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St. Nicholas Church
Publish Date: 2018-07-22
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St. Nicholas Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (910) 392-4444
  • Fax:
  • (910) 392-4905
  • Street Address:

  • 608 South College Road

  • Wilmington, NC 28403


Contact Information




Services Schedule

Orthros/Matins:  Sunday 8:00AM

Divine Liturgy:  Sunday 9:30AM

 


Past Bulletins


Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Eighth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 20:11-18

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, Μαρία δὲ εἱστήκει πρὸς τῷ μνημείῳ κλαίουσα ἔξω. ὡς οὖν ἔκλαιε, παρέκυψεν εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον καὶ θεωρεῖ δύο ἀγγέλους ἐν λευκοῖς καθεζομένους, ἕνα πρὸς τῇ κεφαλῇ καὶ ἕνα πρὸς τοῖς ποσίν, ὅπου ἔκειτο τὸ σῶμα τοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ. καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῇ ἐκεῖνοι· γύναι, τί κλαίεις; λέγει αὐτοῖς· ὅτι ἦραν τὸν Κύριόν μου, καὶ οὐκ οἶδα ποῦ ἔθηκαν αὐτόν. καὶ ταῦτα εἰποῦσα ἐστράφη εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω, καὶ θεωρεῖ τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν ἑστῶτα, καὶ οὐκ ᾔδει ὅτι ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐστι. λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· γύναι, τί κλαίεις; τίνα ζητεῖς; ἐκείνη δοκοῦσα ὅτι ὁ κηπουρός ἐστι, λέγει αὐτῷ· κύριε, εἰ σὺ ἐβάστασας αὐτόν, εἰπέ μοι ποῦ ἔθηκας αὐτόν, κἀγὼ αὐτὸν ἀρῶ. λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· Μαρία. στραφεῖσα ἐκείνη λέγει αὐτῷ· ῥαββουνί, ὃ λέγεται, διδάσκαλε. λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· μή μου ἅπτου· οὔπω γὰρ ἀναβέβηκα πρὸς τὸν πατέρα μου· πορεύου δὲ πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου καὶ εἰπὲ αὐτοῖς· ἀναβαίνω πρὸς τὸν πατέρα μου καὶ πατέρα ὑμῶν, καὶ Θεόν μου καὶ Θεὸν ὑμῶν. ἔρχεται Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ ἀπαγγέλλουσα τοῖς μαθηταῖς ὅτι ἑώρακε τὸν Κύριον, καὶ ταῦτα εἶπεν αὐτῇ.

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

Προκείμενον. Grave Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 28.11,1.
Κύριος ἰσχὺν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ δώσει.
Στίχ. Ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ υἱοὶ Θεοῦ, ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ δόξαν καὶ τιμήν.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 1:10-17.

Ἀδελφοί, παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, διὰ τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἵνα τὸ αὐτὸ λέγητε πάντες, καὶ μὴ ᾖ ἐν ὑμῖν σχίσματα, ἦτε δὲ κατηρτισμένοι ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ νοῒ καὶ ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ γνώμῃ. Ἐδηλώθη γάρ μοι περὶ ὑμῶν, ἀδελφοί μου, ὑπὸ τῶν Χλόης, ὅτι ἔριδες ἐν ὑμῖν εἰσιν. Λέγω δὲ τοῦτο, ὅτι ἕκαστος ὑμῶν λέγει, Ἐγὼ μέν εἰμι Παύλου, Ἐγὼ δὲ Ἀπολλώ, Ἐγὼ δὲ Κηφᾶ, Ἐγὼ δὲ Χριστοῦ. Μεμέρισται ὁ Χριστός; Μὴ Παῦλος ἐσταυρώθη ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, ἢ εἰς τὸ ὄνομα Παύλου ἐβαπτίσθητε; Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ θεῷ ὅτι οὐδένα ὑμῶν ἐβάπτισα, εἰ μὴ Κρίσπον καὶ Γάϊον· ἵνα μή τις εἴπῃ ὅτι εἰς τὸ ἐμὸν ὄνομα ἐβάπτισα. Ἐβάπτισα δὲ καὶ τὸν Στεφανᾶ οἶκον· λοιπὸν οὐκ οἶδα εἴ τινα ἄλλον ἐβάπτισα. Οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλέν με Χριστὸς βαπτίζειν, ἀλλʼ εὐαγγελίζεσθαι· οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ λόγου, ἵνα μὴ κενωθῇ ὁ σταυρὸς τοῦ Χριστοῦ.

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 1:10-17.

Brethren, I appeal to you by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brethren. What I mean is that each one of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispos and Gaius; lest any one should say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any one else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.


Gospel Reading

8th Sunday of Matthew
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 14:14-22

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐξελθὼν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶδε πολὺν ὄχλον, καὶ ἐσπλαγχνίσθη ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐθεράπευσε τοὺς ἀρρώστους αὐτῶν. ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης προσῆλθον αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ λέγοντες· ἔρημός ἐστιν ὁ τόπος καὶ ἡ ὥρα ἤδη παρῆλθεν· ἀπόλυσον τοὺς ὄχλους, ἵνα ἀπελθόντες εἰς τὰς κώμας ἀγοράσωσιν ἑαυτοῖς βρώματα. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν ἀπελθεῖν· δότε αὐτοῖς ὑμεῖς φαγεῖν. οἱ δὲ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· οὐκ ἔχομεν ὧδε εἰ μὴ πέντε ἄρτους καὶ δύο ἰχθύας. ὁ δὲ εἶπε· φέρετέ μοι αὐτοὺς ὧδε. καὶ κελεύσας τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνακλιθῆναι ἐπὶ τοὺς χόρτους, λαβὼν τοὺς πέντε ἄρτους καὶ τοὺς δύο ἰχθύας, ἀναβλέψας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εὐλόγησε, καὶ κλάσας ἔδωκε τοῖς μαθηταῖς τοὺς ἄρτους, οἱ δὲ μαθηταὶ τοῖς ὄχλοις. καὶ ἔφαγον πάντες καὶ ἐχορτάσθησαν, καὶ ἦραν τὸ περισσεῦον τῶν κλασμάτων δώδεκα κοφίνους πλήρεις. οἱ δὲ ἐσθίοντες ἦσαν ἄνδρες ὡσεὶ πεντακισχίλιοι χωρὶς γυναικῶν καὶ παιδίων. Καὶ εὐθέως ἠνάγκασεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ ἐμβῆναι εἰς τὸ πλοῖον καὶ προάγειν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ πέραν, ἕως οὗ ἀπολύσῃ τοὺς ὄχλους.

8th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 14:14-22

At that time, Jesus saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέῳξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυροφόρων τὸν θρῆνον μετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας, ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
By means of Your Cross, O Lord, You abolished death. * To the robber You opened Paradise. * The lamentation of the myrrhbearing women You transformed, * and You gave Your Apostles the order to proclaim to all * that You had risen, O Christ our God, * and granted the world Your great mercy.

Apolytikion for Mary Magdalene in the First Mode

Χριστώ τώ δι' ημάς, εκ Παρθένου τεχθέντι, Σεμνή Μανδαληνή, ηκολούθεις Μαρία, αυτού τά δικαιώματα, καί τούς νόμους φυλάττουσα, όθεν σήμερον, τήν παναγίαν σου μνήμην, εορτάζοντες, ανευφημούμέν σε πίστει, καί πόθω γεραίρομεν.
You followed Christ the Lord, who was born of the Virgin for us, and kept His laws, and you lived by His statutes; and thus as we celebrate your all-holy memorial, Mary Magdalene, today with faith we extol you, O most blessed Saint, and with divine love and longing we honor your memory.

Apolytikion for Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker in the First Mode

Κανόνα πίστεως καὶ εἰκόνα πραότητος, ἐγκρατείας Διδάσκαλον, ἀνέδειξέ σε τῇ ποίμνῃ σου, ἡ τῶν πραγμάτων ἀλήθεια· διὰ τοῦτο ἐκτήσω τῇ ταπεινώσει τὰ ὑψηλά, τῇ πτωχείᾳ τὰ πλούσια. Πάτερ Ἱεράρχα Νικόλαε, πρέσβευε Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ, σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν

The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, an icon of meekness and a teacher of Temperance; for this cause thou hast achieved the Heights by humility, Riches by poverty. O Father and Hierarch, Nicholas, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Kanóna písteos ke ikóna praótitos, engratías didáskalon, anédixe se pímni sou, i ton pragmáton alíthia;dia toúto ektíso ti tapinόsi ta ipsilá, ti ptohía ta ploúsia. Páter Ierárcha Nikólae, présveve Hristó to Theó, sothíne tas psihás imón.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε. Μὴ παρίδῃς ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι· Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε.
O Protection of Christians that never falls, intercession with the Creator that never fails, we sinners beg you, do not ignore the voices of our prayers. O good Lady, we implore you, quickly come unto our aid, when we cry out to you with faith. Hurry to intercession, and hasten to supplication, O Theotokos who protect now and ever those who honor you.
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This Week at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

Georgia Marmaras on Vacation until July 31, 2018

Office Hours this week are weekdays from 8AM until 1PM

 

Sunday, July 22

8th Sunday of Matthew

8:00 AM Orthros/Liturgy

 

Wednesday, July 25

6:30 PM Adult Greek Dancing

 

Thursday, July 26

St. Paraskevi

8:00 AM Orthros/Liturgy

4:30 PM Sanctuary in Use

 

Friday, July 27

St. Panteleimon the Great Martyr

8:00 AM Orthros/Liturgy

1:00 PM Sanctuary in use

 

Saturday, July 28

11:00AM Sanctuary in Use

3:00 PM Durham Bulls Game/Heritage night

 

Sunday, July 29

9th Sunday of Matthew

8:00 AM Orthros/Liturgy

11:30 AM GOYA Meeting 

 

  ***Please note that the only official calendar for the church is the online calendar at http://stnicholaswilmington.org/ParishCalendar.html

Parish Council Members on Pangari Duty this week: Barbara Reynolds & Evangelos Fragos

Next week: Melissa Kirkby 

SUNDAY'S Fellowship Hour is hosted by:

Stewardship Ministry

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Parish News & Updates

 

**NEW**SAVE THE DATE… Philoptochos sponsored Taverna Night and Silent Auction on Saturday, October 27 starting 7:30PM.  Live Greek Music, Heavy hor d’oevres/Cash bar, Great silent auction items in time for holiday giving. Sponsored by our ladies Philoptochos Society to support our many charities, including Nourish NC, NC Diaper Bank, Local Homeless Teens, IOCC, and OCMC.

 

PLEASE WELCOME Reverend Father Nicholas Halkias from the parish of Holy Trinity in Steubenville, Ohio.  He is worshiping with us today.

 

CONGRATULATIONS to Jessica Lawler on the birth of her daughter, Evelyn Livia Lawler and to the entire proud family especially grandmother, Susan Lawler.  Evelyn was born on July 3rd.  Να σας ζησει!

 

ON THE 44 ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS…

On July, 20, 1974, Turkey, a large military power, invaded the small defenseless island of Cyprus.  Thousands of Greek Cypriots died and thousands are still missing.  Greeks were forced out of their homes in the northern part of the island to the south, Turks from the south to the north.  The island was forcibly divided, inhibiting free movement and creating de facto separate regions.  Local economy collapsed, infrastructure was disrupted.  Arable land was seized, historical monuments were pillaged.  Thousands of Turkish nationals were brought to populate the northern region and change the demographics of the island.  FRIENDS OF CYPRUS is holding two memorial services in the Atlanta area including one today on at the Holy Transfiguration Church in Marietta.  Please join us in honoring the memory of thousands who perished during the invasion.  44 years later, Cyprus is still divided Turkish troops still occupy the island.  His Eminence has requested the information above be place in our bulletin.  May their memories be eternal.

 

ADULT GREEK DANCING… Please join us on Wednesday, July 25 from 6:30-8:30PM.

 

OFFICE UPDATE... Georgia Marmaras will be out of the office until July 30. Office Hours will be 8AM until 1PM each day this upcoming week.

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Parish News and Updates (Continued)

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE ILL, RECOVERING AND/OR HOMEBOUND...

Angelo Angeledes, Shelby Biancaniello (daughter of Sue Lawler), Bobby Bobon (brother of Sue Lawler), Stavros Chantiles, Anthony Constandy (father of Elisabeth Baynard), Sherry Demas, Nicholas Devoles, Constantine Dukas, Sue Fokakis (Autumn Care), George Fokakis (Morningside), Demitra George, Maria Karafas, Nick Karloutsos (Silver Stream), Dan Kirkby (brother of Matthew), Nikolaos Kotsinis, Olga Mancuso, Calvin McGowan, Mary Compos Marmaras (Cypress Pointe); Eleni Mitsis (mother of Effie Davis), Koula Poulos; Pat Skinner-Darby, Charity Skinner-Darby (daughter of Pat), Tom Souflas, Peggy Stephano, Helen Vurnakes; Vasilios Vogiatzis, MaryAnn Wall

Please contact the church office to add/remove someone from the list.

 

LIVE STREAMING OF SERVICES... Please be reminded of the live streaming of our services at St. Nicholas that can be seen on our website directly at www.stnicholaswilmington.org/LiveStreaming.html. In case you would like to set your mobile devices up with the pertinent app please contact Alexandros Theodoropoulos at communications@stnicholaswilmington.org

 

ONLINE GIVING... We have an online giving system in place on our website that can be used for conveniently making donations towards stewardship pledges. The pertinent donation buttons are located on the left pane of the homepage at www.stnicholaswilmington.org as well as on the Stewardship page of our website at www.stnicholaswilmington.org/Stewardship.html .

 

General Fund Operating Expenses versus Income

 

Expenses

Income

Difference

January

 $37,995.11

 $19,386.32

 -$18,608.79

February

 $25,635.51

 $19,855.87

-$5,779.64

March

 $26,290.76

 $26,811.13

 $520.37

April

 $20,786.00

 $34,989.75

 $14,203.75

May

 $31,598.95

 $29,959.88

-$1,639.07

June

 $31,591.26

 $16,609.00

-$14,982.26

Year to Date

   $173,897.59  

   $147,611.95  

   -$26,285.64  

 

 ***********************************************

 

Stewardship

 

Received

Goal

Difference

January

$16,475.32

$24,196.28

-$7,720.96

February

$15,634.20

$24,196.28

-$8,562.08

March

$21,383.00

$24,196.28

-$2,813.28

April

$15,687.60

$24,196.28

-$8,508.68

May

$24,863.58

$24,196.28

$667.30

June

$13,810.00

$24,196.28

-$10,386.28

Year to Date

 $107,853.70  

     $145,177.68  

   -$37,323.98  

 

We can provide hearing assistance systems. If you would like to use the system while you are attending Liturgical Services in person, please see an attendant at the pangari stand.

 

We welcome you to worship with us, whether you are an Orthodox Christian or this is your first visit to an Orthodox Church, we are pleased to have you with us.  Although Holy Communion and other Sacraments are offered only to Baptized and Chrismated (confirmed) Orthodox Christians in good standing with the church, ALL are invited to receive the Antidoron (blessed bread) from the priest at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. The Antidoron is not sacramental, but it is reminiscent of the agape feast that followed worship in the ancient Christian Church.

 

WELCOME VISITORS! Please complete a Visitor’s Card before you leave Church and drop it in the offering tray, give it to one of our parishioners after Divine Liturgy, or mail it back to the church office.  We would love to get to know you!

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Bulletin Inserts

    Stewardship Pledges 2018

    Stewardship Pledges 2018

    January 2018 - June 11, 2018


    Greek Heritage Night at the Durham Bulls

    Greek Heritage Night at the Durham Bulls

    Durham Bulls vs. Syracuse Chiefs Saturday, July 28 @ 6:35PM


    Greek Taverna Night 2018

    Greek Taverna Night 2018

    Please help us promote our Greek Taverna Night on Saturday October 27, 2018. We will have Live Greek Music. We will also have our Silent Auction! Proceeds will benefit Nourish NC, NC Diaper Bank, Local Homeless Teens, IOCC, OCMC. We are excited about this event and hope to make it an annual one! Tell all your friends about it!


    St. Demetrios, August 24-26, 2018

    St. Demetrios, August 24-26, 2018

    ​​We would like to invite all Goyans to Beach Reach retreat. This is an awesome opportunity to get reconnected with other Goyans and with God. Most recent flyer is attached. We will follow up with the rest of the forms for registration next week. If you have any question, please email cdsamaan7@gmail.com . Looking forward to seeing you all in Daytona Beach. -St. Demetrios Goyans


    37th Annual Raleigh Greek Festival

    37th Annual Raleigh Greek Festival

    September 7-9, 2018 Advertising & Sponsorship Opportunities deadline July 31st for Sponsorship


    "An Evening in Black & White" - Celebrating St. Nektarios 20th Anniversary

    "An Evening in Black & White" - Celebrating St. Nektarios 20th Anniversary

    "An Evening in Black & White" - Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Saint Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church, October 20th, 2018, 6:00PM - Midnight


    Healthy Minds - Healthy Souls

    Healthy Minds - Healthy Souls

    Join Rev. Dr. Nicholas and Pres. Dr. Roxane Louh for a Live call-in show the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of every month on Ancient Faith Radio.


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Saints and Feasts

Loavesfishes
July 22

8th Sunday of Matthew


Markella
July 22

Markella, the Virgin-martyr of Chios

Saint Markella was born in the 14th century on the island of Chios and was the daughter of the mayor of her town. She was raised in the Christian faith by pious parents, but lost her mother at a young age. This was especially difficult for her father who fell into depression. The young Markella was devoted to Christ and strove to preserve her virginity, fighting off numerous temptations from the Devil. Seeing he could make no progress with Markella, the Evil One turned his attention to her father, and enflamed within him an unnatural lust for his daughter.

One day he declared his desire for her at which she ran away in tears and fear. Arriving at the edge of the water and with nowhere to run, a rock opened up for Markella to enter so that her lower half could be enclosed within the rock. When her father arrived in pursuit of her, he was furious to have been deprived of his desire and beheaded his daughter there. The miraculous rock remains on Chios in the church dedicated to Saint Markella the Virgin-Martyr and is said to spring healing waters.


22_magdelene
July 22

Mary Magdalene, the Holy Myrrh-bearer and Equal to the Apostles

Saint Mary was from Magdala in Galilee on the Sea of Tiberias, and for this was named Magdalene. When the Lord Jesus cast out seven demons from her, from which she had been suffering, she became His faithful and inseparable disciple, following Him and ministering unto Him even to the time of His crucifixion and burial. Then, returning to Jerusalem together with the rest of the Myrrh-bearers, she prepared the fragrant spices for anointing the body of the Lord. And on the Lord's day they came very early to the tomb, even before the Angels appeared declaring the Resurrection of the Lord. When Mary Magdalene saw the stone taken away from the tomb, she ran and proclaimed it to Peter and John. And returning immediately to the tomb and weeping outside, she was deemed worthy to be the first of the Myrrh-bearers to behold the Lord arisen from the dead, and when she fell at His feet, she heard Him say, "Touch Me not." After the Lord's Ascension, nothing certain is known concerning her. Some accounts say that she went to Rome and later returned to Jerusalem, and from there proceeded to Ephesus, where she ended her life, preaching Christ. Although it is sometimes said that Saint Mary Magdalene was the "sinful woman" of the Gospel, this is nowhere stated in the tradition of the Church, in the sacred hymnology, or in the Holy Gospels themselves, which say only that our Lord cast seven demons out of her, not that she was a fallen woman. "Madeleine" is a form of Magdalene.


Allsaint
July 23

Pelagia the Righteous of Tinos


Allsaint
July 23

Phocas the Holy Martyr, Bishop of Sinope

This saint was known for the many miracles he worked and for his apostolic zeal in shepherding the flock of Sinope. He contested for the Faith during the reign of the Emperor Trajan, in the year 102, when he was burned to death in a bath-house. A homily in his honour was composed by Saint John Chrysostom. The translation of his holy relics is celebrated on July 23.


Allsaint
July 23

Trophimos & Theophilios and the 13 others martyred in Lycia


Allsaint
July 23

St. Anna of Levkadio


Allsaint
July 23

9th Monday after Pentecost


Allsaint
July 23

The Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos of Pochaev

The Icon of the Mother of God of Pochaev - Metropolitan Neophytus, a bishop belonging to the see of Constantinople, was traveling through Volhynia in Ukraine where he was given hospitality by a pious woman, Anna Goyskaya. The bishop gave this woman an icon of the holy Theotokos, which began to work miracles, including the healing of her blind brother. In 1597 the icon was given to the monks residing in Pochaev near the border of Galicia, where the Mother of God had appeared in 1340, leaving an imprint of her footprint in the rock, from which a stream gushed forth. In 1675 when the Lavra of Pochaev was besieged by the Moslem Turks, it was saved by the miraculous intervention of the Mother of God through her wonderworking icon. Even though the Lavra of Pochaev came into Uniate hands for over a century, miracles continued to be worked through the holy icon. Since its return to the Orthodox Catholic Church in 1831, the icon has been a grace-bestowing support for Orthodox Christians, especially those in western Ukraine and the Carpathian region.


Allsaint
July 23

Icon of the Mother of God

The Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All That Sorrow" - As with so many other icons of the Theotokos, wonderworking copies of this icon have been found throughout Orthodox Russia, each with its own history and moving collection of miracles. In this icon, the most holy Mother of God is depicted standing full stature sometimes with, sometimes without the Divine Child in her arms; she is surrounded by all manner of the sick and the suffering, to whom Angels of the Lord bear gifts of mercy, consolation, and suitable aid from the most holy Theotokos. The icon "Joy of all that Sorrow" was inspired by the hymn of the same name; see page 222 in Great Compline. Through one copy of this icon, the sister of Patriarch Joachim was healed at the end of the seventeenth century in Moscow, from which time the feast was established. Another copy of the icon was found in Saint Petersburg; on July 23, 1888, during the severe thunderstorm, lightning struck a chapel at a glass factory, burning the interior walls of the church, but leaving the icon unsinged. From the violent disturbance of the air, the icon was knocked to the floor, the poor-box broke open, and twelve copper coins adhered to the icon in various places; afterwards many miracles were worked by the grace of the holy icon.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

And another thing too we learn, the self-restraint of the disciples which they practised in necessary things, and how little they accounted of food.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 49 on Matthew 14, 4th Century

For being twelve, they had five loaves only and two fishes; so secondary to them were the things of the body: so did they cling to the things spiritual only. And not even that little did they hold fast, but gave up even it when asked.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 49 on Matthew 14, 4th Century

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Metropolis of Atlanta News

Message from Metropolitan Alexios on Arrival of the Panagia Vimatarissa Icon (Saturday, 9/29/18)

07/12/2018

My Beloved Ones,

Today, I am at the Diakonia Retreat Center, spending time with our Faithful young people who are attending the 3rd week of our St. Stephen’s Summer Camp.

This week, I wish to speak to you of one of the miraculous icons of our Faith; one that has especially great meaning for me, as it is an important part of the Vatopadi Monastery where I spent my early years as a Monk. This icon is the blessed and miraculous Panagia Vimatarissa, and it has been a part of the monastery since it was discovered on the land where the Monastery would eventually be established.

However, by the 10th century, the icon was in danger of being stolen by the pirates, who regularly sought to steal from the monasteries of the Holy Mountain.  In order to prevent this, the monk responsible for the Holy Altar decided to place the image of the Theotokos in the well. However, though this Hierodeacon was taken captive by the Turks, the icon was safe, and eventually forgotten. 70 years later, now free, the Monk returned to the monastery and instructed the new Abbot to open the well. The icon was indeed there, untouched, and floating at the very top.

This is indeed a powerful reminder of the ways in which God protects His Church, but I tell you this story for a very special reason. This coming fall, September 29th 2018, we will be blessed with a unique opportunity, for the Abbot of Vatopaidi has agreed to provide the Panagia Chapel at our Diakonia Retreat Center with a replica of the blessed and miraculous Panagia Vimatarissa icon. I am so pleased and proud that this sacred image of our Most Holy Theotokos will come to reside in this magnificent and beautiful Chapel that we have also built in her honor.

Therefore, it is only fitting that we all welcome this sacred object with all the veneration due to our ever-Virgin Mary. The events of that Saturday (which we have already begun to plan) shall provide all the faithful who attend a unique opportunity for prayer. Together, we shall process with the icon; we shall give glory to God through worship; we shall honor all those who made this day, and our blessed Panagia Chapel, a reality; and we will be given an opportunity for fellowship with all our faithful brothers and sisters of Metropolis of Atlanta.

Though more information is still to come, I wish to express my joy, as well as my great hope to see as many of you there as possible. Indeed, beyond my own personal devotion to this image, it is a great rare thing for a Metropolis to be so honored with a replica of this type, and so we should all do our very best to be together, welcoming the sacred image, and the pious Monks who shepherd it here safely.

I pray that throughout the summer, you keep not only the event in mind, but the story of the miracle as well. We would all do well to remember the love our Creator has for the Theotokos, and the power that her intercessions have on the lives of the Orthodox faithful.

 

       + ALEXIOS +

Metropolitan of Atlanta


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