Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 146.5;134.3.
Great is our Lord, and great is his power.
Verse: Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 12:1-11.

ABOUT THAT TIME, Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword; and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the Church.

The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison; and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, "Wrap your mantle around you and follow me." And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them of its own accord, and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel left him. And Peter came to himself, and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."

Gospel Reading

Thomas Sunday
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.

Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal First Mode

Χριστός Ανέστη εκ νεκρών, θανάτω θάνατον πατήσας, καί τοίς εν τοίς μνήμασι, ζωήν, χαρισάμενος.

Christos anesti ek nekron, thanato thanaton patisas, ke tis en ti mnimasi zoi, harisamenos.

Christ is Risen from the dead/ by death trampling down upon death/ and to those in the tombs He has/ granted life.

Apolytikion for Thomas Sun. in the Grave Mode

O Life, You rose from the sepulcher, even though the tomb was secured with a seal, O Christ God. And though the doors had been bolted, You came to Your disciples, O Resurrection of all. Through them You renew a right spirit in us, according to Your great mercy.

Apolytikion for Great Martyr George in the Fourth Mode

When you were tilled by God, you proved yourself clearly to be a very worthy tiller of piety, for you had gathered in the sheaves of virtues for yourself. Having sowed the seeds of tears, you now reap the rejoicing; contending to the point of blood, you won Christ as your trophy. And by your interecessions you, O Saint, provide forgiveness of trespasses unto all.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Into the grave you descended, Immortal One, / yet you destroyed the power of Hades, / and as victor / you arose, O Christ our God;/ you proclaimed to the myrrh-bearing women a greeting of joy, / you brought peace to your holy apostles, / and to the fallen you granted resurrection.

Saints and Feasts

April 23

Thomas Sunday

Though the doors were shut at the dwelling where the disciples were gathered for fear of the Jews on the evening of the Sunday after the Passover, our Saviour wondrously entered and stood in their midst, and greeted them with His customary words, "Peace be unto you." Then He showed unto them His hands and feet and side; furthermore, in their presence, He took some fish and a honeycomb and ate before them, and thus assured them of His bodily Resurrection. But Thomas, who was not then present with the others, did not believe their testimony concerning Christ's Resurrection, but said in a decisive manner, "Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe." Wherefore after eight days, that is, on this day, when the disciples were again gathered together and Thomas was with them, the Lord Jesus came while the doors were shut, as He did formerly. Standing in their midst, He said, "Peace be unto you"; then He said to Thomas, "Bring hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not unbelieving, but believing."

And Thomas, beholding and examining carefully the hands and side of the Master, cried out with faith, "My Lord and my God." Thus he clearly proclaimed the two natures - human and divine - of the God-man (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-29).

This day is called Antipascha (meaning "in the stead of Pascha," not "in opposition to Pascha") because with this day, the first Sunday after Pascha, the Church consecrates every Sunday of the year to the commemoration of Pascha, that is, the Resurrection.

April 23

George the Great Martyr and Triumphant

George, this truly great and glorious Martyr of Christ, was born of a father from Cappadocia and a mother from Palestine. Being a military tribune, or chiliarch (that is, a commander of a thousand troops), he was illustrious in battle and highly honoured for his courage. When he learned that the Emperor Diocletian was preparing a persecution of the Christians, Saint George presented himself publicly before the Emperor and denounced him. When threats and promises could not move him from his steadfast confession, he was put to unheard-of tortures, which he endured with great bravery, overcoming them by his faith and love towards Christ. By the wondrous signs that took place in his contest, he guided many to the knowledge of the truth, including Queen Alexandra, wife of Diocletian, and was finally beheaded in 296 in Nicomedia.

His sacred remains were taken by his servant from Nicomedia to Palestine, to a town called Lydda, the homeland of his mother, and then were finally transferred to the church which was raised up in his name. (The translation of the Saint's holy relics to the church in Lydda is commemorated on November 3; Saint Alexandra the Queen, on April 21.)

If April 23 falls on or before Great and Holy Pascha, the Feast of St. George is translated to Bright Monday.

April 24

Elizabeth the Wonderworker

Saint Elizabeth was born in Heraclea of Thrace. She lived in virginity and exhausted herself with ascetical labours and every kind of hardship from the time of her youth, and was deemed worthy of the grace of wonderworking from God; she reposed in peace in Constantinople in the middle of the fifth century.

Welcome

This Weeks Announcements

We extend greetings and a warm welcome to all visitors worshipping with us today. Please fill out a“visitor information card” located in the narthex and hand to one of the greeters. Following the Liturgy, please join us in our social hall for the coffee social.
Holy Communion in our Church is offered only to Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves through the disciplines of our faith. Speak to Fr. Costas for further details.

We kindly ask everyone to Please silence cell phones and pagers while in Church

Today ~ Coffee & Conversationfor parents of children from birth – 6^th grade will resume April 30^th.
Today ~ Adult Catechism with Elaine Poulos resumes.
Today ~ Greek School sponsored loukoumades sale during coffee social.
Today ~ Greek Corner will be selling cups of Greek coffee during the coffee social.
Today ~ All Hellenic Dancers will be measured for costumes followed by Dance Practice.
Today, following liturgy – Saturday ~ Fr. Costas will be away from the parish. If there is a pastoral need, please contact the church office and a neighboring priest will attend to your needs.
Monday - Tuesday ~ 9:00 a.m. Festival baking. Join us as we make finikia and pineapple cheese rolls. Everyone welcome – whether you have an hour or two, your help is always appreciated.
Monday ~ 5:30 p.m. Greek School.
Thursday ~ 2:00 p.m. Senior Fellowship Kafenio.
Thursday ~ 7:00 p.m. Bible Study with Frank Chirakos.
Stewardship ~ Thank you to all those who completed and returned their 2017 Stewardship card.
Pave the Way ~ Have you responded to this appeal? Please join those who did and help us reach our goal of a new parking lot.

Upcoming Events in Our Parish – Respond Early

Next Sunday ~ Epistle Reading, Acts 6:1-7; Gospel, Mark 15:43-47; 16:1-8.
Next Sunday ~ MNYMOSINA: 2 years for Aristi Kalucis; 3 months for Thomas (Anastasios) Zervas; 4 years for Leah Dadas; 5 years for Sally Collaros; TRISAGIA: for Mary Zanoudakis; for Terry (Theodore) Papantoniou; for Stella, Michael, Demetri, and Eleni Makiaris; for Kereakoula and Konstandinos Konstantaras; for Theodore Steffas; for Irene Ewald.
Next Sunday ~ 11:00 a.m. Philoptochos community gryo sale.
Next Sunday ~ 11:30 a.m. GOYA car wash at Discount Drug Mart on State and Wallings.
May 1 ~ 7:00 p.m. Home Committee meeting.
May 2 ~ 6:00 p.m. Family Ministry meeting.
May 2 ~ 7:00 p.m. Stewardship Committee meeting open to all who are interested.
May 7 ~ 12:00 p.m. Parish Assembly in the Teen Room. Make time to attend and find out what is happening in our parish.
May 9 ~ Philoptochos meeting with election of board members. Guest speaker will be Lindsey Cavanaugh from Touchstone Crystals by Swarvoski. Proceeds to benefit Philoptochos.
May 10 ~ 7:00 p.m. monthly Parish Council meeting.
May 17 ~ 5:30 p.m. Philoptochos baking class will be making koulourakia. $15/person.
May 25 ~ Holy Ascension; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy.
May 27 ~ 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Trisagia services offered by Father Costas at St. Theodosius Cemetery.
May 29 ~ Office closed.
May 29 ~ 10:00 a.m. Trisagia service at St. Theodosius Cemetery.
June 11 ~ Graduate Sunday. St. Paul High School and College graduates will be recognized immediately following Liturgy. Please be sure to enter our graduation information at: http://www.stpaulgoc.org/forms/graduate-recognition and forward a picture to the church office. Contact Gail Karagiozis if you have any questions at (440) 238-2621.
June 11 ~ 1:30 p.m. Annual Golf Outing at Pine Hills Golf Course in Hinckley followed by lamb roast. Sponsorships available. All proceeds to benefit Pave the Way parking lot Capital Campaign.

Events in the Greater Cleveland Area and Beyond…

Saturday ~ 7:00 p.m. Greek Pontian Dance at Annunciation Cleveland. Contact Julie Tsirambidis (216.276.0530) or Emmanuel Ermidis (216.323.4092) for tickets and information.
May 6 ~ 6:00 p.m. 25^th Anniversary of Fr. Dean Dimon’s ordination to the priesthood at Annunciation Cleveland. Tickets are $50 for adults; $25 for children 4 – 10; 3 and under Free. Call Jane Sevastos at 440.230.9661 for more information.
May 20 ~ 7:00 p.m. Great Vespers for Sts. Constantine and Helen at Sts. Constantine and Helen in Cleveland Heights.
ZOE Women’s Center Medical Committee is looking for volunteers (Receptionist, Nurse, Sonographer, Fund Raiser, Medical Assistant, Physician’s Assistant, etc.) to offer services to women in distress due to unplanned pregnancies. Contact Despina at despina@mavrakisfamily.com.