The Liturgical Guide and Bulletin for Sunday, March 6th, 2022
Please note: Saturday of the Souls
On Saturday March 5, the Orthros will begin at 8:00am followed by the Divine Liturgy at 9:00am.
March 6, 2022
Hierarchical Divine Liturgy Celebrated by His Grace Bishop Sevastianos of Zela
Forgiveness Sunday
The Holy Fathers have appointed the commemoration of Adam’s exile from the Paradise of delight here, on the eve of the holy Forty-day Fast, demonstrating to us not by simple words, but by actual deeds, how beneficial fasting is for man, and how harmful and destructive are insatiety and the transgressing of the divine commandments. For the first commandment that God gave to man was that of fasting, which the first-fashioned received but did not keep; and not only did they not become gods, as they had imagined, but they lost even that blessed life which they had, and they fell into corruption and death, and transmitted these and innumerable other evils to all of mankind. The God-bearing Fathers set these things before us today, that by bringing to mind what we have fallen from, and what we have suffered because of the insatiety and disobedience of the first-fashioned, we might be diligent to return again to that ancient bliss and glory by means of fasting and obedience to all the divine commands. Taking occasion from today’s Gospel (Matt. 6:14-21) to begin the Fast unencumbered by enmity, we also ask forgiveness this day, first from God, then from one another and all creation.
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 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 Second Mode
Τῆς σοφίας ὁδηγέ…
O Master, Prudence, Guide of Wisdom, Instruction to the foolish and Defender of the poor, strengthen my heart and grant it discernment. Give me words, Word of the Father, for behold, I shall not keep my lips from crying out to You, “O Merciful One, have mercy on me who has fallen.”
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 First Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4
Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Matthew 6:14-21
The Lord said, “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Memorial Prayer
Kyriakos Kyriakidis (1 year) survived by his wife Vera, two daughters, and his friends.
Trisagion Prayer
Ludmila Petrovna Lukina (1 year) survived by her daughters Olga (Paul) Christodoulou, Anastasia (Sergei) Kuruc, Yekaterina Lukina and her grandchildren Eddie, Janice, Andrew, Lev and Eva.
Theodore Servenes (1 year) of Baltimore, MD. Family friend of Sophia Thermis.
Announcements
Flowers
In loving memory of her husband Kyriakos Kyriakidis, Vera Kyriakidis has offered the Altar flowers.
Bookstore News
Strengthen your Lenten journey with these selections from the Bookstore:
Daily Lenten Meditations by Emily Harakas
Fasting as a Family by Melissa Naasko
The Lenten Spring by Thomas Hopko
Great Lent: Journey to Pascha by Alexander Schmemann
Agape Seniors
The Agape Seniors will start meeting again! The first luncheon will be on Tuesday, March 15 at 11:30am. We look forward to seeing you!
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
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.
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. https://ladies-philoptochos-of-st-demetrios.square.site/
Bingo
BINGO, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 4, 2022 AT 6:00PM. Doors open at 5:30pm. Many gift prizes, 50/50 raffle, plus refreshments. It’s an evening of fun, food, family & friends! Get 2 Bingo cards for $7.00 at the door. Supporting Feeding South Florida. Sponsored by Philoptochos! Bring your neighbor! See you on March 4th at 5:30pm!!
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
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 3/4
6:00pm BINGO supporting Feeding South Florida
Saturday 3/5 Saturday of Souls
8:00am/9:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
Sunday 3/6
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
After Communion Sunday School
12:00pm Celebration of Learning
Monday 3/7 Clean Monday
4:15pm-6:00pm Greek Classes A’,B’, Γ’, Δ’ & Adult Beginner @ church
6:30pm-7:30pm Intermediate Modern Greek -Zoom
7:00pm Service of Forgiveness followed by a simple lentil soup supper
Tuesday 3/8
7:00pm Adv. Modern Greek-Zoom
Wednesday 3/9
9:00am Presanctified Liturgy
Thursday 3/10
7:00pm Adv. Modern Greek-Zoom
Friday 3/11
7:00pm Salutations Service
Saturday 3/12 Saturday of Souls
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
Sunday 3/13
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
After Communion Sunday School
1:00pm Bible Study
