Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 117.26,1.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Verse: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His mercy endures forever.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7.

TITUS, my son, the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of the great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

Gospel Reading

The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
The Reading is from Matthew 3:13-17

At that time, Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion for Holy Epiphany in the First Mode

En Iordani baptizomenou Kyrie,/ I tis Triados efanerothi proskinisi,/ tou gar genitoros I foni pros emartirise/ agapiton se Ion onomazousa,/ ke to Pneuma en edi peristeran,/ eveveou tou logo to asfales,/ o epifanis Christe o Theos,/ ke ton kosmo fotisas doxasi.

As You were baptized in the Jordan, O Lord,/ then the worship of the Trinity became manifest,/ for the voice of the Father bore witness to You,/ naming You the Beloved Son;/ and the Spirit, in the form of a dove,/ confirmed the certainty of the word./ O Christ God,/ who appeared and illumined the world,/ glory to You.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Epefanis simeron, ti ikoumeni,/ ke to fos sou Kyrie,/ esimiothi efimas,/ en epignosi imnounta se./ Ilthes efanis to fos to aprositon.

You appeared to us on earth / today, O Master, / and Your light was signed on us / who cry aloud to You and say / with understanding, O Christ our God: You came and shone forth, O Light unapproachable.

Saints and Feasts

January 06

The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who was some six months older than Our Saviour according to the flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Saviour also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvellous deeds, great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized and the voice was heard from the Heavens hearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:1-22). From these events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great mystery of the Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from this that the present feast is called "Theophany," that is, the divine manifestation, God's appearance among men. On this venerable day the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated; henceforth also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of the Heavens.

January 06

Theophan the Recluse

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 ~ Theophany; Vasilopita Sunday; Swearing in of Parish Council members followed by election of officers; GOYA meeting; Dance practice for Beginner and Junior dancers; Greek Corner meets at noon.
Monday ~ Feast of St. John the Glorious Prophet, Baptist & Forerunner; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy;
Monday ~5:30 p.m. Greek School classes resume.
Tuesday ~ House blessings begin. Use the form in The Messenger, our website, or call the church office to add your name to the list. Father Costas will call to confirm appointment time.
Tuesday ~ 7:00 p.m. Home Committee meeting.
Wednesday ~ 7:00 p.m. monthly Parish Council meeting.
Thursday ~ 7:00 p.m. Bible Study with Frank Chirakos and Father Costas in the upstairs office.
Friday – Next Sunday ~ our parish hosts the Metropolis GOYA Basketball tournament. We ask all parishioners to please consider volunteering a few hours to keep score, assist in the concession stand, etc. Sign up at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4fa4ab29a5fd0-stpaul7.
Thank you to all who completed and returned their 2019 Stewardship commitment card thus far. If you have not done so yet, please complete and return it to the church office at your earliest convenience. With much gratitude, the Stewardship Committee.
You have all received in the mail the package of information for the Final Phase, of the PAVE THE WAY. Please review and respond generously to this project. We thank you for your generosity!

Upcoming Events in Our Parish – Respond Early

Next Sunday ~ Epistle Reading, Ephesians 4:7-13; Gospel, Matthew 4:12-17.
January 15 ~ 6:15 p.m. Five Church meeting hosted by our parish.
January 17 ~ St. Anthony the Great; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy.
January 20 ~ Adult Catechism with Elaine Poulos and Coffee and Conversation with Jonathan and Kristi Tartara resume. Dance practice for all dancers following Sunday School.
January 22 ~ 6:00 p.m. Family Ministry meeting.
January 23 ~ 6:00 p.m. Stewardship Committee meeting.
January 30 ~ Three Hierarchs; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy.
February 2 ~ Presentation of our Lord; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy.
May 4 – 15 ~ Father Costas leads Pilgrimage to Italy. Contact him for more information. We will visit important sites in Rome, Pompeii, Assisi, Florence, Ravenna & Venice. Final deadline to sign up has been extended to the end of January.

Events in the Greater Cleveland Area and Beyond…

January 20 ~ 6:00 p.m. Pray for the Unborn Supplication Service hosted by St. Matthew Antiochian Orthodox Church currently housed at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (8235 Memphis Rd. Brooklyn, OH) with Fr. Andrew Harmon as the speaker. Sponsored by ZOE for Life.
January 25 – 27 ~ GOYAns participate in Metropolis Basketball Tournament hosted by Annunciation Cleveland.
January 26 ~ 2:00 p.m. matinee of “An Iliad” at Cleveland Playhouse Outcalt Theatre. Special pricing of $15 per person for Hellenic Preservation Society members / $25 for non-members. Contact Linda Glnias for tickets at 216.469.2663 or lglynias@gmail.com.
January 27 ~ 3:00 p.m. We host North Royalton Community Meal at St. Albert on Wallings Road.

Flyers

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

WEEKDAY SERVICES

SUNDAY SERVICES

Past Bulletins