Welcome to our Parish

Welcome to St. John Chrysostome Greek Orthodox Church

We are a thriving community of 65 families, working to share the Orthodox Faith with the South Florida area. We try to balance our lives with both corporate and personal prayer, philanthropic works to our greater community and common meals together. Our goal is the progression towards the kingdom of God in this life, in loving our fellow man and seeing Christ in the person sitting next to us.

We are pleased that you have joined us today for worship. To receive Communion in the Orthodox Church, one must be Baptized and/or Chrismated in the Orthodox Faith. The Orthodox Church understands Holy Communion as the sign of unity. If you are interested in learning more about the Orthodox Faith, please contact Father Andrew. Whether you are an Orthodox Christian or not, please come forward at the dismissal to receive the blessed bread which is offered to everyone as you leave. May Christ's blessings be with all of you.

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The following is a directive from the Ecumenical Partiarchate

CORONAVIRUS

As this Coronavirus crisis continues to spread and intensify on a global

scale, the Ecumenical Patriarchate is monitoring the situation with an

urgent sense of responsibility towards the faithful and all people

without exception, and, following the Communique of 11 March 2020,

upon deliberation of its Hierarchs in the City announces the following:

1) The Ecumenical Patriarchate emphatically reiterates its appeal to

everyone to limit their outings and travels to what is necessary,

remaining in their homes for their own safety and the protection

of the general public.

2) In light of the decisions already taken by some of the eparchies of the

Ecumenical Throne, today we universally declare our ecclesiastical

resolution and mandate that, until the end of March, we cease all divine

services, events, and rites, with the exception of private prayer in church

that will remain open. This restriction will be later reassessed, in

accordance with the development of the pandemic caused by the virus.

**HERE IN HOBE SOUND, AT ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, fATHER ANDREW

WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE SERVICES BUT NOT IN THE

PRESENCE OF ANY PARISHIONERS. YOU ARE ENCOURAGED

TO STAY HOME AND LIMIT YOUR MOVEMENTS AND CONTACT

WITH OTHER PEOPLE. IT IS COMMENDABLE THAT “YOU ARE NOT

AFRAID”. OTHER PEOPLE, HOWEVER, MAY BE. YOU MIGHT

UNKOWINGLY BE A CARRIER NOW, OF THE VIRUS. BE

RESPONSIBLE AND CARING. YOU MIGHT NOTHAVE THE VIRUS

YET. AND YOU DON’T WANT IT,TO BE SURE. LIMIT YOUR

CONTACT WITH OTHERS. PLEASE. PRACTICE EVERYTHING THE

CDC HAS RECOMMENDED. OUR CHURCH AUTHORITIES

ARE RECOMMENDING WE FOLLOW THE ADVISE OF HEALTH

LEADERS. AND MAY GOD PROTECT AND SAVE US!!!

i AM ALSO LOOKING AT SETTING UP A DAY IN APRIL WHEN WE CAN OPEN THE CHURCH

AND MAKE A FEW HOURS AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO COME BY, A FEW AT A TIME, LIGHT A CANDLE,

SAY A PRAYER AND THEN LEAVE SO THAT OTHERS MIGHT HAVE THE SAME OPPORTINITY.

WHEN WE DO THIS, WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN YOUR DISTANCE FROM

OTHER PARISHIONERS (WORSHIPPERS), DO NOT KISS THE ICONS, SIMPLY BOW. WE WILL MAKE THE

CANDLES AVAILABLE SO THAT YOU WILL ONLY HAVE TO TOUCH THE ONE YOU ARE LIGHTING

+FATHER ANDREW MAHALARES

Saints and Feasts

March 29

Sunday of St. John Climacus

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on March 30, where his biography may be found. He is celebrated today because his book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is a sure guide to the ascetic life, written by a great man of prayer experienced in all forms of the monastic polity; it teaches the seeker after salvation how to lay a sound foundation for his struggles, how to detect and war against each of the passions, how to avoid the snares laid by the demons, and how to rise from the rudimental virtues to the heights of Godlike love and humility. It is held in such high esteem that it is universally read in its entirety in monasteries during the Great Fast.

March 29

Mark, Bishop of Arethusa

Saint Mark was Bishop of Arethusa in Syria. In the days of Saint Constantine the Great, Saint Mark, moved with divine zeal, destroyed a temple of the idols and raised up a church in its stead. When Julian the Apostate reigned, in 361, as the pagans were now able to avenge the destruction of their temple, Saint Mark, giving way to wrath, hid himself; but when he saw that others were being taken on his account, he gave himself up. Having no regard to his old age, they stripped him and beat his whole body, cast him into filthy sewers, and pulling him out, had children prick him with their iron writing-pens. Then they put him into a basket, smeared him with honey and a kind of relish of pickled fish, and hung him up under the burning sun to be devoured by bees and wasps. But because he bore this so nobly, his enemies repented, and unloosed him.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and condescended to be buried for three days, so that from the passions You might set us free. Our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory be to You.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. John Climacus in the Plagal Fourth Mode

With the streams of thy tears, thou didst cultivate the barrenness of the desert; and by thy sighings from the depths,thou didst bear fruit a hundredfold in labours; and thou becamest a luminary, shining with miracles upon the world, O John our righteous Father. Intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Eighth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:11-18

At that time, Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that He had said these things to her.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 6:13-20.

BRETHREN, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. John Climacus
The Reading is from Mark 9:17-31

At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and saying: "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise."

Wisdom of the Fathers

Seest thou how He now proceeds to lay beforehand in them the foundation of His doctrine about fasting? ... See, at any rate, how many blessings spring from them both. For he that is praying as he ought, and fasting, hath not many wants, and he that hath not many wants, cannot be covetous; ...

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

... he that is not covetous, will be also more disposed for almsgiving. He that fasts is light, and winged, and prays with wakefulness, and quenches his wicked lusts, and propitiates God, and humbles his soul when lifted up. Therefore even the apostles were almost always fasting.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

St John's Prayer Circle

Please pray for our brothers and sisters in our Community and their families, and all those who are in need of our prayers.

Harry, Mirsini, Peter, Helen, Eleni, Becky, Mary D’Jay, Presbytera Helen, Fr. Constantine, Fr. Demetri Tsigas (Melbourne Priest), SAVAS, Kosta, Demetrios, Mary, Evangelia, Kyriakos (Charley), Danny, Peter, Kay, Linda, Chris, Diana, Tom and Family, Nick K, Maggie, Helen, Gena Mildner, Joanna, Constantina, Mimi, Virginia, Apostolos, Sophie, Joshua, Despina, Thomas, Jan, Aristides, Lucas, Baby Paul, Leona, Mary, Toula, Eleni, Phylitsa, George Edward, Efrosini, George, Stella, Phyllis, Irene, Georgia, Marcia, Sheila and Maureen, Laura, Sophia.

Liturgical Services

ALL SUNDAY SERVICE 9– 11:15 AM

MARCH & APRIL SCHEDULE OF SERVICES AND ACTIVITIIES

***The Services listed below are now private, NOT public until further notice. Just the priest and chanters. You might want to consider them cancelled for yourselves.***

20^thFriday, Salutations to the Virgin Mary (Heretismi), 6:00pm

22^ndSunday, Sunday of the Holy Cross,

Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 9-11:15am

25^thWed, ANNUNCIATION OF THE VIRGIN MARY,

Orthros & Div. Lit. 9-11:30am

27^thFriday, Salutations to the Virgin Mary (Heretismi), 6:00pm

29^thSunday, Sunday of St. John Climacus,

Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 9-11:15am

APRIL

3rd Fri., Akathist Hymn (Akathistos Hymnos), 6:00pm

5th Sun., Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt,

Orthros & Div. Liturgy, 9-11:15am

11th Sat., Saturday of Lazarus, Orthros & Div. Liturgy, 9-11:30am

Philoptochos Meeting?? (brief) and tying of Palms following services.

Donations for flowers for the Fridays in Great Lent,

along with Holy Week and the Epitaphio.

Please make out a check to St. John's and write in the notation

at the botton of the check, FOR FLOWERS.

A NEW KOUVOUKLION

Through a generous donation, we were able to order the new

Kouvouklion, which should be delivered in time

for the upcoming Holy Week.

Stewardship

Stewardship is our response to God’s grace and moves us from grace to gratitude. Just as we love because God first loved us (John 4:14), we give because God first gave to us. The question of the Psalmist “What shall I give to the Lord in return for all His benefits towards me?” (Ps 116:2), is answered in every liturgy when the celebrant calls us to “offer ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.”

If you haven't finished paying your 2019 Pledge yet, please to do so as soon as possible so we may close the books on 2019. If you have already fulfilled your 2019 stewardship pledge, we thank you very much. We would like to encourge all of you to now make your pledge for 2020 by completing your pledge form and begining the fulfillment of the pledge you make (i.e. paying it all at one time or quarterly, monthly or weekly thoughout the coming the year). We thank you in advance for your cooperation and generosity.

You must have completed a Stewardship form and submitted it to be considered a Steward of Saint John's.

IF YOU NEED US TO SEND YOU A FORM, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

NOW, GIVEN THE CURRENT CRISIS, YOUR TIMELY STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE AND PAYMENT IS CGRACIOUISLY ACCEPTED. JUST MAIL IT TO THE CHURCH. WE ARE TRYING TO SET UP A PAYMENT BUTTON ON OUR WEBSITE AND TILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN THAT IS COMPLETED AND FUNCTIONING.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT FATHER ANDREW AT 561-818-6215 OR

AT FRDREW1947@GMAIL.COM

WE HAVE COMPLETED STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE FORMS FROM THE FOLLOWING PARISHIONERS:

Alexandrou, Anna & Lazarus,

Bakas, Pericles & Toula, Coury, Katherine,

Dionisopoulis, Nick & Athanasia (Mimi),

Laskaris, John & Joanna, Lefco, Evelyn & Michael,

Lena, Joanne, Loizos, Helen, King, Stephanie,

Koltis, Denise & Sotiri, Koumas, Chrysanthe,

Kuzemka, Nick & Carole, Mahalares, Father Andrew,

Manos, George, Malliaroudakis, George,

Mihaltse, William & Diana, Monsma, Joel & Connie,

Moulis, Peter & Helene, Nakos, Peter & Anastasia,

Neamonitis, Nicholas & Thomae,

Nickas, Aristides (Steve) & Barbara,

Papadopoulos, Demetrios (Jim) & Vie,

Pappaconstantinou, Cynthia,

Pantazopoulos, Anthony & Katherine, Petrides, Pat,

Reams, Bill and Jodie, Tambakis, John & JoAnn,

Theodorakis, Marika, Tzellas, Chris, Wilshire, Maria,

Zafieopoulos, Despina (Debbie).

IF YOU DON'T SEE YOUR NAME HERE, IT MEANS WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A STEWARDSHIOP PLEDGE FORM FROM YOU!!!

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins