Weekly Sunday Bulletin – February 23rd, 2020
Judgement Sunday – February 23, 2020
Polycarp the Holy Martyr & Bishop of Smyrna
This apostolic and prophetic man, was a disciple of John the Evangelist, successor of Bucolus, and teacher of Irenaeus. He was an old man when the fifth persecution was raised against the Christians under Marcus Aurelius. When his pursuers, sent by the ruler, found Polycarp, he commanded that they be given something to eat and drink, then asked them to give him an hour to pray; he stood and prayed, for two hours, so that his captors repented that they had come against so venerable a man. He was brought by the Proconsul of Smyrna into the stadium and was commanded, “Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and say, ‘Away with the atheists.'” By atheists, the Proconsul meant the Christians. But Polycarp, gazing at the heathen in the stadium, waved his hand towards them and said, “Away with the atheists.” When the Proconsul urged him to blaspheme against Christ, he said: “I have been serving Christ for 86 years, and He has wronged me in nothing; how can I blaspheme my King Who has saved me?” But the tyrant became enraged at these words and commanded that he be cast into the fire, and thus he gloriously expired about the year 163. As Eusebius says, “Polycarp everywhere taught what he had also learned from the Apostles, which also the Church has handed down; and this alone is true” (Eccl. Hist., Book IV, ch. 14,15).
Parish Council on Duty:
Harry Tangalakis, Marion Koliniatis, Mark Zaden, Bill Ypsilantis, Paul Fountas, Peter Kokkinos
Liturgical Guide
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode
Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια …
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.
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 First Mode
Ὅταν ἔλθῃς ὁ Θεός, ἐπὶ γῆς μετὰ δόξης …
O God, when You come upon the earth in glory, the whole world will tremble. A river of fire will bring all before Your Judgment Seat and the books will be opened, and everything in secret will become public. At that time, deliver me from the fire which never dies, and enable me to stand by Your right hand, O Judge most just.
Epistle Reading ~The reading is from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2.
Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol’s temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother’s falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall. Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
Gospel Reading ~ The Reading is from Matthew 25:31-46
The Lord said, “When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Trisagion
Neophytos Demetriou (9 days) survived by Andreas Demetriou, Mary Pieri, Georgia Maiorana, Victor Demetriou, and their families.
Announcements
In our Bookstore:
*What does Orthodoxy believe about our relationship with the Earth? How are we to be stewards of God’s creation? Check out It’s Easy Being Green and Beyond the Shattered Image.
*Get started today on your journey to Pascha. The Road Back to Christ by Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis offers daily wisdom from the Sunday of the Publican through Lent and Pascha.
Festival after sales: Metaxa 5 Star $30; Premium Wines: Lafkioti Nemea Red $15, Lafkioti Moschofilero (white) $15
Support our sister parish
St Sophia Greek Festival ~ February 21, 22 & 23 at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral
2401 SW 3rd Ave (Coral Way & 24th Road) Two blocks west of I-95, Exit #1A
(305) 854-2922www.stsophiamiamifest.org
Limbitless solutions The Daughters of Penelope will have their annual luncheon on March 21st at the Lighthouse Point Yacht Club. More information will be coming soon. Everyone is excited to have a chance to win a beautiful raffle basket with great prizes. We are looking for new or gently used items, gift cards or any other gift certificates that you would be willing to donate to help support our cause, “Limbitless solutions”, located at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Together with our donations and their research team we assist young and the young at heart that are in need of prosthetic limbs. Please contact Melissa Bakatselos 954-661-5707, Tara Bakatselos 954-650-1387 or email at dop.fashionshow@gmail.com for more information and drop off locations.
A LEAP YEAR DAY EVENT…. Don’t miss and plan to attend the BINGO/Feather Party on SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29TH in the Church Hall. Bring family and friends to this fun evening with great prizes, 50/50 raffle, and refreshments. Doors open at 5:30pm and games begin at 6:00pm (new times). Tickets @$7/person include 2 Bingo cards. Ticket proceeds benefit Feeding South Florida. BE SURE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS ON FEBRUARY 23rd. See Athena Loucas at Coffee Hour. Sponsored by Ladies Philoptochos Society.
National Philoptochos Telephone Caregiver Support Group for Orthodox Christians
Seven consecutive Thursday evenings ~ February 27th to April 9th ~ 7:00pm-8:00pm Pre-registration Required. Call in phone number will be provided upon registration. For information and to pre-register, email supportgroup@philoptochos.org
Women’s Retreat
Our Metropolis Philoptochos is offering its 14th Annual Spiritual Retreat for women, March 20-22 at the Diakonia Retreat Center. The registration deadline is March 1. Cost is $175 which includes 2 nights lodging and 5 meals. Go to https://atlmetropolis.org/14th-annual-spiritual-retreat1 to see the flyer and download registration materials.
Calendar of Events for the Week
Sunday 2/23
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
11:00am Sunday School
12:00pm AHEPA presentation and luncheon
Monday 2/24
4:15pm-6:00pm Greek School Classes Α, Β, Γ & Adult Beginner Section 1
6:00pm-8:00pm Greek School Adult Beginner Section 2
6:00pm-8:00pm Greek School Advanced Class
Tuesday 2/25
11:30am Loving Stitches
Thursday 2/27
6:00pm Cancer Chapter meeting
Saturday 2/29
9:30am Saturday of Souls service
7:45am GOYA volunteers @ Soup Kitchen @ Christ Community Church
5:30pm/6:00pm Bingo/Feather Party
Sunday 3/01
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
11:00am Sunday School
12:00pm GOYA meeting
