St. Demetrios Calendar

SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY, March 17
- Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 8:30 am
- Church School
- Greek Dancing, 12 pm
- HOPE/JOY Event, 12 pm

MONDAY, March 18
- Great Compline, 6 pm
- The Book of Hebrews Orthodox Life Series, following Compline

TUESDAY, March 19
- Greek School, 4 pm

WEDNESDAY, March 20
- Prayer Shawl Ministry, 1 pm
- Presanctified Divine Liturgy AT Cathedral Chapel in Brookline, 6 pm

FRIDAY, March 22
- Day 1 of Philoptochos Retreat
- Salutations to the Theotokos, 7 pm

SATURDAY, March 23
- Day 2 Philoptochos Retreat
- GOYA Meeting, 7 pm

SUNDAY OF St. GREGORY PALAMAS, March 24
- Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 8:30 am
- Church School
- Greek School Independence Day Program
- Greek Dancing Program

Parish News and Events

LENTEN ORTHODOX LIFE SERIES

Lent is a time to learn and strengthen our faith. The book of Hebrews is the book that we hear during Sunday Services during Lent. Dr. James Skedros will lead a study of Hebrews and discussion. Please join us every Monday for the Compline service at 6 pm followed by the study of Hebrews. All are welcome!

ST. DEMETRIOS INNER-CITY OUTREACH

Volunteers are needed Thursday, March 28th 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.

PHILOPTOCHOS WOMEN’S RETREAT

Join Philoptochos on Friday, March 22th and Saturday, March 23th in Contoocook, NH at the St. Methodios Retreat Center for a women’s retreat, The Kingdom of God Is Within You. If you are interested in attending contact Presbytera Elaine or Nikki Stournaras.

SAVE THESE DATES

Friday, March 22—Saturday, March 23 – Philoptochos Women’s Retreat

Saturday, April 6 - St. Demetrios Parish Retreat

Sunday, May 19 - Rachmaninoff Choir Concert, Anthony Antolini, Professor at Bowdoin College, Conductor

Saturday, June 15 - Family Day (details to follow)

Saturday, September 28 - Alkistis Protopsaltis Concert, Sanders Theatre, Cambridge. Details to follow.

Saturday, November 2 - Saint Demetrios Gala Dinner Dance, Westin Hotel in Waltham

BOTTLE CAP FUNDRAISER

Throughout Great Lent we will be collecting plastic bottle caps. For every cubic meter of bottle caps collected a wheelchair will be donated to a child in need. There will be boxes throughout the church for collections.

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE– 2020

A number of parishioners have asked if we will be planning a trip back to the Holy Land. Since such trips take a long time to plan and secure accommodations we are thinking of a pilgrimage in February of 2020. This time frame allows for best accommodations, pricing and planning. If interested or just have questions please speak with Fr. Nick or call the office. Thank you.

SPONSORING FLOWERS

If you would like to sponsor altar flowers in memory of loved ones or in honor of a special occasion please contact the church office for more details on available dates.

Please consider sponsoring the flowers that adorn the icon of the Theotokos for the Salutations service. If you are interested please contact the church office.

SENIOR GUILD

The next Senior Guild meeting will be on March 25th (The Annunciation) following Divine Liturgy. Make sure to wear your blue and white! We are planning a Newport Rail Tour in Newport, RI on June 20th. We hope you can join us! 40 people are needed to attend this event. More details and the price will be determined in the coming weeks. If you have questions contact Artemis Martakis at 508-785-0045. The Senior Guild hopes to see you there!

60TH ANNIVERSARY EVENTS

The 60th Anniversary Committee continues to organize several events to celebrate this special milestone of our
beloved Church. Thus far, the Welcome Back BBQ, the Young Adult Event, Holiday at Pops and singing carols to the Seniors from our Parish, are just a small sample of community fellowship involving parishioners from the past and present.

We need your help in chairing and working on the many events that are planned for 2019. Please contact Peter Condakes at 617-571-8540 or Stephen Condakes at 781-235-8429 if you are interested in participating. Don't forget to mark your calendars Saturday, November 2 for the Saint Demetrios 60th Anniversary Gala at the Westin-Waltham!

Saturday, April 6 - St. Demetrios Parish Retreat

Sunday, May 19 - Rachmaninoff Choir Concert, Anthony Antolini, Professor at Bowdoin College, Conductor

Saturday, June 15 - Family Day (details to follow)

Saturday, September 28 - Alkistis Protopsaltis Concert, Sanders Theatre, Cambridge

Saturday, November 2 - Saint Demetrios Gala Dinner Dance, Westin Waltham

HOMEBOUND VISITATION
Our clergy along with our Philoptochos will be visitinghomebound parishioners over the next few weeks. If someone you know would appreciate a visit, please contact the church office.

ST. DEMETRIOS BOOKSTORE

Take a few moments to stop by and check out our new arrivals such as: Parenting Toward the Kingdom by Dr. Philip Mamalakis of the HC/HC School of Theology. This book will help you make connections between the spiritual life of the Orthodox Church and the ongoing challenges of raising children. Another new arrival is St. Demetrios Children’s Book, including a CD. There are inspirational books in English and Greek for adults and children and also St. Demetrios crosses in gold and silver, icons, prayer bracelets, and prosforo seals from the Holy Land all suitable gifts.

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.

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!

Saints and Feasts

March 17

Patrick, Enlightener of Ireland

Saint Patrick, the Apostle of the Irish, was seized from his native Britain by Irish marauders when he was sixteen years old. Though the son of a deacon and a grandson of a priest, it was not until his captivity that he sought out the Lord with his whole heart. In his Confession, the testament he wrote towards the end of his life, he says, "After I came to Ireland - every day I had to tend sheep, and many times a day I prayed - the love of God and His fear came to me more and more, and my faith was strengthened. And my spirit was so moved that in a single day I would say as many as a hundred prayers, and almost as many at night, and this even when I was staying in the woods and on the mountain; and I would rise for prayer before daylight, through snow, through frost, through rain, and I felt no harm." After six years of slavery in Ireland, he was guided by God to make his escape, and afterwards struggled in the monastic life at Auxerre in Gaul, under the guidance of the holy Bishop Germanus. Many years later he was ordained bishop and sent to Ireland once again, about the year 432, to convert the Irish to Christ. His arduous labours bore so much fruit that within seven years, three bishops were sent from Gaul to help him shepherd his flock, "my brethren and sons whom I have baptized in the Lord - so many thousands of people," he says in his Confession. His apostolic work was not accomplished without much "weariness and painfulness," long journeys through difficult country, and many perils; he says his very life was in danger twelve times. When he came to Ireland as its enlightener, it was a pagan country; when he ended his earthly life some thirty years later, about 461, the Faith of Christ was established in every corner.

March 17

Sunday of Orthodoxy

For more than one hundred years the Church of Christ was troubled by the persecution of the Iconoclasts of evil belief, beginning in the reign of Leo the Isaurian (717-741) and ending in the reign of Theophilus (829-842). After Theophilus's death, his widow the Empress Theodora (celebrated Feb. 11), together with the Patriarch Methodius (June 14), established Orthodoxy anew. This ever-memorable Queen venerated the icon of the Mother of God in the presence of the Patriarch Methodius and the other confessors and righteous men, and openly cried out these holy words: "If anyone does not offer relative worship to the holy icons, not adoring them as though they were gods, but venerating them out of love as images of the archetype, let him be anathema." Then with common prayer and fasting during the whole first week of the Forty-day Fast, she asked God's forgiveness for her husband. After this, on the first Sunday of the Fast, she and her son, Michael the Emperor, made a procession with all the clergy and people and restored the holy icons, and again adorned the Church of Christ with them. This is the holy deed that all we the Orthodox commemorate today, and we call this radiant and venerable day the Sunday of Orthodoxy, that is, the triumph of true doctrine over heresy.

March 17

Marinos the Martyr

March 17

Theocteristos the Confessor

March 17

Alexis the Man of God

Saint Alexis was born in old Rome of illustrious parents named Euphemianus and Aglais, and at their request was joined to a young woman in marriage. However, he did not remain with her even for one day, but fled to Edessa, where he lived for eighteen years. He returned to Rome in the guise of a beggar and sat at the gates of his father's house, unknown to all and mocked by his own servants. His identity was revealed only after his death by a paper that he had on his person, which he himself had written a little before his repose. The pious Emperor Honorius honoured him with a solemn burial. The title "Man of God" was given to him from heaven in a vision to the Bishop of Rome on the day of the Saint's repose.

March 17

Martyr Paul

March 18

Cyril, Abp. Of Jerusalem

This Saint was born in 315, and succeeded Maximus as Archbishop of Jerusalem in 350. He was zealous for the Orthodox Faith, and was a defender of the poor. He was exiled three times by the Arian Emperors Constantius and Valens. But after their death, he was recalled to his throne; he reposed in peace in 386. Of his writings, the most prominent are his catechetical lectures, which are considered the most ancient systematic summary of Christian teaching. Before Saint Cyril, there had been two dioceses, one of Jerusalem, and one of Holy Sion; under Saint Cyril, they were united into one bishopric. See also May 7.

March 18

King Edward the Martyr

March 18

Trophimos & Eukarpion, Monk-martyrs

March 19

Demetrios the New Martyr

March 20

Righteous Fathers slain at the Monastery of St. Savas

The Righteous Martyrs were put to death by the barbarians during the reign of Emperor Heraclius, when Saint Modestus was Patriarch of Jerusalem (632-634).

March 20

Cuthbert the Wonderworker, Bishop of Lindisfarne

Saint Cuthbert was born in Britain about the year 635, and became a monk in his youth at the monastery of Melrose by the River Tweed. After many years of struggle as a true priest of Christ, in the service both of his own brethren and of the neglected Christians of isolated country villages, he became a solitary on Farne Island in 676. After eight years as a hermit, he was constrained to leave his quiet to become Bishop of Lindisfarne, in which office he served for almost two years. He returned to his hermitage two months before he reposed in peace in 687. Because of the miracles he wrought both during his life and at his tomb after his death, he is called the "Wonderworker of Britain." The whole English people honoured him, and kings were both benefactors to his shrine and suppliants of his prayers. Eleven years after his death, his holy relics were revealed to be incorrupt; when his body was translated from Lindisfarne to Durham Cathedral in August of 1104, his body was still found to be untouched by decay, giving off "an odour of sweetest fragrancy," and "from the flexibility of its joints representing a person asleep rather than dead." Finally, when the most impious Henry VIII desecrated his shrine, opening it to despoil it of its valuables, his body was again found incorrupt, and was buried in 1542. It is believed that after this the holy relics of Saint Cuthbert were hidden to preserve them from further desecration.

March 20

Myron the New Martyr of Crete

March 20

Photini the Samaritan Woman

Saint Photini lived in 1^st century Palestine and was the woman that Christ met at the well in Samaria as recorded in the Gospel according to John (4:4-26). After her encounter with Christ, she and her whole family were baptized by the Apostles and became evangelists of the early Church. Photini and her children eventually were summoned before the emperor Nero and instructed to renounce their faith in Christ. They reused to do so, accepting rather to suffer various tortures. After many efforts to force her to surrender to idolatry, the emperor ordered that she be thrown down a well. Photini gave up her life in the year 66.

March 21

James the Confessor

This Saint took up the monastic life from his youth in the Monastery of Studium, where he became a disciple of Saint Theodore the Studite. Later he became bishop and suffered many afflictions and torments at the hands of the Iconoclasts. Saint Theodore composed a homily in honour of this Saint James (PG 99, 1353-1356).

March 21

Thomas I, Patriarch of Constantinople

March 21

Philemon and Domninos

March 22

Basil the Holy Martyr of Ancyra

Saint Basil strove in martyrdom during the short reign of Julian the Apostate, from 361-363. The Saint was denounced as a Christian to Saturninus, Governor of Ancyra, who, when Basil would not deny Christ, had him hanged from a post and scraped on his sides, then beaten, and cast into prison. A few days later, when Julian himself came through Ancyra, the Saint was brought before him and was asked to deny Christ, Whom he rather confessed the more. Julian then had strips cut in his flesh, so that they were left hanging from his body in front and in back. The valiant Martyr tore one of these strips off of his body and cast it into Julian's face. At this Julian commanded that iron spits be heated fiery hot; Saint Basil's belly, his back, and all his joints were pierced with them, and he received the crown of martyrdom.

March 22

Kalliniki & Vassilisa the Martyrs

March 22

Euthemios the New Martyr

March 23

Second Saturday of Lent

March 23

The Holy Righteous Martyr Nicon and His 199 Disciples

Saint Nicon was from Neapolis (Naples) in Italy. His father was an idolater and his mother a Christian. At first he was a soldier, but later he went to the East, where he was baptized and in time became a bishop. After some years, he returned to the West and came to Sicily, where he and many of his disciples were put to death by beheading because they would not worship the idols.

March 23

Anatolios & Protoleon the Martyrs converted by the martyrdom of St. George

March 23

Luke the New Martyr of Mytilene

Readings and Information

Today’s Epistle Reading (Hebrews 11:24-26,32-40) is found on page 136 in your Red Liturgy Book.

Today’s Gospel Reading (John 1:43-51 is found on page 137 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: George Doukas, Captain; Arthur Stameris; Jack Markis; David Newkirk; Nancy Voudouris; Tom Gennis, Arthur Tzouganatos, Tim Marken.

TODAY’S MEMORIAL: There are no memorials today.

TODAY’S FELLOWSHIP HOUR: is graciously hosted by the St. Demetrios Philoptochos.

TODAY’S GREETERS: Renee and Anna Vekiarides.

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 the Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40.

Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets -- who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated -- of whom the world was not worthy -- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of Orthodoxy
The Reading is from John 1:43-51

At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

Wisdom of the Fathers

Peter, when after so many miracles and such high doctrine he confessed that, "Thou art the Son of God" (Matt. xvi. 16), is called "blessed," as having received the revelation from the Father;

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 21 on John 1, 1. B#58, pp. 72, 73, 4th Century

... while Nathanael, though he said the very same thing before seeing or hearing either miracles or doctrine, had no such word addressed to him, but as though he had not said so much as he ought to have said, is brought to things greater still.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 21 on John 1, 1. B#58, pp. 72, 73, 4th Century

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Tone

When the stone had been sealed by the Jews and the soldiers were guarding Thine immaculate Body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Saviour, granting life unto the world. Wherefore, the powers of the Heavens cried out to Thee, O Lifegiver: Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ. Glory to Thy Kingdom. Glory to Thy dispensation, O only Friend of man.

Apolytikion in the Second Tone

We worship Thine immaculate icon, O Good One, asking the forgiveness of our failings, O Christ our God; for of Thine own will Thou wast well-pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, that Thou mightest deliver from slavery to the enemy those whom Thou hadst fashioned. Wherefore, we cry to Thee thankfully: Thou didst fill all things with joy, O our Saviour, when Thou camest to save the world.

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 Plagal Fourth Tone

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

St. Demetrios Calendar

Parish News and Events

Saints and Feasts

Patrick, Enlightener of Ireland

Sunday of Orthodoxy

Marinos the Martyr

Theocteristos the Confessor

Alexis the Man of God

Martyr Paul

Cyril, Abp. Of Jerusalem

King Edward the Martyr

Trophimos & Eukarpion, Monk-martyrs

Demetrios the New Martyr

Righteous Fathers slain at the Monastery of St. Savas

Cuthbert the Wonderworker, Bishop of Lindisfarne

Myron the New Martyr of Crete

Photini the Samaritan Woman

James the Confessor

Thomas I, Patriarch of Constantinople

Philemon and Domninos

Basil the Holy Martyr of Ancyra

Kalliniki & Vassilisa the Martyrs

Euthemios the New Martyr

Second Saturday of Lent

The Holy Righteous Martyr Nicon and His 199 Disciples

Anatolios & Protoleon the Martyrs converted by the martyrdom of St. George

Luke the New Martyr of Mytilene

Readings and Information

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Wisdom of the Fathers

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Tone

Apolytikion in the Second Tone

Apolytikion for St. Demetrios in the Third Tone

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Tone