Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Tone

The stone had been secured with a seal by the Judeans, * and a guard of soldiers was watching Your immaculate body. * You rose on the third day, O Lord * and Savior, granting life unto the world. * For this reason were the powers of heaven crying out to You, O Life-giver: * Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ; * glory to Your eternal rule; * glory to Your dispensation, only One who loves mankind.

Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ στρατιωτῶν φυλασσόντων τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα, ἀνέστης τριήμερος Σωτήρ, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν ζωήν. Διὰ τοῦτο αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐβόων σοι Ζωοδότα· Δόξα τῇ ἀναστάσει σου Χριστέ, δόξα τῇ Βασιλείᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ οἰκονομίᾳ σου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. Mary of Egypt in the Plagal Fourth Tone

The image of God, was faithfully preserved in you, O Mother. For you took up the Cross and followed Christ. By Your actions you taught us to look beyond the flesh for it passes, rather to be concerned about the soul which is immortal. Wherefore, O Holy Mary, your soul rejoices with the angels.

Ἐν σοὶ Μῆτερ ἀκριβῶς διεσώθη τὸ κατ' εἰκόνα, λαβοῦσα γὰρ τὸν Σταυρόν, ἠκολούθησας τῷ Χριστῷ, καὶ πράττουσα ἐδίδασκες ὑπερορᾶν μὲν σαρκὸς παρέρχεται γάρ, ἐπιμελεῖσθαι δὲ ψυχῆς, πράγματος ἀθανάτου· διὸ καὶ μετὰ Ἀγγέλων συναγάλλεται Ὁσία Μαρία τὸ πνεῦμά σου.

Apolytikion for the Church in the Fourth Tone

Today is the fountainhead of our salvation and the manifestation of the mystery which was from eternity. The Son of God becomes the Virgin’s Son And Gabriel announces the good tidings of Grace for this cause, let us cry to the Mother of God with him. Rejoice thou who art full of Grace the Lord is with you.

Σήμερον τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν τὸ Κεφάλαιον, καὶ τοῦ ἀπ' αἰῶνος Μυστηρίου ἡ φανέρωσις, ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, Υἱὸς τῆς Παρθένου γίνεται, καὶ Γαβριὴλ τὴν χάριν εὐαγγελίζεται. Διὸ καὶ ἡμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ τὴ Θεοτόκω βοήσωμεν, Χαῖρε Κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ Κύριος μετὰ σοῦ.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Tone

O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε. Μὴ παρίδῃς ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι· Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε.

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, Timea, Paul, John, Bill.

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.

Saints and Feasts

April 05

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.

April 11

Lazarus Saturday

Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary, the friends of the Lord Jesus, had given Him hospitality and served Him many times (Luke 10:38-4z; John 12:2-3). They were from Bethany, a village of Judea. This village is situated in the eastern parts by the foothills of the Mount of Olives, about two Roman miles from Jerusalem. When Lazarus - whose name is a Hellenized form of "Eleazar," which means "God has helped," became ill some days before the saving Passion, his sisters had this report taken to our Saviour, Who was then in Galilee. Nonetheless, He tarried yet two more days until Lazarus died; then He said to His disciples, "Let us go into Judea that I might awake My friend who sleepeth." By this, of course, He meant the deep sleep of death. On arriving at Bethany, He consoled the sisters of Lazarus, who was already four days dead. Jesus groaned in spirit and was troubled at the death of His beloved friend. He asked, "Where have ye laid his body?" and He wept over him. When He drew nigh to the tomb, He commanded that they remove the stone, and He lifted up His eyes, and giving thanks to God the Father, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." And he that had been dead four days came forth immediately, bound hand and foot with the grave clothes, and Jesus said to those standing there, "Loose him, and let him go." This is the supernatural wonder wrought by the Saviour that we celebrate on this day.

According to an ancient tradition, it is said that Lazarus was thirty years old when the Lord raised him; then he lived another thirty years on Cyprus and there reposed in the Lord. It is furthermore related that after he was raised from the dead, he never laughed till the end of his life, but that once only, when he saw someone stealing a clay vessel, he smiled and said, "Clay stealing clay." His grave is situated in the city of Kition, having the inscription: "Lazarus the four days dead and friend of Christ." In 890 his sacred relics were transferred to Constantinople by Emperor Leo the Wise, at which time undoubtedly the Emperor composed his stichera for Vespers, "Wishing to behold the tomb of Lazarus . . ."

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. First Tone. 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.

Προκείμενον. First Tone. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 32.22,1.
Γένοιτο, Κύριε, τὸ ἔλεός σου ἐφ' ἡμᾶς.
Στίχ. Ἀγαλλιᾶσθε δίκαιοι ἐν Κυρίῳ

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 9:11-14.

Ἀδελφοί, Χριστὸς δὲ παραγενόμενος ἀρχιερεὺς τῶν μελλόντων ἀγαθῶν, διὰ τῆς μείζονος καὶ τελειοτέρας σκηνῆς, οὐ χειροποιήτου, τοῦτʼ ἔστιν, οὐ ταύτης τῆς κτίσεως, οὐδὲ διʼ αἵματος τράγων καὶ μόσχων, διὰ δὲ τοῦ ἰδίου αἵματος εἰσῆλθεν ἐφάπαξ εἰς τὰ ἅγια, αἰωνίαν λύτρωσιν εὑράμενος. Εἰ γὰρ τὸ αἷμα ταύρων καὶ τράγων, καὶ σποδὸς δαμάλεως ῥαντίζουσα τοὺς κεκοινωμένους, ἁγιάζει πρὸς τὴν τῆς σαρκὸς καθαρότητα, πόσῳ μᾶλλον τὸ αἷμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὃς διὰ πνεύματος αἰωνίου ἑαυτὸν προσήνεγκεν ἄμωμον τῷ θεῷ, καθαριεῖ τὴν συνείδησιν ὑμῶν ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργων, εἰς τὸ λατρεύειν θεῷ ζῶντι;

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."

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 10:32-45

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παραλαβάνει ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς δώδεκα μαθητάς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἤρξατο αὐτοῖς λέγειν τὰ μέλλοντα αὐτῷ συμβαίνειν, ὅτι ἰδοὺ ἀναβαίνομεν εἰς ῾Ιεροσόλυμα καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθήσεται τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσι καὶ γραμματεῦσι, καὶ κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτὸν θανάτῳ καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν τοῖς ἔθνεσι, καὶ ἐμπαίξουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ μαστιγώσουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐμπτύσουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν αὐτόν, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστήσεται. Καὶ προσπορεύονται αὐτῷ ᾿Ιάκωβος καὶ ᾿Ιωάννης υἱοὶ Ζεβεδαίου λέγοντες· διδάσκαλε, θέλομεν ἵνα ὃ ἐὰν αἰτήσωμεν ποιήσῃς ἡμῖν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί θέλετε ποιῆσαί με ὑμῖν; οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ· δὸς ἡμῖν ἵνα εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν σου καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύμων σου καθίσωμεν ἐν τῇ δόξῃ σου. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· οὐκ οἴδατε τί αἰτεῖσθε. δύνασθε πιεῖν τὸ ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ πίνω, καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθῆναι; οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ· δυνάμεθα. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τὸ μὲν ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ πίνω πίεσθε, καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθήσεσθε· τὸ δὲ καθίσαι ἐκ δεξιῶν μου καὶ ἐξ εὐωνύμων οὐκ ἔστιν ἐμὸν δοῦναι, ἀλλ᾿ οἷς ἡτοίμασται. Καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ δέκα ἤρξαντο ἀγανακτεῖν περὶ ᾿Ιακώβου καὶ ᾿Ιωάννου. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς προσκαλεσάμενος αὐτοὺς λέγει αὐτοῖς· οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ δοκοῦντες ἄρχειν τῶν ἐθνῶν κατακυριεύουσιν αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ μεγάλοι αὐτῶν κατεξουσιάζουσιν αὐτῶν· οὐχ οὕτω δὲ ἔσται ἐν ὑμῖν, ἀλλ᾿ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ γενέσθαι μέγας ἐν ὑμῖν, ἔσται ὑμῶν διάκονος, καὶ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ ὑμῶν γενέσθαι πρῶτος, ἔσται πάντων δοῦλος· καὶ γὰρ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἦλθε διακονηθῆναι, ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι, καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν.

General Announcements

Beloved in the Lord,

In the back right hand corner of our church hangs an icon of a saint that I particularly love, St. Moses the Black (or the Ethiopian, as he is sometimes known). St. Moses is one of the original Desert Fathers of the fourth century. I wanted to share with you a quote from him that I think is very helpful in our current situation. It comes from the sayings of the Desert Fathers:

"A brother came to Scetis to visit Abba Moses and asked him for a word. The old man said to him "Go, sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything".

We are perhaps not having the Lent that we expected, and it looks as though even our Pascha will look very differently this year. As Rod Dreher, popular columnist for The American Conservative, pointed out this week "The right way to see this is that we Orthodox Christians are being asked to make an absolutely extraordinary sacrifice for the life of the world". If we can bring ourselves to see it in the right way, we can look at this time we have been given isolated in our homes as a gift for our spiritual benefit as well. We can let our isolation be a teacher to us. When we spend time in isolation, even around our families, we can learn a lot about ourselves.When we are alone with ourselves and with our thoughts we have the opportunity to see who we really are in a sense. We learn where the cracks are in our relationships with our families (as I'm sure we discovering now), and our loved ones become a mirror for our own behavior and the way we communicate. This is an opportunity for our homes to become our "cell", and we can learn much. This isn't always an easy process and its easy to get on the nerves of our loved ones, or if we are on our own we can be tempted to drown out the lessons that our solitude and teach us with entertainments and diversions. But I strongly urge all of us to take this opportunity to learn what sort of person we have become, to peel back the layers of facade that we have created and see our authentic self. Then, with the tools given to us for the remainder of Great Lent (you know them by now: fasting, prayer, and alms-giving) we can begin to correct whatever is out of order within us, to polish the mirror of our hearts. Spending time in prayer and reading the daily scripture readings can help with this a great deal. Know that our God is with us in this difficult time and if we use it as an opportunity to seek Him, He will reveal himself to us.

In the meantime, I will continue to do my utmost and provide streaming services for the remaining week of Lent, such as Great Compline on Monday evening, Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesday evening, and others as well that I will announce. I also invite you to join our Orthodox Life study group via Zoom which I will post a link to on Monday at 10am. Please pay attention to our church website and facebook page for announcements about streaming services. I will send out a notification next week as to what our Holy Week Schedule will be like. You all continue to be in my prayers, and I humbly ask yours for my family and I as well. Remember: whatever difficulties the world might face, Christ is still Risen! Kali Anastasi!

+Rev. Fr. Timothy Curren

Pastor

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

Dover, NH

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Church Cleaning: that was scheduled for Saturday, April 11th has been cancelled!

Attention High School Seniors: Scholarship applications for the Annunciation Church Scholarship and the James C. Faskianos Scholarship are now available. As the Annunciation Church office is closed at this time, please call Pam Byers at 603 - 332 -7875 or email me at pbyersrms@yahoo.com and I will mail you either or both applications. Please return the completed application/applications to my home address - 23 Prospect Street,Rochester, New Hampshire 03867. The scholarship committee is aware that some of the application requirements may be difficult to obtain due to school closures and is prepared to extend the May 1 deadline. May God bless you always. Applications are available in the flyer section of this bulletin.

ALKISTIS SCHOLARSHIP: Attention high school seniors who are continuing their education: Applications for the 2020 Alkistis Scholarship is available in the flyer section of this bulletin. Completed applications must be received no later than May 1st.

Demosthenes Scholarship: Awarded to a high school senior or full time college student. Application in flyer section of this bulletin.

Volunteers to help 60+ with Grocery Shopping: SeacoastVolunteers.org , will help seniors with their grocery shopping. If you need help call 603-828-5524 or cell # 603-548-1574.

Calendar

Church Calendar

April 5 to April 19, 2020

Sunday, April 5

10:00AM Trisagion: Florence “Efrosyne” Simpson

Monday, April 6

Great Compline (Live-stream)

10:00AM Orthodox Life Study group via ZOOM

Wednesday, April 8

6:00PM Presanctified Liturgy (Live-stream)

Thursday, April 9

6:00PM Parish Council Mtg.

Saturday, April 11

Church Cleaning (Cancelled)

9:30AM Saturday of Lazarus (Live-stream)

Sunday, April 12

10:00AM Palm Sunday (Live-stream)

7:00PM 1st Bridegroom Matins

Monday, April 13

Holy Monday (Live-stream)

7:00PM Bridegroom Matins

Tuesday, April 14

Holy Tuesday (Live-stream)

7:00PM Bridegroom Matins

Wednesday, April 15

Holy Wednesday (Live-stream)

7:00PM Bridegroom Matins

Thursday, April 16

Holy Thursday (Live-stream)

9:30AM Divine Liturgy

7:00PM 12 Gospels

Friday, April 17

Holy Friday (Live-stream)

9:00AM Great Hours

3:00PM Vespers of the Unnailing

7:00PM Lamentations

Saturday, April 18

Holy Saturday (Live-stream)

9:30AM Divine Liturgy

11:30PM Cannon of Resurrection

Sunday, April 19

Holy Pascha (Live-stream)

12:30AM Anastasis Liturgy

11:00AM Agape Vespers

Flyers

Covid-19 Directives

Covid-19 Directives issued by the Greek Archdiocese of America.

Recommendations concerning Covid-19

2020 Stewardship Form

Stewardship Form for 2020

Demosthenes 2020 Scholarship Application

Scholarship for High School Seniors, Full time college students.

Alkistis Scholarship

Alkistis College Scholarship for high school seniors.

Dr. James C. Faskianos Scholarship

Application for the Dr. James C. Faskianos Scholarship

Lenten/ Holy Week Donations 2020

Lenten/Holy Week Needs 2020

Charcoal :$50 (Fr. Athans & Presvyterra Keta)

Incense: $50 (Fr. Athans & Presvyterra Keta)

Communion wine: $100

(1 In memory of Dr. James Faskianos)

(1 In memory of Dr. James Demopoulos)

(In memory of Socrates & Rhodopi Espiefs)

Candle cartridges (yearly supply):$150

(In memory of Dr. James Faskianos)

Candle liquid (yearly supply): $75 (In memory of Costas & Alexandra Frangos, donated by the Maskwa Family)

8 icon decorations: $40 each

3 for Salutations (1 Periklis & Abby Karoutas)

2 Bridegroom (2 Richard Clairmont)

2 Anastasis (2 George & Althea Coussoule)

1 Mystical Supper (1 Vula & Kimon Lalas)

Annunciation: $50 each (1 Richard Clairmont)(1 Periklis & Abby Karoutas)

Daffodils for the Cross: $40 (Diane Wozmak) (In memory of Socrates & Rhodopi Espiefs)

7 Lenten season Altar, Icon stand & Pulpit cloths: $1,600 (Alkistis Ladies Society)

For Holy Week/Easter:

Palms for Palm Sunday: $125 (Kottaridis Family)

Oil for Holy Unction: $15 (In memory of Socrates & Rhodopi Espiefs)

Rose petal and laurel leaves: $40 (Kottaridis Family)

Paschal Candle: $50 (1 In memory of Sylvia Polychronopoulos)(1 Elizabeth Zisis)

Pedestal arrangements for Anastasis (2): $50 ea (1 Pam Byers)

Flowers for two blue vases: each $30 (2 John Rouman)(2 In memory of Pat Stamnas)(Yota Scontras) (2 Richard Clairmont)

Candles for the 12 Gospels:@$10 each

(12 John & Geriann Athans)

(12 In Loving Memory of David Trudeau)

(6 Konstantinos & Eva Demopoulos)

Large lily plants for icons: each $20 (5 Annette Roylos)(2 Nikolaos & Penny Demopoulos & Family)

Candles for the Kouvouklion: @ $10 each

(4 In Loving Memory of Florence Houreas Simpson)

Wreaths for Good Friday: $50 each

(2 In memory of Dr. James Demopoulos)(2 Annette Roylos)(1 Jim & Peggy Frangos)

Lilies for steps: 6 @ $15 each (6 In memory of Socrates & Rhodopi Espiefs)

Kouvouklion (Epitaphion) flowers: $50 x 20

(4 John & Geriann Athans)

(4 Barb & Les Hoogeveen)

(1 In memory of Ora & John D. Mitchell)

(2 Paraskevi Stamelos)

(1 Katralis Family)

(1 Anestis Family)

(2 In memory of Pat Stamnas)

(2 In memory of Tsitsos & Vomvoris Families)

(1 Claire Delintsiotis)

(1 Elizabeth Zisis)

If an item has already been purchased,

your donation will go towards defraying the cost of an unclaimed item.

Our thanks to all who donate the items needed to make

Lent and Holy Week meaningful and beautiful.

Archepiscopal Message

Homily of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros for the Fourth Sunday of Lent

03/29/2020

We are still in a period of tremendous restriction, all for the sake of the health of our fellow citizens and our own health as well. My hope is that we will seize the opportunity that is literally being forced upon us, to become more altruistic, more compassionate toward others, more patient, and indeed more faithful.

https://www.goarch.org/-/homily-archbishop-elpidophoros-2020-fourth-sunday-of-lent

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins