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St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-04-21
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St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (978) 685-4052
  • Street Address:

  • 8 Lowell Street

  • Lawrence, MA 01840-1416
  • Mailing Address:

  • PO Box 10

  • Methuen, MA 01844


Contact Information




Services Schedule

5 PM Saturdays - Vespers

9 AM Sundays - Orthros

10 AM Sundays - Divine Liturgy

Sunday School (Sept-May) following Holy Communion


Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fifth Tone

Let us worship the Word, O ye faithful, praising Him that with the Father and the Spirit is co-beginningless God, Who was born of a pure Virgin that we all be saved; for He was pleased to mount the Cross in the flesh that He assumed, accepting thus to endure death. And by His glorious rising, He also willed to resurrect the dead.

لنسبح نحن المؤمنين ونسجد للكلمة المساوي للآب والروح في الأزلية وعدم الابتداء ، المولود من العذراء لخلاصنا . لانه سُر بالجسد ان يعلو على الصليب ويحتمل الموت ، وينهض الموتى بقيامته المجيدة.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. Mary of Egypt in the Eighth Tone

In thee the image was preserved with exactness, O Mother; for taking up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to overlook the flesh, for it passeth away, but to attend to the soul since it is immortal. Wherefore, O righteous Mary, thy spirit rejoiceth with the Angels.

بك حفظت الصورة باحتراس وثيق، أيتها الأم مريم لأنك قد حملت الصليب فتبعت المسيح وعملت وعلّمت أن يتغاضى عن الجسد لأنه يزول ويهتم بأمور النفس غير المائتة فلذلك أيتها البارة تبتهج روحك مع الملائكة .

Apolytikion for the Church in the Fourth Tone

As the deliverer of captives and defender of the poor, healer of the infirm and champion of kings, victorious great martyr George intercede with Christ our God for our souls salvation. 

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Tone

O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fifth Tone. Psalm 11.7,1.
You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14.

BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

البروكيمنون. Fifth Tone. مزمور 11: 7، 1.
أنت يا رب تحفظنا وتخلصنا
Verse: خلصني يا رب فإن البار قد فنيَ

فصل من رسالة بولس الى العبرانيين 9: 11-14.

وَلَيْسَ بِدَمِ تُيُوسٍ وَعُجُولٍ، بَلْ بِدَمِ نَفْسِهِ، دَخَلَ مَرَّةً وَاحِدَةً إِلَى الأَقْدَاسِ، فَوَجَدَ فِدَاءً أَبَدِيّاً. لأَنَّهُ إِنْ كَانَ دَمُ ثِيرَانٍ وَتُيُوسٍ وَرَمَادُ عِجْلَةٍ مَرْشُوشٌ عَلَى الْمُنَجَّسِينَ يُقَدِّسُ إِلَى طَهَارَةِ الْجَسَدِ، فَكَمْ بِالْحَرِيِّ يَكُونُ دَمُ الْمَسِيحِ، الَّذِي بِرُوحٍ أَزَلِيٍّ قَدَّمَ نَفْسَهُ لِلَّهِ بِلاَ عَيْبٍ، يُطَهِّرُ ضَمَائِرَكُمْ مِنْ أَعْمَالٍ مَيِّتَةٍ لِتَخْدِمُوا اللهَ الْحَيَّ.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
The Reading is from Mark 10:32-45

At that time, Jesus took his twelve disciples, and he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
مرقس 10: 32-45

32في ذلك الزمان أَخَذَ يسوع تلاميذه الاِثْنَيْ عَشَرَ أَيْضاً وَابْتَدَأَ يَقُولُ لَهُمْ عَمَّا سَيَحْدُثُ لَهُ: 33((هَا نَحْنُ صَاعِدُونَ إِلَى أُورُشَلِيمَ، وَابْنُ الإِنْسَانِ يُسَلَّمُ إِلَى رُؤَسَاءِ الْكَهَنَةِ وَالْكَتَبَةِ، فَيَحْكُمُونَ عَلَيْهِ بِالْمَوْتِ، وَيُسَلِّمُونَهُ إِلَى الأُمَم،34فَيَهْزَأُونَ بِهِ وَيَجْلِدُونَهُ وَيَتْفُلُونَ عَلَيْهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَهُ، وَفِي الْيَوْمِ الثَّالِثِ يَقُومُ)).35وَتَقَدَّمَ إِلَيْهِ يَعْقُوبُ وَيُوحَنَّا ابْنَا زَبْدِي قَائِلَيْنِ: ((يَا مُعَلِّمُ، نُرِيدُ أَنْ تَفْعَلَ لَنَا كُلَّ مَا طَلَبْنَا)).36فَقَالَ لَهُمَا: ((مَاذَا تُرِيدَانِ أَنْ أَفْعَلَ لَكُمَا؟)) 37فَقَالاَ لَهُ: ((أَعْطِنَا أَنْ نَجْلِسَ وَاحِدٌ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ وَالآخَرُ عَنْ يَسَارِكَ فِي مَجْدِكَ)). 38فَقَالَ لَهُمَا يَسُوعُ: ((لَسْتُمَا تَعْلَمَانِ مَا تَطْلُبَانِ. أَتَسْتَطِيعَانِ أَنْ تَشْرَبَا الْكَأْسَ الَّتِي أَشْرَبُهَا أَنَا، وَأَنْ تَصْطَبِغَا بِالصِّبْغَةِ الَّتِي أَصْطَبِغُ بِهَا أَنَا؟)) 39فَقَالاَ لَهُ: ((نَسْتَطِيعُ)). فَقَالَ لَهُمَا يَسُوعُ: ((أَمَّا الْكَأْسُ الَّتِي أَشْرَبُهَا أَنَا فَتَشْرَبَانِهَا، وَبَالصِّبْغَةِ الَّتِي أَصْطَبِغُ بِهَا أَنَا تَصْطَبِغَانِ. 40وَأَمَّا الْجُلُوسُ عَنْ يَمِينِي وَعَنْ يَسَارِي فَلَيْسَ لِي أَنْ أُعْطِيَهُ إلاَّ لِلَّذِينَ أُعِدَّ لَهُمْ)).41وَلَمَّا سَمِعَ الْعَشَرَةُ ابْتَدَأُوا يَغْتَاظُونَ مِنْ أَجْلِ يَعْقُوبَ وَيُوحَنَّا. 42فَدَعَاهُمْ يَسُوعُ وَقَالَ لَهُمْ: ((أَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحْسَبُونَ رُؤَسَاءَ الأُمَمِ يَسُودُونَهُمْ، وَأَنَّ عُظَمَاءَهُمْ يَتَسَلَّطُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ. 43فَلاَ يَكُونُ هَكَذَا فِيكُمْ. بَلْ مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَصِيرَ فِيكُمْ عَظِيماً، يَكُونُ لَكُمْ خَادِماً، 44وَمَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَصِيرَ فِيكُمْ أَوَّلاً، يَكُونُ لِلْجَمِيعِ عَبْداً. 45لأَنَّ ابْنَ الإِنْسَانِ أَيْضاً لَمْ يَأْتِ لِيُخْدَمَ بَلْ لِيَخْدِمَ وَلِيَبْذِلَ نَفْسَهُ فِدْيَةً عَنْ كَثِيرِينَ)).

 

 

 

 


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Wisdom of the Fathers

Before He humbled Himself, only the angels knew him. After He humbled Himself, all human nature knew Him. You see how His humbling of Himself did not make Him have less but produced countless benefits, countless deeds of virtue, and made His glory shine forth with greater brightness? God wants for nothing and has need of nothing. Yet, when He humbled Himself, He produced such great good, increased His household, and extended His kingdom. Why, then, are you afraid that you will become less if you humble yourself?
St. John Chrysostom
On the Incomprehensible Nature of God. 8.46-47. Taken from: Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol: Mark. Intervarsity Press, 2005, p. 143.

But let no man be troubled at the apostles being in such an imperfect state. For not yet was the cross accomplished, not yet the grace of the Spirit given. But if thou wouldest learn their virtue, notice them after these things, and thou wilt see them superior to every passion.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 65 on Matthew 20, 2,3,4,6. B#54, pp.399-401,403., 4th Century

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Saints and Feasts

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April 23

George the Great Martyr and Triumphant

George, this truly great and glorious Martyr of Christ, was born of a father from Cappadocia and a mother from Palestine. Being a military tribune, or chiliarch (that is, a commander of a thousand troops), he was illustrious in battle and highly honoured for his courage. When he learned that the Emperor Diocletian was preparing a persecution of the Christians, Saint George presented himself publicly before the Emperor and denounced him. When threats and promises could not move him from his steadfast confession, he was put to unheard-of tortures, which he endured with great bravery, overcoming them by his faith and love towards Christ. By the wondrous signs that took place in his contest, he guided many to the knowledge of the truth, including Queen Alexandra, wife of Diocletian, and was finally beheaded in 296 in Nicomedia.

His sacred remains were taken by his servant from Nicomedia to Palestine, to a town called Lydda, the homeland of his mother, and then were finally transferred to the church which was raised up in his name. (The translation of the Saint's holy relics to the church in Lydda is commemorated on November 3; Saint Alexandra the Queen, on April 21.)

If April 23 falls on or before Great and Holy Pascha, the Feast of St. George is translated to Bright Monday.


Allsaint
April 24

Elizabeth the Wonderworker

Saint Elizabeth was born in Heraclea of Thrace. She lived in virginity and exhausted herself with ascetical labours and every kind of hardship from the time of her youth, and was deemed worthy of the grace of wonderworking from God; she reposed in peace in Constantinople in the middle of the fifth century.


Allsaint
April 27

Symeon the Holy Martyr

Symeon was a first cousin of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was the son of Clopas (or Cleopas, also called Alphaeus), the brother of Joseph the Betrothed. He became the second Bishop of Jerusalem, as a successor to James the Brother of God. He ended his life when he was crucified during the reign of Trajan, in 107, at the age of 120.


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Upcoming Schedule

Wenesday April, 24
6pm Presanctified Litrugy
 
Friday, April 26
6pm Little Compline with Canon of Raising of Lazarus
 
Saturday, April 27 - Pre-Pascha Preparation and Cleaning
8:30am Orthros
9:30am Divine Liturgy
11am-11:30am - Pascha Preparation Reflection
11:30am-2pm - Cleaning the church in preparation of Pascha
 
Sunday, April 28 - Palm Sunday
9am Orthros
10am Divine Liturgy with procession of palms
6pm Bridegroom Service
 
Monday, April 29
6pm Bridegroom Service
 
Wednesday, May 1
6pm Holy Unction
 
Thursday, May 2 - Bishop John Visits
10am Vesperal Divine Liturgy with Bishop John (Commemoration of the Mystical Supper of Christ)
6pm Orthros of Holy Friday (The Service of the 12 Passion Gospels [Procession iwth the Cross])
 
Friday, May 3 
9am Royal Hours
3pm Great Vespers of Holy Friday (Taking Down the Body of Jesus)
6pm Lamentations Service (Procession with Bier/Epitaphios outside around the Church)
 
Saturday, May 4
10am Vesperal Divine Liturgy (Christ's Victory over Death and the Harrowing of Hell) with Baptisms and Reception of New Orthodox
10:00pm Vigil of Pascha Begins
10:15pm Rush/Resurrection Serivce
10:45pm Orthros
11:45pm Divine Liturgy of Pascha
Sunday, May 5 - Great and Holy Pascha
12:00pm Agape Vespers
 
 
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Pastor's Ponderings

.From the fouth ode of the Canon of St. Andrew, "Thy Body and Thy Blood, O Word, Thou hast offered at Thy Crucifixion for the sake of all: Thy Body to refashion me, Thy Blood to wash me clean; and Thou hast given up Thy spirit, O Christ, to bring me to Thy Father." As push through these last two weeks of Great Lent, let us take heart at the good Lord's abundanct mercy and may we, by His grace, open ourselves more and more to the divine light. Good strength for these last two weeks towards Pacha! Fr. Ephraim

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Memorials, Celebrations and Happenings

Please make an effort to come to some of the remaining services of Great Lent and Holy Week. It will bring you many blessings!

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