What a tremendous symbol the Holy Cross has become. What a tremendous witness the sign of the cross can be.

The Cross of our Lord has been a paradoxical symbol throughout history. For centuries it had been considered the most painful form of torture and execution ever devised and considered the most shameful way to be executed. It was only with the crucifixion of our Lord, who humbled Himself to the degree that He would voluntarily submit to such a death, that this symbol of death and shame became a symbol of life and victory. The Cross’s significance and meaning was thus transformed through the death and resurrection of Christ for the rest of history.

It is also our witness to others of who we are. In the sign of the cross, whether a cross worn around our necks as a necklace or a physical gesture of touching our mind, our heart and our shoulders (our strength), we give witness that we too have been transformed from shame in sin to victory in forgiveness through Christ our Lord. The symbol of the cross is thus a witness to others not only of our faith in Jesus Christ our Savior, but also as a witness to others that we live according to His central teaching: to love one another. We are indeed people of the Cross.

Please join us every Sunday. Orthros begins at 9 a.m. and  Divine Liturgy begins at 10 a.m.

Holy Communion is being distributed by using seperate spoon for each individual.

THE PARAKLESIS AND VENERATION OF THE MYHRR-STREAMING ICON OF THE PANAGHIA IVIRON WILL BE ON FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 9th at 7:00 p.m.

Please note, we cannot be certain whether there will be an opportunity to venerate the icon prior to the Paraklesis Service. The anointing and ample time for veneration will follow the service.

Divine Liturgy for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross will be held on Wednesday, September 14th, at 6:00 p.m. followed by the procession of the Holy Cross and distribution of basil. Please note, there will not be a procession of the Cross on either Sunday before or the Sunday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. If you have basil to offer, please bring it to Church this Sunday or on Wednesday morning.

With the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, we are pleased to announce that the Wonderworking and Myrrh-streaming Iveron Icon of Hawaii will be brought to St. Demetrios on September 9. Paraklesis Service at 7:00 p.m. followed by Veneration of the Icon. 

For more information on the Icon, visit OHIIA

Refreshments will be offered in the hall following the anointing. Thanks to our volunteers who make this possible.

Parents, please bring your children this Sunday to register them for Sunday School and the first day of classes. Classes will be broken into two groups, elementary age and teens. The teachers have an excellent curriculum planned. Make religious education in the Faith a priority. Classes meet from just following Holy Communion until 12:15 p.m.

Everyone is invited to join the leaders of the parish in planning ahead. This is an effort to get organized: first by planning an annual calendar and then with a focus on ideas for the good of St. Demetrios. Come join the effort on Saturday, September 17th. Coffee and refreshments at 8:30 a.m. Planning meeting at 9:00

The 2022 FR. SAV MEMORIAL MISSION WALK will be on Saturday, October 1st, at First Landing State Park from 9:30 a.m - 2:00 p.m. Complimentary t-shirts and lunch will be provided. There is no charge for the walk, except for the park admission fee. Of course, donations will be encouraged as we will be raising funds for various missions, including OCMC, IOCC and Seminary Scholarships.

Preceding the Walk, there will be an Aghiasmos and Cross throw into the Bay. See the enclosed flyer.

More information on Facebook @fathersavmissionwalk

We will resume our Orthodox Study Group on Thursday, Sept. 22, from 7 - 8 p.m.  We will be meeting in person. Join us at St. Demetrios every Thursday for an opportunity to learn more about the Faith and good fellowship.

CATECHETICAL CLASSES are also being offered by Fr. Theodore Lyketsos, Associate Priest at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Norfolk via ZOOM. You are welcome to Zoom in! The next class will meet on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 7:00 p.m. The topic is: Can We Know if Orthodoxy is True? The Zoom Meeting ID is 830 4728 4123. Passcode: Orthodoxy

...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.

Bill and Nancy Marakos

Georgia Mamangakis and Barney Barnes

Gus Zacharopoulos

Mike Kokolis

Sonny Halioris

Peter and Beverly Daikos

John and Connie Pavlides

Jim Kokolis

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

FISH welcomes donations of coats, shoes, clothing, housewares. Clothing most needed now: new underclothing for all sizes, men's jeans, shoes, towels, blankets and bed sheets. Food and toiletry donations.  Donations most needed right now: boxed cereal, applesauce, bar soap and laundry detergent.

Updates on Orthodox Church news items can be found on Facebook:

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

Use Amazon Smile and designate St. Demetrios as the charity of choice. It is easy to do.

Click the link below to learn more.

 https://smile.amazon.com/ch/20-4454773

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. $56.61 was sent to St. Demetrios in December, but we could do much better if all our parishioners designated St. Demetrios Williamsburg as their Amazon Smile charity.