St. George. Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church W. 14th Street, Cleveland OH Sunday of the Blind Man

Transcription

1 St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church 2587 W. 14th Street, Cleveland OH Sunday of the Blind Man 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 May 21, 2017 Tone 5/ Eothinon 8; Six Sunday of Pascha Sunday of the Blind Man Equals-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen Constantine, Prince of Murom, and his sons Michael and Theodore, the Wonderworkers 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 Oblation is offered in memory of Salma Almaz (one week) by Nabil, George and Maje Almaz and their families. Bread of Oblation is offered in memory of Juana Mina Kattas (40 days) by John Abood (brother-in-law), Tony & Liz (niece) Nassif & Family Candles are offered for the Health, Safety & Spiritual Welfare of: Family & Friends by George & Joie Haddad Candles are offered in Beloved Memory of: 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 Wednesday May 24 Feast of the Ascension Evening Divine 6:30 pm Sunday May 28, 2017 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 May 21, 2017 Tone 5/ Eothinon 8; Six Sunday of Pascha Sunday of the Blind Man Equals-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen Constantine, Prince of Murom, and his sons Michael and Theodore, the Wonderworkers The Priest begins Divine Liturgy with Blessed is the Kingdom and the choir responds Amen. Bearing the Paschal Candle, the Priest then leads the singing of the Paschal Apolytikion and censes the west side of the Altar Table. The Choir then sings this twice, and the Liturgy continues with the Great Litany.

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10 St. Helen, Mother of Emperor Constantine, Equal of the Apostles Commemorated on May 21 St. Helen was the mother of St. Constantine the Great, and was born at Drepanum (Helenopolis) in Asia Minor to parents of humble means. She married Constantius Chlorus, and their son Constantine was born in 274. Constantius divorced her in 294 in order to further his political ambitions by marrying a woman of noble rank. After he became emperor, Constantine showed his mother great honor and respect, granting her the imperial title Augusta. After St. Constantine became the sole ruler of the Western Roman Empire, he issued the Edict of Milan in 313 which guaranteed religious tolerance for Christians. St. Helen, who was a Christian, may have influenced him in this decision. In 323, when he became the sole ruler of the entire Roman Empire, he extended the provisions of the Edict of Milan to the Eastern half of the Empire. After three hundred years of persecution, Christians could finally practice their faith without fear. The emperor deeply revered the victory-bearing Sign of the Cross of the Lord, and wanted to find the actual Cross upon which our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. He sent his mother, Helen, to Jerusalem, providing her with a letter to St. Macarius, Patriarch of Jerusalem. Although St. Helen was already in her declining years, she set about completing the task with enthusiasm. Searching for the Life-Creating Cross, she questioned both Christians and Jews, but her search remained unsuccessful. However, in 326, she was directed to an elderly Hebrew named Jude who stated that the Cross was buried at the Temple of Venus. St. Helen ordered that the pagan temple be demolished. After praying, the ground began to be excavated. Soon, the Tomb of the Lord was uncovered. Not far from it were three crosses, a board with the inscription ordered by Pilate, and four nails which had pierced the Lord s Body. In order to determine the cross on which the Savior had been crucified, St. Macarius alternately touched the crosses to a corpse. When the dead man was touched by the True Cross of the Lord, the body came to life. Having beheld the raising of the dead, everyone was convinced that the Life -Creating Cross was found. During the discovery of the Life-Creating Cross, another miracle took place a grievously sick woman, beneath the shadow of the Holy Cross, was healed instantly. Elder Jude and other Jews came to believe in Christ and accepted Holy Baptism. Jude received the name Cyriacus and afterwards was consecrated Bishop of Jerusalem. Christians came in huge throngs to venerate the Holy Cross, beseeching St. Macarius to elevate the Cross, so that even those far off might reverently contemplate it. The Patriarch and other

11 spiritual leaders raised up the Holy Cross, and the people, saying Lord have mercy, reverently prostrated themselves before the Venerable Wood. While in Jerusalem, St. Helen performed a variety of good works, including giving money to the poor. She also ordered that all places connected with the earthly life of the Lord and His All -Pure Mother be freed of all traces of paganism, and directed that churches be built at each of these places. St. Helen gave the Life-Creating Cross to the Patriarch for safe-keeping, and took part of the wood and nails back to Constantinople. St. Helen continued to journey to the holy places connected with the earthly life of the Savior, building more than eighty churches at Bethlehem at the birthplace of Christ; on the Mount of Olives where the Lord ascended to Heaven; and at Gethsemane where the Savior prayed before His sufferings and where the Mother of God was buried. Emperor Constantine gave orders to build at Jerusalem a majestic and spacious church in honor of the Resurrection of Christ, also including under its roof the Life-Giving Tomb of the Lord and Golgotha. The temple was constructed in about ten years. St. Helen did not survive to see the dedication of this temple. She entered into the Eternal Kingdom in 327. However, the church was consecrated on September 13, 335. On the following day, September 14, the festal celebration of the Exaltation of the Venerable and Life-Creating Cross was established. The Orthodox Church commemorates the Uncovering of the Precious Cross and the Precious Nails by the Holy Empress Helen on March 6. Because of her great service to the Church and her efforts in finding the Life-Creating Cross, Empress Helen is called the Equal of the Apostles.

12 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, June 05, :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 June 08, :30 pm St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church 2587 W.14th St. Cleveland.

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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 $179 Anonymous 20 In memory of Edward Khouri by Son Clifford Imad Nader 1200 Pierre Aboukaled Dr. Salim Hayek 1200 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 1 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 Drs. Fadi & Samar Bashour 1 Dr. Gaby & Lea Khoury Eric & Georgina Barnett 150 Joseph Maalouf Nuha Karsheh 300 The Arthur Gallagher Found.

15 George & Joie Haddad 250 Beverly George 200 Jennie Sadallah William & Laverne Ameen 250 Mary Abdallah 25 Dr. Helen Hattab Mary Ameen in memory of Wadia Ameen 300 David & Kathy Jones 2000 Drs. Hassan & Julia Abbass in memory of Fr. Youssef Maalouly The Namy Family 3000 Please Help us to reach our Goal, we have to raise $53821 more. Also needed 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 Change the Yarid Light Hall Bulbs to LED $800 By Anonymous Remodeling the bathroom under the Church Labor are donated by Mazhar Kanneh $ needed for construction materials Fixing damaged walls and Painting the Yarid Hall $1340 Six cases of Taper Candles $89 each Forty Altar Pure Liquid Paraffin Quarts $8.50 each Change the carpet on the stairs and the entry to Church area along with the Yarid Hall Part Change the rear end carpet in Church and fix the middle Runner. Sell the rest of the memorial tiles at the entrance of the office area. $150 each Replace the Carpet at the Rectory ChangeThe Metropolitan Hall Light Bulbs to LED Replace the Aluminum Entry Door, back entrance to the Sunday school $4690 Thank you and may God bless you all. RESERVE THESE DATES ON YOUR CALENDER June 17, 2017 Our Spring Annual Parish Mill Stream Run ZĞƐĞƌǀ ĂƟŽŶ ^ƚƌžŷőɛǀ ŝůůğ K, June 21-Ϯϰ ϮϬϭϳ WĂƌŝƐŚ >ŝĩğ ŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ŚŝĐĂŐŽ D ĂƌƌŝŽƩ K ĂŬ Brook, 1401 W. 22nd St. Oak Brook, Illinois July 23-ϯ Ϭ ϮϬϭϳ ϱϯ ƌě 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 Feast 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 November 19, 2017 Our Annual Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and Thanksgiving Banquet

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.