April 16, 2017 GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA Holy Martyrs Agape, Irene, and Chionia ΧΡΙΣΤΌΣ ΑΝΈΣΤΗ! CHRIST IS RISEN! HRISTOS A INVIAT! KHRISTOS VOSKRESE!

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April 16, 2017 GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA Holy Martyrs Agape, Irene, and Chionia ΧΡΙΣΤΌΣ ΑΝΈΣΤΗ! CHRIST IS RISEN! HRISTOS A INVIAT! KHRISTOS VOSKRESE! WELCOME TO ST.

Robert Lykos Father s Cell - 724-630-3483; Father s E-mail - frchbender@verizon.net PROTOPSALTIS: Dr.

1 April 16, 2017 GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA Holy Martyrs Agape, Irene, and Chionia ΧΡΙΣΤΌΣ ΑΝΈΣΤΗ! CHRIST IS RISEN! HRISTOS A INVIAT! KHRISTOS VOSKRESE! WELCOME TO ST. NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL Cathedral Website: church@stnickspgh.org CLERGY: Rev. Fr. Christopher Bender and Rev. Dn. Robert Lykos Father s Cell ; Father s - frchbender@verizon.net PROTOPSALTIS: Dr. Nick Giannoukakis CHANTER: Steve Andrews CHOIR DIRECTOR: Steve Andrews ORGANIST: Anna Kovalevska ALTAR BOY CAPTAINS: Nicholas Hages & Andreas Paljug Today s hymns: please see page 2 APOSTOLIC READING: Acts 1: 1-8 (p. 45) GOSPEL: John 1: 1-17 (p. 45) THIS WEEK AT ST NICHOLAS: Today, April 16: 12 p.m. Midnight Orthros (cont.) & Divine Liturgy; 1 p.m. Vespers of Agape; 2 p.m. Easter Egg Hunt Monday, April 17: 7 p.m. Open Gym (Volleyball) Tuesday, April 18: 7 p.m. Philoptochos Board Meeting; 9-11 p.m. Open Gym (Basketball) Wed., April 19: 6:30 p.m. Adult Greek School; 7 p.m. Orthodoxy 101 Thursday, April 20: 11 a.m. Living Orthodoxy Friday, April 21: 9 a.m. Orthros, Theotokos of the Life-Giving Font; 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy Saturday, April 22: 11 a.m. 3 p.m. Greek Language Competition; 4 p.m. St. Photios Award Banquet at Sheraton, Station Square Hotel CHRIST IS RISEN! Thank you to all those who helped to make this a joyous and fruitful Holy Week and Pascha! You contributions of time, talents, and money were indispensable, and deeply appreciated. Thank you especially to our Protopsaltis, Dr. Nick Giannoukakis, and his growing crew of chanters-in-training, to Steve Andrews and our beautiful choir, to Dn. Haralambos (Robert) Lykos and our Altar Boys, to all our volunteer adult and youth decorators, cooks, etc., to our Myrrh-bearing Women, to the members of the Parish Council, to our many generous donors, and especially to our tireless Staff. May God bless you and grant you Many Years in good health! th Annual Greek Language Festival On April 22, Greek Language students from the Metropolis will participate in a Quiz Bowl, musical and drama performances, dancing, and an art exhibit. There will be food, crafts, games, and fun. All material for the Quiz Bowl can be downloaded. This Metropolis event will take place at St. Nicholas from 11 a.m. 3 p.m Holy Week/Easter Flower Donations We are deeply grateful to all of those who so generously offered to sponsor flowers for the sacred season of Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha, covering every item on our annual list. Thank you especially to those who have already fulfilled their pledge. The remaining donations can be dropped off at the Office or mailed in at any time. We also have one item that has not yet been sponsored: the large Paschal candle used by the priest. The cost is $250. Please speak to Debbie in the Church office if you are interested in assisting the Church with this expense GOYA NEWS: Pastichio Sale: Frozen & ready to cook, 9x12 pans, only $30 a pan, and are available after church. To place an order, contact Alea Melacrinos at goya.pastichiosale@gmail.com

2 April 16, 2017 GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA On which we celebrate the life-bearing Resurrection of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. Holy Martyrs Agape, Irene, and Chionia APOSTOLIC READING: Acts 1: 1-8 (p. 45) GOSPEL: John 1: 1-17 (p. 45) SPECIAL HYMNS OF THE DAY: The first hymn chanted at the Small Entrance is the Festal Apolytikion for Pascha in Tone 5: Χριστός ἀνέστη ἐκ νεκρῶν, θανάτῳ θάνατον πατήσας, καί τοῖς ἐν τοῖς μνήμασι ζωήν χαρισάμενος Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. At the Entrance with the Gospel, the special Eisodikon (Entrance Hymn) for Pascha is chanted: Ἐν Ἐκκλησίαις εὐλογεῖτε τόν Θεόν, Κύριον ἐκ πηγῶν Ἰσραήλ. Σῶσον ἡμᾶς, Υἱέ Θεοῦ, ὁ ἀναστάς ἐκ νεκρῶν, ψάλλοντάς σοι, Ἀλληλούϊα. In the congregations bless God the Lord, from the springs of Israel. Save us O Son of God, who did rise from the dead, we sing to you Alleluia. Then, we hear Christ is Risen once again, followed by the following hymn from the Orthros: Προλαβοῦσαι τὸν ὄρθρον αἱ περὶ Μαριάμ, καὶ εὑροῦσαι τὸν λίθον ἀποκυλισθέντα τοῦ μνήματος, ἤκουον ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου Τὸν ἐν φωτὶ ἀϊδίῳ ὑπάρχοντα, μετὰ νεκρῶν τί ζητεῖτε ὡς ἄνθρωπον; βλέπετε τὰ ἐντάφια σπάργανα δράμετε, καὶ τῷ κόσμῳ κηρύξατε, ὡς ἠγέρθη ὁ Κύριος, θανατώσας τὸν θάνατον ὅτι ὑπάρχει Θεοῦ Υἱός, τοῦ σῴζοντος τὸ γένος τῶν ἀνθρώπων. When Mary and the women with her had come before dawn, they found that the stone had been rolled away from the sepulcher. They heard from the Angel, "Why do you seek among the dead, as a mortal man, the One who exists in everlasting light? See the grave clothes in the sepulcher. Run and proclaim to the world that the Lord has risen and put death to death; for He is the Son of God who saves the human race." Then, the Paschal Kontakion is heard: Εἰ καὶ ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες Ἀθάνατε, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ᾅδου καθεῖλες τὴν δύναμιν καὶ ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, γυναιξὶ Μυροφόροις φθεγξάμενος, Χαίρετε, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις εἰρήνην δωρούμενος, ὁ τοῖς πεσοῦσι παρέχων ἀνάστασιν. Though You went down into the tomb, O Immortal One, yet You brought down the dominion of Hades; and You rose as the victor, O Christ our God; and You called out "Rejoice" to the Myrrh-bearing women, and gave peace to Your Apostles, O Lord who to the fallen grants resurrection. Instead of Holy God (the Trisagion Hymn), we chant the Baptismal Hymn: Ὅσοι εἰς Χριστὸν ἐβαπτίσθητε, Χριστὸν ἐνεδύσασθε. Ἀλληλούϊα. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia. Instead of the usual Axion Estin to the Theotokos after the consecration of the Gifts, we hear: Ὁ Ἀγγελος ἐβόα τὴ κεχαριτωμένη, Ἁγνὴ Παρθένε, χαῖρε, καὶ πάλιν ἐρῶ, χαῖρε, ὁ σὸς Υἱὸς ἀνέστη τριήμερος ἐκ τάφου. Φωτίζου, φωτίζου ἡ νέα Ἱερουσαλήμ ἡ γὰρ δόξα Κυρίου ἐπὶ σὲ ἀνέτειλε. Χόρευε νῦν καὶ ἀγάλλου, Σιών, σὺ δέ, ἁγνή, τέρπου, Θεοτόκε, ἐν τῇ ἐγέρσει τοῦ τόκου σου. The Angel cried aloud to the Lady full of grace: Rejoice, O pure Virgin; and again I say rejoice. Your Son has resurrected from the grave on the third day. Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem; for the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you. Dance now for joy, O Zion, and be glad. And you, O all-pure Theotokos, delight in the arising of the One you bore.

2017 dues for the St. Nicholas Garden Club can now be paid to Elaine Andrianos or Lillie Panagulias. Your $10 dues help maintain the Forbes Avenue parklet, the trees, shrubs and annuals.

3 2017 dues for the St. Nicholas Garden Club can now be paid to Elaine Andrianos or Lillie Panagulias. Your $10 dues help maintain the Forbes Avenue parklet, the trees, shrubs and annuals. Thank you in advance! SIXTY CLUB NEWS: CHRIST IS RISEN! Happy and Joyous Bright Week to All! Save the date: June 11, First Aid and C.P.R. demonstration. Limited to 20 participants; $5 per person. Read the details in the MAY NEWSLETTER. (Please pay 2017 dues - $10, to Virginia Fekaris.) Keeping up with Philoptochos Celebrating 85 years of Philanthropy, Fellowship & Faith in Action! CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! A Philoptochos Board Meeting will be held, Tuesday, April 18, 2016, 7 p.m. in the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral Conference Room. Following the meeting, we will be preparing the Mother s Day/Father s Day Mailing. (POST-PONED) COMMUNITY OUTREACH - Philoptochos will be packing backpacks for FOCUS Backpack Feeding Program Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at 6 p.m. - VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED! FOOD BANK - The Food Bank supports several of our parishioners and continues to need your support. You can donate by making a check payable to the St. Nicholas Philoptochos Food Bank or through The United Way by designating the St. Nicholas Food Bank through your employers United Way contribution. Just designate #3288. Questions: contact Elaine Andrianos at or Denise Daugherty at MOTHER S DAY CARDS Honor your Mothers, Aunts, Nounas, Yiayias and special women, both living and those who have passed. A card is sent to the honoree and their name is also listed in the bulletin on Mother s Day (and the Monthly Newsletter). SPANAKOPITA LOGS - Philoptochos has a limited quantity of our delicious Spanakopita Logs available for sale. ONLY $9 PER LOG; GET YOURS TODAY! MEMBERSHIP DRIVE - It s that time of year again, the Philoptochos Membership Drive! The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society has held fast to the tradition of philanthropy and we have strengthened the sense of love and compassion for all individuals that are in need. Philoptochos is a connection with other women who share the same feeling and who desire to share their thoughts and talents. PLEASE JOIN or RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY! It s easy. Just complete the membership form and send it in or visit us at our table. Men are welcomed to join, too! From the Church School Desk: You Are the Voice of Christ in a Changing World. Join us today (after the AGAPE Service at 1:00 p.m.) for the annual Easter Egg Hunt followed by light refreshments in the Crystal Room (Small Hall)! CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! Yours in Christ, Miss Michelle

2017 Stewardship Pledge Cards are in the Narthex (Just ask a member of Parish Council) Christian Stewardship is about becoming good caretakers of all that God has given us.

If you have already submitted your 2017 Stewardship Commitment, THANK YOU!

4 2017 Stewardship Pledge Cards are in the Narthex (Just ask a member of Parish Council) Christian Stewardship is about becoming good caretakers of all that God has given us. It is by offering our gifts back of TIME, Talent and treasure to God that we will be able to continue to enjoy Church life and be happy in Church ministries. If you have already submitted your 2017 Stewardship Commitment, THANK YOU! If not, please take the time to make your financial Stewardship Commitment today and complete the talent portion of the card to enable OUR Community to grow and carry on the mission of our faith. HELP US REACH/EXCEED OUR GOAL Total Pledged Stewards Total Amount Pledged Average Pledge 2017 STEWARDSHIP 157 (GOAL 300) $112, (GOAL $175,000.00) $ As the Father Has Sent Me, So I Send You John 20:21 Please join us for our Annual Easter Egg Hunt Easter Sunday, April 16th, 2017, Following the Agape Service If you wish to help, please bring one dozen, pre-filled plastic eggs on Sunday and drop them off in the Narthex before Church. ALL PARISHIONERS are welcome to join the fun! There will be coffee, juice, bagels, fruit and donuts after the service! Questions: Call Michelle Kotsagrelos (412)

FOOD FESTIVAL - One last preparation! DIPLES, ON MONDAY, APRIL 24 th. Plan ahead to see how you can help out the week of the Festival, Sunday, May 7 thru Saturday, May 13!

If you haven't placed an ad, and are interested in advertising your business or communicating a message, you still have til April 14th.

5 FOOD FESTIVAL - One last preparation! DIPLES, ON MONDAY, APRIL 24 th. Plan ahead to see how you can help out the week of the Festival, Sunday, May 7 thru Saturday, May 13! 2017 FOOD FESTIVAL AD BOOK The Deadline for this year's food festival ad book is soon approaching. Thank you to those who have already placed an ad. If you haven't placed an ad, and are interested in advertising your business or communicating a message, you still have til April 14th. For your convenience, ad book committee members will be around after church today and ads can be submitted through them: Elaine Andrianos, Simon Barber, Lenna Cominos or Alisa Mathews. Or you can submit an ad contract to foodfestadbook@stnickspgh.org. All of the monies raised go to support the St. Nicholas Building fund. Your support is much appreciated! Happy Kali Anastasi to Everyone! ********************************************************************** ECCLESIASTICAL MUSIC MINISTRY AT THE CATHEDRAL You are cordially invited! Come and learn Byzantine chant from a world-class instructor, or join our choir and learn to sing the unique and beautiful arrangements composed by our founding choir director! Our Cathedral is graced by two music ministries grounded in tradition that we hope you will consider participating in: The first is rooted at the Analogion (the Chanter Bookstand). Our Analogion Ministry, blessed by the volunteer service of Dr. Nick Giannoukakis, invites and welcomes anyone with some musical ability, especially the younger generation, to join and learn the beautiful and 1200 year-old tradition of Byzantine hymnology and chant. Those who faithfully adhere to the ministry will not only have an opportunity to grow musically, but more importantly, will solidify their understanding of Greek, gain an appreciation for the structure of the services, and a better insight into our Orthodox faith and its theology through a comprehension of the hymns. With the exception of the summer months (June-August), the Ministry will focus on the Sunday Orthros and the occasional Vespers, in addition to the evening services of Lent and Holy Week. Between June and early September, the Ministry will also focus on the Holy and Divine Liturgy. Dr. Giannoukakis, who was distinguished and tonsured as Protopsaltis by Metropolitan Maximos in 1998, and noted to be among the "who is who" of Byzantine Chanters in a historical compendium published in Greece in 1994, is also the only chanter in our Metropolis to hold a certificate and diploma in Byzantine Music from a Greek Music Conservatory. Dr. Giannoukakis, personally-trained by renowned and respected Greek chanters (Constantin Lagouros, Georgios Syrkas, Emmanuel Hatzimarkos), offers music to the highest possible standards of the Great Church of Christ (the Ecumenical Patriarchate) and has successfully trained young and old individuals for more than 25 years. To learn more, and to consider participating, contact Dr. Giannoukakis at ngn1@andrew.cmu.edu or at ngiann1@pitt.edu. All educational materials are complimentary. The second is rooted in the rich polyphonic innovations of the late Rudolph Agraphiotis who in the early 1900s, first composed the lyrical Liturgy conducted in our church to this day. Some of the choir members are among those who came together to constitute the first choir directed by Mr. Agraphiotis. Today, the choir is in the very capable hands of Mr. Steve Andrews who directs it as another of our Cathedral's volunteers. The choir can be heard during the Divine Liturgy for most of the year's Sunday services as well as at the services for Holy Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The Choir invites and welcomes anyone with some musical ability, especially the younger generation, to join. To learn more, and to consider participating, contact Mr. Steve Andrews at beyondfromwithin@comcast.net. Why not join both ministries? As it is written: "He who delights in the Lord, and walks in the Light will not stumble" (From the Doxastikon of the Orthros of the 5th Sunday of Lent).

Holy Cross Ladies Philoptochos Society invites you to AFTERNOON TEA Sunday, May 20, 2017 Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Community Center 123 Gilkeson Road Mt.

There will also be a silent auction, door prizes and fashions by Trendy Trousseau. Tickets are $15.

Thank you, John Peterson, for mulching the beds in front of the church and community center! Now we are really ready for Easter! Everything looks so clean, crisp and well-manicured!

They are often isolated and lack the basic preventative and primary care they need to live with dignity and independence they deserve.

6 Holy Cross Ladies Philoptochos Society invites you to AFTERNOON TEA Sunday, May 20, 2017 Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Community Center 123 Gilkeson Road Mt. Lebanon, PA Doors open at Noon and there will be tea sandwiches, fresh fruit, cookies, pastries and various teas will be served. There will also be a silent auction, door prizes and fashions by Trendy Trousseau. Tickets are $15. Contact Pam Lagios at or Mary Zotis at for tickets no later than May 12 th. All ages are welcome and hats are optional. Thank you, John Peterson, for mulching the beds in front of the church and community center! Now we are really ready for Easter! Everything looks so clean, crisp and well-manicured! It makes a world of difference! ********************************************************************* What is the Meaning of LIFE? For many seniors in our community, life has become a struggle. They are often isolated and lack the basic preventative and primary care they need to live with dignity and independence they deserve. At LIFE Pittsburgh, the mean of LIFE is Living Independence For the Elderly. LIFE is a Medicare and Medicaid funded program for people 55 and older who want to remain their home, but need supportive services to do so. That s why LIFE Pittsburgh provides our participants with a customized care plan to meet their individual needs. A team of healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers, home health aides, dietary specialist and more provide care. All participants receive transportation to and from the LIFE Pittsburgh Center and to all medical appointments. LIFE Pittsburgh resolves complicated and stressful healthcare management by providing integrated, personal solutions for each senior. So, if you know a senior who could benefit from: Better preventative primary and long term-care Improved socialization and recreation More effective restorative services such as physical, occupational or speech therapy Call today for a one-on-one conversation with our outreach team!

7 Patriarchal Encyclical for Holy Pascha 2017 Prot. No B A R T H O L O M E W By God s Mercy Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch To the Plenitude of the Church: May the Grace, Peace and Mercy of the Christ Risen in Glory be with you All Beloved brothers and sisters, children in the risen Lord, "In the world you shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16.33) is the reassurance of the Lord, who alone trampled upon death by death, to generations of men and women. "Christ is Risen!" is the cry that we, too, pronounce to all people far and wide from this Sacred See, which has experienced worldly crucifixion and tribulation; but it is also the See of resurrection inasmuch as it is from this corner of the planet, the City of Constantine, that we proclaim "the victory of life" that dispels every form of corruption and death itself. During his earthly presence, the Lord frequently warned His disciples about the tribulation that would result from his sacrifice on the cross at Golgotha but also because of their ministry and life in this world both their own as well as all those who believe in Christ. However, he also added a very significant detail: "You will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy... So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." (John ) This paschal and spiritual joy was first experienced by the Myrrh-bearing women, who came to the tomb of the life-giving Christ, with the Lord s greeting in a single word: "Rejoice!" (Matt. 28.9) The same paschal joy is emphatically professed by the Mother Church of Constantinople today: "This is the day of the Lord; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm ) The final enemy, death, sorrow, our problems, corruption, tribulation, and trials: all of these are crushed and abolished by the victorious divine-human Lord. However, we live in a world where the mass media of communication constantly transmit misfortunate news about terrorist attacks, local wars, destructive natural phenomena, problems of religious fanaticism, hunger, the refugee crisis, incurable diseases, poverty, psychological pressure, feelings of insecurity and other similarly undesirable conditions. In the face of these daily "crosses," which human beings endure with reluctance, our holy mother Orthodox Church comes to remind us that, as Christians, we can be glad because our leader Christ has proved victorious over them as the bearer of joy, who brings gladness to the whole universe. Our joy is based on the conviction of Christ s victory. We are completely assured that good has conquered all things, that Christ came to the world "and left us in order to be victorious." (Rev. 6.2) The world that we shall eternally inhabit is Christ, who is light, truth, life, joy and peace. Despite its daily crosses and sorrows, the great Mother Church of Christ exclusively and solely experiences this phenomenon of joy. It experiences from and within this life the heavenly kingdom. From this sacred center of Orthodoxy, from the bosom of this martyric Phanar, "on this effulgent night," we proclaim that the extension and purpose of the cross and all tribulation, the resolution of all human pain and suffering, is the Lord s reassurance: "I will not leave you as orphans." (John ) "Behold, I am with you all the days of your life, to the end of the ages." (Matt ) This is the message that all of us should hear, that the contemporary world should hear in order to surrender to and discern Christ on the road to Emmaus. Indeed, Christ is beside us. And we shall see Him only if we hear and experience His word in our life. This message of the victory of life over death, of the triumph of the joyful light of the paschal candle over the darkness of disorder and dissolution is announced to the whole world from the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the invitation to experience the unwaning light of the resurrection. We invite you all to stand with faith and hope before the risen Christ and before the mystery of life. We invite all of you to trust the risen Lord, the master of joy and delight, who holds the reigns of the entire creation. Christ is risen, then, brothers and sisters! May the grace and boundless mercy of the lord of life and master over death be with you all. Phanar, Holy Pascha Bartholomew of Constantinople, Your fervent supplicant to the risen Christ

WELCOME TO ST. NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL. EPISTLE: Romans 2:10-16 (p. 66) GOSPEL: Matthew 4:18-23 (p. 66)

WELCOME TO ST. NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL. EPISTLE: Romans 2:10-16 (p. 66) GOSPEL: Matthew 4:18-23 (p. 66) June 18, 2017 2 nd Sunday of Matthew Today s Saints: Holy Martyrs Leontios, Hypatios and Theodoulos. Synaxis of the righteous Fathers who have shone in holiness on the Holy Mountain Athos. WELCOME TO ST.