The Liturgical Guide and Bulletin for Sunday, February 9th, 2025
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Sunday, February 9, 2025
Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
The Pharisees were an ancient and outstanding sect among the Jews known for their diligent observance of the outward matters of the Law. Although, according to the word of our Lord, they “did all their works to be seen of men” (Matt. 23:5), and were hypocrites (ibid. 23: 13, 14, 15, etc.), because of the apparent holiness of their lives they were thought by all to be righteous, and separate from others, which is what the name Pharisee means. On the other hand, Publicans, collectors of the royal taxes, committed many injustices and extortions and all held them to be sinners and unjust. It was therefore according to common opinion that the Lord Jesus in His parable signified a virtuous person by a Pharisee, and a sinner by a Publican, to teach His disciples the harm of pride and the profit of humble-mindedness.
Since the chief weapon for virtue is humility, and the greatest hindrance to it is pride, the divine Fathers have set these three weeks before the Forty-day Fast as a preparation for the spiritual struggles of virtue. This present week they have called Harbinger, since it declares that the Fast is approaching; and they set humility as the foundation for all our spiritual labors by appointing that the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee be read today, even before the Fast begins, to teach, through the vaunting of the Pharisee, that boasting drives away the grace of the Spirit, and strips man of all his virtue; and, through the repentance and contrite prayer of the Publican, that humility confers upon the sinner forgiveness and raises him up to the greatest heights.
Liturgical Guide
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Mode
Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος…
From on high didst Thou descend, O Compassionate One; to burial of three days hast Thou submitted that Thou mightest free us from our passions. O our Life and Resurrection, Lord, glory be to Thee.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion for Apodosis of the Presentation in the First Mode
Χαῖρε κεχαριτωμένη Θεοτόκε Παρθένε…
Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, O Virgin Theotokos, for from thee hath risen the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, enlightening those in darkness. Rejoice, thou also, O righteous Elder, as thou receivest in thine arms the Redeemer of our souls, Who also granteth unto us the Resurrection.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Seasonal Kontakion in the First Mode
Ὁ μήτραν παρθενικὴν ἁγιάσας τῶ τόκω σου…
Your birth sanctified a Virgin’s womb and properly blessed the hands of Symeon. Having now come and saved us O Christ our God, give peace to Your commonwealth in troubled times and strengthen those in authority, whom You love, as only the loving One.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by Narthex Press
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.
The reading is from St. Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy 3:10-15
TIMOTHY, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at lconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Gospel Reading
Luke 18:10-14
The Lord said this parable, “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Trisagion Prayer
Efstratios Planakis (6 years) beloved father, grandfather, brother and friend is survived by Clare, Chris, Andreas, Beth, Lucas, Chloe, Nikos and Alexandra, Koula and Eftstratia.
Mary George (21 years), Thomas G. Peters, MD (35 years), Anthoula Zamanis (37 years) Survived by Effie Peters George, Anthony George, Helene Peters Dameris and family.
Elias Aspras (33 years), Anthony Aspras (40 years) Husband and son of Alice Aspras.
Announcements
Coffee Hour In memory of her father, Efstratios Planakis, Clare Winkel has sponsored the coffee hour.
Altar Help Wanted
Father Peter needs help in the altar on Sundays and with Sacraments. Compensation is available subject to ability and time provided. If interested and for more information, please speak with Fr. Peter or a Parish Council member.
Thank You A big “Thank you” to everyone who helped make the Festival a success!
Philoptochos News
“STOP FALLS BEFORE THEY STOP YOU”! Losing your balance and falls are a leading cause of injury among adults, but they don’t have to be. Join us for a FREE informative talk on fall prevention, presented by Dr. Ryan Shipley, DPT, CSCS.
Dr. Shipley is a dedicated physical therapist with over 8 years of experience. He has worked with a diverse range of patients from post-operative individuals to professional athletes, focusing on functional movement and injury prevention.
Open to everyone. Thursday, February 20th promptly @ 7:00pm, doors open @ 6:30pm. Kandaras Hall. Q & A to follow with light refreshments. Bring a friend. No admission! Sponsored by Philoptochos. For questions see Athena Loucas or Juanita Antley.
Get 2 BINGO cards at the door for $7.00. Many gift prizes, 50/50 raffle, plus refreshments. Supporting Covenant House and other local charities. Invite your neighbors and friends. Join us for a relaxing afternoon of fun, family, friends, & food!! Sponsored by Philoptochos. See you on Saturday, February 22nd, at 11:30am.
Thank You!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Ladies of Philoptochos who donated their time baking, filling sample boxes and assisting at Yaya’s Bakery during the St. Demetrios Festival. Your time and talents helped to make the entire festival possible and successful. A special Thank You to Lisa Pedonomou for her ability to make our booth look so beautiful and appetizing. She and her team including but not limited to Ligda Henriquez, Stella Androutsopoulos, Bessie Manos, Mario P., Kallie Hanlon and Anna Papadakos. Those ladies spent hours in the heat of the prep tent getting products ready for sale. Also, Thank You to Everyone who helped us in our bakery waiting on customers and cashing them out. Last but not least are all the others who helped all of us: Parish Council, Kitchen Staff, Decorations, Students, Bill’s men and ladies who helped with set up, clean up and assorted acts of kindness to help everyone. If I have forgotten anyone, God knows who you are. May God bless you all.
Juanita Antley,President St. Demetrios Ladies Philoptochos Society.
Stewardship
We thank those who have pledged to St. Demetrios Church for year 2024!
Please take a look to see if you have paid your financial commitment.
You can make payments on your existing pledge here https://stdemetrios.org/make-a-donation/ by choosing “Stewardship” from the dropdown menu.
We remind everyone to pledge for year 2025. Please send in the stewardship form you received in the mail or pledge here https://stdemetrios.org/our-parish/stewardship/stewardship-form/
Thank you!
Prosforo
Anyone who is able to bake prosforo please do so. Don’t forget to also bring the names of your living and deceased for the proskomidi prayer.
Calendar
8:45am/9:45am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
After Liturgy GOYA Superbowl of Caring
After Communion Sunday School
12:30pm GOYA meeting
Monday 2/10
7:00pm Intermediate Greek-Online
Thursday 2/13
12:00pm Philoptochos board meeting
7:00pm-9:00pm Advanced Greek-Online