St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church Sunday of Orthodoxy Serving the Orthodox Christian Community of Greater Cleveland

Transcription

1 St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church Sunday of Orthodoxy 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 March 09, 2014 Tone 4;Eothinon 4 First Sunday of Great Lent (Sunday of Orthodoxy) & The Holy and Great Forty Martyrs of Sebastia 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. WELCOME 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 Candles are offered for the Health, Safety & Spiritual Welfare of: Aunt Selma by Barbara Aboid North Olmsted Police Officer Jack Justice by John & Nareen Harb Bill & Laverne Ameen (Thanks) Olivia, Domenica, Alayna by Dr. Antony George Family & Friends by George & Joie Haddad Family & Friends by Hal & Louise Bouhasin Candles are offered in Beloved Memory of: My Parents George & Alice Lakis by Michele Lakis Mrs. Alsace George by Dr. Antony George All My Beloved by Emilie Easa Wadia Ameen by his wife Mary & Family Edward Haddad by his wife Edward Fadel by his wife and family Prayers for the Health & Spiritual Welfare of our parishioners: Olivia Abdallah, Melissa Aboid, Evelyn Baldassari, Rita Courey, Shirley Courey, Ann Deeb, Emilie Easa, James Eassey, Helena Elias, Dani Fadel, Minerva Gantose, Peter George, Odeh Hanna, Pauline Hanna, Samia Harb, Baby Alma Maria Issa, Corrine Khouri, Hanadi Khouri, Helen Lambert, Becky Magas, Joyce Nader, Kaukab Nader, Virginia Nader, Jennie Sadallah, Christopher Fadel-Samuel, Norma Shami, Selma Sharpe, Alvera Shiekh, Christine Simon, Asma Zaboura. Rudy Zaboura. UPCOMING DIVINE SERVICES Sunday, March 16, :30am, 10:30 am During Great Lent: On Mondays Great Comlpine, on Wednesdays Presanctied Liturgy, and on Fridays Akathist Service. Lenten Services 6:00 pm 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. Bible Study Join us at Church Monday March 03, 6:00 pm to pray and study together the words of God.

4 Divine Liturgy Variables on Sunday, March 09, 2014 Tone 4/Eothinon 4; First Sunday of Great Lent (Sunday of Orthodoxy) & The Holy and Great Forty Martyrs of Sebastia **Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great** THE FIRST ANTIPHON The Lord is King, and hath clothed Himself with majesty. The Lord is robed; He is girded with strength. For He has established the world so sure that it shall never be moved. Refrain: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us. Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? Who can cause all his praises to be heard? Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy. (Refrain) Glory Both now (Refrain) THE SECOND ANTIPHON Let them praise the Lord for His mercies, and for His wonderful works to the children of men. Refrain: Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead; who sing to Thee. Alleluia. Let them exalt Him in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the seat of the elders. (Refrain) The eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy; to hear the groaning of the prisoners, to loose the sons of the slain. (Refrain) Glory Both now O, only begotten Son and Word of God THE THIRD ANTIPHON Let the heavens and the earth praise Him. This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto Thee forever. APOLYTIKION OF FIRST SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT IN TONE TWO Thy pure image do we venerate, O good One, asking forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God; for by Thine own will Thou didst ascend the Cross in Thy body, to save Thy creatures from the bondage of the enemy. Thou hast verily filled all with joy, since Thou didst come, O our Savior, to save the world. THE EISODIKON (ENTRANCE HYMN) OF ORDINARY SUNDAYS Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead; who sing to Thee. Alleluia. RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE FOUR Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel the women disciples of the Lord cast from them their parental condemnation. And proudly broke the news to the Disciples, saying: Death hath been spoiled; Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy. APOLYTIKION OF FIRST SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT IN TONE TWO Thy pure image do we venerate, O good One, asking forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God;

5 for by Thine own will Thou didst ascend the Cross in Thy body, to save Thy creatures from the bondage of the enemy. Thou hast verily filled all with joy, since Thou didst come, O our Savior, to save the world. APOLYTIKION OF THE FORTY MARTYRS OF SEBASTIA IN TONE ONE Be Thou entreated for the sake of the sufferings of Thy Saints which they endured for Thee, O Lord, and do Thou heal all our pains, we pray, O Lover of mankind. TROPARION OF ST. GEORGE TONE 4 As deliver of captives and defender of the poor, healer of the infirm, champion of kings, victorious Great martyr George, intercede with Christ our God, for our souls salvation.. KONTAKION FOR THE ANNUNCIATION (AND GREAT LENT) IN TONE EIGHT To thee, the Champion Leader, do I offer thanks of victory, O Theotokos, thou who hast delivered me from terror; but as thou that hast that power invincible, O Theotokos, thou alone can set me free: from all forms of danger free me and deliver me, that I may cry unto thee: Hail, O Bride without Bridegroom. THE TRISAGION Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us. Dynamis! (With Strength) Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us THE EPISTLE (For the Forty Martyrs of Sebastia) Thou, O Lord, will preserve us and keep us from this generation. Save me, O Lord, for the godly man hath disappeared. The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (12:1-10) Brethren, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely; and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus: the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him Who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons? My son: do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are punished by Him; for the Lord disciplines him whom He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had

6 earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father? THE GOSPEL (For the First Sunday of Great Lent) The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (1:43-51) At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And He found Philip and said to him, Follow Me. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, We have found Him of Whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Nathanael said to him, Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael said to Jesus, How do you know me? Jesus answered him, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. Nathanael answered Him, Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God! Thou art the King of Israel! Jesus answered him, Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these. And Jesus said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. ال رس ال ة 1 Ύѧ Ϩѧ Α Δѧ τ ѧθѧ Τѧ Ϥѧ ϟ Δѧ ϴ ѧ τ ѧ Ψѧ ϟ ϭˬϟ Ϙ Λ Ϟ ϛ Ρ ή τ Ϩ ϟˬύ Ϩ Α Δ τ ϴ Τ ϣ ϩ άϫ έ Ϊ Ϙ ϣ ΩϮ Ϭ θϟ Ϧ ϣ Δ ΑΎ Τ γύ Ϩ ϟ Ϋ Ύ π ϳ Ϧ Τ ϧ Ϛ ϟά ϟ 2 ب س ھ ول ة و ل ن ح اض ر ب ال صب ر ف ي ال ج ھ اد ال م و ض وع أ م ام ن ا Ϧѧ ϣϱ άѧ ϟˬ ωϯ δ ϳ Ϫ Ϡ Ϥ Ϝ ϣ ϭ ϥύ Ϥϳ Ϲ β ϴ έϰ ϟ Ϧϳ ή υύ ϧ 3 أ ج ل ال سر ور ال م و ض وع أ م ام ھ اح ت م ل ال صل یب م س ت ھ ین ا ب ال خ ز ي ف ج ل س ف ي ی م ین ع ر ش الله. ϱ άѧ ϟϲ ѧ ϓϭ ή Ϝ ϔ Θ ϓ اح ت م ل م ن ال خ ط اة م ق او م ة ل ن ف س ھ م ث ل ھذ ه ل ي لا ت ك ل وا و ت خ ور وا ف ي ن ف وس ك م. 5 4 ل م ت ق او م وا ب ع د ح ت ى ال دم م ج اھ د ین ض د ال خ ط ی ة ήѧ Ϙѧ Θѧ Τѧ Η ϻϲ ѧ Ϩѧ ΑΎѧ ϳ»: Ϧѧϴѧ Ϩ Β ϛ Ϣ Ϝ Β ρύ Ψ ϳϱ ά ϟ φ ϋ Ϯ ϟ Ϣ Θϴ δ ϧ Ϊ ϗ ϭ 7 6 ت ا د یب ال ر ب و لا ت خ ر إ ذ ا و ب خ ك. لا ن ال ذ ي ی ح ب ھ ال ر ب ی و دب ھ و ی ج ل د ك ل اب ن ی ق ب ل ھ». ѧϳ Ω Θϟ ϥϯ Ϡ Ϥ Θ Τ Η Ϣ Θ Ϩ ϛ ϥ ΐ ی ع ام ل ك م الله ك ال ب ن ین. ف ا ي اب ن لا ی و دب ھ أ ب وه 8 و لك ن إ ن ك ن ت م ب لا ت ا د یب ق د ص ار ال ج م یع ش ر ك اء ف یھ ف ا ن ت م ن غ ول لا 10 9 ب ن ون. ث م ق د ك ان ل ن ا آب اء أ ج س اد ن ا م و دب ین و ك ن ا ن ھ اب ھ م. Ψ ϧ ϼ ϓ ˮΎѧ ϴѧ Τѧ Ϩѧ ϓˬ Ρ ϭ έ Ϸϲ ѧ Α Ϸ Ϊ Οϰ ϟ ϭ ϷΎ Α ϊ π لا ن أ ولي ك أ دب ون ا أ ی ام ا ق ل یل ة ح س ب اس ت ح س ان ھ م و أ ما ھذ ا ف لا ج ل ال م ن ف ع ة ل ك ي ن ش ت ر ك ف ي ق د اس ت ھ. إ لان ج یل ف ي ال غ د أ ر اد ی س وع أ ن ی خ ر ج إ ل ى ال ج ل یل ف و ج د ف یل ب س ف ق ال ل ھ :«ات ب ع ن ي». و ك ان ف یل ب س م ن ب ی ت ص ی د ا 45 م ن م د ین ة أ ن د ر او س و ب ط ر س. ف یل ب س و ج د ن ث ن اي یل و ق ال ل ھ :«و ج د ن ا ال ذ ي ك ت ب ع ن ھ م وس ى ف ي الن ام وس و الا ن ب ی اء 46 ی س وع اب ن ی وس ف ال ذ ي م ن الن اص ر ة». ف ق ال ل ھ ن ث ن اي یل :«أ م ن الن اص ر ة ی م ك ن أ ن ی ك ون ش ي ء ص ال ح» ق ال ل ھ ف یل ب س :«ت ع ال و ان ظ ر» و ر أ ى ی س وع ن ث ن اي یل م ق ب لا إ ل ی ھ ف ق ال ع ن ھ :«ھ و ذ ا إ س ر اي یل ي ح ق ا لا غ ش ف یھ». ق ال ل ھ ن ث ن اي یل :«م ن أ ی ن 49 ت ع ر ف ن ي» أ ج اب ی س وع و ق ال ل ھ :«ق ب ل أ ن د ع اك ف یل ب س و أ ن ت ت ح ت الت ین ة ر أ ی ت ك». أ ج اب ن ث ن اي یل و ق ال ل ھ :«ی ا 50 م ع ل م أ ن ت اب ن الله! أ ن ت م ل ك إ س ر اي یل!» أ ج اب ی س وع و ق ال ل ھ :«ھ ل آم ن ت لا ن ي ق ل ت ل ك إ ن ي ر أ ی ت ك ت ح ت 51 الت ین ة س و ف ت ر ى أ ع ظ م م ن ھذ ا!» و ق ال ل ھ :«ال ح ق ال ح ق أ ق ول ل ك م : م ن الا ن ت ر و ن ال سم اء م ف ت وح ة و م لا ي ك ة الله ی ص ع د ون و ی ن ز ل ون ع ل ى اب ن الا ن س ان». ST. BASIL LITURGY MEGALYNARION In thee rejoiceth, O full of grace, all creation: the angelic hosts, and the race of men, O

7 hallowed Temple and super-sensual paradise, glory of Virgins, of whom God was incarnate and became a little child, even our God Who is before all the ages; for He made thy womb a throne, and thy body He made more spacious than the heavens. In thee rejoiceth, O full of grace, all creation; and it glorifieth thee. The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great continues as usual and the Procession of Icons is following Blessed be the Name of the Lord With fear of God, faith And love draw near. Come to Church, Jesus loves you, we love you we are waiting for you. We would like to thank Dr. Fadi & Mrs. Daad Bashour for their generous donation & Our Antiochian Women Group for sponsoring the after service reception. May God bless you all. Sponsors are: Barb Aboid, Liz Nassif, Lina Elrichani, Karen Ziton, Evelyn Haddad, Lucy Aboid, Mary Anne Cole, Fida Abdelkarim, Maha Aboukhaled, Nabiha Aftim, Nayla Alamir, Lena Dergham, Beverly George, Maha Ghanem/ Rouphail, Camilia Saliba, Bonni Elias, Mary Abdallah, Salwa Maalouf, Lidia Richani, Aida Tabanji, Hanada Zakaib, Lea El-Khoury, Kathy Jones, Souheira Saed, Ragda Harb, Amy George, Georgette Sayre, Jackleen Khourieh, Joie Haddad, Esmiralda Almaz, Claude Roueiheb, Joan Haddad, Rita Chaccour, May Haddad, Nayla Aboumrad, Diane Sahley, Zariffe Abdulkarim, Nareen Harb, and Kh. May Ojaimi.

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9 - When you see a poor person, remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ by which He declared that it is He, Himself who is fed. For though that which appears be not Christ, yet in that person s form, it is Christ Himself who receives and begs. --St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on Mathew #78 As we enter this most holy season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, please help us to witness to and help those in need. You can either take home with you an alms box fill it and return it before Pascha or buy us Wall-Mart or Giant Eagle gift cards. No amount is too small or too large! The collected money will be send to the Archdiocese as St. George contribution to the Food for Hungry People Program, and the Gift Cards are to help many families to purchase meals, clothes for their children etc...

10 Introduction The First Sunday of Lent: The Sunday of Orthodoxy The Sunday of Orthodoxy is the first Sunday of Great Lent. The dominant theme of this Sunday since 843 has been that of the victory of the icons. In that year the iconoclastic controversy, which had raged on and off since 726, was finally laid to rest, and icons and their veneration were restored on the first Sunday in Lent. Ever since, this Sunday has been commemorated as the "Triumph of Orthodoxy." Historical Background The Seventh Ecumenical Council dealt predominantly with the controversy regarding icons and their place in Orthodox worship. It was convened in Nicaea in 787 by Empress Irene at the request of Tarasios, Patriarch of Constantinople. The Council was attended by 367 bishops. Almost a century before this, the iconoclastic controversy had once more shaken the foundations of both Church and State in the Byzantine empire. Excessive religious respect and the ascribed miracles to icons by some members of society, approached the point of worship (due only to God) and idolatry. This instigated excesses at the other extreme by which icons were completely taken out of the liturgical life of the Church by the Iconoclasts. The Iconophiles, on the other-hand, believed that icons served to preserve the doctrinal teachings of the Church; they considered icons to be man's dynamic way of expressing the divine through art and beauty. The Council decided on a doctrine by which icons should be venerated but not worshipped. In answering the Empress' invitation to the Council, Pope Hadrian replied with a letter in which he also held the position of extending veneration to icons but not worship, the last befitting only God. The decree of the Council for restoring icons to churches added an important clause which still stands at the foundation of the rationale for using and venerating icons in the Orthodox Church to this very day: "We define that the holy icons, whether in colour, mosaic, or some other material, should be exhibited in the holy churches of God, on the sacred vessels and liturgical vestments, on the walls, furnishings, and in houses and along the roads, namely the icons of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ, that of our Lady the Theotokos, those of the venerable angels and those of all saintly people. Whenever these representations are contemplated, they will cause those who look at them to commemorate and love their prototype. We define also that they should be kissed and that they are an object of veneration and honour (timitiki proskynisis), but not of real worship (latreia), which is reserved for Him Who is the subject of our faith and is proper for the divine nature. The veneration accorded to an icon is in effect transmitted to the prototype; he who venerates the icon, venerated in it the reality for which it stands". An Endemousa (Regional) Synod was called in Constantinople in 843. Under Empress Theodora. The veneration of icons was solemnly proclaimed at the Hagia Sophia Cathedral. The Empress, her son Michael III, Patriarch Methodios, and monks and clergy came in procession and restored the icons in their rightful place. The day was called "Triumph of Orthodoxy." Since that time, this event is commemorated yearly with a special service on the first Sunday of Lent, the "Sunday of Orthodoxy". Orthodox teaching about icons, as defined at the Seventh Ecumenical Council of 787, is embodied in the texts sung on this Sunday.

11 VERSES FROM THE BIBLES 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. James 5:16 - Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much James 4:17 - Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin We Are All Sinners Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God s glorious standard. Isaiah 64:6 We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind. We Need To Confess Our Sin Proverbs 28:13 People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. Hosea 5:15 Then I will return to my place until they admit their guilt and turn to me. For as soon as trouble comes, they will earnestly search for me. God Forgives Our Sin 1 John 1:7-9 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. Forgiving One Anothers Sins Luke 17:3-4 So watch yourselves! If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive. Examples of Sin Colossians 3:5-6 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. Galatians 5:19-21 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Victory Over Sin 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. Forgiveness of our sins Romans 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

12 THE LENTEN SEASON Once again, we prepare ourselves for the journey through Lent, on the Road to the heavenly gates of the Kingdom, in the Feast of Feasts: PASCHA! It is a journey that only you can take for yourself, for the reward you receive is based solely on the effort you put into it. Therefore, we encourage you to make the following a part of your daily and weekly experience as we continue through this Lenten season: DAILY PRAYER: Please remember your morning and evening prayers, including prayers for our bishops, our clergy and their families, your Parish Council and all parishioners, the sick and suffering, those who hate us and those who love, us, those who are kind to us and minister to us, and all those in need of God's mercy; and especially St. Ephraim's Prayer. THE WORD OF GOD: When you come to pray, take 10 more minutes and read the Word of the Lord. You can start with a few chapters each day from the Psalms, the Proverbs, the Book of Job, or the Gospel according to St. Luke. But whatever it is, READ IT, and ask questions on those areas you find difficult. THE WEEKDAY SERVICES: GOD'S GIFT OF LIFE TO YOU! Great Compline, Monday evenings, 6:00pm; a uniquely peaceful time of prayers. 2) Pre-sanctified Liturgy, Wednesday evenings, 6:00pm for strength at mid-week (Fasting begins after the noon meal). 3) Akathist (Madayeh), Friday evenings, 6:00pm supplication to the Virgin Mary, followed by our Organizations Lenten Suppers and Spiritual Talks. On Friday evening, April 11th at 6:00PM we celebrate Great Vespers for St. Lazarus. 4)On Lazarus Saturday, April 12th we celebrate Liturgy at 10:00 am. 5) Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, Sundays morning, 10:30AM. During Lent. 6) Palm Sunday Liturgy April 13 9:30, 10:30 7) Bridgroom Services Sunday, Monday & 6:30 pm 8) Holy Unction Service 6:30 pm 9) Holy Thursday Divine 10:30am Reading of the 12 6:30 pm 10) Holy and Great Friday, Royal 10:00am 7:00 pm 11) Holy Saturday 10 am Rush Service & Holy Resurrection 10;00 pm THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION: Repentance is the door to salvation. Without it, we remain a lost sheep, and lose all hope of tasting the Fountain of Life; but with it we find the Door of Paradise, and the angels and the saints at the eternal Banquet Feast of the Lord. During Holy Week confessions will be heard after evening services though Holy Friday evening and by appointment. There will be no confession after Holy Friday evening. CHARITY AND GOOD WORKS: Basically, this is LOVING one another, with the same kind of Love Jesus showed us. (Read 1 Corinthians 13, James and 1John.) FASTING: A necessary ingredient to this season. Please try to abstain this season from any meat and if possible dairy products, and gain control over your earthly passions. Then, share what you didn't eat with those who have nothing. Remember to "feed" your Food For Hungry Box each day with your children, and teach them how to care for the poor.

13 MEMO TO ALL 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 Wine Oil Palms Eggs Votive Candles for the health of: in memory of:

14 The Teens Group meets every Sunday after Church in The Teens Room "If we expect our children and grandchildren to grow into adulthood as practicing Orthodox Christians, we must give daily witness to the importance of our faith in our everyday life. If we are lax in our fasting, church attendance, and piety, our children will see by our lack of seriousness a faith that will mean nothing to them. If they do not see us keeping a prayer rule, they will not have prayer as a part of their lives. If they do not see us putting the divine services before entertainment, they will abandon Orthodoxy, once they ve left the nest." Abbot Tryphon Friday March 14th Choir Friday March 21th Sunday School Friday March 28th Teens Friday April 4th Clergy & Parish Council $15 RESERVE THE DATE ON YOUR CALENDER SATURDAY MAY 03, 2014 In Metropolitan Hall OUR ANNUAL ST. GEORGE CELEBRATION A Collection of Recipes by Antiochian Women St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church Cleveland, Ohio

15 March Is The Antiochian Women's Month The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America was founded in 1973 through the vision of His Eminence Metropolitan Philip Saliba as an organization of the Antiochian Archdiocese. Its purpose is to develop a spirit of Christian leadership, awareness, and commitment; to foster a genuine expression of love and service through works of charity; and to instill a sense of fellowship and a deeper understanding of the heritage and traditions of the Orthodox Church. His Grace Bishop Joseph once said: When everyone left our Lord Jesus Christ alone on the cross, the women were there. Can you see how important the women are? You are the myrrh-bearing women. The month of March has been designated as Antiochian Women s Month by His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP. During the month of March every year, women are encouraged to express the fullness of their ministry in the Church. Sponsored by the Antiochian Women, each local chapter is encouraged to hold activities during the month of March and to participate in the Liturgy by reading the Epistle, delivering the homily, and ministering to the parish, the archdiocese, and the community. Especially during the month of March, women are encouraged to minister to the needs of the poor, infirm and aged, engage in local charitable and humanitarian works, and raise funds for the Project of the Antiochian Women. Member chapters are encouraged to organize and participate in retreats or evenings of reflection in their local parishes or deanery.

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.