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St. Nicholas Church
Publish Date: 2018-12-09
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Anna
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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

Sixth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 24:36-53

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἔστη ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. πτοηθέντες δὲ καὶ ἔμφοβοι γενόμενοι ἐδόκουν πνεῦμα θεωρεῖν. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί τεταραγμένοι ἐστέ, καὶ διατί διαλογισμοὶ ἀναβαίνουσιν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν; ἴδετε τὰς χεῖράς μου καὶ τοὺς πόδας μου, ὅτι αὐτὸς ἐγώ εἰμι· ψηλαφήσατέ με καὶ ἴδετε, ὅτι πνεῦμα σάρκα καὶ ὀστέα οὐκ ἔχει καθὼς ἐμὲ θεωρεῖτε ἔχοντα. καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐπέδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τοὺς πόδας. ἔτι δὲ ἀπιστούντων αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τῆς χαρᾶς καὶ θαυμαζόντων εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ἔχετέ τι βρώσιμον ἐνθάδε; οἱ δὲ ἐπέδωκαν αὐτῷ ἰχθύος ὀπτοῦ μέρος καὶ ἀπὸ μελισσίου κηρίου, καὶ λαβὼν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ἔφαγεν. εἶπε δὲ αὐτοῖς· οὗτοι οἱ λόγοι οὓς ἐλάλησα πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἔτι ὢν σὺν ὑμῖν, ὅτι δεῖ πληρωθῆναι πάντα τὰ γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ νόμῳ Μωϋσέως καὶ προφήταις καὶ ψαλμοῖς περὶ ἐμοῦ. τότε διήνοιξεν αὐτῶν τὸν νοῦν τοῦ συνιέναι τὰς γραφάς, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὅτι οὕτω γέγραπται καὶ οὕτως ἔδει παθεῖν τὸν Χριστὸν καὶ ἀναστῆναι ἐκ νεκρῶν τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ, καὶ κηρυχθῆναι ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ μετάνοιαν καὶ ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, ἀρξάμενον ἀπὸ ῾Ιερουσαλήμ. ὑμεῖς δέ ἐστε μάρτυρες τούτων. καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ πατρός μου ἐφ᾿ ὑμᾶς· ὑμεῖς δὲ καθίσατε ἐν τῇ πόλει ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ ἕως οὗ ἐνδύσησθε δύναμιν ἐξ ὕψους.

᾿Εξήγαγε δὲ αὐτοὺς ἔξω ἕως εἰς Βηθανίαν, καὶ ἐπάρας τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ εὐλόγησεν αὐτούς. καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ εὐλογεῖν αὐτὸν αὐτοὺς διέστη ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν καὶ ἀνεφέρετο εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν. καὶ αὐτοὶ προσκυνήσαντες αὐτὸν ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ μετὰ χαρᾶς μεγάλης, καὶ ἦσαν διὰ παντὸς ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ αἰνοῦντες καὶ εὐλογοῦντες τὸν Θεόν. ἀμήν.

Sixth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:36-53

At that time, Jesus, having risen from the dead, stood in the midst of his disciples and said to them, "Peace to you." But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high."

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.


Epistle Reading

Προκείμενον. Grave Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 63.11,1.
Εὐφρανθήσεται δίκαιος ἐν Κυρίῳ.
Στίχ. Εἰσάκουσον, ὁ Θεός, τῆς φωνῆς μου.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Γαλάτας 4:22-27.

Ἀδελφοί, Ἀβραὰμ δύο υἱοὺς ἔσχεν· ἕνα ἐκ τῆς παιδίσκης, καὶ ἕνα ἐκ τῆς ἐλευθέρας. Ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἐκ τῆς παιδίσκης κατὰ σάρκα γεγέννηται, ὁ δὲ ἐκ τῆς ἐλευθέρας διὰ τῆς ἐπαγγελίας. Ἅτινά ἐστιν ἀλληγορούμενα· αὗται γάρ εἰσιν δύο διαθῆκαι· μία μὲν ἀπὸ ὄρους Σινᾶ, εἰς δουλείαν γεννῶσα, ἥτις ἐστὶν Ἅγαρ. Τὸ γὰρ Ἅγαρ Σινᾶ ὄρος ἐστὶν ἐν τῇ Ἀραβίᾳ, συστοιχεῖ δὲ τῇ νῦν Ἱερουσαλήμ, δουλεύει δὲ μετὰ τῶν τέκνων αὐτῆς. Ἡ δὲ ἄνω Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἐλευθέρα ἐστίν, ἥτις ἐστὶν μήτηρ πάντων ἡμῶν· γέγραπται γάρ, Εὐφράνθητι, στεῖρα, ἡ οὐ τίκτουσα· ῥῆξον καὶ βόησον, ἡ οὐκ ὠδίνουσα· ὅτι πολλὰ τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἐρήμου μᾶλλον ἢ τῆς ἐχούσης τὸν ἄνδρα.

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 63.11,1.
The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord.
Verse: Oh God, hear my cry.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 4:22-27.

Brethren, Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in travail; for the children of the desolate one are many more than the children of her that is married."


Gospel Reading

10th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 13:10-17

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ῏Ην δὲ διδάσκων ἐν μιᾷ τῶν συναγωγῶν ἐν τοῖς σάββασι. καὶ ἰδοὺ γυνὴ ἦν πνεῦμα ἔχουσα ἀσθενείας ἔτη δέκα καὶ ὀκτώ, καὶ ἦν συγκύπτουσα καὶ μὴ δυναμένη ἀνακῦψαι εἰς τὸ παντελές. ἰδὼν δὲ αὐτὴν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς προσεφώνησε καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· γύναι, ἀπολέλυσαι τῆς ἀσθενείας σου· καὶ ἐπέθηκεν αὐτῇ τὰς χεῖρας· καὶ παραχρῆμα ἀνωρθώθη καὶ ἐδόξαζε τὸν Θεόν. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ἀρχισυνάγωγος, ἀγανακτῶν ὅτι τῷ σαββάτῳ ἐθεράπευσεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς, ἔλεγε τῷ ὄχλῳ· ἓξ ἡμέραι εἰσὶν ἐν αἷς δεῖ ἐργάζεσθαι· ἐν ταύταις οὖν ἐρχόμενοι θεραπεύεσθε, καὶ μὴ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ σαββάτου. ἀπεκρίθη οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ Κύριος καὶ εἶπεν· ὑποκριτά, ἕκαστος ὑμῶν τῷ σαββάτῳ οὐ λύει τὸν βοῦν αὐτοῦ ἢ τὸν ὄνον ἀπὸ τῆς φάτνης καὶ ἀπαγαγὼν ποτίζει; ταύτην δέ, θυγατέρα ᾿Αβραὰμ οὖσαν, ἣν ἔδησεν ὁ σατανᾶς ἰδοὺ δέκα καὶ ὀκτὼ ἔτη, οὐκ ἔδει λυθῆναι ἀπὸ τοῦ δεσμοῦ τούτου τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ σαββάτου; καὶ ταῦτα λέγοντος αὐτοῦ κατῃσχύνοντο πάντες οἱ ἀντικείμενοι αὐτῷ, καὶ πᾶς ὁ ὄχλος ἔχαιρεν ἐπὶ πᾶσι τοῖς ἐνδόξοις τοῖς γινομένοις ὑπ᾿ αὐτοῦ.

10th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 13:10-17

At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity." And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day." Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
Let the heavens sing for joy, and let everything on earth be glad. * For with His Arm the Lord has worked power. * He trampled death under foot by means of death; * and He became the firstborn from the dead. * From the maw of Hades He delivered us; * and He granted the world His great mercy.

Apolytikion for Conception of the Theotokos in the Fourth Mode

Σήμερον τής ατεκνίας δεσμά διαλύονται, τού Ιωακείμ γάρ καί τής Άννης εισακούων Θεός, παρ' ελπίδα τεκείν αυτούς σαφώς, υπισχνείται θεόπαιδα, εξ ής αυτός ετέχθη ο απερίγραπτος, βροτός γεγονώς, δι' Αγγέλου κελεύσας βοήσαι αυτή, Χαίρε Κεχαριτωμένη, ο Κύριος μετά σού.
Today the bonds of childlessness are loosed; for God hearkened to Joachim and Anna. And though it was beyond hope, He clearly promised them that they should bear a divine child, from whom was born the Uncircumscribable One Himself Who became a mortal, and through an Angel commanded them to cry unto her: Rejoice, thou who art full of grace; the Lord is with thee.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Εορτάζει σήμερον, η οικουμένη, τήν τής Άννης σύλληψιν, γεγενημένην εν Θεώ, καί γάρ αυτή απεκύησε, τήν υπέρ λόγον, τόν Λόγον κυήσασαν.
Today the world rejoices in the conception of Anna, wrought by God. For she bore the One who beyond comprehension conceived the Logos.
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This Week at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

  

 

 

Friday, December 7

St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan

Office Closed

4PM Greek Language School

5PM Bible Study

 

 

Saturday, December 8

Hall reserved all day

9AM Goya Event

6PM Great Vespers

 

 

Sunday, December 9

10th Sunday of Luke

8:30AM Orthros/Divine Liturgy

2nd Offering by Philoptochos for Homeless Teens

Memorial Eleni Vogiatzis

11:30 HDF Fundraising Bake sale

12PM Parish Council Elections

 

 

Monday, December 10

6:30PM Philoptochos Board Meeting

 

 

Tuesday, December 11

St. Daniel the Stylite

11:45 AM Forever Young Christmas Party at Beau Rivage

7PM Festival 2019 Meeting

 

 

Wednesday, December 12

St. Spyridon the Wonderworker

8AM Orthros/Divine Liturgy

10AM Orthodox Coffee Hour

7PM COM Meeting

 

 

Thursday, December 13

St. Herman of Alaska

7PM Catechism class

 

 

Friday, December 14

Sts. Thyrsos, Leukios, and Callinikos

4PM Greek Language Study

5PM Bible Study the Gospel of St. John

 

 

Saturday, December 15

St. Eleutherios

8AM Orthros/Divine Liturgy

6PM Great Vespers

 

 

Sunday, December 16

Sunday before Nativity

St. Haggai the Prophet

8:30 AM Orthros/Divine Liturgy

2nd Offering Tray for HDF

3PM Christmas Caroling Practice &

Christmas Caroling (HDF Fundraiser)

 

 

 

 

 


Parish Council Members on Pangari Duty today: Evangelos Fragos and Barbara Reynolds 

Next Week: Nick Saffo and Tina Bostic

 

 

Today’s fundraising fellowship hour will be hosted by the Youth Hellenic Dancers

 

 

 

 

Operating Income/Expense

General Fund

Income

Expenses

Variance

Jan

$19,386.32

$37,995.11

$(18,608.79)

Feb

$19,855.87

$25,635.51

$(5,779.64)

Mar

$26,811.13

$26,290.76

$520.37

Apr

$24,989.75

$20,786.00

$4,203.75

May

$29,959.88

$31,598.95

$(1,639.07)

Jun

$16,609.00

$31,591.26

$(14,982.26)

Jul

$18,983.72

$31,498.11

$(12,514.39)

Aug

$41,295.98

$24,621.68

$16,674.30

Sep

$16,788.55

$17,228.07

$(439.52)

Oct

$22,725.90

$33,117.79

$(10,391.89)

YTD

 $237,406.10

$280,363.24

$(42,957.14)

 

 

 

 

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Parish News & Updates

 

SUNDAY…PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS... The Parish Council Elections will be taking place today after Divine Liturgy.  All stewards of St. Nicholas are requested to vote to help form the 2019 Parish Council.  Candidates in this year's election include: Tina Bostic, Cameron Calhoun, Barbara Harris, Lee King, Caleb Kratsa, Dino Psilos, Tony Saffo, Georgia Spiliotis, Betsy Vines.  You will be able to select up to six of these candidates.  Please see our Bulletin Insert Section for a short biography from each canidate.  They all thank you for your consideration.

 

SUNDAY… HELLENIC DANCING FUNDRAISING BAKE SALE AND COFFEE HOUR...Today is the first of (2) dates for our Youth Coffee Hour and Bake Sale Fundraisers.   Please support our youth dancers today by purchasing yummy baked goods for your upcoming holiday parties or quiet family get-togethers.  Let us do the baking for you.  These desserts will go fast so be prepared to purchase from a varied selection.  Also, please partake in fundraising coffee hour.  Thank you in advance for your support.  If you cannot attend today, look for items on Sunday, December 16.

 

SUNDAY…PHILOPTOCHOS…The Ladies of Philoptochos are collecting a 2nd offering tray for the Homeless Teens in our community. Please give generously.

 

**NEW** HOME BLESSINGS…During the days following the Feast of the Theophany (January 6), it is customary for Fr. Jon to visit homes of his parishioners for the traditional Theophany Home Blessing.  Please feel free to call the church to schedule your Home Blessing.

 

**NEW**…SUNDAY SCHOOL…DATES TO REMEMBER…Sunday School will not be in session on December 23 (Merry Christmas) and December 30 (Happy New Year).

 

**NEW**...CHRISTMAS CAROLERS PRACTICE…Please meet Michael Rallis and Koula Katsikis at 3PM on Sunday, December 16 to practice the song selection and receive your music sheets.  Caroling will start after practice.

 

CHRISTMAS CAROLING…Open your homes to our annual festive fundraising event rescheduled for Sunday, December 16 starting at around 5PM, you can sign up to have our traveling band of merry singers visit your home or business to sing traditional Greek an English Christmas Carols.  To sign up for a time slot, please visit our table and sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall today.

 

FOREVER YOUNG CHRISTMAS SOCIAL…Tuesday, December 11 at 11:45 AM at Beau Rivage Golf Resort located at 649 Rivage Promenade in Wilmington.

 

AHEPA CHAPTERwill be hosting its annual Christmas Dinner for the residents of the AHEPA 408 Apartments, 109 N. Kerr Ave., on Tuesday, December 18th, at 6:00 PM. All Brothers are encouraged to attend, act as hosts and help serve the delicious meal, which will be prepared by Brother Chris Tsingelis and staff at Chris' Restaurant. Please allow enough driving time to arrive at the apartment complex by 5:45 PM. 

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Parish News and Updates (Continued)

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE ILL, RECOVERING AND/OR HOMEBOUND...Angelo Angeledis, Shelby Biancaniello (daughter of Sue Lawler), Bobby Bobon (brother of Sue Lawler), Stavros Chantiles, Anthony Constandy (father of Elisabeth Baynard), Sherry Demas, Nicholas Devoles, Iffie Diakogiannis, Constantine Dukas, Constantine Efthymiou (Father of Barbara Harris), Sue Fokakis (Autumn Care), Demitra George, Stephanie & Georgiana Jean Harrill (daughter & granddaughter of Pat and Marisa Gallaher), Nick Karloutsos (Silver Stream), George Kanes (brother-in-law of Barbara Harris), Dan Kirkby (brother of Matthew), Nikolaos Kotsinis, Olga Mancuso, Calvin McGowan, Mary Compos Marmaras (Cypress Pointe), Maria Padgett-Velaetis, Koula Poulos, Dorothy Radomsky, Pat Skinner-Darby, Kim Saffo, Charity Skinner-Darby (daughter of Pat), Tom Souflas, Peggy Stephano, Debbie Triantafillopoulos, 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 .

 

During Divine Liturgy each Sunday throughout the year we have a staffed nursery with attendant available for the use of our youngest members from birth to age 5. If your child needs a wiggle break or a place to listen to the Divine Liturgy in a different environment, please feel free to use this provided Service.
 

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

    2018 Parish Council Elections

    2018 Parish Council Elections

    Please see attached for a short biography summary for each of our Parish Council Nominees. Every steward is invited to come vote SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16. Thank you.


    Christmas Open House

    Christmas Open House

    The entire community is invited to the "Last Stop for St. Nicholas Carolers" at the home of Nick & Tia Saffo on Sunday, December 16 from 6-8PM. Please RSVP via text 910-262-8681 to Tia Saffo. ALL ARE WELCOME!!


    Christmas Caroling Sunday, December 16 at 5PM until 8:30PM

    Christmas Caroling Sunday, December 16 at 5PM until 8:30PM

    St. Nicholas Youth dance groups proudly present a wonderful selection of heartwarming Holiday music! This is a fundraiser for HDF. All donations are welcome.


    St. Nicholas Forever Young Christmas Luncheon

    St. Nicholas Forever Young Christmas Luncheon

    Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at 11:45AM - 1:45PM at Beau Rivage Golf & Resort Banquets 649 Rivage Promenade Lunch will be served promptly at noon. Followed by an afternoon of fellowship, raffles and gift exchange. Please bring wrapped gift for the gift exchange (maximum value $10). Please RSVP to Kay Skandalakis by December 5 for an accurate head count at (910) 762-1161.


    Sunday School News December 2018

    Sunday School News December 2018

    December Teacher Focus: Koula Fragos Student Focus: Fiona McTaggert


    Divine Liturgy Youth Program

    Divine Liturgy Youth Program

    From the Weekly Bulletin of 12/2/18. Parent's and children please review together.


    Clergy Laity Assembly Save the Date

    Clergy Laity Assembly Save the Date

    His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios invites you to the 2019 Clergy Laity Assembly on June 25-29, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida.


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Saints and Feasts

Anna
December 09

The Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos

According to the ancient tradition of the Church, since Saint Anna, the Ancestor of God, was barren, she and her husband Joachim remained without children until old age. Therefore, sorrowing over their childlessness, they besought God with a promise that, if He were to grant them the fruit of the womb, they would offer their offspring to Him as a gift. And God, hearkening to their supplication, informed them through an Angel concerning the birth of the Virgin. And thus, through God's promise, Anna conceived according to the laws of nature, and was deemed worthy to become the mother of the Mother of our Lord (see also Sept. 8).


Allsaint
December 09

The Consecration of the Church of the Resurrection (Holy Sepulchre) in the Holy City of Jerusalem

The majestic Church of the Resurrection, built by Saint Constantine the Great and his mother Helen, was consecrated in the year 336. In the year 614, this edifice was destroyed by the Persians, who set fire to it. Modestus, the Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Theodosius, and later Patriarch of Jerusalem, rebuilt the church in 626 and had it reconsecrated. In 637, Jerusalem fell to the Moslems; however, the holy shrines were left intact. But in 934, on the Sunday of Pascha, the Saracens set fire to part of this church. Again in 969, the Moslems set fire to the dome of the church, plundered all the sacred objects that were found therein, and surrendered John IV, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, to the flames. In 1010, the Moslems, under Hakim the Mad, Caliph of Egypt, destroyed the church to its foundations, but in 1028, by the mediation of Emperor Romanus III Argyrus of Constantinople, the church began to be rebuilt on a more modest scale. This third edifice was completed and reconsecrated in 1048. In 1099, the crusaders took Jerusalem and ruled there for eighty-eight years, and during this time they made certain changes in the structure, which, for the most part, has remained unaltered ever since (See also Sept. 13).

Allsaint
December 10

The Holy Martyrs Menas, Hermogenes, and Eugraphus

Saint Menas, according to the Synaxaristes, had Athens as his homeland. He was a military officer, an educated man and skilled in speech, wherefore he was surnamed Kallikelados ("most eloquent"); Eugraphus was his scribe. Both had Christian parents. The Emperor Maximinus (he was the successor of Alexander Severus, and reigned from 235 to 238) sent Saint Menas to Alexandria to employ his eloquence to end a certain strife among the citizens. Saint Menas, having accomplished this, also employed his eloquence to strengthen the Christians in their faith, which when Maximinus heard, he sent Hermogenes, who was an eparch born to unbelievers to turn Menas away from Christ. But Hermogenes rather came to the Faith of Christ because of the miracles wrought by Saint Menas. Saints Menas, Eugraphus, and Hermogenes received the crown of martyrdom in the year 235.


Allsaint
December 11

Daniel the Stylite of Constantinople

This Saint was from the village of Marutha in the region of Samosata in Mesopotamia. He became a monk at the age of twelve. After visiting Saint Symeon the Stylite (see Sept. 1) and receiving his blessing, he was moved with zeal to follow his marvellous way of life. At the age of forty-two, guided by providence, he came to Anaplus in the environs of Constantinople, in the days of the holy Patriarch Anatolius (see July 3), who was also healed by Saint Daniel of very grave malady and sought to have him live near him. Upon coming to Anaplus, Saint Daniel first lived in the church of the Archangel Michael, but after some nine years, Saint Symeon the Stylite appeared to him in a vision, commanding him to imitate his own ascetical struggle upon a pillar. The remaining thirty-three years of his life he stood for varying periods on three pillars, one after another. He stood immovable in all weather, and once his disciples found him covered with ice after a winter storm. He was a counsellor of emperors; the pious emperor Leo the Great fervently loved him and brought his royal guests to meet him. It was at Saint Daniel's word that the holy relics of Saint Symeon the Stylite were brought to Constantinople from Antioch, and it was in his days that the Emperor Leo had the relics of the Three Holy Children brought from Babylon. Saint Daniel also defended the Church against the error of the Eutychians. Having lived through the reigns of the Emperors Leo, Zeno, and Basiliscus, he reposed in 490, at the age of eighty-four.


Spyridon
December 12

Spyridon the Wonderworker of Trymithous

Spyridon, the God-bearing Father of the Church, the great defender of Corfu and the boast of all the Orthodox, had Cyprus as his homeland. He was simple in manner and humble of heart, and was a shepherd of sheep. When he was joined to a wife, he begat of her a daughter whom they named Irene. After his wife's departure from this life, he was appointed Bishop of Trimythus, and thus he became also a shepherd of rational sheep. When the First Ecumenical Council was assembled in Nicaea, he also was present, and by means of his most simple words stopped the mouths of the Arians who were wise in their own conceit. By the divine grace which dwelt in him, he wrought such great wonders that he received the surname 'Wonderworker." So it is that, having tended his flock piously and in a manner pleasing to God, he reposed in the Lord about the year 350, leaving to his country his sacred relics as a consolation and source of healing for the faithful.

About the middle of the seventh century, because of the incursions made by the barbarians at that time, his sacred relics were taken to Constantinople, where they remained, being honoured by the emperors themselves. But before the fall of Constantinople, which took place on May 29, 1453, a certain priest named George Kalokhairetes, the parish priest of the church where the Saint's sacred relics, as well as those of Saint Theodora the Empress, were kept, took them away on account of the impending peril. Travelling by way of Serbia, he came as far as Arta in Epirus, a region in Western Greece opposite to the isle of Corfu. From there, while the misfortunes of the Christian people were increasing with every day, he passed over to Corfu about the year 1460. The relics of Saint Theodora were given to the people of Corfu; but those of Saint Spyridon remain to this day, according to the rights of inheritance, the most precious treasure of the priest's own descendants, and they continue to be a staff for the faithful in Orthodoxy, and a supernatural wonder for those that behold him; for even after the passage of 1,500 years, they have remained incorrupt, and even the flexibility of his flesh has been preserved. Truly wondrous is God in His Saints! (Ps. 67:3 5)


Hermanalaska
December 13

Herman the Wonderworker of Alaska & First Saint of America

Saint Herman (his name is a variant of Germanus) was born near Moscow in 1756. In his youth he became a monk, first at the Saint Sergius Hermitage near Saint Petersburg on the Gulf of Finland; while he dwelt there, the most holy Mother of God appeared to him, healing him of a grave malady. Afterwards he entered Valaam Monastery on Valiant Island in Lake Ladoga; he often withdrew into the wilderness to pray for days at a time. In 1794, answering a call for missionaries to preach the Gospel to the Aleuts, he came to the New World with the first Orthodox mission to Alaska. He settled on Spruce Island, which he called New Valaam, and here he persevered, even in the face of many grievous afflictions mostly at the hands of his own countrymen in the loving service of God and of his neighbour. Besides his many toils for the sake of the Aleuts, he subdued his flesh with great asceticism, wearing chains, sleeping little, fasting and praying much. He brought many people to Christ by the example of his life, his teaching, and his kindness and sanctity, and was granted the grace of working miracles and of prophetic insight. Since he was not a priest, Angels descended at Theophany to bless the waters in the bay; Saint Herman used this holy water to heal the sick. Because of his unwearying missionary labours, which were crowned by God with the salvation of countless souls, he is called the Enlightener of the Aleuts, and has likewise been renowned as a wonderworker since his repose in 1837.


Allsaint
December 14

The Holy Martyrs Thyrsus, Leucius, and Callinicus of Asia Minor, and Philemon, Apollonius, and Arian of Alexandria

Of these, the Martyrs who were from Asia Minor contested for piety's sake during the reign of Decius, in 250. Saint Leucius, seeing the slaughter of the Christians, reproached the Governor Cumbricius, for which he was hung up, harrowed mercilessly on his sides, then beheaded. For boldly professing himself a Christian and rebuking the Governor for worshipping stocks and stones as gods, Saint Thyrsus, after many horrible tortures, was sentenced to be sawn asunder, but the saw would not cut, and became so heavy in the executioners' hands that they could not move it; Saint Thyrsus then gave up his spirit, at Apollonia in the Hellespont. Saint Callinicus a priest of the idols, was converted through the martyrdom and miracles of Saint Thyrsus, and was beheaded.

During the reign of Diocletian (284-305), the Governor of Antinoe in the Thebaid of Upper Egypt was Arian, a fierce persecutor who had sent many Christians to a violent death, among them Saints Timothy and Maura (see May 3) and Saint Sabine (Mar. 16). When he had imprisoned Christians for their confession of faith, one of them, named Apollonius, a reader of the Church, lost his courage at the sight of the instruments of torture, and thought how he might escape torments without denying Christ. He gave money to Philemon a flute-player and a pagan, that he might put on Apollonius' clothes and offer sacrifice before Arian, so that all would think Apollonius to have done the Governor's will, and he might be released. Philemon agreed to this, but when the time came to offer sacrifice, enlightened by divine grace, he declared himself a Christian instead. He and Apollonius, who also confessed Christ when the fraud was exposed, were both beheaded. Before beheading them, Arian had commanded that they be shot with arrows, but while they remained unharmed, Arian himself was wounded by one of the arrows; Saint Philemon foretold that after his martyrdom, Arian would be healed at his tomb. When this came to pass, Arian, the persecutor who had slain so many servants of Christ, himself believed in Christ and was baptized with four of his bodyguards. Diocletian heard of this and had Arian and his body-guards brought to him. For their confession of Christ, they were cast into the sea, and received the crown of life everlasting.


Elefther
December 15

Eleutherios the Hieromartyr, Bishop of Illyricum, and his mother Anthia

This Saint had Rome as his homeland. Having been orphaned of his father from childhood, he was taken by his mother Anthia to Anicetus, the Bishop of Rome (some call him Anencletus, or Anacletus), by whom he was instructed in the sacred letters (that is, the divine Scriptures). Though still very young in years, he was made Bishop of Illyricum by reason of his surpassing virtue, and by his teachings he converted many unbelievers to Christ. However, during a most harsh persecution that was raised against the Christians under Hadrian (reigned 117-138), the Saint was arrested by the tyrants. Enduring many torments for Christ, he was finally put to death by two soldiers about the year 126. As for his Christ-loving mother Anthia, while embracing the remains of her son and kissing them with maternal affection, she was also beheaded.


Allsaint
December 16

The Holy Prophet Aggaeus (Haggai)

The Prophet Aggaeus, whose name means "festive," was born in Babylon at the time of the captivity Of the Jews. He began to prophesy in Jerusalem after their return thereto, and to admonish the people to rebuild the Temple, in the days of Zorobabel, the second year of the reign of Darius Hystaspes, King of Persia, about the year 520 before Christ. His prophecy, divided into two chapters, is ranked tenth among the minor Prophets.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

So great an evil is envy. For not against strangers only, but even against our own, is it ever warring.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 40 on Matthew 12, 4th Century

And yet here He speaks only; whereas elsewhere in many cases He heals by laying on of hands also. But nevertheless none of these things made them meek; rather, while the man was healed, they by his health became worse. For His desire indeed was to cure them before him, and He tried innumerable ways of healing, both by what He did in their presence, and by what He said: but since their malady after all was incurable, He proceeded to the work.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 40 on Matthew 12, 4th Century

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Metropolis of Atlanta News

Greek Craftsmen Travel to Palm Harbor to Build Greek Orthodox Church

12/03/2018

PALM HARBOR, Fla. — A dozen Greek Craftsmen have traveled thousands of miles to help build a one of a kind church in Palm Harbor.
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