St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Publish Date: 2025-07-20
Bulletin Contents

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St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (860) 956-7586
  • Street Address:

  • 433 Fairfield Avenue

  • Hartford, CT 06114


Contact Information




Services Schedule

Sundays: Orthros (Matins): 8:30 AM | Divine Liturgy: 9:30 AM

 

 


Past Bulletins


Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 109.4,1.
You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Verse: The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies my footstool.

The reading is from St. James' Universal Letter 5:10-20.

BRETHREN, take as an example of suffering and patience the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we call those happy who were steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be no, that you may not fall under condemnation. Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. Elijah was a man of like nature with ourselves and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit. My brethren, if any one among you wanders from the truth and some one brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Προκείμενον. First Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 109.4,1.
Σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδέκ.
Στίχ. Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τῷ Κυρίῳ μου΄ Κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθροὺς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Ἰακώβου 5:10-20.

Ἀδελφοί, ὑπόδειγμα λάβετε, ἀδελφοί μου, τῆς κακοπαθείας, καὶ τῆς μακροθυμίας, τοὺς προφήτας οἳ ἐλάλησαν τῷ ὀνόματι κυρίου. Ἰδού, μακαρίζομεν τοὺς ὑπομένοντας· τὴν ὑπομονὴν Ἰὼβ ἠκούσατε, καὶ τὸ τέλος κυρίου ἴδετε, ὅτι πολύσπλαγχνός ἐστιν καὶ οἰκτίρμων. Πρὸ πάντων δέ, ἀδελφοί μου, μὴ ὀμνύετε, μήτε τὸν οὐρανόν, μήτε τὴν γῆν, μήτε ἄλλον τινὰ ὅρκον· ἤτω δὲ ὑμῶν τὸ ναί, ναί, καὶ τὸ οὔ, οὔ· ἵνα μὴ εἴς ὑπὸκρίσιν πέσητε. Κακοπαθεῖ τις ἐν ὑμῖν; Προσευχέσθω. Εὐθυμεῖ τις; Ψαλλέτω. Ἀσθενεῖ τις ἐν ὑμῖν; Προσκαλεσάσθω τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους τῆς ἐκκλησίας, καὶ προσευξάσθωσαν ἐπʼ αὐτόν, ἀλείψαντες αὐτὸν ἐλαίῳ ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ κυρίου· καὶ ἡ εὐχὴ τῆς πίστεως σώσει τὸν κάμνοντα, καὶ ἐγερεῖ αὐτὸν ὁ κύριος· κἂν ἁμαρτίας ᾖ πεποιηκώς, ἀφεθήσεται αὐτῷ. Ἐξομολογεῖσθε ἀλλήλοις τὰ παραπτώματα, καὶ εὔχεσθε ὑπὲρ ἀλλήλων, ὅπως ἰαθῆτε. Πολὺ ἰσχύει δέησις δικαίου ἐνεργουμένη. Ἠλίας ἄνθρωπος ἦν ὁμοιοπαθὴς ἡμῖν, καὶ προσευχῇ προσηύξατο τοῦ μὴ βρέξαι· καὶ οὐκ ἔβρεξεν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐνιαυτοὺς τρεῖς καὶ μῆνας ἕξ. Καὶ πάλιν προσηύξατο, καὶ ὁ οὐρανὸς ὑετὸν ἔδωκεν, καὶ ἡ γῆ ἐβλάστησεν τὸν καρπὸν αὐτῆς. Ἀδελφοί, ἐάν τις ἐν ὑμῖν πλανηθῇ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀληθείας, καὶ ἐπιστρέψῃ τις αὐτόν, γινωσκέτω ὅτι ὁ ἐπιστρέψας ἁμαρτωλὸν ἐκ πλάνης ὁδοῦ αὐτοῦ σώσει ψυχὴν ἐκ θανάτου, καὶ καλύψει πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν.


Gospel Reading

6th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 9:1-8

At that time, getting into a boat Jesus crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say 'Rise and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" he then said to the paralytic -- "Rise, take up your bed and go home." And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

6th Sunday of Matthew
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 9:1-8

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐμβὰς εἰς πλοῖον διεπέρασε καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν πόλιν. Καὶ ἰδοὺ προσέφερον αὐτῷ παραλυτικὸν ἐπὶ κλίνης βεβλημένον· καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν εἶπε τῷ παραλυτικῷ· θάρσει, τέκνον· ἀφέωνταί σοι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου. καὶ ἰδού τινες τῶν γραμματέων εἶπον ἐν ἑαυτοῖς· οὗτος βλασφημεῖ. καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τὰς ἐνθυμήσεις αὐτῶν εἶπεν· ἵνα τί ὑμεῖς ἐνθυμεῖσθε πονηρὰ ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν; τί γάρ ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν, ἀφέωνταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, ἢ εἰπεῖν, ἔγειρε καὶ περιπάτει; ἵνα δὲ εἰδῆτε ὅτι ἐξουσίαν ἔχει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας - τότε λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ· ἐγερθεὶς ἆρόν σου τὴν κλίνην καὶ ὕπαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου. καὶ ἐγερθεὶς ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ. ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ ὄχλοι ἐθαύμασαν καὶ ἐδόξασαν τὸν Θεὸν τὸν δόντα ἐξουσίαν τοιαύτην τοῖς ἀνθρώποις.


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal First Mode

Let us worship the Word, O ye faithful, praising Him that with the Father and the Spirit is co-beginningless God, Who was born of a pure Virgin that we all be saved; for He was pleased to mount the Cross in the flesh that He assumed, accepting thus to endure death. And by His glorious rising, He also willed to resurrect the dead.
Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύματι, τὸν ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθέντα εἰς σωτηρίαν ἡμῶν, ἀνυμνήσωμεν πιστοὶ καὶ προσκυνήσωμεν, ὅτι ηὐδόκησε σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ, καὶ θάνατον ὑπομεῖναι, καὶ ἐγεῖραι τοὺς τεθνεῶτας, ἐν τῇ ἐνδόξῳ Ἀναστάσει αὐτοῦ.

Apolytikion for Prophet Elias in the Fourth Mode

The incarnate Angel, and the Prophets' summit and boast, the second forerunner of the coming of Christ our God, Elias, the glorious, from above sent down his grace upon Elisseus; he doth cast out sickness and doth also cleanse lepers; and unto all that honour him, he poureth forth streams of cures.
Ὁ ένσαρκος άγγελος, τών Προφητών η κρηπίς, ο δεύτερος Πρόδρομος τής παρουσίας Χριστού, Ηλίας ο ένδοξος, άνωθεν καταπέμψας, Ελισαίω τήν χάριν, νόσους αποδιώκει, καί λεπρούς καθαρίζει, διό καί τοίς τιμώσιν αυτόν βρύει ιάματα.

Apolytikion for the Church 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.

Ως τών αιχμαλώτων ελευθερωτής, καί τών πτωχών υπερασπιστής, ασθενούντων ιατρός, βασιλέων υπέρμαχος, τροπαιοφόρε μεγαλομάρτυς Γεώργιε, πρέσβευε Χριστώ τώ Θεώ, σωθήναι τάς ψυχάς ημών.

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.
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This Week at the Cathedral

Today at the Cathedral:

We welcome all newcomers to our Cathedral and are glad you are here!  Please join us after Liturgy in the Social Hall; we would love to get to know you!

Welcome Back Father George!

Memorial:

Dr. Athanasios (Arthur) Harovas, 1 year

Trisagia:

Vasilios Papageorgiou, 6 years
Christos Raptelis, 1 year

Coffee and sweets are offered in memory of Dr. Athanasios (Arthur) Harovas.

This week at the Cathedral:

Tuesday, July 22nd
7pm - Parish Council Meeting

Announcements:     

Frozen, delicious Festival Moussaka trays are available for sale after services on Sundays - $50 plus the pan deposit - to order please call Dot Barry at 860-280-7750.

Canned Goods Drive
Please help us to help those in need!  It is our belief that food is a basic human right and that everyone should have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.  To this goal, we have marked receptacles in the lower entrance area for anyone who wishes to donate and help support the health and well-being of our local individuals and communities in need. (see flyer)

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Program for Girl Delegates to the United Nations is seeking high schoolers who are eager to engage in global diplomacy, advocate for gender equality, and represent the voices of Orthodox young women at the United Nations. Open to high school girls age 15 and up, this program provides a platform for young women to address issues related to the rights of girls around the world, their individual rights, and their beliefs at the United Nations.  Working in partnership with girl-focused organizations from around the world, their goal is to ensure that GOA Girl Delegates consistently participate in and contribute to UN events and advocacy efforts, both virtually and in person at the UN Headquarters in New York City.  Applications and further info can be found here:  https://www.goarch.org/-/applications-open-for-the-goarch-s-girl-delegates-to-the-united-nations%C2%A0program  The deadline for applications is August 4th.  (see flyer)

SAVE THE DATE: The Nathan Hale Chapter #58 of the Order of AHEPA will be holding their Centennial Gala on October 18th, 2025, celebrating 100 years of promoting Hellenism, education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, family and individual excellence through community service and volunteerism.  More information to come... (see flyer)

Stewardship Update
Thank you St. George parishioners for your generous 2025 Stewardship contributions of $132,712 as of 7/17/25. We are on our way to meeting our goal of $275,000!

In order to acknowledge our Stewardship contributors, we have been listing all Stewards who have made their 2025 contribution (partial or total) and we will update the listing every other week in the bulletin. Please note that stewardship contributions will need to be submitted by July 30th in order to be acknowledged in that week’s bulletin. If you have any questions, please contact Sooty Montanari at 860-402-5467 (text or call) or [email protected]

2025 Stewardship Contributers

Michelle Adamidis

Manousos Kavroudakis

Russell Patterson

Irene Alexis

Pandelis Kavroudakis

David Paul

John Alexopoulos

Stavros Kavroudakis

Hrisanthi Paul

Neke Alexopoulos

Waseem Khoury

Dimitri Perdikis

Nancy Anastasiades

Constance King

Theodora Perdikis

Andrew Andrews

Lora Klementon

Thalia Pergantis

Nicole Andrews

Marie Klementon

Peter Perrotta

Louis Antonio

Peter Klementon

Thomas Peters

Paraskeve Apostolidis

John Kokinis

Arthur Poly

Tsampika Apostolidis

Peter Kokinis

Athena Psaras

William Apostolidis

Priscilla Kokinis

Anna Rafti

Virginia Argiros

Priscilla Kokinis

Ektor Rafti

Angie Augustinos

Martha Konefal

Chrisoula Raptelis-Mack

Theodore Augustinos

Helena Kono

Dream Roldan

Dorothy Barry

Esmeralda Kore

Dr. James Rouman

Hope Battistine

Mimoza Kore

Marie Rozanitis

Kristina Beasley

Dorian Koruni

Elena Russo

Evangelia Bikakis

Fotiona Koruni

Jack Russo

Jason Bikakis

Maria Kostellis

John Sakoulos

Kostas Bikakis

Dimitra Kostopoulos

Maria Sakoulos

Michael Bikakis

Mary Kotiadis

Panagiotis Samiotis

Stella Bikakis

Alexander Koutmos

Savva Savvides

Voula Bikakis

Alexia Krionidou- Wing

Maria Scanlon

Kassiani Bisbikos

Debra Kurker

Gabriela Schumacher

Matina Bolger

Richard Kurker

Rita Scuris

Jim Bradley

Anastasia Kyprillis

John Sembrakis

George Calos

Giannis Kyprillis

Cynthia Lou Serbegis

Therese Calos

Andrew Kyriacou

Peter Serbegis

Patricia Caratasios

Elias Lake

Tolis Serbegis

Leonidas Charalambides

Marguerite Lake

Ferdinant & Esmeralda Shamo

Georgia D'Agoustino

Apostol Laske

Eleni Skouloudis

Nicholas Demetriadis

Annemarie Leaska

Christina Skouloudis-Marques

Catherine Deros

Joanne Lemnios-Knotts

Christina Smith

Jennifer Deros

Dimitrios Lergos

Peter Smith

Paula DeTuccio

John Lergos

Alexandra Spaniotis

Emmanuel Diacosavvas

Stergos Lergos

Harry Spaniotis

Socrates Diacosavvas

Triantafylla Lergos

Nicholas Spaniotis

Zoi Dikegoros

Helen Limnios

Tara Spaniotis

Christos Dimitrakopoulos

Kristiana E. Litts Chockey

Despina Spyros

Poly Dimitrakopoulos

Maria Litzendorf

George Spyros

Panagitois Emmanouilidis

Pat Loulakis-Paradis

Nicholas Stamboulis

Rhea Emmanuel

Staci Lynch (Antonio)

Tsambika Stamos

Stella Emmanuel

Marie Machado

Marianthi Statoulas

Mica Ensign

Dustin Mack

Nektaria Statoulas

Constantina Fas

Penny Makris

Nicholas Statoulas

Constantinos Fas

Perry K. Makris

Eleftheria Stavropoulos

Emmanuel Fas

Michael Malesta

Emmanuil Stergakis

Joseph Fazzino

Pauline Mantzaris

Edana Sullivan

Georgia Feigel

Chris Mantziaris

Kelsey Sullivan

Eleni Filintarakis

Marilyn Mantziaris

Maria Synodi

Mary Filintarakis

Sophia Marangoudakis

Maria (Kottas) Tackett

Georgia Fleming

Maria Matarangas

Maria K. Tougas

Alexa Fleury -Melonopoulos

Ariana McClean

Demetrios Triantafylidis

Patricia Fluet

Mary Meggie

Penelope Triantafylidis

Scott Fluet

Sofia Melabianakis

James Triarhos

Efrosini Gavrilis

Emmannuel Meleounis

George Troullas

Cornelia Georgantas

Konstantinos Meleounis

Maria Troullas

Evangelos Giannakopoulos

Michael Meleounis

Maria Tsiknis Gemme

Margaret Giannakopoulos

Stella Meleounis

Nitsa Tsipouras

Elizabeth Giannaros

Helen Melonopoulos

Panagiotis Tsipouras

Elliot Giese

John K. Menoutis

Vasilios Tsipouras

Maria Haldezos

Rania Menoutis

John Tyropolis

Panagiotis Haldezos

James Mermegas

Sideroula Tyropolis

Margarita Haldous Galey

Argereos Mermegas Jr

Stephanie Uccello

Peter Hantzos

Maria Mintatos

Angie Varlas

Vangjel Hoda

Sotoria Montanari

Elaina Varunes

Zoja Hoda

Olga Nako

Melitsa Vasilakis

Sean Howard

Vera Nako

Kaliopi Venoutsos

Anna Illescas

Tina Newman

Brianna Violano

Alexandra Ingrassia

Tony Newman

George Vlahopoulos

George Johns

Terry Nezames

Joanna Vlahopoulos

Pamela Johnson

John Nisyrios

Ethel Vounatso-Nowacki

Ioanna Kalas

Pandelis Nisyrios

Andrew Walsh

Christina Kaliff

Themalina Nisyrios

Catherine Walsh

Alexia R Kalogianes

Anastasia Nisyrios-Clark

Kevin Ward

Anna Kanaras

Constantina Nisyrios-Colt

Christine White

John Kanaras

Anesti Nova

Paige Wolfe

Stillani ( Stella) Kanaris

Julia Tsaoussis Odell

Stephen Wolfe

Andreas Kapetanopoulos

Antonios Orsaris

Parthena Yaakob

Sophie Kapetanopoulos

Erini Orsaris

Gregory Yatrousis

Joanne Karabetsos

Katholiki Orsaris

Lazaros Yiannos

Kostas Karabetsos

David Pagan

Georgia Zafiris

William Karabetsos

Nicholas Paindiris

James Zafiris

Dennis Karageanis

Dorothy Paleologos

Mary Zafiris

George Karageorge

Martha Pangakis

Theodore Zafiris

Maria Karagiannis

Denise Panos

Damien Zaharis

Mercourios Karagiannis

Paul Panos

Stephanie Zaharis

Savas Karagiannis

Anita Papadimitrakopoulos

Vasilios Zaharis

Vasilia Karagiannis

Helen Papadogiannis

Stephanie Zapatka

Anastasia Karayanis

Marguerita Papageorge

Dr. Constantine Zariphes

Phyllis Karayanis

Savas Papageorge

Emmanuel Zervos

Stacy Kardos

Asimina Papageorgiou

Kathryn Zervos

Evangelos Karelas

Clarence Papanic

Eugenia Zessos

Konstantinos Kasolis

Maria Papapanos

Mary Zocco

Persefone Kasolis

Paraskevi Papastamatious

Josh Zup

Eleni Kavros

Dr. Tania Papayannopoulou

Yasmi Zup

Anastasia Kavroudakis

Katie Patterson

Erica Zup- Baloga

 

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Flyers

    Canned Goods Drive

    Canned Goods Drive

    Please help us to help those in need! It is our belief that food is a basic human right and that everyone should have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. To this goal, we have marked receptacles in the lower entrance area for anyone who wishes to donate and help support the health and well-being of our local individuals and communities in need.


    GOA Program for Girl Delegates to the UN

    GOA Program for Girl Delegates to the UN

    The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Program for Girl Delegates to the United Nations is seeking high schoolers who are eager to engage in global diplomacy, advocate for gender equality, and represent the voices of Orthodox young women at the United Nations. Open to high school girls age 15 and up, this program provides a platform for young women to address issues related to the rights of girls around the world, their individual rights, and their beliefs at the United Nations. Working in partnership with girl-focused organizations from around the world, their goal is to ensure that GOA Girl Delegates consistently participate in and contribute to UN events and advocacy efforts, both virtually and in person at the UN Headquarters in New York City. Applications and further info can be found here: https://www.goarch.org/-/applications-open-for-the-goarch-s-girl-delegates-to-the-united-nations%C2%A0program The deadline for applications is August 4th.


    AHEPA Centennial Gala Save the Date

    AHEPA Centennial Gala Save the Date

    The Nathan Hale Chapter #58 of the Order of AHEPA will be holding their Centennial Gala on October 18th, 2025, celebrating 100 years of promoting Hellenism, education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, family and individual excellence through community service and volunteerism. More information to come...


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Saints and Feasts

July 20

6th Sunday of Matthew


July 20

The Glorious Prophet Elias (Elijah)

Elias of great fame was from Thisbe or Thesbe, a town of Galaad (Gilead), beyond the Jordan. He was of priestly lineage, a man of a solitary and ascetical character, clothed in a mantle of sheep skin, and girded about his loins with a leathern belt. His name is interpreted as "Yah is my God." His zeal for the glory of God was compared to fire, and his speech for teaching and rebuke was likened unto a burning lamp. From this too he received the name Zealot. Therefore, set aflame with such zeal, he sternly reproved the impiety and lawlessness of Ahab and his wife Jezebel. He shut up heaven by means of prayer, and it did not rain for three years and six months. Ravens brought him food for his need when, at God's command, he was hiding by the torrent of Horrath. He multiplied the little flour and oil of the poor widow of Sarephtha of Sidon, who had given him hospitality in her home, and when her son died, he raised him up. He brought down fire from Heaven upon Mount Carmel, and it burned up the sacrifice offered to God before all the people of Israel, that they might know the truth. At the torrent of Kisson, he slew 450 false prophets and priests who worshipped idols and led the people astray. He received food wondrously at the hand of an Angel, and being strengthened by this food he walked for forty days and forty nights. He beheld God on Mount Horeb, as far as this is possible for human nature. He foretold the destruction of the house of Ahab, and the death of his son Ohozias; and as for the two captains of fifty that were sent by the king, he burned them for their punishment, bringing fire down from Heaven. He divided the flow of the Jordan, and he and his disciple Elisseus passed through as it were on dry land; and finally, while speaking with him, Elias was suddenly snatched away by a fiery chariot in the year 895 B.C., and he ascended as though into heaven, whither God most certainly translated him alive, as He did Enoch (Gen. 5:24; IV Kings 2: 11). But from thence also, after seven years, by means of an epistle he reproached Joram, the son of Josaphat, as it is written: "And there came a message in writing to him from Elias the Prophet, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the way," and so forth (II Chron. 21:12). According to the opinion of the majority of the interpreters, this came to pass either through his disciple Elisseus, or through another Prophet when Elias appeared to them, even as he appeared on Mount Tabor to the disciples of Christ (see Aug. 6).


July 20

Synaxis of the Russians who were perfected in France: Protopresbyter Alexios Mednedkov, Presbyter Dimitrii Klepinin, Mother Maria Skobtsova, her son Yuri Skobtsov, and Ilia Fondaminskii


July 20

Mother Maria Skobtsova, New-Martyr of France

Saint Maria Skobtsova of Paris lived a life devoted to serving the poor and the marginalized. She was born Elizaveta Pilenko in 1891 in Riga, Latvia to devout Russian Orthodox parents. Her father died when she was fourteen, and her grief led her to atheism. As a young teenager she became involved in the socialist and intellectual circles in St. Petersburg. By eighteen she was a published poet and married to a Bolshevik. Her desire to actively serve the needy - more than simply discuss social change - led her back to a faith in Christ. She then became the first woman accepted to study at the Theological Academy of the Alexander Nevsky Monastery in St. Petersburg.

After the Bolshevik Revolution, she was elected Mayor of Anapa but had to flee Russia for Paris in 1923. Elizaveta was inspired to devote her life completely to serving the poor after her daughter, Nastia, died of meningitis in 1926. After her second marriage ended in 1932, Metropolitan Evlogii of Paris tonsured her a nun with the name Maria and blessed her to live a "monasticism in the world" devoted to social service.

Initially devoted to the Russian emigres in Paris, she founded a sanatorium along with homes to serve single mothers, families, and single men. By 1937, 120 dinners were served each day. Much of the work she did herself: begging for food, cooking the soup, and even embroidering the icons for their chapel.

By 1942, Maria's work turned to assisting the Jewish population. She helped Father Dimitri Klepinin issue fake baptismal certificates for Jews that came to their aide. In a mass arrest in July of that year, 12,884 Jews were taken to a sports stadium before being transferred to Auschwitz. Maria spent three days visiting the prisoners, bringing them food, and even rescuing some of the children by smuggling them out in trash cans. She also aided Jews in escaping to Southern France which was unoccupied by the Nazis.

Maria was arrested in February, 1943, and was sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp in Germany. For two years, she raised the spirits of her fellow prisoners, helping them remember their human dignity. She led discussion groups on literature, history, and theology, despite her weakening health. On March 31, 1945, a short time before the camp was rescued, Saint Maria was taken to the gas chambers; some prisoners say she took the place of a fellow Jewish prisoner.

On January 18th, 2004, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate recognized Mother Maria Skobtsova as a saint along with her three fellow workers who also died in German concentration camps: her son Yuri, Fr. Dimitri Klepinin, and Ilya Fondaminsky. They are all commemorated in the Orthodox Church on July 20th.


July 22

Mary Magdalene, Myrrhberer & Equal-to-the-Apostles

Saint Mary was from Magdala in Galilee on the Sea of Tiberias, and for this was named Magdalene. When the Lord Jesus cast out seven demons from her, from which she had been suffering, she became His faithful and inseparable disciple, following Him and ministering unto Him even to the time of His crucifixion and burial. Then, returning to Jerusalem together with the rest of the Myrrh-bearers, she prepared the fragrant spices for anointing the body of the Lord. And on the Lord's day they came very early to the tomb, even before the Angels appeared declaring the Resurrection of the Lord. When Mary Magdalene saw the stone taken away from the tomb, she ran and proclaimed it to Peter and John. And returning immediately to the tomb and weeping outside, she was deemed worthy to be the first of the Myrrh-bearers to behold the Lord arisen from the dead, and when she fell at His feet, she heard Him say, "Touch Me not." After the Lord's Ascension, nothing certain is known concerning her. Some accounts say that she went to Rome and later returned to Jerusalem, and from there proceeded to Ephesus, where she ended her life, preaching Christ. Although it is sometimes said that Saint Mary Magdalene was the "sinful woman" of the Gospel, this is nowhere stated in the tradition of the Church, in the sacred hymnology, or in the Holy Gospels themselves, which say only that our Lord cast seven demons out of her, not that she was a fallen woman. "Madeleine" is a form of Magdalene.


July 22

Markella, the Virgin-martyr of Chios

Saint Markella was born in the 14th century on the island of Chios and was the daughter of the mayor of her town. She was raised in the Christian faith by pious parents, but lost her mother at a young age. This was especially difficult for her father who fell into depression. The young Markella was devoted to Christ and strove to preserve her virginity, fighting off numerous temptations from the Devil. Seeing he could make no progress with Markella, the Evil One turned his attention to her father, and enflamed within him an unnatural lust for his daughter.

One day he declared his desire for her at which she ran away in tears and fear. Arriving at the edge of the water and with nowhere to run, a rock opened up for Markella to enter so that her lower half could be enclosed within the rock. When her father arrived in pursuit of her, he was furious to have been deprived of his desire and beheaded his daughter there. The miraculous rock remains on Chios in the church dedicated to Saint Markella the Virgin-Martyr and is said to spring healing waters.


July 23

Ezekiel the Prophet

The Prophet Ezekiel ("God is strong") was the son of Buzi and a priest by rank. He was taken captive and brought to Babylon during the reign of Jechonias. In the fifth year of this captivity, about 594 or 593 B.C., he began to prophesy. Having prophesied for about twenty-eight years, he was murdered, it is said, by the tribe of Gad, because he reproached them for their idolatry. His book of prophecy, divided into forty-eight chapters, is ranked third among the greater Prophets. It is richly filled with mystical imagery and marvelous prophetic visions and allegories, of which the dread Chariot of Cherubim described in the first Chapter is the most famous; in the "gate that was shut," through which the Lord alone entered, he darkly foretold of the Word's Incarnation from the Virgin (44:1-3); through the "dry bones" that came to life again (37:1-14), he prophesied both of the restoration of captive Israel, and the general resurrection of our race.


July 23

The Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos of Pochaev

The Icon of the Mother of God of Pochaev - Metropolitan Neophytus, a bishop belonging to the see of Constantinople, was traveling through Volhynia in Ukraine where he was given hospitality by a pious woman, Anna Goyskaya. The bishop gave this woman an icon of the holy Theotokos, which began to work miracles, including the healing of her blind brother. In 1597 the icon was given to the monks residing in Pochaev near the border of Galicia, where the Mother of God had appeared in 1340, leaving an imprint of her footprint in the rock, from which a stream gushed forth. In 1675 when the Lavra of Pochaev was besieged by the Moslem Turks, it was saved by the miraculous intervention of the Mother of God through her wonderworking icon. Even though the Lavra of Pochaev came into Uniate hands for over a century, miracles continued to be worked through the holy icon. Since its return to the Orthodox Catholic Church in 1831, the icon has been a grace-bestowing support for Orthodox Christians, especially those in western Ukraine and the Carpathian region.


July 23

Icon of the Mother of God

The Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All That Sorrow" - As with so many other icons of the Theotokos, wonderworking copies of this icon have been found throughout Orthodox Russia, each with its own history and moving collection of miracles. In this icon, the most holy Mother of God is depicted standing full stature sometimes with, sometimes without the Divine Child in her arms; she is surrounded by all manner of the sick and the suffering, to whom Angels of the Lord bear gifts of mercy, consolation, and suitable aid from the most holy Theotokos. The icon "Joy of all that Sorrow" was inspired by the hymn of the same name; see page 222 in Great Compline. Through one copy of this icon, the sister of Patriarch Joachim was healed at the end of the seventeenth century in Moscow, from which time the feast was established. Another copy of the icon was found in Saint Petersburg; on July 23, 1888, during the severe thunderstorm, lightning struck a chapel at a glass factory, burning the interior walls of the church, but leaving the icon unsinged. From the violent disturbance of the air, the icon was knocked to the floor, the poor-box broke open, and twelve copper coins adhered to the icon in various places; afterwards many miracles were worked by the grace of the holy icon.


July 24

Christina the Great Martyr of Tyre

Saint Christina was from Tyre in Syria, the daughter of a pagan named Urban. Enlightened in her heart to believe in Christ, she broke her father's idols, made of gold and silver, and distributed the pieces to the poor. When her father learned this, he punished her ruthlessly, then cast her into prison. The rulers subjected her to imprisonments, hunger, torments, the cutting off of her breasts and tongue, and finally impalement, in the year 200, during the reign of the Emperor Septimius Severus.


July 25

Dormition of St. Anna, mother of the Theotokos

According to tradition, Anna, the ancestor of God, lived for sixty-nine years, and her spouse Joachim, for eighty; according to one account, Saint Joachim died two years before Saint Anna. The Theotokos had been orphaned of both her parents already when she was eleven years of age, when she was living in the Temple (see Sept. 8 and Nov. 21). Saint Anna is invoked for conceiving children, and for help in difficult childbirth.


July 26

Paraskevi the Righteous Martyr of Rome

Saint Paraskeve, who was from a certain village near Rome, was born to pious parents, Agatho and Politia. Since she was born on a Friday (in Greek, Paraskeve), she was given this name, which means "preparation" or "preparedness" (compare Matt. 27:62, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54, and John 19:31, where 'Friday' is called "the day of the preparation"). From childhood she was instructed in the sacred letters and devoted herself to the study of the divine Scriptures, while leading a monastic life and guiding many to the Faith of Christ. During the reign of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, she was apprehended because she was a Christian and was urged to worship the idols, but she answered with the words of Jeremias: "Let the gods that have not made heaven and the earth perish from off the earth" (Jer. 10:11). Because of this she endured exceedingly painful torments, and was beheaded in the year 140. The faithful pray to her for the healing of eye ailments.


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