The Liturgical Guide and Bulletin for Sunday, March 3rd, 2024
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Sunday, March 3rd, 2024
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Through the parable of today’s Gospel, our Saviour has set forth three things for us: the condition of the sinner, the rule of repentance, and the greatness of God’s compassion. The divine Fathers have put this reading the week after the parable of the Publican and Pharisee so that, seeing in the person of the Prodigal Son our own wretched condition — inasmuch as we are sunken in sin, far from God and His Mysteries — we might at last come to our senses and make haste to return to Him by repentance during these holy days of the Fast.
Furthermore, those who have wrought many great iniquities, and have persisted in them for a long time, oftentimes fall into despair, thinking that there can no longer be any forgiveness for them; and so being without hope, they fall every day into the same and even worse iniquities. Therefore, the divine Fathers, that they might root out the passion of despair from the hearts of such people, and rouse them to the deeds of virtue, have set the present parable at the forecourts of the Fast, to show them the surpassing goodness of God’s compassion, and to teach them that there is no sin — no matter how great it may be — that can overcome at any time His love for man.
Thank God every day with your whole heart for having given to you life according to His image and likeness – an intelligently free and immortal life…Thank Him also for again daily bestowing life upon you, who have fallen an innumerable multitude of times, by your own free will, through sins, from life unto death, and that He does so as soon as you only say from your whole heart: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before Thee!’ (Luke 15:18).
St. John of Kronstadt
My Life in Christ: Part 1; Holy Trinity Monastery pgs. 104-105, 19th century
Liturgical Guide
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Mode
Ἀγγελικαὶ Δυνάμεις ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμά σου…
Angelic powers were above Thy tomb, and they that guarded Thee became as dead. And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine immaculate Body. Thou hast despoiled Hades and wast not tried thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. O Thou Who didst arise from the dead, Lord, 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.
Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode
Τῆς πατρῴας, δόξης σου, ἀποσκιρτήσας ἀφρόνως…
O Father, foolishly I ran away from Your glory, and in sin, squandered the riches You gave me. Wherefore, I cry out to You with the voice of the Prodigal, “I have sinned before You Compassionate Father. Receive me in repentance and take me as one of Your hired servants.”
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press
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 First Letter to the Corinthians 6:12-20
Brethren, “all things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food” — and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two shall become one flesh.” But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belong to God.
Gospel Reading
Luke 15:11-32
The Lord said this parable: “There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his belly with the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'”
Memorial Prayer
Angelo Marinos (40 days) survived by his wife Litsa and children Stella and Dimitri.
Joseph Maroon Zaden (40 days) and Marian Yanni Zaden (6 months) survived by their
four children, David Zaden, Cathy (Jordan) Lea, Richard (Theresa) Zaden and
grandchildren Nicholas, Catherine, Suzanna , Thomas, Athena, Marian and Joseph.
Stella Pazvantis (2 years) survived by her daughter Litsa (Angelo) Marinos and grandchildren Stella and Dimitri.
Ludmila Lukina (3 years) survived by her daughters Olga Christodoulou (Paul), Anastasia Kazuc (Sergei), Yekaterina Lukina and her grandchildren Eddie, Janice, Andrew, Lev and Eva.
Trisagion Prayer
Perry Stamm (3 months) survived by his children Andrew, Ashley and Amanda, his grandson Leo, his mother Pauline, his siblings Anthony and Pamela, and extended family.
Angela Manolatos (4 years) survived by son Emanuel (Kathy) Bacolas, Katie Bacolas, Michael Bacolas, and Zitis/Velisarios families.
Mike Monezis (19 years) survived by his daughter Mona Monezis-Kapakos.
Gerasimos, Joan, Aglaia, John, Spero, Anastasios, Engolpia survived by the Emanuel Bacolas family.
Announcements
Remember
No coffee hour this Sunday due to the scholarship luncheon. Tickets for the luncheon are still available and can be purchased in the hall this Sunday.
Fence Vote
Immediately following church services this Sunday, March 3, 2024, the community will vote on the color of the new fence that is to be installed. To participate, you must have been a Steward in good standing for year 2023.
Class Cancelled
The Koliva Making class set for March 2nd has been cancelled.
Office Hours
The office will be closed on Thursday, March 7 and Monday, March 11.
Sunday of Orthodoxy Service
You’re invited to sing with the St. Demetrios Choir on Sunday, March 24 for the Sunday of Orthodoxy Service. Rehearsals will be held on Sunday, March 17 immediately following liturgy and also on Wednesday, March 20 at 11 AM in the choir loft.
Please join us! For more information contact Athena Loucas at 203-962-2992.
Prosfora Baking
We invite anyone who knows how to make prosforo to please do so. Thank you for your offering.
FESTIVAL 2024 SUCCESS THANKS TO EACH OF YOU!
This week’s festival spotlight illuminates Karyl Zitis, Lisa Pedonomou and Juanita Antley. The dedication and creativity of these remarkable ladies and their equally remarkable teams, brought forth a delectable oasis of desserts amidst the bustling festival scene.
Karyl Zitis plans, organizes and manages two festival teams: Loukoumades & Greek Coffee. The Loukoumades Queens, also affectionately known as the Queen Bees, reign supreme, deftly navigating through swarms of honeybees to deliver their delectable creations. Alongside Karyl, Dimitra Tzaneteas, despite several stings, with Joanne Eyler, Mahi Kirakopoulos, Gina Stathakis, Despoina Atsidakos, Christine Hoffer, Sara Stout, Svelte Yamcova and Donna Metakis, served up the most delicious loukoumades dripping with honey syrup.
Adjacent to the Loukou Queen Bees, was Karyl’s Master Barista, Georgia Legakis who served all and each day, with talented coffee, frappe & baklava sundae crafters: Susan Selimos, Ioanna Brokalakis, Betty Mastoros, Michael Ewart, Dylan Gray, Irene Haralambis, Tina Ahern, Nikki Tsitis, Valdiva Joseph, Sotiria Chochos, Dimitra Karachalios & Paul Stamatakis. This Greek Coffee dynasty delivered a rich and aromatic experience that perfectly complemented the delicious loukoumades and deserts at Yia Yia’s Bakery.
Crowning the bustling dessert corridor with vibrant flair was Lisa Marie Pedonomou’s iconic Yia Yia’s Bakery banner and the mesmerizing tableau of Greek desserts arranged by Lisa with assistance from Juanita Antley after months of meticulous planning. These ladies also created a dedicated bakery team where many baked, boxed and served these treats to festival guests with heartfelt joy all and every festival day. Lisa, Juanita alongside their devoted team including Ligda Henriquez, Joanna Oudin, Athena Loucas, Betty Mastoros, Stella Androutsopoulos, Krista Schieffer, Cara Giusti, Anna Papadakos, Paula & Helen Anne Kirifides, Alexandra, Roxana & Ioana Margelu, Helen Fronimakis, Kallie Hanlon, Katherine Maineri, Panagiota Anagnostopoulos, Liz Gatsonis, Kathy Servate, Christina Katopodis, Anna Papadakos, Athena Sergiou, Deborah McKay, Despoina Hatziyannakis, Rita Bakatselos, Liz Gatsonis, Kiki Sergiou, Jeanette, Suzanne Spiliotis, Kiki Kapoukakis, Deborah Mckay and Kim Solon, served up traditional favorites with welcoming smiles and promises of a delicious Greek pastry experience with every bite.
These formidable Loukoumades, Greek Coffee and Bakery teams and their extraordinary chairs, Karyl, Lisa and Juanita, earned the appreciation and adoration of fellow volunteers and festival-goers far and wide. Please let them know how much you appreciated them as well. I certainly do!
AHEPA News
Celebration of Learning
Tickets are still available. You may purchase yours on the day of the event.
Hellenic Cultural Society News
- The National Hellenic Museum in Chicago and the Hellenic Cultural Society will collaborate on the Society’s South Florida Oral History Project. The goal of the project is to record and preserve the stories of Greek American immigrants (or their descendants). The recordings will be preserved at the National Hellenic Museum’s Collections and Archives Center.
For more info please contact Stavroula Christodoulou isapaul@aol.com or Malvina Currie malvina@hcssfl.org.
Educational Seminar
The whole community is invited to attend.
St. Demetrios 2024 Walking Saints Pilgrimage
For information, contact:
aleka@insiderstours.com
Book here https://bookme.name/InsidersToursInc/lite/st-demetrios-2024-walking-saints-pilgrimage-deposit
Stewardship Year 2024
Please fill out a year 2024 pledge form by clicking here https://stdemetrios.org/our-parish/stewardship/stewardship-form/ Or download this form, fill out both sides completely and return it to the office. Thank you!
Calendar
Saturday 3/2
5:00pm Tavli tournament
Sunday 3/3
8:30am/9:30am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
After Communion Sunday School
After Liturgy Fence Vote
After Liturgy Celebration of Learning Luncheon
Monday 3/4
4:15pm-6:00pm Greek Classes A’,B’, Γ’, Δ’
& Adult Beginner
7:00pm Intermediate Greek -Google Meet
Tuesday 3/5
7:00pm AHEPA meeting
Thursday 3/7 Office closed
7:00pm – 9:00pm Advanced Greek-zoom
Saturday 3/9 Saturday of Souls
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
9:00am Pap Corps walkathon
Sunday 3/10
8:30am/9:30am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
After Communion Sunday School
