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St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-06-28
Bulletin Contents
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Hymns of the Day
Welcome
Flyers
Unmercenaries
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St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (440) 237-8998
  • Street Address:

  • 4548 Wallings Road

  • North Royalton, OH 44133-3121

Contact Information

Proistamenos Fr Costas P Keares


frcostas@stpaulgoc.org | 440-237-8998
Secretary / Bookkeeper Elaine Nackowiz

messenger@stpaulgoc.org | 440-237-8998

Services Schedule

WEEKDAY SERVICES

   8:30 AM   Orthros
   9:30 AM   Liturgy

 

SUNDAY SERVICES

   8:15 AM   Orthros
   9:30 AM   Liturgy

Sunday School begins immediately following Holy Communion September through May

Past Bulletins


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 Letter to the Romans 5:1-10.

Brethren, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have obtained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man -- though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Gospel Reading

3rd Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 6:22-33

The Lord said, "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well."

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Saints and Feasts

Unmercenaries
June 28

Finding of the Relics of Cyrus and John the Unmercenaries

These Saints lived during the years of Diocletian. Saint Cyrus was from Alexandria, and Saint John was from Edessa of Mesopotamia. Because of the persecution of that time, Cyrus fled to the Gulf of Arabia, where there was a small community of monks. John, who was a soldier, heard of Cyrus' fame and came to join him. Henceforth, they passed their life working every virtue, and healing every illness and disease freely by the grace of Christ; hence their title of "Unmercenaries." They heard that a certain woman, named Athanasia, had been apprehended together with her three daughters, Theodora, Theoctiste, and Eudoxia, and taken to the tribunal for their confession of the Faith. Fearing lest the tender young maidens be terrified by the torments and renounce Christ, they went to strengthen them in their contest in martyrdom; therefore they too were seized. After Cyrus and John and those sacred women had been greatly tormented, all were beheaded in the year 292. Their tomb became a renowned shrine in Egypt, and a place of universal pilgrimage. It was found in the area of the modern day resort near Alexandria named Abu Kyr.

Allsaint
June 28

Righteous Fathers Sergius and Herman, Founders of Valaam Monastery

By their life and teachings, our righteous Fathers Sergius and Herman did much to spread and confirm Orthodoxy among the Karelian Finns, who had suffered much oppression at the hands of Swedes of the Latin creed. They founded on Lake Ladoga the renowned Monastery of Valaam, which later became one of the chief centers of the monastic life. Both Saints reposed about 1353.

Allsaint
June 28

Synaxis of the Icon of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos

The great defender of the Orthodox Faith against the Iconoclasts, our righteous Father John of Damascus (See Dec. 4), was slandered to the Caliph of Damascus by the Iconoclast Emperor Leo the Isaurian (reigned 717-741). Saint John was accused of sedition and his right hand was cut off. Having asked for the severed hand, Saint John passed the night in great pain, praying for the aid of the most holy Theotokos. Awaking from sleep, he found that his hand had been miraculously restored, with only a red scar about the wrist where it had been severed, as a testimony to the wonderous healing. In thanksgiving, he had a silver hand attached to the icon to commemorate this great miracle. On becoming a monk in the lavra of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified in the Holy Land, John brought the icon with him. There it remained until the thirteenth century, when it was given to Saint Sabbas of Serbia (see Jan. 14), who brought it to Serbia, where it remained for a time. Later, it was miraculously transported by an unguided donkey that carried it to the Serbian Monastery of Hilandar on the Holy Mountain, Athos, where it remains to this day.

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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.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

A protection of Christians unshameable, / intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering, / reject not / the prayerful cries of those who are in sin. / Instead, / come to us for you are good; / Your loving help bring unto us / who are crying in faith to you: / Hasten to intercede/ and speed now to supplicate, / as a protection for all time, / Theotokos, for those who honor you.
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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.

 

PLEASE NOTE: In light of the COVID-19 Virus, and until further notice, the following precautions will be taken:

  • We are asked by the Civic and Church leadership to practice “Social Distancing and wear a mask”
  • We are very pleased to announce that we have now been placed in the “Green Phase” by our Metropolis. ALL services and Divine Liturgies will continue to take place as scheduled and be viewed LIVE on our parish YouTube PAGE. Click here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKfvvY35FtK8GWWctrUqENg.
  • The age restriction has been lifted and we can gather up to 50% of our church capacity.  Please know that you must sign in when you arrive and your temperature will be taken.  The only entrance that will be open are the glass doors by the elevator – all other entrances will be locked.  Liturgy begins at 9:30 a.m. so we ask that you arrive promptly so that our ushers may also take part in the Liturgy.
  • All other activities in the parish have been SUSPENDED until further notice. All meetings will be done virtually through Zoom.

 

  1. PLEASE NOTE: During these difficult days, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call Fr. Costas on his cell at 440-669-1316.
  2. Today ~ MNYMOSINA: 40 days for Catherine Theophylactos; 40 days for Mary Paxitis.
  3. Today ~ 7:00 p.m. Great Vespers for Sts. Peter and Paul. The feast day of our parish.
  4. Today – July 3 ~ Virtual Golf Outing to benefit Pave the Way Final Phase.  Check out our website for more details.
  5. Monday ~ Sts. Peter & Paul; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy.
  6. Tuesday ~ Holy Apostles; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy.
  7. Stewardship ~Thanks to all who completed and returned their 2020 Stewardship Commitment Card.  Please continue to mail your stewardship donation to the church office or submit on our website. If If there is anything the committee can do for you call the office and leave a message and someone will get back to you! God bless you and be safe.  
  8. Light a Candle and Say a Prayer ~ those attending church will have the opportunity to light a candle with the assistance of the ushers.  Those at home can still light a candle online, but must place their request by 3:00 PM on Friday for the candles to be lit on Sunday.  Go to https://www.stpaulgoc.org/about-us/candles and follow the instructions listed. Questions? Call the church office
  9. Final Phase of PAVE THE WAY ~ the work to complete the parking lot will start within a week or so. There’s still time to donate if you have not done so yet. Help us complete the Final Phase.
  10. Philoptochos Membership ~ “Come join us!” Please remember to join your local St. Paul Philoptochos in 2020 and become a “friend of the poor.” Forms and contributions can either be mailed to the church office or paid online at this time.

 

Upcoming Events in Our Parish – Respond Early

 

  1. Next Sunday ~ Epistle Reading Galatians 5:22-26; 6:1-2, Gospel Matthew 8:5-13.
  2. Next Sunday ~ MNYMOSINO:  40 days for Ekaterini Paragiou.
  3. July 6 ~ Office closed in observance of 4th of July.
  4. Other Events ~ All other events in our parish have been suspended until further notice.

 

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Flyers

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