The Liturgical Guide and Bulletin for Sunday, January 2nd, 2022
Upcoming Feast Day Services
New Year’s Day
Join us, Saturday, January 1, 2022 as we celebrate the Feast of Saint Basil.
Orthros 9:00am ~ Divine Liturgy 10:00am
Holy Theophany/Epiphany
Thursday, January 6, 2022
Orthros 9:00am ~ Divine Liturgy and Blessing of the Water 10:00am
Epiphany Celebration
The South Florida District Epiphany Celebration is Saturday, January 8, 2022
at
St. Catherine Church ~ 110 Southern Blvd ~ West Palm Beach.
Orthros at 9AM ~ Archieratical Divine Liturgy at 10AM ~ Cross Dive at 12PM ~ Luncheon to follow
January 2, 2022
Sunday before Epiphany
Seraphim the Wonderworker of Sarov
Saint Seraphim was born in the town of Kursk in 1759. From tender childhood he was under the protection of the most holy Mother of God, who, when he was nine years old, appeared to him in a vision, and through her icon of Kursk, healed him from a grave sickness from which he had not been expected to recover. At the age of nineteen he entered the monastery of Sarov, where he amazed all with his obedience, his lofty asceticism, and his great humility. In 1780 the Saint was stricken with a sickness which he manfully endured for three years, until our Lady the Theotokos healed him, appearing to him with the Apostles Peter and John. He was tonsured a monk in 1786, being named for the holy Hieromartyr Seraphim, Bishop of Phanarion (Dec. 4), and was ordained deacon a year later. In his unquenchable love for God, he continually added labours to labours, increasing in virtue and prayer with titan strides. Once, during the Divine Liturgy of Holy and Great Thursday, he was counted worthy of a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who appeared encompassed by the heavenly hosts. After this dread vision, he gave himself over to greater labours. In 1794, Saint Seraphim took up the solitary life in a cell in the forest. This period of extreme asceticism lasted some fifteen years, until 1810. It was at this time that he took upon himself one of the greatest feats of his life. Assailed with despondency and a storm of contrary thoughts raised by the enemy of our salvation, the Saint passed a thousand nights on a rock, continuing in prayer until God gave him complete victory over the enemy. On another occasion, he was assaulted by robbers, who broke his chest and his head with their blows, leaving him almost dead. Here again, he began to recover after an appearance of the most holy Theotokos, who came to him with the Apostles Peter and John, and pointing to Saint Seraphim, uttered those awesome words, “This is one of my kind.” In 1810, at the age of fifty; weakened with his more than human struggles, Saint Seraphim returned to the monastery for the third part of his ascetical labours, in which he lived as a recluse until 1825. For the first five years of his reclusion, he spoke to no one at all, and little is known of this period. After five years, he began receiving visitors little by little, giving counsel and consolation to ailing souls. In 1825, the most holy Theotokos appeared to the Saint and revealed to him that it was pleasing to God that he fully end his seclusion; from this time the number of people who came to see him grew daily. It was also at the command of the holy Virgin that he undertook the spiritual direction of the Diveyevo Convent. He healed bodily ailments, foretold things to come, brought hardened sinners to repentance, and saw clearly the secrets of the heart of those who came to him. Through his utter humility and childlike simplicity, his unrivalled ascetical travails, and his angel-like love for God, he ascended to the holiness and greatness of the ancient God-bearing Fathers and became like Anthony for Egypt, the physician for the whole Russian land. In all, the most holy Theotokos appeared to him twelve times in his life. The last was on Annunciation, 1831, to announce to him that he would soon, enter into his rest. She appeared to him accompanied by twelve virgins-martyrs and monastic saints-with Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Theologian. With a body ailing and broken from innumerable hardships, and an unspotted soul shining with the light of Heaven, the Saint lived less than two years after this, falling asleep in peace on January 2, 1833, chanting Paschal hymns. On the night of his repose, the righteous Philaret of the Glinsk Hermitage beheld his soul ascending to Heaven in light. Because of the universal testimony to the singular holiness of his life, and the seas of miracles that he performed both in life and after death, his veneration quickly spread beyond the boundaries of the Russian Empire to every corner of the earth.
Liturgical Guide
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode
Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια…
Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion for Forfeast of Epiphany in the Fourth Mode
Ἑτοιμάζου Ζαβουλῶν…
Be thou ready, Zabulon; prepare thyself, O Nephthalim. River Jordan, stay thy course and skip for gladness to receive the Sovereign Master, Who cometh now to be baptized. O Adam, be thou glad with our first mother, Eve; hide not as ye did of old in Paradise. Seeing you naked, He hath appeared now to clothe you in the first robe again. Christ hath appeared, for He truly willeth to renew all creation.
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 Fourth Mode
Ἐν τοῖς ῥείθροις σήμερον τοῦ Ἰορδάνου…
In the running waters of the Jordan River, on this day the Lord of all crieth to John: Be not afraid and hesitate not to baptize Me, for I am come to save Adam, the first-formed man.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.
The reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to Timothy 4:5-8
TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ John was baptizing in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Trisagion Prayer
Mitchell James Thermis (1 year) husband of Loretta, father of Albert, brother of Sophia Thermis, and uncle of 4 generations of nieces and nephews.
Markos Hatzikostantis (2 years) survived by his wife Dina, his children Michael and Antonia, and his grandchildren Konstantina, Theodosios, Michael and Gabrielle.
Orlando Haralambos Perez ( 8 years) survived by his daughter Nicole Perez and by Michael Valverde.
Coffee Hour
In memory of her husband Markos Hatzikostantis, Dina Hatzikostantis has sponsored the coffee hour.
Parish Vasilopita
This Sunday we will cut the traditional Vasilopita. Please give generously to benefit St. Basil’s Academy, one of the oldest institutions of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. St. Basil’s offers a safe home and education to orphans and children whose parents are unable to care for them.
FESTIVAL Volunteers 2022…WELCOME BACK one of ST DEMETRIOS’ BEST FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES & FUNDRAISERS! EACH of YOU make this all possible.
Volunteers are needed to assist in Food Prep * Setting up the festival grounds * Cashiers * Bakery * Volunteer Table and so much more…Come see us in the narthex and SIGN UP TODAY!
HDF News
Our Hellenic Dance Festival Team luncheon planned for today, to help raise funds for their upcoming competition in Orlando, has been POSTPONED to a later date.
Philoptochos News
Philoptochos 2022 Memberships: Annual dues are payable now. Become a new member or renew your membership @$50 for 2022, as you support the national, metropolis and local organizations of the philanthropic arm of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in America. Please make checks payable to Philoptochos or use credit cards via Square.
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!
District Epiphany Celebration
Calander
Sunday 1/2
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
Parish Vasilopita
No Sunday School
No Dance practice
No HDF practice
1:00pm-2:00pm Bible Study
Monday 1/3
4:15pm-6:00pm Greek Classes A’,B’, Γ’, Δ’ & Adult Beginner @ church
6:30pm-7:30pm Intermediate Modern Greek -Zoom
Tuesday 1/4
7:00pm Adv. Modern Greek-Zoom
Thursday 1/6 Holy Theophany
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy/
Blessing of the Water
7:00pm Adv. Modern Greek-Zoom
Saturday 1/8
9:00am Epiphany celebration
West Palm Beach
1:00pm-5:00pm HDF practice in the Hall
Sunday 1/9
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
After Communion Sunday School
12:45pm-1:30pm Jr. Palazakia
Upstairs classrooms
12:45pm-1:30pm Palazakia
Upstairs classrooms
1:00pm-2:00pm Sr. Palazakia @ ArtServe
1:00pm -2:00pm Kamaria @ ArtServe
2:30pm -3:30pm HDF in the Hall
1:00pm-2:00pm Bible Study
