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St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2021-03-28
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St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (607)273-2767
  • Fax:
  • (607)273-6733
  • Street Address:

  • 120 West Seneca Street

  • Ithaca, NY 14850


Services Schedule

Saturdays: Great Vespers 6PM

Sundays and Weekday Services: Orthros (Matins): 8:45 AM | Divine Liturgy: 10:00 AM


Past Bulletins


Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Ninth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."

Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. First Tone. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 1:10-14; 2:1-3.

"IN THE BEGINNING, Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?" Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?

Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
The Reading is from Mark 2:1-12

At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he said to the paralytic-"I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"


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Saints and Feasts

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March 28

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

This divine Father, who was from Asia Minor, was from childhood reared in the royal court of Constantinople, where he was instructed in both religious and secular wisdom. Later, while still a youth, he left the imperial court and struggled in asceticism on Mount Athos, and in the Skete at Beroea. He spent some time in Thessalonica being treated for an illness that came from his harsh manner of life. He was present in Constantinople at the Council that was convened in 1341 against Barlaam of Calabria, and at the Council of 1347 against Acindynus, who was of like mind with Barlaam; Barlaam and Acindynus claimed that the grace of God is created. At both these Councils, the Saint contended courageously for the true dogmas of the Church of Christ, teaching in particular that divine grace is not created, but is the uncreated energies of God which are poured forth throughout creation: otherwise it would be impossible, if grace were created, for man to have genuine communion with the uncreated God. In 1347 he was appointed Metropolitan of Thessalonica. He tended his flock in an apostolic manner for some twelve years, and wrote many books and treatises on the most exalted doctrines of our Faith; and having lived for a total of sixty-three years, he reposed in the Lord in 1359.

His holy relics are kept in the Cathedral of Thessalonica. A full service was composed for his feast day by the Patriarch Philotheus in 1368, when it was established that his feast be celebrated on this day. Since works without right faith avail nothing, we set Orthodoxy of faith as the foundation of all that we accomplish during the Fast, by celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy the Sunday before, and the great defender of the teachings of the holy Fathers today.


Allsaint
March 28

Herodion the Apostle of the 70


Allsaint
March 28

Hilarion the New

Saint Hilarion took up the monastic life from his youth and lived in seclusion. Later, as Abbot of the Monastery of Pelecete in Asia Minor (believed to be in Bithynia, not far from Triglia), he suffered much from the Iconoclasts, and reposed in the year 754.


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Calendar

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News This Week

Greek Independence Celebration: We will have a brief program in the church today to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence. We welcome dignitaries from Ithaca City who are joining us for this special occasion.
 
Monthly Calendar: The April Parish Calendar is included in the bulletin and is available online. Keep one to stay informed of our services and events. Confessions: Fr. Stephen is available for Confessions on Saturdays after Great Vespers or by appointment. Lent is a time of repentance and paying closer attention to our spiritual life.
 
Lenten Flowers: Donations are welcomed for flowers for the Lenten season to decorate icons of the Theotokos for the Saluations/Akathist Services, the Feast of the Annunciation, and the Sunday of the Holy Cross. Please send donations to the church office or see Fr. Stephen if you wish to make a specific donation. Holy Week will be a later separate appeal.
 
Philoptochos: Sadly, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with new more virulent strains now in NYS & Tompkins County, CDC guidelines about not gathering, and an abundance of caution, our Easter Bake Sale, which is normally held on western Good Friday, is postponed. At this point, we have NOT set a date for a late Spring Bake Sale, BUT, we are discussing it. If we do proceed with a bake sale event this spring, you all will be the first to know! 
 
Philoptochos has begun working on a special project toward feeding the hungry in our community by helping Loaves & Fishes (who at this time are packing approximately 200 takeout meals each day!). We hope to do this in two different ways: Lenten Season FOOD DRIVE, and BAKED GOODS (as well as monetary contributions). If you can help or would like more information, please contact Candy Filios (387-3428 or cfilios@ottcmail.com) ALL ARE WELCOME TO HELP OUT!! You need not be a Philoptochos member! The Philoptochos Zoom meeting scheduled for today has been CANCELLED.
 
Parishioner Info: We are in the process of updating our parish lists and creating a database of helpful parishioner information in order to better communicate with parishioners and develop ministries. Parishioner Information Forms are available in the narthex. Please submit competed forms to the church office. The information will be used only for parish purposes and not given to outside sources. Information is voluntary and questions are optional, but we hope you will fill out the form completely so we can best serve you. Please help us out by taking the form to someone you know who is not on our mailing or email lists. Contact Fr. Stephen if you have any questions.
 
Sunday School: Classes are being held virtually through zoom on the weekends. We ask families with children to provide the teachers with emails so they can send the children invites to the class. See Fr. Stephen for a registration form and questions.
 
Livestream: We are broadcasting our services on YouTube for those who are staying home and for those who would like to join us from afar. Our channel is "Saint Catherine GOC Ithaca" or you can use the link https://youtube.com/channel/UC5ZR00FiDn92tsdQIipJ5zA. Past services are also available to watch.
 
Coffee Hour: There will be no coffee hour or socializing following services until further notice. The church hall is closed. Please exit the church following the dismissal of service.
 
Tray: No tray will be passed after services. Please leave any donations in a basket in the narthex, mail them to the church, or use our website with PayPal, a credit or debit card. Thank you for your support.
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Prayer List

AILING: Dino Marinos, Maria Chacona, John Mavros, Athena Ka-landros, Dottie Christopher, all suffering from war, epidemics, vio-lence, natural disasters, and especially those suffering the Coron-avirus pandemic.

REPOSED: Alex Avramis, Emilia Palaiologos, Konstantinos Kalantzi, Eleni Tselekis, Tony Souzas, Richard Deeb, Peter Zaharis, All victims of war, epidemics, violence, natural disasters, and es-pecially those suffering the Coronavirus pandemic.

IN NEED: Bixler Weiskopf, Martin Thann; Pablo J. Canales; Donna Poole; Angela Tompkins; Kaiden Wentworth; Thorsten and Kim Rogall; Cheryl, Rob, Adam and Jacob Troska; Kaethe Pfeiffer, Klaus; Helen and Elizabeth Talty; Kevin; John Ligas; Rev. Dn. Te-wolde Yohannes, his wife Hirut and their family; Sue Miller; Mary McKelvey; Heinz Neveling; Jerry Hoffman; Barbara Hoskins; John Van Markwyk; and all victims or survivors of war, epidemics, vio- lence, natural disasters, and especially those suffering the Coronavirus pandemic.

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