Memorial Service: A 40 Day Memorial Service will be held for the repose of the soul of +Fr. Nikitas Theodosion, beloved husband of Presbytera Mary Theodosion, father of Fr John (Presbytera Athena) Theodosion, Constantine (Alina) Theodosion, grandfather of: Vasilia, Alexandra, Nicholas Joseph, Andreas and Anthony, brother of Mike (Estelle) Theodosion and Melanie Linderman. Please join us for refreshments in honor of Fr Nikitas’ blessed memory.

Divine Services

Monday 3/21 @5pm Office of the Great Compline

Wednesday 3/23 @ 6pm Pre-Sanctified Gifts Liturgy

Friday 3/25 @ Annunciation of the Theotokos +Orthros @ 8AM & Divine Liturgy @ 9:AM

Friday 3/25 @6pm Third Salutations

Sunday 3/27 Sunday of the Holy Cross Orthros @8:15am DL SJC @9:30am

Sunday 3/27 @4pm KATANYKTIKOS “SOLEMN” VESPERS

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

Announcements

Sunday Services are at 8:15am Orthros & at 9:30am Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom

Hellenic Afternoon School next Sunday: 25^th of March Greek Independence Day Program will be held in the gym next Sunday 3/20/22. Join the students and their families as we commemorate 25^th of March. It’s a double Celebration as we observe the “The Annunciation of the Theotokos” as well as the national holiday of the “Greek Independence Day”

Join us for Little Angels Playgroup (LAP)!: Calling all Little Angels ages 0-4! For basic introduction to Greek nursery rhymes and religion. Feel free to bring toys, snacks. A caretaker must be present. Drop in any time between 9:30-11:00 am on scheduled Fridays. - March 25 Pray & Play ● April 1 & 15 If you have questions or plan on attending, please contact Athina Vella at amv1823@gmail.com or call/text 973-879-7095.

Stewardship Cheerful Giving: In II Corinthians 9:7 we read “Each person should give what he/she has decided in his/her heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Consider your weekly expenditures on entertainment, coffee, etc. Keep in mind that the expenses of the Church increase every year. In order to grow our ministries and meet our expenses, stewardship contributions must also increase each year

Holy Cross Offers the PASCHAL SERIES each Monday: The faculty of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology will offer spiritual guidance and instruction in various forms throughout the entire Paschal period, from the beginning of Lent until -The first video is posted and is entitled "Grant Me to See: Reflections on the Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim." https://youtu.be/IF914kS_8j4

Pre-marriage Counseling Mondays at 7:45pm March 7^th & 14^th, and April 4^th Three sessions will be led by Fr John Theodosion. If you and your fiancée would like to attend, please contact the office info@standrewgonj.org

HOPE- JOY: HOPE Hellenic Orthodox Primary Education - Grades K through 2 |JOY Junior Orthodox Youth - Grades 3 through 6 |For more information or upcoming events/activities, please contact HOPE & JOY: hopejoystandrews@gmail.com

Philoptochos:
May 13^th Tricky Tray: our main fundraiser |proceeds to benefit Philoptochos charities
Can you help? Please contact Mary Michailidis mmichailidis@yahoo.com|
Saint Andrew Philoptochos Facebook Page: Please keep up with the news at our NEW Facebook Page by making a friend request to follow us.
FOOD PANTRY EAGLE SCOUT PROGECT - SEE FLYER

Knitting & Crocheting & Pillow Ministries meet at @ 10am on the 1^st & 3^rdWednesday of the month
Please join us on the 1^st and 3^rd 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. Meeting Dates April 6

Upcoming Events for Orthodox Christians
Vasiliki Tsigas-Fotinis created aGoogle Doc with upcoming events for Orthodox Christians. keep the link for 2 months, she will update more events/Retreats as received https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K3Iaej2xe8HAKtLtFr-Ts3FT0YxzbiogNgxCmuAgEdI/edit?usp=sharing
Some of the events will be virtual allowing anyone around the world to participate. Others will be in person, some both. Vasiliki will be updating it at least weekly! Blessed Triodion & Great Lenten journey

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

Fr. John's Message

THE GIFT OF LIFE

There are many and absolutely human moments when we learned from our parents and our grandparents to say “so long as we have our health everything can be done”, asking God to bless the expression of our lips but also of our hearts. Certainly, it is a philosophized and true ascertainment and wish simultaneously. A wish which for man, and furthermore, the believer, means the recognition of our good God as the source of life, as Lord and leader of life, as the granter of this precious good, to which He calls man as a cocreator according to His absolute wisdom.

The work of in the likeness

The few or more decades of our life, is the time when God provides for our salvation for man to work the in the likeness, to struggle with His grace to resemble Him, to also become a god by grace. The Church, knowing that this gift of life cannot and must not be an aim, in and of itself, always prays and teaches concerning “life in Christ”. Participation in the Divine Eucharist, the viewing of Christ himself in the person of each indigent brother, participation in divine worship, prayer, common and private, studying the Law of God, of the Holy Scripture and the teaching of the Fathers of the Church, christify man, they help him remember his divine descent and heavenly homeland, they give meaning spiritually to all the time of his life.

Squandering or increasing life?

All the scientific discoveries, the progress of society, the cultivation of peace in all the corners of the planet, the safeguarding of man’s rights from end to end of the universe, the struggle against violence and discriminations, the recognition and preservation of creation as an irreplaceable gift of God, are woven together in the ages, with the effort of life of many people throughout human history. The life of the one who builds in an unbreakable association of love with life and for the life of the other, an edifice of incalculable value of worldwide civilization and humaneness. Thus, the world enriches and is enriched, thus life obtains essence beyond the present, the past and the future. On the contrary, an egocentrical life destroys whatever good the others hand down to it, it gives birth to wickedness, crimes, wars, violence, ruination, and destruction. Such a problematic life and unfortunately separated from Christ, voluntarily sinks into darkness and in a rage refuses to receive “light from light” of the Resurrection of Christ.

Imbued by this spirit, our holy Church grants Saint Gregory Palamas today, as a model of true life. A great hierarch, who even though he is numbered in the choir of the recent saints, is simultaneously equal in value to the ancient great Fathers and ecumenical Teachers of the Church. His life, his teaching, his writings, his breathe and thought together comprise an experiential essay concerning “life in Christ”. “Lord, illumine my darkness” was his permanent prayer, but also a brief sacred heritage for all struggler Christians.

An analogous model of life is presented furthermore, also in todays passage from the Gospel of Mark, through which Christ is offered as the light of the world in the darkness of human matters. Four people utilize the gift of their own life, in order to serve a man who is deprived of well being and robustness of the members of his body. Working in kindness and in humaneness, which give par excellence value to the person’s life, they think up an inventive trick in order to bring the sick fellow before the Lifegiver. Christ, in telling him that his sins are forgiven, makes a clear proclamation about the life which He himself is offering. His preaching becomes accepted by the sick fellow and by the simple people, not however, by the ritual-worshipping Pharisees and Scribes, who insist on the darkness of their choices. So, let’s be especially careful, and invoking the intercession of Saint Gregory, let’s pray to the Lord to illumine our darkness in our journey to Pascha. Amen!

Archim. A. A.

Lord’s Voice – FONI KYRIOU 3-20-22

Daily Calendar

Coffee Hour on Sunday

will be held in the GYM and hosted by Daughters of Penelope in honor of +Fr Nikitas blessed memory

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

Coffee is donated by Aristotle Leontopoulos of Coffee Associates in Edgewater, NJ

HOSTING ON: 3/20* DOP, 3/27* GOYA, 3/29 Bakaliko, 4/3* Philoptochos, 4/10* DOP, 4/17* Palm Sunday All Ministries, (* LENT ) 4/24 PASCHA No Coffee hour , 5/1 Philoptochos, 5/8 PTA, 5/15 DOP, 5/22 GOYA, 5/29 Bakaliko….

Church Schedule this week

Monday 3/21

@4:30pm HAS CLASSES: JPK, PK, K, L1, L2

Office of the Great Compline Service @5pm NOTE TIME

Movie at AMC Roxbury Theatres “MAN OF GOD” @7PM

Tuesday 3/22

@7pm Philoptochos Monthly Meeting

Wednesday 3/23

Pre-sanctified Liturgy @6pm

Thursday 3/24

@4:30 HAS LEVELS: L3, L4, L5, L6

@5:45 Greek Dance Class Group 1 | @6:30pm Greek Dance Class Group 2

@7pm GOYA Meeting

@7:30pm GOYA GREEK Dance Practice

Friday 3/25

Annunciation of the Theotokos + Orthros @8am DL SJC @9am

9:30am LAP Little Angels Play Group (pray in Church then play in gym! )

Third Salutations @6pm

Saturday 3/26

Faith Kitchen – Philoptochos Hosting

Renaissance Fair - Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) at St. Andrew

Sunday 3/27 Sunday of the Holy Cross Orthros @8:15am DL SJC @9:30am

Memorial Service: +Panagiotis Mastrogiannakos, +Michael Dontas

Sunday 3/27 @4pm KATANYKTIKOS “SOLEMN” VESPERS

Monday 3/28

@4:30pm HAS CLASSES: JPK, PK, K, L1, L2

Office of the Great Compline Service @6PM

@7:30pm Parish Council Meeting

News - Flyers - Registrations - Other

Lenten Services

The Great Compline (Mondays: March 7 to April 11) | The Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts (Wednesdays: March 9 to April 13) | Salutations or Akathist to the Theotokos (Fridays: March 11 to April 8) |KATANYKTIKOS “SOLEMN” VESPERS (Sundays: 3-13, 3-27, 4-10)

Movie

Move “About Man of God” – Monday March 21st @7pm / about St. Nektarios of Aegina’s life … Movie is showing at: AMC Rockaway 16 | 363 Mount Hope Avenue |Rockaway, NJ 07866

Help Ukraine

we are collecting items for Ukraine Sunday, March 13 to Sunday, April 3, 2022 Monday-Friday: 10 am – 4 pm Items may also be left near the church lobby door. Items will be shipped weekly as they accumulate.

need help

Greek orthodox mom who has a rare form of leukemia, is in need of a stem cell transplant.

Kidney donor

18 year old Greek Orthodox parishioner of Holly Trinity in Egg Harbor NJ needs a kidney transplant ...

Bake Sale

Pascha Pick up orders on Sunday after service IF during the week call the Office 973-584-0388 Koulourakia, Kourambiethes, Melomakarona, Baklava, Gift Trays (from Bakaliko) .. Tsoureki (from Monastery)

Philoptochos

Tricky Tray, will be held on Friday, May 13, 2022. |general information | A Gift basket with items valued at $50+/$100+/$200+ . Gift card/gift certificate | . Monetary donation so that we may purchase gift items | . Ad in our Journal

Philoptochos

Scholarship Letter & Application Form (due May 2nd)

Food Pantry

The construction of an outdoor, free-standing, self-service food pantry.. need monetary support t... . Anticipated cost is $500. TO DONATE contact Philoptochos Mary M. mmichailidis@yahoo.com 203-249-9390

Parish Life

Equipping and Enriching our parish life

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

children and families of Ukraine, Christine, Vasiliki, Anastasia, Aikaterini, Cynthia, Demetrios, Robin, Paraskevi, Nikoletta, Theodore, Eleni, Athena, Katerina, Sophia, Eleni, Corinne, Maria, Ioannis, Michael, Eleana, Demetra, Kenneth, Eleni, Anastasios, Phillip, Gregory, John, Marny, Chari, Nikolaos, Janet, Melissa, Marty, Andreas, Fotini, Georgia, Pamela, Haralambos, Photeine, Christina, Michael, Adrianne, George, Anastasia, Nicholas, Michael, Alexandra, Sofia, Joseph, Vasilios, Robert, Chrisopigi, Guadalupe, Barbara, Ioannis, Margaret, Ava, Venessa, Chris, Dominic, Ralph, Ralph L, Elenitsa, Sophia, ….

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.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Sixth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:36-53

At that time, Jesus, having risen from the dead, stood in the midst of his disciples and said to them, "Peace to you." But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high."

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Sixth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 24:36-53

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἔστη ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. πτοηθέντες δὲ καὶ ἔμφοβοι γενόμενοι ἐδόκουν πνεῦμα θεωρεῖν. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί τεταραγμένοι ἐστέ, καὶ διατί διαλογισμοὶ ἀναβαίνουσιν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν; ἴδετε τὰς χεῖράς μου καὶ τοὺς πόδας μου, ὅτι αὐτὸς ἐγώ εἰμι· ψηλαφήσατέ με καὶ ἴδετε, ὅτι πνεῦμα σάρκα καὶ ὀστέα οὐκ ἔχει καθὼς ἐμὲ θεωρεῖτε ἔχοντα. καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐπέδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τοὺς πόδας. ἔτι δὲ ἀπιστούντων αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τῆς χαρᾶς καὶ θαυμαζόντων εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ἔχετέ τι βρώσιμον ἐνθάδε; οἱ δὲ ἐπέδωκαν αὐτῷ ἰχθύος ὀπτοῦ μέρος καὶ ἀπὸ μελισσίου κηρίου, καὶ λαβὼν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ἔφαγεν. εἶπε δὲ αὐτοῖς· οὗτοι οἱ λόγοι οὓς ἐλάλησα πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἔτι ὢν σὺν ὑμῖν, ὅτι δεῖ πληρωθῆναι πάντα τὰ γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ νόμῳ Μωϋσέως καὶ προφήταις καὶ ψαλμοῖς περὶ ἐμοῦ. τότε διήνοιξεν αὐτῶν τὸν νοῦν τοῦ συνιέναι τὰς γραφάς, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὅτι οὕτω γέγραπται καὶ οὕτως ἔδει παθεῖν τὸν Χριστὸν καὶ ἀναστῆναι ἐκ νεκρῶν τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ, καὶ κηρυχθῆναι ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ μετάνοιαν καὶ ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, ἀρξάμενον ἀπὸ ῾Ιερουσαλήμ. ὑμεῖς δέ ἐστε μάρτυρες τούτων. καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ πατρός μου ἐφ᾿ ὑμᾶς· ὑμεῖς δὲ καθίσατε ἐν τῇ πόλει ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ ἕως οὗ ἐνδύσησθε δύναμιν ἐξ ὕψους.

᾿Εξήγαγε δὲ αὐτοὺς ἔξω ἕως εἰς Βηθανίαν, καὶ ἐπάρας τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ εὐλόγησεν αὐτούς. καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ εὐλογεῖν αὐτὸν αὐτοὺς διέστη ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν καὶ ἀνεφέρετο εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν. καὶ αὐτοὶ προσκυνήσαντες αὐτὸν ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ μετὰ χαρᾶς μεγάλης, καὶ ἦσαν διὰ παντὸς ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ αἰνοῦντες καὶ εὐλογοῦντες τὸν Θεόν. 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 Hebrews 1:10-14; 2:1-3.

"IN THE BEGINNING, Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?" Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?

Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him.

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 Ἑβραίους 1:10-14, 2:1-3.

Κατʼ ἀρχάς, Κύριε, τὴν γῆν ἐθεμελίωσας, καὶ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σού εἰσιν οἱ οὐρανοί· αὐτοὶ ἀπολοῦνται, σὺ δὲ διαμένεις· καὶ πάντες ὡς ἱμάτιον παλαιωθήσονται, καὶ ὡσεὶ περιβόλαιον ἑλίξεις αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἀλλαγήσονται· σὺ δὲ ὁ αὐτὸς εἶ, καὶ τὰ ἔτη σου οὐκ ἐκλείψουσιν. Πρὸς τίνα δὲ τῶν ἀγγέλων εἴρηκέν ποτε, Κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου; Οὐχὶ πάντες εἰσὶν λειτουργικὰ πνεύματα, εἰς διακονίαν ἀποστελλόμενα διὰ τοὺς μέλλοντας κληρονομεῖν σωτηρίαν; Διὰ τοῦτο δεῖ περισσοτέρως ἡμᾶς προσέχειν τοῖς ἀκουσθεῖσιν, μήποτε παραρρυῶμεν. Εἰ γὰρ ὁ διʼ ἀγγέλων λαληθεὶς λόγος ἐγένετο βέβαιος, καὶ πᾶσα παράβασις καὶ παρακοὴ ἔλαβεν ἔνδικον μισθαποδοσίαν, πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας; Ἥτις, ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ κυρίου, ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
The Reading is from Mark 2:1-12

At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he said to the paralytic-"I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 2:1-12

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσῆλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς εἰς Καπερναοὺμ δι᾿ ἡμερῶν καὶ ἠκούσθη ὅτι εἰς οἶκόν ἐστι. καὶ εὐθέως συνήχθησαν πολλοί, ὥστε μηκέτι χωρεῖν μηδὲ τὰ πρὸς τὴν θύραν· καὶ ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς τὸν λόγον. καὶ ἔρχονται πρὸς αὐτὸν παραλυτικὸν φέροντες, αἰρόμενον ὑπὸ τεσσάρων· καὶ μὴ δυνάμενοι προσεγγίσαι αὐτῷ διὰ τὸν ὄχλον, ἀπεστέγασαν τὴν στέγην ὅπου ἦν, καὶ ἐξορύξαντες χαλῶσι τὸν κράβαττον, ἐφ᾿ ᾧ ὁ παραλυτικὸς κατέκειτο. ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ· τέκνον, ἀφέωνταί σοι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου. ἦσαν δέ τινες τῶν γραμματέων ἐκεῖ καθήμενοι καὶ διαλογιζόμενοι ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν· τί οὗτος οὕτω λαλεῖ βλασφημίας; τίς δύναται ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ Θεός; καὶ εὐθέως ἐπιγνοὺς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὕτως αὐτοὶ διαλογίζονται ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί ταῦτα διαλογίζεσθε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν; τί ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν τῷ παραλυτικῷ, ἀφέωνταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, ἢ εἰπεῖν, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει; ἵνα δὲ εἰδῆτε ὅτι ἐξουσίαν ἔχει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀφιέναι ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἁμαρτίας - λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ· σοὶ λέγω, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ ὕπαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου. καὶ ἠγέρθη εὐθέως, καὶ ἄρας τὸν κράβαττον ἐξῆλθεν ἐναντίον πάντων, ὥστε ἐξίστασθαι πάντας καὶ δοξάζειν τὸν Θεὸν λέγοντας ὅτι οὐδέποτε οὕτως εἴδομεν.

Saints and Feasts

March 20

Photini the Samaritan Woman

Saint Photini lived in 1st century Palestine and was the woman that Christ met at Jacob's Well in Samaria as recorded in the Gospel according to John (4:4-26). After her encounter with Christ, she and her whole family were baptized by the Apostles and became evangelists of the early Church. Photini and her children eventually were summoned before the emperor Nero and instructed to renounce their faith in Christ. They refused to do so, accepting rather to suffer various tortures. After many efforts to force her to surrender to idolatry, the emperor ordered that she be thrown down a well. Photini gave up her life in the year 66.

St. Photini is commemorated on three occasions during the year: February 26 (Greek tradition), March 20 (Slavic tradition), and the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman on the 5th Sunday of Pascha.

March 20

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

This divine Father, who was from Asia Minor, was from childhood reared in the royal court of Constantinople, where he was instructed in both religious and secular wisdom. Later, while still a youth, he left the imperial court and struggled in asceticism on Mount Athos, and in the Skete at Beroea. He spent some time in Thessalonica being treated for an illness that came from his harsh manner of life. He was present in Constantinople at the Council that was convened in 1341 against Barlaam of Calabria, and at the Council of 1347 against Acindynus, who was of like mind with Barlaam; Barlaam and Acindynus claimed that the grace of God is created. At both these Councils, the Saint contended courageously for the true dogmas of the Church of Christ, teaching in particular that divine grace is not created, but is the uncreated energies of God which are poured forth throughout creation: otherwise it would be impossible, if grace were created, for man to have genuine communion with the uncreated God. In 1347 he was appointed Metropolitan of Thessalonica. He tended his flock in an apostolic manner for some twelve years, and wrote many books and treatises on the most exalted doctrines of our Faith; and having lived for a total of sixty-three years, he reposed in the Lord in 1359.

His holy relics are kept in the Cathedral of Thessalonica. A full service was composed for his feast day by the Patriarch Philotheus in 1368, when it was established that his feast be celebrated on this day. Since works without right faith avail nothing, we set Orthodoxy of faith as the foundation of all that we accomplish during the Fast, by celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy the Sunday before, and the great defender of the teachings of the holy Fathers today.

March 20

Righteous Fathers slain at the Monastery of St. Savas

The Righteous Martyrs were put to death by the barbarians during the reign of Emperor Heraclius, when Saint Modestus was Patriarch of Jerusalem (632-634).

March 21

James the Confessor

This Saint took up the monastic life from his youth in the Monastery of Studium, where he became a disciple of Saint Theodore the Studite. Later he became bishop and suffered many afflictions and torments at the hands of the Iconoclasts. Saint Theodore composed a homily in honour of this Saint James (PG 99, 1353-1356).

March 23

The Holy Righteous Martyr Nicon and His 199 Disciples

Saint Nicon was from Neapolis (Naples) in Italy. His father was an idolater and his mother a Christian. At first he was a soldier, but later he went to the East, where he was baptized and in time became a bishop. After some years, he returned to the West and came to Sicily, where he and many of his disciples were put to death by beheading because they would not worship the idols.

March 25

Annunciation of the Theotokos

Six months after John the Forerunner's conception, the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth, a town of Galilee, unto Mary the Virgin, who had come forth from the Temple a mature maiden (see Nov. 21). According to the tradition handed down by the Fathers, she had been betrothed to Joseph four months. On coming to Joseph's house, the Archangel declared: "Rejoice, thou Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." After some consideration, and turmoil of soul, and fear because of this greeting, the Virgin, when she had finally obtained full assurance concerning God's unsearchable condescension and the ineffable dispensation that was to take place through her, and believing that all things are possible to the Most High, answered in humility: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." And at this, the Holy Spirit came upon her, and the power of the Most High overshadowed her all-blameless womb, and the Son and Word of God, Who existed before the ages, was conceived past speech and understanding, and became flesh in her immaculate body (Luke 1:26-38).

Bearing in her womb the Uncontainable One, the blessed Virgin went with haste from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea, where Zacharias had his dwelling; for she desired to find Elizabeth her kinswoman and rejoice together with her, because, as she had learned from the Archangel, Elizabeth had conceived in her old age. Furthermore, she wished to tell her of the great things that the Mighty One had been well-pleased to bring to pass in her, and she greeted Elizabeth and drew nigh to her. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, she felt her six-month-old babe, Saint John the Baptist, prophesied of the dawning of the spiritual Sun. Immediately, the aged Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and recognized her as the Mother of her Lord, and with a great voice blessed her and the Fruit that she held within herself. The Virgin also, moved by a supernatural rejoicing in the spirit, glorified her God and Savior, saying: "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour," and the rest, as the divine Luke hath recorded (1:39-55)

March 27

Sunday of the Holy Cross

With the help of God, we have almost reached the middle of the course of the Fast, where our strength has been worn down through abstinence, and the full difficulty of the labour set before us becomes apparent. Therefore our holy Mother, the Church of Christ, now brings to our help the all-holy Cross, the joy of the world, the strength of the faithful, the staff of the just, and the hope of sinners, so that by venerating it reverently, we might receive strength and grace to complete the divine struggle of the Fast.

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 Sun. of St. Gregory Palamas in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Light of Orthdoxy, pillar and teacher of the Church, adornment of monastics, invincible champion of theologians, O Gregory thou wonderworker, boast of Thessalonica, herald of grace: ever pray that our souls be saved.

Ὀρθοδοξίας ὁ φωστὴρ, Ἐκκλησίας τὸ στήριγμα καὶ διδάσκαλε, τῶν μοναστῶν ἡ καλλονὴ, τῶν θεολόγων ὑπέρμαχος ἀπροσμάχητος· Γρηγόριε θαυματουργὲ Θεσσαλονίκης τὸ καύχημα κήρυξ τῆς χάριτος· ἱκέτευε διὰ παντός, σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"

Τὴ ὑπερμάχω στρατηγῶ τὰ νικητήρια, ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν εὐχαριστήρια, ἀναγράφω σοὶ ἡ Πόλις σου Θεοτόκε, Ἀλλ' ὡς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον, ἐκ παντοίων μὲ κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον, ἵνα κράζω σοί, Χαῖρε νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε.

Wisdom of the Fathers

Now Matthew indeed saith, that "they brought him," but the others, that they also broke up the roof, and let him down. And they put the sick man before Christ, saying nothing, but committing the whole to Him.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 29 on Matthew 9, 1. B#54, pp. 195, 196, 4th Century

For though in the beginning He Himself went about, and did not require so much faith of them that came unto Him; yet in this case they both approached Him, and had faith required on their part. For, "Seeing," it is said, "their faith;" that is, the faith of them that had let the man down.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 29 on Matthew 9, 1. B#54, pp. 195, 196, 4th Century

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