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St. Andrew Church
Publish Date: 2021-11-21
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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 8:15 am & Divine Liturgy at 9:30am

Weekday Orthros and Liturgies begin at 8am 

 

 


Past Bulletins


Services at St. Andrew

 

Sunday 11/21 The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple +O @8:15am & DL SJC @9:30am

Fr. John Theodosion together with the parish council of Saint Andrew invite you and your family to participate in the Divine Liturgy of The Presentation of the Theotokos to the Temple.  We are blessed and honored to have His Eminence Archbishop +Elpidophoros of America celebrating with us on Sunday.

MEMORIALS 

A One-Year Memorial Service will be held today for the repose of the soul of +FR DEMETRI TSIGAS beloved husband of Presvytera Eleni (Zuras), father of Jordan and Jonathan, son of Fr. Konstantine and Presvytera Spiridoula Tsigas, St. Andrew's first parish Priest & Presbytera (1962-2004), brother of Vasiliki (Panayiotis) Fotinis and Katerina (George) Papaioanou. 

A Nine-Year Memorial Service will be held for the repose of the soul of +PROTOPRESBYTER ANGELO GAVALAS beloved priest, servant of God, Youth Director of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North & South America who guided the vibrant Young Adult League (YAL) Movement from its inception in the early 1980’s.

A 40 Day Memorial Service will be held for the repose of the soul +ARETI MAGLARAS, of Flushing NY beloved cousin of Presbytera Spiridoula Tsigas, Dina Seretis and aunt of the Fotinis Family. 

An Annual Memorial Service will be held today for the repose of the soul of +ACIMO TAXIARCHOU, beloved wife of John and devoted mother of Lou and Gus Taxiarchou.

May their memory be eternal. Αιωνίαημνήμηαυτών

Wednesday 11/24 Thanksgiving DAY SERVICE & St. Katherine the Great Martyr +Orthros & Divine Liturgy @6:00pm

SACRAMENTS

On Saturday, November 20th, 2021, at 4pm William Freidhof  will wed Irene Kavalos of Bloomfield, NJ.

On Sunday, November 21st, 2021 @1:30pm Daniel Russo and Marina Strongilos will baptize their son.

On Sunday, November 21st, 2021 @ 2:30pm DaNeilleo Marshall and Nicole Fackina will baptize their son.

Sunday 11/28 The 13th Sunday of Luke + Orthros @8:15am & Divine Liturgy SJC @9:30am

Stewardships Sunday is on November 28th 

ATTENDING SERVICES AT SAINT ANDREW 

No reservations are required to attend church services
NO Masks  required for people to attend services (you may wear a mask if you choose to) 
A section in the church with Social distance seating  is available for people who choose this for themselves or their family.

Participation in services is also available via livestream - go to: Home | St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church (orthodoxws.com) and choose LIVESTREAM on the Menu bar

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

Online Giving System: Website: https://www.standrewgonj.org/ and choose PayPal / online WeShare

 

 

 

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Announcements

Sunday services New start time is +8:15am Orthros & 9:30am Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom

Religious Education: Sunday school (children please sit with your family during service) after Holy Communion students please go to your respective classes … after class… students please meet your family at coffee Hour in the Social Hall. OPEN HOUSE is on Sunday, November 21st : You are invited to visit your child’s Sunday School classroom after Liturgy, to meet their teacher and find out about this year’s curriculum. 

GOYA:Please sit in designated Pews 2A, 3A, 4A located at far left of Altar are reserved for GOYA MEMBERS. |GOYA Games Randolph @ Clifton/2:30pm 

Join us for Little Angels Playgroup LAP! 
Calling all Little Angels ages 0-4! For basic introduction to Greek nursery rhymes and religion. Our Playgroup will meet every other Friday. Feel free to bring toys, snacks. A caretaker must be present. Drop in any time between 9:30-11:30am every other Friday on November 19, December 3, December 17, January 7, 2022 …  If you have questions or plan on attending, please contact Athina Vella at amv1823@gmail.com or call/text 973-879-7095. 

HOPE & JOY! 
HOPE Hellenic Orthodox Primary Education - Grades K through 2 
JOY Junior Orthodox Youth - Grades 3 through 6
November 27th - Hope/Joy event - Color me mine) We will coordinate details with Sofia Benas and advise on times and additional information asapNovember 27th - Hope/Joy event - Color me mine) We will coordinate details with Sofia Benas and advise on times and additional information asap please contact HOPE & JOY: hopejoystandrews@gmail.com

Knitting and Pillow Ministries : Please join us on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the Month at 10:30am for knitting and or sewing. We need you to help us provide blankets, scarves, and pillows to the different organizations we are helping. Feel free to drop in for a cup of coffee …  we usually have little lunch a lot of laughs.  Wednesday Dates in 2021: 11/24, 12/1, 12/15 | Dates in 2022:  1/5, 1/19

Hellenic Afternoon School 

Mondays  at 4:30pm for Jr.PK, PK, K, Levels 1 & 2.  

Thursdays at 4:30pm for Levels 3,4,5 and 6

Greek Dance Class
Thursdays for Group 1 at 5:45pm & for Group 2 and 6:30pm

GOYA GREEK DANCE 
 Thursdays at 7:30pm 

 

 

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Fr. John's Message

THE TENT OF THE HEAVENLY GOD

The feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos comprises a reminder to each one of us what it means to be able to glorify God, making our own self a tent of His. Because in the person of the All Holy Theotokos our human nature offers itself to the Great High Priest Christ, who enters in once, He alone, in order to offer Himself as a sacrifice “for the sake of the ignorances of the people” (Heb. 9:7). And the All Holy Theotokos becomes a “treasury of the glory of God” as the kontakion of the feast mentions.

Parents who truly love

Zachariah welcomes her with lanterns, because God has informed him about her. Her parents, Joachim and Anna leave her at the temple and to God, not because they are not able to raise her, but because they feel that this treasure no longer belongs to them. She is God’s, and to Him she must be returned. They are her birthgivers, but she will give birth to Him who will give rebirth to our being from death. Thus, the parents feel that this child has been called for another mission. She will no longer be their child, but she will glorify in God, the entire human race. And so, for this reason, whatever they taught her becomes prayer. It becomes communion with God. It becomes trust in His will. And her parents themselves, prematurely withdraw from her life. Because they feel that the joy they received with her birth will become the joy of the whole universe. Thus is the love of those who truly believe in God. Open to everyone. Ready to leave aside even also whatever are the main elements of human relationships, what we call “possessiveness”. The “she belongs to me”, the “she is mine”.

The All Holy Theotokos, the heavenly temple

The entrance of the All Holy Theotokos into the temple of God, opens up the road for what will happen later on: the coming of Christ. God gives the sanctification to the All Holy Theotokos not only at the age of three years old, but in all of her life. She will work with prayer, ascesis, the ministry at the Holy of Holies, by receiving the food that the angel of God brings her, so that she can be ready, from a member of the earthly temple made by hands, to receive the Godman, and to make herself a temple of the Holy Spirit. She will say the “yes” in the name of all of humanity to the calling of God to become His mother, and, just like her parents, she will share her Son with all of humanity. She will not keep Him for her own self, but she will offer back the gift that she received to everyone. In the earthly temple, she will study the love for God. Establishing herself a temple of the heavenly one, she will share this love with everyone, and she will continue sharing it, just as she was and remains a mediatress for everyone.

Love is sacrifice

Christ will show us that the crowning of love is sacrifice. He was sacrificed for our sins, for those that we know, and for those that we are ignorant of. And His sacrifice becomes life. The All Holy Theotokos left human things behind, her parents, her childlikeness, the right for earthly joy and happiness, and she said her own “yes” to the love that becomes sacrifice. And she calls us to the earthly temple to offer our own self, our passions, and our mistakes, the feeling that we exist for our “ego”, and to open ourselves up to love. In the Jewish temple, only the high priest would enter into the Holy of Holies. In our own Orthodox Christian churches, the Holy of Holies come out to us, and we commune the sacrifice of our Christ. Thus, we become, as much as we are able, like the All Holy Theotokos, that is, a tent of the heavenly God. Let us imitate her also in our spiritual preparation, in our joy of being members of the Church, of the body of Christ.

Fr. Th. M

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Daily Calendar

Please join us for refreshments following Services in our Community Center. 

Coffee Hour will be hosted by Daughters Of Penelope along with the Community of St. Andrew

Bagels are donated by Jimmy Psaras of ALFA BAGELS on Route 10 in Randolph, NJ

Coffee is donated by William Callas of COFFEE ASSOCIATES in Edgewater, NJ

HOSTING Coffee hour on:  11/28 GOYA*, 12/5 Philoptochos*, 12/15 PTA*, 12/19 DOP*, (*Please bring Lenten options for coffee hour) 12/26 GOYA, 1/2/2022 Philoptochos, 1/9/2022 PTA,.. 

Church Schedule this week

Friday 11/19

@9:30a-11:30am Little Angels Playgroup (LAP)

Saturday 11/20 

@4pm Wedding Kavalos_Freidhof

Sunday 11/21 The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple +O @8:15am & DL SJC @9:30am

Memorial Service: +Fr Demetri Tsigas, +Fr Angelo Gavalas, +Areti Maglaras + Acimo Taxiarchou

Religious Education Open House

@1:30pm Baptism Russo @ 2:30pm Baptism Marshall

Monday 11/22

@4:30 HAS LEVELS: JPK, PK, K, L1, L2 

@7pm General Assembly Virtual

@7:30pm Parish Council Meeting

Tuesday 11/23

@7pm Philoptochos Meeting

@7pm GOYA Volleyball Practice/gym

Wednesday 11/24 Thanksgiving Day Service &St. Katherine +Orthros & Divine Liturgy @6pm

Thursday 11/25 Happy Thanksgiving

Friday 11/26

Saturday 11/27 Faith Kitchen/Philoptochos Charing 

Sunday 11/28 The 13th Sunday of Luke + Orthros @8:15am & Divine Liturgy SJC @9:30am

Memorial Service: + Petroula Mitrakos, + Ekaterini Hatzinas, +Michael Salavos

Trisagion Service: +Alexandra Bisk

Stewardships Sunday

Monday 11/29

No HAS CLASSES

Tuesday 11/30

@7pm GOYA Volleyball Practice/gym

@7pm Philoptochos Meeting

@7pm GOYA Advisors’ Meeting

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News - Flyers - Registrations - Other

    ARCHIEPISCOPAL Visit

    ARCHIEPISCOPAL Visit

    We are blessed and honored to have His Eminence Archbishop +Elpidophoros of America celebrating with us on Sunday 11/21/21


    General Assembly

    General Assembly

    Monday, November 22nd, 2021 @7:00pm | Please RSVP to info@standrewgonj.org to receive LINK for virtual meeting.


    STEWARDSHIP

    STEWARDSHIP

    Prayerfully consider your blessings as you make your 2021 Donation to Saint Andrew and submit 2022 Stewardship Commitment on Sunday, November 28th.


    Saint Andrew Celebrations

    Saint Andrew Celebrations

    Monday, November 29 at 7:00pm Great Vespers with Artoclasia | Tuesday, November 30 at 8:15am Orthros & 9:30am Divine Liturgy with Artoclasia


    Philoptochos

    Philoptochos

    Annual Holiday Bake Sale ORDER FORM


    TOYS FOR TOTS

    TOYS FOR TOTS

    collecting NEW unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots Foundation. Please drop off your donations at Saint Andrew Church before December 10th


    Philoptochos

    Philoptochos

    please donate to the Christmas and New Year’s greetings from parishioners to the entire church family


    Philoptochos

    Philoptochos

    Annual Christmas Dinner Philoptochos and Daughters of Penelope TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. RSVP 12/10/21


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Prayer List

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

Please keep these names in your prayers 

Nikolaos, Janet, Melissa, Marty, Andreas, Fotini, Georgia, Pamela, Haralambos, Christina, Michael, Adrianne, Konstantinos, George, Anastasia, Nicholas, Michael, Alexandra, Sofia, Joseph, Vasilios, Robert,, Megan, Chrisopigi, Guadalupe, Barbara, Ioannis, Nicholas, Margaret, Ava, Venessa, Chris, Dominic, Ralph, Ralph L,  Elenitsa,, Sophia, Doreen, Lori, Robert, Constantine, Panagiota, Michael Scott, Christine, Millie, Joe, Anastasios, Herb, Sangita, Elizabeth, Mary, Niki, Phillip, Pagona, Eleftheria, Argiroula, Angeliki, John, Helen, Athena,  Jeremiah, Joseph, Elias, Joanna, Ellen, Demetra, Kenneth,  Artemis,  Vasileke, John, Mike, Maria, Mary, Haroula, Ioannis, Irene, Christos, Evangelia, Alice,  LarryMaria,   Catherine, Mark, Vasiliki-Christina, Christina, Prz._Eleni, Fr._Konstantine, Prz._Spiridoula,  Nikolaos, Kyriacos, 

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.

 

 

 

 

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
The Reading is from Luke 1:39-49, 56

In those days, Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name." And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.

The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 1:39-49, 56

Ἐν ταῖς ἡμέρας ἐκείνας, ἀναστᾶσα δὲ Μαριὰμ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις ἐπορεύθη εἰς τὴν ὀρεινὴν μετὰ σπουδῆς εἰς πόλιν ᾿Ιούδα, καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον Ζαχαρίου καὶ ἠσπάσατο τὴν ᾿Ελισάβετ. καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἤκουσεν ἡ ᾿Ελισάβετ τὸν ἀσπασμὸν τῆς Μαρίας, ἐσκίρτησε τὸ βρέφος ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ αὐτῆς· καὶ ἐπλήσθη Πνεύματος ῾Αγίου ἡ ᾿Ελισάβετ καὶ ἀνεφώνησε φωνῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ εἶπεν· εὐλογημένη σὺ ἐν γυναιξὶ καὶ εὐλογημένος ὁ καρπὸς τῆς κοιλίας σου. καὶ πόθεν μοι τοῦτο ἵνα ἔλθῃ ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ Κυρίου μου πρός με; ἰδοὺ γὰρ ὡς ἐγένετο ἡ φωνὴ τοῦ ἀσπασμοῦ σου εἰς τὰ ὦτά μου, ἐσκίρτησε τὸ βρέφος ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ μου. καὶ μακαρία ἡ πιστεύσασα ὅτι ἔσται τελείωσις τοῖς λελαλημένοις αὐτῇ παρὰ Κυρίου. Καὶ εἶπε Μαριάμ· Μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν Κύριον καὶ ἠγαλλίασε τὸ πνεῦμά μου ἐπὶ τῷ Θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρί μου, ὅτι ἐπέβλεψεν ἐπὶ τὴν ταπείνωσιν τῆς δούλης αὐτοῦ. ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν μακαριοῦσί με πᾶσαι αἱ γενεαί· ὅτι ἐποίησέ μοι μεγαλεῖα ὁ δυνατὸς καὶ ἅγιον τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ. ῎Εμεινε δὲ Μαριὰμ σὺν αὐτῇ ὡσεὶ μῆνας τρεῖς καὶ ὑπέστρεψεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτῆς.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Luke 1: 46-48.
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Verse: For he has regarded the humility of his servant.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:1-7.

BRETHREN, the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties; but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people.

Προκείμενον. Third Mode. Λουκάν 1:46-48.
Μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν Κύριον, καὶ ἠγαλλίασε τὸ πνεῦμά μου ἐπὶ τῷ Θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρί μου.
Στίχ. Ὅτι ἐπέβλεψεν ἐπὶ τὴν ταπείνωσιν τῆς δούλης αὐτοῦ.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 9:1-7.

Ἀδελφοί, εἶχεν ἡ πρώτη σκηνὴ δικαιώματα λατρείας, τό τε ἅγιον κοσμικόν. Σκηνὴ γὰρ κατεσκευάσθη ἡ πρώτη, ἐν ᾗ ἥ τε λυχνία καὶ ἡ τράπεζα καὶ ἡ πρόθεσις τῶν ἄρτων, ἥτις λέγεται ἅγια. Μετὰ δὲ τὸ δεύτερον καταπέτασμα σκηνὴ ἡ λεγομένη ἅγια ἁγίων, χρυσοῦν ἔχουσα θυμιατήριον, καὶ τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης περικεκαλυμμένην πάντοθεν χρυσίῳ, ἐν ᾗ στάμνος χρυσῆ ἔχουσα τὸ μάννα, καὶ ἡ ῥάβδος Ἀαρὼν ἡ βλαστήσασα, καὶ αἱ πλάκες τῆς διαθήκης· ὑπεράνω δὲ αὐτῆς Χερουβὶμ δόξης κατασκιάζοντα τὸ ἱλαστήριον· περὶ ὧν οὐκ ἔστιν νῦν λέγειν κατὰ μέρος. Τούτων δὲ οὕτως κατεσκευασμένων, εἰς μὲν τὴν πρώτην σκηνὴν διὰ παντὸς εἰσίασιν οἱ ἱερεῖς, τὰς λατρείας ἐπιτελοῦντες· εἰς δὲ τὴν δευτέραν ἅπαξ τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ μόνος ὁ ἀρχιερεύς, οὐ χωρὶς αἵματος, ὃ προσφέρει ὑπὲρ ἑαυτοῦ καὶ τῶν τοῦ λαοῦ ἀγνοημάτων·


Gospel Reading

The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
The Reading is from Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28

At that time, Jesus entered a village; and a woman called Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve you alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her." As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!" But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 10:38-42, 11:27-28

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσῆλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς κώμην τινά· γυνὴ δέ τις ὀνόματι Μάρθα ὑπεδέξατο αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτῆς. καὶ τῇδε ἦν ἀδελφὴ καλουμένη Μαρία, ἣ καὶ παρακαθίσασα παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ ἤκουε τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ. ἡ δὲ Μάρθα περιεσπᾶτο περὶ πολλὴν διακονίαν· ἐπιστᾶσα δὲ εἶπε· Κύριε, οὐ μέλει σοι ὅτι ἡ ἀδελφή μου μόνην με κατέλιπε διακονεῖν; εἰπὲ οὖν αὐτῇ ἵνα μοι συναντιλάβηται. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· Μάρθα Μάρθα, μεριμνᾷς καὶ τυρβάζῃ περὶ πολλά· ἑνὸς δέ ἐστι χρεία· Μαρία δὲ τὴν ἀγαθὴν μερίδα ἐξελέξατο, ἥτις οὐκ ἀφαιρεθήσεται ἀπ᾿ αὐτῆς. ᾿Εγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ λέγειν αὐτὸν ταῦτα ἐπάρασά τις γυνὴ φωνὴν ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου εἶπεν αὐτῷ· μακαρία ἡ κοιλία ἡ βαστάσασά σε καὶ μαστοὶ οὓς ἐθήλασας. αὐτὸς δὲ εἶπε· μενοῦνγε μακάριοι οἱ ἀκούοντες τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ φυλάσσοντες αὐτόν.


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Saints and Feasts

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.


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.


Allsaint
November 22

Kallistos Xanthopoulos, Patriarch of Constantinople


Katherin
November 25

Catherine the Great Martyr of Alexandria

Saint Catherine, who was from Alexandria, was the daughter of Constas (or Cestus). She was an exceedingly beautiful maiden, most chaste, and illustrious in wealth, lineage, and learning. By her steadfast understanding, she utterly vanquished the passionate and unbridled soul of Maximinus, the tyrant of Alexandria; and by her eloquence, she stopped the mouths of the so-called philosophers who had been gathered to dispute with her. She was crowned with the crown of martyrdom in the year 305. Her holy relics were taken by Angels to the holy mountain of Sinai, where they were discovered many years later; the famous monastery of Saint Catherine was originally dedicated to the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord and the Burning Bush, but later was dedicated to Saint Catherine. According to the ancient usage, Saints Catherine and Mercurius were celebrated on the 24th of this month, whereas the holy Hieromartyrs Clement of Rome and Peter of Alexandria were celebrated on the 25th. The dates of the feasts of these Saints were interchanged at the request of the Church and Monastery of Mount Sinai, so that the festival of Saint Catherine, their patron, might be celebrated more festively together with the Apodosis of the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos. The Slavic Churches, however, commemorate these Saints on their original dates.


Styliano
November 26

Stylianos the Monk of Paphlagonia

St. Stylianos was from Paphlagonia living in the latter 6th century and early 7th century. He loved the Lord Jesus Christ with his whole heart and lived in strict asceticism. When he fell asleep in the Lord, his face shone like the sun and an angel appeared to take his soul to Glory. His prayers have worked many miracles, both during his earthly life and since. He is of special help to children who are ill and to childless couples. He is known as a protector of orphans.


18_lukewriting
November 28

13th Sunday of Luke


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal First Mode

Let us worship the Word, O ye faithful, praising Him that with the Father and the Spirit is co-beginningless God, Who was born of a pure Virgin that we all be saved; for He was pleased to mount the Cross in the flesh that He assumed, accepting thus to endure death. And by His glorious rising, He also willed to resurrect the dead.
Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύματι, τὸν ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθέντα εἰς σωτηρίαν ἡμῶν, ἀνυμνήσωμεν πιστοὶ καὶ προσκυνήσωμεν, ὅτι ηὐδόκησε σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ, καὶ θάνατον ὑπομεῖναι, καὶ ἐγεῖραι τοὺς τεθνεῶτας, ἐν τῇ ἐνδόξῳ Ἀναστάσει αὐτοῦ.

Apolytikion for Entry of the Theotokos in the Fourth Mode

Today is the prelude of God's good will and the heralding of the salvation of mankind. In the temple of God, the Virgin is presented openly, and she proclaimeth Christ unto all. To her, then, with a great voice let us cry aloud: Rejoice, O thou fulfilment of the Creator's dispensation.
Σήμερον τής ευδοκίας Θεού τό προοίμιον, καί τής τών ανθρώπων σωτηρίας η προκήρυξις, Εν Ναώ τού Θεού τρανώς η Παρθένος δείκνυται, καί τόν Χριστόν τοίς πάσι προκαταγγέλλεται, Αυτή καί ημείς μεγαλοφώνως βοήσωμεν, Χαίρε τής οικονομίας τού Κτίστου η εκπλήρωσις.

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

What Mary might well have said to Martha, the Lord, anticipating her, replied that she had left everything to sit at the Lord's feet, and bless God all day long. You see, her sitting was for love's sake.
St. Makarios the Great
Homily XII, 4th Century

But that God's word may be made clearer, listen to this. If any one loves Jesus, and attends to Him in earnest, and not in a casual way, but in love abides by Him, God is already devising to make some return to that soul for its love, although the man does not know what he is to receive or what portion God is about to give to the soul.
St. Makarios the Great
Homily XII, 4th Century

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