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Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2017-02-19
Bulletin Contents
Gospel and Epistle Readings
News & Upcoming Events
Saints and Feasts
Assembly of Bishops News
Hymns of the Day
Lastjudgement1
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Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (201) 652-4774 for emergencies: 201 870 2676
  • Fax:
  • (201) 652-0789
  • Street Address:

  • 467 Grandview Avenue

  • Wyckoff, NJ 07481

Contact Information

Reverend Basil C. Gikas
Pastor

frbill@stnicholasnj.org | 201 652 4774 ext. 12

Ms. Rula Thasites
Administrator

office@stnicholasnj.org | 201 652 4774 ext. 10

Services Schedule

 

Sundays in the fall, winter & spring:

Matins: 9 a.m. &  Divine Liturgy 10a.m. except during the summer

 

Summer hours for Sundays in July and August:

Matins: 8:30a.m.  & Divine Liturgy 9:30a.m.

Past Bulletins


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. 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 St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2.

Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Gospel Reading

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
The Reading is from Matthew 25:31-46

The Lord said, "When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

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News & Upcoming Events

     

 

Orthros:  9:00AM   

Epistle: I Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2  (pg. 1313)

Divine Liturgy  St. John Chrysostom: 10:00AM

Gospel:  Matthew  25:31-46 (pg. 1174) 

 

Acolytes:  Christopher Gasparis, Chris   Angelis, Alex Angelis, James Gougousis, Demetri Kotrokois, Nick Saros, Connor   O’Neill, Alexandros Christakos

 

Narthex: Jim Coromilas, Evans Agrapidis

 

 

 

Reader: George Bayiokos
 
  Greeter: Daughters of Penelope

 

Fellowship Hour: AHEPA

 

Ushers: Ann Barlas, Shelley Markoulis, Dimitri Markoulis,   Arthur Kominos

 

 

 
     

 

 

 

February 19, 2017              Judgment Sunday (Meatfare   Sunday)            

 

Office Closed:  The parish office will close tomorrow, Monday, February 20th in observance of Presidents’ Day.

 

 

 

Religious Education:  Today, Sunday, February 19th there are no Religious Education classes due to the Presidents Day weekend. We encourage all families to attend the Divine Liturgy together.

 

Looking ahead: Sunday, February 26th we observe Forgiveness Sunday or final day of Pre-Lent. The beginning of Great Lent or Clean Monday is Monday, February 27th. We are reminded we should begin Lent with good intentions, a desire to clean our spiritual house and it is a day of strict fasting.

 

 

 

Saturday of Souls:  The second Saturday of Souls will be observed this Saturday, February 25th.  Prayer forms are available at the pangari in the narthex. Your list of Baptismal first names of the departed will be prayed for at all Saturdays of Souls Services. Orthros will begin at 9:00am and Divine Liturgy at 10:00am.

 

 

 

Mortgage Burning Campaign:  Participate in making Saint Nicholas debt free! Pledge your contribution towards our goal of debt freedom. See insert.

 

 

 

“Candle Money”! The Parish Council authorized a pilot program that will provide a tax deduction record for your candle donations. Thanks to a parishioner, booklets of different denominations have been printed. These are available for purchase at the office or narthex on Sundays. The candle money comes in a $2 booklet of 25 for a cost of $50; a $5 booklet of 10 for a cost of $50; a $10 booklet of 15 for a cost of $150 and a $20 booklet of 5 for a cost of $100. The candle money can only be used for candle donations and any St. Nicholas of Wyckoff tray. It is non-refundable, must be used for its full value and cannot be used in exchange for cash.  We hope this will prove a convenience for all who make use of it.

 

 

 

Greek Dance:  The Junior and Senior GOYAN dance groups have been busy with their weekly practices and they are all doing a fantastic job working on traditional Greek dance steps. The GOYAN dance group has begun additional dance practices for the upcoming Sights and Sounds exhibition on March 4th, 2017, in Westfield, NJ. If you have any questions, please contact Christina Carmichael at christinatcarmichael@gmail.com or Diana Manoussakis at demn2003@msn.com.

 

 

 

 

 

For inspiration on the internet, start your day at MYOCN.NET - The Orthodox Christian Network

 

 

 

Save the Date!! On Sunday, March 12th, immediately following worship services, we will be hosting our annual Sights and Sounds Showcase. The GOYANs will be performing their dances, singing, and playing their instruments, showcasing their teamwork and talents, from the competition they participated in at the Sights and Sounds Event on March 4th, 2017 in Westfield, NJ. Additionally, various art pieces and other ‘sight’ pieces will also be on display, all created by our wonderful GOYANs.  We encourage all to attend this showcase, and support our wonderful and talented GOYANs! Don’t forget to bring your cameras!

 

 

 

GOYA Local  Oratorical Festival: We will hold our local Oratorical Festival on Wednesday evening March 22nd at 7:30pm (following the Lenten Meal and Pre sanctified Liturgy which begins at 5:30pm) participation in the Oratorical Festival is required of all GOYAns who wish to compete in the Metropolis of NJ Olympics this May. Contact Fr Bill at frbill@stnicholasnj.org

 

 

 

Sessions on Scripture: SOS meets this Wednesday, February 22nd at 2:00pm in the conference room. We will study Saint Paul’s letter to the Ephesians chapters 1-4. Contact Caroline Kalliotzis at ckalliotzis@aol.com or Fr. Bill at frbill@stnicholasnj.org for more info. The vibrant group has expanded as more of you have responded to the call to read, study and learn the living Word. All are welcome!  

 

 

 

AHEPA Ramapo Chapter #453: The Ramapo AHEPA Chapter 453 Membership Drive has begunand will continue next Sunday at the Fellowship Hall following the Divine Services. Stop at the AHEPA table to pick up membership forms and other promotional materials on the AHEPA Organization. For more information contact Paul Goulet Vice President of Ramapo Chapter #453 or email vicepresident@ahepa453.org

 

 

 

Saint Nicholas Charity Golf Classic: The 21st Saint Nicholas Charity Golf Classic will be held on Monday, June 19, 2017 at the Haworth Country Club in Haworth, NJ. 

 

 

 

Parish Stewardship by the Numbers:  Stewardship is composed of our personal offering of time, talent and treasure. Stewardship is not dues. Stewardship is based on Holy Scripture. Since time and talent offerings are more difficult to measure, one measurement of our response to God is our average “treasure” pledge per steward household. In 2016, we had 430 steward households that donated a total of $347,301 or 51% of our budgetary needs. To date in 2017, we have 203 steward households that have pledged a total of $200,910.

 

 

 

Saint Nicholas Benevolent Fund: Giving alms is an act of faith through good works. At this holy time of year you can assist a family or a person in need. You can donate anonymously to the Saint Nicholas Benevolent Fund. Mail your check in or drop it in the collection plate in our Narthex.   “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7). God bless you always for your open heart!

 

 

 

 

 

Judgment Sunday: Today’s observance is related to the reading of the Apocalyptic (End of Times) story from the Gospel at the Divine Liturgy. The Sunday of the Last Judgment is also known as Meatfare Sunday. This is the last Sunday that meat can be eaten before the Lenten fast begins. Dairy products are allowed on each day of this week, even Wednesday and Friday. The next Sunday is the Sunday of Cheesefare. It is the last day that dairy products can be eaten prior to the commencement of Great Lent. On the Saturday before this Sunday, the first of three Saturdays of the Souls are held. This is a special commemoration on this and the next two Saturdays, when the Church offers a Divine Liturgy and Memorial Service for the departed faithful. This is considered a universal commemoration of the dead. It is closely related to the theme of the Sunday of the Last Judgment since the services focus on the Second Coming of Christ and the resurrection of the dead. Through the memorial services, the Church is commending to God all who have departed, “fallen asleep in the Lord” and are awaiting the Last Judgment, the Resurrection of the Dead and the Life of the Age to Come.

 

 

 

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Saints and Feasts

Lastjudgement1
February 19

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)

The foregoing two parables -- especially that of the Prodigal Son -- have presented to us God's extreme goodness and love for man. But lest certain persons, putting their confidence in this alone, live carelessly, squandering upon sin the time given them to work out their salvation, and death suddenly snatch them away, the most divine Fathers have appointed this day's feast commemorating Christ's impartial Second Coming, through which we bring to mind that God is not only the Friend of man, but also the most righteous Judge, Who recompenses to each according to his deeds.

It is the aim of the holy Fathers, through bringing to mind that fearful day, to rouse us from the slumber of carelessness unto the work of virtue, and to move us to love and compassion for our brethren. Besides this, even as on the coming Sunday of Cheese-fare we commemorate Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight -- which exile is the beginning of life as we know it now -- it is clear that today's is reckoned the last of all feasts, because on the last day of judgment, truly, everything of this world will come to an end.

All foods, except meat and meat products, are allowed during the week that follows this Sunday.

Allsaint
February 19

The Holy Apostles of the Seventy Philemon, Apphia, Archippus, and Onesimus

Philemon, who was from Colossae, a city of Phrygia, was a man both wealthy and noble; Apphia was his wife. Archippus became Bishop of the Church in Colossae. All three were disciples of the Apostle Paul. Onesimus, who was formerly an unbeliever and slave of Philemon, stole certain of his vessels and fled to Rome. However, on finding him there, the Apostle Paul guided him onto the path of virtue and the knowledge of the truth, and sent him back to his master Philemon, to whom he wrote an epistle (this is one of the fourteen epistles of Saint Paul). In this epistle, Paul commended Onesimus to his master and reconciled the two. Onesimus was later made a bishop; in Greece he is honoured as the patron Saint of the imprisoned. All these Saints received their end by martyrdom, when they were stoned to death by the idolaters. Saint Onesimus is also commemorated on February 15.

Philothea
February 19

Philothei the Righteous Martyr of Athens

Saint Philothei was born in Athens in 1522 to an illustrious family. Against her will, she was married to a man who proved to be most cruel. When he died three years later, the Saint took up the monastic life and established a convent, in which she became a true mother to her disciples. Many women enslaved and abused by the Moslem Turks also ran to her for refuge. Because of this, the Turkish rulers became enraged and came to her convent, dragged her by force out of the church, and beat her cruelly. After a few days, she reposed, giving thanks to God for all things. This came to pass in the year 1589. She was renowned for her almsgiving, and with Saints Hierotheus and Dionysius the Areopagite is considered a patron of the city of Athens.

Allsaint
February 19

Niketas the Younger

Allsaint
February 20

Bessarion the Great

Allsaint
February 20

Sadok the Bishop and the 128 other Martyrs of Persia

Allsaint
February 20

Cheesefare Monday

Allsaint
February 20

Agathus, Pope of Rome

Allsaint
February 20

Leo, Bishop of Catania

This Saint, who was from Ravenna in Italy, lived during the reign of Leo the Wise and his son Constantine Porphyrogenitus (end of the ninth and beginning of the tenth centuries). He struggled especially against the paganism and sorcery still prevalent in those regions.

Allsaint
February 20

Plotinus

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Assembly of Bishops News

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese to Continue Successful Fellowships at the UN

02/07/2017

http://assemblyofbishops.org/news/2017/united-nations-fellowship
The Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is inviting graduate and recent post-graduate students to apply for its fellowships at the United Nations.
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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Mode

When Thou didst descend unto death, O Life Immortal, then didst Thou slay Hades with the lightning of Thy Divinity. And when Thou didst also raise the dead out of the nethermost depths, all the powers in the Heavens cried out: O Life-giver, Christ our God, glory be to Thee.

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Mode

O God, when You come upon the earth in glory, the whole world will tremble. A river of fire will bring all before Your Judgment Seat and the books will be opened, and everything in secret will become public. At that time, deliver me from the fire which never dies, and enable me to stand by Your right hand, O Judge most just.

The translations of hymns are under copyright and used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder:

  • Resurrectional Apolytikion in Second Tone © Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
  • Seasonal Kontakion in the First Tone © Narthex Press - Northridge, CA
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