

 

PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS

This Sunday!

Philoptochos will be holding a Zoom meeting at 5:00 pm on Sunday, March 28th to discuss elections and sponsorship of the Children's Medical Luncheon and other topics. Click this link to join the Zoom Meeting.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81474099519?pwd=Y3B5djNmb3ovMVdjMjR1cXBpeUhHdz09

For questions, contact: Sydney Langford at sydneylangford@aol.com

 

Taking Orders Now!

The Ladies Philoptochos will be selling Tsoureki, our wonderful Pascha treat, for $15.00 a loaf. Our fabulous baker, Julie Theocles, will be making them and if you would like to place an order for pickup on April 24th, please text Estell O'Connor at 973-517-4983 or email her at estelle_oconnor@yahoo.com. 

 

BOOKSTORE NEWS

Copies of the “Service of the Akathist Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos” are available for purchase.  If you would like to purchase one, please see Judy in the office with a check for $14.50 made out to: Holy Trinity Bookstore or a Parish Council member following the Divine Liturgy.  For questions, contact: Tamara at tamcosta@aol.com

 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE RUSSOS FAMILY

Nick Russos, a lifelong member of our community, will celebrate his 100th birthday on April 15th.  Due to Coronavirus, we are unable to celebrate with our Church family.  Please help us make this birthday special by sending your cards to:

Nick Russos

c/o Harry Russos

2208 Brisbayne Circle

Raleigh NC 27615

 

SERVICES AT HOLY TRINITY

Registrations to attend in-person are required.  

Maximum capacity seventy (70) people per service

 

FRIDAY MARCH 26TH, 2021

SECOND SALUTATIONS TO THE THEOTOKOS

6:30 P.M. SERVICE

 (BROADCAST BEGINS AT 6:25 P.M.)

Please click here to register for Service Friday, March 26 at 6:30 P.M.

 

SUNDAY MARCH 28TH , 2021

SUNDAY OF ST. GREGORY PALAMAS

10:00 A.M. LITURGY

 (BROADCAST BEGINS AT 9:45 A.M., DOXOLOGY AT 9:50 A.M.)

Please click here to register for Liturgy Sunday, March 28 at 10:00 A.M.

 

WEDNESDAY MARCH 31ST, 2021

3RD PRE-SANCTIFIED LITURGY

6:00 P.M. LITURGY

 (BROADCAST BEGINS AT 5:55 P.M.)

Please click here to register for Liturgy Wednesday, March 31 at 6:00 P.M.

 

FRIDAY APRIL 2ND, 2021

3RD SALUTATIONS TO THE THEOTOKOS

6:30 P.M. SERVICE

 (BROADCAST BEGINS AT 6:25 P.M.)

Please click here to register for Service Friday, April 2 at 6:30 P.M.

 

SUNDAY APRIL 4TH , 2021

SUNDAY OF THE HOLY CROSS

10:00 A.M. LITURGY

 (BROADCAST BEGINS AT 9:45 A.M., DOXOLOGY AT 9:50 A.M.)

Please click here to register for Liturgy Sunday, April 4 at 10:00 A.M

 

WEDNESDAY APRIL 7TH, 2021

4TH PRE-SANCTIFIED LITURGY

6:00 P.M. LITURGY

 (BROADCAST BEGINS AT 5:55 P.M.)

Please click here to register for Liturgy Wednesday, April 7 at 6:00 P.M.

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Raleigh, NC

 

 

Spring is here! Have a wonderful week.

 

 

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode

Although the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers guarded Your most pure body, You arose on the third day, O Savior, giving life to the world. For this reason, the heavenly powers cried out to you, O Giver of Life: Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Your kingdom! Glory to Your dispensation, only Lover of Mankind!
Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ στρατιωτῶν φυλασσόντων τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα, ἀνέστης τριήμερος Σωτήρ, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν ζωήν. Διὰ τοῦτο αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐβόων σοι Ζωοδότα· Δόξα τῇ ἀναστάσει σου Χριστέ, δόξα τῇ Βασιλείᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ οἰκονομίᾳ σου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. Gregory Palamas in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Light of Orthdoxy, pillar and teacher of the Church, adornment of monastics, invincible champion of theologians, O Gregory thou wonderworker, boast of Thessalonica, herald of grace: ever pray that our souls be saved.
Ὀρθοδοξίας ὁ φωστὴρ, Ἐκκλησίας τὸ στήριγμα καὶ διδάσκαλε, τῶν μοναστῶν ἡ καλλονὴ, τῶν θεολόγων ὑπέρμαχος ἀπροσμάχητος· Γρηγόριε θαυματουργὲ Θεσσαλονίκης τὸ καύχημα κήρυξ τῆς χάριτος· ἱκέτευε διὰ παντός, σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"
Τὴ ὑπερμάχω στρατηγῶ τὰ νικητήρια, ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν εὐχαριστήρια, ἀναγράφω σοὶ ἡ Πόλις σου Θεοτόκε, Ἀλλ' ὡς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον, ἐκ παντοίων μὲ κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον, ἵνα κράζω σοί, Χαῖρε νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε.

The translations of hymns are under copyright and used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder:

  • Resurrectional Apolytikion in First Tone © Greek Standard Text
  • Resurrectional Apolytikion in First Tone © Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
  • Apolytikion for Sun. of St. Gregory Palamas in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone © Greek Standard Text
  • Apolytikion for Sun. of St. Gregory Palamas in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone © Holy Transfiguration Monastery
  • Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone © Greek Standard Text
  • Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone © Narthex Press
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    Gospel and Epistle Readings

    Matins Gospel Reading

    Ninth Orthros Gospel
    Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 20:19-31

    Οὔσης ὀψίας τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τῇ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων, καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων ὅπου ἦσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ συνηγμένοι διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ. Ἐχάρησαν οὖν οἱ μαθηταὶ ἰδόντες τὸν Κύριον. Εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Καθὼς ἀπέσταλκέ με ὁ πατήρ, κἀγὼ πέμπω ὑμᾶς. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησε καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Λάβετε Πνεῦμα Ἅγιον· ἄν τινων ἀφῆτε τὰς ἁμαρτίας, ἀφίενται αὐτοῖς, ἄν τινων κρατῆτε, κεκράτηνται.

    Θωμᾶς δὲ εἷς ἐκ τῶν δώδεκα, ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος, οὐκ ἦν μετ᾽ αὐτῶν ὅτε ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς. Ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄλλοι μαθηταί· Ἐωράκαμεν τὸν Κύριον. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἐὰν μὴ ἴδω ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὸν δάκτυλόν μου εἰς τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὴν χεῖρά μου εἰς τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ, οὐ μὴ πιστεύσω. Καὶ μεθ᾽ ἡμέρας ὀκτὼ πάλιν ἦσαν ἔσω οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ Θωμᾶς μετ᾽ αὐτῶν. Ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων, καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον καὶ εἶπεν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Εἶτα λέγει τῷ Θωμᾷ· Φέρε τὸν δάκτυλόν σου ὧδε καὶ ἴδε τὰς χεῖράς μου, καὶ φέρε τὴν χεῖρά σου καὶ βάλε εἰς τὴν πλευράν μου, καὶ μὴ γίνου ἄπιστος, ἀλλὰ πιστός. Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Θωμᾶς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ὁ Κύριός μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ὅτι ἑώρακάς με, πεπίστευκας· μακάριοι οἱ μὴ ἰδόντες καὶ πιστεύσαντες. Πολλὰ μὲν οὖν καὶ ἄλλα σημεῖα ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐνώπιον τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, ἃ οὐκ ἔστι γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ· ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύσητε ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.

    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

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

    τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 1:10-14, 2:1-3.

    Κατʼ ἀρχάς, Κύριε, τὴν γῆν ἐθεμελίωσας, καὶ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σού εἰσιν οἱ οὐρανοί· αὐτοὶ ἀπολοῦνται, σὺ δὲ διαμένεις· καὶ πάντες ὡς ἱμάτιον παλαιωθήσονται, καὶ ὡσεὶ περιβόλαιον ἑλίξεις αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἀλλαγήσονται· σὺ δὲ ὁ αὐτὸς εἶ, καὶ τὰ ἔτη σου οὐκ ἐκλείψουσιν. Πρὸς τίνα δὲ τῶν ἀγγέλων εἴρηκέν ποτε, Κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου; Οὐχὶ πάντες εἰσὶν λειτουργικὰ πνεύματα, εἰς διακονίαν ἀποστελλόμενα διὰ τοὺς μέλλοντας κληρονομεῖν σωτηρίαν; Διὰ τοῦτο δεῖ περισσοτέρως ἡμᾶς προσέχειν τοῖς ἀκουσθεῖσιν, μήποτε παραρρυῶμεν. Εἰ γὰρ ὁ διʼ ἀγγέλων λαληθεὶς λόγος ἐγένετο βέβαιος, καὶ πᾶσα παράβασις καὶ παρακοὴ ἔλαβεν ἔνδικον μισθαποδοσίαν, πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας; Ἥτις, ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ κυρίου, ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη.

    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 Letter to the Hebrews 1:10-14; 2:1-3.

    "IN THE BEGINNING, Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?" Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?

    Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him.

    Gospel Reading

    Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
    Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 2:1-12

    Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσῆλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς εἰς Καπερναοὺμ δι᾿ ἡμερῶν καὶ ἠκούσθη ὅτι εἰς οἶκόν ἐστι. καὶ εὐθέως συνήχθησαν πολλοί, ὥστε μηκέτι χωρεῖν μηδὲ τὰ πρὸς τὴν θύραν· καὶ ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς τὸν λόγον. καὶ ἔρχονται πρὸς αὐτὸν παραλυτικὸν φέροντες, αἰρόμενον ὑπὸ τεσσάρων· καὶ μὴ δυνάμενοι προσεγγίσαι αὐτῷ διὰ τὸν ὄχλον, ἀπεστέγασαν τὴν στέγην ὅπου ἦν, καὶ ἐξορύξαντες χαλῶσι τὸν κράβαττον, ἐφ᾿ ᾧ ὁ παραλυτικὸς κατέκειτο. ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ· τέκνον, ἀφέωνταί σοι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου. ἦσαν δέ τινες τῶν γραμματέων ἐκεῖ καθήμενοι καὶ διαλογιζόμενοι ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν· τί οὗτος οὕτω λαλεῖ βλασφημίας; τίς δύναται ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ Θεός; καὶ εὐθέως ἐπιγνοὺς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὕτως αὐτοὶ διαλογίζονται ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί ταῦτα διαλογίζεσθε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν; τί ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν τῷ παραλυτικῷ, ἀφέωνταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, ἢ εἰπεῖν, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει; ἵνα δὲ εἰδῆτε ὅτι ἐξουσίαν ἔχει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀφιέναι ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἁμαρτίας - λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ· σοὶ λέγω, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ ὕπαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου. καὶ ἠγέρθη εὐθέως, καὶ ἄρας τὸν κράβαττον ἐξῆλθεν ἐναντίον πάντων, ὥστε ἐξίστασθαι πάντας καὶ δοξάζειν τὸν Θεὸν λέγοντας ὅτι οὐδέποτε οὕτως εἴδομεν.

    Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
    The Reading is from Mark 2:1-12

    At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he said to the paralytic-"I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

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    Saints and Feasts

    02_palamas2
    March 28

    Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

    This divine Father, who was from Asia Minor, was from childhood reared in the royal court of Constantinople, where he was instructed in both religious and secular wisdom. Later, while still a youth, he left the imperial court and struggled in asceticism on Mount Athos, and in the Skete at Beroea. He spent some time in Thessalonica being treated for an illness that came from his harsh manner of life. He was present in Constantinople at the Council that was convened in 1341 against Barlaam of Calabria, and at the Council of 1347 against Acindynus, who was of like mind with Barlaam; Barlaam and Acindynus claimed that the grace of God is created. At both these Councils, the Saint contended courageously for the true dogmas of the Church of Christ, teaching in particular that divine grace is not created, but is the uncreated energies of God which are poured forth throughout creation: otherwise it would be impossible, if grace were created, for man to have genuine communion with the uncreated God. In 1347 he was appointed Metropolitan of Thessalonica. He tended his flock in an apostolic manner for some twelve years, and wrote many books and treatises on the most exalted doctrines of our Faith; and having lived for a total of sixty-three years, he reposed in the Lord in 1359.

    His holy relics are kept in the Cathedral of Thessalonica. A full service was composed for his feast day by the Patriarch Philotheus in 1368, when it was established that his feast be celebrated on this day. Since works without right faith avail nothing, we set Orthodoxy of faith as the foundation of all that we accomplish during the Fast, by celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy the Sunday before, and the great defender of the teachings of the holy Fathers today.

    Allsaint
    March 28

    Hilarion the New

    Saint Hilarion took up the monastic life from his youth and lived in seclusion. Later, as Abbot of the Monastery of Pelecete in Asia Minor (believed to be in Bithynia, not far from Triglia), he suffered much from the Iconoclasts, and reposed in the year 754.

    Allsaint
    March 29

    The Holy Martyrs Jonas and Barachesius

    As for the holy Martyrs Jonas and Barachesius, they were monks from Persia who lived in the reign of Sapor II, King of Persia from 325 to 379. These Saints found nine Christians in prison suffering for their faith, and comforted them, encouraging them to stand fast till the end, which they did, and received the crown of martyrdom. Because of this, Saints Jonas and Barachesius also were seized, and commanded to worship the fire, the sun, and the water. When they refused, Jonas, among other tortures, had his hands and feet cut off, was crushed in a device that broke his bones, and was sawn asunder. Barachesius was dragged naked over thorns, his whole body was pierced with sharp reeds and then broken in the same device employed upon Jonas, and when boiling pitch was poured down his throat, he gave up his soul into the hands of God.

    Iconclimacus
    March 30

    John Climacus the Righteous, author of The Divine Ladder of Ascent

    This Saint gave himself over to the ascetical life from his early youth. Experienced both in the solitary life of the hermit and in the communal life of cenobitic monasticism, he was appointed Abbot of the Monastery at Mount Sinai and wrote a book containing thirty homilies on virtue. Each homily deals with one virtue, and progressing from those that deal with holy and righteous activity (praxis) unto those that deal with divine vision (theoria), they raise a man up as though by means of steps unto the height of Heaven. For this cause his work is called "The Ladder of Divine Ascent." The day he was made Abbot of Sinai, the Prophet Moses was seen giving commands to those who served at table. Saint John reposed in 603, at eighty years of age. See also the Fourth Sunday of the Fast.

    Allsaint
    March 29

    Mark, Bishop of Arethusa

    Saint Mark was Bishop of Arethusa in Syria. In the days of Saint Constantine the Great, Saint Mark, moved with divine zeal, destroyed a temple of the idols and raised up a church in its stead. When Julian the Apostate reigned, in 361, as the pagans were now able to avenge the destruction of their temple, Saint Mark, giving way to wrath, hid himself; but when he saw that others were being taken on his account, he gave himself up. Having no regard to his old age, they stripped him and beat his whole body, cast him into filthy sewers, and pulling him out, had children prick him with their iron writing-pens. Then they put him into a basket, smeared him with honey and a kind of relish of pickled fish, and hung him up under the burning sun to be devoured by bees and wasps. But because he bore this so nobly, his enemies repented, and unloosed him.

    Allsaint
    March 29

    Martyr Cyril the Deacon and Those with him

    Saint Cyril was a deacon from Heliopolis in Phoenicia. During the reign of the Emperor Constantius, son of Saint Constantine, he had also broken the idols in pieces. When Julian came to power, Saint Cyril was seized by the idolaters and his belly was ripped open. The other holy Martyrs celebrated today, martyred in Gaza and Ascalon during the reign of Julian, were men of priestly rank and consecrated virgins; they were disemboweled, filled with barley, and set before swine to be eaten. The account of all the above Saints is given in Book III, ch. 3, of Theodoret of Cyrrhus' "Ecclesiastical History."

    Hypatius
    March 31

    The Holy Hieromartyr Hypatius, Bishop of Gangra

    This Saint, who was from Cilicia of Asia Minor, became Bishop of Gangra, the capital of Paphlagonia. He was present at the First Ecumenical Council. Because of his confession of the Orthodox Faith, he was put to death by the Novatians, a sect which denied that sins committed after Baptism could be forgiven.

    01_mary2
    April 01

    Mary of Egypt

    When Mary was only twelve years old, she left her parents and departed to Alexandria, where she lived a depraved life for seventeen years. Then, moved by curiosity, she went with many pilgrims to Jerusalem, that she might see the Exaltation of the venerable Cross. Even in the Holy City she gave herself over to every kind of licentiousness and drew many into the depth of perdition. Desiring to go into the church on the day of the Exaltation of the Cross, time and again she perceived a certain invisible power preventing her entrance, whereas the multitude of people about her entered unhindered. Therefore, wounded in heart by this, she decided to change her way of life and reconcile herself to God by means of repentance. Invoking our Lady the Theotokos as her protectress, she asked her to open the way for her to worship the Cross, and vowed that she would renounce the world. And thus, returning once again to the church, she entered easily. When she had worshipped the precious Wood, she departed that same day from Jerusalem and passed over the Jordan. She went into the inner wilderness and for forty-seven years lived a most harsh manner of life, surpassing human strength; alone, she prayed to God alone. Toward the end of her life, she met a certain hermit named Zosimas, and she related to him her life from the beginning. She requested of him to bring her the immaculate Mysteries that she might partake of them. According to her request, he did this the following year on Holy and Great Thursday. One year after this, Zosimas again went thither and found her dead, laid upon the ground, and letters written in the sand near her which said: "Abba Zosimas, bury here the body of wretched Mary. I died on the very day I partook of the immaculate Mysteries. Pray for me." Her death is reckoned by some to have taken place in 378, by some, in 437, and by others, in 522. She is commemorated also on the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent. Her life was recorded by Saint Sophronius of Jerusalem.

    Allsaint
    April 02

    Titus the Wonderworker

    Little is known of this Saint except that he took up the monastic life from his youth, became the abbot of a monastery, and reposed in peace.

    Allsaint
    April 03

    Nicetas, Abbot of the Monastery of Medicium

    Saint Nicetas lived in the eighth century and became the Abbot of the Monastery of Medicium, which was near the city of Triglia on the Sea of Marmara. For his Orthodox confession of the veneration of the holy icons, he was persecuted and exiled twice by the Iconoclast Emperor Leo the Armenian, but recalled by Michael the Stutterer, and reposed, adorned with the twofold crown of holiness and of confession of the Orthodox Faith, about the year 824.

    Allsaint
    April 03

    Joseph the Hymnographer

    Saint Joseph was from Sicily, the son of Plotinus and Agatha. Because Sicily had been subjugated by the Moslems, he departed thence and, passing from place to place, came with Saint Gregory of Decapolis (see NOV. 20) to Constantinople, where he endured bitter afflictions because of his pious zeal. Travelling to Rome, he was captured by Arab pirates and taken to Crete, whence he later returned to Constantinople. He became an excellent hymnographer and reposed in holiness shortly after 886 (according to some, it was in 883). The melismatic canons of the Menaion are primarily the work of this Joseph; they bear his name in the acrostic of the Ninth Ode. He also composed most of the sacred book known as the Paracletike, which complements the Octoechos For this reason, Joseph is called par excellence the Hymnographer.

    03_calvary
    April 04

    Sunday of the Holy Cross

    With the help of God, we have almost reached the middle of the course of the Fast, where our strength has been worn down through abstinence, and the full difficulty of the labour set before us becomes apparent. Therefore our holy Mother, the Church of Christ, now brings to our help the all-holy Cross, the joy of the world, the strength of the faithful, the staff of the just, and the hope of sinners, so that by venerating it reverently, we might receive strength and grace to complete the divine struggle of the Fast.

    Allsaint
    April 04

    George the Righteous of Maleon

    This Saint took up the monastic life from his youth, and went to Mount Maleon, where a community of monks gathered about him. He foretold his death from three years before, and reposed in an odour of sanctity.

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    Wisdom of the Fathers

    Now Matthew indeed saith, that "they brought him," but the others, that they also broke up the roof, and let him down. And they put the sick man before Christ, saying nothing, but committing the whole to Him.
    St. John Chrysostom
    Homily 29 on Matthew 9, 1. B#54, pp. 195, 196, 4th Century

    For though in the beginning He Himself went about, and did not require so much faith of them that came unto Him; yet in this case they both approached Him, and had faith required on their part. For, "Seeing," it is said, "their faith;" that is, the faith of them that had let the man down.
    St. John Chrysostom
    Homily 29 on Matthew 9, 1. B#54, pp. 195, 196, 4th Century

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