St. George. Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church W. 14th Street, Cleveland OH 44113

Transcription

1 St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church 2587 W. 14th Street, Cleveland OH Fifth Sunday of Great Lent Commemoration of Our Righteous Mother Mary of Egypt Serving the Orthodox Christian Community of Greater Cleveland

2 St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church V. Rev Father John Ojaimi, Pastor Office: (216) Fax: (216) Cellular: (440) Archdeacon Yarid Sahley Subdeacon Sam Elias Pastor s frjojaimi@msn.com Parish office@stgeorgecleveland.com Sunday April 02, 2017 Tone 8/ Eothinon 8 Fifth Sunday of Great Lent Commemoration of our Righteous Mother Mary of Egypt Venerable Titus the wonderworker; Virgin-martyr Theodora of Palestine; Martyrs Amphianos and Aidesios of Lydia WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS We are glad you are worshiping with us today. There are Service Books in the pews. Orthodox Christians must be prepared for Holy Communion through Confession, Fasting, Prayer and by being at peace with others. Please seek and give forgiveness before receiving Holy Communion. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, please join us for coffee hour in the Parish Hall. t ½Êà The mission of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church Is to serve God and the community by commitment to the Gospel s command to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ through faith, hope, and love. It is a parish of the Self Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. The Orthodox Church follows the faith and practice of the apostles and disciples of Christ handed down by the ancient Christian fathers and twenty centuries of Church tradition. Genuine Christian life nurtures and stimulates our spiritual and moral development. The liturgical life of the Orthodox Church has been developing over the last 2000 years. By taking part in the mysteries of Christ s life, death and resurrection at the liturgical services, the community members are drawn to repentance and the gradual change of their inner selves. To join the community of St. George or to find out more information, please fill out the Guest Book in the Narthex. We hope this day will be spiritually rewarding for you. Fr John will be happy to answer any questions. Join us in the hall after Liturgy for our Coffee Hour and Fellowship.

3 Bread of Oblatio, Trisagion Prayers, Wheat & Coffee Hour are sponsored in memory of Asma Zaboura by the Zaboura Family Bread of Oblation is offered in memory of Marie Aboumrad by George & Nayla Aboumrad and Family Coffee Hour is offered for the Salvation for Family Members by E. G. Koury Bread of Oblation is offered in memory of Karim Danial, Jack and Roudi Zaboura by Mini Danial Candles are offered for the Health, Safety & Spiritual Welfare of: Family & Friends by Sami & Ragda Harb Children & Grandchildren by Nuha Karsheh Family & Friends by George & Joie Haddad Our Nephew Dr. Edward Zabawski & Family by Norman & Theresa Issac Candles are offered in Beloved Memory of: Our Nephew David Vincent Zabawski by Norman & Theresa Issac Michel Hayek by the Hayek Family My Beloved, Mother Mary, Father Abraham, Brothers Emile and James, Sitteh Zaineh & Uncle Kaiser by Emilie L. Easa Wadia Ameen by his wife Mary & Family Edward Haddad by his wife Edward Fadel by his wife & family Prayers are requested for the sick, sufferings, shut-ins needy, homeless, victims of disasters, war and violence in the whole universe. Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, How can this man give us His flesh to eat? So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:52-54 With fear of God, faith And love draw near. Come to Church, Jesus loves you, we love you we are waiting for you. UPCOMING DIVINE SERVICES Lenten 6:30 pm; Great Compline on Monday, Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesday, Little Compline & Canon of Lazarus on Friday 10am Lazarus Vesperal Divine Liturgy Sunday April 09, 2017 Palm Sunday Matins 9:30 am, Divine am Confessions will be heard on Sundays Morning before Liturgy starts or by appointment. Sign up and take your turn in offering a Coffee Hour. Pick a birthday, memorial, anniversary etc.. or just a day that no one has sponsored.

4 Divine Liturgy Variables on Sunday, April 02, 2017 Tone 8/Eothinon 8; Fifth Sunday of Great Lent Commemoration of our Righteous Mother Mary of Egypt Venerable Titus the wonderworker; Virgin-martyr Theodora of Palestine; Martyrs Amphianos and Aidesios of Lydia

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6 The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great continues as usual with the following variables:

7 Holy Week: An Explanation Great Lent and Holy Week are two separate fasts, and two separate celebrations. Great Lent ends on Friday of the fifth week (the day before Lazarus Saturday). Holy Week begins immediately thereafter. Let's explore the meaning of each of the solemn days of Passion Week. Lazarus Saturday: Lazarus Saturday is the day which begins Holy Week. It commemorates the raising of our Lord's friend Lazarus, who had been in the tomb four days. This act confirmed the universal resurrection from the dead that all of us will experience at our Lord's Second Coming. This miracle led many to faith, but it also led to the chief priest's and Pharisees' decision to kill Jesus (John 11:47-57). Palm Sunday (The Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem): Our Lord enters Jerusalem and is proclaimed king - but in an earthly sense, as many people of His time were seeking a political Messiah. Our Lord is King, of course, but of a different type - the eternal King prophesied by Zechariah the Prophet. We use palms on this day to show that we too accept Jesus as the true King and Messiah of the Jews, Who we are willing to follow - even to the cross. Holy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: The first thing that must be said about these services, and most of the other services of Holy Week, is that they are "sung" in anticipation. Each service is rotated ahead twelve hours. The evening service, therefore, is actually the service of the next morning, while the morning services of Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday are actually the services of the coming evening. Understanding that, let's turn to the Services of Holy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (celebrated Palm Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evening). The services of these days are known as the Bridegroom or Nymphios Orthros Services. At the first service of Palm Sunday evening, the priest carries the icon of Christ the Bridegroom in procession, and we sing the "Hymn of the Bridegroom." We behold Christ as the Bridegroom of the Church, bearing the marks of His suffering, yet preparing a marriage Feast for us in God's Kingdom. Each of these Bridegroom Orthros services has a particular theme. On Holy Monday, the Blessed Joseph, the son of Jacob the Patriarch, is commemorated. Joseph is often seen as a Type of Christ. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, thrown into a pit, and sold into slavery by them. In the same way, our Lord was rejected, betrayed by His own, and sold into the slavery of death. The Gospel reading for the day is about the barren fig tree, which Christ cursed and withered because it bore no fruit. The fig tree is a parable of those who have heard God's word, but who fail to bear the fruit of obedience. Originally the withering of the fig tree was a testimony against those Jews who rejected God's word and His Messiah. However, it is also a warning to all people, in all times, of the importance of not only hearing the God's word, but putting it into action. The Parable of the Ten Virgins is read on Holy Tuesday. It tells the story of the five virgins who filled their

8 lamps in preparation for receiving the bridegroom while the other five allowed their lamps to go out, and hence were shut out of the marriage feast. This parable is a warning that we must always be prepared to receive our Lord when He comes again. The theme of the day is reinforced by the expostelarion hymn we sing: "I see Thy Bridal Chamber adorned, O my Savior, but have no wedding garment that I may enter. O Giver of Light, enlighten the vesture of my soul, and save me." The theme of Holy Wednesday is repentance and forgiveness. We remember the sinful woman who anointed our Lord in anticipation of His death. Her repentance and love of Christ is the theme of the wonderful "Hymn of Kassiane" which is chanted on this night, reminding us one more time, before "it is too late," that we too may be forgiven if we repent. Holy Unction: The Mystery or Sacrament of Holy Unction is celebrated on Holy Wednesday evening. Actually this service can be celebrated any time during the year, especially when one is ill. However, because of our need for forgiveness and spiritual healing, we offer this service during Holy Week for the remission of our sins. We should prepare for this service in a prayerful way, as we do for Holy Communion. Great and Holy Thursday: On Holy Thursday we turn to the last events of our Lord and His Passion. Thursday morning begins with a Vesperal Divine Liturgy commemorating the Mystical Supper. As previously mentioned, this is actually Holy Thursday evening's service celebrated in the morning in anticipation. Everyone who is able should make an effort to receive Holy Communion at this service as it was at the Mystical Supper that our Lord instituted the Holy Eucharist. At this Liturgy a second Host is consecrated and kept in the Tabernacle. It is from this Host that Holy Communion is distributed to the shut-ins and the sick throughout the coming year. Thursday evening actually begins the services of Great and Holy Friday. The service of the Twelve Passion Gospels commemorates the solemn time of our Lord's Crucifixion. After the reading of the fifth Gospel, the holy cross is carried around the church in procession, and Christ's body is nailed to the cross in the center of the church. Great and Holy Friday: This is a day of strict fast. As little as possible should be eaten on this day. It is the only day in the entire year that no Divine Liturgy of any kind can be celebrated. In the morning we celebrate the Royal Hours. These solemn hours are observed as we read the various accounts and hymns concerning the crucifixion. In the afternoon we celebrate the Vesper service of the taking down of Christ's body from the cross. During the Gospel reading, our Lord's body is taken off the cross and wrapped in a new, white linen sheet. This act commemorates the removal of Christ's body from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:38-42). Later in the service, the Epitaphios, or winding-sheet, with Christ's body on it is carried in procession and placed in the recently decorated tomb. In the evening the Lamentations Orthros service is sung. This service begins in a solemn manner, but by the end of the service we are already anticipating the Resurrection of our Lord. Remember again, that the Holy Friday evening Orthros is actually the first service of Holy Saturday, the day in which we commemorate our Lord's body resting in the tomb while His all-pure soul descends into Hades to free the faithful of the Old Covenant. Great and Holy Saturday: This day is a day of hope and waiting. In the morning we celebrate a Vesperal Divine Liturgy which commemorates Christ's victory over death. Bright vestments are worn as we anticipate Christ's Resurrection. Laurel leaves are strewn throughout the church during the service, because in the ancient world laurel leaves were a sign of victory. As the leaves are strewn, the choir chants "Arise O God and Judge the earth, for to Thee belong all the nations." The Old Testament story of Jonah in the belly of the whale is read at this service because Jonah is seen in the Church as a Type of Christ. As Jonah was three days in the belly of the great fish, and was then safely deposited back onto land, so our Lord was three days in the tomb before His glorious Resurrection. The Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Holy Saturday concludes the services of Holy Week, and brings us to the eve of Great and Holy Pascha.

9 Holy Week and Pascha Holy Week is the most important week of the year because it brings us to the gates of God's Kingdom. Christ's voluntary sacrifice on the Cross gives us access to the very presence of God. As we remember the last days of Christ on earth, we relive the great moments of His passion through a continuous liturgical drama. The saving events of the first century once again become realities for us through the hymns, prayers and services of Holy Week. On PALM SUNDAY we welcome Christ into our lives as King. From PALM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH HOLY TUESDAY EVENING (6:30pm) we behold Him as the Bridegroom of the Church, One who bears a crown of thorns and other marks of suffering, yet One who prepares a paschal bridal chamber for His Bride, the Church. Our meditations on these evenings includes the 10 maidens-5 wise and 5 foolish, Joseph sold in slavery, the fig tree with no fruit, and the woman who anointed Jesus feet On HOLY WEDNESDAY (6:30pm) we are anointed with Holy Oil as soldiers of Christ in preparation for the commemoration of His solemn passion. On HOLY THURSDAY (10:30am) we gather around the table of the Lord to celebrate the Last Supper with Him, and in the evening (6:30pm) we faithfully follow Him through the reading of the Twelve Gospels to the great moments of His agony in Gethsemane, His arrest, trial, mocking, scourging, march to Golgotha, crucifixion, and death on the Cross. During this service, the Cross is brought in procession to the center of the church while the hymn, Today, He who hung the earth above the heavens is hung upon a tree..., is sung. On HOLY FRIDAY, (10am) we stand in the morning at the foot of the Cross reading the Service of the Hours and keeping a vigil watch at His side; in the afternoon we witness the descent of Christ's body from the Cross and His burial in a symbolic tomb, and in the evening (7pm) we gather with both sorrow and joy to sing the Lamentations to Him who is symbolically buried in the tomb and yet whom we perceive by faith to be immortal Life. The tomb is then carried in procession outside of the church. Late on HOLY SATURDAY, (10:30pm) we begin the celebration the glorious resurrection of Christ, the breaking of the bonds of Hades and the opening of the gates of Heaven, the dawn of the new age of salvation. This is perhaps the most powerful service of the Christian year. The service begins with the offering of the new light, Christ, to those in darkness. After processing outside, a service remembering Christ s victory of Hades is enacted using Psalm 24. We enter the Church, now bright and joyful with the hymns of the Resurrection! Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! Together we celebrate the Liturgy and receive Communion in the unity of the faith of the resurrected Lord. Easter baskets with red eggs and foods that we have been abstaining from throughout the Great Lent are blessed following the service. Early in the morning, we break the fast together and have a Paschal breakfast. Holy Week is the foremost liturgical treasure of the Orthodox Church. Through magnificent liturgical forms we are called to become part of the sacred drama of Christ's death and resurrection, to share His sufferings, to help Him carry the Cross, to witness His crucifixion, to die with Him, to follow Him in His burial, and to be lifted up to a life of newness filled with the Holy Spirit. The supreme gift we receive during Holy Week is the incarnate love of God "who did not spare his own Son but gave him up us all" (Rom. 8:39). "If God is for us, who can be against us?.. Who, then, can separate us from the love of Christ?... For I am certain that nothing can separate us from His love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future... - there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:31-39).

10 The Teens Group Meets every Sunday after Church In The Teens Room If you re a Teen Join us For fun and Education ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN OF ST. GEORGE We will be having our next Meeting on Monday, April 03 06, :00 p.m. St. George s Men s Club Meets every First Sunday of the Month In The Yarid 7:30 pm Join us for Fellowship & Fun In Yarid Hall at the Church. God willing, see you there! St. George Orthodox Young Adult Ministy Thursday MAY 11, :30 pm St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church 2587 W.14th St. Cleveland.

11 MEMO TO PARISHIONERS The lenten season is now upon us, and soon Holy Week and Pascha will be here as well. There are many things that the church needs for all of our special services, and we ask for your participation and support. If you would like to offer a donation to St. George Orthodox Church for the health of or in memory of, any of your family members or friends, please fill out the form below, tear it off and mail it back to the church office as soon as possible. We thank you and pray that you experience a rewarding and fruitful Lenten season and celebration of our Lord's Holy Pascha OFFERINGS FOR LENT AND HOLY PASCHA Dear Father John, It would be a great joy for me (for us) to offer a donation of $ towards the following: Flowers Bread Easter Lillies Eggs Wine Oil Palms Votive Candles for the health of: in memory of: given by:

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13 Ornaments are a wonderful gift to give year round, perfect for any occasion, be it Christmas, Birthdays, Graduations, Anniversaries, Baptisms, Name Day or just a simple house visit. These beautiful pieces can be hung on the wall during the year as well as hung on a Christmas Tree during the Nativity Season. Ornaments are available for sale at Yarid Hall during Coffee Hour. RESERVE THESE DATES ON YOUR CALENDER Friday April 28, 2017 St. George Feast Day La Villa 11 Brookpark Rd, Cleveland, OH Sunday April 30, 2017 Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, Bishops Michael & Ozone Presiding. :ƵŶĞ ϭϳ ϮϬϭϳ K Ƶƌ ^ƉƌŝŶŐ ŶŶƵĂů WĂƌŝƐŚ WŝĐŶŝĐ Λ D ŝůů ^ƚƌğăŵ ZƵŶ ZĞƐĞƌǀ ĂƟŽŶ ^ƚƌžŷőɛǀ ŝůůğ OH. June 21-Ϯϰ ϮϬϭϳ WĂƌŝƐŚ >ŝĩğ ŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ŚŝĐĂŐŽ D ĂƌƌŝŽƩ K ĂŬ ƌžžŭ ϭϰϭϭ t ϮϮŶĚ ^ƚ K ĂŬ Brook, Illinois July 23-ϯ Ϭ ϮϬϭϳ ϱϯƌě ŝğŷŷŝăů ŶƟŽĐŚŝĂŶ ƌđśěŝžđğɛğ ŽŶǀ ĞŶƟŽŶ - The Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood, 3555 South Ocean Dr. Hollywood, FL ƵŐƵƐƚ ϭϰ ϮϬϭϳ ^ĂŝŶƚ D ĂƌLJ Ɛ ŝŷŷğƌ ĂŌĞƌ ƚśğ ǀ ĞŶŝŶŐ ŝǀ ŝŷğ >ŝƚƶƌőlj ŽĨ ƚśğ ŽƌŵŝƟŽŶ &ĞĂƐƚ August 27, 2017 Our Summer Annual Parish Redwing Picnic Area, West Drive Hinckley, OH (off Bellus Rd. - between Hinckley Hills Rd. & State Rd.) October 07, 2017 Our Annual Clam 6:00 pm

14 For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:48) Thank you to previous years wish list contributors List The Elevator and The Outside Ramp Project started 01, 02, The cost is $ We already received $85554 Anonymous 20 George Haddad 150 Imad Nader 1200 Pierre Aboukaled Dr. Salim Hayek Archdeacon Yarid Dr. Adib Al Souss Dr. Marwan Hilal Ted Ziton Dr. Amir Alamir 2000 James Hussney George Dawed 200 Greg Caraboolad 150 Elias Karsheh 3000 Dr. George Hawwa Fadi Chaccour 250 Rami Karsheh Edward Caroll 30 Dr. Bachar Dergham Dr. Wael Khoury 3000 St. George Fundraiser 9104 Sub. Sam Elias 200 Hani Nader 3 Jerry Koncz George Sarkes 5 LSAJL of Cleveland 125 Dr. Fadi Bashour 4000 Anonymous 2000 Dr. Afaf Zayat Tony Abdulkarim Leo Koury Dr. Bassem Zraik Archdn. Yarid Sahley Anonymous Dr. Emile Sabbagh 1 Fred Koury 2 Nagi Abdulkarim Anna Deeb Dr Ghassan Ashkar Dr. Lutfi Nassar Dr. Basem Haddad Awwad Khourieh Barbara Sevchek Joyce Nader 200 Joseph & Audrey Bendetto 25 Fr. John Ojaimi Ronnie Harb Azar Khouri Ripepi Funeral Home Najdat Asad Dr. Khalil & Alma Korkor Daniel & Claudia Tanoos Irene Georgantas 150 Norma &Amelia Jacob Dr. Dergham Dergham George Bouchahine Dr. Ibrahim Bshara In memory of Samir Abdelkarim 250 Ronald Makhol American Lebanese Community Council 200 Elias Haddad Linda Ziton 20 Dr. George Jurjus Please Help us to reach our Goal, we have to raise $68446 more. Thank you and may God bless you all.

15 Two Cases of Orthodox Liturgical Wine for Communion $240 by William Tegreene 3 Communion Spoons and the Star for the Offering Tray $350 by Barbara Aboid Six cases of Taper Candles $89 each Forty Altar Pure Liquid Paraffin Quarts $8.50 each Sell the rest of the memorial tiles at the entrance of the office area. $150 each Replace the Carpet at the Rectory Replace The Metropolitan Hall Light Bulbs to LED Replace the Yarid Light Hall Bulbs to LED Replace the Aluminum Entry Door, back entrance to the Sunday school $4690 Thank you. SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS for the Elinor Bourjaily Scholarships for college and Antiochian Village Camp are available at the Church s Office. For more info, contact Gail Malaniak, , gailmeen@gmail.com JOSEPH HADDAD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP WHO IS ELIGIBLE? A. Any son or daughter of a bona fide member of St. George Orthodox Church and whose parent membership is at least three years old. B. The person being considered for the scholarship award by Joseph Haddad Memorial must be a high school graduate, with intentions of furthering his/her education at a higher level, and upon acceptance by an accredited college or university. C. REQUIREMENTS: Applicants will be selected for the scholarship on the basis of academic standing, religious involvement in young people s church activities other than just in church attendance, extra-curricular school activities, character, and leadership qualities. Students applying must have at least a 3.3 cumulative point average through high school. Deadline: July 1, 2017 IF YOU MEET THE ABOVE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, REQUEST AN APPLICATION FORM CHURCH OFFICE PHONE FAX office@stgeorgecleveland.com

16 What is Orthodoxy? First of all, Orthodoxy is right faith in God; it is that mighty power which makes each truly believing Orthodox Christian unwavering on the righteous and pious path of his life. To be Orthodox means to know correctly with the mind, to believe correctly with the heart, and to confess correctly with the lips all that God Himself has revealed to us about Himself, about the world and man, and about the tasks and aims of our life in the teaching on the attaining of our spiritual union with Him and our eternal salvation. Without such right faith, according to the word of the Apostle Paul, it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). Orthodoxy is not only right faith and a right confession of the fundamental truths and dogmas of the Church of Christ, but also a right and virtuous life, founded on an unshakable law: the fulfilling of God s commandments, the permeating of the heart with humility, meekness and love for one s neighbor, the rendering of help to the needy and unfortunate, and the serving of one s church. The Apostle James teaches: Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the future Judge of the whole world, promises to reward every man according to his works (Matt. 16:27). The Apostle Paul testifies that every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor (1Cor. 3:8). Here is the Orthodox point of view. Right faith must be expressed in deeds, and deeds must serve as a manifestation of faith. One must be closely united with the other indissolubly, like soul and body. This only, then, is the Orthodox, the correct way leading us to God. Orthodoxy is not only right faith and a life according to faith, but also correct service to God. Our Lord Jesus Christ expressed the essence of the right worship of God in these brief but profound words: God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Only the inspired divine service of the Holy Orthodox Church, which is permeated by prayer, has realized this sacred worship of God in truth. Moreover, Orthodoxy is strict proportionality and correctness in the manifestations of all the powers of soul and body. In Orthodoxy, a proper place is allotted to everything: to the intellect, to the wants and needs of the heart, to the manifestations of man s free will, to labor and prayer, to abstinence and watchfulness, in a word, to everything of which man s life consists.