Dean's Message

Give Thanks unto the Lord

This week on the mind of every American is whether or not to gather for a celebration on Thanksgiving Day. The spreading of the pandemic in recent weeks has created a new dilemma for politicians and Church leaders. Should we gather or should we stay home this year for Thanksgiving? Each and every Divine Liturgy is a Feast of Thanksgiving in the Orthodox Church, whether or not it is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. As Orthodox Christians we gather, as our ancestors gathered to give thanks to God for our Earthly blessings and our heavenly blessings. We gather to give thanks for being forgiven by God for the countless sins we commit each and every day.

I share this with you today, not to take sides on the recent debate about limitations on Thanksgiving dinner, but to remind us that despite the pain and suffering we all feel during the pandemic, God has given us many reasons for which to be thankful. Truly, as contemporary Americans, we have much to be thankful for, most especially this year knowing that God has continued to protect us.

In today’s Gospel, we see what happens when someone who has been exceedingly blessed by God is unable to express his gratitude. In his greed, instead of using his blessings to help others, he felt it was more important to waste them and build bigger barns. In his greed, he could not appreciate what he already had, wanting only to get more. In his greed, he was warned, “Fool, this night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” (Luke 12.20)

We have been blessed by God, whether financially or otherwise, not for our own benefit, but for the benefit of others. It is about time we stop looking at our blessings as our personal things to enjoy, but our personal gifts to share. We share our gifts in many ways, but this year more than recent years, we should work extra hard to focus our attention on giving thanks to God and sharing with others. Many are struggling during the pandemic, and it is up to us to comfort and assist them, and that normally means looking beyond ourselves long enough to see the needs in others.

Message from Fr Simeon

The Three Choices in Life:
Good, Evil, and God's Will

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

There are always three or more choices in life, but the Enemy who is the Father of all lies (John 8:44), does his utmost to only let you see the two choices. He shows us two options, two extremes: to do good entirely on our own or to give up and do his will. Christ God tells us clearly that without Him, we can do nothing [good] on our own (John 15:5). We live in and are born in a fallen (broken) world that is in desperate need of Christ's healing. The devil knows this and keeps this third option, to ask God for help a secret from us. He does not want us to ask for help This is the devil's big lie, that God is not there to help us. God wants to help us; He just needs any excuse to help.

The devil does not care if we intellectually believe in God, as long as in practice in how we live our lives it is as if God does not exist. As long as we depend on God for everything, the devil has no power over us. But the moment we depend on ourselves and not God, then the "law of the jungle" comes into play: the stronger, in this case the devil, rules over the weaker (which is us).

These are the three choices, to struggle to do good on our own and be spiritually defeated by the evil one, to live a life of sin by choice (or defeat) or to surrender to God and ask God for help and His Blessing. The first two choices ultimately fail-- in the first choice we put ourselves in God’s place, in the second choice the devil rules over us and in the Third Choice we beg God for help to heal us and sanctify us. Only God is willing to help us, the devil is against us and we cannot heal ourselves (if we could, God would not have needed to become a Human Being to save us).

In the third choice, the Sacramental path (i.e. frequent Holy Confession & Holy Communion, and living a life of prayer), we place ourselves under God’s protective care. In Saturday’s Gospel Reading, we see two of these choices. Christ is visiting His friends Lazarus, Martha and Mary. Martha is trying to do every good thing but on her own. Mary has gone and received the blessing of the Lord and all good things were added to her (Luke 10:42 & Matthew 6:33). The devil does not want us to be like Mary and to seek God’s help. He wants us to give up to him or for us, like Martha tried then, to do good on our own without seeking Christ’s help and blessing. If we start to pay attention to everything that is happening around us, we will start to see there is always a third choice in everything. The devil, who is the father of lies, lies to us constantly and only shows us the two extreme choices in life.

May Saints Lazarus, Martha and Mary always pray that we see the third choice, God’s will, in all things we choose to undertake!

In Christ,

Fr. Simeon

FrSimeon@StNicholasTarpon.org

Saints and Feasts

November 22

Kallistos Xanthopoulos, Patriarch of Constantinople

November 22

9th Sunday of Luke

November 22

Archippus the Apostle, Philemon the Apostle & his wife, Apphia, Onesimos the Disciple of Paul

Philemon, who was from Colossae, a city of Phrygia, was a man both wealthy and noble; Apphia was his wife. Archippus became Bishop of the Church in Colossae. All three were disciples of the Apostle Paul. Onesimus, who was formerly an unbeliever and slave of Philemon, stole certain of his vessels and fled to Rome. However, on finding him there, the Apostle Paul guided him onto the path of virtue and the knowledge of the truth, and sent him back to his master Philemon, to whom he wrote an epistle (this is one of the fourteen epistles of Saint Paul). In this epistle, Paul commended Onesimus to his master and reconciled the two. Onesimus was later made a bishop; in Greece he is honoured as the patron Saint of the imprisoned. All these Saints received their end by martyrdom, when they were stoned to death by the idolaters. Saint Onesimus is also commemorated on February 15.

November 22

Holy Martyr Cecilia and those with her

Saint Cecilia was of an illustrious Roman family. On being betrothed to Valerian, she drew him to the Faith of Christ, and he in turn drew his own brother Tiburtius to the same. They contested in martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian, in the year 288.

November 22

Afterfeast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple

Cathedral Listings

Memorials

Sunday - November 22

Kalegis Spirides - 6 months

Irene Antoniadis - 6 Months

Haritini Diamondis Vasilopoulos - 2 Years

Mary Himonetos - 2 years, Pantelis Koulianos - 2 Years

Ipapande Koulianos - 14 years

Petros Koulianos - 18 Years

ST NICHOLAS CATHEDRAL REOPENS FOR PRAYER TUESDAY THRU FRIDAY FROM 11:00 AM TO 1:00 PM

All ministries wishing to sign up and host the Coffee Hour, please contact Chris Palaidis at 727-808-3895, once the hall reopens.

St. Nicholas Kitchen will continue preparing the Monday meals from 7:30 – 11:00 am. The meals will be delivered to the new Hope Center at the Sheppard center where the meals will be given to those in need by their and our volunteers. We will still need volunteers, food and monetary donations. Meals will be served from 11:00 – 12:00 pm. For further information, please call Chris Palaidis at (727) 808-3895.

MAKE AN OFFERING OF OIL - Following the ancient tradition of the Temple as commanded by God, Orthodox Christians bring an offering of olive oil to be continually burned in the Church lamps, serving as a reminder of the presence of the Light of God. We invite anyone to make an offering of oil to the Church along with the names of loved ones & friends who are alive in the Lord, or alive with us on Earth, so that we may pray for you, your family and friends.

*THE DEADLINE IS MONDAY 5PM FOR ALL BULLETIN INFORMATION*

Memorial & Artoklasia Service Planning

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

Evangelia Stavropoulos (727) 937-5649

Contact info for these preparers is provided as a service to parishioners and does not imply endorsement.

40 Day Prayer List

Theodore, Anastasia, Antonia, Dean, Kyriaki, Dennis, Braden, David, Kathy, John, Gerasimos, Katerina, Pantelis, Laura, Vera, Evangelia, Mike

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."

To add a loved one to this list, or to keep one from being taken off after 40 days, please contact our Administrative Assistant on Mondays by 5:00pm. (denise@stnicholastarpon.org / (727) 937-3540 ext 102)

Our Priests are Here for YOU
If you, or a loved one, would like to request a priestly visit due to illness or extenuating circumstances, please call Father Athanasios (727) 741-0139.
If you are in spiritual need, Father Athanasios wants to make himself available to you and asks you to please call/text or email him directly rather than through social media.

On Duty Council Members

2020 St. Nicholas Parish Council Pangari Rotation Schedule:

As of Saturday 10/31/20, our new Saturday rotation begins on Saturday, 11/28/2020 through Saturday. (See schedule below)

As of Sunday, 11/1/20, all PC members are on duty every Sunday from Sunday, 11/29/20, if not listed to work on the preceding Saturday.

Saturday, 11/14/20

James Shoemaker

Tony Zaronias

Rena Faklis

Michael Kouremetis

Saturday, 11/21/20

Anna Billiris

Niko Conkel

Emmanuel Gombos

Solos Tsaoussis

Saturday, 11/28/20

John Stamas

Johnny Billiris

Michael Kouremetis

Tony Zaronias

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

By Your cross, O Lord, You shattered death; to the thief You opened paradise. You transformed the Myrrhbearers' lamentation, and commanded Your Apostles to proclaim that You arose, Christ our God, granting to the world Your great mercy.

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.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Entry of the Theotokos in the 4th Mode

Today is the prelude of God's good will and the heralding of the salvation of mankind. In the temple of God, the Virgin is presented openly, and she proclaimeth Christ unto all. To her, then, with a great voice let us cry aloud: Rejoice, O thou fulfilment of the Creator's dispensation.

Σήμερον τής ευδοκίας Θεού τό προοίμιον, καί τής τών ανθρώπων σωτηρίας η προκήρυξις, Εν Ναώ τού Θεού τρανώς η Παρθένος δείκνυται, καί τόν Χριστόν τοίς πάσι προκαταγγέλλεται, Αυτή καί ημείς μεγαλοφώνως βοήσωμεν, Χαίρε τής οικονομίας τού Κτίστου η εκπλήρωσις.

Apolytikion of the Church in the 4th Mode

An example of the Faith and a life of humility. As a teacher of abstinence you did inspire and lead your flock and through the truthfulness of your deeds were exalted by greatness through your humility; uplifting all and by poverty gaining wealth. Father and Hierarch St. Nicholas, intercede with Christ our God, that our souls may be saved.

Κανόνα πίστεως και εικόνα πραότητος, εγκρατείας διδάσκαλον, ανέδειξέ σε τη ποίμνη σου, η των πραγμάτων αλήθεια δια τούτο εκτήσω τη ταπεινώσει τα υψηλά, τη πτωχεία τα πλούσια, Πάτερ Ιεράρχα Νικόλαε, πρέσβευε Χριστώ τω Θεώ, σωθήναι τας ψυχάς ημών.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Mode

Today, the most pure temple of the Savior, the precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the sacred treasure of God, enters the house of the Lord, bringing the grace of the Divine Spirit. The Angels of God praise her. She is the heavenly tabernacle.

Ο καθαρώτατος ναός τού Σωτήρος, η πολυτίμητος παστάς καί Παρθένος, τό Ιερόν θησαύρισμα τής δόξης τού Θεού, σήμερον εισάγεται, εν τώ οίκω Κυρίου, τήν χάριν συνεισάγουσα, τήν εν Πνευματι θείω, ήν ανυμνούσιν Άγγελοι Θεού, Αύτη υπάρχει σκηνή επουράνιος.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

9th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:14-22

Brethren, Christ is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

9th Sunday of Luke
Πρὸς Ἐφεσίους 2:14-22

Ἀδελφοί, Χριστός ἐστιν ἡ εἰρήνη ἡμῶν, ὁ ποιήσας τὰ ἀμφότερα ἕν, καὶ τὸ μεσότοιχον τοῦ φραγμοῦ λύσας, τήν ἔχθραν ἐν τῇ σαρκί αὐτοῦ, τὸν νόμον τῶν ἐντολῶν ἐν δόγμασιν, καταργήσας· ἵνα τοὺς δύο κτίσῃ ἐν ἑαὐτῷ εἰς ἕνα καινὸν ἄνθρωπον, ποιῶν εἰρήνην, καὶ ἀποκαταλλάξῃ τοὺς ἀμφοτέρους ἐν ἑνὶ σώματι τῷ θεῷ διὰ τοῦ σταυροῦ, ἀποκτείνας τὴν ἔχθραν ἐν αὐτῷ· καὶ ἐλθὼν εὐηγγελίσατο εἰρήνην ὑμῖν τοῖς μακρὰν καὶ τοῖς ἐγγύς· ὅτι διʼ αὐτοῦ ἔχομεν τὴν προσαγωγὴν οἱ ἀμφότεροι ἐν ἑνὶ πνεύματι πρὸς τὸν πατέρα. Ἄρα οὖν οὐκέτι ἐστὲ ξένοι καὶ πάροικοι, ἀλλὰ συμπολῖται τῶν ἁγίων καὶ οἰκεῖοι τοῦ θεοῦ, ἐποικοδομηθέντες ἐπὶ τῷ θεμελίῳ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ προφητῶν, ὄντος ἀκρογωνιαίου αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἐν ᾧ πᾶσα οἰκοδομὴ συναρμολογουμένη αὔξει εἰς ναὸν ἅγιον ἐν κυρίῳ, ἐν ᾧ καὶ ὑμεῖς συνοικοδομεῖσθε εἰς κατοικητήριον τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν πνεύματι.

Gospel Reading

9th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 12:16-21

The Lord said this parable: "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." As he said these things, he cried out: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

9th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 12:16-21

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἀνθρώπου τινὸς πλουσίου εὐφόρησεν ἡ χώρα· καὶ διελογίζετο ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων· τί ποιήσω, ὅτι οὐκ ἔχω ποῦ συνάξω τοὺς καρπούς μου; καὶ εἶπε· τοῦτο ποιήσω· καθελῶ μου τὰς ἀποθήκας καὶ μείζονας οἰκοδομήσω, καὶ συνάξω ἐκεῖ πάντα τὰ γενήματά μου καὶ τὰ ἀγαθά μου, καὶ ἐρῶ τῇ ψυχῇ μου· ψυχή, ἔχεις πολλὰ ἀγαθὰ κείμενα εἰς ἔτη πολλά· ἀναπαύου, φάγε, πίε, εὐφραίνου. εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Θεός· ἄφρον, ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ τὴν ψυχήν σου ἀπαιτοῦσιν ἀπὸ σοῦ· ἃ δὲ ἡτοίμασας τίνι ἔσται; οὕτως ὁ θησαυρίζων ἑαυτῷ, καὶ μὴ εἰς Θεὸν πλουτῶν.

Wisdom of the Fathers

I cannot be silent about the story of Hesychius the Horebite. He passed his life in complete negligence, without paying the least attention to his soul. Then he became extremely ill, and for an hour he left his body.

St. John Climacus

Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century

And when he came to himself, he begged us all to leave him immediately. And he built up the door of his cell, and he stayed in it for twelve years without ever uttering a word to anyone, and without eating anything but bread and water.

St. John Climacus

Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century

A Moment with Our Ministries

Stewardship Ministry

Stewardship 2018 One day, a person complained to their priest that the Church and Christianity is one continual “give, give, give.” To which the priest replied, “Thank you very much for the finest definition of Christianity I have ever heard. You’re right, Christianity is all about a constant “give, give, give.”

God giving His only Son to the world to show His unconditional love. His Son Jesus giving His life on the cross to forgive our sins and destroy death. Then our Lord’s disciples giving all they had to make sure God’s Good News of love was preached to all people everywhere. They not only gave away their homes and businesses, but even gave up their lives as martyrs in gratitude to God!

If you are not a Steward this year, we invite you
to have the opportunity to participate!

Visit www.stnicholastarpon.org/give to start today.

Philoptochos (A Friend of the Poor) Ministry

ST NICHOLAS PHILOPTOCHOS

Hours of Operation
Mon: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Tues-Thurs: 10:00 AM -12:00 Noon
18 Hibiscus Street (located directly behind St Nicholas Cathedral)

National Philoptochos Mission Statement
To aid the poor, the destitute, the hungry, the aged, the sick, the unemployed, the orphaned, the imprisoned, the widowed, the handicapped, the victims of disasters, to undertake the burial of impoverished persons and to offer assistance to anyone who may need the help of the Church through fund-raising efforts.

If you would like to make a difference, learn from others and create relationships that will last a lifetime please send your name, e-mail. phone number and address to:

St Nicholas Philoptochos
PO Box 2043
Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

Annual Membership Fee of $35.00 assists Philoptochos to continue serving the poor.

Community Center Event Hosting

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.

Letters of good standing, transcripts

Are you participating in a sacrament and need to prove you are an active member of St Nicholas Cathedral? Do you need a copy of your baptismal information? Letters of good sacramental & financial standing are provided following a meeting with the Dean of the Cathedral; please plan your appointment with Fr Athanasios well in advance in order to meet all deadlines prior to the scheduled sacrament. If you need a baptism or marriage transcript, please allow an extra 2-3 weeks for signature verification from our Metropolis.

Parish Bulletin Board

Master Calendar

St Nicholas Master Calendar

November 22 to November 30, 2020

Sunday, November 22

9th Sunday of Luke

7:45AM Othros/Matins

9:00AM Divine Liturgy

11:00AM Sunday School

6:00PM Virtual Evening Prayers

Monday, November 23

Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium

8:00AM Soup Kitchen Meal

6:00PM Virtual Evening Prayers

Tuesday, November 24

Our Holy Father Clement, Pope of Rome

5:00PM Virtual Greek School

6:00PM Virtual Evening Prayers

Wednesday, November 25

Catherine the Great Martyr of Alexandria

8:00AM Orthros/Matins

9:00AM Divine Liturgy

6:00PM Virtual Evening Prayers

Thursday, November 26

THANKSGIVING-office closed

Alypius the Stylite of Adrianopolis

9:00AM Divine Liturgy

6:00PM Virtual Evening Prayers

Friday, November 27

James the Great Martyr of Persia

6:00PM Virtual Evening Prayers

Saturday, November 28

Stephen the New

9:00AM Divine Liturgy

6:00PM Virtual Evening Prayers

Sunday, November 29

13th Sunday of Luke

7:45AM Othros/Matins

9:00AM Divine Liturgy

11:00AM Sunday School

Monday, November 30

Andrew the First- Called Apostle

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

Dean's Message

Message from Fr Simeon

Saints and Feasts

Kallistos Xanthopoulos, Patriarch of Constantinople

9th Sunday of Luke

Archippus the Apostle, Philemon the Apostle & his wife, Apphia, Onesimos the Disciple of Paul

Holy Martyr Cecilia and those with her

Afterfeast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple

Cathedral Listings

Memorials

40 Day Prayer List

On Duty Council Members

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Entry of the Theotokos in the 4th Mode

Apolytikion of the Church in the 4th Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Mode

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Wisdom of the Fathers

A Moment with Our Ministries

Stewardship Ministry

Philoptochos (A Friend of the Poor) Ministry

Community Center Event Hosting

Letters of good standing, transcripts

Parish Bulletin Board

Master Calendar

St Nicholas Master Calendar

November 22 to November 30, 2020