This Week....

Welcome to Saint George Church

ORTHROS/MATINS AT 9:30 AM

DIVINE LITURGY AT 10:30 AM

JOIN US!

All are Welcome

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Great Lent begins Monday, February 27.

View our Schedule of Services here.

"...I was a stranger and you welcomed me...."

WELCOME TO SAINT GEORGE CHURCH. We hope you will return and join us on Sundays and to participate in our various programs as you are able. Fellowship hour follows Divine Liturgy and we welcome you to join us for fellowship, food and refreshments. Visit us online to learn about our church and our various programs. Sign up for our weekly bulletin and become a supporting member at www.SaintGeorgeNYC.org.

VIEW THE COMPLETE MATINS SERVICE FOR TODAY IN ENGLISH & GREEK HERE.

YOUR ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED FOR COFFEE & FELLOWSHIP HOUR. We invite individuals & families to support this ministry by providing food items and assisting with set-up, serving and/or clean-up. You may sign up by clicking HERE. Thanks to all that assist in this important ministry of oureach, hospitality and fellowship.

VISIT OUR MINISTRIES PAGE: CLICK HERE

“Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:15)

Thank you to all that prepared, served, attended, supported, cleaned up after the

ANNUAL VASILOPITA LUNCHEON

with Bishop Sevastianos

All Proceeds to Saint Basil Academy

Thank you to Dr Eugenia Gianos and Sarah Galanis

for their talk at Saint George!

Healthy Diet - Healthy Heart

Eugenia Gianos, MD Cardiology & Preventive Cardiology at NYU Langone and

Sarah Galanis, Director of Food & Nutrition Services at NYU Lutheran

"I was hungry and you fed me...."

MARILENA'S MEALS
Join our Saint George Marilena's Meals program, preparing and delivering 70 meals each month and feeding those in need in New York City on the last Sunday of each month. Preparers and deliverers are welcome!

October Marilena's meals was sponsored by Zaphra Reskakis and Helen Vitelas. November was sponsored by Maria & Taso Pardalis. December was sponsored by Efstathia "Soula" Lolis. January wa sponsored by Terri & John Skiadas. February is sponsored by Dina Manos. March is sponsored by Cally Kordaris. April is sponsored by Kate and Luke Swezey-Scandalios. May is sponsored by Alexia and Katerina Skiadas. June is sponsored by Alexandra Dimitrakakis. September is sponsored by Darrin Dayton in memory of his grandparents George & Edna Gallanis. THANK YOU!

Thank you to all that Supported the St George YP Giving Tree this Christmas

Saint George Church Young Professionals partnered with the Coalition for the Homeless

on their annual Holiday Toy Drive!

We collected new, unwrapped toys for children living in New York City homeless shelters. With your help, we made this holiday season brighter for hundreds of homeless girls and boys!

BESTSELLING AUTHOR RETURNED TO SAINT GEORGE IN NOVEMBER

Signed Books are Available for Purchase in the Church Hall.

Patricia Schultz, NY Times Bestselling Author of 1000 Places to See Before you Die spoke on her volume 1000 Places to See in the US and Canada

Patricia Schultz is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers 1,000 Places to See Before You Die and 1,000 Places to See in the United States and Canada Before You Die. A veteran travel journalist with 30 years of experience, she has written for guides such as Frommer’s and Berlitz and periodicals including The Wall Street Journal and Travel Weekly, where she is a contributing editor. She also executive-produced a Travel Channel television show based on 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. Her home base is New York City.

Patricia is also known to us as Mrs Nick Stringas. All proceeds to the St George Renovations Fund.

Congratulations!!!

to Taso & Maria Pardalis on the birth of Chloe Georgia

to Anthony & Irene Louh on the birth of George Jakub

to Kevin & Christina White on the birth of Penelope Helene

Maria P. Tsakos

Saint George Sunday School

SUNDAY SCHOOL IS NOW IN SESSION

Sunday School is held from October - May following Holy Communion in the Church Hall. Just before Holy Communion, Fr Jim invites the children will come forward to the chairs behind the pulpit where they will be offered a brief sermon/reflection, after which Holy Communion is offered and then the children proceed to the Church Hall.

SUNDAY SCHOOL FACULTY We are blessed to have four excellent teachers for our Sunday School this year: Elena L, Alexandra L., Alexandra S. and Christopher S. All love the kids and love teaching them about the faith. Elena L, (PhD) is a post doctoral researcher at Columbia University Medical Center. Alexandra L. is a teacher by profession and has recently earned her masters degree. Alexandra S is a lawyer by profession and a long-time member of Saint George Church. Christopher S. received an MDiv from St Vladimir's Seminary. Fr. Jim serves as spiritual advisor to our Sunday School.

Parents are asked to complete a Sunday School Registration Form and give it to the teachers. Parents are welcome to help with bringing the children downstairs and as needed during class.

AFTER SUNDAY SCHOOL PROJECTS The children are engaged in projects following Sunday School ranging from art projects to community service projects. The children enjoy painting & building various art & design projects. They have participated with fun science projects and have assisted with preparing Marilena's meals.

This past spring, our children assembled 100 emergency hygeine packets for IOCC - Intenational Orthodox Christian Charities (www.iocc.org/take-action/assemble-emergency-kits). The packets are warehoused near IOCC headquarters in Baltimore so that they may be shipped on short notice when emergencies arise anywhere in the world. Supplies for the preparaton of 100 hygeine packets in the spring were provided by Cally Kordaris. This project will be repeated by the Sunday School again this winter. To be a one-time sponsor of this project, the cost is $500.

SAINT IRENAEUS FELLOWSHIP GROUP The Saint Irenaeus Fellowship meets to discuss theology, scripture, the writings of the church fathers and mothers, how to live the gospel in the contemporary world, and other topics of interest. The group met on Monday, January 23rd at 7:30 PM. We are reading the Shepherd of Hermas (1st-2nd ct.) and we'll provide copies of the text to any who are interested. If you would like more information, please email Gregory (gregoryjamestucker@gmail.com) .

Do Your Best: A traditional American proverb says, “God makes this request of his children: Do the best you can – where you are, with what you have, now.” The story of Jesus Christ feeding the 5,000 illustrates this through the boy’s offering of all that he had – five loaves and two fish. This boy did his best with what he had, and Jesus used it to perform an incredible miracle.

We are Stewards of the Gospel: We are called to guard the Gospel message, but not to hoard it. We are instructed not to hide our light under a bushel. As we share the voice of Christ, the message we share is one of hope, truth, grace, divine power, life and invitation. In this busy, ever-changing world, His voice of wisdom is needed to guide us in discerning what is good, what is true and what will bring us closer to Him and to one another.

Saint George Church seeks to offer:

A sense of Peace and Presence of God in worship;
Opportunities to Serve Others;
Meaningful opportunities for Fellowship;
Education in aspects of the Faith for all ages; and
A well-maintained and inspiring place of worship & fellowship

SAINT GEORGE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Our mission is to bring together young professional members & friends of St George Church to form stronger friendships through events & activities. We accomplish our mission through Laughing, Learning and Giving, alternating between social, philanthropic and spiritual activities. Questions or Ideas? Contact Sarah at sgalanis@hotmail.com .

Contact Sarah at sgalanis@hotmail.com to be added to the YP e-list.

VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF SAINT GEORGE

ST GEORGE CHURCH 2nd FLOOR UPDATE

After a break in construction this summer, the 2nd floor renovations are nearing completion. Walls and ceiling are painted. Light fixtures are installed. The doors are in place.The installation of the flooring is complete. In addition to double insulation between floors, we added a layer of noice cancelling material under the tile to further reduce sound between floors. The restroom and kitchenette are waiting for the plumber to connect the pipes. We are awaiting the arrival of a 10 foot tall stained glass window from a church in England dating to the 1880s. This has been donated an individual that visited our parish and was moved by our hospitality. The window, which has been restored, will be installed & back-lit on the west wall. Heating and A/C units have been installed and were wired this week.

Many thanks to Dean Pardalis and George Xerakias of APEX Design, our general contractors, for providing their expertise and services at no cost to the church, while donating many materials and resources to our ongoing renovation of Saint George Church.

Thank you all for your support.

Bible Reading In private study, when a Christian profitably reads the Bible, receiving inspiration and strength from it, family members, friends, relatives and even acquaintances will inevitably notice the difference. Any person who comes into contact with such a Christian cannot but notice the growing peace, love and inner assurance - the spirit of Christ - in that Christian, and will frequently ask (if not ask, certainly think) what gives that person such strength and radiance. God will provide many opportunities to the growing Christian for sharing with others his or her experience with the Bible. What better witness for the truth of the Christian faith than a solid Christian life nourished by Holy Scripture and radiating true Christian love at home, at Church and at work? The Christian's own life becomes a kind of gospel, a living Bible, in which other people observe, read and experience the truths of God in action.

From Bread for Life, by Father Theodore Stylianopoulos

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Religious Education

PROSPHORO (offering bread)
A prosphoro (Greek for offering) is a small loaf of leavened bread used in Orthodox Christian liturgies. The term originally meant any offering made to a temple, but in Orthodox Christianity it has come to mean specifically the bread offered at the Divine Liturgy (Eucharist). We are blessed at Saint George that Kyria Dina Manos bakes prosphora for us as needed. This is a very special ministry and we thank God for Kyria Dina's service to our church.

WINE FOR HOLY COMMUNION If you would like to offer wine to be used for the preparation of Holy Communion at Saint George Church, you are welcome to do so. The sweet wines that we use for Holy Communion are: Mavrodaphne, Commondaria and Nama Byzantino.

STEWARDSHIP OF FAMILY

Throughout our lives and the roles we assume within the family, we are stewards of the love, authority, trust and respect that exist among members of the family. Unlike material possessions, these are not diminished by use. But if mishandled, they can be lost. Love, authority, trust and respect require the most diligent stewardship, because once they are lost, they are most difficult to recover.

OUR CALLING:

Research shows that most unchurched Americans would come to church if invited. As the visible presence of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, we are called to witness to those within and those outside the community of believers. If we believe that in Orthodoxy we have the fullness of the Truth, then we have the great responsibility to share it with all people. The very nature of this mission implies creative witness within society in word and in deed. Bring a friend to Church!

SUNDAY PARKING: is available for $10 at ICON Parking on 54th St just east of 8th Ave. Bring your ticket to the candle stand to be validated. Effective from 8:00 AM-2:00 PM after which regular rates will apply.

“Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea

until we have someone to forgive.”

C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity

What is Christian Stewardship?

Stewardship is caring for the needs of others.

Stewardship is offering one’s self to God as He offered Himself to us.

Stewardship is what a person does after saying “I believe…” as proof of that belief.

Williams and McKibben in Oriented Leadership

Click here to set up regular or 1-time stewardship contributions to St. George Church.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Eleventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:14-25

At that time, Jesus revealed himself to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me."

Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" So, the word went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die; but Jesus did not say to him that he would not die. He said, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. 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 Second Letter to Timothy 3:10-15.

TIMOTHY, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at lconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
The Reading is from Luke 18:10-14

The Lord said this parable, "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

REFLECTION FOR THE WEEK

Triodion Begins...

The Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee

In the today’s Gospel reading, two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee – highly-respected as an observer of God’s Law. The other was a Publican – a tax collector – despised by his people as a thief and a traitor.

The Pharisee measured himself in comparison to others around him. He stood and prayed, thanking God that he was not like other men --extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like the tax collector. But the tax collector, standing a way off, would’t even look up, but kneeling and beating his breast, simply asked, “God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Jesus concludes the parable by saying that the repentant tax collector went home justified but the Pharisee did not. He said, “everyone that exalts himself will be humbled; and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Church places this reading today, the first Sunday of the “Triodion” -- the three-week period of preparation for Great Lent. During these three weeks of preparation, the basic principles of Christ's teachings are set before us. The "lesson plan" of the Triodion was designed by the Church for those who were about to enter their final period of repentance before their baptism at Easter. But it is no less important for us today as a time for renewal, re-conversion, and deeper commitment before we come to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ.

In the parable, both the Publican and the Pharisee, were Jews, but they represented two very different elements of society. The publican was a tax collector who was despised because he collaborated with the Romans to make his living; -- and as many tax collectors did, he probably collected a little extra for himself. The Pharisee, on the other hand, was a respected members of society -- an upright observer of the Law.

Standing before God, apparently in a prominent place in the temple for all to see, the Pharisee prayed with pride. He told God how virtuous and righteous he was. But in the very act of thanking God, he fell into the sin of self-righteousness.

The publican, meanwhile, stood where he was hardly visible. He acknowledged his complete dependence on God, his sinfulness, and his need for God's mercy.

No lesson could be more appropriate for us as we begin to prepare ourselves to commemorate the events of Jesus’ life that culminate in His crucifixion and resurrection. This parable makes it plain that the religion practiced by the Pharisees is not acceptable to God. We have only to recall the Lord's denunciations of the scribes and Pharisees, whom He calls hypocrites.

Jesus says, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of extortion and rapacity. You blind Pharisee! first cleanse the inside of the cup and of the plate, that the outside also may be clean (Mt 23:25-26).”

For the religious person there is no greater danger than falling into the sin of self-righteousness, seeking the praise of others by our outward actions, and by talking constantly about the details of our fast. The Gospel does not justify these things.

In Matthew 6:16 Jesus tells us "…when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.”

We learn the story of the Publican and the Pharisee that if we really want to prepare ourselves for lent, -- we need to examine ourselves --- not our external appearance, but by cleaning our cup on the inside through fasting, prayer, repentance & confession. Comparing ourselves, not to other people, but always comparing ourselves to Christ himself who came to be our great example.

Saints and Feasts

February 05

Theodosios, Archbishop of Chernigov

February 05

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today

The Pharisees were an ancient and outstanding sect among the Jews known for their diligent observance of the outward matters of the Law. Although, according to the word of our Lord, they "did all their works to be seen of men" (Matt. 23:5), and were hypocrites (ibid. 23: 13, 14, 15, etc.), because of the apparent holiness of their lives they were thought by all to be righteous, and separate from others, which is what the name Pharisee means. On the other hand, Publicans, collectors of the royal taxes, committed many injustices and extortions for filthy lucre's sake, and all held them to be sinners and unjust. It was therefore according to common opinion that the Lord Jesus in His parable signified a virtuous person by a Pharisee, and a sinner by a Publican, to teach His disciples the harm of pride and the profit of humble-mindedness.

Since the chief weapon for virtue is humility, and the greatest hindrance to it is pride, the divine Fathers have set these three weeks before the Forty-day Fast as a preparation for the spiritual struggles of virtue. This present week they have called Harbinger, since it declares that the Fast is approaching; and they set humility as the foundation for all our spiritual labors by appointing that the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee be read today, even before the Fast begins, to teach, through the vaunting of the Pharisee, that the foul smoke of self-esteem and the stench of boasting drives away the grace of the Spirit, strips man of all his virtue, and casts him into the pits of Hades; and, through the repentance and contrite prayer of the Publican, that humility confers upon the sinner forgiveness of all his wicked deeds and raises him up to the greatest heights.

All foods are allowed the week that follows this Sunday.

February 05

Agatha the Martyr

This Martyr, who was from Panormus (that is, Palermo) or perhaps Catania of Sicily, was a most comely and chaste virgin. After many exceedingly harsh torments, she gave up her spirit in prison at Catania in 251, because she did not consent to the seductions of Quintian, the Governor of Sicily. At her burial, an Angel placed a stone tablet on her grave inscribed with the words, "A righteous mind, self-determining, honor from God, the deliverance of her father-land." The following year this was fulfilled when Mount Etna erupted, spewing forth violent fire from which Catania was manifestly saved by Saint Agatha's prayers. The holy Martyr Agatha, the protectress and chief patroness of Sicily, is, with perhaps the exception of Saint Agnes of Rome, the most highly venerated Virgin Martyr of the West. Saint Damasus, Pope of Rome, and Saint Ambrose of Milan both wrote in praise of her.

February 05

Polyeuktos, Partriarch Of Constantinople

February 05

Antonios the New Martyr of Athens

February 05

Theodosios of Antioch

February 05

Afterfeast of the Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple

February 06

Bucolus, Bishop of Smyrna

Saint Bucolus was ordained by John the Evangelist; having made many pagans to be sons of the day through holy Baptism, he left Polycarp as his successor to the bishopric of Smyrna, and reposed in peace.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

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.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Presentation in the First Mode

Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, O Virgin Theotokos, for from thee hath risen the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, enlightening those in darkness. Rejoice, thou also, O righteous Elder, as thou receivest in thine arms the Redeemer of our souls, Who also granteth unto us the Resurrection.

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Mode

Your birth sanctified a Virgin's womb and properly blessed the hands of Symeon. Having now come and saved us O Christ our God, give peace to Your commonwealth in troubled times and strengthen those in authority, whom You love, as only the loving One.

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:

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Services Schedule

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This Week....

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

REFLECTION FOR THE WEEK

Saints and Feasts

Theodosios, Archbishop of Chernigov

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today

Agatha the Martyr

Polyeuktos, Partriarch Of Constantinople

Antonios the New Martyr of Athens

Theodosios of Antioch

Afterfeast of the Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple

Bucolus, Bishop of Smyrna

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Presentation in the First Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Mode