ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE. The Vicariate For P/J Christian Orthodox Communities In America. St. George Orthodox Cathedral/Daly City

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1 Z[ Z[ ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE The Vicariate For P/J Christian Orthodox Communities In America %<;:98 76 '$54,( '$#$312+" '$10/.-,( '$+*)( '&%$#" St. George Orthodox Cathedral/Daly City 7D$) 72;4/ '$?,>=0 Archiepiscopal Vicar Father George Jweinat Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne DR. Damaskinos Alazrai The Very Rev. Father Issa Awwad Rev. Father Hanna Khoury Office Phone:# Fax: Fr. George s Cell: Sunday February 18h, 2018 Cheese Fare Sunday Tone 4 Eothina 4 / /,.-)(,+*)( '&%$ #" Volume 26 Number 7 stgeorgesf@sbcglobal.net SPECIAL INVITATION FROM THE ARCHIEPISCOPAL VICAR PROTOPRESBYTER GEORGE JWEINAT TO THE ARCHIMANDRITE OF THE ECUMENICAL THRONE DR. DAMASKINOS ALAZRAI To Celebrate The First Great Compline on Monday, February 19th, pm Dinner Is Served After The Service A'.@$=?>$= <1, ).;:-, 59 8"376, 54321, 0/'.-, +* )('& %$#" 5#>M1, E$.B:J*L.F 5K$:J6, 52C:-, I@>".HG>D %F'B2 EDC7B2 A,$3-, <> '@ %N( )*"& 'J* )Y'J-, )#'J-, 8'HX 59 STUV/S/UW R9,$6, Q.PO, 8$@ %CG'^* )*"]-, "Y Z'\Y-, 8"3B2 )d>'\6,c >$ba-, `BH_-, +* $=CK *********************************************************************************************************************************** h:b;-, g-f "BJ-, e$&f "B# )^2'.H 'J* )2F'J-, )#'J-, 8'HX 59 STUV/S/Ul R9,$6, kbh]-, 8$@ j'& E,"i 8'3B2 )d>'\6,c >$ba-, `BH_-, +* $=CK... E,"3-, "Y %CG'^* Z'\Y-, 8'Ym 8"3B2 Special Divine Liturgy This Thursday, February 15th, 6:00 pm On The Occasion of the Feast of The Presentation Of Our Lord Jesus Christ To The Temple Dinner To Be Presented After Liturgy By The Ladies Auxiliary & The Orthodox Family Club All Members Are Kindly Asked To Join Us That Evening A Get-Together After Dinner For All Our Ladies To Put On Our Agenda For More Information Please Call Cynthia Or Osama """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" St. George Orthodox Cathedral 1617 Southgate Ave Daly City, CA 94015

2 St. George Orthodox Cathedral ('5403$2% 10'-$/.-,+#*)% ('&%$#" $'&% $#" Daly City Ca English Services 9:00 am Arabic Matins 10:15 am Liturgy 11:00 am Archiepiscopal Vicar Father George Jweinat ARCHIMANDRITE OF THE ECUMENICAL THRONE D. DAMASKINOS ALAZRAI TheVery Rev. Father Isa Awwad Rev. Father Hanna Khoury Bread Altar Offering: The Holy Bread Altar Offering (Corban St. Mark 7:11) will be specially offered for the Holy Sanctify of the Divine Liturgy. By DIANA KHOURI, Her Children & Their Families in blessed Memory of Beloved Husband, Father & Grandfather FAIQ KHOURI. May His blessed Memory Be Eternal. By the St. George Parish Family in thanksgiving to God for the continued good health of NAIM DUDUM. By the St. George Parish Family in Thanksgiving to God for the continued good health of JIHAN KASSIS ARANKI. By The St. George Parish Family in Thanksgiving to God for the continued good health of JULIETTE KHOURY. The Very Rev. Fr. Moeen Hanna daughter of Phanuel, who did not leave the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day. She arrived just when Saint Simeon met the divine Child. She also gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem. In the icon of the Feast she holds a scroll which reads: This Child has established Heaven and earth. Before Christ was born, righteous men and women lived by faith in the promised Messiah, and awaited His coming. The Righteous Simeon and the Prophetess Anna, the last righteous people of the Old Testament, were deemed worthy to meet the Savior in the Temple. *********************************************************************** ****************************************************************************************** Head Ushers: Maher Haddad Head of Altar Boys: Michael Batshon, Altar Boys: Adrian Husary, Jason Arbeed, Andrew & Anthony Jwainat Cheesefare Sunday (Forgiveness Sunday) Ple s... **** ********************************************************************************************************************************************** This Thursday February 15th, the Church commemorates an important event in the earthly life of our Lord Jesus Christ. Forty days after His birth the God-Infant was taken to the Jerusalem Temple, the center of the nation s religious life. According to the Law of Moses (Lev. 12:2-8), a woman who gave birth to a male child was forbidden to enter the Temple of God for forty days. At the end of this time the mother came to the Temple with the child, to offer a young lamb or pigeon to the Lord as a purification sacrifice. The Most Holy Virgin, the Mother of God, had no need of purification, since she had given birth to the Source of purity and sanctity without defilement. However, she humbly fulfilled the requirements of the Law. At this time the righteous Elder Simeon (February 3) was living in Jerusalem. It had been revealed to him that he would not die until he should behold the promised Messiah. By inspiration from above, Saint Simeon went to the Temple at the very moment when the Most Holy Theotokos and Saint Joseph had brought the Infant Jesus to fulfill the Law. The God-Receiver Simeon took the divine Child in his arms, and giving thanks to God, he spoke the words repeated by the Church each evening at Vespers: Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel. Saint Simeon said to the Most Holy Virgin: Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against. Yea, a sword shall pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed At the Temple was the 84-year-old widow Anna the Prophetess, O Lord, we were estranged before from paradise, because of eating from the tree. Therefore, lead us into it again by Thy Cross and by Thy Passion, my Savior and my God. Fortify us therein that we may fulfill our fast with becoming purity, and worship Thy divine Resurrection and Passover of salvation, by the intercessions of Thy Mother. -- from Orthros, Tone 2 For those observing the Lenten Fast, Cheese-Fare Sunday is the last day on which eggs and dairy are eaten before Pascha. On CheeseFare Sunday, we also commemorate the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, entering into the Lenten fast in remembrance of mankind's separation from God through disobeying his commandment to fast from the fruit of the tree. Furthermore, many faithful attend Forgiveness Vespers on Sunday evening, asking forgiveness from each other in accordance with the Lord's words: If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses (Matt. 6:14). ******************************************************* LADIES AUXILIARY Kenafeh Day AFTER CHURCH S LITURGY This Sunday Feb. 18th, 2018 (Cheese Fare Sunday) Donated By DIANA KHOURI & Her Family In Blessed Memory Of Her Beloved Husband FAIQ KHOURI Thank you & God Bless You All **************************************************************************************************************** YOUTH GATHERING WITH NAJI.. Friday, February 16th, 2018 At The Cathedral 8:00 pm **************************************** Sunday February SAVE THE DATE APRIL 14TH, 2018 Grand Opening & 25th Anniversary Of Our Cathedral Stay Tuned For More Details

3 \ \ \ \ Cheese Fare Sunday Sing praises to our God, sing ye: sing praises to our king, sing ye. O clap your hands, all ye nations. Section from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans (13: 11 to end; 14:1-4) YE Brethren: Now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying: But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who aren t thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth of falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. The Gospel: From St. Matthew (6:14-21) The Lord saith: If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. *)( '&%$ #" 87+0*6 %$ % /.-, *+ - %$#" *)('& %$#" *7$6& 5)4 31'2)+ /)10 /.-,)+ *)('& %$ #" (::8:-88:89) A.*)999991G F99999E =*99999D * CB99999A@ =?% *)999993>99999; =: <$99999;: * VU#9TK S-#R9'% Q*-9O@ *P)9O N7)#9M *()9'% CBL9A:K J.#9'% IH*)9".$)'% SX#W@ BZY999'%K a$`5999'*9996 ] *()999'% _M *-999D \*5999^] *999D$#999W [P Z#999Y)' %$YU99999': J YX'%K f*`e99999'* ]K B99999(d'%K /,*c99999b* ]K.*("%$(k j*c5' 2Di*Y,h6 %$-L(" ]K g.yb% N$Y+ CB'% _M So999999E*U B.n =* &% _M *4.d999999m =*999999D [ %Kl999999e":K.j%0% s.dc9'% *91@ r.9k J9D J9Dh9+ =@ q9' =@ 75Ld9+ [91 p*)9'% [91.Q$5U'% JDh.M [91 J9Dh9+ ] 8l9'% =79+ ]K J9Dh9+ ] [91 J9Dh9+ 8l9'% 8it9+ >9M.wle": 7A Pv% =um JDh+.y5Y9+ K@ xuo9+ w]$9b q9t:.\*.u)9,@ %7U9O [9+79" [91 *9+ x9t@ [91.qLUo+ =@ I#O i*a Pv% =0 xuo.w q)z' (A8-8::@) 5?$ /.-,)+ >&(=0 %$ #7<;4.CB'% Q*A.2Z"]{ 8K*-Y'% 2D$6@ 2Z' B4n+ 2("]{ p*)#' 2"B4z =: 2Z99999' B4n ] \*c99999+@ D$999996h99999M 2(99999"]{ p*)#99999' %KB4n99999" ' =:K 2(99999Tu99999M F99999^%B99999b*99999D F99999YUd1 %$99999T$Z99999" >99999M 2L % :K 2Z99999"]{.F-^*3 p*)#' %KB(R.' 2(H$,K =KBZP )+.2HB,@ %$M$LW@ 7A 2(T: 2Z' Q$A@ }X'% B99(R" >99' ~(99,K J99Yz:K ~99W@ [99Hiu99M x-993 % : x99t@ *991@ BR)99+ 8l99'% Ä$996@K j*4e99'% _M 8l99'% ~.9960 J996 *-99^*993 p*)#99'.s.t>o ~+{*Å+ j*4e'% _M S#D9 0%K p$y'9 % 7Y9 4+ É.E9 Ç0% I#O \%{$)D9 2Z'9 %Kt)Z"9 ].=$ABY+K =$A*Y'% Ñ5)+K ]K p$99w 799Y4+ ] É.99E j*-y99'% _M \%{$)99D 2Z99' %Kt)99D: [Z99'.=$ABY+ ]K =$A*Y'% Ñ5)+ ]K S#DG.~U#A =$Z+ Ä*)H Ät)D =$Z+ É.E qt&

4 TREE OF LIFE Two Trees Will Be Placed At The Main Entry Of The Cathedral One On Each Side Please Reserve A Leaf Or More In Blessed Memory Of Your Loved One Donation $1000

5 The Holy Virgin Martyr Agatha 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.

6 Apolytikion of Martyr Agatha in the Fourth Tone O Lord Jesus, unto Thee Thy lamb doth cry with a great voice: O my Bridegroom, Thee I love; and seeking Thee, I now contest, and with Thy baptism am crucified and buried. I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee; for Thy sake I die, that I may live in Thee: accept me offered out of longing to Thee as a spotless sacrifice. Lord, save our souls through her intercessions, since Thou art great in mercy. Kontakion of Martyr Agatha in the Fourth Tone Let the Church be clad today with royal purple in a splendid covering dyed in the chaste and hallowed blood of Martyr Agatha, and let it now cry: Rejoice, O thou boast of Catania.

7 "##$#%&'(#%)*+,'-% The Sunday of Forgiveness is the last Sunday prior to the commencement of Great Lent. During the pre-lenten period, the services of the Church include hymns from the Triodion, a liturgical book that contains the services from the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, the tenth before Pascha (Easter), through Great and Holy Saturday. On the Sunday of Forgiveness focus is placed on the exile of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, an event that shows us how far we have fallen in sin and separated ourselves from God. At the onset of Great Lent and a period of intense fasting, this Sunday reminds us of our need for God s forgiveness and guides our hearts, minds, and spiritual efforts on returning to Him in repentance.

8 "#$"%&$'()*+,' The Sunday of Forgiveness, the last of the preparatory Sundays before Great Lent, has two themes: it commemorates Adam s expulsion from Paradise, and it accentuates our need for forgiveness. There are obvious reasons why these two things should be brought to our attention as we stand on the threshold of Great Lent. One of the primary images in the Triodion is that of the return to Paradise. Lent is a time when we weep with Adam and Eve before the closed gate of Eden, repenting with them for the sins that have deprived us of our free communion with God. But Lent is also a time when we are preparing to celebrate the saving event of Christ s death and rising, which has reopened Paradise to us once more (Luke 23:43). So sorrow for our exile in sin is tempered by hope of our re-entry into Paradise. The second theme, that of forgiveness, is emphasized in the Gospel reading for this Sunday (Matthew 6:14-21) and in the special ceremony of mutual forgiveness at the end of the Vespers on Sunday evening. Before we enter the Lenten fast, we are reminded that there can be no true fast, no genuine repentance, no reconciliation with God, unless we are at the same time reconciled with one another. A fast without mutual love is the fast of demons. We do not travel the road of Lent as isolated individuals but as members of a family. Our asceticism and fasting should not separate us from others, but should link us to them with ever-stronger bonds. The Sunday of Forgiveness also directs us to see that Great Lent is a journey of liberation from our enslavement to sin. The Gospel lesson sets the conditions for this liberation. The first one is fasting the refusal to accept the desires and urges of our fallen nature as normal, the effort to free ourselves from the dictatorship of the flesh and matter over the spirit. To be effective, however, our fast must not be hypocritical, a showing off.

9 We must appear not unto men to fast but to our Father who is in secret (vv ). The second condition is forgiveness If you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you (vv ). The triumph of sin, the main sign of its rule over the world, is division, opposition, separation, hatred. Therefore, the first break through this fortress of sin is forgiveness the return to unity, solidarity, love. To forgive is to put between me and my enemy the radiant forgiveness of God Himself. To forgive is to reject the hopeless dead-ends of human relations and to refer them to Christ. Forgiveness is truly a breakthrough of the Kingdom into this sinful and fallen world. "#$%#&%'()%*)+,'% The icon of the Sunday of the Last Judgment incorporates all of the elements of the parable from Matthew 25: Christ sits on the throne and before him the Last Judgment takes place. He is extending his hands in blessing upon the Theotokos on his right, and John the Baptist on his left. Seated on smaller thrones are the Apostles, represented by Peter and Paul, a depiction of the words of Christ in Matthew 19:28. (1.)

10 The icon shows Adam and Eve standing before Jesus Christ. Prior to their descent into sin through disobedience, Adam and Eve were blessed with a beautiful relationship of communion and fellowship with God. However, they were tempted by the devil appearing in the form of a serpent to disobey God and eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:15-17). When they took of the fruit and sinned, they realized that they were naked. Further, when they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden they hid themselves from the presence of the Lord (3:8). The icon shows Adam and Eve attempting to cover themselves with fig leaves as they try to hide, and yet they stand ashamed before the Lord. Because of their disobedience the Lord expelled them from the garden. The icon shows the Archangel of the Lord directing them out of Paradise, through the gate of Eden where God placed the cherubim and a sword flaming and guarding the way to the tree of life (3:23-24). Adam and Eve are dressed in the garments of skins made for them by God (3:20). "#$%&%'()$"*+#*,-()./.0",#*%-(%1(#$.(23-&,4(%1(5%"6*7.-.++( The Sunday of Forgiveness is commemorated with the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, which is preceded by the Matins service. A Great Vespers is conducted on Saturday evening. The hymns of the Triodion for this day are added to the usual prayers and hymns of the weekly commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ. The naming of the Sunday is taken from the commemoration of the Exile of Adam and Eve from Paradise and from the Gospel reading of the Divine Liturgy. Scripture readings for the Sunday of the Last Judgment are: At the Orthros (Matins): The prescribed weekly Gospel reading. At the Divine Liturgy: Romans 13:11-14:4, Matthew 6:14-21.

11 The Sunday of Forgiveness is also known as Cheesefare Sunday. This is the last day that dairy products can be eaten before the Lenten fast. The full fast begins the following day on Clean Monday, the first day of Great Lent. On the evening of the Sunday of Forgiveness the Church conducts the first service of Great Lent, the Vespers of Forgiveness, a service that directs us further on the path of repentance and helps us to acknowledge our need for forgiveness from God and to seek forgiveness from our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is the first time that the Lenten prayer of St. Ephraim accompanied by prostrations is read. At the end of the service all the faithful approach the priest and one another asking for mutual forgiveness. Orthodox Christians are encouraged to enter Great Lent in repentance and confession by attending these services, coming for the Sacrament of Confession, and dedicating themselves to worship, prayer, and fasting throughout the Lenten period. The first day of Lent, Clean Monday, signifies the beginning of a period of cleansing and purification of sins through repentance. On the Saturday before this Sunday, the second of three Saturdays of the Souls are held. This is a special commemoration when the Church offers a Divine Liturgy and Memorial Service for the departed faithful. This is considered a universal commemoration of the dead. Through the memorial services, the Church is commending to God all who have departed and who are now awaiting the Last Judgment. This specific Saturday is a general commemoration of all the ascetic Saints of the Church, both men and women. As we set out on the Lenten fast we are reminded that we will make this journey as members of a family, supported by the intercessions of the Saints.

12 "#$%&'%()*'#+*&,-./+0+'&.,-./+)*,(12'34,% "#$%&'()#*+%,-%.-/#'+,&-01%,(-12%3- Wretch that I am I disobeyed Your good commandment, O my Lord. And being stripped of Your glory, alas, with shame I am laden. And I have been evicted from the pure delights of Paradise. O merciful and compassionate, have mercy on me who rightly has been deprived of Your goodness. We were expelled of old, O Lord, from the Garden of Eden, for wrongly eating from the tree. But, O my God and Savior, You once again have restored us through Your Cross and Your Passion. Thereby, O Master, fortify and enable us purely to finish Lent and to worship Your holy resurrection, Pascha our saving Passover, by the prayers of Your Mother. 4*%5(+6(,%,-%.-7(&$(*&-01%,(-4)#8#)-9%:*';3- Idiomela: Turn not away Thy face from Thy child for I am afflicted; hear me speedily. Draw near to my soul and deliver me. Stichos: Thy salvation, O God, hath set me up. The poor see and rejoice.

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