Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-03-30
Bulletin Contents
Links
Memorials & Prayers
Updates
Calendar
Save the Date
Flyers
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Saints and Feasts

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Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (760) 942-0920
  • Fax:
  • (760) 942-3603
  • Street Address:

  • 3459 Manchester Ave. #32

  • Cardiff-By-The-Sea, CA 92007

Contact Information

Proistamenos: Rev. Fr. Michael Sitaras


[email protected] | 760-942-0920

2nd Priest: Rev. Fr. Angelo Maginas


[email protected] | 760-942-0920

Parish Council President: Spiro Kailas


858-699-5953

Services Schedule

SUNDAYS

8:30AM  Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

 

WEEKDAYS/SATURDAYS

8:30AM  Orthros

9:30AM Divine Liturgy

 

Past Bulletins


Links

You may follow the text of the service on your smartphone using the Digital Chant Stand app, or follow online 

For the livestream on Facebook search for @stsconstantinehelenCardiff or use this link, facebook.com/stsconstantinehelenCardiff/.  You may also watch the livestream on our website, https://www.stsconstantinehelen.com/.

 

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Memorials & Prayers

Memorials

No memorials today.

Prayers

Peter and Lydia Chaconas, Patricia Karetas, Vasil Karounos, Litsa Mitchell, Marianne McDonald, Angele Lorio, Victoria Benzel, Daphne Triphon, George Gillespie, Becky Stathes Parks Snell, Mary Garbis,  Georgia Vourlitis, Katherine Rovos, Nora Paltadakis, Aphrodite Sacorafas, Cynthia Sacorafas, Susan Comitas, Helen Theofan, Nikki Cozakos, Desiree Plagis, Kelee Tsitsikaos, Michael L. Pappas, Vasillos Gavrilos, Emmanuel Stamos (Hatzimanolis), Maria Stamos (Hatzimanolis), Vassili Stamos (Hatizimanolis), Amalia Wadsworth, Paula Elliott, Alexandra Tzatzalos,  Maria Alexandrovna Pavlova, Ron Potts,  Espe Reyes, Nasia Ampelas, Connie Moulios, Chris Panagos, Harry Chris Karnazes, Mary Karnazes, Peter Stacy, Al Wadsworth, Carol Robinson, Derek Miller, Anelia Delcheva, Nancy Gilbert, Toula Panos, Zoey Lavdas, Sofia Osborne, Pamela Potts, Anastasia Proesel, and Venetia, Triantafilia, Angela Guarino, Shelby Shinkle, James Conigliaro, Michael Horgan, Despina Perakis, Yianni Perakis, George Theodosiou, Rosemarie  De Rosa, Pablo Rodriguez. If you would like to add someone to the prayer list, please contact the office.

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Updates

ANNOUNCEMENTS

EPISTLE READERS: Maria Goudamanis in Greek. Christy Goudamanis in English.

PROSFORON OFFERED BY:  Aimilia Mannasakis and Christine Dorudian .

SUNDAY SCHOOL:  Students (with their families) and teachers should come forward first for Communion, then proceed downstairs for Sunday School classes.

COMMUNION: The newly baptized/chrismated should come forward first.  Everyone else please wait until your row is called by the Parish Council.  If you wish to receive a blessing only, please come forward when your row is called for Communion and ask for a blessing when you approach the Priest.  Communion is offered to Orthodox Christians who are baptized/chrismated in the Orthodox faith, who are in good standing, and who are prepared to receive the Holy Gifts.  

FELLOWSHIP HOSTED BY:  Ahepa Hosting Greek Independence Day Celebration. Lenten Lunch will be provided! . Please join us in Pappas Hall after church.


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Calendar

  • This Week

    March 16 to April 13, 2025

    Sunday, March 16

    Prison Ministry Book Drive 3/16-4/21

    Sunday, March 30

    8:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:45AM Choir Rehearsal

    12:00PM Ahepa Sponsored Luncheon for Greek Independence Day - Pappas Hall

    Monday, March 31

    4:00PM Greek School - Children Lvl A

    4:00PM Greek School - Children Lvl B/C

    6:30PM Great Compline Service

    6:30PM Greek School - Adult Beginners

    6:30PM Pacific Coast Harmony - Rehearsal

    Tuesday, April 1

    9:00AM Silent Prayer

    10:30AM Bible Study with Fr Michael

    6:30PM Daughters of Penelope/AHEPA Meetings

    Wednesday, April 2

    8:30AM Grauer school visit

    12:00PM FOCUS Outreach Meal Prep & Delivery - Pappas Hall Kitchen

    6:30PM Presanctified Liturgy

    6:30PM Greek School - Adult Beginners

    7:00PM Scout Troop 2000 - Pappas Hall

    Thursday, April 3

    10:00AM Prime Timers outing @ Carlsbad Flower Fields

    Friday, April 4

    SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GOYA LENTEN RETREAT

    6:30PM Akathist Hymn

    Saturday, April 5

    2:00PM The Chosen Movie Outing Part 2 (Season 5 Episodes 3 through 5)

    6:00PM Men’s Group Shrimpfest - Pappas Hall Patio

    Sunday, April 6

    YOUTH SUNDAY

    8:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM Memorial

    11:45AM Choir Rehearsal

    12:00PM Youth Prayer Beads Crafts - Pappas Hall

    12:30PM Hoops & Holy Week

    12:30PM Orthodoxy 101 - Holy Week & Paschal Tradition - Conference Room

    12:30PM Myrrhbearer Tea - After Liturgy

    Monday, April 7

    4:00PM Greek School - Children Lvl A

    4:00PM Greek School - Children Lvl B/C

    6:30PM Greek School - Adult Beginners

    6:30PM Pacific Coast Harmony - Rehearsal

    7:00PM Scout Troop 2000 - Conference Room

    Tuesday, April 8

    9:00AM Silent Prayer

    10:30AM Bible Study with Fr Michael

    6:15PM Youth Board Meeting *rescheduled due to Holy Week*

    6:30PM Philoptochos Board Meeting

    Wednesday, April 9

    6:30PM Presanctified Liturgy

    6:30PM Greek School - Adult Beginners

    7:00PM Scout Troop 2000 - Pappas Hall

    Thursday, April 10

    9:00AM Thursday Baking Group

    6:00PM Young Adult Ministry - Game Night at the Church - Pappas Hall

    Friday, April 11

    Pappas Hall RESERVED *Setup for Palm Sunday Luncheon

    6:30PM Retreat #2 Lenten Lock In - GOYA

    Saturday, April 12

    Saturday of Lazarus - Pancakes and Palms (Breakfast hosted by S.S. staff and families; following breakfast, assist with making palm crosses) Phillips Center)

    8:30AM Saturday of Lazarus Orthros

    9:30AM Saturday of Lazarus Liturgy

    7:15PM The Chosen Movie Outing Part 3 (Season 5 Episodes 6 through 8)

    Sunday, April 13

    8:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Palm Sunday (Procession)

    11:45AM Choir Rehearsal

    12:00PM Palm Sunday Luncheon - Pappas Hall

    6:30PM First Bridegroom Service

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Save the Date

  • Sun Mar 16 - Apr 21 Philoptochos Prison Ministry Book Drive!
  • NOW - Apr 11 Vote for Cardiff Greek Festival in The Best of North County 2025 Contest! Vote daily at http://www.votenorthcounty.com/ Click on Things to Do, Annual Event/Festival, Cardiff Greek Festival.
  • Sat Apr 5 The Chosen Movie Theater Outing Part 2 (Season 5 Episodes 3 through 5) 2:15 pm 
  • Sat Apr 5 Men's Group Shimpfest - Pappas Hall Patio - 6:00 pm
  • Sun Apr 6 Hoops & Holy Week - After Liturgy - Outside on Basketball court 
  • Sun Apr 6 Myrrhbearer Tea - After Liturgy - Pappas Hall
  • Thu Apr 10 Young Adult Ministry - Game Night - Pappas Hall - 6:00 pm - Contact Eva Marie for more: (858) 353-5737
  • Fri Apr 11 Retreat #2 Lenten Lock In - GOYA (Overnight event) Starting at 5:00 pm *Deatils forthcoming
  • Sat Apr 12 Saturday of Lazarus: Orthros - 8:30 am Liturgy - 9:30 am
  • Sat Apr 12 Saturday of Lazarus - Pancakes and Palms (Breakfast hosted by Sunday School) Phillips center
  • Sat Apr 12 The Chosen - The Last Supper Movie Theater Outing Part 3 (Season 5 Episodes 6 through 8) 7:15 pm 
  • Sun Apr 13 Palm Sunday: Orthros - 8:30 am  Liturgy - 10:00 am Bridegroom Service - 6:30 pm
  • Sun Apr 13 Palm Sunday Luncheon - Pappas Hall - After Liturgy - 12:30 pm
  • Mon Apr 14 Holy Monday -  Bridegroom Service - 6:30 pm
  • Tue Apr 15 Holy Tuesday - Bridegroom Service - 6:30 pm
  • Wed Apr 16 Holy Wednesday: Presanctified Liturgy - 9:30 am - Holy Unction - 5:00 pm
  • Thu Apr 17 Holy Thursday: Vesperal Liturgy - 9:30 am - Twelve Gospels Service - 6:30 pm
  • Fri Apr 18 Holy Friday - Office closed
  • Fri Apr 18 Morning Hours -8:30 am-Removal From Cross -11:00 am -Lamentations -6:30 pm
  • Fri Apr 18 Lenten Retreat #3 - Following Royal Hours service, we will have activities along with a Lenten lunch!
  • Sat Apr 19 Holy Saturday - Liturgy - 9:30 am Pre Resurrection/ Pascha Service - 10:30 pm
  • Sun Apr 20 Easter Sunday - Agape Vespers - 11:00 am Agape Easter Picnic - 12:30 pm on the church grove
  • Wed Apr 23 Saint George - Orthros - 8:30 am Liturgy - 9:30 am
  • Fri Apr 25 Theotokos of the Life Giving Spring - Orthros - 8:30 am Liturgy - 9:30 am
  • Sun Apr 27 Dance & Choral ministry announces elections for 2025. You DO NOT have to have a current dancer or singer to sit on the board. Anyone interested in helping guide the ministry and shape its future is encouraged to complete an application for candidacy. All applications must be submitted NO later than April 15. Elections will be held on April 27, following liturgy. The new board will take over on June 1. If you are interested please submit your application: https://forms.gle/jP9mRESAPDRr1BvN8If you can't make the elections? Request an absentee ballot: [email protected]
  • Sun Apr 27 Philoptochos Kids n’ Cancer - Newport Country Club - 2:00 pm
  • Sun May 4 FESTIVAL KICKOFF MEETING - We are back! See you in Pappas Hall - After service
  • Sun May 4 DOP Dove Memorials
  • Mon May 5-7 2025 Clergy - Laity Assembly - Saint Nicholas Ranch
  • Tue May 13 Bible Study w/ Fr. Michael resumes. Weekly at 10:30 am (zoom)
  • Sun May 18 Altar Boy Reunion
  • Sun May 18 Spring Parish General Assembly - Pappas Hall - After Liturgy
  • Sun May 18 Philoptochos Board Elections - Pappas Hall - After Liturgy
  • Sat May 31 Taverna Night - Outside at church - 5:30 pm - Come for Greek music & dancing under the stars - Contact Dino for more [email protected]

SOME RECCURING MINISTRY MEETINGS & EVENTS:

  • BIBLE STUDY W/ FR MICHAEL: Tuesday's on Zoom - 10:30 am  (Unless canceled for a service or on break)
  • SILENT PRAYER: Every Tuesday in church - 9:30 am Contact John B for info (858) 480-6363
  • GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: Every third Sunday of the month - After Liturgy Contact George for more (760) 936-3042
  • FOCUS OUTREACH: Prep on the Sunday prior to the first Wednesday of every month -  Meal prep, packing, & delivery on the First Wednesday of the month. Contact Paulette A for how you can help (858) 333-1647
  • THURSDAY BAKING GROUP : Phillips Center Kitchen - 9:00 am Contact Toni for exact dates (619) 985-5509
  • YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY (YAL) *Ages 21-35: Contact Eva Marie for event dates (858) 353-5737 
  • GREEK SCHOOL: Classes for all ages & levels. Contact  Andreas or Dina for info (760) 331-7955 | (203) 988-6835
  • CARDIFF GREEK FESTIVAL:Contact Festival Chair Joe B or Tasia M for volunteer opportunities (619) 977-4725 | (760) 715-8217

 

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Flyers

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Seventh Mode

Thou didst abolish death by Thy Cross; Thou didst open Paradise to the thief; Thou didst transform the myrrh-bearers' lamentation, and didst bid Thine Apostles to preach that Thou art risen, O Christ God, granting great mercy to the world.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. John Climacus in the Eighth Mode

With the streams of thy tears, thou didst cultivate the barrenness of the desert; and by thy sighings from the depths,thou didst bear fruit a hundredfold in labours; and thou becamest a luminary, shining with miracles upon the world, O John our righteous Father. Intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Eighth Mode

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Seventh Mode. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 6:13-20.

BRETHREN, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. John Climacus
The Reading is from Mark 9:17-31

At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and saying: "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise."

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Wisdom of the Fathers

Seest thou how He now proceeds to lay beforehand in them the foundation of His doctrine about fasting? ... See, at any rate, how many blessings spring from them both. For he that is praying as he ought, and fasting, hath not many wants, and he that hath not many wants, cannot be covetous; ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

... he that is not covetous, will be also more disposed for almsgiving. He that fasts is light, and winged, and prays with wakefulness, and quenches his wicked lusts, and propitiates God, and humbles his soul when lifted up. Therefore even the apostles were almost always fasting.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

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Saints and Feasts

March 30

Sunday of St. John Climacus

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.

March 30

John Climacus the Righteous, author of The Divine Ladder of Ascent

This Saint gave himself over to the ascetical life from his early youth. Experienced both in the solitary life of the hermit and in the communal life of cenobitic monasticism, he was appointed Abbot of the Monastery at Mount Sinai and wrote a book containing thirty homilies on virtue. Each homily deals with one virtue, and progressing from those that deal with holy and righteous activity (praxis) unto those that deal with divine vision (theoria), they raise a man up as though by means of steps unto the height of Heaven. For this cause his work is called "The Ladder of Divine Ascent." The day he was made Abbot of Sinai, the Prophet Moses was seen giving commands to those who served at table. Saint John reposed in 603, at eighty years of age. See also the Fourth Sunday of the Fast.

March 30

Sosthenes, Apollos, Cephas, Caesar, & Epaphroditos, the Apostles of the 70

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