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St. Andrew Church
Publish Date: 2020-02-23
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St. Andrew Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (973) 584-0388
  • Fax:
  • (973) 584-3573
  • Street Address:

  • 1447 Sussex Turnpike

  • Randolph, NJ 07869-1830
  • Mailing Address:

  • 1447 Sussex Turnpike

  • Randolph, NJ 07869-1830


Contact Information








Services Schedule

On Sunday we celebrate

Orthros at 8:45 am & Divine Liturgy at 10am

Weekday Orthros and Liturgies begin at 8am 

 

 


Past Bulletins


Services at St. Andrew

Saturday of Souls on February 22, 29 & March 7

Orthros @8am & Divine Liturgy @9:15am

One list of +Names (Baptismal names only) to be given prior to service and will be prayed for on all three Saturday of Souls

Sunday 2/23  Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)

Orthros @9am & Divine Liturgy @10am

Memorial : A six month Memorial Service will be held for the repose of the soul of +Efthimios Ευθύμιου (Thomas) Geannakakes, beloved husband of Calipe and devoted father of Jenise (Theodore) Janulis, George and James Geannakakes. May his memory be eternal.      

 

 

 

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Announcements

Parish Council Oath of Office 

Following the celebration of the Divine Liturgy our Newly Elected Parish Council members along with nour ongoing members will take the “Oath of Office” from Fr. John. Please join us in welcoming and thanking them all for their dedication and service to our Saint Andrew Greek Orthodox Church.

Coffee Hour: is hosted by GOYA| Bagels donated by ALFA BAGELS

Council of Ministries Meeting  

Sunday 2/23/20 at 1pm:  Leaders of Saint Andrew are invited for a Leaders’ Meeting in the Library Rm 203 (important topic to be discussed). Please contact the church office with your RSVP or the name of the person who will be representing your ministry.   

House Blessings: Fr. John Theodosion has begun the House Blessings in our community. St. Andrew Parishioners will be notified of his pending visit.  Please look for a “Post Card” indicating date and time.  We will also be announcing in the weekly bulletin the towns that Fr. John will be visiting. If you don’t receive a Post Card when your town is listed, please contact the office ASAP and make arrangements for «Agiasmo» in your home.

Assistive Listening available: Don't miss a single sound: Please use our Listening Device which was generously donated by one of our parishioners to be used during our Services.  Ask Parish Council at the narthex to assist you

Sunday Coffee Hour Hosts   

Feb: 2/23 GOYA

Mar: 3/1 Philoptochos, 3/8 PTA*, 3/16 DOP*, 3/22 GOYA*, 3/29 Bakaliko*

Apr:  4/5 Philoptochos*, 4/12 All Organizations participate for the  Palm Sun Luncheon*, 4/19 Pascha no coffee Hr , 4/26 GOYA

*Lenten refreshments/deserts during Great Lent please

BAGELS for Sunday Coffee hour are donated by ALFA BAGELS located on Route 10 in Randolph, NJ. We thank them for their generosity and continued support.  

A 2nd Stewardship Sunday - March 8th

The Stewardship Committee understands that submitting your pledge card in November may not be uppermost in your mind as the holiday season approaches. With that in mind, we will be celebrating a Second Stewardship Sunday on March 8th.   We cannot do what we do without you and are grateful to God for your continued love and support.

Stewardship update: A of February 19th 2020. 147families made their 2020 Pledge, totaling $171,413.

 If you have not already made your commitment to Saint Andrew church, we ask that you prayerfully consider your blessings and submit your2020 pledge today.

Online Giving SystemWeShare click on link and follow instructions   https://standrewgonj.churchgiving.com/ our website/ or call the office

social media

We’d like to be able to better communicate with everyone on social media where appropriate.

Please Like Us / Follow Us on our church Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Religious-Organization/St-Andrew-Greek-Orthodox-Church-Randolph-NJ-758987230951158/ 

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Daily Calendar

Coffee Hour Hosts:  2/23 GOYA, 3/1 Philoptochos, 3/8 PTA*, 3/15 DOP*, 3/22 GOYA*, 3/29 Bakaliko* *Lenten foods during coffee hour please

MON 2/24

11am Pillow Ministry Meets 

1-6pm House Blessings in Hopatcong, Lake Hopatcong…..

7:30pm Parish Council Meeting  4th Monday

TUE 2/25 

10am-5pm House Blessings in Morris Plains

7pm  Philoptochos Meeting 4th Tuesday 

7-9 pm HES /Adult Greek Language Class

WED 2/26

10a-2p Knitting Group Meets in Social Hall

THU 2/27

11am-6pm House Blessings in Budd Lake 

4:30 HAS CLASSES | 6:30 Greek Dance | 7pm GOYA Greek Dance

6:30pm GOYA Meeting 4th Thursday

FRI 2/28    

10am Little Angels Play Group in Room 103

2-6pm House Blessings in  Berkley Heights, Madison, Florham Park…..

JOY ONLY - Center Court Ninja @7pm

SAT 2/29   

8am Orthros & 9am Divine Liturgy +2nd Saturday of Souls 

SUN 3/1     

8:45am Forgiveness Sunday

Memorial Service: +Viola Lioudis, +Ethel (Athena) Georges,  +Polytimi  Nikolaou, +Christos Tsapatoris, +Don LaMoreaux and +Hazel LaMoreaux

4pm Vespers “Forgiveness Sunday”

3/2 @6:30PM Office of the Great Compline, also on 3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30, 4/6

3/4 @6:30PM Pre-Sanctified Gifts Liturgy, also on 3/11*, 3/18, 4/1, 4/8

3/6 @ 630pm Salutations, also on 3/13, 3/20, 3/27, 4/3  Akathist

3/8 @8:45am SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY

3/8      Regular Sunday School Classes - Icon Procession by Children in church

3/9 @6:30PM Office of the Great Compline
3/9 @ 8pm Monday Pre-Marriage Counseling sessions/also on 3/16 & 3/23

3/11 @6:30pm Pan Orthodox Pre-Sanctified Gifts Liturgy |Parishioners of Holy Trinity and

           Sts Peter & Paul  will celebrate Liturgy at St. Andrew

3/15 @8:45m Sunday of St Gregory of Palamas

3/19 Stewardship Meeting note date change

3/20 GOYA Retreat

3/21 HOPE/JOY Roller Skating

3/22 @8:45am Sunday of Holy Cross

3/22 GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY Greek School Program (HAS)

3/25 @8am Orthros & Liturgy Annunciation of the Theotokos

3/28 Faith Kitchen: PHILOPTOCHOS

3/29 @8:45am Sunday of St. John Climacus

3/29 GID Parade Fifth Ave from 64th to 79th St  NYC

 

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Fr. John's Message

Prayer Team  

PART NINE 

LET THE SPIRIT LEAD

 Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophesying.

I Thessalonians 5:19-20

Wednesday, February 19

 

Part II—Be a Follower, Not a Fan

 

Now when Jesus saw great crowds around Him, He gave orders to go over to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Matthew 8:18-20

 

Good morning Prayer Team! 

One of the most inspiring and sobering books I have ever read is entitled “Not a Fan” by Kyle Idleman. The premise of the book is that most Christians behave more like “fans” of Christ rather than “followers.” What does that mean?  

 

In the sports world, people are fans of teams. For instance, I am a fan of the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team. I own a shirt, a jersey, a hat and a sweatshirt. I go to a few games a year. I read about them in the paper. I am a fan.  

However, I do not “follow” the Tampa Bay Lightning, in the sense that this organization leads my life. When there is a conflict between a hockey game and family, family wins. When there is a conflict between work and watching a hockey game wins, work wins. And when the team plays on the other coast so that they are playing until 1:00 a.m. and there is a conflict between watching them and sleeping, off goes the TV and I go to bed, and check the score in the morning.  

 

Many people take the same approach to their Christianity. They are fans. They wear a cross, or have a Bible on their night stand. They even go to church when they can. But when there is a conflict between Christianity and life, life wins. And that might mean choosing a baseball game over worship on a Sunday. Or it might mean choosing dishonesty over honesty because it’s more convenient. It might mean succumbing to peer pressure rather than doing the Godly thing for fear of losing status with your peers.   

To be a follower of Christ is a lot different than being a fan. If you are a follower of anything, it means that there is someone who is a leader. And there is both obedience in following the leader and sacrifice, in following the leader where the leader is going, which doesn’t necessarily agree with where we may want to go.  

 

When there is a conflict between what we want (or what our friends want) and what Christ wants, the follower of Christ goes with Christ. The fan doesn’t.   

The hockey team needs fans. Because fans fill stadiums and buy gear and allow a business organization (the hockey team is a business) to make money.  

 

Christ doesn’t need fans. He doesn’t need us to buy crosses or Bibles or even fill churches. Christ wants us to go and change the world. Unfortunately, sometimes churches are so caught up with the “business” of the church (making enough money to keep the doors open) that they forget about the “mission” of the church, which is spread the word of God to all nations. Being a Christian is not about what we wear, or the songs we sing. It’s about how we behave, how we serve others. Being a follower of Christ is about loving Christ and serving Him by serving others.   

In today’s Bible verses, a scribe came up to Jesus and declared his desire to follow. And Jesus warned him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head.” In other words, being a follower does not necessarily come with a lot of glamour or convenience. It’s not about just putting on some Christian gear, knowing Christian songs, or even, I dare say, going to church. Being a follower can be like the fox who doesn’t have a hole, or the bird who has no nest. Being a follower might cost you some friends, if you choose Christ over the crowd.  

 I’m a hockey fan when the team is playing. During the “off season” I’m into a different sport, I don’t give hockey much thought. For followers of Christ, there is no off season, there is no day without a game. Following Christ is a continuous journey, where He is leading, and we are obedient. The journey doesn’t stop, take breaks or have an off season. Following Christ is not something we do only when it’s convenient. As Jesus says in Matthew 8:20, being a follower might actually leave one materially poor. Imagine that Christ had nowhere to lay His head. He didn’t hobnob in fancy hotels or restaurants or enjoy a lavish lifestyle. His constant pursuit wasn’t for money or fame. To the contrary, many times He told someone He healed not to tell anyone.  

 

Following Christ does not necessarily mean we will feel poor or oppressed all the time. However, to truly follow also means there will be times that are difficult and challenging, when we will feel poor or oppressed. In encouraging one another to be better Christians, let’s encourage one another to be followers, not fans, which means being cognizant that there will be many times when it will be hard to be a follower and encouraging one another especially in those times.

In this section of our study, we are focusing on letting the Spirit lead. It’s not about letting our friends lead, or popular media or the latest fashions. To let the Spirit lead means moving ourselves from fans to followers. 

Heavenly Father, there are so many joys as well as challenges to being a Christian. Help me to be more follower than fan. Give me strength and wisdom in the times when this is difficult. I love You, Lord! Help me to love You and serve You more and more. Amen.

 

Be a follower, not a fan! 

+Fr. Stavros  

 

 

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News - Flyers - Registrations - Other

    Saturday of Souls

    Saturday of Souls

    ORTHROS @8AM & DIVINE LITURGY @9:15AM | FEBRUARY 22, 29 & MARCH 7 | Submit +Names of Loved ones for blessed repose


    Pledge Form 2020

    Pledge Form 2020

    We would like to thank everyone who submitted their 2020 Christian Stewardship Commitment. As of January 22nd, 130 families made their 2020 Pledge, totaling $155,643


    Philoptochos

    Philoptochos

    Philoptochos Membership 2020


    Religious Education

    Religious Education

    10 Reasons to bring your child to Sunday School


    Philoptochos

    Philoptochos

    Scholarship Applications and all supporting documents must be postmarked on or before May 15, 2020. The Scholarship winners will be announced on June 7, 2020.


    Emergency List

    Emergency List

    don't wait! prepare today!


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Prayer List

If you would like us to remember you or your loved one in our prayers, please contact the office. 973-584-0388

Names will be kept on this list for approximately 3 months. Please resubmit Names if needed.   Fr. John will pray for the Names above during the Proskomide “Offering of gifts” during the first part of the Divine Liturgy when our priest prepares the mystical gifts of bread and wine. Please keep these names in your prayers as well.

Vasilios, Nicholas, Evanthia, Ramon, Athanasios, Angeliki, Christian, Olga, Efthimia, Demitra, Antonia, Aikaterini, John, Stavroula, Anna Christina, Manny, Mary, George, Susan, Dimitrios, Peter, Michael, Ryan, Ioannis, Monica, Katerina, Tasia, Rose, Christina,Andrew, Andrew, Margaret, Eleni, Paraskevi, Panagotis, Maria, Caroline, Demetrios, Konstantinos, Susan, Afrodite, Cassandra, Aristea, Konstantinos, George, Mary, Holly, Gary, Roye, Cristos, Panagiota, Anna, Panagiotis, John, Nicos, Hannah, Christos, Theoseva, George, Genevieve, Christine, Anna, Louis, Marilyn, Suriana, Antonios, John, Maria, Dimitry Elias, Evangelia, George, Kyriaki, John, Rose, Evmorfia, Fr. Konstantine, Fr. Demetri, Prz Spyridoula, Eugenia, Constantinos, Eftychia, Kyzoula, Lukas, Zoe, Spyridoula, Maria, Eugenia, Alexa, Eleni, Vasiliki, Rosemary, Corinne, Sophia, Anastasia, Pamela, Brian, Brandon, Irene, Eleutherios, Panayioti, William, Kyriaki 

Prayer for a Sick Person:

Heavenly Father, physician of our souls and bodies, who have sent Your only-begotten Son and our Lord Jesus Christ to heal every sickness and infirmity, visit and heal (me) Your servant from all physical and spiritual ailments through the grace of Your Christ. Grant (me) patience in this sickness, strength of body and spirit, and recovery of health.  Lord, You have taught us through Your word to pray for each other that we may be healed.  I pray that You heal (me) as Your servant and grant (me) the gift of complete health. For You are the source of healing and to You I give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

 

 
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Third Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:9-20

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.

Third Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 16:9-20

᾿Αναστὰς δὲ πρωῒ πρώτῃ σαββάτου ἐφάνη πρῶτον Μαρίᾳ τῇ Μαγδαληνῇ, ἀφ᾿ ἧς ἐκβεβλήκει ἑπτὰ δαιμόνια. ἐκείνη πορευθεῖσα ἀπήγγειλε τοῖς μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ γενομένοις, πενθοῦσι καὶ κλαίουσι. κἀκεῖνοι ἀκούσαντες ὅτι ζῇ καὶ ἐθεάθη ὑπ᾿ αὐτῆς, ἠπίστησαν. Μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα δυσὶν ἐξ αὐτῶν περιπατοῦσιν ἐφανερώθη ἐν ἑτέρᾳ μορφῇ, πορευομένοις εἰς ἀγρόν. κἀκεῖνοι ἀπελθόντες ἀπήγγειλαν τοῖς λοιποῖς· οὐδὲ ἐκείνοις ἐπίστευσαν. ῞Υστερον ἀνακειμένοις αὐτοῖς τοῖς ἕνδεκα ἐφανερώθη, καὶ ὠνείδισε τὴν ἀπιστίαν αὐτῶν καὶ σκληροκαρδίαν, ὅτι τοῖς θεασαμένοις αὐτὸν ἐγηγερμένον οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· πορευθέντες εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἅπαντα κηρύξατε τὸ εὐαγγέλιον πάσῃ τῇ κτίσει. ὁ πιστεύσας καὶ βαπτισθεὶς σωθήσεται, ὁ δὲ ἀπιστήσας κατακριθήσεται. σημεῖα δὲ τοῖς πιστεύσασι ταῦτα παρακολουθήσει· ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου δαιμόνια ἐκβαλοῦσι· γλώσσαις λαλήσουσι καιναῖς· ὄφεις ἀροῦσι· κἂν θανάσιμόν τι πίωσιν, οὐ μὴ αὐτοὺς βλάψει· ἐπὶ ἀρρώστους χεῖρας ἐπιθήσουσι, καὶ καλῶς ἕξουσιν. ῾Ο μὲν οὖν Κύριος μετὰ τὸ λαλῆσαι αὐτοῖς ἀνελήφθη εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ. ἐκεῖνοι δὲ ἐξελθόντες ἐκήρυξαν πανταχοῦ, τοῦ Κυρίου συνεργοῦντος καὶ τὸν λόγον βεβαιοῦντος διὰ τῶν ἐπακολουθούντων σημείων. ἀμήν.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 146.5;134.3.
Great is our Lord, and great is his power.
Verse: Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2.

Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Προκείμενον. Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 146.5;134.3.
Μέγας ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν, καὶ μεγάλη ἡ ἰσχὺς ἀὐτοῦ.
Στίχ. Αἰνεῖτε τὸν Κύριον, ὅτι ἀγαθός.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 8:8-13, 9:1-2.

Ἀδελφοί, βρῶμα ἡμᾶς οὐ παρίστησιν τῷ θεῷ· οὔτε γὰρ ἐὰν φάγωμεν περισσεύομεν, οὔτε ἐὰν μὴ φάγωμεν ὑστερούμεθα. Βλέπετε δὲ μήπως ἡ ἐξουσία ὑμῶν αὕτη πρόσκομμα γένηται τοῖς ἀσθενοῦσιν. Ἐὰν γάρ τις ἴδῃ σε τὸν ἔχοντα γνῶσιν ἐν εἰδωλείῳ κατακείμενον, οὐχὶ ἡ συνείδησις αὐτοῦ ἀσθενοῦς ὄντος οἰκοδομηθήσεται εἰς τὸ τὰ εἰδωλόθυτα ἐσθίειν; Καὶ ἀπολεῖται ὁ ἀσθενῶν ἀδελφὸς ἐπὶ τῇ σῇ γνώσει, διʼ ὃν Χριστὸς ἀπέθανεν; Οὕτως δὲ ἁμαρτάνοντες εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφούς, καὶ τύπτοντες αὐτῶν τὴν συνείδησιν ἀσθενοῦσαν, εἰς Χριστὸν ἁμαρτάνετε. Διόπερ εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τὸν ἀδελφόν μου, οὐ μὴ φάγω κρέα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ἵνα μὴ τὸν ἀδελφόν μου σκανδαλίσω. Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος; Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐλεύθερος; Οὐχὶ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν ἑώρακα; Οὐ τὸ ἔργον μου ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν κυρίῳ; Εἰ ἄλλοις οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος, ἀλλά γε ὑμῖν εἰμι· ἡ γὰρ σφραγὶς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀποστολῆς ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν κυρίῳ.


Gospel Reading

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
The Reading is from Matthew 25:31-46

The Lord said, "When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 25:31-46

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· Ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι ἄγγελοι μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, τότε καθίσει ἐπὶ θρόνου δόξης αὐτοῦ, καὶ συναχθήσεται ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ ἀφοριεῖ αὐτοὺς ἀπ᾿ ἀλλήλων ὥσπερ ὁ ποιμὴν ἀφορίζει τὰ πρόβατα ἀπὸ τῶν ἐρίφων, καὶ στήσει τὰ μὲν πρόβατα ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ, τὰ δὲ ἐρίφια ἐξ εὐωνύμων. τότε ἐρεῖ ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῖς ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ· δεῦτε οἱ εὐλογημένοι τοῦ πατρός μου, κληρονομήσατε τὴν ἡτοιμασμένην ὑμῖν βασιλείαν ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου. ἐπείνασα γάρ, καὶ ἐδώκατέ μοι φαγεῖν, ἐδίψησα, καὶ ἐποτίσατέ με, ξένος ἤμην, καὶ συνηγάγετέ με, γυμνός, καὶ περιεβάλετέ με, ἠσθένησα, καὶ ἐπεσκέψασθέ με, ἐν φυλακῇ ἤμην, καὶ ἤλθετε πρός με. τότε ἀποκριθήσονται αὐτῷ οἱ δίκαιοι λέγοντες· κύριε, πότε σε εἴδομεν πεινῶντα καὶ ἐθρέψαμεν, ἢ διψῶντα καὶ ἐποτίσαμεν; πότε δέ σε εἴδομεν ξένον καὶ συνηγάγομεν, ἢ γυμνὸν καὶ περιεβάλομεν; πότε δέ σε εἴδομεν ἀσθενῆ ἢ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ ἤλθομεν πρός σε; καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐρεῖ αὐτοῖς· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐφ᾿ ὅσον ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου τῶν ἐλαχίστων, ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε. τότε ἐρεῖ καὶ τοῖς ἐξ εὐωνύμων· πορεύεσθε ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ οἱ κατηραμένοι εἰς τὸ πῦρ τὸ αἰώνιον τὸ ἡτοιμασμένον τῷ διαβόλῳ καὶ τοῖς ἀγγέλοις αὐτοῦ. ἐπείνασα γάρ, καὶ οὐκ ἐδώκατέ μοι φαγεῖν, ἐδίψησα, καὶ οὐκ ἐποτίσατέ με, ξένος ἤμην, καὶ οὐ συνηγάγετέ με, γυμνός, καὶ οὐ περιεβάλετέ με, ἀσθενὴς καὶ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ οὐκ ἐπεσκέψασθέ με. τότε ἀποκριθήσονται αὐτῷ καὶ αὐτοὶ λέγοντες· κύριε, πότε σε εἴδομεν πεινῶντα ἢ διψῶντα ἢ ξένον ἢ γυμνὸν ἢ ἀσθενῆ ἢ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ οὐ διηκονήσαμέν σοι; τότε ἀποκριθήσεται αὐτοῖς λέγων· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐφ᾿ ὅσον οὐκ ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων, οὐδὲ ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε. καὶ ἀπελεύσονται οὗτοι εἰς κόλασιν αἰώνιον, οἱ δὲ δίκαιοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον.


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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
February 23

Proterios, Archbishop of Alexandria


Allsaint
February 23

Boswell, Abbot of Melrose Abbey


Lastjudgement1
February 23

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)

The foregoing two parables -- especially that of the Prodigal Son -- have presented to us God's extreme goodness and love for man. But lest certain persons, putting their confidence in this alone, live carelessly, squandering upon sin the time given them to work out their salvation, and death suddenly snatch them away, the most divine Fathers have appointed this day's feast commemorating Christ's impartial Second Coming, through which we bring to mind that God is not only the Friend of man, but also the most righteous Judge, Who recompenses to each according to his deeds.

It is the aim of the holy Fathers, through bringing to mind that fearful day, to rouse us from the slumber of carelessness unto the work of virtue, and to move us to love and compassion for our brethren. Besides this, even as on the coming Sunday of Cheese-fare we commemorate Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight -- which exile is the beginning of life as we know it now -- it is clear that today's is reckoned the last of all feasts, because on the last day of judgment, truly, everything of this world will come to an end.

All foods, except meat and meat products, are allowed during the week that follows this Sunday.


Allsaints1
February 29

Cheesefare Saturday

The God-bearing Fathers, after preparing us through the preceding feasts for the stadium of spiritual struggles, now set before us the men and women who have passed their lives in a manner pleasing to God, so that by their example they might make us more eager in the work of virtue and more courageous against the passions. And as experienced generals, when they prepare their soldiers for battle, urge their soldiers on by recalling for them the heroic exploits of excellent men, so that the soldiers take courage and charge wholeheartedly against the enemy; even so the God-bearing Fathers do for our sakes now, by appointing this day as a common memorial and feast of all those Saints who by many labours overcame the passions and became well-pleasing to God; so that we too, looking to the life of the righteous, might imitate them as far as possible in contending courageously against the passions and accomplishing the virtues, having it always in mind that the Saints were of the same nature and of like passions with us.


Eden
March 01

Forgiveness Sunday

The Holy Fathers have appointed the commemoration of Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight here, on the eve of the holy Forty-day Fast, demonstrating to us not by simple words, but by actual deeds, how beneficial fasting is for man, and how harmful and destructive are insatiety and the transgressing of the divine commandments. For the first commandment that God gave to man was that of fasting, which the first-fashioned received but did not keep; and not only did they not become gods, as they had imagined, but they lost even that blessed life which they had, and they fell into corruption and death, and transmitted these and innumerable other evils to all of mankind. The God-bearing Fathers set these things before us today, that by bringing to mind what we have fallen from, and what we have suffered because of the insatiety and disobedience of the first-fashioned, we might be diligent to return again to that ancient bliss and glory by means of fasting and obedience to all the divine commands. Taking occasion from today's Gospel (Matt. 6:14-21) to begin the Fast unencumbered by enmity, we also ask forgiveness this day, first from God, then from one another and all creation.


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world.
Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Mode

O God, when You come upon the earth in glory, the whole world will tremble. A river of fire will bring all before Your Judgment Seat and the books will be opened, and everything in secret will become public. At that time, deliver me from the fire which never dies, and enable me to stand by Your right hand, O Judge most just.
Ὅταν ἔλθῃς ὁ Θεός, ἐπὶ γῆς μετὰ δόξης, καὶ τρέμωσι τὰ σύμπαντα, ποταμὸς δὲ τοῦ πυρὸς πρὸ τοῦ Βήματος ἕλκῃ, καὶ βίβλοι ἀνοίγωνται, καὶ τὰ κρυπτὰ δημοσιεύωνται, τότε ῥῦσαί με, ἐκ τοῦ πυρὸς τοῦ ἀσβέστου, καὶ ἀξίωσον, ἐκ δεξιῶν σου μὲ στῆναι, Κριτὰ δικαιότατε.
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Wisdom of the Fathers

He indicates the dispositions of each, calling the one kids, the other sheep, that He might indicate the unfruitfulness of the one, for no fruit will come from kids; and the great profit from the other, for indeed from sheep great is the profit, as well from the milk, as from the wool, and from the young, of all which things the kid is destitute.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily on Matt. XXV, 4th Century

For when one has pity on the poor, he lends to God; and he who gives to the least gives to God--sacrifices spiritually to God an odour of a sweet smell.
St. Cyprian of Carthage
The Lord's Prayer, 33. B#41, p.102, 3rd century

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