Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 16:13-24.

Brethren, be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints; I urge you to be subject to such men and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicos, because they have made up for your absence; for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men. The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Gospel Reading

13th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 21:33-42

The Lord said this parable, "There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. Afterward he sent his son to them, saying 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.' And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons." Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?'"

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

Τό φαιδρόν τής Αναστάσεως κήρυγμα, εκ τού Αγγέλου μαθούσαι αι τού Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καί τήν προγονικήν απόφασιν απορρίψασαι, τοίς Αποστόλοις καυχώμεναι έλεγον· Εσκύλευται ο θάνατος, ηγέρθη Χριστός ο Θεός, δωρούμενος τώ κόσμω τό μέγα έλεος.

Το fethron tis Anastaseos kirigma, ek tou Agelou mathouse e tou Kyriou Mathitrie, ke tin progonikin apofasin aporipsase, tis Apostolis kafhomene elegon. Eskilefte o thanatos, igerthi Christos o Theos, doroumenos to kosmo to mega eleos.

When the tidings of the resurrection from the glorious angel was proclaimed unto the women disciples and our ancestral sentence also had been abolished to the Apostles with boasting did they proclaim that death is vanquished evermore and Christ our God has risen from the dead and granted to the world His great mercy.

Apolytikion for Martyrs Adrian and Natalie in the Third Mode

You forsook the ways and false religion / of your ancestors, for you considered / the saving faith to be wealth irremovable. / And as you followed the steps of the Lord of all, / you were enriched by the gifts of His grace divine. / Glorious Adrian, beseech Christ God fervently / entreating Him to save our souls.

Hymn of Church in the First Mode

Ethnon se kirika ke fostira trismegiston, / Athineon didaskalon ekoumenis aglaisma, / efrosinos gereromen / tous agonas timomen ke tas vasanous thia Christon, / to septon sou martirion, / Agie Pavle Apostole, / presveve Christo to Theo, / sothine tas psichas imon.

O preacher to the gentiles and thrice grandest shining star, / the Athenians’ teacher and the universe’s ornament, / we joyously honor you. / We pay homage to the struggles that you had/for the sake of Christ, / and your dignified martyrdom, / Holy and glorious Apostle Paul, / intercede with Christ our God, / entreating Him to save our souls.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Both Joachim and Anna from their sterility's stigma,/ and Adam and Eve/ from their mortality's ruin have been set free, O immaculate Maid, by your holy nativity./ For this do your people hold celebration,/ redeemed from the guilt of transgression as they cry to you,/ "The barren one bears the Theotokos,/ the nourisher of our Life."

Saints and Feasts

August 26

13th Sunday of Matthew

August 26

The Holy Martyrs Adrian and Natalie

The holy Martyrs Adrian and Natalie confessed the Christian Faith during the reign of Maximian, in Nicomedia, in the year 298. Adrian was a pagan; witnessing the valor of the Martyrs, and the fervent faith with which they suffered their torments, he also declared himself a Christian and was imprisoned. When this was told to his wife Natalie, who was secretly a believer, she visited him in prison and encouraged him in his sufferings. Saint Adrian's hands and feet were placed on an anvil and broken off with a hammer; he died in his torments. His blessed wife recovered part of his holy relics and took it to Argyropolis near Byzantium, and reposed in peace soon after.

August 26

Icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir

In all probability, the icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir was painted in Constantinople. In the twelfth century, Patriarch Luke Chrysoberges sent it to Kiev to Great Prince Yuri Dolgruky. The icon was kept in the convent at Vyshgorod, whence the holy Prince Andrew of Bogoliubovo brought it to Vladimir. The icon is one of the most venerated in Russia, having been carried by princes in military campaigns, prayed before by rulers for the welfare of the people, and flocked to by the faithful of all walks of life. At the election of the metropolitans and patriarchs, the names of the candidates were placed before this holy icon, and after prayer, the lot chosen; Patriarch Tikhon the Confessor was elected this way. The icon is celebrated also on June 23 and May 21, the last feast being established to commemorate the deliverance of Moscow in 1521 from the onslaught of the Tartar Khan Makhmet-Girei.

August 26

Our Righteous Father Joseph

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 ~ MNYMOSINA: 1 year for Alexandria Heart Gregory; 1 year for Gramatiki Kokkas; 2 years for Ioanna Payamgis; TRISAGIA: for Demetrios Kokkas; for Emanuel and Gramatiki Mouroulis; 11 years for Carl Eakman.
Today ~ Artoclasia for the Vitakis family in honor of St. Judas Thaddaeus and Phanuropita for St. Phanurios whose memory we celebrate tomorrow.
Today ~ Coffee social hosted by the Kokkas family and friends.
Tuesday ~ 6:00 p.m. Stewardship meeting.
Wednesday ~ Beheading of St John the Baptist; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy.

Upcoming Events in Our Parish – Respond Early

Next Sunday ~ Epistle Reading, II Corinthians 1:21-24; 2:1-4; Gospel, Matthew 22:2-14.
Next Sunday ~ MNYMOSINO: 3 years for Michael J Alex; TRISAGION: 3 months for Michael Pantazoglou.
Next Sunday ~ Coffee social hosted by the Alex family.
Next Sunday ~ 12:00 p.m. Greek Corner meets in the Teen room.
September 3 ~ Labor Day; office closed.
September 4 ~ 7:00 p.m. Home Committee meeting.
September 9 ~ Sunday School resumes following Holy Communion.
September 10 ~ 5:30 p.m. Greek School begins with Ayiasmo water blessing for all students / staff. Registration information available through our website. Payment must be received by 1^st day of class.
September 11 ~ 6:30 p.m. Philoptochos General meeting.
September 12 ~ 7:00 p.m. monthly Parish Council meeting.
September 14 ~ Exaltation of the Holy Cross; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy.
September 15 ~ 10:00 a.m. Pet Blessing.
September 16 ~ Parish Fair following Liturgy. Come see the many programs offered by the various ministries of our parish.
September 16 ~ 4:30 p.m. Parish Youth Picnic at Richfield Woods Pavilion on Broadview Road in Richfield. RSVP at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a44ada622a5fb6-youth1.
September 17 ~ 6:30 p.m. Festival Volunteer Appreciation Dinner to thank our many volunteers who worked so hard to make our Festival a successful event. RSVP required - click here or call the church office.
September 18 ~ 10:00 a.m. Women’s Study Group resumes with Elaine Poulos.
September 22 ~ 10:30 a.m. Altar Boy Workshop for boys in 3^rd grade and up, followed by bowling at Seven Hills Lanes on Broadview Road. Call office to RSVP. We need a few drivers. $5/person.
September 22 ~ 4:30 p.m. Philoptochos fundraiser Men Who Cook. Register to become one of the Men who Cook and purchase your tickets during the coffee social or through our website.
September 23 ~ Adult Catechism with Elaine Poulos and Coffee & Conversation with Jonathan and Kristina Tartara resume following Holy Communion.
September 23 ~ Dance Practice for ALL dancers following Sunday School.
September 27 ~ 2:00 p.m. Senior Fellowship Kafenio. Flu shots will be available – please bring your Medicare / insurance card with you.

Events in the Greater Cleveland Area and Beyond…

Friday – September 3 ~ Kamm’s Corners Greek Festival.
Friday – September 3 ~ Annunciation Cathedral Columbus Greek Festival.
September 7 – 9 ~ St. Nicholas Lorain Greek Festival.
September 8 ~ 7:00 a.m. bus trip to Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery in Saxonburg PA. RSVP to Joan Karouzos at 440.892.4746 (St. Demetrios). Annunciation bus is full at this time.
September 15 ~ 9:00 a.m. ZOE for Life! work session to empower volunteers to share their faith with ZOE clients at ZOE House (5454 State Road, Parm). RSVP at 440.893.9990.
September 21 – 23 ~ Annunciation Akron Greek Festival.
September 22 ~ 3:30 p.m. Vespers followed by the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery 5^th Annual Dinner Banquet in Memory of Gerontissa Taxiarchia at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Pittsburgh. Tickets $100. RSVP to 724.352.3999 or 2018MonasteryBanquet.Eventbrite.com.
September 29 ~ 9:00 a.m. Metropolis Clergy-Laity hosted by Holy Cross in Pittsburgh PA.
September 30 ~ 2:00 p.m. The Dr. John and Helen Collis Lecture series at the Cleveland Museum of Art presents the Cleveland Saint Luke: The Byzantine Artist as Creator, Bureaucrat, or Copyist by Dr. Antony Eastmond. FREE; reservations required – call 216.421.7350 or engage.clevelandart.org.