November 18
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2018-11-18
Bulletin Contents
St. Demetrios Calendar
Parish News and Events
Readings and Information
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Message from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (781) 237-5561
- Fax:
- (781) 237-8612
- Email:
- office@stdemetriosweston.org
- 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
- Publish Date:
- 2018-11-11
- Publish Date:
- 2018-11-04
- Publish Date:
- 2018-10-28
- Publish Date:
- 2018-10-21
- Publish Date:
- 2018-10-14
- Publish Date:
- 2018-10-07
St. Demetrios Calendar
9TH SUNDAY OF LUKE, November 18
- Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 8:30 am
- Church School
- Gyro Sunday
- General Assembly
- Greek Dancing
- GOYA Blue vs Navy/Girls Basketball Game, 3 pm/4 pm
TUESDAY, November 20
- Greek School, 4 pm
- JOY Basketball Practice, 7:30 pm
WEDNESDAY, November 21
Presentation of the Theotokos
- Divine Liturgy, 6 pm
THURSDAY, November 22
Thanksgiving
- Church Offices Closed
FRIDAY, November 23
- Church Offices Closed
13TH SUNDAY OF LUKE, November 25
- Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 8:30 am
- Church School
Parish News and Events
Christmas Caroling – Saturday, December 15
Please join the St. Demetrios Choir to visit homebound parishioners and bring Christmas cheer and song. Contact Genie Leussis (617) 869-5744/genieleu@gmail.com or Mary Leussis (631) 356-5895/mleussis@yahoo.com to participate. All Parishioners are welcome! Let’s celebrate the season together!
2019 GOYA SUMMER SERVICE TRIP
Planning for the 2019 GOYA Summer Service trip has begun. Our GOYAns & families will decide between the YOCAMA trip to the Navajo Nation in Gallup, New Mexico, July 6-13, or the IOCC Home Build Program in St. Augustine, FL or Houston, TX, August 5-10. Initial fundraising for the Trip begins this Saturday, November 10. Christmas Tree Ornaments will be sold during Saturday Basketball Games in the Church Hall. Please contact Georgia Argyrople for more information or questions at Georgia-argyrople@comcast.net.
ST. DEMETRIOS INNER-CITY OUTREACH
Volunteers are needed Tuesday, November 27 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. Transportation is provided. Call Peter Mitsakos at 781-899-6583 or email at tpmitsakos@comcast.net.
ST. NICHOLAS GIVING TREE
This year our parish will mark the 17th Annual St. Nicholas Giving Tree. Each year we open our hearts to the neediest children in our own area during the holiday season. On Sundays- November 18th, 25th and December 2nd the names and “wish lists” of children, all ages, under the care of the Mass. Dept. of Children and Families will be available for your family to sponsor. For questions contact Nancy Agris Savage at 508- 652-9020 or nancyasavage@gmail.com.
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORKING EVENT
Save the Date: As part of the 60th Anniversary celebration, join the Young Professionals for a reunion and networking event at the Back Bay Social Club in Boston on Thursday, December 6, 6-9pm.
Invitation to follow with ticket and parking details. For more information, contact Lee Condakes (esc793@gmail.com), Evangeline Condakes (evangeline.condakes@gmail.com), or Vanessa Theoharis (or vtheoharis@gmail.com). Event proceeds will benefit the Neighbor Brigade, in memory of our beloved Parishioner, Pamela Washek.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
This Sunday, November 18th there will be a Parish General Assembly meeting following the Divine Liturgy. It is important that our stewards are present so that we may reach quorum. Please make every effort to attend.
VETERANS NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER DRIVE
This year the St. Demetrios Philoptochos is seeking dona-tions in memory of 2nd Lt. Ian Thomas McVey, USMC. There are two opportunities to assist Veterans in need. Thanksgiving Meal Program, which provides a full Thanks-giving meal to a veteran’s family, and Operation Housewarming Project, which provide housewarming bas-kets to veterans transitioning to independent living. For a complete list check out the Vine or the bulletin board flyer. Donations needed by Sunday, November 18th For questions contact Chris or Eugenia Kourlos at 508-735-8866 or kourkat@comcast.net.
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
PHILOPTOCHOS
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!
Readings and Information
Today’s Epistle Reading (Ephesians 4:1-7) is found on page 106 in your Red Liturgy Book.
Today’s Gospel Reading (Luke 12:16-21) is found on page 108 in your Red Liturgy Book.
Resurrectional Apolytikion, “From On High” is found on page 172 in your Red Liturgy Book.
Thanksgiving prayers, for after Communion, are found on page 40 in your Red Liturgy Book.
TODAY’S USHERS: Chris Pashos, Captain; George Gatzunis; Steve Sotir; Dean Coclin; Linda Theoharis; Gina Pagonis ; Tom Gatzunis; Laz Vekiarides; Nick Mitrokostas.
TODAY’S MEMORIAL: 40 days for Alexandros Parados; 6 months for Kristalia Zaifides; 1 year George Makris
TODAY’S FELLOWSHIP HOUR: is graciously hosted by the George Makris Family and Elly Parodos & Kyriaki Stefano in memory of AlexandrosParodros.
TODAY’S GREETERS: Cindi Dabrowski.
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Tone. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 4:1-7.
Brethren, I, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
Gospel Reading
9th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 12:16-21
The Lord said this parable: "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." As he said these things, he cried out: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
Wisdom of the Fathers
I cannot be silent about the story of Hesychius the Horebite. He passed his life in complete negligence, without paying the least attention to his soul. Then he became extremely ill, and for an hour he left his body.
Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century
And when he came to himself, he begged us all to leave him immediately. And he built up the door of his cell, and he stayed in it for twelve years without ever uttering a word to anyone, and without eating anything but bread and water.
Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Tone
From on high didst Thou descend, O Compassionate One; to burial of three days hast Thou submitted that Thou mightest free us from our passions. O our Life and Resurrection, Lord, glory be to Thee.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Apolytikion for Great Martyr Plato in the Fourth Tone
Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Apolytikion for St. Demetrios in the Third Tone
The world has found in you a great champion in time of peril, as you emerged the victor in routing the barbarians. For as you brought to naught the boasts of Lyaios, imparting courage to Nestor in the stadium, in like manner, holy one, great Martyr Demetrios, invoke Christ God for us, that He may grant us His great mercy.
Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
Today, the most pure temple of the Savior, the precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the sacred treasure of God, enters the house of the Lord, bringing the grace of the Divine Spirit. The Angels of God praise her. She is the heavenly tabernacle.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press - Northridge, CA
Saints and Feasts
November 18
Martyr Romanos the Deacon
November 18
Anastasios the New Martyr
November 18
9th Sunday of Luke
November 18
Plato the Great Martyr of Ancyra
Saint Plato contested in martyrdom in 266, when Agrippinus was proconsul. He was from the city of Ancyra in the province of Galatia.
November 18
Zaccheus the Deacon
November 18
Holy Martyr Romanus
Saint Romanus, who was from Antioch, lived during the reign of Maximian. He presented himself before Asclepiades the Eparch, and rebuked him, saying, "The idols are not gods; even a little child could tell you that." Then the Saint asked that a child be brought in from the market, that he might be the judge of the matter at hand. Therefore, when the child was asked, "Which God must we worship?" he replied, "Christ." The child was beaten mercilessly and beheaded at the command of the tyrant. As for Saint Romanus, his tongue was cut out, and then he was cast into prison, where he was strangled in the year 305.
November 19
Obadiah the Prophet
The Divine Scriptures do not tell us with any certainty when the Prophet Obadiah lived nor what was his homeland. Thus, some say that he is that Obadiah who was Ahab's steward, who, because of Jezebel's wrath, hid one hundred prophets in a cave and fed them with bread and water (III Kings 18:4), and that he later became a disciple of Elias the Prophet about 903 B.C. But others surmise from the words of the same prophetical book that he is somewhat later than Joel (celebrated on Oct. 19). He is also called Obdiu, or Abdiu, or Obadiah; his name means "servant of God." His book of prophecy, which consists of only one chapter, is ranked fourth among the minor Prophets.
November 19
Martyrs Barlaam of Caesarea and Heliodorus
Saint Barlaam, who was from a certain village near Antioch in Syria, was advanced in years and a husbandman by occupation. Because of his confession of Christ, he was brought before the judge, who had him scourged with whips and then scraped with iron claws. Since this could not break his constancy, he was forcibly haled to the idols' temple, and live coals with incense were placed in his right hand. The judge thought that he would cast them down because of the pain, thus seeming to have offered a sacrifice of incense to the idols. But Saint Barlaam stood unmoving until his hand was thoroughly burned by the coals; he fell to the ground, and so gave up his soul into the hands of the Lord. He contested in martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). Saint Basil the Great and Saint John Chrysostom both gave homilies in his honour.
November 19
Anthimos, Thallalaeos, Christopher, Euphemia & her children, the Martyrs
November 19
Monday of the 10th Week
November 20
Tuesday of the 10th Week
November 20
The Forefeast of the Presentation of the Theotokos into the Temple
November 20
Gregory the Righteous of Decapolis
Saint Gregory who was from Irenopolis of the Decapolis of Asia Minor, was the son of Sergius and Mary. He became a monk as a young man, and after struggling for many years in virtue and prayer under obedience to a wise spiritual father, he was informed by revelation that it was the will of God for him to live, like the Patriarch Abraham, with no certain dwelling, moving from place to place. His journeyings took him to Ephesus, Constantinople, Corinth, Rome, Sicily, Thessalonica, and again to Constantinople, where, after many labours in defence of Orthodoxy against Iconoclasm, he reposed in peace in the first half of the ninth century. He had two disciples, one of whom was Saint Joseph the Hymnographer (see Apr. 3), who wrote the Menaion service for Saint Gregory, his father in Christ.
November 20
Proclus, Archbishop of Constantinople
Saint Proclus lived during the reign of Saint Theodosius the Younger. A disciple and scribe of Saint John Chrysostom, he was ordained Bishop of Cyzicus about the year 426, but because the people there unlawfully elected another bishop before his arrival, he remained in Constantinople. In 429, Nestorius, who had been Archbishop of Constantinople for about a year, and had already begun his blasphemous teaching that it is wrong to call the holy Virgin "Theotokos," invited Bishop Proclus to give a sermon on one of the feasts of our Lady, which he did, openly defending in Nestorius' presence the name "Theotokos," that is, "Mother of God." Saint Proclus was elevated to the throne of Archbishop of Constantinople in 434. It was he who persuaded Emperor Theodosius the Younger and his holy sister Pulcheria to have the most sacred relics of his godly teacher Saint John Chrysostom brought back from Comana, and triumphantly received them upon their return to the imperial city (see Jan. 27 and Nov. 13). He reposed in peace in 447.
November 21
The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
According to the tradition of the Church, the Theotokos was brought to the Temple at three years of age, where she was consecrated to God and spent her days until she was fourteen or fifteen years old; and then, as a mature maiden, by the common counsel of the priests (since her parents had reposed some three years before), she was betrothed to Joseph.
November 22
Thursday of the 10th Week
November 22
Archippus the Apostle, Philemon the Apostle & his wife, Apphia, Onesimos the Disciple of Paul
Philemon, who was from Colossae, a city of Phrygia, was a man both wealthy and noble; Apphia was his wife. Archippus became Bishop of the Church in Colossae. All three were disciples of the Apostle Paul. Onesimus, who was formerly an unbeliever and slave of Philemon, stole certain of his vessels and fled to Rome. However, on finding him there, the Apostle Paul guided him onto the path of virtue and the knowledge of the truth, and sent him back to his master Philemon, to whom he wrote an epistle (this is one of the fourteen epistles of Saint Paul). In this epistle, Paul commended Onesimus to his master and reconciled the two. Onesimus was later made a bishop; in Greece he is honoured as the patron Saint of the imprisoned. All these Saints received their end by martyrdom, when they were stoned to death by the idolaters. Saint Onesimus is also commemorated on February 15.
November 22
Holy Martyr Cecilia and those with her
Saint Cecilia was of an illustrious Roman family. On being betrothed to Valerian, she drew him to the Faith of Christ, and he in turn drew his own brother Tiburtius to the same. They contested in martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian, in the year 288.
November 22
Afterfeast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple
November 22
Kallistos Xanthopoulos, Patriarch of Constantinople
November 22
Anthimos, President of Crete
November 23
Friday of the 10th Week
November 23
Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium
Saint Amphilochius, who was born in Cappadocia, shone forth in asceticism and divine knowledge even from his youth. He was consecrated Bishop of Iconium in 341, he struggled courageously against the blasphemies of Eunomius, Macedonius the enemy of the Holy Spirit, and the followers of Arius. He was present at the Second Ecumenical Council of the 150 Fathers, which took place in Constantinople, convoked during the reign of Theodosius the Great in the year 381. In 383 Amphilochius wished to persuade the Emperor Theodosius to forbid the Arians from gathering in Constantinople and to commit the churches to the Orthodox, but the Emperor was reluctant to do such a thing. The next time that Amphilochius entered the palace, he addressed Theodosius with proper honour, but slighted his young son Arcadius in his presence. Theodosius was indignant, and said the dishonour shown to his son was equally an insult to himself. To this Saint Amphilochius answered that as he would not suffer an insult to his son, so he ought to believe that God is wroth with those who blaspheme His Only-begotten. Saint Theodosius understood and admired Amphilochius' ingenious device, and he issued the desired edict in September of the same year. Saint Amphilochius, having reached deep old age, reposed in peace about the year 395. Saint Basil the Great wrote many letters to Saint Amphilochius, his friend and Fellow champion of the Faith, and at his request wrote his treatise On the Holy Spirit, which besides demonstrating the divinity of the Holy Spirit and His equality with the Father and the Son, defends the Church's unwritten ancient traditions, such as making the sign of the Cross, turning towards the East in prayer, no kneeling on Sunday, and so forth.
November 23
Gregory, Bishop of Agrigentum
Saint Gregory, the son of pious parents named Chariton and Theodora, was born in Agrigentum, a city of Sicily, and was great in virtue from his childhood. He was baptized, brought up, and tonsured reader by Bishop Potamion during the reign of Justinian II, in the seventh century. At the age of eighteen he made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where he was ordained deacon by Macarius, Bishop of Jerusalem. He traveled to Constantinople, and then to Rome where he was consecrated Bishop of his native Agrigentum. As Bishop of Agrigentum he worked many miracles and shone brilliantly in virtue, but also suffered many great temptation; from the priests Sabine and Crescentius, who so envied him that they slandered him to the Pope as a fornicator and had him cast into prison for two and a half years. In the end, however, he vindicated himself by casting the demon out of the woman who had falsely accused him of committing sin with her. Saint Gregory reposed in peace in deep old age.
November 23
Ischyrion, Bishop of Egypt
November 23
Afterfeast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple
November 23
Dionysios, Patriarch of Constantinople
November 23
Sisinios the Confessor
November 24
Saturday of the 10th Week
November 24
Our Holy Father Clement, Pope of Rome
Saint Clement was instructed in the Faith of Christ by the Apostle Peter. He became Bishop of Rome in the year 91, the third after the death of the Apostles. He died as a martyr about the year 100 during the reign of Trajan.
November 24
Peter, Archbishop of Alexandria
Saint Peter illustriously occupied the throne of Alexandria for twelve years, and, as Eusebius says, "was a divine example of a bishop on account of the excellence of his life and his study of the sacred Scriptures" (see Eusebius, Eccl. Hist., Book VII, 3 2; Book VIII 11, 13; and Book IX, 6). He excommunicated Arius for his sympathy with the Meletian schism. When Arius learned that Saint Peter had been imprisoned, he sent many priests and deacons to him, asking that he receive him back into the communion of the Church before his martyrdom. When the ambassadors of Arius, who had not, like Saint Peter, perceived the ruin he would engender, were astonished at the vehemence with which Saint Peter refused to receive Arius again, he revealed to them a dread vision he had seen, in which the Master Christ had appeared to him as a child wearing a garment torn from head to foot. When Saint Peter asked the Lord who rent His garment, the Lord answered that it was Arius, and that he must not be received back into communion. The holy hieromartyr Peter was beheaded during the reign of Maximinus in the year 312; he is called the "Seal of the Martyrs," because he was the last Bishop of Alexandria to suffer martyrdom under the pagan Emperors. His successors to the throne of Alexandria, Saints Alexander and Athanasius the Great, brought to final victory the battle against Arius' heresy which Saint Peter had begun.
November 24
Hermogenes, the Martyr
November 24
Afterfeast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple
November 24
Philoumenos and Christopher the Martyrs
November 25
13th Sunday of Luke
November 25
Apodosis of the Presentation of the Theotokos into the Temple
November 25
Catherine the Great Martyr of Alexandria
Saint Catherine, who was from Alexandria, was the daughter of Constas (or Cestus). She was an exceedingly beautiful maiden, most chaste, and illustrious in wealth, lineage, and learning. By her steadfast understanding, she utterly vanquished the passionate and unbridled soul of Maximinus, the tyrant of Alexandria; and by her eloquence, she stopped the mouths of the so-called philosophers who had been gathered to dispute with her. She was crowned with the crown of martyrdom in the year 305. Her holy relics were taken by Angels to the holy mountain of Sinai, where they were discovered many years later; the famous monastery of Saint Catherine was originally dedicated to the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord and the Burning Bush, but later was dedicated to Saint Catherine. According to the ancient usage, Saints Catherine and Mercurius were celebrated on the 24th of this month, whereas the holy Hieromartyrs Clement of Rome and Peter of Alexandria were celebrated on the 25th. The dates of the feasts of these Saints were interchanged at the request of the Church and Monastery of Mount Sinai, so that the festival of Saint Catherine, their patron, might be celebrated more festively together with the Apodosis of the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos. The Slavic Churches, however, commemorate these Saints on their original dates.
November 25
Mercurius the Great Martyr of Caesarea in Cappadocia
Saint Mercurius came from Cappadocia, and was the son of Gordian, a Scythian. A young man, and a soldier of high rank, he refused to offer sacrifice to the idols, and after torments was beheaded during the reign of Valerian (253-260).