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 the Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40.

Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered abuse suffered for the Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked to the reward.

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets -- who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated -- of whom the world was not worthy -- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of Orthodoxy
The Reading is from John 1:43-51

At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

Saints and Feasts

March 05

Sunday of Orthodoxy

For more than one hundred years the Church of Christ was troubled by the persecution of the Iconoclasts of evil belief, beginning in the reign of Leo the Isaurian (717-741) and ending in the reign of Theophilus (829-842). After Theophilus's death, his widow the Empress Theodora (celebrated Feb. 11), together with the Patriarch Methodius (June 14), established Orthodoxy anew. This ever-memorable Queen venerated the icon of the Mother of God in the presence of the Patriarch Methodius and the other confessors and righteous men, and openly cried out these holy words: "If anyone does not offer relative worship to the holy icons, not adoring them as though they were gods, but venerating them out of love as images of the archetype, let him be anathema." Then with common prayer and fasting during the whole first week of the Forty-day Fast, she asked God's forgiveness for her husband. After this, on the first Sunday of the Fast, she and her son, Michael the Emperor, made a procession with all the clergy and people and restored the holy icons, and again adorned the Church of Christ with them. This is the holy deed that all we the Orthodox commemorate today, and we call this radiant and venerable day the Sunday of Orthodoxy, that is, the triumph of true doctrine over heresy.

March 05

Conon the Gardener

This saint lived during the reign of emperor Decius in 251. He came from the town of Nazareth. He left his hometown and went to the city of Mandron, in the province of Pamphylia. There he stayed at a place called Karmela or Karmena cultivating a garden which he used to water and plant with various vegetables. From this garden he obtained what is necessary for life. He had such an upright and simple mind that, when he met those who wished to arrest him and saw that they greeted him, he also greeted in return from the bottom of his soul and heart. When they told him that governor Publius called the saint to go to him, the saint answered with simplicity: "What does the governor need me, since I am a Christian? Let him call those who think the way he does and have the same religion with him." So, the blessed man was tied and brought to the governor, who tried to move him to sacrifice to the idols. But the saint sighed from the bottom of his heart, cursed the tyrant and confirmed his faith in Christ with his confession, saying that it is not possible to be moved from it even though he might be tortured cruelly. So, for this reason they nailed his feet and made the saint run in front of the governor's coach. But the saint fainted in the street. Having fallen on his knees, he prayed and, thus, he commended his holy soul to the hands of God.

March 05

Mark the Ascetic

Saint Mark the Ascetic lived in the fifth century and according to Nicephorus Callistus was a disciple of Saint John Chrysostom's. Besides his blameless life of asceticism, Saint Mark was distinguished for his writings, some of which are preserved in Volume One of the Philokalia. His writings were held in such great esteem that in old times there was a saying, "Sell all that thou hast, and buy Mark."

March 05

Righteous Father Mark of Athens

Of our righteous Fathers commemorated today, Saint Mark of Athens lived in the fourth century. Born in Athens of pagan parents, he believed in Christ, was baptized, and forsook the world, living the eremitical life in extreme privation in the deep wilderness beyond Egypt. His life is recounted by the monk Serapion, who found Mark in deep old age and about to depart this lfe, not having seen a man for ninety-five years. Serapion gave him burial after his blessed repose, even as Paphnutius had done for Saint Onuphrius (see June 12).

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal First Mode

Tόν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρί καί Πνεύματι, τόν εκ Παρθένου τεχθέντα εις σωτηρίαν ημών, ανημνήσωμεν πιστοί καί προσκυνήσωμεν· ότι ηυδόκησε σαρκί, ανελθείν εν τώ Σταυρώ καί θάνατον υπομείναι, καί εγείραι τούς τεθνεώτας, εν τή ενδόξω Αναστάσει αυτού.

Ton sinanarhon logon Patri ke Pnevmati, ton ek Parthenou tehthenta is sotiria imon, animnisomen pisti ke proskinisomen. Oti ivdokise sarki, anelthin en to Stavro ke thanaton ipomine, ke egire tous tethneotas, en ti endoxo Anastasi aftou.

Let us the faithful give praise and worship to the Logos, coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation; for of His own goodwill He consented to ascend the cross in the flesh and endured death and raised the dead by His glorious resurrection.

Apolytikion for Sun. of Orthodoxy in the Second Mode

We venerate Your immaculate icon, O good Lord, and entreat You to forgive our offences, O Christ our God. By Your own choice you were pleased to ascent the Cross in the flesh, to deliver us, whom You created, from our slavery to the foe. Therefore we cry to You with gratitude: You have filled all things with joy, O our Savior, by coming to save the world.

Hymn of Church in the First Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Welcome

This Weeks Announcements

Welcome to all our guests! We are glad you are here worshiping with us today!
We offer Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church only to Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves through the disciplines of our faith. Speak to Fr. Costas for further details.
1. Today ~ MNYMOSINA: 1 year for Kathy L Trakas [for Peter W Trakas | for Demetrios and Ourania Kacludis | for Vasilios and Eleni Trakas | deceased members of the Kacludis & Trakas family] | 3 years for Penelope Demopoulos [for James Demopoulos | for John Demopoulos | for Helen Nipros | for Dorothy and Leroy Young].
2. Today ~ Adult Catechism with Elaine Poulos will resume March 19.
3. Today ~ Dance Practice following Sunday School.
4. Today ~ 12:00 PM Greek Corner meets in the Narthex of the church.
5. Today ~ 5:00 PM Sunday of Orthodoxy Great Vespers at Holy Trinity on Broadview Rd in Parma.
6. Monday ~ 4:00 PM Adult Greek School.
7. Monday ~ 5:30 PM Greek School.
8. Monday ~ 7:00 PM Great Compline Service.
9. Monday ~ 8:00 PM GOYA Lenten Study, Orthodoxy 101, with Soci following Compline service.
10. Tuesday ~ 10:00 AM Women’s Study Group via TEAMS https://tinyurl.com/STPWomenStudy,
11. Tuesday – Thursday ~ Father attends Clergy Lenten Retreat. Contact the office for any immediate pastoral needs.
12. Wednesday ~ 5:30 PM Greek School for beginners.
13. Thursday ~ 12:00 PM Philoptochos Agape Oven meal pick up for those with special circumstances that have reserved a meal. Contact Mary Bozikis Olenik or Tessie Lekas for more details.
14. Thursday ~ 7:00 PM Choir rehearsal.
15. Thursday ~ Bible Study with Father Costas will not take place this week. Fr. will be on retreat.
16. Friday ~ 7:00 PM 2^nd Salutations to the Theotokos Service.
17. Saturday ~ 1:00 PM Lenten Retreat “Being Orthodox in a Time of Doubt” with Fr Thomas Soroka at Archangel Michael on Mill Road in Broadview Hts. RSVP to 440.526.5192 or info@stmichaelscleveland.org | $15 donation.
18. Luminaria ~ purchase a luminary bag in memory of our loved ones name to light our way on Holy Friday from our GOYAns during coffee social or online: https://tinyurl.com/STP-Lent.
19. Bookstore ~ be sure visit our bookstore, which offers great resources during this time of Lent.
20. Food Pantry items ~ Please make sure any items that you bring for the North Royalton Hunger Center DO NOT HAVE expired dates on them. Buy fresh non-perishable food items to donate.
21. St Paul Prayer Chain ~ If you have a prayer request, email it to: prayerchain@stpaulgoc.org.
22. 2023 Stewardship Card ~ parishioners who have made a 2023 Stewardship pledge will be listed in the March issue of The Messenger. Please complete stewardship card located at the candle stands or form online at https://tinyurl.com/STPStewardship
Upcoming Events in Our Parish and Beyond
1. Next Sunday ~ Orthros Luke 24:36-53 | Epistle Reading Hebrews 1:10-14, 2:1-12 | Gospel Mark 2:1-12
2. Next Sunday ~ MNYMOSINO: 23 years for Spiros Mouzakitis.
3. Next Sunday ~ GOYA meeting following Sunday School.
4. Next Sunday ~ Philoptochos and GOYA will be conducting a book drive to collect new and gently used children’s book to benefit the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank as part of the Metropolis Weekend of Service. Please no textbooks, reference books, books in poor condition, or books older than 20 years.
5. March 14 ~ 6:30 PM Philoptochos General meeting.
6. March 18 ~ 10:00 AM Orthodox Christian Women Annual Lenten Retreat at St Nicholas Orthodox Church in Mogadore with Fr. Nicholas Halkias presenting “The Prayer of St Ephraim.” RSVP by March 10 to 330.354.7792 or 330.655.9638. $20 tickets.
7. March 24 ~ 7:00 PM Great Vespers for Annunciation and 4^th Salutations to the Theotokos at Annunciation Cleveland with Metropolitan SAVAS.
8. March 25 ~ Feast of Annunciation | 8:15 AM Orthros; 9:30 AM Hierarchical Liturgy at Annunciation Cleveland with Metropolitan SAVAS.
9. March 25 ~ 11:30 AM Doxology; 1:00 PM Greek Independence Day Parade followed by festivities in the Banquet Hall at Annunciation Cleveland. St Paul Hellenic Dancers will perform.
10. Scholarship Opportunities are posted on our website. Please be sure to read all the requirements and deadline dates. Visit https://www.stpaulgoc.org/ministries/youth-ministries/goya/scholarship.