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St. Andrew Church
Publish Date: 2020-11-15
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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

Attending services at Saint Andrew

Below are the links for upcoming services.

Registration to services will be open until allowed seating has been reached.

Just Click on the Eventbrite Link  below and make your Reservation.

You will then get a confirmation that you may attend the service. For Sunday’s Liturgy please come to church by 10:15am. Late arrivals will lose their reservation if we have people waiting to be seated.  If you are not able to attend please cancel your reservation.

If you are having problems with link or do not have access to the internet call the church office 973-584-0388 (leave a message and we’ll get back to you).

 

Friday 11/13

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/127500337943

+St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople

@8am Orthros & @9am Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom

 

Saturday 11/14

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/127501240643

+St. Philip the Apostle

@8am Orthros & @9am Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom

Youth & Family Worship @ 9:00AM

 

 Sunday 11/15

 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/127502378045

 8th Sunday of Luke

 @8:45am Orthros & @10:15am Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom

Memorial  Service will be held  on Sunday November 15th for the repose of the soul of  +Nikolaos Boyiatgis of 50 years and the soul of +Anna Boyiatgis  of 16 years,  beloved parents of  Dorothy and Ennette, grandparents of Nicole  and great grandparents of Elijah Kenneth.  May their memory be eternal

graduationDue to the pandemic, the 2020 Hellenic Afternoon School graduation ceremony has been rescheduled to Sunday November 15 after Divine Liturgy.  The graduating students will be honored and will receive their diplomas.  We hope to see everyone there!

Baptism  On Sunday November 15th at 1:30pm Richard Newbery and Anna Hatziemanuel will baptize their daughter.

 

Monday 11/6

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/128297018837

+ Matthew the Apostle & Evangelist

@8am Orthros & @9am Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom

 

Saturday 11/21

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/128298001777

+The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

 @8am Orthros & @9am Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom

 Youth & Family Worship @ 9:00AM*

*Youth & Family Worship:  Inlieu of an in-person or virtual Sunday School, the Religious Education Department is offering Youth Family Worship on select Saturdays each month. We encourage all our families to join us on these Saturday mornings. The Religious Education Department is focusing on “Family & Orthodoxy” as a way to bring our Orthodox Faith into the home and have a comprehensive spiritual life on the daily. Additional materials/lessons will be provided during  these services.

 

Prayers/Liturgy can  always be found at: https://www.agesinitiatives.com/dcs/public/dcs/dcs.html 

 

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Announcements

Saint Andrew Family News  November issue on our Web site 

https://www.standrewgonj.org/
https://www.standrewgonj.org/files/November-2020.pdf 

Greek School Grade 6 graduation ceremony on Sunday 11/15/20

Due to the pandemic, the 2020 Hellenic Afternoon School graduation ceremony is rescheduled after church service on Sunday November 15, 2020.  The graduating students will be honored and will receive their diplomas.  We hope to see everyone there!

 Stewardship Sunday 11/22/20 

Please consider your blessings as you make your 2021 Commitment to Saint Andrew. Mail in or bring in your pledge for the Offertory Prayer on Sunday November 22nd  

Bakaliko Bake Sale NOVEMBER 2020 see  Order form 

 

Attending services at Saint Andrew

1. Wear your mask throughout the service

2. Social distancing is 6 feet please

3. No seating where indicated..

 

• make reservation to attend Divine Liturgy look for Eventbrite links

• Please be on time or you run the risk of losing your seat, as people may be waiting to attend the service.

• If you cannot attend please cancel your reservation by using your Eventbrite confirmation or calling the church office and leaving a message

• Parishioners must sanitize their hands upon entering the Church.

• Parishioners must wear protective masks throughout the Services.

• Parishioners must adhere to the social distancing guidelines of keeping a six foot distance from other parishioners at all times in the pews and throughout the Church. The only exception being for families that have quarantined together, as they will be able to sit together in a designated section of the Church.

• Parishioners are not to wander in the Church, in the Parish facilities, or outside on the parish grounds.

• Small children shall not be allowed to roam the aisles.

• Parishioners must leave the Church premises, including the parking lot and exterior grounds, upon conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, all the while maintaining social distancing standards.

If the church is full you may pray outside.

• If you don't have a seat in church you may enter the narthex to light a candle and then go back outside to pray.

• For those outside, who wish to receive Holy Communion, you will be directed to enter at the appropriate time all the while maintaining social distancing standards.

 

At this phase, our Church occupancy is limited during the  service and is on a first come, first serve basis and we will adhere to the protocols outlined in our web site. In order to attend a service you MUST pre-register using the link which will become available a few days prior to the service or by calling the church during office hours (If NO Answer: please leave a message and we will return your call). You will then get a confirmation that you may attend the service. Please bring that with you when you come to church. If you are not able to attend, we invite you to participate in the celebration of the Divine Services through live streaming services that are available.

  

Live Stream of Services

From the Church's Facebook Page

From the Church's Website

 

Prayers/Liturgy can always be found at:

https://www.agesinitiatives.com/dcs/public/dcs/dcs.html

 

Light a Virtual Candle

We know we can't physically be at church, but if you're following the live video stream of the services and would like to continue to light a candle as you "enter" the church or would like to "drop some money in the basket" please consider a donation by lighting a "virtual candle".

Just go to the church's Facebook page and select "posts". You can light your virtual candle via the Facebook donate button which you should be able to see.

If you don't have Facebook or prefer not to donate through Facebook, you can always go to the Saint Andrew Website and select either PayPal or WeShare from the home page.

 

Father John will pray for the living and the reposed during Liturgy.

Just email him at prayersstandrew@gmail.com  PLEASE indicate Living or Reposed 

 

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Fr. John's Message

ARCHIEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICAL

Prot. No. 210/2020


Inaugural National Philoptochos Sunday

November 15, 2020


Δανείζει Θεῷ ὁ ἐλεῶν πτωχόν, κατὰ δὲ τὸ δόμα αὐτοῦ ἀνταποδώσει αὐτῷ. (Παροιμιῶν 19:17)

You lend to God when you show mercy to the poor; He will repay you according to His reward. (Proverbs 19:17)


To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and
Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox
Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day,
Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic
Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America,


Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,


On this Sunday of the Good Samaritan, we are inaugurating National
Philoptochos Sunday, in recognition of their decades of good works on behalf of the
Church and the entire human family. The Greek Orthodox Church in America is truly
unthinkable without the Philoptochos. Every Parish is supported, nourished, and
enriched by its Ladies Philoptochos Society. They are, for all of us, a sisterhood of Martha
and Mary, dedicated servants of the Church and the wider community, and living icons
of reflection on the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ.


They are called “Friends of the Poor” for a reason. The charitable and
eleemosynary deeds of the Philoptochos sustain all manner of life in our communities,
both near and far. They provide us all an opportunity to do well in our lives by doing
good. We should generously support their philanthropy in every way possible.
In setting aside this particular Sunday, that of the “Good Samaritan,” we are
recognizing the compassion and generosity that Philoptochos provides every day in the
life of the Church. We thank them for their labors of love for all people, and for the
example they set in our Parishes from coast to coast. May they all hear the words of the
Lord as were voiced by the Samaritan we call “Good”: “Ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ ἐπανέρχεσθαί Με
ἀποδώσω σοι. When I come again, I will repay you.” (Luke 10:35).

With paternal love in our Lord Jesus Christ,


† ELPIDOPHOROS
Archbishop of America

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Daily Calendar

we will be live-streaming the services on the church’s Facebook page

 

11/16 +Matthew the Apostle & Evangelist

 

11/19 @7pm Goya Meeting virtual

 

11/21 +The Presentation of the Theotokos into the Temple | Divine Liturgy Youth & Family Worship @ 9:00AM

 

11/22 9th Sunday of Luke

 11/22 Memorial Service: +Kanella + Nikolaos Perdis (Perdikoulias)

 11/22 Stewardship Sunday

 

11/23 @7pm General Assembly virtual

11/23 @8pm Parish Council Monthly Meeting virtual

 

11/24@ 7pm Philoptochos Monthly Meeting virtual

 

11/25 +St. Katherine the Great Martyr 

11/25 Thanksgiving Day  Service & +Stylianos the Monk of Paphlagonia |O & DL @6pm

11/25 pm Artoclasia Service offered by Sedereas Family 

 

11/26 NO HAS Classes (Thanksgiving break)

11/26 Thanksgiving Day

 

11/28 Faith Kitchen: Philoptochos

 

11/29 13th Sunday of Luke

11/29 Memorial Service: +Vincent Pelegrino

11/29 Saint Andrew | Great Vespers Service for @7pm

11/29 Artoclasia Service offered by the families of: Sofocleous & Lysandrou

 

11/30 +Saint Andrew The First Called Apostle * Orthros & Divine Liturgy @9 AM

12/4 +St. Barbara the Great Martyr * / Relics

12/5 Divine Liturgy Youth & Family Worship @ 9:00AM*

 

12/6 10th Sunday of Luke | +St. Nicholas Archbishop of Myra

12/12 +St. Spyridon the Wonderworker of Trymithous
Divine Liturgy Youth & Family Worship @ 9:00AM*

 

12/13 11th Sunday of Luke 

12/15+St. Eleutherios the Holy Martyr

 

12/20 Sunday before the Nativity 

12/22 +St. Anastasia the Great Martyr

12/24 +Eve Of The Nativity Of Christ, +Eugenia The Righteous |Orthros, Great Hours, Great Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

12/25 +Holy Nativity Of Our Lord Orthros & Divine Liturgy of SJC @6pm

 

12/27Sunday After Nativity |+St. Stephen, Archdeacon & First Martyr

12/31 Circumcision Of Our Lord & Commemoration St. Basil | Great Vespers @3:30pm 

 

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News - Flyers - Registrations - Other

    Hellenic Afternoon School

    Hellenic Afternoon School

    Due to the pandemic, the 2020 Hellenic Afternoon School graduation ceremony has been rescheduled to Sunday November 15 after Divine Liturgy. The graduating students will be honored and will receive their diplomas.


    Youth + Family + Worship

    Youth + Family + Worship

    Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom: Saturday, November 14th & 21st at 9AM | Saturday, December 5th & 12th at 9AM | This educational year, our Religious Education Department is focusing on “Family and Orthodoxy” and encouraging all our Religious Education families to participate. Materials and instructions will be provided via email and at our Services.


    Religious Education

    Religious Education

    CHOICE BOARD September-November 2020 Family Goal - Choose and complete 15 boxes per quarter (3 months)


    Stewardship Letter

    Stewardship Letter

    in English and Greek | “The Ekklesia extends far beyond the four walls of any church building.” | Stewardship Sunday: November 22, 2020


    STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE

    STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE

    We ask you to prayerfully consider your blessings and make your 2021 commitment to Saint Andrew.


    General Assembly

    General Assembly

    General Assembly meeting on Monday, November 23rd, 2020 @7:00pm. Please RSVP to info@standrewgonj.org to receive LINK for virtual meeting.


    BAKE SALE -November 2020

    BAKE SALE -November 2020

    Special orders contact Maria Stamoutsos 973-691-8168 | Please pick up your order on Sunday after service


    Saint Andrew Feast Day

    Saint Andrew Feast Day

    Sunday, November 29th, 2020 @ 7pm Great Vespers with Artoclasia || Monday, November 30th, 2020 @ 9 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy with Artoclasia


    ARCHIEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICAL

    ARCHIEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICAL

    His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America on behalf of National Philoptochos in Greek.


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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 or send us an email to info@standrewgonj.org 

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.

Jeremy, Kyriacos, Anastasia, Sofie, Marina, Athena,   Vasiliki, Klaus, Lori, Despina, Bob, Isabella, Julie, Kyriaki, Sergios, Nikoletta, Roger, Constantinos, Ioanna, Alexandra, Dimitri, Maria, Angeliki, Constantinos, Panagiotis, Fevronia, Alexandra, Eleni, Anastasia, George, Vasiliki, Jeff, Kleio, George, Eugenia, Joanna, Eliana, Constantinos, Elena, Nicholas, Konstantinos, Georgia, Vasileke, Jutta, Irene, George, Eftihia, Athena, Christina, Athanasios,  Anna, John, Rick, Christine, John, Freda, Estelle, Christina, Fotios, Julie, Joanna, Efthymios, Evangelos, John, Joanna, Lisa, Rich, Magdalini, Irini, Christos, Fr. Christos, Nancy, Brian, Thomas, Vasilios,  Evanthia, Stephanie, Athanasios, Angeliki, Christian, Olga,  Demitra, Antonia, , John, Stavroula, Anna Christina, Manny, Mary, George, Susan, Dimitrios, Peter, Michael, Ryan, Ioannis, Monica, Katerina, Tasia, 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,  Evmorfia, Fr. Konstantine, Fr. Demetri, Prz Spyridoula,

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

First Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Matthew 28:16-20

At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Amen."

First Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 28:16-20

Οἱ δὲ ἕνδεκα μαθηταὶ ἐπορεύθησαν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, εἰς τὸ ὄρος οὗ ἐτάξατο αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς. καὶ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ, οἱ δὲ ἐδίστασαν. καὶ προσελθὼν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς λέγων· ἐδόθη μοι πᾶσα ἐξουσία ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς. πορευθέντες μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ῾Αγίου Πνεύματος, διδάσκοντες αὐτοὺς τηρεῖν πάντα ὅσα ἐνετειλάμην ὑμῖν· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν εἰμι πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ἕως τῆς συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος. ἀμήν.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:4-10.

Brethren, God who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God: not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Προκείμενον. Plagal Second Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1.
Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου.
Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἐφεσίους 2:4-10.

Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεός, πλούσιος ὢν ἐν ἐλέει, διὰ τὴν πολλὴν ἀγάπην αὐτοῦ ἣν ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς, καὶ ὄντας ἡμᾶς νεκροὺς τοῖς παραπτώμασιν συνεζωοποίησεν τῷ Χριστῷ - χάριτί ἐστε σεσωσμένοι - καὶ συνήγειρεν, καὶ συνεκάθισεν ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ· ἵνα ἐνδείξηται ἐν τοῖς αἰῶσιν τοῖς ἐπερχομένοις τὸν ὑπερβάλλοντα πλοῦτον τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ ἐν χρηστότητι ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ· τῇ γὰρ χάριτί ἐστε σεσῳσμένοι διὰ τῆς πίστεως, καὶ τοῦτο οὐκ ἐξ ὑμῶν· θεοῦ τὸ δῶρον· οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων, ἵνα μή τις καυχήσηται. Αὐτοῦ γάρ ἐσμεν ποίημα, κτισθέντες ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐπὶ ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς, οἷς προητοίμασεν ὁ θεός, ἵνα ἐν αὐτοῖς περιπατήσωμεν.


Gospel Reading

8th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 10:25-37

At that time, a lawyer stood up to put Jesus to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?" And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live."

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

8th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 10:25-37

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, νομικός τις ἀνέστη ἐκπειράζων αὐτὸν καὶ λέγων· διδάσκαλε, τί ποιήσας ζωὴν αἰώνιον κληρονομήσω; ὁ δὲ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· ἐν τῷ νόμῳ τί γέγραπται; πῶς ἀναγινώσκεις; ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· ἀγαπήσεις Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ἰσχύος σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς διανοίας σου, καὶ τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν· εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ· ὀρθῶς ἀπεκρίθης· τοῦτο ποίει καὶ ζήσῃ. ὁ δὲ θέλων δικαιοῦν ἑαυτὸν εἶπε πρὸς τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν· καὶ τίς ἐστί μου πλησίον; ὑπολαβὼν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν· ἄνθρωπός τις κατέβαινεν ἀπὸ ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ εἰς ῾Ιεριχώ, καὶ λῃσταῖς περιέπεσεν· οἳ καὶ ἐκδύσαντες αὐτὸν καὶ πληγὰς ἐπιθέντες ἀπῆλθον ἀφέντες ἡμιθανῆ τυγχάνοντα. κατὰ συγκυρίαν δὲ ἱερεύς τις κατέβαινεν ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ ἐκείνῃ, καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν ἀντιπαρῆλθεν. ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ Λευΐτης γενόμενος κατὰ τὸν τόπον, ἐλθὼν καὶ ἰδὼν ἀντιπαρῆλθε. Σαμαρείτης δέ τις ὁδεύων ἦλθε κατ᾿ αὐτόν, καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν ἐσπλαγχνίσθη, καὶ προσελθὼν κατέδησε τὰ τραύματα αὐτοῦ ἐπιχέων ἔλαιον καὶ οἶνον, ἐπιβιβάσας δὲ αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸ ἴδιον κτῆνος ἤγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς πανδοχεῖον καὶ ἐπεμελήθη αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν αὔριον ἐξελθών, ἐκβαλὼν δύο δηνάρια ἔδωκε τῷ πανδοχεῖ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἐπιμελήθητι αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὅ τι ἂν προσδαπανήσῃς, ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ ἐπανέρχεσθαί με ἀποδώσω σοι. τίς οὖν τούτων τῶν τριῶν πλησίον δοκεῖ σοι γεγονέναι τοῦ ἐμπεσόντος εἰς τοὺς λῃστάς; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· ὁ ποιήσας τὸ ἔλεος μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ. εἶπεν οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· πορεύου καὶ σὺ ποίει ὁμοίως.


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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
November 15

Thomas, Archbishop of Constantinople


Goodsamaritan
November 15

8th Sunday of Luke


Allsaint
November 15

Nativity Fast Begins

The Nativity Fast is one of four main fast periods throughout the ecclesiastical year. Beginning on November 15 and concluding on December 24, the Nativity Fast gives individuals the opportunity to prepare for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior in the Flesh on December 25. By abstaining from certain food and drink, particularly from meat, fish, dairy products, olive oil, and wine, as well as focusing more deeply on prayer and almsgiving, we can find that the primary aim of fasting is to make us conscious of our dependence upon God.


Mattevng
November 16

Matthew the Apostle & Evangelist

This Apostle, who was also called Levi, was the son of Alphaeus and had Galilee as his homeland. A publican before being called by Christ, he became one of the Twelve Apostles, and an Evangelist. While still in Palestine, he wrote his Gospel first in Hebrew, being also the first of all to write the Gospel. When he is depicted in icons, there is portrayed next to him the likeness of a man, one of the symbolic living creatures mentioned by Ezekiel (1.10), which, as Saint Irenaeus writes, is a symbol of our Saviour's Incarnation.


Vmentrnc
November 21

The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

According to the tradition of the Church, the Theotokos was brought to the Temple at three years of age, where she was consecrated to God and spent her days until she was fourteen or fifteen years old; and then, as a mature maiden, by the common counsel of the priests (since her parents had reposed some three years before), she was betrothed to Joseph.


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Mode

Angelic powers were above Thy tomb, and they that guarded Thee became as dead. And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine immaculate Body. Thou hast despoiled Hades and wast not tried thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. O Thou Who didst arise from the dead, Lord, glory be to Thee.
Ἀγγελικαὶ Δυνάμεις ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμά σου, καὶ οἱ φυλάσσοντες ἀπενεκρώθησαν, καὶ ἵστατο Μαρία ἐν τῷ τάφῳ, ζητοῦσα τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα. Ἐσκύλευσας τὸν ᾍδην, μὴ πειρασθεὶς ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, ὑπήντησας τῇ Παρθένῳ, δωρούμενος τὴν ζωήν, ὁ ἀναστὰς ἐκ των νεκρῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for Martyrs Gouria, Shamuna, and Habib in the Plagal First Mode

Since Thou hast given us the miracles of Thy holy Martyrs as an invincible battlement, by their entreaties, scatter the counsels of the heathen, O Christ our God, and strengthen the faith of Orthodox Christians, since Thou alone art good and the Friend of man.
Τά θαύματα τών Αγίων σου Mαρτύρων, τείχος ακαταμάχητον ημίν δωρησάμενος, Χριστέ ό Θεός, ταίς αυτών ικεσίαις, βουλάς εθνών διασκέδασον, τής βασιλείας τά σκήπτρα κραταίωσον, ως μόνος αγαθός καί φιλάνθρωπος.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Today, the most pure temple of the Savior, the precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the sacred treasure of God, enters the house of the Lord, bringing the grace of the Divine Spirit. The Angels of God praise her. She is the heavenly tabernacle.
Ο καθαρώτατος ναός τού Σωτήρος, η πολυτίμητος παστάς καί Παρθένος, τό Ιερόν θησαύρισμα τής δόξης τού Θεού, σήμερον εισάγεται, εν τώ οίκω Κυρίου, τήν χάριν συνεισάγουσα, τήν εν Πνευματι θείω, ήν ανυμνούσιν Άγγελοι Θεού, Αύτη υπάρχει σκηνή επουράνιος.
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Wisdom of the Fathers

The example of the good Samaritan shows that we must not abandon those in whom even the faintest amount of faith is still alive.
St. Ambrose of Milan
Two Books of St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Concerning Repentance, Chapter 11

But you cannot be a neighbour unless you have compassion on him; for no one can be called a neighbour unless he have healed, not killed, another. But if you wish to be called a neighbour, Christ says to you: "Go and do likewise."
St. Ambrose of Milan
Two Books of St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Concerning Repentance, Chapter 11

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