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Transfiguration of Our Saviour Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2022-12-18
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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

FELLOWSHIP HOUR

We welcome everyone to join us for coffee fellowship following the Sunday School Christmas Pageant.  Join the children of the Sunday School as they honor “Jesus’ Birthday” with a special birthday cake. Don’t forget to thank the children for today’s pageant.

CHRISTMAS TOY AND GIFT CARD DRIVE

Ladies Philoptochos Lowell Wish Project Gift Card and Toy collection:  Thank you to all who donated to this project by donating a gift card or new toy/game.  We were able to provide for over 100 people through your generosity.  We answered our calling and helped our neighbors!  Many, many thanks for making this season brighter for so many!

PHILOPTOCHOS VASILOPITA FUNDRAISER

The Philoptochos is once again providing an opportunity for you to purchase special Vasilopita

slices for $20.00 each for a chance to win the golden coin! The special pieces will be distributed

at the Vasilopita Appetizer Reception on January 8, 2023 in the Family Life Center Hall following Divine Liturgy. All are welcome to attend and enjoy fellowship. The proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit St Basil’s Academy, the Archdiocesan home for children in need.

To participate, please contact Pat Mahoney pmahoney7@comcast.net 978.436.0998 or Soula Spaziani soulaspaziani3@gmail.com 978.551.0169. 

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Giving Tree - Please consider adorning our Giving Tree in the church hall with hats, gloves, scarves, or socks.  Men, women, and children’s sizes are welcome.

♥ Please consider donating men’s and women’s gently used warm winter jackets for those in need. These will be distributed through the Lowell Transitional Living Center.

IMPORTANT HOUSEKEEPING NOTES

The church office will be closed on Monday, December 26th, and Monday, January 2nd

Fr. Gregory and family will be leaving on December 27th and returning on January 2nd for a well-deserved Christmas visit with family in Utah. Should an emergency arise please contact the church office at 978-458-4321.

   

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

Vigil Light at the Side Altar (Icon of the Theotokos): Kasandra Alexia Rios for Health, Safety, Strength and Resilience.

Vigil Light at the Icon of ChristIn Loving Memory of Deborah Victoria Skrekas and George Skrekas

Vigil Light at the Icon of Christ (2nd): In Loving Memory of our father/Papou, George Koutsis from the Koutsis and Dobi families

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 our late parents and grandparents Angelo and Olga Eliopoulos – With love Peter, Nano, Caroline & Angelo

Vigil Light at the Foot of the Holy Cross: In Loving Memory of Peter Mitropoulis gone 20 years but remembered always

 

 

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Weekly Calendar

 Sunday, December 18  SUNDAY BEFORE NATIVITY
†Orthros, 8:30 am
† Divine Liturgy, 9:30 am
Sunday School Christmas Pageant

Tuesday, December 20          
Community Kitchen, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm                                  

Friday, December 23    
Royal Hours of Christmas, 9:00 am 

Saturday, December 24          
Christmas Eve
Elements of Vespers and Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, 4:30 pm

Sunday, December 25  CHRISTMAS DAY
†Orthros, 9:00 am
† Divine Liturgy, 10:00 am                                  

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

UPCOMING EVENTS

January 1                      
St. Basil – Orthros/Liturgy, 9:00 am/10:00 am

January 4                      
Royal Hours of Theophany, 9:00 am

January 5                      
Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil, 6:30 pm

January 6                      
Theophany – Orthros/Liturgy, 8:30 am/9:30 am

January 7                      
Synaxis of St. John the Baptist – Liturgy, 9:30 am

January 8                      
Sunday After Epiphany
3 Year Memorial for Aglaia Koravos
Vasilopita Reception

January 10
Bible Study, 7:00 pm

January 11                    
Bible Study (online)        10:00 am

January 15                   
Twelfth Sunday of Luke
6 Month Memorial for Stratos Dukakis                                             
1 Year Memorial for Eva Dukakis

January 17                    
St. Anthony the Great – Liturgy, 9:30 am
Community Kitchen, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Bible Study (online), 7:00 pm

January 18                    
Bible Study (online), 10:00 am

 

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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 11:9-10; 32-40.

BRETHREN, by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundation, whose builder and maker is God.

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 armies 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 tempted, 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 before Nativity
The Reading is from Matthew 1:1-25

The book of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Mode

When you descended into death, Life immortal, you vanquished the pow'r of hell by your resplendent divinity and when you raised the dead from the depths of darkness, all the heavenly powers cried out triumphantly: O giver of life, Christ our God, glory to you.

Apolytikion for Sun. before Nativity in the Second Mode

How great is the pow'r of faith. By faith three young men rejoice in flames as if in refreshing water, and Daniel in the lions' den is like a shepherd with his sheep. Through their prayers, Christ our God, save our souls.

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 Third Mode

On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God.
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Wisdom of the Fathers

Great indeed was the faith of Abraham. . . It was necessary to go beyond human reasoning. . . to manifest also something more.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily XXV on Hebrews XI, 1,2. translation found in The Bible and the Holy Fathers for Orthodox, Monastery Books, St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, Crestwood, NY 2003, p. 955., 4th Century

Pray, my brethren, to the Mother of God when the storm of enmity and malice bursts forth in your house. She, Who is all-merciful and all-powerful, can easily pacify the hearts of men. Peace and love proceed from the one God, as from their Source, and Our Lady - in God, as the Mother of Christ the Peace, is zealous, and prays for the peace of the whole world, and above all - of all Christians.
St. John of Kronstadt
My Life in Christ: Part 1, Holy Trinity Monastery pg. 179, 19th century

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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
December 18

Sebastian the Martyr & his Companions

This Saint, who was from the city of Milan, was a member of the Senate as well as a zealot for the Faith of Christ, and had converted many to the knowledge of God. When Diocletian and Maximian began a Persecution against the Christians, Saint Sebastian was arrested and pierced with sharp arrows, and the bones of his body were shattered with clubs; and being cut into pieces, he gave up his spirit to God in the year 288. Together with him there were others also who died while enduring various tortures. Their names are Marcellinus and Mark the brethren, Tranquillinus their father, Nicostratus and his spouse Zoe, Tiburtius, Claudius, Castulus, and Castor.


Allsaint
December 19

Martyrs Boniface, Probus, Ares, Timothy, Polyeuktos, Eutychios and Thessaloniki

This Saint, who lived during the reign of Diocletian, was the servant of a certain Roman woman of senatorial rank named Aglais. Mistress and servant lived together in an unlawful union, and Boniface was moreover given to drunkenness and riotous living. Nevertheless, he was generous to the poor, hospitable to strangers, and compassionate to those in misfortune. At last, Aglais, moved at hearing the accounts of the Martyrs, and believing in the power of their intercessions to obtain the mercy of God, sent Boniface to Tarsus to obtain relics of holy Martyrs. Before he departed, he asked her in jest, "And what if they bring back my body as holy relics?" He then set out with some of his fellow slaves for Cilicia, where the Saints were contesting in martyrdom. As he went among the Martyrs and encouraged them in their pains he was arrested by the ruler and confessed Christ with boldness, and suffered death as a martyr in the year 290. Thus what he had said in jest to his mistress was fulfilled when he himself was brought back to her as sacred relics by his fellow servants. Saint Aglais devoted the remainder, of her life to prayer and works of virtue, and reposed in sanctity. Saint Boniface is especially invoked for help against the passion of drinking.


20_ignatius2
December 20

Ignatius the God-Bearer, Bishop of Antioch

Saint Ignatius was a disciple of Saint John the Theologian, and a successor of the Apostles, and he became the second Bishop of Antioch, after Evodus. He wrote many epistles to the faithful, strengthening them in their confession, and preserving for us the teachings of the holy Apostles. Brought to Rome under Trajan, he was surrendered to lions to be eaten, and so finished the course of martyrdom about the year 107. The remnants of his bones were carefully gathered by the faithful and brought to Antioch. He is called God-bearer, as one who bare God within himself and was aflame in heart with love for Him. Therefore, in his Epistle to the Romans (ch. 4), imploring their love not to attempt to deliver him from his longed-for martyrdom, he said, "I am the wheat of God, and am ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found to be the pure bread of God."


Allsaint
December 21

Juliana of Nicomedia & her 630 Companion Martyrs

Saint Juliana, who was from Nicomedia, lived during the years of Maximian and was the daughter of wealthy parents. They were pagans, but she was secretly a Christian. Without consulting her, her parents betrothed her to an idolater named Eleusius, who was a member of the Senate. She, not wishing to marry him, told him that unless he became eparch, she would not marry him. When he had obtained this position, she told him that unless he renounced the religion of the idols and became a Christian, she would have nothing to do with him. Eleusius then told Juliana's father of this. He attempted to turn her from the Faith of Christ, but when he saw that she could not change her constancy, he gave her up to the Eparch, Eleusius her betrothed, to be tried according to the law. When he could not persuade her to do his will, he subjected her to the most inhuman tortures and after imprisoning her, cast her into a furnace. But by the grace of God, the furnace was marvellousy quenched. Seeing this, some five hundred men and one hundred and thirty women believed in Christ and were beheaded for His sake. After further torments, she was beheaded, in the year 299.


22_anastasia3
December 22

Anastasia the Great Martyr

This Saint, who was from Rome, was a most comely, wealthy, and virtuous maiden, the daughter of Praepextatus and Fausta. It was her mother who instructed her in the Faith of Christ. The Saint was joined to a man named Publius Patricius, who was prodigal in life and impious in disposition, but she was widowed after a short time. Henceforth, she went about secretly to the dwellings of the poor and the prisons where the Martyrs of Christ were, and brought them whatever was needed for their daily subsistence. She washed their wounds and loosed them from their fetters, and consoled them in their anguish. Also, because the Saint, through her intercessions, has healed many from the ill effects of spells, potions, poisons, and other harmful substances, she has received the name "Deliverer from Potions." Since the fame of her deeds had spread about, she was arrested by Diocletian's minions, and after enduring many torments she was put to death by fire in the year 290.


Tencrete
December 23

Ten Martyrs of Crete

These Saints, who were all from Crete, contested for piety's sake during the reign of Decius, in the year 250. Theodulus, Saturninus, Euporus, Gelasius, and Eunician were from Gortynia, the capital; Zoticus was from Knossos; Agathopus, from the port city of Panormus; Basilides, from Cydonia; Evarestus and Pompey, from Heraklion. Haled before the Governor as Christians, they were subjected to torments for thirty days, being scourged, racked, dragged upon the ground through dung heaps, stoned, spit upon. They were questioned again, but their costancy roused the Governor to greater fury. After subjecting them to torments more bitter still, he had them beheaded.


Eugenia
December 24

Eugenia the Righteous Nun-martyr of Rome and those with her

This Martyr was the daughter of most distinguished and noble parents named Philip and Claudia. Philip, a Prefect of Rome, moved to Alexandria with his family. In Alexandria, Eugenia had the occasion to learn the Christian Faith, in particular when she encountered the Epistles of Saint Paul, the reading of which filled her with compunction and showed her clearly the vanity of the world. Secretly taking two of her servants, Protas and Hyacinth, she departed from Alexandria by night. Disguised as a man, she called herself Eugene while pretending to be a eunuch, and departed with her servants and took up the monastic life in a monastery of men. Her parents mourned for her, but could not find her. After Saint Eugenia had laboured for some time in the monastic life, a certain woman named Melanthia, thinking Eugenia to be a monk, conceived lust and constrained Eugenia to comply with her desire; when Eugenia refused, Melanthia slandered Eugenia to the Prefect as having done insult to her honour. Eugenia was brought before the Prefect, her own father Philip, and revealed to him both that she was innocent of the accusations, and that she was his own daughter. Through this, Philip became a Christian; he was afterwards beheaded at Alexandria. Eugenia was taken back to Rome with Protas and Hyacinth. All three of them ended their life in martyrdom in the years of Commodus, who reigned from 180 to 192.


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