Welcome

Coffee hour is being hosted today by the 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 08

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.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal First Mode

Let us worship the Word, O ye faithful, praising Him that with the Father and the Spirit is co-beginningless God, Who was born of a pure Virgin that we all be saved; for He was pleased to mount the Cross in the flesh that He assumed, accepting thus to endure death. And by His glorious rising, He also willed to resurrect the dead.

Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύματι, τὸν ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθέντα εἰς σωτηρίαν ἡμῶν, ἀνυμνήσωμεν πιστοὶ καὶ προσκυνήσωμεν, ὅτι ηὐδόκησε σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ, καὶ θάνατον ὑπομεῖναι, καὶ ἐγεῖραι τοὺς τεθνεῶτας, ἐν τῇ ἐνδόξῳ Ἀναστάσει αὐτοῦ.

Apolytikion for Sun. of Orthodoxy in the Second Mode

We worship Thine immaculate icon, O Good One, asking the forgiveness of our failings, O Christ our God; for of Thine own will Thou wast well-pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, that Thou mightest deliver from slavery to the enemy those whom Thou hadst fashioned. Wherefore, we cry to Thee thankfully: Thou didst fill all things with joy, O our Saviour, when Thou camest to save the world.

Τὴν ἄχραντον Εἰκόνα σου προσκυνοῦμεν Ἀγαθέ, αἰτούμενοι συγχώρησιν τῶν πταισμάτων ἡμῶν, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός· βουλήσει γὰρ ηὐδόκησας σαρκὶ ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ, ἵνα ῥύσῃ οὓς ἔπλασας ἐκ τῆς δουλείας τοῦ ἐχθροῦ· ὅθεν εὐχαρίστως βοῶμέν σοι· Χαρᾶς ἐπλήρωσας τὰ πάντα, ὁ Σωτὴρ ἡμῶν, παραγενόμενος εἰς τὸ σῶσαι τὸν Κόσμον.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"

Τὴ ὑπερμάχω στρατηγῶ τὰ νικητήρια, ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν εὐχαριστήρια, ἀναγράφω σοὶ ἡ Πόλις σου Θεοτόκε, Ἀλλ' ὡς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον, ἐκ παντοίων μὲ κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον, ἵνα κράζω σοί, Χαῖρε νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Sunday of Orthodoxy
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.

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.

Sunday of Orthodoxy
Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 11:24-26, 32-40

Ἀδελφοί, πίστει Μωϋσῆς μέγας γενόμενος ἠρνήσατο λέγεσθαι υἱὸς θυγατρὸς Φαραώ, μᾶλλον ἑλόμενος συγκακουχεῖσθαι τῷ λαῷ τοῦ θεοῦ ἢ πρόσκαιρον ἔχειν ἁμαρτίας ἀπόλαυσιν· μείζονα πλοῦτον ἡγησάμενος τῶν Αἰγύπτου θησαυρῶν τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ· ἀπέβλεπεν γὰρ εἰς τὴν μισθαποδοσίαν. Καὶ τί ἔτι λέγω; Ἐπιλείψει γὰρ με διηγούμενον ὁ χρόνος περὶ Γεδεών, Βαράκ τε καὶ Σαμψών καὶ Ἰεφθάε, Δαυίδ τε καὶ Σαμουὴλ καὶ τῶν προφητῶν· οἳ διὰ πίστεως κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας, εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην, ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν, ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων, ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρός, ἔφυγον στόματα μαχαίρας, ἐνεδυναμώθησαν ἀπὸ ἀσθενείας, ἐγενήθησαν ἰσχυροὶ ἐν πολέμῳ, παρεμβολὰς ἔκλιναν ἀλλοτρίων. Ἔλαβον γυναῖκες ἐξ ἀναστάσεως τοὺς νεκροὺς αὐτῶν· ἄλλοι δὲ ἐτυμπανίσθησαν, οὐ προσδεξάμενοι τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν, ἵνα κρείττονος ἀναστάσεως τύχωσιν· ἕτεροι δὲ ἐμπαιγμῶν καὶ μαστίγων πεῖραν ἔλαβον, ἔτι δὲ δεσμῶν καὶ φυλακῆς· ἐλιθάσθησαν, ἐπρίσθησαν, ἐπειράσθησαν, ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρας ἀπέθανον· περιῆλθον ἐν μηλωταῖς, ἐν αἰγείοις δέρμασιν, ὑστερούμενοι, θλιβόμενοι, κακουχούμενοι - ὧν οὐκ ἦν ἄξιος ὁ κόσμος - ἐν ἐρημίαις πλανώμενοι καὶ ὄρεσιν καὶ σπηλαίοις καὶ ταῖς ὀπαῖς τῆς γῆς. Καὶ οὗτοι πάντες, μαρτυρηθέντες διὰ τῆς πίστεως, οὐκ ἐκομίσαντο τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν, τοῦ θεοῦ περὶ ἡμῶν κρεῖττόν τι προβλεψαμένου, ἵνα μὴ χωρὶς ἡμῶν τελειωθῶσιν.

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."

Sunday of Orthodoxy
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 1:44-52

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἠθέλησεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐξελθεῖν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν· καὶ εὑρίσκει Φίλιππον καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ἀκολούθει μοι. ἦν δὲ ὁ Φίλιππος ἀπὸ Βηθσαϊδά, ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ᾿Ανδρέου καὶ Πέτρου. εὑρίσκει Φίλιππος τὸν Ναθαναὴλ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ὃν ἔγραψε Μωϋσῆς ἐν τῷ νόμῳ καὶ οἱ προφῆται, εὑρήκαμεν, ᾿Ιησοῦν τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ᾿Ιωσὴφ τὸν ἀπὸ Ναζαρέτ. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ· ἐκ Ναζαρὲτ δύναταί τι ἀγαθὸν εἶναι; λέγει αὐτῷ Φίλιππος· ἔρχου καὶ ἴδε. εἶδεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τὸν Ναθαναὴλ ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει περὶ αὐτοῦ· ἴδε ἀληθῶς ᾿Ισραηλίτης, ἐν ᾧ δόλος οὐκ ἔστι. λέγει αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ· πόθεν με γινώσκεις; ἀπεκρίθη ᾿Ιησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· πρὸ τοῦ σε Φίλιππον φωνῆσαι, ὄντα ὑπὸ τὴν συκῆν εἶδόν σε. ἀπεκρίθη Ναθαναὴλ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ῥαββί, σὺ εἶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, σὺ εἶ ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ. ἀπεκρίθη ᾿Ιησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ὅτι εἶπόν σοι, εἶδόν σε ὑποκάτω τῆς συκῆς, πιστεύεις; μείζω τούτων ὄψει. καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀπ᾽ ἄρτι ὄψεσθε τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνεῳγότα, καὶ τοὺς ἀγγέλους τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀναβαίνοντας καὶ καταβαίνοντας ἐπὶ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.

Parish Calendar

Parish Liturgical Services & Activities

March 8 to March 22, 2020

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 (cancelled) Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

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

7:15PM Philoptochos General meeting

Friday, March 13

9:00AM (Cancelled) Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

7:00PM Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos

Saturday, March 14

3:30PM Catechism Class (Canceled)

4:00PM GOYA Gathering (Canceled)

4:00PM (Cancelled) HOPE/JOY Gathering

5:00PM Great Vespers

Sunday, March 15

8:30AM Orthros/Divine Liturgy

12:00PM Choir Practice (Canceled)

Monday, March 16

6:00PM Great Compline

Tuesday, March 17

6:00PM Service of the Holy Oil (Unction Service)

Wednesday, March 18

6:00PM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

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

Thursday, March 19

6:00PM Festival Committee Meeting

Friday, March 20

(canceled)Annual Lenten Retreat @ Annunciation Cathedral, Baltimore

9:00AM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

7:00PM Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos

Saturday, March 21

3:30PM Catechism Class (canceled)

5:00PM Great Vespers

Sunday, March 22

Sunday of the Holy Cross

(Cancelled) Greek Independence Presentation

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

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and the Holy Eparchial Synod have issued guidelines on Covid-19 (Coronavirus). Please refer to the attached encyclical with directives on how our parishes are responding.

Today we celebrate Sunday of Orthodoxy, those who have brought their icons to Church please join us 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.

St. Eugenia Philoptochos is passing a special tray today to benefit the philanthropic ministry of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey Philoptochos emergency social services programs.

Join every Wednesday after the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts for Lenten Talk. This is a brief lecture/discussion series on the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, along with a potluck meal.

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

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

The Byzantine Choir will be gathering to practicie on March 15th after the Divine Liturgy. Anyone interested in participating in the choir is encouraged to attend.

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.

Great Compline begun on 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 begun on 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 Small Compline service 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

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.