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St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-02-25
Bulletin Contents
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Wisdom of the Fathers
Prayer List
This Week's Events
Announcements
Publphar
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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


Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal First Tone

Let us worship the Word, O ye faithful, praising Him that with the Father and the Spirit is co-beginningless God, Who was born of a pure Virgin that we all be saved; for He was pleased to mount the Cross in the flesh that He assumed, accepting thus to endure death. And by His glorious rising, He also willed to resurrect the dead.

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery


Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Tone

Let us flee from the boasting of the Pharisee and learn through our own sighs of sorrow the humility of the Publican. Let us cry out to the Savior, "Have mercy on us, for through You alone are we reconciled."

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Fifth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:12-35

At that time, [Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened. That very day] two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. And He said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" and they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered Him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And He said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find His body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see." And He said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was not it necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into this glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So He went in to stay with them. When He was at table with them, He took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road and how He was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal First Tone. Psalm 11.7,1.
You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 3:10-15.

TIMOTHY, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at lconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
The Reading is from Luke 18:10-14

The Lord said this parable, "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

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Saints and Feasts

Publphar
February 25

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today

The Pharisees were an ancient and outstanding sect among the Jews known for their diligent observance of the outward matters of the Law. Although, according to the word of our Lord, they "did all their works to be seen of men" (Matt. 23:5), and were hypocrites (ibid. 23: 13, 14, 15, etc.), because of the apparent holiness of their lives they were thought by all to be righteous, and separate from others, which is what the name Pharisee means. On the other hand, Publicans, collectors of the royal taxes, committed many injustices and extortions for filthy lucre's sake, and all held them to be sinners and unjust. It was therefore according to common opinion that the Lord Jesus in His parable signified a virtuous person by a Pharisee, and a sinner by a Publican, to teach His disciples the harm of pride and the profit of humble-mindedness.

Since the chief weapon for virtue is humility, and the greatest hindrance to it is pride, the divine Fathers have set these three weeks before the Forty-day Fast as a preparation for the spiritual struggles of virtue. This present week they have called Harbinger, since it declares that the Fast is approaching; and they set humility as the foundation for all our spiritual labors by appointing that the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee be read today, even before the Fast begins, to teach, through the vaunting of the Pharisee, that the foul smoke of self-esteem and the stench of boasting drives away the grace of the Spirit, strips man of all his virtue, and casts him into the pits of Hades; and, through the repentance and contrite prayer of the Publican, that humility confers upon the sinner forgiveness of all his wicked deeds and raises him up to the greatest heights.

All foods are allowed the week that follows this Sunday.

Allsaint
February 25

Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople

This Saint was the son of one of the foremost princes in Constantinople, and was originally a consul and first among the Emperor's private counselors. Then, in 784, he was elected Patriarch of Constantinople by the Sovereigns Irene and her son Constantine Porphyrogenitus. He convoked the Seventh Ecumenical Council that upheld the holy icons, and became the boast of the Church and a light to the clergy. He reposed in 806.

Allsaint
February 25

Reginos, Bishop of Skopelos

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Wisdom of the Fathers

If there is a moral quality almost completely disregarded and even denied today, it is indeed humility. The culture in which we live constantly instills in us the sense of pride, of self-glorification, and of self-righteousness ... Even our churches - are they not imbued with that same spirit of the Pharisee? Do we not want our every contribution, every 'good deed,' all the we do 'for the Church' to be acknowledged, praised, publicized? ... How does one become humble? The answer, for a Christian, is simple: by contemplating Christ..."
Fr. Alexander Schmemann
Great Lent, pp. 19-20., 20th Century

It is possible for those who have come back again after repentance to shine with much lustre, and oftentimes more than those who have never fallen at all, I have demonstrated from the divine writings. Thus at least both the publicans and the harlots inherit the kingdom of Heaven, thus many of the last are placed before the first.
St. John Chrysostom
AN EXHORTATION TO THEODORE AFTER HIS FALL, 4th Century

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Prayer List

 

AILING:  Anthoula Epthimiatos, Kate Cushing, Madelyn, and all victims of war and violence, natural disasters, and epidemics.  

 

REPOSED: Evan Dentes, All victims of war and violence, natural disasters, and epidemics.

 

IN NEED : Mavis Marquez, Genevieve Castillo, Gerard Castillo

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This Week's Events

 

Today

Triodion Begins
8:45am Orthros
10:00am Divine Liturgy
Parish Council Meeting following coffee hour

Saturday March 2, 2024

5:00pm Choir Practice
6:00pm Great Vespers & Confessions

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Announcements


 

Thank You: We thank all that helped out, donated, and contributed to making our Spanakopita Dinner Fundraiser a success.  We hope to do more fundraisers throughout the year.  Consider offering your ideas to the fundraising committee.  See Steve Hoskins for information.

Calendars: The February parish calendar is available on the handout table and on the website.  Take one to stay informed of parish services and events.

 


Stewardship: All are encouraged to make a stewardship pledge for 2024.  Forms are available in the narthex and can be submitted to the church office.  Thank you to all who have supported our parish with their time, talent, and treasure.

 


Weather Cancellations: Notification of cancellation of parish services and events due to inclement weather will be sent out via the parish email list.  The church main phone line message will also be updated.  If you are not on our email list and want to be, please send your email address to the church office.

 

 

 

Choir: Practices are now held on Saturdays at 5:00pm.  All are welcomed to join.  See our Choir Director, Steve Hoskins, for information.

 

 

 

Votive Candles: Our new votive candles are $10 each and have a glass outer shell with a plastic inner shell.  Please do not remove the glass shells from the church as we will reuse them.

 

 

 

Sunday School: Children are to go to class in the upstairs classroom after Holy Communion. Please see Emeline Mandeville for information.

 

Fundraising Committee: New members are welcome to join the Fundraising Committee and help our parish with new ideas to support our ministries.  If interested, please contact Steve Hoskins.

 

 

 

Coffee Hour: All are welcome to have refreshments and fellowship in the hall following services. Please help by signing up on the board in the hall to host a coffee hour. We thank Philoptochos for organizing our fellowships.

 

 

 

Livestream: Watch our Sunday services on our YouTube channel "Saint Catherine GOC Ithaca" if you cannot make it in person. Past services are also available to watch. Our direct link is:
https://www.youtube.com/@saintcatherinegocithaca222/streams

 

 

 

Prayer Lists: Please let us know if there is anyone you would like us to pray for as a community. Names can be submitted to Fr. Stephen.

 

 

 

Philoptochos: 
“ I will show you my faith by my works.”

 

                James  2:18

 

 

 

St. Catherine Philoptochos wishes to invite everyone,  to Souvlaki House,  for our upcoming dinner, Saturday, March 9th at 4:30 pm. Please join us in fellowship and dinner!

 

Philoptochos Membership drive is underway!

 

 HELP US TO GROW! Help us achieve our mission is to

 

 "help the poor, the destitute, the hungry, the aged, the sick, the unemployed, the orphaned, the imprisoned, the widowed, those with disabilities, and the victims of disasters.”

 

We do so locally giving to 21 local agencies,

 

throughout Tompkins and Cortland counties. We also give to National and International relief and disaster through our Fund Raising efforts.

HOW DO YOU JOIN? Please contact Sophia Georgiou King and
 Angela Teeter for membership details.

 

Call or email:

 

(607) 3396107  sophia.georgiou47@gmail.com

 

(315) 406-1521 angelah@ymail.com

 

    Suggested donation to join is $25

COMING JANUARY 30,2024-MARCH 5,2024

 

  PHILOPTOCHOS CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP

 

FOR ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CAREGIVERS NATIONWIDE

 

     Six consecutive Tuesday evenings:

 

Dates: Tuesday, January 30, 2024-Tuesday,March 5, 2024

 

         7:00 pm. EST. -  8 pm  EST

 

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED-  go to:

 

https//docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgNy9_9JeCpFkndCj8very_EiYpKz_-ns0HeUVrILJUKeXLA/viewform

 

 

 

* For more information email us at: supportgroup@philoptochos.org

 

 Details are listed in flyer

Operation Classroom Initiative:

 

   As a National Initiative forms for submission. All outreach documents must be documented ,and submitted, from

 

 January. - April 2024, with hopes that our St. Catherine Philoptochos has a project to share with our National Philoptochos. Please be a volunteer in this initiative !

 

Contact Sophia Georgiou King

 

    Philoptochos President at Sophia.georgiou47@ gmail.com with questions and concerns and thank you.

 

*Flyers will be available at front table.

 

GREAT LENT 2024

 

Philoptochos will be collecting, each Sunday of Lent, certain non perishable food items and toiletries, to help those in need, in our parish and through the local Salvation Army Food Pantry.

 

Our Parish hopes to collect 20-50 items each Sunday. More information will follow.

 

This effort is directly connected the Gospel commandments feed the hungry and help the poor.The items we collect are important, but the love we show to in giving is equally important.

 

The drive will start on the 1st Sunday - March 24th

 

Individual are asked on the !st Sunday to bring a can of soup and a can of tunafish, or more.

 

A designated box to drop off items will be in the church hall.

 

 

 

 Thank you for joining our effort to collect food, household and personal items for those in need. A blessed Great Lent to all!

 

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