Sat

  1

The 1st Saturday of Souls

   8am     Divine Liturgy     

    5pm       Apokreatiko Glendi

The Feast Day of St Eudokia, The Martyr of Heliopolis

[This Saint, who was from Heliopolis of Phoenicia (Baalbek in present-day Lebanon), was an idolater and led a licentious life.  Being beautiful beyond telling, she had many lovers, and had acquired great riches.  Yet brought to repentance by a monk named Germanus, and baptized by Bishop Theodotus, she distributed to the poor all her ill-gotten gains, and entered a convent, giving herself up completely to the life of asceticism.  Her former lovers, enraged at her conversion, her refusal to return to her old ways, and the withering away of her beauty through the severe mortifications she practiced, betrayed her as a Christian to Vincent the Governor, and she was beheaded, according to some, under Trajan, who reigned from 98 to 117, according to others, under Hadrian, who reigned from 117 to 138.]

Sun

  2

Judgement Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)

   9am     Orthros
 10am     Divine Liturgy     
 10am       Sunday School

After Church Services:
                Dance practice ages 5-9

The Feast Day of the Holy Father Nicholas of Plana

Mon

  3

  3:30pm  Greek School
  6:30pm  Adult Basketball
  7pm      Greek Conversation Class
               Dance Practice ages 10-13

Tue

  4

  4pm      Greek School

  5pm     Vespers at UMD

  7pm       Dance Practice ages 14-18

The Feast Day of St Gerasimos the Righteous of Jordan

[Venerable Gerasimos lived during the reign of king Constantine Pogonatos in 670, as Sophronios of Jerusalem, who wrote his life, attests.  He had fear of God since childhood and, after he became a monk, he went to the deepest parts of the desert of Thebais.  He reached such a height of virtue and was graced with such intimacy with God, because he had preserved his image and likeness so pure, that he even had authority over wild beasts.  A lion used to attend upon him and among other things this lion used to graze the donkey which fetched water to the saint.  Once some merchants passed from that place.  When they saw the donkey, they stole it.  The lion was sleeping and did not feel a thing.  So, in the evening he returned to the saint without having the donkey with him, as usual. 
     When the saint's servant saw the lion alone, he told the elder that the lion had eaten the donkey.  So, the poor lion was condemned to carry the pitchers on his back and fetch water from the river instead of the donkey, for as long as the merchants kept it.  However, the same merchants happened to pass from that place again and they had the donkey with them.  As soon as the lion saw the donkey, he recognised it and rushed at the merchants with a loud roar.  The people got scared and left.  Together with the donkey the lion brought to St. Gerasimos' cell the camels which were tied on it.  Knocking with his tail on the door of the saint's cell, he acted as if to show that he was offering them to the elder as game. 
     When the saint saw this thing, he smiled a bit and said to his disciple: "We wrongly accused the innocent lion that he had eaten the donkey.  So, now we have to liberate him from his labour and allow him to go and graze at his usual place." Then the lion bowed his head, as if he had reason, and taking his leave from the saint he went to the wilderness.  Once every week he used to come and bow before the saint.  After the saint had died, the lion came, as his habit was, and asked to venerate him.  However, when he did not find him, he seemed to be sad and angry.  With many signs the saint's disciple helped him feel that the elder had died.  The lion lamented the elder's death with a fine roar and seemed to be looking for the saint's grave.  When the disciple led him to it, the lion fell on it and with a loud roar he breathed his last due to his extreme pain which he suffered from his love for the saint.  This is how God glorifies those who glorify Him and makes wild beasts submit to those who keep His image and likeness pure.]

Wed

  5

  4pm      Greek School
  6pm      J.O.Y. Basketball
  7pm      Choir Rehearsal

The Feast Day of St Konon, the Gardener

[This saint lived during the reign of emperor Decius in 251.  He came from the town of Nazareth.  He left his hometown and went to the city of Mandron, in the province of Pamphylia.  There he stayed at a place called Karmela or Karmena cultivating a garden which he used to water and plant with various vegetables.  From this garden he obtained what is necessary for life.  He had such an upright and simple mind that, when he met those who wished to arrest him and saw that they greeted him, he also greeted in return from the bottom of his soul and heart.  When they told him that governor Publius called the saint to go to him, the saint answered with simplicity: "What does the governor need me, since I am a Christian? Let him call those who think the way he does and have the same religion with him." So, the blessed man was tied and brought to the governor, who tried to move him to sacrifice to the idols.  But the saint sighed from the bottom of his heart, cursed the tyrant and confirmed his faith in Christ with his confession, saying that it is not possible to be moved from it even though he might be tortured cruelly.  So, for this reason they nailed his feet and made the saint run in front of the governor's coach.  But the saint fainted in the street.  Having fallen on his knees, he prayed and, thus, he commended his holy soul to the hands of God.]

Thu

  6

   4pm      Greek School
   7pm      Ladies Philoptochos Society Monthly Meeting

Today We Commemorate:
The 42 Martyrs of Amorion in Phrygia
The Finding of the Precious Cross by St. Helen,
and St Heschios the Wonderworker

Fri

  7

Sat

  8

The 2nd Saturday of Souls

   8am     Divine Liturgy     

After Church Services:
             The St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival (Junior & Senior Divisions)

Sun

  9

Forgiveness Sunday (Cheesefare Sunday)

   9am     Orthros
 10am     Divine Liturgy     
 10am       Sunday School

After Church Services:
                The St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival
                      -Elementary Division and Finalists
 

Mon

10

Lent Begins
Click here for an understanding of Orthodox Lent

  6:30pm  Adult Basketball
  7pm      Dance Practice ages 10-13

Tue

11

  4pm      Greek School

  5pm     Vespers at UMD

  7pm       Dance Practice ages 14-18
               Parish Council Meeting

Wed

12

  4pm      Greek School
  6pm      J.O.Y. Basketball
  7pm      Choir Rehearsal
               Adult Bible Study & Catechism

Thu

13

  4pm      Greek School

Fri

14

   7pm     The 1st Salutations of the Theotokos

The Feast Day of St Benedict the Righteous of Nursia

[This Saint, whose name means "blessed," was born in 480 in Nursia, a small town about seventy miles northeast of Rome.  He struggled in asceticism from his youth in deserted regions, where his example drew many who desired to emulate him.  Hence, he ascended Mount Cassino in Campania and built a monastery there.  The Rule that he gave his monks, which was inspired by the writings of Saint John Cassian, Saint Basil the Great, and other Fathers, became a pattern for monasticism in the West; because of this, he is often called the first teacher of monks in the West.  He reposed in 547.]

Sat

15

The 3rd Saturday of Souls

   8am     Divine Liturgy     

Sun

16

   The Sunday of Orthodoxy

   9am     Orthros
 10am     Divine Liturgy     
 10am       Sunday School

After Church Services:
                Pot Luck Luncheon
                Dance practice ages 5-9
                G.O.Y.A. Meeting

[The Reading is from John 1:43-51 - At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee.  And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Philip said to him, "Come and see."  Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"  Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"  Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the son of God! You are the King of Israel!"  Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these."  And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."]

The Feast Day of St Christodoulos the Wonderworker of Patmos

[Saint Christodulus, who was from the region of Nicaea of Bithynia, was the son of Theodore and Anna, and was given the name John.  He assumed the monastic habit in his youth and was renamed Christodulus (“slave of Christ" in Greek).  At first, he lived the ascetical life in various places, then he received permission and monetary aid from the Emperor Alexis I Comnenus (reigned 1081-1118), and built on the island of Patmos a church and monastery named in honour of Saint John the Evangelist.  These buildings stand to this day.  However, when the Arabs attacked that place, he fled with his disciples and went to Euboia (Euripus), where also he completed the course of his life about the end of the eleventh century on the 16th of March.  The disciples of this righteous man took his sacred incorrupt remains and transferred them to his own monastery, where they repose to this day for the sanctification of those who have recourse to them with faith.]

Mon

17

  3:30pm  Greek School
  6:30pm  Adult Basketball
  7pm      Greek Conversation Class
               Dance Practice ages 10-13

The Feast Day of St Patrick, the Enlightener of Ireland

[Saint Patrick, the Apostle of the Irish, was seized from his native Britain by Irish marauders when he was sixteen years old.  Though the son of a deacon and a grandson of a priest, it was not until his captivity that he sought out the Lord with his whole heart.  In his Confession, the testament he wrote towards the end of his life, he says, "After I came to Ireland - every day I had to tend sheep, and many times a day I prayed - the love of God and His fear came to me more and more, and my faith was strengthened.  And my spirit was so moved that in a single day I would say as many as a hundred prayers, and almost as many at night, and this even when I was staying in the woods and on the mountain; and I would rise for prayer before daylight, through snow, through frost, through rain, and I felt no harm." After six years of slavery in Ireland, he was guided by God to make his escape, and afterwards struggled in the monastic life at Auxerre in Gaul, under the guidance of the holy Bishop Germanus.  Many years later he was ordained bishop and sent to Ireland once again, about the year 432, to convert the Irish to Christ.  His arduous labours bore so much fruit that within seven years, three bishops were sent from Gaul to help him shepherd his flock, "my brethren and sons whom I have baptized in the Lord - so many thousands of people," he says in his Confession.  His apostolic work was not accomplished without much "weariness and painfulness," long journeys through difficult country, and many perils; he says his very life was in danger twelve times.  When he came to Ireland as its enlightener, it was a pagan country; when he ended his earthly life some thirty years later, about 461, the Faith of Christ was established in every corner.]

Tue

18

  4pm      Greek School

  5pm     Vespers at UMD

  7pm       Dance Practice ages 14-18

Wed

19

  8am    Presanctified Liturgy

  4pm      Greek School
  6pm      J.O.Y. Basketball
  7pm      Choir Rehearsal
              Adult Catechism & Bible Study

The Feast Day of Ss Chrusanthos & Daria the Martyrs

[Saint Chrysanthus, who was from Alexandria, had been instructed in the Faith of Christ by a certain bishop.  His father, who was a senator by rank and a pagan, had him shut up in prison for many days; then, seeing the unchanging disposition of his mind, he commanded that a certain young woman name Daria be brought from Athens.  She was a very beautiful and learned maiden, and also an idolater, and Chrysanthus' father wedded him to her so that he might be drawn away from the Faith of Christ because of his love for her.  Instead of this however, Chrysanthus drew Daria unto piety, and both of them boldly proclaimed Christ and received the crown of martyrdom in 283, during the reign of Numerian, when they were buried alive in a pit of mire.]

Thu

20

  4pm      Greek School

The Commemoration of the Righteous Fathers
Slain at the Monastery of St Savas

[The Righteous Martyrs were put to death by the barbarians during the reign of Emperor Heraclius, when Saint Modestus was Patriarch of Jerusalem (632-634).]

Fri

21

   7pm     The 2nd Salutations of the Theotokos

Sat

22

      St. John Chrysostum District Oratorical Festival
              at St Demetrios in Baltimore, Maryland

Sun

23

The Sunday of St Gregory Palamas

   9am     Orthros
 10am     Divine Liturgy     
 10am       Sunday School

After Church Services:
                Dance practice ages 5-9
                Greek School 25th of March Celebration

[This divine Father, who was from Asia Minor, was from childhood reared in the royal court of Constantinople, where he was instructed in both religious and secular wisdom.  Later, while still a youth, he left the imperial court and struggled in asceticism on Mount Athos, and in the Skete at Beroea.  He spent some time in Thessalonica being treated for an illness that came from his harsh manner of life.  He was present in Constantinople at the Council that was convened in 1341 against Barlaam of Calabria, and at the Council of 1347 against Acindynus, who was of like mind with Barlaam; Barlaam and Acindynus claimed that the grace of God is created.  At both these Councils, the Saint contended courageously for the true dogmas of the Church of Christ, teaching in particular that divine grace is not created, but is the uncreated energies of God which are poured forth throughout creation: otherwise it would be impossible, if grace were created, for man to have genuine communion with the uncreated God.  In 1347 he was appointed Metropolitan of Thessalonica.  He tended his flock in an apostolic manner for some twelve years, and wrote many books and treatises on the most exalted doctrines of our Faith; and having lived for a total of sixty-three years, he reposed in the Lord in 1359.
     His holy relics are kept in the Cathedral of Thessalonica.  A full service was composed for his feast day by the Patriarch Philotheus in 1368, when it was established that his feast be celebrated on this day.  Since works without right faith avail nothing, we set Orthodoxy of faith as the foundation of all that we accomplish during the Fast, by celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy the Sunday before, and the great defender of the teachings of the holy Fathers today.]

Mon

24

  3:30pm  Greek School
  6:30pm  Adult Basketball

  7pm      Great Vespers at Annunciation Cathedral in Baltimore, Maryland

  7pm      Greek Conversation Class
               Dance Practice ages 10-13

The Feast Day of St Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow

[The hymns of Saint Tikhon are transferred to this day because of the Annunciation of the Theotokos.
    Born in 1865 in the region of Pskov, our Father among the Saints Tikhon was tonsured a monk in 1891 and ordained to the priesthood in the same year.  In 1897 he was consecrated Bishop of Lublin, and a year later appointed Bishop of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, with his see extending to all of North America from 1900 onwards.  He did much to unite the Orthodox Christians of a great many ethnic backgrounds in North America, so that there was indeed one flock under one shepherd.  In 1907 he was made Archbishop of Yaroslavl and Rostov, and in 1913, Archbishop of Lithuania. 
    In 1917, when he was Metropolitan of Moscow, he was elected to be the first Patriarch of Russia in over 200 years, in times that could not have been more difficult.  After the Revolution of 1917, the persecution of the Russian Church by the atheist government grew more bold and more fierce with every year.  By nature a meek and peace-loving man, Tikhon sought to determine, while giving only to God that which is God's, what could be given to Caesar to preserve peace and avoid the shedding of blood.  When, however, it became evident that the atheists were intent on the complete destruction of the Church, the Patriarch gave his blessing to Michael Zhizhilenko, a physician of devout life and courageous spirit, secretly to become a monk and, if any of Tikhon's successors were to betray the Church into the hands of her enemies, to become a bishop; which, after Saint Tikhon's death on the feast of the Annunciation in 1925, he did.  Having received the monastic name of Maximus, he was made Bishop of Serpukhov, becoming the first catacomb bishop of the Russian Church after the infamous declaration of Metropolitan Sergius in 1927, which proclaimed the Church to be of one mind and heart with the atheist government.  Although the exact circumstances of Saint Tikhon's death are not clear, in the opinion of Bishop Maximus of Serpukhov, who himself died a martyr's death in 1930, he was "unquestionably poisoned." At his departure, Saint Tikhon made the sign of the Cross thrice, pronouncing the words, "Glory to Thee, O God!" Because of the many unspeakable sufferings he endures as Patriarch, he is honoured as a Confessor.]

Tue

25

The Annunciation of the Theotokos

  8am     Divine Liturgy

  5pm     Vespers at UMD

  7pm       Dance Practice ages 14-18

[Six months after John the Forerunner's conception, the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth, a town of Galilee, unto Mary the Virgin, who had come forth from the Temple a mature maiden (see Nov. 21).  According to the tradition handed down by the Fathers, she had been betrothed to Joseph four months.  On coming to Joseph's house, the Archangel declared: "Rejoice, thou Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." After some consideration, and turmoil of soul, and fear because of this greeting, the Virgin, when she had finally obtained full assurance concerning God's unsearchable condescension and the ineffable dispensation that was to take place through her, and believing that all things are possible to the Most High, answered in humility: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." And at this, the Holy Spirit came upon her, and the power of the Most high overshadowed her all-blameless womb, and the Son and Word of God, Who existed before the ages, was conceived past speech and understanding, and became flesh in her immaculate body (Luke 1:26-38). 
    Bearing in her womb the Uncontainable One, the blessed Virgin went with haste from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea, where Zacharias had his dwelling; for she desired to find Elizabeth her kinswoman and rejoice together with her, because, as she had learned from the Archangel, Elizabeth had conceived in her old age.  Furthermore, she wished to tell her of the great things that the Mighty One had been well-pleased to bring to pass in her, and she greeted Elizabeth and drew nigh to her.  When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, she felt her six-month-old babe, Saint John the Baptist, prophesied of the dawning of the spiritual Sun.  Immediately, the aged Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and recognized her as the Mother of her Lord, and with a great voice blessed her and the Fruit that she held within herself.  The Virgin also, moved by a supernatural rejoicing in the spirit, glorified her God and Savior, saying: "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour," and the rest, as the divine Luke hath recorded (1:39-55).]

GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

[The celebration of Greek Independence Day on March 25th draws inspiration from one of the holiest days for Greek Orthodox Christians, the Annunciation of the Theotokos.  This is the day that the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would bear a child.  Bishop Germanos of Patras seized the opportunity by raising the banner of revolution, in an act of defiance against the Turks and marked the beginning of the War of Independence. Cries of 'Zito H Ellas' and 'Eleftheria H Thanatos' can still be heard today.  These freedom fighters, or klephts as they were called, of Greece sacrificed much for their country.  Kolokotronis, Nikitara, Karaiskakis, Bouboulina, and Mpotsaris are some of the heroes of the revolution.
        The struggle for independence was supported abroad by intellectuals of the day. In addition to the Secret Society of Friends (Filiki Etaeria) and the Sacred Band (Ieros Lohos) prominent world figures including Lord Byron of England, Daniel Webster and Dr. Samuel Gridly Howe of the United States raised the interest level among Europeans and Americans.
       After centuries of unsuccessful uprisings and failure of the Ottoman Empire to assimilate and convert the Greeks, The War of Independence began in 1821 rising up against 400 years of occupation and oppression by the Ottoman Turks.  The origin of the Turkish occupancy began in 1453 with the fall of Constantinople (currently referred to as Istanbul).  All true and faithful Hellenes living in their occupied homeland reacted to the Turkish oppression and resisted the attempts to deprive the Greeks of their heritage, their freedom and their religion.  During the dark years of the Ottoman occupation, thousands were killed and tortured for attending church or teaching their children culture, history and language. It was the Greek Orthodox Church that helped to retain their very identity by the institution of Krypha Scholia (Hidden Schools).
      For eight years the fighting ensued, until 1829, when the Sultan Mahmud II, facing Soviet troops at the gates of Constantinople, accepted Greek independence with the Treaty of Andrianople. Copyright 2002 Middlesex Media Exchange - by Anthony G. Ziagos, Sr. - Publisher, The Merrimack Journal]

Wed

26

  8am    Presanctified Liturgy

  4pm      Greek School
  6pm      J.O.Y. Basketball
  7pm      Choir Rehearsal
              Adult Catechism & Bible Study

Today We Commemorate the Synaxis
in Honor of the Archangel Gabriel

[This festive Synaxis is celebrated to the glory of the Archangel Gabriel, since he ministered to the marvelous mystery of God's incarnate dispensation.]

Thu

27

  4pm      Greek School

Fri

28

   7pm     The 3rd Salutations of the Theotokos

Sat

29

Sun

30

The Sunday of the Holy Cross

   9am     Orthros
 10am     Divine Liturgy
 10am       Sunday School

After Church Services:
                Dance practice ages 5-9
   1pm      Departure for the Greek Independence Day Parade
                   in Baltimore (carpooling is suggested)

[The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1 - The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."]

The Feast Day of St John Climacus the Righteous
author of the Divine Ladder of Ascent

[This Saint gave himself over to the ascetical life from his early youth.  Experienced both in the solitary life of the hermit and in the communal life of cenobitic monasticism, he was appointed Abbot of the Monastery at Mount Sinai and wrote a book containing thirty homilies on virtue.  Each homily deals with one virtue, and progressing from those that deal with holy and righteous activity (praxis) unto those that deal with divine vision (theoria), they raise a man up as though by means of steps unto the height of Heaven.  For this cause his work is called "The Ladder of Divine Ascent".  The day he was made Abbot of Sinai, the Prophet Moses was seen giving commands to those who served at table.  Saint John reposed in 603, at eighty years of age.  See also the Fourth Sunday of the Fast.]

Mon

31

  3:30pm  Greek School
  6:30pm  Adult Basketball
  7pm      Greek Conversation Class
               Dance Practice ages 10-13