Publish-header
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2022-12-11
Bulletin Contents
Announcements
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Saints and Feasts
Forefathers
Organization Icon
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (919) 781-4548
  • 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 online Church Calendar.


Vespers: See online Church Calendar.

 

Past Bulletins


Announcements

HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

RALEIGH, NC

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2022

11th Sunday of Luke

ORTHROS 8:30 A.M. - DIVINE LITURGY AT 10 A.M.

Broadcasting begins at 8:25 a.m.

_______________________________________________________

 

Altar Boy Team on Duty: St. John Chrysostom

Coffee Hour: Coffee Hour sponsored by Toula Capetanos in honor of St Spyridon

 

Parish Council Elections This Sunday

Elections for the 2023-2024 Parish Council will be held on Sunday December 11, 2022 in the Three Hierarchs Library until 1:00pm.  If you require an absentee ballot, please contact the church office.  Absentee ballots must be requested by the member in person or by phoning the church office.  In order for your vote to be valid, your sealed absentee ballot must be received at the church by 1:00pm on Saturday, December 10, 2022.

Greek School singing this Sunday

Our Greek School students will be singing a few traditional Christmas carols (“kalanda”) in Greek to the congregation during the coffee hour on Sunday, December 11. See you there as we get into the Christmas spirit!

Christmas Pageant Youth Choir

It's that time of year again!  We are happy to announce that this year's Christmas Pageant will once again include a youth choir.  If your child or teen would like to participate, Chelsea Waddelow will be teaching music in the Multipurpose Room starting at 12:05 PM on Sunday, December 11. We also have a few opportunities for older soloists, so please email Chelsea at chelseawaddelow@gmail.com if your teen is interested.

 Parish Directory Update

A team of volunteers has been working diligently behind the scenes to include parishioners contact information in the Parish Directory. We hope to have the directories available after the New Year and will share the distribution process once we receive them. Directories will be provided at no additional charge to those who participated in the photo shoot or submitted an electronic photo with payment, as well as the homebound elderly. If you are interested in purchasing a Parish Directory for $10, we have opened one last window to do so until Monday, December 12. We can only accept cash or checks made out to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church with “Directory” in the memo line and delivered to the church office.

 

2022 Stewardship Campaign Update

Happy Holidays! Since our community approved an increase in the church budget to

accommodate a second priest last March, our challenge throughout the next three weeks is to

surpass our revised stewardship goal this campaign of $595,339.

This means we still need to raise $66,034 before December 31, 2022.

 

Please be a loyal steward of Holy Trinity, and fulfill your initial pledge, if you have not done so

already - or reconsider, where possible, giving more to help us to surpass this year’s ambitious

goal. Thank you again for your generous, thoughtful, and sacrificial support during the past year.

Each one of you is making a significant impact!

 2022 Year-to-Date Progress:

 Stewardship Goal = $595,339

Stewardship Dollars Collected = $529,305

Number of Pledges Received = 338

Amount Remaining to hit new Goal (with second priest) = $66,034

Please Note: We will be launching the 2023 Stewardship Campaign on Sunday, December 17th,

during the Divine Liturgy. In preparation, 2023 Stewardship Materials will be mailed to member

homes as part of the 2022 Holiday church mailing during the next couple of weeks.

Please contact Angela Georgallis with any questions

at 919-339-3169 or acgeorgallis@gmail.com.

THANK YOU!

 

Philoptochos News

Dear Philoptochos sisters and supporters,

We have so much to be grateful for and so many to thank regarding our Holiday Cafe and Bake Sale.

Kudos to our Mary Wehbie, our Bake Sale extraordinaire for the past 8 years. This is a huge job and you have done it with grace and such a beautiful servants heart. Thank you is not enough. Know we love and adore you!

 A huge thank you Wesley Starr, Stephanie Starr, Penny Gallins, and Leona Owen for the delicious meals and for making the kitchen operate as a “well oiled” machine. Another group that always goes beyond the call and gives 2000% with a smile, kindness and love for others in their hearts.

A special thanks goes to Mark Langford for making our delicious bean soup every year.  It has become very popular and in great demand. He does so much quietly for us.

Wesley packaged all the unsold food, which was then delivered to the Women’s Center and the Men’s Shelter. We hope we fed both stomachs and souls of those in need of good sustenance.

 Thank you to all of our AHEPA brothers that served on the food line, drink and dessert station, take out counter and a cashier that also kept our registers operating. You gentlemen were amazing. It was fun working with you.

Last, but not least, thank you to all of our dedicated, determined Philoptochos sisters that, as Mary Wehbie, have beautiful servant hearts. It shines through in all that you do.

You worked countless hours to ensure the funding we need for 2023 to fulfill our mission.

  Diaper Train is still in progress. We appreciate you continuing to bring diapers through the end of the month. We will make sure we have the tall Diaper Train boxes out for you to help fill on Sundays.

 Vasilopita Preorder Sale is occurring to help make your life easier! Julie Theocles is baking her delicious 8x8 rounds, 18.00 each. You may see Lekita Essa and Sydney Langford after Liturgy today to pre order. Pick up is Sunday December 18 following Liturgy. Easy to freeze until use. You may also order using this link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0E4CA8A929A7FB6-vasilopita

Stewardship!  We are approaching that time of year again. Please see Sydney and Lekita,

Membership Co-Chairs on Sundays. Come join us!

We are blessed beyond measure to have each other and have the opportunity to work side by side.

May you and your families experience a blessed holiday season.

Agape, Lekita

 Christmas Angel Tree – AHJ and STJM

  Hello all – wanted to let everyone know that we still have 20 angels left for our annual Christmas Angel Tree – if anyone would still like to sponsor a child we have until end of day on Dec 15th to do so – the agencies need that time in order to make sure they are able to get sponsors for the balance of the children – God bless all of you for all you do and know that it is appreciated by so many. 

In Christ  deacon gavrilo 

here is the link to the sign up: 

St. John the Merciful Ministry: AHJ and STJM Angel Tree Drive (signupgenius.com)

 GOYA News

Previous GOYA merchandise will be on sale and available after church on Sunday, December 11 and Sunday, December 18.  Anyone who pre-ordered with Jamie Livermore will be able to pick up their merchandise during this time.

 On December 11th immediately following Sunday School, GOYA will be hosting a Winter Youth Rally informational meeting for the parents in the sanctuary.  We will be discussing FAQ, looking at the general itinerary, handing out a packing list, and asking everyone to sign the bed consent form for the church.

 Holy Trinity GOYA Basketball Schedule

December 9: vs. Providence (location: Hayes Barton; 7:30pm)

December 16: vs. Hayes Barton (location: Hayes Barton; 7:30pm)

January 13: vs. Trinity (location: Hayes Barton; 7:30pm)

January 20: vs. Trinity (location: Rolesville; 7:30pm)

January 27: vs. Clayton (location: Trinity; 9:00pm)

February 3: vs. Rolesville (location: Rolesville; 8:00pm)

February 10: vs. Bayleaf (location: Trinity; 7:30pm)

Contact Bryce Livermore or Nick Pilos for more information.

 

Sunday School

Sunday school students in 1st-3rd grades would like to help collect shampoo and conditioner

for those who are less fortunate, we would appreciate any donations for the Salvation Army. A box will be in the Sunday School hallway. Thank you for your support. If you have any questions, please reach out to Diane Murray or Shae Noffsinger

 

St Anthony’s Group

Tuesday, December 27 – Pre New Year’s breakfast gathering at 9:00am at Creedmoor Café.

2023

Saturday, January 14 – Annual Charity Raffle in the Parish Hall.  Homemade soup and salad will be served.

Tuesday, February 14 - Ambassadors of Good Will presentation and Potluck lunch in the Parish Hall

Saturday, February 25 - Lenten Retreat with Kaby Kokenes in the  Parish Hall

Prison Ministry

What if you couldn't remember what your parent's voice sounded like?

For many of the OVER 1 MILLION children across the United States with a parent in prison, this is their reality. Staying connected to your family behind bars is extremely difficult. But with your help, we can start to change this.

Please visit Story Connections to learn more:  theocpm.org

Also, the position for Prison Ministry lead is still open.  Who will answer the call of the Holy Spirit?  We are more capable than willing.  Be not afraid.

 

 

 

BACK TO TOP

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 11th Sun. of Luke in the Second Mode

By faith didst Thou justify the Forefathers, when through them Thou didst betroth Thyself aforetime to the Church from among the nations. The Saints boast in glory that from their seed there is a glorious fruit, even she that bare Thee seedlessly. By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.
Ἐν πίστει τοὺς Προπάτορας ἐδικαίωσας, τὴν ἐξ Ἐθνῶν δι' αὐτῶν προμνηστευσάμενος Ἐκκλησίαν. Καυχῶνται ἐν δόξῃ οἱ Ἅγιοι, ὄι ἐκ σπέρματος αὐτῶν, ὑπάρχει καρπός εὐκλεής, ἡ ἀσπόρως τεκοῦσά σε. Ταῖς αὐτῶν ἱκεσίαις, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, σῶσον τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν.

Hymn of our Holy Trinity Church Community in the First Mode

O blessed are You, O Christ our God.  Who by sending down the Holy Spirit upon them, made the fisherman wise and through them illumined the world.  And to you the Universe was ever drawn, all glory to You, O Lord.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode

On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God.
Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν Προαιώνιον Λόγον, ἐν Σπηλαίῳ ἔρχεται, ἀποτεκεῖν ἀπορρήτως. Χόρευε ἡ οἰκουμένη ἀκουτισθεῖσα, δόξασον μετὰ Ἀγγέλων καὶ τῶν Ποιμένων, βουληθέντα ἐποφθῆναι, παιδίον νέον, τὸν πρὸ αἰώνων Θεόν.

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 11th Sun. of Luke in the Second Tone © Greek Standard Text
  • Apolytikion for 11th Sun. of Luke in the Second Tone © Holy Transfiguration Monastery
  • Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Tone © Greek Standard Text
  • Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Tone © Holy Transfiguration Monastery
    • BACK TO TOP

    Gospel and Epistle Readings

    Matins Gospel Reading

    Fourth Orthros Gospel
    Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 24:1-12

    Τῇ μιᾷ τῶν Σαββάτων, ὄρθρου βαθέος ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμα, φέρουσαι ἃ ἡτοίμασαν ἀρώματα, καί τινες σὺν αὐταῖς. Εὗρον δὲ τὸν λίθον ἀποκεκυλισμένον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου, καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι οὐχ εὗρον τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ. Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ διαπορεῖσθαι αὐτὰς περὶ τούτου, καὶ Ἰδού, δύο ἄνδρες ἐπέστησαν αὐταῖς ἐν ἐσθήσεσιν ἀστραπτούσαις· ἐμφόβων δὲ γενομένων αὐτῶν καὶ κλινουσῶν τὰ πρόσωπον εἰς τὴν γῆν, εἶπον πρὸς αὐτάς· Τί ζητεῖτε τὸν ζῶντα μετὰ τῶν νεκρῶν; οὐκ ἔστιν ᾧδε, ἀλλ' ἠγέρθη. Μνήσθητε ὡς ἐλάλησεν ὑμῖν, ἔτι ὢν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ, λέγων, ὅτι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθῆναι εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων ἁμαρτωλῶν, καὶ σταυρωθῆναι, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστῆναι. Καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν τῶν ῥημάτων αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὑποστρέψασαι ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου, ἀπήγγειλαν ταῦτα πάντα τοῖς ἕνδεκα καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς λοιποῖς. Ἦσαν δὲ ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ Μαρία καὶ Ἰωάννα καὶ Μαρία Ἰακώβου, καὶ αἱ λοιπαὶ σὺν αὐταῖς, αἳ ἔλεγον πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ταῦτα. Καὶ ἐφάνησαν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ λῆρος τὰ ῥήματα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἠπίστουν αὐταῖς, ὁ δὲ Πέτρος ἀναστὰς ἔδραμεν ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ παρακύψας βλέπει τὰ ὀθόνια κείμενα μόνα, καὶ ἀπῆλθε, πρὸς ἑαυτόν θαυμάζων τὸ γεγονός.

    Fourth Orthros Gospel
    The Reading is from Luke 24:1-12

    On the first day of the week at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking spices, which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered His words and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the Apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.

    Epistle Reading

    Προκείμενον. Fourth Mode. Δανιήλ 3.26-27.
    Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν.
    Στίχ. Ὅτι δίκαιος εἶ ἐπὶ πᾶσιν, οἷς ἐποίησας ἡμῖν.

    τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κολοσσαεῖς 3:4-11.

    Ἀδελφοί, ὅταν ὁ Χριστὸς φανερωθῇ, ἡ ζωὴ ἡμῶν, τότε καὶ ὑμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ φανερωθήσεσθε ἐν δόξῃ. Νεκρώσατε οὖν τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, πορνείαν, ἀκαθαρσίαν, πάθος, ἐπιθυμίαν κακήν, καὶ τὴν πλεονεξίαν, ἥτις ἐστὶν εἰδωλολατρεία, διʼ ἃ ἔρχεται ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῆς ἀπειθείας· Ἐν οἷς καὶ ὑμεῖς περιεπατήσατέ ποτε, ὅτε ἐζῆτε ἐν αὐτοῖς. Νυνὶ δὲ ἀπόθεσθε καὶ ὑμεῖς τὰ πάντα, ὀργήν, θυμόν, κακίαν, βλασφημίαν, αἰσχρολογίαν ἐκ τοῦ στόματος ὑμῶν· μὴ ψεύδεσθε εἰς ἀλλήλους, ἀπεκδυσάμενοι τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον σὺν ταῖς πράξεσιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐνδυσάμενοι τὸν νέον, τὸν ἀνακαινούμενον εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν κατʼ εἰκόνα τοῦ κτίσαντος αὐτόν· ὅπου οὐκ ἔνι Ἕλλην καὶ Ἰουδαῖος, περιτομὴ καὶ ἀκροβυστία, βάρβαρος, Σκύθης, δοῦλος, ἐλεύθερος· ἀλλὰ τὰ πάντα καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν Χριστός.

    Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Daniel 3.26,27.
    Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
    Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

    The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians 3:4-11.

    Brethren, when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.

    Gospel Reading

    11th Sunday of Luke
    Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 14:16-24

    Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἄνθρωπός τις ἐποίησε δεῖπνον μέγα καὶ ἐκάλεσε πολλούς· καὶ ἀπέστειλε τὸν δοῦλον αὐτοῦ τῇ ὥρᾳ τοῦ δείπνου εἰπεῖν τοῖς κεκλημένοις· ἔρχεσθε, ὅτι ἤδη ἕτοιμά ἐστι πάντα. καὶ ἤρξαντο ἀπὸ μιᾶς παραιτεῖσθαι πάντες. ὁ πρῶτος εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἀγρὸν ἠγόρασα, καὶ ἔχω ἀνάγκην ἐξελθεῖν καὶ ἰδεῖν αὐτόν· ἐρωτῶ σε, ἔχε με παρῃτημένον. καὶ ἕτερος εἶπε· ζεύγη βοῶν ἠγόρασα πέντε, καὶ πορεύομαι δοκιμάσαι αὐτά· ἐρωτῶ σε, ἔχε με παρῃτημένον. καὶ ἕτερος εἶπε· γυναῖκα ἔγημα, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο οὐ δύναμαι ἐλθεῖν. καὶ παραγενόμενος ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος ἀπήγγειλε τῷ κυρίῳ αὐτοῦ ταῦτα. τότε ὀργισθεὶς ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης εἶπε τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ· ἔξελθε ταχέως εἰς τὰς πλατείας καὶ ῥύμας τῆς πόλεως, καὶ τοὺς πτωχοὺς καὶ ἀναπήρους καὶ χωλοὺς καὶ τυφλοὺς εἰσάγαγε ὧδε. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ δοῦλος· κύριε, γέγονεν ὡς ἐπέταξας, καὶ ἔτι τόπος ἐστί. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ κύριος πρὸς τὸν δοῦλον· ἔξελθε εἰς τὰς ὁδοὺς καὶ φραγμοὺς καὶ ἀνάγκασον εἰσελθεῖν, ἵνα γεμισθῇ ὁ οἶκος μου. λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτι οὐδεὶς τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐκείνων τῶν κεκλημένων γεύσεταί μου τοῦ δείπνου. Πολλοί γὰρ εἰσιν κλητοί, ὀλίγοι δέ ἐκλεκτοί.

    11th Sunday of Luke
    The Reading is from Luke 14:16-24

    The Lord said this parable: "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time of the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for all is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and there is still room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. For many are called, but few are chosen.'"

    BACK TO TOP

    Wisdom of the Fathers

    What was the nature of the invitation? God the Father has prepared in Christ for the inhabitants of earth those gifts which are bestowed upon the world through Him, even the forgiveness of sins, the cleansing away of all defilement, the communion of the Holy Spirit, the glorious adoption of sons, and the kingdom of the heavens.
    St. Cyril of Alexandria
    Translation courtesy of "The Orthodox New Testament" Volume 1, 4th Century

    Come, O faithful, Let us enjoy the Master's hospitality, The banquet of immortality. In the upper chamber with uplifted minds Let us receive the exalted words of the Word Whom we magnify.
    Last Ode of the Compline Canon

    BACK TO TOP

    Saints and Feasts

    Forefathers
    December 11

    11th Sunday of Luke

    On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we commemorate Christ's forefathers according to the flesh, both those that came before the Law, and those that lived after the giving of the Law.

    Special commemoration is made of the Patriarch Abraham, to whom the promise was first given, when God said to him, "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 22:18). This promise was given some two thousand years before Christ, when Abraham was seventy-five years of age. God called him and commanded him to forsake his country, parents, and kinsmen, and to depart to the land of the Canaanites. When he arrived there, God told him, "I will give this land to thy seed" (Gen. 12:7); for this cause, that land was called the "Promised Land," which later became the country of the Hebrew people, and which is also called Palestine by the historians. There, after the passage of twenty-four years, Abraham received God's law concerning circumcision. In the one hundredth year of his life, when Sarah was in her ninetieth year, they became the parents of Isaac. Having lived 175 years altogether, he reposed in peace, a venerable elder full of days.

    Allsaint
    December 11

    Daniel the Stylite of Constantinople

    This Saint was from the village of Marutha in the region of Samosata in Mesopotamia. He became a monk at the age of twelve. After visiting Saint Symeon the Stylite (see Sept. 1) and receiving his blessing, he was moved with zeal to follow his marvellous way of life. At the age of forty-two, guided by providence, he came to Anaplus in the environs of Constantinople, in the days of the holy Patriarch Anatolius (see July 3), who was also healed by Saint Daniel of very grave malady and sought to have him live near him. Upon coming to Anaplus, Saint Daniel first lived in the church of the Archangel Michael, but after some nine years, Saint Symeon the Stylite appeared to him in a vision, commanding him to imitate his own ascetical struggle upon a pillar. The remaining thirty-three years of his life he stood for varying periods on three pillars, one after another. He stood immovable in all weather, and once his disciples found him covered with ice after a winter storm. He was a counsellor of emperors; the pious emperor Leo the Great fervently loved him and brought his royal guests to meet him. It was at Saint Daniel's word that the holy relics of Saint Symeon the Stylite were brought to Constantinople from Antioch, and it was in his days that the Emperor Leo had the relics of the Three Holy Children brought from Babylon. Saint Daniel also defended the Church against the error of the Eutychians. Having lived through the reigns of the Emperors Leo, Zeno, and Basiliscus, he reposed in 490, at the age of eighty-four.

    Allsaint
    December 11

    Luke the New Stylite of Chalcedon

    Allsaint
    December 11

    Martyrs Acepsius and Aeithalas

    Allsaint
    December 11

    Holy Martyrs Miracus and Barsabas

    Allsaint
    December 11

    Leontios the Righteous of Monemvasia

    Allsaint
    December 11

    The Glorious King Nikephoros Phokas

    Spyridon
    December 12

    Spyridon the Wonderworker of Trymithous

    Spyridon, the God-bearing Father of the Church, the great defender of Corfu and the boast of all the Orthodox, had Cyprus as his homeland. He was simple in manner and humble of heart, and was a shepherd of sheep. When he was joined to a wife, he begat of her a daughter whom they named Irene. After his wife's departure from this life, he was appointed Bishop of Trimythus, and thus he became also a shepherd of rational sheep. When the First Ecumenical Council was assembled in Nicaea, he also was present, and by means of his most simple words stopped the mouths of the Arians who were wise in their own conceit. By the divine grace which dwelt in him, he wrought such great wonders that he received the surname 'Wonderworker." So it is that, having tended his flock piously and in a manner pleasing to God, he reposed in the Lord about the year 350, leaving to his country his sacred relics as a consolation and source of healing for the faithful.

    About the middle of the seventh century, because of the incursions made by the barbarians at that time, his sacred relics were taken to Constantinople, where they remained, being honoured by the emperors themselves. But before the fall of Constantinople, which took place on May 29, 1453, a certain priest named George Kalokhairetes, the parish priest of the church where the Saint's sacred relics, as well as those of Saint Theodora the Empress, were kept, took them away on account of the impending peril. Travelling by way of Serbia, he came as far as Arta in Epirus, a region in Western Greece opposite to the isle of Corfu. From there, while the misfortunes of the Christian people were increasing with every day, he passed over to Corfu about the year 1460. The relics of Saint Theodora were given to the people of Corfu; but those of Saint Spyridon remain to this day, according to the rights of inheritance, the most precious treasure of the priest's own descendants, and they continue to be a staff for the faithful in Orthodoxy, and a supernatural wonder for those that behold him; for even after the passage of 1,500 years, they have remained incorrupt, and even the flexibility of his flesh has been preserved. Truly wondrous is God in His Saints! (Ps. 67:3 5)

    Allsaint
    December 12

    Holy New Martyr Peter the Aleut

    The holy New Martyr Peter suffered martyrdom in San Francisco at the time that California belonged to Spain. An Aleut from Alaska, he and his companions were captured in California by the Spaniards. When he refused to abandon Orthodoxy to accept Latinism, which they wished to force upon him, the Spaniards submitted him to a martyrdom like that suffered by Saint James the Persian, cutting him apart joint by joint. He died from loss of blood in steadfast confession of the Faith in 1815.

    Allsaint
    December 12

    John (or Joachim), Bishop of Zichni

    BACK TO TOP