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Transfiguration of Our Saviour Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-04-12
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Palmsunday
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Transfiguration of Our Saviour Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (978) 458-4321
  • Fax:
  • (978) 458-8726
  • Street Address:

  • 25 Fr. John Sarantos Way

  • Lowell, MA 01854
  • Mailing Address:

  • 25 Fr. John Sarantos Way

  • Lowell, MA 01854


Contact Information






Services Schedule

Sunday Schedule:

Orthros: 8:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m.

Bible Study:

Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.


Past Bulletins


Announcements

WATCH ONLINE

We will be live streaming all Holy Week services through our YouTube channel.  Go directly to www.youtube.com/TransGOC to participate.  You can also watch through our FaceBook page. www.facebook.com/transchurch.  The full list of services can be found on our website www.transchurch.org.

VIGIL CANDLE

As we pray for strength and comfort during this stressful time, please know that vigil candles are available and will be lit for you on Sunday(s) at your request. Please contact Pat Mahoney (pmahoney7@comcast.net or 978 436 0998). Donation $10.00 each.

SCHOLARSHIP

Scholarship applications are now available on-line at transchurch.org/news/scholarships for graduating high school seniors planning on attending college in the fall. Further questions contact Pat Mahoney (pmahoney7@comcast.net) or 978-436-0998. The due date for applications is May 1ST. 

TIME TO PASS THE BASKET 

Weekly at the end of Liturgy we pass the offering basket. Your donations help support the ministries of the parish. Although we may not be in the church building, the work of the parish continues. In fact, we have had to invest our energies into new ways of communicating and reaching out to one another which may help us in the long run, but requires and investment of energies now.

Our office is open remotely. You won’t be able to come in to the office, but with a phone call you can get your questions answered. It may take a little longer to provide you with information, but we will strive to do so in a timely fashion.

That being said, although for the time being, we will be unable to gather for worship all together, we still need to pass the offering basket. If you are able, please send your offering by mail or you can go online to make a donation. You can make your donation by credit card, debit card, or have funds withdrawn from your checking account. Your information on this site is safe and secure. Go to https://transchurch.churchgiving.com/ and set up your personal login. You can make weekly offerings, special offerings or stewardship offerings all with the click of a button. These can be set up as one-time donations or recurring donations. It is after all, Time to Pass the Basket! Thank you in advance for your kindness and commitment.

HELLENIC WOMEN’S CLUB, INC. SCHOLARSHIP

The Hellenic Women's Club, Inc., EOK, is offering scholarships to young women of Greek descent pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees. Each scholarship, in the amount of $5,000, will be awarded based on academic achievement, leadership and community service. 
The application deadline is June 30, 2020.

For more details and application materials, visit The Hellenic Women’s Club’s website: www.hellenicwomensclub.org

To access EOK Scholarship Application materials on the website: click on the What We Do tab at the top of the Homepage and then click on the EOK Scholarships tab section.

OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES

During this time of crisis, we need to take care of one another, friends, family, and stranger. If you, or anyone you know, is having difficulties because of the COVID-19 crisis, please let us know. We know that there are those who would never think of asking facing financial difficulties.  We will help as we are able.

To enable us to offer help, if you are able, we welcome your donations. You can send a donation to the church or go online and donate. Go to www.transchurch.churchgiving.com, sign in and click on the Outreach Donation button and make your one-time or recurring donation.  Large or small, your donation can make a difference. Thank you in advance.

STEWARDSHIP PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, our God, accept our offerings as You accepted the gifts of Your people throughout the ages.  We offer these gifts to Your glory, for the support of the ministries of Your holy Church, for the alleviation of suffering and hunger, and for the proclamation of Your Gospel to the whole world.

Grant us Your blessing, Lord our Savior, that we may always be faithful stewards, continuing to share the gifts you have given us, by the power of Your grace, mercy and love.  May Your name be glorified forever.  Amen. 

 

Trinity votive candles (To Sponsor a Candle please call the Church Office.) 

Vigil Light at the Side Altar (Icon of the Theotokos): In Loving Memory of Sophia Karamonlis - The Karamanolis Family

Vigil Light at the Icon of Christ: In Loving Memory of Deborah Victoria Skrekas and George Skrekas

†Vigil Light at the Icon of Christ (second): For the safety and wellbeing of Chris Paul Tsioulis and all of the nurses, doctors and health care professionals during this unprecedented pandemic.

Vigil Light at the Theotokos: In Loving Memory of Ioannis "John" Zaralidis from his family

†Vigil Light at the Theotokos (Second): In Loving Memory of my deceaced family. - Elizabeth Balamotis

Vigil Light at the Icon of the Forerunner: For the Good Health of Matthew Apostolou and the men and women of the armed forces. – Apostolou Family

†Vigil Light at the Icon of the Forerunner (Second): In Loving Memory of my Father and our Papou, Angelo J. Koutrouba from Hastings, Purville and Miller families

Vigil Light at the Foot of the Holy Cross: In Loving Memory of Kathleen and Charles Mullan

 

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Weekly Calendar

We will be live streaming services through our YouTube channel whenever possible - www.youtube.com/TransGOC Please see the online calendar for the full schedule.

SATURDAY, APRIL 11  SATURDAY OF LAZARUS
Liturgy (online), 9:30am

SUNDAY, APRIL 12  PALM SUNDAY
Orthros & Liturgy (online) 9:00 am
Nymphios (online), 6:00 pm

MONDAY, APRIL 13  HOLY MONDAY
Nymphios (online), 6:00 pm

TUESDAY, APRIL 14  HOLY TUESDAY
Nymphios (online), 6:00 pm

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15  HOLY WEDNESDAY
Unction (online), 3:00 pm

THURSDAY, APRIL 16  HOLY THURSDAY
†Vesperal Liturgy (online), 9:30 am
12 Gospels (online), 6:00 pm

FRIDAY, APRIL 17  HOLY FRIDAY
Royal Hours (online), 10:00 am
Apokathilosis (online), 3:00 pm
Lamentations (online), 6:00 pm

SATURDAY, APRIL 18   HOLY SATURDAY
Vesperal Liturgy (online) 9:30 am

SUNDAY, APRIL 19 PASCHA
Resurrection Service, 12:00 am Midnight
With Orthros & Liturgy following (online)
Agape Service (online), 12:00 pm Noon

*Please check for other live streaming Services at https://www.goarch.org/live-broadcasts throughout the week.

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 117.26,1.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Verse: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His mercy endures forever.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:4-9.

BRETHREN, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.


Gospel Reading

Palm Sunday
The Reading is from John 12:1-18

Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazaros was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazaros was one of those at table with him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, "Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."

When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazaros, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazaros also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it; as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!" His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazaros out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.


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Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion for Palm Sunday in the First Mode

In our baptism we were buried with you, O Christ our God, and by your resurrection you have granted us eternal life. Therefore, we sing your praises, O Lord: Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Apolytikion for Palm Sunday in the Fourth Mode

Before your passion you confirmed the resurrection of all by raising Laz'rus from the dead, O Christ our God. Therefore, like the children of old, we also carry symbols of victory, and to you, the victor over death, do we cry out: Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Second Mode

In heaven upon your throne, while on earth riding the colt of a donkey, O Christ our God, you accepted the angels' praise with the songs of the children who cried out to you: Blessed is he who comes for the restoration of Adam.
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Wisdom of the Fathers

But observe the wisdom of the Evangelist, how he is not ashamed to parade their former ignorance. That it was written they knew, that it was written of Him they knew not. For it would have offended them if He being a King were about to suffer such things, and be so betrayed.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 66 on John 12, 2. B#58, p.245., 4th Century

Besides, they could not at once have taken in the knowledge of the Kingdom of which He spake; for another Evangelist saith, that they thought the words were spoken of a kingdom of this world. (Matt. xx. 21.)
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 66 on John 12, 2. B#58, p.245., 4th Century

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Saints and Feasts

Palmsunday
April 12

Palm Sunday

On Sunday, five days before the Passover of the Law, the Lord came from Bethany to Jerusalem. Sending two of His disciples to bring Him a foal of an ass, He sat thereon and entered into the city. When the multitude there heard that Jesus was coming, they straightway took up the branches of palm trees in their hands, and went forth to meet Him. Others spread their garments on the ground, and yet others cut branches from the trees and strewed them in the way that Jesus was to pass; and all of them together, especially the children, went before and after Him, crying out: "Hosanna: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel" (John 12:13). This is the radiant and glorious festival of our Lord's entry into Jerusalem that we celebrate today.

The branches of the palm trees symbolize Christ's victory over the devil and death. The word Hosanna means "Save, I pray," or "Save, now." The foal of an ass, and Jesus' sitting thereon, and the fact that this animal was untamed and considered unclean according to the Law, signified the former uncleanness and wildness of the nations, and their subjection thereafter to the holy Law of the Gospel.


Allsaint
April 13

Martin the Confessor, Pope of Rome

Saint Martin was born in Tuscany. He had been the papal delegate at Constantinople; upon the death of Pope Theodore, Saint Martin was elected his successor. At this time the Emperor Constans II, also known as Constantine Pogonatus (reigned 641-668), was seeking support of his confession of faith called the Typos, which espoused the Monothelite heresy, that is, that there is only one will and energy in the Incarnate Son of God. But the newly-consecrated Pope not only did not accept the Typos, but convened the Lateran Council of 649 (attended by 105 of his bishops, and Saint Maximus the Confessor, who was then in Rome), which anathematized the Typos and the Monothelite heresy. Because of this Saint Martin was seized by an imperial force in 653 and brought to Constantinople, where he was charged with sending money to the Saracens and conspiring with them, and blaspheming against the most holy Mother of God. Though innocent of these accusations, he was exiled to Cherson on the Black Sea, where, after many sufferings and privations, he received the crown of his courageous confession in the year 655.


Allsaint
April 14

Aristarchus, Pudens, Trophimus the Apostles of the 70

Saint Aristarchus is mentioned in the Epistle to the Colossians (4:10), and also in the Epistle to Philemon (v. 24). By his ascetical manner of life, this Saint proved to be another Saint John the Baptist. He became Bishop of Apamea in Syria, and brought many to the Faith of Christ. Saints Pudens and Trophimus are mentioned in II Timothy 4:20-21. Also, Acts 21:29 mentions that Trophimus was from Ephesus. According to sources that Saint Dorotheus of Tyre (celebrated on June 5) found written in Latin in Rome, these Apostles were beheaded in Rome during the reign of Nero (54-68).


Allsaint
April 15

Crescens the Martyr

This Martyr was from Myra of Lycia, born of an illustrious family. Of his own accord he went amidst the idolaters and admonished them to leave off their futile religion and worship the only true God, Who is worshipped by the Christians; for this he was arrested. When asked by the ruler what his name and lineage were, the Saint would answer only that he was a Christian; counseled to offer sacrifice to the idols, he refused. For this, he was hung up and beaten, was scraped, and then was cast into fire, in which he gave up his holy soul into the hands of God, though not even the hair of his head was harmed by the flames.


Allsaint
April 16

Agape, Chionia, and Irene, the Holy Martyrs

When the Emperor Diocletian was at Aquileia, he learned that these Saints were Christians, and had them brought before him. Because they would not deny Christ, he had them imprisoned, and when he went into Macedonia, he committed them to Dulcitius the Prefect, who, however, lost his understanding and became incapable of doing them any harm. Diocletian then gave Count Sisinius charge over them. He had Saints Agape and Chionia burned; he ordered that Saint Irene be put in a brothel, but by the providence of God this was not accomplished, and she was shot with an arrow. These holy sisters suffered martyrdom in Thessalonica in the year 295.


Allsaint
April 17

Symeon the Holy Martyr and Bishop of Persia

This Martyr was Bishop of the royal cities Seleucia and Ctesiphon in Persia. As the number of Christians increased in Persia, building churches and appointing clergy, the Magi, guardians of the Persian religion, and the Jews, who also envied them, accused Symeon to Sapor II, King of Persia, saying that Symeon was a friend of the Roman Emperor and his spy. Then began Sapor's persecution of the Christians of Persia, about the year 343. The Magi together with the Jews destroyed the churches. Saint Symeon was brought before Sapor, and, refusing to worship the sun, was imprisoned. On Holy and Great Friday of that year, Saint Symeon was brought out of prison with a hundred others, bishops, priests, and deacons. As each was taken to be slain, Saint Symeon exhorted him to be of good courage; he was slain last of all. It is said that 1,150 Martyrs were slain; an innumerable multitude of Christians were slain throughout Persia during this persecution, among them Saints Acepsimas, Joseph, and Aethalas (see Nov. 3).


Allsaint
April 18

Holy Father John the Righteous, disciple of St. Gregory of Decapolis

This Saint took up the monastic life from his youth and became a disciple of Saint Gregory of Decapolis (see Nov. 20). After his elder, Saint Gregory, reposed (in the first half of the ninth century), he came to Jerusalem and finally reposed in peace in the Monastery of Saint Chariton.


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