Announcements

LENTEN WORSHIP SERVICES

During the Lenten season our parish will gather Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for special Lenten services. On Mondays during lent we will gather for Compline service. On Wednesdays, we will gather for Pre-sanctified Liturgy, and on Fridays we offer the Salutations service. Note that this Wednesday, March 24, there is NO Pre-Sanctified Liturgy. Please consult the parish calendar for days and times. This year make a special effort to participate in at least one of each of these services during this Great Lent. These services will help us deal the anxiety, loneliness, and despair that has filled our lives during this past year. All services will be live-streamed on www.YouTube.com/transgoc.

GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY BICENTENIAL – MARCH 25

On Thursday, March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation and Greek Independence Day, we will gather at Holy Trinity for services. Orthros will begin at 7:30 am and Liturgy 8:30 am. Services will be followed by a special Doxology celebrating the 200^th Anniversary. The Hellenic American Academy will offer a brief program. All are welcome to come to the services and program.

The Annunciation parish in Woburn welcomes you to join them for Great Vespers on Wednesday, March 24 at 6 pm. They will also have services on March 25, Orthros 8:30 am and Divine Liturgy 9:30 am.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

The Parish Council has scheduled the Spring Parish Assembly for Sunday, April 11 following services. As we did last fall, you will be able to attend in person or virtually. The agenda and more information will be mailed out this week.

THE THREE-LEGGED STOOL

Often, the image of a three-legged stool is used to help us understand three important aspects of Great Lent, prayer, works of charity, and fasting. Just as each leg of the stool is equally important and provides stability, these three ‘spiritual legs’ provide stability for our spiritual well-being. Too often our sole focus during Great Lent is fasting, but fasting without the works of charity and prayer, is a diet. All three of these are important and require our attention and use.
Especially during this time, it is important for us to find comfort and solace. We are longing for our Lord’s loving embrace and these three spiritual tools open our hearts to Christ.

SCHOLARSHIP

Scholarship applications are available on-line (transchurch.org) for graduating high school seniors planning on attending college in the fall. For further questions contact Pat Mahoney (pmahoney7@comcast.net) or 978-436-0998. The deadline for applications is May 1^st.

PHILOPTOCHOS SPECIAL LENTEN PROJECT

The three aspects of Great Lent are prayer, fasting, and works of charity. We pray that you will join the Philoptochos Society in our charity project this year.

Since we have not been able to provide monthly meals to the House of Hope since the start of the pandemic, we would like to provide them with some of the items that they need at this time: New/gently used children’s clothing, size 2T through 14/16; Size 6 diapers; and Baby wipes.

Or if you prefer, you may purchase an snacks and other items from their Amazon wish list or donate an Amazon gift card.

Please bring your donations to church during scheduled services on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, or Sundays through Sunday, April 25th.

Please email Cindy Rios at cerios331@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Thank you for your support!

WEEKLY WORSHIP UPDATE

The Transfiguration parish continues to use enhanced protocols in order to gather for worship in a safe manner. When you enter the church, we ask that you follow the direction of the ushers. Everyone must wear a mask. These protocols have been established to help protect and keep safe all who gather for worship. The number of people receiving the vaccine is increasing daily and will allow our faithful to attend with a greater sense of safety. But please, if you think you have been exposed to someone with COVID, or you have underlying health conditions, or are not feeling well, please stay home, watch services online, and stay safe.

CHECK OUT OUR INSERTS AND FLYERS

Weekly, in the section following the announcements you will find inserts and flyers about special events and ministries. Please make sure to check out this section.

PARISH OFFICE HOURS

Our parish office is currently open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 2 pm. Generally, the office is open in person. On Wednesday, it is open remotely. Even though we are open in person, if you need to come to the office, for your safety, please call and set up an appointment.

NEW CAMERA INSTALLED – WATCH SERVICES ONLINE

Through the generosity of the Helene Antonakis estate the parish has installed a live stream camera that will allow us to continue to stream services. Though we hope the learning curve will be short, please bear with us during the next few weeks as we get to know the equipment better. We will soon update other IT equipment to help us more seamlessly stream services.

We will continue to live stream services through YouTube at www.youtube.come/transgoc. A weekly listing of services can be found on our website www.transchurch.org and listed on the calendar found in this bulletin.

HELP ONLINE

Many still do not feel comfortable physically attending services, but would still like to light a candle or support the parish. Your continued generosity is greatly appreciated. We encourage your continued use of our secure online giving platform for single or repeating donations, https://transchurch.churchgiving.com. Of course, you are still welcome to mail in a check to make your donation.

1) To light a vigil candle, please contact Pat Mahoney (pmahoney7@comcast.net or 978-436-0998) or the church office (info@transchurch.org or 978-458-4321). Pat will make sure that your vigil candle is lit for you. Donation: $10. As with all donations, you can mail in a check or you can make a donation online.

2) You are able to make your stewardship, weekly basket offering, candle, memorial, special event, or general donations by using our secure website. Your donations help support the ministries of the parish. Although you may not be in the church building, essential ministries of the parish continue.

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

†Vigil Light at the Side Altar (Icon of the Theotokos): In Memory of those who have died during the pandemic and for the health of those recovering. - Chuck and Amelia Karayianis

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

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

†Vigil Light at the Icon of the Forerunner: Available

†Vigil Light at the Foot of the Holy Cross: Available

Weekly Inserts

Saturday of Souls

Saturday of Souls Listing for 2021

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, March 20
Third Saturday of Souls - Liturgy, 9:30 am

Sunday, March 21 SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY
†Orthros, 8:30 am
†Liturgy, 9:30 am
Icon Procession and Service

Monday, March 22
Compline, 6:30 pm

Wednesday, March 24
Bible Study (online), 10:00 am

Thursday, March 25 FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION
Greek Independence Day Doxology and Program following
†Orthros, 7:30 am at Holy Trinity
†Liturgy, 8:30 am at Holy Trinity

Friday, March 26
Salutations Service, 6:30 pm

Sunday, March 28 SUNDAY OF ST. GREGORY PALMAS
†Orthros, 8:30 am
†Liturgy, 9:30 am
40 Day Memorial for Dorothea "Dottie" Danas

Monday, March 29
Compline, 6:30 pm

Wednesday, March 31
Bible Study (online), 10:00 am
Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, 6:00 pm

Friday, April 2
Salutations Service, 6:30 pm

TODAY’S PARISH COUNCIL: Chuck Nestor, Costas Tsioulis & Christian Zouzas

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 4
Monthly Trisagion

April 5
Compline, 6:30 pm

April 7
Bible Study (online), 10:00 am
Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, 6:00 pm

April 9
Salutations Service, 6:30 pm

April 11
Parish Assembly

April 12
Compline, 6:30 pm

April 14
Bible Study (online), 10:00 am
Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, 6:00 pm

April 16
Akathist Hymn, 6:30

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

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.

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."

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

From on high you descended, O merciful Lord. You accepted the cross and three days in the tomb to free us from the bondage of sin, O our life and resurrection. Glory to you, O Lord.

Apolytikion for Sun. of Orthodoxy in the Second Mode

Before your most pure image we bow down, O Good One, entreating you to forgive our sins, Christ our God, for you willingly ascended the cross in the flesh to deliver from the enemy those whom you had made. For this we thank you and we cry to you, O Savior: By coming to save the world you have filled all things with joy.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Victorious Lady, mighty champion, defending us, we, your servants, now inscribe to you this hymn of thanks, for you rescued us from suff'ring and tribulation. Theotokos, with your power that can never fail, keep us safe from ev'ry danger our whole life long, that we may cry to you: Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.

Wisdom of the Fathers

Moses... was himself saved by means of wood and water before the Law was given, when he was exposed to the Nile's currents, hidden away in an Ark (Exod. 2:3-10). And by means of wood and water he saved the people of Israel, revealing the Cross by the wood, Holy Baptism by water (Exod. 14:15-31). Paul, who had looked upon the mysteries, says openly, 'They were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud' (I Cor. 10:2). He also bears witness that, even before the events concerning the sea and his staff, Moses willingly endured Christ's Cross, 'Esteeming', he says, 'the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt' (Heb. 11:26). For the Cross is the reproach of Christ from the standpoint of foolish men. As Paul himself says of Christ, 'He endured the cross, despising the shame' (Heb. 12:2).

St. Gregory Palamas

Homilies Vol. 1, Homily Eleven para. 14; Saint Tikhon's Seminary Press pg. 123, 14th century

Peter, when after so many miracles and such high doctrine he confessed that, "Thou art the Son of God" (Matt. xvi. 16), is called "blessed," as having received the revelation from the Father;

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 21 on John 1, 1. B#58, pp. 72, 73, 4th Century

Saints and Feasts

March 21

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.

March 22

Basil the Holy Martyr of Ancyra

Saint Basil strove in martyrdom during the short reign of Julian the Apostate, from 361-363. The Saint was denounced as a Christian to Saturninus, Governor of Ancyra, who, when Basil would not deny Christ, had him hanged from a post and scraped on his sides, then beaten, and cast into prison. A few days later, when Julian himself came through Ancyra, the Saint was brought before him and was asked to deny Christ, Whom he rather confessed the more. Julian then had strips cut in his flesh, so that they were left hanging from his body in front and in back. The valiant Martyr tore one of these strips off of his body and cast it into Julian's face. At this Julian commanded that iron spits be heated fiery hot; Saint Basil's belly, his back, and all his joints were pierced with them, and he received the crown of martyrdom.

March 23

The Holy Righteous Martyr Nicon and His 199 Disciples

Saint Nicon was from Neapolis (Naples) in Italy. His father was an idolater and his mother a Christian. At first he was a soldier, but later he went to the East, where he was baptized and in time became a bishop. After some years, he returned to the West and came to Sicily, where he and many of his disciples were put to death by beheading because they would not worship the idols.

March 24

Our Holy Father Theonas, Archbishop of Thessolonica

March 25

Annunciation of the Theotokos

Six months after John the Forerunner's conception, the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth, a town of Galilee, unto Mary the Virgin, who had come forth from the Temple a mature maiden (see Nov. 21). According to the tradition handed down by the Fathers, she had been betrothed to Joseph four months. On coming to Joseph's house, the Archangel declared: "Rejoice, thou Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." After some consideration, and turmoil of soul, and fear because of this greeting, the Virgin, when she had finally obtained full assurance concerning God's unsearchable condescension and the ineffable dispensation that was to take place through her, and believing that all things are possible to the Most High, answered in humility: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." And at this, the Holy Spirit came upon her, and the power of the Most High overshadowed her all-blameless womb, and the Son and Word of God, Who existed before the ages, was conceived past speech and understanding, and became flesh in her immaculate body (Luke 1:26-38).

Bearing in her womb the Uncontainable One, the blessed Virgin went with haste from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea, where Zacharias had his dwelling; for she desired to find Elizabeth her kinswoman and rejoice together with her, because, as she had learned from the Archangel, Elizabeth had conceived in her old age. Furthermore, she wished to tell her of the great things that the Mighty One had been well-pleased to bring to pass in her, and she greeted Elizabeth and drew nigh to her. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, she felt her six-month-old babe, Saint John the Baptist, prophesied of the dawning of the spiritual Sun. Immediately, the aged Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and recognized her as the Mother of her Lord, and with a great voice blessed her and the Fruit that she held within herself. The Virgin also, moved by a supernatural rejoicing in the spirit, glorified her God and Savior, saying: "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour," and the rest, as the divine Luke hath recorded (1:39-55)

March 26

Synaxis in honor of the Archangel Gabriel

This festive Synaxis is celebrated to the glory of the Archangel Gabriel, since he ministered to the marvelous mystery of God's incarnate dispensation.

March 27

The Holy Matrona of Thessalonica

This martyr was the servant of a certain Jewish woman named Pantilla, the wife of the Governor of Thessalonica. When Matrona refused to follow her mistress into the synagogue Pantilla beat her so severly that she died in a few days, and thus received the crown of her confession.

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