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Apolytikion of Palm Sunday

Τήν κοινήν Ανάστασιν…
O Christ our God, before Your Passion, You raised Lazarus from the dead to confirm the common Resurrection for all. Therefore, we carry the symbols of victory as did the youths, and we cry out to You, the victor over death, “Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Apolytikion of Palm Sunday

Συνταφέντες σοι διὰ τοῦ Βαπτίσματος…
O Christ our God, we have been buried with You through Baptism and by Your Resurrection made worthy of life immortal. Praising You, we cry out, “Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Kontakion

Τω θρόνω εν Ούρανώ…
In Heaven, He is seated upon a Throne and on earth He rides upon a foal. O Christ our God, Accept the praise of the Angels and the hymn of the Children who cry out to You, “Blessed are You who comes to recall Adam.”

Palm Sunday

This Sunday commemorates the triumphant entrance of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. The people of Jerusalem received Christ as a king, and, therefore, took branches of palms and went out to meet Him, laying down the palms in His path. The people cried out the prophecy of Zechariah: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel” (v. 13; of Zechariah 9:9). The celebration of the Jewish Passover brought crowds of Jews and converted Jews to Jerusalem. They had heard of the works and words of Christ, especially about the resurrection of Lazarus. All the events related to Christ had a Messianic meaning for the Jews at the time. This vexed the high priests and pharisees. As usual, Christ went to the Temple to pray and teach. That evening Christ departed for Bethany. The tradition of the Church of distributing palms on this Sunday comes from the act of the people in placing the branches of palms in front of Christ, and henceforth symbolizes for the Christian the victory of Christ over evil forces and death. (John 12:12-18)

The Entry of Christ into Jerusalem

“Observe the wisdom of the Evangelist, how he is not ashamed to parade their former ignorance. That it was written they knew, that is was written of Him they did not know. For it would have offended them if He being a King were about to suffer such things and to be so betrayed.
Besides, they could not at that time have taken in the knowledge of the Kingdom of which He spoke, for another Evangelist says that they thought The words were spoken of a kingdom of this world.” St. John Chrysostom. Homily LXVI on John XII, 2

Holy Week

The period of Great Lent includes the days of Holy Week. This is the time when Christians who went through the whole period of Lent in prayer and fasting approach the Feast of Feasts to celebrate the Passions of Christ and His Resurrection. During the entire Lent the faithful try to practice and live the ideals and standards of this period in the light of Easter. This is why the Hymnology of the entire period of Lent, especially during Holy Week, refers to the Resurrection of Christ as the center of the Christian Faith. Each day of Holy Week is dedicated to the Events and teachings of Christ during His last week on earth. The faithful who participate in the services of this week are more conscious of their duties to themselves and to their neighbors through fasting, praying, giving alms, forgiving the trespasses of others; in other words, participating, day by day, in the spirit of the Gospel of Christ.

Visitors to St. Demetrios

Guidelines for the receiving of Holy Communion

Thank you for visiting St. Demetrios Church. We pray your time at worship is encouraging and challenging. The Orthodox Church has always held the Eucharist as the culmination of our spiritual relationship with Christ. Because of this, if you are not a baptized Orthodox Christian, we ask that you observe during communion this morning. Please feel free to come up at the end of the service and receive some blessed bread from the priest. While this is not considered the Eucharist, it is our way of assuring no one leaves our church “hungry.” Should you desire to learn more about the Orthodox Church, an inquiry class is offered for instruction. These classes can lead to eventual Baptism or Chrismation in the Church. Please call the Church office for more information. Thank you again for visiting St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church.

Epistle Reading

St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians 4:4-9

BRETHREN, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.

Gospel Reading

John 12:1-18
Palm Sunday

Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazaros was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazaros was one of those at table with him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, “Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazaros, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazaros also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.
The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it; as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazaros out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.