Services at St. Andrew

Friday 4/29 Renewal Friday +Orthros @8am & Divine Liturgy @9am

Sunday 5/1 Thomas Sunday +Orthros @8:15am & Divine Liturgy @9:30am

Tuesday 5/3 + St Xenia of Kalamata

An Annual Memorial Service will be held for the repose of the souls of +Coralia and +Evangelos Pappas and +Sotere Rigos beloved family of Marty and Debbie Pappas Burne.

Thursday 5/5 +St. Irene + St Ephraim (The New) Orthros @8am & Divine Liturgy @9am

A Six-Month Memorial Service will be held for the repose of the soul of +Elias Massad, and an annual Memorial service for the repose of the soul of +Barbara Massad, beloved friends of Takis and Sultana Seretis.

(HC) Holy Communion is offered to the faithful on many occasions during Holy Week. After each Divine Liturgy as noted by (HC)

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

save the dates

Honoree Grand Banquet Monday, May 9^th@ 6pm | Venetian in Garfield, NJ

Annual Tricky Tray Friday May 13^th at 6pm in the Saint Andrew gym

Greek Independence Day PARADE in NYC June 5^th 2022 at 1:30pm

Religious Education Graduation & Scholarship Awards Presentation on June 12^th

Saint Andrew Big Greek Festival 2022 JUNE ●17(Fri) ●18(Sat) ●19 (Sun)

60^th Anniversary Gala Sunday November 13^th at the Meadow Wood in Randolph NJ

Honoree Grand Banquet Monday, May 9^th@ 6: pm | Venetian in Garfield, NJ

Saint Andrew Greek Orthodox church will honor only a few of the many hard working and dedicated parishioners of our community. This year the following people were chosen to be honored by our church and will receive an award at the banquet. The Community Honoree is Roslyn Monokandilos, Parish Council Honoree is Nikolas Karkanias, Philoptochos Honoree is Marina Venizelos, GOYA Honoree is Panagiota (Pola) Katsanos, Religious Education Teacher Honoree is Photeine Lopardo, Essential Medical WorkerHonoree isDr Andreas Rotsides, Youth Worker Honoree is Harriet Karkanias, and Oldest Person being honored is MaryAnn Brinkley. We would like to thank them all for their services and contributions to the success of our ministries. If you would like to attend this event please contact the office for reservations and details asap. RSVP by 4/27/22

Greek Independence Day Parade - June 5^th in NYC :

The Parade will take place on Fifth Avenue, rain or shine, on Sunday, June 5^th, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. Let us proudly celebrate the 200^th Anniversary of March 25, 1821, the start of the Greek War of Independence, the Bicentennial Celebration which we were not able to properly celebrate last year. Our church is organizing a bus trip to New York City. We plan on leaving church parking lot no later than 12:15 pm and returning about 6:00pm. Please make your Reservations

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdEFfrGITy6-CnQ5UACAtAkIve81JdcDBaC2A9p1U2u9Q4RYg/viewform?usp=sf_link

using the Google Link above. Seating will be 1^st come, so make your Parade Reservations ASAP. We will be requesting $5 per student & $10 per adult.

Big Greek Festival

We are looking forward to having our 50^th Big Greek Festival at Saint Andrew. It is only possible with the contributions of our devoted volunteers, like you! Please consider joining the festival team.

Volunteering is a great opportunity to meet your fellow parishioners, to serve the church community, and to show pride in our Greek heritage and Orthodox faith. Come join us: A great fellowship event -- come make friends that last a lifetime! Volunteer Signup sheets are up by the church office.

Commercial business/services: for more information on how you or someone you know can join our Community Partners Program contact the church office. We have five different levels you can advertise your business to thousands of guests that come to our festival.

Philoptochos:

May 13^th Tricky Tray: our main fundraiser |proceeds to benefit Philoptochos charities Cann you help? Please contact 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 @ 10:30am 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.

(LAP) Join us for Little Angels Playgroup! @9:30 am Fridays on May 6 & 20, June 10 & 24 to attend or mro more information contactAthina amv1823@gmail.com or text 973-879-7095

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 CONSECRATION OF THE RESURRECTION

Sunday of Antipascha, the first after the chosen and holy day of Pascha, the queen of feasts and days of the whole year, and we are holding the consecration of the weekly recycled celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord. The center of our faith and life, but also of the life of our Church, liturgically, spiritually and ontologically, is undoubtedly the great event of the Resurrection. In older times, today's Sunday was called "new", but also the Sunday "in white", because during it, the newlyillumined people, who were catechized during Holy and Great Lent and received the baptism on Holy Saturday, when a baptismal Divine Liturgy was celebrated brilliantly and panegyrically. They symbolically wore white robes and clothes, and they would take off these white garments eight days later, as a cloud henceforth entering into the body of the Church.

A permanent misunderstanding

We all also know this day as the Sunday of Thomas. That is, it is inextricably linked to the name of this great Apostle and disciple of our Lord, who, as we are evangelically informed, was not present when Christ appeared immediately after His Resurrection to the other Apostles. For this reason, it seems that the Apostle had doubts about the event. Desiring afterwards, the relevant information from the Apostles, with a strong desire to meet his Lord, he ached, as did the rest, for the separation, and his heart leapt from the desire to see the Teacher, to touch the wounds of His Passion in His immaculate palms and His holy side.

So behold, then, that the resurrected Jesus, eight days after His Resurrection, appears again to the group of the Holy Apostles, from which the Apostle Thomas was not missing this time, and He invites him to approach and see, but also to feel the marks of the wounds in His all holy body. Really, in this blessed communion, Thomas recognized the Teacher by confessing Him with this powerful phrase to Him: "My Lord and my God".

The lifting of the misunderstanding

But let's look for a bit and try to understand the phrase with which, as a first light -bearing and illuminating resurrectional greeting, the Master Christ chooses to address the Apostle Thomas. the rest of the Apostles and the whole universe, the one then, and hereafter, saying the “Peace be to you”. Christ imparts peace to Thomas, because this, as a “perfect gift”, but also as an inner state, is always given by God for man to come to know Him. This enlightens the mind of the Apostle Thomas so that he can see “the Lord as He is”.

The peace of Christ is that which informed Thomas and transformed within him, the good disbelief into a saving confession both at that moment, as well as for the whole duration of the rest of his life. Thus, he was granted to live, not, of course, as an unbeliever - a nickname he unjustly carries – but as a genuine disciple of Christ, a preacher of His Gospel to the ends of the then world, and a very brave athlete and witness of His name.

Christ conveys peace, however, intricately intertwined with the joy of the Resurrection also to the Holy Apostles, because this alone can comprise an unshakable foundation for their subsequent journey to Holy Pentecost, but also a sacred legacy for the continuation of His work "going out into all the world preach the Gospel to all creation”. We can, if we wish, remember that we also are recipients of Christ’s peace. All those of us who are living two thousand years after His historic presence on earth, need the peace of Christ, as never before. We are tragically living its involuntary loss from our life, wandering in the dead ends of our extraneous choices. Let us receive, my brethren, from Christ, the great gift of peace, really living and celebrating His Holy Resurrection in a god-pleasing manner.

Archim. A. A.

Lord’s Voce 5-1-22

Daily Calendar

Sunday’s Coffee Hour May 1^st

Is hosted by the Philoptochos

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: 5/8 Parish Council, 5/15 GOYA, 5/22 DOP & AHEPA Memorial, 5/29 Bakaliko.. /

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Sunday 5/1 +Thomas Sunday +Orthros 8:15am & Divine Liturgy of SJC @9:30am

Monday 5/2

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

@7:30pm Parish Council Meeting

Tuesday 5/3

St. Xenia of Kalamata the Great Martyr +Orthros @8am & Divine Liturgy of SJC @9am

@7:30pm GOYOA SOCCER

Wednesday 5/4

Pillow & Knitting Ministry meet

Thursday 5/5

St Irene and St Ephraim the New +Orthros @8am & Divine Liturgy of SJC @9am

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

@7:30pm GOYA GREEK Dance Practice

Friday 5/6

@9:30am LAP Little Angels Playgroup meets

@10am Bible Study also on 5/13, & 5/20

Saturday 5/7

@11am Baptism

Sunday 5/8 Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women; +Orthros 8:15am & DL of SJC @9:30am

Monday 5/9

@8am Lifeline Screening

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

@6pm 2022 Northern New Jersey Honoree Grand Banquet /The Venetian, Garfield, NJ

Tuesday 5/10

@7:30pm GOYOA SOCCER

@10pm Orthodox Theology -SHORT COURSE| 1^st of 6 @7-9 PST | Registration Required

News - Flyers - Registrations - Other

Festival

SAINT ANDREW BIG GREEK FESTIVAL 2022 JUNE ●17(FRI) ●18(SAT) ●19 (SUN)

Community Partners Program

We have five different levels you can advertise your business to thousands of guests that come to our BIG GREEK FESTIVAL (due May 15, 2022)

Philoptochos

Tricky Tray, will be held on Friday, May 13, 2022 at 6:30pm |Exciting Prizes include: PlayStation 5, Kalahari for 4, Chromebook, Luminox Diver Watch, Family Fun Gift Certificates to Morey’s Pier, Coney Island, Yankee Tickets and lots more!!

Patriarchal Encyclical

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for Pascha in Greek

Encyclical

Archiepiscopal Encyclidal on the Great and Holy Pascha in English

CENTENNIAL PILGRIMAGE

Would you like to ride in a hot air balloon over the Göreme valley or see expansive Byzantine frescoes in cave-churches founded by 4th century monks? Join Archbishop Elpidophoros of America for the next Centennial Pilgrimage to Cappadocia, Smyrna, and the Queen City, Constantinople, from May 31-June 13. The pilgrimage will culminate with the Nameday Celebrations of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew! Space is limited-contact Cloud Tours to reserve your space today!”

Orthodox Theology

Orthodox Theology -SHORT COURSE| 1ST OF 6 @7-9 PST (10 PM EST)| REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Stewardship

PARISH LIFE: Stewardship topics will be discussed on Mondays at 5pm PST (8pm EST) : May 16 I June 20 | July 18 I September 19 | October 17 I November 21 | December 19

Covid Vaccination

Monday May 9 1:30-4:30PM

Taste of North Jersey

Saturday, May 21, 2022 International Orthodox Christian Charities will sponsor a fund-raising event at Assumption of the Holy Virgin Orthodox Church, 35 Orange Ave., Clifton, NJ 07013. |Vespers at 6:00 p.m. |Wine and hors d'oeuvres at 7:00 p.m

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

Sophia, Tara, children and families of Ukraine, Ioanna, Landon, Lueda, Evangelia, Christine, Vasiliki, Anastasia, Aikaterini, Cynthia, Demetrios, Robin, Paraskevi, Nikoletta, Theodore, Eleni, Athena, Katerina, Sophia, Eleni, Corinne, Maria, Ioannis, Michael, Eleana, Demetra, Kenneth, Eleni, Anastasios, 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

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. 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 Acts of the Apostles 5:12-20.

In those days, many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."

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 Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 5:12-20.

Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, διὰ δὲ τῶν χειρῶν τῶν ἀποστόλων ἐγίνετοB σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα ἐν τῷ λαῷ πολλά· καὶ ἦσαν ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἅπαντες ἐν τῇ στοᾷ Σολομῶντος. Τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν οὐδεὶς ἐτόλμα κολλᾶσθαι αὐτοῖς, ἀλλʼ ἐμεγάλυνεν αὐτοὺς ὁ λαός· μᾶλλον δὲ προσετίθεντο πιστεύοντες τῷ κυρίῳ, πλήθη ἀνδρῶν τε καὶ γυναικῶν· ὥστε κατὰ τὰς πλατείας ἐκφέρειν τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς, καὶ τιθέναι ἐπὶ κλινῶν καὶ κραββάτων, ἵνα ἐρχομένου Πέτρου κἂν ἡ σκιὰ ἐπισκιάσῃ τινὶ αὐτῶν. Συνήρχετο δὲ καὶ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν πέριξ πόλεων εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ, φέροντες ἀσθενεῖς καὶ ὀχλουμένους ὑπὸ πνευμάτων ἀκαθάρτων, οἵτινες ἐθεραπεύοντο ἅπαντες. Ἀναστὰς δὲ ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς καὶ πάντες οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ - ἡ οὖσα αἵρεσις τῶν Σαδδουκαίων - ἐπλήσθησαν ζήλου, καὶ ἐπέβαλον τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀποστόλους, καὶ ἔθεντο αὐτοὺς ἐν τηρήσει δημοσίᾳ. Ἄγγελος δὲ κυρίου διὰ τῆς νυκτὸς ἤνοιξεν τὰς θύρας τῆς φυλακῆς, ἐξαγαγών τε αὐτοὺς εἶπεν, Πορεύεσθε, καὶ σταθέντες λαλεῖτε ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ τῷ λαῷ πάντα τὰ ῥήματα τῆς ζωῆς ταύτης.

Gospel Reading

Thomas Sunday
The Reading is from John 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."

Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

Thomas Sunday
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 20:19-31

Οὔσης ὀψίας τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τῇ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων, καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων ὅπου ἦσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ συνηγμένοι διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ. Ἐχάρησαν οὖν οἱ μαθηταὶ ἰδόντες τὸν Κύριον. Εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Καθὼς ἀπέσταλκέ με ὁ πατήρ, κἀγὼ πέμπω ὑμᾶς. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησε καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Λάβετε Πνεῦμα Ἅγιον· ἄν τινων ἀφῆτε τὰς ἁμαρτίας, ἀφίενται αὐτοῖς, ἄν τινων κρατῆτε, κεκράτηνται.

Θωμᾶς δὲ εἷς ἐκ τῶν δώδεκα, ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος, οὐκ ἦν μετ᾽ αὐτῶν ὅτε ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς. Ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄλλοι μαθηταί· Ἐωράκαμεν τὸν Κύριον. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἐὰν μὴ ἴδω ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὸν δάκτυλόν μου εἰς τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὴν χεῖρά μου εἰς τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ, οὐ μὴ πιστεύσω. Καὶ μεθ᾽ ἡμέρας ὀκτὼ πάλιν ἦσαν ἔσω οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ Θωμᾶς μετ᾽ αὐτῶν. Ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων, καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον καὶ εἶπεν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Εἶτα λέγει τῷ Θωμᾷ· Φέρε τὸν δάκτυλόν σου ὧδε καὶ ἴδε τὰς χεῖράς μου, καὶ φέρε τὴν χεῖρά σου καὶ βάλε εἰς τὴν πλευράν μου, καὶ μὴ γίνου ἄπιστος, ἀλλὰ πιστός. Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Θωμᾶς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ὁ Κύριός μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ὅτι ἑώρακάς με, πεπίστευκας· μακάριοι οἱ μὴ ἰδόντες καὶ πιστεύσαντες. Πολλὰ μὲν οὖν καὶ ἄλλα σημεῖα ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐνώπιον τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, ἃ οὐκ ἔστι γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ· ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύσητε ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.

Saints and Feasts

May 01

Thomas Sunday

Though the doors were shut at the dwelling where the disciples were gathered for fear of the Jews on the evening of the Sunday after the Passover, our Saviour wondrously entered and stood in their midst, and greeted them with His customary words, "Peace be unto you." Then He showed unto them His hands and feet and side; furthermore, in their presence, He took some fish and a honeycomb and ate before them, and thus assured them of His bodily Resurrection. But Thomas, who was not then present with the others, did not believe their testimony concerning Christ's Resurrection, but said in a decisive manner, "Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe." Wherefore after eight days, that is, on this day, when the disciples were again gathered together and Thomas was with them, the Lord Jesus came while the doors were shut, as He did formerly. Standing in their midst, He said, "Peace be unto you"; then He said to Thomas, "Bring hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not unbelieving, but believing."

And Thomas, beholding and examining carefully the hands and side of the Master, cried out with faith, "My Lord and my God." Thus he clearly proclaimed the two natures - human and divine - of the God-man (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-29).

This day is called Antipascha (meaning "in the stead of Pascha," not "in opposition to Pascha") because with this day, the first Sunday after Pascha, the Church consecrates every Sunday of the year to the commemoration of Pascha, that is, the Resurrection.

May 01

Martyrs Emmanuel, Theodore, George, Michael and the other George of Samothrace

May 01

Jeremias the Prophet

This great Prophet of God, Jeremias, who loved his brethren and lamented for them greatly, who prayed much for the people and the Holy City, was the son of Helkias of the tribe of Levi, from the city of Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. He was sanctified from his mother's womb, as the Lord Himself said concerning him: "Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth from the womb, I sanctified thee; I appointed thee a prophet to the nations" (Jer. 1:5). He prophesied for thirty years, from 613 to 583 B.C. During the last captivity of the people in the reign of Sedekias, when only a few were left behind to cultivate the land, this Prophet remained with them by the permission of Nabuzardan, the captain of the guard under Nabuchodonosor. He wept and lamented inconsolably over the desolation of Jerusalem and the enslavement of his people. But even the few that remained behind transgressed again, and fearing the vengeance of the Chaldeans, they fled into Egypt, forcibly taking with them Jeremias and Baruch his disciple and scribe. There he prophesied concerning Egypt and other nations, and he was stoned to death in Taphnas by his own people about the year 583 B.C., since they would not endure to hear the truth of his words and his just rebukes. His book of prophecy is divided into fifty-one chapters, and his book of lamentation into five; he is ranked second among the greater Prophets. His name means "Yah is exalted."

May 03

Xenia of Kalamata the Great Martyr

The following miracles are recorded in the Great Synaxarion:

Now it is noteworthy that Christians who happened to be in attendance at the venerable Xenia's execution and the immolation of her sacred relics, with faith, took up the ashes. This residue, through the intercessions of the Great Martyr Xenia, proved effective for the healing of incurable diseases for longtime sufferers. Thus, the good fame of the Saint circulated in the mouths of all in Peloponnesos and throughout Greece.

Now many miracles and paradoxical wonders have taken place for those who invoked the help of Saint Xenia. This phenomenon takes place to this day for those who take refuge in her, and with faith call upon her honorable name. Therefore, we shall narrate a few of those miracles to the glory of the philanthropic God, Who is glorified in His Saint, and to the benefit of your love.

1. At that time, there was a pious woman named Maria from Patras, in northwestern Peloponnesos. She was afflicted with a severe illness. The physicians, to whom she resorted, were unable to determine the illness nor to remedy it. Thus, she lay in bed for many months. She never ceased, however, to call upon the Lord's help and His saints.

Once, her husband's cousin came to visit her. She was from Kalamata. When the cousin beheld Maria's pitiable condition and learned that physicians were incapable of healing or assisting her, she brought to mind the wonderworker of her homeland, the Great Martyr Xenia. She recommended that Maria take refuge in her patronage and seek her help.

As advised, the infirm Maria entreated the Saint night and day with tears for a cure. Then, one night, as she ardently prayed after a critical stage of her disease, Maria beheld the Saint in her sleep, who said to her, "Your suffering cannot be cured by physicians. Evil people have bound you to a spell. However, if you will meet with me, I shall loose you from your illness and heal you. My name is Xenia."

Maria awoke filled with joy and related the dream to her husband. Now he, without wasting any time, brought her to the newly-built church honoring the Saint. When Maria beheld the icon of Saint Xenia, she immediately recognized her. Thus, before her icon, Maria supplicated the Saint with ardent faith and profound compunction.

On the third day, the Saint again appeared in a dream to the ill woman. The Saint took oil from the oil lamp of her icon and anointed Maria's body, and uttered, "Glorify, O woman, God who has granted you your health. Go now to your house." Then - O the miracle! - Maria arose and was exceedingly glad, for she sensed that she was completely restored. Then, with even greater reverence, Maria glorified our Lord Jesus Christ and the holy Great Martyr Xenia who saved her from a certain and grievous death.

2. During the Frankish domination, Saint Xenia healed the son of a farmer suffering from lunacy. As many times as he was troubled by the devil, he would cry out, "Saint Xenia torments me!" Due to this, his parents entreated the Saint with faith to save her child. The merciful and benevolent Martyr then appeared in a dream to the mother of the afflicted one. She counseled the mother to betake herself to the parish priest, promising to help heal her child. When the mother awoke, she immediately acted upon what she was advised by Saint Xenia. Then, in a short while, her son was healed and liberated from that frightful madness.

3. In like manner, the Saint healed one named Nicholas who was paralyzed in his feet. Nicholas had humbly and with faith invoked the wonderworking Saint and Great Martyr.

4. A young woman, suffering from facial paralysis, was immediately restored when, with fervent faith, she sought the help of the Saint.

Therefore, O pious listeners and lovers of Christ, let us, with faith, take refuge in Saint Xenia. Let us flee to her in every difficulty and, especially, in those sicknesses which she, by the grace of God, especially helps and cures; for many have been healed by God at her behest. This includes sufferers from lunacy, heart disease, nervous disorders, boils and ulcers. Moreover, she may be invoked for deliverance from charms and spells wrought through jealousy and envy. Indeed, she is able to dispel these demonic machinations and incantations for all those that call upon her with faith and piety; for she is able to save them through the honorable Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to Whom is due glory and dominion unto the ages. Amen.

May 05

Irene the Great Martyr

Saint Irene was the daughter of a princelet called Licinius; named Penelope by her parents, through a divine revelation she was brought to faith in Christ and at Baptism was renamed Irene. In her zeal for piety she broke in pieces all the idols of her father, who commanded that she be trampled underfoot by horses. But while she remained unharmed, one of the horses rose up and cast down her father, killing him. By her prayer she raised him to life again, and he believed and was baptized. Afterwards, in many journeyings, Saint Irene suffered torments and punishments for her faith, but was preserved by the power of God, while working dread miracles and converting many thousands of souls. At last she came to Ephesus, where she fell asleep in peace, in the first half of the fourth century. Two days after her death, her gravestone was found lifted off, and her grave empty. At least two churches were dedicated to Saint Irene in Constantinople, and she is also the patroness of the Aegean island of Thera, which is commonly called Santorin (or Santorini), a corruption of "Saint Irene."

May 08

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women

About the beginning of His thirty-second year, when the Lord Jesus was going throughout Galilee, preaching and working miracles, many women who had received of His beneficence left their own homeland and from then on followed after Him. They ministered unto Him out of their own possessions, even until His crucifixion and entombment; and afterwards, neither losing faith in Him after His death, nor fearing the wrath of the Jewish rulers, they came to the sepulchre, bearing the myrrh-oils they had prepared to annoint His body. It is because of the myrrh-oils, that these God-loving women brought to the tomb of Jesus that they are called the Myrrh-bearers. Of those whose names are known are the following: first of all, the most holy Virgin Mary, who in Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40 is called "the mother of James and Joses" (these are the sons of Joseph by a previous marriage, and she was therefore their step-mother); Mary Magdalene (celebrated July 22); Mary, the wife of Clopas; Joanna, wife of Chouza, a steward of Herod Antipas; Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee, Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus; and Susanna. As for the names of the rest of them, the evangelists have kept silence (Matt 27:55-56; 28:1-10. Mark 15:40-41. Luke 8:1-3; 23:55-24:11, 22-24. John 19:25; 20:11-18. Acts 1:14).

Together with them we celebrate also the secret disciples of the Saviour, Joseph and Nicodemus. Of these, Nicodemus was probably a Jerusalemite, a prominent leader among the Jews and of the order of the Pharisees, learned in the Law and instructed in the Holy Scriptures. He had believed in Christ when, at the beginning of our Saviour's preaching of salvation, he came to Him by night. Furthermore, he brought some one hundred pounds of myrrh-oils and an aromatic mixture of aloes and spices out of reverence and love for the divine Teacher (John 19:39). Joseph, who was from the city of Arimathea, was a wealthy and noble man, and one of the counsellors who were in Jerusalem. He went boldly unto Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and together with Nicodemus he gave Him burial. Since time did not permit the preparation of another tomb, he placed the Lord's body in his own tomb which was hewn out of rock, as the Evangelist says (Matt. 27:60).

Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal First Mode

Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.

Χριστός ἀνέστη ἐκ νεκρῶν, θανάτῳ θάνατον πατήσας, καί τοῖς ἐν τοῖς μνήμασι ζωήν χαρισάμενος.

Apolytikion for Thomas Sun. in the Grave Mode

Whilst the tomb was sealed, Thou, O Life, didst shine forth from the grave, O Christ God; and whilst the doors were shut, Thou didst come unto Thy disciples, O Resurrection of all, renewing through them an upright Spirit in us according to Thy great mercy.

Ἐσφραγισμένου τοῦ μνήματος ἡ ζωὴ ἐκ τάφου ἀνέτειλας Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων, τοῖς Μαθηταῖς ἐπέστης ἡ πάντων ἀνάστασις, πνεῦμα εὐθὲς δι' αὐτῶν ἐγκαινίζων ἡμῖν, κατὰ τὸ μέγα σου ἔλεος.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You rose the victor, Christ God, saying to the myrrh-bearing women, "Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up the fallen.

Εἰ καὶ ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες ἀθάνατε, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ᾍδου καθεῖλες τὴν δύναμιν, καὶ ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, γυναιξὶ Μυροφόροις φθεγξάμενος. Χαίρετε, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις εἰρήνην δωρούμενος ὁ τοῖς πεσοῦσι παρέχων ἀνάστασιν.

Wisdom of the Fathers

For great is the dignity of the priests. ... And hold them very exceedingly in honor; for you indeed care about your own affairs, and if you order them well, you give no account for others; ...

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 86, 4th Century

... but the priest even if he rightly order his own life, if he have not an anxious care for yours and that of all those around him, will depart with the wicked into hell; and often when not betrayed by his own conduct, he perishes by yours, if he have not rightly performed all his part.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 86, 4th Century

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Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal First Mode

Apolytikion for Thomas Sun. in the Grave Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Wisdom of the Fathers