Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
About the beginning of His thirty-second year, when the Lord Jesus was going throughout Galilee, preaching and working miracles, many women who had received of His beneficence left their own homeland and from then on followed after Him. They ministered unto Him out of their own possessions, even until His crucifixion and entombment; and afterwards, neither losing faith in Him after His death, nor fearing the wrath of the Jewish rulers, they came to the sepulchre, bearing the myrrh-oils they had prepared to annoint His body. It is because of the myrrh-oils, that these God-loving women brought to the tomb of Jesus that they are called the Myrrh-bearers. Of those whose names are known are the following: first of all, the most holy Virgin Mary, who in Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40 is called "the mother of James and Joses" (these are the sons of Joseph by a previous marriage, and she was therefore their step-mother); Mary Magdalene (celebrated July 22); Mary, the wife of Clopas; Joanna, wife of Chouza, a steward of Herod Antipas; Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee, Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus; and Susanna. As for the names of the rest of them, the evangelists have kept silence (Matt 27:55-56; 28:1-10. Mark 15:40-41. Luke 8:1-3; 23:55-24:11, 22-24. John 19:25; 20:11-18. Acts 1:14).
Together with them we celebrate also the secret disciples of the Saviour, Joseph and Nicodemus. Of these, Nicodemus was probably a Jerusalemite, a prominent leader among the Jews and of the order of the Pharisees, learned in the Law and instructed in the Holy Scriptures. He had believed in Christ when, at the beginning of our Saviour's preaching of salvation, he came to Him by night. Furthermore, he brought some one hundred pounds of myrrh-oils and an aromatic mixture of aloes and spices out of reverence and love for the divine Teacher (John 19:39). Joseph, who was from the city of Arimathea, was a wealthy and noble man, and one of the counsellors who were in Jerusalem. He went boldly unto Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and together with Nicodemus he gave Him burial. Since time did not permit the preparation of another tomb, he placed the Lord's body in his own tomb which was hewn out of rock, as the Evangelist says (Matt. 27:60).
Under the guidance of the Holy Archdiocese, Ionian Village’s “IV Next” program will be offered July 25th - August 5th, 2021. The program will be for fully vaccinated young adults. Participants must be either ages 19-24, and/or students from the high school class of 2020 (even if only age 18). Anyone that does not meet that exact criteria, unfortunately, will not be permitted to register this summer. The price of IV Next for participants is $1,650.
Tune in Tuesday May 11 at 8 PM ET, for a conversation with Fr. Nicholas and Dr. Roxanne Louh on Caring for Creation with Spyridoula Fotinis, who will speak about the Green Patriarch and the recent Greening the Parish initiatives of the Department.
During the week of 09-16 April 2021 in Bahrain, an island nation in the Arabian Gulf, the small community of Orthodox Christians worshipping aboard Naval Support Activity Bahrain, was privileged to host Fr. David Hostetler (HCHC ’11). Fr. David’s visit was all the more blessed as it facilitated his reunion of classmate and fellow Navy Chaplain and GOA priest, Fr. Andrew Kearns (HCHC ’08, ’11).
The Department of Greek Education will be offering a webinar Saturday May 15, 2021 1:00 pm EST. The webinar is presented by, The Museum of School Life and Education (Μουσείο Σχολικής Ζωής και Εκπαίδευσης)
It is my pleasure to announce the appointment of Mrs. Alyssa Kyritsis as the new Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. A daughter of our Metropolis, she grew in faith through the All Saints GOC of Canonsburg, and pursued undergraduate studies in Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Connecticut. Inspired by a deep calling, and through her participation in the ministries of her parish and Metropolis, she pursued further education at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, where she graduated from the Master of Divinity program with High Distinction.
In light of the bicentennial of the Greek revolution, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, together with the His Grace Bishop Apostolos and the area clergy joined the Mayor of Annapolis, Gavin Buckley, and Maryland State Senator, Edward Riley, in placing a wreath at the statue of Constantino Brumidi, a Greek-Italian who became known as the Michelangelo of America whose art adorns the dome of the Capitol of the United States.
Why are marriage difficulties amplified right now? The simplest explanation? Couples are experiencing more relational strain as they navigate the challenges and stressors of Covid.
At the conclusion of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Saint Thomas, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Patriarchal Vicar, announced the appointment of Very Reverend Archimandrite Christoforos Oikonomidis, presiding priest of the St. Thomas community in Cherry Hill, NJ, as the new Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey. AXIOS!
Surrounded by her loving family, Presvytera Nancy Serviou, age 80, died peacefully after a courageous battle with a lengthy illness. Nancy, daughter of the late Michael and Evangelia Angelakos, was born in Trenton, NJ and grew up in Bound Brook, NJ.