September 15
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2019-09-15
Bulletin Contents
St. Demetrios Calendar
Readings and Information
Parish News and Events
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Wisdom of the Fathers
Hymns of the Day
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:
- 2019-09-08
- Publish Date:
- 2019-09-01
- Publish Date:
- 2019-08-25
- Publish Date:
- 2019-08-04
- Publish Date:
- 2019-07-28
- Publish Date:
- 2019-07-21
St. Demetrios Calendar
SUNDAY AFTER THE HOLY CROSS September 15
- Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 8:30 am
- Church School
- Ministry Fair
TUESDAY, September 17
Sts. Sophia, Faith, Hope, & Love
- Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 9 am
- Senior Guild Luncheon
- Greek School, 4 pm
WEDNESDAY, September 18
- Parish Council Meeting
SATURDAY, September 21
- Agape Prayer Group, 8:30 am
- Hellenic Nursing Home 2 pm
1ST SUNDAY OF LUKE, September 22
- Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 8:30 am
- Church School
- Welcome Back BBQ
- GOYA Car Wash
- Ministry Fair
Readings and Information
Today’s Epistle Reading (Galatians 2:16-20) is found on page 98 in your new Gospel and Epistle Book.
Today’s Gospel Reading (Mark 8:34-38; 9:1) is found on page 151 in your new Gospel and Epistle Book.
Resurrectional Apolytikion, “The Women Disciples” is found on page 170 in your Blue Liturgy Book.
Thanksgiving prayers, for after Communion, are found on page 91 in your Blue 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: 40 days for Elias Arvanitis.
TODAY’S FELLOWSHIP HOUR: is graciously hosted by the Arvanitis Family.
TODAY’S GREETERS: Carol and Arthur Loridas.
Parish News and Events
60th Anniversary Gala Dinner-Dance
Tickets for the 60th Anniversary Gala will be for sale
during coffee hour today. To purchase tickets online visit::
http://bit.ly/stdemetrios60th
For further information, please contact Eleni Condakes at (781) 235-8429 or Philippa Condakes at (781) 235-0759.
METROPOLIS OF BOSTON GOLF TOURNAMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE METROPOLIS CAMP AND RETREAT CENTER
All are invited to play in the nineteenth annual MBC and Retreat Center Golf Tournament on Tuesday, September 24th at the Indian Ridge Country Club in Andover, MA. Each summer, roughly one third of the MBC campers received financial aid thanks to this fundraiser. The hope is to be able to support an equal number of children in the future. For more information or to register contact Eleni Kalioras at ekalioras@boston.goarch.org or 617-277-4742.
WELCOME BACK BBQ & GOYA CAR WASH
Join us on September 22nd for our annual Welcome Back BBQ hosted by the Parish Council. All are invited to kick off the new year together with delicious food and great fellowship. Make sure to also have your car washed by our GOYA!
MINISTRY FAIR SEPTEMBER 15, & 22
This year’s fair represents a wonderful opportunity to connect– or reconnect– with your ministries and programs of our parish. Please make sure to visit the fair. Flyers, fall/winter schedules, and ministry representatives will be present.
SPECIAL VISIT FROM HIS EMINENCE ARCHBISHOP ELPIDOPHOROS OF AMERICA
His Eminence Metroopolitan Methodios has informed us that Archbishop Elpidophoros, our new Archbishop of America, will be visiting St. Demetrios on Sunday, October 6th. His Eminence will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and we will have the opportunity to welcome and greet him as he begins his Archpastoral ministry here in America. Please place Sunday, October 6th on your calendar and be sure to be present on that special day. Thank you.
SENIOR GUILD
The first meeting of the Senior Guild will be on September 17th following the Divine Liturgy for Sts. Sophia, Hope, Faith, Love. All Senior Guild Members are welcome to come and partake of our Senior Guild Luncheon. It is a wonderful time to come and be with friends and family after the summer vacation. The Senior Guild hopes to see you there! Thank you.
FR. MANIKAS LIBRARY
Check out the magazine "Cyprus Today" which is available for circulation. If interested, you are welcomed to
borrow. So we can keep track of the interest of these magazines, please fill in your last name and the dates (month and year) on the label on the back cover. Allowed check out period is one month.
PHILOPTOCHOS CATERING
Philoptochos is delighted to offer their St. Christine's Catering Program. Visit the church website under the Philoptochos page to view the ordering menu. Thanks for using the Philoptochos Catering !
ALKISTIS PROTOPSALTIS CONCERT
As part of the 60th Anniversary we are please to announce that we have begun selling tickets the upcoming Alkistis Protopsalti concert on September 28th. This event will be held at Sanders Theater at Harvard University. Tickets are selling fast! Prices are $55, $75, or $95. You can call Sanders Theater Box Office at 617-496-2222 or visit https://www.boxoffice.harvard.edu for ticket sales. For more information there will be a table at coffee hour or you can contact concertevent@stdemetriosweston.org
SAVE THESE DATES
Sunday, September 22 - Welcome Back BBQ
Saturday, September 28 - Alkistis Protopsaltis Concert, Sanders Theatre, Cambridge
Friday, October, 25 - Vespers for St. Demetrios
Saturday, October 26 - St. Demetrios Feast Day Liturgy
Saturday, November 2 - St. Demetrios Gala Dinner Dance, Westin Hotel in Waltham
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.
60TH ANNIVERSARY EVENTS
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!
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 gaghome1@gmail.com 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!
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20.
Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Gospel Reading
Sunday after Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1
The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."
Saints and Feasts
September 15
Nikitas the Great Martyr
This Saint was of high birth among the Goths beyond the Danube River. He was taken by Athanaric, pagan ruler of the Goths, and after being tortured, was burned to death for his confession of Christ. According to some, this took place during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great; according to others, under the Emperor Gratian.
September 15
Philotheos the Righteous
September 15
Bessarion of Larissa
September 15
Righteous Father Symeon, Archbishop of Thessolonica
September 15
Afterfeast of the Holy Cross
September 15
John the New Martyr of Crete
September 15
Porphyrios the Actor
September 16
Edith the Nun of Wilton Abbey
September 16
Ninian the Enlightener of Scotland
Saint Ninian was born in Cumberland in Britain around the year 360, about a half century after the Emperor Constantius Chlorus died in the British city of York, and his son Constantine, who was with him when he died, was proclaimed Emperor. Ninian was born of Christian parents of noble lineage, at a time when paganism was still strong in his native land. As a young man he went to Rome, where he spent many years in study and ascetical struggles. At Rome, Saint Ninian was consecrated some time after the death of Pope Damasus in 384, and was sent back to his native island about the end of the fourth century. On his return journey, it is likely that he passed through Tours and met Saint Martin; what is certain is that many churches and cells associated with Saint Ninian, including his own cathedral in Whithorn, were named in honour of Saint Martin. When Saint Ninian returned to Cumberland, he established monasteries that fostered both the life of prayer and missionary labours. By his preaching, his godly life, and his miracles, he ministered to his own countrymen, the Britons, and also converted many of the pagan Picts, who inhabited the northern regions (in today's Scotland). He reposed in peace at his see of Whithorn in Galloway in 432.
September 16
Euphemia the Great Martyr
Saint Euphemia was from Chalcedon and lived in virginity. According to some, she suffered martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian, in 303; according to others, in 307. Her sacred relics are preserved in the Patriarchate in Constantinople.
September 16
Sebastiana, Disciple of St. Paul the Apostle
September 16
Dorotheos the Hermit of Egypt
September 16
Melitina the Martyr
September 16
Afterfeast of the Holy Cross
September 17
Tuesday of the 1st Week
September 17
Sophia & her three daughters: Faith, Hope, and Love
These Saints were from Italy and contested for the Faith about the year 126, during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. Faith was twelve years old, Hope, ten, and Love, nine; each was tormented and then beheaded, from the eldest to the youngest. Their mother Sophia mourned at their grave for three days, where she also fell asleep in peace; because of her courageous endurance in the face of her daughters' sufferings, she is also counted a martyr. The name Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek; as for her daughters' names, Faith, Hope, and Love (Charity), they are Pistis, Elpis, and Agape in Greek, and Vera, Nadezhda, and Lyubov in Russian.
September 17
Herakleides & Myron, Bishops of Cyprus
September 17
Afterfeast of the Holy Cross
September 18
Wednesday of the 1st Week
September 18
Eumenius the Wonderworker, Bishop of Gortynia
This Saint took up the monastic life from his youth, and later became Bishop of Gortynia in Crete. He travelled to Rome, and to Thebes in Upper Egypt, where through his prayers he ended a drought; there also, after working many miracles, he reposed in deep old age. His holy relics were returned to Gortynia and buried at the place called Raxos.
September 18
Ariadne the Martyr
September 18
Afterfeast of the Holy Cross
September 19
Thursday of the 1st Week
September 19
Trophimus, Sabbatius, & Dorymedon the Martyrs
In 278, during the reign of Probus, Saints Trophimus and Sabbatius came to Antioch, and seeing the city celebrating the festival of Apollo at Daphne lamented the blindness of the people, and presented themselves as Christians to Atticus the Governor. Saint Trophimus was stripped of his clothing, and was stretched out and beaten until the earth was red with his blood. Then he was hung up, scraped on his sides, and imprisoned in torments. Saint Sabbatius was tortured so savagely that he gave up his spirit in his sufferings. Trophimus was sent to Synnada, wearing iron shoes fitted with sharp iron nails within; he was further tormented without mercy, then cast into prison. Dorymedon, a counsellor, and a pagan, came to the prison and cared for Trophimus. When a certain feast came, Dorymedon was asked why he did not sacrifice to the idols; he proclaimed himself a Christian, for which he was imprisoned, pierced with heated spits, frightfully punished, and finally beheaded with Saint Trophimus.
September 19
Afterfeast of the Holy Cross
September 19
Plato the new Hieromartyr of Patmos
September 19
Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury
September 20
Eustathius the Great Martyr, his wife and two children
The holy Martyr Eustathius before his baptism was an illustrious Roman general named Placidas in the days of the Emperor Trajan. While hunting in the country one day, he was converted to the Faith of Christ through the apparition of an uncommonly majestic stag, between whose antlers he saw the Cross of Christ, and through which the Lord spoke to him with a human voice. Upon returning home, he learned that his wife Tatiana had also had a vision in which she was instructed to become a Christian. They sought out the Bishop of the Christians and were baptized, Placidas receiving the name Eustathius, and Tatiana the name Theopiste; their two sons were baptized Agapius and Theopistus. The family was then subjected to such trials as Job endured. Their servants died, all their goods were stolen, and on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem they were scattered abroad, each not even knowing if the others were still alive. By the providence of God, they were united again after many years, and returned to Rome in glory. Nevertheless, when they refused to sacrifice to the idols-a public sacrifice from which no Roman general could be absent-the Emperor Hadrian, who had succeeded Trajan, had them put into a large bronze device in the shape of a bull, which was heated with fire until they died. When their holy bodies were removed, they were found to be without harm. They suffered martyrdom about the year 126.
September 20
Our Righteous Father Eustathius, Archbishop of Thessolonica
September 20
Hilarion the New Martyr of Crete
September 20
Afterfeast of the Holy Cross
September 20
John the Foreigner
September 21
Saturday after Holy Cross
September 21
Apodosis of the Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross
Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place.
Rest from labour. A Fast is observed today, whatever day of the week it may be.
September 21
Quadratus the Apostle
Saint Quadratus was a disciple of the Apostles, and became Bishop of Athens. According to the Synaxaristes, he contested for the Faith in the year 117, in the reign of Hadrian (117-138), but according to others, in the reign of Marcus Aurelius (161-180).
September 21
Jonah the Prophet
The Prophet Jonah, the son of Amathi, of the town of Geth-hopher (IV Kings 14:25), was of the tribe of Zabulon; he prophesied during the years 838-810 before Christ. God commanded him to go to Nineveh, the great city of the Assyrians, and to proclaim that its destruction was nigh at hand because of the sins of its people. But he, as a Prophet who knew the great compassion of God, feared that at his preaching the Ninevites would repent; that God, accepting their repentance in His love for man, would not fulfill Jonah' threats; and that he would be branded a false prophet. So he disobeyed the divine command, and boarded a ship and departed elsewhere. Yet, the sudden and fearful sea-storm and the revelation of Jonah' disbedience caused the sailors to cast him into the sea. A great sea-monster appeared straightway by divine providence, and swallowed him up. For three days and nights he was found in its belly and he prayed, saying the words, "I cried aloud in my affliction unto the Lord my God..." (Jonah 2:3, the Sixth ode of the Holy Psalter). The sea-monster then vomited him up on dry land and he again heard God's command. Wherefore, he went and preached, saying, "In three days, Nineveh shall be destroyed." The people became terrified and all repented. The great, the small, babes at the breast, and even the irrational beasts themselves fasted, and thus, having found mercy from God, they were spared His wrath. Jonah' book of prophecy is divided into four chapters, and is placed fifth in order among the twelve minor Prophets. His three-day sojourn in the sea-monster's belly is an image of our Saviour's three-day burial and His life-bringing Resurrection (Matt. 12:39-40). His name means "dove."
September 21
Isaakios & Meletios, Bishops of Cyprus
September 22
1st Sunday of Luke
September 22
Phocas the Martyr, Bishop of Sinope
This saint was known for the many miracles he worked and for his apostolic zeal in shepherding the flock of Sinope. He contested for the Faith during the reign of the Emperor Trajan, in the year 102, when he was burned to death in a bath-house. A homily in his honour was composed by Saint John Chrysostom. The translation of his holy relics is celebrated on July 23.
September 22
Phocas the Cyprian
September 22
Isaac & Martinos the Martyrs 26 Monk-martyrs of Zographou Monastery martyred by the Latins
Wisdom of the Fathers
And see how He also makes His discourse unexceptionable: not saying at all, "whether you will, or no, you must suffer this," but how? "If any man will come after me."
Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century
"I force not, I compel not, but each one I make lord of his own choice; wherefore also I say, 'If any man will.' For to good things do I call you, not to things evil, or burdensome; not to punishment and vengeance, that I should have to compel.
Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to the world.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Holy Cross in the First Tone
Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; grant Thou unto the faithful victory over adversaries. And by the power of Thy Cross do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
Lifted up on the Cross by Your free will, Christ God, grant mercies to the new commonwealth that bears Your name. Gladden our faithful rulers by Your power, giving them victories over their adversaries. May Your alliance be for them a weapon for peace, an invincible standard.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press