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Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2019-08-18
Bulletin Contents
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News
Parish News & Events
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Saints and Feasts
Hymns of the Day
INVITATIONS
Allsaint
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Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (201) 652-4774 for emergencies: 201 870 2676
  • Fax:
  • (201) 652-0789
  • Street Address:

  • 467 Grandview Avenue

  • Wyckoff, NJ 07481

Contact Information

Reverend Basil C. Gikas
Pastor

frbill@stnicholasnj.org | 201 652 4774 ext. 12

Ms. Rula Thasites
Administrator

office@stnicholasnj.org | 201 652 4774 ext. 10

Services Schedule

 

Sundays in the fall, winter & spring:

Matins: 9 a.m. &  Divine Liturgy 10a.m. except during the summer

 

Summer hours for Sundays in July and August:

Matins: 8:30a.m.  & Divine Liturgy 9:30a.m.

Past Bulletins


Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

Archbishop Elpidophoros Meets with Metropolitan Tikhon of the OCA

08/14/2019

NEW YORK – Archbishop Elpidophoros received today Metropolitan Tikhon of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) for their first official visit. The two hierarchs discussed the developing relationship between the Archdiocese and the OCA in recent years, committing to deepening cooperation.
https://www.goarch.org/-/archbishop-elpidophoros-meets-with-metropolitan-tikhon-of-the-oca

Archbishop Elpidophoros Meets with NCC Delegation

08/14/2019

NEW YORK – On Wednesday, August 14, 2019, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros met with a delegation from the National Council of Churches of Christ (NCC), including The Rt. Rev. W. Darin Moore (Chair), Jim Winkler (General Secretary and President), and Dr. Tony Kireopoulos (Associate Secretary General).
https://www.goarch.org/-/archbishop-elpidophoros-meets-with-ncc-delegation

A Delegation from the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCH) Visits Archbishop Elpidophoros

08/12/2019

NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros met today, Monday, August 12, 2019, with a delegation from the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches
https://www.goarch.org/-/a-delegation-from-the-standing-conference-of-oriental-orthodox-churches-scooch-visits-archbishop-elpidophoros
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Parish News & Events

WEEKLY BULLETIN

08/18/2019

 

August 18, 2019                      9TH Sunday of Matthew            

 

Orthros: 8:30A.M.

Epistle: I Corinthians: 3:9-7 (pg. 1309)

Divine Liturgy: 9:30A.M.

Gospel: Matthew 14:22-34 (pg.1162)

 

Acolytes: Paul Nonas, Andrew Skoufis, Kirk Simeonidis, Vassili Salvemini, Luke Gnospelius, Christos Schmarge

 

Ushers: Shelley Markoulis,

Dimitri Markoulis, Ann Barlas,
George Karkanias  

 

Narthex: Dean Mellas, Kathy Van Dine

 

Reader: George Gasparis

 

Greeter: Daughters of Penelope


  Fellowship Hour
Daughters of Penelope

Prosforon: Malias-Wraga Family

     

Thank you, Lord for Your strength and guidance in my work. You are the fulfillment of all good things.
Fill my soul with joy and gladness, that I may praise You always. Amen.

Saints Floros and Lauros the Monk-martyrs of Illyria

These Martyrs were twin brothers, and stone masons. After the martyrdom of their teachers, Proclus and Maximus, they left Byzantium and came to the city of Ulpiana in Illyricum, where a certain Licinius hired them to build a temple for the idols. The wages he gave them, they distributed to the poor, and when the temple was built, Floros and Lauros gathered the paupers, and with their help put ropes about the necks of the idols, pulled them to the ground, and furnished the temple as a church. When Licinius learned of this, he had the paupers burned alive in a furnace. Floros and Lauros were tormented, and then cast into a deep well, where they gave up their souls to the Lord. When their holy relics were recovered years later, they poured forth myrrh and worked many miracles; they were enshrined in Constantinople.

 

Memorial:  A 1 year memorial for Anna Sclafani, beloved sister of Alice Malias-Wraga, sweet aunt of Lisa and Dennis Gemma, Dr. Mark Malias and Linda and Michael Passaro. Great aunt of Leeann, Allissa and Luke Passaro; Christian, Caroline and Nikolas Malias.   May her memory be eternal.

Fellowship hour is sponsored by the Malias-Wraga family.  

 

The Orthodox Christian Network: For inspiration on the internet, start your day at MYOCN.NET

 

Summer Schedule Continues: Orthros at 8:30am and Divine Liturgy at 9:30am.  NOTE: Weekday worship hours, including Saturdays, remain at regular start times- Orthros at 9am and Divine Liturgy at 10a.m.

 

Greeters and Readers: We are looking for a few volunteers in parish (VIPs) to be Sunday Greeters and Sunday Readers.  Please contact Kathy Corniotes at 201-327-3645. It is a special ministry to greet guests, visitors and our brothers and sisters in ICXC.  Extending hospitality in God’s house is the Christian thing to do!

 

 

 

 

ParishCouncil Meeting: The Parish Council will meet this Thursday, August 22nd at 7:30pm in the conference room.

 

Saint Nicholas is on Social Media! Like us on Facebook @stnicholasnj and follow us on Instagram @stnicholasgoc. To share your ministry’s events and activities email socialmedia@stnicholasnj.org.

 

The Orthodox Ladies Prayer Group:  All ladies are welcome to join our prayer meetings held on the 2nd and 4th Thursday evening of each month at 7:30pm in our Theotokos chapel.  We spend a dedicated time of informal prayer for our nation, church community, families and friends.  Not only are we seeing countless answers to prayers, but this intimate time of fellowship together is encouraging and deepening our own faith. You are welcome to join us anytime.  All prayer requests are kept confidential. Call the parish office or Irene Ayvas 201-803-2307, with any prayer requests you want added to our list or submitted to the “Email Prayer Chain”. “Email Prayer Chain”:  It’s simple and powerful.  If you are interested in being a part of this ministry, email Irene Ayvas at iayvas@yahoo.com with your email contact info or call 201-803-2307.

 

Saint Nicholas Greek Festival: Our Saint Nicholas Greek Festival is set for September 20-22.  Let’s all step up and volunteer to make this a successful event for our community. Expect lots of food, dancing and fun! To be a “VIP” ( volunteer in parish) or for information, contact: Nick Pirsos pirsos@verizon.net or Angelo Lefer angelo5763@msn.com 

Saint Nicholas Festival T-Shirts: Order Your Festival Volunteer Shirts Today! We are selling volunteer t-shirts again this year. Please email socialmedia@stnicholasnj.org to receive an order form.
All orders must be placed by August 26th.

Greek School: Parents! This is a friendly reminder to complete your Saint Nicholas Greek School 2019-2020 registration online. Seats are limited! Information and registration can be found at https://sngswyckoff.corsizio.com. Additional questions to Angela Bachardy at angelarokkos@hotmail.com or Demetra Pittas at demetra.pittas@gmail.com.

Save the Date: Parish 50th Anniversary Celebration: Sunday November 3, 2019

Photo Collection for the 50th Anniversary Gala- Do you have any photos of St. Nicholas and its events throughout the years? Please share them with us to use in a commemorative video for the 50th Anniversary Gala!  Please send your digital photos to saintnicholasgala@gmail.com or give hard copies of the photos to Diana Manoussakis or Toni Gasparis. Hard copies will be returned. Thank you for your help!

 

Giving Tree/Mortgage Burning Campaign: bygod’s graceour parish plans to be mortgage free by 2020- you can help to make it happen! Various giving levels are available: you can leaf your donation, or show your love - donate a dove… be the first on your block to donate a rock…be a hunk and give a tree trunk!   You can memorialize your loved one by donating to the Giving Tree and including a scriptural message. Contact Fr. Bill at 201 652 4774 ext. 12 or frbill@stnicholasnj.org

 


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Ninth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."

Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 3:9-17.

Brethren, we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and that temple you are.

Gospel Reading

9th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 14:22-34

At that time, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying "Take heart, it is I; have no fear."

And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they entered the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

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Wisdom of the Fathers

The principle and source of the virtues is a good disposition of the will, that is to say, an aspiration for goodness and beauty. God is the source and ground of all supernal goodness. Thus the principle of goodness and beauty is faith or, rather, it is Christ, the rock of faith, who is principle and foundation of all virtues. On this rock we stand and on this foundation we build every good thing (cf. I Cor. 3:11).
St. Gregory of Sinai
On Commandments and Doctrines no. 83, Philokalia Vol. 3 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pg. 228, 14th century

The very fire which purifies gold, also consumes wood. Precious metals shine in it like the sun, rubbish burns with black smoke. All are in the same fire of Love. Some shine and others become black and dark. In the same furnace steel shines like the sun, whereas clay turns dark and is hardened like stone. God is a loving fire, and He is a loving fire for all: good and bad. There is, however, a great difference in the way people receive this loving fire of God. The difference is in man, not God.
Dr. Alexandre Kalomiros
The River of Fire, pp. 17 & 19, 20th century

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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
August 18

Leontus the martyr

Calmstorm
August 18

9th Sunday of Matthew

Allsaint
August 18

Floros & Lauros the Monk-martyrs of Illyria

These Martyrs were twin brothers, and stonemasons. After the martyrdom of their teachers Proclus and Maximus, they left Byzantium and came to the city of Ulpiana in Illyricum, where a certain Licinius hired them to build a temple for the idols. The wages he gave them, they distributed to the poor, and when the temple was built, Floros and Lauros gathered the paupers, and with their help put ropes about the necks of the idols, pulled them to the ground, and furnished the temple as a church. When Licinius learned of this, he had the paupers burned alive in a furnace. Floros and Lauros were tormented, then cast into a deep well, where they gave up their souls to the Lord. When their holy relics were recovered years later, they poured forth myrrh and worked many miracles; they were enshrined in Constantinople.

Allsaint
August 18

John & George, Patriarchs of Constantinople

Allsaint
August 18

Relics of Arsenios the Righteous of Paros

Allsaint
August 18

Hermos the Martyr

Allsaint
August 18

Constantine the New Martyr of Capua

Allsaint
August 18

Matthew the New Martyr of Gerakari

Dormition
August 18

Afterfeast of the Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary

Allsaint
August 19

Andrew the General & Martyr & his 2,593 soldiers

During the reign of Maximian, about the year 289, Antiochus the Commander-in-Chief of the Roman forces sent Andrew with many other soldiers against the Persians, who had overrun the borders of the Roman dominion. Saint Andrew persuaded his men to call upon the Name of Christ, and when they had defeated the Persians with unexpected triumph, his soldiers believed in Christ with him. Antiochus, learning of this, had them brought before him. When they confessed Christ to be God, he had Andrew spread out upon a bed of iron heated fiery hot, and had the hands of his fellow soldiers nailed to blocks of wood. Antiochus then commanded some thousand soldiers to chase the Saints beyond the borders of the empire. Through the instructions of Saint Andrew, these soldiers also believed in Christ. At the command of Antiochus, they were all beheaded in the mountain passes of the Taurus mountains of Cilicia.

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

From on high didst Thou descend, O Compassionate One; to burial of three days hast Thou submitted that Thou mightest free us from our passions. O our Life and Resurrection, Lord, glory be to Thee.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Dormition in the First Mode

In giving birth, thou didst preserve thy virginity; in thy dormition, thou didst not forsake the world, O Theotokos. Thou wast translated unto life, since thou art the Mother of Life; and by thine intercessions dost thou redeem our souls from death.

SAINT NICHOLAS ARCHBISHOP OF MYRA IN LYCIA in the First Mode

 

The truth of things has revealed you to your flock as a rule of faith, an icon of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; for this cause, you have achieved the heights by humility, riches by poverty.  O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

Neither the grave nor death could contain the Theotokos, the unshakable hope, ever vigilant in intercession and protection. As Mother of life, He who dwelt in the ever-virginal womb transposed her to life.

The translations of hymns are under copyright and used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder:

  • Resurrectional Apolytikion in Plagal of the Fourth Tone © Holy Transfiguration Monastery
  • Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Dormition in the First Tone © Holy Transfiguration Monastery
  • Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Tone © Narthex Press
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    INVITATIONS

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