Parish Council Members

Transcription

1 Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Rev. Fr, Dean J. Dimon Proistamenos 2187 West 14th Street, Cleveland, OH Sunday, March 3, 2019 Judgment Sunday Meatfare This Sunday is called Meat-Fare because during the week following it a limited fasting abstention from meat is prescribed by the Church. This prescription is to be understood in the light of what has been said about the meaning of preparation. The Church begins now to adjust us to the great effort which she will expect from us seven days later. She gradually takes us into that effort knowing our frailty, foreseeing our spiritual weakness. On the eve of that day (Meat-Fare Saturday), the Church invites us to a universal commemoration of all those who have fallen asleep in the hope of resurrection and life eternal. This is indeed the Church s great day of prayer for her departed members. To understand the meaning of this connection between Lent and the prayer for the dead, one must remember that Christianity is the religion of love. Christ left with His disciples not a doctrine of individual salvation but a new commandment that they love one another, and He added: By this shall all know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. Love is thus the foundation, the very life of the Church which is, in the words of St. Ignatius of Antioch, the unity of faith and love. Sin is always absence of love, and therefore separation, isolation, war of all against all. The new life given by Christ and conveyed to us by the Church is, first of all, a life of reconciliation, of gathering into oneness of those who were dispersed, the restoration of love broken by sin. But how can we even begin our return to God and our reconciliation with Him if in ourselves we do not return to the unique new commandment of love? Praying for the dead is an essential expression of the Church as love. We ask God to remember those whom we remember and we remember them because we love them. Praying for them we meet them in Christ who is Love and who, because He is Love, overcomes death which is the ultimate victory of separation and lovelessness. In Christ there is no difference between living and dead because all are alive in Him. He is the Life and that Life is the light of man. Loving Christ, we love all those who are in Him; loving those who are in Him, we love Christ: this is the law of the Church and the obvious rationale for her of prayer for the dead. It is truly our love in Christ that keeps them alive because it keeps them in Christ, and how wrong, how hopelessly wrong, are those Western Christians who either reduce prayer for the dead to a juridical doctrine of merits and compensations or simply reject it as useless. The great Vigil for the Dead of Meat-Fare Saturday serves as a pattern for all other commemorations of the departed and it is repeated on the second, third, and fourth Saturdays of Lent. It is love again that constitutes the theme of Meat-Fare Sunday. The Gospel lesson for the day is Christ s parable of the Last Judgment (Matt. 25:31-46). When Christ comes to judge us, what will be the criterion of His judgment? The parable answers: love not a mere humanitarian concern for abstract justice and the anonymous poor, but concrete and personal love for the human person, any human person, that God makes me encounter in my life. This distinction is important be- Parish Council Members Parish Council Officers: Niko Semertsidis President John A. Trihas Vice President Linsey Anagnostos Secretary Joe Rokas Treasurer Penelope Coutris Aphrodite Ganotis Eleni Karadaglis Michael Manak Kosmas Petratos Tim Tsirambidis John Vianos Sam Zizis

2 cause today more and more Christians tend to identify Christian love with political, economic, and social concerns; in other words, they shift from the unique person and its unique personal destiny, to anonymous entities such as class, race, etc. Not that these concerns are wrong. It is obvious that in their respective walks of life, in their responsibilities as citizens, professional men, etc., Christians are called to care, to the best of their possibilities and understanding, for a just, equal, and in general more humane society. All this, to be sure, stems from Christianity and my inspired by Christian love. But Christian love as such is something different, and this difference is to be understood and maintained if the Church is to preserve her unique mission and not become a mere social agency, which definitely she is not. Christian love is the possible impossibility to see Christ in another man, whoever he is, and whom God, in His eternal and mysterious plan, has decided to introduce into my life, be it only for a few moments, not as an occasion for a good deed or an exercise in philanthropy, but as the beginning of an eternal companionship in God Himself. For, indeed, what is love if not the mysterious power which transcends the accidental and the external in the other his physical appearance, social rank, ethnic origin, intellectual capacity and reaches the soul, the unique and uniquely personal root of a human being, truly the part of God in him? If God loves every man it is because He alone knows the priceless and absolutely unique treasure, the soul or person He gave every man. Christian love then is the participation in that divine knowledge and the gift of that divine love. There is no impersonal love because love is the wonderful discovery of the person in man, of the personal and unique in the common and general. It is the discovery in each man of that which is lovable in him, of that which is from God. In this respect, Christian love is sometimes the opposite of social activism with which one so often identifies Christianity today. To a social activist the object of love is not person but man, an abstract unit of a not less abstract humanity. But for Christianity, man is lovable because he is person. There person is reduced to man; here man is seen only as person. The social activist has no interest for the personal, and easily sacrifices it to the common interest. Christianity may seem to be, and in some ways actually is, rather sceptical about that abstract humanity, but it commits a mortal sin against itself each time it gives up its concern and love for the person. Social activism is always futuristic in its approach; it always acts in the name of justice, order, happiness to come, to be achieved. Christianity cares little about that problematic future but puts the whole emphasis on the now the only decisive time for love. The two attitudes are not mutually exclusive, but they must not be confused. Christians, to be sure, have responsibilities toward this world and they must fulfill them. This is the area of social activism which belongs entirely to this world. Christian love, however, aims beyond this world. It is itself a ray, a manifestation of the Kingdom of God; it transcends and overcomes all limitations, all conditions of this world because its motivation as well as its goals and consummation is in God. And we know that even in this world, which lies in evil, the only lasting and transforming victories are those of love. To remind man of this personal love and vocation, to fill the sinful world with this love this is the true mission of the Church. The parable of the Last Judgment is about Christian love. Not all of us are called to work for humanity, yet each one of us has received the gift and the grace of Christ s love. We know that all men ultimately need this personal love the recognition in them of their unique soul in which the beauty of the whole creation is reflected in a unique way. We also know that men are in prison and are sick and thirsty and hungry because that personal love has been denied them. And, finally, we know that however narrow and limited the framework of our personal existence, each one of us has been made responsible for a tiny part of the Kingdom of God, made responsible by that very gift of Christ s love. Thus, on whether or not we have accepted this responsibility, on whether we have loved or refused to love, shall we be judged. For inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, you have done it unto Me Source: Great Lent, Journey to Pascha. Alexander Schmemann, St. Vladimir s Seminary Press:

3 Epistle Ἀπόστολος St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2 Prokeimenon. Mode 4. Psalm 146.5;134.3 Great is our Lord, and great is his power. Verse: Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good. The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2 Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall. Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 8:8-13, 9:1-2 Προκείμενον. Ήχος δ'. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 146.5;134.3 Μέγας ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν, καὶ μεγάλη ἡ ἰσχὺς ἀὐτοῦ. Στίχ. Αἰνεῖτε τὸν Κύριον, ὅτι ἀγαθός. Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 8:8-13, 9:1-2 τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα Ἀδελφοί, βρῶμα ἡμᾶς οὐ παρίστησιν τῷ θεῷ οὔτε γὰρ ἐὰν φάγωμεν περισσεύομεν, οὔτε ἐὰν μὴ φάγωμεν ὑστερούμεθα. Βλέπετε δὲ μήπως ἡ ἐξουσία ὑμῶν αὕτη πρόσκομμα γένηται τοῖς ἀσθενοῦσιν. Ἐὰν γάρ τις ἴδῃ σε τὸν ἔχοντα γνῶσιν ἐν εἰδωλείῳ κατακείμενον, οὐχὶ ἡ συνείδησις αὐτοῦ ἀσθενοῦς ὄντος οἰκοδομηθήσεται εἰς τὸ τὰ εἰδωλόθυτα ἐσθίειν; Καὶ ἀπολεῖται ὁ ἀσθενῶν ἀδελφὸς ἐπὶ τῇ σῇ γνώσει, διʼ ὃν Χριστὸς ἀπέθανεν; Οὕτως δὲ ἁμαρτάνοντες εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφούς, καὶ τύπτοντες αὐτῶν τὴν συνείδησιν ἀσθενοῦσαν, εἰς Χριστὸν ἁμαρτάνετε. Διόπερ εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τὸν ἀδελφόν μου, οὐ μὴ φάγω κρέα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ἵνα μὴ τὸν ἀδελφόν μου σκανδαλίσω. Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος; Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐλεύθερος; Οὐχὶ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν ἑώρακα; Οὐ τὸ ἔργον μου ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν κυρίῳ; Εἰ ἄλλοις οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος, ἀλλά γε ὑμῖν εἰμι ἡ γὰρ σφραγὶς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀποστολῆς ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν κυρίῳ. Memorials Peter Katrambas George Sisamis Demetrios Rokas Alexandra Dagres Trisagio Emmanuel Sisamis Anna Tsambouneris Ioannis Livaditis Coffee and Refreshments given in loving memory of Peter Katrambas In the lower level church social hall. May their memory be eternal Μνημόσυνα Παναγιώτης Καραμπάς Γεώργιος Σισαμής Δημήτριος Ρόκας Αλεξάνδρα Δαγρες Τρισάγιο Εμμανουήλ Σησαμης Άννα Τσαμπουνιερη Ιωάννης Λιβαδίτης Σήμερα η ώρα καφές δίνεται εις μνήμην του Παναγιωτη Κατραμπας στην μικρή αίθουσα της εκκλησίας Αιωνία αυτών η μνήμην 3

4 Gospel Ευαγγέλιο Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday) The Gospel According to Matthew 25:31-46 The Lord said, "When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 25:31-46 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος Ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι ἄγγελοι μετ αὐτοῦ, τότε καθίσει ἐπὶ θρόνου δόξης αὐτοῦ, καὶ συναχθήσεται ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ ἀφοριεῖ αὐτοὺς ἀπ ἀλλήλων ὥσπερ ὁ ποιμὴν ἀφορίζει τὰ πρόβατα ἀπὸ τῶν ἐρίφων, καὶ στήσει τὰ μὲν πρόβατα ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ, τὰ δὲ ἐρίφια ἐξ εὐωνύμων. τότε ἐρεῖ ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῖς ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ δεῦτε οἱ εὐλογημένοι τοῦ πατρός μου, κληρονομήσατε τὴν ἡτοιμασμένην ὑμῖν βασιλείαν ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου. ἐπείνασα γάρ, καὶ ἐδώκατέ μοι φαγεῖν, ἐδίψησα, καὶ ἐποτίσατέ με, ξένος ἤμην, καὶ συνηγάγετέ με, γυμνός, καὶ περιεβάλετέ με, ἠσθένησα, καὶ ἐπεσκέψασθέ με, ἐν φυλακῇ ἤμην, καὶ ἤλθετε πρός με. τότε ἀποκριθήσονται αὐτῷ οἱ δίκαιοι λέγοντες κύριε, πότε σε εἴδομεν πεινῶντα καὶ ἐθρέψαμεν, ἢ διψῶντα καὶ ἐποτίσαμεν; πότε δέ σε εἴδομεν ξένον καὶ συνηγάγομεν, ἢ γυμνὸν καὶ περιεβάλομεν; πότε δέ σε εἴδομεν ἀσθενῆ ἢ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ ἤλθομεν πρός σε; καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐρεῖ αὐτοῖς ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐφ ὅσον ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου τῶν ἐλαχίστων, ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε. τότε ἐρεῖ καὶ τοῖς ἐξ εὐωνύμων πορεύεσθε ἀπ ἐμοῦ οἱ κατηραμένοι εἰς τὸ πῦρ τὸ αἰώνιον τὸ ἡτοιμασμένον τῷ διαβόλῳ καὶ τοῖς ἀγγέλοις αὐτοῦ. ἐπείνασα γάρ, καὶ οὐκ ἐδώκατέ μοι φαγεῖν, ἐδίψησα, καὶ οὐκ ἐποτίσατέ με, ξένος ἤμην, καὶ οὐ συνηγάγετέ με, γυμνός, καὶ οὐ περιεβάλετέ με, ἀσθενὴς καὶ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ οὐκ ἐπεσκέψασθέ με. τότε ἀποκριθήσονται αὐτῷ καὶ αὐτοὶ λέγοντες κύριε, πότε σε εἴδομεν πεινῶντα ἢ διψῶντα ἢ ξένον ἢ γυμνὸν ἢ ἀσθενῆ ἢ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ οὐ διηκονήσαμέν σοι; τότε ἀποκριθήσεται αὐτοῖς λέγων ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐφ ὅσον οὐκ ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων, οὐδὲ ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε. καὶ ἀπελεύσονται οὗτοι εἰς κόλασιν αἰώνιον, οἱ δὲ δίκαιοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον. 4

5 Meat fare Sunday, Recognition of the Lord's Second Coming; Resurrectional Hymn Plagal Third or Heavy Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τόν θάνατον ἠνέῳξας τῷ ληστῇ τόν Παράδεισον τῶν Μυροφόρων τόν θρῆνον, μετέβαλες καί τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστέ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τό μέγα ἔλεος. You vanguished death by your cross; you opened to the thief the gates of Paradise; you reversed the lament of the Myrrh-beareres; and your Apostles, to preach you commended them; because you rose, O Christ our God, thus granting your great mercy to all the world. Apolytikion of the Church Σήμερον τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν τό κεφάλαιον, καί τοῦ ἀπ' αἰῶνος μυστηρίου ἡ φανέρωσις ὁ υἱός τοῦ Θεοῦ, υἱός τῆς Παρθένου γίνεται, καί Γαβριήλ τήν χάριν εὐαγγελίζεται. Διό καί ἡμεῖς σύν αὐτῷ, τῇ Θεοτόκῳ βοήσωμεν Χαῖρε Κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ Κύριος μετά σοῦ. To-day is the crown of our Salvation and the manifestation of the Eternal Mystery. The Son of God becometh the son of the Virgin, and Gabriel announceth the good tidings of grace. Wherefore let us also with him cry to the Mother of God: Hail! Thou that art full of grace; the Lord is with thee. Kontakion Ὅταν ἔλθης ὁ Θεός, ἐπί γῆς μετά δόξης, καί τρέμωσι τά σύμπαντα, ποταμός δέ τοῦ πυρός, πρό τοῦ βήματος ἕλκη, καί βίβλοι ἀνοίγωνται, καί τά κρυπτά δημοσιεύωνται, τότε ρῦσαι με, ἐκ τοῦ πυρός τοῦ ἀσβέστου, καί ἀξίωσον, ἐκ δεξιῶν σου μέ στῆναι, Κριτά Δικαιότατε. When you come, O God, upon the earth with glory, and the universe will tremble, and the river of fire will bring men before your judgementseat, and the books will be opened and the secrets are disclosed: then deliver me from the unquenchable fire, and count me worthy to stand on your right hand, O most righteous judge. The memorial service may be offered at the conclusion of any of regular worship service including the Sunday Divine Liturgy. Memorial services are not offered on the feast days of the Lord and the Theotokos, and the period between Saturday of Lazarus and the Sunday of Thomas. In order to offer a memorial service, one needs to contact the parish office and submit the date and the names of the ones to be commemorated. A Trisagion is a brief prayer which is read for our beloved departed. The Names are Commemorated at the Altar during the celebration of each Divine Liturgy, names of the living and the dead are commemorated. Therefore your names must be in the altar prior to 9:30 a.m. If you are late your names will not be read. Τα μνημόσυνα γίνονται όλο τον χρόνο εκτός τις εορτές του Κυρίου και της Θεοτόκου, καθώς επίσης από το Σαββάτο του Λαζάρου μέχρι την Κυριακή του Θωμά. Παρακαλούμε να επικοινωνήστε με το γραφείο της Εκκλησίας για κάθε Τρισάγιο η Μνημόσυνο που θέλετε να κάνετε. Σας παρακαλούμε να τηλεφωνήσετε στο γραφείο της εκκλησίας τηλ εάν θέλετε να κάνετε μνημόσυνο η τρισάγιο. Το τρισάγιο είναι μια σύντομη προσευχή για τα αγαπημένα πρόσωπα που έχουν αποθάνει. Τα ονόματα τους μνημονεύονται στο ιερό κατά την εκτέλεση της κάθε Θείας Λειτουργίας, ονόματα ζωντανών και αποθανόντων μνημονεύονται. Ως εκ τούτου πρέπει η κατάσταση των ονομάτων αυτών να είναι στο ιερό πριν 9 :30πμ Εάν είναι αργότερα από 9:30 πμ τα ονόματα δεν θα διαβαστούν. Please contact the church office if you have a Memorial or a Trisagion. Artoklasia or any other information you would like to see in the church bulletin. Every Thursday is the deadline for the bulletin Για την αρτοκλασία η άλλες πληροφορίες για σας θα έχουμε στης εκκλησίας το ( Μπουλετιν) ενημερωτικό περιοδικό της Κυριακής. Κάθε πέμπτη είναι πάντα η τελευταία ημέρα συγκεντρωσης πληροφοριών για το (Μπουλετιν) Κυριακάτικο ενημερωτικό περιοδικό. 5

6 always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you. (1 Peter 3:15 NKJV). Stewardship of our faith calls us to protect and strengthen the faith that lies within us. Taking time to learn about our Orthodox Christian Faith, praying to God for understanding and guidance, and worshiping with others as the Body of Christ all these things protect and strengthen our faith. Stewardship of our faith TIME WORSHIP All Sunday Services begin 8:30AM Orthros 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy ************* This Week: Mon., March 4th Greek School Lessons 5:30 7:30 p.m. Bible Study 6:00 p.m. Tues., March 5th Festival Prep 9:00am-3:00 pm Wed., March 6th Festival Prep 9:00am 3:00pm Thurs., March 7th Greek School Lessons 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Journey to Fullness 6:00 p.m. Friday, March 8th Fish Fry Begins 5pm -8pm Saturday, March 9th 2nd Saturday of Souls Orthros 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. Sunday, March 10th Forgiveness Sunday Ice Cream Social Memorials Nickolas Dionisopoulos Coffee and Refreshments given in loving memory of Nickolas Dionisopoulos Forgiveness Vespers 6:00 p.m. Memorial Tray If you would like to order a tray of Koliva please contact: Vivian Kyriazis or Angie Tsigas Stewardship 2019 We are grateful for the 156 FAMILIES that have pledged to support the Annunciation s many ministries. We have collected 42,132 Pledged 58,188 Goal: 120,000 Thank you for giving According to your God-Given Ability! 6

7 Forgiveness Sunday Vespers followed by the Forgiveness Circle Sunday, March 10, :00 p.m. Forgiveness Sunday Vespers marks the liturgical beginning of Great Lent. Please join us for this beautiful service of our church. It includes the first changing to dark vestments, the Lenten prayers and a special prayer for the beginning of Great Lent. It concludes with all the faithful asking each other for forgiveness so that we may begin our Lenten efforts with a clear conscience. Συγχώρεση Κυριακής Εσπερινός Συγχώρεση τον αμαρτιών 6:00μμ μετά την Λειτουργία των Εσπερινών παρακαλούμαστε όλη να ζητήσουμε συγχώρεση ο ένας από τον άλλον. Για να ξεκινήσουμε με αγάπη και σεβασμό την μεγάλη σαρακοστή. PRAYER OF ST. EPHRAIM THE SYRIAN (The Lenten Prayer) O Lord and Master of my life do not permit the spirit of laziness and meddling, the lust for power and idle talk to come into me. Instead, grant me, your servant, the spirit of prudence, humility, patience and love. Yes, Lord and King, give me the power to see my own faults and not to judge my brother. For you are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen. Κύριε, και Δέσποτα της ζωής μου, πνεύμα αργίας, περιεγίας, φιλαρχίας, και αργολογίας μη μοι δως. Πνεύμα δε σωφροσύνης, ταπεινοφροσύνης, υπομονής και αγάπης χάρισαί μοι τω σω δούλω. Ναι Κύριε Βασιλεύ, δώρησαί μοι του οράν τά εμά μταισματα, και μη κατακρίνειν τον αδεφόν μου ότι ευλογητός ει εις τους αιώνας των αιώνων. Αμήν. 7 Begin Great Lent as a Family on Sunday, March 10 AT 6:00 P.M.

8 TEAM A Dino Agelidakis Notis Agelidakis Georgio Almiroudis Tino Almiroudis George Coutris Gregory Sisamis George Sisamis Dimitri Genin Dino Kotsanis Nasi Kotsanis Anastasios Ermidis George Ermidis Angelo Semertisidis Jonathan Walsh TEAM B Demetri Anagnostos Nikolaos Anagnostos Konstantinos Ermidis Panagiotis Ermidis Yianni Tsambounieris Anthony Michaels Joey Sheely Constantine Sheely Charlie Hliatzos Michael Hliatzos Kosta Kafantaris Victor Kafantaris Antoni Makris Simon Skoutas TEAM A TEAM B Feb 24 March 10 March 24 April 7 March 3 March 17 March 31 April 14 The following services are open to any altar boy who wants to serve: Salutations to the Theotokos March 15, 22, 29 April 5 & Akathist Hymn April 12th March 24th Great Vespers at 7:00 p.m. 8

9 Let my prayer rise as Incense, before You... And the lifting up of my hands, as an evening sacrifice. Presanctified Liturgy Thrus., March 14th All Youth March 27th -April 3rd, 10th and 17th At 5:30 p.m. The Pre-Sanctified Liturgy & Lenten Meal Every Wednesday THE PRE-SANCTIFIED LITURGY (5:30pm - 7:00pm), is an opportunity to receive the life-giving and spiritually nourishing Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the middle of the week. We will also hear a reflection to educate and inspire us in our Lenten journey. Following the Liturgy enjoy a LENTEN MEAL AND FELLOWSHIP (7:00-8:00). These Wednesday evenings of WORSHIP, EDUCATION and FELLOWSHIP will enhance our spiritual journeys during Lent. Salutations to the Theotokos March 15, 22nd, 29th, April 5th and the Akathist Hymn April 12th at 7:00 PM ΧΑΙΡΕΤΙΣΜΟΙ Παρασκευή, 15, 22, 29, Μαρτίου 5 Απριλίου, και Ακάθιστος Ύμνος 12 Απριλίου στις 7 μ.μ. Όσοι επιθυμήτε να προσφέρετε τις δωρεές σας για τα λουλούδια για την εικόνα της Παναγίας παρακαλούμε καλέστε το γραφείο της εκκλησίας The floral decorations that adorned the Panagia s icon during the Salutations to The Theotokos are generously donated. Please contact the church office if you would like to make a donation. Confession If God forgives us for our sins, why do we need the Sacrament of Confession? Confession is a Holy Mystery (Sacrament) that helps us in our path of repentance and reconciliation with God. It is a Sacrament by which we receive God s grace for our healing and reunion with Him. Of course, God is ready to forgive us every time we turn to Him in sincere repentance and ask for His mercy. In fact, every day we should turn to God, asking for his forgiveness for our countless daily sins. Many times, however, we don t even know or understand our own sins. We also too easily dismiss our sins without sincerely repenting. This is where the Sacrament of Confession helps. In Holy Confession, we confess to Christ Himself, represented by an icon of Christ, and with a priest present, who is a witness to our confession. It is often quite difficult to acknowledge the totality of our sins, so the priest is there as a spiritual doctor, helping us see our own true self. In fact, many people are totally blind to their sins and can t fathom the ugly roots of evil deep within ourselves. Thus, by the grace of God, the priest, helps us see and understand our sins, and then guides us to healing and change, all under the sacramental grace of the Church. The Sacrament of Confession is a spiritual tool which, when used properly, can lead us into a deeper understanding of ourselves, into a state of sincere repentance, and into a fuller union with God. Why don t you try to go to Confession during this season of Great Lent! Make an appointment by contacting the Church Office. 9

10 10

11 Forgiveness Sunday, March 10th following the Divine Liturgy Join us for an Ice Cream Social In the lower level Social Hall. Your help is GREATLY needed for this Festival to be a great success, we would love to have as many of you as possible to come help in the preparations, even if you have no experience. The gracious women of wisdom as we call them, will be glad to show the younger generation how to prepare these foods. Men and women are welcomed. This will be a wonderful opportunity for our parishioners, young and old to get to know each other and show these fading skills. We ask if you would come and help prepare for the festival from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Every Tuesday and Wednesday. Προετοιμασίες για τα φαγητά του φεστιβάλ άρχισαν κάθε Τρίτη και Τετάρτη από τις 9πμ μέχρι τις 3:00 μμ. Σας παρακαλούμε ελάτε να βοηθήσετε. Χρειαζόμαστε τη βοήθεια σας. 11

12 Sunday, March 10th is Mission Sunday. Coin Boxes and Lesson Plans are ready to ship from the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC). If have not already done so, and if your parish Sunday School program would like to participate in this year s Coin Box program and learn about the importance of Orthodox missions, please alex@ocmc.org with your parish name, address, and number of coin boxes you ll need for your students. ENCOURAGING FAITH IN ONE ANOTHER Sts. Constantine & Helen Cathedral, 3352 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Hts, welcomes guest speaker Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis. Fri., March 8, for all Cleveland Sunday School teachers (5:45-6:15 p.m.) and GOYA (6:30-8 p.m., topic Teen Relationships ) invited to an evening with Fr. Stavros, camp director at the Metropolis of Atlanta. RSVP by Wed., March 6 th to orthodox_education@stsconstantine.com Sat., March 9 Lenten Retreat with Fr. Stavros. Saturday of the Souls Liturgy 8:30-9:45 a.m.; Retreat 10 a.m-3 p.m. For more info or to register, contact Anna Warren ( ) GOYA VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT MARCH 23: -- Hosted by All Saints, Canonsburg. First come...first serve. Please see Anthie Kapolis MADE PERFECT THROUGH MY WEAKNESS April 5-7, GOYA Spring Retreat at Camp Nazareth, Mercer, PA. Fee $175. Register at Y2AM.pittsburgh.goarch.org/retreats until March 31 st. HPS ANNUAL EVENT Apr il 11 at 6:30 p.m. Brecksville Recreation Center 1 Community Dr. Brecksville, OH meet Ralph D Alessio coordinator of the proposed Greek Cultural Garden Frieze Support by Hellenic Preservation Society. Rsvp to Mara Cashy: mcash@aol.com JOURNEY TO GREECE June 23-July 20, 2019, AHEPA, in partnership with Webster University, will select 20 qualified college students to travel to various locations in Greece while earning college credit. Submission Deadline is April 20, For application and information, go to Scholarships GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA The George & Naouma (Gioule) Gioles and the Katina John Malta Scholarships are for undergraduate studies, and the Paleologos Scholarship for graduate work of a non-theological nature. Applications at Deadline: May 3 12

13 13

14 SATURDAY OF THE SOULS Orthros 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. March 9th & March 16th Give rest, O Christ, among the Saints to the souls of our servants, where there is no pain, no sorrow, no grieving, but life everlasting. Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone Following the Divine Liturgy, we will offer a memorial service for the repose of the souls of our brothers and sisters in Christ who have fallen asleep. You are encouraged to bring koliva and a list of names of those who have passed away to be memorialized on these days. If you are unable to make koliva and would like Vivi Kyrazis or Angie Tsigas to make you a plate, please call. ΨΥΧΟΣΑΒΒΑΤΟΝ Ψυχοσάββατα ~ 9, & 16 Μαρτίου Παρακαλούμε να φέρετε τα ονόματα και ένα πιάτο κόλλυβο. Επικοινωνήσετε με την Παρασκευή Κυριαζή η την Ευαγγελία Τσίγκα Saturday of Souls ΥΠΕΡ ΑΝΑΠΑΥΣΕΩΣ 14

15 15

16 STEWARDSHIP Proverbs says, Honor the Lord with your substance and with your possessions. When people become faithful stewards of the Lord, they accomplish many benefits for the Kingdom of God, as well as the life of the Christian. This three-fold purpose is as follows: 1. Stewardship should glorify and honor God. 2. Stewardship should advance the kingdom of God. 3. Proper stewardship will result in blessing the steward. Ask yourself, Does the stewardship of my finances honor God? In managing money, do you consider and plan prayerfully, giving priority to God and the things that are of interest and importance to Him? You honor the Lord with your substance by taking a certain portion of your finances and offering it to God as an act of worship. We honor God and his work when our stewardship is a generous portion of our income. The second purpose of stewardship is to provide the means whereby the Kingdom of God can be advanced on earth. When you value the importance of spreading the Gospel and Orthodoxy, you will be motivated to do all you can to ensure that the work of His kingdom continues on earth. The rich man is not one who has much but one who gives much. For what he gives away remains his forever. St. John Chrysostom Your stewardship offering has a direct impact on continuing the ministries of our Church on the parish, metropolis, national and global level. The third purpose of stewardship is to bring blessings into your life. Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you receive. (Luke 6:38) For stewardship to be successful and acceptable, it must be done with a joyful heart. 16

17 The Stewardship Committee would like to thank everyone who submitted their pledge cards for Listed below are the pledged cards we have received. If you have not done so yet, please send in your pledge card to the church office. Extra cards are available at the Pangari (Candle Stand) Ευχαριστούμε όλους που επέστρεψαν τις κάρτες των οικονομικών εύφορων (stewardship) Εάν δεν τα έχετε στείλει σας παρακαλούμε να τα στείλετε η να τα δώσετε στην εκκλησία για το Η κάρτες βρίσκονται στο Παγκάρι Alex, George & Becky Alex, Stefo & Loula Alex, Taso & Eleni Alexandrou, Angie Allison, John & Nancy Almiroudis, Konstantinos & Kalliopei Anagnostos, Athanasios & Linsey Antonaklas, Steve & Evangelia Asmis, Nick & Tina Baker, John & Vicky Boukis, Constantine Boukis, Peter Boukis, Steve Boulas, Dimitrios & Evegenia Boyeas, Mike & Christine Boyeas, Stelios & Judy Ciacchi, Christopher & Maria Cimino, Vincent & Chrisafo Costaras, William & Natalia Coutris, Stephen & Penelope Davis, Lambrini Del Vecchio, Giuseppe & Angela Demopoulos, William Dimon, Fr. Dean & Presvytera Dionisopoulos, Eirini Drosos, Angeliki Efpraxias, Georgio Ermidis, Emmanuel & Marina Ermidis, John & Yulia Ermidis, Venizelos & Bessie Foradis, Militsa Fourtounis, Mark Ganotis, Dimitrios & Aphrodite Ganotis, Michael & Stefani Geanneses, Antoinette Griveas, Peggy Gromek, Stanley & Angie Harris, Despina Hatzis, Kiki Hlepas, James & Kathy Hliatzos, Peter & Katina Kafantaris, George & Sophia Kalevakis, George & Vicki Kalevakis, Mike & Dora Kallas, Cristos & Chrysanthe Kamenos, Stella Kanaris, Anna Kanis, George & Sotiria Kanis, Gus & Vaso Kanis, John & Filitsa Kapolis, Thanos & Anthie Karadaglis, Elias & Eleni Karadimas, Paraskevi Karavokirakis, Dimitra Karavokirakis, Gramatiki Karnavas, Eleni Karnavas, Sophia Karras, John A. & Ismini J. Katsantonis, George L. & Sandra Keating, Dale & Helen Kefalos, Panayiotis & Fotini Klonaris, Joanne Konstantinos, Nikolaos & Vasiliki Kontos, Spiros & Areti Koukouras, Nikolaos & Evangelia Koukouvitakis, Stratis & Argiro Kowalsick, Ruby Kozanas, John & Vasiliki Kutrubs, Nick Kyriazis, Vivian Madison, Ryan & Rena Makris, Bessie A. Makris, Thomas Mallis, Mike & Maria Manak, Michael & Emelyn Maroulis, Kathy Maroulis, Paraskevas & Cassandra Marountas, George & Agnieska Marountas, Nick & Denna Mathews, James & Mary Mathiellis, Paul & Carol Mavrakis, Bill & Zoe Mavrakis, Lefterios & Niki Mavroidis, Mavroidis McDonald, James & Anastasia Michaels, Gregory & Vasiliki Moshos, Shawn Moulagianis, Vasalios & Stamatia Moulagiannis, George & Efrosini Nickas, Vasiliki Nimorakiotakis, George & Maria Nimorakiotakis, Nick & Antigoni Paliobeis, Irini Pantelatou, Sophia Papadakis, Adamandios & Despina Papadatos, Pavlos &Toula Papadopoulos, Alex Papadopoulos, Dimitrios E. & Dionira Papakonstantinou, Fotios & Spyroulla Paul, Barbara Paul, John Petratos, Kosmas & Panagiota Petsas, Demetra Pikakos, Mary Pikakos, Nick & Dawn Plataniotis, Eleni Rakopoulos, Stella Regas, Alex & Thea Regas, George & Soula Rokas, Iosefis & Kym Rokas, John & Lucy Sack, David & Katherine Salamalekis, Evangelos Salloumis, Paul Salouros, Paul & Maria Saridakis Jr., Frank Saridakis, Frank & Anastasia Saviolis, Nick & Chrisoula Sboukis, Peter Scordos, John & Irene Semertsidis, Niko & Despina Sevastos, Dino & Christine Sevastos, Gust & Jane Sisamis, Anna Sisamis, John G. & Irene Skantzos, Pete & Maria Skoutas, Mike & Ellie Smith, Robert & Eugenia Spano, John Thanos, Athanasios & Anna Thanos, Dion & Courtney Theodore, Neste & Artemis Trihas, Ermioni Trihas, John A. & Suzanne Tsambounieris, Manoli & Sofia Tsambunieris, Vasilis & Sophia Tsardoulias, Aris & Stella Tsardoulias, Elizabeth Tsardoulias, John & Kurannio Tsardoulias,Diamonto Tsigas, Angie Tsigas, Demetrios & Shelly Tsiourtsiouris, Maria Vangelos, Zenos & Julie Vasilakes, Mike & Mary Vasilakis, John & Kiki Vassilakis, Freda Vassilaras, Plousia Velkos, Joseph & Maria Vianos, Nicholas & Eleni Vidoni, Timothy & Vasiliki Vitakis, Helen Voiklis, Emmanuel & Janet Vourlis, Antonetta Walsh, Edward & Calliope M Whitlock, Adrian & Marie Yurch, Jerry & Cynthia Zampunis, George & Kalliopi Zeleniuch, Christina Zeleniuch, Mary Ellen Zeleniuch, Michael & Allie If we have mistakenly left your name off the STEWARDSHIP ROSTER, Please contact the Church Office. 17

18 The Greek School Board of Education is looking for two members of our parish to sit on the board in the following positions: 1. Treasurer- this person will be responsible for the overall Greek School and PTA Budget as well as registration and all related forms. Experience with finance and budgets preferred. 2. Member at large If you are interested, please contact Julie Tsirambidis or via 18

19 19

20 Greek School will be selling Laganes on Sunday, March 10th following the Divine Liturgy. Lagana is a Greek Flatbread traditionally baked for Clean Monday, the first day of Great Lent. $7 each Την Κυριακή 10 Μαρτίου μετα την Θεία Λειτουργία το Ελληνικό Σχολείο θα πουλήσει φρέσκες λαγάνες! Θα τις βρείτε στην καφετέρια! Η λαγάνα είναι ένα είδος ψωμιού με σουσάμι που φτιαχνουμε και το τρώμε την Καθαρά Δευτέρα! Ελάτε να γευτείτε την πιο νόστιμη λαγάνα στην Αμερική φταγμένη με αγάπη από μας για σας! Κοστιζουν $7 και πιστεψε μας είναι πεντανόστιμες! March 25th Greek Independence Day Parade Celebration will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. A Doxology service will take place first followed by the Parade and festivities in the church banquet hall. 25η Μαρτίου Παρέλαση πραγματοποιηθεί το Σάββατο 30 Μαρτίου 12:00μμ Δοξολογία ακολουθήσει η παρέλαση Bake Sale στην μεγάλη αίθουσα της εκκλησίας. For more information please contact Emmanuel Ermidis

21 It is the practice of our Church to give the name of a Saint to the new born child. By assuming the name of a Saint, we not only honor and express our gratitude to a Holy Person for his exceptional contribution to the Orthodox Faith, but provide the new Christian with an example worthy of emulation. The Saint then becomes the Patron of the child protecting it from all danger. Through his prayers, God will grant the child the necessary illumination to become a zealous member of the Church and an ardent follower of Christ. If by chance we accidentally miss someone's nameday, we ask that you please contact the Church Office so that we may correct our records. We extend our prayers to all those celebrating March Namedays and beseech our heavenly Father to grant them many years. March 3rd Kleonikos Kleoniki Mavrakis March 11th Theodora the Righteous Dora Kalevakis Dora Markovic March 16th Christodoulos of Patmos Theodore-Kollyva Miracle Theodore Edward Sevastos Theodore Sevastos Ted Pappas March 24 St. Gregory Palamas Gregory Gregory Gregory Gregory Gregory Gregory Gregory Giarikos Glaros Harrison Likakis Michaels Sdrakas Sisamis March 25th The Annunciation Evangelos Evagelos Angelo Evangelos Angelo Evangelos Angelo Evangelos Evangelia Evangelia Evangelia Evangelia Fotini Evangelia Bibidakis Finitsas Giovanis Konstas Papandropoulos Salamalekis Semertsidis Tsambunieris Ameres Antonaklas Kontos Koukouras Kotsanis Lillian Varsamo (Evangelia) Rokas Evangelia Evangelia Eleni Evangelia Angie Elitsa Litsa Tsambounieris Tsigas Tsigas Aivazis Hoffman Alex 21

22 Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Event/Liturgy Calendar 2019 All Sunday & Week Day 8:30 AM Orthros / 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy Sun. March 3 Judgement Sunday Apokriatiko Glendi 5 8:30 p.m. Church Hall Mon. March 4 Greek School Lessons 5:30 pm 7:30 pm. Bible Study Tues. March 5 Festival Prep 9am 3pm Wed. March 6 Festival Prep 9am - 3pm Thurs. March 7 Fri. March 8 Fish Fry Greek School Lessons 5:30-7:30 p.m. Journey to fullness Sat. March 9 2nd Saturday of Souls Baptism Sun. March 10 Cheesefare Sunday Daylight Savings Begins 6pm Forgiveness Vespers Mon. March 11 Great Lent Begins Great Compline 6pm Tues. March 12 Festival Prep 9am-3pm Wed. March 13 Festival Prep 9am-3pm Sat. March 16 Saturday of Souls Sun. March 17 Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers at St. Michael Woodside 5:00 p.m. Broadview Hts., OH Mon. March 18 Greek School Lessons 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Great Compline 6:00 p.m. March 19th - March 21st Clergy Retreat Tues. March 19 Festival Prep. 9am-3pm Wed. March 20 Festival Prep. 9am-3pm Thurs. March 21 Greek School Lessons 5:30-7:30 pm Journey to Fullness Fri. March 22 Salultations to the Theotokos 7pm Fish Fry Sun. March 24 St. Gregory Palamas Great Vespers 7pm Mon. March 25 Annunciation Feast Day No Greek School Lessons Sun. March 27 Pre-sanctified Liturgy 6pm Fri. March 29 Salutations to the Theotokos 7pm Fish Fry Thurs. March 14 Youth Pre-Sanctified Lit. 5:30pm Sun. March 31 Sunday of Holy Cross Fri. March 15 Salutations to the Theotokos 7pm Fish Fry If you have not been receiving church material/mailing /phone messages or s, please contact the church office at or office@annunciationcleveland.net. Thank you. Αν δεν λαμβάνετε τις επιστολές η ότι ενημέρωση της εκκλησίας έχει για σας ή τηλεφωνικά μηνύματα, παρακαλούμε επικοινωνήστε με το γραφείο της εκκλησίας στο ή στο office@annunciationcleveland.net. Please visit our website: 22

23 Dear Friends of the Community, In an effort to defray the cost of publishing our Weekly Bulletin, & Vision, the Parish Council would like to invite anyone who wishes to support the Community to offer a small donation of $ for a business card sized ad which will be placed on the back inside pages of each publication for the calendar year, We generally publish a Weekly Bulletin as well as a Quarterly Newsletter, and with this program, hope to cut our publication cost in half by gathering 36 ads which will take up the last four pages of the Vision & Bulletin. If you are interested in this program, please send a business card that we will reproduce. Please also enclose a check made out to The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church for $ office@annunciationcleveland.net HARSOULAS GARAGE DOORS Service & Installation Garage Doors & Openers Saki Harsoulas Dino Sevastos Agent SEVASTOS INSURANCE AGENCY 8550 Pearl RD STE E Middleburg Hts., OH Tel Fax CSEAVAS- TOS@FARMERSAGENT.COM 23

24 Dear Friends of the Community, In an effort to defray the cost of publishing our Weekly Bulletin, & Vision, the Parish Council would like to invite anyone who wishes to support the Community to offer a small donation of $ for a business card sized ad which will be placed on the back inside pages of each publication for the calendar year, We generally publish a Weekly Bulletin as well as a Quarterly Newsletter, and with this program, hope to cut our publication cost in half by gathering 36 ads which will take up the last four pages of the Vision & Bulletin. If you are interested in this program, please send a business card that we will reproduce. Please also enclose a check made out to The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church for $ LEARN TO SPEAK GREEK THE GEORGIA PAPPAS HELLENIC CULTURAL SCHOOL OF THE ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH is offering Lessons for Adults to SPEAK GREEK! Lessons For further information, Contact Evangelia Koukouras (440) or evakoukouras@gmail.com. 24