Sunday Services:
8:45 am Orthros
10:00 am Divine Liturgy
Christ is in our midst! He is and ever shall be!
Join us for Orthodox Divine Liturgy every Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
September 12, 2021
Sunday Before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Apodosis of the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos
Detour approaching the church: Another road project has closed Washington Road directly in front of the church. From Southern Blvd turn South at Olive Ave, go one block to Malverne Road, then turn left to the church.
Note - GPS directions are incorrect for the last block to the
church due to the ongoing bridge construction.
Important Notice: We now require masks inside the church and the Hellenic Cultural Center for all adults (vaccinated or not) and children at all parish worship and activities. This policy was implemented for the safety of all. The Parish Council will evaluate this COVID -19 protocol monthly as conditions in Palm Beach County change.
Holy Communion: When the faithful approach the Holy Chalice, they should stand with respect before the priest and say their baptismal/chrismation name. After the name is uttered, the faithful should open their mouth to receive Holy Communion. When the spoon goes into the mouth, the faithful should close their mouth and make sure that they swallow the consecrated Bread and Wine. Every person who stands before the Holy Chalice, should not have any contact with the red communion cloth, before, during, or after receiving Holy Communion. The red communion cloth is to be placed under each person’s chin by those who are assisting the clergy. Under no circumstances should the red communion cloth be used as a table napkin to wipe the mouth, nor should one who has received Holy Communion touch it at all.
Coffee and Fellowship: Our Philoptochos welcomes everyone to join us for the coffee and fellowship hour in our Hellenic Cultural Center following the Divine Liturgy. Today however, a special coffee hour by the Sunday School honoring grandparents.
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This Week at Saint Catherine
Sunday, September 12 Sunday before the Exaltation of the Cross
8:45 am Orthros - Link to the Orthros Service text
10:00 am Divine Liturgy - Link to the Divine Liturgy text
National Grandparents Day, Coffee Hour by Sunday School
Saturday, September 18 Metropolis Virtual Clergy-Laity Conference
Highlights of Upcoming Services and Events
Sunday, September 19 Sunday After the Exaltation of the Cross
8:45 am Orthros / 10:00 am Divine Liturgy
Holy Cross Sunday
Tuesday, September 21 Philoptochos
10:00 am Board Meeting
12:00 pm Meeting
Wednesday, September 22
7:00 pm Parish Council Meeting
Saturday, September 25
7:00 am - 1:00 pm Greek School Garage Sale
2021 Stewardship: We are grateful to those who completed, or are completing, their financial pledge for 2021. For those who have not yet sent in a donation, please take a moment to do so — join our Saint Catherine family. Your Stewardship gift reflects your appreciation for God's many blessings.
Click here for the 2021 Stewardship Program. The Commitment Form is here. As of September 3rd, 223 individuals and families have either begun or completed their 2021 financial pledge. This includes 34 first-time and returning stewards whom we warmly welcome to our Saint Catherine family.
Youth Safety Resources: We’re committed to connecting young people with Jesus Christ. To do that, we need to create ministry environments that are safe and health. For more on how you can help, please visit our Youth Safety website: goarch.org/safety.
Many of our Divine Liturgies have been recorded and can be viewed at www.youtube.com. Subscribe to our new YouTube channel for 2020:
Saint Catherine Greek Orthodox Church (2020 and 2021 services)
Saint Catherine Greek Orthodox Church (Selected services from 2015-2019)
Shop with Amazon, donate to Saint Catherine
Amazon Smile is a program that allows for 0.5% of your eligible Amazon purchase to be donated to our Saint Catherine Church (No Added Cost To You). To sign-up visit Sign up for Amazon Smile and press "Select" next to our church name. Then remember to log in to "smile.amazon.com" when you shop.
Parenting is a challenge, whether you’re dealing with toddlers or teens! Join Dr. Philip Mamalakis for a discussion on responding to all our children’s misbehaviors in a way that helps them become successful adults. ADDRESS: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 600 East Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28203 DATE: Friday, November 19 & Saturday November 20 MORE INFORMATION: frchristian@htgo.org // (914) 573-3618 CHILDCARE: We will provide childcare for ages 2+ COST: $35.00 PAYMENT: You can submit a payment via our website (https://holytrinityoff.securepayments.cardpointe.com/pay) or you can mail a check in, payable to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
The writers of Forged understand that our young people require both guidance in their faith and strengthening that faith in a world that is often at odds with Orthodox Christian spirituality. What does it mean to be a man? How do I conduct myself in relationships, and in friendship? What is a healthy perspective concerning technology? Using this workbook our young men will have the opportunity to consider these subjects, within the Orthodox Christian style of life. Forged uses a structure that appeals to a young man’s creative sense of adventure and problem-solving, and these lessons are reinforced through journaling, activities and discussion topics that can be utilized in group settings.
Saint Catherine Youth Ministries are holding registration for the 2021-2022 Ecclesiastical Year on Sunday, August 8th in the Hellenic Cultural Center after the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. Click here to see the listing of Sunday School events. Planned events for all Youth Ministries will soon be entered on the Google planning calendar on our website.
Creating healthy, Christ-centered ministry environments. ------------ As an Archdiocese, we're ready to take the next step in youth safety. ------------ The new Policies for the Safety of Children and Youth is how we'll do it. ------------ Ministry heads check this out! We must prepare and follow all the steps for the safety of our children. Our Archdiocese requires this in order to participate in any youth events !!!
CYBER CRIME HAS BEEN INFILTRATING OUR LIVES FOR YEARS. More recently, parishes and religious communities around us are being targeted by a phishing scam . . .
An update, January 2021, from the city of West Palm Beach. They project that the bridge should be completed by the end of 2021.
First Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Matthew 28:16-20
At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Amen."
Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Tone. 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
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."
This saint was a bishop in Italy. Fleeing from the persecution of Diocletian in 298, he came to Bithynia, where he went from place to place converting many from the idols to the true God. Because of this, one day as he was celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Archangels, they who worshipped wood and stones fell upon him and beat him to death with staves and stones.
The church that is honoured far above all others is that of the Holy Resurrection, which Saint Constantine the Great constructed at the place of Golgotha, where our Saviour was crucified and buried. For a long time this place had been purposely buried beneath the earth by the Jews and heathen; furthermore, during the reign of Hadrian (117-138), a temple dedicated to Aphrodite was built over the site so that this sacred place might be even further desecrated and fall into utter oblivion. It was here that the Cross was hidden. However, at the command of the pious Emperor Constantine, excavations were made and the tokens of the saving Passion were found. It was here, then, that the very great and magnificent temple named in honour of Christ God's Resurrection-the Anastasis-was built under the supervision of the blessed Helen, while Dracilian was Eparch of Palestine and Macarius was Archbishop of Jerusalem. It was the latter, also, who exalted the venerable Cross and performed the consecration of this temple in the year 336.
Saint Cornelius was a Roman by race, a pagan by religion, a centurion in rank, an inhabitant of Caesarea of Palestine, a man pious and God-fearing who gave many alms to the people and prayed continually unto God. In accordance with an angelic vision granted to him, he sent to Joppa that they might bring the Apostle Peter. Saint Peter catechized him in the Faith of Christ and baptized all his household (Acts, ch.10). This became the beginning and the first fruits of the calling of the nations. It is said that, after this, he became a bishop, as some say, of Caesarea; but others say of Scepsis, which is not far from Troas; and that he died as a martyr.
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.
This Saint was of high birth among the Goths beyond the Danube River. He was taken by Athanaric, pagan ruler of the Goths, and after being tortured, was burned to death for his confession of Christ. According to some, this took place during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great; according to others, under the Emperor Gratian.
Saint Euphemia was from Chalcedon and lived in virginity. According to some, she suffered martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian, in 303; according to others, in 307. Her sacred relics are preserved in the Patriarchate in Constantinople.
These Saints were from Italy and contested for the Faith about the year 126, during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. Faith was twelve years old, Hope, ten, and Love, nine; each was tormented and then beheaded, from the eldest to the youngest. Their mother Sophia mourned at their grave for three days, where she also fell asleep in peace; because of her courageous endurance in the face of her daughters' sufferings, she is also counted a martyr. The name Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek; as for her daughters' names, Faith, Hope, and Love (Charity), they are Pistis, Elpis, and Agape in Greek, and Vera, Nadezhda, and Lyubov in Russian.
This Saint took up the monastic life from his youth, and later became Bishop of Gortynia in Crete. He travelled to Rome, and to Thebes in Upper Egypt, where through his prayers he ended a drought; there also, after working many miracles, he reposed in deep old age. His holy relics were returned to Gortynia and buried at the place called Raxos.
Metropolitan Alexios' Message
As our country prepares for the memorials that will come with the historic 20th anniversary of 9/11, I would like to add my voice to those offering their thoughts and prayers for this weekend. Since the events of that Tuesday morning are now history to a generation of young people who were neither old enough, nor even alive at the time to bear witness, it is important that we continue to reflect upon the meaning of that day. What comes to mind is the confusion experienced when the first plane struck the North Tower, followed by pain when it became clear that this was a series of attacks. However, just as strong as the sorrow that occurred when the Towers fell, were the feelings of compassion that emerged as first responders and volunteers searched through the rubble. The day was meant to cause feelings of despair, but in the wreckage, what emerged were images of people supporting one another.
In the hymns for Great and Holy Friday, even as we lament the Crucifixion of our Lord, the expectation of the Resurrection is still present: “We worship Thy passion, O Christ. Show us also Thy glorious resurrection.” Just as we experience the events of Holy Week with both sadness and hope, we cannot forget the thousands who perished on an ordinary Tuesday morning; but neither should we allow those who wished to inspire pain to succeed. Especially as we look forward to the completion of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine, we must remember both the paradoxical sadness and love that this day has come to signify.
I recall the prayer so beautifully offered by my brother, His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, in the days after 9/11. I reproduce it below, because it will help those who read it to recall both the feelings and thoughts of that time—while also stressing our firm belief that our Lord understands our pain, and uplifts humanity through the message of His Gospel. As we prepare for this somber anniversary, may we continue to hold this day in our hearts, reflecting on both the lives of those who were lost, as well as those responders who now suffer ill health and other kinds of trauma, because they understood our Lord’s command: “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)
Triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—Benevolent Lord, Creator and Sustainer of us all, hear us, Your children, at this time of national crisis and unbearable pain. We come to You because You are our Savior and Benefactor Who grants peace and solace to peoples and nations. It is You Who bore our sins on Your precious Holy Cross. It is only You that can heal our wounds and ease our suffering.
You have blessed our nation abundantly and guided us in times of sadness and despair. Yes, You have blessed America. “You have stood beside her, and guided her through the night with a light from above.”
Protect, we pray, our nation and its citizens at this time of tragedy of trial and crisis. Shield us under the shadow of Your Cross. Grant to us Your peace, Your love and help. Bestow solace and strength to the families of the innocent victims of the barbaric acts of violence in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania.
Open Your loving arms and welcome into Your tender embrace our brothers and sisters, our relatives, our friends and neighbors. . .the countless anonymous innocent who (in but an instant) were consumed in the horrific holocaust of hate.
Strengthen, we pray, our brave police and firefighters, the doctors, the nurses, and rescue workers who have rushed to the side of the victims. Their eyes have seen unspeakable violence, human pain and tragedy.
We pray for our President, the members of Congress and all in Public Service. Guide them and inspire their decisions at this time of national trial and travail.
Help us and people throughout the world to comprehend that we are all Your children. We are all brothers and sisters created in Your image and likeness. Guide us to live in harmony with one another, respectful of each other’s human rights and human dignity. We ask this of You, for You are a benevolent and loving God and to You do we ascribe glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
+ALEXIOS
Metropolitan of Atlanta
Postscript: The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Friends of Saint Nicholas will officially commence the 20th Anniversary remembrance of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, with a memorial service and the inaugural lighting of the Saint Nicholas National Shrine on Friday, September 10, 2021 at 7:45 EST.
This service marks the first time the Church and National Shrine have participated in the annual commemorations.
His Eminence, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America will conduct the service and preside over the first lighting of the re-built church, the only house of worship destroyed on 9/11.
Designed by the world-renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, the National Shrine, with its signature glow sitting atop Liberty Park and overlooking the Memorial Pools and the 9/11 Museum, will welcome all people of all walks of faith, to remembrance and contemplation.
Event will be live streamed at www.StNicholasWTC.org and on the Saint Nicholas Facebook page.
Chancellor's Update
As I write this message, more than a million residents are struggling with power outages and the aftermath of flooding as Hurricane Ida pummeled our Gulf states with heavy rain and high winds. As it continued inland, tragic deaths occurred in Louisiana, Mississippi, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Record rainfalls and flooding have left many areas in its path under states of emergency.
On behalf of His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios, I extend our deepest condolences to the families who have experienced loss of lives. We offer prayers and support on behalf of all who have been affected. Our hearts ache for the lives lost and the devastation from this storm. As residents are allowed to return to their homes and businesses, we pray for God’s mercy as they confront clean-up and restoration efforts. Please let the Metropolis know of special needs so we can help direct and facilitate timely assistance.
Today, I received the following useful information from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). The month of September is “National Preparedness Month” – an observance each year to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. The 2021 theme is “Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love."
“Today marks the beginning of National Preparedness Month, as we’re already in the height of a very active hurricane season, while wildfire threats to communities are increasing daily,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “Now is the time that everyone should have a conversation with their family, neighbors or loved ones to discuss what you would do in the event of a disaster in your area. Use the resources on Ready.gov or Listo.gov to make sure you have taken the steps to get prepared.”
Also, everyone should sign up to receive local alerts and warning on your mobile phone. Download the FEMA app and receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations nationwide and have the steps to prepare for disaster with you at all times to keep you and your loved ones safe.
Each week during National Preparedness Month will focus on a theme with easy-to-follow steps that individuals and families can take to enhance their emergency preparedness efforts. This year's weekly themes include:
Ready.gov/September has free resources online, including social media content in multiple languages, for public use. Help spread the word of how to be prepared for disasters and emergencies before they happen. For more information, visit Ready.gov and Listo.gov.
If you have any questions, please contact FEMA Office of External Affairs:
+Very Rev. Fr. George Tsahakis
Chancellor
Youth, Education and Hellenic Culture
For information on Policies for the Safety of Youth and Children, please click https://atlmetropolis.org/policies-for-the-safety-of-youth-and-children!
Please remember that all parishes must comply and sign their parish contracts to host any youth ministry programs or events on the parish level (Sunday School) or to participate on a District or Metropolis Level Events (Retreats, WYR & HDF).
Journey of Marriage (Pre-Marital Seminar)
All couples marrying in the Metropolis must attend a Metropolis-sponsored Journey of Marriage seminar prior to their wedding. The couple will present their certificate of completion to their parish priest after the seminar.
To see the full list of seminars in Florida and in our entire Metropolis for 2021 and beyond, and to register, please visit: https://atlmetropolis.org/pre-marital-seminars-journey-of-marriage
Registration is online. Materials costs are included in the registration. The seminars are currently being conducted by Zoom meeting.