The Liturgical Guide and Bulletin for Sunday, April 17, 2022
Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem
O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk.
But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant.
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou, unto ages of ages. Amen.
April 17, 2022
Palm Sunday
On Sunday, five days before the Passover of the Law, the Lord came from Bethany to Jerusalem. Sending two of His disciples to bring Him a foal of an ass, He sat thereon and entered into the city. When the multitude there heard that Jesus was coming, they straightway took up the branches of palm trees in their hands, and went forth to meet Him. Others spread their garments on the ground, and yet others cut branches from the trees and strewed them in the way that Jesus was to pass; and all of them together, especially the children, went before and after Him, crying out: “Hosanna: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel” (John 12:13). This is the radiant and glorious festival of our Lord’s entry into Jerusalem that we celebrate today.
The branches of the palm trees symbolize Christ’s victory over the devil and death. The word Hosanna means “Save, I pray,” or “Save, now.” The foal of an ass, and Jesus’ sitting thereon, and the fact that this animal was untamed and considered unclean according to the Law, signified the former uncleanness and wildness of the nations, and their subjection thereafter to the holy Law of the Gospel.
Liturgical Guide
Apolytikion for Palm Sunday in the First Mode
Τὴν κοινὴν Ἀνάστασιν πρὸ τοῦ σοῦ Πάθους πιστούμενος…
In confirming the common Resurrection, O Christ God, Thou didst raise up Lazarus from the dead before Thy Passion. Wherefore, we also, like the children, bearing the symbols of victory, cry to Thee, the Vanquisher of death: Hosanna in the highest; blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion for Palm Sunday in the Fourth Mode
Συνταφέντες σοι διὰ τοῦ Βαπτίσματος…
As by baptism we were buried with Thee, O Christ our God, so by Thy Resurrection we were deemed worthy of immortal life; and praising Thee, we cry: Hosanna in the highest; blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Second Mode
Τῷ θρόνῳ ἐν οὐρανῷ…
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.”
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 117.26,1.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Verse: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His mercy endures forever.
The reading is from 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
The reading is from John 12:1-18
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.
Announcements
Bookstore News
New in the Bookstore: This year, fill the children’s Easter baskets with more than just candy. See our new children’s books The Resurrection of Christ and 101 Orthodox Saints, in addition to our selection of favorites.
Myrofores
Elementary/middle school girls who are interested in participating as Myrofores during the Holy Friday Lamentations Service are asked to contact Effie (954) 773-5455 for details.
Hope/Joy News
Scholarship News
Applications for the Dr. Helene Tzitsikas Scholarship for students enrolled in higher education as well as applications for St. Stephen’s Summer Camp are open. More information about the Dr. Tzitsikas Scholarship can be found on the St. Demetrios website www.stdemetrios.org. Information about St. Stephen’s Camp can be found on their website St. Stephen’s Summer Camp – Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta – Atlanta, GA (atlmetropolis.org)
Scholarship applications are available on line at the St. Demetrios website or call the Church Office 954-467-1515 Monday – Thursday. Deadlines for all applications are May 15, 2022.
Dance News
Mandatory dance practice for children already registered in the Dance Program for 2021-2022
3-5 Saturday, April 16, 2022 after Palm folding and lenten retreat (Saturday of Lazarus)
Dance Practice for the April 30th Glendi is only for children already registered in the Dance Program for 2021-2022. Also, practice and costume fitting on April 10th or 16th, depending on age, is mandatory for participating in the group performances on April 30th. We hope that all families will attend the Glendi on April 30th.
Memorial Luminary Lighting Ceremony
4/22/22 (Great Friday) – Honor your passed loved one by purchasing a luminary that will be lit on Holy Friday around our church. Luminaries are $10.00/each, and please only one luminary per loved one who has passed. Daughters of Penelope, Narcissus Chapter #289 will be selling luminaries in the church hall each Sunday, beginning February 27th. You may also purchase by contacting Effie Kirkiles @ 727-534-7474 or egp07@msn.com, or by contacting Diane Paxinos @ 954-304-5913 or dgpaxinos@gmail.com.
Oral History Project
The Hellenic Cultural Society (HCS) of South Florida is undertaking an Oral History Project which aims at creating an archive of the emigration and immigration experience of Greek Americans.
> All humans in the Americas, including Native Americans, immigrated from other continents. Greeks have been emigrating from their ancestral villages, hamlets and cities since the ancient times. As a result, they established what became the cities of Alexandria, Nice, Napoli, Messina, Odessa and Byzantium, to name but a few. In more recent times, Greeks immigrated to the United States of America. Some of them are our ancestors. The experience of these ancestors is an integral part of American History and must be recorded.
> The HCS invites you to include in the proposed archive the emigration and immigration history of your family. This may be accomplished through a live interview or by submitting written answers to a set of questions. All this primary data will be uploaded on a website and will become available to scholars embarking on a variety of topics regarding Greek Americans. In addition to the narrative you may wish to include copies of photographs and documents such as certificates of birth, baptism, marriage, divorce and death, passports etc.
> For more information please contact Malvina Protogerou Currie at malvinacurrie@gmail.com or Stavroula Christodoulou at isapaul@aol.com or at SimplyGreekSF@gmail.com
Ukraine Relief Fund
March 3, 2022
To the Reverend Clergy, the Ladies Philoptochos Societies and all the faithful of the Metropolis of Atlanta:
My beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
I greet you with love in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we prepare to greet the beginning of the Springtime Fast, I am mindful of the terrible conflict that has befallen the citizens of Ukraine, Orthodox and non-Orthodox, because of the Russian invasion.
Even as we enter a period of repentance, and shall pray more fervently for peace and goodwill to be restored, I am proud to write to you that our Archdiocese has established the GOARCH Ukraine Relief Fund. This Fund (which shall receive beneficial advice from International Orthodox Christian Charities) “…aims to raise $1 million for both immediate and long-term support of the Ukrainian people”. I am also pleased to announce that yesterday afternoon His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America donated $100,000 to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, on behalf of our Archdiocese, to support the efforts of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
This easy to use page available by clicking here https://www.goarch.org/donate/ukraine allows for an individual to select their donation amount, and then to specify their Metropolis and their home parish. In this way we all–individual persons, families & parish communities–can do our part to uplift the Ukranian nation through prayer and monetary assistance.
To quote His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros’ coming encyclical, “We join our spirit to the spirit of His All-Holiness and exhort all our Faithful: offer prayers and tangible support for all the Ukrainian People, those of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and those of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the Moscow Patriarchate, those of the Ukrainian Catholic and Jewish communities, and all who find themselves in the dire circumstances of war.”
Standing with the people of Ukraine, and praying for a quick and peaceful resolution, I remain,
Paternally yours with love and blessings,
+ A L E X I O S
Metropolitan of Atlanta
https://www.goarch.org/donate/ukraine
Philoptochos News
Lenten Outreach
Again this year our Lenten Outreach is for the Ft. Lauderdale Covenant House. We are collecting gift cards that they can use for clothes and toiletries, rides to work and school, and dinner between work and school. Please put cards or cash in the box in the narthex or donate online at https://ladies-philoptochos-of-st-demetrios.square.site/
Covenant House serves homeless teen-agers by giving them a safe place to live while they continue at their home schools and jobs. They provide job training, education, mental health counseling, and assist with jobs and housing after their clients graduate from high school, so they can develop as independent adults.
Walk for the Cure The Fort Lauderdale Pap Corps Chapter is holding a walkathon to raise funds to support cancer research. Join us on Saturday, April 30th as we walk for the cure. Details are available in the Church Hall during the coffee hour.
2nd Annual Drawing Contest – St. Photios National Shrine
https://www.atlmetropolis.org/st-stephens-summer-camp
Our St. Demetrios Students, and Fr. Peter, will be attending Week 5
Stewardship
Our Church. Our Spiritual Home. Our Family
Our St. Demetrios Church is our spiritual home. It is a place of prayer, comfort, spiritual healing, and celebration. You may have been brought here on your 40th day, or it may have been the destination of your spiritual journey. For both, St. Demetrios Church is a spiritual home to which we may always return. We are brothers and sisters in Christ – a family.
We ask you to support the worship, service and activities of our vibrant community. Giving to His Church is a way to thank God for His grace, His generosity and His many blessings.
Thank you very much for your 2021 stewardship pledge. Your gift truly makes a difference by enabling us to serve those who come to seek Jesus Christ in His Church. Please consider increasing your pledge for 2022. Even a small increase will help us do that much more to strengthen and advance our parish. Please fill out a year 2022 pledge form. Fill out both sides completely so that we can update our database. Thank you!
Calander
Saturday 4/16 Saturday of Lazarus
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
After Divine Liturgy Parish breakfast; palm folding; Lenten retreat
3:00pm-5:00pm Dance Practice 3rd-5th grades
Sunday 4/17 Palm Sunday
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
After Divine Liturgy Fish Luncheon presented by GOYA
7:00pm Bridegroom Service
Monday 4/18 Holy Monday
7:00pm Bridegroom Service
Tuesday 4/19 Holy Tuesday
7:00pm Bridegroom Service
Wednesday 4/20 Holy Wednesday
5:30pm Sacrament of Holy Unction
Thursday 4/21 Holy Thursday
8:00am Dyeing of eggs
9:00am Vesperal Liturgy
7:00pm Passion Service
Friday 4/22 Holy Friday
9:00am Royal Hours
10:00am Decorating of the Kouvouklion (Epitaphios)
10:00am Hope/Joy Retreat
3:00pm Apokathelosis Service
7:00pm Lamentations Service
Saturday 4/23 Holy Saturday
10:00am Liturgy of St. Basil
11:30pm Resurrection Service followed by the Paschal Divine Liturgy
Sunday 4/24 Great and Holy Pascha
12:00 noon Agape Vespers