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St. George Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2019-01-06
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06_epiphany
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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

Apolytikion for Holy Epiphany in the 1st Mode

Lord, when You were baptized in the Jordan, the veneration of the Trinity was revealed. For the voice of the Father gave witness to You, calling You Beloved, and the Spirit, in the guise of a dove, confirmed the certainty of His words. Glory to You, Christ our God, who appeared and enlightened the world.

Kontakion of Holy Epiphany in the Fourth Tone

You appeared to the world today, and Your light, O Lord, has left its mark upon us. With fuller understanding we sing to You: "You came, You were made manifest, the unapproachable light."

Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Mode

You appeared to the world today, and Your light, O Lord, has left its mark upon us. With fuller understanding we sing to You: "You came, You were made manifest, the unapproachable light."
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Saints and Feasts

06_epiphany
January 06

The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who was some six months older than Our Saviour according to the flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Saviour also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvellous deeds, great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized and the voice was heard from the Heavens hearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:1-22). From these events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great mystery of the Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from this that the present feast is called "Theophany," that is, the divine manifestation, God's appearance among men. On this venerable day the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated; henceforth also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of the Heavens.


January 06

Theophan the Recluse


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
The Reading is from Mark 1:9-11

At that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 4th Mode. Psalm 117.26,1.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Verse: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His mercy endures forever.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7.

TITUS, my son, the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of the great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.


Gospel Reading

The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
The Reading is from Matthew 3:13-17

At that time, Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."


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Wisdom of the Fathers

Why were the heavens opened? To inform you that at your baptism also this is done, God calling thee to your country on high.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 12 on Matthew 3, 4th Century

Christ is illumined, let us shine forth with Him. Christ is baptized, let us descend with Him that we may also ascend with Him.
St. Gregory the Theologian
Oration on the Holy Lights, Epiphany 381, 10-16., 4th Century

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Message from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios

Archbishop-demetrios

Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for the Feast of Saint Basil and the New Year 2019

12/27/2018

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As we offer thanksgiving to God at the inception of the new year and with a vision for the marvelous works He will accomplish through us for His honor and glory, we also are mindful of the promise we have affirmed throughout this past year: All Things are Possible to the One Who Believes in Christ. This was the theme for our 44th Biennial Clergy Laity Congress in Boston last July, and it continues to be the inspiration for dynamic work throughout our Holy Archdiocese.

Archiepiscopal Encyclical for the Nativity of Christ (2018)

12/19/2018

The Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ according to the Flesh is depicted throughout our churches in the familiar and radiant icon of the Nativity. Every element of the Gospel account, historically and theologically, appears before our eyes to inspire wonder, worship, and peace. In every detail, the icon proclaims without words that the Child born this day in Bethlehem is none other than the Prince of Peace. For by His birth, peace entered into a world plagued by hatred, hurt, and conflict.
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Fr. Rick's Sermon

I Have A Dream (12-30-2018)

   How many of us have had a dream recently? What did you think of when I said ‘dream’? Was it “a succession of images, thoughts, or emotions passing through the mind during sleep?” Or was it “a vision voluntarily indulged in while awake--a daydream? Or was it “an aspiration; a goal; or an aim?” Or was it “a nightmare--a dream that brings fear or anxiety?” Or was it a vision—"a series of images of unusual vividness, clarity, order, and significance, sometimes seen in a dream.” (https://www.dictionary.com/browse/dream)

   If you had a dream during sleep recently, do you remember it? And if you remembered it, did it make any sense? This is often the conundrum, many of us do not remember our dreams and the ones we do remember are often seem bizarre and do not have a clear meaning. Dreams have a prominent role in today’s Gospel reading for the Sunday after the Lord’s Nativity from Matthew 2:13-23. Three dreams are mentioned, and they all happened to Joseph the Betrothed of Mary. In the first, an angel of the Lord warns Joseph to flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape the murderous King Herod (v.13). In the second, an angel of the Lord tells Joseph to return to Israel with his family after the death of Herod (v.19). In the third, Joseph is warned about Herod’s son, Archelaus, and goes instead further north to Nazareth in Galilee (v.22-23).

   This is not the first time Joseph had a dream for we heard last Sunday that an angel of the Lord advised him to take Mary as his wife when he discovered she was pregnant (Mt.1:20). Nor were these the only dreams relating to this situation for we heard on Christmas day about the Wise Men being warned in a dream not to return to Herod after they found the newborn King (Mt.2:12). All of these dreams are clear interventions by God to bring about His purposes and plans. So, why is that we cannot get such crystal-clear divine messages in our dreams? Why can’t we be like the Old Testament Patriarch Jacob who dreamed of a ladder reaching up to heaven with angels ascending and descending upon it (Gen.28:12-17)? Why can’t we be like Jacob’s son Joseph who dreamed of his future greatness in Egypt (Gen.37:3-11) because he would be able to correctly interpret other person’s dreams (Gen.40-41)? Why can’t we be like the Prophet Daniel who also achieved greatness in Babylon because of his ability to understand and interpret dreams (Daniel 1,5)? Why can’t we be like the Emperor Constantine, whom Christ appeared to in a dream telling him to conquer with the sign of the Cross (312AD)?

   Well, it is important for us to remember how exceptional these examples are. Of the hundreds, if not thousands of persons mentioned in the Scriptures, there are only a handful who receive divine revelations in their dreams. We must also remember the warnings that God gives about dreams and dreamers. The most profound is found in the Second Book of Laws given to Moses, also known as Deuteronomy:

   1“If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. (Dt.13:1-4)

   So, in other words, even if someone can accurately dream about the future or interpret dreams correctly, if they are telling you something contrary to God’s will or commandments, don’t listen to or follow them. The Church continued to condemn these practices as it was common in Roman society and pagan religion to interpret dreams. There was even a ‘professional’ class who interpreted dreams for payment (St. Basil’s Letters, 210). Thus, auguries (soothsayers, prophets), divinations and other such practices are understood as not in harmony with Christian belief (Canon 65 of Sixth Ecumenical Council 692AD in Constantinople; see Harakas: The Orthodox Church: 455 Q & A, #422 on p.322).

   Perhaps, it would be helpful for us talk about dreams in the context of an aspiration or a goal. Fr. Anthony Coniaris, in his book Meet Jesus in the Sunday Gospels vol.2, shares several examples to understand these kind of dreams. First, “the German philosopher, Ernst Bloch, was right when he said that the reliable clue to a person is not what he dreams at night about his past, but rather what he dreams during the day about his future.”

   Second, we remember Thomas Edison, who was another great dreamer. It’s astonishing how many inventions he produced: the electric light, the telegraph, the teletype, the phonograph and motion pictures. Some have called him the man who invented the 20th century. And he did it with less than six months formal education. What is often forgotten, is that Edison was a deeply religious person. He believed that God gave man no problem for which he would not also provide a solution.

   Thirdly, often the dream we have of ourselves may not be the dream that God has for us. For example, Minnesota’s own Senator Hubert H. Humphrey dreamed to become president of the United States. He tried twice and missed both times, the first by less than 1% of the popular vote. Apparently, God had a different dream for Humphrey, that he would be known as humble servant of his country, whose character earned him the respect of even his political opponents, and whose name would appear on several prominent buildings and institutions across our nation. So, if your first dream is not fulfilled, look for the substitute dream God has for you!

   Fourthly, one person’s dream has the potential to positively change a nation, a society or a culture. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is universally known for his famous speech, “I Have a Dream” …that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today that one day down in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today that freedom will reign from every hill and molehill in Mississippi. From every mountainside let freedom ring, and when this happens, when we allow freedom to reign, when we let it reign from every state and every city, we will be able to speed the day when all God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics will be able to join hands, and sing in the words of the Negro spiritual: ‘Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, we’re free at last.”

   Fifth and finally, Fr. Coniaris says, “We need to have the right kind of dreams—God’s dreams. For this we need daily prayer and weekly worship and constant exposure to God’s word” in the Scriptures. As one Christian said, “I meet God every morning in prayer and I listen to His dreams and visions for my life.” Thus, my brothers and sisters in Christ, let us not worry about our nightly dreams. Rather, let us focus on God’s dreams for us that tug at our heart, compelling us to move forward, seeking to fulfill His will in our own unique way in the time and place He has planted us. Then, ‘I had a dream’ will become ‘I have a dream.’ 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

 

January 6, 2019                                                                                                                  THEOPHANY

 

TODAY’S EVENTS: Blessing of Water, 11am; 4pm Nativity Vespers (Old Calendar) at St. Mary Greek with Wonderworking Iveron Icon of Theotokos from Hawaii

 

Epistle Reader: Stephen Kanavati                                       Prosfora: anonymous

Fellowship: Lana Kartak family                                          Head Greeters: Bob Baffa, Joe Weiser

 

Wednesday 01-09     Bible Study                                                                                                  1:30PM

Thursday     01-10     MEOCCA meeting at St. Mary OCA Cathedral in Minneapolis                           11:00AM

Saturday     01-12     VESPERS                                                                                                        5:00PM

                                      Youth Family Night                                                                                   6:00PM

                                      Orthodox Game League at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in St. Paul               7:00PM

Sunday        01-13     ORTHROS (8:15am) &DIVINE LITURGYSUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY            9:30AM

                                      Vasilopita Celebration                                                                               11:00AM

Monday       01-14     Catechism Class “Introduction to Orthodox Christianity” with Fr. Rick               7:00PM

Tuesday      01-15     Parish Council meeting                                                                                   6:30PM

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Wonderworking Icon: Resurrection Russian Orthodox Skete of Fridley is bringing the Iveron version of Portaitissa “Lady of the Door” Theotokos icon to St. Mary Greek this afternoon for the Nativity of our Lord (Old Calendar) 4pm Vespers and tomorrow, Monday January 7th for 10am Liturgy. May she bless us!

Note from Treasurer: please include designations on checks when making contributions to the church. A few words on the memo line noting the purpose of the check (e.g. 2018 stewardship, 2019 stewardship, memorial, capital campaign) is extremely helpful for bookkeeping, thank you!

Think About It: God’s desire to save you is greater than that of your enemy to destroy you.    St. Nicodemus the Hagorite (+1809)

Bible Study: meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 1:30-3pm in the conference room at church. RSVP or questions to Kathy Ryan 651-292-9948 or Kathy.aeiou@gmail.com. All are welcome!

Youth Event this Saturday! Youth ages 3-18 (and parents): Join us for an evening of fun and faith Saturday January 12 beginning with Vespers at 5:00pm at church, followed by dinner and activity. Youth make Vasilopita while learning about the story of St. Basil and the importance of giving (as well as having fun!)

Roselawn Cemetery Lots: 2019 prices are: $6,120 for a Monument Lot (2 graves); $3,825 for a Flat Lot A (2 graves); $2,167.50 for a Flat Lot B (1 grave). Single graves have limited availability. Contact church today!

Exterior Restoration- Brick, block and tuckpointing have been completed. Cost of project is $118,647. We have raised over $71,755 from our parishioners and friends. Please join us in this important work. Thank you!

St. Mary’s OCA Winter Camp: for grades 6-12 at Camp St. Croix, January 18-21, 2019. Theme is “The Sacrament of Marriage”. Fees and more information posted in social hall. Contact Matushka Lisa Tucci with questions, lisatucci71@gmail.com or 612.599.0814.

Youth Minister Position Open: applications are now being accepted for this part time position. To apply, email a resume, cover letter and two references to Fr. Rick at fatherrick@stgeorgegoc.org.

New Sunday School Director! Thank you to Miss Aida Abebe for graciously volunteering to lead our religious education program, working with our current teachers: Lerah McCullough (PreK), Carol Alexis (K-1), Lama Ghazi (2-3), Stephen Kanavati (4-5-6), Anastasia Mastrogiorgis (7-9) and Nick Kanavati & Vicky Paraschou (10-12). Please support Aida and the teachers by frequently bringing your children to liturgy and Sunday school.

New Youth Advisors: Several youth advisors have volunteered for various age groups to organize events and work with parents and children to increase participation. GOYA Anastasia Mastrogiorgis and Phyllis Kapetanakis will lead junior high and high school (7-12 grades). JOY Maria Paraschou and Katherine Cabieses will lead elementary ages (K-6 grades). HOPE: Lerah McCullough and Joanna Tzenis will lead preschool ages.

Intro to Orthodoxy- the cooperative catechism program of classes begins January 14th and will continue on Monday evenings 7-9pm for twelve weeks. This is an excellent opportunity to refresh the knowledge of our Orthodox Christian Faith. Classes are open to everyone but required for those planning to convert. For more info and to register online, visit https://tinyurl.com/yccynqsr

Church Fathers Speak: Any freetime during the day? Use them to read the Scripture and pray in order to fortify the soul, especially if it has become exhausted through activity in the midst of a world of vanities.        St. Ignatius Brianchaninov (+1867)

Basketball Practices: Sundays, Jan 6-Feb 3 from 12:30-2:30pm at Saint Paul Academy lower school, 1150 Goodrich Ave. Coaches: GOYA Boys- Milam Paraschou & George Mastrogiorgis, JOY Coed- Elena Condos, Women- Anastasia Mastrogiorgis, Men- Luke Simon. Contact Milam or George with questions. All family participants are encouraged to register for the tournament and book hotels as soon as possible. We look forward to another great family basketball tournament in Milwaukee, WI on the weekend of February 8-10.

2019 Basketball Tourney: hosted by Annunciation Church, Milwaukee, February 8-10. Early team registration for Men, Women, Boys, Girls & JOY teams is $300 until Dec 15; $400 afterwards. For Player Registration, click here. Meal registration is separate click here.: Early Bird Weekend Package is $90/adult, $55/child until Jan 14; afterwards $110/adult, $60/child until Jan 28. Rooms $119/night at the Brookfield Hotel, 375 South Moorland Rd, Brookfield, WI 53005, 262-364-1100 or here. Questions? Email 2019greekbball@gmail.com.

Patristic Wisdom: The spirit of lukewarmness reigns. There’s no manliness at all. We’ve been spoiled by good. How does God tolerate us? Today’s generation is one of indifference. There are no warriors…We have to witness our Faith with boldness, because, if we continue to remain silent, we’ll have no answer in the end. In these difficult days, each must do what is in their own power and leave what’s out of their power to God.            St. Paisios the Athonite (+1994)

IOCC Job Opening in Minneapolis: the IOCC US Field Office is hiring a full time Administrative Project Assistant. Please see posting in social hall or https://www.iocc.org/careers/administrative-project-assistant. Deadline for application is January 18.

Things Sound Different- yes, that’s right, the Sunday liturgy is sounding a bit different the last few months. That’s because the choir is using minor mode from the Cherubic Hymn through the Epiklesis/Consecration. Although this is new to our community, it is not innovative or novel in the Tradition. Many Greek Orthodox churches throughout the United States and the world do this. Minor mode conveys a mystical and penitential quality that is so important to our Orthodox Christian phronema (mindset). Fr. Rick has encouraged this addition to the choir’s repertoire for many years. Recently, they accepted the challenge and are working hard to execute it better each and every Sunday. Please support them and seek to understand what minor mode is all about.

Wisdom from the Fathers: Whoever carries within themselves the peace of the Holy Spirit brings peace to others as well. And whoever carries an evil spirit within, brings evil to others.          St. Silouan the Athonite (+1938)

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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