Sunday Services:
Orthros: 8am Liturgy: 9am
Weekday Services: (unless otherwise noted)
Orthros: 8am Liturgy: 9am
This greatest and most beloved of all Christian orators was born in Antioch the Great in the year 344 or 347; his pious parents were called Secundus and Anthusa. After his mother was widowed at the age of twenty, she devoted herself to bringing up John and his elder sister in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. John received his literary training under Anthragathius the philosopher, and Libanius the sophist, who was the greatest Greek scholar and rhetorician of his day. Libanius was a pagan, and when asked before his death whom he wished to have for his successor, he said, "John, had not the Christians stolen him from us." With such a training, and with such gifts as he had by nature, John had before him a brilliant career as a rhetorician. But through the good example of his godly mother Anthusa and of the holy Bishop Meletius of Antioch (see Feb. 12), by whom he was ordained reader about the year 370, he chose instead to dedicate himself to God. From the years 374 to 381 he lived the monastic life in the hermitages that were near Antioch. His extreme asceticism undermined his health, compelling him to return to Antioch, where Saint Meletius ordained him deacon about the year 381. Saint Meletius was called to Constantinople later that year to preside over the Second Ecumenical Council, during which he fell asleep in the Lord. In 386 Bishop Flavian ordained John presbyter of the Church of Antioch. Upon his elevation to the priesthood his career as a public preacher began, and his exceptional oratorical gifts were made manifest through his many sermons and commentaries. They are distinguished by their eloquence and the remarkable ease with which rich imagery and scriptural allusions are multiplied; by their depth of insight into the meaning of Scripture and the workings of God's providence; and, not least of all, by their earnestness and moral force, which issue from the heart of a blameless and guileless man who lived first what he preached to others. Because of his fame, he was chosen to succeed Saint Nectarius as Patriarch of Constantinople. He was taken away by stealth, to avoid the opposition of the people, and consecrated Patriarch of Constantinople on February 28, 398, by Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria, who was to prove his mortal enemy.
At that time the Emperor of the East was Arcadius, who had had Saint Arsenius the Great as his tutor (see May 8); Arcadius was a man of weak character, and much under the influence of his wife Eudoxia. The zealous and upright Chrysostom's unsparing censures of the lax morals in the imperial city stung the vain Eudoxia; through Theophilus' plottings and her collaboration, Saint John was banished to Pontus in 403. The people were in an uproar, and the following night an earthquake shook the city; this so frightened the Empress Eudoxia that she begged Arcadius to call Chrysostom back. While his return was triumphant, his reconciliation with the Empress did not last long. When she had a silver statue of herself erected in the forum before the Church of the Holy Wisdom (Saint Sophia) in September of 403, and had it dedicated with much unseemly revelry, Saint John thundered against her, and she could not forgive him. In June of 404 he was exiled to Cucusus, on the borders of Cilicia and Armenia. From here he exchanged letters with Pope Innocent of Rome, who sent bishops and priests to Constantinople requesting that a council be held. Saint John's enemies, dreading his return, prevailed upon the Emperor to see an insult in this, and had John taken to a more remote place of banishment called Pityus near the Caucasus. The journey was filled with bitter sufferings for the aged bishop, both because of the harshness of the elements and the cruelty of one of his 310 guards. He did not reach Pityus, but gave up his soul to the Lord near Comana in Pontus, at the chapel of the Martyr Basiliscus (see May 22), who had appeared to him shortly before, foretelling the day of his death, which came to pass on September 14, 407. His last words were "Glory be to God for all things." His holy relics were brought from Comana to Constantinople thirty-one years later by the Emperor Theodosius the Younger and Saint Pulcheria his sister, the children of Arcadius and Eudoxia, with fervent supplications that the sin of their parents against him be forgiven; this return of his holy relics is celebrated on January 27.
Saint John was surnamed Chrysostom ("Golden-mouth") because of his eloquence. He made exhaustive commentaries on the divine Scriptures and was the author of more works than any other Church Father, leaving us complete commentaries on the Book of Genesis, the Gospels of Saints Matthew and John, the Acts, and all the Epistles of Saint Paul. His extant works are 1,447 sermons and 240 epistles. Twenty-two teachers of the Church have written homilies of praise in his honour. Besides his feasts today and on January 27, he is celebrated as one of the Three Hierarchs on January 30, together with Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory the Theologian.
It should be noted that, because September 14 is the Exaltation of the Cross, the Saint's memory has been transferred to this day.
Father Paul wishes to invite any interested young man, from the age of 8 through high school to contact him directly if he desires to serve in the Altar for this coming year. Parents should let Fr. Paul or the church office know about signing up their interested son for this special ministry. Serving at the Altar is indeed a great blessing and it belongs to those who are serious in their commitment.
Parishioner Mary Harris is interested in starting a supportive homeschooling group for Orthodox Christian homeschooling families. If you homeschool your children or are considering homeschooling, please feel welcome to reach out to Mary at m.catherineharris@gmail.com.
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GOYA Games Schedule
November 20: Toms River @ Piscataway
2pm Volleyball Jr
3pm Volleyball Sr
4pm Basketball Sr
November 27: Toms River @ Holmdel
2pm Volleyball Jr
3pm Volleyball Sr
4pm Basketball Sr
Hold the Dates:
December 4 or 9 : First Round Championship Play Offs (Location TBD)
December 10 : Semi Final Play Offs (Hosted @ Toms River)
December 11 : Championships (Hosted @ Toms River)
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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!
Ask any Parish Council Member for assistance or if you have any questions!
Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 48.3,1.
My mouth shall speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart shall bring forth understanding.
Verse: Hear this all you nations.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 7:26-28; 8:1-2.
Brethren, it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered up himself. Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever. Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent which is set up not by man but by the Lord.
8th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 10:25-37
At that time, a lawyer stood up to put Jesus to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?" And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live."
But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Sunday November 13
8th Sundy of Luke
Feastday of St. John Chrysostom
Orthros 8:00am Divine Liturgy 9:00am
Special Collection Tray - Feastday of St. John Chrysostom to benefit Metropolis' Ministries & Outreach
Prayer Honoring Veterans
Memorial
Ernestine (Iustina) James 6mos
Deceased Members of Ladies Philoptochos
Athanasia Adamopoulos
Mary Agalias
Constantina Agripides
Efthmia Amour
Chrysanthy Anagnostis
Betty Athans
Pauline Blaum
Kay Buyukas
Jean Cainzos
Minnie Canaris
Lillian Carras
Georgia Changris
Frances Christ
Mary Diamandides
Happiness Donnerstag
Pauline Drouziotis
Rita Engel
Geraldine Faraklas
Sandra Farella
Eva Floros
Hariclea Garo
Lilliam Georgalas
Emelia Georgiou
Christine Goodman
Anna Haloulakos
Mary Hadgis
Crystal Handchen
Catherine Harootunian
Agatha Kakavas
Constandina Kalkines
Mary Kalellis
Barbara Kannell
Georgia Karagias
Amanda Karagias
Maria Kares
Calli Kartalis
Mildred Kartikas
Sultana Konstandin
Janice Kostulakos
Mary Kotzas
Kokona Kridos
Mary Kumaras
Elena Kyriakakis
Harriet Lambert
Despina Lines
Mary McGrory
Catherine Mengason
Bertha Manos
Olga Manos
Zelma Manos
Presbytera Lillian Martin
Maria Mathioudakis
Andriana Michalas
Despina Milliotis
Lillian Misso
Mary Misthos
Stella Mitchell
Lillian Nichols
Bertha Nikitakis
Athanasia Papadopoulos
Persiphone Patrellis
Elpis Pirpinias
Claire Ploumilsakos
Bess Politis
Betty Raptis
Faidra Rigas
Catherine Robus
Chrisoula Robus
Ruby Rood
Anastasia Sotirou
Charlotte Stames
Fran Stamnes
Hazel Stathakis
Iris Taskalos
Athanasia Tsaptsinos
Mary Tsignopoulos
Winnie Tsolakis
Mary Tsonas
Dina Tsoukalis
Kalomira Viliotis
Catherine Zachariades
Elizabeth Zogras
PTO Coffee Hour
Fall General Assembly
Monday November 14
Saint Phillip The Apostle
Orthros 8:00am Divine Liturgy 9:00am
Youth Dance 6pm
PTO Meeting 630pm
Greek Dance 7pm
Tuesday November 15
Greek School 430pm
Philoptochos Meeting 630pm
Parish Council Board Meeting 7pm
Wednesday November 16
Saint Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist
Orthros 8:00am Divine Liturgy 9:00am
Kali Parea 11am
Friday November 18
Daughters of Penelope Wine & Chesse Gathering 7pm
Sunday November 20
GOYA Bake Sale
Archbishop Elpidophoros Letter - 2022 Saint John Chrysostom Feast
Daughters of Penelope Wine & Cheese
2022-2023 Greek School Schedule
Kali Parea & Philoptochos Christmas Party