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.

IF YOU WISH TO HELP SAINT JOHN'S, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO SO AS YOUR HEART DICTATES AFTER PERSONAL PRAYER AND REFLECTION, ACCORDING TO THE BLESSINGS WHICH GOD HAS BEWTOWED UPON YOU.

I am sure you realize that the current pandemic has created a reduction in our income. We require $10.5-12,000 to meet our monthly expenses, including the mortgage and priest. Any extra help you can provide at this time will be greatly appreciated.

The Parish Leadership (Parish Council and Priest) thanks you in advance for your love, thoughtfulness and continued generosity.

***IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DO THAT YET, PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO COMPLETE YOU STWARDSHIP PLEDGE, THE SUNDAY TRAY OFFEREINGS AND CANDLE MONEY AND SEND THEM TO THE CHURCH.

Saints and Feasts

August 09

9th Sunday of Matthew

August 09

The Holy Apostle Matthias

After Judas by transgression fell from his apostleship (Acts 1: 25), and hanging himself out of despair ended his life with a wretched and shameful death (Matt. 27: 5), then, that the number of the Twelve not be lacking, all the disciples gathered in one place after the Ascension of the Savior (the number of men and women being 120), and they chose two men from among them, Joseph, called Barsabas, who was also surnamed Justus, and Matthias, and they set them in the midst. Then they prayed to God and cast lots, "and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles" (Acts 1: 15-26). And thus, having taken the place of Judas, Matthias fulfilled the work of apostleship and the prophecy concerning Judas, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David: "And his bishopric let another take" (Ps. 108(109):8). After this, it is said, Matthias preached the Gospel in Ethiopia, and completed his life there in martyrdom.

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 Afterfeast of the Transfiguration in the Grave Mode

You were transfigured upon the mountain, O Christ our God, showing to Your disciples Your glory as much as they could bear. Do also in us, sinners though we be, shine Your everlasting light, through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Giver of light. Glory to You.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Grave Mode

You were transfigured upon the mount, O Christ our God, and Your disciples, in so far as they could bear, beheld Your glory. Thus, when they see You crucified, they may understand Your voluntary passion, and proclaim to the world that You are truly the effulgence of the Father.

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. 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 First Letter to the Corinthians 3:9-17.

Brethren, we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and that temple you are.

Gospel Reading

9th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 14:22-34

At that time, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying "Take heart, it is I; have no fear."

And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they entered the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

Wisdom of the Fathers

The principle and source of the virtues is a good disposition of the will, that is to say, an aspiration for goodness and beauty. God is the source and ground of all supernal goodness. Thus the principle of goodness and beauty is faith or, rather, it is Christ, the rock of faith, who is principle and foundation of all virtues. On this rock we stand and on this foundation we build every good thing (cf. I Cor. 3:11).

St. Gregory of Sinai

On Commandments and Doctrines no. 83, Philokalia Vol. 3 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pg. 228, 14th century

The very fire which purifies gold, also consumes wood. Precious metals shine in it like the sun, rubbish burns with black smoke. All are in the same fire of Love. Some shine and others become black and dark. In the same furnace steel shines like the sun, whereas clay turns dark and is hardened like stone. God is a loving fire, and He is a loving fire for all: good and bad. There is, however, a great difference in the way people receive this loving fire of God. The difference is in man, not God.

Dr. Alexandre Kalomiros

The River of Fire, pp. 17 & 19, 20th century

Christ did not command the winds to cease at that time, but Himself stretched forth His hand and took hold of Peter, because here faith was required of him. When we do not do our part, divine (grace) slows and stands still.. . . it was not the wind that did Peter harm; his lack of faith sank him. Where faith is fruitful, firm and strong, none of the evils that may befall us can do us any harm.

St. John Chrysostom

The Gospel Commentary edited by Hieromonk German Ciuba, 2002, 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.

Joel, William (Bill), Evangelos, Harry, Mirsini, Peter, Helen, Eleni, Becky, Melissa Gray, (family friend of Fr. Andrew), 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 SERVICES 9– 11:15 AM

(Unless otherwise noted)

AUGUST (1st-15th) SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES

Aug. 9th, Sunday, Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 9-11:15AM *Memorial Prayers for Dionysios, Andreas & Melissa

Aug. 10th, Monday, Paraklisis, 6PM

Aug. 13th, Thurs. Parish Council Meeting, 4PM

Aug. 14th, Friday, Great Vespers for the Falling Asleep of the VIrgin Mary, 6PM

Aug. 15th, Sat., Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the Falling Asleep of the Virgin Mary, 9-11:30AM

HOLY COMMUNION

We will continue to administer Holy Communion as we had been doing, with a single spoon. You will come up to the Chalice, keeping your 6 feet distancing ( there will be tape on the floor to assist you. You should not touch the spoon or the cloth. You will tilt your head back and Father Andrew will tip the spoon to empty the Body and Blood of Christ from the spoon into your mouth.

Those who are unable to come up to the Chalice, should remain in their seats and I will come down to you, as has been our custom.

Any questions? Contact Father Andrew at 561-818-6215 or frdrew1947@gmail.com

STEWARDSHIP PLEDGED MEMBERS (As of Sunday, August 8th)

We should have at least 75 pledged member families on our list. We do not, but we are almost there as of the date listed above. So, if your name does not appear here, it means we have not received a Stewardship Pledge from you. Please check your records verify that your financial committment to Saint John's is up to date.

Alexandrou, Anna & Lazarus
Alpha Contracting
Bakas, Pericles & Panagiota (Toula)
Bourlas, Manuel
Chryssiadis, Katherine
Chryssiadis, Mary & Mark Teplitz
Coury, Katherine
Dakis,Voula
Dionisopoulos, Nick & Athanasia (Mimi)
Doukas, John & Mersini
Fitzer, Pamela (Tseklenis) & Peter
Hanan, Donna
Ioannides, Linda
Ioannides, Nina Marie
Karamatsoukas, Nicholas & Celeste
King, Stephanie
Kokenos, Nicholas & Frosso
Kokenos, Pericles
Koltis, Denise & Sotiri Dushas
Kouklamanis, Nick & Anastasia

Koumas, Chrysanthe
Kuzemka, Nick & Carole
Kyriakos, Eva (Presvytera)
Laskaris, John & Joanna
Lefco, Evelyn & Michael
Lena, Joanne
Lichas, Mary
Loizos, Helen
Mahalares, Father Andrew
Malliaroudakis, George & Doria
Manos, George
Menexis, Michael and Doris
Mihaltse, William & Diana
Monsma, Joel & Constance
Moulis, Peter & Helene
Moulis, Stephanie
Nakos, Peter & Anastasia (Annie)
Neamonitis, Nicholas & Thomae
Nickas, Aristides (Steve) & Barbara

Palaskas, Konstantinos & Diana

Papadopoulos, Demetrios & Vie
Pappaconstantinou, Cynthia
Pappas, Steve & Rose Marie (Posie)
Pantazopoulos, Anthony & Katherine
Parasco, Odessefs & Mary
Petrides, Pat (Kyriaki)
Reams, Bill & Jodie
Shenas, Steven & Kelly
Siggelakis, Nikitas and Leona
Siggelakis, TJ & Jennifer
Soffokitis, Costa
Soupios, Val & Barbara
Tambakis, John and JoAnn
Theodorakis, Marika
Tosi, Lawrence (Larry)
Tsefterides, Christos & Saadia
Tsouchlis, John & Smaragda (Maggie)
Tzellas, Chris

Vovou, Angie
Wilshire, Maria & Alfr
Zafiropoulos, Despina (Debbie)
Zafiropoulos, John & Maria
Zaimes, George & Dena

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins