The Liturgical Guide and Bulletin for Sunday, February 2nd, 2025

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Sunday, February 2, 2025

 

 

Presentation of our Lord

 

When the most pure Mother and Ever-Virgin Mary’s forty days of purification had been fulfilled, she took her first-born Son to Jerusalem on this, the fortieth day after His birth, that she might present Him in the temple according to the Law of Moses, which teaches that every first-born male child be dedicated to God, and also that she might offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons, as required by the Law (Luke 2:22-24; Exod. 13:2; Lev. 12:6-8). On this same day, a just and devout man, the greatly aged Symeon, was also present in the temple, being guided by the Holy Spirit. For a long time, this man had been awaiting the salvation of God, and he had been informed by divine revelation that he would not die until he beheld the Lord’s Christ. Thus, when he beheld Him at that time and took Him up into his aged arms, he gave glory to God, singing: “Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, O Master. . .” And he confessed that he would close his eyes joyfully, since he had seen the Light of revelation for the nations and the Glory of Israel (Luke 2:25-32). From ancient times, the Holy Church has retained this tradition of the churching of the mother and new-born child on the fortieth day and of the reading of prayers of purification.

The Apodosis of the Feast of the Meeting in the Temple is usually on the 9th of February. This, however, may vary if the Feast falls within the period of the Triodion. Should this occur, the Typicon should be consulted for specific information concerning the Apodosis of the Feast.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       


Liturgical Guide

 

 

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode
Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον…
Thou didst abolish death by Thy Cross; Thou didst open Paradise to the thief; Thou didst transform the myrrh-bearers’ lamentation, and didst bid Thine Apostles to preach that Thou art risen, O Christ God, granting great mercy to the world.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Apolytikion for Presentation of Our Lord 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. Third Mode. Luke 1: 46-48.
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Verse: For he has regarded the humility of his servant.

The reading is from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Hebrews 7:7-17.

BRETHREN, it is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. Here tithes are received by mortal men; there, by one whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, “Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

Gospel Reading

 

The Reading is from Luke 2:22-40

At that time, the parents brought the child Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Symeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

“Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Symeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.



Trisagion Prayer

Petros Achilleas Potaris (9 days) survived by his wife Monika, his sons Brian (Merry) and Michael (Rosalie), his grandchildren, his great grandchildren, his sister Stavroula Christodoulou and her two children Isabel and Paul, five cousins on four continents and their children.

 

 


Announcements

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.

 


Philoptochos News – UPCOMING EVENTS

  • January 30,31, February 1,2 : Coverage for YaYa’s Bakery at the Festival.  Contact Juanita (954-257-7843) if you need more information.
SAVE THESE DATES: 
Thursday, February 20 @7:00pm
Presenting a FREE informative talk on fall prevention. “STOP FALLS BEFORE THEY STOP YOU”.  Doors open at 6:30pm.  All are invited!  Kandaras Hall.
Saturday, February 22 @ 12 noon
Join us for WINTER BINGO.  Doors open at 11:30am…Kandaras Hall.

 


HDF News
Congratulations to the HDF team for winning the Choral Award for their singing during their Paros suite and placing overall Bronze metal in their division in competition last weekend in Winston Salem NC.

We are very proud of our dancers.  We would like to thank the dancers for their hard work and dedication.  We would like to also thank Evi Nikolaidou for her countless hours of research and hard work to not only win our first Directors Choral award but for also overcoming obstacles to also win a team Bronze award. WAY TO GO KAMARIA!!!

 


HDF Meeting
The DAC/HDF will hold a 2026 planning meeting for Parents on Sunday, March 2nd after church.
This event is for all families who want to attend in 2026 or want to learn more about the 2026 HDF event.

 

 


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.

 



FORT LAUDERDALE GREEK FESTIVAL 2025

 

 


Website: fortlauderdalegreekfestival.org
Social Media Sites = Like, Follow, and Share
http://facebook.com/FTL.Greekfest
http://instagram.com/ft._laud._greek_festival

The festival continues throughout today!  Keep sharing videos, photos and links to the festival on your social media.  Over 250 members have volunteered to make this event a success.  Volunteer Now!  Stop by the Volunteer Table located next to Admissions at the West Gate.  Participate, Celebrate & Support our Community, Greek Culture and Orthodoxy with our guests and fellow volunteers.  BAKERY, COFFEE, LOUKOUMADES, FOOD LINE, GREEK GRILL ADMISSIONS, GYRO, VOLUNTEER -GUEST SERVICES MONASTERY TABLE, still need volunteers in the evenings and peak hours! Join this extraordinary event full of extraordinary experiences and people. Look for emails with volunteer updates & festival news. THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXCELLENCE & SUPPORT!

 

 


 



Festival Sponsorship Opportunities

 

 


 




 


 

Calendar

 

 

Thursday         1/30
5:00pm-10:00pm              Festival

Friday               1/31
12:00pm-11:00pm.            Festival

Saturday           2/1
12:00pm-11:00pm           Festival

Sunday              2/2      
8:45am/9:45am                Orthros/Divine Liturgy
12:00pm-7:00pm             Festival
                                 
Tuesday            2/4        
7:00pm                                AHEPA meeting

Sunday              2/9      
8:45am/9:45am                Orthros/Divine Liturgy
After Liturgy                      GOYA Superbowl of Caring
After Communion             Sunday School
12:30pm                              GOYA meeting