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Transfiguration of Our Saviour Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-02-18
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Allsaint
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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

Everyone is welcome to join us for Fellowship following Liturgy.

TRANSFIGURATION TRIVIA 1924-2024

Did you know the Transfiguration Church men’s basketball team formed during the time of Fr. Constantinides was proclaimed the City’s Amateur Champions for the 1926-1927 season?

YOUTH MINISTRY

Family Fun Night – Our next Family Fun Night will be held on February 23rd from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm and will include an evening of family fun and making your own slime, pizza, and more.  Please join us for Faith, Fun and Fellowship. You can register by scanning the QR code on the flyer in the Narthex.

Lenten Retreat – This year’s Lenten Retreat will be held on March 23rd following Liturgy.  There will be more information coming soon.

Altar Boy Retreat – This year’s Altar Boy Retreat will be held on April 6th.  There will be more information coming soon.

100TH ANNIVERSARY

SAVE THE DATE - March 10th, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm to attend an exciting exhibit and media presentation of 100 YEARS OF MEMORIES. Mark your calendars!

PHILOPTOCHOS MEMBERSHIP

It's that time of the year to renew your Philoptochos membership and stay connected! Your continued support is vital in ensuring the success of our initiatives.  New members are encouraged to join.  Membership forms are in the mail.  Questions?  Contact Membership Chair Nancy Lane dclane7@verizon.net or President Angela Hastings ahastings1950@gmail.com

FREE ITEMS

Take a look at the table set up in the lower lobby. Feel free to take any of the items.

SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ORATORICAL FESTIVAL

This year's SJCOF has kicked off for students in grades 7-12. Parish level speeches will be held on Sunday, April 7, immediately following Divine Liturgy. All youth are encouraged to take advantage of  this exciting opportunity to develop critical thinking and the art of public speaking centered around our faith in today's world. 

LEAVE A BRICK CAMPAIGN

You may have noticed the 4X8 and 8X8 bricks at the entrance. The bricks date back to when the building committee began the planning for the Family Life Center. Installing bricks beneath the front portico and in the rear of the center leading to the back door would be a wonderful way to allow our parishioners to participate in bricks inscribed with the names of family and friends.

The bricks can provide a family name or a special remembrance for memorials, christenings, birthdays or anniversaries. The bricks will last a lifetime and will always be a part of the entrance to our church.

If you are interested in having a brick inscribed, please contact the church office for an order form. The cost of the bricks is $125.00 for a 4X8 inscribed brick and $225 for an 8X8 inscribed brick.

 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 Irene Gkolias, 11 year anniversary
Vigil Light at the Icon of Christ: In Loving Memory of Deborah Victoria Skrekas and George Skrekas
Vigil Light at the Icon of Christ (2nd): In Loving Memory of Angelike Flanagan – from her daughter
†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 CrossIn Loving Memory of George Tsoukalas - from his family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Weekly Inserts

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Weekly Calendar

Sunday, February 18   SUNDAY OF THE CANAANITE
†Orthros, 8:30 am
†Liturgy, 9:30 am

Monday, February 19
President's Day - (office closed)

Tuesday, February 20                         
Community Kitchen, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Friday, February 23
Family Fun Night, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Sunday, February 25 SUNDAY OF THE PUBLICAN & PHARISEE 
†Orthros, 8:30 am
†Liturgy, 9:30 am
Triodion Begins

TODAY’S PARISH COUNCIL: Carl Maib, Stephanie Gulezian & Ellen Dobi

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 3      
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Monthly Trisagion
6 Month Memorial for George Eliopoulos
11 Year Memorial for Michael Eliopoulos                         

March 9
1st Saturday of Souls, 9:30 am

March 10
Judgement Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
40 Day Memorial for Christine Stamas
5 Year Memorial for Joan Pappas
Memorial for Gus Pappas
100 Years of Memories, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

March 12
Parish Council Meeting, 6:30 pm

March 16
2nd Saturday of Souls, 9:30 am

March 17
Forgiveness Sunday (Cheesefare Sunday)
Forgiveness Vespers, 6:00 pm

March 18
Compline, 6:00 pm

March 19
Community Kitchen, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

March 20                             
PreSanctified Liturgy – Meal to follow, 6:00 pm

March 22                              
Salutations, 6:00 pm

March 23                             
3rd Saturday of Souls, 9:30 am
Lenten Retreat following Liturgy

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1.

Brethren, you are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Canaanite
The Reading is from Matthew 15:21-28

At that time, Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.


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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.

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

She had a great perfection of faith. She had no uncertainty about His divine majesty. She had no small measure of the virtue of patience. Yet the pitying Physician of the pitiful disdained her petitions. He kept her waiting for answer in order to demonstrate to us the perseverence of this woman that we can always imitate. She had the characteristics of constancy and humility. She willingly embraced the indignity she received, and even confirmed the Lord`s statement. This woman rightly signifies the faith and devotion of the Church gathered from the nations
Saint Bede
Hom. I. 22, In Lent, Homilies on the Gospels, Bk. One, 216, 217.

He kept her waiting for an answer in order to declare that the minds of His disciples should also be merciful. As human beings they were ashamed of the clamor of the woman as she pursued them publicly, but He Himself knew the character of His mercy.
St. Bede
Hom. I. 22, In Lent, Homilies on the Gospels, Bk. One, 216

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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
February 18

Leo the Great, Pope of Rome

According to some, this Saint was born in Rome, but according to others in Tyrrenia (Tuscany), and was consecrated to the archiepiscopal throne of Rome in 440. In 448, when Saint Flavian, Archbishop of Constantinople, summoned Eutyches, an archimandrite in Constantinople, to give account for his teaching that there was only one nature in Christ after the Incarnation, Eutyches appealed to Saint Leo in Rome. After Saint Leo had carefully examined Eutyches's teachings, he wrote an epistle to Saint Flavian, setting forth the Orthodox teaching of the person of Christ, and His two natures, and also counseling Flavian that, should Eutyches sincerely repent of his error, he should be received back with all good will. At the Council held in Ephesus in 449, which was presided over by Dioscorus, Patriarch of Alexandria (and which Saint Leo, in a letter to the holy Empress Pulcheria in 451, was the first to call "The Robber Council"), Dioscorus, having military might behind him, did not allow Saint Leo's epistle to Flavian to be read, although repeatedly asked to do so; even before the Robber Council was held, Dioscorus had uncanonically received the unrepentant Eutyches back into communion. Because Saint Leo had many cares in Rome owing to the wars of Attila the Hun and other barbarians, in 451 he sent four delegates to the Fourth Ecumenical Council, where 630 Fathers gathered in Chalcedon during the reign of Marcian, to condemn the teachings of Eutyches and those who supported him. Saint Leo's epistle to Flavian was read at the Fourth Council, and was confirmed by the Holy Fathers as the Orthodox teaching on the incarnate person of our Lord; it is also called the "Tome of Leo." The Saint wrote many works in Latin; he reposed in 461. See also Saint Anatolius, July 3.


Philothea
February 19

Philothea the Righteous Martyr of Athens

Saint Philothei was born in Athens in 1522 to an illustrious family. Against her will, she was married to a man who proved to be most cruel. When he died three years later, the Saint took up the monastic life and established a convent, in which she became a true mother to her disciples. Many women enslaved and abused by the Moslem Turks also ran to her for refuge. Because of this, the Turkish rulers became enraged and came to her convent, dragged her by force out of the church, and beat her cruelly. After a few days, she reposed, giving thanks to God for all things. This came to pass in the year 1589. She was renowned for her almsgiving, and with Saints Hierotheus and Dionysius the Areopagite is considered a patron of the city of Athens.


Allsaint
February 20

Leo, Bishop of Catania

This Saint, who was from Ravenna in Italy, lived during the reign of Leo the Wise and his son Constantine Porphyrogenitus (end of the ninth and beginning of the tenth centuries). He struggled especially against the paganism and sorcery still prevalent in those regions.


Allsaint
February 21

Timothy the Righteous

Saint Timothy took up the monastic life from his youth, became a vessel of the Holy Spirit, and reposed in deep old age.


Allsaint
February 22

Finding of the Relics of the Holy Martyrs of Eugenios

The holy relics of these Saints were found in the quarter of Constantinople called Eugenius when Thomas was Patriarch of that city (607-610).


Allsaint
February 23

Polycarp the Holy Martyr & Bishop of Smyrna

This apostolic and prophetic man, and model of faith and truth, was a disciple of John the Evangelist, successor of Bucolus (Feb. 6), and teacher of Irenaeus (Aug. 23). He was an old man and full of days when the fifth persecution was raised against the Christians under Marcus Aurelius. When his pursuers, sent by the ruler, found Polycarp, he commanded that they be given something to eat and drink, then asked them to give him an hour to pray; he stood and prayed, full of grace, for two hours, so that his captors repented that they had come against so venerable a man. He was brought by the Proconsul of Smyrna into the stadium and was commanded, "Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and say, 'Away with the atheists.'" By atheists, the Proconsul meant the Christians. But Polycarp, gazing at the heathen in the stadium, waved his hand towards them and said, "Away with the atheists." When the Proconsul urged him to blaspheme against Christ, he said: "I have been serving Christ for eighty-six years, and He has wronged me in nothing; how can I blaspheme my King Who has saved me?" But the tyrant became enraged at these words and commanded that he be cast into the fire, and thus he gloriously expired about the year 163. As Eusebius says, "Polycarp everywhere taught what he had also learned from the Apostles, which also the Church has handed down; and this alone is true" (Eccl. Hist., Book IV, ch. 14,15).


07_john2
February 24

First & Second Finding of the Venerable Head of John the Baptist

The first finding came to pass during the middle years of the fourth century, through a revelation of the holy Forerunner to two monks, who came to Jerusalem to worship our Saviour's Tomb. One of them took the venerable head in a clay jar to Emesa in Syria. After his death it went from the hands of one person to another, until it came into the possession of a certain priest-monk named Eustathius, an Arian. Because he ascribed to his own false belief the miracles wrought through the relic of the holy Baptist, he was driven from the cave in which he dwelt, and by dispensation forsook the holy head, which was again made known through a revelation of Saint John, and was found in a water jar, about the year 430, in the days of the Emperor Theodosius the Younger, when Uranius was Bishop of Emesa.


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