Orthros/Matins: Sunday 8:00AM
Divine Liturgy: Sunday 9:30AM
Second Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 16:1-8
Καὶ διαγενομένου τοῦ σαββάτου Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία ἡ τοῦ ᾿Ιακώβου καὶ Σαλώμη ἠγόρασαν ἀρώματα ἵνα ἐλθοῦσαι ἀλείψωσιν αὐτόν. καὶ λίαν πρωῒ τῆς μιᾶς σαββάτων ἔρχονται ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, ἀνατείλαντος τοῦ ἡλίου. καὶ ἔλεγον πρὸς ἑαυτάς· τίς ἀποκυλίσει ἡμῖν τὸν λίθον ἐκ τῆς θύρας τοῦ μνημείου; καὶ ἀναβλέψασαι θεωροῦσιν ὅτι ἀποκεκύλισται ὁ λίθος· ἦν γὰρ μέγας σφόδρα. καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον εἶδον νεανίσκον καθήμενον ἐν τοῖς δεξιοῖς, περιβεβλημένον στολὴν λευκήν, καὶ ἐξεθαμβήθησαν. ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐταῖς· μὴ ἐκθαμβεῖσθε· ᾿Ιησοῦν ζητεῖτε τὸν Ναζαρηνὸν τὸν ἐσταυρωμένον· ἠγέρθη, οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε· ἴδε ὁ τόπος ὅπου ἔθηκαν αὐτόν. ἀλλ᾿ ὑπάγετε εἴπατε τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ Πέτρῳ ὅτι προάγει ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν· ἐκεῖ αὐτὸν ὄψεσθε, καθὼς εἶπεν ὑμῖν. καὶ ἐξελθοῦσαι ἔφυγον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου· εἶχε δὲ αὐτὰς τρόμος καὶ ἔκστασις, καὶ οὐδενὶ οὐδὲν εἶπον· ἐφοβοῦντο γάρ.
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.
Προκείμενον. First Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 48.3,1.
Τὸ στόμα μου λαλήσει σοφίαν καὶ ἡ μελέτη τῆς καρδίας μου σύνεσιν.
Στίχ. Ἀκούσατε ταῦτα, πάντα τὰ ἔθνη.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 7:26-28, 8:1-2.
Ἀδελφοί, τοιοῦτος γὰρ ἡμῖν ἔπρεπεν ἀρχιερεύς, ὅσιος, ἄκακος, ἀμίαντος, κεχωρισμένος ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν, καὶ ὑψηλότερος τῶν οὐρανῶν γενόμενος· ὃς οὐκ ἔχει καθʼ ἡμέραν ἀνάγκην, ὥσπερ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς, πρότερον ὑπὲρ τῶν ἰδίων ἁμαρτιῶν θυσίας ἀναφέρειν, ἔπειτα τῶν τοῦ λαοῦ· τοῦτο γὰρ ἐποίησεν ἐφάπαξ, ἑαυτὸν ἀνενέγκας. Ὁ νόμος γὰρ ἀνθρώπους καθίστησιν ἀρχιερεῖς, ἔχοντας ἀσθένειαν· ὁ λόγος δὲ τῆς ὁρκωμοσίας τῆς μετὰ τὸν νόμον, υἱὸν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τετελειωμένον. Κεφάλαιον δὲ ἐπὶ τοῖς λεγομένοις· τοιοῦτον ἔχομεν ἀρχιερέα, ὃς ἐκάθισεν ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ θρόνου τῆς μεγαλωσύνης ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, τῶν ἁγίων λειτουργός, καὶ τῆς σκηνῆς τῆς ἀληθινῆς, ἣν ἔπηξεν ὁ κύριος, καὶ οὐκ ἄνθρωπος·
Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 48.3,1.
My mouth shall speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart shall bring forth understanding.
Verse: Hear this all you nations.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 7:26-28; 8:1-2.
Brethren, it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered up himself. Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever. Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent which is set up not by man but by the Lord.
15th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 19:1-10
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, διήρχετο τὴν ῾Ιεριχώ· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ ὀνόματι καλούμενος Ζακχαῖος, καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν ἀρχιτελώνης, καὶ οὗτος ἦν πλούσιος, καὶ ἐζήτει ἰδεῖν τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν τίς ἐστι, καὶ οὐκ ἠδύνατο ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄχλου, ὅτι τῇ ἡλικίᾳ μικρὸς ἦν. καὶ προδραμὼν ἔμπροσθεν ἀνέβη ἐπὶ συκομορέαν, ἵνα ἴδῃ αὐτόν, ὅτι ἐκείνης ἤμελλε διέρχεσθαι. καὶ ὡς ἦλθεν ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον, ἀναβλέψας ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶδεν αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· Ζακχαῖε, σπεύσας κατάβηθι· σήμερον γὰρ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου δεῖ με μεῖναι. καὶ σπεύσας κατέβη, καὶ ὑπεδέξατο αὐτὸν χαίρων. καὶ ἰδόντες πάντες διεγόγγυζον λέγοντες ὅτι παρὰ ἁμαρτωλῷ ἀνδρὶ εἰσῆλθε καταλῦσαι. σταθεὶς δὲ Ζακχαῖος εἶπε πρὸς τὸν Κύριον· ἰδοὺ τὰ ἡμίση τῶν ὑπαρχόντων μου, Κύριε, δίδωμι τοῖς πτωχοῖς, καὶ εἴ τινός τι ἐσυκοφάντησα, ἀποδίδωμι τετραπλοῦν. εἶπε δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ὅτι σήμερον σωτηρία τῷ οἴκῳ τούτῳ ἐγένετο, καθότι καὶ αὐτὸς υἱὸς ᾿Αβραάμ ἐστιν. ἦλθε γὰρ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ζητῆσαι καὶ σῶσαι τὸ ἀπολωλός.
15th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 19:1-10
At that time, Jesus was passing through Jericho. And there was a man named Zacchaios; he was a chief collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaios, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." And Zacchaios stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost."
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
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.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Fr. Seraphim Dedes
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Friday, January 25 4PM Greek School
Saturday, January 26 11AM Theophany Cross Dive Event 6PM Great Vespers
Sunday, January 27 14th Sunday of Luke 8:30AM Orthros/Divine Liturgy 11AM Stewardship Sunday 1-year Memorial Evelyn Angeledes 11:30AM Joy Hope Event in Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, January 29 5:45PM Great Vespers at St. Basil’s Orthodox Church 7PM COM Meeting
Wednesday, January 30 Holy Three Hierarchs 9th hour/Divine Liturgy 9AM – St. Basil’s Orthodox Church 10AM Orthodox Coffee Hour 6PM Adult Book Club
Thursday, January 31 7PM Catechism Class
Friday, February 1 4PM Greek Language School 5PM St. John's Gospel Bible Study 6PM Great Vespers
Saturday, February 2 Presentation of our Lord in the Temple 8AM Orthros/Divine Liturgy 6PM Great Vespers
Sunday, February 3 15th Sunday of Luke 8:30AM Orthros/Divine Liturgy 11PM Kiki Xanthos 1-year Memorial 11:30AM Three Hierarchs presentation 4PM Super-Bowl Sunday
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Parish Council Members on Pangari Duty today: Evangelos Fragos and Dino Psilos
Next week: Cameron Calhoun and Tina Bostic
Today’s fellowship hour will be hosted by the Hellenic Culture Ministry
ON SUNDAY… STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY…January 27, 2019... Father Jon will give a special blessing after the Divine Liturgy service for the stewardship commitments for this year.
**NEW**CONGRATULATIONS: HDF DANCERS AND INSTRUCTORS… We are pleased to announce both our teams Nea Smyrni and Zoyra won the BRONZE level medals for their categories. Please make sure to attend the February HDF Awards Ceremony on February 10, 2019, as we honor our amazing dancers and instructors with pride in their accomplishments.
**NEW**SUPERBOWL SUNDAY… SAVE THE DATE…February 3, 2019…Bring your family to join our St. Nicholas family for fun, food, football, and fellowship! From 6:00 pm till the game’s over! Please bring a refreshment and appetizer/snack to share.
**NEW**PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS…Reminder to all ladies to pay their annual membership dues. $15 goes to National, $10 goes to Metropolis. Anything you give over this amount is used to help fund our charities. We are seeking ladies to serve on the 2019-2021 Philoptochos Board. Please contact Daphne Snow, our screening committee chairperson if you have a passion for helping those in need Philoptochos plans to honor our 50-year members on Sunday, June 2nd. Please contact our President, Debra Rallis to let us know if you or a family member has been a member for 50 years. Mark your calendars for the Annual Spiritual Retreat at the beautiful Diakonia Center on March 15-17, 2019. All women of the Metropolis are welcome! Registration forms are in the Hellenic Center.
GREEK SCHOOL AHEPA VALENTINES DANCE SAVE THE DATE… All Parishioners are invited to the Dinner Dance on Sat. Feb 16 at 7 PM at the Hellenic Center. Enjoy good food and dancing to the music of Paschalis Greek Band. Donation of $45 per ticket pre-sale and $50 at the door. Students $20 and kids 12 and below free. Come and enjoy the fun and good fellowship.
THREE HIERARCHS CELEBRATION…SAVE THE DATE…Sunday, February 3, 2019, immediately following Divine Liturgy. Our guest speaker will be Stella McTaggart. We look forward to seeing everyone!! See today’s insert.
HDF AWARDS CEREMONY LUNCHEON FUNDRAISER…SAVE THE DATE…Sunday, February 10, 2019. Immediately following Divine Liturgy in the Hellenic Center. Join us as we celebrate participating youth dancers and directors during the salad and pastichio luncheon fundraiser at $10 per plate/Children under 8 Free.
ST. NICHOLAS ORATORICAL FESTIVAL will take place Sunday, February 17, 2019. Contact Kim Dandulakis or Rick Reynolds for any questions or help.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING…SAVE THE DATE…Sunday, February 24, 2019. All Parishioners are invited to attend.
IKARIAN CHAPTER THERMA FUNDRAISER…SAVE THE DATE on Sunday, March 3, 2019, for the Harrill Family immediately after Divine Liturgy. If you cannot attend, you can make a Donation to Stephanie Harrill. The luncheon will be $10 for Adults and $5 for Kids 12- under.
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 through February.
Please pray for those who are ill, recovering, and/or homebound: Bishop Athanasios Akunda, 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), Demitra George, Stephanie & Georgiana Jean Harrill (daughter & granddaughter of Pat and Marisa Gallaher), Helen Kaprantzes, George Kanes (brother-in-law of Barbara Harris), Nick Karloutsos (Silver Stream), Dan Kirkby (brother of Matthew), Emanuel Koklanaris, 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, Jill Swart, Debbie Triantafillopoulos, Helen Vurnakes, Vasilios Vogiatzis, MaryAnn Wall. Please contact the church office to add/remove someone from the list
**Please remember to visit our wonderful bookstore on your way to Coffee Hour on Sunday's!
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!
Join us for the Cross Dive on January 26, 2019 at Bluewater Grill in Wrightsville Beach at 11:00AM.
Can you believe it? Festival is around the corner! The festival committee is busy at work preparing for this years festival for May 17, 18 and 19, 2019. I have attached a Charity request application so you may print out and give to your favorite charity. Please make sure your Charity completes the entire form. The deadline for the Charity Request application is January 25, 2019.
Due to the HDF weekend in Atlanta GA last week Stella did not create a custom bulletin for Sunday, January 20. Please see this beautiful bulletin created by Presvytera Alexandra Houck. Each week she creates a bulletin called "The Children's Word" which can be found at http://myocn.net/orthodox-christian-childrens-newsletter/"
You are cordially invited to join us in the celebration of the Three Hierarchs and Greek Letters Day on Sunday, February 3, 2019 in the Hellenic Center immediately following Divine Liturgy. Guest speaker will be Stella McTaggart.
Join us as we celebrate participating Youth Dancers and Directors during the Salad/Pastichio Luncheon Fundraiser February 10, 2019 immediately following Divine Liturgy in the Hellenic Center. $10 per Plate/Children under 8 free.
Valentines Day Dance on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 7:00PM. Paschalis Greek Band Buffet Dinner - Cash Bar For further information & reservations contact: Nick Lazaridis @ nvlazaridis @gmail.com or AnestisLogothetis@gmail.com or the Church office (910) 392-4444
Save the Date for the 2019 St. Nicholas Oratorical Festival. Sunday, February 17, 2019 Please contact Kim Dandulakis or Rick Reynolds for more information.
Please join the Ikarian Chapter Therma club for the Fundraising Luncheon in support of the Harrill Family on Sunday, March 3, 2019 immediately following Divine Liturgy. If you cannot make the luncheon, you can make a donation to Stephanie Harrill. $10 Adults and $5 kids 8 yrs. and under.
Theme of Retreat: Connecting with HIM so that you can connect with THEM. March 15-17, 2019 at the beautiful Diakonia Retreat Center.
Apply today for CrossRoad 2019! Explore your faith like never before... Application deadline is February 1, 2019
This event took place on this day in the year 438, when Saint Theodosius the Younger had been Emperor for thirty years; he was the son of Arcadius, and Eudoxia, who had exiled Saint John. The Archbishop of Constantinople at that time was Proclus, who had been the Saint's disciple (see Nov. 13 and Nov. 20).
Saint Ephraim was born in Nisibis of Mesopotamia some time about the year 306, and in his youth was the disciple of Saint James, Bishop of Nisibis, one of the 318 Fathers at the First Ecumenical Council. Ephraim lived in Nisibis, practicing a severe ascetical life and increasing in holiness, until 363, the year in which Julian the Apostate was slain in his war against the Persians, and his successor Jovian surrendered Nisibis to them. Ephraim then made his dwelling in Edessa, where he found many heresies to do battle with. He waged an especial war against Bardaisan; this gnostic had written many hymns propagating his errors, which by their sweet melodies became popular and enticed souls away from the truth. Saint Ephraim, having received from God a singular gift of eloquence, turned Bardaisan's own weapon against him, and wrote a multitude of hymns to be chanted by choirs of women, which set forth the true doctrines, refuted heretical error, and praised the contests of the Martyrs.
Of the multitude of sermons, commentaries, and hymns that Saint Ephraim wrote, many were translated into Greek in his own lifetime. Sozomen says that Ephraim "Surpassed the most approved writers of Greece," observing that the Greek writings, when translated into other tongues, lose most of their original beauty, but Ephraim's works "are no less admired when read in Greek than when read in Syriac" (Eccl. Hist., Book 111, 16). Saint Ephraim was ordained deacon, some say by Saint Basil the Great, whom Sozomen said "was a great admirer of Ephraim, and was astonished at his erudition." Saint Ephraim was the first to make the poetic expression of hymnody and song a vehicle of Orthodox theological teachings, constituting it an integral part of the Church's worship; he may rightly be called the first and greatest hymnographer of the Church, who set the pattern for these who followed him, especially Saint Romanos the Melodist. Because of this he is called the "Harp of the Holy Spirit." Jerome says that his writings were read in some churches after the reading of the Scriptures, and adds that once he read a Greek translation of one of Ephraim's works, "and recognized, even in translation, the incisive power of his lofty genius" (De vir. ill., ch. CXV).
Shortly before the end of his life, a famine broke out in Edessa, and Saint Ephraim left his cell to rebuke the rich for not sharing their goods with the poor. The rich answered that they knew no one to whom they could entrust their goods. Ephraim asked them, "What do you think of me?" When they confessed their reverence for him, he offered to distribute their alms, to which they agreed. He himself cared with his own hands for many of the sick from the famine, and so crowned his life with mercy and love for neighbor. Saint Ephraim reposed in peace, according to some in the year 373, according to others, 379.
When the most pure Mother and Ever-Virgin Mary's forty days of purification had been fulfilled, she took her first-born Son to Jerusalem on this, the fortieth day after His birth, that she might present Him in the temple according to the Law of Moses, which teaches that every first-born male child be dedicated to God, and also that she might offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons, as required by the Law (Luke 2:22-24; Exod. 13:2; Lev. 12:6-8). On this same day, a just and devout man, the greatly aged Symeon, was also present in the temple, being guided by the Holy Spirit. For a long time, this man had been awaiting the salvation of God, and he had been informed by divine revelation that he would not die until he beheld the Lord's Christ. Thus, when he beheld Him at that time and took Him up into his aged arms, he gave glory to God, singing: "Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, O Master. . ." And he confessed that he would close his eyes joyfully, since he had seen the Light of revelation for the nations and the Glory of Israel (Luke 2:25-32). From ancient times, the Holy Church has retained this tradition of the churching of the mother and new-born child on the fortieth day and of the reading of prayers of purification.
The Apodosis of the Feast of the Meeting in the Temple is usually on the 9th of February. This, however, may vary if the Feast falls within the period of the Triodion. Should this occur, the Typicon should be consulted for specific information concerning the Apodosis of the Feast.