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Saint Basil The Great
Publish Date: 2019-09-08
Bulletin Contents
Vmnativt
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Saint Basil The Great

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (203)777-8294
  • Street Address:

  • 1 Tower Lane

  • New Haven, CT 06519
  • Mailing Address:

  • P.O. Box 9356

  • New Haven, CT 06533


Contact Information






Services Schedule

SUNDAY SERVICES

9:00 am Orthros

10:00 am Divine Liturgy

Church School

Coffee Social following Liturgy

 

OTHER SERVICES

As announced.


Past Bulletins


Fr. Donat Augusta Message

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SUNDAY,  September 8: Orthros at 9:00am.  Divine Liturgy at 10:00am.  Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos.   Social Hour in the Parish Hall following Liturgy.

REFLECTION:  The Nativity of the Mother of God.  The Virgin Mary holds a unique place for us Christians.  The center of our faith is the Incarnation, God has become man, and to do this He dwelled in the womb of a woman, the ever-Virgin Mary.  This is why the church year begins with the feast of the birth of this child, who will be the Mother of God, the dwelling place of the Most High God.  Without her, God could not have taken on flesh, nor been with us in this world.   Mary is the ladder who reunites heaven and earth.  She is the indispensable instrument of the Incarnation.  "Your Nativity, O Virgin, has proclaimed joy to the whole universe:  the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God has shone from you, O Theotokos.  By annulling the curse, He bestowed  a blessing, by destroying death, He has granted us eternal life."  (Apolytikion of the Feast).

GREETER SCHEDULE:    Sunday, September 8: Spyros.    

SCHEDULING MEMORIAL SERVICES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Memorial Services scheduled for Sundays at the end of the Liturgy can be announced in the weekly eBulletin if the information is sent to Fr. Don's email.  Please send your Memorial information by email to Fr. Don by the Thursday prior to the scheduled Memorial Service date.  FrDonatAugusta@mail.goarch.org

Email to Fr. Don:  FrDonatAugusta@mail.goarch.org

Email to St. Basil Church:  office@stbasil.ct.goarch.org.    You can ask to forward your email to the parish priest, the parish council, the Philoptochos, the Greek School, or the New Haven Greek Community for a response.   Just indicate where you want your  email to be directed..

Visit our St. Basil parish website:    www.stbasil.ct.goarch.org.  You will find many interesting links.  Especially visit the "Orthodox Marketplace" where you will find an excellent selection of icons, books, and gift ideas for birthdays and holidays.  Also, you can link to our Parish Facebook page.  Thanks to Arven Saunders for managing the parish website. 

On Facebook do a search for:  "Saint Basil Greek Orthodox Church."  You will find lots of information about parish activities, photos, and updates.  Thanks to Athena Nomikos for her work posting photos and information on our parish Facebook site.

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ST. BASIL CHURCH CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES

ST. BASIL CALENDAR

GREETER SCHEDULE:    Sunday, September 8: Spyros.  

BAPTISM:  Sunday, September 29th, 2019 at 1:00pm.  Baptism of  Alexander Panos Vamvakas, son of John and Melissa Vamvakas.

ST. BASIL 2019 GREEK FAIR:  Friday, September 20, Saturday 21st, and Sunday 22nd.  The FAIR is coming soon!  Please keep the dates free to offer your time and support at the FAIR.  Your contributions, donations, and offering of time to work at the Fair are reqested of everyone to make a successful Fair.  Help the Fair planners by filling out the 2019 FAIR VOLUNTEER FORM and mailing it or bring it to Church on Sunday.  The FORM is found under the "Greek Cultural Fair 2019" in this eBulletin.      FAIR RAFFLE TICKETS have been sent out to all parishioners.  Please purchase them by sending in a donation with the raffle stubs filled out.  Thank You.

NEW !!!  LIVE GREEK MUSIC BY DJ NICK NAKIS  added this year to the 2019 GREEK FAIR on Saturday! ! !   LIVE DJ GREEK MUSIC will be on Saturday, September 21 from 3pm to  7pm ! !  DJ Nick Nakis is the one who provided Greek Dancing Music at the last church dance.  Those who wish will be able to dance!  It will be a great new addition to this year's FAIR.  A good chance to share a Greek experience with friends and neighbors.

ST. BASIL GREEK SCHOOL     The new academic year for St. Basil Greek School will start on Saturday October 5th at 10:00 am. Letters have been mailed to parents with registration forms and parents are asked to return the forms to the church's mailing address or to the church on Sunday.    For additional information or questions you may have, please call Athena Condos (203-387-9504)

MEMORIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Memorial Services scheduled for Sundays at the end of the Liturgy can be announced in this weekly eBulletin.  Please send your email to Fr. Don by the Thursday prior to the scheduled memorial service date.  FrDonatAugusta@mail.goarch.org       

You may add church events/announcements/Memorials/FAIR News by sending email to:  FrDonatAugusta@mail.goarch.org.


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Greek Cultural Fair 2019 FLYER and VOLUNTEER FORMS

    Fair Flyer and Volunteer Form

    Fair Flyer and Volunteer Form

    Please print out the Flyer and distribute to help promote the Greek Cultural Fair 2019. Also, fill out the Volunteer Form and return it to the Church indicating your areas to help. And, if you wish, send in a donation to help defray some of the cost and give your donation to support this year's Fair. Thank you.


    STEWARDSHIP 2019 FORM

    STEWARDSHIP 2019 FORM

    Print out the Stewardship 2019 Form and send it to St. Basil Church with your offering. Send to: St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church, PO Box 9356, New Haven, CT 06533.


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18.

Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Sunday before Holy Cross
Πρὸς Γαλάτας 6:11-18

Ἀδελφοί, ἴδετε πηλίκοις ὑμῖν γράμμασιν ἔγραψα τῇ ἐμῇ χειρί. Ὅσοι θέλουσιν εὐπροσωπῆσαι ἐν σαρκί, οὗτοι ἀναγκάζουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, μόνον ἵνα μὴ τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Χριστοῦ διώκωνται. Οὐδὲ γὰρ οἱ περιτετμημένοι αὐτοὶ νόμον φυλάσσουσιν, ἀλλὰ θέλουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, ἵνα ἐν τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ σαρκὶ καυχήσωνται. Ἐμοὶ δὲ μὴ γένοιτο καυχᾶσθαι εἰ μὴ ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ· διʼ οὗ ἐμοὶ κόσμος ἐσταύρωται, κἀγὼ τῷ κόσμῳ. Ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ οὔτε περιτομή τι ἰσχύει, οὔτε ἀκροβυστία, ἀλλὰ καινὴ κτίσις. Καὶ ὅσοι τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ στοιχήσουσιν, εἰρήνη ἐπʼ αὐτούς, καὶ ἔλεος, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ θεοῦ. Τοῦ λοιποῦ, κόπους μοι μηδεὶς παρεχέτω· ἐγὼ γὰρ τὰ στίγματα τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματί μου βαστάζω. Ἡ χάρις τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμῶν, ἀδελφοί. Ἀμήν.


Gospel Reading

Sunday before Holy Cross
The Reading is from John 3:13-17

The Lord said, "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."

Sunday before Holy Cross
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 3:13-17

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· καὶ οὐδεὶς ἀναβέβηκεν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εἰ μὴ ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καταβάς, ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ὁ ὤν ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ. καὶ καθὼς Μωϋσῆς ὕψωσε τὸν ὄφιν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, οὕτως ὑψωθῆναι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ' ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Οὕτω γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ' ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἵνα κρίνῃ τὸν κόσμον, ἀλλ' ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

For since Nicodemus had said, "We know that Thou art a teacher come from God," on this very point He sets him right, all but saying, "Think Me not a teacher in such manner as were the many of the prophets who were of earth, for I have come from heaven (but) now. None of the prophets hath ascended up thither, but I dwell there."
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 27 on John 3, 4th Century

For not in heaven only is He, but everywhere, and He fills all things; but yet He speaks according to the infirmity of His hearer, desiring to lead him up little by little ... For after having spoken of the very great benefaction that had come to man by Baptism, He proceeds to mention another benefaction, which was the cause of this, and not inferior to it; namely, that by the Cross ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 27 on John 3, 4th Century

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Saints and Feasts

Vmnativt
September 08

The Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary

According to the ancient tradition of the Church, the Theotokos was born of barren and aged parents, Joachim and Anna, about the year 16 or 17 before the birth of Christ. Joachim was descended from the royal line of David, of the tribe of Judah. Anna was of the priestly tribe of Levi, a daughter of the priest Matthan and Mary, his wife.


Euphrosynoscook
September 11

Euphrosynos the Cook

Background of St. Euphrosynus the Cook of Alexandria

While there isn’t a lot of information available about this saint’s early life, we do know he was born to simple parents. He grew up to be a humble monastic.

He was a monk and the head cook at a monastery in Palestine. He was obedient, dedicated, and refused to absent himself from the thought of God at all times. He continuously set time after his duties to prayer and fast.  He was noted as having patience that made the other monks amazed. They would reproach him, but he never complained and endured every unpleasantry aspect in life with no negative thoughts or words.

His never wavering devotion to God and the Gospel was not well known to his fellow monks, so the Lord Himself revealed these facts to the brethren of St. Euphrosynus the Cook via a vision one of the priest monks experienced.

The Vision:  One day a priest from the monastery prayed to the Lord and asked Him to show him what blessings the righteous people will see in the ages to come.

That night the priest had a vision that he was shown Paradise and was standing in the great garden. Paradise looked more beautiful that anything he had ever seen before, that he was filled with both joy and fear. As he looked around, he saw a fellow monk there, the cook, Euphrosynus. Surprised that his fellow monk was not only in this vision but standing with him in Paradise, he asked Euphrosynus how he came to be in the garden. The cook looked at the priest and told him that is was the mercy of God that he was there.

The priest then asked Euphrosynus if he would be able to take something from the garden with him to capture the beauty that he was witnessing. Euphrosynus told the priest to take whatever he wished. The priest looked around and noticed these beautiful red apples growing in the garden of  Paradise. He pointed at them, and Euphrosynus walked over and plucked three of the apples and wrapped them in a cloth and handed them to the priest.

The next morning when the priest awoke, he thought the vision was just a dream. He was not sure what he had experienced. Then, as he looked around his room, he noticed a cloth covering something on the table next to him. He unwrapped it, and there they were, the three apples from Paradise. They were emitting a fragrance that was the most wonderful thing he had ever smelled.

He got dressed and went to find the cook Euphrosynus. Upon locating him, the priest monk pulled him aside and made him speak under oath as to where he was the night before. Euphrosynus looked at the priest, and told him that he was where the priest was. The priest told Euphrosynus that God had fulfilled a prayer he had made earlier by showing him Paradise and bestowing upon him the fruit through “the lowly and unworthy servant of God, Euphrosynus.”

The priest then went and called all his fellow brethren to an assembly. When everyone arrived he informed all of everything he had experienced. He told them of Euphrosynus the cooks devotion and faith in God. He also spoke of the apples and their wonderful fragrance.

The monks sat in awe listening as they discovered they had a servant of God in their monastery.  At once, they fled to the kitchen to seek out Euphrosynus. However, he was not there. They looked all over the monastery for him – but he was gone, believed to have fled to the desert to remain in isolation and fully devote himself to God.

He was never seen again and his whereabouts never discovered.

His fellow brethren always remembered that Euphrosynus the cook had been to Paradise and that one day they too would meet him there. The pieces of the apple were distributed to all the brethren when healing or blessings were required.

Euphrosynus was made a saint because of his devotion and obedience to God and him being seen in Paradise.

Troparion for St. Euphrosynus the Cook:   “You lived in great humility, in labors of asceticism and in purity of soul, O righteous Euphrosynus. By a mystical vision you demonstrated the Heavenly joy which you had found. Therefore make us worthy to be partakers of your intercessions.”

 


Exaltation
September 14

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross

Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place.

Rest from labour. A Fast is observed today, whatever day of the week it may be.


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ST. BASIL GREEK SCHOOL

ST. BASIL GREEK SCHOOL    The new academic year for St. Basil Greek School will start on Saturday October 5th at 10:00 am. Letters have been mailed to parents with registration forms and parents are asked to return the forms to the church's mailing address or to the church on Sunday.      If you have any questions about the Greek School, call:  Athena Condos at 203-387-9504 or email Athena at:  athenacondos250@hotmail.com.

 

 

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord by His Might, has created a Dominion. He has conquered death by death, and become the first-born of the dead. He has delivered us from the depths of Hades, and has granted the world great mercy.
Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for Nativity of the Theotokos in the Fourth Mode

Your birth, O Theotokos, brought joy to the whole world, for from you dawned the sun of righteousness, Christ our God. Freeing us from the curse, He gave us His blessings. Abolishing death, He granted us eternal life.
Η γέννησίς σου Θεοτόκε, χαράν εμήνυσε πάση τή οικουμένη, εκ σού γάρ ανέτειλεν ο ήλιος τής δικαιοσύνης, Χριστός ο Θεός ημών, καί λύσας τήν κατάραν, έδωκε τήν ευλογίαν, καί καταργήσας τόν θάνατον, εδωρήσατο ημίν ζωήν τήν αιώνιον.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

In your holy birth, Immaculate One, Joachim and Anna were rid of the shame of childlessness; Adam and Eve of the corruption of death. And so your people, free of the guilt of their sins, celebrate crying: "The barren one gives birth to the Theotokos, who nourishes our life."
Ιωακείμ καί Άννα όνειδισμού ατεκνίας, καί Αδάμ καί Εύα, εκ τής φθοράς τού θανάτου, ηλευθερώθησαν, Άχραντε, εν τή αγία γεννήσει σου, αυτήν εορτάζει καί ο λαός σου, ενοχής τών πταισμάτων, λυτρωθείς εν τώ κράζειν σοι, Η στείρα τίκτει τήν Θεοτόκον, καί τροφόν τής ζωής ημών.
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