Announcements

ORTHROS BEGINS AT 8:30AM & THE DIVINE LITURGY BEGINS AT 9:30AM

Website Links: Visit the church's website at www.stgeorgeclifton.org for our online streaming links.

To find the prayers for each service and to follow along, visit the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Digital Chant Stand at https://digitalchantstand.goarch.org.

To light a candle or make a donation follow this link https://st-george-greek-orthodox-churchand-the-shrine-of-st-nectarios.square.site/

ST. GEORGE PARISH MISSION STATEMENT

To worship the Holy Trinity and practice Christianity the Orthodox way. To learn and be inspired by the Holy Scripture and the lives of the Saints. To grow in following the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the church ministries. To live with humility and love in our home, our church family and everywhere.

WE WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY!

We are grateful that you have joined us for prayer and worship. Please join us after the Divine Services in our Fr. John & Presvytera Margaret Orfanakos Fellowship Hall for our hospitality hour hosted by the Antoniou family in memory of their beloved family member.

Liturgical Schedule:

Mon., Nov. 21^st – Presentation of the Theotokos into the Temple…...Orthros & Div. Lit. 8:30AM

Friday, November 25^th – St. Katherine the Great Martyr……………..Orthros & Div. Lit. 8:30AM

Tuesday November 29^th – Great Vespers at St. Andrew in Randolph, NJ……………….7:00PM

Wed., November 30^th – St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle…………Orthros & Div. Lit. 8:30AM

Memorial Services Today For:

Antonis Antoniou – 9 months

May his memory be eternal.

Today’s Fanouropita is offered by the family of Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios Hailos.

Special Events During Church Services:

Requests for Memorial Services, Artoclasias, 40-day baby blessings, Fanouropites, etc. are welcomed. We recommend that you please let the office know ahead of time so that we can include your special service in the Sunday bulletin.

Parish General Assembly:

Everyone is encouraged to stay after the Divine Liturgy for our Parish General Assembly taking place in the Fellowship Hall.

Mark Your Calendar:

Sunday, November 20^th ………….Parish General Assembly Meeting following Divine Liturgy

Nov. 23^rd – Nov. 25^th ………Church Office Closed for Thanksgiving

Sunday, November 27^th ………….GOYA Pancake Breakfast

Friday, December 9^th ……………..Philoptochos Comedy Night with Gus Constantellis

Sunday, December 4^th & 11^th …….Daughters of Penelope Christmas Money Tree Raffle

Sunday, December 11^th …………..Parish Council Elections

Sunday, December 18^th……………Sunday School Christmas Pageant Greek School Hosts Christmas Brunch

Tuesday, December 20^th………..…Metropolis of NJ Christmas Tree Lighting at 6:00PM

Parish Council Elections:

Nominations for a 2 year term on the PC will take place at the Parish Assembly. The 8 PC members whose term expires at the end of 2022 are Tina Anastos, Andy Dakos, Nick Dessipris, John Foukas, Elaine Manoliadis, George Orfanakos, Harriet Panagakis and Morfia Sokolic. The PC seminar, which needs to be attended by all nominees, will be held on Thursday, December 1^st at 7:00pm. If anyone is unable to attend, please call the church office to make alternate arrangements. Please note that elections for the Parish Council will be held on Sunday, December 11, 2022 following Church services until 2:30pm. Only Stewards in good standing for the year 2022 are eligible to vote in the election. Nominees for the Parish Council, whether present or not at the Parish General Assembly, have until noon on Tuesday, November 22^nd to accept their nominations.

Sunday School Christmas Pageant:

Our Sunday School Christmas Pageant is back and we'd love for your children to participate. The pageant will be held here at St. George on Sunday, 12/18. Your child MUST be in Church School on that day and the two Sundays prior to. If your children are interested in participating and will be in Church School the first three Sundays in December, please sign up via the SignUpGenius that was emailed home. DEADLINE TO SIGN UP is SUNDAY, 11/27.

Nativity Fast:

Please be reminded that we are currently in the Nativity Fast. Realizing that the festive Thanksgiving holiday is upon us this week, we should still make a deliberate effort to prepare for the coming of our Lord with almsgiving, fasting and more intense prayer.

Feast Day Flower and Icon Donations:

During the Ecclesiastical year, our Church comes alive with many Liturgical services. It is customary in our faith to decorate our Church and icons used during special Feast Day services with flowers. We encourage our parishioners to offer this special donation as a way to remember departed friends and relatives, as well as an expression of love for their family and loved ones. Donations are now being accepted for:

24 Christmas Poinsettia Plants - $25 each

“Introducing the Orthodox Faith” Class with Fr. Peter:

Classes will meet on Wednesday nights for the next several weeks. The classes will be held mostly in person but occasional ZOOM classes will also take place. The topic is "Introducing the Orthodox Faith" and it is intended for all Orthodox who feel they could use a “faith refresher”. Also, this is a good class for those who are thinking of embracing our faith via the sacrament of Chrismation or adult Baptism.

St. Paraskevi Philoptochos Thanksgiving Turkey Drive:

We ask that you please consider donating a turkey or giving a $30 donation per family to be distributed to Eva's Kitchen and St. Peter's Haven during this holiday season. A feather with your family's name will be placed on our MR. TOM TURKEY. Please visit our table on Sundays during coffee hour! Thank you for helping us to keep feeding those who are in need!

St. George Greek School News:

Pending interest, we intend to hold a Greek School class for 3-year-olds and a Regents/Ellinomatheia Conversation Class (which can earn High School and College language credits) for anyone 12 years old and older. In addition, we would like to establish a Greek Adult Conversation/Culture Course. Anyone interested, please send an email to greekschool@stgeorgeclifton.org or contact the Church Office at 973-779-2626 as soon as possible so plans can be made accordingly. Don't miss the opportunity to either enhance your knowledge or learn more about this rich and beautiful language and culture! “If the violin is the most perfect musical instrument, the Greek language is the violin of the human thought.” Helen Keller

“SMYRNA” – The Movie:

It will be screened in 700 theatres nationwide on Thursday, December 8^thas a one-night-only release. The historical incidents and facts that preceded and occurred during the occupation of Smyrna in 1922 by the Turkish army, including the massacre of the local Greek and Armenian population, are recounted through the lives of the Baltatzis family members. Locally it is being screen at AMC cinemas in Clifton and Wayne.

St. George Choirs:

"Sing praise to the Lord!" (Ps. 68:32) New members, all ages, welcome & needed!

● Nov. 20th - NO rehearsal

● Nov. 27th - Youth Choir & Adult Choir combined rehearsal - 12:00 in the choir loft

Sunday School Food Collection:

Our Sunday School children are starting this year’s food collection and it will continue throughout the school year. Our goal is to work together to stock the empty shelves of the food pantry all year long! This initial collection will help provide healthy Thanksgiving dinner options for families in need. Please bring in non-perishable food items and leave them in the atrium in the food collection basket. It is so important to help our children think of others and we sincerely thank you for helping us make that happen. Your support is important to so many!

Sponsor A Day Program:

One way to help the church is through our “Sponsor a Day” program. We encourage our parishioners to select a day that has special meaning to them like a birthday, feast day, anniversary or a memorial and make a suggested $250 donation. We would like to thank the Daughters of Penelope for sponsoring November 9^th, the feast day of St. Nectarios, as well as Angeliki Antoniou for sponsoring the feast day of St. Nectarios in memory of her husband Antonis Antoniou; Militsa Phillips for sponsoring December 5^th, the Feast Day of St. Sabba, in memory of her husband Peter and father of Patti Manis & Stella Kopellas. For more information about the program, speak to one of our Parish Council members, Ministry Leaders or call the church.

Please consider sponsoring these feast days:

November 21^st – Presentation of the Theotokos into the Temple
November 25^th – St. Katherine the Great Martyr
November 30^th – St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle
December 4^th – St. Barbara the Great Martyr
December 6^th – St.Nicholas the Wonderworker
December 9^th – The Conception of St. Anna
December 12^th – St. Spyridon the Wonderworker

As we observe Thanksgiving Day, may this be a day of giving thanks to God for His Love, His Grace, and may His abundant blessings be on all of you and your families.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving Day.

Saints and Feasts

November 20

9th Sunday of Luke

November 20

Proclus, Archbishop of Constantinople

Saint Proclus lived during the reign of Saint Theodosius the Younger. A disciple and scribe of Saint John Chrysostom, he was ordained Bishop of Cyzicus about the year 426, but because the people there unlawfully elected another bishop before his arrival, he remained in Constantinople. In 429, Nestorius, who had been Archbishop of Constantinople for about a year, and had already begun his blasphemous teaching that it is wrong to call the holy Virgin "Theotokos," invited Bishop Proclus to give a sermon on one of the feasts of our Lady, which he did, openly defending in Nestorius' presence the name "Theotokos," that is, "Mother of God." Saint Proclus was elevated to the throne of Archbishop of Constantinople in 434. It was he who persuaded Emperor Theodosius the Younger and his holy sister Pulcheria to have the most sacred relics of his godly teacher Saint John Chrysostom brought back from Comana, and triumphantly received them upon their return to the imperial city (see Jan. 27 and Nov. 13). He reposed in peace in 447.

November 20

The Forefeast of the Presentation of the Theotokos into the Temple

November 20

Gregory the Righteous of Decapolis

Saint Gregory who was from Irenopolis of the Decapolis of Asia Minor, was the son of Sergius and Mary. He became a monk as a young man, and after struggling for many years in virtue and prayer under obedience to a wise spiritual father, he was informed by revelation that it was the will of God for him to live, like the Patriarch Abraham, with no certain dwelling, moving from place to place. His journeyings took him to Ephesus, Constantinople, Corinth, Rome, Sicily, Thessalonica, and again to Constantinople, where, after many labours in defence of Orthodoxy against Iconoclasm, he reposed in peace in the first half of the ninth century. He had two disciples, one of whom was Saint Joseph the Hymnographer (see Apr. 3), who wrote the Menaion service for Saint Gregory, his father in Christ.

November 21

The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

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.

November 24

Peter, Archbishop of Alexandria

Saint Peter illustriously occupied the throne of Alexandria for twelve years, and, as Eusebius says, "was a divine example of a bishop on account of the excellence of his life and his study of the sacred Scriptures" (see Eusebius, Eccl. Hist., Book VII, 3 2; Book VIII 11, 13; and Book IX, 6). He excommunicated Arius for his sympathy with the Meletian schism. When Arius learned that Saint Peter had been imprisoned, he sent many priests and deacons to him, asking that he receive him back into the communion of the Church before his martyrdom. When the ambassadors of Arius, who had not, like Saint Peter, perceived the ruin he would engender, were astonished at the vehemence with which Saint Peter refused to receive Arius again, he revealed to them a dread vision he had seen, in which the Master Christ had appeared to him as a child wearing a garment torn from head to foot. When Saint Peter asked the Lord who rent His garment, the Lord answered that it was Arius, and that he must not be received back into communion. The holy hieromartyr Peter was beheaded during the reign of Maximinus in the year 312; he is called the "Seal of the Martyrs," because he was the last Bishop of Alexandria to suffer martyrdom under the pagan Emperors. His successors to the throne of Alexandria, Saints Alexander and Athanasius the Great, brought to final victory the battle against Arius' heresy which Saint Peter had begun.

November 25

Katherine the Great Martyr of Alexandria

Saint Catherine, who was from Alexandria, was the daughter of Constas (or Cestus). She was an exceedingly beautiful maiden, most chaste, and illustrious in wealth, lineage, and learning. By her steadfast understanding, she utterly vanquished the passionate and unbridled soul of Maximinus, the tyrant of Alexandria; and by her eloquence, she stopped the mouths of the so-called philosophers who had been gathered to dispute with her. She was crowned with the crown of martyrdom in the year 305. Her holy relics were taken by Angels to the holy mountain of Sinai, where they were discovered many years later; the famous monastery of Saint Catherine was originally dedicated to the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord and the Burning Bush, but later was dedicated to Saint Catherine. According to the ancient usage, Saints Catherine and Mercurius were celebrated on the 24th of this month, whereas the holy Hieromartyrs Clement of Rome and Peter of Alexandria were celebrated on the 25th. The dates of the feasts of these Saints were interchanged at the request of the Church and Monastery of Mount Sinai, so that the festival of Saint Catherine, their patron, might be celebrated more festively together with the Apodosis of the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos. The Slavic Churches, however, commemorate these Saints on their original dates.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Mode

The angelic powers appeared at your tomb, and those guarding it became as dead. Mary stood at your grave seeking your pure body. But you stripped the power of Hades, yet were not touched by corruption. You met the virgin and granted her life. O Lord, who

Ἀγγελικαὶ Δυνάμεις ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμά σου, καὶ οἱ φυλάσσοντες ἀπενεκρώθησαν, καὶ ἵστατο Μαρία ἐν τῷ τάφῳ, ζητοῦσα τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα. Ἐσκύλευσας τὸν ᾍδην, μὴ πειρασθεὶς ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, ὑπήντησας τῇ Παρθένῳ, δωρούμενος τὴν ζωήν, ὁ ἀναστὰς ἐκ των νεκρῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for Forefeast of the Entry of the Theotokos in the Fourth Mode

By blossoming forth the only Ever-virgin as fruit, today holy Anna doth betroth us all unto joy, instead of our former grief; on this day she doth fulfil her vows to the Most High, leading her with joy into the Lord's holy temple, who truly is the temple and pure Mother of God the Word.

Χαράν προμνηστεύεται, σήμερον Άννα ημίν, τής λύπης αντίθετον, καρπόν βλαστήσασα, τήν μόνην Αειπάρθενον, ήν περ δή καί προσάγει, τάς ευχάς εκπληρούσα, σήμερον γηθομένη, τώ Ναώ τού Κυρίου, ως όντως ναόν τού Θεού Λόγου, καί Μητέρα αγνήν.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

The whole world is filled today with joy and gladness on the Theotokos's auspicious and resplendent feast, whereon with great voice it crieth out: The heavenly tabernacle is she in truth.

Ευφροσύνης σήμερον, η οικουμένη, επληρώθη άπασα, εν τή ευσήμω Εορτή, τής Θεοτόκου κραυγάζουσα, Αύτη υπάρχει, σκηνή επουράνιος.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

First Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Matthew 28:16-20

At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw Him they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Amen."

First Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 28:16-20

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, οἱ ἕνδεκα μαθηταὶ ἐπορεύθησαν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, εἰς τὸ Ὄρος, οὗ ἐτάξατο αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς. Καὶ ἰδόντες αὐτόν, προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ· οἱ δὲ ἐδίστασαν. Καὶ προσελθὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς, λέγων· Ἐδόθη μοι πᾶσα ἐξουσία ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. Πορευθέντες οὖν, μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Πατρός, καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος· διδάσκοντες αὐτοὺς τηρεῖν πάντα ὅσα ἐνετειλάμην ὑμῖν. Καὶ ἰδού, ἐγὼ μεθ' ὑμῶν εἰμι πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας, ἕως τῆς συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος. Ἀμήν.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:4-10.

Brethren, God who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God: not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Προκείμενον. Plagal Second Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1.
Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου.
Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἐφεσίους 2:4-10.

Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεός, πλούσιος ὢν ἐν ἐλέει, διὰ τὴν πολλὴν ἀγάπην αὐτοῦ ἣν ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς, καὶ ὄντας ἡμᾶς νεκροὺς τοῖς παραπτώμασιν συνεζωοποίησεν τῷ Χριστῷ - χάριτί ἐστε σεσωσμένοι - καὶ συνήγειρεν, καὶ συνεκάθισεν ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ· ἵνα ἐνδείξηται ἐν τοῖς αἰῶσιν τοῖς ἐπερχομένοις τὸν ὑπερβάλλοντα πλοῦτον τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ ἐν χρηστότητι ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ· τῇ γὰρ χάριτί ἐστε σεσῳσμένοι διὰ τῆς πίστεως, καὶ τοῦτο οὐκ ἐξ ὑμῶν· θεοῦ τὸ δῶρον· οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων, ἵνα μή τις καυχήσηται. Αὐτοῦ γάρ ἐσμεν ποίημα, κτισθέντες ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐπὶ ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς, οἷς προητοίμασεν ὁ θεός, ἵνα ἐν αὐτοῖς περιπατήσωμεν.

Gospel Reading

9th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 12:16-21

The Lord said this parable: "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." As he said these things, he cried out: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

9th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 12:16-21

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἀνθρώπου τινὸς πλουσίου εὐφόρησεν ἡ χώρα· καὶ διελογίζετο ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων· τί ποιήσω, ὅτι οὐκ ἔχω ποῦ συνάξω τοὺς καρπούς μου; καὶ εἶπε· τοῦτο ποιήσω· καθελῶ μου τὰς ἀποθήκας καὶ μείζονας οἰκοδομήσω, καὶ συνάξω ἐκεῖ πάντα τὰ γενήματά μου καὶ τὰ ἀγαθά μου, καὶ ἐρῶ τῇ ψυχῇ μου· ψυχή, ἔχεις πολλὰ ἀγαθὰ κείμενα εἰς ἔτη πολλά· ἀναπαύου, φάγε, πίε, εὐφραίνου. εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Θεός· ἄφρον, ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ τὴν ψυχήν σου ἀπαιτοῦσιν ἀπὸ σοῦ· ἃ δὲ ἡτοίμασας τίνι ἔσται; οὕτως ὁ θησαυρίζων ἑαυτῷ, καὶ μὴ εἰς Θεὸν πλουτῶν.

Wisdom of the Fathers

I cannot be silent about the story of Hesychius the Horebite. He passed his life in complete negligence, without paying the least attention to his soul. Then he became extremely ill, and for an hour he left his body.

St. John Climacus

Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century

And when he came to himself, he begged us all to leave him immediately. And he built up the door of his cell, and he stayed in it for twelve years without ever uttering a word to anyone, and without eating anything but bread and water.

St. John Climacus

Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century