Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 117.24,29.
This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Verse: Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his mercy endures for ever.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 1:1-8.

IN THE FIRST BOOK, O Theophilos, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of lsrael?" He said to them, "it is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth."

Gospel Reading

Great and Holy Pascha
The Reading is from John 1:1-17

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.

The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'") And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

News & Upcoming Events

Services for Holy Saturday Evening (April 15^th)

The Services begin at 11:00 pm and after midnight we proclaim the Resurrection according to the Gospel of Mark 16:1-8. We chant the Paschal troparion (hymn):

“Christ is Risen from the Dead by Death Trampling down upon Death and

to Those in the Tombs He has Granted Life.”

The following scriptural passages are read at tonight’s Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. Epistle: Acts 1:1-8 (pg. 1261) Gospel: John 1:1-17 (pg. 1236)

Service for Pascha (Easter) Sunday (April 16^th)

At the Agape Vesper Service, Easter Sunday at 11:30 a.m., the Gospel of John 20:19-24 will be proclaimed in different languages by the faithful. (Holy Communion is not offered)

Christos Anesti!

Orthodox Christians greet each other with this joyous greeting “Christ is Risen” and the response is “Truly (indeed) He has Risen”. During the Paschal period, we do not kneel during our worship, as kneeling is a symbol of penitence, whereas, standing is the sign of Christ’s victory and joy in our midst.

The Meaning of the Feast of Pascha (Easter): The word “Pascha” is derived from the Hebrew Pesach which means to pass over. At Pascha, through Christ’s Resurrection, we pass from death to life.

As we celebrate today this joyous Resurrection, we greet and embrace one another in Christ, thereby demonstrating our Saviour's victory over death and corruption, and the destruction of our ancient enmity with God, and His reconciliation toward us, and our inheritance of life everlasting.

Pascha is the “Feast of Feasts”. Christ, Who suffered and arose, has made us to pass over from the curse of Adam and slavery from the devil and death, unto our primal freedom and blessedness. In addition, this day of this particular week, which is the first of all the rest, is dedicated to the honor of the Lord; in honor and remembrance of the Resurrection, the Apostles transferred to this day the rest from labor that was formerly assigned to the Sabbath of the ancient Law.

All foods are allowed during Renewal Week (Bright week).

Holy Week comes to an end at sunset of Great and Holy Saturday, as the Church prepares to celebrate her most ancient and preeminent festival, Pascha, the feast of feasts. The time of preparation will give way to a time of fulfillment. The glorious and resplendent light emanating from the empty Tomb will dispel

the darkness. Christ, risen from the dead, cracks the fortress of death and takes "captivity captive". All the limitations of our createdness are torn asunder. Death is swallowed up in victory and life is liberated. "For as by a man came death, by a God/man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ, the ‘new Adam’ shall all be made alive" (I Corinthians 15:21-22). Pascha is the dawn of the new and unending day. The Resurrection constitutes the most radical and decisive deliverance of humankind. It is the “Eighth Day”.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the fundamental truth and absolute fact of the Christian faith. It is the central experience and essential kerygma (teaching) of the Church. It confirms the authenticity of Christ's remarkable earthly life and vindicates the truth of His teaching. It seals all His redemptive work: His life, the model of a holy life; His compelling and unique teaching; His extraordinary works; and His awesome, life-creating death. Christ's Resurrection is the guarantee of our salvation. Together with His Ascension it brings to perfection God's union with us for all eternity.

The Resurrection made possible the miracle of the Church, which in every age and generation proclaims and affirms "God's plan for the universe, the ultimate divinization of man and the created order." The profound experience of and the unshakable belief in the risen Lord enabled the Apostles to evangelize the world and empowered the Church to overcome paganism. The Resurrection discloses the indestructible power and inscrutable wisdom of God. It disposes of the illusory myths and belief systems by which people, bereft of divine knowledge, strain to affirm the meaning and purpose of their existence. Christ, risen and glorified, releases humanity from the delusions of idolatry. In Him grave-bound humanity discovers and is filled with incomparable hope. The Resurrection bestows illumination, energizes souls, brings forgiveness, transfigures lives, creates saints, and gives joy.

The Resurrection has not yet abolished the reality of death. But it has revealed its powerlessness (Hebrews 2:14-15). We continue to die as a result of the Fall from Paradise. Our bodies decay and fall away. God allows death to exist but turns it against corruption and its cause, sin, and sets a boundary both to corruption and sin. Thus, physical death does not destroy our life of communion with God. Rather, we move from death to life - from this fallen world to God's reign.

Religious Education: We wish our Sunday School students and families a Great and Holy Pascha today. There are no religious education classes today. Classes resume on April 23^rd.

Easter Egg Hunt: Please join us for the Annual St. Nicholas Easter Egg Hunt following the Vespers of Love service on Easter Sunday. Bring your children and their Easter baskets to the front lawn of the church. There will be designated areas according to the children's age (3 and under; 4-7 years old; 8 and up). Please feel free to contact Maria Gougousis at (973) 686-1255 with any questions.

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

Fr. Bill and his family, the Saint Nicholas staff, the Parish Council Members and their families, and all our Parish Organizations wish you a Blessed and Joyous Pascha.

About Holy Communion: For Your Edification & Clarification

Welcome to our community! Thank you for joining us in worship! At the latter part of worship today, there will be a call to Holy Communion. The Eucharist, the actual Body & Blood of Christ, is distributed only to those initiated into Orthodoxy by Baptism & Chrismation and professing the universal Confession of Faith of the Holy Orthodox Christian Church (the Nicene Creed) Distribution of Communion is not based on hospitality. For those not yet initiated into Orthodoxy, (i.e. catechized, baptized/chrismated into Orthodoxy), we cannot extend a general invitation to receive Holy Communion - the actual Body & Blood of Christ, as a consequence of the divisions in Christianity. We do invite you, however, to partake of the blessed bread (antidoron) at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy and invite you to join us for fellowship in the parish hall immediately following. To learn more about Orthodox Christianity you can contact Fr Bill Gikas 201 652 4774 or go to www.goarch.org.

Kali Parea:Will be meeting on Tuesday, May 2^nd at 12 noon in the Fellowship Hall. Please bring your own lunch. If you have any questions please contact may Grammatikos at 201- 236-2817.

EX-O”- Excursions Orthodoxy: Please join us for our second annual Saint Nicholas trip on Thursday, June 8^th to the Culinary Institute of America (three course lunch at The Bocuse French Restaurant) and a tour of The Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, also known as Springwood in Hyde Park, NY. Contact John Peters at 201- 920-3265 for more information.

Vacation Church School: Save the Date: July 31- August 4, 2017 9am-12:30pm for children 5-11 years of age. More information will follow.

The Orthodox Ladies Prayer Group: Welcomes anyone interested in attending prayer meetings held on the 2^nd and 4^th Thursday evening of each month at 7:30pm in the Theotokos chapel. We spend a dedicated time of informal prayer lifting up our nation, church community and our families and friends. All prayer requests are kept confidential. Please feel free to call either the church office or Irene Ayvas 201-803-2307, with any urgent or ongoing prayer requests you would like added to our list or submitted through the “Email Prayer Chain

“Email Prayer Chain” Sign-Ups: This may be one of the easiest things you can do to serve your community. With today’s technology the majority of people read emails on a daily basis. We are simply asking for members of our congregation to sign up for our “Email Prayer Chain”, and they will receive occasional urgent prayer requests when a need arises for someone in immediate crisis. We ask only that you take a moment and pray for that person. It’s that simple, yet so powerful. If you are interested in being a part of this ministry, please email Irene Ayvas at iayvas@yahoo.com with your email contact info or call at 201-803-2307.

Saint Nicholas Benevolent Fund: In his Epistle, Saint James teaches that “faith without works is dead.” Giving alms (charity) is an act of faith through good works. Great Lent is an opportunity when we can assist a family or a person in need. Anyone can donate anonymously to the Saint Nicholas Benevolent Fund. Mail your donation check 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! You have made a difference!

Mortgage Burning Campaign: Participate in making Saint Nicholas debt free! Pledge your contribution towards our goal of debt freedom. Contact Nick Pirsos at pirsos@verizon.net

“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 5 for a cost of $50 and a $20 booklet of 5 for a cost of $100. The candle money can only be used for candle donations. 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.

Saint Nicholas Charity Golf Classic: On Monday, June 19^th, Saint Nicholas will sponsor its 21^st Charity Golf Classic at Haworth Country Club in Haworth, NJ. Please consider becoming a "sponsor" for this important fund raiser. For more information call Charlie Charllis at 201-245-6057. There are also other ways to support this great event. If you can't participate as a golfer or as a sponsor, you may make a monetary donation; donate gift card(s), gift basket(s) or gifts to help create a basket. Your generosity will be appreciated! For additional information contact Claire Melissas at 201-742-5521 happyfaceyiayia@aol.com

Saints and Feasts

April 16

Great and Holy Pascha

Mary Magdalene, and the other women who were present at the burial of our Saviour on Friday evening, returned from Golgotha to the city and prepared fragrant spices and myrrh, so that they might anoint the body of Jesus. On the morrow, because of the law which forbids work on the day of the Sabbath, they rested for the whole day. But at early dawn on the Sunday that followed, almost thirty-six hours since the death of the Life-giving Redeemer, they came to the sepulchre with the spices to anoint His body. While they were considering the difficulty of rolling away the stone from the door of the sepulchre, there was a fearful earthquake; and an Angel, whose countenance shone like lightning and whose garment was white as snow, rolled away the stone and sat upon it. The guards that were there became as dead from fear and took to flight. The women, however, went into the sepulchre, but did not find the Lord's body. Instead, they saw two other Angels in the form of youths clothed in white, who told them that the Saviour was risen, and they sent forth the women, who ran to proclaim to the disciples these gladsome tidings. Then Peter and John arrived, having learned from Mary Magdalene what had come to pass, and when they entered the tomb, they found only the winding sheets. Therefore, they returned again to the city with joy, as heralds now of the supernatural Resurrection of Christ, Who in truth was seen alive by the disciples on this day on five occasions.

Our Lord, then, was crucified, died, and was buried on Friday, before the setting of the sun, which was the first of His "three days" in the grave; observing the mystical Sabbath, that "seventh day" in which it is said that the Lord "rested from all His works" (Gen. 2:2-3), He passed all of Saturday in the grave; and He arose "while it was yet dark, very early in the morning" on Sunday, the third day, which, according to the Hebrew reckoning, began after sunset on Saturday.

As we celebrate today this joyous Resurrection, we greet and embrace one another in Christ, thereby demonstrating our Saviour's victory over death and corruption, and the destruction of our ancient enmity with God, and His reconciliation toward us, and our inheritance of life everlasting. The feast itself is called Pascha, which is derived from the Hebrew word which means "passover"; because Christ, Who suffered and arose, has made us to pass over from the curse of Adam and slavery to the devil and death unto our primal freedom and blessedness. In addition, this day of this particular week, which is the first of all the rest, is dedicated to the honour of the Lord; in honour and remembrance of the Resurrection, the Apostles transferred to this day the rest from labour that was formerly assigned to the Sabbath of the ancient Law.

All foods allowed during Renewal Week.

April 16

Agape, Chionia, and Irene, the Holy Martyrs

When the Emperor Diocletian was at Aquileia, he learned that these Saints were Christians, and had them brought before him. Because they would not deny Christ, he had them imprisoned, and when he went into Macedonia, he committed them to Dulcitius the Prefect, who, however, lost his understanding and became incapable of doing them any harm. Diocletian then gave Count Sisinius charge over them. He had Saints Agape and Chionia burned; he ordered that Saint Irene be put in a brothel, but by the providence of God this was not accomplished, and she was shot with an arrow. These holy sisters suffered martyrdom in Thessalonica in the year 295.

April 16

Leonidas and Charissa, Nike, Galene, Kallida, Nounenchia, Vasilissa, and Theodora the Martyrs

April 17

Renewal Monday

April 17

Symeon the Holy Martyr and Bishop of Persia

This Martyr was Bishop of the royal cities Seleucia and Ctesiphon in Persia. As the number of Christians increased in Persia, building churches and appointing clergy, the Magi, guardians of the Persian religion, and the Jews, who also envied them, accused Symeon to Sapor II, King of Persia, saying that Symeon was a friend of the Roman Emperor and his spy. Then began Sapor's persecution of the Christians of Persia, about the year 343. The Magi together with the Jews destroyed the churches. Saint Symeon was brought before Sapor, and, refusing to worship the sun, was imprisoned. On Holy and Great Friday of that year, Saint Symeon was brought out of prison with a hundred others, bishops, priests, and deacons. As each was taken to be slain, Saint Symeon exhorted him to be of good courage; he was slain last of all. It is said that 1,150 Martyrs were slain; an innumerable multitude of Christians were slain throughout Persia during this persecution, among them Saints Acepsimas, Joseph, and Aethalas (see Nov. 3).

April 17

Hadrian the New-Martyr

April 17

Agapetos of Rome

April 17

Donnan, Abbot of Eigg, and the Monk-Martyrs with him

April 17

Makarios, Bishop of Corinth

April 18

Renewal Tuesday: The Commemoration of Saints Raphael, Nicholas, Irene, and the Other Newly-revealed Martyrs of Lesbos

On the island of Mytilene (Lesbos in ancient times), near the village of Therme, the villagers had a custom of ascending a certain hill on this day to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the ruins of a small chapel, although no one knew whence the tradition sprang. In the year 1959, certain villagers began seeing persons who spoke to them, first in dreams, then awake, both by day and by night. Through these wondrous appearances, which were given to many people independently, the holy Martyrs Raphael, Archimandrite of the ancient monastery, and Nicholas, his deacon, together with other Saints who had been martyred on the island, told the villagers the whole account of their martyrdom, which had taken place at the hands of the Moslem Turks ten years after the fall of Constantinople, in 1463. The twelve-year-old Irene had been tortured, then burned alive in a large earthenware jar in the presence of her parents. On Tuesday of Renewal Week, Saint Raphael had been tied to a tree and his head sawn off through his jaws; Saint Nicholas had died at the sight of this. Although the feast is celebrated today because it is the day of their martyrdom, through the appearances of the Saints as living persons five hundred years after their martyrdom, it is also a singular testimony to the Resurrection of Christ.

Assembly of Bishops News

Assembly Chairman's Message for Holy Pascha 2017

04/12/2017

http://assemblyofbishops.org/news/2017/chairmans-message-for-holy-pascha-2017

Pascha 2017 - To the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of Parish Councils, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Members of Philanthropic Organizations, the Youth and Youth Workers, and the entire Orthodox Christian Family in the United States of America

Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion for Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal First Mode

Christ is risen from the dead, by death hath He trampled down death, and on those in the graves hath He bestowed life.

Hypakoe of Great and Holy Pascha in the Fourth Mode

When they who were with Mary came, anticipating the dawn, and found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre, they heard from the Angel: Why seek ye among the dead, as though He were mortal man, Him Who abideth in everlasting light? Behold the grave-clothes. Go quickly and proclaim to the world that the Lord is risen, and hath put death to death. For He is the Son of God, Who saveth the race of men.

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.

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:

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Past Bulletins

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

News & Upcoming Events

Saints and Feasts

Great and Holy Pascha

Agape, Chionia, and Irene, the Holy Martyrs

Leonidas and Charissa, Nike, Galene, Kallida, Nounenchia, Vasilissa, and Theodora the Martyrs

Renewal Monday

Symeon the Holy Martyr and Bishop of Persia

Hadrian the New-Martyr

Agapetos of Rome

Donnan, Abbot of Eigg, and the Monk-Martyrs with him

Makarios, Bishop of Corinth

Renewal Tuesday: The Commemoration of Saints Raphael, Nicholas, Irene, and the Other Newly-revealed Martyrs of Lesbos

Assembly of Bishops News

Assembly Chairman's Message for Holy Pascha 2017

04/12/2017

Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion for Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal First Mode

Hypakoe of Great and Holy Pascha in the Fourth Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode