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.

News & Upcoming Events

Orthros: 9AM

Epistle: Acts 12:1-12 (pg. 1274)

Divine Liturgy 10AM

Gospel: John 15:17-27 ; 16:1-2 (pg. 1254)

Acolytes: Demetri Phili, Niko Konstantellis, Aidan Gnospelius, Andrew Skoufis, Paul Nonas, Kirk Simeonidis, Vassili Salvemini, Luke Gnospelius

Narthex: Nick Pirsos, Angelo Lefer,
George Bayiokos

Reader: Ted Vittas

Greeter: Paraskevi Salvemini

Fellowship Hour: Philoptochos

Ushers: Peggy Goulet, Paul Goulet,
George Diamantopoulos, Ted Vittas

April 23, 2017 Second Sunday of the Paschal Season: Sunday of Saint Thomas

Christos Anesti!

Orthodox Christians greet each other with the joyous greeting of “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.

Feast of Saint George: The Feast of Saint Georgethe Trophybearer is celebrated today. Chronia Polla (Many Years) to all who celebrate.

Philoptochos: The Ladies Philoptochos Society will be selling their delicious homemade Koulourakia during Fellowship Hour today.
Please plan on attending the Philoptochos Tricky Tray on May 11^th at 6:00pm . It will be a fun filled evening. Tickets are available for $10 from Irene Moreira. All attendees must be 18 years old or over.

Tray Collection: For the needs of our church.

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.

Metropolis of New Jersey 2017 Clergy Laity Assembly: The Annual Metropolis of NJ Clergy Laity Assembly will convene at the Venetian in Garfield, NJ on Monday, May 8^th; at the Grand Banquet, on Monday night, beginning at 6:30p.m., His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos will honor several of our stewards/parishioners for their service to our Metropolis and/or our parish. If you wish to attend, contact Fr Bill at frbill@stnicholasnj.org

Congratulations to the following honorees: Claire Melissas, our Philoptochos honoree; Chris Pappas, our community honoree; Plato Eliades our parish elder honoree; Evans Agrapidis, our parish council honoree; Andrew Bacalakis, our senior choir member honoree; Chris Gasparis, our GOYA honoree and Angela Rokkos Bachardy, our PTO honoree.

May the Lord grant each of them many more years to serve His Church.

“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.

Daughters of Penelope: The Daughters of Penelope are holding their final fund-raiser before the summer. If you go to the Blue Moon Cafe in Wyckoff on Tuesday, May 23^rd for lunch or dinner, a percentage of your bill will be donated to our Agape Chapter. (Can't get there that day?) Take-out, gift certificates or E-Gift Cards are an option. As always, your support will assist in funding our charities. Please present the special coupon with each purchase. Coupons will be available during the Sunday Fellowship Hour after the Liturgy or through e-blasts sent through the St. Nicholas Office.

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! Contact Fr Bill for info frbill@stnicholasnj.org

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.

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 222 steward households that have pledged a total of $215,160.

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 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

2nd Monday after Pascha

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.

April 24

Savvas the General of Rome

April 24

Nicholas the New-Martyr of Magnesia

April 24

Mellitus, Archbishop of Canterbury

April 25

Mark the Apostle and Evangelist

Mark was an idolater from Cyrene of Pentapolis, which is near Libya. Having come to the Faith of Christ through the Apostle Peter, he followed him to Rome. While there, at the prompting of Peter himself and at the request of the Christians living there, he wrote his Gospel in Greek, and it is second in order after Matthew's. Afterwards, travelling to Egypt, he preached the Gospel there and was the first to establish the Church in Alexandria. The idolaters, unable to bear his preaching, seized him, bound him with ropes, and dragged him through the streets until he, cut to pieces on rocks, gave up his soul. It is said that he completed his life in martyrdom about the year 68. He is depicted in holy icons with a lion next to him, one of the living creatures mentioned by Ezekiel (1:10), and a symbol of Christ's royal office, as Saint Irenaeus of Lyons writes.

If April 25 falls on or before Great and Holy Pascha, the Feast of St. Mark is translated to Bright Tuesday.

April 26

Basil the Holy Martyr Bishop of Amasea

This Saint was Bishop of Amasia in Pontus, in the days of Licinius (reigned 308-324), fellow Emperor and brother-in-law of Saint Constantine the Great. Licinius' wife Constantia, sister of Saint Constantine, had as handmaid a virgin named Glaphyra. When it became known that Licinius had conceived a sinful desire for her. Constantia secretly sent Glaphyra away to the East. Coming to Amasia, she took refuge with Saint Basileus. When Licinius learned of this, he furiously commanded that both be brought before him. When the soldiers came for them, however, Saint Glaphyra had already departed to the Lord; she is also commemorated this day. Saint Basileus was taken alone to Nicomedia, where he was beheaded. His body was cast into the sea, but through divine revelation was found again and brought back to Amasia.

April 26

2nd Wednesday after Pascha

Assembly of Bishops News

Assembly Chairman's Message for Holy Pascha 2017

04/12/2017

http://www.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 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.

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

Matins Gospel Reading

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

News & Upcoming Events

Saints and Feasts

Thomas Sunday

George the Great Martyr and Triumphant

2nd Monday after Pascha

Elizabeth the Wonderworker

Savvas the General of Rome

Nicholas the New-Martyr of Magnesia

Mellitus, Archbishop of Canterbury

Mark the Apostle and Evangelist

Basil the Holy Martyr Bishop of Amasea

2nd Wednesday after Pascha

Assembly of Bishops News

Assembly Chairman's Message for Holy Pascha 2017

04/12/2017

Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal First Mode

Apolytikion for Thomas Sun. in the Grave Mode

Apolytikion for Great Martyr George in the Fourth Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode