The Liturgical Guide and Bulletin for Sunday, April 3rd 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 3, 2022
Sunday of St. John Climacus
The memory of this Saint is celebrated on March 30, where his biography may be found. He is celebrated today because his book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is a sure guide to the ascetic life, written by a great man of prayer experienced in all forms of the monastic polity; it teaches the seeker after salvation how to lay a sound foundation for his struggles, how to detect and war against each of the passions, how to avoid the snares laid by the demons, and how to rise from the rudimental virtues to the heights of Godlike love and humility. It is held in such high esteem that it is universally read in its entirety in monasteries during the Great Fast.
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 Sunday of St. John Climacus in the Plagal Fourth Mode
Ταίς τών δακρύων σου ροαίς…
With the streams of thy tears, thou didst cultivate the barrenness of the desert; and by thy sighings from the depths,thou didst bear fruit a hundredfold in labours; and thou becamest a luminary, shining with miracles upon the world, O John our righteous Father. Intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion of St. Demetrios in the Third Mode
Μέγαν εύρατο εv τοίς κιvδύvοις…
Greatness has been found in danger. You are champion of the world. A victor who could turn the nations back. You boldly encouraged Nestor to defeat Lyaeus in the arena. Therefore, holy great martyr Demetrios, intercede with Christ our God, to grant us His great mercy.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode
Τὴ ὑπερμάχω στρατηγῶ τὰ νικητήρια …
To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: “Hail, unwedded bride!”
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 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.
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Mark 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 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.”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.”
Memorial Prayer
Helen Gatsonis (40 days) beloved mother of Elizabeth Gatsonis
Stella Antonaras Pazvantis (40 days) mother of Litsa Pazvantis Marinos (Angelo), grandmother of Stella and Dimitri.
Ekaterini Ioanidis (3 months), Margarita Ioanidis (3 months), Parthenopi Konstantinidis (3 months) beloved family of John Konstantinidis.
Nikitas Legakis (10 years) husband of Georgia Legakis, father of two children, grandfather of four.
Trisagion Prayer
Chris Maounis (6 months) father of Zoi DeTuro (Vito), grandfather of Michael.
Jacqueline Filosofos (7 years) missed by her children Argerous, Denise and Michael and her grandchildren Michael, Sevaste and Theo.
Antonis Pazvantis (12 years) father of Litsa Pazvantis Marinos.
George Mehallis (16 years) husband of Mantha Mehallis, father of Spero (Rocio) Mehallis, grandfather of Lazaro Dean and Phoenix Rose.
Speros Vlahos (23 years) father of Mantha Mehallis, grandfather of Spero Mehallis (Rocio), great grandfather of Lazaro Dean and Phoenix Rose.
Dimitri Marinos (17 years), Dialehti Marinos (19 years) parents of Angelo Marinos.
Announcements
Coffee Hour
Elizabeth Gatsonis, in loving memory of her mother Helen Gatsonis, has sponsored today’s coffee hour.
Litsa Pazvantis Marinos, in loving memory of her mother Stella Antonaras Pazvantis, has sponsored today’s coffee hour.
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.
Church and Church Grounds Cleanup
To prepare the church and the church grounds for Pascha, we are having a clean up day on Saturday April 9 starting at 8:30am. Please join us. Bring your tools and whatever else you think will make the job easier!
Drinks and food will be available.
Choir Practice
Join us for Choir rehearsal for Good Friday Lamentations.
Sunday after Liturgy & Wednesday 4/6 after Liturgy (11:30am).
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.
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.
Oratorical Festival
Students, if you are interested in presenting a topic please contact Danielle Smith, our Sunday School Director, for information. Email: dani.n.smith10@gmail.com
The date for our students to participate is April 9th in Fort Pierce.
Topics, Tips, Resources, and Guidelines: https://www.goarch.org/documents/32058/5077519/sjcof_2020_participant_packet.pdf/
Presentation Friday, April 1 – “The Eucharist: What, How and Why”
Join us April 1st after the 7:00pm Salutations Service. Presented by Dr. Dean Vafiadis.
Family Day
Hellenic Cultural Society of South Florida
“The Greek Jews – a 2300 year journey” will be the subject of an in-person event hosted by the Hellenic Cultural Society of South Florida. Dr. Annette Fromm, author of “We Are Few”, on the Jewish Community of Ioannina, Greece will be our speaker.
The historically accurate feature-length film, “Ouzeri Tsitsanis” (also known as Synnefiasmeni Kyriaki – Cloudy Sunday) will accompany the event. Tsitsanis, one of the leading composers/songwriters and extraordinary bouzouki player is considered one of the fathers of Laiko music and Rebetika. Synnefiasmeni Kyriaki is one of the beloved trademark songs of Greek music.
Saturday April 2, 2022 at 815 N.E. 15th Avenue, Ft Lauderdale 33304 (Kandaras Hall, St Demetrios Church). Coffee and dessert will be offered. Doors open at 7:00pm. Lecture starts at 7:30pm.
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.
Pascha Bake Sale
We can still take orders for your Pascha tsourekia and koulourakia. Place your order now at the table in the hall, or send a check and order form to the church, or go online. Your support of our fundraisers allows us to assist those in need.
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
Friday 4/1
7:00pm Salutations Service
followed by “The Eucharist: What, How and Why” presented by Dr. Dean Vafiadis.
Saturday 4/2
10:00am-2:00pm Joy/Hope Family Day
7:30pm Hellenic Cultural Society Presentation and movie
Sunday 4/3
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
After Communion Sunday School
Monday 4/4
4:15pm-6:00pm Greek Classes A’,B’, Γ’, Δ’ & Adult Beginner @ church
6:30pm-7:30pm Intermediate Modern Greek -Zoom
Tuesday 4/5
7:00pm Adv. Modern Greek-Zoom
7:00pm AHEPA Meeting
Wednesday 4/6
9:00am/10:00am Presanctified Liturgy
Thursday 4/7
7:00pm Adv. Modern Greek-Zoom
Friday 4/8
7:00pm Akathist Hymn
Saturday 4/9
8:30am Church, Facilities, and Grounds Cleanup
Sunday 4/10
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
After Communion Sunday School
1:00pm Bible Study
