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St. George Church
Publish Date: 2021-08-29
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St. George Church

General Information

  • Street Address:

  • 307 West 54th Street

  • New York, NY 10019
  • Mailing Address:

  • 307 West 54th Street

  • New York, NY 10019


Contact Information




Services Schedule

SUNDAY WORSHIP in English and Greek:

Matins / Morning Service 9:30 AM

Divine Liturgy 10:30 AM


Past Bulletins


This Week....

The Rev. Protopresbyter Father Andreas Vithoulkas
Remarks to the Congregation

August 29, 2021

Saint George Tropeoforos Greek Orthodox Church

New York, New York

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I am certain that most – if not all of you, have heard that our spiritual father in America, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, has called me and my family to a new ministry in the Church. He has granted to me the high privilege and exceptional responsibility to be the Archiepiscopal Vicar and Presiding Priest of the rebuilt Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center. I am humbled by his confidence in me and have gratefully answered his call.

I want to express to our Parish Council President, Andrew George, and to all the members of the Council, my deepest thanks for their message of congratulations and good will. This remarkable opportunity will require me to eventually leave both my position as Chancellor and as your parish priest. I am not ashamed to say that there is a bittersweet quality to it, because I have grown so much as Chancellor, and I have loved being your priest.

But service in the Church requires a willingness to heed the call of the Lord – to follow Him where He leads, and that is what I am going to do.

In the meantime, we will continue worshipping together, while the Shrine reaches the stage that it can become operational, sometime in Lent of next year.

I note, with a degree of satisfaction, that our Saint George and Saint Nicholas share a significant history. Here is a little known fact. In the last century, together with Saint John the Baptist, these three parishes were on the Old Calendar and at one time under the Patriarchate of Jerusalem!

And as relates to the sad and tragic events of 9/11, the first sacrament in the Parish of Saint Nicholas – a marriage – took place here at Saint George on Thanksgiving 2001, but it was registered at Saint Nicholas. Remember, the Parish is not the building, and the Church is the Body of Christ – meaning all of us.

Therefore, my friends, we shall always be united in Christ – as brothers and sisters. We are One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. And I shall always hold you dear in my heart, and be grateful for this wonderful opportunity to serve Saint George Tropeoforos.

May the good Lord bless us all.

 

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Join us for Sunday Worship -  Summer Hours:

Matins 8:30 AM & Divine Liturgy 9:30 AM

Worship is conducted in English & Greek


Fellowship & Refreshments follow Sunday Worship 

----> Standard worship hours will resume on Sunday September 12th --- Matins 9:30am & Divine Liturgy 10:30am

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MARILENA'S MEALS: I was hungry and you fed me."  Matthew 25:35   

Volunteers Needed - Marilenas Meals: 

We invite any vaccinated volunteers that would like to help us prepare and distribute meals to attend on Sunday August 29th.  We will begin putting together the bagged meals at 9:45am, and will aim to leave church to distribute meals near Penn Station at 11am.  

Please email May Vlachos for more information, or to let us know you'll be volunteering --- marilenasmeals@gmail.com  Thank you!!  
The full 2021 - 2022 schedule will be released soon. 

---->If you cannot physically volunteer, please consider supporting our efforts through a donation.  


2020-2021 program information:
For the past year, we have partnered with the Antonio Olivieri Drop-In Center at 257 West 30th Street, as they are continued their efforts to give aid to those in need.   

With the funds donated in September, October and November 2020, we purchased 58 pairs of sweatpants and 38 sweatshirts, as we were alerted that those are the items that are most in need for the men and women receiving services at the center.  We also purchased gloves for when the weather turns cold.

Our December 2020 funds raised were donated to Philoxenia.  Philoxenia will be arranging for dinner for the residents of the Jan Peek House in Peekskill, NY, a shelter for about 25 individuals who are homelesshttps://www.chhop.org/. They provided 40 meals for the residents so that they can have a second serving and so that there is enough food for any walk-ins.  Visit https://philoxenia.org/ for more information.

For our January 2021 program, our two 11th grade teen volunteers, Kayla Malcolm-Joseph and Leah Allen, donated funds that they raised to purchase thirty $10 Dunkin Donuts gift cards for those in need at the Antonio Olivieri Drop-In Center.  Hand written cards from the girls are included with each gift card. 

The funds raised for our February and March 2021 program were donated to help support a pop up food pantry, supporting community members in need of food in Harlem.  This effort was organized by Philoxenia.   Marilenas Meals sponsored 24 bags of groceries (the equivalent of 360 meals).  

On Sunday June 27th, we ran our "live" outreach program for the first time since February 2020!  We successfully distributed 80 meals to hungry New Yorkers who are currently living without food and shelter.  Our program ran again on Sunday July 25th, with a team of faithful and enthusiastic  volunteers.  Again distributing 80 meals to New Yorkers in need. 

We are actively looking for sponsors and other donations.  Please contact May Vlachos for information on sponsorship and donations: marilenasmeals@gmail.com 

2020 - 2021 Program:

September 2020 - Sponsored by an anonymous donor and dedicated with love and gratitude to God for helping their mother live a cancer-free, long and healthy life. 

October 2020 - Sponsored by Irene Gregov and her family, in loving memory of her mother Popi Stefanidis, a faithful long time parishioner of St. George.

November 2020 -  Sponsored with love by May Vlachos, in celebration of her godchildren Peter Bounougias, Jack Theodore Venditto and Sophia Anna Onesto.

December 2020 -  Dedicated in loving memory of our grandparents: Theodore Vlachos, May Vlachos, James Karitenos, Amelia Karitenos, Panagiotis Nictas, Marianthi Nictas, Nicholas Mikedis and Anna Mikedis, by Ted, Maria, Ioanna and Eleni Vlachos.

January 2021 -  Sponsored by our two 11th grade volunteers, Kayla Malcolm-Joseph and Leah Allen.  The teens worked with their school, Sacred Heart Greenwich in Greenwich, Connecticut to raise money.  Kayla and Leah volunteer during our traditional Marilena’s Meals program every month, and are two of our most diligent, dedicated and youngest volunteers.  

February 2021 -  Dedicated in loving memory of Athanasios Lolis and Alexandra Dimitrakakis by Soula Lolis.

March 2021 -  Thank you to our generous anonymous sponsor.  We are so thankful for you. 

April 2021 -  Sponsored with love by Christina Halatsis. 

May 2021 -  Sponsored by Thanos and Marilena, for the health and wellbeing of our families and everyone.  With gratitude and humility for making it through this past year.

June 2021 -  Sponsored with love by Steve and JoAnne Gregos. 

We are actively looking for sponsors.  Please contact May Vlachos for information on sponsorship and donations: marilenasmeals@gmail.com 

 

Summer 2021 outreach: 




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Capital Campaign extended - one goal accomplished; another goal created

We are pleased to inform you that the Capital Campaign for St. George has reached its goal of raising $130,000!    This money, held in a separate Capital Campaign account, will be used to renew the façade of the church and for various improvements to the interior.


We have formed a construction committee which will review contractor bids and prepare their recommendation to the Parish Council in June.   There are many details to be addressed and we are always concerned about surprises that our 1886 building may hold; but we are happy to share with you that we have achieved this milestone.

We considered the original $130,000 goal a ‘stretch goal’ and, because of this, we did not include the replacement of the aging main façade window.   Because of the success of the last two months, we are extending our Capital Campaign to raise an additional $40,000 – primarily for the replacement of the main window with a first-rate stained glass depiction of St. George (initial sketch below).

We thank all of you who have contributed to the Capital Campaign.   The generosity that you have shown has given us the confidence to proceed forward with this final piece of the façade renewal.

To give online, please go to: http://www.saintgeorgenyc.org/giving/donate1   Checks can be sent to: Saint George Greek Orthodox Church 307 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019 Make checks payable to: Saint George Greek Orthodox Church


We look forward to providing you an update in the weeks to come.

Very truly yours,

Protopresbyter Andreas Vithoulkas
Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Presiding Priest        
frandreas@goarch.org

Andrew V. George

Parish Council President
andrewvgeorge21@gmail.com

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Please visit our new website and follow us on our social media pages.  

- Website:http://www.saintgeorgenyc.org/ 

- Stewardship and Light a candle: https://stgeorgenyc.square.site/

- Livestreaming:https://www.facebook.com/SaintGeorgeChurchNYC

  
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Tenth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 21:1-14

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐφανέρωσεν ἑαυτὸν πάλιν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τοῖς μαθηταῖς ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης τῆς Τιβεριάδος· ἐφανέρωσε δὲ οὕτως. ἦσαν ὁμοῦ Σίμων Πέτρος, καὶ Θωμᾶς ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος, καὶ Ναθαναὴλ ὁ ἀπὸ Κανᾶ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, καὶ οἱ τοῦ Ζεβεδαίου, καὶ ἄλλοι ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ δύο. λέγει αὐτοῖς Σίμων Πέτρος· ὑπάγω ἁλιεύειν. λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· ἐρχόμεθα καὶ ἡμεῖς σὺν σοί. ἐξῆλθον καὶ ἐνέβησαν εἰς τὸ πλοῖον εὐθύς, καὶ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ νυκτὶ ἐπίασαν οὐδέν. πρωΐας δὲ ἤδη γενομένης ἔστη ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἰς τὸν αἰγιαλόν· οὐ μέντοι ᾔδεισαν οἱ μαθηταὶ ὅτι ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐστι. λέγει οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· παιδία, μή τι προσφάγιον ἔχετε; ἀπεκρίθησαν αὐτῷ· οὔ. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· βάλετε εἰς τὰ δεξιὰ μέρη τοῦ πλοίου τὸ δίκτυον, καὶ εὑρήσετε. ἔβαλον οὖν, καὶ οὐκέτι αὐτὸ ἑλκύσαι ἴσχυσαν ἀπὸ τοῦ πλήθους τῶν ἰχθύων. λέγει οὖν ὁ μαθητὴς ἐκεῖνος, ὃν ἠγάπα ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς, τῷ Πέτρῳ· ὁ Κύριός ἐστι. Σίμων οὖν Πέτρος ἀκούσας ὅτι ὁ Κύριός ἐστι, τὸν ἐπενδύτην διεζώσατο· ἦν γὰρ γυμνός· καὶ ἔβαλεν ἑαυτὸν εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν· οἱ δὲ ἄλλοι μαθηταὶ τῷ πλοιαρίῳ ἦλθον· οὐ γὰρ ἦσαν μακρὰν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς, ἀλλ᾽ ὡς ἀπὸ πηχῶν διακοσίων, σύροντες τὸ δίκτυον τῶν ἰχθύων. ὡς οὖν ἀπέβησαν εἰς τὴν γῆν, βλέπουσιν ἀνθρακιὰν κειμένην καὶ ὀψάριον ἐπικείμενον καὶ ἄρτον. λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· ἐνέγκατε ἀπὸ τῶν ὀψαρίων ὧν ἐπιάσατε νῦν. ἀνέβη Σίμων Πέτρος καὶ εἵλκυσε τὸ δίκτυον ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, μεστὸν ἰχθύων μεγάλων ἑκατὸν πεντήκοντα τριῶν· καὶ τοσούτων ὄντων οὐκ ἐσχίσθη τὸ δίκτυον. λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· δεῦτε ἀριστήσατε. οὐδεὶς δὲ ἐτόλμα τῶν μαθητῶν ἐξετάσαι αὐτὸν σὺ τίς εἶ, εἰδότες ὅτι ὁ Κύριός ἐστιν. ἔρχεται οὖν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς καὶ λαμβάνει τὸν ἄρτον καὶ δίδωσιν αὐτοῖς, καὶ τὸ ὀψάριον ὁμοίως. Τοῦτο ἤδη τρίτον ἐφανερώθη ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ ἐγερθεὶς ἐκ νεκρῶν.

Tenth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:1-14

At that time, being raised from the dead, Jesus revealed himself to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.


Epistle Reading

Προκείμενον. Grave Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 63.11,1.
Εὐφρανθήσεται δίκαιος ἐν Κυρίῳ.
Στίχ. Εἰσάκουσον, ὁ Θεός, τῆς φωνῆς μου.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 13:25-33.

Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, ὡς δὲ ἐπλήρου ὁ Ἰωάννης τὸν δρόμον, ἔλεγεν, Τίνα με ὑπονοεῖτε εἶναι; Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐγώ. Ἀλλʼ ἰδού, ἔρχεται μετʼ ἐμέ, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἄξιος τὸ ὑπόδημα τῶν ποδῶν λῦσαι. Ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, υἱοὶ γένους Ἀβραάμ, καὶ οἱ ἐν ὑμῖν φοβούμενοι τὸν θεόν, ὑμῖν ὁ λόγος τῆς σωτηρίας ταύτης ἀπεστάλη. Οἱ γὰρ κατοικοῦντες ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες αὐτῶν, τοῦτον ἀγνοήσαντες, καὶ τὰς φωνὰς τῶν προφητῶν τὰς κατὰ πᾶν σάββατον ἀναγινωσκομένας, κρίναντες ἐπλήρωσαν. Καὶ μηδεμίαν αἰτίαν θανάτου εὑρόντες, ᾐτήσαντο Πιλάτον ἀναιρεθῆναι αὐτόν. Ὡς δὲ ἐτέλεσαν πάντα τὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ γεγραμμένα, καθελόντες ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου, ἔθηκαν εἰς μνημεῖον. Ὁ δὲ θεὸς ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν· ὃς ὤφθη ἐπὶ ἡμέρας πλείους τοῖς συναναβᾶσιν αὐτῷ ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ, οἵτινές εἰσιν μάρτυρες αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸν λαόν. Καὶ ἡμεῖς ὑμᾶς εὐαγγελιζόμεθα τὴν πρὸς τοὺς πατέρας ἐπαγγελίαν γενομένην, ὅτι ταύτην ὁ θεὸς ἐκπεπλήρωκεν τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῶν ἡμῖν, ἀναστήσας Ἰησοῦν.

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 63.11,1.
The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord.
Verse: Oh God, hear my cry.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 13:25-33.

IN THOSE DAYS, as John was finishing his course, he said, "What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie." Brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning him. Though they could charge him with nothing deserving death, yet they asked Pilate to have him killed. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead; and for many days he appeared to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus.


Gospel Reading

Beheading of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 6:14-30

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἤκουσεν ὁ βασιλεὺς ῾Ηρῴδης· φανερὸν γὰρ ἐγένετο τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἔλεγεν ὅτι ᾿Ιωάννης ὁ βαπτίζων ἐκ νεκρῶν ἠγέρθη, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἐνεργοῦσιν αἱ δυνάμεις ἐν αὐτῷ. ἄλλοι ἔλεγον ὅτι ᾿Ηλίας ἐστίν· ἄλλοι δὲ ἔλεγον ὅτι προφήτης ἐστὶν ὡς εἷς τῶν προφητῶν. ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ ῾Ηρῴδης εἶπεν ὅτι ὃν ἐγὼ ἀπεκεφάλισα ᾿Ιωάννην, οὗτός ἐστιν· αὐτὸς ἠγέρθη ἐκ νεκρῶν. αὐτὸς γὰρ ὁ ῾Ηρῴδης ἀποστείλας ἐκράτησε τὸν ᾿Ιωάννην καὶ ἔδησεν αὐτὸν ἐν φυλακῇ διὰ ῾Ηρῳδιάδα τὴν γυναῖκα Φιλίππου τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι αὐτὴν ἐγάμησεν. ἔλεγε γὰρ ὁ ᾿Ιωάννης τῷ ῾Ηρῴδῃ ὅτι οὐκ ἔξεστί σοι ἔχειν τὴν γυναῖκα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου. ἡ δὲ ῾Ηρῳδιὰς ἐνεῖχεν αὐτῷ καὶ ἤθελεν αὐτὸν ἀποκτεῖναι, καὶ οὐκ ἠδύνατο. ὁ γὰρ ῾Ηρῴδης ἐφοβεῖτο τὸν ᾿Ιωάννην, εἰδὼς αὐτὸν ἄνδρα δίκαιον καὶ ἅγιον, καὶ συνετήρει αὐτόν, καὶ ἀκούσας αὐτοῦ πολλὰ ἐποίει καὶ ἡδέως αὐτοῦ ἤκουε. καὶ γενομένης ἡμέρας εὐκαίρου, ὅτε ῾Ηρῴδης τοῖς γενεσίοις αὐτοῦ δεῖπνον ἐποίει τοῖς μεγιστᾶσιν αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῖς χιλιάρχοις καὶ τοῖς πρώτοις τῆς Γαλιλαίας, καὶ εἰσελθούσης τῆς θυγατρὸς αὐτῆς τῆς ῾Ηρῳδιάδος καὶ ὀρχησαμένης καὶ ἀρεσάσης τῷ ῾Ηρῴδῃ καὶ τοῖς συνανακειμένοις, εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τῷ κορασίῳ· αἴτησόν με ὃ ἐὰν θέλῃς, καὶ δώσω σοι. καὶ ὤμοσεν αὐτῇ ὅτι ὃ ἐάν με αἰτήσῃς δώσω σοι, ἕως ἡμίσους τῆς βασιλείας μου. ἡ δὲ ἐξελθοῦσα εἶπε τῇ μητρὶ αὐτῆς· τί αἰτήσομαι; ἡ δὲ εἶπε· τὴν κεφαλὴν ᾿Ιωάννου τοῦ βαπτιστοῦ. καὶ εἰσελθοῦσα εὐθέως μετὰ σπουδῆς πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα ᾐτήσατο λέγουσα· θέλω ἵνα μοι δῷς ἐξαυτῆς ἐπὶ πίνακι τὴν κεφαλὴν ᾿Ιωάννου τοῦ βαπτιστοῦ. καὶ περίλυπος γενόμενος ὁ βασιλεύς, διὰ τοὺς ὅρκους καὶ τοὺς συνανακειμένους οὐκ ἠθέλησεν αὐτὴν ἀθετῆσαι. καὶ εὐθέως ἀποστείλας ὁ βασιλεὺς σπεκουλάτωρα ἐπέταξεν ἐνεχθῆναι τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ. ὁ δὲ ἀπελθὼν ἀπεκεφάλισεν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ, καὶ ἤνεγκε τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πίνακι καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὴν τῷ κορασίῳ, καὶ τὸ κοράσιον ἔδωκεν αὐτὴν τῇ μητρὶ αὐτῆς. καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἦλθον καὶ ἦραν τὸ πτῶμα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔθηκαν αὐτὸ ἐν μνημείῳ.

Beheading of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John
The Reading is from Mark 6:14-30

At that time, Herod the King heard about the fame of Jesus, for his name had become known. He said, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him." But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." But when Herod heard of it he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised." For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; because he had married her. For John said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee. For when Herodias' daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it." And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." And she went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the baptizer." And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb. The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.


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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 Beheading of the Forerunner in the Second Mode

The memory of the just is celebrated with hymns of praise, but the Lord's testimony is sufficient for thee, O Forerunner; for thou hast proved to be truly even more venerable than the Prophets, since thou was granted to baptize in the running waters Him Whom they proclaimed. Wherefore, having contested for the truth, thou didst rejoice to announce the good tidings even to those in Hades: that God hath appeared in the flesh, taking away the sin of the world and granting us great mercy.
Μνήμη δικαίου μέτ' ἐγκωμίων, σοὶ δὲ ἀρκέσει ἡ μαρτυρία τοῦ Κυρίου Πρόδρομε, ἀνεδείχθης γὰρ ὄντως καὶ Προφητῶν σεβασμιώτερος, ὅτι καὶ ἐν ῥείθροις βαπτίσαι κατηξιώθης τὸν κηρυττόμενον. Ὅθεν τῆς ἀληθείας ὑπεραθλήσας, χαίρων εὐηγγελίσω καὶ τοὶς ἐν ἅδῃ, Θεὸν φανερωθέντα ἐν σαρκί, τὸν αἴροντα τὴν ἁμαρτίαν τοῦ κόσμου, καὶ παρέχοντα ἡμῖν τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

In your holy birth, Immaculate One, Joachim and Anna were rid of the shame of childlessness; Adam and Eve of the corruption of death. And so your people, free of the guilt of their sins, celebrate crying: "The barren one gives birth to the Theotokos, who nourishes our life."
Ιωακείμ καί Άννα όνειδισμού ατεκνίας, καί Αδάμ καί Εύα, εκ τής φθοράς τού θανάτου, ηλευθερώθησαν, Άχραντε, εν τή αγία γεννήσει σου, αυτήν εορτάζει καί ο λαός σου, ενοχής τών πταισμάτων, λυτρωθείς εν τώ κράζειν σοι, Η στείρα τίκτει τήν Θεοτόκον, καί τροφόν τής ζωής ημών.
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Saints and Feasts

Jbaptbhd
August 29

Beheading of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John

The divine Baptist, the Prophet born of a Prophet, the seal of all the Prophets and beginning of the Apostles, the mediator between the Old and New Covenants, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, the God-sent Messenger of the incarnate Messiah, the forerunner of Christ's coming into the world (Esaias 40: 3; Mal. 3: 1); who by many miracles was both conceived and born; who was filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb; who came forth like another Elias the Zealot, whose life in the wilderness and divine zeal for God's Law he imitated: this divine Prophet, after he had preached the baptism of repentance according to God's command; had taught men of low rank and high how they must order their lives; had admonished those whom he baptized and had filled them with the fear of God, teaching them that no one is able to escape the wrath to come if he do not works worthy of repentance; had, through such preaching, prepared their hearts to receive the evangelical teachings of the Savior; and finally, after he had pointed out to the people the very Savior, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, Which taketh away the sin of the world" (Luke 3:2-18; John 1: 29-36), after all this, John sealed with his own blood the truth of his words and was made a sacred victim for the divine Law at the hands of a transgressor.

This was Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Galilee, the son of Herod the Great. This man had a lawful wife, the daughter of Arethas (or Aretas), the King of Arabia (that is, Arabia Petraea, which had the famous Nabatean stone city of Petra as its capital. This is the Aretas mentioned by Saint Paul in II Cor. 11:32). Without any cause, and against every commandment of the Law, he put her away and took to himself Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, to whom Herodias had borne a daughter, Salome. He would not desist from this unlawful union even when John, the preacher of repentance, the bold and austere accuser of the lawless, censured him and told him, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife" (Mark 6: 18). Thus Herod, besides his other unholy acts, added yet this, that he apprehended John and shut him in prison; and perhaps he would have killed him straightway, had he not feared the people, who had extreme reverence for John. Certainly, in the beginning, he himself had great reverence for this just and holy man. But finally, being pierced with the sting of a mad lust for the woman Herodias, he laid his defiled hands on the teacher of purity on the very day he was celebrating his birthday. When Salome, Herodias' daughter, had danced in order to please him and those who were supping with him, he promised her -- with an oath more foolish than any foolishness -- that he would give her anything she asked, even unto the half of his kingdom. And she, consulting with her mother, straightway asked for the head of John the Baptist in a charger. Hence this transgressor of the Law, preferring his lawless oath above the precepts of the Law, fulfilled this godless promise and filled his loathsome banquet with the blood of the Prophet. So it was that that all-venerable head, revered by the Angels, was given as a prize for an abominable dance, and became the plaything of the dissolute daughter of a debauched mother. As for the body of the divine Baptist, it was taken up by his disciples and placed in a tomb (Mark 6: 21 - 29). Concerning the finding of his holy head, see February 24 and May 25.


Jbaptbhd
August 29

Beheading of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John

The divine Baptist, the Prophet born of a Prophet, the seal of all the Prophets and beginning of the Apostles, the mediator between the Old and New Covenants, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, the God-sent Messenger of the incarnate Messiah, the forerunner of Christ's coming into the world (Esaias 40: 3; Mal. 3: 1); who by many miracles was both conceived and born; who was filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb; who came forth like another Elias the Zealot, whose life in the wilderness and divine zeal for God's Law he imitated: this divine Prophet, after he had preached the baptism of repentance according to God's command; had taught men of low rank and high how they must order their lives; had admonished those whom he baptized and had filled them with the fear of God, teaching them that no one is able to escape the wrath to come if he do not works worthy of repentance; had, through such preaching, prepared their hearts to receive the evangelical teachings of the Savior; and finally, after he had pointed out to the people the very Savior, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, Which taketh away the sin of the world" (Luke 3:2-18; John 1: 29-36), after all this, John sealed with his own blood the truth of his words and was made a sacred victim for the divine Law at the hands of a transgressor.

This was Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Galilee, the son of Herod the Great. This man had a lawful wife, the daughter of Arethas (or Aretas), the King of Arabia (that is, Arabia Petraea, which had the famous Nabatean stone city of Petra as its capital. This is the Aretas mentioned by Saint Paul in II Cor. 11:32). Without any cause, and against every commandment of the Law, he put her away and took to himself Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, to whom Herodias had borne a daughter, Salome. He would not desist from this unlawful union even when John, the preacher of repentance, the bold and austere accuser of the lawless, censured him and told him, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife" (Mark 6: 18). Thus Herod, besides his other unholy acts, added yet this, that he apprehended John and shut him in prison; and perhaps he would have killed him straightway, had he not feared the people, who had extreme reverence for John. Certainly, in the beginning, he himself had great reverence for this just and holy man. But finally, being pierced with the sting of a mad lust for the woman Herodias, he laid his defiled hands on the teacher of purity on the very day he was celebrating his birthday. When Salome, Herodias' daughter, had danced in order to please him and those who were supping with him, he promised her -- with an oath more foolish than any foolishness -- that he would give her anything she asked, even unto the half of his kingdom. And she, consulting with her mother, straightway asked for the head of John the Baptist in a charger. Hence this transgressor of the Law, preferring his lawless oath above the precepts of the Law, fulfilled this godless promise and filled his loathsome banquet with the blood of the Prophet. So it was that that all-venerable head, revered by the Angels, was given as a prize for an abominable dance, and became the plaything of the dissolute daughter of a debauched mother. As for the body of the divine Baptist, it was taken up by his disciples and placed in a tomb (Mark 6: 21 - 29). Concerning the finding of his holy head, see February 24 and May 25.


Allsaint
August 29

Theodora of Thessaloniki


Allsaint
August 29

Anastasios the New Martyr of Bulgaria


Alexandr
August 30

Alexander, John, and Paul the New, Patriarchs of Constantinople

Saint Alexander was sent to the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea as the delegate of Saint Metrophanes, Bishop of Constantinople (see June 4), to whose throne he succeeded in the year 325. When Arius had deceitfully professed allegiance to the Council of Nicaea, Saint Alexander, knowing his guile, refused to receive him into communion; Arius' powerful partisans threatened that they would use force to bring Arius into the communion of the Church the following day. Saint Alexander prayed fervently that God might spare the Church; and as Arius was in a privy place relieving nature, his bowels gushed forth with an effusion of blood, and the arch-heresiarch died the death of Judas. Saint Alexander was Bishop from 325 until 337, when he was succeeded by Saint Paul the Confessor, who died a martyr's death at the hands of the Arians (see Nov. 6). The Saint John commemorated here appears to be the one who was Patriarch during the years 562-577, surnamed Scholasticus, who is also commemorated on February 21. He was from Antioch, where he had been a lawyer (scholasticus); he was made presbyter, then was sent to Constantinople as representative (apocrisiarius) of the Patriarch of Antioch, and was appointed Patriarch of Constantinople by the Emperor Justinian. Saint Paul was Bishop of Constantinople during the years 687 - 693, in the reign of Emperor Justinian II, and presided over the Quinisext Council in 692.


29_stjohn
August 30

Apodosis of the Feast of the Forerunner


Allsaint
August 30

11th Monday after Pentecost


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