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Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2019-12-22
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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






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

Archiepiscopal Christmas 2019 Encyclical

12/20/2019

We rejoice in the Lord on this blessed Feast of the Nativity, for we proclaim in the hymns of the feast, “Heaven and earth are united today, for Christ is born!” (Great Compline) In a divine and wondrous act of His abundant grace, God has bowed the heavens until they touched the earth.
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Parish News & Events

WEEKLY BULLETIN

12/22/2019

 

December 22, 2019          Sunday before the Nativity    Anastasia the Great Martyr

 

Orthros: 9:00A.M.

Epistle: Hebrews: 11:9-10, 32-40 (pg. 1366-67)

Divine Liturgy: 10:00A.M.

Gospel: Matthew 1:1-25 (pg.1147)

 

 

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

 

Ushers: Michael Kalliotzis, Ted Milyadis, John Peters

 

 

Narthex: John Psomas, Angelo Lefer, Angela Phillips

 

Epistle Reader: Presvytera Sophia

 

Greeter:  The Chris Nonas Family


 
 Fellowship Hour: AHEPA

 

 

 

     

 

Memorial: A 3 year memorial for Nicholas Kalonturos, beloved husband of Aphrodite, father of James, George, Melissa and her husband George and Christina and her husband Curtis. Adored grandfather of Toni Nicole, Christopher, Nikolas, Zachary and Zoe.    May his memory be eternal.

 

Choir Service Honorees: today  the eastern  federation of greek orthodox church musicians of the holy metropolis of new jersey  honors two young men who have given 50 years of dedicated service to the music ministry of our choir! 

Arthur Chagares and George Corniotes- AXIOI! worthy!

 

Religious Education: Today our Annual Christmas Pageant in church immediately after worship.

 

Tray Collection:  for the victims of the recent earthquake in albania

 

Office Closed: The parish office will be closed on Wednesday, December 25th and on Thursday, December 26th in observance of Christmas. Merry Christmas to all!

 

 

 

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day worship Services

Tuesday, December 24:  Christmas Eve    

                               Morning: Orthros and Royal Hours beginning at 9 a.m.

  Evening: Vesperal Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great 7p.m.

Wednesday, December 25:  Christmas Day

                           Orthros 9a.m. Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom 10a.m.

 

Philoptochos Christmas Eve Eggnog Reception: Please join us for our annual gathering after the Christmas Eve Services this Tuesday night.  Share a cheer of eggnog with our Saint Nicholas families. Wishing everyone Merry Christmas / Καλα Χριστουγεννα!

 

 

 

 

 

Church Service: On Friday, December 27th we will celebrate the feast day of Saint Stephen, the Protomartyr, with Orthros at 9:00am followed by the Divine Liturgy at 10:00am. To all who celebrate Chronia Polla! (Many Years!)

 

Bookstore: Music CD for Christmas: Romeiko Ensemble “Christ Comes from Heaven” Nativity Orthros (Matins) in English Traditional Orthodox Christmas HYMNS ($15). “The music both in greek or ENGLISH IS fantastic!”- fr. bill gikas

 

For a Limited Time Only! The 50th Anniversary Gala committee is offering the memorabilia DVD for $20/eachand the custom Christmas Ornament for $20/each. The set (1 DVD & 1 Ornament) sells for $35. It makes a great stocking stuffer. Please contact Melissa Gasparis at 201-934-7338.   

 

Our Shut Ins Need Christ TooIf you are aware of people who cannot come to church for worship or to receive the sacraments and/or they just need a visit from Fr. Bill or our Ladies Philoptochos (or both), please do not wait; contact Fr. Bill ASAP or any Ladies Philoptochos member.

DOP: The AGAPE Chapter is holding its annual  Vasilopita Sale!  Pre-paid orders will be accepted until TODAY Sunday, December 22 (look for the flyer/order form set out during Fellowship Hour). The Vasilopites will be distributed on Saturday, December 28 (from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm) in the Fellowship Hall.

 

Parish Re-Elections: Early Balloting Friday, January 3 11am-1pm; 4pm-7pm

and General Elections Sunday, January 5, 2020 11:45am-2pm

 

Kali Parea: Kali Parea (the seniors of Saint Nicholas) invite you to their Christmas Luncheon, Friday, December 27, 2019 - 12 Noon Primo Amore Bistro, 235 Diamond Ave., Hawthorne, N.J. $25.00 includes an appetizer, a choice of 4 entrees, coffee, tea non-alcoholic beverages, and dessert. Kindly respond and send your check made out to Kali Parea-St. Nicholas to Mr. Bill Milcos, 2A Ward St., Suffern, NY 10901-6812. Thank you. We wish you Peace and Joy as you welcome Christmas and the New Year 2020.

 

Saint Nicholas Outreach: As a result of Saint Nicholas’ successful 2018 Fundraising activities, of which 10% is allocated for Outreach, we were able to fund one in-house ministry in 2019, St. Nicholas: Ladies Prayer Event, $1,000; in addition we are making the following donations at this time; OCMC (Ghana), $3,100; Special Olympics of NJ, $2,350; St. Michael's Home, $2,000; Spectrum for Living $1,275; St. Basil Academy, $1225; Anonymous, $1,000; Hellenic Relief Fund, $900; Wyckoff (Ambulance), $775; Hellenic College Holy Cross, $600; Orthodox Christian Fellowship, $600; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital $575; Eva's Village $475; Carl Inserra Leukemia Fund $450; Holy Protection Monastery (Aghia Skepi), $425; IOCC $400; THON $350; The NY Ronald McDonald House (Greek Division) $325; Wyckoff (Fire Dept.# 2) $275. The total outreach achieved was $18,100. Thank you Saint Nicholas parishioners.

 

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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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Mode

When Thou didst descend unto death, O Life Immortal, then didst Thou slay Hades with the lightning of Thy Divinity. And when Thou didst also raise the dead out of the nethermost depths, all the powers in the Heavens cried out: O Life-giver, Christ our God, glory be to Thee.

Apolytikion for Forefeast of the Nativity in the Fourth Mode

Be thou ready, Bethlehem, Eden hath opened unto all. Ephratha, prepare thyself, for now, behold, the Tree of life hath blossomed forth in the cave from the Holy Virgin. Her womb hath proved a true spiritual Paradise, wherein the divine and saving Tree is found, and as we eat thereof we shall all live, and shall not die as did Adam. For Christ is born now to raise the image that had fallen aforetime.

Apolytikion for Sun. before Nativity in the Second Mode

Great are the achievements of faith! In the fountain of flame, as by the water of rest, the Three Holy Children rejoiced. And the Prophet Daniel proved a shepherd of lions as of sheep. By their prayers, O Christ our God, save our souls.

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 Third Mode

On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Fifth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:13-35

At that time, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see." And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:9-10; 32-40.

BRETHREN, by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundation, whose builder and maker is God.

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets - who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.


Gospel Reading

Sunday before Nativity
The Reading is from Matthew 1:1-25

The book of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

The tribes of Judah and Levi were united by a fusion of their lines of descent, and that is why Matthew assigns Christ's family to the tribe of Judah. And the Apostle says, 'for our Lord has sprung out of Judah' (Heb. 7:14).
St. Ambrose of Milan
Seven Exegetical Works, 4th Century

Thus, from the tribe of Levi may be counted a heritage that is priestly and filled with holiness, while from the tribe of Judah - to which David and Solomon and the rest of the kings belonged - there shines forth the splendor of a royal descent. And so, by the testimony of the Scriptures, Christ is shown to be at once both king and priest.
St. Ambrose of Milan
Seven Exegetical Works, 4th Century

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Saints and Feasts

Treejesse
December 22

Sunday before Nativity

On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eighteenth of this month, we celebrate all those who from ages past have been well-pleasing to God, beginning from Adam even unto Joseph the Betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos, according to genealogy, as the Evangelist Luke hath recorded historically (Luke 3:23-38); we also commemorate the Prophets and Prophetesses, and especially the Prophet Daniel and the Holy Three Children.


Allsaint
December 22

Forefeast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ


22_anastasia3
December 22

Anastasia the Great Martyr

This Saint, who was from Rome, was a most comely, wealthy, and virtuous maiden, the daughter of Praepextatus and Fausta. It was her mother who instructed her in the Faith of Christ. The Saint was joined to a man named Publius Patricius, who was prodigal in life and impious in disposition, but she was widowed after a short time. Henceforth, she went about secretly to the dwellings of the poor and the prisons where the Martyrs of Christ were, and brought them whatever was needed for their daily subsistence. She washed their wounds and loosed them from their fetters, and consoled them in their anguish. Also, because the Saint, through her intercessions, has healed many from the ill effects of spells, potions, poisons, and other harmful substances, she has received the name "Deliverer from Potions." Since the fame of her deeds had spread about, she was arrested by Diocletian's minions, and after enduring many torments she was put to death by fire in the year 290.


Allsaint
December 22

Chrysogonos, Theodota, Evodias, & Eutychianus, the Martyrs


Allsaint
December 22

The opening of the gates of the Great Church of God


Nahumochrid
December 23

Naoum the Illuminator of The Bulgarians


Tencrete
December 23

Ten Martyrs of Crete

These Saints, who were all from Crete, contested for piety's sake during the reign of Decius, in the year 250. Theodulus, Saturninus, Euporus, Gelasius, and Eunician were from Gortynia, the capital; Zoticus was from Knossos; Agathopus, from the port city of Panormus; Basilides, from Cydonia; Evarestus and Pompey, from Heraklion. Haled before the Governor as Christians, they were subjected to torments for thirty days, being scourged, racked, dragged upon the ground through dung heaps, stoned, spit upon. They were questioned again, but their costancy roused the Governor to greater fury. After subjecting them to torments more bitter still, he had them beheaded.


Allsaint
December 23

Paul, Archbishop of Neo-Caesarea


Allsaint
December 23

Rememberance of the Founding of the Holy and Great Church of Christ, Hagia Sophia in Constantinople


Allsaint
December 23

Forefeast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ


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