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Transfiguration of Our Saviour Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2022-04-10
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Transfiguration of Our Saviour Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (978) 458-4321
  • 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

JOIN US FOR COFFEE FELLOWSHIP

Everyone is welcome to join us for fellowship following services. Today’s fellowship hour is being offered by the Sintros family in memory of Peter Sintros.  May his memory be eternal! 

LENTEN MEAL AND LECTURE SERIES
Our Lenten Meal and Lecture Series takes place every Wednesday of Lent immediately following PreSanctified Liturgy: This Wednesday’s Meal will be hosted by Bible Study and the speaker will be Sandra Gulezian.

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY 

We are looking to start a Prayer Shawl Ministry at the church and are welcoming any interested participants to contact Stephanie Gulezian at stephaniegulezian@gmail.com. This ministry aims to provide hand knit or crocheted prayer shawls to parishioners who are sick or are needing care. We will also happily accept gift card donations to craft stores (such as Michael's) to purchase yarn and supplies.

PHILOPTOCHOS

Philoptochos has baked koulourakia and are available for purchase.   $10 a dozen and $25 for 3 dozen.  All proceeds benefit Philoxenia.  A very special thank you to Eleni Stavrou and our amazing members who helped with baking and packaging.  Kali Sarakosti.

SEEKING AGAPE SERVICE READERS

On Easter Sunday, April 24, we celebrate the Agape Vesper Service.  During this service we offer the Gospel reading in as many languages as possible.  This reminds us that the proclamation of Christ’s resurrection was made throughout the whole world.  If you read a language other than Greek and English and would like to participate at the service by reading the Gospel, please speak with Fr. Gregory.  We welcome your participation. 

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 1st.

THANK YOU!

This past fall, through the very generous donation from the Helene Antonakis estate, we were able to replace the heating and air conditioning system for the church proper and hall/kitchen. The new units have been working beautifully and we’re very grateful to Helen Antonakis for remembering the Transfiguration Church in her will.

Additionally, through the very generous donation from the Chris and Carole Rodis estate, the family chose to have the chandeliers in the church proper cleaned and refurbished. Please look up the next time you’re in church to see how beautiful they sparkle!

Thank you to all involved and may their memories be eternal!

 

Save the Date! - Grecian Festival - June 2 - 4

    

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 Angelike Flanagan. - From her daughter and grandchildren

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: In Loving Memory of Vasilios "Bill" Stavrou

 

 

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Weekly Inserts

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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.                                     

Sunday, April 10  SUNDAY OF ST. MARY OF EGYPT
†Orthros, 8:30 am
†Liturgy, 9:30 am
40 Day Memorial for Peter Sintros
1 Year Memorial for Vasiliki Nicolakakis
Coffee Fellowship following Liturgy

Monday, April 11
Compline, 6:00pm

Tuesday, April 12
Parish Council Meeting, 6:30 pm

Wednesday, April 13
Bible Study (online), 10:00 am
PreSanctified Liturgy, 6:00 pm
Lenten Meal following Liturgy

Saturday, April 16
Saturday of Lazarus - Orthros/Divine Liturgy, 8:30 am/9:30 am
Palms and Pancakes following Liturgy
Kafeneon, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sunday, April 17  PALM SUNDAY
†Orthros, 8:30 am
†Liturgy, 9:30 am
Annual Palm Sunday dinner following Liturgy
Bridegroom Service, 6:30 pm

TODAY’S PARISH COUNCIL: Patricia Mahoney, Matthew Apostolou & John Dristilaris

UPCOMING EVENTS         

April 18
Holy Monday
Bridegroom Service, 6:30 pm

April 19
Holy Tuesday
Bridegroom Service (Hymn of Kassiani), 6:30 pm

April 20
Holy Wednesday
Holy Unction Service, 3:00 pm
Bridegroom Service & Anointing with Holy Unction, 6:30 pm

April 21
Holy Thursday
Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil, 9:30 am
Service of the Holy Passion (The 12 Gospels)

April 22
Holy Friday
Service of the Royal Hours, 9:00 am
Youth Retreat, 10:30 am – 2:00 pm
Apokathilosis (Burial Service), 3:00 pm
Lamentations, 6:30 pm

                                                                                                                                           

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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 9:11-14.

BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
The Reading is from Mark 10:32-45

At that time, Jesus took his twelve disciples, and he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."


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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. Mary of Egypt in the Plagal Fourth Mode

The image of God was truly preserved in you, O mother, * for you took up the Cross and followed Christ. * By so doing you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away, * but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal. * Therefore your spirit, O holy mother Mary, * rejoices with the angels.

Apolytikion of the Church

When You were transfigured on the mountain, O Christ our God, You showed Your disciples Your glory as far as they could bear.  So now, for us sinners also, let this same eternal light shine forth through the prayers of the Theotokos.  O Giver of Light, glory to You.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

O unfailing protection of Christians, and our faithful advocate before the Creator: though we are sinners, do not ignore our entreaty; but in your goodness, grant your timely help to us who appeal to you in faith. Quickly make intercession; on our behalf make speedy supplication, O Theotokos, for you always protect those who honor you.
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Wisdom of the Fathers

But let no man be troubled at the apostles being in such an imperfect state. For not yet was the cross accomplished, not yet the grace of the Spirit given. But if thou wouldest learn their virtue, notice them after these things, and thou wilt see them superior to every passion.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 65 on Matthew 20, 2,3,4,6. B#54, pp.399-401,403., 4th Century

For with this object He reveals their deficiencies, that after these things thou mightest know what manner of men they became by grace. ... No one shall sit on His right hand nor on His left.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 65 on Matthew 20, 2,3,4,6. B#54, pp.399-401,403., 4th Century

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Saints and Feasts

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April 10

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on April 1, where her life is recorded. Since the end of the holy Forty Days is drawing nigh, it has been appointed for this day also, so that if we think it hard to practice a little abstinence forty days, we might be roused by the heroism of her who fasted in the wilderness forty-seven years; and also that the great loving-kindness of God, and His readiness to receive the repentant, might be demonstrated in very deed.


Antipas
April 11

Antipas, Bishop of Pergamum

Saint Antipas was a contemporary of the holy Apostles, by whom he was made Bishop of Pergamum. He contested during the reign of Domitian, when he was cast, as it is said, into a bronze bull that had been heated exceedingly. The Evangelist John writes of him in the Book of Revelation, and says (as it were from the mouth of Christ, Who says to the Angel [that is, the Bishop] of the Church of Pergamum): "I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is; and thou holdest fast My Name, and hast not denied My Faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful Martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth" (Rev. 2:13). The faithful pray to this Saint for ailments of the teeth.


Allsaint
April 12

Basil the Confessor, Bishop of Parium

This Saint lived during the time of the Iconoclasts, and because of his exceptional and virtuous life became Bishop of Parium. He suffered many hardships, afflictions, and persecutions from the heretics his whole life long, and finally reposed in peace.


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.


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