The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral

Transcription

1 Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral 555 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio Phone: (614) Sunday of Saint John Klimakos of Sinai and The Ladder of Divine Ascent March 22, 2015 Reverend Father Demetrios Gardikes, Economos Proistamenos and Cathedral Dean Telephone: (614) Reverend Father Constantine (Dean) Kokanos Associate Presbyter Telephone: (614) Reverend Father John Stavropoulos, Economos Attached Presbyter Telephone: (614) Helen Rankin Parish Council Captain Vasilis Konstantinidis Protopsalti Valerie Baker Choir Director Team A Parish Council Team On-Duty Eliseos Paul Taiganides Psalti Tina Mosca Assistant Choir Director All Available Acolytes Kosmas Synadinos Psalti Eric Russell Assistant Choir Director and Organist WELCOME TO THE ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL! We are so happy that you are worshipping with us today! If you are visiting, please fill out a "Visitor Information Card," located in the Narthex, and give it to a Parish Council member at the candle stand in the Narthex. If you are an Orthodox Christian new to the Columbus area, or you would like to know more about becoming an Orthodox Christian, please introduce yourself to one of the priests who would be most happy to meet with you and discuss membership in our Cathedral. It is our desire that you make the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral your spiritual home! May God richly bless you and your family! FOR THE RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION We welcome all Christians not fully united with us. It is a consequence of the sad divisions of Christianity that we cannot extend to all a general invitation to receive Holy Communion. Orthodox Christians believe that the Eucharist is an action of the celebrating community signifying an oneness in faith, life, and worship. Reception of the Eucharist by Christians not fully united with us would imply a oneness which does not yet exist and for which we must all pray.

2 TODAY WE COMMEMORATE Saint Basil the Hieromartyr of Ancyra; Venerable Saint Isaac, founder of the Dalmatian Monastery at Constantinople; the Martyr Saint Drosida of Antioch, the daughter of the Emperor Trajan, and five nuns: Saint Agalida, Saint Apollinaria, Saint Daria, Saint Mamthusa, and Saint Thais; the Holy Martyrs Saint Callinica and Saint Basilissa of Rome; the Neomartyr Saint Euthymius of Prodromou Skete on Mount Athos; the Neomartyrs Schema-Abbess Saint Sophia of Kiev and her presbyter Reverend Father Dimitry Ivanov WE REMEMBER IN OUR PRAYERS Please pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ at today s Divine Liturgy and throughout the week. Anargiros Aivaliotis Arlington Court Katie Moulas Arlington Court Carol Barbour National Church Residence Angelo Pandelaras Wesley Glen Anastasia (Gust) Constantinidis At Home Freda Pappas New Albany Garden Dr. Michael Chakeres Willowbrook Christian Home Marge Paras National Church Residence John Gagas First Community Village Effie Pathis Arlington Court Annette George The Forum at Knightsbridge John Proicou New Albany Garden Christ L. George At Home Niki Shook Wesley Glen (Room #110B) Florence George At Home George and Bea Space Emeritus at Pinnacle Assisted Living Fedor Kapustin Emerald Crossing Sanda Stenescu At Home Ruth Mack Mother Angeline McCrory Manor Helen Tornik The Worthington Theodora Kontras National Church Residence Helen Varveris Saint George on the Commons If you would like the priest to visit a friend or family member, or if you would like your name (or the name of a loved one) added to this list, please contact the Cathedral Office. MAY THE LORD REMEMBER... There will be a One-Year Memorial Service for Leon Kostas today, Sunday, March 22, May his memory be eternal! There will be a Forty-Day Memorial Service for Kostas Gesouras next Sunday, March 29, May his memory be eternal! COFFEE HOUR... All visitors and guests are encouraged to come to the coffee hour so we may properly welcome you! The Coffee Hour today, Sunday, March 22, 2015 will be hosted by the Parish Council. The Coffee Hour next Sunday, March 29, 2015 will be hosted by the Parish Council. LENTEN PRAYER OF SAINT EPHREM THE SYRIAN O Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of sloth, faintheartedness, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant. Yea, Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors and not to judge my brother, for Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.

3 He Who Is God Hebrews 6:13-20, especially verse 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath. As the philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius observes, The universe is change. While we, like the ancients, experience the universality of change, in Christ we are blessed to know the greater, certain, and unchanging reality of God. God does not change, but indelibly makes Himself known. All may dip into the stream of holy tradition at any point in history and meet the unchanging, immutable God. When the new light of Christ broke through upon the world, the Lord added promises to His earlier pledges. As our knowledge of God increases, He remains the same. We discern Him more clearly, for we have found that the God who promises also keeps His word. In the today s passage from Hebrews, the Apostle Paul addresses God s immutability. He anchors his teaching to the unvarying nature of God. Let us consider what we may learn about this immutable Lord we worship. God is the greatest Being we could ever encounter or imagine (verse 13). No matter what category we choose goodness, power, truth, knowledge, value, reliability, stability God exceeds our very definition of that category. Thus we rightly call Him Good One, almighty, the Truth, all-knowing, unchanging, and so on. Being ultimate, God reigns supreme over all who claim to speak the truth (verses 13 and 18). We note, however, that God always gives us cause to believe in Him, knowing full well that we are accustomed to lies and half-truth. He swears an oath of fidelity and truth to us. What surety do we have that there is no deception in the Word of God? First and foremost, He swears by Himself. For this reason the Lord Jesus pointedly asks, What greater than God do you require? (see Matthew 23:16-22). God blesses us especially when we trust Him (Hebrews 6:14). In this verse, the Apostle again quotes the Genesis account (22:1-17) of Abraham. Can we imagine a greater trust in the veracity of God than that which Abraham exhibited? Truthfully, God ever proves Himself faithful to the word that He spoke to Abraham a truth He sustains to this day. God is our strong consolation (Hebrews 6:18), no matter what happens. Saint Paul says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our tribulation....for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ (II Corinthians 1:3-5). What about those times when we are wounded unfairly, or when we have fallen and then desire to repent? Let us come with our heartaches to Christ, who cares and consoles. Our God is refuge and strength, a helper in afflictions which mightily befall us (Psalm 45:1). In God we always have ground for hope. Our task is to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast (Hebrews 6:18-19). This hope is personal as well, for God offers Himself to us. We may cry out to Him with confidence, O Lord, Thou art my hope from my youth (Psalm 70:4). Finally, the Apostle Paul reassures us that the immutable God is ever accessible (Hebrews 6:19-20). Christ our High Priest is present before God the Father. As fellow man and Savior of all, He is beyond the veil that separates God from mankind, ever interceding for us. O Christ, unchanging One, my only Hope, hasten to my great need and save me!

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5 The Epistle Reading ΠΡΟΚΕΊΜΕΝΟΝ Ἦχος βαρύς. Κύριος ἰσχὺν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ δώσει. Στίχ. Ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ υἱοὶ Θεοῦ, ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ δόξαν καὶ τιμήν. Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 6:13-20 Ἀδελφοί, τῷ Ἀβραὰμ ἐπαγγειλάμενος ὁ θεός, ἐπεὶ κατ οὐδενὸς εἶχεν μείζονος ὀμόσαι, ὤμοσεν καθ ἑαυτοῦ, λέγων, Ἦ μὴν εὐλογῶν εὐλογήσω σε, καὶ πληθύνων πληθυνῶ σε. Καὶ οὕτως μακροθυμήσας ἐπέτυχεν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας. Ἄνθρωποι μὲν γὰρ κατὰ τοῦ μείζονος ὀμνύουσιν, καὶ πάσης αὐτοῖς ἀντιλογίας πέρας εἰς βεβαίωσιν ὁ ὅρκος. Ἐν ᾧ περισσότερον βουλόμενος ὁ θεὸς ἐπιδεῖξαι τοῖς κληρονόμοις τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τὸ ἀμετάθετον τῆς βουλῆς αὐτοῦ, ἐμεσίτευσεν ὅρκῳ, ἵνα διὰ δύο πραγμάτων ἀμεταθέτων, ἐν οἷς ἀδύνατον ψεύσασθαι θεόν, ἰσχυρὰν παράκλησιν ἔχωμεν οἱ καταφυγόντες κρατῆσαι τῆς προκειμένης ἐλπίδος ἣν ὡς ἄγκυραν ἔχομεν τῆς ψυχῆς ἀσφαλῆ τε καὶ βεβαίαν, καὶ εἰσερχομένην εἰς τὸ ἐσώτερον τοῦ καταπετάσματος ὅπου πρόδρομος ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν εἰσῆλθεν Ἰησοῦς, κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδὲκ ἀρχιερεὺς γενόμενος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. PROKEIMENON Grave Tone The Lord will give strength to his people. Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory. Saint Paul s Letter to the Hebrews 6:13-20 BRETHREN, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

6 The Proclamation of the Holy Gospel The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Mark the Evangelist 9:17-31 At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and saying: "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise." Κατὰ Μᾶρκον Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἄνθρωπός τις προσῆλθε τῷ Ἰησοῦ λέγων, διδάσκαλε, ἤνεγκα τὸν υἱόν μου πρός σε, ἔχοντα πνεῦμα ἄλαλον. καὶ ὅπου ἂν αὐτὸν καταλάβῃ, ῥήσσει αὐτόν, καὶ ἀφρίζει καὶ τρίζει τοὺς ὀδόντας αὐτοῦ, καὶ ξηραίνεται καὶ εἶπον τοῖς μαθηταῖς σου ἵνα αὐτὸ ἐκβάλωσι, καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυσαν. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς αὐτῷ λέγει ὦ γενεὰ ἄπιστος, ἕως πότε πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἔσομαι; ἕως πότε ἀνέξομαι ὑμῶν; φέρετε αὐτὸν πρός με. καὶ ἤνεγκαν αὐτὸν πρὸς αὐτόν. καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν εὐθέως τὸ πνεῦμα ἐσπάραξεν αὐτόν, καὶ πεσὼν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐκυλίετο ἀφρίζων. καὶ ἐπηρώτησε τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ πόσος χρόνος ἐστὶν ὡς τοῦτο γέγονεν αὐτῷ; ὁ δὲ εἶπε παιδιόθεν. καὶ πολλάκις αὐτὸν καὶ εἰς πῦρ ἔβαλε καὶ εἰς ὕδατα, ἵνα ἀπολέσῃ αὐτόν ἀλλ εἴ τι δύνασαι, βοήθησον ἡμῖν σπλαγχνισθεὶς ἐφ ἡμᾶς. ὁ δὲ Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ τὸ εἰ δύνασαι πιστεῦσαι, πάντα δυνατὰ τῷ πιστεύοντι. καὶ εὐθέως κράξας ὁ πατὴρ τοῦ παιδίου μετὰ δακρύων ἔλεγε πιστεύω, κύριε βοήθει μου τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ. ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Ιησοῦς ὅτι ἐπισυντρέχει ὄχλος, ἐπετίμησε τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἀκαθάρτῳ λέγων αὐτῷ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἄλαλον καὶ κωφόν, ἐγώ σοι ἐπιτάσσω, ἔξελθε ἐξ αὐτοῦ καὶ μηκέτι εἰσέλθῃς εἰς αὐτόν. καὶ κράξαν καὶ πολλὰ σπαράξαν αὐτὸν ἐξῆλθε, καὶ ἐγένετο ὡσεὶ νεκρός, ὥστε πολλοὺς λέγειν ὅτι ἀπέθανεν. ὁ δὲ Ιησοῦς κρατήσας αὐτὸν τῆς χειρὸς ἤγειρεν αὐτόν, καὶ ἀνέστη. Καὶ εἰσελθόντα αὐτὸν εἰς οἶκον οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπηρώτων αὐτὸν κατ ἰδίαν, ὅτι ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἠδυνήθημεν ἐκβαλεῖν αὐτό. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς τοῦτο τὸ γένος ἐν οὐδενὶ δύναται ἐξελθεῖν εἰ μὴ ἐν προσευχῇ καὶ νηστείᾳ. Καὶ ἐκεῖθεν ἐξελθόντες παρεπορεύοντο διὰ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν ἵνα τις γνῷ ἐδίδασκε γὰρ τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς ὅτι ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδίδοται εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων, καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν αὐτόν, καὶ ἀποκτανθεὶς τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστήσεται.

7 STEWARDSHIP THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Becoming an Apostle Christ told His disciples, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. When He called them, they gave up their profession and their families and left everything to devote themselves to His work. Are we not also called to follow Him? Does this mean we are to give up our livelihood and leave our families. No! Only a few are called in such a manner, but we are still called to become His Apostles. How can we do this if we are not able to pack up and head for a mission somewhere in the world? How about the needs of our own Church? Attendance to church services is not so great. Less than 25% of our members will be found in the church on Sundays. We are lucky if we see them on Christmas or Pascha. How about ourselves? Are we responsible for this lack of participation in the Sacramental life of the Church? What effort have we made to urge others to come and participate? How effective are we on Sunday at rousing all of our family members to get up and get ready to get to Church before the service begins. Do we just satisfy ourselves with getting to Church on time? Can we say that we are a leader for Christ? When we are moved by a sermon do we share it with others? When we are cleansed and spiritually uplifted by participation in the Sacraments do we encourage others to do the same? Do we think the job of spreading the message of the Gospel is the work of the Church alone? This is not the correct view as from the earliest days of the Church, all of Christ s followers were active in spreading the Gospel message. Every Christian is called and capable of being a preacher of the Gospel message. It is not necessary to go to Africa or some other exotic place to be a missionary. You can become one in your own home, your neighborhood, and parish community. As Bishop Augoustinos writes: Every Christian should consider himself a little Apostle in the world. No legitimate cause can interfere with a missionary endeavor. If he is a fervent Christian, wherever he is, he will find an opportunity to speak about Christ. At home, at school, at college, on boats, in every place there are souls who seek light and salvation, the believer can throw out his net. Even if he does not achieve much; even if he saves one sinner from the brink of destruction he will be considered great in the eye of the Lord. The Stewardship Thought of the Day is borrowed from Orthodox Way of Life blog: posted March 16, WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT... You will be enriched in every way, so that you can be generous on every occasion and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. Saint Paul s Second Letter to the Corinthians 9:11

8 SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE WEEK Old Testament Reading (for Orthros) Old Testament Reading #1 (for Vespers) Old Testament Reading #2 (for Vespers) March 23, 2015 Isaiah 37:33-38:6 Genesis 13:12-18 Proverbs 14:27-15:4 March 24, 2015 Isaiah 40:18-31 Genesis 15:1-15 Proverbs 15:7-19 Gospel Reading (for Orthros) Epistle Reading (for Divine Liturgy) Gospel Reading (for Divine Liturgy) March 25, 2015 Luke 1:39-49, 56 Hebrews 2:11-18 Luke 1:24-38 Old Testament Reading (for Orthros) Old Testament Reading #1 (for Vespers) Old Testament Reading #2 (for Vespers) March 26, 2015 Isaiah 42:5-16 Genesis 18:20-33 Proverbs 16:17-17:17 March 27, 2015 Isaiah 45:11-17 Genesis 22:1-18 Proverbs 17:17-18:5 Gospel Reading (for Orthros) Epistle Reading (for Divine Liturgy) Gospel Reading (for Divine Liturgy) March 28, 2015 Hebrews 9:1-7 Luke 1:39-49, 56 March 29, 2015 John 20:19-31 Hebrews 9:11-14 Mark 10:32-45 ANNUNCIATION CATHEDRAL WEEKLY SCHEDULE Sunday March 22, 2015 Monday March 23, 2015 Tuesday March 24, 2015 Wednesday March 25, 2015 Friday March 27, 2015 Saturday March 28, 2015 Sunday March 29, 2015 Sunday of the Saint John Klimakos, author of The Ladder of Divine Ascent (Fourth Sunday of the Great Lent) - Orthros, 8:15 a.m.; Divine Liturgy, 9:30 a.m. One-Year Memorial Service for Leon Kostas Sunday Church School (after Holy Communion) Adult Catechetical Class (after Holy Communion) Great Compline, 5:30 p.m. Bible Study (after Great Compline) NO GOYA VOLLYBALL PRACTICE, DUE TO SPRING BREAK! Feast of the Annunciation to the Most Holy Theotokos - Great Vespers, 5:30 p.m. Dessert and Coffee Reception (after Great Vespers) Feast of the Annunciation to the Most Holy Theotokos - Orthros, 8:15 a.m.; Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, 9:30 a.m.; Artoklasia, 11:30 a.m. Parish Feast Day Luncheon (after the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy) Adult Greek Language School Class, 6:00 p.m. GOYA Spring Retreat at Camp Nazareth Begins The Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos (Χαιρετισμοί της Θεοτόκου), 6:00 p.m. GOYA Spring Retreat at Camp Nazareth Continues Greek Language School Classes, 10:00 a.m. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Choir Rehearsal, 10:00 a.m. Sunday of the Saint Mary of Egypt (Fifth Sunday of the Great Lent) - Orthros, 8:15 a.m.; Divine Liturgy, 9:30 a.m. Forty-Day Memorial Service for Kostas Gesouras Procession of the Greek Language School and the Sunday Church School Sunday Church School (after Holy Communion) Adult Catechetical Class (after Holy Communion) GOYA Spring Retreat at Camp Nazareth Concludes

9 IMPORTANT DATES AND REMINDERS BULLETIN SUBMISSIONS: Any items that you wish to appear in the Weekly Bulletin must be submitted to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Office no later than Wednesday afternoon at 5:00 p.m. Please note that announcements may be altered to comply with style, formatting, and space constraints. We appreciate your thoughtful cooperation! WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS AHEPA FAMILY BUCKEYE SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION APPLICATIONS: The AHEPA Family (Order of AHEPA, Daughters of Penelope, Sons of Pericles, and the Maids of Athena) Buckeye Scholarship Foundation is pleased to announce that the 2015 scholarship applications are ready and available. The application is available online at Students can access the application by clicking on Applications on the menu at the top of the website. All the instructions and submission options are listed. As a reminder, students or their parent(s) or guardian must be a member in good standing of one of the chapters in the Buckeye District #11, and they must have been a member for the past three years. GREAT VESPERS AND COFFEE SOCIAL: The 50 Plus Group will join with the entire Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral community in the Great Vespers for the Feast of the Annunciation to the Most Holy Theotokos on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. Following the Great Vespers, the Fifty-Plus Group will host a Coffee Social in the Cathedral Social Hall for dessert, coffee, and fellowship. Please bring a Lenten dessert to share. PHILOPTOCHOS HOMELESS MEAL MINISTRIES: The Philoptochos Homeless Ministries will be serving a meal for the homeless on Thursday, March 26, For more information or to volunteer, please contact Diane Chakalis at dianechakalis@wowway.com or you may call or text her at: (614) ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL GREEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL: The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Greek Language School holds children and adult classes on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and adult classes on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. The remaining Saturday Morning Classes for March are: Saturday, March 28, The remaining Wednesday Adult Greek Language School Class for the month of March will be: Wednesday, March 25, STEWARDSHIP FORMS: Thank you to all who have filled out their pledge forms. It is a blessing to be able to plan accordingly, and your gifts of time, talent, and treasure assist us in supporting and creating new ministries to meet the growing needs of our parish. We are nearing completion of the first quarter, if you have not filled out a 2015 Stewardship Form, please do so, your support is very much appreciated. Forms are available in the Narthex. Thank you! PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: The next Parish Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 14, All members of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in-good-standing are welcome to attend all parish council meetings. MEN RETIREES: The men retirees of the Cathedral will assemble at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, April 13, 2015, at Spiro s Plaza Café located at 2958 McKinley Avenue, Columbus Ohio for a great breakfast and fellowship. SAVE THE DATE: The Greek Olympic Society will be hosting their 2015 Glendi Dance on Saturday, May 16, Ticket sales will begin this next week. Mark your calendars and make plans to attend this wonderful event!

10 FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION AND GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY PROCESSION: In celebration of the Feast of the Annunciation to the Most Holy Theotokos and Greek Independence Day, we will have a procession with the icons of the Mother of God, Greek flags, and American flags at the end of Divine Liturgy on Sunday, March 29, All Sunday Church School and Greek Language School students are requested to wear traditional Greek outfits and participate! ANNUAL FLOWER SALE: The Ladies Greek Orthodox Philoptochos Society and the Greek Olympic Society are pleased to announce that they are taking orders for their Annual Flower Sale. As you know, the proceeds from the Flower Sale help support the Philoptochos Homeless Meal Ministry. Each basket sold will provide three meals to those in need! Our goal for this year is to sell 300 hanging baskets. Orders will be taken after Divine Liturgy on the following days: Sunday, March 22, 2015, Sunday, March 29, 2015; and Sunday, April 5, The beautiful, 10 hanging baskets are only $14.00 each, and may be picked-up Mother s Day weekend on Saturday, May 9, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Sunday, May 10, 2015 after Divine Liturgy. Please support this worthy project! BABY FOOD DRIVE: We will be collecting Baby Food (jars of food, formula, or cereal) for the NNEMAP Pantry in the Short North until Friday, May 1, Baby food is one of the most needed items for the pantry as it is not available to them through the area Food Banks that they work with. We hope to collect enough to make weekly deliveries. Please help us feed God s children! HOLY WEEK MYRRHBEARERS: All girls in the second grade through the sixth grade are invited and encouraged to be Holy Week Myrrhbearers (Μυροφόροι). They will be participating in the services for Palm Sunday, Holy Friday Evening, and the Great and Holy Saturday Midnight Resurrection Service. Please contact Deborah Pries at deborah.pries@gmail.com or (614) , if your daughter is interested, and more information will be sent to you. APPRECIATION AND RECOGNITION LUNCHEON: A light luncheon will be served on Sunday, April 26, 2015 after Divine Liturgy in appreciation of Marge Paras 25+ years of service as our Cathedral Secretary and to mark her retirement. We will also honor our parishioners celebrating 80+ years of life. Moreover, we would like to create a slideshow of our honorees with a baby photo. If you, or someone you know, would like to participate; please submit a baby photo to the Church office by Monday, April 20, A NOTE FROM OUR INTERIM CATHEDRAL SECRETARY: For the last several months, Ms. Janay Washington has been serving as the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Secretary. As you may have heard, her last day was on Friday, March 20, Before leaving, Janay wanted to tell the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral family that It has been nice working with you. And Thank you for your kindness. God Bless. We wish Janay all the best and pray God s richest blesses on her! The Divine Ladder of Ascent

11 YOUTH MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS March 22 nd. through March 29 th. ATTENTION!!! IMPORTANT DATE CHANGE!!! The dates for the 2015 Metropolis of Pittsburgh GOYA Spring Retreat have been changed! The Spring Retreat will now be held on Friday, March 27, 2015 through Sunday, March 29, Make plans to attend this fun and spiritually enriching event! GOYA (9 th., 10 th., 11 th, and 12 th. Grade) The next GOYA Meeting will be held on Sunday, April 12, METROPOLIS OF PITTSBURGH SUMMER CAMP 2015 The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh began online camper registration for Summer Camp 2015 at Camp Nazareth on Monday, March 16, 2015! JOY Sessions are for those currently in second grade through the sixth grade. GOYA Sessions are for those currently in grades seventh through twelfth. We are hoping to coordinate those going from the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in the following sessions: JOY Session #1: Sunday, June 21, 2015 through Saturday, June 27, 2015 (Week One) GOYA Session #3: Sunday, July 5, 2015 through Saturday, July 11, 2015 (Week Three) Hurry and get your registration in, the sessions will fill-up fast! LITTLE LAMBS MINISTRY The next Little Lambs Play and Learn Get-Together will be held on Saturday, April 4, Little Lambs is open to all parish youth not yet in Kindergarten, please join us! CHURCH SCHOOL OPEN SHELTER PROJECT The Church School makes 175 sack lunches for the Open Shelter on the third Sunday of every month. The shelter serves people who are unable to provide basic needs for their families. We need the support of our students, parents, and members of our community to help meet our commitment to the shelter. Each month, the Church School seeks donations from the community. Please contact Helen Rankin at (614) or Diane Chakalis at (614) and let them know if you would be willing to donate any of the following items. The next Sack Lunch Sunday will be Sunday, April 19, The items that are needed by Sunday, April 19, 2015 are: 175 pieces of fresh fruit 175 drink boxes with straws 175 Cookies (individually wrapped) 200 slices of bologna 200 slices of cheese (sandwich size) Food preparation gloves 200 Zip Lock sandwich bags 18 loaves of bread 200 paper lunch bags 200 ketchup packets 200 mustard packets 200 bags of snack sized chips 200 Napkins ACOLYTE SCHEDULE Senior Captains: Alexi Baron, Corey Khan, Bobby Gardikes, Jimmy Sevenoff, and Chris Solomonides Junior Captains: Jimmy Contakis, Panos Davayios, Charlie Henry, Chris Sfikas, and Robert Valenti All Altar Boys are encouraged to serve every Sunday and at all special services! Check out our GOYA Facebook page: Annunciation Columbus GOYA Youth Ministry Highlights are posted weekly at:

12 Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh 2015 GOYA Spring Retreat Friday, March 27, 2015 Sunday, March 29, 2015 A New Saint: Saint Paisios The Church just proclaimed him a saint and there are those who knew him personally, including our Keynote Speaker, Father Nicholas Palis, Presiding Priest Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Camp Nazareth Mercer, Pennsylvania Saint Paisios, who we knew as Elder Paisios just weeks ago, taught us about hot to Be the Bee. Come and learn what this modern day saint has to say that can help us on our Lenten Journey and our journey through life. Camper and Staff Online Registration Available: pittsburgh.goarch.org $150 Camper Fee. Financial-need scholarships available due to generosity of Leadership 100. More information? camp@pittsburgh.goarch.org or youth@pittsburgh.goarch.org or Phone: (412)

13 Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Junior and Zoee Dance Rehearsal Schedule January 2015 through August 2015 Sunday, April 26, :15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 17, :15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, June 7, 2015 Sunday, June 14, 2015 Sunday, June 28, 2015 Sunday, July 12, 2015 Sunday, July 19, 2015 Sunday, July 23, 2015 Sunday, July 30, 2015 Sunday, August 2, 2015 Sunday, August 9, 2015 Sunday, August 16, 2015 Sunday, August 23, 2015 Sunday, August 30, 2015 If you have any questions, please contact Vicky Constantinidis Gardikes at (614) (These dates are tentative and may have to be changed to address parish scheduling conflicts or the need for more or less rehearsal time.) 2015 Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Tour of Greece The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral is planning a trip to Greece for Summer We will visit Mainland Greece, the Greek Islands, and some of the famous monasteries including: the Monasteries of Meteora, the Panagia in Tinos (also known as the Megalochari of Tinos or the Evangelistria of Tinos), and the Monastery of Saint John the Evangelist and Theologian in Patmos. For more information, please contact: Fay Tzemos of Astro Tours at (614) The deadline to register for the tour is Tuesday, March 31, 2015.

14 ADULT ORTHODOX CATECHISM CLASSES We welcome all Catechumens studying to enter the Orthodox Church, spouses of Orthodox partners, and anyone who is interested in learning more about their Faith. Classes will meet on the following Sundays after Holy Communion in Room #207. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ Sunday, March 22, 2015 Prayer Life in the Church Sunday, March 29, 2015 Lenten Directions from the Fathers Sunday, April 19, 2015 Bright Week in the Holy Orthodox Church Sunday, April 26, 2015 Is it enough to believe in Christ in order to be saved Sunday, May 3, 2015 The falling asleep of Saint John the Theologian GREAT COMPLINE AND BIBLE STUDY During Great Lent, we will offer Great Compline on Monday evenings at 5:30 p.m. followed by our customary Bible Study. Please join us for this spiritually uplifting and informative gatherings! Saint Andrew of Crete Monday, March 23, 2015 Jesus loves the lonely and poor Monday, March 30, 2015 Saint John Chrysostom Comments on Christ's Ministry Monday, April 27, 2015 The General Resurrection of All Humanity Monday, May 18, 2015 Sanctification of Time Monday, May 4, 2015 The Ascension and Great Commission Monday, April 20, 2015 Saint Gregory Palamas Comments on the Resurrection Monday, May 11, 2015 Christian Apologists on Saint Matthew's Gospel

15 The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Choir O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless His Holy Name; tell of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples! Psalm 96:1-3 Choir Calendar (Saturday Rehearsals begin each Saturday at 10:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted) (Sunday Rehearsals begin after Holy Communion and last until 12:00 p.m.) Abbreviated Rehearsal...Sunday, March 22, 2014 (after Holy Communion) Great Vespers for the Feast of the Annunciation...Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. Feast of the Annunciation (Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with Full Choir)...Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at 9:30 a.m. Full Rehearsal...Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Full Rehearsal (Late Start due to the Saturday of Lazarus Services)...Saturday, April 4, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. Palm Sunday...Sunday, April 5, 2015 at 9:30 a.m. Holy Tuesday...Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. Great and Holy Friday...Friday, April 10, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. Feast of All Feasts, Great and Holy Pascha...Saturday, April 11, 2015 at 10:30 p.m. The Rice Bowl funds are distributed to eight different countries: Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, India, Philippines, Rwanda, and South Africa. We are a little over half way through Great Lent; please pray for this project and for the children who are without food that God will work within our hearts to provide a helping hand in changing a child s life. The funds we raise will give children a chance at life. We are thankful to be making real change with your change! May God bless you! Pick up a rice bowl today in the Cathedral Lobby. Return it by Pascha (Sunday, April 12, 2015)! Got questions? Contact Eve Peratopoulos at epera4@gmail.com or Helen Rankin at helenpr@aol.com

16 Holy Friday LUMINARIAS With the Saints give rest, O Christ, to the soul of Thy servants where there is no sickness and sorrow, neither sighing, but only life everlasting. In Loving Memory (please include first and last names) Your Name Donation: $5.00 per name The luminarias will be lit and placed in the Cathedral courtyard before the Lamentation Service on Holy Friday Evening Donations will assist our Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Mission Team that will be going to Appalachia this Summer. Our outreach will involve ministering to youth, and making a difference in people s lives through light construction projects. Please also include our Mission Team and all Orthodox Missions in your prayers! Please make checks payable to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Please return checks to: Helen Rankin, Deborah Pries, or the Cathedral Office. Thank You!

17 Lenten and Pascha Flower Donations Please consider donating Toward the flowers that we offer during Holy Week Services. You can find a flyer with more information at the candle stand. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. Your generosity is greatly appreciated! The Modern Greek Program at The Ohio State University invites you to the 2015 Thomas E. Leontis and Anna P. Leontis Memorial Lecture in Modern Greek Studies. This year, Professor Dimitri Gutas (Yale University) will speak "Posthumous Hellenisms in Byzantium and Early Islam: A History" Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. The Ohio State University Ohio Union Interfaith and Reflection Room 1739 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio A reception will follow the lecture. Please make plans to attend this insightful and informative event. For more information, please contact professor Yiorgos Anagnostou at anagnostou.1@osu.edu. For more detailed information of the Professor Dimitri Gutas and the Leontis Memorial Lecture please see,

18 Our Orthodox Communities Serving Christ Through Helping Others Together We have been talking about how we can better serve the city communities we reside in and have hope that if we work together by leveraging our collective gifts and talents, we can both compliment services we are already providing and better serve the needy in our neighborhoods. Please consider getting involved in one of our joint out-reach projects: THE JONAH HOUSE Will be working with local drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers to provide safe housing for individuals experiencing addiction and homelessness. For more information on how you can help, please contact Nathan Smith, founder of the Jonah House and a member of Saint Barnabas Antiochian Orthodox Church at (614) or nathan@jonahhouse.com ADULT LITERACY We will be developing, writing, and illustrating a series of age appropriate books for teaching adults how to read. They will include material to help develop important life skills and will compliment the Homeless Outreach Ministries of Saint Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church in helping families become more independent and move out of poverty. For more information on how you can help, please contact Deborah Pries, a member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral at (614) or deborah.pries@gmail.com or Charles Robbins, member of Saint Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church, crobb59@aol.com BABY FOOD DRIVE Our communities will be aiding NNEEMAP in collecting much needed baby food for Columbus area families. Please support this effort by bringing baby food donations when we worship together for the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts of Great Lent: Saint Barnabas Antiochian Orthodox Church March 11, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral April 1, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. I James 4:10 What are your gifts and talents? Find out how you can help! If you would like to be a part of our leadership team, contact Father Demetrios Gardikes at papademetri@gmail.com or: Nathan and Stephanie Smith, Saint Barnabas Antiochian Orthodox Church; Charles Robbins, Saint Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church; Deborah Pries, Sundy Gulu, Helen Rankin, Peter Gardikes, Diane Chakalis, or Isaac Williams, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. We would be happy to answer any of your questions!

19 The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Bookstore The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Bookstore is getting ready for Spring, Pascha, Mother s Day, and Graduations. New Items are coming in all the time. We have personalized red Christmas bulbs with the names in Greek. They sell for $3.00 each. All the money will go to Youth Ministry Mission trip in the late Spring. Three members of our Cathedral Community have authorized books: The Greek Orthodox Wedding Book by Jamie Jameson and Evangelia Philippidis. Well done and informative, great gift for the Bride to be sells for $ Reflection on Process by Mrs. Anna D. Christoforides. It tells how our Interior Design was developed and all the research that went in to it. It sells for $35.00 and all proceeds will go directly to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral courtesy of Mrs. Christoforides! We have copies of these beautiful books for sale! Stop in and see our beautiful store!!! Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Bookstore Colum bus, O hio

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