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.
We are entering a quite busy yet very holy period in the parish calendar. Of course, we in the Orthodox Tradition prefer the term "Nativity Fast" to Advent. But advent is certainly acceptable because it impies that we are anticipating something marvelous just around the corner, and we are: the celebration of the Birth of Christ.
There are so many events coming up, all of which have details in this e-bulletin. Please read on for more information about:
• The Presentation of Fr. Makarios Mannos, visiting “Ieromonachos” from St. Katherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai.
• Weekly Paraklesis services throughout the Nativity Fast period.
• St. Nicholas Great Vespers (in Virginia Beach at our sister parish).
• Our charity appeals of the Angel Tree and of food for FISH.
• Community Christmas Card.
• Children’s Christmas Pageant.
Our parish is indeed very active. The choir is growing and sounding better and better. We have a well-stocked Bookstore for your Christmas shopping and a growing lending library for your edification. An active men's group called The Legionairres that has fellowship and service projects for the good of the community.
On top of all that, Fr. Gianulis is much more understandable with the upgrades of our sound system (some people actually commenting on his sermons now that they can understand his words). The weekly Orthodoxy 101 class via Zoom is a growing and enriching fellowship. If you are not appreciating these many activities, only one question remains: Where are you?
Of course, I realize there may still be some concerns about COVID. However, I would say, get vaccinated, wear a mask, and participate in our wonderful, growing community. Enjoy the fellowship and rich worship experience. The blessing of so doing will be yours.
Please join us every Sunday. Divine Liturgy begins at 10 a.m.
For the health and well-being of all, we encourage you to wear a mask, but it is not required.
Holy Communion is being distributed by using seperate spoon for each individual.
The Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos falls this year on a Sunday, November 21st. Fr. Makarios Ieromonachos of St. Katherine Monastery at Mount Sinai will be celebrating.
Join us also on Saturday for Great Vespers at 5:00 p.m.
Sunday for Divine Services as usual, Orthros at 9:00 a.m. followed by Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
Beginning on November 19th and continuing through December 17th, we will sing the Supplication Service to the Theotokos (Paraklesis). The service will begin at 6 p.m. each week during the Nativity Fast (excluding Dec. 10th). The service is beautiful and lasts about 45 minutes long.
You are warmly invited to attend the Holy Vespers for the Feast of St. Nicholas on Saturday, December 5th, at 5:00 p.m. at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Virginia Beach. A reception with heavy hors d’oevres will follow the service in the fellowship hall. Our Speaker for the Vespers: Fr. Chrysostom Onyekakeyah. Appointed by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, Fr. Chrysostom is leading the missionary efforts of the Greek Archdiocese in its outreach to Africans and African Americans. Father Chrysostom is from Nigeria, and lives in the Bronx, where he is beginning his ministry. A humble and kind man, Father Chrysostom is delighted to be with us on our patronal name day weekend. We warmly welcome him!
Yours in Christ,
Fr. John Manuel, St. Nicholas Church, VB
Archimandrite Makarios, Priest-monk (ieromonachos) of St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Monastery on Mount Sinai, Egypt
Sunday, November 21st 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
A luncheon of vegetarian mezedes will be served for those attending the presentation.
See the enclosed flyer below and the biographical sketch of Fr. Makarios.
You are invited to participate in our Community Christmas Card.
For a donation of $25, you can support St. Demetrios and send Christmas greetings to your Church friends. Please send your name as you wish it to appear ont the card or deposit the form that is in the narthex along with your donation into the box provided for you in the narthex.
The deadline is December 5th. All mail in donations must be received by Sunday December 5th as well. Mail early.
St. Demetrios will again be participating in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. Tags will be available for pick up this Sunday and gifts should be returned by 12/5. Please see Christina Kokolis with any questions.
Christmas decorations, frankincense & myrrh incense, Christmas cards, children's books and other items are arriving. Shop early to avoid the Christmas rush!
The Bookstore is located in the passageway between the sanctuary and parish hall.
Join us on other Thursdays, 7 p.m. Log in using the link below.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85443892141?pwd=U283M1VRcUhCTXFRM0d5WXJIeGxuUT09
Meeting ID: 854 4389 2141
Passcode: 315679
This evening we will be completing our study of those passages in the Gospel of Matthew that are unique to Matthew. Join us, even if you have never yet participated. It is a great way to make new friends from the comfort of your home...and learn something along the way.
Our Sunday School children will be having a Christmas Pageant on Sunday, December 19th after Liturgy. Please plan on attending this very special performance, directed by Linda Jouvanis.
Also on December 19th, all parishioners are invited to join in singing Christmas carols in front of the Kimball Theater in Merchants Square. This event is hosted by “Christmas in Williamsburg” and St. Demetrios will be the featured church for an hour of caroling. More details on exact time to come. See Christina Kokolis with any questions.
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Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!
www.signupgenius.com
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Food donations most needed right now: beef-based soups, applesauce and other canned fruits, toothpaste and toothbrushes.
Please hold clothing donations and households until their move in January 2022. Thank you.
Although we do not have a Greek School per se, we are offering Greek Language classes for children and adults. For more information, contact Demetra Demetriou at demetrademetriou7@hotmail.com
...especially during this difficult time, call your priest for pastoral needs, but understand that 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 he will return your call at his earliest convenience.
We really do get support from those who use Amazon Smile and designate St. Demetrios as the charity of choice. We could do so much better if everyone would designate St. Demetrios as your Amazon Smile Charity when doing your online shopping.
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church whenever you shop on AmazonSmile. Same products, same prices, same service, but we get a donation. Click the link below to learn more.
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/20-4454773
Updates on Orthodox Church news items can be found on Facebook:
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.
The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
The Reading is from Luke 1:39-49, 56
In those days, Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."
And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name." And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.
The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 1:39-49, 56
Ἐν ταῖς ἡμέρας ἐκείνας, ἀναστᾶσα δὲ Μαριὰμ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις ἐπορεύθη εἰς τὴν ὀρεινὴν μετὰ σπουδῆς εἰς πόλιν ᾿Ιούδα, καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον Ζαχαρίου καὶ ἠσπάσατο τὴν ᾿Ελισάβετ. καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἤκουσεν ἡ ᾿Ελισάβετ τὸν ἀσπασμὸν τῆς Μαρίας, ἐσκίρτησε τὸ βρέφος ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ αὐτῆς· καὶ ἐπλήσθη Πνεύματος ῾Αγίου ἡ ᾿Ελισάβετ καὶ ἀνεφώνησε φωνῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ εἶπεν· εὐλογημένη σὺ ἐν γυναιξὶ καὶ εὐλογημένος ὁ καρπὸς τῆς κοιλίας σου. καὶ πόθεν μοι τοῦτο ἵνα ἔλθῃ ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ Κυρίου μου πρός με; ἰδοὺ γὰρ ὡς ἐγένετο ἡ φωνὴ τοῦ ἀσπασμοῦ σου εἰς τὰ ὦτά μου, ἐσκίρτησε τὸ βρέφος ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ μου. καὶ μακαρία ἡ πιστεύσασα ὅτι ἔσται τελείωσις τοῖς λελαλημένοις αὐτῇ παρὰ Κυρίου. Καὶ εἶπε Μαριάμ· Μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν Κύριον καὶ ἠγαλλίασε τὸ πνεῦμά μου ἐπὶ τῷ Θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρί μου, ὅτι ἐπέβλεψεν ἐπὶ τὴν ταπείνωσιν τῆς δούλης αὐτοῦ. ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν μακαριοῦσί με πᾶσαι αἱ γενεαί· ὅτι ἐποίησέ μοι μεγαλεῖα ὁ δυνατὸς καὶ ἅγιον τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ. ῎Εμεινε δὲ Μαριὰμ σὺν αὐτῇ ὡσεὶ μῆνας τρεῖς καὶ ὑπέστρεψεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτῆς.
Prokeimenon. Third Tone. Luke 1: 46-48.
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Verse: For he has regarded the humility of his servant.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:1-7.
BRETHREN, the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties; but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people.
Προκείμενον. Third Tone. Λουκάν 1:46-48.
Μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν Κύριον, καὶ ἠγαλλίασε τὸ πνεῦμά μου ἐπὶ τῷ Θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρί μου.
Στίχ. Ὅτι ἐπέβλεψεν ἐπὶ τὴν ταπείνωσιν τῆς δούλης αὐτοῦ.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 9:1-7.
Ἀδελφοί, εἶχεν ἡ πρώτη σκηνὴ δικαιώματα λατρείας, τό τε ἅγιον κοσμικόν. Σκηνὴ γὰρ κατεσκευάσθη ἡ πρώτη, ἐν ᾗ ἥ τε λυχνία καὶ ἡ τράπεζα καὶ ἡ πρόθεσις τῶν ἄρτων, ἥτις λέγεται ἅγια. Μετὰ δὲ τὸ δεύτερον καταπέτασμα σκηνὴ ἡ λεγομένη ἅγια ἁγίων, χρυσοῦν ἔχουσα θυμιατήριον, καὶ τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης περικεκαλυμμένην πάντοθεν χρυσίῳ, ἐν ᾗ στάμνος χρυσῆ ἔχουσα τὸ μάννα, καὶ ἡ ῥάβδος Ἀαρὼν ἡ βλαστήσασα, καὶ αἱ πλάκες τῆς διαθήκης· ὑπεράνω δὲ αὐτῆς Χερουβὶμ δόξης κατασκιάζοντα τὸ ἱλαστήριον· περὶ ὧν οὐκ ἔστιν νῦν λέγειν κατὰ μέρος. Τούτων δὲ οὕτως κατεσκευασμένων, εἰς μὲν τὴν πρώτην σκηνὴν διὰ παντὸς εἰσίασιν οἱ ἱερεῖς, τὰς λατρείας ἐπιτελοῦντες· εἰς δὲ τὴν δευτέραν ἅπαξ τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ μόνος ὁ ἀρχιερεύς, οὐ χωρὶς αἵματος, ὃ προσφέρει ὑπὲρ ἑαυτοῦ καὶ τῶν τοῦ λαοῦ ἀγνοημάτων·
The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
The Reading is from Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28
At that time, Jesus entered a village; and a woman called Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve you alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her." As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!" But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"
The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 10:38-42, 11:27-28
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσῆλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς κώμην τινά· γυνὴ δέ τις ὀνόματι Μάρθα ὑπεδέξατο αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτῆς. καὶ τῇδε ἦν ἀδελφὴ καλουμένη Μαρία, ἣ καὶ παρακαθίσασα παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ ἤκουε τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ. ἡ δὲ Μάρθα περιεσπᾶτο περὶ πολλὴν διακονίαν· ἐπιστᾶσα δὲ εἶπε· Κύριε, οὐ μέλει σοι ὅτι ἡ ἀδελφή μου μόνην με κατέλιπε διακονεῖν; εἰπὲ οὖν αὐτῇ ἵνα μοι συναντιλάβηται. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· Μάρθα Μάρθα, μεριμνᾷς καὶ τυρβάζῃ περὶ πολλά· ἑνὸς δέ ἐστι χρεία· Μαρία δὲ τὴν ἀγαθὴν μερίδα ἐξελέξατο, ἥτις οὐκ ἀφαιρεθήσεται ἀπ᾿ αὐτῆς. ᾿Εγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ λέγειν αὐτὸν ταῦτα ἐπάρασά τις γυνὴ φωνὴν ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου εἶπεν αὐτῷ· μακαρία ἡ κοιλία ἡ βαστάσασά σε καὶ μαστοὶ οὓς ἐθήλασας. αὐτὸς δὲ εἶπε· μενοῦνγε μακάριοι οἱ ἀκούοντες τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ φυλάσσοντες αὐτόν.
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.
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From Exodus to Now: The Rich Legacy of St. Katherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai
Visiting priest-monk Makarios will be visiting and presenting at St. Demetrios on Sunday Nov. 21st.