St. Demetrios Calendar

14th SUNDAY OF MATTHEW, September 2
- Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 8:30 am

FRIDAY, September 7

- Family First Friday, 6:30

SATURDAY, September 8

- Orthros & Divine Liturgy for the Nativity of the Theotokos, 9 am

SUNDAY BEFORE HOLY CROSS, September 9
- Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 8:30 am
- Ministry Fair

Parish News and Events

ST. DEMETRIOS GREEK LANGUAGE &CULTURAL SCHOOL

What a wonderful feeling, the first day of school is just around the corner! Please mark your calendar with these important dates:

September 9: Registration, following Liturgy in the Church Hall

Tuesday, 9/11: Registration, Agiasmos Service, Open House, and Social, 4-6 pm

In addition, registration will also be held the remaining
Sundays in September following Liturgy. All are welcome. Please note, we welcome 4-year old children to participate in the Pre-Kindergarten program. For additional information about our Greek School program, please call the Church Office at 781-237-5561 or Avra Parpos at 508-875-2103.

FAMILY FIRST FRIDAY

Our first Family First Friday will be September 7th from 6:30-8:30 pm. Let’s start the year off strong with a group family activity and parents planning meeting for the 2018-2019 year. Families of all shapes and sizes are welcome! To RSVP and for questions please email Presbytera Nadia Minucci: presnadia@gmail.com

GOYA (Grades 9-12)

GOYA is back and ready for another year! Our kickoff event will be a fun GOYA night on September 21 from 6:30-8:30 pm with pizza, music, fun and games. Please RSVP to Fr. Vinnie or to Jill Kovatsis (ja.k@verizon.net) to let us know if you are coming. Join us for our annual GOYA Car Wash during the Welcome Back BBQ on September 23^rd. Be sure to bring a change of clothes to help!

Jr. GOYA (Grades 6-8)

Join us on September 22nd at the Vekiarides house from 6-8pm for our first Jr. GOYA night. We will have dinner and a discussion with Fr. Vinnie. Please RSVP to Fr. Vinnie or Renee (rvekiarides@321foundation.org). Also, make sure to bring a change of clothes to church on September 23rd for the GOYA Car Wash!

60TH ANNIVERSARY RESEARCH PROJECT HELP

In celebration of its 60th anniversary, St. Demetrios is preparing an online, multi-media version of its history. In the next few months we’ll be seeking historical information from parishioners and we’ll be conducting interviews with long-time church members. We are looking for five HS seniors and/or college students with a serious interest in history or journalism to do interviews and collect materials. The selected students will receive training and equipment. Students will earn a stipend for each assignment completed. Send a brief resume and letter to Dr. Manny Paraschos at the church office by Sept. 28. Access to transportation is essential. For more information contact manoparas@gmail.com.

ST. DEMETRIOS DIRECTORY

As part of our 60th Anniversary activities, we will be publishing an updated membership directory. We will be reaching out to you for confirmation of the accuracy of your contact information (address, phone number, email etc.)

There will alo be an opportunity, as in the past, for business and underwriter support.

More information will be forthcoming. Feel free to contact Georgia Gefteas with any questions– 781-431-7479

SPONSORING FELLOWSHIP HOUR

The calendar is open for any one wishing to sponsor coffee hour this coming year. If you are interested please contact Pam Brody at 781-864-6427.

BASILE PERFORMANCE

Tickets to see Basile the comedian on October 20th are selling fast! For tickets or to reserve a table please make your reservation as soon as possible by contacting Pam Brody at 781 864–5327 or brodster52@yahoo.com

APPEAL– CAR DONATION NEEDED

If you or anyone you know has a working car that is no longer needed consider donating it to the church for a seminarian in need. For more information contact the church office.

ST. DEMETRIOS 60TH ANNIVERSARY

2019 marks the 60th Anniversary of our St. Demetrios Community. A committee co-chaired by Peter and Stephen
Condakes has begun to think about ways to celebrate this milestone. Soon they will share some events and ways that we can all participate as we mark this joyous jubilee year of our Church. We hope our entire community will come together as one family in thanking God for our beloved St. Demetrios.

PHILOPTOCHOS

Thank you to our wonderful St. Demetrios Community who have generously donated to the Panagia Icon Fund. We are nearing our goal and there is still time to donate. For those who haven't donated please prayerfully consider a donation.Thank you again for your generosity and love.

USHERING GUIDELINES

As the Church School year comes to a start, we ask that everyone assist us by waiting patiently in your seats for the children to receive Holy Communion first so that they may get to their classes.
In order to facilitate this process as efficiently as possible, we ask that Church School Teachers, Children and their parents be dismissed first for communion. All other parishioners are asked to stay in their seats and wait for the ushers to dismiss their row. We appreciate your patience and your support!

ST. DEMETRIOS ORTHO-TAXI SERVICE

We miss you when you are not with us! If you need a ride to and from church consider taking the St. Demetrios Ortho-Taxi service. If you are interested call the church office (781-237-5561) by Friday at noon for Sunday Liturgy, or two days in advance for other services or events. You will receive a call from your driver to arrange pick-up times. The roundtrip fare is $5 to be donated to the Senior Guild.

SUNDAY GREETERS

We are looking for additional people to help greet/welcome our parishioners to church on Sunday mornings. All those who are interested in being a part of this wonderful program please contact Angel Hatgelakas through Marianne at the church office. Tel: 781-237-5561 or email: office@stdemetriosweston.org. Thank you.

GROUND ZERO CHURCH OF ST. NICHOLAS

To learn more about the rebuilding efforts of St. Nicholas National Shrine in New York City and how you can be a part of history please visit: www.stnicholaswtc.org.

USHERING

If you are interested in joining the Usher Team please contact Georgia Gefteas at gghome1@verizon.net or 978-973-7476.

WWW.GOARCH.ORG

The webpage of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has a great amount of resources for anyone looking to learn more about the faith. You can find the daily readings of the church, information about saints, what we believe, and prayers for any occasion. Additionally, you can stay up to date with news that affects us as Christians. Be sure to check www.goarch.org regularly!

PHILOXENIA HOUSE

Located near HCHC in Brookline, the Philoxenia House offers a home and hospitality to patients and those who accompany them while they are undergoing treatment in the Boston area. For several years a few of us visit the home twice a year to try to brighten their lives by planting flowers. This is a joy for us. For more information regarding this ministry please contact Betty Titus, 781.237.4748, or Eleanor Spiliakos, 978.443.3746.

WHAT IS THE ORTHODOX CHURCH

Being asked this during our festival a number of times — we as Orthodox Christians ought to respond:

“The Orthodox Christian Church is a worldwide body of believers who confess and worship Jesus Christ as the Son of God, as Lord and Messiah. This body has a tangible and continuous history of Christian faith and practice from the time of Christ’s Apostles. The use of the adjective ‘orthodox’ to describe the Church dates back to the earliest centuries and was applied to those Christians who maintained the tradition transmitted by Christ’s Apostles (1 Thess 2:15)”

FR. MANIKAS LIBRARY

Come and visit the Fr. Manikas Library and check out one of our many books on a variety of different topics. After Divine Liturgy, please stop by the library and see what we have to offer. See Cindi Dabrowski in the library for assistance on picking out a selection to take home and further your knowledge of our faith.

DAILY READINGS APP

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has developed and released a Daily Readings App for iOS and Android. It offers the daily Epistle and Gospel readings of the day as well as the saints that are commemorated on that day. Furthermore, it offers prayers, dates of future Feast Days and fasting guidelines.

It’s a great resource that is offered by our Archdiocese. Sign into your app store and download it today!

BE THE BEE WEBSERIES

The National Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries offers a weekly web video series on YouTube called “Be the Bee” each week a question or theme about our faith is answered in just 5 minutes! Check out this new and interesting approach to learning about our faith! Go to: www.youtube.com/user/y2am to see the entire series!

Readings and Information

Today’s Epistle Reading (II Corinthians 1:21-24;2:1-4) is found on page 86 in your Red Liturgy Book.

Today’s Gospel Reading (Matthew 22:2-14) is found on page 87 in your Red Liturgy Book.

Resurrectional Apolytikion, “To The Word” is found on page 171 in your Red Liturgy Book.

Thanksgiving prayers, for after Communion, are found on page 40 in your Red Liturgy Book.

TODAY’S USHERS: George Doukas, Captain; Arthur Stameris; Arthur Kalivas; Jack Markis; David Newkirk; Steve Damaskos; Tom Gennis, Arthur Tzouganatos.

TODAY’S MEMORIAL: there is no memorial today.

TODAY’S GREETERS: Nikki Mavrikos.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

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 the Corinthians 1:21-24; 2:1-4.

Brethren, it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has commissioned us; he has put his seal upon us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

But I call God to witness against me - it was to spare you that I refrained from coming to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith; we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. For I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

Gospel Reading

14th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 22:2-14

The Lord said this parable, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast.' But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the thoroughfares, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.' And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."

Wisdom of the Fathers

For unto Christ he would pass all on, saying, "He must increase, I must decrease;" by the Son Himself again, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you;" ... But not by words only, but also by actions did He bid them.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 69 on Matthew 22, 4th Century

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.

Apolytikion for Martyr Mammas in the Fourth Tone

Thy Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received the prize of the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Tone

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."

Saints and Feasts

September 02

Cosmas the Hermit

September 02

Mammas the Martyr

Saint Mammas was from Gangra of Paphlagonia. He was born in prison, where his parents were suffering for Christ's sake and ended their lives. He was named Mammas because, after he had long remained without speaking, he addressed his foster mother Ammia as "mamma." He contested for Christ about the year 275.

September 02

John the Abstainer, Patriarch of Constantinople

Saint John became Patriarch during the reign of Tiberius, in the year 582, governed the Church for thirteen years and five months, and reposed in peace in 595. It was during this Patriarch's reign, in the year 586, that the title "Ecumenical Patriarch," not used before this, came to be instituted.

September 02

Paul, Patriarch of Constantinople

September 02

Ammon & Aeithalas the Martyrs of Thrace

September 03

Translation of the relics of St. Nectarius the Wonderworker, Bishop of Pentopolis

September 03

Anthimus, Bishop of Nicomedea

After the death of the 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia, their Bishop Anthimus fled to a certain village to care for his remaining flock. The Emperor Maximian sent men in search of him. When they found him, he promised to show Anthimus to them, but first took them in as guests, fed them, and only then made himself known to them. Amazed at his kindness, the soldiers promised him to tell Maximian that they had not found him. But Anthimus went willingly with them, and converting them by his admonitions, baptized them on the way. He boldly confessed his Faith before Maximian, and after frightful tortures was beheaded in the year 303 or 304.

September 03

Holy Father Theoctistus and his fellow struggler Euthymius the Great

Saint Theoctistus, a monk at the Palestinian lavra of Pharan, embraced a more severe life in the wilderness with his friend Saint Euthymius the Great. They founded a monastery, of which Theoctistus was the abbot. He reposed in deep old age in 451.

September 03

Polydorus the Martyr of New Ephesus

September 03

Chariton the Martyr

September 03

Phoebe the Deaconess

September 04

Babylas the Holy Martyr

Saint Babylas was the twelfth Bishop of Antioch, being the successor of Zebinus (or Zebinas); he was beheaded during the reign of Decius, in the year 250, and at his own request was buried in the chains with which he was bound. The Emperor Gallus (reigned 351-354) built a church in his honour at Daphne, a suburb of Antioch, to put an end to the demonic oracles at the nearby temple of Apollo. When Julian the Apostate came in 362 to consult the oracle about his campaign against the Persians, the oracle (that is, the demon within it) remained dumb until at last, answering Julian's many sacrifices and supplications, it told him, "The dead prevent me from speaking." It told Julian to dig up the bones and move them. Julian, then, in the words of Saint John Chrysostom, "leaving all the other dead, moved only that Martyr." He commanded the Christians to take away Saint Babylas' bones, which they did with great solemnity and triumph. When this had been done, a thunderbolt fell from heaven destroying with fire the shrine of Apollo, which Julian did not dare rebuild. Saint John Chrysostom preached a sermon on this within a generation after.

September 04

Moses the Prophet & Godseer

The Prophet Moses-whose name means "one who draws forth," or "is drawn from," that is, from the water-was the pinnacle of the lovers of wisdom, the supremely wise lawgiver, the most ancient historian of all. He was of the tribe of Levi, the son of Amram and Jochabed (Num. 26:59). He was born in Egypt in the seventeenth century before Christ. While yet a babe of three months, he was placed in a basket made of papyrus and covered with pitch, and cast into the streams of the Nile for fear of Pharaoh's decree to the mid-wives of the Hebrews, that all the male children of the Hebrews be put to death. He was taken up from the river by Pharaoh's daughter, became her adopted son, and was reared and dwelt in the King's palace for forty years. Afterward, when he was some sixty years old, he fled to Madian, where, on Mount Horeb, he saw the vision of the burning bush. Thus he was ordained by God to lead Israel and bring it out of the land of Egypt. He led Israel through the Red Sea as it were dry land and governed the people for forty years. He wrought many signs and wonders, and wrote the first five books of the Old Testament, which are called the Pentateuch. When he reached the land of Moab, he ascended Mount Nabau, on the peak called Phasga, and there, by divine command, he reposed in the sixteenth century before Christ, having lived for some 120 years. The first two Odes of the Old Testament, "Let us sing to the Lord" and "Attend, O heaven, and I will speak," were written by him. Of these hymns, the first was chanted by the shore of the Red Sea as soon as the Israelites had crossed it; the second, in the land of Moab, a few days before his repose. The Holy High Priest Aaron was the elder brother of the Holy Prophet Moses. He was appointed by God to serve as the spokesman of Moses before the people, and also before Pharaoh, in Egypt. Afterwards, in the wilderness, he was called to the ministry of the high priesthood, as narrated in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers in the Old Testament. The name Aaron means "enlightened."

September 04

Our Righteous Father Anthimus of Coroucle in Cephallenia

September 04

Hermione the Martyr, daughter of St. Philip the Deacon

September 04

Anthimos the new ascetic

September 05

Holy Prophet Zacharias, Father of the Venerable Forerunner

According to the opinion of many Fathers of the Church, based on an ancient tradition, this is the Zacharias whom, as our Lord said, the Jews slew between the temple and the altar (Matt. 23:35), first, because even after the Virgin Mary gave birth, he continued to refer to her as virgin and number her among the virgins; second, because Zacharias' son John was not found during the slaughter of the Innocents, since the elderly Elizabeth had taken him and carefully hid him while he was yet an infant, in an unnamed place somewhere in the desert, where, according to the Evangelist, "the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel" (Luke 1:80). When the child was not found, his father was slain by Herod's command.

September 05

Holy Prophet Zacharias, Father of the Venerable Forerunner

September 05

Urban, Theodore, & Medimnos the Hieromartyrs and the 77 Companions at Nicomedea

September 06

The Commemoration of the Miracle Wrought by Archangel Michael in Colossae (Chonae)

The feast today in honour of the Archangel Michael commemorates the great miracle he wrought when he delivered from destruction a church and holy spring named for him. The pagans, moved by malice, sought to destroy the aforesaid church and holy spring by turning the course of two rivers against them. But the Archangel appeared and, by means of the Cross and a great earthquake that shook the entire area, diverted the waters into an underground course. Henceforth, the name of that place changed from Colossae to Chonae, which means "funnels" in Greek.

September 06

Holy Martyr Calodote

September 07

The Forefeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos

September 07

Sozon the Martyr

This holy Martyr was a shepherd in Lycaonia. Born a pagan, named Tarasius, he received holy Baptism and was renamed Sozon. Filled with zeal for the truth, he taught his countrymen to desist from the worship of idols. Once he entered the temple of Artemis in Pompeiopolis of Cilicia, cut off the golden hand of the idol, and breaking it in pieces, distributed it among the poor. When he saw that many were being unjustly punished for the theft, of his own accord he gave himself up to Maximian the Governor. He was beaten with rods until his bones were broken. According to some, he suffered martyrdom in 288; according to others, in 304.

September 07

Kassiani the Hymnographer

September 07

Euodos and Onesiphoros, Apostles of the 70

September 07

John the Wonderworker of Novgorod

September 07

John and Sergios, Bishops of Lerna

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.

September 08

Sophronios, Bishop of Iberia

September 09

Sunday before Holy Cross

September 09

The Holy & Righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna

Today, the day following the Nativity of the most holy Theotokos, we celebrate the synaxis of Saints Joachim and Anna, honouring them as her parents.

September 09

Severian the Martyr of Sebastia

Saint Severian, a senator from Sebastia, was both an illustrious man of wealth and a fearless Christian. Because he encouraged the holy Forty Martyrs of Sebastia to stand fast in their confession, he was given over to terrible torments, and received his own crown during the reign of Licinius and Lysius the Duke, about the year 315.

September 09

Theophanes the Confessor

September 09

Afterfeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos

September 09

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

St. Demetrios Calendar

Parish News and Events

Readings and Information

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Wisdom of the Fathers

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal First Tone

Apolytikion for Martyr Mammas in the Fourth Tone

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Tone

Saints and Feasts

Cosmas the Hermit

Mammas the Martyr

John the Abstainer, Patriarch of Constantinople

Paul, Patriarch of Constantinople

Ammon & Aeithalas the Martyrs of Thrace

Translation of the relics of St. Nectarius the Wonderworker, Bishop of Pentopolis

Anthimus, Bishop of Nicomedea

Holy Father Theoctistus and his fellow struggler Euthymius the Great

Polydorus the Martyr of New Ephesus

Chariton the Martyr

Phoebe the Deaconess

Babylas the Holy Martyr

Moses the Prophet & Godseer

Our Righteous Father Anthimus of Coroucle in Cephallenia

Hermione the Martyr, daughter of St. Philip the Deacon

Anthimos the new ascetic

Holy Prophet Zacharias, Father of the Venerable Forerunner

Holy Prophet Zacharias, Father of the Venerable Forerunner

Urban, Theodore, & Medimnos the Hieromartyrs and the 77 Companions at Nicomedea

The Commemoration of the Miracle Wrought by Archangel Michael in Colossae (Chonae)

Holy Martyr Calodote

The Forefeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos

Sozon the Martyr

Kassiani the Hymnographer

Euodos and Onesiphoros, Apostles of the 70

John the Wonderworker of Novgorod

John and Sergios, Bishops of Lerna

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

Sophronios, Bishop of Iberia

Sunday before Holy Cross

The Holy & Righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna

Severian the Martyr of Sebastia

Theophanes the Confessor

Afterfeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos

Memory of the Third Holy Ecumenical Council in Ephesus