Sundays:
9 am - Orthros
10 am - Divine Liturgy
Weekday Services:
Please check the Sacred Services schedule in the bulletin or call the Church office.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Fr. Seraphim Dedes
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Fr. Seraphim Dedes
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Fr. Seraphim Dedes
This Saint was of high birth among the Goths beyond the Danube River. He was taken by Athanaric, pagan ruler of the Goths, and after being tortured, was burned to death for his confession of Christ. According to some, this took place during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great; according to others, under the Emperor Gratian.
Saint Euphemia was from Chalcedon and lived in virginity. According to some, she suffered martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian, in 303; according to others, in 307. Her sacred relics are preserved in the Patriarchate in Constantinople.
These Saints were from Italy and contested for the Faith about the year 126, during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. Faith was twelve years old, Hope, ten, and Love, nine; each was tormented and then beheaded, from the eldest to the youngest. Their mother Sophia mourned at their grave for three days, where she also fell asleep in peace; because of her courageous endurance in the face of her daughters' sufferings, she is also counted a martyr. The name Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek; as for her daughters' names, Faith, Hope, and Love (Charity), they are Pistis, Elpis, and Agape in Greek, and Vera, Nadezhda, and Lyubov in Russian.
This Saint took up the monastic life from his youth, and later became Bishop of Gortynia in Crete. He travelled to Rome, and to Thebes in Upper Egypt, where through his prayers he ended a drought; there also, after working many miracles, he reposed in deep old age. His holy relics were returned to Gortynia and buried at the place called Raxos.
In 278, during the reign of Probus, Saints Trophimus and Sabbatius came to Antioch, and seeing the city celebrating the festival of Apollo at Daphne lamented the blindness of the people, and presented themselves as Christians to Atticus the Governor. Saint Trophimus was stripped of his clothing, and was stretched out and beaten until the earth was red with his blood. Then he was hung up, scraped on his sides, and imprisoned in torments. Saint Sabbatius was tortured so savagely that he gave up his spirit in his sufferings. Trophimus was sent to Synnada, wearing iron shoes fitted with sharp iron nails within; he was further tormented without mercy, then cast into prison. Dorymedon, a counsellor, and a pagan, came to the prison and cared for Trophimus. When a certain feast came, Dorymedon was asked why he did not sacrifice to the idols; he proclaimed himself a Christian, for which he was imprisoned, pierced with heated spits, frightfully punished, and finally beheaded with Saint Trophimus.
The holy Martyr Eustathius before his baptism was an illustrious Roman general named Placidas in the days of the Emperor Trajan. While hunting in the country one day, he was converted to the Faith of Christ through the apparition of an uncommonly majestic stag, between whose antlers he saw the Cross of Christ, and through which the Lord spoke to him with a human voice. Upon returning home, he learned that his wife Tatiana had also had a vision in which she was instructed to become a Christian. They sought out the Bishop of the Christians and were baptized, Placidas receiving the name Eustathius, and Tatiana the name Theopiste; their two sons were baptized Agapius and Theopistus. The family was then subjected to such trials as Job endured. Their servants died, all their goods were stolen, and on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem they were scattered abroad, each not even knowing if the others were still alive. By the providence of God, they were united again after many years, and returned to Rome in glory. Nevertheless, when they refused to sacrifice to the idols-a public sacrifice from which no Roman general could be absent-the Emperor Hadrian, who had succeeded Trajan, had them put into a large bronze device in the shape of a bull, which was heated with fire until they died. When their holy bodies were removed, they were found to be without harm. They suffered martyrdom about the year 126.
Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place.
Rest from labour. A Fast is observed today, whatever day of the week it may be.
Saint Quadratus was a disciple of the Apostles, and became Bishop of Athens. According to the Synaxaristes, he contested for the Faith in the year 117, in the reign of Hadrian (117-138), but according to others, in the reign of Marcus Aurelius (161-180).
The Prophet Jonah, the son of Amathi, of the town of Geth-hopher (IV Kings 14:25), was of the tribe of Zabulon; he prophesied during the years 838-810 before Christ. God commanded him to go to Nineveh, the great city of the Assyrians, and to proclaim that its destruction was nigh at hand because of the sins of its people. But he, as a Prophet who knew the great compassion of God, feared that at his preaching the Ninevites would repent; that God, accepting their repentance in His love for man, would not fulfill Jonah' threats; and that he would be branded a false prophet. So he disobeyed the divine command, and boarded a ship and departed elsewhere. Yet, the sudden and fearful sea-storm and the revelation of Jonah' disbedience caused the sailors to cast him into the sea. A great sea-monster appeared straightway by divine providence, and swallowed him up. For three days and nights he was found in its belly and he prayed, saying the words, "I cried aloud in my affliction unto the Lord my God..." (Jonah 2:3, the Sixth ode of the Holy Psalter). The sea-monster then vomited him up on dry land and he again heard God's command. Wherefore, he went and preached, saying, "In three days, Nineveh shall be destroyed." The people became terrified and all repented. The great, the small, babes at the breast, and even the irrational beasts themselves fasted, and thus, having found mercy from God, they were spared His wrath. Jonah' book of prophecy is divided into four chapters, and is placed fifth in order among the twelve minor Prophets. His three-day sojourn in the sea-monster's belly is an image of our Saviour's three-day burial and His life-bringing Resurrection (Matt. 12:39-40). His name means "dove."
Of the Sunday After the Elevation of the Cross.
Of the Holy Great-Martyr Niketas, of our Righteous Father Philotheos the Presvyter and Wonderworker, of St. Bessarion, Bishop of Larisa and of our Righteous Father Symeon, Archbishop of Thessaloniki.
Of the Holy New-martyr John of Crete.
Saturday, September 21
5:00 pm - Great Vespers
Saturday, September 28
5:00 pm - Great Vespers
Saturday, October 5
5:00 pm - Great Vespers
Saturday, October 12
5:00 pm - Great Vespers
Saturday, October 19
5:00 pm - Great Vespers
Saturday, October 26
5:00 pm - Great Vespers
Second Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:1-8
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back, for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.
Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20.
Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Sunday after Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1
The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."
Please remember in your prayers the following:
Lillian Constantakis, John Bass, Anastasia Handrinos, Nick, Bobbie, & Aleko Tsahtsiris, Bobby Cotton, Gary, Deborah.
If you would like the Church to pray for you, please contact the Church office to add your name, of the names of your loved ones, to the Prayer List. If you are willing to serve in the visitation ministry of the Church, calling or visiting those who are shut in at home or sick in the hospitals or nursing homes, please contact the Church office.
Please note that Fr. Anthony is available for hospital visitations, but hospitals no longer give patient information to clergy. Please call Fr. Anthony, or have someone in your family call him, so that he can come to visit you.
From Fr. Anthony
The Church's office hours are 9-5 Monday-Friday, and you can stop by to speak with the office staff any time during those hours. If you have a general Church-related question, you should speak with Susan Solo, who is in the office Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. If you need to meet with me, however, it's best to call first, as I may already be with another appointment, and am frequently called away to other visitations and appointments. If you prefer, I am happy to arrange a time in advance.
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Church Etiquette
We ask that the doors of the Narthex be closed and no one enters the Church during the following portions of the service:
Epistle, Gospel, Sermon, Great Entrance, Creed, Consecration, and Lord's Prayer
Please be respectful of the prayer and attention of those who are in the Church as you enter.
When it is time for Holy Communion, please remain in your pews until the members of the Parish Council come to your pew to usher you forward by row. In this way, we can ensure that our approaching of the Sacred Mysteries will be accomplished in an appropriate and orderly manner.
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Greek Fest - Today!
Everyone is invited out to our beautiful Park for our 17th annual Greek Festival! Enjoy the food, music, and fellowship!
Welcome Back! Luncheon
The Ladies Philoptochos are hosting a Welcome Back! Luncheon next Sunday, September 22, following Divine Liturgy. Cost: Adults 12 years & up: $15; Children 11 & under: free. Please make your reservations at the Reservation Table, online, or at the Church office no later than THIS Wed., Sept. 18.
You can also become a sponsor of this luncheon by filling out the bottom portion of the form.
During the luncheon, we are having an Organization Fair, to give all of us a chance see the different groups and ministries of our Church, and consider serving the Lord and getting more involved in the Church in one of the many areas presented.
Sunday School News!
Please mark your calendars for Sunday, Sept. 22 - the start of Sunday School! You should have received a letter and registration forms in the mail, but if you wish, you can fill out a registration form at our website under "Ministries," then click on "Sunday School" (email or drop off at the Church office).
Choir Spaghetti Luncheon
Our Choir will host a Luncheon on Sunday, October 6, following Divine Liturgy. Be sure to make your reservations no later than Wed., Oct. 2 by filling out a reservation form online or at the Reservation Table (beginning next week). Adults 12 years and up: $10; Children 11 and under: Free! Enjoy 3 sauces, garlic bread, garden salad, and pumpkin pie with whipped topping for dessert!
2020 Calendar Sponsor Needed
We are in need of a sponsor for our Archdiocese calendars for the year 2020. If you are interested, please contact Susan in the Church office. Donation: $700.00.
Coffee Servers Needed
Please sign-up outside the Church office next to the bulletin board to help serve Coffee on Sunday mornings during Coffee Hour.
Greek Fest Yard Signs
Please either return the yard sign or store it at your home until next year. Thank you!
Our Website: stgeorgesouthgate.org
We have a live calendar, video and audio recordings of sermons, services, and other events, and an archive of the last two months' Sunday bulletin. You can also reserve and pay for your seat to any upcoming lunch or dinner.
Church Beautification
This past summer we began a new push to beautify the Church. We have a number of items that will be replaced, for which we already have prospective donors, but we plan to purchase altar cloth sets in several colors to allow us to adorn the Church appropriately for every liturgical season. Depending on the period of the Church year, the Holy Table and other Church furniture are to be covered in red, blue, white, green, gold, or purple cloths, of which we currently only have red (burgundy) and blue.
A complete set of altar cloths includes the large cloth to cover the Holy Table inside the altar, a smaller cloth for the Gospel, the set of cloths for the chalice and paten, include the Aer, the four cloths for the icon stands (proskynitaria) at the front of the Church, and then two cloths for the proskynitaria in the Narthex, with two small covers for the children's icons in the Narthex.
There are two levels of donations that we need, one smaller donation, and one larger. The smaller is to complete the burgundy and blue velvet altar cloth sets that we have, which currently do not include the four cloths for the Narthex. The larger is for the four sets that we currently lack, in white, green, gold, and purple.
The cost for completing each of the sets we currently have is $1,070.
The costs for the new sets vary, depending on whether the brocade cloth being used uses real metal threads or not. For beauty and durability, we will be purchasing real metal brocade for the white, the gold, and the purple altar cloth sets, while for the green, as it is used less frequently, we will purchase a brocade that does not use real metal threads. The cost for a complete altar cloth set in real metal brocade is $3,045, while the cost for a complete altar cloth set in normal brocade is $2,435.
Therefore we need the following donations:
Red velvet completion set: $1,070
Blue velvet completion set: $1,070
Green normal brocade complete altar cloth set: $2,435
Gold real metal brocade complete altar cloth set: $3,045
White/silver real metal brocade complete altar cloth set: $3,045
Purple real metal brocade complete altar cloth set: $3,045
If you are interested in donating any of these items, please contact the Church office or speak with Fr. Anthony. If you would like to see the fabric swatches we have selected for each color, please speak with Fr. Anthony.
Today
Noon-7:00 pm - Greek Festival!
Tuesday, September 17
6:00 pm - Orthodox Life
Thursday, September 19
Noon - Seniors Luncheon
7:00 pm - Parish Council
Sunday, September 22
Sunday School Begins
Welcome Back! Luncheon
Organization Fair
2:30-4:00 pm - GOYA Wallyball
Monday, September 30
7:00 pm - Choir Rehearsal
Servers Today: NO COFFEE
9/22: Welcome Back! Lunch, Servers Needed
9/29: Athena Grias, SERVERS NEEDED
10/6: Spaghetti Lunch; Servers Needed
SERVERS ARE NEEDED
Please sign-up outside the Church office.
Lambros Varymbopis - 6 months
May the Lord our God grant rest to his soul where the righteous repose, in a place where there is no pain, no sorrow, and no suffering, but rather everlasting life.
May his memory be eternal.