Announcements

GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY DOXOLOGY

Today following Liturgy we will offer a Doxology honoring Greek Independence celebrated on March 25^th. This year marks the 200^th Anniversary of the fight for Greek Independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821. For the Bicentennial celebration all the Greek Orthodox parishes joined together with a celebration at Holy Trinity Church and raised the Greek flag at City Hall.

LENTEN WORSHIP

We welcome our faithful on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for special Lenten services. On Mondays we will gather for Compline service at 6:30pm. On Wednesdays we will gather for Pre-sanctified Liturgy at 6 pm, and on Fridays we offer the Salutations service at 6:30 pm. 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. During these challenging times the calm of worship will help us deal the anxiety, loneliness, and despair that has filled our lives. All services will be live-streamed on www.YouTube.com/transgoc.

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!

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: In Loving Memory of Sophia Karamanolis from her grandchildren

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

Weekly Inserts

Parish Assembly

Parish Assembly April 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.

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

Sunday, April 4 SUNDAY OF THE HOLY CROSS
†Orthros, 8:30 am
†Liturgy, 9:30 am
Monthly Trisagion

Monday, April 5
Compline, 6:30 pm

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

Friday, April 9
Salutations Service, 6:30 pm

TODAY’S PARISH COUNCIL: Marc Gulezian, Nick Kouloungis & Carl Maib

UPCOMING EVENTS

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

April 19
Compline, 6:30

April 21
Bible Study (online), 10:00 am
Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, 6:00 pm

April 24
Saturday of Lazuras
†Orthros, 8:30 am
†Liturgy, 9:30 am

April 25
Palm Sunday
†Orthros, 8:30 am
†Liturgy, 9:30 am
Bridegroom Service, 6:30 pm

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 1:10-14; 2:1-3.

"IN THE BEGINNING, Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?" Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?

Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
The Reading is from Mark 2:1-12

At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he said to the paralytic-"I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode

Although your tomb was sealed with a stone, O Savior, and your most pure body was guarded by the soldiers, you rose on the third day giving life to all the world. Therefore O giver of life, the powers of heaven praise you: Glory to your resurrection, O Christ. Glory to your kingdom. Glory to your saving wisdom. O only lover of mankind.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. Gregory Palamas in the Plagal Fourth Mode

O light of Orthodoxy, O pillar of strength and teacher of the Church! Glory of monks and nuns, and of theologians the protector invincible! O wonderworker Gregory, pride of Thessalonica and preacher of grace, intercede without ceasing for the salvation of our souls.

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

Now Matthew indeed saith, that "they brought him," but the others, that they also broke up the roof, and let him down. And they put the sick man before Christ, saying nothing, but committing the whole to Him.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 29 on Matthew 9, 1. B#54, pp. 195, 196, 4th Century

For though in the beginning He Himself went about, and did not require so much faith of them that came unto Him; yet in this case they both approached Him, and had faith required on their part. For, "Seeing," it is said, "their faith;" that is, the faith of them that had let the man down.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 29 on Matthew 9, 1. B#54, pp. 195, 196, 4th Century

Saints and Feasts

March 28

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

This divine Father, who was from Asia Minor, was from childhood reared in the royal court of Constantinople, where he was instructed in both religious and secular wisdom. Later, while still a youth, he left the imperial court and struggled in asceticism on Mount Athos, and in the Skete at Beroea. He spent some time in Thessalonica being treated for an illness that came from his harsh manner of life. He was present in Constantinople at the Council that was convened in 1341 against Barlaam of Calabria, and at the Council of 1347 against Acindynus, who was of like mind with Barlaam; Barlaam and Acindynus claimed that the grace of God is created. At both these Councils, the Saint contended courageously for the true dogmas of the Church of Christ, teaching in particular that divine grace is not created, but is the uncreated energies of God which are poured forth throughout creation: otherwise it would be impossible, if grace were created, for man to have genuine communion with the uncreated God. In 1347 he was appointed Metropolitan of Thessalonica. He tended his flock in an apostolic manner for some twelve years, and wrote many books and treatises on the most exalted doctrines of our Faith; and having lived for a total of sixty-three years, he reposed in the Lord in 1359.

His holy relics are kept in the Cathedral of Thessalonica. A full service was composed for his feast day by the Patriarch Philotheus in 1368, when it was established that his feast be celebrated on this day. Since works without right faith avail nothing, we set Orthodoxy of faith as the foundation of all that we accomplish during the Fast, by celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy the Sunday before, and the great defender of the teachings of the holy Fathers today.

March 29

Mark, Bishop of Arethusa

Saint Mark was Bishop of Arethusa in Syria. In the days of Saint Constantine the Great, Saint Mark, moved with divine zeal, destroyed a temple of the idols and raised up a church in its stead. When Julian the Apostate reigned, in 361, as the pagans were now able to avenge the destruction of their temple, Saint Mark, giving way to wrath, hid himself; but when he saw that others were being taken on his account, he gave himself up. Having no regard to his old age, they stripped him and beat his whole body, cast him into filthy sewers, and pulling him out, had children prick him with their iron writing-pens. Then they put him into a basket, smeared him with honey and a kind of relish of pickled fish, and hung him up under the burning sun to be devoured by bees and wasps. But because he bore this so nobly, his enemies repented, and unloosed him.

March 30

John Climacus the Righteous, author of The Divine Ladder of Ascent

This Saint gave himself over to the ascetical life from his early youth. Experienced both in the solitary life of the hermit and in the communal life of cenobitic monasticism, he was appointed Abbot of the Monastery at Mount Sinai and wrote a book containing thirty homilies on virtue. Each homily deals with one virtue, and progressing from those that deal with holy and righteous activity (praxis) unto those that deal with divine vision (theoria), they raise a man up as though by means of steps unto the height of Heaven. For this cause his work is called "The Ladder of Divine Ascent." The day he was made Abbot of Sinai, the Prophet Moses was seen giving commands to those who served at table. Saint John reposed in 603, at eighty years of age. See also the Fourth Sunday of the Fast.

March 31

The Holy Hieromartyr Hypatius, Bishop of Gangra

This Saint, who was from Cilicia of Asia Minor, became Bishop of Gangra, the capital of Paphlagonia. He was present at the First Ecumenical Council. Because of his confession of the Orthodox Faith, he was put to death by the Novatians, a sect which denied that sins committed after Baptism could be forgiven.

April 01

Mary of Egypt

When Mary was only twelve years old, she left her parents and departed to Alexandria, where she lived a depraved life for seventeen years. Then, moved by curiosity, she went with many pilgrims to Jerusalem, that she might see the Exaltation of the venerable Cross. Even in the Holy City she gave herself over to every kind of licentiousness and drew many into the depth of perdition. Desiring to go into the church on the day of the Exaltation of the Cross, time and again she perceived a certain invisible power preventing her entrance, whereas the multitude of people about her entered unhindered. Therefore, wounded in heart by this, she decided to change her way of life and reconcile herself to God by means of repentance. Invoking our Lady the Theotokos as her protectress, she asked her to open the way for her to worship the Cross, and vowed that she would renounce the world. And thus, returning once again to the church, she entered easily. When she had worshipped the precious Wood, she departed that same day from Jerusalem and passed over the Jordan. She went into the inner wilderness and for forty-seven years lived a most harsh manner of life, surpassing human strength; alone, she prayed to God alone. Toward the end of her life, she met a certain hermit named Zosimas, and she related to him her life from the beginning. She requested of him to bring her the immaculate Mysteries that she might partake of them. According to her request, he did this the following year on Holy and Great Thursday. One year after this, Zosimas again went thither and found her dead, laid upon the ground, and letters written in the sand near her which said: "Abba Zosimas, bury here the body of wretched Mary. I died on the very day I partook of the immaculate Mysteries. Pray for me." Her death is reckoned by some to have taken place in 378, by some, in 437, and by others, in 522. She is commemorated also on the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent. Her life was recorded by Saint Sophronius of Jerusalem.

April 02

Titus the Wonderworker

Little is known of this Saint except that he took up the monastic life from his youth, became the abbot of a monastery, and reposed in peace.

April 03

Nicetas, Abbot of the Monastery of Medicium

Saint Nicetas lived in the eighth century and became the Abbot of the Monastery of Medicium, which was near the city of Triglia on the Sea of Marmara. For his Orthodox confession of the veneration of the holy icons, he was persecuted and exiled twice by the Iconoclast Emperor Leo the Armenian, but recalled by Michael the Stutterer, and reposed, adorned with the twofold crown of holiness and of confession of the Orthodox Faith, about the year 824.

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