Transfiguration of Our Saviour Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-09-07
Bulletin Contents
Announcements
Weekly Inserts
Weekly Calendar
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Hymns of the Day
Wisdom of the Fathers
Saints and Feasts

Organization Icon
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

Proistamenos Fr. Gregory Floor


[email protected] | 978-458-4321

Fr. John Vaporis


[email protected]

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. and 7:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m.

Past Bulletins


Announcements

FELLOWSHIP

Today's Fellowship is being sponsored in loving memory of Angie Rigs. We welcome everyone to join us for Fellowship Coffee Hour following Liturgy.

 

BASIL NEEDED FOR ELEVATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

Elevation of the Holy Cross will be celebrated on September 14th and September 15th.  Basil will be needed.  If you have any extra in your garden or want to grab a pot at Market Basket, we welcome any donation.

 

RESTORATION PROJECT UPDATE

  • The “Stained Glass Project” is underway.  The damaged plexiglass protecting our stained glass will be removed and replaced with a state-of-the-art product.  This will allow our beautiful stained glass to be viewed from the “outside” of our church.  The windows will be resealed, correcting a source of water infiltration. We invite you all to view the stunning improvement!
  • The “Paving Project”.  Next steps. The “painting of parking spaces" in the back lot is scheduled to be completed by Sunday.  We are anticipating the project will move to the side and upper lots on Monday, September 8th. Please be prepared to park in the back starting Monday. The Salem St. gate will be open.
  • With the “rear sidewalk project” complete, we move to the front. The “front sidewalk project” is being done by the city of Lowell. They are expecting to start the project within the next week.

 

REGISTER NOW – TRANSFIGURATION CHURCH FAMILY RETREAT

All are welcome to the Transfiguration Church Family Retreat, which will be at the St. Methodios Faith and Heritage Center, Contoocook, NH, September 19th – 21st.  Please refer to the attached flyer or the one in the Narthex for details. You can use the QR code on the flyer or this link to register for the retreat. Transfiguration Lowell Parish Retreat Registration 2025

SUNDAY SCHOOL BEGINS SEPTEMBER 28.

We welcome all children from grades pre-K to 12 to learn together about our Orthodox Faith, and to build lasting friendships. We look forward to seeing all of the children again.  

There will be a Sunday School-sponsored luncheon following Divine Liturgy to welcome back all students and their families. Parent may register their child by using the following link Transfiguration Sunday School Registration 2025-2026.

 

SAVE THE DATE- GOLF TOURNAMENT

Our 15th Annual Golf Tournament is on October 27, 2025, at the Indian Ridge Country Club in Andover. 

Please support our Golf Tournament by putting together a foursome or by becoming a golf sponsor. Unable to join us for golf? You are welcome to join us for dinner. The cost for dinner is $50 per person with appetizers beginning at 4:30 pm, followed by dinner at 5:00 pm.

 

STEWARDSHIP UPDATE THROUGH JULY 31ST 

THANKS to your generous “Stewardship Treasure Treasure” donations, we have covered 51% of our operating expenses through July. This is a favorable increase from the 49% of last month and significantly ahead of last year's pace of 45%. Our goal is to cover 100% of our expenses with Stewardship Treasure, thus allowing us to use special event fundraising for our ministries.

Our 2025 Stewardship continues to grow. Through July, we have 262 Stewardship families, which is ahead of July 2024, of 248 families. God willing, we will continue our climb to exceed the 2024 total of 300 Stewardship families.                                                                                            

 

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

♥ Thank you to those who have continued to donate Market Basket gift cards for those in need. These donations are greatly appreciated! We have received several cards without amounts written on them. Please note the amount of the gift card on the cards donated. 

 

  

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 Peter Cakounes - from his loving wife Sophia Cakounes and family
†Vigil Light at the Icon of Christ: In Loving Memory of Deborah Victoria Skrekas and George and Avra 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 Angelike Flanagan
†Vigil Light at the Foot of the Holy Cross: In Loving Memory of George Tsoukalas - from his family
 

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Weekly Inserts

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Weekly Calendar

Sunday, September 7  SUNDAY BEFORE HOLY CROSS
†Orthros, 8:30 am
†Liturgy, 9:30 am
1 Year Memorial for Angie Rigs
Monthly Trisagion

 

Monday, September 8
Nativity of the Theotokos
†Orthros, 8:30 am
†Liturgy, 9:30 am

Wednesday, September 10
Philoptochos Tea Meeting, 6:30 pm

Sunday, September 14  THE ELEVATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
†Orthros, 8:30 am
†Liturgy, 9:30 am
Hellenic College/Holy Cross basket collection

 

 

TODAY’S PARISH COUNCIL:  Ann Marie Stelman, Olivia Sintros & Philip Eliopoulos


UPCOMING EVENTS



September 17
St. Sophia and her daughters - Liturgy (chapel), 9:30 am

 

September 19 - 21
Transfiguration Church Family Retreat @Contoocook, NH

September 21
Sunday After Holy Cross

 

September 23
Philoptochos General Meeting
Potluck, 6:30 pm
Business Meeting, 7:00 pm


September 28
First Sunday of Luke
First Day of Sunday School and Welcome Back Cookout
Capital Campaign Kickoff
GOYA S'mores at the Floors, 6:00 pm


October 4
Metropolis Clergy-Laity Conference


October 5
Second Sunday of Luke
Monthly Trisagion

 

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18.

Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Gospel Reading

Sunday before Holy Cross
The Reading is from John 3:13-17

The Lord said, "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

The joyful news of your resurrection was proclaimed by the angel to the women disciples. Having thrown off the curse that fell on Adam, they ran elatedly to tell the apostles: Death has been vanquished; Christ our God is risen from the dead, blessing all the world with his great mercy.

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Kevin Lawrence


Apolytikion for Theotokos' Nativity Forefeast in the Fourth Mode

Today from the stem of Jesse and from the Ioins of David is born unto us Mary the divine Maiden. Wherefore, all creation rejoiceth and is rejuvenated; heaven and earth together are joyful. Wherefore, O ye tribes of the nations, praise her for Joachim rejoiceth and Anne celebrateth, crying, The barren shall give birth to the Theotokos who nourisheth our life.

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America


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

Today the virgin Theotokos, Mary, the fortified chamber of the heavenly groom, is born by the will of God of a barren woman, being prepared as a chariot for God the Word for to this she had been foredestined, since she is the divine gate and the Mother of Life in truth.

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America


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Wisdom of the Fathers

Our Redeemer and Maker, Who was Son of God before the ages, became Son of Man at the end of ages. Thus the One Who, through the power of His divinity, had created us to enjoy the happiness of everlasting life, might Himself restore us, through the weakness of our humanity, to recover the life we had lost.
St. Bede the Venerable
Homilies on the Gospels, 2.18. 7th Century. Taken from: Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol: John 1-10. Intervarsity Press, 2006, p. 126.

For since Nicodemus had said, "We know that Thou art a teacher come from God," on this very point He sets him right, all but saying, "Think Me not a teacher in such manner as were the many of the prophets who were of earth, for I have come from heaven (but) now. None of the prophets hath ascended up thither, but I dwell there."
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 27 on John 3, 4th Century

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Saints and Feasts

September 07

Sozon the Martyr

This holy Martyr was a shepherd in Lycaonia. Born a pagan, named Tarasius, he received holy Baptism and was renamed Sozon. Filled with zeal for the truth, he taught his countrymen to desist from the worship of idols. Once he entered the temple of Artemis in Pompeiopolis of Cilicia, cut off the golden hand of the idol, and breaking it in pieces, distributed it among the poor. When he saw that many were being unjustly punished for the theft, of his own accord he gave himself up to Maximian the Governor. He was beaten with rods until his bones were broken. According to some, he suffered martyrdom in 288; according to others, in 304.

September 08

The Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary

According to the ancient tradition of the Church, the Theotokos was born of barren and aged parents, Joachim and Anna, about the year 16 or 17 before the birth of Christ. Joachim was descended from the royal line of David, of the tribe of Judah. Anna was of the priestly tribe of Levi, a daughter of the priest Matthan and Mary, his wife.

September 09

The Holy & Righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna

Today, the day following the Nativity of the most holy Theotokos, we celebrate the synaxis of Saints Joachim and Anna, honouring them as her parents.

September 10

Menodora, Metrodora, & Nymphodora the Martyrs

These Martyrs, sisters according to the flesh, were from Bithynia. They lived in virginity on a mountain near the Pythian hot springs of Bithynia, devoting themselves to asceticism and prayer. Betrayed to the local governor, Fronto, they were subjected to frightful tortures, and so gave up their holy souls into the hands of God. They contested for the Faith during the reign of Maximian, in the year 304.

September 11

Theodora the Martyr of Alexandria

This saint lived in the fifth century. Out of remorse for the adultery that she committed with another man, she fled from her husband's house, renamed herself Theodore, clothed herself as a man, and pretending to be a eunuch, entered a monastery of men. Her identity as a woman was discovered only after her death.

September 12

Autonomos the Martyr

This saint was a bishop in Italy. Fleeing from the persecution of Diocletian in 298, he came to Bithynia, where he went from place to place converting many from the idols to the true God. Because of this, one day as he was celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Archangels, they who worshipped wood and stones fell upon him and beat him to death with staves and stones.

September 13

The Consecration of the Church of the Holy Resurrection (Holy Sepulchre)

The church that is honoured far above all others is that of the Holy Resurrection, which Saint Constantine the Great constructed at the place of Golgotha, where our Saviour was crucified and buried. For a long time this place had been purposely buried beneath the earth by the Jews and heathen; furthermore, during the reign of Hadrian (117-138), a temple dedicated to Aphrodite was built over the site so that this sacred place might be even further desecrated and fall into utter oblivion. It was here that the Cross was hidden. However, at the command of the pious Emperor Constantine, excavations were made and the tokens of the saving Passion were found. It was here, then, that the very great and magnificent temple named in honour of Christ God's Resurrection-the Anastasis-was built under the supervision of the blessed Helen, while Dracilian was Eparch of Palestine and Macarius was Archbishop of Jerusalem. It was the latter, also, who exalted the venerable Cross and performed the consecration of this temple in the year 336.

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