Saints and Feasts

March 17

Sunday of Orthodoxy

For more than one hundred years the Church of Christ was troubled by the persecution of the Iconoclasts of evil belief, beginning in the reign of Leo the Isaurian (717-741) and ending in the reign of Theophilus (829-842). After Theophilus's death, his widow the Empress Theodora (celebrated Feb. 11), together with the Patriarch Methodius (June 14), established Orthodoxy anew. This ever-memorable Queen venerated the icon of the Mother of God in the presence of the Patriarch Methodius and the other confessors and righteous men, and openly cried out these holy words: "If anyone does not offer relative worship to the holy icons, not adoring them as though they were gods, but venerating them out of love as images of the archetype, let him be anathema." Then with common prayer and fasting during the whole first week of the Forty-day Fast, she asked God's forgiveness for her husband. After this, on the first Sunday of the Fast, she and her son, Michael the Emperor, made a procession with all the clergy and people and restored the holy icons, and again adorned the Church of Christ with them. This is the holy deed that all we the Orthodox commemorate today, and we call this radiant and venerable day the Sunday of Orthodoxy, that is, the triumph of true doctrine over heresy.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode

The stone had been secured with a seal by the Judeans, * and a guard of soldiers was watching Your immaculate body. * You rose on the third day, O Lord * and Savior, granting life unto the world. * For this reason were the powers of heaven crying out to You, O Life-giver: * Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ; * glory to Your eternal rule; * glory to Your dispensation, only One who loves mankind.

Apolytikion for Sun. of Orthodoxy in the Second Mode

We worship Thine immaculate icon, O Good One, asking the forgiveness of our failings, O Christ our God; for of Thine own will Thou wast well-pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, that Thou mightest deliver from slavery to the enemy those whom Thou hadst fashioned. Wherefore, we cry to Thee thankfully: Thou didst fill all things with joy, O our Saviour, when Thou camest to save the world.

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!"

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40.

Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets -- who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated -- of whom the world was not worthy -- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of Orthodoxy
The Reading is from John 1:43-51

At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

Wisdom of the Fathers

Peter, when after so many miracles and such high doctrine he confessed that, "Thou art the Son of God" (Matt. xvi. 16), is called "blessed," as having received the revelation from the Father;

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 21 on John 1, 1. B#58, pp. 72, 73, 4th Century

... while Nathanael, though he said the very same thing before seeing or hearing either miracles or doctrine, had no such word addressed to him, but as though he had not said so much as he ought to have said, is brought to things greater still.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 21 on John 1, 1. B#58, pp. 72, 73, 4th Century

Ministry News

TODAY the second tray will be passed by the Ladies Philoptochos in support of the Social Service Commitment to the NJ Metropolis Philoptochos.

TODAY Fellowship Hour is sponsored by the St. Anna Sunday School.

Don’t forget our Spring General Assembly on March 24 after Church!

Church Calendar:

Weekly Lenten Services

Great Compline Services, Mondays, 5:30 pm - March 18, 25, April 1, 15

9^thHour/Presanticified Liturgies, Wednesdays, 6:30 pm - March 20, 27, Apr 3, 10, 17

Great Compline Services, Thursdays, 7 pm, – March 21, 28, April 4, 11, 18

9^thHour/Presanticified Liturgies, Fridays, 8 am - March 22, 29, Apr 5, 12, 19

Salutations to the Virgin Mary, Fridays, 7 pm - March 22, 29, April 5, 12 – 7 pm service

Evangelismos - Annunciation Feastday, Monday, March 25: 9 am

Metropolis of NJ - Greek Independence Day Celebration with Evzones, Cathedral of St. John The Theologian, Tenafly, NJ, Monday, March 25, 6 pm (Greek School Cancelled that day)

Philoptochos News: Today following coffee hour, at 11:45am, there will be a General Membership Meeting in one of the Sunday School Classrooms. Please join us. New members welcome.

Today we will start taking orders for Easter tsourekia to be delivered the week before Easter, cost $17, checks made payable to "St. Anna Philoptochos"

On Sunday, March 31, the Ladies Philoptochos will host a pot luck luncheon to benefit the Holy Cross College. Please let Margaret Panageas know if you are able to contribute a Lenten dish. Thank you.

Education: Sunday School and Greek School students will receive envelopes to earn coins for St Basil Academy as a voluntary almsgiving project. St Basil Academy is the Archdiocese home for children in need located in Garrison, NY. Let your child know about St Basil and how even coins can make a difference. Envelopes will be collected by Palm Sunday. Any questions please see Aimee Douvris or Maria Sfondouris. Thank you for having your children be a part of this mission.

HOLY WEEK SERVICES

Sunday, April 21: Palm Sunday – 9 am

Bridegroom Service – 7 pm

Monday, April 22: Presanctified Liturgy – 9 am

Bridegroom Service – 7 pm

Tuesday, April 23: Presanctified Liturgy – 9 am

Bridegroom Service - 7 pm

Wednesday, April 24: Presanctified Liturgy – 9 am

Holy Unction Sacrament – 3:30 pm

Holy Unction Sacrament – 7 pm

Thursday, April 25: Holy Thursday Liturgy (St. Basil)– 9 am

Service of Holy Passion (12 Gospels)– 7 pm

Friday, April 26: Holy and Great Hours – 8:30 am

Apokathelosis – 3 pm

Lamentations Service – 7 pm

Saturday, April 27: Liturgy of St. Basil– 9 am

Resurrection Service – 11:15 pm

Sunday, April 28: Agape Vespers Service – 10 am

Don’t forget our Saint John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival on Sunday March 31after Church. Additional information and the list of this year’s topics can be found at www.goarch.org.

PC Corner: 2nd Annual Bistro: Our second Annual Bistro event is scheduled for Saturday May 18 and Sunday May 19. If you will not be available that weekend you can participate in the food preparation and other activities. All of our food and sweets are homemade. The food preparation schedule is shown below. Please register for the days you can assist. We will start at 6:30pm on the following dates:

March 21- Pastitsio April 16 - Galatoboureko

April 5 – Spanakopita May 7 - Baklava

The week of the event starting on Tuesday May 14 we will start the preparation of the remaining items.

Security: As previously communicated, the PC has evaluated gaps in the security system and has approved an upgrade to the system to allow easier access and better security for the Church and facilities. The PC will schedule a meeting and will invite all parishioners, the heads of all ministries, and anyone else who has access to the church to participate in that discussion.

Iconography:The Iconographer should be in our Church sometime in May to complete the remaining North and South walls and the original iconography plan. The wooden artifacts will be delivered in August-September. We are also working with a sign vendor to finalize the design of our monument sign at the entry of the driveway.

Archdiocese Scholarship and Fellowship programs: Applications available at www.goarch.org.For more information, email scholarships@goarch.orgor call 212-774-0283. Deadline: May 3, 2019.

“The Freedom of Orthodoxy”Lenten RetreatSaturday, March 30 at St George, Ocean, 10am –3pm. Guest Speaker: Fr. Barnabas Powell. Contact: George Moutis: 732-233-7987 or gmoutis@scinj.com.

Bulletin Inserts

Great Lent Encyclical

Great Lent Encyclical from His Eminence Archbishop Evangelos

Lenten Retreat - March 30

Ocean, NJ

Stewardship

Stewardship is the sharing of the talents and treasures that God has provided for us. An Orthodox Christian Steward is an active participant in the life of the Church. The parish encourages all who accept the Orthodox Faith to become practicing Stewards.

2019 Stewardship Drive: 60 Pledges totaling $85,950 for an average of $1,433 and $42,469 received to date. We also have 11 families who have contributed $5,020 to date but have not submitted a stewardship card. It is important that all families complete a stewardship card to be considered a steward. Current Stewardship List and other stewardship information is posted in bulletin board by water cooler.

We need everyone’s participation to exceed this year’s stewardship pledge target of $170,000. If the remaining 106, 2018 stewards give at the same level as last year we could exceed our budget and reach a record high number of stewards.

…Remember a rich man is not one who has much, but one who gives much

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins