Publish-header
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-02-16
Bulletin Contents
Prodson
Organization Icon
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • 757-220-0994
  • Street Address:

  • 4900 Mooretown Road

  • Williamsburg, VA 23188


Contact Information






Services Schedule

Sunday Services -- Kuriakh:

Orthros, 8:45 a.m.

Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.

OrqroV, 0845 pm.

Q. Leitourgia, 1000 pm.

 

Weekday Holy Days (as scheduled):

Orthros, 8:45 a.m.

Divine Liturgy, 9:30 a.m.

KaqhmerineV EorteV:

OrqroV, 0845 pm.

Q. Leitourgia, 0930 pm.

 


Past Bulletins


Message from Fr. Gianulis

His Excellency Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa

This Sunday, we will be blessed to have His Excellency Metropolitan Gregory celebrate the Divine Liturgy with us. He will also serve Orthros on Sunday and the Paraklesis Service on Friday evening. Below is a biographical sketch of this beloved bishop.

Metropolitan Gregory was born in Charlotte, NC on Dec 7, 1958, with the baptismal name of George, the first of two children of Peter and Antonia Tatsis. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earning a BA degree in Biology (1981) and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte earning a MS degree in Biology (1989). Working for more than 20 years in the field of Cardiovascular Research at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC, he authored/co-authored over one hundred articles, abstracts, and book chapters.

After taking part in a mission trip to Alaska sponsored by the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, Metropoitan Gregory felt the calling to pursue his life-long dream of studying for the Holy Priesthood. Leaving his secular job in early 2003, he entered Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookine, MA in the Fall of 2003 and graduated in May of 2006 with the Masters of Divinity degree.

Metropolitan Gregory was ordained a Deacon at St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church in Charlotte, NC on November 4, 2006 by His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta. He was tonsured a Monk at Agia Lavra Monastery in Kalavryta, Greece on January 17, 2007, receiving the name Grigorios with St. Gregory Palamas as his Patron Saint. He was ordained a priest at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Atlanta, GA on January 28, 2007 also by His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta and was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite on the same day. On February 1, 2007, he was appointed as the Ierokyrix (Itinerant Preacher) of the Metropolis of Atlanta. On September 14, 2007, he received the offikion (rank) of Confessor at the Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Chapel in Atlanta, GA.

Serving in his role as Itinerant Preacher and Confessor, Metropolitan Gregory travelled extensively throughout the Metropolis of Atlanta, where he has led parish retreats, heard confessions and provided spiritual direction to countless numbers of clergy and faithful. Recognizing his affinity for youth ministry and his administrative skills, he was given the responsibility of overseeing all youth programs in the Metropolis of Atlanta.

Metropolitan Gregory also served as the Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Raleigh, NC from December 20, 2010 until May 31, 2011. From October 1, 2011 - September 30, 2012 he served as Dean of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in New Orleans, LA, and as Vicar of the Western Conference of the Metropolis of Atlanta.

On Saturday July 14, 2012 at a Special Assembly of Diocesan Priests, Metropolitan Gregory was nominated as successor to His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas of Amissos.  On August 30, 2012, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, canonically elected Bishop Gregory as Titular Bishop of Nyssa and ruling Diocesan Hierarch of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.A.  After travelling to Constantinople and officially accepting the call of the Church to serve as Bishop during the Mega Minas service,  he was consecrated as Bishop at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Johnstown, PA on Tuesday, November 27, 2012.   His consecrating Bishops in addition to His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of America, included His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta, His Eminence, Metropolitan Savas of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh and His Eminence, Metropolitan Antony and His Grace, Bishop Daniel of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A.

In July of 2013, in recognition of  Metropolitan Gregory's experience in youth and young adult ministries,  he was appointed by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of  the USA as Episcopal Liason to the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF)  Pan-Orthodox College Ministry. In 2016 he was elected Secretary of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of  the USA.


BACK TO TOP

Upcoming Divine Services and Holy Days

PARAKLESIS - SUPPLICATION TO THE THEOTOKOS

Friday, February 14th at 7 p.m. His Eminence Metropolitan Gregory will be the celebrant. This is the kick off for the OCF Retreat, but all are welcome to attend the Paraklesis.


MEMORIAL SATURDAYS

Saturdays of the Souls (Pschosavvata) will be held on the following dates. Please note, on the first of these, the service will be on Friday evening because Fr. Gianulis will be at St. Nicholas leading the Men's Retreat on Saturday.

1. Friday, Febrary 21st, Divine Liturgy at 6:00 p.m.  followed by the Memorial Service.

2. Saturday, February 29, Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Memorial Service.

3. Saturday, March 7 (The Miracle of St. Theodore and the Kolliva), Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Memorial Service.


BACK TO TOP

Announcements

METROPOLITAN GREGORY OF NYSSA

Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa, titular hierarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, will celebrate services at St. Demetrios. He will be here as the Retreat Leader for our annual College of William & Mary Retreat, February 14 - 16. The following are the services that will be celebrated at St. Demetrios, to which all are encouraged to come:

  • Paraklesis (Supplication to the Theotokos), Friday, February 14 at 7:00 p.m.
  • Orthros and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, Sunday, February 16 beginning at 8:45 a.m.

FRIDAY FISH FRY RESUMES

Our Friday Fish Fry resumes in February on the Second and Fourth Fridays of each month. Join us in February on the 14th and 28th. Help is very much needed this Friday and always appreciated.


ORTHODOX STUDY GROUP

This week, we will discuss the Commandment, Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery. You are invited. Take some time for adult religious education. Join us every week: Wednesdays from 7 - 8 p.m. 


MEN'S RETREAT

If you have not yet registered to attend the Men's Retreat in Virginia Beach, there is still time.

Theme: "A Warrior's Guide to the Ten Commandments: How Do We Abide?"

Date: Saturday, February 22, 2020

Site: @ St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Hall, 621 First Colonial Road, Virginia Beach.

Speaker: Fr. Milton Gianulis

Host: FROGMEN Men’s Group of St. Nicholas.

Cost: $20 to cover meals and materials.

Registration Forms are available in the narthex of St. Demetrios, or call St. Nicholas at 757-422-5600 to register. Deadline: February 15, 2020

 


COLLEGE & YOUNG ADULT RETREAT

The annual OCF retreat held at the College of William & Mary and St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church will be held the weekend of February 14 - 16. The theme is "Love... Actually: from Eros to Agape."

We are thrilled to have Metropolitan Gregory Tatsis (of Nyssa) as this year's retreat leader. For more information and to register, follow the links below.

https://www.ocf.net/events/love-actually/

 

https://www.facebook.com/events/456429951690846/    


AGOC WOMEN'S RETREAT

"Who has Christ Called You to Be? Hearing, Living, and Responding to His Call"

Retreat Leaders are Presbyteres Pat Tsagalakis and Donna Papas. Follow the link for more information and to register.

https://sites.google.com/view/agocwomensretreat


BOOK STUDY INVITATION

St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 612 Jamestown Road, invites you to join us for a book study. German pastor, theologian, and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer's spiritual classic, The Cost of Discipleship was published in 1937, when the Nazis had secured their grip on church and state.  Against this background, Bonhoeffer developed his theology of costly discipleship.  A major focus on the book is Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and centers on an exposition of the Sermon on the Mount, as Bonhoeffer spells out what he believes it means to follow Christ.  

The study will take place on Mondays, February 17, 24, March 9, 16, 23, and 30; interested participants can attend the 3:00 PM or 7:00 PM sessions.  Please e-mail our Parish Administrator,  Sandy Peterkin at office@saintstephenlutheran.net to let us know you will be participating. (Fr. Gianulis will attend the afternoon sessions in case you would be interested in joining him.)


Your Priest is as Close as Your Telephone

...but he is not a mind reader.  If you are sick and hospitalized, or have any other pastoral or sacramental need, do not hesitate to call him.  Fr. Gianulis can always be reached by calling the church phone number, 220-0994.  If he is not in, leave a message and it will be delivered to his cell phone.


Visit us on Facebook

Have you visited us on Facebook? Like us at 

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=saint%20demetrios%20greek%20orthodox%20church%20-%20williamsburg%20va.

Thank you to Presbytera Connie for keeping the page up to date, relevant and interesting. 


GO FUND ME PAGE

We now have a Go Fund Me page for St. Demetrios. Help spread the word on it, share it with friends and boost it if you can.  That can be on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.  


BACK TO TOP

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Second Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back, for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.

Second Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 16:1-8

Καὶ διαγενομένου τοῦ σαββάτου Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία ἡ τοῦ ᾿Ιακώβου καὶ Σαλώμη ἠγόρασαν ἀρώματα ἵνα ἐλθοῦσαι ἀλείψωσιν αὐτόν. καὶ λίαν πρωῒ τῆς μιᾶς σαββάτων ἔρχονται ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, ἀνατείλαντος τοῦ ἡλίου. καὶ ἔλεγον πρὸς ἑαυτάς· τίς ἀποκυλίσει ἡμῖν τὸν λίθον ἐκ τῆς θύρας τοῦ μνημείου; καὶ ἀναβλέψασαι θεωροῦσιν ὅτι ἀποκεκύλισται ὁ λίθος· ἦν γὰρ μέγας σφόδρα. καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον εἶδον νεανίσκον καθήμενον ἐν τοῖς δεξιοῖς, περιβεβλημένον στολὴν λευκήν, καὶ ἐξεθαμβήθησαν. ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐταῖς· μὴ ἐκθαμβεῖσθε· ᾿Ιησοῦν ζητεῖτε τὸν Ναζαρηνὸν τὸν ἐσταυρωμένον· ἠγέρθη, οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε· ἴδε ὁ τόπος ὅπου ἔθηκαν αὐτόν. ἀλλ᾿ ὑπάγετε εἴπατε τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ Πέτρῳ ὅτι προάγει ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν· ἐκεῖ αὐτὸν ὄψεσθε, καθὼς εἶπεν ὑμῖν. καὶ ἐξελθοῦσαι ἔφυγον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου· εἶχε δὲ αὐτὰς τρόμος καὶ ἔκστασις, καὶ οὐδενὶ οὐδὲν εἶπον· ἐφοβοῦντο γάρ.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Second Tone. Psalm 117.14,18.
The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 6:12-20.

Brethren, "all things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" -- and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh." But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belong to God.

Προκείμενον. Second Tone. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 117.14,18.
Ἰσχύς μου καὶ ὕμνησίς μου ὁ Κύριος.
Στίχ. Παιδεύων ἐπαίδευσέ με ὁ Κύριος.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 6:12-20.

Ἀδελφοί, πάντα μοι ἔξεστιν, ἀλλʼ οὐ πάντα συμφέρει· πάντα μοι ἔξεστιν, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐγὼ ἐξουσιασθήσομαι ὑπό τινος. Τὰ βρώματα τῇ κοιλίᾳ, καὶ ἡ κοιλία τοῖς βρώμασιν· ὁ δὲ θεὸς καὶ ταύτην καὶ ταῦτα καταργήσει. Τὸ δὲ σῶμα οὐ τῇ πορνείᾳ, ἀλλὰ τῷ κυρίῳ, καὶ ὁ κύριος τῷ σώματι· ὁ δὲ θεὸς καὶ τὸν κύριον ἤγειρεν καὶ ἡμᾶς ἐξεγερεῖ διὰ τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ. Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι τὰ σώματα ὑμῶν μέλη Χριστοῦ ἐστιν; Ἄρας οὖν τὰ μέλη τοῦ Χριστοῦ ποιήσω πόρνης μέλη; Μὴ γένοιτο. Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ὁ κολλώμενος τῇ πόρνῃ ἓν σῶμά ἐστιν; Ἔσονται γάρ, φησίν, οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν. Ὁ δὲ κολλώμενος τῷ κυρίῳ ἓν πνεῦμά ἐστιν. Φεύγετε τὴν πορνείαν. Πᾶν ἁμάρτημα ὃ ἐὰν ποιήσῃ ἄνθρωπος ἐκτὸς τοῦ σώματός ἐστιν· ὁ δὲ πορνεύων εἰς τὸ ἴδιον σῶμα ἁμαρτάνει. Ἢ οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι τὸ σῶμα ὑμῶν ναὸς τοῦ ἐν ὑμῖν ἁγίου πνεύματός ἐστιν, οὗ ἔχετε ἀπὸ θεοῦ; Καὶ οὐκ ἐστὲ ἑαυτῶν, ἠγοράσθητε γὰρ τιμῆς· δοξάσατε δὴ τὸν θεὸν ἐν τῷ σώματι ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐν τῷ πνεύματι ὑμῶν, ἅτινά ἐστιν τοῦ θεοῦ.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Prodigal Son
The Reading is from Luke 15:11-32

The Lord said this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his belly with the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 15:11-32

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἄνθρωπός τις εἶχε δύο υἱούς. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ νεώτερος αὐτῶν τῷ πατρί· πάτερ, δός μοι τὸ ἐπιβάλλον μέρος τῆς οὐσίας. καὶ διεῖλεν αὐτοῖς τὸν βίον. καὶ μετ᾿ οὐ πολλὰς ἡμέρας συναγαγὼν ἅπαντα ὁ νεώτερος υἱὸς ἀπεδήμησεν εἰς χώραν μακράν, καὶ ἐκεῖ διεσκόρπισε τὴν οὐσίαν αὐτοῦ ζῶν ἀσώτως. δαπανήσαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ πάντα ἐγένετο λιμὸς ἰσχυρὸς κατὰ τὴν χώραν ἐκείνην, καὶ αὐτὸς ἤρξατο ὑστερεῖσθαι. καὶ πορευθεὶς ἐκολλήθη ἑνὶ τῶν πολιτῶν τῆς χώρας ἐκείνης, καὶ ἔπεμψεν αὐτὸν εἰς τοὺς ἀγροὺς αὐτοῦ βόσκειν χοίρους. καὶ ἐπεθύμει γεμίσαι τὴν κοιλίαν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν κερατίων ὧν ἤσθιον οἱ χοῖροι, καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐδίδου αὐτῷ. εἰς ἑαυτὸν δὲ ἐλθὼν εἶπε· πόσοι μίσθιοι τοῦ πατρός μου περισσεύουσιν ἄρτων, ἐγὼ δὲ λιμῷ ἀπόλλυμαι! ἀναστὰς πορεύσομαι πρὸς τὸν πατέρα μου καὶ ἐρῶ αὐτῷ· πάτερ, ἥμαρτον εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ ἐνώπιόν σου. οὐκέτι εἰμὶ ἄξιος κληθῆναι υἱός σου· ποίησόν με ὡς ἕνα τῶν μισθίων σου. καὶ ἀναστὰς ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ. ἔτι δὲ αὐτοῦ μακρὰν ἀπέχοντος εἶδεν αὐτὸν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐσπλαγχνίσθη, καὶ δραμὼν ἐπέπεσεν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ καὶ κατεφίλησεν αὐτόν. εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ υἱός· πάτερ, ἥμαρτον εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ ἐνώπιόν σου, καὶ οὐκέτι εἰμὶ ἄξιος κληθῆναι υἱός σου. εἶπε δὲ ὁ πατὴρ πρὸς τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ· ἐξενέγκατε τὴν στολὴν τὴν πρώτην καὶ ἐνδύσατε αὐτόν, καὶ δότε δακτύλιον εἰς τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ὑποδήματα εἰς τοὺς πόδας, καὶ ἐνέγκαντες τὸν μόσχον τὸν σιτευτὸν θύσατε, καὶ φαγόντες εὐφρανθῶμεν, ὅτι οὗτος ὁ υἱός μου νεκρὸς ἦν καὶ ἀνέζησε, καὶ ἀπολωλὼς ἦν καὶ εὑρέθη. καὶ ἤρξαντο εὐφραίνεσθαι. ῏Ην δὲ ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἐν ἀγρῷ· καὶ ὡς ἐρχόμενος ἤγγισε τῇ οἰκίᾳ, ἤκουσε συμφωνίας καὶ χορῶν, καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος ἕνα τῶν παίδων ἐπυνθάνετο τί εἴη ταῦτα. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὅτι ὁ ἀδελφός σου ἥκει καὶ ἔθυσεν ὁ πατήρ σου τὸν μόσχον τὸν σιτευτόν, ὅτι ὑγιαίνοντα αὐτὸν ἀπέλαβεν. ὠργίσθη δὲ καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν εἰσελθεῖν. ὁ οὖν πατὴρ αὐτοῦ ἐξελθὼν παρεκάλει αὐτόν. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπε τῷ πατρί· ἰδοὺ τοσαῦτα ἔτη δουλεύω σοι καὶ οὐδέποτε ἐντολήν σου παρῆλθον, καὶ ἐμοὶ οὐδέποτε ἔδωκας ἔριφον ἵνα μετὰ τῶν φίλων μου εὐφρανθῶ· ὅτε δὲ ὁ υἱός σου οὗτος, ὁ καταφαγών σου τὸν βίον μετὰ πορνῶν, ἦλθεν, ἔθυσας αὐτῷ τὸν μόσχον τὸν σιτευτόν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· τέκνον, σὺ πάντοτε μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ εἶ, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐμὰ σά ἐστιν· εὐφρανθῆναι δὲ καὶ χαρῆναι ἔδει, ὅτι ὁ ἀδελφός σου οὗτος νεκρὸς ἦν καὶ ἀνέζησε, καὶ ἀπολωλὼς ἦν καὶ εὑρέθη.


BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

Prodson
February 16

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Through the parable of today's Gospel, our Saviour has set forth three things for us: the condition of the sinner, the rule of repentance, and the greatness of God's compassion. The divine Fathers have put this reading the week after the parable of the Publican and Pharisee so that, seeing in the person of the Prodigal Son our own wretched condition -- inasmuch as we are sunken in sin, far from God and His Mysteries -- we might at last come to our senses and make haste to return to Him by repentance during these holy days of the Fast.

Furthermore, those who have wrought many great iniquities, and have persisted in them for a long time, oftentimes fall into despair, thinking that there can no longer be any forgiveness for them; and so being without hope, they fall every day into the same and even worse iniquities. Therefore, the divine Fathers, that they might root out the passion of despair from the hearts of such people, and rouse them to the deeds of virtue, have set the present parable at the forecourts of the Fast, to show them the surpassing goodness of God's compassion, and to teach them that there is no sin -- no matter how great it may be -- that can overcome at any time His love for man.


February 16

Romanos the Younger


February 16

Pamphilus the Martyr & his Companions

This Martyr contested during the reign of Maximian, in the year 290, in Caesarea of Palestine, and was put to death by command of Firmilian, the Governor of Palestine. His fellow contestants' names are Valens, Paul, Seleucus, Porphyrius, Julian, Theodulus, and five others from Egypt: Elias, Jeremias, Esaias, Samuel, and Daniel. Their martyrdom is recorded in Book VIII, ch. 11 of Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History, called The Martyrs of Palestine.


February 16

Flavianos, Patriarch of Constantinople


BACK TO TOP

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Tone

When You descended unto death, O Life Immortal, You rendered to Hades a mortal blow by the lightning of Your divinity, and when from the depths of darkness You also raised the dead, all the heavenly powers cried out: O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory to You.
Ὅτε κατῆλθες πρὸς τὸν θάνατον, ἡ Ζωὴ ἡ ἀθάνατος, τότε τὸν ᾅδην ἐνέκρωσας τῇ ἀστραπῇ τῆς Θεότητος, ὅτε δὲ καὶ τοὺς τεθνεῶτας ἐκ τῶν καταχθονίων ἀνέστησας, πᾶσαι αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν ἐπουρανίων ἐκραύγαζον·Ζωοδότα Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν δόξα σοι.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Tone

O Father, foolishly I ran away from Your glory, and in sin, squandered the riches You gave me. Wherefore, I cry out to You with the voice of the Prodigal, "I have sinned before You Compassionate Father. Receive me in repentance and take me as one of Your hired servants."
Τῆς πατρῴας, δόξης σου, ἀποσκιρτήσας ἀφρόνως, ἐν κακοῖς ἐσκόρπισα, ὅν μοι παρέδωκας πλοῦτον· ὅθεν σοι τὴν τοῦ Ἀσώτου, φωνὴν κραυγάζω· Ἥμαρτον ἐνώπιόν σου Πάτερ οἰκτίρμον, δέξαι με μετανοοῦντα, καὶ ποίησόν με, ὡς ἕνα τῶν μισθίων σου.
BACK TO TOP

Wisdom of the Fathers

One alone is righteous in works, words and thoughts. But many are made righteous in faith, grace and repentance.
St. Mark the Ascetic
No Righteousness by Works no. 109, The Philokalia Vol. 1 pg. 134, 5th century

Repentance lifts a man up. Mourning knocks at heaven's gate. Holy humility opens it. This I say, and I worship a Trinity in Unity and a Unity in Trinity.
St. John Climacus
Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 25:On Humility; Paulist Press pg. 221, 6th century

Repentance is the renewal of baptism and is a contract with God for a fresh start in life.
St. John Climacus
Ladder of Divine Ascent Step 5:On Penitence, Paulist Press pg. 121, 6th century

BACK TO TOP

St. Demetrios Parish Calendar

  • St. Demetrios Parish Calender

    February 16 to March 15, 2020

    SUN
    MON
    TUE
    WED
    THU
    FRI
    SAT
    16
    9:00AM Orthros
    10:00AM Divine Liturgy
    11:30AM Church School
    17
    18
    19
    7:00PM Orthodox Study Group
    20
    6:30PM Parish Council
    7:00PM OCF
    21
    6:00PM Divine Liturgy--Sat. of the Souls
    6:45PM Memorial Service
    22
    10:30AM Men’s Retreat at St. Nicholas
    23
    9:00AM Orthros
    10:00AM Divine Liturgy
    11:15AM Memorial: Olga Jones
    11:30AM Church School
    24
    25
    26
    7:00PM Orthodox Study Group
    27
    7:00PM OCF
    28
    4:30PM Friday Fish Fry
    29
    SATURDAY OF THE SOULS #2
    10:00AM Divine Liturgy
    10:45AM Memorial Service
    1
    MAR
    9:00AM Orthros
    10:00AM Divine Liturgy
    11:30AM Church School
    2
    CLEAN MONDAY
    6:00PM Compline & "Koulouma"
    3
    4
    6:00PM Presanctified Liturgy
    5
    7:00PM OCF
    6
    4:30PM Fish Fry
    7:00PM Salutations
    7
    St. Theodore/Miracle of the Kolliva
    10:00AM Divine Liturgy
    10:45AM Memorial Service
    8
    TRIUMPH OF ORTHODOXY
    9:00AM Orthros
    10:00AM Divine Liturgy
    11:30AM Church School
    6:30PM Great Vespers
    9
    10
    11
    6:00PM Presanctified Liturgy
    12
    7:00PM OCF
    13
    4:30PM Fish Fry
    4:30PM Friday Fish Fry
    7:00PM Salutations
    14
BACK TO TOP

REGIONAL EVENTS

BACK TO TOP