Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2023-03-19
Bulletin Contents
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Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (301) 663-0663
  • Fax:
  • (301) 663-6855
  • Street Address:

  • 920 West 7th Street

  • Frederick, MD 21701


Contact Information






Past Bulletins


Welcome

We welcome you to Sts. Peter & Paul! It's truly a blessing to have you join us in prayer. If you care to prayerfully follow along with today's services please scan the QR code then select today's date and the service in progress.

We look forward to gathering in fellowship after the Divine Liturgy during Coffee Hour! Please visit us at the social hall in the lower level following the Divine Liturgy.

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Saints and Feasts

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March 19

Sunday of the Holy Cross

With the help of God, we have almost reached the middle of the course of the Fast, where our strength has been worn down through abstinence, and the full difficulty of the labour set before us becomes apparent. Therefore our holy Mother, the Church of Christ, now brings to our help the all-holy Cross, the joy of the world, the strength of the faithful, the staff of the just, and the hope of sinners, so that by venerating it reverently, we might receive strength and grace to complete the divine struggle of the Fast.


Chrysanthos
March 19

The Holy Martyrs Chrysanthus and Daria

Saint Chrysanthus, who was from Alexandria, had been instructed in the Faith of Christ by a certain bishop. His father, who was a senator by rank and a pagan, had him shut up in prison for many days; then, seeing the unchanging disposition of his mind, he commanded that a certain young woman named Daria be brought from Athens. She was a very beautiful and learned maiden, and also an idolater, and Chrysanthus' father wedded him to her so that he might be drawn away from the Faith of Christ because of his love for her. Instead of this however, Chrysanthus drew Daria unto piety, and both of them boldly proclaimed Christ and received the crown of martyrdom in 283, during the reign of Numerian, when they were buried alive in a pit of mire.


Allsaint
March 20

Photini the Samaritan Woman

Saint Photini lived in 1st century Palestine and was the woman that Christ met at Jacob's Well in Samaria as recorded in the Gospel according to John (4:4-26). After her encounter with Christ, she and her whole family were baptized by the Apostles and became evangelists of the early Church. Photini and her children eventually were summoned before the emperor Nero and instructed to renounce their faith in Christ. They refused to do so, accepting rather to suffer various tortures. After many efforts to force her to surrender to idolatry, the emperor ordered that she be thrown down a well. Photini gave up her life in the year 66.

St. Photini is commemorated on three occasions during the year: February 26 (Greek tradition), March 20 (Slavic tradition), and the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman on the 5th Sunday of Pascha.


Allsaint
March 20

Cuthbert the Wonderworker, Bishop of Lindisfarne

Saint Cuthbert was born in Britain about the year 635, and became a monk in his youth at the monastery of Melrose by the River Tweed. After many years of struggle as a true priest of Christ, in the service both of his own brethren and of the neglected Christians of isolated country villages, he became a solitary on Farne Island in 676. After eight years as a hermit, he was constrained to leave his quiet to become Bishop of Lindisfarne, in which office he served for almost two years. He returned to his hermitage two months before he reposed in peace in 687. Because of the miracles he wrought both during his life and at his tomb after his death, he is called the "Wonderworker of Britain." The whole English people honoured him, and kings were both benefactors to his shrine and suppliants of his prayers. Eleven years after his death, his holy relics were revealed to be incorrupt; when his body was translated from Lindisfarne to Durham Cathedral in August of 1104, his body was still found to be untouched by decay, giving off "an odour of sweetest fragrancy," and "from the flexibility of its joints representing a person asleep rather than dead." Finally, when the most impious Henry VIII desecrated his shrine, opening it to despoil it of its valuables, his body was again found incorrupt, and was buried in 1542. It is believed that after this the holy relics of Saint Cuthbert were hidden to preserve them from further desecration.


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

Thou didst abolish death by Thy Cross; Thou didst open Paradise to the thief; Thou didst transform the myrrh-bearers' lamentation, and didst bid Thine Apostles to preach that Thou art risen, O Christ God, granting great mercy to the world.
Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέῳξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυροφόρων τὸν θρῆνον μετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας, ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for Sun. of the Holy Cross in the First Mode

Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; grant Thou unto the faithful victory over adversaries. And by the power of Thy Cross do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.
Σώσον Κύριε τόν λαόν σου καί ευλόγησον τήν κληρονομίαν σου, νίκας τοίς Βασιλεύσι κατά βαρβάρων δωρούμενος καί τό σόν φυλάττων διά τού Σταυρού σου πολίτευμα.

Apolytikion for the Church in the Fourth Mode

As the first in rank of the Apostles and teachers of the world, intercede with the Master of all that He grant peace unto all the world and great mercy unto our souls.

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 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.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Sunday of the Holy Cross
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6

BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."

Sunday of the Holy Cross
Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 4:14-16, 5:1-6

Ἀδελφοί, ἔχοντες οὖν ἀρχιερέα μέγαν, διεληλυθότα τοὺς οὐρανούς, Ἰησοῦν τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ θεοῦ, κρατῶμεν τῆς ὁμολογίας. Οὐ γὰρ ἔχομεν ἀρχιερέα μὴ δυνάμενον συμπαθῆσαι ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ἡμῶν, πεπειραμένον δὲ κατὰ πάντα καθʼ ὁμοιότητα, χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας. Προσερχώμεθα οὖν μετὰ παρρησίας τῷ θρόνῳ τῆς χάριτος, ἵνα λάβωμεν ἔλεον, καὶ χάριν εὕρωμεν εἰς εὔκαιρον βοήθειαν. Πᾶς γὰρ ἀρχιερεύς, ἐξ ἀνθρώπων λαμβανόμενος, ὑπὲρ ἀνθρώπων καθίσταται τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν, ἵνα προσφέρῃ δῶρά τε καὶ θυσίας ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν· μετριοπαθεῖν δυνάμενος τοῖς ἀγνοοῦσιν καὶ πλανωμένοις, ἐπεὶ καὶ αὐτὸς περίκειται ἀσθένειαν· καὶ διὰ ταύτην ὀφείλει, καθὼς περὶ τοῦ λαοῦ, οὕτως καὶ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ, προσφέρειν ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν. Καὶ οὐχ ἑαυτῷ τις λαμβάνει τὴν τιμήν, ἀλλὰ καλούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ, καθάπερ καὶ Ἀαρών. Οὕτως καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἑαυτὸν ἐδόξασεν γενηθῆναι ἀρχιερέα, ἀλλʼ ὁ λαλήσας πρὸς αὐτόν, Υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε. Καθὼς καὶ ἐν ἑτέρῳ λέγει, Σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδέκ.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

Sunday of the Holy Cross
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 8:34-38, 9:1

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι. ὃς γὰρ ἂν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν· ὃς δ᾿ ἂν ἀπολέσῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, οὗτος σώσει αὐτήν. τί γὰρ ὠφελήσει ἄνθρωπον ἐὰν κερδήσῃ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον, καὶ ζημιωθῇ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ; ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ; ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν ἐπαισχυνθῇ με καὶ τοὺς ἐμοὺς λόγους ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ τῇ μοιχαλίδι καὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ, καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπαισχυνθήσεται αὐτὸν ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων τῶν ἁγίων. Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι εἰσί τινες τῶν ὧδε ἑστηκότων, οἵτινες οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου ἕως ἂν ἴδωσι τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐληλυθυῖαν ἐν δυνάμει.


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Parish Calendar

  • Parish Calendar

    March 19 to March 26, 2023

    Sunday, March 19

    8:30AM Orthros/Divine Liturgy Sunday of the Holy Cross

    11:00AM Church School - no class today

    11:30AM Greek Independence Day Program

    12:00PM Solemn Vespers

    1:00PM Byzantine Choir Practice (Canceled)

    Monday, March 20

    6:00PM Great Compline

    Wednesday, March 22

    6:00PM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

    7:00PM Lenten Talk Series

    Thursday, March 23

    5:00PM Catechism Class

    Friday, March 24

    6:00PM Greek School

    7:00PM Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos

    Saturday, March 25

    9:00AM Orthros/Divine Liturgy Annunciation of the Theotokos

    2:00PM St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival

    5:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, March 26

    8:00AM **Orthros/Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM Church School - no class today

    2:00PM Greek Independence Day Parade

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Parish Ministries

Parish Council: George Lountos (President), Elizabeth A. Kostas-Polston (Vice President), Bruce Flanders (Treasurer), Christo Cambetes (Secretary), Georgette Calomeris, Dimitri Rotov, Gregory Nerantzis.

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

HOPE & JOY Ministry: Open

GOYA: Mrs. Christina Summers. Email: mrs.summers@aol.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 Aliki McDonald alikimcdonold@gmail.com

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

Hospitality Ministry: Tyler Shuck (coordinator) This ministry welcomes visitors and also coordinates fellowship activities after Sunday Liturgy in order to provide a warm and welcoming environment for both parishioners and visitors alike. Please contact the Church Office if you're interested in hosting Coffee Hour.

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

Visitation 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.

Greek Folk Dance Ministry: Open to all ages and levels of experience. Contact Georgette Calomeris if interested in participating. email: georgette@calomeris.com 

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Announcements

Coffee Hour today is hosted by the Greek School.

A Special Collection Basket will be offered on Sunday by the Ladies Philoptochos to benefit the Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology Operational Expenses fund.  

Please consider hosting coffee hour in memory of a loved one or when celebrating an occasion. Click here to sign up.

Upcoming Hosts:

March 26th Greek Independence Day Parade
April 2nd Host needed
April 9th Palm Sunday Fish Luncheon hosted by the St. Eugenia Philoptochos

Greek Independence Day Program: Greek School students will present the Greek Independence Day program today following the Divine Liturgy in the Church Social Hall. 

Join us for Solemn Vespers after coffee hour.

Lenten Talk: Join us on Wednesdays after the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts beginning March 8th for a brief lecture and discussion series on the "Cornerstones of Great Lent," followed by a potluck fellowship.

If you would like to decorate the icon of the Bridegroom service and/or contribute to the cost of the flowers for the icon, please contact the church office.

Date Available
April   9th   (Bridegroom)

This year's Greek Independence Day Parade in Baltimore will be held on Sunday, March 26th (2 pm) at the Greektown Section. (Ponca Street/Eastern Avenue). Orthros will begin at 8:00 am in order to allow time for travel.
   
Great Lent Volunteer: Our parish has once again teamed up with the Frederick Rescue Mission to offer our parishioners an opportunity to volunteer during Great Lent. Together with prayer and fasting, we look to fortify our spiritual life by also offering alms and benefit those who are disadvantaged. Click here to volunteer.
 
Great Lent Services:

Great Compline every Monday at 6:00 pm. 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”.

Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts: Wednesdays at 6:00 pm and every Friday at 9:00 am. 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 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 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.

2023 Stewardship: If you would like to pick up a 2023 Stewardship card, they are available in the Narthex. Click here to fill out yours.

Please contribute towards the Philoptochos Lenten Food Drive which supports the Frederick Food Bank. There is a great need in our community. Encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to donate the needed food items. We will have a drop-off location in the Narthex throughout the Lenten season.

Earthquake in Turkey & Syria The time to help is now!

Please keep the victims, their families and loved ones in your prayers and please be as generous as possible. Donations can be made online: https://ppay.co/-N5VYeUg5JI. Checks may also be sent to the National Philoptochos Society, 126 East 37th Street, New York, NY 10016 in the memo stating, “Turkey and Syria Earthquake Relief Fund.”

Click here to read the full press release on the emergency disbursement for Turkey and Syria.

St. Eugenia Ladies Philoptochos: Join the Philoptochos: PHILANTHROPY - FELLOWSHIP - FAITH IN ACTION. We invite all stewards of the Church to experience the beauty that can be found in service to others. 2023 Philoptochos Stewardship Sign-up 

The Metropolis of NJ Clergy Laity Conference is coming up on Monday, May 15. All Philoptochos Chapter members are invited & encouraged to attend - especially if you’re considering a role on our Chapter Board. Our Philoptochos Chapter Board elections are coming up on May 7. All seats are open - so please consider participating as a Board member to fulfill our mission & lead our chapter forward. 

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