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St. Basil the Great Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-04-12
Bulletin Contents
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Saints and Feasts
Announcements
Calendar
Attachments
Palmsunday
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St. Basil the Great Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (281) 679-5395
  • Fax:
  • (281) 679-5397
  • Street Address:

  • 1100 Eldridge Parkway

  • Houston, TX 77077

Contact Information

Reverend Father Luke Palumbis
Parish Priest

fatherluke@mystbasil.org

Ms. Libby Price
Office Staff

office@mystbasil.org

Services Schedule

Sunday Orthros: 8:30 AM

Sunday Divine Liturgy: 9:30 AM

Weekday Liturgies: 9 AM

Lenten Weekday Serivces

Monday: Compline Service 6:30 pm

Wednesday: Presanctiied Liturgy 6:30 pm

Friday: Salutations to the Virgin Mary 6:30 pm

 

 

Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion for Palm Sunday in the 1st Tone

O Christ our God, before Your Passion, You raised Lazarus from the dead to confirm the common Resurrection for all. Therefore, we carry the symbols of victory as did the youths, and we cry out to You, the victor over death, "Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. "

Apolytikion for Palm Sunday in the 4th Tone

O Christ, Our God, we have been Buried with You through Baptism, and by Your Resurrection made worthy of Life immortal. Praising You, we cry out, "Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord."

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal 2nd Tone

In Heaven, He is seated upon a Throne and on earth He rides upon a foal. O Christ our God, accept the praise of the Angels and the hymn of the Children who cry out to You, "Blessed are You who comes to recall Adam."
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 4th Tone. Psalm 117.26,1.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Verse: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His mercy endures forever.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:4-9.

BRETHREN, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.

Gospel Reading

Palm Sunday
The Reading is from John 12:1-18

Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazaros was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazaros was one of those at table with him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, "Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."

When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazaros, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazaros also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it; as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!" His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazaros out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.

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Wisdom of the Fathers

Because all their kings had mostly been unjust and covetous and subjected them to wars ... he said to them, 'Trust me, I am not like them. I am gentle and mild.' He demonstrated this by the manner of his entrance, not entering at the head of an army but simply riding on a donkey.
St. John Chrysostom
Homilies on the Gospel of John, 66.1. Taken from: Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol: John. Intervarsity Press, 2007, p. 55.

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Saints and Feasts

Palmsunday
April 12

Palm Sunday

On Sunday, five days before the Passover of the Law, the Lord came from Bethany to Jerusalem. Sending two of His disciples to bring Him a foal of an ass, He sat thereon and entered into the city. When the multitude there heard that Jesus was coming, they straightway took up the branches of palm trees in their hands, and went forth to meet Him. Others spread their garments on the ground, and yet others cut branches from the trees and strewed them in the way that Jesus was to pass; and all of them together, especially the children, went before and after Him, crying out: "Hosanna: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel" (John 12:13). This is the radiant and glorious festival of our Lord's entry into Jerusalem that we celebrate today.

The branches of the palm trees symbolize Christ's victory over the devil and death. The word Hosanna means "Save, I pray," or "Save, now." The foal of an ass, and Jesus' sitting thereon, and the fact that this animal was untamed and considered unclean according to the Law, signified the former uncleanness and wildness of the nations, and their subjection thereafter to the holy Law of the Gospel.

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Announcements

Current Community Update 

As society has called us greater focus and care for physical health in this week and next week -- for centuries the Church has called us during the experiences of Lent & Holy Week to a greater focus on the health of our souls!

Of course, this Lent, this Lazarus Saturday, this Palm Sunday & this Holy Week are different than any other -- we still have the opportunity to focus on the health of our soul and take advantage of the Love of Jesus Christ, which was offered to us on the Cross and eternally sustains us in the Resurrection!  Will you still join your Spiritual Family this year for Holy Week & Pascha?  The banquet is set and the virtual doors are open!

The following are current temporary adjustments to Saint Basil life, in accordance with directives from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver: 

PLEASE READ THE HIERARCHICAL DIRECTIVES FROM HIS EMINNECE METROPOLITAN ISAIAH IN THE ATTACHMENT SECTION OF THIS BULLETIN.

Liturgical

Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday and Holy Week Services will all be broadcast online through the Saint Basil Website (www.mystbasil.org) and the Saint Basil Facebook page. Recordings of the services will be uploaded onto the Saint Basil Youtube Channel (SBTG Houston).  No material distributions will take place.

Lazarus Saturday:          Divine Liturgy, 9 am

Palm Sunday:                Divine Liturgy, 9:30 am

                                    Bridegroom Service, 6:30 pm

Holy Monday:                Bridegroom Service, 6:30 pm

Holy Tuesday:                Bridegroom Service, 6:30 pm

Holy Wednesday:           Holy Unction Service, 6:30 pm

Holy Thursday:              Vesperal Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great, 9 am

                                    12 Gospel Readings Service, 6:30 pm

Holy Friday:                   Royal Hours, 9 am

                                    Taking Down from the Cross Service (Apokathilosis), 3 pm

                                    Lamentations Service, 6:30 pm

Holy Saturday:               Divine Liturgy, 9 am

                                     Resurrectional Service & Divine Liturgy, 11:15 pm

Pascha Sunday:              Agape Vespers, 11 am

For additional pastoral services, please contact the church office.

* two additional prayers have been added to the Divine Services, both prayers addressing the COVID19 crisis.

Community Events, Meetings & Gatherings 

All community events, meetings or gatherings are temporarily suspended. 

Online Ministries

Still Anxious? 11 Week Journey: Saturday 5 pm, a continued ministerial discussion group born from the Saint Theopisti Women's Book Club.  Join by clicking the following link: https://zoom.us/j/173227480?pwd=RFFWVm5pMmNoc3dub2FnbzJGUFNtQT09 Password: 011270

Holy Week ZOOM GOYA Discussion: Wednesday, April 8 @ 2pm, we will offer our first online GOYA Discussion! Please encourage your teens to log-on for our GOYA discussion as we check in with our young people to support them during this confusing time! Join the discussion by clicking the following link: https://zoom.us/j/922809147?pwd=UWhKR0V2RGpSTlVQMFg3cnptOSt4UT09  Password: 487807

ZOOM Online Bible Study: Wednesday, April 8 @ 11am, we will offer our first online Bible Study! Please join the discussion/lesson via ZOOM by clicking on the following link: https://zoom.us/j/522145157?pwd=MktmOWRNWTlKOWd3YU4yTy9HcHgrQT09 Password: 133895

In Addition

Support your Spiritual Home during this unique time! In addition to sending checks, Saint Basil’s can currently accept offerings through PayPal and credit card payments by clicking on the Donate to the Church button at the top of the parish website: www.mystbasil.org.  We are continuing to research additional forums to make it easier for all the faithful to make offerings back to God through His Church during this time when recognition of our need for God and His Church is heightened in our daily experience.

All Saint Basil’s faithful are asked to please pray in this chapter of human need!  Included in this eblast, please find the Prayer of Protection from the Coronavirus for daily offering.  May our Patron, Saint Basil the Great, intercede to the Lord on our behalf!

Kali Anastasi!

In His Service,

Father Luke

 Prayer of Protection from the Coronavirus 

O God Almighty, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all creation visible and invisible, in Your ineffable goodness, look down upon Your people gathered in Your name.  Be our helper and defender in this day of affliction.  You know our weakness.  You hear our cry in repentance and contrition of heart.  O Lord who loves mankind deliver us from the impending threat of the corona virus.  Send Your Angel to watch over us and protect us.  Grant health and recovery to those suffering from this virus.  Guide the hands of physicians and preserve those who are healthy that we may continue to serve You in peace and glorify Your most honorable and majestic Name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

*full service for the Protection from the Coronavirus in the attachment section of this bulletin.

 

 

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Calendar

  • Saint Basil Calendar

    April 12 to April 19, 2020

    Sunday, April 12

    Palm Sunday

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    6:30PM Bridegroom Service

    Monday, April 13

    Holy Monday

    6:30PM Bridegroom Service

    Tuesday, April 14

    Holy Tuesday

    6:30PM Bridegroom Service

    Wednesday, April 15

    Holy Wednesday

    11:00AM Holy Week ZOOM Online Bible Study

    2:00PM Holy Week Zoom GOYA Discussion

    6:30PM Sacrament of Holy Unction

    Thursday, April 16

    Holy Thursday

    9:00AM Vesperal Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great

    6:30PM Service of the 12 Gospel Readings

    Friday, April 17

    Holy Friday

    9:00AM Royal Hours of Pascha

    3:00PM Taking Down from the Cross Service (Apokathilosis)

    6:30PM Lamentations Service

    Saturday, April 18

    Holy Saturday

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great

    5:00PM Still Anxious? 11 Week Journey

    11:15PM Resurrection Service followed by The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom

    Sunday, April 19

    Pascha Sunday

    11:00AM AGAPE Vespers Service

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Attachments

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