Publish-header
Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2021-12-26
Bulletin Contents
Nativity
Organization Icon
Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (732) 255-5525
  • Fax:
  • (732) 255-8180
  • Street Address:

  • 2200 Church Road

  • Toms River, NJ 08753


Contact Information






Services Schedule

Sunday Services:

Orthros: 8am     Liturgy: 9am

Weekday Services: (unless otherwise noted)

Orthros: 8am     Liturgy: 9am


Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Mode

When You descended unto death, O Lord who yourself are immortal Life, then did You mortify Hades by the lightning flash of Your Divinity. Also when You raised the dead from the netherworld, all the Powers of the heavens were crying out: O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory be to You.
Ότε κατήλθες προς τον θάνατον, η ζωή η αθάνατος, τότε τον άδην ενέκρωσας, τη αστραπή της θεότητος. Ότε δε και τους τεθνεώτας, εκ των καταχθονίων ανέστησας, πάσαι αι δυνάμεις των επουρανίων εκραύγαζον. Ζωοδότα Χριστέ, ο Θεός ημών, δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Nativity in the Fourth Mode

Your birth, O Christ our God, shines forth on all the world with the light of knowledge. For at your birth, those who had adored the stars were taught by a star to worship you, to worship you, the Sun of Justice, and to know you, the Dawn from on high. O Lord, glory to you.
Η Γέννησις σου Χριστέ ο Θεός ημων, ανέτειλε τω κόσμω το φως το της γνώσεως, εν αύτη γαρ οι τοις άστροις λατρεύοντες, υπό αστέρος εδιδάσκοντο, σε προσκυνείν τον Ήλιον της δικαιοσύνης, και σε γινώσκειν εξ ύψους Ανατολής. Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for Sun. after Nativity in the Second Mode

Go, holy Joseph, tell David what the angel said. With the shepherds and the wise men from afar, praise the Son of the Virgin, begging him to save our souls.
Εύαγγελιζου Ιωσήφ, τω Δαυίδ τα θαύματα τω θεοπάτορι παρθένον είδες κυοφορήσασαν. μετά ποιμένων έδοξολόγησας μετά των μάγων προσεκύνησας, δι αγγέλου χρηματισθείς. Ικέτευε Χριστόν τον Θεόν σωθήναι τας ψυχάς ημών.

Apolytikion of Hieromartyr Haralambos in the Fourth Tone

O wise Haralambos, you were proven an unshakable pillar of the Church of Christ; an ever-shining lamp of the universe. You shone in the world by your martyrdom. You delivered us from the moonless night of idolatry O blessed one. Wherefore, boldly intercede to Christ that we may be saved.
Ως στύλος ακλόνητος, της Εκκλησίας Χριστού, και λύχνος αείφωτος, της οικουμένης σοφέ, εδείχθης Χαράλαμπες, έλαμψας εν τω κόσμω, δια του μαρτυρίου, έλυσας και ειδώλων την σκοτόμαιναν μάκαρ, διο εν παρρησία Χριστώ πρέσβευε σωθήναι ημάς.

Apolytikion of Great Martyr Barbara in the Fourth Tone

Let us honor Holy Barbara; for she broke the snares of the enemy, and by her sanctity escaped from them like a bird, by the help and defense of the cross.
Βαρβάραν την Αγίαν τιμήσωμεν, εχθρού γαρ τας παγίδας συνέτριψε, και ως στρουθίον ερρύσθη εξ αυτών, βοηθεία και όπλω του Σταυρού η πάνσεμνος. (Varvaran tin Aghian timisomen, ehthrou gad tas pagidas sinetripse, ke os strouthion eristhi ex’avton, voithia ke oplo tou Stavrou I pansemnos.)

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode

Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One, and the earth presents a cave to the Unapproachable One. Angels with shepherds give him glory; wise men follow a star as they journey to him who is God from all ages, yet for our sake is born as a little child.
Η Παρθένος σήμερον, τον υπερούσιον τίκτει, και η γηντό σπήλαιον, τω απροσίτω προσάγει. Αγγελοι, μετά Ποιμένων δοξολογούσι. Μάγοι δε μετά Αστέρος οδοιπορούσι, δι ημας γαρ εγεννήθη, Παιδίον νέον, ο προ αιώνων Θεός.
BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

Nativity
December 26

Sunday after Nativity

On the Sunday that falls on or immediately after the twenty-sixth of this month, we make commemoration of Saints Joseph, the Betrothed of the Virgin; David, the Prophet and King; and James, the Brother of God. When there is no Sunday within this period, we celebrate this commemoration on the 26th.

Saint Joseph (whose name means "one who increases") was the son of Jacob, and the son-in-law - and hence, as it were, the son - of Eli (who was also called Eliakim or Joachim), who was the father of Mary the Virgin (Matt. 1:16; Luke 3:23). He was of the tribe of Judah, of the family of David, an inhabitant of Nazareth, a carpenter by Trade, and advanced in age when, by God's good will, he was betrothed to the Virgin, that he might minister to the great mystery of God's dispensation in the flesh by protecting her, providing for her, and being known as her husband so that she, being a virgin, would not suffer reproach when she was found to be with child. Joseph had been married before his betrothal to our Lady; they who are called Jesus' "brethren and sisters" (Matt. 13:55-56) are the children of Joseph by his first marriage. From Scripture, we know that Saint Joseph lived at least until the Twelfth year after the birth of Christ (Luke 2:41-52); according to the tradition of the Fathers, he reposed before the beginning of the public ministry of Christ.

The child of God and ancestor of God, David, the great Prophet after Moses, sprang from the tribe of Judah. He was the son of Jesse, and was born in Bethlehem (whence it is called the City of David), in the year 1085 before Christ. While yet a youth, at the command of God he was anointed secretly by the Prophet Samuel to be the second King of the Israelites, while Saul - who had already been deprived of divine grace - was yet living. In the thirtieth year of his life, when Saul had been slain in battle, David was raised to the dignity of King, first, by his own tribe, and then by all the Israelite people, and he reigned for forty years. Having lived seventy years, he reposed in 1015 before Christ, having proclaimed beforehand that his son Solomon was to be the successor to the throne.

The sacred history has recorded not only the grace of the Spirit that dwelt in him from his youth, his heroic exploits in war, and his great piety towards God, but also his transgressions and failings as a man. Yet his repentance was greater than his transgresssions, and his love for God fervent and exemplary; so highly did God honour this man, that when his son Solomon sinned, the Lord told him that He would not rend the kingdom in his lifetime "for David thy father's sake" (III Kings 12:12). Of The Kings of Israel, Jesus the Son of Sirach testifies, "All, except David and Hezekias and Josias, were defective" (Ecclus. 49:4). The name David means "beloved."

His melodious Psalter is the foundation of all the services of the Church; there is not one service that is not filled with Psalms and psalmic verses. It was the means whereby old Israel praised God, and was used by the Apostles and the Lord Himself. It is so imbued with the spirit of prayer that the monastic fathers of all ages have used it as their trainer and teacher for their inner life of converse with God. Besides eloquently portraying every state and emotion of the soul before her Maker, the Psalter is filled with prophecies of the coming of Christ. It foretells His Incarnation, "He bowed the heavens and came down" (Psalm 17:9), His Baptism in the Jordan, "The waters saw Thee, O God, The waters saw Thee and were afraid" (76:15), His Crucifixion in its details, "They have pierced My hands and My feet .... They have parted My garments amongst themselves, and for My vesture have they cast lots" (21:16, 18). "For My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink" (68:26), His descent into Hades, "For Thou wilt not abandon My soul in Hades, nor wilt Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption" (15:10) and Resurrection, "Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered" (67:1). His Ascension, "God is gone up in jubilation" (46:5), and so forth.

As for James, the Brother of God, see October 23.


Glykophilousa
December 26

Synaxis of the Holy Theotokos

This Synaxis - which is to say, our coming together to glorify the Theotokos - is celebrated especially in her honour because she gave birth supernaturally to the Son and Word Of God, and thus became the instrument of the salvation of mankind.


Allsaint
December 26

Constantius the Holy Martyr


BACK TO TOP

Announcements

It was with much joy that His Eminence, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America recently announced that the Archdiocese School of Byzantine Music (ABSM) will be reopening, with classes commencing next year on January 3, 2022.
 
 The ASBM, which has been temporarily closed due to the pandemic, is reopening under new leadership with new offerings. The Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music (ASBM) announced today that school registration is now open. 

https://www.goarch.org/-/school-byzantine-music-registration

 
 Vanco Payments 

Hardly anyone carries cash today, but we ALL have credit cards!
Conveniently located in the Narthex is a Kiosk that is programmed and
user friendly for you to contribute to Trays, Candles, Stewardship,
Sunday School, Greek School & Dance as well as simply donating using your
credit card!


Apps make life so much easier! With GivePlus Church, you can use your smartphone to give anytime, anywhere right from the palm of your hand!!!!
You can also make recurring payments as well!! It is as easy as 1-2-3
1. Simply download the app for FREE
2. Find Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church
3. Give!

Ask any Parish Council Member for assistance or if you have any questions!

BACK TO TOP

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 67.35,26.
God is wonderful among his saints.
Verse: Bless God in the congregations.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 1:11-19.

Brethren, I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.


Gospel Reading

Sunday after Nativity
The Reading is from Matthew 2:13-23

When the wise men departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son."

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more." But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaos reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene."


BACK TO TOP

Wisdom of the Fathers

Nathanael too enters ... saying, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" ... Nevertheless, He is not ashamed to be named even from thence, signifying that He needs not ought of the things of men; and His disciples also He chooses out of Galilee.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 9 on Matthew 2, 4th Century

At His birth [He] is laid in a manger, and abides in an inn, and takes a mother of low estate; teaching us to think no such thing a disgrace, and from the first outset trampling under foot the haughtiness of man, and bidding us give ourselves up to virtue only. For why do you pride yourself on your country, when I am commanding thee to be a stranger to the whole world?
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 9 on Matthew 2, 4th Century

BACK TO TOP

Weekly Calendar

 

 Sunday December 26

Sunday After Nativity

Orthros:  8am     Liturgy:  9am 

Memorial

Michael Eleftheri 6 months

Savvas Savvides 29 years

 Parish Council Coffee Hour   

Family Worship Sunday

Vasilopita Sale

Tuesday  December 28

GOYA Christmas Dance 

Friday  December 31

AHEPA & Parish Council New Year's Eve Celebration

Car Raffle Drawing

Saturday  January 1

The Circumcision Of Our Lord 

Saint Basil the Great

Orthros:  10am     Liturgy:  11am 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
Print
 
Duplicate
 
Publish event
 
Publish this instance of the event
 
Change owner
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BACK TO TOP

Weekly Bulletin Flyer Inserts

BACK TO TOP