Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal First Mode

Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.

Apolytikion for Thomas Sun. in the Grave Mode

Whilst the tomb was sealed, Thou, O Life, didst shine forth from the grave, O Christ God; and whilst the doors were shut, Thou didst come unto Thy disciples, O Resurrection of all, renewing through them an upright Spirit in us according to Thy great mercy.

Apolytikion for Great Martyr George in the Fourth Mode

Liberator of captives, defender of the poor, physician of the sick, and champion of kings, O trophy-bearer, Great Martyr George, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You rose the victor, Christ God, saying to the myrrh-bearing women, "Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up the fallen.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

First Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Matthew 28:16-20

At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Amen."

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 146.5;134.3.
Great is our Lord, and great is his power.
Verse: Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 12:1-11.

ABOUT THAT TIME, Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword; and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the Church.

The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison; and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, "Wrap your mantle around you and follow me." And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them of its own accord, and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel left him. And Peter came to himself, and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."

Gospel Reading

Thomas Sunday
The Reading is from John 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe."

Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to Him: "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

Saints and Feasts

April 23

Thomas Sunday

Though the doors were shut at the dwelling where the disciples were gathered for fear of the Jews on the evening of the Sunday after the Passover, our Saviour wondrously entered and stood in their midst, and greeted them with His customary words, "Peace be unto you." Then He showed unto them His hands and feet and side; furthermore, in their presence, He took some fish and a honeycomb and ate before them, and thus assured them of His bodily Resurrection. But Thomas, who was not then present with the others, did not believe their testimony concerning Christ's Resurrection, but said in a decisive manner, "Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe." Wherefore after eight days, that is, on this day, when the disciples were again gathered together and Thomas was with them, the Lord Jesus came while the doors were shut, as He did formerly. Standing in their midst, He said, "Peace be unto you"; then He said to Thomas, "Bring hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not unbelieving, but believing."

And Thomas, beholding and examining carefully the hands and side of the Master, cried out with faith, "My Lord and my God." Thus he clearly proclaimed the two natures - human and divine - of the God-man (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-29).

This day is called Antipascha (meaning "in the stead of Pascha," not "in opposition to Pascha") because with this day, the first Sunday after Pascha, the Church consecrates every Sunday of the year to the commemoration of Pascha, that is, the Resurrection.

April 23

George the Great Martyr and 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 honoured 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.)

If April 23 falls on or before Great and Holy Pascha, the Feast of St. George is translated to Bright Monday.

April 24

Elizabeth the Wonderworker

Saint Elizabeth was born in Heraclea of Thrace. She lived in virginity and exhausted herself with ascetical labours 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.

Wisdom of the Fathers

For great is the dignity of the priests. ... And hold them very exceedingly in honor; for you indeed care about your own affairs, and if you order them well, you give no account for others; ...

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 86, 4th Century

... but the priest even if he rightly order his own life, if he have not an anxious care for yours and that of all those around him, will depart with the wicked into hell; and often when not betrayed by his own conduct, he perishes by yours, if he have not rightly performed all his part.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 86, 4th Century

Rev. Protopresbyter Panagiotis Papanikolaou

Great and Holy Pascha

My beloved in the Risen Lord:

Christ is Risen!

As we celebrated our Lord’s Resurrection and chant joyously the hymn proclaiming Christ’s triumph over all forces of darkness, we are renewed by the dignity that comes from our destiny as Orthodox Christians who have been saved by the Crucified and Risen Christ and offered the opportunity to live eternally with Him.

The Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the single cosmic event that gives meaning, purpose and hope to all humanity. Our worship, our prayer, our good deeds and our discipline of fasting are all beautiful and meaningful only because they lead to the reality of our Lord’s Resurrection.

With tears in our eyes we commemorate His death on Good and Holy Friday. We know well that it was because of our sins that our Lord was nailed to the Cross. His death was the terrible price that had to be paid for our salvation. And so, we preach the “Crucified Christ.” However, we worship the “Resurrected Lord.”

The Resurrection is our only true hope! There is no tragedy in the eyes of God. There is no death. The deep darkness of all human sufferings is totally dispelled by the brilliant light that emanates from the tomb of Christ. We proclaim triumphantly with Saint Paul: “I consider that the sufferings of this world are not worthy to be compared with the future glory which shall be revealed to us.”(Romans 8:18)

Trampling death by death, our Lord offers us eternal life instead of death, hope in place of despair and bliss in lieu of sorrow. As we “enter into the joy of our Lord,” according to Saint John Chrysostom, may we also exclaim with him, “O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? For Christ, having risen from the dead has become the first fruits of those who fall asleep.”

In sin there is death; in holiness there is life. And the life of Christ transforms our life. Though we are sinners, yet we are holy. Day by day our life is changing and someday, through the grace of God, we will be able to proclaim with Saint Paul: “It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)

During our life journey, and especially during Great Lent, we strive to empty ourselves of the “death” that dwells within us, in order to become worthy vessels of the “new life” in Christ. Let us have constantly before us the glorious icon of our Lord’s Resurrection, as we carry our cross, as we pray and fast, as we seek repentance, and as we grow closer to Him. By the grace of God we will fight the “good fight”and we will keep the Faith. And by His grace we will be deemed worthy to receive the crown of righteousness, which our Lord gives to all who have loved His appearing (II Timothy 4:8).

Christ is Risen! Praying that Christ our true God Who rose from the dead abundantly bless you and your loved ones and may the light of Great and Holy Pascha shine brilliantly within your hearts, I humbly remain,

With love and blessings in the Risen Lord,
+Fr. Panagiotis

April & May Liturgical Calendar

Sunday of Saint Thomas

Sunday, April 23
8:45am - Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Sunday of the Paralytic

Sunday, May 7
8:45am - Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Mid-Pentecost

Wednesday, May 10
9:00am - Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

Sunday, May 14
8:45am - Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Sunday of the Blind Man / Saints Constantine & Helen

Sunday, May 21
8:45am - Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Holy Ascension

Thursday, May 25
9:00am - Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council

Sunday, May 28
8:45am - Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Parish Life

George Kakouras Memorial Garden

Sunday, April 23
At the end of the Divine Liturgy we will hold the dedication of the George Kakouras Memorial Garden. The dedication will begin with the blessing of the garden with Holy Water and then the unveiling of the memorial plaque.

At the conclusion of the dedication, Maria Kakouras and family invites everyone to partake of the dedication luncheon.

May George's memory be eternal!

Greek School

Greek School classes will be held on Thursday, April 27. The Adult Class is from 4:00pm to 5:00pm and the Youth Class is from 5:00pm to 5:50pm. For more information, please contact Presvytera Tina at (240) 578-2549.

Philoptochos GyroFest & Bazaar

Saturday, April 29
Philoptochos will hold their GyroFest and Bazaar from 11:00am to 5:00pm to help fund the philanthropic giving for this year. Your time, talent and treasure will help to make this year's event a great success. Please contact Kate Conant on (240) 422-0738 or via email at k8conant@mac.com for additional information.

Mother's Day Prayers

Sunday, May 14
The Philoptochos will be collecting the names of our mothers to honor the living with an Artoclasia Service or in memory of those who have falling asleep in the Lord with a Memorial Service. Father Panagiotis will be reading the submitted first (baptismal) names for all mothers during these services. Please refer to the enclosure in this week's Sunday Bulletin for details.

Sunday School

Sunday School classes beginning promptly at 10:00am in the Social Hall. We encourage all our youth to attend Sunday School. For more information, please contact Presvytera Tina at (240) 578-2549.

Altar Boys

Young men between the ages of 10 to 18 are invited to serve in the Holy Altar. Altar Boys are requested to be in the Holy Altar immediately following their Sunday School classes. For more information, please contact Father Panagiotis at (540) 667-1416.

Philoptochos

Please help support the less fortunate by donating non-perishable foods, pantry items, clothing and baby needs for the CCAP Ministry. Place your donations in the CCAP bin in the Social Hall.

Coffee Hour

Everyone is welcome to join in fellowship during the Coffee Hour following the Divine Liturgy on Sundays. If you would like to host a coffee hour, please sign up on the bulletin board next to Father's Study. For more information regarding hosting a Coffee Hour, please contact Marie Hughes at (540) 664-1185.

Cell Phones

We respectfully request that you please turn off or silence your cell phone prior to entering the Narthex during the Church services. If you have a professional reason to carry a cell phone for emergencies, keep it on mute, not vibrate, and sit near to the exits so that leaving for an emergency will not be a distraction to others who are praying. Thank you for your kind understanding and cooperation.

Parish Calendar

Is on the Dormition’s website and can be viewed for upcoming liturgical services, meetings and events. To view the Parish Calendar Click here.

All ministries are kindly requested to coordinate with Father Panagiotis, as early as possible, the date/time of proposed meetings and events to prevent scheduling conflicts. E-mail new postings or updates to frpeter.dormition@gmail.com. Everyone's cooperation is essential.

Bulletin Submission Guidelines

Bulletin Announcements

Announcements for the Sunday e-bulletin and printed bulletin may be submitted by e-mail to frpeter.dormition@gmail.com or by fax to Father's Study at (540) 667-1990. The deadline for all announcements is Wednesday morning by 9:00 for the upcoming bulletins. When feastdays or holidays fall on Thursday or Friday, the bulletins will be published earlier in that week.

All announcements must be in connection with Parish events, activities, fundraisers or community services. Fundraiser and community service announcements must be for non-commercial/non-profit events and activities. The content of the announcement must be in accordance with Orthodox Christian teachings, believes and values.

All ministries are requested to coordinate with Father Panagiotis, as early as possible, the date/time of proposed meetings and events to prevent scheduling conflicts. E-mail new postings, updates and changes to Father. Everyone's cooperation is essential.

To ensure the privacy of our Parishioners, announcements for births, baptisms, and weddings are not automatically included. The family should make this request to Fr. Panagiotis.

All announcements should be brief and concise including accurate contact information. All submissions are subject to edit by the Presiding Priest.

Driving Directions to the Church

The Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church welcomes you to worship with us on Sunday and whenever the Divine Liturgy is celebrated. Orthros begins at 8:45am and the Divine Liturgy at 10:00am.

Click here for Google Map & Specific Driving Directions »

DIRECTIONS TO THE CHURCH FROM THE NORTH:

1. Proceed south on Interstate 81 South heading toward Winchester
2. Take exit 317 for VA-37/ US-11 toward US-522 N/ US-50 W/ Winchester/ Stephenson (0.3 mi)
3. Turn right at US-11 S/ VA-37 S/ Martinsburg Pike, Continue to follow VA-37 S (3.8 mi)
4. Take the ramp to US-50 E/ Northwestern Pike (0.2 mi)
5. Turn left at US-50 E/ Northwestern Pike, Continue to follow US-50 E (0.6 mi )
6. Turn left at Omps Dr, Continue to entrance of the Church`s parking lot (100 ft)
7. Turn left into the Church`s parking lot.

DIRECTIONS TO THE CHURCH FROM THE SOUTH:

1. Proceed north on Interstate 81North heading toward Winchester
2. Take exit 310 for VA-37 toward US-11/VA-642/ Winchester/ Kernstown/ US-50/ US-522/ Berkely Spgs/ Romney (0.2 mi)
3. Turn left at VA-37 N (5.2 mi)
4. Take the US-50 ramp to Winchester/ Romney (0.3 mi)
5. Turn right at US-50 E/ Amherst St (0.5 mi)
6. Turn left at Omps Dr, Continue to entrance of the Church`s parking lot (100 ft)
7. Turn left into the Church`s parking lot.

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins