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Annunciation Church
Publish Date: 2020-02-02
Bulletin Contents
Preslord
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Annunciation Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (603) 742-7667
  • Street Address:

  • 93 Locust Street

  • Dover, NH 03820


Contact Information



Services Schedule

Matins
9:00 am

Liturgy
10:00 am

 



Other Parish Info
Directions: from Boston - take Rte 95 into NH, bear left on Rte 16 in Portsmouth, get off at Exit 8E for downtown Dover and turn left at the second light on Locust St. (follow public library sign). Go past the church on your left and turn left into the public library parking.

Father's Office Hours: M,T,W,& Fr 10:00am - 4pm
Secretary Office Hours: Mon-Fri  9:30am - 12:30pm


Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Tone

You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and condescended to be buried for three days, so that from the passions You might set us free. Our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory be to You.
Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν καταδέξω τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ Ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for Presentation of Our Lord in the First Tone

Lady full of grace, rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, for Christ our God, the Sun of righteousness has risen from you and He illumined those in darkness. And you, righteous Elder, be glad in heart, receiving in your embraces the One who liberates our souls and bestows on us the Resurrection.
Χαῖρε κεχαριτωμένη Θεοτόκε Παρθένε, ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἀνέτειλεν ὁ Ἥλιος τῆς δικαιοσύνης, Χριστὸς ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, φωτίζων τοὺς ἐν σκότει. Εὐφραίνου καὶ σὺ Πρεσβύτα δίκαιε, δεξάμενος ἐν ἀγκάλαις τὸν ἐλευθερωτὴν τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν, χαριζόμενος ἡμῖν καὶ τὴν Ἀνάστασιν.

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Tone

Your birth sanctified a Virgin's womb and properly blessed the hands of Symeon. Having now come and saved us O Christ our God, give peace to Your commonwealth in troubled times and strengthen those in authority, whom You love, as only the loving One.
Ὁ μήτραν παρθενικὴν ἁγιάσας τῶ τόκω σου, καὶ χείρας τοῦ Συμεὼν εὐλογήσας ὡς ἔπρεπε, προφθάσας καὶ νὺν ἔσωσας ἡμᾶς Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός. Ἀλλ' εἰρήνευσον ἐν πολέμοις τὸ πολίτευμα, καὶ κραταίωσον Βασιλεῖς οὓς ἠγάπησας, ὁ μόνος φιλάνθρωπος.
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Prayer List

Please pray for our brothers and sisters: James,  Elizabeth, Tom, Kostas,   Alexandra, Rita, Connor, James,  Peter,  Vasili, Sophia, Rachel, Nicole,  Christine,  Michael, Irina,  Abigail, Shirley,  Christopher, Malina, Andrew, Vera, Erin, Paula,  Milton, Galini, Yevgeniy, Alexey, Nadia, Vasiliki, Diane, Deborah, Phillip,  Jim,  Jave, Demetrios, Kathy, Elaina,  Panagiota, Conan, John, Jo Anne, Bill, James, Colleen, Barbara, Theophana, Paul, Tasso, Roula, Thomas,  Jim, Prescott, Sze, Prudence, Brittany, Dionysios, Konstantinos, Evangelia, Nikolaos, Penny, Taki, Maki, Andre, Pavlos, Stephanie, Phyllis, Ed, Bettyann, George, Althea, Sofia, Irina, Ava Maria,  Maria, Jennifer, Anthony, John.

If you or a loved one is going through a difficult time and would like the community to pray for you, please call the office and request to be added on the prayer list.  We will list the first names only in the weekly bulletin for six months, or until you ask to be removed from the list.  I will also make a special mention of the Orthodox names at the Proskomede. 

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Saints and Feasts

Preslord
February 02

The Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple

When the most pure Mother and Ever-Virgin Mary's forty days of purification had been fulfilled, she took her first-born Son to Jerusalem on this, the fortieth day after His birth, that she might present Him in the temple according to the Law of Moses, which teaches that every first-born male child be dedicated to God, and also that she might offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons, as required by the Law (Luke 2:22-24; Exod. 13:2; Lev. 12:6-8). On this same day, a just and devout man, the greatly aged Symeon, was also present in the temple, being guided by the Holy Spirit. For a long time, this man had been awaiting the salvation of God, and he had been informed by divine revelation that he would not die until he beheld the Lord's Christ. Thus, when he beheld Him at that time and took Him up into his aged arms, he gave glory to God, singing: "Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, O Master. . ." And he confessed that he would close his eyes joyfully, since he had seen the Light of revelation for the nations and the Glory of Israel (Luke 2:25-32). From ancient times, the Holy Church has retained this tradition of the churching of the mother and new-born child on the fortieth day and of the reading of prayers of purification.

The Apodosis of the Feast of the Meeting in the Temple is usually on the 9th of February. This, however, may vary if the Feast falls within the period of the Triodion. Should this occur, the Typicon should be consulted for specific information concerning the Apodosis of the Feast.


Agatha
February 05

Agatha the Martyr

This Martyr, who was from Panormus (that is, Palermo) or perhaps Catania of Sicily, was a most comely and chaste virgin. After many exceedingly harsh torments, she gave up her spirit in prison at Catania in 251, because she did not consent to the seductions of Quintian, the Governor of Sicily. At her burial, an Angel placed a stone tablet on her grave inscribed with the words, "A righteous mind, self-determining, honor from God, the deliverance of her father-land." The following year this was fulfilled when Mount Etna erupted, spewing forth violent fire from which Catania was manifestly saved by Saint Agatha's prayers. The holy Martyr Agatha, the protectress and chief patroness of Sicily, is, with perhaps the exception of Saint Agnes of Rome, the most highly venerated Virgin Martyr of the West. Saint Damasus, Pope of Rome, and Saint Ambrose of Milan both wrote in praise of her.


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Third Tone. Luke 1: 46-48.
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Verse: For he has regarded the humility of his servant.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 7:7-17.

BRETHREN, it is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. Here tithes are received by mortal men; there, by one whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."

Προκείμενον. Third Tone. Λουκάν 1:46-48.
Μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν Κύριον, καὶ ἠγαλλίασε τὸ πνεῦμά μου ἐπὶ τῷ Θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρί μου.
Στίχ. Ὅτι ἐπέβλεψεν ἐπὶ τὴν ταπείνωσιν τῆς δούλης αὐτοῦ.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 7:7-17.

Ἀδελφοί, χωρὶς δὲ πάσης ἀντιλογίας, τὸ ἔλαττον ὑπὸ τοῦ κρείττονος εὐλογεῖται. Καὶ ὧδε μὲν δεκάτας ἀποθνῄσκοντες ἄνθρωποι λαμβάνουσιν· ἐκεῖ δέ, μαρτυρούμενος ὅτι ζῇ. Καί, ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν, διὰ Ἀβραὰμ καὶ Λευῒ ὁ δεκάτας λαμβάνων δεδεκάτωται· ἔτι γὰρ ἐν τῇ ὀσφύϊ τοῦ πατρὸς ἦν, ὅτε συνήντησεν αὐτῷ ὁ Μελχισεδέκ. Εἰ μὲν οὖν τελείωσις διὰ τῆς Λευϊτικῆς ἱερωσύνης ἦν - ὁ λαὸς γὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτῇ νενομοθέτητο - τίς ἔτι χρεία, κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδὲκ ἕτερον ἀνίστασθαι ἱερέα, καὶ οὐ κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Ἀαρὼν λέγεσθαι; Μετατιθεμένης γὰρ τῆς ἱερωσύνης, ἐξ ἀνάγκης καὶ νόμου μετάθεσις γίνεται. Ἐφʼ ὃν γὰρ λέγεται ταῦτα, φυλῆς ἑτέρας μετέσχηκεν, ἀφʼ ἧς οὐδεὶς προσέσχηκεν τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ. Πρόδηλον γὰρ ὅτι ἐξ Ἰούδα ἀνατέταλκεν ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν, εἰς ἣν φυλὴν οὐδὲν περὶ ἱερωσύνης Μωϋσῆς ἐλάλησεν. Καὶ περισσότερον ἔτι κατάδηλόν ἐστιν, εἰ κατὰ τὴν ὁμοιότητα Μελχισεδὲκ ἀνίσταται ἱερεὺς ἕτερος, ὃς οὐ κατὰ νόμον ἐντολῆς σαρκικῆς γέγονεν, ἀλλὰ κατὰ δύναμιν ζωῆς ἀκαταλύτου· μαρτυρεῖ γὰρ ὅτι Σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδέκ.


Gospel Reading

The Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple
The Reading is from Luke 2:22-40

At that time, the parents brought the child Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons." Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Symeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

"Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Symeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

The Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 2:22-40

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἀνήγαγον αὐτὸν εἰς ῾Ιεροσόλυμα παραστῆσαι τῷ Κυρίῳ, καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν νόμῳ Κυρίου ὅτι πᾶν ἄρσεν διανοῖγον μήτραν ἅγιον τῷ Κυρίῳ κληθήσεται, καὶ τοῦ δοῦναι θυσίαν κατὰ τὸ εἰρημένον ἐν νόμῳ Κυρίου, ζεῦγος τρυγόνων ἢ δύο νεοσσοὺς περιστερῶν. Καὶ ἰδοὺ ἦν ἄνθρωπος ἐν ῾Ιεροσολύμοις ᾧ ὄνομα Συμεών, καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος δίκαιος καὶ εὐλαβής, προσδεχόμενος παράκλησιν τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ Πνεῦμα ἦν ῞Αγιον ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν· καὶ ἦν αὐτῷ κεχρηματισμένον ὑπὸ τοῦ Πνεύματος τοῦ ῾Αγίου μὴ ἰδεῖν θάνατον πρὶν ἢ ἴδῃ τὸν Χριστὸν Κυρίου. καὶ ἦλθεν ἐν τῷ Πνεύματι εἰς τὸ ἱερόν· καὶ ἐν τῷ εἰσαγαγεῖν τοὺς γονεῖς τὸ παιδίον ᾿Ιησοῦν τοῦ ποιῆσαι αὐτοὺς κατὰ τὸ εἰθισμένον τοῦ νόμου περὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐδέξατο αὐτὸν εἰς τὰς ἀγκάλας αὐτοῦ καὶ εὐλόγησε τὸν Θεὸν καὶ εἶπε·

νῦν ἀπολύεις τὸν δοῦλόν σου, δέσποτα, κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου ἐν εἰρήνῃ, ὅτι εἶδον οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου τὸ σωτήριόν σου, ὃ ἡτοίμασας κατὰ πρόσωπον πάντων τῶν λαῶν, φῶς εἰς ἀποκάλυψιν ἐθνῶν καὶ δόξαν λαοῦ σου ᾿Ισραήλ.

καὶ ἦν ᾿Ιωσὴφ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ θαυμάζοντες ἐπὶ τοῖς λαλουμένοις περὶ αὐτοῦ. καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτοὺς Συμεὼν καὶ εἶπε πρὸς Μαριὰμ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ· ἰδοὺ οὗτος κεῖται εἰς πτῶσιν καὶ ἀνάστασιν πολλῶν ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ εἰς σημεῖον ἀντιλεγόμενον. καὶ σοῦ δὲ αὐτῆς τὴν ψυχὴν διελεύσεται ῥομφαία, ὅπως ἂν ἀποκαλυφθῶσιν ἐκ πολλῶν καρδιῶν διαλογισμοί. Καὶ ἦν ῎Αννα προφῆτις, θυγάτηρ Φανουήλ, ἐκ φυλῆς ᾿Ασήρ· αὕτη προβεβηκυῖα ἐν ἡμέραις πολλαῖς, ζήσασα ἔτη μετὰ ἀνδρὸς ἑπτὰ ἀπὸ τῆς παρθενίας αὐτῆς, καὶ αὐτὴ χήρα ὡς ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων, ἣ οὐκ ἀφίστατο ἀπὸ τοῦ ἱεροῦ νηστείαις καὶ δεήσεσι λατρεύουσα νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν· καὶ αὕτη αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ ἐπιστᾶσα ἀνθωμολογεῖτο τῷ Κυρίῳ καὶ ἐλάλει περὶ αὐτοῦ πᾶσι τοῖς προσδεχομένοις λύτρωσιν ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλήμ. Καὶ ὡς ἐτέλεσαν ἅπαντα τὰ κατὰ τὸν νόμον Κυρίου, ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἑαυτῶν Ναζαρέτ. Τὸ δὲ παιδίον ηὔξανε καὶ ἐκραταιοῦτο πνεύματι πληρούμενον σοφίας, καὶ χάρις Θεοῦ ἦν ἐπ᾿ αὐτό.


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General Announcements

Memorial Service:   There will be a 40 day memorial for Jennie Economos Knight.  May her memory be eternal!

Coffee Hour:  There will be a  coffee hour downstairs. It will be hosted by the Blougouras Family. Everyone is welcome to attend!

Orthodox Life & Bible Study: Monday, February 3rd at 10 am. Everyone is welcome to attend. We will be reading: In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers (Treasures of the World's Religions) by John Chryssavgis.

GOYA  Meeting : Today, Sunday, February  2nd after Divine Liturgy.  

House Blessings: The Feast of the Holy Theophany is the traditional season for house blessings.  If you would like your house blessed, please call church office (742-7667) to schedule an appointment.

2020 OFFERING ENVELOPES AVAILABLE IN NARTHEX

  

Save  the  Dates 

February 15, 2020 St Nicholas Greek Church of Portsmouth is hosting a very entertaining event for the entire family. Dinner and Dancing for the adults and supervision for the children to watch movies and interact with their child entertainer.

April 24-April 26 (Friday-Sunday) During NH Spring Break (See Flyer in Flyer section for more details)

We are invited to join the Portsmouth Church to Family Retreat to

Holy Protection Monastery in White Haven, PA

For any questions email Fr. Bob at:  stnickport@gmail.com

 

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Calendar

  • Church Calendar

    February 2 to March 2, 2020

    Sunday, February 2

    Jennie Economos Knight 40 day memorial

    10:00AM Liturgy - Presentation of the Lord

    11:30AM GOYA Mtg.

    Monday, February 3

    10:00AM Orthodox Life & Bible Study

    Sunday, February 9

    Triodion Begins

    Monday, February 10

    10:00AM Orthodox Life & Bible Study

    Wednesday, February 12

    6:00PM Parish Council Mtg.

    Sunday, February 16

    Godparent's Sunday

    Monday, February 17

    10:00AM Orthodox Life & Bible Study

    Wednesday, February 19

    5:30PM Alkistis

    5:30PM Alkistis

    Saturday, February 22

    9:30AM 1st Saturday of Souls

    Sunday, February 23

    Maria Bonias 1yr. memorial

    Monday, February 24

    10:00AM Orthodox Life & Bible Study

    Tuesday, February 25

    10:30AM Clergy Brotherhood

    Thursday, February 27

    Orthodoxy on Tap

    Saturday, February 29

    9:30AM 2nd Saturday of Souls

    Sunday, March 1

    Cheesfare Sunday

    Athans/Hoogeveen Coffee Hour

    Monday, March 2

    Lent Begins

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Flyers

    2020 Stewardship Form

    2020 Stewardship Form

    Stewardship Form for 2020


    St. Nicholas Valentine's Dinner Dance

    St. Nicholas Valentine's Dinner Dance

    St Nicholas Greek Church of Portsmouth is hosting a very entertaining event for the entire family. Dinner and Dancing for the adults and supervision for the children to watch movies and interact with their child entertainer.


    Retreat at Holy Protection Monastery in Poconos

    Retreat at Holy Protection Monastery in Poconos

    St. Nicholas Church in Portsmouth invited our church to join them on a pilgrimage to Holy Protection Monastery in the Poconos and St. George Church in Taylor, PA which will allow our entire families to board a coach bus for travel, accommodations, and opportunity to experience the Orthodox monastic lifestyle as well as venerate the weeping icon of the Theotokos.


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