SUNDAY BULLETIN October 26, 2014 th 6 Sunday of Luke Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral ~ Proto Cathedral of the Metropolis of Denver ~ 3511 Yoakum Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77006-4388 Voice 713-526-5377- Facsimile 713-526-1048 Website: agoc.org Rev. Economos Michael J. Lambakis, Dean Rev. Fr. Demetrios Tagaropulos, Associate Priest Sunday Service Schedule Orthros 7:45 AM / Divine Liturgies 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM Sunday Church School 10:45 – 11:45 AM 6th Sunday of Luke Saints of the Day: Commemoration of the Great Earthquake in Constantinople The Holy Great Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-streamer HYMNS OF THE DAY Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode 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. Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Apolytikion for Commemoration of the Great Earthquake in Constantinople in the Plagal Fourth Mode O Thou Who lookest on the earth and makest it tremble, deliver us from the fearful menace of earthquake, O Christ our God, and by the intercessions of the Theotokos, send down upon us Thy mercies in abundance and save us. Ο επιβλέπον επί τήν γήν, καί πειών αυτήν τρέμειν, ρύσαι ημάς, τήςφοβεράς τού σεισμού απειλής, Χριστέ ό Θεός ημών, καί κατάπεμψον ημίν, πλούσια τά ελέη σου, πρεσβείαις τής Θεοτόκου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε. Apolytikion for The Holy Great Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-streamer in the Third Mode A Great champion hath the whole world found thee to be when in grave perils; for thou dost put to flight the heathen, O victorious one. As thou didst humble Lyaeus's arrogance and gaveth boldness to Nestor in the stadium, thus, O holy Great Martyr Demetrius, do thou entreat Christ God that we be granted great mercy. Μέγαν εύρατο εv τοίς κιvδύvοις, σέ υπέρμαχοv η οικουμένη, Αθλοφόρε τά έθνη τροπούμενον. Ως ούν Λυαίου καθείλες τήν έπαρσιν, εν τώ σταδίω θαρρύvας τόν Νέστορα, ούτως Άγιε, Μεγαλομάρτυς Δημήτριε, Χριστόν τόν Θεόν ικέτευε, δωρήσασθαι ημίν τό μέγα έλεος. Apolytikion of the Church On this day when our salvation is crowned for eternity and the revelation of the mystery of the ages O the Son of God becomes on this day the Virgin’s Son with Gabriel proclaiming the tidings of God’s Grace, and we also join in the cry unto the Theotokos singing Hail to You who are filled with Grace the Lord is with You. Σήμερον τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν τὸ Κεφάλαιον, καὶ τοῦ ἀπ' αἰῶνος Μυστηρίου ἡ φανέρωσις, ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, Υἱὸς τῆς Παρθένου γίνεται, καὶ Γαβριὴλ τὴν χάριν εὐαγγελίζεται, Διὸ σὺν αὐτῷ τὴ Θεοτόκω βοήσωμεν, Χαῖρε Κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ Κύριος μετὰ σοῦ. 2 Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee. Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε. Μὴ παρίδῃς ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι· Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε. ATTENTION VISITORS AND NEWCOMERS Are you a visitor or newcomer to our Parish? Please come to our Fellowship Coffee immediately following the Divine Liturgy. Visit the Welcoming Committee table to meet fellow parishioners and find out more about our community. EPISTLE: St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 2:1-10 Timothy, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hardworking farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as preached in my gospel, the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory. Πρὸς Τιμόθεον β' 2:1-10 Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, ἐνδυναμοῦ ἐν τῇ χάριτι τῇ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Καὶ ἃ ἤκουσας παρʼ ἐμοῦ διὰ πολλῶν μαρτύρων, ταῦτα παράθου πιστοῖς ἀνθρώποις, οἵτινες ἱκανοὶ ἔσονται καὶ ἑτέρους διδάξαι. Σὺ οὖν κακοπάθησον ὡς καλὸς στρατιώτης Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Οὐδεὶς στρατευόμενος ἐμπλέκεται ταῖς τοῦ βίου πραγματείαις, ἵνα τῷ στρατολογήσαντι ἀρέσῃ. Ἐὰν δὲ καὶ ἀθλῇ τις, οὐ στεφανοῦται ἐὰν μὴ νομίμως ἀθλήσῃ. Τὸν κοπιῶντα γεωργὸν δεῖ πρῶτον τῶν καρπῶν μεταλαμβάνειν. Νόει ἃ λέγω· δῴη γάρ σοι ὁ κύριος σύνεσιν ἐν πᾶσιν. Μνημόνευε Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ἐγηγερμένον ἐκ νεκρῶν, ἐκ 3 σπέρματος Δαυίδ, κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιόν μου· ἐν ᾧ κακοπαθῶ μέχρι δεσμῶν, ὡς κακοῦργος· ἀλλʼ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ οὐ δέδεται. Διὰ τοῦτο πάντα ὑπομένω διὰ τοὺς ἐκλεκτούς, ἵνα καὶ αὐτοὶ σωτηρίας τύχωσιν τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, μετὰ δόξης αἰωνίου. GOSPEL: The Gospel of Luke 8:26-39 At that time, as Jesus arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, there met him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me." For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them leave. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. When the herdsmen saw what happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but he sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 8.26-39 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐλθόντι τῷ Ἰησοῦ εἰς τὴν χώραν τῶν Γαδαρηνῶν, ἥτις ἐστὶν ἀντίπερα τῆς Γαλιλαίας.ἐξελθόντι δὲ αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ὑπήντησεν αὐτῷ ἀνήρ τις ἐκ τῆς πόλεως, ὃς εἶχε δαιμόνια ἐκ χρόνων ἱκανῶν, καὶ ἱμάτιον οὐκ ἐνεδιδύσκετο καὶ ἐν οἰκίᾳ οὐκ ἔμενεν, ἀλλ᾿ ἐν τοῖς μνήμασιν.ἰδὼν δὲ τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν καὶ ἀνακράξας προσέπεσεν αὐτῷ καὶ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ εἶπε· τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί, ᾿Ιησοῦ, υἱὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου; δέομαί σου, μή με βασανίσῃς.παρήγγειλε γὰρ τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἀκαθάρτῳ ἐξελθεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. πολλοῖς γὰρ χρόνοις συνηρπάκει αὐτόν, καὶ ἐδεσμεῖτο ἁλύσεσι καὶ πέδαις φυλασσόμενος, καὶ διαρρήσσων τὰ δεσμὰ ἠλαύνετο ὑπὸ 4 τοῦ δαίμονος εἰς τὰς ἐρήμους.ἐπηρώτησε δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς λέγων· τί σοί ἐστιν ὄνομα; ὁ δὲ εἶπε· λεγεών· ὅτι δαιμόνια πολλὰ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς αὐτόν·καὶ παρεκάλει αὐτὸν ἵνα μὴ ἐπιτάξῃ αὐτοῖς εἰς τὴν ἄβυσσον ἀπελθεῖν.ἦν δὲ ἐκεῖ ἀγέλη χοίρων ἱκανῶν βοσκομένων ἐν τῷ ὄρει· καὶ παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν ἵνα ἐπιτρέψῃ αὐτοῖς εἰς ἐκείνους εἰσελθεῖν· καὶ ἐπέτρεψεν αὐτοῖς.ἐξελθόντα δὲ τὰ δαιμόνια ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου εἰσῆλθον εἰς τοὺς χοίρους, καὶ ὥρμησεν ἡ ἀγέλη κατὰ τοῦ κρημνοῦ εἰς τὴν λίμνην καὶ ἀπεπνίγη.ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ βόσκοντες τὸ γεγενημένον ἔφυγον, καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν καὶ εἰς τοὺς ἀγρούς.ἐξῆλθον δὲ ἰδεῖν τὸ γεγονός, καὶ ἦλθον πρὸς τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν καὶ εὗρον καθήμενον τὸν ἄνθρωπον, ἀφ᾿ οὗ τὰ δαιμόνια ἐξεληλύθει, ἱματισμένον καὶ σωφρονοῦντα παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν.ἀπήγγειλαν δὲ αὐτοῖς οἱ ἰδόντες πῶς ἐσώθη ὁ δαιμονισθείς.καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτὸν ἅπαν τὸ πλῆθος τῆς περιχώρου τῶν Γαδαρηνῶν ἀπελθεῖν ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν, ὅτι φόβῳ μεγάλῳ συνείχοντο. αὐτὸς δὲ ἐμβὰς εἰς τὸ πλοῖον ὑπέστρεψεν.ἐδέετο δὲ αὐτοῦ ὁ ἀνήρ, ἀφ᾿ οὗ ἐξεληλύθει τὰ δαιμόνια, εἶναι σὺν αὐτῷ· ἀπέλυσε δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς λέγων·ὑπόστρεφε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου καὶ διηγοῦ ὅσα ἐποίησέ σοι ὁ Θεός. καὶ ἀπῆλθε καθ᾿ ὅλην τὴν πόλιν κηρύσσων ὅσα ἐποίησεν αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς. _____________________________________________________________________________ HOLY COMMUNION NOTICE: Holy Communion is reserved for those who have been Baptized and/or Confirmed in the Eastern Orthodox Faith. The Communion Prayers are our final preparation to receive the Sacrament. We also prepare to receive by fasting prior to the Divine Liturgy in the morning. (We, of course, continue to take prescribed medications.) We also prepare ourselves by fasting on Wednesday and Friday each week and through regular confession. An usher will invite you to join the Communion line. Please follow the directions. When you approach the chalice, please give your Baptismal name to the priest. THE ORDER OF COMMUNION IS THE NEWLY BAPTIZED (WITH LIT CANDLES) AND THE CONGREGATION, PEW BY PEW, BEGINNING FROM THE FRONT OF THE NAVE. ___________________________________________________ SAINTS The Holy Great Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-streamer, October 26 Saint Demetrius was a Thessalonian, a most pious son of pious and noble parents, and a teacher of the Faith of Christ. When Maximian first came to Thessalonica in 290, he raised the Saint to the rank of Duke of Thessaly. But when it was discovered that the Saint was a Christian, he was arrested and kept bound in a bath- 5 house. While the games were under way in the city, Maximian was a spectator there. A certain friend of his, a barbarian who was a notable wrestler, Lyaeus by name, waxing haughty because of the height and strength of his body, boasted in the stadium and challenged the citizens to a contest with him. All that fought with him were defeated. Seeing this, a certain youth named Nestor, acquaintance of Demetrius', came to the Saint in the bath-house and asked his blessing to fight Lyaeus single-handed. Receiving this blessing and sealing himself with the sign of the precious Cross, he presented himself in the stadium, and said, "O God of Demetrius, help me!" and straightway he engaged Lyaeus in combat and smote him with a mortal blow to the heart, leaving the former boaster lifeless upon the earth. Maximian was sorely grieved over this, and when he learned whowas the cause of this defeat, he commanded straightway and Demetrius was pierced with lances while he was yet in the bath-house, As for Nestor, Maximian commanded that he be slain with his own sword. ________________________________________________ October 26, 2014 ALTAR GROUP – SAINT NEKTARIOS Basil Anaipakos Michael Botti George Catechis Michael Elgohary Samuel Gazaw Pahno Georgeton Demo Kouzounis Yonni Kouzounis Tommy Maglaras Stephen Mucher Pete Nicolaou Socratis Zavitsanos _____________________________________________ 6 What’s Being Taught in the Adult Sunday Church School Classes, 10:45 – 11:45? Adult Bible Study. Facilitator: Gaby Gadah ([email protected].), Room 243. This week in the Adult Bible Study class we will continue our Bible study in the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 5. We will focus on the Disciples in the World and Righteousness of the law. Please join us as we continue our journey through the Gospel of Matthew. Adult Study of History, Theology & Contemporary Issues. Facilitator: Steve Kostos, ([email protected]), Room 226. Topic: “Connecting Old Testament Prophecies and New Testament Fulfillment.” The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. Many of the events and people of the New Testament were revealed in the Old Testament. The Holy Theotokos is always virgin because the Bible said so in the Old Testament. The Portal of The Lord is the East Gate of Jerusalem. The East Gate was permanently closed after the Lord passed through (Ez 43:27-44:4). Theology through the Fathers’ Eyes. Facilitator: Dr. Jonathan Zecher ([email protected], Room 228. Last Sunday we looked at Basil's "On Giving Thanks", and began to explore the apparent contradictions which Christianity calls up: how can we weep with those who weep and yet rejoice always? How, indeed, is it even possible to pray without ceasing? Today we will continue to explore these hard questions with Basil in his follow-up sermon "On the Marty Julitta" (109-122). 7 8 - - (If you are unable to respond by email, please submit information below to Cathedral office c/o Ann Poulos)- - - Name of Veteran: Branch of Service: Years of Service: No. of guests attending: 9 PARISH NEWS AND EVENTS AGOC Adult Bible Study We will meet on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at 1:00 and 7:00 pm in Room 219. THEME: “Building the Body of Christ, the ecclesia” TOPICS: 1:00 pm Session: “The Holy Trinity in our Salvation” (continued) 7:00 pm Session: “Salvation as a Gift for All” READINGS: 1:00 pm Session: Ephesians 1:11-23; Philippians 2:5-11: Farley 80-84 and 35-39; Williamson, 45-55 (i.e., same as last week) 7:00 pm Session: Ephesians 2:1-22; Farley, 84-95; Williamson 57-84 Philoptochos Please place your order for the Annual Philoptochos Bake Sale soon. Order forms are available at the Philoptochos table at the Sunday fellowship coffees in the Martel Hall, following the Divine Liturgies. Proceeds benefit the many ministries of our Church and the community at large. For more information, call Martha Stefanidakis at 281-4690986. Join us for Philoptochos Bake Sale preparation of Tiropites on TuesdayFriday, October 28-31 at the Boozalis Festival Center starting at 9:00 am, with night cooking on Wednesday. Please call the Festival Center 713533-0155 to confirm we are still cooking. The Philoptochos General Meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 28, at 7:00 pm in the Martel Hall. At this meeting we will be presenting the budget for the 2015 year and reports on the recent ground blessing at Saint Nicholas Shrine and the new National Board. Save the date for the Christmas Choir Concert and Philoptochos “Festival of Tables” Luncheon, Saturday, December 13, at the Cathedral/Martel Hall. All are invited to host a table! For more details, please contact Helena Papadopoulos Johnson at 713-859-5568 or [email protected]. 10 The HELLENIC CULTURAL CENTER of the Southwest is sponsoring OXI Day Commemorative “Courage” honoring George Kostas and Michael Cokinos, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) on Tuesday, October 28, 2014, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, 10202 Memorial Drive (77024), 7:00 pm Reception, 7:45 pm Program. HOPE and JOY Advent Retreat Please join us in the Martel Hall on Saturday, November 8, after the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy. We will make Christmas ornaments and cards and will have lunch. The ornaments will be displayed on our Christmas tree. Please RSVP to Gaby Gadah at [email protected]. Hope and Joy is open to all children from Kindergarten through 5th Grade. The DAUGHTERS of PENELOPE 54 Board of Directors proudly announce the Ribbon Cutting and Dedication Ceremony of their Phase II building, which provides housing for low-income seniors, on November 8, 2014, at 1:00 PM. The building is located immediately next to the Phase I building at 8113 Creekbend Drive. Please contact Mary M. Verges, (713) 433-7577 if interested in attending or for additional information. GOYA “Southern Region” Fall Retreat The Metropolis of Denver GOYA Fall Retreat for Grades 6th thru 12th will be held November 14-16, 2014 at Pine Cove Outback Retreat Center in Columbus, Texas www.pincove.com. The Retreat is hosted by the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Cost is $125 per camper. Registration online at http://youth.denver.goarch.org/events/2014events/2014-southern-region-fall-retreat-ii 11 MEMORIAL: Ralia Patniyot 40 Days Please join us for the Fellowship Coffee in the Martel Hall following each Divine Liturgy. The coffee following the 11:00 am Liturgy is sponsored by the Family of Ralia Patniyot. TODAY 12:00 pm – Jr. Girls & Jr. Boys Basketball Practice at AGOC. 1:15 pm – Sr. Girls & Jr. Boys Basketball practice at AGOC. THIS WEEK AT THE CATHEDRAL Tuesday 28th 9:00 am – Philoptochos Bake Sale Preparation at Boozalis Festival Center 7:00 pm – Philoptochos General Meeting, Martel Hall 7:00 pm – Hellenic Cultural Center of SW OXI Day Commemorative, offsite Wednesday 29th 9:00 am – Philoptochos Bake Sale Preparation 1:00 pm – Bible Study, Room 219 7:00 pm – Bible Study, Room 219 Thursday 30th 9:00 am – Philoptochos Bake Sale Preparation 6:30 pm – Introducing the Orthodox Church, Room 136 7:00 pm – Choir Practice, Room 121 Friday 31st 9:00 am – Philoptochos Bake Sale Preparation 3:30 pm – Greek School 5:00 pm – Greek School Sunday 2nd 5th Sunday of Luke Orthros 7:45am/Divine Liturgy 9:00am Sunday Church School 11:00 am – Divine Liturgy Jr. Girls BBall Practice, after SCS, at AGOC Jr. Boys BBall Practice, after SCS, at AOS 1:00 pm – Sr. Girls BBall Practice, at AGOC 1:45 pm – Sr. Boys BBall Practice, at AOS 12