Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode

The stone that had been sealed before Your tomb by the Jews and the soldiers guarding did watch over Your pure and sacred body. O Savior the third day You arose, and unto all the world did You give life. Where by all the heavenly powers did proclaim that You are the giver of life. Glory unto our resurrected Christ. Glory unto Your Kingdom. Glory to Your dispensation O You alone who loves all.

Apolytikion of the Annunciation in the First Mode

Today is the beginning of our salvation and the revelation of the mystery of the ages. O the Son of God becomes on this day the Virgin’s Son and Gabriel proclaims this gift from God. Together with him we cry out to the Theotokos singing: Hail to you who are filled with grace. The Lord is with you.

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.

Saints and Feasts

June 18

Leontius, Hypatius, & Theodulus the Martyrs of Syria

This Martyr was from Greece. Being of great bodily stature and strength, he was an illustrious soldier in the Roman legions who had won many victories, and was known for his prudence and sobriety of mind. When it was learned that he gave grain to the poor from the imperial stores, and was moreover a Christian, Hadrian the Governor of Phoenicia sent Hypatius, a tribune, and Theodulus, a soldier, to arrest him. Saint Leontius converted them on the way to Tripolis in Phoenicia, where Hypatius and Theodulus were tormented and beheaded by Hadrian for their confession of Christ. Then Hadrian with many flatteries and many torments strove to turn Leontius from Christ. All his attempts failing, he had Leontius put to such tortures that he died in the midst of them, under Vespasian in the year 73.

June 19

Thaddeus (Jude) the Apostle & Brother of Our Lord

The Apostle Jude was of the choir of the Twelve, and by Luke was called Jude, the brother of James the Brother of God (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13), and therefore also a kinsman of the Lord according to His humanity. But by Matthew (10:3), he is called Lebbaeus, surnamed Thaddeus (he is not the Thaddeus who healed the suffering of Abgar, as Eusebius says in his Eccl. Hist., 1:13; see Aug. 21). Saint Jude preached in Mesopotamia, Arabia, Idumea, and Syria, and, it is said, completed the path of his divine apostleship by martyrdom in Beirut in the year 80. Written after the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, his is the last of the Catholic (General) Epistles to the believing Jews in the Diaspora. His name (a variant of Judah) means "Praise."

June 19

Païsius the Great of Egypt

Our righteous Father Païsius the Great was born in Egypt about the year 300 and was consecrated to God as a monk at a young age. He together with Saint John the Short (commemorated Nov. 9) was trained in the ascetical life in Scete by the great Abba Pambo (July 18). He practiced extreme fasting and vigil beyond the limits of human strength, and received many revelations of mysteries. The Saviour often appeared to him; once He appeared to him with two Angels, as He had to Abraham, and allowed him to wash His immaculate feet. When he was asked which virtue was the highest of all, he would answer, "That which is done in secret." He reposed in peace in deep old age; his relics are found in the monastery of Amba Bishoy in Wadi Natrun (the ancient Nitria of Egypt), and to the present day they work healings and miracles.

June 20

Methodios the Martyr, Bishop of Olympus

Because of his wisdom and virtue, this Saint was surnamed Eubulus ("of good counsel"). He was an eminent theologian and one of the first to oppose and refute the heretical writings of Origen. According to Jerome (De vir. ill., 83) and Socrates the historian (Eccl. Hist., 6:13), he was bishop, not of Patara (as a sixth century work by Leontius the Byzantine wrongly asserts), but of Olympus in Lycia, and later, of Tyre in Phoenicia. It appears he was called Bishop of Patara by later writers because his famous dialogue concerning the resurrection takes place in that city. He underwent a glorious death as a martyr in Chalkis of Greece in the year 311, under Emperor Maximinus. Among his extant writings is one called Symposium of Virgins.

June 20

Nicholas Cabasilas

Saint Nicholas Cabasilas was born in 1322 A.D. in Thessaloniki. Very little is known about his life, but he is remembered through two texts he wrote: The Life in Christ and The Exposition of the Divine Liturgy. He lived at the same time as Saint Gregory Palamas (see 11/14 and the 2^nd Sunday of Great Lent) and was an ally of his during the Hesychastic Controversy on Mount Athos in the 14^th century.

June 21

Julian the Martyr of Tarsus

This Martyr, who was born to a pagan father and a Christian mother, was from Cilicia, confessed the Christian Faith before the Proconsul Marcian, and was perfected in martyrdom at the age of eighteen, when he was put into a sack with sand and venomous serpents and cast into the sea. Saint John Chrysostom has a homily in his honour.

June 24

Elizabeth, Mother of the Forerunner

June 24

Nativity of the Forerunner John the Baptist

He that was greater than all who are born of women, the Prophet who received God's testimony that he surpassed all the Prophets, was born of the aged and barren Elizabeth (Luke 1: 7) and filled all his kinsmen, and those that lived round about, with gladness and wonder. But even more wondrous was that which followed on the eighth day when he was circumcised, that is, the day on which a male child receives his name. Those present called him Zacharias, the name of his father. But the mother said, "Not so, but he shall be called John." Since the child's father was unable to speak, he was asked, by means of a sign, to indicate the child's name. He then asked for a tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And immediately Zacharias' mouth was opened, his tongue was loosed from its silence of nine months, and filled with the Holy Spirit, he blessed the God of Israel, Who had fulfilled the promises made to their fathers, and had visited them that were sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, and had sent to them the light of salvation. Zacharias prophesied concerning the child also, saying that he would be a Prophet of the Most High and Forerunner of Jesus Christ. And the child John, who was filled with grace, grew and waxed strong in the Spirit; and he was in the wilderness until the day of his showing to Israel (Luke 1:57-80). His name is a variation of the Hebrew "Johanan," which means "Yah is gracious."

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Second Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back, for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 2:10-16.

Brethren, glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. All who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

Gospel Reading

2nd Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 4:18-23

At that time, as Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left their boat and their father, and followed him. And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.

Parish News and Events

Prayer List:

Please pray for our brothers and sisters: Gloria, Niko, Christina, Kostas, Malina, John, Simona, Louise, Pete, Vincent, Rose.

Fellowship Hour: Thank you to the Greek Ladies Aid Society who are hosting coffee hour today in honor of Father's Day.

The Giving Tree – Can you help our tree grow? The Giving Tree is a way to raise money needed to cover the many costs of our very successful Greek Food Festival. A donation sheet and list of needed items is located in the Narthex. Once you make your donation, be sure to place your name on a flower or butterfly from the Narthex display and attach it to the tree found there. If mailed, we will do this part for you. Watch our tree grow with your generosity! We are grateful for any donation large or small.

UPCOMING FESTIVAL WORKSHOPS:

Spanakopita: 6/21 6 pm, 6/22 6:00 pm and 6/23 10:00 am as needed to finish (Gina Dussi)

Lamb Shanks: 6/24 9:30 am (Christos Patrinos)

Dolmathes: 6/26 and 6/27 9:30 am (Chrysanthe Machiros and Christos Patrinos)

Meatballs: 6/28 prep 5:00 pm; 6/29 rolling 5:00 pm (Eddie Connor and Joanna Tsiantas)

Green Beans: 7/10, 7/11 (Charlie Neos)

Lamb Shanks: 7/15 9:30 am (Christos Patrinos)

Rice Pudding: 7/26 (Eric Hansen)

Galotaboureko: 7/27 during the day (Andrea Jones and Maria Andriotakis Connor)

Plaki: 7/27 5:00 pm (Gina Dussi and Melinda Patrick)

Food Festival Committee: Meeting is on Monday, June 19th at 7:00 pm.

The dates for the 2017 Greek Food Festival are Friday, July 28th--Sunday, July 30th.

Greek Ladies Aid Society: Save the Date for Ladies Aid End of Year Social: June 25th 12:30 pm for brunch at the Old Salt in Hampton, NH. Cost: $24. Please see Irene Falite to make your reservation.

The 100th Anniversary Cookbook Committee needs your recipes! Please fill out a recipe form found in the Narthex OR go to www.typensave.com to type in your recipe following the simple instructions. User name is AGOC and the password is eggnog847. Questions should be directed toward Andrea Jones (andreajones1@comcast.net) or Ruth Riley (rsrileyfineart@gmail.com). We hope to have one recipe for every parishioner. Thank you!

METROPOLIS OF BOSTON CAMP:

SUMMER 2017
Session 1: July 3rd - July 9th
Session 2: July 10th - July 16th FULL
Session 3: July 17th - July 23rd
Session 4: July 24th - July 30th
Session 5: July 31st - August 6th FULL
To Register campers, please visit www.metropolisofbostoncamp.org
Scholarships for all sessions are available via the camp office !!!
Visit the camp website: www.mbcamp.org for more information and to REGISTER TODAY! For more information, or help with scholarships, please contact the camp office by email (mbcamp@boston.goarch.org) or phone (617-277-4742).
Summer Camp is a week of fun, fellowship and faith. Campers will have the opportunity to meet other youth from throughout the Metropolis, while participating in camp activities including: campfires, theater, music, hiking, swimming, tubing, olympics, athletics, canoeing, Orthodox Life discussion sessions, and much more.

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Center for Family Care: Our archdiocese has developed a family program called SOAK UP the SON. Each week a new activity is presented so you and your family can stay in contact with God. This is especially important during the summer months when there are no Sunday School classes. You can access SOAK UP the SON at this web address: www.family.goarch.org.

Annunciation Online: Please "Like" our Facebook page so that you may be kept up on services, events and activities: https://www.facebook.com/AnnunciationGreekOrthodoxChurch/

Please return church keys: As many of you are aware, there have been several break-ins and thefts from Newburyport churches. We’re looking to upgrade our exterior keys. If you have a key, make sure to let a Council member know over the next few weeks! Also, please never leave doors unlocked with the key even when you are in the complex. Instead, block them open with the little wrenches provided, and don’t forget to unblock when you leave!!!!

Thermostat settings: The Parish Council has determined an acceptable temperature range for the thermostats in the building complex. 60-75 in winter, 65-80 in summer. Please respect these settings!

Council Members on duty today: Maria Connor and Eric Hansen

Prosphoro Schedule:

June 18 - Kathy Tsiantas

June 25 - Anna Chetsas

Parish Events of the Week

This week at Annunciation:

Monday, June 19: 11:00 am: St. Basil's Lunch, all are welcome!

6:00 pm: Chant Class

7:00 pm: Food Festival Committee

Wednesday, June 21: 6:00 pm: Spanakopita Workshop

Thursday, June 22: 6:00 pm: Spanakopita Workshop

Friday, June 23: 10:00 am: Spanakopita Workshop (if needed)

Saturday, June 24: 9:30 am: Lamb Shanks Workshop

Fellowship Hour Hosts

Fellowship Hour:

We enjoy visiting with our Church Family over a cup of coffee and treats following Sunday Liturgy. Please sign up to host a Fellowship/Coffee Hour and keep the coffee brewing every Sunday.

We are in need of hosts! The Fellowship Hour Coordinator has prepared a calendar scheduling out though the end of the summer of 2017. Please email AndreaJones1@Comcast.net, phone at home 978 465-1021or text cell 978 621-6123 to schedule your coffee hour.

Sunday June 18: Greek Ladies Aid Society in honor of Father's Day

Sunday, June 25: Open

Bulletin Inserts

Creed and Lord's prayer in Greek with English transliteration

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins