Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 3:8-15.

Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.

When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.

All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
The Reading is from Luke 8:5-15

The Lord said this parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold." And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience." As he said these things, he cried out "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Saints and Feasts

October 11

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council

On the Sunday that falls on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we chant the Service to the 350 holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which gathered in Nicaea in 787 under the holy Patriarch Tarasius and during the reign of the Empress Irene and her son, Constantine Porphyrogenitus, to refute the Iconoclast heresy, which had received imperial support beginning with the Edict issued in 726 by Emperor Leo the Isaurian. Many of the holy Fathers who condemned Iconoclasm at this holy Council later died as Confessors and Martyrs for the holy Icons during the second assult of Iconoclasm in the ninth century, especially during the reigns of Leo the Armenian and Theophilus.

October 11

Philip the Apostle of the 70, one of the 7 Deacons

Saint Philip, who had four daughters that prophesied, was from Caesarea of Palestine. He preached throughout Samaria; it was he also who met the eunuch of Candace, the Queen of the Ethiopians, as the eunuch was reading the Prophet Esaias, and he instructed and baptized him (Acts 8:26-39). He reposed in Tralles of Asia Minor while preaching the Gospel.

October 11

Theophanes the Confessor, Bishop of Nicaea

Saint Theophanes, the brother of Saint Theodore the Branded, was a Palestinian by race. Both were monks at the Monastery of Saint Sabbas. They were called "the Branded" because Theophilus, the last of the Iconoclast emperors, had twelve iambic verses branded by hot irons on their foreheads and then sent them into exile, where Theodore died in the year 838. After the death of Theophilus in 842, Theophanes was elected Bishop of Nicaea. Both brothers composed many canons and hymns, thereby adorning the services of the Church.

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 Sun. of the 7th Ecumenical Council in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Supremely blessed are You, O Christ our God. You established the holy Fathers upon the earth as beacons, and through them You have guided us all to the true Faith, O greatly merciful One, glory be to You.

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 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.

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 pleased to announce that we have been given permission by Metropolitan Savas to enter into the “GREEN Phase”. Please note, ALL services and Divine Liturgies will continue to take place as scheduled but with the following guidelines:

Those over 65 years of age CAN now attend church services. Everyone must still wear a mask. We must continue to practice social distancing.
The church cannot be filled to more than 50% capacity. The only entrance that will be open is the glass doors by the elevator ~ all other entrances will be locked. Following services, we kindly ask that you return to your vehicle and enjoy the rest of your day. Those with immunocompromised conditions, no matter their age, should not be in church but rather follow the service online at home
LIVE services can be viewed on our Parish YouTube Page ~ click here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKfvvY35FtK8GWWctrUqENg

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 ~ GOYA meeting immediately following Liturgy in the Hellenic Center.
Today ~ 11:30 a.m. Sunday School via ZOOM. Contact Toni Mannarino at SundaySchool@stpaulgoc.org for further instructions.
Today ~ 11:30 a.m. Adult Catechism via ZOOM with Elaine Poulos.
Today-Saturday ~ The 2020 Men Who Cook fundraiser is here in a new, virtual format! Buy virtual tickets to receive a cookbook with many delicious recipes by our chefs and other prices. You can purchase a ticket on our Philoptochos' section of the church webpage under “Upcoming Events:” https://www.stpaulgoc.org/.../adult-ministries/philoptochos/ Some of our chefs also made a video showing how they make their dish! You can find those videos and fill their tip jars in this event feed from the 11th-17th. The chef with the most tips will be our 2020 MWC winner! A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Providence House - helping Cleveland-area families in crisis situations.
Monday ~ 5:30 p.m. Greek School begins via ZOOM.
Tuesday ~ 10:00 a.m. Women’s Study Group with Elaine Poulos via ZOOM.
Tuesday ~ 6:30 p.m. Philoptochos meeting via ZOOM with speaker from Providence House.
Thursday ~ 7:00 p.m. Bible Study with Father Costas via ZOOM. Look for email with link that will be sent out on Thursday morning.
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 there is anything the committee can do for you, call the office, leave a message, and someone will get back to you! God bless you and be safe.
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. Visit https://www.stpaulgoc.org/about-us/candles. Questions? Call the church office.
New Digital Parish Directory. The NEW DIGITAL DIRECTORY has gone live. You can download the app on your mobile phone or on your laptop. An email has been sent out this past week to all stewards of our parish with directions. Again, only parishioners will have access to the information. Any questions, you can email to: directory@stpaulgoc.org, When you access your account, you will be able to edit your information, include as much or as less information as you wish and add a picture.
Upcoming Events in Our Parish – Respond Early

Next Sunday ~ Epistle Reading Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1, Gospel Luke 6:31-36.
Next Sunday ~ MNYMOSINO: 40 days for Kathy Trihas; TRISAGION: for Haralambos Trihas.
October 21 ~ 7:00 p.m. Parish Council monthly meeting via ZOOM.

Events in the Greater Cleveland Area and Beyond

Study needs volunteers ~ Are you an Orthodox woman age 18 to 55 years willing to share your opinions about women’s healthcare needs in America? This research is being completed by Kimberly Babich Speck, Doctor of Nursing Practice student at Otterbein University, with the support of ZOE Women’s Center®. Participants who interview will be paid $20. Call Kimberly at 440-708-8434 or email Kimberly.babichspeck@otterbein.edu for details.
EOWG Virtual Fundraiser ~ The Eastern Orthodox Women’s Guild of Greater Cleveland has enjoyed hosting the Annual Pasta Dinner and Social for many years to support its various commitments. This year due to Covid-19, they are doing a virtual event. Donations can be made in any amount. Checks are to be made to EOWG and mailed no later than October 30, 2020 to Helen Beverly, 10200 Ridgewood Dr., #408, Parma Hts., OH 44130.
November 14 ~ Orthodox Young Adult Fall Retreat via ZOOM “In your Presence, There is Fullness of Joy”. FREE. Sign up at tinyurl.com/2020yafallretreat.