Welcome

Coffee hour is being hosted today by Parish Council.

We welcome our visitors today. Our ushers are also here to welcome you. Please visit Fr. George with any questions you may have.

You are welcome to participate in today’s service, however, the reception of Holy Communion is only given to Orthodox Christians, who have prepared themselves by fasting, and have not separated themselves from the Church.

If you are a visiting Orthodox Christian from another parish, please be sure to identify yourself when approaching the chalice. Everyone should give their baptismal name to the priest, when approaching the chalice.

Saints and Feasts

March 01

Forgiveness Sunday

The Holy Fathers have appointed the commemoration of Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight here, on the eve of the holy Forty-day Fast, demonstrating to us not by simple words, but by actual deeds, how beneficial fasting is for man, and how harmful and destructive are insatiety and the transgressing of the divine commandments. For the first commandment that God gave to man was that of fasting, which the first-fashioned received but did not keep; and not only did they not become gods, as they had imagined, but they lost even that blessed life which they had, and they fell into corruption and death, and transmitted these and innumerable other evils to all of mankind. The God-bearing Fathers set these things before us today, that by bringing to mind what we have fallen from, and what we have suffered because of the insatiety and disobedience of the first-fashioned, we might be diligent to return again to that ancient bliss and glory by means of fasting and obedience to all the divine commands. Taking occasion from today's Gospel (Matt. 6:14-21) to begin the Fast unencumbered by enmity, we also ask forgiveness this day, first from God, then from one another and all creation.

March 01

The Holy Righteous Martyr Eudocia the Samaritan

This Saint, who was from Heliopolis of Phoenicia (Baalbek in present-day Lebanon), was an idolater and led a licentious life. Being beautiful beyond telling, she had many lovers, and had acquired great riches. Yet brought to repentance by a monk named Germanus, and baptized by Bishop Theodotus, she distributed to the poor all her ill-gotten gains, and entered a convent, giving herself up completely to the life of asceticism. Her former lovers, enraged at her conversion, her refusal to return to her old ways, and the withering away of her beauty through the severe mortifications she practiced, betrayed her as a Christian to Vincent the Governor, and she was beheaded, according to some, under Trajan, who reigned from 98 to 117, according to others, under Hadrian, who reigned from 117 to 138.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to the world.

Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον· Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for the Church in the First Mode

First in prominence among the Apostles, and teachers to the Universe, intercede to the Master of all for peace in the world and for our souls great mercy.

Οι τών Αποστόλων πρωτόθρονοι, καί τής Οικουμένης διδάσκαλοι, τώ Δεσπότη τών όλων πρεσβεύσατε, ειρήνην τή οικουμένη δωρήσασθαι, καί ταίς ψυχαίς ημών τό μέγα έλεος.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Second Mode

O Master, Prudence, Guide of Wisdom, Instruction to the foolish and Defender of the poor, strengthen my heart and grant it discernment. Give me words, Word of the Father, for behold, I shall not keep my lips from crying out to You, "O Merciful One, have mercy on me who has fallen."

Τῆς σοφίας ὁδηγέ, φρονήσεως χορηγέ, τῶν ἀφρόνων παιδευτά, καὶ πτωχῶν ὑπερασπιστά, στήριξον, συνέτισον τὴν καρδίαν μου Δέσποτα. Σὺ δίδου μοι λόγον, ὁ τοῦ Πατρός Λόγος· ἰδοὺ γὰρ τὰ χείλη μου, οὐ μὴ κωλύσω ἐν τῷ κράζειν σοι· Ἐλεῆμον, ἐλέησόν με τὸν παραπεσόντα.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Forgiveness Sunday
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4

Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.

Forgiveness Sunday
Πρὸς ῾Ρωμαίους 13:11-14, 14:1-4

Ἀδελφοί, νῦν ἐγγύτερον ἡμῶν ἡ σωτηρία ἢ ὅτε ἐπιστεύσαμεν. Ἡ νὺξ προέκοψεν, ἡ δὲ ἡμέρα ἤγγικεν· ἀποθώμεθα οὖν τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους, καί ἐνδυσώμεθα τὰ ὅπλα τοῦ φωτός. Ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ, εὐσχημόνως περιπατήσωμεν, μὴ κώμοις καὶ μέθαις, μὴ κοίταις καὶ ἀσελγείαις, μὴ ἔριδι καὶ ζήλῳ. Ἀλλʼ ἐνδύσασθε τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, καὶ τῆς σαρκὸς πρόνοιαν μὴ ποιεῖσθε, εἰς ἐπιθυμίας. Τὸν δὲ ἀσθενοῦντα τῇ πίστει προσλαμβάνεσθε, μὴ εἰς διακρίσεις διαλογισμῶν. Ὃς μὲν πιστεύει φαγεῖν πάντα, ὁ δὲ ἀσθενῶν λάχανα ἐσθίει. Ὁ ἐσθίων τὸν μὴ ἐσθίοντα μὴ ἐξουθενείτω, καὶ ὁ μὴ ἐσθίων τὸν ἐσθίοντα μὴ κρινέτω· ὁ θεὸς γὰρ αὐτὸν προσελάβετο. Σὺ τίς εἶ ὁ κρίνων ἀλλότριον οἰκέτην; Τῷ ἰδίῳ κυρίῳ στήκει ἢ πίπτει. Σταθήσεται δέ· δυνατὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς στῆσαι αὐτόν.

Gospel Reading

Forgiveness Sunday
The Reading is from Matthew 6:14-21

The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Forgiveness Sunday
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 6:14-21

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· ᾿Εὰν γὰρ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, ἀφήσει καὶ ὑμῖν ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, οὐδὲ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ἀφήσει τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν. ῞Οταν δὲ νηστεύητε, μὴ γίνεσθε ὥσπερ οἱ ὑποκριταὶ σκυθρωποί· ἀφανίζουσι γὰρ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ὅπως φανῶσι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύοντες· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἀπέχουσι τὸν μισθὸν αὐτῶν. σὺ δὲ νηστεύων ἄλειψαί σου τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν σου νίψαι,ὅπως μὴ φανῇς τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύων, ἀλλὰ τῷ πατρί σου τῷ ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ, καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ ἀποδώσει σοι ἐν τῷ φανερῷ. Μὴ θησαυρίζετε ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅπου σὴς καὶ βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται διορύσσουσι καὶ κλέπτουσι· θησαυρίζετε δὲ ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐν οὐρανῷ, ὅπου οὔτε σὴς οὔτε βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται οὐ διορύσσουσιν οὐδὲ κλέπτουσιν· ὅπου γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θησαυρὸς ὑμῶν, ἐκεῖ ἔσται καὶ ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν.

Parish Calendar

Parish Liturgical Services & Activities

March 1 to March 15, 2020

Sunday, March 1

Cheesefare Sunday

Godparent/Godchild Sunday

8:30AM Orthros/Divine Liturgy

12:30PM Forgiveness Vespers

Monday, March 2

Lent Begins

6:00PM Great Compline with the Canon of St. Andrew

Tuesday, March 3

6:00PM Great Compline with the Canon of St. Andrew

Wednesday, March 4

9:00AM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

6:00PM Great Compline with the Canon of St. Andrew

Thursday, March 5

6:00PM Great Compline with the Canon of St. Andrew

7:00PM PC Meeting

Friday, March 6

9:00AM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

7:00PM Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos

Saturday, March 7

9:00AM Orthros/ Divine Liturgy 3rd Saturday of Souls

3:30PM Catechism Class

5:00PM Great Vespers

6:00PM Three Hierarchs Bookclub Gathering

Sunday, March 8

8:30AM Orthros/Divine Liturgy

10:00AM Sunday of Orthodoxy - Procession of Icons

11:00AM Philoptochos Special Tray for Tray for Metropolis Emergency Social Services

5:00PM Sunday of Orthodoxy @ Annunciation Cathedral

Monday, March 9

6:00PM Great Compline

Wednesday, March 11

6:00PM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

7:00PM Lenten Talk (Lecture/Discussion Series on the Canon of St. Andrew)

7:15PM Philoptochos General meeting

Friday, March 13

9:00AM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

7:00PM Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos

Saturday, March 14

3:30PM Catechism Class

4:00PM GOYA Gathering

4:00PM HOPE/JOY Gathering

5:00PM Great Vespers

Sunday, March 15

8:30AM Orthros/Divine Liturgy

Parish Ministries

Greek School: Dr. George Lountos (Principal). Email: gtlountos@gmail.com or cell: 404-375-3180.

HOPE & JOY Ministry: Mrs. Christina Summers (Coordinator). Email: Mrs.Summers@aol.com

GOYA: Mrs. Jenifer Zeglin (Coordinator) Email: jzeglin4@gmail.com

Religious Education: Mrs. Despina Horst (Interim Principal). Email: horst7213@aol.com. Lessons begin after Holy Communion. We encourage our youth to participate in Sunday School, to learn and live the life of our Holy Orthodox Faith.

Kali Parea: This ministry is for adults 50 years and older. Come and join us! Contact Mrs. Bess Koutras, email: kikikoutras@yahoo.com or cell: 240-409-1431.

St. Eugenia Ladies Philoptochos: – Mrs. Maria Moungelis Bedard, President. All in the Parish are encouraged to be members of the Philoptochos Society. Contact Maria if interested in joining. Email ladies@sainteugeniaphiloptochos.net

Fellowship Ministry: Ms. Sue Manos coordinates Sunday Coffee Hour hosts. Please contact the Church Office if you're interested in hosting a Coffee Hour.

The Three Hierarchs Book Club: The book club meets monthly to discuss the book of the month. Please contact Fr. George if you're interested in joining. frgeorgemastakas@gmail.com

Hospital Ministry: Should you or a loved one need hospital or long term care, Fr. George would like to visit. Please be advised that Frederick Memorial Hospital (and most facilities) will not automatically notify Fr. George upon admission, but only when requested by the patient or caregiver.

Three Hierarchs Bookstore: Eleni Trivizas, Manager. The bookstore is located in the Social Hall and offers books, icons, censers, votives, and other spiritually edifying material. Anyone interested in volunteering to staff the bookstore on Sundays should reach out to Eleni or the Church office.

Announcements

Today we offer prayers for Godchildren and their Godparents an Artoklasia service will be held for their health and spiritual well-being.

A Special Tray will be passed today to benefit the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry. Let us reach out to Him who saves all people, and let us reach out in some way to those who are in prison and minister to them.

Please contact April if you would like to decorate the icon for the upcoming service of the Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos, this Friday, March 3rd at 7pm. The flowers for this icon will be delivered on Friday morning for decorating. We kindly ask that you offer a donation to the Church for the cost of the flowers ($45). March 27th and April 3rd, April 10th and April 15th are also in need of those who wish to decorate - this can also be shared between two people.

The St. Eugenia Philoptochos will hold a general meeting on Wednesday, March 11th at 7:15 pm. All members are encouraged to attend.

The 3rd Saturday of Souls will be on Saturday, March 7th. Orthros begins at 9AM with the Divine Liturgy following. If you would like the Church to prepare koliva for you, please call the Church office to make arrangements. If you intend to make koliva, please forward a list of your loved ones who have fallen asleep in the Lord to Fr. George so that they can be commemorated.

Sunday of Orthodoxy, Sunday March 8th We encourage everyone to bring their icons to Church on that Sunday for the sacred procession in commemoration of the "Restoration of the Icons" in the Orthodox Church. The children will gather after communion as they always do to prepare for the procession. All children and adults are encouraged to join us during the procession.

Great Compline beginning Monday, March 3rd at 6:00 pm and each Monday through April 6th. This is a prayer service in which many psalms are chanted together with evening prayers. It includes the well-known hymns “God is with Us” and “O Lord of Hosts”. During Clean Week (First week of Lent) we will have Great Compline Monday-Thursday along with the Canon of St. Andrew. This wonderfully articulated and penitential hymns of this canon are a perfect compliment to the beginning of our spiritual journey in Great Lent.

Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts beginning Wednesday, March 4th at 6:00 pm and every Friday at 9:00am:
This special liturgy is allowed only during the Great Fast. The Divine Liturgy may not be celebrated on weekdays during Great Lent. However, the need still exists, especially during this time of year when we are struggling with our spiritual lives against evil and our own weaknesses, to receive the Body and Blood of Christ more often. Therefore, the priest consecrates an extra host on the previous Sunday which is then used during this liturgy, thus the name Pre-Sanctified Liturgy. This is one of the most beautiful services of the Church. Fasting is required from at least the noon meal in order to receive Holy Communion.

The Akathist Service to the Theotokos every Friday, beginning Friday, March 6th at 7:00 pm: This service is a combination of Small Compline (prayers prior to sleeping) and the Canon and salutations to the Theotokos. It is celebrated on the first five Fridays of the Great Fast.

St. Eugenia Ladies Philoptochos has begun their 2020 Membership drive. Please consider becoming a member or associate member of this wonderful ministry. Please see the attached letter from the President and the membership form or go directly to https://www.sainteugeniaphiloptochos.net/join-us

GOYA and HOPE/JOY gatherings will be held on Saturday, March 14th at 4pm.

Greek Independence Day Program: Sts. Peter and Paul Greek School students will be presenting their annual Greek Independence Day program on Sunday, March 22nd immediately following Divine Liturgy, in the Dr. Peter Tsaknis Social Hall. Coffee Hour will be hosted by the families of the Greek School, after the presentation.

2020 St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival: The Oratorical Festival will be held at the Church on Saturday, March 28th beginning at 2:30 pm.. If your child would like to participate in the oratorical festival this coming March, please contact Sophia Glezos Voit: sgvoit@comcast.net

Save the date: Greek Independence Day Parade will be held in Baltimore, MD, Sunday, March 29th . Please come and join the Greek School students, who will be marching in this parade.

The Very Rev. Fr. Constantine Moralis with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey wish to invite the Parish of Sts. Peter & Paul for Sunday of Orthodoxy services to be held at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation in Baltimore, MD beginning at 5:00pm, on March 8th. Fr. Duane M. Johnson will be the homilist and a reception to will follow in the Father Constantine Monios Hall.

The Annual Nicholas Tsakalos "Growing in Faith" Lenten Retreat. Father Andrew Damick and Mr. Stephen Christoforou will be the retreat speakers. Our young people are invited to a special discussion on Friday, March 20, following the Salutations to the Virgin Mary at 6:30 PM. Stephen Christoforou, who is the National Director for Youth Ministries for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, who is the director of the Be the Bee episodes, will be the leader. A meal will be served. If you and your young people are able to join us, kindly email Trevor Bullock, tbullock@goannun.org. If you are planning on attending the retreat, March 21, contact Jeanne Tsakalos, jeannetsakalos@hotmail.com.

Having worshiped and prayed together, our Sunday Coffee Hour is a wonderful time for fellowship. We are asking all parishioners to sign up and host a coffee hour. Just one Sunday per family will fill all available slots for the year. As a blessing for you and your family, consider sponsoring a Coffee Hour to coincide with your patron Saint's Feast day or any other momentous occasion you happen to be celebrating. Call the church office for assistance.