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November 6, 2014
33 Holy Martyrs of Melitene
The Holy Martyr Hieron of Melitene and Those with him. The holy martyr Hieron was born in the city of
Tiana in great Cappadocia. Raised by a pious mother, he was a kindly and good Christian.
The co-ruling emperors Diocletian and Maximian sent a large military detachment headed by Lysias to
Cappadocia to eradicate Christianity there, and also to conscript healthy and strong men into the imperial
army. Among those pressed into service, Lysias also ordered his men to draft Hieron, who was distinguished
by his great physical strength and dexterity. But Hieron refused to serve emperors who persecuted Christians.
When they attempted to seize him by force and bring him to Lysias, he took a stick and started beating the
soldiers who had been sent to bring him. The soldiers scattered, ashamed of being defeated by a single man.
Hieron then hid himself in a cave with eighteen other Christians. Lysias would not risk losing his soldiers by
storming the cave.
Upon the advice of Cyriacus, one of Hieron’s friends, Lysias lifted the siege of the cave and withdrew his
detachment. Then Cyriacus persuaded Hieron not to offer resistance to the authorities. He and the other new
conscripts and accompanying soldiers were sent to the nearby city of Melitene.
Soon Hieron had a vision in his sleep, in which his impending martyrdom was foretold. Lysias told the
soldiers gathered at Melitene to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. Hieron and another thirty-two soldiers
refused to do this, and openly confessed their faith in Christ. Then the persecutor gave orders to beat the
martyrs, and to cut off Hieron’s arm at the elbow. After cruel tortures they threw the martyrs into prison
barely alive, and they beheaded them four days later.
A certain rich and illustrious Christian by the name of Chrysanthus ransomed Hieron’s head from Lysias.
When the persecutions finally ceased, he built a church on the place where they executed the holy martyrs,
and he placed the venerable head in it. The bodies of all the executed saints were secretly buried by Christians.
In reign of the emperor Justinian, during the construction of the church of Hagia Eirene (Holy Peace), the
venerable relics were uncovered and found incorrupt.
The other martyrs are: Hesychius, Nicander, Athanasius, Mamas, Barachius, Callinicus, Theogenes, Nikon,
Longinus, Theodore, Valerius, Xanthius, Theodoulus, Callimachus, Eugene, Theodochus, Ostrychius,
Epiphanius, Maximian, Ducitius, Claudian, Theophilus, Gigantius, Dorotheus, Theodotus, Castrichius,
Anicletus, Themelius, Eutychius, Hilarion, Diodotus and Amonitus.
~ Courtesy from: www.oca.org
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Sunday’s Readings
Click on the link below to read this Sunday’s
Epistle & Gospel: 7th Sunday of Luke.
 GOSPEL READING
http://www.goarch.org/chapel/lectionary_view?
date=11/9/2014&lang=en&code=210&type=go
spel&event=960
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 EPISTLE READING
http://www.goarch.org/chapel/lectionary_view?
date=11/9/2014&lang=en&code=218&type=ep
istle&event=960
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 PAN-ORTHODOX CLERGY RETREAT
The Annual Pan – Orthodox Clergy Retreat will
be from November 10 – 12 at St. Nicholas
Ranch and Retreat Center. The theme for the
retreat “You shall be holy, for I am Holy” ~
1Peter 1:16 by Monk Maximos Constas. For
more information you may call 559-338-2103.
Father will be away for the retreat.
This Week’s
Service & Events
 CATECHISM CLASS
On Friday, November 7 at 6:30 pm.
 BIBLE & FAITH CLASS
Class will begin on Thursday, November 13 at
10:00 am. Please join us for the increase of faith
and love.
 EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING
On Thursday, November 13 at 6:00 pm.
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Sunday
Service Teams
 ANNUAL FAMILY RETREAT
THIS Saturday, November 8 at the Holy Cross
Monastery in Castro Valley. We will begin the
Family Retreat with services: Orthros at 9:00 am
and Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am. The luncheon
will follow around noon. Fr. Ninos will give a
talk from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. The talk will be on
“Orthodox Family Life in Contemporary
Society”. This is a joint Family Retreat with St.
James Orthodox Church in Milpitas. Please let
Karen Ambus know if you are able to make it;
408-859-4333 or [email protected]. We
look forward to seeing you there!
 READER
Sunday, November 9: Michael Wilson.
Next Sunday, November 16: Bill Bernard.
 USHER SCHEDULE
Sunday, November 9: Tony Pettis and Steve
Scheiderer.
Next Sunday, November 16: Corina
Stancu and Ovidiu Tol.
 COFFEE HOUR
Sunday, November 9: P.
Next Sunday, November 16: H, J, T, W, Y.
 VESPERS
Vespers on Saturday, November 8 at 5:00 pm.
Following service, father will be available for
confessions.

 PROSFORA OFFERING
Sunday, November 9: Helen Kyriakooulos.
Next Sunday, November 16: Ginny Silva.
SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY SCHEDULE
Orthros at 8:30 am
Divine Liturgy at 9:30 am
MANY THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICES!
MAY GOD BLESS YOU!
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 MEMORIAL
Sunday will be Dan d’Arms 1 year memorial.
May his memory be eternal!
 PHILOPTOCHOS MEETING
Sunday during Coffee Hour the Philoptochos
will have an informal meeting. Please consider
attending the meeting.
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mother of Michael Skarpellos. May her memory be
eternal!
Upcoming
Events & Services
 STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY
This year Stewardship Sunday will be held on
Sunday, November 23. We ask that you review
and take the time to pray and ask yourself how
you can be a good steward in 2015 by generously
giving of time, talent and treasure. As Christian’s
we receive Gods, gifts gratefully. We need to
cultivate them responsibly and share them loving
with others but to also return them with increase
to the Lord. So thru prayer and love take this
time to consider how you can help and fill out
the Stewardship card.
 NATIVITY FAST
The Nativity Fast begins on Saturday,
November 15 and will end on Christmas day.
 ICONOGRAPHY CLASS
Class will start on Saturday, November 15 at
10:30 am.
 VESPERS
There will be NO Vespers on Saturday,
November 15. Father will be attending the
Metropolis Gala.
 THANKSGIVING MEAL
The Philoptochos ladies will host the
Thanksgiving Meal on Sunday, November 23 in
lieu of Coffee Hour.
 GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING
The General Assembly Meeting will be held on
Sunday, December 14. We ask that you mark
your calendars and plan to stay, listen and ask
questions during the meeting.
 METROPOLIS GALA 2014
His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos and the
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of SF request the
honor of your presence as they will celebrate the
ministries and honor the extraordinary leadership
of George & Judy Marcus on Saturday,
November 15 at 6:00 pm at the Fairmont Hotel,
San Francisco. Black Tie. For more information
or to RSVP call 415-753-3075 or visit:
[email protected].
 PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS
Will be held on Sunday, December 14. We ask
that all current Stewards take the time to cast
their vote. For the growth of the church and
unity of the spiritual family.
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Prayer Request
 NATIVITY 40-DAY DIVINE LITURGIES
From November 15 thru December 25 Fr.
Gregory will have daily Divine Liturgies;
Monday – Friday starting at 7:00 am
Saturday’s starting with Orthros at 7:00 am
Sunday’s starting with Orthros at 8:30 am
Please join us for worship as you are able to.
You are sick or will be having surgery,
please let the office know and we can
include your name on the list.
Please keep in your prayers:
Deacon Demetrios & Diakonisa Aspasia Diakos
Despina Anagnostos
Nicholas Steeley
Andrew Froumis
Otto Hampel
Marie Hofland
Elaine Honjas
Ron Jimenez
Tula Kanestis
Athena Lofaro
Nicholas Manis
George Nicolas
Voula Papadatos
Georgia Photopoulos
Paul Rousseve
Joanne Smith
Nicholasi Taranin
Thanasis Theologiedes Vickie Wilson
Mary Zarcone
Stamatis Fotios
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 FAMILY OUTREACH
On Tuesday, November 18 at 6:30 pm.
 AKATHIST HYMN
On Wednesday, November 19 at 7:00 pm
followed by Q & A time.
 MEMORIAL SERVICE
On Sunday, November 23 we will have Marian
Skarpellos’ 10-year memorial service. She is the
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November 14 – 16, 2014
Open Retreat: “Everyday Saints: My Personal
Encounters with Holy People” by Fr. Basil
Rhodes from St. Nicholas.
December 12-14, 2014
Ladies Retreat: “The Virtues, the Passions, and
the Healing of the Soul” by Mother Melania of
Holy Assumption.
February 6 – 8, 2015
Open Retreat: “The Emergence of the Liturgical
Cycle and the Development of Lent and Holy
Week” by Fr. James Jorgenson of St. Seraphim.
March 27 – 29, 2015
Open Retreat: “The Way to Union with Christ
Through Watchfulness and Prayer” by Fr.
Damascene of St. Herman of Alaska Monastery.
April 17 – 19, 2015
Gardening Retreat: “Journey to Eden: The Image
of Christ in Creation” by Fr. Innocent of
Monastery of St. John
May 15 – 17, 2015
Open Retreat: “Building an Orthodox Christian
Family in 21st Century America” by Fr. Josiah
Trenham of St. Andrew Orthodox Church.
For Meditation
Avoid by every means words that produce
enmity, and avail yourself of every opportunity
and occasion to show holy and sincere love. By
doing the first, the sinful disposition of the soul
will little by little be eradicated, and by the
second, love will be nourished and strengthened.
Do not allow yourself for a moment to have any
ill-feeling against anyone; always be kind to
everyone, conquering your evil disposition by the
love that endures all things and conquers all
things. Avoid self-will, and opposing your
neighbor; do not persist in having your own way,
in order to satisfy your desires, or in order to
intentionally injure anyone. St John of Kronstadt
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Selection of the Week
The War Against Evil Spirits
http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2014/10/th
e-war-against-evilspirits.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medi
um=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+johnsani
dopoulos%2FAOGe+%28MYSTAGOGY%29
90% of Orthodox Christians in Iraq were
Displaced
http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2014/10/90
-of-orthodox-christians-iniraq.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_mediu
m=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+johnsanid
opoulos%2FAOGe+%28MYSTAGOGY%29
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 LIGHT THE PATH
His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos and the
Metropolis of SF Philoptochos joyfully invite you
to attend Light the Path; A Christmas Luncheon
in support of the Bishop Anthony Philoptochos
Student Aid Endowment Fund on Saturday,
December 6 at St. Basil Greek Orthodox Churc
in Stockton, CA. Reception and Christmas
Boutiques will begin at 11:00 am followed by the
luncheon,
entertainment
and
special
presentation. It’s $70 per person. To RSVP
visit: http://www.sfphiloptochos.org/events-2/
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Bay Area Events
Bookstore
 ST. BASIL BOOKSTORE
“I always look forward to browsing
the bookstore. You carry an array of
icons, books, cards and gifts. Thank
you for doing such a wonderful job
with the bookstore. It looks great.
Michael does such a great job letting
us know about new arrivals or great
spiritual book readings; we really
appreciate it.”
 ST. JOHN’S MONASTERY RETREATS
During the next 6 months, The Monastery of St.
John’s will host 6 organized retreats as a way to
provide the opportunity for parishioners to be
spiritually instructed and renewed. You can read
more details about the retreat by visiting:
www.monasteryofstjohn.org.
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These are some of the comments that I have heard or
have received during the past year. We thank you for
your expression and also encourage you to email us
and let us know if you would like us to order you a
particular icon, book or gift item we don’t currently
carry in our store.
You may email us at:
[email protected].
Don’t forget to check in on a regular basis as our
inventory constantly changes or grows. Wishing you
a restful summer!
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Facebook
We have a St. Basil the Great Greek Orthodox
Church Facebook page. Please take the time to
visit the page and "like" us. The link is listed
below. If there are any problems with the link, please
let us know. If you have any photos or information
you would like to see on the page, please email us at
[email protected]. Please pass this email
on to your friends and family, and encourage them to
visit
our
page
as
well.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Basil-theGreat-Greek-Orthodox-Church/227329294034680
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