Tue

  1

  4pm      Greek School

  5pm    Vespers at UMD

  7pm       G.O.Y.A. Dance Practice ages 14-18
               Festival Meeting

The Feast Day of St Mary of Egypt

[When Mary was only twelve years old, she left her parents and departed to Alexandria, where she lived a depraved life for seventeen years.  Then, moved by curiosity, she went with many pilgrims to Jerusalem, that she might see the Exaltation of the venerable Cross.  Even in the Holy City, she gave herself over to every kind of licentiousness and drew many into the depth of perdition.  Desiring to go into the church on the day of the Exaltation of the Cross, repeatedly she perceived a certain invisible power preventing her entrance, whereas the multitude of people about her entered unhindered.  Therefore, wounded in heart by this, she decided to change her way of life and reconcile herself to God by means of repentance.  Invoking our Lady the Theotokos as her protectress, she asked her to open the way for her to worship the Cross, and vowed that she would renounce the world.  And thus, returning once again to the church, she entered easily.  When she had worshipped the precious Wood, she departed that same day from Jerusalem and passed over the Jordan.  She went into the inner wilderness and for forty-seven years lived a most harsh manner of life, surpassing human strength; alone, she prayed to God alone.  Toward the end of her life, she met a certain hermit named Zosimas, and she related to him her life from the beginning.  She requested of him to bring her the immaculate Mysteries that she might partake of them.  According to her request, he did this the following year on Holy and Great Thursday.  One year after this, Zosimas again went thither and found her dead, laid upon the ground, and letters written in the sand near her that said, "Abba Zosimas, bury here the body of wretched Mary.  I died on the very day I partook of the immaculate Mysteries.  Pray for me”.  Her death is reckoned by some to have taken Place in 378, by some, in 437, and by others, in 522.  She is commemorated also on the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent.  Her life was recorded by Saint Sophronius of Jerusalem.]

Wed

  2

  8am     Presanctified Liturgy

  4pm      Greek School

  6pm     Holy Unction

  6pm      J.O.Y. Basketball
  7pm      Choir Rehearsal
               Adult Bible Study

The Feast Day of St Titus the Wonderworker
and St Theodora the Virgin-Martyr of Palestine

Thu

  3

  4pm      Greek School
  7pm      Philoptochos Meeting

The Feast Day of St Nikitas the Confessor

[Saint Nikitas lived in the eighth century and became the Abbot of the Monastery of Medicium, which was near the city of Triglia on the Sea of Marmara.  For his Orthodox confession of the veneration of the holy icons, he was persecuted and exiled twice by the Iconoclast Emperor Leo the Armenian, but recalled by Michael the Stutterer, and reposed, adorned with the twofold crown of holiness and of confession of the Orthodox Faith, about the year 824. ]

and St Joseph the Hymnographer

[Saint Joseph was from Sicily, the son of Plotinus and Agatha.  Because Sicily had been subjugated by the Moslems, he departed thence and, passing from place to place, came with Saint Gregory of Decapolis (see NOV. 20) to Constantinople, where he endured bitter afflictions because of his pious zeal.  Traveling to Rome, he was captured by Arab pirates and taken to Crete, whence he later returned to Constantinople.  He became an excellent hymnographer and reposed in holiness shortly after 886 (according to some, it was in 883).  The melismatic canons of the Menaion are primarily the work of this Joseph; they bear his name in the acrostic of the Ninth Ode.  He also composed most of the sacred book known as the Paracletike, which complements the Octoechos.  For this reason, Joseph is called par excellence the Hymnographer.]

Fri

  4

  7pm    The 4th Salutations of the Theotokos

The Feast Day of St George the Righteous of Maleon

[This Saint took up the monastic life from his youth, and went to Mount Maleon, where a community of monks gathered about him.  He foretold his death from three years before, and reposed in an odor of sanctity.]

Sat

  5

              G.O.Y.A. Trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Arts in New York City

Sun

  6

Sunday of St John Climacus

   9am Orthros
 10am Divine Liturgy
            Sunday School

After Church:
           Sunday School PTA Meeting
           G.O.Y.A. Meeting
           HARA Dance Practice

[The memory of this Saint is celebrated on March 30, where his biography may be found.  He is celebrated today because his book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is a sure guide to the ascetic life, written by a great man of prayer experienced in all forms of the monastic polity; it teaches the seeker after salvation how to lay a sound foundation for his struggles, how to detect and war against each of the passions, how to avoid the snares laid by the demons, and how to rise from the rudimental virtues to the heights of Godlike love and humility.  It is held in such high esteem that it is universally read in its entirety in monasteries during the Great Fast.]

We also commemorate St Eutychios
Patriarch of Constantinople

[Born in Theia Kome of Phrygia, Eutychios was the son of illustrious parents, from whom he received a pious upbringing.  He studied in Constantinople, and became a monk in a certain monastery of Amelia.  In 552, he was chosen Patriarch of New Rome, but was exiled in 565 as a result of the machinations of the Origenists.  In 577, he was restored to his throne and reposed on April 6, 582.]

and St Methodios, Equal-to-the-Apostles
and Enlightener of the Slavs
 

Mon

  7

  3:30pm  Greek School
  6:30pm  Adult Basketball
  7pm      Greek Conversation Class
               Jr. Aegean Odyssey Dance Practice

The Feast Day of Ss Kalliopios the Martyr,
Roufinos the Deacon, and Akylina the Martyr in Sinope

[The holy Martyr Kalliopios was from Perga in Pamphylia, brought up in piety by his godly mother Theocleia.  When the persecution of Maximian broke out, Saint Kalliopios presented himself of his own accord before the Governor Maximos in Pompeiopolis of Galatia.  After he had suffered many torments, his mother visited him in prison and encouraged him in his martyrdom.  After this, his thrice-blessed mother, upon learning that he was to be crucified on Holy and Great Thursday, bribed the tyrants to defer it one day, that he might imitate the Lord's Crucifixion on the same day that He suffered it.  The holy Martyr Kalliopios received the crown of martyrdom on Holy and Great Friday in the year 304, being crucified upside down.]

 and St George, Bishop of Lesvos

[The righteous George struggled in behalf of the holy icons, and reposed in peace about the year 821.]

Tue

  8

  4pm      Greek School

  5pm    Vespers at UMD

  7pm       G.O.Y.A. Dance Practice ages 14-18
               Parish Council Meeting

The Feast Day of Ss Agavos, Rouphos, Asynkritos, Phlegon,
Herodion, & Hermes of the 70 Apostles

[The Apostle Herodion, whom Saint Paul mentions in his Epistle to the Romans (16:11) and calls his "kinsman”, was ordained presbyter and then Bishop of New Patras, where he was slain by Jews and pagans.  Saint Agavos is mentioned in Acts 21:10-11, where he prophesied Saint Paul's arrest in Jerusalem at the hands of the Jewish leaders.  In Acts 11:27-28 it is mentioned also that this Saint foretold the great famine that would come to pass in the time of Claudius Caesar.  Having preached the Gospel throughout various regions, he departed to the Lord.  The Apostle Rouphos became Bishop of Thebes in Greece.  The Apostles Asynkritos and Phlegon preached Christ in many places, suffered many afflictions at the hands of the pagans and Jews, and departed unto the Lord.  The Apostle Hermes is mentioned with them in the Epistle to the Romans (16:13-14).]

Wed

  9

  8am     Presanctified Liturgy

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

Thu

10

Today, we remember the third-year anniversary
of the falling asleep of our beloved Archbishop Iakovos
Please view a Special Memorial Page.

  4pm    Greek School
  7pm    Baking Galatoboureko

We also commemorate Ss Rapheal the Martyr,
Nicholas the Deacon, and Irene

[On the island of Mytilene (Lesbos in ancient times), near the village of Therme, the villagers had a custom of ascending a certain hill on this day to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the ruins of a small chapel, although no one knew whence the tradition sprang.  In the year 1959, certain villagers began seeing persons who spoke to them, first in dreams, then awake, both by day and by night.  Through these wondrous appearances, which were given to many people independently, the holy Martyrs Raphael, Archimandrite of the ancient monastery, and Nicholas, his deacon, together with other Saints who had been martyred on the island, told the villagers the whole account of their martyrdom, which had taken place at the hands of the Moslem Turks ten years after the fall of Constantinople, in 1463.  The twelve-year-old Irene had been tortured, and then burned alive in a large earthenware jar in the presence of her parents.  On Tuesday of Renewal Week, Saint Raphael had been tied to a tree and his head sawn off through his jaws; Saint Nicholas had died at the sight of this.  Although the feast is celebrated today because it is the day of their martyrdom, through the appearances of the Saints as living persons five hundred years after their martyrdom, it is also a singular testimony to the Resurrection of Christ.]

Fri

11

   7pm     The Akathist Hymn

Sat

12

The Lora Marie Pappas Memorial Retreat

Sun

13

Godchild & Godparent Sunday
Sunday of St Mary of Egypt

   9am Orthros
 10am Divine Liturgy
            Sunday School

After Church:
           Sunday School Teachers Meeting
           Greek School Bake Sale
           HARA Group Dance Practice

[The memory of this Saint is celebrated on April 1, where her life is recorded.  Since the end of the holy Forty Days is drawing nigh, it has been appointed for this day also, so that if we think it hard to practice a little abstinence forty days, we might be roused by the heroism of her who fasted in the wilderness forty-seven years; and also that the great loving-kindness of God, and His readiness to receive the repentant, might be demonstrated in very deed.]

The Feast Day of St Martin the Confessor,
Pope of Rome

[Saint Martin was born in Tuscany.  He had been the papal delegate at Constantinople; upon the death of Pope Theodore, Saint Martin was elected his successor.  At this time the Emperor Constans II, also known as Constantine Pogonatos (reigned 641-668), was seeking support of his confession of faith called the Typos, which espoused the Monothelite heresy, that is, that there is only one will and energy in the Incarnate Son of God.  But the newly-consecrated Pope not only did not accept the Typos, but convened the Lateran Council of 649 (attended by 105 of his bishops, and Saint Maximos the Confessor, who was then in Rome), which anathematized the Typos and the Monothelite heresy.  Because of this Saint Martin was seized by an imperial force in 653 and brought to Constantinople, where he was charged with sending money to the Saracens and conspiring with them, and blaspheming against the most holy Mother of God.  Though innocent of these accusations, he was exiled to Cherson on the Black Sea, where, after many sufferings and privations, he received the crown of his courageous confession in the year 655.]

Mon

14

  3:30pm  Greek School
  6:30pm  Adult Basketball
  7pm      Greek Conversation Class
               Jr. Aegean Odyssey Dance Practice

Tue

15

  4pm      Greek School

  5pm    Vespers at UMD

  7pm       G.O.Y.A. Dance Practice ages 14-18

Wed

16

  4pm      Greek School

  6pm     Presanctified Liturgy

  6pm      G.O.Y.A. Lenten Retreat
  7pm      Choir Rehearsal

Thu

17

  4pm    Greek School
  6pm    Baking Galatoboureko
  7pm    General Assembly Meeting

The Feast Day of St Symeon the Holy Martyr and
Bishop of Perisa

[This Martyr was Bishop of the royal cities Seleucia and Ctesiphon in Persia.  As the number of Christians increased in Persia, building churches and appointing clergy, the Magi, guardians of the Persian religion, and the Jews, who also envied them, accused Symeon to Sapor II, King of Persia, saying that Symeon was a friend of the Roman Emperor and his spy.  Then began Sapor's persecution of the Christians of Persia, about the year 343.  The Magi together with the Jews destroyed the churches.  Saint Symeon was brought before Sapor, and, refusing to worship the sun, was imprisoned.  On Holy and Great Friday of that year, Saint Symeon was brought out of prison with a hundred others, bishops, priests, and deacons.  As each was taken to be slain, Saint Symeon exhorted him to be of good courage; he was slain last of all.  It is said that 1,150 Martyrs were slain; an innumerable multitude of Christians were slain throughout Persia during this persecution, among them Saints Acepsimas, Joseph, and Aethalas (see Nov. 3).]

Fri

18

     Deadline for Archdiocese Scholarship Applications

The Feast Day of The Holy Father John the Righteous,
Disciple of St Gregory of Decapolis

[This Saint took up the monastic life from his youth and became a disciple of Saint Gregory of Decapolis (see Nov. 20).  After his elder, Saint Gregory, reposed (in the first half of the ninth century), he came to Jerusalem and finally reposed in peace in the Monastery of Saint Chariton.]

Sat

19

The Saturday of Lazarus

  9am    Divine Liturgy

After Church Services:
               Communion Breakfast
               The making of the Palm Crosses (all are encouraged to assist)

[Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary, the friends of the Lord Jesus, had given Him hospitality and served Him many times (Luke 10:38-4z; John 12:2-3).  They were from Bethany, a village of Judea.  This village is situated in the eastern parts by the foothills of the Mount of Olives, about two Roman miles from Jerusalem.  When Lazarus - whose name is a Hellenized form of "Eleazar," which means "God has helped," became ill some days before the saving Passion, his sisters had this report taken to our Saviour, Who was then in Galilee.  Nonetheless, He tarried yet two more days until Lazarus died; then He said to His disciples, "Let us go into Judea that I might awake My friend who sleepeth".  By this, of course, He meant the deep sleep of death.  On arriving at Bethany, He consoled the sisters of Lazarus, who was already four days dead.  Jesus groaned in spirit and was troubled at the death of His beloved friend.  He asked, "Where have ye laid his body?" and He wept over him.  When He drew nigh to the tomb, He commanded that they remove the stone, and He lifted up His eyes, and giving thanks to God the Father, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." And he that had been dead four days came forth immediately, bound hand and foot with the grave clothes, and Jesus said to those standing there, "Loose him, and let him go." This is the supernatural wonder wrought by the Saviour that we celebrate on this day.
    According to an ancient tradition, it is said that Lazarus was thirty years old when the Lord raised him; then he lived another thirty years on Cyprus and there reposed in the Lord.  It is furthermore related that after he was raised from the dead, he never laughed till the end of his life, but that once only, when he saw someone stealing a clay vessel, he smiled and said, "Clay stealing clay." His grave is situated in the city of Kition, having the inscription: "Lazarus the four days dead and friend of Christ." In 890 his sacred relics were transferred to Constantinople by Emperor Leo the Wise, at which time undoubtedly the Emperor composed his stichera for Vespers, "Wishing to behold the tomb of Lazarus . . .".]

Sun

20

PALM SUNDAY
Click here for "A Journey Through Pascha"

   7:30am     Orthros
   8:30am     Divine Liturgy

   9am           Orthos
 10 am          Divine Liturgy

After Church Services:
                      Greek School Bake Sale

   7pm         The Nymphios Service

[On Sunday, five days before the Passover of the Law, the Lord came from Bethany to Jerusalem.  Sending two of His disciples to bring Him a foal of an ass, He sat thereon and entered into the city.  When the multitude there heard that Jesus was coming, they straightway took up the branches of palm trees in their hands, and went forth to meet Him.  Others spread their garments on the ground, and yet others cut branches from the trees and strewed them in the way that Jesus was to pass; and all of them together, especially the children, went before and after Him, crying out: "Hosanna: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel" (John 12:13).  This is the radiant and glorious festival of our Lord's entry into Jerusalem that we celebrate today.
      The branches of the palm trees symbolize Christ's victory over the devil and death.  The word Hosanna means, "Save, I pray," or "Save, now”.  The foal of an ass, and Jesus' sitting thereon, and the fact that this animal was untamed and considered unclean according to the Law, signified the former uncleanness and wildness of the nations, and their subjection thereafter to the holy Law of the Gospel.]

Mon

21

HOLY MONDAY
Click here for "A Journey Through Pascha"

   7pm     The Nymphios Service

[The holy Passion of our Savior begins today, presenting Joseph the all-comely as a prefiguring of Christ. He was the eleventh son of Jacob, and his first son by Rachel, because he was so beloved of his father, his own brethren came to envy him and cast him into a pit.  Later they sold him to foreigners for thirty pieces of silver, who later sold him again in Egypt.  Because of his virtue, his master gave him much authority in governing his house; because he was fair of countenance, his master's wife sought to draw him into sin with her; because of his chastity, he refused her, and through her slanders was cast into prison.  Finally, he was led forth again with great glory and was honored as a king.  He became lord over all Egypt and a provider of wheat for all the people.  Through all this, he typifies in himself the betrayal, Passion, death, and glorification of our Lord Jesus Christ (see Gen., chapters 37, 39 41).
     To the commemoration of Patriarch Joseph is added also the narration concerning the fig tree, which on this day was cursed and subsequently dried up because of its unfruitfulness.  It portrayed the Jewish synagogue, which had not produced the fruit demanded of it, that is, obedience to God and faith in Him and which was stripped of all spiritual grace by means of the curse (Matt. 21:18-20).]

Tue

22

HOLY TUESDAY
Click here for "A Journey Through Pascha"

   7pm     The Nymphios Service

[Today we bring to mind the parable of the ten virgins, which our Savior related as He was coming to His Passion.  This parable teaches us that the accomplishment of the great work of virginity should not make us careless in other matters, especially in almsgiving, wherewith the lamp of virginity is made radiant.  Furthermore, it teaches us that we should not be remiss about the end of our life, but should be prepared for it at every moment, like the wise virgins, so that we may meet the Bridegroom, lest He come suddenly and the doors of the heavenly bride chamber be shut, and we also, like the foolish virgins, hear that dread sentence: "Amen, I say unto you, I know you not" (Matt. 25:1-13).]

Wed

23

HOLY WEDNESDAY
Click here for "A Journey Through Pascha"

   8am      Presanctified Liturgy

   3:30pm 1st Holy Unction

   7pm      2nd Holy Unction

[Two women - say the more discerning interpreters of the Gospel - anointed the Lord with myrrh; the one, a long time before His Passion; the other, a few days before.  One was a harlot and sinner, the other chaste and virtuous.  The Church commemorates this reverent act today.  While mentioning herein the person of the harlot, it also mentions Judas' betrayal, for, according to the account in Matthew, both of these deeds took place two days before the Passover, on Wednesday.
      That woman, then, anointed Jesus' head and feet with very precious myrrh, and wiped them with the tresses of her hair.  The disciples, especially the avaricious Judas, were scandalized, supposedly because of the waste of the myrrh, which could be sold for a great price and given to the poor.  The Lord Jesus reproved them and told them not to trouble the woman.  Indignant, Judas went to the high priests, who were gathered in the court of Caiaphas and were already taking counsel against Jesus.  On agreeing with them to betray his Teacher for thirty pieces of silver, Judas sought from that time opportunity to betray Him (Matt. 26:14-16).  Because the betrayal took place on Wednesday, we have received the tradition from Apostolic times to fast on Wednesday throughout the year.]

Thu

24

HOLY THURSDAY
Click here for "A Journey Through Pascha"

   7am     Divine Liturgy (The Last Supper)

   7pm     Evening Service (The Twelve Gospels)

[On the evening of this day, which was the eve of the feast of unleavened bread (that is, the Passover), our Redeemer supped with His twelve disciples in the city.  He blessed the bread and the wine, and gave us the Mystery of the Divine EuchariSt. He washed the feet of the disciples as an example of humility.  He said openly that one of them was about to betray Him, and He pointed out the betrayer by revealing that it was he "that dippeth his hand with Me in the dish".  And after Judas had straightway gone forth, Jesus gave the disciples His final and sublime instructions, which are contained in the first Gospel Reading of the Holy Passion (John 13:31-18:1 known as the Gospel of the Testament).  After this the God-man went forth to the Mount of Olives, and there He began to be sorrowful and in anguish.  He went off alone, and bending the knees, He prayed fervently.  From His great anguish, His sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground.  As soon as He had completed that anguished prayer, lo, Judas came with a multitude of soldiers and a great crowd; on greeting the Teacher guile fully with a kiss, he betrayed Him.
      The Lord Jesus was then apprehended and taken prisoner to the high priests Annas and Caiaphas.  The disciples were scattered, but Peter, who was more fervent than the others were, followed Him even into the court of the high priest, but in the end denied thrice that he was His disciple.
     Then our divine Teacher was brought before the lawless Sanhedrin and was interrogated concerning His disciples and His teaching.  The high priest adjured Him before God that He tells them whether He was truly the ChriSt. And having spoken the truth, He was judged guilty of death, supposedly as one who had blasphemed.  Then they spat in His face, beat Him, smote Him with the palms of their hands, and mocked Him in every way, throughout the whole night until the morning.]

The Feast Day of St Elizabeth the Wonderworker

[Saint Elizabeth was born in Heraclea of Thrace.  She lived in virginity and exhausted herself with ascetical labors and every kind of hardship from the time of her youth, and was deemed worthy of the grace of wonderworking from God; she reposed in peace in Constantinople in the middle of the fifth century.]

Fri

25

HOLY FRIDAY
Click here for "A Journey Through Pascha"

   9am        Royal Hours (during the Royal Hours, we invite the ladies
                                    of the community to assist in decorating the
                                    Epitaphios, please contact the Parish Office.)

   3:30pm  Apocathelosis (Christ removed from the Cross)

   7pm       The Epitaphios Service (Lamentations)

[When Friday dawned, Christ was sent bound from Caiaphas to Pontius Pilate, who was then Governor of Judea.  Pilate interrogated Him in many ways, and once and again acknowledged that He was innocent, but to please the Jews, he later passed the sentence of death against Him.  After scourging the Lord of all as though He were a runaway slave, he surrendered Him to be crucified.
      Thus the Lord Jesus was handed over to the soldiers, was stripped of His garments, was clothed in a purple robe, was crowned with a wreath of thorns, had a reed placed in His hand as though it were a scepter, was bowed before in mockery, was spat upon, and was buffeted in the face and on the head.  Then they again clothed Him in His own garments and bearing the cross, He came to Golgotha, a place of condemnation, and there, about the third hour, He was crucified between two thieves.  Although both blasphemed Him at the first, the thief at His right hand repented, and said: "Remember me, O Lord, when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom," to which our Savior answered "Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise".  As He hung upon the Cross, He was blasphemed by those who were passing by, was mocked by the high priests, and by the soldiers was given vinegar to drink mixed with gall.  About the ninth hour, He cried out with a loud voice, saying, "It is finished".  And the Lamb of God "Which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29) expired on the day when the moon was full, and at the hour when, according to the Law, was slain the Passover lamb, which was established as a type of Him in the time of Moses.
     Even lifeless creation mourned the death of the Master, and it trembled and was altered out of fear.  Yet, even though the Maker of creation was already dead, they pierced Him in His immaculate side, and forthwith came there out Blood and Water.  Finally, at about the setting of the sun, Joseph of Arimathea came with Nicodemus (both of them had been secret disciples of Jesus), and they took down the all-holy Body of the Teacher from the Cross and anointed it with aromatic spices, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth.  When they had buried Him in a new tomb, they rolled a great stone over its entrance.
     Such are the dread and saving sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ commemorated today, and in remembrance of them, we have received the Apostolic commandment that a fast be observed every Friday.]

Sat

26

HOLY SATURDAY
Click here for "A Journey Through Pascha"

   9am        Divine Liturgy

 11:30pm  Midnight Resurrection Service and Divine Liturgy

[On Saturday, the high priests and Pharisees gathered together before Pilate and asked him to have Jesus' tomb sealed until the third day; because, as those enemies of God said, "We suspect that His disciples will come and steal His buried body by night, and then proclaim to the people that His resurrection is true, as that deceiver Himself foretold while He was yet alive; and then the last deception shall be worse than the first".  After they had said these things to Pilate and received his permission, they went and sealed the tomb, and assigned a watch for security, that is, guards from among the soldiers under the supervision of the high priests (Matt. 27:62-66).  While commemorating the entombment of the holy Body of our Lord today, we also celebrate His dread descent with His soul, whereby He destroyed the gates and bars of Hades, and made His light to shine where only darkness had reigned (Job 3 8 : 17; Esaias 49:9; 1 Peter 3:18-20); death was put to death, Hades was stripped of all its captives, our first parents and all the righteous who died from the beginning of time ran to Him Whom they had awaited, and the holy angelic orders glorified God for the restoration of our fallen race.]
GOSPEL READING -The Reading is from John 1:1-17
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
     There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him.  He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.
     The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.  He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not.  He came to his own home, and his own people received him not.  But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
      And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.  (John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me'".)  And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace.  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Ἐκ τοῦ κατὰ Ἰωάννην.  ᾽Εν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος.  Οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν θεόν.  Πάντα δι᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν, ὃ γέγονενἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων·καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν.  ᾽Εγένετο ἄνθρωπος ἀπεσταλμένος παρὰ Θεοῦ, ὄνομα αὐτῷ ᾽Ιωάννης·οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς μαρτυρίαν, ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός, ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσιν δι᾽ αὐτοῦ.  Οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς, ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός.  Ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον.  Ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἦν, καὶ ὁ κόσμος δι᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ ὁ κόσμος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἔγνω.  Εἰς τὰ ἴδια ἦλθεν, καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι αὐτὸν οὐ παρέλαβον.  Ὄσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν, ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα Θεοῦ γενέσθαι, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ,οἷα οὐκ ἐξ αἱμάτων οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος σαρκὸς οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος ἀνδρὸς ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ Θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν.  Καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐθεασάμεθα τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, δόξαν ὡς μονογενοῦς παρὰ πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας. ᾽Ιωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ κέκραγεν λέγων, Οὗτος ἦν ὃν εἶπον, ῾Ο ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν.  Ὄτι ἐκ τοῦ πληρώματος αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς πάντες ἐλάβομεν, καὶ χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος·ὅτι ὁ νόμος διὰ Μωϋσέως ἐδόθη, ἡ χάρις καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια διὰ ᾽Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐγένετο.

Sun

27

EASTER SUNDAY [PASCHA]

CHRIST HAS RISEN -- INDEED HE HAS RISEN!

Click here for "A Journey Through Pascha"

 10am     Agape Service

                Easter Egg Hunt immediately after the service

[Mary Magdalene, and the other women who were present at the burial of our Savior on Friday evening, returned from Golgotha to the city and prepared fragrant spices and myrrh, so that they might anoint the body of Jesus.  On the morrow, because of the law that forbids work on the day of the Sabbath, they rested for the whole day.  But at early dawn on the Sunday that followed, almost thirty-six hours since the death of the Life-giving Redeemer, they came to the sepulchre with the spices to anoint His body.  While they were considering the difficulty of rolling away the stone from the door of the sepulchre, there was a fearful earthquake; and an Angel, whose countenance shone like lightning and whose garment was white as snow, rolled away the stone and sat upon it.  The guards that were there became as dead from fear and took to flight.  The women, however, went into the sepulchre, but did not find the Lord's body.  Instead, they saw two other Angels in the form of youths clothed in white, who told them that the Savior was risen, and they sent forth the women, who ran to proclaim to the disciples these gladsome tidings.  Then Peter and John arrived, having learned from Mary Magdalene what had come to pass, and when they entered the tomb, they found only the winding sheets.  Therefore, they returned again to the city with joy, as heralds now of the supernatural Resurrection of Christ, Who in truth was seen alive by the disciples on this day on five occasions.
     Our Lord, then, was crucified, died, and was buried on Friday, before the setting of the sun, which was the first of His "three days" in the grave; observing the mystical Sabbath, that "seventh day" in which it is said that the Lord "rested from all His works" (Gen. 2:2-3), He passed all of Saturday in the grave; and He arose "while it was yet dark, very early in the morning" on Sunday, the third day, which, according to the Hebrew reckoning, began after sunset on Saturday.
      As we celebrate today this joyous Resurrection, we greet and embrace one another in Christ, thereby demonstrating our Savior’s victory over death and corruption, and the destruction of our ancient enmity with God, and His reconciliation toward us, and our inheritance of life everlasting.  The feast itself is called Pascha, which is derived from the Hebrew word which means "passover"; because Christ, Who suffered and arose, has made us to pass over from the curse of Adam and slavery to the devil and death unto our primal freedom and blessedness.  In addition, this day of this particular week, which is the first of all the rest, is dedicated to the honor of the Lord; in honor and remembrance of the Resurrection, the Apostles transferred to this day the rest from labor that was formerly assigned to the Sabbath of the ancient Law.]

Mon

28

 FAST FREE

Bright (Renewal) Monday

  8am     Divine Liturgy

The Feast Day of St George the Great Martyr & Triumphant

[George, this truly great and glorious Martyr of Christ, was born of a father from Cappadocia and a mother from Palestine.  Being a military tribune, or chiliarch (that is, a commander of a thousand troops), he was illustrious in battle and highly honored for his courage.  When he learned that the Emperor Diocletian was preparing a persecution of the Christians, Saint George presented himself publicly before the Emperor and denounced him.  When threats and promises could not move him from his steadfast confession, he was put to unheard-of tortures, which he endured with great bravery, overcoming them by his faith and love towards Christ. By the wondrous signs that took place in his contest, he guided many to the knowledge of the truth, including Queen Alexandra, wife of Diocletian, and was finally beheaded in 296 in Nicomedia.
     His sacred remains were taken by his servant from Nicomedia to Palestine, to a town called Lydda, the homeland of his mother, and then were finally transferred to the church, which was raised up in his name.  (The translation of the Saint's holy relics to the church in Lydda is commemorated on November 3; Saint Alexandra the Queen, on April 21.)]

Tue

29

 FAST FREE

Renewal Tuesday

   8:30am    Baking of Kourambethes
   4pm        Greek School

  5pm       Vespers at UMD

  7pm          G.O.Y.A. Dance Practice ages 14-18

The Feast Day of the Apostle and Evangelist Mark

[Mark was an idolater from Cyrene of Pentapolis, which is near Libya.  Having come to the Faith of Christ through the Apostle Peter, he followed him to Rome.  While there, at the prompting of Peter himself and at the request of the Christians living there, he wrote his Gospel in Greek, and it is second in order after Matthew's.  Afterwards, travelling to Egypt, he preached the Gospel there and was the first to establish the Church in Alexandria.  The idolaters, unable to bear his preaching, seized him, bound him with ropes, and dragged him through the streets until he, cut to pieces on rocks, gave up his soul.  It is said that he completed his life in martyrdom about the year 68.  He is depicted in holy icons with a lion next to him, one of the living creatures mentioned by Ezekiel (1:10), and a symbol of Christ's royal office, as Saint Irenaeus of Lyons writes.]

and St Jason & Sosipater of the 70

[Both of these Saints were disciples of the Apostle Paul, who mentions them in his Epistle to the Romans, saying: "Jason and Sosipater my kinsmen greet you" (16:21). Jason was from Tarsus of Cilicia, and became bishop there. Sosipater was from Patras of Achaia, and became Bishop of Iconium.  When they had shepherded their churches well for a long time, they departed west that they might profit others also, and arrived finally at the island of Corfu, where they were the first to preach the Gospel to its people.  They suffered many thing for Christ's Name, drew many souls to salvation, and finished the course of their life there. In the ancient city of Corfu, a church from the first centuries, built in their honor and bearing inscriptions that mention the Saints by name, verifies the historical account concerning them.]

Wed

30

FAST FREE

Renewal Wednesday

  8am     Divine Liturgy

  4pm      Greek School

The Feast Day of St. James the Apostle,
Brother of St John the Theologian

[James was one of the Twelve, like his brother John (celebrated on Sept. 26), whom the Lord called "Sons of Thunder”, because they became great preachers and because of their profound theology.  It was the Saint's boldness in preaching the Gospel that Herod Agrippa, the son of Aristobulus and grandson of Herod the Great, could not endure, and so he took him into custody during the days of the Passover, and slew him with the sword (Acts 12: 1-2); and thus he drank the cup of which the Savior had spoken to him prophetically (Matt. 20:23).  As for Herod, the following year he went down to Caesarea, and, as the Acts of the Apostles records: "Upon a set day, Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration" to the elders of Tire and Sidon; and the flatterers that surrounded him "gave a shout, saying, 'it is the voice of a god, and not of a man.’  And immediately an Angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory; and like his grandfather, (see Dec. 29) "he was eaten of worms and gave up the spirit" (Acts 12:21-23)]