Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Second Mode. Psalm 117.14,18.
The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 6:12-20.

Brethren, "all things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" -- and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh." But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belong to God.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Prodigal Son
The Reading is from Luke 15:11-32

The Lord said this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his belly with the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

Saints and Feasts

February 16

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Through the parable of today's Gospel, our Saviour has set forth three things for us: the condition of the sinner, the rule of repentance, and the greatness of God's compassion. The divine Fathers have put this reading the week after the parable of the Publican and Pharisee so that, seeing in the person of the Prodigal Son our own wretched condition -- inasmuch as we are sunken in sin, far from God and His Mysteries -- we might at last come to our senses and make haste to return to Him by repentance during these holy days of the Fast.

Furthermore, those who have wrought many great iniquities, and have persisted in them for a long time, oftentimes fall into despair, thinking that there can no longer be any forgiveness for them; and so being without hope, they fall every day into the same and even worse iniquities. Therefore, the divine Fathers, that they might root out the passion of despair from the hearts of such people, and rouse them to the deeds of virtue, have set the present parable at the forecourts of the Fast, to show them the surpassing goodness of God's compassion, and to teach them that there is no sin -- no matter how great it may be -- that can overcome at any time His love for man.

February 16

Pamphilus the Martyr & his Companions

This Martyr contested during the reign of Maximian, in the year 290, in Caesarea of Palestine, and was put to death by command of Firmilian, the Governor of Palestine. His fellow contestants' names are Valens, Paul, Seleucus, Porphyrius, Julian, Theodulus, and five others from Egypt: Elias, Jeremias, Esaias, Samuel, and Daniel. Their martyrdom is recorded in Book VIII, ch. 11 of Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History, called The Martyrs of Palestine.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Mode

Ότε κατήλθες πρός τόν θάνατον, η ζωή η αθάνατος, τότε τόν Άδην ενέκρωσας, τή αστραπή τής Θεότητος· ότε δέ καί τούς τεθνεώτας, εκ τών καταχθονίων ανέστησας, πάσαι αι Δυνάμεις τών επουρανίων εκραύγαζον· Ζωοδότα Χριστέ ο Θεός ημών δόξα Σοι.

Όte katilthes pros ton thanaton, I zoe athanatos, tote ton Adin enekrosas, ti astrapi tis Theotitos. Ote de ke tous tethneotas ek ton katakthonion anestisas, pase e Dinamis ton epuranion ekravgazon. Zoodota Christe o Theos imon doxa Si.

When You descended to the realm of death You as life immortal rendered to Hades a mortal blow by Your all radiant divinity. And when You from infernal depths and the darkness below did raise the dead all the hosts of heaven’s powers did proclaim and cry out O life giving Christ and our God we give glory.

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

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; Adult Catechism with Elaine Poulos following Holy Communion.
Today ~ Coffee Social hosted by the Lekas family in memory of Louis Lekas and Stamatia Packis.
Today ~ until February 23^rd, we are accepting nominations for two individuals from our community for the St. Photios Award that is given by our Metropolis. There are forms and a box in the outer narthex where you can deposit your nomination.
Today ~ until March 1^st, names will be collected for the Sunday of Orthodoxy program booklet. All money goes to support the various charities supported by the Greater Cleveland Clergy of Cleveland. Checks can be made payable to GCCOC.
Today ~ our GOYAns participated in the final Metropolis Basketball Tournament in Pittsburgh this past weekend. They will be returning home today.
Monday ~ 5:30 p.m. Greek School.
Tuesday ~ Women’s Study Group with Elaine Poulos.
Tuesday ~ 7:00 p.m. 2^nd Orthodox Catechism with Father Costas.
Thursday ~ 7:00 p.m. Bible Study series on the Nicene Creed with Fr. Costas. All invited!
Friday ~ 6:30 p.m. Koliva-Making Workshop. RSVP by February 18^th to office. Cost $5.00. Organized by Fr. Costas.
Saturday ~ Saturday of Souls; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy. First names of deceased loved ones can be submitted to the church office or through our website.
Stewardship ~Thanks to all who completed and returned their 2020 Stewardship Commitment Card.
Final Phase of PAVE THE WAY ~ The names of all who have participated in this Final Phase of the Pave the Way will appear in the March Messenger. Call the office and make your commitment if you want your name to appear in the Messenger. Help us complete the Final Phase 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 I Corinthians 8:8-13, 9:1-2; Gospel Matthew 25:31-46.
Next Sunday ~ Loukoumades sales to benefit CJD Foundation sponsored by Philoptochos; Dance Practice for ALL dancers following Sunday School.
February 24 ~ 5:30 p.m. Philoptochos Baking Class with Father Costas teaching us how to make Baklava Saragli. $25/person. Reservation required ~ limited space.
February 28 ~ 6:00 p.m. HOPE / JOY Bowling at Seven Hills Lanes. $10 per bowler includes two hours of bowling / shoe rental. Pizza provided. RSVP to Elena Giatis via text at 440.829.1340 with number of people and what you can bring.
February 29 ~ Saturday of Souls; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy. First names of deceased loved ones can be submitted to the church office or through our website.
March 1 ~ 12:00 p.m. Greek Corner meets.
March 3 ~ 7:00 p.m. Home Committee meeting.

Lenten Services and Retreats in our Parish

March 1~ 5:00 Forgiveness Vespers.
March 2 ~ Clean Monday ~ Lent Begins; 7:00 p.m. Great Compline Service.
March 4 ~ 5:00 p.m. Presanctified Liturgy followed by Lenten dinner hosted by Philoptochos and Senior Fellowship.
March 6 ~ 7:00 p.m. 1^st Salutations to the Theotokos. Speaker from FOCUS North America.
March 8 ~ 5:00 p.m. Sunday of Orthodoxy vespers at St. Demetrios Rocky River.
March 21 ~ 10:00 a.m. Traveling in the Footsteps of the Early Christians in Italy Lenten Retreat with Father Costas. FREE to all. Refreshments provided. RSVP https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMtiztdReI4J52dlM2EjeSeR7gETz7JkBeP1kC55gYusUILQ/viewform.

Events in the Greater Cleveland Area and Beyond

February 28-29 ~ St. Innocent Orthodox Church in Olmsted Falls is hosting a pre-lenten retreat on with Dr. Tracy Gustilo titled “Paradise in the Desert: A Paschal Ecology for Lent.” Dr. Gustilo teaches at St. Vladimir’s Seminary and has a PhD in ecology. She will discuss creation, environment, and the animal world looking closely at Scriptures. No registration required. No fee. Please, join us!
February 29 ~ 6:00 p.m. Karnavali Dance at Annunciation Cleveland. $15 ages 13 +; $10 ages 12-6; and Free for 5 and under. RSVP to Koula Makris, Tina Asmis, or Koula Makris.
March 13 ~ Orthodox Young Adult Retreat at Camp Nazareth in Mercer PA with Fr. Sergius Halvorsen. More info available at youngadultretreats@gmail.com or 724.662.4840
March 14 ~ 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. “Seven Lessons from the Cross” Lenten Retreat with Fr. Nicholas Louh at Sts. Constantine & Helen Cleveland Heights. Presale $15/$20 after March 7^th (includes breakfast and lunch).
March 20 – 22~ Metropolis GOYA Spring Retreat with Father Michael Gavrilos at Camp Nazareth in Mercer PA. Parish scholarship available. Contact the church office for details.
March 27 ~ 7:30 p.m. Cleveland Museum of Art presents Aleksandra Vrebalov as she premieres Antennae in the galleries and Atrium featuring three Serbian monks singing Byzantine chants. FREE.
April 4 ~ 2:30 p.m. Hellenic Preservation Society offers members “Antigone”, a modern interpretation at the Cleveland Playhouse. $15/person. Contact Linda Glynias at 216.469.2663 or lglynias@gmail.com for tickets.