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St. George Church
Publish Date: 2019-11-28
Bulletin Contents
News, Events and Announcements
Saints and Feasts
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Thanksgiving Message
Allsaint
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St. George Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (207) 945-9588
  • Street Address:

  • 90 Sanford St

  • Bangor, ME 04401
  • Mailing Address:

  • 90 Sanford St

  • Bangor, ME 04401

Contact Information

Parish Priest Fr. Leo Schefe

57frleo@gmail.com | 207 385-3000

Services Schedule

ORTHROS: 9:00

LITURGY:  10:00

Past Bulletins


News, Events and Announcements

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

DIVINE LITURGY ON THANKSGIVING MORNING What better way to celebrate this National Holiday than to give thanks to God for His many blessings, preserving our lives in peace and granting us enduring freedoms in our country to this day? It is a privilege to assemble together and to pray on this particular day. Let’s gather this Thursday to offer thanks through our Liturgical worship and to receive Christ, the nourisher of our souls. Orthos prayers at 9AM, Divine Liturgy immediately following. See you then!

YES, SUNDAY SCHOOL MEETS EACH WEEK unless otherwise noted.

LOOK FOR A FEW NEW ITEMS in the bookstore today. Thanks everyone for your continued support. AND—if you’d like to merchandise the bookstore (keep it looking good and organized), please let Presbytera know. She’d appreciate assistance. Thanks!

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Saints and Feasts

November 28

Auxentius, 16 Martyrs of Tiberioupolis

Stephennew
November 28

Stephen the New

The righteous Stephen was born in Constantinople in 715 to pious parents named John and Anna. His mother had prayed often to the most holy Theotokos in her church at Blachernae to be granted a son, and one day received a revelation from our Lady that she would conceive the son she desired. When Anna had conceived, she asked the newly-elected Patriarch Germanus (see May 12) to bless the babe in her womb. He said, "May God bless him through the prayers of the holy First Martyr Stephen." At that moment Anna saw a flame of fire issue from the mouth of the holy Patriarch. When the child was born, she named him Stephen, according to the prophecy of Saint Germanus.

Stephen struggled in asceticism from his youth in Bithynia at the Monastery of Saint Auxentius, which was located at a lofty place called Mount Auxentius (see Feb. 14). Because of his extreme labours and great goodness, he was chosen by the hermits of Mount Auxentius to be their leader. The fame of his spiritual struggles reached the ears of all, and the fragrance of his virtue drew many to himself.

During the reign of Constantine V (741-775), Stephen showed his love of Orthodoxy in contending for the Faith. This Constantine was called Copronymus, that is, "namesake of dung," because while being baptized he had soiled the waters of regeneration, giving a fitting token of what manner of impiety he would later embrace. Besides being a fierce Iconoclast, Constantine raised up a ruthless persecution of monasticism. He held a council in 754 that anathematized the holy icons. Because Saint Stephen rejected this council, the Emperor framed false accusations against him and exiled him. But while in exile Saint Stephen performed healings with holy icons and turned many away from Iconoclasm. When he was brought before the Emperor again, he showed him a coin and asked whose image the coin bore. "Mine," said the tyrant. "If any man trample upon thine image, is he liable to punishment?" asked the Saint. When they that stood by answered yes, the Saint groaned because of their blindness, and said if they thought dishonouring the image of a corruptible king worthy of punishment, what torment would they receive who trampled upon the image of the Master Christ and of the Mother of God? Then he threw the coin to the ground and trampled on it. He was condemned to eleven months in bonds and imprisonment. Later, he was dragged over the earth and was stoned, like Stephen the First Martyr; wherefore he is called Stephen the New. Finally, he was struck with a wooden club on the temple and his head was shattered, and thus he gave up his spirit in the year 767.

November 28

Irenarchos & his Companion Martyrs at Sebaste

Saint Irenarchos, who was from Sebastia, lived during the reign of Diocletian. In his youth he ministered to the holy Martyrs during the time of their punishment in prison. Once, on beholding seven women being tormented in behalf of Christ, and marvelling at their courage, and seeing how, although they were weak in body, they nonetheless became like men before the tyrant and put him to shame, the Saint was enlightened by divine grace and confessed Christ with boldness. Tried by fire and water, he was beheaded together with the holy women in the year 298.

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Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion for Stephen the New in the Fourth Tone

Trained on the mountain in ascetical labours, with the whole armour of the Cross thou didst vanquish the spiritual arrays of unseen enemies; and when thou hadst stripped thyself with great courage for contest, thou didst slay Copronymus with the sword of the true Faith. For both these things hast thou been crowned by God, O righteous Martyr, blest Stephen of great renown.
Ασκητικώς προγυμνασθείς εν τώ όρει, τάς νοητάς τών δυσμενών παρατάξεις, τή πανοπλία ώλεσας παμμάκαρ τού Σταυρού, αύθις δέ πρός άθλησιν, ανδρικώς απεδύσω, κτείνας τόν Κοπρώνυμον, τώ τής Πίστεως ξίφει, καί δι' αμφοίν εστέφθης εκ Θεού, Οσιομάρτυς αοίδιμε Στέφανε.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Tone

On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God.
Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν Προαιώνιον Λόγον, ἐν Σπηλαίῳ ἔρχεται, ἀποτεκεῖν ἀπορρήτως. Χόρευε ἡ οἰκουμένη ἀκουτισθεῖσα, δόξασον μετὰ Ἀγγέλων καὶ τῶν Ποιμένων, βουληθέντα ἐποφθῆναι, παιδίον νέον, τὸν πρὸ αἰώνων Θεόν.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Προκείμενον. Eighth Tone. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 18.4,1.
Εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἐξῆλθεν ὁ φθόγγος αὐτῶν.
Στίχ. Οἱ οὐρανοὶ διηγοῦνται δόξαν Θεοῦ.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Θεσσαλονικεῖς α' 4:18-5:10.

Ἀδελφοί, παρακαλεῖτε ἀλλήλους ἐν τοῖς λόγοις τούτοις. Περὶ δὲ τῶν χρόνων καὶ τῶν καιρῶν, ἀδελφοί, οὐ χρείαν ἔχετε ὑμῖν γράφεσθαι. Αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀκριβῶς οἴδατε ὅτι ἡ ἡμέρα κυρίου ὡς κλέπτης ἐν νυκτὶ οὕτως ἔρχεται· ὅταν γὰρ λέγωσιν, Εἰρήνη καὶ ἀσφάλεια, τότε αἰφνίδιος αὐτοῖς ἐφίσταται ὄλεθρος, ὥσπερ ἡ ὠδὶν τῇ ἐν γαστρὶ ἐχούσῃ, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐκφύγωσιν. Ὑμεῖς δέ, ἀδελφοί, οὐκ ἐστὲ ἐν σκότει, ἵνα ἡ ἡμέρα ὑμᾶς ὡς κλέπτης καταλάβῃ· πάντες ὑμεῖς υἱοὶ φωτός ἐστε καὶ υἱοὶ ἡμέρας· οὐκ ἐσμὲν νυκτὸς οὐδὲ σκότους· ἄρα οὖν μὴ καθεύδωμεν ὡς καὶ οἱ λοιποί, ἀλλὰ γρηγορῶμεν καὶ νήφωμεν. Οἱ γὰρ καθεύδοντες νυκτὸς καθεύδουσιν· καὶ οἱ μεθυσκόμενοι, νυκτὸς μεθύουσιν. Ἡμεῖς δέ, ἡμέρας ὄντες, νήφωμεν, ἐνδυσάμενοι θώρακα πίστεως καὶ ἀγάπης, καὶ περικεφαλαίαν, ἐλπίδα σωτηρίας. Ὅτι οὐκ ἔθετο ἡμᾶς ὁ θεὸς εἰς ὀργήν, ἀλλʼ εἰς περιποίησιν σωτηρίας διὰ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τοῦ ἀποθανόντος ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, ἵνα, εἴτε γρηγορῶμεν εἴτε καθεύδωμεν, ἅμα σὺν αὐτῷ ζήσωμεν.

Prokeimenon. Eighth Tone. Psalm 18.4,1.
Their voice has gone out into all the earth.
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians 4:18-5:10.

Brethren, comfort one another with these words. But as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him.

Gospel Reading

Thursday of the 11th Week
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 20:9-18

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἄνθρωπός τις ἐφύτευσεν ἀμπελῶνα, καὶ ἐξέδοτο αὐτὸν γεωργοῖς καὶ ἀπεδήμησε χρόνους ἱκανούς. καὶ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἀπέστειλε πρὸς τοὺς γεωργοὺς δοῦλον ἵνα ἀπὸ τοῦ καρποῦ τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος δώσουσιν αὐτῷ· οἱ δὲ γεωργοὶ δείραντες αὐτὸν ἐξαπέστειλαν κενόν. καὶ προσέθετο αὐτοῖς πέμψαι ἕτερον δοῦλον. οἱ δὲ κἀκεῖνον δείραντες καὶ ἀτιμάσαντες ἐξαπέστειλαν κενόν. καὶ προσέθετο πέμψαι τρίτον. οἱ δὲ καὶ τοῦτον τραυματίσαντες ἐξέβαλον. εἶπε δὲ ὁ κύριος τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος· τί ποιήσω; πέμψω τὸν υἱόν μου τὸν ἀγαπητόν· ἴσως τοῦτον ἰδόντες ἐντραπήσονται. ἰδόντες δὲ αὐτὸν οἱ γεωργοὶ διελογίζοντο πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς λέγοντες· οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ κληρονόμος· δεῦτε ἀποκτείνωμεν αὐτόν, ἵνα ἡμῶν γένηται ἡ κληρονομία. καὶ ἐκβαλόντες αὐτὸν ἔξω τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος ἀπέκτειναν. τί οὖν ποιήσει αὐτοῖς ὁ κύριος τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος; ἐλεύσεται καὶ ἀπολέσει τοὺς γεωργοὺς τούτους, καὶ δώσει τὸν ἀμπελῶνα ἄλλοις. ἀκούσαντες δὲ εἶπον· μὴ γένοιτο. ὁ δὲ ἐμβλέψας αὐτοῖς εἶπε· τί οὖν ἐστι τὸ γεγραμμένον τοῦτο, λίθον ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας; πᾶς ὁ πεσὼν ἐπ᾿ ἐκεῖνον τὸν λίθον συνθλασθήσεται· ἐφ᾿ ὃν δ᾿ ἂν πέσῃ, λικμήσει αὐτόν.

Thursday of the 11th Week
The Reading is from Luke 20:9-18

The Lord said this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country for a long while. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, that they should give him some of the fruit of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent another servant; him also they beat and treated shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent yet a third; this one they wounded and cast out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; it may be they will respect him.' But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.' And they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants, and give the vineyard to others." When they heard this, they said, "God forbid!" But he looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written: 'The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner'? Every one who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but when it falls on any one it will crush him."

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Thanksgiving Message

November 22, 2019

 

Protocol No. 63/19

November 28, 2019

Thanksgiving Day

 

To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the reverend priests and deacons, the monks and nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox family in America

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,

            As Orthodox Christians the act of thanksgiving is an expression of our faith that is deeply rooted in our communion with God.  We come together in worship as His people to offer a public proclamation of thanksgiving to Him as our Creator and Savior.  We celebrate the Holy Eucharist, the holy mystery of thanksgiving in which we receive the Body and Blood of Christ.  We give thanks in remembrance of what our Lord has done for our salvation, and we give thanks for the power of His grace through the sacrament.

            In our reflection on our faith and thanksgiving in commemoration of Thanksgiving Day, let us read the words of the Psalmist:

            My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
            When shall I come and behold the face of God?
            My tears have been my food day and night,
            While men say to me continually, “Where is your God?”
            These things I remember, as I pour out my soul:
            How I went with the throng,
            And led them in procession to the house of God,
            With glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,
            A multitude keeping festival. (Psalm 42:1-4)

Today is a unique festival in this country, one that has its origins in gratitude to God for safety and freedom, as well as in the plea for divine guidance in a time of national crisis.  It is also a day when we as Christians can demonstrate the importance and priority of faith in giving thanks.

            As affirmed by the Psalmist, thanksgiving is an act that expresses a longing to be in the presence of God.  It is an expression of all of our being—soul, heart, mind and body—that reflects a desire to worship Him and show our gratitude to Him for all that He has done for us.  It is an insuppressible and uncompromised action by which we lead others to join us in the house of God to offer songs of thanksgiving!

            In the words of the Psalmist, we also see that some will challenge the message of the Gospel and our faith, especially in times of trial.  We also know there are many forces in our contemporary world, seeking to remove any reference to God and to faith.  This leads to a limited understanding of thanksgiving, one that is void of the relationship of gratitude with the purpose of our lives, and one that is concerned only with meaningless self-gratification.  In compassion and truth, we are called to be witnesses of genuine thanksgiving that is offered to the Source of our life, our purposeful existence, and our eternity.

            On this blessed Thanksgiving Day, I wish all of you a joyous time of fellowship with friends and family.  I give thanks to God for the many ways in which you have and will show compassion to those in need so that they too may give thanks to God.  I exhort you on this day to be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, and be strong. (I Corinthians 16:13)  Be witnesses of Almighty God before all, offering words of thanksgiving unto Him for His abundant blessings and promises!

With paternal love in Christ,

 

† ELPIDOPHOROS
Archbishop of America

 

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