The Holy & Righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna
Today, the day following the Nativity of the most holy Theotokos, we celebrate the synaxis of Saints Joachim and Anna, honouring them as her parents.
Sunday Schedule:
Orthros: 8:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m.
Bible Study:
Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
FELLOWSHIP HOUR
A Welcome Back (Sunday School) Cookout will follow services this morning. Everyone is welcome!
FEAST OF THE HOLY CROSS
Traditionally, basil is used to decorate the Holy Cross for the special service on September 14. We will also decorate the Holy Cross on Sunday, September 16. If you have fresh basil you would like to donate, please bring it on Thursday or Friday before services. Thank you in advance.
LTLC VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Volunteers are still needed to serve dinner next Saturday and on October 13 at the Lowell Transitional Living Center from 5:15pm-6:30pm. Please sign up if you are available.
PHILOPTOCHOS "CLOTHING FOR CASH" FALL FUNDRAISER
This fundraiser will run Sept. 13-23, 2018. Please begin collecting your textiles! We are asking all parishioners to begin to fill bags with 'textiles' in any condition. Acceptable items include: clothing, curtains, blankets, towels, belts, pocketbooks and shoes/boots. For more information or to schedule a pick up, contact: Sandra Gulezian at 978-649-3387 or gulezians@gmail.com. Drop off your items at Church weekdays 9/13-14 & 9/18-21 during office hours (please call ahead); Sunday 9/13 & 9/16 after Liturgy.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Bible Study on September 26 at 10:00am; Community Kitchen on September 25 at 11:30am; Sunday School Super Coffee event on October 21.
IN MEMORY OF JOSE
Many know that Jose, a friend of the parish who often helped at festivals and keeping the facility clean, passed away this past May.
To honor his memory and in thanks for all he did for our community, the parish would like to provide a grave marker.
We welcome your donation. Please make a check payable to the Church and simply note in the memo section – JOSE. You can also give online through transchurch.churchgiving.com. Click on memorial donation and write JOSE in the comment section.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
♥ Consider donating $10.00 Market Basket cards. There is always a need to help people less fortunate than ourselves. Please place any food donations in the green container in the lobby.
♥ Please remember to keep the books coming for the 2018-2019 school year!
Sunday, September 9 SUNDAY BEFORE HOLY CROSS
†Orthros, 8:30am
†Liturgy, 9:30am
1-Year Memorial for Milton Monoxelos
Sunday School begins
Welcome Back Cookout following
GOYA Gathering
Wednesday, September 12
Kafenion, 10:00am
Thursday, September 13
Philoptochos Pot Luck supper and meeting, 6:30pm
Friday, September 14
Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Liturgy, 9:30am
Sunday, September 16 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW
†Orthros, 8:30am
†Liturgy, 9:30am
Great Vespers, 6:00pm
Monday, September 17 St. Sophia, Faith, Hope and Love
†Liturgy, 9:30am
TODAY’S PARISH COUNCIL: Nick Kouloungis, Stephen Nicholaides, and Marc Gulezian
TODAY’S GREETER: Mary Piper
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 19
Kafenion, 10:00am
September 24
Metropolis Golf Tournament
September 25
Community Kitchen, 11:30am-12:30pm
September 26
Bible Study begins, 10:00am
September 26
Kafenion, 10:00am
September 27
House of Hope dinner
October 1
AHEPA Golf outing
October 2
Parish Council Meeting, 6:30pm
October 3
Bible Study, 10:00am
October 3
Kafenion, 10:00am
October 4
Philoptochos Board meeting
October 6
Pre-Marriage Seminar, 9:00am-2:00pm
October 7
Monthly Trisagion
Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18.
Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Sunday before Holy Cross
The Reading is from John 3:13-17
The Lord said, "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."
Today, the day following the Nativity of the most holy Theotokos, we celebrate the synaxis of Saints Joachim and Anna, honouring them as her parents.
Saint Severian, a senator from Sebastia, was both an illustrious man of wealth and a fearless Christian. Because he encouraged the holy Forty Martyrs of Sebastia to stand fast in their confession, he was given over to terrible torments, and received his own crown during the reign of Licinius and Lysius the Duke, about the year 315.
These Martyrs, sisters according to the flesh, were from Bithynia. They lived in virginity on a mountain near the Pythian hot springs of Bithynia, devoting themselves to asceticism and prayer. Betrayed to the local governor, Fronto, they were subjected to frightful tortures, and so gave up their holy souls into the hands of God. They contested for the Faith during the reign of Maximian, in the year 304.
This saint lived in the fifth century. Out of remorse for the adultery that she committed with another man, she fled from her husband's house, renamed herself Theodore, clothed herself as a man, and pretending to be a eunuch, entered a monastery of men. Her identity as a woman was discovered only after her death.
This saint was a bishop in Italy. Fleeing from the persecution of Diocletian in 298, he came to Bithynia, where he went from place to place converting many from the idols to the true God. Because of this, one day as he was celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Archangels, they who worshipped wood and stones fell upon him and beat him to death with staves and stones.
Saint Cornelius was a Roman by race, a pagan by religion, a centurion in rank, an inhabitant of Caesarea of Palestine, a man pious and God-fearing who gave many alms to the people and prayed continually unto God. In accordance with an angelic vision granted to him, he sent to Joppa that they might bring the Apostle Peter. Saint Peter catechized him in the Faith of Christ and baptized all his household (Acts, ch.10). This became the beginning and the first fruits of the calling of the nations. It is said that, after this, he became a bishop, as some say, of Caesarea; but others say of Scepsis, which is not far from Troas; and that he died as a martyr.
Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place.
Rest from labour. A Fast is observed today, whatever day of the week it may be.
This Saint was of high birth among the Goths beyond the Danube River. He was taken by Athanaric, pagan ruler of the Goths, and after being tortured, was burned to death for his confession of Christ. According to some, this took place during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great; according to others, under the Emperor Gratian.