The Liturgical Guide and Bulletin for Sunday, January 9th, 2022
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 9, 2022
Sunday after Epiphany
Venerable Eustratius the Wonderworker
He was born to pious parents in Tarsia in Bithynia. At the age of twenty he entered monastic life at the Monastery of Agaures near his home. There he became a model of prayer, ascesis and zeal for holiness — he possessed nothing but the cloak he wore, and did not even have his own cell, choosing instead to sleep on the bare ground. When he slept he would not lie on his back or his left side, but always on his right side. In church, he stood repeating ‘Lord, have mercy!’ to himself throughout the services. He was ordained to the priesthood, and in time was made abbot of the community. But just at that time, Leo the Armenian became Emperor and revived the iconoclast heresy. The monks of Agaures, who held to the Orthodox Faith, scattered to caves and forests to escape persecution. Eustratius himself was imprisoned for a time, and was only able to re-gather the community and resume its direction when Leo died and Orthodoxy was restored in 842.
As abbot, Eustratius continued to live as the humblest of the brethren, spending the day sharing in their manual labor, and most of the night in prayer and prostrations. He often traveled among the dependencies of his large monastery to offer counsel and encouragement to the brethren. While traveling he would often give his coat or even his horse to anyone in need whom he met on the way. Once he gave the monastery’s only ox to a peasant who had lost his own. Once, on a visit to Constantinople, he was given a large sum of money by the Emperor for the monastery; on the way back he distributed all of it to the poor. Once, on the road, he met a man who had despaired because of his sins and was about to hang himself. The Saint took the man’s hand and said ‘My child, may the weight of your sins lie on me from now on. On the day of Judgment, I will answer for them instead of you. Only throw away this rope and hope in God.’
During his own life, Saint Eustratius performed countless miracles by his prayers: healing the sick, quenching fires, raising the dead. He reposed in peace in Constantinople at the age of ninety-five, having spent seventy-five years in monastic life.
Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow
Our Father among the Saints Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow, was born in 1507 of noble family, and served for a time in the royal court. While still a young man, he secretly left Moscow and entered Solovki Monastery in the north, about the year 1538, a little over a hundred years after its founding. Because of his spiritual stature he was chosen against his will to succeed Abbot Alexis in 1548. As abbot, Philip was a great builder and beautifier of Solovki Monastery. He laid the foundations for the Cathedral of the Transfiguration, constructed cells, hermitages, and a hospital for the monks and for pilgrims, established a cattle yard on one of the islands, drained swamps and connected waterways by a series of canals and damns, built a mill and various workshops, and even invented ingenious machines and implements to help the monks in their work. His fame spread, and in 1566, by the will of Tsar Ivan IV, he was raised to the rank of Metropolitan of Moscow.
Tsar Ivan the Terrible revered Philip, even as Herod had revered Saint John the Baptist, and he had been a generous benefactor of Solovki Monastery. But because the Tsar had established the oprichnina, a state within a state, giving power to the oprichniki, who used it to oppress and rob the innocent, Philip told him the he could not be Metropolitan if the Tsar suffered the oprichniki to continue in power. This angered the Tsar, he told Philip that it was not for him to interfere in matters of state, and many hierarchs prevailed upon Philip to accept the Metropolitan’s throne. But as the horrors committed by the oprichniki grew worse-thefts, false accusations, murders, and all manner of injustice and rapacity, with the knowledge of the Sovereign- Saint Philip could not remain silent. He rebuked the Tsar once and again for the reign of terror that he had brought upon his own people. The Tsar warned him to hold his peace and bless him to do as he wished. The Metropolitan answered that his silence brought sin upon the Sovereign. The Tsar threatened him with his wrath, and told him to resign his throne if he were not willing to comply. Saint Philip answered that he had not sought the Metropolitan’s throne, and it was the Tsar who had deprived him of his hermitage on Solovki; but now the pastoral burden was upon him, he would not remain silent when the canons of the Church were broken.
The more the Tsar threatened Philip with his wrath, the more the holy hierarch stood fast and threatened the Tsar with judgment of God; Philip alone had the courage to rebuke the Tsar openly and oppose his iniquity. Finally the Tsar, finding false witnesses against Philip in his own monastery on Solovki, held a council against him in early November, 1568; the Saint had to endure the persecution of the Tsar who had torn him from his beloved monastery, the betrayal of his fellow hierarchs, and the slanders of his own spiritual children. He was imprisoned in Moscow, but because of the love of the people for him the Tsar feared him even in prison, and he was transferred to a monastery in Tver, where he spent a year in great hardships and continual prayer. On December 23, 1569, a royal messenger came, asking the Metropolitan’s blessing for the Tsar’s expedition to Novgorod. Saint Philip told him to do that which he came to do, then raised his hands in prayer to God. The Tsar’s messenger fell upon him and suffocated the holy hierarch with a pillow. In 1591 his relics were transferred to Solovki, and in 1652 to the Dormition Cathedral in Moscow; many miracles were wrought through his holy relics.
Liturgical Guide
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode
Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα…
Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to the world.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion for Afterfeast of Theophany in the First Mode
Ἐν Ἰορδάνῃ βαπτιζομένου σου Κύριε…
When Thou wast baptized in the Jordan, O Lord, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest; for the voice of the Father bare witness to Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son. And the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the certainty of the word. O Christ our God, Who hast appeared and hast enlightened the world, glory be to Thee.
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
Ἐπεφάνης σήμερον τὴ οἰκουμένη…
You appeared to the world today, and Your light, O Lord, has left its mark upon us. With fuller understanding we sing to You: “You came, You were made manifest, the unapproachable light.”
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.
The reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians 4:7-13
BRETHREN, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (in saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Matthew 4:12-17
At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Announcements
Youth Programs News
Parents – based on the current Covid positivity rate of over 20% in Broward County, be advised that any children who have cold symptoms will not be admitted to any of the youth programs. Additionally, masks are strongly suggested. Thank you.
It is with regret that we announce that this year’s festival has been cancelled. This decision was made in the interest of public health and for well being concerns. We thank all the volunteers who had been tirelessly working planning the festival and all those who had signed up to work the festival.
Celebration of Learning Luncheon
The Celebration of Learning luncheon planned for January 23, 2022 is being rescheduled. The new date will be announced soon. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
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
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
Monday 1/10
4:15pm-6:00pm Greek Classes A’,B’, Γ’, Δ’ & Adult Beginner @ church
6:30pm-7:30pm Intermediate Modern Greek -Zoom
Tuesday 1/11
7:00pm Adv. Modern Greek-Zoom
Wednesday 1/12
6:30pm Daughters of Penelope
Thursday 1/13
7:00pm Adv. Modern Greek-Zoom
Sunday 1/16
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
