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St. George Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2018-10-14
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St. George Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (651) 222-6220
  • Fax:
  • (651) 225-9276
  • Street Address:

  • 1111 Summit Avenue

  • Saint Paul, MN 55105


Contact Information












Services Schedule

Sunday Morning Orthros/Matins 8:15am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am; Saturday Great Vespers 5:00pm (October thru May); Weekday Services (see Online Calendar, Sunday Bulletin & Monthly Newsletter); Confession (by appointment).


Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 3rd Mode

Let all things above in heav'n rejoice, and let all things below on earth be glad. With all the might and strength of His arm an eternal deed the Lord did perform. Beneath His feet He has trampled down death by death, and first born of the dead has He become. From the womb of Hades has He delivered us, and to all the world has granted His great redeeming mercy.

Apolytikion for Sun. of the 7th Ecumenical Council in the Plagal 4th Mode

You are greatly glorified, O Christ our God, who established our Fathers as luminaries upon the earth, and through them led us all to the true Faith. O Most compassionate, glory to You.

Apolytikion for the Church in the 4th Mode

As the deliverer of captives, and the protector of the poor; a physician of the sick, the defender of kings; O Great Martyr St. George Victorious, intercede to Christ our God, to save our souls.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 2nd Mode

A protection of Christians unshamable, intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering, please reject not the prayerful cries of those who are in sin. Instead, come to us, for you are good; your loving help bring unto us, who are crying in faith to you: hasten to intercede and speed now to supplicate, as a protection for all time, Theotokos, for those who honor you.
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Saints and Feasts

October 14

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council

On the Sunday that falls on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we chant the Service to the 350 holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which gathered in Nicaea in 787 under the holy Patriarch Tarasius and during the reign of the Empress Irene and her son, Constantine Porphyrogenitus, to refute the Iconoclast heresy, which had received imperial support beginning with the Edict issued in 726 by Emperor Leo the Isaurian. Many of the holy Fathers who condemned Iconoclasm at this holy Council later died as Confessors and Martyrs for the holy Icons during the second assult of Iconoclasm in the ninth century, especially during the reigns of Leo the Armenian and Theophilus.


October 14

Righteous Paraskeve of Serbia

Saint Paraskeve was born in Thrace in the eleventh century. In her youth she went to Constaninople, and thence journeyed to the Holy Land in pursuit of the ascetical life. After struggling for many years in the wilderness of the Jordan, she was moved by God to return to her homeland. She continued her monastic labours there for a few more years, and then reposed in peace.


October 14

Nazarius, Gervasius, Protasius, & Celsus of Milan

The holy Martyrs all contested for piety's sake in Milan; after the passage of much time their holy relics were discovered and given honourable burial by Saint Ambrose.


October 14

Praised Ignatius, Archbishop of Methymna


Cosmashymnographer
October 14

Cosmas the Hagiopolite

Saint Cosmas was from the Holy City, Jerusalem, and was a contemporary and peer of Saint John of Damascus (Dec. 4), with whom also he was reared when, because of his orphanhood he was adopted by Sergius, Saint John's father, and with whom he had the same instructor. About the year 743, he was elected Bishop of Maiuma, a coastal city of Palestine, aforetime under the jurisdiction of Gaza, with the name Port Gaza. During the reign of Saint Constantine the Great, it became a separate township and at that time was renamed Constantia, after Constantine, the son of the Emperor (see Sozomen, Eccl. Hist., V:3). Cosmas became an excellent hymnographer, from whence he is called "the Composer and Melodist," Among his many compositions are the Canon of the Cross (Sept. 14) and the Canon for the Nativity of Christ, "Christ is born, give ye glory."


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Ninth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."

Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 4th Mode. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 3:8-15.

Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.

When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.

All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
The Reading is from Luke 8:5-15

The Lord said this parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold." And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience." As he said these things, he cried out "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."


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Wisdom of the Fathers

For by seed here He means His doctrine, and by land, the souls of men, and by the sower, Himself .... For as the sower makes no distinction in the land submitted to him, but simply and indifferently casts his seed; so He Himself too makes no distinction of rich and poor, of wise and unwise, of slothful or diligent, of brave or cowardly; but He discourses unto all, fulfilling His part, although foreknowing the results.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 44 on Matthew 12, 4th Century

When you see life's pleasures, beware that they might not distract you, for they conceal death's snares. Likewise a fisherman casts not his hook to no purpose. As bait for his hook, the enemy uses the delusion of sensuality to arouse desire, that he might thereby catch men's souls and subject them to himself. A soul which has been caught to serve the enemy's will then serves as a snare for other souls, for it conceals the grief of sin with its apparent delight.
St. Ephraim the Syrian
A Spiritual Psalter no 43, pg. 74, 4th century

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Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

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Announcement of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine

10/12/2018

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America releases below an important announcement by our Ecumenical Patriarchate related to the serious issue of the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Archdiocese Mourns the Passing in the Lord of Alex G. Spanos

10/11/2018

NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America mourns the passing in the Lord of Alex G. Spanos, 95, Archon Depoutatos of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, former Vice-President of the Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, businessman, philanthropist and great benefactor of the Archdiocese and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and faithful steward of the Church.

Archdiocese Undertakes National Study

10/09/2018

NEW YORK – As announced at the recent Clergy Laity Congress in Boston, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, has recently engaged the consulting services of CapinCrouse and the Barna Group as part of a review of the effectiveness of the various departments, programs and ministries of the national Church.

Archdiocese asks for prayers for Hurricane Florence victims, Donations to be directed to the National Philoptochos

09/24/2018

NEW YORK – Hurricane Florence and its aftermath in the last week, has tragically caused the loss of human life, the destruction of property, power outages and the disruption of the lives of many people in our country, including thousands of our faithful across the eastern seaboard.
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Fr. Rick's Sermon

SERMON SERIES:  WORSHIP AND THE DIVINE LITURGY

 

INTRODUCTION (9-28-03; 10-7-2018)

   I recently attended a concert of a famous popstar. The show was to begin at 7:30pm. We had tickets on the floor which is open-seating, so we arrived early around 6:30pm. A local disc jockey began warming up the crowd an hour later. After 30 minutes he introduced a no-name opening act that played for another 30 minutes. Then the DJ came back for another 30 minutes. So, the headliner didn’t appear until 9pm. Once the show got started it was great and lasted two and half hours until 11:30pm. As we were standing there for five hours with thousands of others, I couldn’t help but think about all the people who don’t spend an hour or two worshipping God on Sunday or who complain that it’s too long. In addition, it was hard not think about the hundreds of dollars spent on tickets, food, drinks and parking given freely, but how difficult it is for some to freely support God’s work in the Church.

   Recently, I heard some suggestions that I should do some sermons about worship and the Divine Liturgy. At first, I thought, we already did that but when I looked back I realized it’s been fifteen years since we did a sermon series on worship and the liturgy. And considering the juxtaposition between the worship of God and the worship of popstars, and everything else. Perhaps now is a good time to start again.

   If someone asked you, “What do you do at Church on Sunday morning?” What would be your answer? If someone asked why do Orthodox worship the way they do, what would be your answer? When Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well that we would worship God “in Spirit and Truth” (John 4), what did He mean by that? These questions and others I hope to answer in the coming weeks. Let us start today with a basic question, a primary supposition: why is it so difficult at times to worship God in Spirit and in Truth? This is one of the basic struggles in the Christian life and I believe it’s rooted in two things.

   Number one, we must remember that we are engaged in spiritual warfare. The devil and his demons do not want us to worship God. He does not want us to know God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Nor does he want us to experience the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit. Therefore, Satan will use whatever means he can to keep us from praying, from reading the bible, from loving our neighbor and especially from worshipping with our fellow Christians. And when we do pray, read, love and worship, the devil will try to fill our mind with all sorts of distraction. In Church, someone is talking, some came late, someone left early, someone didn’t smile or say hi to me, someone said something rude or insensitive, not to mention all our memories of the previous day or week, and thoughts about what we need to do when we get home, or to work tomorrow morning. Thus, when liturgy is over, we think to ourselves “that wasn’t very helpful.” We must remember, we are in a spiritual tug of war. Hopefully, we’re trying to pull ourselves into church and into the liturgy. Satan’s trying to pull us away. Who is going to win?

   Number two, our struggle to come to Divine Liturgy or come on time, is often due to our lack of understanding of the purpose and meaning behind what we are doing in the Divine Liturgy. What does it mean when the priest carries the Gospel book in procession? What can Holy Communion do for us? How should we prepare for to receive the Eucharist? Why is it important to come at the beginning of Liturgy? Can we answer these questions for other people? More importantly, can we answer them for ourselves? In other words, it’s one thing to know intellectually and it’s another thing to know intuitively, in our heart and soul. Knowing about Jesus Christ is different than knowing Jesus Christ. We must seek to learn the meaning of what we do. Otherwise, it can become an empty ritual for us, a thoughtless habit.

   Before we conclude, I believe today’s Gospel reading from the Third Sunday of Luke (7:11-16) speaks to the importance of worship. In it Jesus raises the dead son of the widow of Nain (vv.14-15). Through the worship of God, meeting Him face-to-face, we are raised from spiritual death to life. Like the widow, God has compassion on us and consoles in our grief (v.13), so that we can glorify Him knowing that He visited us (v.16). Likewise, in today’s Epistle reading from the 19th Sunday (2Corinthians 11:31-12:9), the Apostle Paul speaks about the “third heaven” (v.2) and “Paradise” (v.4). Orthodox worship reflects heavenly angelic worship depicted in the dome and brings us back into communion with God just like the paradisal Garden of Eden, which is symbolized by the Holy Altar.

   My hope over the next few weeks or couple months--however long is needed--is to take us on a journey through the Divine Liturgy—a guided tour if you will. Hopefully, we can understand each part, its spiritual meaning, and our expected preparation and participation. This will help us, and in turn help us to educate our children, grandchildren, godchildren and others. Important to remember, the adult sermon is given early in the Liturgy, right after the Gospel reading. Therefore, to learn more about the Liturgy, you must come on time. Another important thing to remember, as you learn more about Divine Liturgy, as we address problem number two, problem number one will still be there. In other words, we can know everything about worship and liturgy, but we’re still going to be in a spiritual tug of war with the devil. However, armed with knowledge we will be better equipped to fight against him. Are you ready for the battle? Are you going to fight? Your salvation depends on your answer! Amen!

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News and Events

ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

 Rev. Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews, Presbyter

1111 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105, (651) 222-6220, www.stgeorgegoc.org

 

October 14, 2018                                                                 SUNDAY OF THE 7TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL

 

TODAY’S EVENTS: Philoptochos meeting 12:00pm.

 

Epistle Reader: Stephen Kanavati                   Prosfora: anonymous

Fellowship: Tina Bovis-Fuller & Family             Head Greeters: Jim Theros & Diane Anastos

                                                                                  

 

Tuesday       10-16     Parish Council meeting                                                                                 6:30PM

                                   Camp Task Force meeting at Elsie’s in Minneapolis                                          6:30PM

                                   Catechism Class “Church I-Birth, Mission, Structure” with Dcn. Jason Ketz        7:00PM

Wednesday  10-17     Sandwich Prep for FOCUS MN                                                                       10:00AM

Thursday      10-18     AHEPA meeting                                                                                              7:00PM

Saturday      10-20     Twin Cities Corn Maze community event                                                         12:00PM

                                    VESPERS                                                                                                        5:00PM

Sunday         10-21     ORTHROS (8:15am) &DIVINE LITURGY – 6TH SUNDAY OF LUKE                       9:30AM

                                    Medical Crisis Program presentation by Deb Korluka                                       12:00PM

                                    Greek Dance practice                                                                                      4:30PM

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Philoptochos Meeting Today: following Divine Liturgy.

Future of Youth Ministry: after the resignation of Nathaniel Kostick we are embarking on the next leg of our journey for our parish youth ministry program. We need everyone's help. Your input and involvement are welcomed at our next youth ministry meeting on Sunday October 28th. We will be reviewing the youth activities calendar and the youth minister job description. Immediate needs include a Sunday School (co-)director(s) and parent leaders for various activities including Twin Cities Corn Maze next Saturday, October 20th at 12pm. Everyone welcome! Parish youth ministry is only as successful as the community and parental support that undergirds it. Your active involvement is necessary. Please offer your help!

Think About It: Where there is no prayer and fasting, there are demons.    St. Theophan the Recluse (+1894)

Exterior Restoration- Brick, block and tuckpointing have been completed. The cost of the project is $113,000. All parish council members and many others have already pledged or given their financial support. A brochure was mailed in October Glad Tidings. Please join us in this important work. Thank you!

Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness: is nationally recognized during the month of October and specifically October 15th. Please offer names of born and unborn children to be remembered during Divine Liturgy. Please pray for those children and God’s comforting grace for their parents in their loss. See today’s insert.

Medical Crisis Program (MCP): Help families struggling with financial obligations due to medical crisis! Deb Korluka of MCP will give a brief presentation about this valuable program next Sunday, October 21, after liturgy. Mark your calendars for the Winter Soiree fundraising event on Thursday, November 15 at 6pm, at Chilkoot Café & Cyclery (826 4th Street South, Stillwater). For more info or to donate, visit www.lomcp.com.

October is for Teen Bag-Lunches! We will be making sandwiches/bag lunches for the FOCUS approved teen shelter weekly this month. That's 80 lunches 4 times this month for a total of 320 lunches. Next day to volunteer is this Wednesday, Oct 17 at 10am! Contact George Mastrogiorgis, 917-445-4839, to RSVP. The lunches for the following week will be provided by our own teenagers. All are welcome to support this important ministry.

Fresh Phyllo for Holiday Baking – Philoptochos is once again taking orders for fresh phyllo following liturgy next Sunday, Oct. 21, 28 and Nov. 4. Ready for pick up Nov. 18. Forms will be available on-line and at church. Any questions, contact Presbytera Jane at janedono1@gmail.com. Holiday baking is easy with fresh phyllo!!

Patristic Wisdom: If we consider the promised reward of heavenly immortality, then our effort, toil and fatigue will seem much less to endure. Everlasting life is given to the one who perseveres.                   St. Cyprian of Carthage (+258)

Young at Heart Lunch: Tuesday, October 23 at 1:30pm at the Naughty Greek, 2400 University Ave, St. Paul. Owner Angelo Giovanis will join us! Please RSVP to Sue Gnetz at gnetzsue@gmail.com.

Mittel-European Dinner: Saturday, November 3 at St. Herman of Alaska OCA, 5355-38th Ave S, Minneapolis, 55417. 5pm Vespers, dinner to follow. All profits go towards capital campaign for building renovation. See flyer in social hall for fundraiser details.

Twin Cities IOCC Dinner: Thursday, November 8, 2018, at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church. Come and learn how your support is helping families in Greece, Syria, Ethiopia, and right here at home in the US. Pan-Orthodox Vespers will begin at 6:00pm, followed by a reception, dinner, and special IOCC presentation at 6:30pm. Join us! Tickets are $45. For registration and sponsorship information, visit iocc.org/minneapolis.

Church Fathers Speak: Put up joyfully with the person who grieves you and creates temptations. Pray for him or her every day. Always try to do good, to commend and to speak with love to him or her. Then God will work His miracle to resolve the situation. Then Christ will be glorified and the devil will be foiled. Force yourself especially to stop criticizing.                                                  Elder Ephraim of Arizona

Stelios Petrakis Trio is coming to The Cedar in Minneapolis on Sunday, November 11, 2018 at 7:30pm. The trio (Stelios Petrakis, Efren Lopez, and Bijan Chemirani) performs Cretan music that blends cultural influences from Iran, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Spain, and France. https://www.thecedar.org/listing-2/2018/11/11/stelios-petrakis-trio-with-special-guest

Wisdom from the Fathers: The Lord does not show Himself to a proud soul. No matter how many books it reads, the proud soul will never know God, since pride prevents the grace of the Holy Spirit. God is only known to the humble soul.                                                               St. Silouan the Athonite (+1938)

Missing Anything? Please check the Lost & Found area near the coat rack in the lower level for items that have been left at church. Anything not claimed by November 15 will be donated.

IOCC Homefront Workshop on Saturday December 8th, 9am-12pm, at St. Mary Greek Orthodox Church. To help educate leaders about parish emergency, disaster preparedness and response. RSVP by Dec.3rd to julie@stmarysgoc.org. For more info, dchristopulos@iocc.org or 612-308-5407.

IOCC Emergency Kits: With the recent hurricanes, IOCC is encouraging everyone to take the time to create emergency supply kits, for both your family and your parish. To assemble your kit, store items in airtight plastic bags, and put them all in one or two easy-to-carry containers. Be sure to include enough food, water, and medical supplies to last for at least 72 hours. See checklist posted in social hall or www.iocc.org.

Stewardship 2018 please give generously now in the final quarter of the year to help meet our budget and support the ministries of our parish. Thank you for your generous support!

Welcome Visitors Thank you for joining with us in prayer and fellowship. The worship of the Orthodox Church is deeply rooted in and very similar to that of the early Christian Church. Unique sensory stimuli and mystery are elements that go back even to the liturgy of the Jewish temple. Everything in an Orthodox Christian church communicates the majestic presence of God the Holy Trinity with His Saints. It is literally heaven on earth. It is a sad consequence of the divisions in Christianity that we cannot extend a general invitation to receive Holy Communion. Visitors are invited to receive the blessed bread (antithoron) at the conclusion of the liturgy. We pray and work for the reconciliation and unity of all Christians. If you are interested in learning more about Orthodoxy, please contact Fr. Rick at fatherrick@stgeorgegoc.org. We are proud of our Greek heritage, but one does not have to be of Greek descent, nor speak Greek to be a Greek Orthodox Christian.

Note to Orthodox about Holy Communion: Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ is one of the most Holy experiences for a Christian in order to be granted the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. We are never worthy to partake of Divine Nature. Yet, it is essential that we prepare ourselves for this sacred Communion by constant prayer, reading the Scriptures, regular fasting and periodic Confession. At a minimum, we should fast all morning before Communion, arrive at the beginning of Liturgy, and come for Confession at least once a year. In addition, we should not have separated ourselves from the Church through serious sin. Otherwise, please refrain from Communion to avoid “judgment…not discerning the Lord’s body” (1Cor. 11:29). Contact Fr. Rick for pastoral guidance.

Glad Tidings deadline: The 10th of each month. Glad Tidings email: gladtidings@stgeorgegoc.org  Sunday Bulletin Deadline: Wednesday Noon each week.  Email: office@stgeorgegoc.org

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Bulletin Inserts

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