Publish-header
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2018-10-14
Bulletin Contents
Allsaint
Organization Icon
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (781) 237-5561
  • Fax:
  • (781) 237-8612
  • Street Address:

  • 57 Brown Street

  • Weston, MA 02493


Contact Information








Services Schedule

Matins Sunday - 8:30 a.m. Weekdays - 9:00 a.m.

Liturgy Sunday - 9:30 a.m. Weekdays - 9:30 a.m.


Past Bulletins


St. Demetrios Calendar

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council, October 14
- Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 8:30 am

- Church School

- Church School Staff Meeting
- Greek Dancing, 12 pm

TUESDAY, October 16

- Greek School, 4 pm

- Byzantine Chant, 7 pm

THURSDAY, October 18

St. Luke the Evangelist

- Orthros and Divine Liturgy, 9 am

- Senior Guild Luncheon

FRIDAY. October 19

- Altar Servers Meeting, 6:30 pm

SATURDAY. October 20

- Hellenic Nursing Home, 2 pm
- Basile the Comedian Event, 7 pm

6TH SUNDAY OF LUKE, October 21
- Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 8:30 am

- Church School
- Greek Dancing, 12 pm
- Jr. GOYA Apple Picking, 3 pm

 

BACK TO TOP

Parish News and Events

ST. DEMETRIOS FEASTDAY CELEBRATIONS– OCTOBER 25TH, 26TH, & 28TH

Thursday, Oct. 25th- Great Vespers at 6 pm. Clergy and faithful of the area have been invited to join us. A reception hosted by the Philoptochos will follow. Bakers are needed to make Greek pastries and other baked goods for the reception after Great Vespers on October 25th. If you would like to make something please inform  Presbytera Elaine what you will be offering.

Friday, Oct. 26th- Orthros & Divine Liturgy at 8:30 am for St. Demetrios with a light reception after.

Sunday, Oct. 29th– Orthros & Divine Liturgy 8:30 am with Metropolitan Methodios presiding. Following Liturgy is theSt. Demetrios Luncheon.

ST. DEMETRIOS INNER-CITY OUTREACH

 Volunteers are needed Tuesday, October 30th for the St. Demetrios Inner-City Outreach Team which is currently helping St. Francis House in Boston, the largest   nonsectarian day shelter in the region. Help is needed in food services and clothing distribution. Transportation is  provided. Call Peter Mitsakos at 781-899-6583 or email at tpmitsakos@comcast.net. Learn more about St. Francis House at: www.stfrancishouse.org.

Holiday Pops – Sunday, December 16, 2018

In celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the St. Demetrios Church, let us join together for an afternoon of fellowship and wonderful holiday music by attending the Holiday Pops Concert at Symphony Hall on Sunday, December 16, 3:00 p.m.  Tickets: $113.00 each – floor seats. Also, you may organize a table of five. To purchase tickets or for more information, contact Jane Kourtis at (781) 363-6636 or jkourtis@verizon.net

ALTAR SERVERS MEETING

On October 19th  there will be an altar servers meeting from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm. There will be pizza and an evening of learning and training. All altar servers are expected to
attend. Please RSVP to either Fr. Vinnie (frvincent@stdemetriosweston.org) or Chris Kourlos (kourkat1@gmail.com)

SENIOR GUILD

The next meeting of the Senior Guild is on October the 18th for St. Luke The Evangelist. We will discuss the Main Event in December. Please contact Artemis Martakis at
(508) 785- 0045 with any questions. Thank you and the Senior Guild hopes to see you there! 

PHILOPTOCHOS

Women’s retreat at Hellenic College Holy Cross November 3rd from 9 am-4 pm with Presbytera Maria Drossos "But one thing is needed..."  Luke 10:42 Agape donation of $35 includes lunch. To RSVP or for more information contact Nikki at nstournaras@gmail.com

Catering for the holidays- Thanksgiving and Christmas- or any time of the year 

Philoptochos is delighted when parishioners take advantage of our St. Christine's Catering Program. We ask that you please place your orders two weeks ahead of time before to assure delivery of pastry. Please go to our St. Demetrios Website under Philoptochos and menu will be there. Thanks again for using our Philoptochos catering for the holidays.

ST. DEMETRIOS BOOKSTORE

The St. Demetrios Bookstore is open to greet the new ecclesiastical year. Take a few moments to stop by and check out our new arrivals. There are inspirational books in Greek and English for adults and children. There are also St. Demetrios crosses in gold and silver, icons, prayer bracelets, and prosfora seals from the Holy Land all suitable gifts.

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. 

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.

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.

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! 

BACK TO TOP

Readings and Information

Today’s Epistle Reading (Titus 3:8-15) is not found on in your Red Liturgy Book.

Today’s Gospel Reading (Luke 8:5-15) is found on page 99 in your Red Liturgy Book.

Resurrectional Apolytikion, “Let the Heavens”  is found on page 170 in your Red Liturgy Book.

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

TODAY’S USHERS: Georgia Gefteas, Captain; Mark Gefteas; Perry Zois; Chris Pappas; Maria Tatakis; Van Spiros;

Carolyn Spiros; Mike Krone.

TODAY’S MEMORIAL: 1 year for Rose Ballas Katsenes.

TODAY’S FELLOWSHIP HOUR: fellowship hour is graciously hosted by Effie Grontzos, Anna Ioannou, and
Andrea Katsenes in memory of her mother, Rose.

TODAY’S GREETERS: Vaios Papadimitriou.

 

BACK TO TOP

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 3:8-15.

Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.

When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.

All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
The Reading is from Luke 8:5-15

The Lord said this parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold." And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience." As he said these things, he cried out "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."


BACK TO TOP

Wisdom of the Fathers

For by seed here He means His doctrine, and by land, the souls of men, and by the sower, Himself .... For as the sower makes no distinction in the land submitted to him, but simply and indifferently casts his seed; so He Himself too makes no distinction of rich and poor, of wise and unwise, of slothful or diligent, of brave or cowardly; but He discourses unto all, fulfilling His part, although foreknowing the results.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 44 on Matthew 12, 4th Century

When you see life's pleasures, beware that they might not distract you, for they conceal death's snares. Likewise a fisherman casts not his hook to no purpose. As bait for his hook, the enemy uses the delusion of sensuality to arouse desire, that he might thereby catch men's souls and subject them to himself. A soul which has been caught to serve the enemy's will then serves as a snare for other souls, for it conceals the grief of sin with its apparent delight.
St. Ephraim the Syrian
A Spiritual Psalter no 43, pg. 74, 4th century

BACK TO TOP

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Tone

Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world.

Apolytikion for Sun. of the 7th Ecumenical Council in the Plagal Fourth Tone

Most glorified art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast established our Fathers as luminous stars upon the earth, and through them didst guide us all to the true Faith. O Most Merciful One, glory be to Thee.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Tone

O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

October 14

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council

On the Sunday that falls on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we chant the Service to the 350 holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which gathered in Nicaea in 787 under the holy Patriarch Tarasius and during the reign of the Empress Irene and her son, Constantine Porphyrogenitus, to refute the Iconoclast heresy, which had received imperial support beginning with the Edict issued in 726 by Emperor Leo the Isaurian. Many of the holy Fathers who condemned Iconoclasm at this holy Council later died as Confessors and Martyrs for the holy Icons during the second assult of Iconoclasm in the ninth century, especially during the reigns of Leo the Armenian and Theophilus.


October 14

Righteous Paraskeve of Serbia

Saint Paraskeve was born in Thrace in the eleventh century. In her youth she went to Constaninople, and thence journeyed to the Holy Land in pursuit of the ascetical life. After struggling for many years in the wilderness of the Jordan, she was moved by God to return to her homeland. She continued her monastic labours there for a few more years, and then reposed in peace.


October 14

Praised Ignatius, Archbishop of Methymna


October 14

Nazarius, Gervasius, Protasius, & Celsus of Milan

The holy Martyrs all contested for piety's sake in Milan; after the passage of much time their holy relics were discovered and given honourable burial by Saint Ambrose.


Cosmashymnographer
October 14

Cosmas the Hagiopolite

Saint Cosmas was from the Holy City, Jerusalem, and was a contemporary and peer of Saint John of Damascus (Dec. 4), with whom also he was reared when, because of his orphanhood he was adopted by Sergius, Saint John's father, and with whom he had the same instructor. About the year 743, he was elected Bishop of Maiuma, a coastal city of Palestine, aforetime under the jurisdiction of Gaza, with the name Port Gaza. During the reign of Saint Constantine the Great, it became a separate township and at that time was renamed Constantia, after Constantine, the son of the Emperor (see Sozomen, Eccl. Hist., V:3). Cosmas became an excellent hymnographer, from whence he is called "the Composer and Melodist," Among his many compositions are the Canon of the Cross (Sept. 14) and the Canon for the Nativity of Christ, "Christ is born, give ye glory."


October 15

Lucian the Martyr of Antioch

This Saint was from Samosata, the son of pious parents. He established a catechetical school in Antioch, and taught the correct doctrines of the Faith and made clear the parts of the divine Scriptures that were difficult to understand. He edited the Old Testament translation from the Hebrew tongue, and published it in an excellent edition, free from every heretical corruption and interpolation. He travelled to Nicomedia to strengthen the faithful there in their contests for Christ, and was accused before Maximinus, with whom he conversed openly. When he had made a defence of the Christian Faith, he was condemned to imprisonment where, in 311, he died of hunger and thirst.


October 15

Euthymios the New


October 15

Barsus the Confessor


October 15

Savinos the Bishop of Catania


04_crucifixion
October 16

Longinus the Centurion

This Martyr was in the service of Pontius Pilate at the time of Christ our Saviour's Passion. While standing guard at the Cross and beholding the earthquake and all that came to pass, he cried out with fear, "Truly this was the Son of God" (Matt. 27:54). After the Resurrection, he forsook the military and departed for Cappadocia, his homeland, where he preached Christ. By the agency of Pontius Pilate, Tiberius Caesar had him arrested and beheaded.


October 16

The Two Soldiers martyred with Saint Longinus


October 17

Hosea the Prophet

According to some, Hosea, whose name means "God is help," was from the tribe of Issachar, or more likely, from that of Reuben; he was the son of Beeri. He is the first in order of the twelve minor Prophets and the most ancient of all. He prophesied in the days of the divided Kingdom; the Lord told him to take a harlot to wife (Hosea 1:2), and then an adulteress (ibid., 3:1). The harlot, a known sinner, was a figure of the Kingdom of Israel in Samaria, which openly worshipped idols; the adulteress, lawfully married yet sinning secretly with her lovers, was a figure of the Kingdom of Judah in Jerusalem, which, while having the Temple, and the priesthood, and the divine worship according to the Law, stealthily served the idols also. The Prophet Hosea prophesied for sixty years, and lived for some ninety years, from 810 to 720 B.C. His book is divided into fourteen chapters.


Lukeevng
October 18

Luke the Evangelist

This Apostle was an Antiochean, a physician by trade, and a disciple and companion of Paul. He wrote his Gospel in Greek after Matthew and Mark, after which he wrote the Acts of the Apostles, and dedicated both works to Theophilus, who, according to some, was Governor of Achaia. He lived some eighty-six years and died in Achaia, perhaps in Patras, the capital of this district. His emblem is the calf, the third symbolical beast mentioned by Ezekiel (1:10), which is a symbol of Christ's sacrificial and priestly office, as Saint Irenaeus says.


October 17

Holy Martyrs Cosmas and Damian of Arabia


October 17

Andrew the Righteous Monk-martyr of Crete

Saint Andrew was from the island of Crete, where he lived the monastic life. During the reign of Constantine Copronymus, he came to Constantinople and suffered many things in defence of the veneration of the holy icons. Finally, he was dragged through the market, bound by the feet, one of which was severed by a fishmonger wielding a cleaver, and thus the Saint surrendered his spirit unto God in the year 761. His sacred relics were buried at a certain place called "The Judgment."


October 17

Removal and Placing of the Sacred Relics of the Holy and Righteous Lazarus


October 18

Marinos the Martyr


October 19

Joel the Prophet

The Prophet Joel, whose name means "Yah is God," was of the tribe of Reuben, the son of Bathuel, and lived from 810 to 750 B.C. (but some say in the 7th century B.C.). His book is divided into three chapters, and is the second in order of the minor Prophets. He foretold the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Joel 2:28, and quoted by the Apostle Peter in Acts 2:17), and the saving power of the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Joel 2:32).


October 19

Varys the Martyr

Saint Varys contested for the sake of Christ during the reign of Maximian, in the year 304. He was a soldier in the service of the Emperor Maximian, and held in honour for his courage. While in Egypt, he visited the Christians held in prison and comforted them. Among them, he visited seven monks imprisoned together; when one of them died from his torments, Saint Varys took his place. When this became known to the governor, Saint Varys was arrested and tortured to death.


Johnrila
October 19

John of Rilas

Saint John of Rilas founded the renowned monastery of that name in Bulgaria in the tenth century. Over the centuries, great and wondrous healings have flowed from his holy relics.


October 19

Felix the Hieromartyr & Eusebius the Deacon


October 19

John the Wonderworker of Kronstadt

Saint John of Kronstadt was a married priest, who lived with his wife in virginity. Through his untiring labours in his priestly duties and love for the poor and sinners, he was granted by our Lord great gifts of clairvoyance and miracle-working, to such a degree that in the last years of his life miracles of healing--both of body and soul--were performed countless times each day through his prayers, often for people who had only written to him asking his help. During his lifetime he was known throughout Russia, as well as in the Western world. He has left us his diary My Life in Christ as a spiritual treasure for Christians of every age; simple in language, it expounds the deepest mysteries of our Faith with that wisdom which is given only to a heart purified by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Foreseeing as a true prophet the Revolution of 1917, he unsparingly rebuked the growing apostasy among the people; he foretold that the very name of Russia would be changed. As the darkness of unbelief grew thicker, he shone forth as a beacon of unquenchable piety, comforting the faithful through the many miracles that he worked and the fatherly love and simplicity with which he received all. Saint John reposed in peace in 1908.


Artemios
October 20

Artemius the Great Martyr of Antioch

Saint Artemius lived during the years of Saint Constantine the Great, and was appointed by him to be Governor of Alexandria; later, he was honoured with the rank of patrician. During the reign of Julian the Apostate, in the year 361, Artemius appeared before the Emperor and censured him for his apostasy. For this, he endured many torments and was finally beheaded.


October 20

Matrona the Righteous of Chios


Gerasimoskephalania
October 20

Gerasimus of Cephalonia

Saint Gerasimus was from the Peloponnesus, the son of Demetrius and Kale, of the family of Notaras. He was reared in piety by them and studied the Sacred writings. He left his country and went throughout various lands, and finally came to Cephalonia, where he restored a certain old church and built a convent around it, where it stands to this day at the place called Omala. He finished the course of his life there in asceticism in the year 1570. His sacred relics, which remain incorrupt, are kept there for the sanctification of the faithful.


October 20

Andronicus the Righteous Martyr


Gadarene
October 21

6th Sunday of Luke


October 21

Hilarion the Great

This Saint was born at Tabatha, near Gaza in Palestine, of pagan parents. Sent as a young man to Alexandria to be educated, he learned the Christian Faith and was baptized. While in Egypt he heard the fame of Saint Anthony the Great, and upon meeting that truly great man, the Father of monks, Saint Hilarion determined to devote himself also to the ascetical life. He returned to Gaza, when, he gave himself over to extreme fasting and unceasing prayer. Because of the miracles which he soon began to work, he found himself compelled by his growing renown to leave Gaza, to escape from the throngs of people coming to ask his prayers. In his journeys he visited Egypt, and came again with longing to the place where Saint Anthony had lived; but he was not able to remain in any one place for long, since despite all his attempts to conceal himself, the light of the grace that was in him could not be hid. After passing through Egypt and Libya, and sailing to Sicily, he came at last to Cyprus, where he ended the course of his life at the age of eighty, in the year 372.


Christodulos
October 21

Our Righteous Father Christodoulus, the Wonderworker of Patmos


October 21

Martyrs Theodote and Socrates


October 21

John the New Martyr of Peleponnesos


October 21

Righteous Philotheus


BACK TO TOP

BACK TO TOP