Sundays / Κυριακή
7:00am - Matins / Όρθρος
8:15am - Divine Liturgy (Greek) / Θεία Λειτουργία
11:00am - Diving Liturgy (English) / Θεία Λειτουργία
Wednesdays / Τετάρτη
6:00pm - Paraklesis to Theotokos / Παράκληση στη Θεοτόκο
Saturdays / Σάββατο
6:00pm - Great Vespers / Μέγας Εσπερινός
1st Day of Each Month / Κάθε 1η του Μήνα
6:00pm - Blessing of the Waters / Αγιασμός
Time and Talents Make Everything Happen
Being a member of a family is an exciting thing, and that is no less true here at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Whether it is teaching Sunday School every week, chaperoning the GOYA olympics, or wiping down tables once or twice a year at the Greek Festival, being a part of our Cathedral Family means much more than donating money. It means offering your time and talents to help make things happen.
This year, as part of our 2019 Stewardship Campaign, it is my goal to feature the many volunteers that help to make St Nicholas Cathedral what it is. Without the many hours of time and talents offered freely, the ministries of our Cathedral would not exist. Without volunteers, nothing happens.
I am blessed to report that the number of volunteers at our Cathedral continues to increase. With an increase of nearly 25% over the past two years, almost every week a new volunteer is empowered to serve Christ and His Church through one or more of our ministries.
Please be our guest, on Sunday, December 2nd following Divine Liturgy, as we honor our many volunteers that make things happen. We depend upon nearly 300 dedicated and faithful volunteers. We appreciate what each one offers Christ and His St Nicholas Cathedral. This “Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon” is just a small token of our gratitude for their efforts.
I hope you will join us on December 2nd after Divine Liturgy to show our appreciation to God for each and every volunteer.
Dear St. Nicholas Cathedral Family,
Today we will speak about the Annunciation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This Feast commemorates the message brought by Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that the Son of God would become incarnate and enter into the world through her. When we look at the account in the Gospel of Luke, we read that the angel told her “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.” As many people in the world’s first thought is how could this be possible, Mary too herself even responded by asking how this could be since she had no husband but Archangel Gabriel told her that the Holy Spirit has come upon her and the child she will bear is the Son of God. In faith and obedience to the will of God, Mary replied to the angel, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be according to your word.”
Today I want to talk about accepting Gods Will and looking at the example of the Theotokos how we can do something, definitely not nearly as awesome, but accepting Gods will in our lives. Scripture tells us that God will not give us more than we can bear. The Lord asked Mary to bear his Son when he knew she would be able to accept it. The request came when the time was right and in direct correlation to the grace that was already in her. She was “full of grace” before the Annunciation. By learning to cooperate with God in the small things of life she made herself able to cooperate with him in the very big thing we call the Incarnation.
We must acknowledge that she was not forced to obey. The decision was hers to make, yes or no. This is one of the greatest mysteries, that God limits himself in accordance with our freedom. This makes her agreement even more amazing.
The Lord will not force us to follow the commandments. He will not force us to be loving and compassionate. He will not force us to strive for theosis. The choice is ours and the power is in us to make it. It is a power granted to everyone born into this world. You want to know the will of God. Here it is: he wills that everyone be saved, for everyone to enter into His Kingdom. The real question we must ask ourselves: how much do we really want to do the will of God? If we desire it deeply, he will empower us to fulfill it. But do we desire to do the will of God with all our hearts? If not, then God must wait for us to get to the point where our hearts are open before he reveals to us what he wants us to do.
With Love in the Lord,
With Love in the Lord,
+Fr. Sampson N. Kasapakis
8:15AM Divine Liturgy (Greek)
Athanasios Papathanasiou - 40 Days
Maria Fengar - 1 Year
11:00AM Divine Liturgy (English)
Irene Veniopoulos - 40 Days
Carolann Choban - 40 Days
Nickolaos Sapountsis - 9 Months
If you are in need of a Memorial or are contemplating having an Artoklasia Service, call our Parish Office at (727) 937-3540 to make arrangements.
Kollyva (μνημόσυνα) for memorials can be ordered through:
Antonia Korfias (727) 937-8785
Irene Koutelas (727) 934-5245
Evangelia Stavropoulos (727) 937-5649
Contact info for these preparers is provided as a service to parishioners and does not imply endorsement.
Julia
Nikolaos, Panagiotis, Alexandra
Mike, George, Sevasti, Mary, Margaret
Manuel, Kalotina, Steve, Chris, George
George, Pantelis, Kaliope, Angela, Sophia, Hercules, Elizabeth, Kyriaki
A Prayer for Healing
"Heavenly Father, physician of our souls and bodies, who have sent Your only-begotten Son and our Lord Jesus Christ to heal every sickness and infirmity, visit and heal me, Your servant, from all physical and spiritual ailments through the grace of Your Christ. Grant me patience in this sickness, strength of body and spirit, and recovery of health. Lord, You have taught us through Your word to pray for each other that we may be healed. I pray that You heal me as Your servant and grant me the gift of complete health. For You are the source of healing and to You I give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen."
(Team 2)
Themis Fountotos Tezza
Emmanuel Gombos
Nikitas Manias
Chris Palaidis
George Stamas
John Stamas
Gus Tsambis
Catherine the Great Martyr of Alexandria
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 3:23-29; 4:1-5
Brethren, before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate; but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe. But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Catherine the Great Martyr of Alexandria
Πρὸς Γαλάτας 3:23-29, 4:1-5
Ἀδελφοί, πρὸ τοῦ δὲ ἐλθεῖν τὴν πίστιν, ὑπὸ νόμον ἐφρουρούμεθα, συγκεκλεισμένοι εἰς τὴν μέλλουσαν πίστιν ἀποκαλυφθῆναι. Ὥστε ὁ νόμος παιδαγωγὸς ἡμῶν γέγονεν εἰς Χριστόν, ἵνα ἐκ πίστεως δικαιωθῶμεν. Ἐλθούσης δὲ τῆς πίστεως, οὐκέτι ὑπὸ παιδαγωγόν ἐσμεν. Πάντες γὰρ υἱοὶ θεοῦ ἐστε διὰ τῆς πίστεως ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Ὅσοι γὰρ εἰς Χριστὸν ἐβαπτίσθητε, Χριστὸν ἐνεδύσασθε. Οὐκ ἔνι Ἰουδαῖος οὐδὲ Ἕλλην, οὐκ ἔνι δοῦλος οὐδὲ ἐλεύθερος, οὐκ ἔνι ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ· πάντες γὰρ ὑμεῖς εἷς ἐστε ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Εἰ δὲ ὑμεῖς Χριστοῦ, ἄρα τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ σπέρμα ἐστέ, καὶ κατʼ ἐπαγγελίαν κληρονόμοι. Λέγω δέ, ἐφʼ ὅσον χρόνον ὁ κληρονόμος νήπιός ἐστιν, οὐδὲν διαφέρει δούλου, κύριος πάντων ὤν· ἀλλὰ ὑπὸ ἐπιτρόπους ἐστὶν καὶ οἰκονόμους, ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός. Οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς, ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι, ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἦμεν δεδουλωμένοι· ὅτε δὲ ἦλθεν τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, γενόμενον ἐκ γυναικός, γενόμενον ὑπὸ νόμον, ἵνα τοὺς ὑπὸ νόμον ἐξαγοράσῃ, ἵνα τὴν υἱοθεσίαν ἀπολάβωμεν.
Saint Mercurius came from Cappadocia, and was the son of Gordian, a Scythian. A young man, and a soldier of high rank, he refused to offer sacrifice to the idols, and after torments was beheaded during the reign of Valerian (253-260).
Saint Catherine, who was from Alexandria, was the daughter of Constas (or Cestus). She was an exceedingly beautiful maiden, most chaste, and illustrious in wealth, lineage, and learning. By her steadfast understanding, she utterly vanquished the passionate and unbridled soul of Maximinus, the tyrant of Alexandria; and by her eloquence, she stopped the mouths of the so-called philosophers who had been gathered to dispute with her. She was crowned with the crown of martyrdom in the year 305. Her holy relics were taken by Angels to the holy mountain of Sinai, where they were discovered many years later; the famous monastery of Saint Catherine was originally dedicated to the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord and the Burning Bush, but later was dedicated to Saint Catherine. According to the ancient usage, Saints Catherine and Mercurius were celebrated on the 24th of this month, whereas the holy Hieromartyrs Clement of Rome and Peter of Alexandria were celebrated on the 25th. The dates of the feasts of these Saints were interchanged at the request of the Church and Monastery of Mount Sinai, so that the festival of Saint Catherine, their patron, might be celebrated more festively together with the Apodosis of the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos. The Slavic Churches, however, commemorate these Saints on their original dates.
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ST. NICHOLAS PHILOPTOCHOS COMMUNITY 2018 CHRISTMAS CARD
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As we get ready for our Parish Council Elections on December 9th, please read the following flyer about candidacy:
Click here to apply for candidacy and make your voice heard.
St. Nicholas Community Center & Conference Hall's 18,000 sq ft, commercial kitchens, full-service bar area, professional stage & audio/visual equipment and comfortable seating make it a perfect venue for hosting your next event.
For booking information, or to arrange a venue tour, please visit our new venue website or call the Parish Offices at (727) 937-3540.
Dinner Dance December 8th | 7:00pm - 11:00pm Theofilos Hall
Grab an application today at www.stnicholastarpon.org Due December 3rd
A gift to the community from our music ministry!
Paris Council bios
Official Election Ballot
Fr Sampson On-Call (941) 266-3229 for Emergencies
7:00AM Othros/Matins
8:15AM First Divine Liturgy
10:20AM Adult Catechism
10:20AM Sunday School
11:00AM Second Divine Liturgy
8:00AM Divine Liturgy
8:00AM Soup Kitchen Meal
4:30PM Greek Folk Dance Practice - Elementary School
5:00PM Byzantine Children's Choir
5:30PM Folk Music Ministry
6:00PM Orthodoxy 101
6:30PM Greek Folk Dance Practice - Middle School
7:15PM Greek Folk Dance Practice - High School
7:30PM Orthodoxy 201
8:00AM Divine Liturgy
4:30PM Greek School
6:00PM Young Adult Open Gym
7:00PM Bible Study on Romans
7:00PM Boy Scout Troop 106
8:00AM Divine Liturgy
10:30AM Little Lambs
11:00AM Funeral - Baklessis
6:00PM Paraklesis to the Theotokos
7:00PM St Anastasia's Fellowship
7:00PM GOYA Open Gym Night
8:00PM Young Adult Bible Study
8:00AM Divine Liturgy
9:30AM Women's Book Club
4:30PM Greek School
6:30PM Choir Practice
7:00PM Parish Council Meeting
7:00AM Orthros/Matins
8:00AM Divine Liturgy
6:00PM Divers Mtg
7:00PM Ministry Leader Meeting
9:00AM Divine Liturgy
10:00AM Blessing of the Waters
6:00PM Great Vespers
Fr Athanasios On-Call (727) 741-0139 for Emergencies
7:45AM Orthros/Matins
9:00AM Divine Liturgy
11:00AM Sunday School
11:00AM Volunteer Recognition Luncheon