Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 115.15,12.
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
Verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all that he has given me?

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 1:8-18.

TIMOTHY, my son, do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, and therefore I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, and among them Phygelos and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphoros, for he often refreshed me; he was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me eagerly and found me - may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesos.

Gospel Reading

11th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 14:16-24

The Lord said this parable: "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time of the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for all is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and there is still room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. For many are called, but few are chosen.'"

Saints and Feasts

December 15

11th Sunday of Luke

On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we commemorate Christ's forefathers according to the flesh, both those that came before the Law, and those that lived after the giving of the Law.

Special commemoration is made of the Patriarch Abraham, to whom the promise was first given, when God said to him, "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 22:18). This promise was given some two thousand years before Christ, when Abraham was seventy-five years of age. God called him and commanded him to forsake his country, parents, and kinsmen, and to depart to the land of the Canaanites. When he arrived there, God told him, "I will give this land to thy seed" (Gen. 12:7); for this cause, that land was called the "Promised Land," which later became the country of the Hebrew people, and which is also called Palestine by the historians. There, after the passage of twenty-four years, Abraham received God's law concerning circumcision. In the one hundredth year of his life, when Sarah was in her ninetieth year, they became the parents of Isaac. Having lived 175 years altogether, he reposed in peace, a venerable elder full of days.

December 15

Eleutherios the Hieromartyr, Bishop of Illyricum, and his mother Anthia

This Saint had Rome as his homeland. Having been orphaned of his father from childhood, he was taken by his mother Anthia to Anicetus, the Bishop of Rome (some call him Anencletus, or Anacletus), by whom he was instructed in the sacred letters (that is, the divine Scriptures). Though still very young in years, he was made Bishop of Illyricum by reason of his surpassing virtue, and by his teachings he converted many unbelievers to Christ. However, during a most harsh persecution that was raised against the Christians under Hadrian (reigned 117-138), the Saint was arrested by the tyrants. Enduring many torments for Christ, he was finally put to death by two soldiers about the year 126. As for his Christ-loving mother Anthia, while embracing the remains of her son and kissing them with maternal affection, she was also beheaded.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode

Τού λίθου σφραγισθέντος υπό τών Ιουδαίων, καί στρατιωτών φυλλασόντων, τό άχραντόν Σου σώμα, ανέστης τριήμερος Σωτήρ, δωρούμενος τώ κόσμω τήν ζωήν. Διά τούτο αι Δυνάμεις τών ουρανών εβόων σοι Ζωοδότα· δόξα τή Αναστάσει σου Χριστέ, δόξα τή βασιλεία σου, δόξα τή οικονομία σου μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε.

Τu lithou sfragisthentos ipo ton Ioudeon, ke stratioton filasonton to ahranton sou soma, anesti triemeros Sotir, doroumenos ton kosmo tin zoin. Dia touto e dinamis ton ouranon evon si Zoodota, doxa ti Anastasi sou Hriste, doxa ti vasilia sou, doxa ti ikonomia sou mone Filanthrope.

The stone that had been sealed before Your tomb by the Jews and the soldiers guarding did watch o’er Your pure and sacred body O Savior the third day You arose, and unto all the world did You give life where by all the heavenly powers did proclaim that You are the giver of life. Glory unto our resurrected Christ. Glory unto Your Kingdom. Glory to Your dispensation O You alone who loves all.

Apolytikion for Hieromartyr Eleutherios and Anthia in the Fourth Mode

You were fully adorned with the sacred priestly robes. / You were dripping with streams of your own martyric blood. / In this state, you rant to Christ your Master, O blessed Saint / Eleftherius, destroyer of Satan; you are wise. / Therefore cease not interceding / for us who loyally honor / your blessed contest of martyrdom.

Apolytikion for 11th Sun. of Luke in the Second Mode

By faith You justified the Forefathers, having through them betrothed to yourself the Church that came out of the nations. The saints are boasting in glory; for the glorious fruit, the Virgin who without seed gave birth to You, is from their progeny. At their entreaties, O Christ our God, 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 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.

H Parthenos symeron,/ ton proeonion Logon,/ en spileo erhete,/ apotekin aporitos./ Horeve/ i ikoumeni/ akoutisthisa/ doxason/ meta Agelon ke ton Pimenon/ voulithenta apofthine/ Pedion neon/ o pro eonon Theon.

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 & Conversation with Jonathan and Kristi Tartara and Adult Catechism with Elaine Poulos after Holy Communion will resume in January.
Today ~ Sunday School and Greek School Christmas programs following Divine Liturgy.
Mitten Tree ~ Help decorate the Mitten Tree located by the main candle stand with hats, scarves, mittens, and gloves to be given to needy children locally by Daughters of Penelope Erinys Chapter.
Monday ~ 5:30 p.m. Greek School.
Monday ~ 7:00 p.m. Chanting Lessons with Nicholas Bodle & Peter Keares. Open to all!
Tuesday ~ Women’s Study Group with Elaine Poulos will resume in January.
Thursday ~ 7:00 p.m. Bible Study with Frank Chirakos. Open to all!
Next Sunday ~ a clothing collection, newborn to 2T, will take place for ZOE FOR LIFE. Drop off in the hall before going up to church.
Stewardship ~the 2020 campaign has begun. To date, 208 stewards have submitted their pledge card. If you have not done so, please respond.By the grace of God we have an active and thriving community. Your generous commitment will help us to continue serving, especially the youth, through an Assistant Priest/Youth Director. Give generously!
Final Phase of PAVE THE WAY ~ you will be receiving in the mail this week a statement for all your contributions to date for both the 1^st and 2^nd phase of this campaign. If you have not contributed yet, please do so. Help us complete the Final Phase of the Pave the Way, as we look forward to welcoming the Archbishop of America, along with all the Metropolitans and many faithful to our parish this summer, on June 28, 2020, for the Liturgy of the start of the 2020 Clergy Laity Congress.

Upcoming Events in Our Parish – Respond Early

Next Sunday ~ Epistle Reading Hebrews 11:9-10; 32-40; Gospel Matthew 1:1-25.
Next Sunday ~ MNYMOSINO: 40 days for Virginia Salamalekis.
December 30 ~ 7:00 p.m. Chanting Lessons with Nicholas Bodle & Peter Keares. Open to all!
December 24 ~ Christmas Eve; office closed. 10:00 a.m. Royal Hours; 5:00 p.m. Vesperal Liturgy.
December 25 ~ Holy Nativity; office closed. 8:15 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy.
January 1 ~ Circumcision of our Lord / St. Basil the Great; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy.
January 3 ~ 10:00 a.m. Royal Hours of Theophany.
January 5 ~ 3:00 p.m. HOPE / JOY Dive for the Cross at Seven hills Rec Center Pool. RSVP to Pres Nicole via text at 440.409.1673.
January 5 ~ 7:00 p.m. Great Vespers for Theophany.
January 6~ Theophany of Our Lord; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy.
January 7 ~ St. John the Baptist; 8:30 a.m.; 9:30 a.m. Orthros.

Events in the Greater Cleveland Area and Beyond

December 17 ~ 9:30 a.m. Liturgy will be held in the St. Mary of Egypt Chapel at Annunciation Cleveland for the feast of Dionysius of Zakynthos, Profit Daniel and the Three Holy Youths.
December 28 ~ 7:30 p.m. HPS Ball at Lago East Bank in Cleveland. Contact Linda Glynias 216.469.2663 or Mary Manos 216.402.5441 for more details.

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